Street Poets Podcast

In our season-ending cross-over episode which first aired on the podcast “I’m No Hero,” Street Poets Founder and former Executive Director Chris Henrikson shares some of the challenges, joys and hard-won wisdom from Street Poets’ early days - in conversation with our former associate director, comedy writer Justin Heimberg (a.k.a. Justy Jones). Street Poets has come a long way since Chris first began teaching poetry to the incarcerated boys at Camp Fred Miller (Los Angeles County Probat...

This episode illuminates the inspiring origin story of Street Poets' former Artistic Director, poet/author and Minister of Metaphor, Barbara Fant. Since her early days growing up in Youngstown, Ohio, Barbara has followed her calling – the transformational practice of poetry – through hardship and healing, darkness and light, to the cafe open-mics of Columbus to West Africa to our City of Angels and beyond. Barbara's journey is a celebration of the power of the Word. It's a r...

"THE BURNING RIVER," an origin story for aspiring adults, was conceived as a narrative prayer for transformation & peace. Inspired by the many traditional stories and songs from around the world that have helped us to remember who we are, and are becoming, here at Street Poets, "The Burning River" is a fresh fable fed by ancient roots. We hope, as you listen, you'll find some thread of your own story, and of our greater human story, within it. A big THANK YOU to mythologi...

In this inspiring episode, veteran Street Poet David Sanchez remembers his epic journey from the streets of South Central L.A. to the confines of Central Juvenile Hall to the wilderness of the Rocky Mountains and California backcountry to the organic gardens that have become both his passion and his vocation. As the founder of SEED & SOL ORGANIC GARDENING, David stands today as a living testament to the transformational power of poetry and the natural world. We hope his story ...

In this insightful, music-infused origin story, rapper and current Street Poets board member Chirag Menon a.k.a. CHEE MALABAR breaks down his journey from India to inner-city America at the age of 12, and the role that hip-hop played in his healing, political awakening and evolution as a man. Today, Chee serves as a principal in the well-respected consulting firm, THIRD SETTLEMENTS, while continuing to make music that inspires change and challenges the status quo.This STREET POETS PODCA...

Street Poets has been blessed to have many powerful female leaders, healers, writers and teaching artists steward our creative community forward over the past 25 years. Inspired by the saying "each one, teach one," SISTERS IN RHYME amplifies the original poetry, music and wisdom of three of Street Poets' most gifted co-creators, past and present: spoken-word artist/poet and former Program Director MAYDA DEL VALLE, poet/rapper/DJ/producer/dancer/filmmaker and current program coordinator ...

If Street Poets had a Hall of Fame, LUIS J. RODRIGUEZ would be one of the very first writers our community would choose to honor with enshrinement. Luis is the former Poet Laureate of Los Angeles and the acclaimed author of 16 books, including the best-selling memoir "Always Running: La Vida Loca, Gang Days in L.A.," known anecdotally as the most stolen book in Los Angeles Public Library history. In this first installment in our "Fireside" series of conversations with elders, poe...

In this inspiring, wisdom-infused episode, poet/storyteller/author/educator FRANK “BUSSTOP PROPHET" ESCAMILLA, our beloved Director of School Programs, is joined by Street Poet Jaylen Poole for a heart-warming, soul-stirring conversation about the healing power of poetry, storytelling and Nerd Culture in the ‘hood. If your inner child hasn't been out to play in awhile, or if you’re in need of a vaccine against bitterness and cynicism in these challenging times, just open your ears; we g...

Street Poets founding member TAYLOR CODE MAXIE Jr. reflects back on his redemptive journey through gangs, gunshot wounds and prison to the kind of poetic power and hard-won wisdom that saves lives – one rhyme at a time. Laced with Taylor's original poetry and music, this episode sheds light and sound on one of our community's most dramatic origin stories. We offer "HARD WAY HOME" as inspiration for all those who've faced death and chosen life. This STREET POETS PODCAST episod...

Some people on the poetry performance scene are quick to say "Poets should never date poets." Award-winning spoken-word flame-throwers ALYESHA WISE and MATTHEW CUBAN HERNANDEZ put that maxim to the test every day as partners in rhyme, and in life. In this episode, they take a break from their duties as Street Poets' program directors, teaching artists and open mic hosts to join our intern Kaylyn Wright in a soulful, enlightening conversation about their love affair with each other...