Poetry is Freedom

I spoke with Maine's Seventh Poet Laureate this week. That's the tweet.This episode was so lovely, but I should issues a soft trigger warning for light discussion about mental health issues and s*icide. They were so much fun to speak with and I know you are going to love Maya. Her new book Judas & Suicide is available for pre-order right now!Please support Maya on the interwebs:https://www.mayawilliamspoet.com/Twitter: @emmdubb16Instagram: @emmdubb16If you want to revisit the reflection q...

This week I am joined by an RDU poet who has some amazing insights into healing, God, and poetry: LB! We had a fun conversation and I share a poem about my mom's favorite movie titled "Sophia's Advice". Tune in!Please show your love to LB by following him on the interwebs:Instagram: @lyricallyblessed7 If you're in the Durham, North Carolina area then please support the open mic nights thrown by Jambalaya Soul and support the work of the Bull City Slam Team! If you want to revisit the ref...

We're talking family, representation, and of course, healing! Join me and my lovely guest and fellow scholar in the ivory tower: Jamie Cooley. (She does research on poetry too!) We had a great conversation and I share one of my favorite poems that I wrote earlier this year titled "Ain't we all lost?" Tune in!Please show your love to Jamie by following her on the interwebs:jamieacooley.work Twitter: @atjamieacooleyIf you want to revisit the reflection questions, access links to the featu...

"The page has already served me..." Just a snippet of the wisdom shared with us this week as we talk about writing, journaling, Toni Cade Bambara, and healing! The second season is off to a great start with the incomparable talents of Courtney Faye Taylor! Courtney's new book "Concentrate" can be pre-ordered here and lookout for its release date on November 1! Her book has already won the Cave Canem Poetry Prize and she was a finalist for the National Poetry Series. You don’t want to mis...

I'm back! I am super excited to share this new season with you. The theme for this season is healing. *deep breath* I have a few guests this season and of course you will still hear some original poems from me, your host, LaRisa Denise. Stay tuned for the season premiere on October 26. (the day after my birthday🥳) Don't forget to share the show with all your loved ones! Now is the perfect time to catch up on last season's episodes if you haven't already.If you want to revisit the reflect...

It's the season finale!!! I can't believe we made it this far. Thank you for listening and reviewing and commenting and cheering me on. Please make sure to send the show to a friend who hasn't tuned in yet! As I begin to prep for my second season, stay tuned into the life of the show on Instagram.If you want to revisit my reflection questions, access links to the featured poems, and find the archives of my original poetry from the show head over to poetryisfreedom.com !!Follow the show on Ins...

We are almost at the end of the season and I am so sad! This week we are talking all things environmental, indigenous, and lovely. We are talking about relationship to the planet and how poetry is a formidable answer to the question: what can we do? I read a poem from Dr. Craig Santos Perez and share a poem of my own titled "On Changes in Climate and Other Investments". If you want to revisit my reflection questions, access links to the featured poems, and find the archives of my origina...

This week we are talking about these vessels --- this bag of bones we call a body! I do something a little different this week by reciting two different poems: one from Lucille Clifton and the other from George Elliott Clarke. We're almost near the end of my first season and I'm so grateful for your support. I also recite my poem "Ms. Maybelline". If you want to revisit my reflection questions, access links to the featured poems, and find the archives of my original poetry from the show ...

Tune in this week as I talk about adultinggggggg. I don't know about you, but this thing ain't easy?!?! Listen to me recite a poem by THEE Audre Lorde and talk about my own piece in honor of Cicely Tyson. You don't want to miss this week....TRUST ME! We only have three more episodes after this, so please share with your friends and family. If you want to revisit my reflection questions, access links to the featured poems, and find the archives of my original poetry from the show head ove...

If you're clutching your pearls at this title you don't know the half of it! Tune in to this week's episode when I read a poem by Aricka Foreman and share my own thoughts on sex, virginity, relationships, and all the things. If you want to revisit my reflection questions, access links to the featured poems, and find the archives of my original poetry from the show head over to poetryisfreedom.com !!Follow the show on Instagram @poetryisfreedom.Twitter @saylarisadenise and @poetryisfreepo...