VS

A short statement from Brittany and Ajanaé regarding current events.

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.

On today’s episode of VS, Brittany and Ajanae interview Courtney Faye Taylor about their award winning collection Concentrate. Listen in as they discuss writing with an ethic of care, studying oneself as a writer, the nuances of Black girlhood, and the construction of Concentrate. 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 Cade Bombara: Toni Cade Bambara Black women’s dialogue: For Our Girls: A Conversation with Black Women | The Conversation Remix A24 Movies: Moonlight | Official Trailer HD | A24 Writing Prompt: What research is vital to the art you are making? Add journal entries to research documents you are collecting.

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.

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.

On today’s episode, Brittany and Ajanae speak with 2023 Ruth Lily fellow and author of Black Pastoral, Ariana Benson. Join them for this episode as they discuss nature, artistic influences, sensuality, and soap operas. 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! Gwendolyn Brooks: We Real Cool / Gwendolyn Brooks at 100 by The Editors | Poetry Foundation Bob Ross: Why Is Bob Ross Still So Popular 2 Chainz: 2 Chainz Interview - Get Inspired and Go Inside His Nail Salon and Restaurant Writing Prompt: In honor of Ariana Benson’s “Theodicy” series, take any non-human thing and explore what it might believe about God it it could talk.

For their second episode of season 7, Brittany and Ajanae interview Victoria Chang. During this conversation, they discuss following your imagination and creative impulses, trusting your reader to fill in the gaps in a collection, and hidden talents! 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! Claudia Rankine: Using poetry to uncover the moments that lead to racism Virginia Woolf: Virginia Woolf Was More Than Just a Women’s Writer | The National Endowment for the Humanities Agnes Martin: Documentary "Between the Lines" about the painter Agnes Martin (trailer) Sharon Olds :Sex, Death, Family: Sharon Olds Is Still Shockingly Intimate Writing Prompt: This week, when you sit down to write, close your eyes and listen for the first line of the poem. Anytime you get stuck, close your eyes and listen again.

For this first episode of Season 7, Brittany and Ajanae decided to answer audience questions generated via social media. Join them as they tackle hot topics, their writing process, how they navigate friendship and business, and much more! 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! The City Girls: City Girls Talk Work Ethic, Chemistry & Loyalty Before The Glow Up...PERIOD | Home Grown Radio The Clark Sisters Transcendent in its Reach Christine Swenson and Aunjanue Ellis on the Clark Sisters Toni Morrison: Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am Writing Prompt: Reflect and set some intentions with us. List 5 things you are proud of. List 3 things you want to do. Write an affirmation and say it everyday for the next two weeks.

Ladan Osman steps into the studio with a knowledge of her journey and a commitment to share. The poet and filmmaker talks about how she has traversed the complex and scarring world of the poetry industry, the ways that she pushed herself toward making different media, what she hopes for the poets emerging in her wake, and much more. Plus, some quality shoutouts to the bees and important postcolonial board game critiques. NOTE: Make sure you rate us on Apple Podcasts and write us a review!

To close out season six, Brittany and Ajanae record LIVE in Detroit with guests Aricka Foreman and Tommye Blount. Join them as they discuss the history of the Detroit School of poets, building authentic community, knowing when a project is done, and creating alternate spaces for Black Queer folks to thrive. Until Next Time Here’s some content for you to engage with and 2 writing prompts to keep you entertained until next time! Tommye Blount: Bridget Pegeen Kelly - Remembering Brigit Pegeen Kelly Bill T. Jones - How Bill T. Jones’ ‘Deep Blue Sea' explores the collective ‘we’ of the American people Carl Phillips - Carl Phillips: Poetry of the Irreconcilable Aricka Foreman Lorna Simpson - Lorna Simpson – ‘Everything I Do Comes from the Same Desire’ | TateShots Toni Morrison - Toni Morrison Discusses Freedom of Expression and the Writer's Role Alice Coltrane - Alice Coltrane 16mm doc. 1970 (Black Journal) rare Writing Prompts Choose the work of 3 peers to study. Identify one craft decision that each executes well and attempt to write a poem that achieves each of them. Journal towards this: What does being a literarycitizen mean to you? Set a list of intentions for how you’d like to support writers in your community.

Tune in this week as Brittany and Ajanaé interview Jacqui Germain about her debut collection, Bittering the Wound. In this episode, they discuss cartoons as a space of enjoyment, St. Louis as a persona, the intimacy of specificity, and the necessary role of contradictions in everyday life. Until Next Time: Here’s some content for you to engage with and a writing prompt to keep you entertained until next time! Joy James: The Revolution Cannot Be Institutionalized Toni Morrison: Toni Morrison on capturing a mother’s ‘compulsion’ to nurture in ‘Beloved’ Gene from Bob’s Burgers: ‘Bob’s Burgers’ Voice of Gene, Eugene Mirman, Reflects on 200 Episodes Writing prompt: Document a location or a city that is important to you as a character. What is their voice? Aesthetic? Do they have quirks? A favorite food?

On this week’s episode, Brittany and Ajanae sit down with Alexis Pauline Gumbs; during this interview, they discuss the gift of literary inheritance, unlearning the colonial lens, and allowing curiosity and awe to guide one’s research practice. Alexis also discusses the process of writing a biography on Audre Lorde, a longtime teacher and guide. 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! Fannie Lou Hamer- Songs My Mother Taught Me Fred Hampton-Fred Hampton on Revolution And Racism Dionne Brand- History as Imagination: Black Dreaming as Liberation | Project Myopia Writing prompt: For a week, read a poem of a writer you admire every day before writing.

On today’s episode, Brittany and Ajanae have the pleasure of interviewing Jos Charles. Over the course of this interview, they discuss finding beauty and healing and revisiting younger versions of ourselves, the ways that neurodivergence shapes our writing practice, and the way that devotion has shifted their poetics over time. We also get a surprise pop in from Jos’ cat, Faye! Until Next Time Edouard Glissant: Homage to Edouard Glissant, Martinique’s whole world poet Johann Sebastian Bach: Trio Sonate No. 5 in C major, BWV 529 (Bach Organ Works in February) Emily Dickinson: Fame is a bee. (1788) by Emily Dickinson | Poetry Foundation

In this episode, Ajanae and Brittany spend time in conversation with their guest, Golden; listen as they discuss creating a living archive, their space in the lineage of Black Formalist poets, and the ways that self-portraits have shaped their writing practice. Golden also discusses the process of placing their second collection, and leaning into the vulnerability of writing about the self. Until Next Time: Deana Lawson: Deana Lawson’s Nation Danez Smith: Danez performs Summer Somewhere Golden’s family: BTS Glimpse at Golden's Family Archive

This week, Ajanae and Brittany have the honor of interviewing Toi Derricotte. The trio speak candidly about preparing for death, the complexity of being a Black women poet, and the origin story of Cave Canem. They also explore the importance of community, trust, and intimacy as tools for survival. Until Next Time: Ruth Stone: Ruth Stone's Vast Library of The Female Mind Galway Kinnell: Wait Lucille Clifton: On What Poetry Is James Baldwin: From Meeting the Man Writing Prompt: While we wait for the next episode, we challenge you to set your intentions by writing a haiku each morning!

Brittany and Ajanae conclude their mini-tour of the South by interviewing Jericho Brown; in this conversation, the trio discuss breaking bad writing habits, navigating career longevity, and the things that bring them delight (spoiler alert: friendship, r&b and Beyoncé are on the list)! 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! Earth Wind and Fire: Fantasy Poets of the late 1950’s The Black Church: The Role of Music Prompt: Make a playlist of the music that has most deeply shaped your writing.

On this weeks episode, Brittany and Ajanae continue their mini-tour of Atlanta with an interview with Mia. S. Willis. During this conversation, they discuss learning to slow down, avoiding the “full length” book pressure, and language as a material culture; they also think fondly on friendship, connection, and Black colloquialisms. 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! Scott Willis: For a taste of his energy, listen to: Ja Rule- Livin It Up James Baldwin: 4 Must See Interviews With James Baldwin June Jordan: Notes on the Peanut Writing prompt: Make time this week to write poems that you won’t share with anyone. Note any shifts in your experience with the process.

Join us this week in Atlanta, where Brittany and Ajanae sit down with Maya Marshall to discuss Maya’s debut collection, All the Blood Involved in Love (Haymarket Press). This conversation centers around choice, obligation and priorities, both on and off the page. Listen as they navigate falling in love, managing illness, choosing between work and family, and much more! 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! Charles Bukowski: The Difference Between a Bad Poet and a Good one is Luck Nina Simone: Nina Simone Little girl blue Black Woman Barista at Coffee Shop Writing Prompt: Write a poem where the reader gets to choose their own ending. This may involve writing the poem in multiple stanzas or sections and asking the reader to skip ahead.

This week, Brittany and Ajanae talk with guest Naomi Shihab Nye about the joy and wonder of youth, poets as vessels, editing as an act of devotion, and the complexity of becoming multiple selves over the course of a lifetime. Join them as they process the possibilities that can emerge over a lifetime of being immersed in poetry. 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! Carl Sandburg: Carl Sandburg- Poet of the People Mahmoud Darwish: To a Young Poet by Mahmoud Darwish | Poetry Magazine E.B white: All nearness pauses while a star can grow Prompt: Create a map. Make each plot point a past, current or future version of yourself. What is significant about each location?

On this week’s episode, Brittany and Ajanae continue their mini tour of the South in Houston, Texas. Next, they talk with Texas Poet Laureate Lupe Mendez about familial responsibility, masculinity, education, and the preservation of memory. 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! El Ultimo TragoRhythm NationDaddy Prompt: Write a singular moment or story from three separate generations of your family. The stories do not have to have any obvious connection.