Today’s episode was recorded live at the Sims Library in Los Angeles, California during this year's AWP conference. Join Brittany and Ajanae as they sit down with E. Hughes and Luther Hughes (no relation) to discuss the role that intimacy plays in their writing, memory being true for the moment, the role of grief in the writing process, and moments of messiness in their collections. 

Here is some media to accompany your experience of the episode and a writing prompt to tide you over until we meet again!

• Toni Morrison: Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am - Exclusive Clip - Farah Griffin On Sula
• Natasha Trethewey- The Typology of Taint, in Thrall to a Word: A Conversation with Natasha Trethewey | World Literature Today
• Frantz Fanon: Frantz Fanon, Black Skin, White Masks | What Language Reveals | Philosophy Core Concepts
• Luther:
• Carl Phillips: Intimacy, Afloat in Space: A Conversation with Carl Phillips - The Adroit Journal
• CM Burroughs: Meat to Reckon With: A Conversation with CM Burroughs
• Sza- Ctrl: sza - ctrl (full album)
• Taylor Johnson: An Interview and Poems from Taylor Johnson

Write an ode to your grief. 

On today’s episode, Brittany and Ajanaé have the honor of interviewing Nicole Sealey! Join them as they discuss friendship rituals, surviving writers conferences, learning from mentors, navigating old obsessions in new work, and love, love, and more love. 

Here is some media to accompany your experience of the episode and a writing prompt to tide you over until we meet again!

• Nicole Sealey’s Parents- The First Person Who Will Live to Be One Hundred and Fifty Years Old Has Already Been Born by Nicole Sealey 
• Collective teachers- Celebrating Yusef Komunyakaa with Major Jackson, Jennifer Jean, John Murillo & Nicole Sealey
• John Murillo- In the Poetry Library With John Murillo

Write a list of ways that you promise to care for your reader. 

On today’s episode of VS, Ajanae and Brittany are joined by poet Omotara James. Join them as they discuss the failure of poetry as savior, whistleblowers, art as a meet-cute, resisting shielding the speaker, and building trust with the reader. 

Here is some media to accompany your experience of the episode and a writing prompt to tide you over until we meet again!

• Sharon Olds: Sharon Olds talks about her work
• Michaela Coel: ‘There is power in the word no’: Michaela Coel’s journey from Chewing Gum to I May Destroy You | CBC Comedy
• Lucille Clifton: Lucille Clifton talks of her books of poems, including “Good Times”

On today’s episode of VS, Ajanae and Brittany are joined by poet Omotara James. Join them as they discuss the failure of poetry as savior, whistleblowers, art as a meet-cute, resisting shielding the speaker, and building trust with the reader. 

Here is some media to accompany your experience of the episode and a writing prompt to tide you over until we meet again!

• Sharon Olds: Sharon Olds talks about her work
• Michaela Coel: ‘There is power in the word no’: Michaela Coel’s journey from Chewing Gum to I May Destroy You | CBC Comedy
• Lucille Clifton: Lucille Clifton talks of her books of poems, including “Good Times”

On today’s episode of VS, Ajanae and Brittany are joined by poet Omotara James. Join them as they discuss the failure of poetry as savior, whistleblowers, art as a meet-cute, resisting shielding the speaker, and building trust with the reader. 

Here is some media to accompany your experience of the episode and a writing prompt to tide you over until we meet again!

• Sharon Olds: Sharon Olds talks about her work
• Michaela Coel: ‘There is power in the word no’: Michaela Coel’s journey from Chewing Gum to I May Destroy You | CBC Comedy
• Lucille Clifton: Lucille Clifton talks of her books of poems, including “Good Times”

On today’s episode of VS, Ajanae and Brittany were joined by poet Omatara James. Join them as they discuss the failure of poetry as a savior, whistleblowers, art as a meet cute, resisting shielding the speaker, and building trust with the reader. 

Here is some media to accompany your experience of the episode and a writing prompt to tide you over until we meet again!

• Sharon Olds: Sharon Olds talks about her work
• Michaela Coel: 'There is power in the word no': Michaela Coel’s journey from Chewing Gum to I May Destroy You | CBC Comedy
• Lucille Clifton: Lucille Clifton talks of her books of poems, including “Good Times”

On today’s episode of VS, Ajanae and Brittany were joined by poet Omatara James. Join them as they discuss the failure of poetry as a savior, whistleblowers, art as a meet cute, resisting shielding the speaker, and building trust with the reader. 

Here is some media to accompany your experience of the episode and a writing prompt to tide you over until we meet again!

• Sharon Olds: Sharon Olds talks about her work
• Michaela Coel: ‘There is power in the word no’: Michaela Coel’s journey from Chewing Gum to I May Destroy You | CBC Comedy
• Lucille Clifton: Lucille Clifton talks of her books of poems, including “Good Times”

On today’s episode, Ajanaé and Brittany talk to Vanessa Angélica Villarreal! Listen in as they discuss mushrooms, quantum entanglements, borders, the ethics of daughters-memory, and the role of Fantasy and The Future in the Western literary canon. 

Here is some media to accompany your experience of the episode and a writing prompt to tide you over until we meet again!

• Pedro Páramo by Juan Rulfo: Pedro Páramo | Official Trailer | Netflix
• Jordan S. Carroll- Speculative Whiteness: Exploration Log 7: Interview with Jordan S. Carroll, author of Speculative Whiteness: Science Fiction and the Alt-Right (2024)
• The Dragon Age Games; South of Midnight: South of Midnight - Accolades Trailer

Write a poem for your favorite television or book character. 

On today’s episode, Ajanaé and Brittany talk to Vanessa Angélica Villarreal! Listen in as they discuss mushrooms, quantum entanglements, borders, the ethics of daughters-memory, and the role of Fantasy and The Future in the Western literary canon. 

Here is some media to accompany your experience of the episode and a writing prompt to tide you over until we meet again!

• Pedro Páramo by Juan Rulfo: Pedro Páramo | Official Trailer | Netflix
• Jordan S. Carroll- Speculative Whiteness: Exploration Log 7: Interview with Jordan S. Carroll, author of Speculative Whiteness: Science Fiction and the Alt-Right (2024)
• The Dragon Age Games; South of Midnight: South of Midnight - Accolades Trailer

Write a poem for your favorite television or book character. 

On today’s episode, Brittany and Ajanae chat with Amanda Johnston; join them as they discuss choosing joy, intentional literary citizenship, the history of Torch Literary Arts, recurring selves in the work, and existing in the here and now.

Here is some media to accompany your experience of the episode and a writing prompt to tide you over until we meet again!

• Lucille Clifton - i am accused of tending to the past by Lucille Clifton
• Krista Franklin - ARTIST FEATURE: KRISTA FRANKLIN - EP2
• Wura-Natasha Ogunji - Interview with Wura-Natasha Ogunji | "Alpha Crucis – Contemporary African Art"
• Beyonce - The Business of Being Beyoncé Knowles-Carter | GQ

In the spirit of Amanda’s Praisesong project, choose a member of your community and write a praisesong or ode to them.