Words on a Wire

In this episode, host Will Rose speaks with bestselling author Alisa Lynn Valdés about her new novel Hollow Beasts. Her previous bestselling novels include The Dirty Girls Social Club, Playing with Boys, and The Husband Habit.

Alisa also discusses how music and journalism have shaped her writing, the evolution of the publishing industry, and the beauty of New Mexico.

In this episode host Tim Z. Hernandez  speaks with author Joseph Lezza on his debut memoir I'm Never Fine: Scenes and Spasms on Loss. 

 Lezza is a writer in New York, NY with an MFA in creative writing from The University of Texas at El Paso. His debut memoir in essays, I'm Never Fine: Scenes and Spasms on Loss (Vine Leaves Press), was a finalist for the 2021 Prize Americana in Prose and was named by Buzzfeed LGBTQ and Lambda Literary as a "Most Anticipated 2023 Release." When he’s not writing, he spends his time worrying about why he’s not writing. His website is www.josephlezza.com and you can find him on the socials @lezzdoothis.

In this episode, Daniel Chacón and Kalina Gallardo invite theoretical physicist Chanda Prescod-Weinstein into the Cove. They discuss topics ranging from growing up in East Los Angeles, the writing process, and her important book, The Disordered Cosmos: A Journey Into Dark Matter, Spacetime, and Dreams Deferred.

Host Daniel Chacón invites three talented seniors from UTEP's undergraduate creative writing program into the Cove: Kalina Gallardo, Thomas Dominguez III, and Candice Gibbs. They discuss their plans after graduation, why they first wanted to become writers, and more.

Host Daniel Chacon invites recently appointed California Poet Laureate, Lee Herrick, into the Cove.  Lee discusses his experiences as a state poet laureate, his busy travel schedule connecting with communities across the Golden State, and what it was like to co-write a poem with former U.S. Poet Laureate Juan Felipe Herrera.

Daniel also invites a surprise (and very special) guest during the episode: Lupe Mendes, the current Poet Laureate of Texas.

Jack Chanek is the author of Tarot for Real Life and Qabalah for Wiccans.

A practicing witch, Chanek uses the Qabalah Tree of Life in his magic while Daniel talks about how to use it in the writing process. They talk about how a witch and a writer need not to go beyond the archetypal world called Yesod to practice their craft. Chanek talks about various tarot decks and how to invite creativity into your life.

Valentino Romero is an indigenous Chicano and zen Buddhist originally from Wyoming. He's the co-founder of Xol, a shoe co-op working with Guatemalan communities to promote culture and sustainability.

Jessa Crispin is the author of The Creative Tarot and Why I Am Not A Feminist. 

Jessa and Daniel talk about why you have never really been in Kansas, Dorothy, the misogyny of true crime podcasts, why she doesn’t read tarot cards for men, and how she started reading tarot as part of her creative process and for survival. 

In this episode of Words on a Wire Juan Ignacio Stewart talks with host Tim Z. Hernandez about family, teaching, music and salsa. In this edition of the "Third Story", Juan shares some stories of starting a food company.

The Poet’s Cove welcomes Aldo Amparán, author of the poetry collection Brothers Sleep (Alice James Books, 2022), winner of the Alice James Award. Host Daniel Chacón and Aldo’s discuss everything from the writing process to imposter syndrome. Aldo also reads a poem from Brothers Sleep, “Thanatophobia, or Sleep Addresses His Brother.”

Aldo Amparán is a poet, writer, & translator born and raised in the border cities of El Paso, TX, USA, & Ciudad Juárez, CH, MX. They are the recipient of fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts & CantoMundo. Their work has been widely published in anthologies and literary journals including AGNI, Best New Poets, Gulf Coast, Kenyon Review Online, Ploughshares, Poetry Magazine, & elsewhere. They hold an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Texas at El Paso.