Today's episode ends on a question: who were your quarantine poets? The ones you read relentlessly as the pandemic stretched on and you had more time on your hands? For a lot of the sincerely bluejay community it looks like E. E. Cummings was a big one - if you want to be a part of this conversation please DM me or submit a voicemail to the Learning to Fly Podcast!

For more information about the Come As You Are Open Mic check out these links!

To purchase Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/come-as-you-are-open-mic-tickets-154635975365

To submit your work: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScRECR3X7qj8WIzpCi0FaXHK90mIw45KwC0XvIa8uOojbPgRA/viewform

To share about the event: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1VyLq2CHhKyZONC_kR98IQT81ci2hb3p-8Q0lcVDvbow/edit

My lovely friend from across the pond (met thanks to this lovely pandemic) joins me today in a much-awaited highly-anticipated episode of the podcast. To talk all things mental health awareness, accessibility rights and access, and of course, writing!

Note: In part of this episode Miggy and I discuss elephants and the communities that share space with them. We want to acknowledge that we are western citizens who won't know the full context of these communities or their views of the animals they share an environment with.

This episode is carried out between two of the five creators of the Come As You Are open mic: an event hosted on Zoom on June 26, 2021. This event features poetry, music, conversation, and charity efforts to create a stronger sense of community between the performers, audience, and continue to ripple out. 

Follow all co-creators on Instagram at @breakingegg, @ray_bloom, @BoomieBol, @wixluxure and of course @sincerelybluejaypoetry

To sign up to perform in the open mic: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/come-as-you-are-open-mic-tickets-154635975365 purchase a ticket and fill out the attached google form.

To purchase audience tickets for yourself or loved ones, please visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/come-as-you-are-open-mic-tickets-154635975365

Today's episode of the learning to fly podcast features the poet Rajah, one of the voices you heard on the poem in your pocket day episode this year. And we talk writing, disability, personality and make some space to discuss mental health awareness month as well!

This episode is an amazing collection of typewriter style poems from Tyler Knott Gregson's most recently released collection: Illumination.

There are hints of pandemic style writing but most of it so true and authentic to the voice and style he already had running through his works that  this collection will most definitely stand the tests of time!

Today's featured collection is Floating, Brilliant, Gone by Franny Choi. This episode is primarily to celebrate AAPI Heritage month while still starting conversations in other audience memeber's lives. I think there's a lot to be said about the views Franny shares in her work and about how clearly she makes her pains, struggles, and stigmas come off the page. So even as a reader who is not of these ethnicities or facing these exact problems I am still in the moment and it feels as though I am experiencing them first hand - and I hope you are as well. 

Today is a busy day for me. I'm part of a volunteer effort. I'm hosting sharing Space from 6-8 pm PST (feel free to tune in from www.twitch.tv/sincerelybluejay or on Instagram live) and I have a friend coming into town for a few days. All of these things had to happen today. And are for such different and amazing reasons. That being said I feel like the only poetry that would adequately embody today and all of the mixed emotions is the author Iain S. Thomas of Iwrotethisforyou.me. Yes, I've shared his work here before, but there are definitely some pieces we've not yet heard on the podcast in today's episode and there are some that are just amazing no matter how many times you hear them and I think there's so much beauty in that. 

This wonderful and lovely episode is brought to you to talk about bringing passions to life and turning a hobby into a hustle - if that's something that will help you get by or expand upon yourself! Each candle crafted by Elisha is a soy-based moment to capture, share, and revisit any time you're looking for a specific mood - so every day! 

For more information check out https://www.instagram.com/wixluxure/ 

or email Elisha at [email protected] 

Today's episode is a lot like chatting with an old friend - just a recap of all the things you know and love. If you're an artist sharing your work on Instagram than you've PROBABLY seen this lovely soul popping up to support you from time to time. And now it's time for us to support her and help in celebrating her birthday, the anniversary of rebirthing her social media accounts, and sharing her work in general. I love love love this episode and am so excited to finally share it with each and every one of you!

To support Nargis, read more of her work, or purchase her amazing prints please visit: https://www.instagram.com/nargis_shabbir_hassanali/

SOOOOO EXCITED to finally be able to share the work from these pages with you guys! As I said before, it's been a long time coming! But I sincerely hope that in listening to these affirmations you are having an amazing Friday and kicking off your weekend right. Also if you don't already have a copy go to amazon or your favorite online indie shops and request a copy of "Words from a Wanderer" by Alexandra Elle!