Carolyn Forché is a poet, translator, and activist whose work has been translated into over twenty languages. Her books of poetry are Blue Hour, The Angel of History, The Country Between Us, Gathering the Tribes, and In the Lateness of the World. Her memoir, What You Have Heard Is True, describes her time in El Salvador shortly before and during the civil war there, and was a finalist for the 2019 National Book Award for Nonfiction. Carolyn is also a Co-Chair with Gloria Steinem of Hedgebrook's Creative Advisory Council. 

In this conversation, we talk about her incredible story, on being a witness to such pain and suffering and the myth of closure. We talk about the art of writing and the emotional aspect of publication. She tells us the greatest cure for our own pain is to have a positive effect on the world, even in some small way, and I wholeheartedly agree. 

Getting to speak with Carolyn was such an honor, and I’m so grateful to be able to share this conversation with you.

Where to find Carolyn:

Twitter 

Instagram

Goodreads

Carolyn's Latest Books

This episode was audio produced by Aaron Moring. Theme music is by Ilan Isakov. 

Tina Lifford is an actress, playwright and author. She currently plays Aunt Vi on OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network’s show Queen Sugar, and you might also recognize her from her roles on Scandal and Parenthood. She is also known behind the camera as a playwright, and author of The Little Book of Big Lies.

As you will find within moments of listening to Tina, she exudes positivity and light. In this episode we chat about her quarantine experience, her role as Aunt Vi on Queen Sugar, and ALL about inner health, well-being and the human experience. She talks about going from the surviving self to the thriving self, producing authentic art, cultivating inner resilience, and the unifying power of music. She unpacks the powerful phrase ”Up until now, from this point forward” and how daydreaming and reconnecting with gratitude can turn your day around. 

This conversation felt like a big warm hug for me and I hope listening in gives you this same comfort. 

This episode was audio produced by Aaron Moring. Theme music is by Ilan Isakov.

Gina Chavez is a bilingual singer-songwriter based in Austin, TX. 

Singing in both English and Spanish, her record Up.Rooted topped both the Amazon and Latin iTunes charts following a feature on NPR's All Things Considered. Her Tiny Desk concert made NPR’s top 15 of 2015.

In this wide-ranging conversation we talk about her Latin roots, releasing music during the pandemic, breaking through the noise as an independent artist, learning how to step back from the comparison game, and self-giving love. She also speaks on her most recent song Ella (about persisting in times of trouble), and her theme music on Brené Brown’s new podcast.

Where to find Gina:

Website

Instagram

Twitter

Lily King is the author of five award-winning novels including Euphoria which was named one of the 10 best books of 2014 by The New York Times. Her most recent novel Writers & Lovers was published in March this year, and I LOVED it. In addition to her novels, she has published many stories and essays including a piece for Modern Love (An Empty Heart Is One That Can Be Filled). If you haven’t read it already, it’s one of my favorites in the column.

In this episode we talk about her new book, how she’s coping during quarantine, and re-imaging her book tour, virtually. She packs so much wisdom into this conversation, including on what she really needed to hear as a young writer. 

I hope you are all staying as well as can be during this unsettling time and finding silver linings where you can. Getting to virtually meet Lily was one of my week’s highlights and I hope listening in makes you feel a little better, too.

Where to find Lily:

Website

Twitter

Instagram

Goodreads

This episode was audio produced by Aaron Moring. Theme music is by Ilan Isakov.

Under the name Quiet Creature, illustrator and fine artist Jane Beaird’s work has been featured by Glamour Magazine, Teen Vogue and highlighted by national political organizations,  celebrated actors, and prominent advocacy groups including Planned Parenthood and The Women's March. She made the cover art for this podcast, too! She also works in the Film and TV world as an actress and stand-in.

Jane is based in Brooklyn, NY but is currently quarantined in New Orleans. We talk about this unsettling time, and what it feels like to move through the world as  a highly sensitive soul. She also shares about being a visual artist, a stand-in for Anne Hathaway, and what it’s like working on a film set as an empath. 

One of the many things I loved about this episode is that we talked honestly about various shades of mental illness, and I so appreciate Jane being open about her own story with Persistent Depressive Disorder (also called Dysthymia).  

You know when you meet a new friend and it just feels like this immediate kinship and soul connection? That is exactly what it was like when we met, and I know you are going to fall in love with Jane, too.

Where to find Jane:

Website

Instagram

This episode was audio produced by Aaron Moring. Theme music by Ilan Isakov.

Letitia VanSant is a folk singer-songwriter based in Baltimore, MD. 

She has received many awards and accolades for her songwriting including being named among Paste Magazine’s “10 Country Artists to Watch” in 2020. Her new album Circadian was released last month, and is an honest and powerful reflection on significant themes.

In our conversation we touch on re-imagining dreams, quieting your inner critic, the delicate balance of holding people accountable for their actions while also leaving room for compassion, and the many layers of loneliness.

I know it’s a time of heightened anxiety for so many of us right now. Having a conversation with Letitia about topics outside of the pandemic was a welcome distraction for me, and I hope that listening in might be able to help you a little bit, too.

Where to find Letitia:

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

Website

This episode was audio produced by Aaron Moring. Theme Music is by Ilan Isakov.

Jessica Ciencin Henriquez is a Colombian-American writer and editor. Her personal essays and narrative journalism have appeared in the New York Times among many other publications. Her essays have also been featured in multiple anthologies, including Oprah's Little Guide to The Big Questions, and she is the author of the forthcoming memoir: If You Loved Me You Would Know.

Jess is also a wonderful writing teacher which is how we met! 

In this episode, we speak on growing up between two vastly different cultures, on the necessity of vulnerability in art, on the key element that helps transform pain into gratitude. She notes that all of her success has followed rejection and shares a wonderful story that serves as a reminder that when the door doesn’t open, it’s not your door, and something better is around the corner.  We also talk about our shared feeling towards the suggestion of growing a “thick skin” (spoiler, we don’t like it).

Jess drops so much wisdom as I knew she would. I always feel lighter and so inspired after talking to her and this was no exception. I’m thrilled for you to get to know her, too!

Where to find Jessica:

Website

Instagram

Twitter

This episode was audio produced by Aaron Moring. Theme music is by Ilan Isakov.

Allison (“Alli”) Russell is a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist in Birds of Chicago and Our Native Daughters. She is also a mother and describes herself as a “connection seeker.”

I recently sat down with Alli in New Orleans, and I was so grateful to spend this hour with her. Alli has an incredibly powerful story. To me, she is a shining example of someone who has walked through darkness and come out on the other side beaming with warmth and beauty.

In this episode you’ll hear Alli speak about her time in foster care, finding the strength to escape an abusive home at such a young age, on creating community, motherhood, finding love in chosen family, how music changed her life, and more.

Alli is an extraordinary artist and human. Throughout this conversation, as you’ll hear I laughed, I cried, I was so moved by Alli’s story. I know you will be too.

Where to find Birds of Chicago and Our Native Daughters:

Birds of Chicago Website

Birds of Chicago on Instagram

Birds of Chicago on Twitter

Our Native Daughters on NPR

This episode was audio produced by Aaron Moring. Theme music by Ilan Isakov.

Podcast webpage here.

Krista Tippett is the creator and host of On Being and a New York Times bestselling author. She radiates wisdom and generosity and is one of the wisest voices of our time. In 2014, President Obama awarded Krista the National Humanities Medal at the White House for “thoughtfully delving into the mysteries of human existence.”

In this conversation, we dive into the deeper meaning of the words “beauty” and “love.” We discuss cultivating qualities of character, going from, as Krista says, “wound to gift,” illuminating the quiet voices, and much more.

It’s hard for me to put into words how special this episode is to me. It’s one I will always cherish.

I’d like to extend my deepest gratitude to Krista and the entire team at On Being for welcoming me to their beautiful studio and my thanks to Chris Heagle for recording this episode.

Where to find Krista / On Being:

The On Being Project

On Being Instagram

On Being Twitter

On Being Facebook

Krista on Twitter

Krista’s most recent book: Becoming Wise: An Inquiry into the Mystery and Art of Living

This episode was recorded at On Being's studio by Chris Heagle, and edited by Aaron Moring. Theme music is by Ilan Isakov.

Zac Clark is a singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist based in Nashville. After seven years traveling the world as a member of Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness, Zac is leaving the band and heading out on his own with new music on the way. While co-writing on each Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness record, Zac released two solo records, 2015's "I Am a Guest" and 2012's "Young Volcanoes."  His self-titled album was released last year.

We recently sat down in LA and talked books, music, rock bottoms, and a whole lot more.

This episode was audio produced by Aaron Moring. Theme music is by Ilan Isakov.

Podcast Website here.