Delali Ayivor brings fun to the archive! In this conversation, we talk about her practice in information technology; family history and recipes in iPhone notes; creative tips for free writing; and her current project, Consideration, which mines her Facebook for 8th grade conversations. To top it all off, she reads one of her poems, IBID.

Delali is a poet writing for Black women and those who hope to love them. Delali has been a U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts and was a member of the second cohort of Kehinde Wiley’s Black Rock Senegal residency. A 2020 Tin House Summer Workshop Scholar, and a resident at Atlantic Center for the Arts with Tracie Morris and at the STONELEAF Retreat.

Her new book, She is this, is available from King's Leap Editions. Also check out her two new poems in The Iowa Review

Delali’s work is online at DelaliAyivor.com and on Instagram @_laney.boggs

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1-800-POWERS is written and produced by artist, writer, and performer Lex Brown.

1-800-POWERS returns from a spring hiatus with a pod noir. An intrepid woman of mystery takes you on a smoky case about abortion rights, teachers' gripes, Magritte's painting of a pipe, and Daniel Boorstin's 1962 book The Image: A Guide to Pseudoevents in America. Kick up your feet and grab a glass of something strong.

UPDATE: As of June 24, ROE VS. WADE has officially been overturned by the Supreme Court, making abortion immediately illegal for women in states with Pre-Roe or Trigger bans. Click here for a list of Abortion Access Funds by state and donate to support reproductive justice work, provide transportation, abortion care, and support for women and families. 

Have something you want to share? It's easy. Send a voice message here! No logging in required.

1-800-POWERS is written and produced by artist, writer, and performer Lex Brown. Visit her website www.lexbrown.com or Instagram at @lex_brown_

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References:

Ho ho ho. It's February. And Helpful Hints for Holiday Healing is here! In this episode is a trove of abstract and *practical* approaches for all kinds of ailments. Which include (though the list is certainly not exhaustive) healing from:

- depression, seasonal/environmental (2:18)

- depression, deep depression (5:06)

- loneliness (11:54)

- loss by death (21:08)

- loss of the living (25:09)

- being overworked (29:26)

- addiction (38:04)

- guilt (48:30)

- gaslighting (56:38)

- insults (1:17:04)

- apathy (1:19:14)

- poor self-esteem about hair, nose, ears, toes, skin, gut, butt, or any other body part that grows... or shrinks! (1:21:04)

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Throughout the episode is music from Shane Mendonsa. Listen to the full albums here on Shane's Bandcamp.

You can also watch videos of how he makes his music on his YouTube Channel.

1-800-POWERS is written and produced by artist, writer, and performer Lex Brown. More info about Lex is on her website www.lexbrown.com Follow Lex on Instagram at @lex_brown_

Following up from the last episode about the pineal gland, we continue the exploration of darkness - this time the psychological darkness of the mind. As much as we hate to admit it, it's one of our favorite places: we take ourselves into the dark to find things for our own growth. Without darkness, we would have no definition of light. This episode explores that idea of dualistic "sides" and the illusion of lightness and darkness – in between which is healing. Later comes a passage from all about love, the much-beloved book by the late, great bell hooks. bell hooks uses Erich Fromm's definition of love as "the will to extend one's self for the purpose of nurturing one's own or another's spiritual growth." This definition of love is very different than defining it as a feeling, and might be of more use to use when we are trying to figure out what are loving relationships and what aren't. 

Throughout the episode is music from Shane Mendonsa. Listen to the full albums here on Shane's Bandcamp.

You can also watch videos of how he makes his music on his YouTube Channel.

1-800-POWERS is written and produced by artist, writer, and performer Lex Brown. More info about Lex is on her website www.lexbrown.com Follow Lex on Instagram at @lex_brown_

It's the holiday season and that comes with bright lights and dark nights. In this episode we talk about the very amazing pineal gland, which orients us in time and space, how it's affected by electromagnetic fields, and some of its more mysterious qualities. We also reflect on evergreens, plants, and how they can help us think about planting new seeds in a season of rest and recharging. Make sure you tune in for the green smoothie recipe at the end!

REFERENCES:

Pineal Calcification, Melatonin Production, Aging, Associated Health Consequences and Rejuvenation of the Pineal Gland

Parietal Eye

Generation of piezoelectricity from the human body

Episode 1: We start by dipping our toes into the ocean of art history, with the concept of the "master narrative." Even in the age of the Internet, this narrative and its friend – artistic genius – can be pesky bedfellows to your creativity. Where does this narrative come from? Is it still relevant? And how can we keep our creativity in the present? Whether you know nothing about art, or you're an artist who just wants to be remembered after you're dead, this episode is here to offer another way of thinking about making.

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IG: @lex_brown_

Written and produced by Lex Brown. 

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Welcome to my new podcast! It's only taken 20,000 years for us to get here! I'm your host, artist & writer, Lex Brown - here to get you through being & time with a few food metaphors, pop culture tangents, and reflections on life's lessons. I'm taking this pod one day at a time and giving myself full permission to dive into the unknown. I hope you'll do the same with me every week...ish.