Eliza Writes Things

Listen to my live poetry performance at the Wofford College JJR Auditorium before family and friends, also broadcast on Instagram live! I read and offered the context of my favorite handful of poems from my writing in the past year, covering topics ranging from the romantic nature of Jesus' relationship with me, my anti-pornography stance and story behind it, racism in the American south, and the Charleston Emanuel AME Nine. elizawritesthings.com @elizawritesthings

Today I share with you my experience visiting a confederate flag merchandise store in the upstate of South Carolina, and what I learned from the people I talked to and books I read there. If you take just one thing away from this episode, I want you to know that white supremacy is alive and well. Please leave a review of my show on apple podcasts! Instagram: @elizawritesthings elizawritesthings.com Music: "Beer Belly Blues" by John Deley

Join me for a reading of my original poem, "Black Coffee," and discussion on how we as women can learn how to live as our true selves, celebrating all that we bring to the table. If you are an Apple Podcast listener, please leave a review of my show! Instagram: @elizawritesthings elizawritesthings.com Music: "Beer Belly Blues" by John Deley

CONTENT WARNING: sexual assault, white supremacy, and capital punishment Join me for a reading of my original poem, "Electric Chair Blues," and discussion of how the death penalty is informed by white supremacist narratives, racist history in America, worship of pride and power, and a misunderstood ethic of what law and order should be. I cite Bryan Stevenson's "Just Mercy" and the studies of his legal counsel nonprofit, the Equal Justice Initiative, for information on why the death penalty is unhealthy for our country. Buy the book: Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson eji.org/issues/death-penalty/ If you are an Apple Podcast listener, please leave a review of my show! Instagram: @elizawritesthings elizawritesthings.com Music: "Beer Belly Blues" by John Deley

CONTENT WARNING: mention of Judas' suicide Join me for a reading of my original poem for Wednesday of Holy Week about the Holy Spirit's relationship with Judas the Apostle. I discuss how this poem is meant to color in Biblical characters to help us better see ourselves in them and understand our relationship with Christ by example. Remember, Christ aches for you to simply open yourself to relationship with Him. You do not have to prove anything to Him, all He asks is that you receive His love and respond with love in return. Thriftbooks link: Bible Basics for Catholics by John Bergsma If you are an Apple Podcast listener, please leave a review of my show! Instagram: @elizawritesthings elizawritesthings.com Music: "Beer Belly Blues" by John Deley

CONTENT WARNING: mention of severe mental illness, behavioral hospitals, and the most recent mass shootings. Join me for a reading of my original poem, "Asylum Song," and my discussion on how this poem is informed by the unfortunate sub-human treatment mental health patients receive in institutions that cannot and do not truly regard them as human, our need to bother caring about things that harm the human dignity of every person, and where I find hope in the wake of enormous tragedies. Read "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Stetson here. I'm serious--please read it. If you are an Apple Podcast listener, please leave a review of my show! Instagram: @elizawritesthings elizawritesthings.com Music: "Beer Belly Blues" by John Deley

CONTENT WARNING: mention of body dysmorphia and bulimia Sign up for the Holy Week Poetry Collection here! Join me for a reading of my original poem, "Manic Pixie Dream Girl," and my discussion of the destruction against women behind the trope the poem is named after. I also touch on men's insecurity, how harmful it is to put women on pedestals, and the ways in which men try to control women in bad relationships. Manic Pixie Dream girl definition on tvtropes.org The Young Catholic Woman: "Idolizing Virginity" post If you are an Apple Podcast listener, please leave a review of my show! instagram: @elizawritesthings elizawritesthings.com

CONTENT WARNING: This episode discusses the harmful effects of pornography. Listener discretion advised with children. Join me for a reading of my original poem, "Cain and Abilene," and a discussion on the literary devices and creative choices I make in this piece. I also share my personal story on feeling the detrimental effects of a partner's pornography consumption and why it is so important to uphold the truth that #pornkillslove. RESOURCES: fightthenewdrug.org exoduscry.com covenanteyes.com If you are an Apple Podcast listener, please leave a review of my show! Please subscribe to twice-monthly email letters here! instagram: @elizawritesthings blog + site: elizawritesthings.squarespace.com

Join me for a spoken word performance of my original work, "Why Do I Pretend," followed by a detailed explanation of the story behind it and my unwavering belief in the importance of simply making eye contact with the homeless we pass by on streets and at stoplights, even if we don't offer money or food. If you're an Apple Podcast listener, please leave a review! Subscribe here to biweekly email letters for podcast updates, blog articles, and more! instagram: @elizawritesthings website: elizawritesthings.squarespace.com Music: Beer Belly Blues – John Deley

CONTENT WARNING: discusses the implications of sexual assault--but I don't use those explicit words. Join me for a spoken word performance of two of my original works, "Orpheus, by Eurydice" and "Eurydice, by Eurydice,"" followed by a detailed explanation of the context behind it and how the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice alludes to timeless problems in relationships of lust. If you're an Apple Podcast listener, please leave a review! Subscribe here to biweekly email letters for podcast updates, blog articles, and more! instagram: @elizawritesthings website: elizawritesthings.squarespace.com Music: Beer Belly Blues – John Deley

Join me for a special (belated) Ash Wednesday episode featuring my poem, "Empty," about leaving behind all of the noise in our culture to remember where we came from + receive the power that humility offers us. Fr. Mike's Ash Wednesday homily "Spirit of God" by Phil Wickham subscribe here to twice-monthly email letters instagram: @elizawritesthings elizawritesthings.squarespace.com Music: "Beer Belly Blues" by John Deley

Welcome to the first episode of the Eliza Writes Things poetry podcast! Join me for a spoken word performance of my original written work, "Shards and Foot," followed by a detailed explanation of the context behind the poem and my personal story of overcoming toxic messages and getting to a place where I can live fully alive! For the written poem, visit @elizawritesthings on Instagram. Subscribe here to biweekly email letters for podcast updates, blog articles, and more! website: elizawritesthings.squarespace.com Music: Beer Belly Blues – John Deley