VS

During this episode of VS, poet and multidisciplinary artist Farah Chamma joins Brittany and Ajanae. Listen in as they discuss the importance of trusting your intuition, the nuances of language, suffering and passion, as well as the necessity of defining oneself as an artist and a person. Until Next Time:Here are some pieces of media to accompany your experience of the episode and a writing prompt to tide you over until we meet again!Hussein Barghouthi: POETRY IN DIALOGUE THE POET HUSSEIN BARGHOUTHI part 1Hanane Hajj Ali: AMERICAN THEATRE | Hanane Hajj Ali, ‘Jogging’ for Survival in BeirutEl Rass: My BattleBerimbau: The Berimbau: Musical Instrument Or Icon Of Resistance Against Oppression?Writing prompt:Write a contrapuntal evaluating a habit or activity in your life by the ways it contributes to and relieves suffering. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On today’s episode, Brittany and Ajanae spend time in conversation with Bettina Judd, who is an amazing poet, scholar, and Professor of African American Studies at Emory University. Join them as they discuss the validity of symbols, living out the tarot, how interior concerns shape research and experimentation, and the importance of Black, queer women seeing themselves reflected in theoretical practices.Until Next TimeHere are some pieces of media to accompany your experience of the episode and a writing prompt to tide you over until we meet again!Lucille Clifton: Lucille Clifton: A Poet's Life and LegacyBeverly Guy-Sheftall: Words of Fire: An Anthology of African-American Feminist ThoughtClark Sisters: Karen Clark Sheard - Finally Karen Live (Full DVD)Writing Prompt: Write a research question for a part of speech. Conduct your experiment for this question through a series of poems. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

During this episode of VS, Brittany and Ajanae interview poet and novelist Phillip B. Williams. Join them as they talk about the process of writing an epic novel, embracing character’s autonomy, Morrisonian poems, and the responsibility of freedom. Until Next Time: Nina Simone: To Be FreeGabriel García Márquez: What To Know About The Master Of Magical Realism & Nobel Prize Winner | TIMELove Song by Henry Dumas | Poetry FoundationWhat does it mean to be human? | Sonia Sanchez | TEDxPhiladelphiaWriting Prompt:Who is your favorite writer? Write 3 rules that seem to guide their writing. Write a poem following those rules. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jubi Arriola-Headley, a Black queer poet known for tackling humor and eroticism in her work, joins the conversation to explore the intersections of pleasure, identity, and masculinity. They discuss the power of humor in shaping relationships, reflect on societal expectations, and reveal how vulnerability enhances creativity. Jubi shares insights into her collection 'Bound', where intimacy and spirituality collide, and highlights the significance of kink in expressing joy and community, revealing the deeper layers behind her playful yet poignant poetry.

Season 8 kicks off with Brittany and Ajanae talking with Sarah Lubala, Congolese poet, and author of A History of Disappearance. In this interview, the trio discuss navigating political history and conflict, the role of matriarchal figures in her work, hope as an exercise, and writing about love without leaning into sentimentality.  Edit: In our conversation, Safia Elhillo was said to be Somali; Safia Elhillo is Sudanese- American. Until Next Time: Here are some pieces of media to accompany your experience of the episode and a writing prompt to tide you over until we meet again! Toni Morrison's 'Good' Ghosts : NPR The Fight & The Fiddle: Safia Elhillo on Language Warsan Shire’s Portraits of Somalis in Exile | The New Yorker Writing Prompt: Write a portrait poem, imagining a place as a matriarch. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Boycott of the Poetry Foundation and Solidarity with the Palestinian People: Ajane and Brittany discuss the ongoing boycott of the Poetry Foundation in relation to the Palestine genocide, expressing solidarity with the Palestinian people and clarifying their stance as contracted employees of the Foundation.

In today’s episode, Brittany and Ajanae have the pleasure of interviewing Safiya Sinclair. Join them as they discuss the craft of switching to memoir, maintaining self-confidence while navigating academia, what their teenage selves would think of them, and the influence Jamaica has on Safiya’s writing. Until Next Time: Here are some pieces of media to accompany your experience of the episode and a writing prompt to tide you over until we meet again! Audre Lorde: AUDRE LORDE | Poetry is Not a Luxury Frida Kahlo: Frida Kahlo: The woman behind the legend - Iseult Gillespie Derek Walcott: Derek Walcott discusses his painting and poetry Writing Prompt: Who are you writing for? Who is coming after you that you hope your work makes a difference for? Write them a letter. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

VS podcast explores themes of Black girlhood, writing with care, and the construction of Courtney Faye Taylor's award-winning collection. They discuss the nuances of Black girlhood, aligning values with research, and the influence of the Black church on culture.

Today Brittany and Ajanae interview Willie Lee Kinard III, author of Orders of Service. During this episode, they discuss Willie’s history with music, doublespeak as maximalism, queerness as a foundation for craft choices, and developing a love for the land.  Until Next Time: Here are some pieces of media to accompany your experience of the episode and a writing prompt to tide you over until we meet again! Lynn Harris: E. Lynn Harris's Biography Mariah Carey: It’s Mariah Carey Season, Darling Kirk Franklin: How Kirk Franklin Revolutionized Gospel And Made Hip-Hop A More Spiritual Place | The FADER Andre 3000: Andre 3000 Says He NEEDS To Create In Rare Interview Writing Prompt: Make a playlist of music that scores your poems. Listen to it while revising a poem. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

For this episode, Brittany and Ajanae interview Samiya Bashir. During this conversation, they discuss Samiya’s role as Executive Director of Lambda Literary, Black opera, opening the door for queer writers, and writing the poem that unlocks the project. Until Next Time:  Here are some pieces of media to accompany your experience of the episode and a writing prompt to tide you over until we meet again! Torkwase Dyson: Desert X | Torkwase Dyson David Bowie: david bowie interview 1973 June Jordan : June Jordan -- “Poem about My Rights” Cornelius Eady: Poet Cornelius Eady on exploring the everyday lives of Black people in America Writing Prompt: Write a poem only in dialogue. Title it with the name of a theory or theoretical framework.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.