I. Episode 3: Stress

In the sixth episode of our Emerging Futures series, written by Daniel Grimston and Jack Clearwater, we delve into a post-collapse world. In 'City', the second of a two-part series, we tune in to a radio show set in a fallen city of the future...

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Jack Clearwater is a writer, director and sound artist working across theatre, cabaret and ritual. He has performed at venues including Battersea Arts Centre, Somerset House, KILN Theatre and The Royal Academy of Arts as well as at the Lyric Hammersmith, where he was a member of the inaugural Lyric Ensemble.

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Daniel Grimston grew up queer in rural Sussex. He is a playwright, poet, actor and podcaster whose work centres an exploration of the borders between humanity and the natural world. He is a graduate of the John Burgess Writing Course, Rikki Beadle Blair’s FIERCE Youth Programme and the Royal Court’s Intro To Playwriting. He trained as an actor at Oxford School of Drama, NYT and Theatre Peckham Rep, and was a founder and co-artistic director of Founding Fall Theatre. As a poet he has worked with the V&A, Apples and Snakes, and London Wildlife Trust, and is currently under commission as Poet-In-Non-Residence for the campaign group Right To Roam. His first play, Corpselight, just won the Theatre Royal Haymarket Masterclass Trust's Pitch Your Play Competition.
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INSTAGRAM - @therisecollectiveuk

FACEBOOK - @therisecollectiveuk

TWITTER - @r1secollective

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www.therisecollective.org.uk

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Hosted by Daniel Grimston (@daniel.grimston) and Jack Clearwater (@clearwaterclark)

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Produced by Amy Parkes (she/her) @aeparkes for The RISE Collective (Charity number: 1168856)

In the second episode of our Emerging Futures series, Geneva Virasami meets Shanice McBean to discuss abolition. Discover the history of abolitionist movements in the UK all the way up to the collectives of the present day as we explore systemic oppression, carcerality and collective power through discussion, poetry and music.  

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Special guests include:

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Shanice Octavia McBean is a Black writer and activist in Sisters Uncut. She grew up in Handsworth, Birmingham, before moving to Tottenham. Describing herself as a revolutionary and Afro-Marxist, she has also organised in anti-racist groups and trade unions. She is the co-author of Abolition Revolution: An introductory guide to the roots and contemporary context of, and resistance to carceral politics in Britain.

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Kemastry is a rap and spoken-word artist, activist and facilitator. He is signed to independent hip hop record label High Focus as part of CMPND, a Brighton based hybrid rap three piece, formed of members Kemastry, Wundrop & Vitamin G. Their latest album ‘Long Live The Court’ was released in 2022. 

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Tayah is a singer-songwriter. Born and raised in West London, Tayah is an artist at the fulcrum of an evolving R&B scene, making music that tells her story, her way. Having performed at The Southbank, Lovebox Festival, and Notting Hill Carnival, as well as airplay on UK radio, Tayah has garnered plaudits among her peers and audiences.

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About Your Host:

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Geneva Virasami is a British-Mauritian journalist and producer dedicated to empowering young people through liberationist politics. She learnt from London’s grassroots activists volunteering at The Spark social justice festival, and demonstrating with such groups as UK Black Lives Matter and Sisters Uncut. She has worked in TV broadcast, online, and radio news and is currently studying Public History.  

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INSTAGRAM - @therisecollectiveuk

FACEBOOK - @therisecollectiveuk

TWITTER - @r1secollective

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www.therisecollective.org.uk

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Hosted by Geneva Virasami (she/her) and produced by Amy Parkes (she/her) on behalf of the RISE Collective (Registered Charity: 1168856)

This episode is all about pockets of JOY! In the second instalment of ‘Sippin’ on Black Girl Magic and Disabled Joy’, Britny Virginia and Miss Jacqui discuss navigating the ups and downs of the creative industries as black, disabled women. Exploring the meaning of joy, what it means to find joy in creativity, the importance of connection & more!

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Britny Virginia is a poet, writer, director and all-round creative. She was born with Cerebral Palsy on the sunny island of St. Lucia, raised in America, and currently resides in the UK. Her work is deeply influenced by her faith, culture and disability. Her achievements include curating the first-ever disabled-led scratch night called Centre Stage for Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch (Sept 2022), & self-published author: ‘So, I’ll Stay, Sitting With You.’ (Oct 2019).

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Miss Jacqui is a poet, songwriter, artist and truth-teller. She is someone who always tries to challenge societal perceptions, like what it actually means to be a black woman with a disability. A wheelchair user herself, Miss Jacqui wants her poetry and music to help her listeners to see the world differently, and to inspire others to feel confident in being themselves.

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INSTAGRAM - @therisecollectiveuk

FACEBOOK - @therisecollectiveuk

TWITTER - @r1secollective

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www.therisecollective.org.uk

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Hosted by Britny Virginia (she/her) @britnyvirginiaa and Miss Jacqui (she/her) @iammissjacqui

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Produced by Amy Parkes (she/her) @aeparkes for The RISE Collective (Charity number: 1168856)

In the third episode of our Emerging Futures series, written by Daniel Grimston and Jack Clearwater, we delve into a post-collapse world. In this, the first of a two-part series, we explore life in barren countryside - or what remains of it.  

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Jack Clearwater is a writer, director and sound artist working across theatre, cabaret and ritual. He has performed at venues including Battersea Arts Centre, Somerset House, KILN Theatre and The Royal Academy of Arts as well as at the Lyric Hammersmith, where he was a member of the inaugural Lyric Ensemble.

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Daniel Grimston is a playwright, poet, actor and podcaster whose work centres an exploration of the borders between humanity and the natural world. Daniel has demonstrated with Extinction Rebellion and Right To Roam. He is currently working on his first full-length play, Corpselight.
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INSTAGRAM - @therisecollectiveuk

FACEBOOK - @therisecollectiveuk

TWITTER - @r1secollective

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www.therisecollective.org.uk

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Hosted by Daniel Grimston and Jack Clearwater

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Produced by Amy Parkes (she/her) @aeparkes for The RISE Collective (Charity number: 1168856)

In the second episode of our Emerging Futures series, Geneva Virasami explores music’s unique ability to inspire change. Discussing sustainability, indigenous knowledge, corporate greenwashing and the power of unity through music, poetry and discussion.

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Special guests include:

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BaoBao Chen & Tim Cole, co-founders of the Small Island Big Song project which unites 100 musicians across 16 island nations on the Pacific and Indian oceans. They join us to discuss their project, ethos and creative journey as well as share some of their work.

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Chantelle Lunt is a writer, public speaker, entrepreneur, and anti-racist activist. She is the founder of Merseyside BLM Alliance (MBLMA), co-founder of the Kill The Bill coalition and chairs the Merseyside Alliance for Racial Equality. She joins us to share her poem, ‘Pass The Mic’.

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Michael Stanton is a musician and composer whose work is inspired by a love for nature and ancestral wisdom, tapping into folk traditions from across the globe.

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Mahesh Parkar is a multi-instrumentalist, mainly playing the piano and tabla. A part of the Grand Union Orchestra (GUO), he is also a member of The Re:Generation Band.

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About Your Host:

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Geneva Virasami is a British-Mauritian journalist and producer dedicated to empowering young people through liberationist politics. She learnt from London’s grassroots activists volunteering at The Spark social justice festival, and demonstrating with such groups as UK Black Lives Matter and Sisters Uncut. She has worked in TV broadcast, online, and radio news and is currently studying Public History.  

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INSTAGRAM - @therisecollectiveuk

FACEBOOK - @therisecollectiveuk

TWITTER - @r1secollective

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www.therisecollective.org.uk

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Hosted by Geneva Virasami (she/her) and produced by Amy Parkes (she/her) on behalf of the RISE Collective (Registered Charity: 1168856)

In the first episode of our Emerging Futures series, Britny Virginia and Miss Jacqui discuss navigating the ups and downs of the creative industries as black, disabled women. Exploring representation, tokenism and creativity via cheesy jokes, creative exercises, music, poetry and more! 

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Britny Virginia is a poet, writer, director and all-round creative. She was born with Cerebral Palsy on the sunny island of St. Lucia, raised in America, and currently resides in the UK. Her work is deeply influenced by her faith, culture and disability. Her achievements include curating the first-ever disabled-led scratch night called Centre Stage for Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch (Sept 2022), & self-published author: ‘So, I’ll Stay, Sitting With You.’ (Oct 2019)

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Miss Jacqui is a poet, songwriter, artist and truth-teller. She is someone who always tries to challenge societal perceptions, like what it actually means to be a black woman with a disability. A wheelchair user herself, Miss Jacqui wants her poetry and music to help her listeners to see the world differently, and to inspire others to feel confident in being themselves.

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INSTAGRAM - @therisecollectiveuk

FACEBOOK - @therisecollectiveuk

TWITTER - @r1secollective

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www.therisecollective.org.uk

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Hosted by Britny Virginia (she/her) @britnyvirginiaa and Miss Jacqui (she/her) @iammissjacqui

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Produced by Amy Parkes (she/her) @aeparkes for The RISE Collective (Charity number: 1168856)

AMPLIFY: The Podcast is back for a third season! This year, 8 emerging creatives will be looking ahead, exploring alternative visions of the future and diving into revolutionary ideas of what’s to come 🔮

From seeking solutions in indigenous knowledge, to exploring reimagined worlds - we’re so excited to introduce you to our Emerging Futures 🌎

INSTAGRAM - @therisecollectiveuk

FACEBOOK - @therisecollectiveuk

TWITTER - @r1secollective

www.therisecollective.org.uk

Resources for sex education and positivity often leave trans people out of the conversation, so let’s have a chat amongst ourselves! Stitched and strapped: sex, pleasure, and trans joy. Here we focus on relationships with others.

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Please note this episode contains discussions of sex and masturbation, mentions of transphobia, discussion of medical transition,  and mention of drug use.

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Host bios:

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Pete MacHale (he/him) is a creative from Bristol, based in London. He trained at the AUB, and acts and writes for stage and screen. Recent credits include Dungarees (2019), Gangs of London (2020) and his debut solo show Dear Young Monster,  currently in development with The Queer House. Instagram: @peteyparty_

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Kenya Sterling (he/him) is an actor and creative, studying at Rose Bruford. He has experience with the Royal Exchange Young Company and ALT Actors. Recent credits include ‘Liam’ in TUC’s trans awareness film, and I AM at Ovalhouse. His debut poetry collection ‘19 Years Of Skin’ is out now. Instagram: @abstractkid_

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Guest bios:

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Gabriella Davies (she/her) is a 29 year old artist. She has been published by Montez Press and was a recipient for the Montez Press Writers Grant 2020, and was selected for the Bloomberg New Contemporaries 2020. Instagram: @gobby.divvies 

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Felix Mufti-Wright (he/him) is a British-Maltese activist, performer, and writer. He co-founded Transcend Theatre. He is an organiser for Trans Pride Liverpool, and Transgender Day of Remembrance. Instagram: @felixmufti

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Campbell King is a musician and writer. Campbell King is published with RAISE Zine, and is behind the “If I was your boyfriend” Zine, both published through Fem Zine London. Instagram: @campbell_king_ Bandcamp: campbellking.bandcamp.com

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Produced by Arden Fitzroy (they/them) @ArdenFitzroy

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The RISE Collective 

Website: www.therisecollective.org.uk

Twitter: @RiseAmplify 

Instagram: @therisecollectiveuk

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Music: Pembroke

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Transcript:

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Intro music 0:00  

MUSICAL INTRO (soft jazzy music, Arden speaks over the top)

Arden Fitzroy  0:09  

Everybody welcome! You’re listening to the AMPLIFY podcast, brought to you by The RISE Collective. We champion creatives and build collectives at the forefront of social change.

I’m Arden Fitzroy, Lead Producer, and this is Queer Joy, the second series of AMPLIFY.

This series was created by the next generation of creative leaders and changemakers. 

These are our own stories, on our own terms.

Pete MacHale  1:05  

Hi, I'm Pete, I use he/him pronouns. 

Kenya Sterling  1:07  

And I'm Kenya I also use he him pronouns.

Pete MacHale  1:10  

And this is Episode Two of our segment of the RISE: Amplify podcast

Kenya Sterling  1:14  

Stitched and Strapped!

Pete MacHale  1:16  

Hello to all of the new listeners. And hello again, to those of you who heard episode one and came back for seconds.

Kenya Sterling  1:21  

So last time, we looked at the self, but today, the theme of our episode is "others."

Pete MacHale  1:27  

Yeah, so yourself and others, sexy, sexy others, which reminds me Kenya, once again, we have a content warning.

Kenya Sterling  1:35  

Yep, of course. So you know, we always want this information to feel accessible, but we need to give you all like a heads up. So we're talking about sex, and there might be some potentially graphic content.

Pete MacHale  1:46  

Yeah, and just like Episode One, as much as we want this podcast to be for all trans people, and we will try to ensure that we're being inclusive in the topics and resources that we cover, please know that we both the host identify as trans masc-

Kenya Sterling  1:58  

so our personal knowledge and insight will probably lean a bit more towards that camp.

Pete MacHale  2:02  

Yeah! So for this episode, we are going to be talking about what it's like to be a trans person navigating sex in all its glory, in all sorts with others. 

Kenya Sterling  2:12  

So we've got hookups relationships first times and all that other stuff. We'll be discussing the theme throughout the episode, as well as showing work from amazing trans creatives, our poetry and then this week sexy Tranthem to send you off into the night.

Pete MacHale  2:26  

Great. So he is stitched and strapped, episode two, others. And once again, it's trans sex-

Kenya Sterling  2:33  

By the trans-

Pete MacHale  2:34  

for the trans all trans, all good, all go! 

Music  2:39  

MUSICAL TRANSITION (soft jazzy music)

Pete MacHale  2:42  

So we are talking about sex with other people in this episode. I feel like it might be good to break the ice with something funny to do with sex, because everyone always gets a bit awkward about talking about sex. And you know, like, obviously, we did episode one. And it was I mean, wanking, which... usually people are more open about that! But I just think it's good to break the ice with something funny. So Kenya, do you have a funny sexy story? 

Kenya Sterling  3:08  

Um, so it's not like a funny sexy story. But I constantly have this thing where I'm perceived as a bit of a catfish. Like, I look, I'm pretty sure I look the same as in my pictures. But people see my images on Instagram. And they think I'm like really confident really sexually forward really like Yeah, let's do this. And they meet me in person. I'm actually like, incredibly awkward. To the point where I'm like, I ask, like, Can I kiss you? Can I do this? And the persons just like-

Pete MacHale  3:40  

I wouldn't say that awkward. I think that's just polite. I think that's nice-

Kenya Sterling  3:45  

The other person is always like, Oh, I thought you were going to be really forward and I'm just like, simping and, and trying to, you know, do the most,

Pete MacHale  3:53  

I suppose the other thing is as well as like, you're like, You're like a handsome, handsome young man. 

Kenya Sterling  3:58  

Thank you!

Pete MacHale  3:58  

Pip and Destiny talk terminology, queer art, and She-Ra. Joined by the poetry of Phoebe Wagner.

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Please note this episode contains discussions of biphobia, bi erasure, compulsory heterosexuality and homophobia. There are also spoilers for She-Ra. 

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Host Bios:

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Destiny Adeyemi (they/them) is a poet. They are a Slambassadors 2018 Winner, a member of The Octavia Poetry Collective and was in the 18/19 Barbican Young Poets programme. They live in London performing at local open mics and poetry events. Instagram/Twitter: @poetryndestiny

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Pip Fenton-Cripps (they/them) is a non-binary creative specialising in the field of East Asian and Japanese Studies. They were awarded the Frederick Richter Memorial Prize for Meritorious Work in the field of East Asian Arts, Music and Literature in 2019. Pip is also a digital artist, exploring synthesis of classic shōjo with darker elements. Instagram: @hello_cactus_flower

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Guest bio:

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Phoebe Wagner (she/her) is a poet and theatremaker from Croydon. Her debut poetry pamphlet 'The Body You're In' was published with Bad Betty Press in 2019. She runs Crep Project, an arts collective that explores trainer culture with young working-class people. Instagram: @crep.project

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Produced by Arden Fitzroy (they/them) @ArdenFitzroy

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The RISE Collective 

Website: www.therisecollective.org.uk

Twitter: @RiseAmplify 

Instagram: @therisecollectiveuk

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Music: Pembroke

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Links and references: 

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Two Twos podcast. Instagram: @twotwospodcast

Patrick Hemington, artist. Spotify/SoundCloud: PATRICIUS Instagram: @pxtricius

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Transcript:

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Arden: 

Everybody welcome! You’re listening to the AMPLIFY podcast, brought to you by The RISE Collective. We champion creatives and build collectives at the forefront of social change. I’m Arden Fitzroy, Lead Producer, and this is Queer Joy, the second series of AMPLIFY. This series was created by the next generation of creative leaders and changemakers. These are our own stories, on our own terms. 

Destiny:  

Hey, and welcome back to the second episode of Creating Dangerously with me, Destiny.

Pip:  

Me, Pip. I'm super excited for this episode to be honest because we're talking about all things queer. 

Destiny:  

Yes, this is a topic very dear to our hearts. So the both of us will be enough. Think of this as an extended artistic check-in.

Pip:  

Yes, yes, yes, we're hijacking this entire operation, queerness is super important to me. And I felt like it's been pretty big in your life too Destiny.

Destiny:  

It is. But don't worry, we'll still be giving you some amazing work from an amazing LGBT artist Phoebe Wagner. Born and raised in London.

Pip:  

Oh yes, people who know me know that I'm a big fan of Phoebe.

Destiny:  

But let's start things off by saying the scene of our queerness by talking about what we both identify with, the terms we use, and why.

Pip:  

Yes, as queer creatives in London, I think it's a great place to start. Personally, I'm a massive fan of the term Queer. Like, I know that as with a lot of terms, when it comes to identity queer is very contested as a label, and it holds a lot of different things for a lot of different people. So I think it's really important to respect that for some members of the community, the term is triggering. But for me, a gen Z, who came out like a decade ago when I was 13. Queer acts is a really nice broad shortcut to let people know that I'm anything but straight and cis without having to get super personal super fast.

Destiny:  

Honestly, I agree with your last point because the vagueness and conciseness are really helpful. I like the labelsenby and bi but I mostly use queer because it's easier not having to disclose all of my intersections of sexuality and gender. I just don't really have to explain. And I also appreciate the political nature of it.

Pip:  

Yes, the political nature of it is really liberating in some ways. But also in other ways. For me, it just feels right. Like I said, I came out like a decade ago, and I've spent a lot of time trying different labels out and trying to settle on what felt right. And you know, first off I identified as a lesbian, bi, pan, but queer is the one that feels the most comfortable in everyday situations. When I'm with like, other queer people, you know, I'll go like enby lesbian, I feel that you know, I love the, the I love this the way it sounds, I love how it works for me, but I'm not always in the mood to have a conversation with with every straight cis person to tell them how I can be nonbinary and lesbian.

Destiny:  

Nonbinary and lesbian yeah!

Pip:  

 So these are it's just, you know, so queer is just like, yes, I'm gay. Shut up, leave me alone. You know? And it does. It does also feel like when you use the word queer, you make old conservative people uncomfortable by reclaiming the term, you know what I mean.

Destiny:  

lol yeah,  I get what you’re saying, and that is always a good thing. But how do you and your gender and your pronouns really fit into this?

Pip:  

Well, in terms of gender, I think, you know, we both discussed last episode that we we both use they them pronouns, and I identify as non-binary. But I did just want to throw it out there for some people listening that people who use they them pronouns aren't necessarily non-binary, and some non-binary people, use she/her, and he/him or neo-pronouns. For me, it's all about feeling out the spectrum, finding the space that I feel most comfortable in, you know, and, for example, I am non-binary, but I actually really, really like it when my girlfriend calls me her girlfriend, it feels so overtly queer to me, like we're both very femme presenting. So it feels like a statement of the very gay fact of our relationship, you know, it just makes me happy. I love the overt gayness of the term girlfriend. And I don't know it sits well with me. I'm not a big fan of partner, but what about you D like in terms of your gender and your sexuality like because they are very distinct things like how does that fit you?

Destiny:  

I think that like I also really loved your point about like cis people using different pronouns because I think that is really important in like detaching the notions of like gender and pronouns. But I think I'm completely different because I love using partner like being referred to as a partner it just feels like there's something theatrical about it like we're two queer cowboys against the world!

Pip:  

Yes, campy as shit! Yes, I love the image of you and your partner in full cowboy getup, pistols, whips, the whole shebang, Destiny, imagining you in chaps and cow print is something that I didn't know I needed. But if Halloween comes around and we are out of lockdown and I don't see it.

Destiny:  

Very disappointed…

Pip:  

 You can catch these hands by all means.

Destiny:  

Hon...

Queer hosts Niamh and Maia talk writing practices, and being inspired by unrequited love and toothpaste tubes. Joined by poet Connor Byrne.

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Please note this episode contains explicit language and sexual references. 

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Host bios:

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Niamh Haran (they/them) is a queer non-binary poet/writer from North London. They are a Roundhouse Poetry Collective alumnus with poems in Bath Magg, Perverse, The Interpreter’s House, The Babel Tower Notice Board and Ink Sweat & Tears among others. They are currently doing an English BA at King’s College London. Twitter: @niamhjerrie Instagram: @niamh.haran

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Maia Yolanda Wagener (she/they) is a Dutch/Indian writer and student living in London. An English major, Maia enjoys writing poetry and plays, and hopes to combine academia and playwriting. Twitter: @maiaywagener Instagram: @m.wagener.s

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Guest bio:

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Connor Byrne is a poet from Brighton, living in London. They write a lot about being queer and trans, and their relationship to others and the world around them. They are a member of the Roundhouse Poetry Collective 2019-21. Twitter: @conrbyrne

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Produced by Arden Fitzroy (they/them) @ArdenFitzroy

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The RISE Collective 

Website: www.therisecollective.org.uk

Twitter: @RiseAmplify 

Instagram: @therisecollectiveuk

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Music: Pembroke

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Links and references:

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Connor Byrne, ‘I am once again going to the big Sainsbury’s just to feel something’ https://www.roundhouse.org.uk/blog/2021/03/we-have-never-seen-something-like-this-poetry-by-the-roundhouse-poetry-collective/

Maia Wagener, ‘Clavicle Hammock’ https://stoneofmadnesspress.com/maia-wagener

Niamh Haran, ‘calcium surplus’ https://www.roundhouse.org.uk/blog/2021/03/we-have-never-seen-something-like-this-poetry-by-the-roundhouse-poetry-collective/

We Want It All: An Anthology of Radical Trans Poetics, ed. by Andrea Abi-Karam and Kay Gabriel

Gertrude Stein, ‘Susie Asado’ https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/46476/susie-asado

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Transcript:

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Arden: Everybody welcome! You’re listening to the AMPLIFY podcast, brought to you by The RISE Collective. We champion creatives and build collectives at the forefront of social change. I’m Arden Fitzroy, Lead Producer, and this is Queer Joy, the second series of AMPLIFY. This series was created by the next generation of creative leaders and changemakers. These are our own stories, on our own terms.

Niamh: Hello everybody and welcome to Amplify's second episode of the Niamh and Maia show where we Niamh... 

Maia: and Maia...

Niamh: Will be talking about queer stuff.

Maia: We will this episode be talking about some queer poetry, talking about our own influences and processes of writing, as well as interviewing the very, very talented queer poet Connor Byrne. But for now, Niamh, how are you?

Niamh: I’m good. We've just been hanging out with our gay neighbours in the garden.

Maia: Oh we have.

Niamh: And we've got a kitten everybody!

Maia: We do. Jerry.

Niamh: Which we didn't have last episode, when we were recording so yeah Jerry is a little kitten. She is a little monster.

Maia: Before we get on to talking about some poetry. Anyone who's at home, grab yourself a nice coffee, a nice tea a glass of water hydrate yourself.

Niamh: Hydrate yourself!

Maia: If you're on the tube, have a look around you take a moment to observe, look at who's next to you don't look too hard, you know, don't want to offend anyone. But we will be back with you shortly. 

Maia: Welcome back everyone, hopefully you have a nice coffee or tea in hand, we're now going to be talking about some poetry that we've read recently, or that has resurfaced for us. Is there anything that's caught your eye lately, Niamh?

Niamh: Well I recently bought this anthology, which is called, we want it all, an anthology of radical trans poetics and it's edited by Kay Gabriel and Andrea Abi-Karam. I haven't actually dug into it as much as I would have liked to yet but it's because it's quite thick and I'm just waiting until coursework's over I can start reading for pleasure again without the threat of deadlines but it looks really really good, and I've had a lot of people speak about it in a really good way, and it seems quite kind of experimental. So really looking forward to that. I recently read Frannie Choi's collection soft science which is a really really great collection, particularly there was this poem in there called on the election night, which is basically the speaker masturbating on election night, it's just a really great poem. And I also have re read, Sean Hewitt's tongues of fire which is his first collection, he's a queer Irish poet, and that is an amazing collection. It really is really really good and it's just very relaxing for me to read, and I'd love to be able to write like that, you know, especially about nature and I don't even really think of him as a nature poet, but obviously a lot of what he talks about is in the natural world, but yeah. Very interesting. What about you?

Maia: Yeah, I've read a few things for one of my classes actually that I've really enjoyed reading, particularly a poem by Gertrude Stein called Susie Asado, a poem a poem of hers that I hadn't read before, but it's very sensory and there's very little meaning. The meaning is not the most important part of the poem. It's like a soundscape really, you really get into the body of Gertrude Stein, last thing for this answer, and it's very powerful and very assured and I really enjoy reading, And I would like to write like that.

Niamh: Very interesting, sounds nice. Oh yeah and that poem by Franny Choi is called On The Night of the Election. 

Maia: Lovely, be sure to check it out, we'll link it in the show notes.

Niamh: The thing is it's just like it's so easy to kind of get all these collections and get all these books and just not read them, especially at the moment it's like, well I think that kind of lockdown was providing me with kind of all this time to read, and actually I feel I've got so much to get through.

Maia: Yeah, I get what you mean, there's just been books and books and collections that have piled up over the last like yeah, having to read for uni means that there's little time to read for pleasure and while reading is, often pleasurable if you're reading like essays and reports it's not not that fun necessarily.

Niamh: I think it's just because you know you're going to be graded on. 

Maia: Yeah. What about anything that you've written recently, is there anything that you feel encapsulate your voice?

Niamh: There's a poem I wrote a while ago, which is published in the Roundhouse poetry coll...