What We Aim To Do

Send us a text In this episode, I talk with poet, translator, and consultant Elizabeth T. Gray, Jr. about her new poetry collection, After the Operation (Four Way Books, 2025). The book began after Elizabeth underwent brain surgery to remove a benign tumor. In it she weaves poems, medical documents, journal entries, and memories into a thought-provoking and entirely captivating boo

Send us a text In this episode, James Morehead, Poet Laureate of Dublin, California, shares his journey from writing poetry in high school to self-publishing collections like canvas, portraits of red and gray, and The Plague Doctor. James also talks about hosting the Viewless Wings Poetry Podcast, and how he balances his career in tech with his creative passions. The conversation t

Send us a text Jason Stevens is the creative mind behind Future vs. Fiction, a project that blends corporate themes with fictional storytelling. Having worked closely with Jason as an editor on Future vs. Fiction, I experienced firsthand the collaborative energy that drives his work. Together, we discuss how creativity, self-confidence, and business intersect, especially within the

Send us a text When you open Us From Nothing, you're immediately drawn into a vast historical journey—one that begins with the Big Bang and traces the unfolding of the universe right up to our near future. Geoff Bouvier’s third collection of prose poetry takes on the ambitious task of condensing cosmic history into intricate, beautiful cantos. In our conversation, Geoff shares

Send us a text "It is a radical act to not fold yourself under. It is a radical act to say, I'm going to take this time and go write a poem because I want to - because it makes me feel whole and because I find it fulfilling."- william katharine ‘wim’ blair, founding editor of kith books. I spent this conversation with wim frantically writing down notes and pausing for too long,

Send us a text Transparency in the online business space is rare, which is part of why I love talking to Colleen Welsh. She's open, honest, and willing to discuss the less-than-glamourous side of being a business owner. In this conversation, we discusses the challenges of setting up a business, the importance of organization and templates, and the overwhelming responsibility of hav

Send us a text Jason McGlone runs Pencilhouse, a 501c3 organization that helps writers improve their craft and writing practice. They offer a free feedback program, host virtual and in-person writing room events, and publish the literary magazine Zero Readers. In this episode, I ask Jason about Pencilhouse, his own writing journey, and we share our favorite feedback stories. If you

Send us a text Gregory Crosby is the author of Said No One Ever (2021, Brooklyn Arts Press) and Walking Away From Explosions in Slow Motion (2018, The Operating System). He's an incredible poet, gifted educator, and super fun to have a conversation with. I took his Brooklyn Poets class on the sonnet back in 2022 which was truly one of my fondest poetry memories. We touch on all sor

Send us a text Amy Ragland has been writing for financial firms for 20 years, creating a career that has allowed her the flexibility to raise two teenagers with her husband, care for aging family members, volunteer in her community, and mentor new freelancers . At the core of this conversation is the belief that our work holds meaning not only in the tasks we perform but also in th

Send us a text Sometimes, I really love Twitter. A few months ago, I tweeted about my idea to start a podcast, to which writer rob mclennan replied, "its my understanding that everyone will, at some point in their lives; this might just be your time." And he was right! That tweet spurred an email exchange and then a wonderful podcast interview where we discussed book reviewing, lit