Today, I sit down for my first solo episode with this podcast!

In this highly vulnerable episode, I share about the life changing events over the past two years of my life, including losing a family member and then shortly after, losing a friend to suicide. These two events catapulted my life into a whole new state of being. In order to understand the type of person I am and the type of poetry I create, you have to first understand some of the things that have happened to me & how I've allowed them to change me for the better.

I originally wanted to share about my introduction to poetry 10 years ago, to give insight into the kind of work I've made and the type of thing I look for in my career. In sitting down to record, I quickly realised that 1: that is quite frankly, too much information to cram into one episode and that 2: this is far more interesting!

Trigger warning: I will share quite deeply about my experiences with grief / suicide / bereavement due to suicide amongst other difficult subjects! While normally I would add a timestamp to those moments, the majority of this podcast will centre around those theme. If that is too much for you today, consider skipping this one and checking out one with one of our brilliant guests. Keep yourselves safe! 

Please let me know what you think & thank you for allowing me to be so vulnerable.

Lyndsay xo

Salt Water Podcast is available on:
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Say hi on Instagram: saltwaterpoetry
TikTok: lyndsaywritespoems

Resources

Cruse Bereavement Support

0808 808 1677
cruse.org.uk
Information and support after a bereavement.


Samaritans

116 123 (freephone)
[email protected]
Freepost SAMARITANS LETTERS
samaritans.org

Samaritans are open 24/7 for anyone who needs to talk. You can visit some Samaritans branches in person. Samaritans also have a Welsh Language Line on 0808 164 0123 (7pm–11pm every day).


Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide (SOBS)

uk-sobs.org.uk
Emotional and practical support and local groups for anyone bereaved or affected by suicide.

Yes yes, today we talk all things: defund the police, reclaim pride, the prison system, the importance of place (aka growing up as a St Johns emo) "Scouse" as a culture, the right to protest, queer liberation and radical authenticity with Felix Mufti!

Whether you find Felix go-go dancing at your fave gay bar, rallying the crowds at a protest he's organised, or performing in a balaclava & stiletto nails as part of his vampy alter-ego St Juicy, I think we can all agree that Felix is a walking reminder of the power of being yourself! 

Felix is poet, activist and professional chaos-causer, he is the founder of Transcend Theatre Company and represented by Queer House London. Find him on IG: @felixmufti or @transcendtheatre and show him some love.

His most recent work for Transpose Festival at The Barbican can be found here:

Catch up with Reclaim Pride: @reclaimpridelvr 

Photo of Felix by: @sian.dowdeswell

We sit down and really get into it in this episode - I strongly recommend you give it a second listen, as there's a lot to digest! 

Available wherever podcasts are listened. Don't forget you can watch the episode over on YouTube - look for Salt Water Podcast!

Follow us over on IG: @saltwaterpoetry 

Or my personal IG & TikTok: @lyndsaywritespoems
lyndsaywritespoems.com

I am so excited for you to hear todays episode with the wonderful Amerah Saleh! Amerah is full of warmth and charisma, as I think you'll spot pretty early on! With humour and passion, she talks us through some family stories, her writing process and her most favourite achievements! This was actually the first episode I ever filmed for the podcast so it's been quite special for me to look back and compare my hosting styles. Amerah reads a poem from her book "I am Not From Here" and we even get into some deep chats on family (both of us having stories around adoption) too. I'd like to thank Amerah for being such a natural storyteller as I think this episode flew by with ease!

Find more of her work here: 

Website: amerahsaleh.co.uk 
Instagram: @voiceofthepoets

Amerah is a spoken word artist championing the Birmingham poetry scene, Amerah’s writing and performance has been stunning audiences for quite some time. An artist who mixes passion with fiery intelligence and an uncanny insight into what it is to be human. She works in theatre, performance and poetry, aiming to find new ways to engage communities and share secrets from within her own community. Poetry has taken her around the world sharing stories with people and also gathering them for her own suitcase when she needs them. 

Amerah Saleh has performed around the country at events and festivals and has received commissions from Sampad, Birmingham 2022 (Commonwealth Games), BMAG, mac Birmingham, Channel 4, Eastern Electronic Festival, TedxBrum, Library of Birmingham, REP Theatre and Watford Palace. She has performed around the world, sharing her stories and connecting with people. She has performed and created pieces in Birmingham, London, Oxford, Preston, Scotland, Ireland, Poland, Bosnia, New York, Budapest, Austria, Belgium and San Francisco.

Yes yes, today we sit down and talk all things motivation and poetry with artist Joseph Roberts. One of the things I love the most about Joe is how willing he is to chase his dreams. He doesn't wait around for things to happen, instead he takes action to achieve what he wants. With clever rhymes and philosophical insights,  I think Joe is really one to watch & that he's going to go far! 

Joe has a motivational edge to his approach and I think you'll notice this in the episode too. Today we talk about masculinity in todays culture, the importance of knowledge, Joes beginnings in poetry, his influences and his plans for the future. An insightful conversation with a genuinely sound lad.

Joseph Roberts is an 18 year old Spoken Word Artist/Poet from Liverpool. He is at Liverpool John Moores University studying English Literature & Creative Writing. He has performed on BBC Radio Merseyside and has accumulated thousands of views from his Spoken Word videos through various social media platforms. He has now being going into schools and providing poetry workshops in the community. He writes passionately about identity, mental health, masculinity, the environment and the harsh reality of the capitalist world surrounding us. His style of poetry breaks stereotypes, tests the ethics and morals of the audience through philosophical concepts and nuance perspectives. His poems are simply spoken out loud and simply displayed on the page, yet full of complexity for those who desire to listen carefully and read deeper.

FB / IG: officialjosephroberts
YouTube: Joseph Roberts

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Follow them on Instagram: @Maria_and_craigs

Follow us on Instagram: saltwaterpoetry or to keep up with me: lyndsaywritespoems

Today I sat down with Amina Atiq and we reminisce on her career trajectory over the past almost 10 years! Amina shares about her arrival to poetry from a place of activism, and goes on to explain what sharing her truth and owning her narrative means to her today! This was a lovely nostalgic one for me as I have known Amina ever since we first got started with poetry! To see someone carve out a career for themselves, expand into different art forms and grow as a woman is inspiring! 

Amina Atiq is a Yemeni- Scouse poet, performance artist, creative
practitioner & award-winning community activist. BBC Words First Finalist 2019 & Young Associate & Anti-racism group member for Curious Minds. Artist fellow of DadaFest & Weston Jerwood Creative programme. 

Currently working in-collaboration with 20 Stories High, a new public arts project coming to Liverpool 8 working closley with Muslim Young people, titled Poets' Gift. New work can be seen at the Imperial War Museum One Story, Many Voices installation, also a selection of poems at  the Sutton Manor: Just Beyond Reach. Broken Biscuits & Collection of Works coming to Dada International Festival 2022. 

Twitter: @aminaatiqpoetry
Website: aminaatiq.org

Photo credit of Amina: Robin Clewley
Instagram @robinclewleyphotography

This episode is brought to you by Maria & Craigs, a distilled non-alcoholic CBD botanical spirit.

Maria & Craig’s combine premium CBD with natural hemp, distilled juniper, sage, camomile and orange blossom resulting in a fresh and bittersweet botanical blend best enjoyed mixed with a premium tonic or in a cocktail. Very much like your favourite gin. 

We all lead busy, sometimes stressful, lives and for many of us having a drink with friends at the end of the day is a welcomed treat and with Maria & Craig’s you can have just that but without alcohol and with the added benefit of CBD. 

Maria & Craig’s won’t intoxicate you but it will help you unwind after a busy day and it is delicious too.  

To get 15% off your purchase head over to: https://maria-and-craigs.com and use the code: SALT15 at checkout. Valid until 3rd May.

Follow them on Instagram: @Maria_and_craigs

Follow us on Instagram! @saltwaterpoetry

Today, I sat down with Gerry Clarkson. We go deep into Gerrys writing process, his experience growing up, his current delve into playwriting and what he learned about masculinity from being a single parent to two girls! This conversation felt really important and I think you’ll agree that the words between us just flow! Be sure to let us know what you think.

This Episode is brought to you by Maria & Craigs, a distilled non-alcoholic CBD botanical spirit.

Maria & Craig’s combine premium CBD with natural hemp, distilled juniper, sage, camomile and orange blossom resulting in a fresh and bittersweet botanical blend best enjoyed mixed with a premium tonic or in a cocktail. Very much like your favourite gin.

We all lead busy, sometimes stressful, lives and for many of us having a drink with friends at the end of the day is a welcomed treat and with Maria & Craig’s you can have just that but without alcohol and with the added benefit of CBD.

Maria & Craig’s won’t intoxicate you but it will help you unwind after a busy day and it is delicious too.

To get 15% off your purchase of a bottle of Maria & Craigs CBD Botanical Spirit, head over to: maria-and-craigs.com and use the code: SALT15 at checkout. Valid until 3rd may.

Be sure to tag us in any pictures of the drinks and cocktails you make, and let us know what you think!

Thank you for being here for this episode, and enjoy.