The CommUnity Corner | Episode 4 | Big Mike Bertram

In this episode, we welcome Big Mike Bertram — a spoken word poet, educator, and community builder with more than 30 years of experience in the classroom.

From legendary poetry slams and Def Jam performances to organizing free open mics in New Jersey, Big Mike has dedicated his life to making poetry accessible for everyone. He reflects on his journey as a late-blooming poet, the evolution of spoken word, and how performance poetry creates a platform for self-expression.

We also dive into:

How poetry builds literacy, confidence, and community in the classroom

The tension between poetry as an art form and the competition of slam culture

Big Mike’s philosophy of teaching — “relate, then educate”

The impact of technology and AI on education today

His newest book Said the Pen to the Paper, co-written with one of his 8-year-old students

This is a powerful conversation about mentorship, creativity, and the future of education and poetry.

📖 Learn more about Big Mike’s work: www.mrbpoetry.com

📺 Watch now and don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe to The CommUnity Corner.