Creatures of the Wind

Day 3! Paige is taking over the tea stand today. Enjoy :)

Day 2 of free tea in Maria Hernandez Park. Sounds include pigeons, interconnectedness and Mr. Lee. See ya tomorrow :)

30 days of free tea, 30 days of free podcast episodes. Get stoked. Here we go. 

I HAVE A NEW PODCAST. Search Perpetual Brew wherever you listen. The first two episodes are live!!!! 

This episode includes a few windy voice memos I recorded leading up to one of my most ambitious creative endeavors (which is happening RIGHT NOW). 

I will make a new podcast episode every single day of April to publish by 6am the following morning (over on the Perpetual Brew feed). I am both terrified and ecstatic. My friend Miles – who stewards The Tea Stand – will be serving free tea in Maria Hernandez Park every single day of the month from noon to six. This 30-day podcast – Perpetual Brew – will aim to encapsulate this 30-day free tea project: what happens and why it matters. 

Some episodes might be horrible. Others, hopefully, will offer a new lens into a project I deeply admire. 

Special love to Rili for playing the electric violin in my favorite park. Check out their Instagram here. Onwards!

𖦹 FREE TEA FOR ALL 𖦹 

Pregnancy and childbirth absolutely fascinates me. So, I interviewed two important women in my life to hear their stories. 

Some of what is discussed may be overwhelming to listeners. Please take care. Also, the week markers and time codes are factually incorrect, and serve merely as a stylistic tool. 

Thank you to Gideon Parker, who composed the music for this piece. If you want to check out their music, their artist name is King Bird. 

Thank you to Hanna Burgers for the cover image. Find her other pregnancy and childbirth photo work here. 

Thank you to Axel Kacoutié, Avery Trufelman, Sayre Quevedo, Josie Fan and my other audio peers for your edits. 

I want to give special thanks to Isabela Ponce de Leon, Cyerra Dillard and Quincie Ndiaye. 

Thank you to my instructors and peers at Carriage House Birth for the doula training. I felt so much more equipped to make this piece with the knowledge, insight and empathy I gained through the program. 

Most importantly, a huge thank you to the two protagonists in this episode. Both of your stories are magic. I am infinitely grateful to know you both. 

An extra thank you to my mom for putting up with my incessant interviewing and, also, of course, for birthing me. I love you so!

About my obsession with work and its effects on those around me. 

A massive thank you to Kim Shirin Cupal for your editing advice. Thank you to my mom, Sami, Olivia and Joe for letting me interview you. 

This piece is more art than it is journalism. My work, in large part, is a massively positive force in my life. My work gives back to me in infinite ways. I've known this for years, really since my first interview. But, I haven't  critically examined the messier side of my relationship to my work. 

Hence, this piece. 

Big love to all the people in my life who showed me how to unravel. Shout out to Caitlyn Burns for the video and Mr. Bednar for that one lesson back in 5th grade on public service announcements.

A first date and a follow up one year later. 

My younger sister Zola and I set out to catch a lightning bug one summer evening. Oh, and also, she's growing up right in front of my eyes. 

This piece was written and recited by my friend, Evan T. Cowgill. You can find more of his work here. It's been such a treat to get to build scenes and worlds with his words, tone and beautiful mind.