Reality Poets TV

This podcast episode was recorded before the sudden passing of Reality Poets TV co-host, LeVar "Var" Lawrence. Var passed away on May 11th after a brief illness and his loss is devastating to all who loved him.

Alex Eshelman joined Vince and Var for his second appearance on Reality Poets TV, though he's been behind the camera for it all. This month, Alex officially transitioned from his role as OPEN DOORS Associate Director after being on the team for six years. In this episode, they talk about Alex's next career move, what his time at OPEN DOORS has meant, goals for the future, and more.

The transcript for this episode is available on Google Docs and the video version is available on Youtube.

Reality Poets TV is a podcast from OPEN DOORS, a collective of disabled artists, nursing home residents, advocates and allies led by the experiences and voices of the Reality Poets. Hosted by Vince Pierce and Var Viggz. Available in audio format on all podcast platforms and in video format on YouTube. New episodes drop on the last Friday of every month!

• Learn more about OPEN DOORS, the Reality Poets, and #NursingHomeLivesMatter at OpenDoorsNYC.org

• Watch the award-winning documentary Fire Through Dry Grass at FireThroughDryGrass.com

• Follow OPEN DOORS on Instagram and Facebook @OpenDoorsNYC and Fire Through Dry Grass on Instagram @FTDGfilm and Facebook @FireThroughDryGrass

"Boss lady" is on the podcast this episode! Jennilie Brewster sits down with Vince and Var to talk about starting OPEN DOORS, their work together over the past 10 years, and her career as an aritst.

Jennilie Brewster is an artist who works in various forms, often exploring connections between our inner and outer landscapes. Her paintings and installations have been shown widely. Her essays have appeared on Catapult and The Rumpus. She started the disability justice-and-arts organization OPEN DOORS NYC and produced the documentary film Fire Through Dry Grass, which was a New York Times Critic's Pick, won the Jury Award for Best Documentary at BlackStar Film Festival, and aired on PBS nationally. As the recipient of many residencies, grants, and awards, Jennilie supports other artists, film teams, and community-based organizations with articulating their visions, building effective, caring systems, and securing funding for their work. Currently, she's writing a memoir about trauma, art, and landscape.

The transcript for this episode is available on Google Docs and the video version is available on Youtube.

Reality Poets TV is a podcast from OPEN DOORS, a collective of disabled artists, nursing home residents, advocates and allies led by the experiences and voices of the Reality Poets. Hosted by Vince Pierce and Var Viggz. Available in audio format on all podcast platforms and in video format on YouTube. New episodes drop on the last Friday of every month!

• Learn more about OPEN DOORS, the Reality Poets, and #NursingHomeLivesMatter at OpenDoorsNYC.org

• Watch the award-winning documentary Fire Through Dry Grass at FireThroughDryGrass.com

• Follow OPEN DOORS on Instagram and Facebook @OpenDoorsNYC and Fire Through Dry Grass on Instagram @FTDGfilm and Facebook @FireThroughDryGrass

We're spotlighting a Freestyle Friday conversation with Weston Gehman! Listen here or watch on YouTube.

Weston is the founder of Stairs2Chairs, born with a disability called Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). Weston has been determined to bring positive change to individuals just like him based on his first-hand experience of living with a disability. This understanding separates him from most organizational founders. He recognized the need for an organization like Stairs2Chairs as a young child, as he was unable to enter certain facilities due to a lack of handicap accessible accommodations. Since graduating from Columbia Southern University with a Bachelor's Degree in Finance, Weston has built the connections necessary to operate a successful organization.

Freestyle Friday is a virtual hangout for artists & activists hoted every week by OPEN DOORS. You're invited! Share your artwork and experience, meet future collaborators, get tips on pursuing art and activism professionally. Contact [email protected] for details.

• Learn more about OPEN DOORS, the Reality Poets, and #NursingHomeLivesMatter at OpenDoorsNYC.org

• Watch the award-winning documentary Fire Through Dry Grass at FireThroughDryGrass.com

• Follow OPEN DOORS on Instagram, X, and Facebook @OpenDoorsNYC and Fire Through Dry Grass @FTDGfilm

Our podcast editor stepped out from behind the scenes to join us on the mic this episode! Vince and Var interview Kylie Miller about editing Reality Poets TV, getting connected with OPEN DOORS, and working with Judy Heumann.

Kylie Miller is a Signal Award–winning and Shorty Award nominated audio journalist and social media specialist. She frequently works at the intersection of podcasting and disability advocacy, working as a producer on Judy Heumann's The Heumann Perspective, OPEN DOORS' Reality Poets TV, and The Wheelchair Activist. Her narrative audio work has been featured on SiriusXM's Atlas Obscura, The NY Climate Exchange's Climate Story Project, and on the Silver Podcast Network as the first place winner of the June 2024 Sonic Dash.

The transcript for this episode is available on Google Docs and the video version is available on Youtube.

Reality Poets TV is a podcast from OPEN DOORS, a collective of disabled artists, nursing home residents, advocates and allies led by the experiences and voices of the Reality Poets. Hosted by Vince Pierce and Var Viggz. Available in audio format on all podcast platforms and in video format on YouTube. New episodes drop on the last Friday of every month!

• Learn more about OPEN DOORS, the Reality Poets, and #NursingHomeLivesMatter at OpenDoorsNYC.org

• Watch the award-winning documentary Fire Through Dry Grass at FireThroughDryGrass.com

• Follow OPEN DOORS on Instagram and Facebook @OpenDoorsNYC and Fire Through Dry Grass on Instagram @FTDGfilm and Facebook @FireThroughDryGrass

Reality Poets TV is back with the first episode of 2026! Vince and Var chat with Reality Poet Theresa Williams about joining the group, her upbringing, and the future of OPEN DOORS.

Theresa grew up in Ghana, and when she was a teenager moved to Washington DC and later Queens, NY. In 2003, an illness left her unable to walk. She became an advocate for herself and her friends. Theresa joined OPEN DOORS in December 2021. She is passionate about disability justice, writing poetry, and reading non-fiction books. Theresa also loves to volunteer. She hopes to become an advocate for people with disabilities and work with the United Nations. She studies law and society at John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

The transcript for this episode is available on Google Docs and the video version is available on Youtube.

Reality Poets TV is a podcast from OPEN DOORS, a collective of disabled artists, nursing home residents, advocates and allies led by the experiences and voices of the Reality Poets. Hosted by Vince Pierce and Var Viggz. Available in audio format on all podcast platforms and in video format on YouTube. New episodes drop on the last Friday of every month!

• Learn more about OPEN DOORS, the Reality Poets, and #NursingHomeLivesMatter at OpenDoorsNYC.org

• Watch the award-winning documentary Fire Through Dry Grass at FireThroughDryGrass.com

• Follow OPEN DOORS on Instagram and Facebook @OpenDoorsNYC and Fire Through Dry Grass on Instagram @FTDGfilm and Facebook @FireThroughDryGrass

It's our final episode of 2025! Vince and Var chat about their holiday plans with family, share stories from their youth, discuss AI and music, and look ahead at 2026 which marks the 10 year anniversary of OPEN DOORS 10. Stay tuned for more Reality Poets TV in the New Year!

The transcript for this episode is available on Google Docs and the video version is available on Youtube.

Reality Poets TV is a podcast from OPEN DOORS, a collective of disabled artists, nursing home residents, advocates and allies led by the experiences and voices of the Reality Poets. Hosted by Vince Pierce and Var Viggz. Available in audio format on all podcast platforms and in video format on YouTube. New episodes drop on the last Friday of every month!

• Learn more about OPEN DOORS, the Reality Poets, and #NursingHomeLivesMatter at OpenDoorsNYC.org

• Watch the award-winning documentary Fire Through Dry Grass at FireThroughDryGrass.com

• Follow OPEN DOORS on Instagram and Facebook @OpenDoorsNYC and Fire Through Dry Grass on Instagram @FTDGfilm and Facebook @FireThroughDryGrass.

This episode, Vince and Var are chatting with author, speaker, and real estate broker Jeffery Williams! They talk about the imporance of education and community for newly injured people, Jeff's journey as an author and real estate broker, and much more.

The transcript for this episode is available on Google Docs and the video version is available on Youtube.

Reality Poets TV is a podcast from OPEN DOORS, a collective of disabled artists, nursing home residents, advocates and allies led by the experiences and voices of the Reality Poets. Hosted by Vince Pierce and Var Viggz. Available in audio format on all podcast platforms and in video format on YouTube. New episodes drop on the last Friday of every month!

• Learn more about OPEN DOORS, the Reality Poets, and #NursingHomeLivesMatter at OpenDoorsNYC.org

• Watch the award-winning documentary Fire Through Dry Grass at FireThroughDryGrass.com

• Follow OPEN DOORS on Instagram and Facebook @OpenDoorsNYC and Fire Through Dry Grass on Instagram @FTDGfilm and Facebook @FireThroughDryGrass.

We've got a special guest for episode #10... Live Mula aka Chapo! Vince and Var talk with him about all things hip-hop, artistry and authenticity. Check out his new album Sinners!

The transcript for this episode is available on Google Docs and the video version is available on Youtube.

Reality Poets TV is a podcast from OPEN DOORS, a collective of disabled artists, nursing home residents, advocates and allies led by the experiences and voices of the Reality Poets. Hosted by Vince Pierce and Var Viggz. Available in audio format on all podcast platforms and in video format on YouTube. New episodes drop on the last Friday of every month!

• Learn more about OPEN DOORS, the Reality Poets, and #NursingHomeLivesMatter at OpenDoorsNYC.org

• Watch the award-winning documentary Fire Through Dry Grass at FireThroughDryGrass.com

• Follow OPEN DOORS on Instagram and Facebook @OpenDoorsNYC and Fire Through Dry Grass on Instagram @FTDGfilm and Facebook @FireThroughDryGrass.

This episode, Vince and Var interview Edward Funches, the founder of Inclusion Marketing and Advertising Group. Take a listen to learn about Edward's work, backstory, and more.

The transcript for this episode is available on Google Docs and the video version is available on Youtube.

Reality Poets TV is a podcast from OPEN DOORS, a collective of disabled artists, nursing home residents, advocates and allies led by the experiences and voices of the Reality Poets. Hosted by Vince Pierce and Var Viggz. Available in audio format on all podcast platforms and in video format on YouTube. New episodes drop on the last Friday of every month!

• Learn more about OPEN DOORS, the Reality Poets, and #NursingHomeLivesMatter at OpenDoorsNYC.org

• Watch the award-winning documentary Fire Through Dry Grass at FireThroughDryGrass.com

• Follow OPEN DOORS on Instagram and Facebook @OpenDoorsNYC and Fire Through Dry Grass on Instagram @FTDGfilm and Facebook @FireThroughDryGrass.

We're wrapping up summer with this podcast episode featuring our two summer interns, Owen and Thomas! They each talk with Vince and Var about their college experience, how they came to OPEN DOORS, what they hope for their futures, and more.

The transcript for this episode is available on Google Docs and the video version is available on Youtube.

Reality Poets TV is a podcast from OPEN DOORS, a collective of disabled artists, nursing home residents, advocates and allies led by the experiences and voices of the Reality Poets. Hosted by Vince Pierce and Var Viggz. Available in audio format on all podcast platforms and in video format on YouTube. New episodes drop on the last Friday of every month!

• Learn more about OPEN DOORS, the Reality Poets, and #NursingHomeLivesMatter at OpenDoorsNYC.org

• Watch the award-winning documentary Fire Through Dry Grass at FireThroughDryGrass.com

• Follow OPEN DOORS on Instagram and Facebook @OpenDoorsNYC and Fire Through Dry Grass on Instagram @FTDGfilm and Facebook @FireThroughDryGrass.