The Poetry Show: August 30, 2026 - Maya C. Popa by Radio Boise

Ali Ward is the Sustainability Supervisor for the Boise School District — and little do most of us know what that actually means.

Here's a fact that might surprise you: school districts account for one of the largest building footprints of any sector in the country. Nationally, K-12 schools make up nearly half the square footage of the entire commercial building sector. Right here in Boise, the school district manages 52 buildings. And that's exactly what makes Ali Ward's job so important.

First an educator, Ali found herself pulled into school green teams — and for the last four years, she's served as the district's sustainability manager. It hasn't been easy. But if you've got a kiddo in Boise schools, or you keep an eye on the news, you know the work BSD is doing in sustainability is making a visible impact: solar panels on the roof at Whittier Elementary, electric school buses on the road, and a push to teach students personal responsibility by putting them in charge of sustainability efforts at their own schools.

Ali Ward is a force to be reckoned with — leaning into community partnerships and our biggest resource of all: our kids.

So stick around — because in this episode, Ali's going to take us behind the scenes of what it really takes to make an entire school district more sustainable: the wins, the setbacks, and the surprisingly big role students play in making it happen. If you've ever wondered what's going on behind those solar panels and electric buses, this is the conversation for you.

Hosted by your Maestro Nocturnal, Esteban Anastasio. Eberhard Blum, flutist and visual artist, dabbles in some beautiful electronica, with Four Systems, from 1954. Followed that thought leader of yore, Marshall McLuhan, with, yep, you guessed it, The Medium is the Massage, the audio companion.

Hosted by Esteban Anastasio. The weird, beautiful music continues with free jazz revolutionary Andrew Hill and concludes with electronic pioneer Pauline Oliveros. Enjoy!

💛 Grief touches every one of us—but most of us are never really shown how to move through it.

And grief is about more than death.

It can follow divorce, losing a job, retirement, a health diagnosis, an empty nest, financial hardship, the end of a relationship, or the loss of trust, identity, hope, and expectations. 🌧️➡️🌤️

Grief is a normal and natural response to loss and change.

This week on Elementary Watson, Jo-Ellen Watson and Sheepdog talk about:

✔️ Why grief is so often misunderstood

✔️ The myths about simply “getting over it”

✔️ The difference between short-term coping and real recovery

✔️ What healing can actually look like

✔️ Practical ways to strengthen resilience and keep moving forward

One thing worth remembering:

✨ Grief does not mean something is wrong with you.

It means something mattered to you. ✨

🎙️ Join us for a conversation about living with loss without losing ourselves—and discovering how compassion, courage, and hope can help us move forward.

📻 Listen Tuesday from 4–5 PM on Radio Boise.

💬 Listener question: What kind of loss have you experienced that others didn’t understand as grief?

#ElementaryWatson #GriefRecovery #HealingAfterLoss #EmotionalWellness #LifeTransitions #Resilience #CopingWithLoss #MentalHealthMatters #RadioBoise #grayintogold

🌿✨ What does it really mean to thrive?

This week on Elementary Watson, Jo-Ellen Watson and Sheepdog welcome Kaelyn Rogers of Upward Inertia to share the story behind one of the Treasure Valley’s most inspiring community events:

THRIVE: Community Wellness Festival! 🎙️💚

📅 Saturday, September 26

⏰ 10:00 AM–5:00 PM

📍 JUMP in Boise

🎟️ FREE admission!

Explore yoga and movement, mental wellness, nutrition, financial wellness, family-friendly activities, local nonprofits, community resources, and more than 70 local wellness vendors! 🧘‍♀️🥗🤝

Even better, proceeds support Upward Inertia, a local nonprofit bringing trauma-informed wellness education and yoga therapy to underserved communities. 🌟

Wellness is not only about feeling better—it is about creating stronger, healthier communities together. One day, one conversation, and one connection can make a lasting difference. 💛

📻 Tune in to Elementary Watson this Tuesday from 4–5 PM on Radio Boise and discover how our community can thrive together!

#ElementaryWatson #THRIVEFestival #CommunityWellness #BoiseEvents

💛 Grief is something every person experiences—but few of us are ever taught how to navigate it.

And grief isn’t only about death.

It can appear after divorce, job loss, retirement, a health diagnosis, an empty nest, financial setbacks, broken relationships, or the loss of trust, identity, hope, and expectations. 🌧️➡️🌤️

Grief is the normal and natural response to change and loss.

This week on Elementary Watson, Jo-Ellen Watson and Sheepdog explore:

✔️ Why grief is often misunderstood

✔️ The myths surrounding “getting over it”

✔️ Short-term coping versus true recovery

✔️ What healing can really look like

✔️ Practical ways to build resilience and move forward

One of the most important things to remember:

✨ Your grief is not a sign that something is wrong with you.

It is evidence that something mattered. ✨

🎙️ Join us as we talk about carrying loss without losing ourselves—and finding a path forward with compassion, courage, and hope.

📻 Tune in Tuesday from 4–5 PM on Radio Boise.

💬 Listener question: What loss have you experienced that the people around you didn’t recognize as grief?

#ElementaryWatson #GriefRecovery #HealingAfterLoss #EmotionalWellness #LifeTransitions

AMERICA AT 250: THE GREAT EXPERIMENT & THE POWER OF BOTH/AND 🇺🇸

As America approaches its 250th birthday, we’re asking a different kind of question on this week’s Elementary Watson:

What can the story of America teach us about living our best lives?

Too often, we’re told we must choose between two extremes:

America is either great or flawed.

History is either something to celebrate or something to regret.

People are either right or wrong.

But life—and democracy—are rarely that simple.

This week, we’ll explore the power of both/and thinking:

✨ America is both inspiring and imperfect.

✨ A nation of extraordinary achievement and unfinished work.

✨ A story of remarkable progress and ongoing challenges.

We’ll discuss:

🔹 Why America has been called “The Great Experiment”

🔹 The ideals that shaped our nation

🔹 Where we’ve succeeded and where we’ve fallen short

🔹 Why psychological maturity requires us to hold complexity

🔹 What each of us can do to help build a stronger future

Because democracy isn’t a spectator sport.

And neither is living a meaningful life.

Join us as we explore how curiosity, humility, community, and courage can help us become better citizens, better neighbors, and better human beings.

📻 Elementary Watson

Strategically Living Your Best Life

Tuesday • 4–5 PM MST

Radio Boise KRBX 89.9 & 93.3 FM

🧠💙 Finding the Right Therapist: A Listener’s Guide to Getting Help 💙🧠

Trying to find a therapist can feel overwhelming. 🤔

Licensed Clinical Social Worker? Counselor? Psychologist? Psychiatrist? Marriage & Family Therapist? Coach?

How do you know who’s the right fit for you? And what if you’ve tried therapy before and it didn’t go well?

This week on Elementary Watson, Dr. Jo-Ellen Watson and Sheepdog break it all down in plain English. 🎙️✨

We’ll talk about:

✅ Different kinds of therapists and what they do

✅ The difference between therapy and coaching

✅ How to find a therapist

✅ Questions to ask before you start

✅ Red flags 🚩 and green flags 🟢

✅ How to know if therapy is actually helping

Because getting help shouldn’t feel confusing. And one bad therapy experience doesn’t mean therapy isn’t for you. 💚

Join us for a practical, compassionate conversation designed to help you find the support you deserve.

📻 Tune in Tuesday from 4–5 PM on @RadioBoise.

#ElementaryWatson #MentalHealth #Therapy #Counseling #MentalWellness #SelfCare #PersonalGrowth #RadioBoise #FindingHelp #grayintogold

💛 Grief is something every person experiences—but few of us are ever taught how to navigate it.

And grief isn’t only about death.

It can appear after divorce, job loss, retirement, a health diagnosis, an empty nest, financial setbacks, broken relationships, or the loss of trust, identity, hope, and expectations. 🌧️➡️🌤️

Grief is the normal and natural response to change and loss.

This week on Elementary Watson, Jo-Ellen Watson and Sheepdog explore:

✔️ Why grief is often misunderstood

✔️ The myths surrounding “getting over it”

✔️ Short-term coping versus true recovery

✔️ What healing can really look like

✔️ Practical ways to build resilience and move forward

One of the most important things to remember:

✨ Your grief is not a sign that something is wrong with you.

It is evidence that something mattered. ✨

🎙️ Join us as we talk about carrying loss without losing ourselves—and finding a path forward with compassion, courage, and hope.

📻 Tune in Tuesday from 4–5 PM on Radio Boise.

💬 Listener question: What loss have you experienced that the people around you didn’t recognize as grief?

#ElementaryWatson #GriefRecovery #HealingAfterLoss #EmotionalWellness #LifeTransitions