READ TO ME with Becky Karush

Today we get to chat with my friend, Ann Braden — activist, founder of several grassroots organizations, podcaster, teacher, and author! I read (and cried over) an excerpt from her new book, Flight Of A Puffin, last week.

Today we talk to Author Ann about bringing characters to life, loving them, and giving them hope. About raising a book up with a village to support you. About reading with kids across the country. And more!

Join us for our Summer Writing Salons! www.readtomepod.com/gateless-writing-salons

Ann Braden made a book out of heartstrings and glitter. FLIGHT OF THE PUFFIN, for middle-grade readers, is both tough and whimsical, following four young people who are hurt and alone — until one tiny, delightfully illustrated act of kindness connects them. Changes them. Changes their communities. Lifts them up.

Do you know how rare that is, to make a book about moral courage and love that feels like a hummingbird? Ann Braden did, and we get to love why. And cry big, sloppy, happy heart tears.

Today on READ TO ME, we love WHY SOLANGE MATTERS by Stephanie Phillips. We love the mix of history, memoir, music writing, future-dreaming, feminism, and punk. We love the love for Solange Knowles and her music. We love the celebration of Black feminism and Black feminist punk music. We love sentences that are clear runways for passionate ideas.

Today we get to hang out with musician, fiber artist, medium, radio host, and all-around star Jocelyn Mackenzie — a creative and intuitive mind living in the body of a control freak with a love of spreadsheets! ⠀ ⠀ And if you think those two things cannot possibly exist in the same person, think again. Because she is here. She is real. And she is wonderful. Listen in and then get Jocelyn's new album, PUSH, from Righteous Babe Records.

Today on READ TO ME, we love a song about dental hygiene, the constrictions of modern adult life, the misappropriation of the human stress response, and the extravagant goddess-like holiness that is our true nature.

And mango leather.

Naturally.

Come love MANGO LEATHER by Jocelyn Mackenzie, an explosively talented, generous, and blooming beautiful artist who will blow up your preconditioned mind while wearing a glittering headdress.

Two introverts walk into a bar…well, to bring this up to date in the pandemic world - two introverts connect on zoom and talk of hope, connecting with nature, and being present!

A familiar name also pops up (Katherine May), proving it is a small world!

A world that needs love and James Crews shows us how!

What better way to celebrate National Poetry Month than to delve into an anthology of over 100 poems, on HOW TO LOVE THE WORLD, edited by poet James Crews!

We love on the introduction, that reminds us poetry can be for everyone, everyday, and the wonderful poem WONDEROUS by Sarah Freligh, sets the scene for the poems to come.

In this episode, I speak to Diana Whitney, editor of YOU DON'T NEED TO BE EVERYTHING, which we read FIVE poems from earlier this week and, my friend!

We talk about night time being a sacred space, misgendered barn cats, standing up for the principles within your work and welcoming home the outsider in you.

Come listen!

Imagine a collection of poems deftly organized around 8 emotional experiences. Imagine delving into each of those emotions and finding … you. Voices that speak to you. Lonely voices, strong voices, angry, curious.

Poems that you read with your heart and body. Poems that affect you.

This is YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE EVERYTHING: Poems for Girls Becoming Themselves, edited by Diana Whitney.

SOPHIA by Jen Goldman is a sensuous journey in to a world of where there are beautiful sounds like 'gaggle of grandmother's giggle…silicone sillies…the laughter is baked into the linguine'. And the indulgent, luxury of leather handbags, inky black fountain pens with gold edges and crisp, white notecards. Oh and the FOOD! Well…you'll want to eat a big bowl of pasta while listening to this!