Podcasts about versify

Over the past year, I've grown in my faith, had both good and bad experiences, and LEARNED A LOT! I want to share a lot of the most important lessons I learned with you so that, Lord willing, you can learn these lessons now, from me, so that you can move forward and know even more than I did when I first started. This episode is for girls of all ages (although some mature content is mentioned), whether you're in college, about to start, or it's far off in the future. Grab your notebook and a cup of tea, and let's talk about God's faithfulness in helping me (and those I've met) grow over the past year.Scripture mentioned:Psalm 4:4Matthew 28:20Philippians 4:131 Timothy 4:12Episodes mentioned:INVESTING IN YOUNGER CHRISTIAN GIRLS (taking the time and accepting the command)THE GOSPEL (the foundation of Christianity)Other things mentioned:Versify, an AWESOME app my friends and I use to memorize ScriptureAmy Carmichael, a missionary to India who never married or had children, yet was still used by God to bless many people and save many children from slaverysay hi here:email: thechristiangirlstea@gmail.comSubstack: The Christian Girl's Tea Substack (including FREE GROUP CHAT!)Instagram: ⁠⁠@thechristiangirlstea⁠⁠I love you, sister!

On our Best June Books episode, Kirkus' editors share their top titles for the month. Then New York Times-bestselling author Ibi Zoboi joins us to discuss First Day Around the World, illustrated by Juanita Londoño (Versify, June 3). Kirkus calls Zoboi's latest picture book “both monumental in scope and tightly focused, with an emotionally resonant core.”See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we're bringing you an episode of Versify from the archives. In the episode, Freedom Rider Etta Marie Simpson Ray speaks with poet Kelley Bell about the experience of living in the echo of a movement when your contributions have all but been erased, finding the courage to risk personal gain for the collective good, and the critical importance of carrying the old days with us.Credits:This is a production of Nashville Public RadioHost/producer: Nina CardonaEditor: Miriam KramerAdditional support: Mack Linebaugh, Tony Gonzalez, Rachel Iacovone, LaTonya Turner and the staff of WPLN and WNXP

Send us a textRobert Frost, Alfred Lord Tennyson and William Carlos Williams hang their Christmas stockings and get a full serving of Versify rambling. Shorter than a usual episode. It's a Christmas miracle!

A Very Merry Versify Xmas 2023Poetrye e cummingsJames MerrillHenry Longfellow

The chapter and verse breakdown of scripture has served the church for centuries to help us navigate the Holy Bible. However, the addition of these details and others, like study notes, have distracted from the core stories of scripture. When we "versify" the Bible we can easily divorce passage from their contextual meaning and the message they were intended to communicate. So how do we recapture the message of scripture?

In conversation with Tracey Michae'l Lewis-Giggetts  Kwame Alexander is the author of The Crossover, a ''beautifully measured novel'' (The New York Times Book Review) that follows twin brother basketball stars coming to terms with the world. Winner of the 2015 Newbery Medal and the 2015 Coretta Scott King Honor Award, it was recently adapted for Disney+ into a television series. Also a poet, educator, and activist, Alexander is the author of 36 other bestselling books, including Rebound, The Undefeated, and The Door of No Return. He is also a regular contributor to NPR's Morning Edition, co-founder of a health clinic and literacy program in Ghana, and is the founding editor of Versify, a publishing imprint focused on changing the world through words. Both a memoir and collection of love poems, Why Fathers Cry at Night brings together the various parts of Alexander's past and present relationships to offer a larger narrative of his family's love. The author and co-author of 15 books that explore topics such as faith, race, social justice, and motherhood, Tracey Michae'l Lewis-Giggetts is a professor of English and Black Studies at the Community College of Philadelphia, hosts the podcast HeARTtalk with Tracey Michae'l, and is the founder of HeARTspace, a healing community for those who have experienced trauma. Her writing has been published in The Washington Post, Essence, The Guardian, and Ebony, among other publications. In her recent essay collection, Black Joy: Stories of Resistance, Resilience, and Restoration, Lewis-Giggetts celebrates the reaffirming power of Black joy. (recorded 6/6/2023)

Betjeman, Bly, Hardy - Three Christmas Poems and Seasons Greetings from the Versify Podcast.

Grab a blanket and snuggle up with a cuppa on this rainy spring day. We've got some poetry for you. We bring you words from poets of Nashville's past, highlighting The Fugitive Poets of the early 20th century. Then we invite a few of poets of today to share some of their work and inspirations. But up first, WPLN environmental reporter Caroline Eggers will join at the top of the show to talk about her recent coverage of the United Nations climate report and the Tennessee Valley Authority's response to the call for clean energy.  Guests:  Caroline Eggers, WPLN Environmental Reporter Ridley Wills II, author and historian Mark Jarman, poet and critic Destiny O. Birdsong, multi-genre writer Joshua Moore, poet and Versify host

First Draft Episode #337: Lamar Giles Lamar Giles, author of the acclaimed novels Fake ID, Endangered, Overturned, Spin, Not So Pure and Simple. He joins us to talk about his middle-grade series The Last Last-Day-of-Summer, Last Chance for Logan County, and and The Last Mirror on the Left. The presenting sponsor for this episode is Sips By, a multi-brand, personalized monthly tea subscription box. Use offer code "draftsips” for 50% off your first Sips By box! Links to Topics Mentioned In This Episode: The Phantom Tollbooth by Norman The Bunnicula series by James Howe and Deborah Howe Misery and It by Stephen King Danielle Steele, author of The Butler, Flying Angels, Complications, and more. The Rapture of Canaan by Sheri Reynolds Twilight by Stephenie Meyer Unwind by Neal Shusterman Reality Check by Peter Abrahams Fallen Angels by Walter D WitSec: Inside the Federal Witness Protection Program by Pete Earley Dennis Lahane, author of Shutter Island, Mystic River, A Drink Before the War and many more Phoebe Yeh, v-p, publisher, Crown Books for Young Readers Ellen Oh, author of Finding Junie Kim, Spirit Hunters, and The Dragon Egg Princess (Hear her First Draft interview here) Kwame Alexander, Newberry-winning author of The Crossover and publisher of the Versify imprint We Need Diverse Books Jody Corbett, Senior Editor at Scholastic Dapo Adeola illiustrated The Last Last-Day-of-Summer and Last Chance for Logan County Derick Brooks illustrated Lamar's most recent middle-grade book, The Last Mirror on the Left Duck Tales (TV show) Joy Revolution, the imprint started by bestselling writers Nicola Yoon (#1 New York Times bestselling author of Everything, Everything and The Sun Is Also a Star talks about her new YA, Instructions For Dancing - hear her First Draft interviews here and here) and David Yoon, author of Frankly in Love, Super Fake Love Song, and Version Zero (hear his First Draft interview here) Steven Barnes, New York Times bestselling fantasy and sci-fi writer and screenwriter Ray Bradbury, author of Fahrenheit 451  

In this episode I have the pleasure of having M.C. Laubscher “The Cashflow Ninja” who was the very first guest I had on my show. Listen as M.C. talks about the frameworks he sees happening around the world! Listen as M.C. talks about his own experience growing up in South Africa and why his passion for educating and teaching versified sources of cashflow. M.C. talks about his book which describes the framework and 21 Best Cashflow Niches. Be sure to get a copy of M.C.'s book “The 21 Best Cashflow Niches” https://cashflowninja.com/ Guest Bio: M.C. Laubscher is a husband, dad, entrepreneur, investor, and educator. He is the founder of Cashflow Ninja and the creator and host of the top-rated business and investing podcast, Cashflow Ninja and Cashflow Investing Secrets. As an educator, M.C.'s passion is to share how investors and business owners can create, recover, warehouse, and multiply cashflow through advanced cashflow strategies. Having figured out how to escape the rat race and replace his income through cashflow investing, he shares how you can do the same through cashflow investing strategies. Guest link: Check out my very first podcast episode with my friend M.C. Laubscher “The Cashflow Ninja” https://betterwealth.captivate.fm/episode/mc-laubscher-the-cashflow-ninja

In this special Fall Preview episode, sponsored by Dear Highlights: What Adults Can Learn from 75 Years of Letters and Conversations with Kids (Highlights Press, Aug. 10), Veronica Chambers joins us to discuss ‘Call and Response: The Story of Black Lives Matter' (Versify, Aug. 17), “an educational introduction for young readers and a comprehensive primer for adults” on the movement for racial justice. And in a sponsored interview, Megan talks with Lesa Cline-Ransome, author of Being Clem (Holiday House, Aug. 3), the highly anticipated conclusion to the “Finding Langston” trilogy. Kirkus: “A compelling work whose intriguing characters readers will miss when they turn the last page” (starred review). Then our editors join with their favorite books from our Fall Preview lists.

Welcome to Nutmeg Book Drops: Elementary Edition, a podcast produced by Librarians ConneCT. Librarians ConneCT is a group of public and school librarians from throughout the State of Connecticut. Each week, we'll discuss three of the 2022 Elementary Nutmeg Nominees, perfect for readers in grades 2-3. Each week will feature book talks and author interviews on some of the nominees. This week's episode features Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History by Vashti Harrison, published by Little Brown Books for Young Readers, The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander, illustrated by Kadir Nelson, and published by Versify, and Just Ask! Be Different, Be Brave, Be You by Sonia Sotomayor, illustrated by Rafael Lopez, and published by Philomel Books. Find more information on our website: bit.ly/librariansconnect!

Talk about a blessing today when Kwame Alexander visited Jen Lowry Writes! Umm...yeah...you heard me! I had a chance to sit down with him to talk about his work, his why, and his vocation for honoring character, voice, and youth. He's one of my favorite authors of all time so get ready to see me as a fan. I truly respect the work he does for educators - he makes the job of us pitching books to students a whole lot easier - I tell you that! Thanks for all of your contributions to literacy and the world, Kwame! You are a blessing to many. Kwame Alexander is a poet, educator, publisher, and New York Times Bestselling author of 35 books, including SWING, BECOMING MUHAMMAD ALI, co-authored with James Patterson, BOOKED, which was longlisted for the National Book Award, REBOUND, which was shortlisted for prestigious UK Carnegie Medal, The Caldecott Medal and Newbery Honor-winning picture book, THE UNDEFEATED, illustrated by Kadir Nelson, and, his NEWBERY medal-winning middle grade novel, THE CROSSOVER. A regular contributor to NPR's Morning Edition, Kwame is the recipient of numerous awards, including The Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award, The Coretta Scott King Author Honor, Three NAACP Image Award Nominations, and the 2017 Inaugural Pat Conroy Legacy Award. In 2018, he founded the publishing imprint VERSIFY, and opened the Barbara E. Alexander Memorial Library and Health Clinic in Ghana, as a part of LEAP for Ghana, an international literacy program he co-founded. He is the writer and executive producer of THE CROSSOVER TV series on Disney plus. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/jen-lowry-writes/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jen-lowry-writes/support

Enjoy our presentation of The Last Last-Day-of-Summer by Lamar Giles, published by Versify. Otto and Sheed are the local sleuths in their zany Virginia town, masters of unraveling mischief using their unmatched powers of deduction. And as the summer winds down and the first day of school looms, the boys are craving just a little bit more time for fun, even as they bicker over what kind of fun they want to have. That is, until a mysterious man appears with a camera that literally freezes time. The Last Last-Day-of-Summer is recommended for readers age 10 and up. Please see Common Sense Media for more information and reviews. http://bit.ly/LastDayofSummer_ReviewsThis title is available as an audiobook on Hoopla. Hoopla Audiobook - http://bit.ly/LastDayofsummer_HooplaAudio Please visit www.calvertlibrary.info for more information.Music: Dub the Uke (excerpt) by Kara Square (c) copyright 2016. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/mindmapthat/53340 

In the week before this episode airs, the sickness and violence in our country again came into harsh focus. An insurrection, spurred by the delusional, hateful, and outgoing President of the United States resulted in five deaths and the desecration of the seat of our government. This episode has healing. This episode has magic. This episode has Kwame Alexander. Kwame Alexander is the New York Times Bestselling author of 32 books, including THE UNDEFEATED, HOW TO READ A BOOK, THE WRITE THING, SWING, REBOUND, which was shortlisted for prestigious Carnegie Medal, and, his NEWBERY medal-winning middle grade novel, THE CROSSOVER. He’s also the Founding Editor of VERSIFY, an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt that aims to Change the World One Word at a Time. His new book Light for the World to See: A Thousand Words on Race and Hope is now available. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/alyssa-milano-sorry-not-sorry/message

Episode summary:  Today Corrie interviews Kwame Alexander. Kwame is a poet, educator, and New York Times Bestselling author of 28 books, including “THE UNDEFEATED”, “SWING”, and “REBOUND”, the follow-up to the NEWBERY medal-winning novel, “THE CROSSOVER.”  He is also, among many other accomplishments, the founder of VERSIFY, an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt which publishes… Continue reading PB&J EP 5: Kwame Alexander and Becoming Muhammad Ali

For Dr. Freddrick Leonard, joining the Nashville Student Movement in the Fall of 1960 meant learning to suppress his instincts. As a high schooler in Chattanooga, he sat in at lunch counters with other students, and they defended themselves when they were attacked. And his shift to non-violent protest was especially difficult. But even after years of practicing pacifism, that impulse to fight back was buried, but it wasn't subdued. In this episode Dr. Leonard speaks with poet, hip-hop and spoken word artist Saran Thompson about the difficulty of conforming to the ideology of a movement, how he came to grapple with the limits of non-violence as an ideal, and how sometimes keeping focused on the work means accepting that other people will be the ones to reap the benefit. Then Saran takes the down and back again of Dr. Leonard's pacifist’s journey, and turns it into poetry. Versify is a production of Nashville Public Radio and The Porch — Nashville’s nonprofit literary center. Editing for this episode came from WPLN’s Mack Linebaugh with additional editing by Anita Bugg. The episode was written, hosted, produced, and recorded by Joshua Moore. The music is by Blue Dot Session The show is distributed by P-R-X.

How many books on your children’s shelves feature Black and Brown characters? The stories we read to our children should be mirrors to see themselves and windows to see others who are different from them. We spoke with Newbery Medal award-winning author, Kwame Alexander about the importance of representation in kids’ literature. He shared about his own writing process, how to inspire your kids to write and some of his favorite books! Resources: Explore the books published by Kwame’s own imprint, Versify. Pre-order Kwame’s next book, Becoming Muhammed Ali, via Barnes & Noble or Amazon Watch Lee & Low’s webinar, “Representation Matters: Strategies for Building an Inclusive Bookshelf” Check out National PTA’s Our Children article, “5 Great Kids’ Books that Highlight Diversity” Follow Kwame Alexander on Twitter and Instagram at @KwameAlexander

In this episode, Charnaie interviews New York Times Bestselling authorKwame Alexander. Kwame is also a poet, educator, author of 37 books,including THE UNDEFEATED, illustrated by Kadir Nelson, HOW TO READ ABOOK, illustrated by Melissa Sweet, SWING, REBOUND, which was shortlistedfor prestigious Carnegie Medal, and, his NEWBERY medal-winning middle gradenovel, THE CROSSOVER. Kwame is also the Founding Editor of VERSIFY, animprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt that aims to Change the World One Word ata Time.Kwame discusses how his writing career he began, upcoming books andprojects he’s working on and tells us why he’s not a fan of the phrase “diversebooks”.Things you will learn in this episode:How George Floyd’s death has impacted Kwame’s life personally and professionally.The inspiration that led Kwame to start writing kid lit.Which authors Kwame has frequent virtual happy hours with to gossip, sharetheir work and talk about how to make the world a better place.Kwame’s advice for inspiring writers.The name of Kwame’s forthcoming writing journal for kids and his forthcoming books for middle grade readers and adults.Resources mentioned in this episode:Here Wee ReadProject LitThe Brown BookshelfConnect with Charnaie online in the following places:Blog: http://hereweeread.comPersonal Website: charnaiegordon.comPodcast Email Address: hereweereadpodcast@gmail.comFind Charnaie on the following social media platforms under the username@hereweeread: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, PinterestFeel free to share this podcast on your social media platforms to help spreadthe word to others. Thanks for listening!

In the early 1960’s Rip Patton was on the frontlines of the civil rights movement. A foot soldier in a coordinated campaign to combat racial inequality on every front. And ultimately, induce the political opposition to revise the central edicts that governed the country. It was an effort backed by a broad coalition of American people, and fueled by the righteous indignation, and careful strategic practice of the youth. Rip sits down to talk with poet Destiny Birdsong about his role as a revisionist of American democracy. How Nashville became a test kitchen to formalize the methods of the civil rights movement, and how for Rip, the core tenet of that legacy, is ensuring that the work continues. Then Destiny takes Rips decades of resistance and turns them into poetry. Versify is a production of Nashville Public Radio and The Porch — Nashville’s nonprofit literary center. Editing for this episode came from WPLN’s Mack Linebaugh with additional editing by Anita Bugg. The episode was written, hosted, and produced by Joshua Moore. Today’s story and poem were recorded by Joshua Moore at Nashville Public Radio. The music is by Jahzzar, and Blue Dot Session— found through the Free Music Archive. The show is distributed by P-R-X.

In season 4 of Versify, we bring you the stories of a remarkable band of historical luminaries, connected by their courageous commitment to racial equality in the 1960s: the Nashville Freedom riders. We hear of their experiences, in their own words, and our poets turn their narratives into poetry.

This week on Red Business, Jonathan Healy talks to people who are spending time helping others, rising to the online challenge & getting back to business. On the podcast this week is Ruth Fuller, Managing Director of Fuller Marketing, Aoife Horgan, co-founder of Versify Communications and DC Cahalane, CEO of Republic of Work

We're joined by special guest Versify, a Rogue player who is currently near the top of the RaiderIO Mythic Plus leaderboards, to talk all about advanced Awakened strategies. Learn about specific strategies to save time pathing through the dungeon, and when you can fight certain Awakened minibosses with end bosses of dungeons. Check out our Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/titanforge Come join our Discord: https://discord.gg/6BcJ3Tu Music: Take a Chance by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under the Creative Commons 3.0: By Attribution license.

The Writing Sisters Summit Takes to the Sands in 2020  October 15-18, 2020 Blue Sky Retreat and Bed & Breakfast in Taos, NM. Register today: https://www.clevervixenmedia.com The Writing Sisters Summit, held October 15-18, 2020, was born, with the intent of bringing together writers, male and female, who want to hone their craft with and learn from other writers. The Writing Sisters Summit was born in 2019 with the intent of bringing together writers, male and female, who want to hone their craft with and learn from other writers. In 2020, The Retreat will take to the Sands of Taos, NM, featuring workshops by Seattle based NAACP Image award nominated writer,  playwright and filmmaker, Nina Foxx, along with several of the writer-friends that she  met through the course of her twenty years as a published author. Nina created the summit with the intent of spurring creativity and creating community among writers that want to deepen and expand their craft and learn how to prepare their work for publishing.  Other faculty members include Foxx’s writer-friends, Kwame Alexander the author of 32 books and New York Times best-seller and winner of the Newberry Medal. Kwame is also the founding editor of Versify, an imprint of Houghton-Mifflin. They will be joined by Carmen Green, Romance Novelist and Georgia- based writing professor. Several of Carmen’s works have been made into TV movies. Wellness faculty include Jami Jones Ervin, Columbus, OH based Life Coach and pastor, and Albina Rippy, yoga instructor and owner of the Blue Sky Retreat Center, where the summit will be held.  For more information visit https://www.clevervixenmedia.com.   

I sit down with Jim Crickard on the rooftop of the Tara Building before his Therapy Sessions gig, as part of the First Fortnight Festival. We chat about poetry, Panti Bliss, First Fortnight Festival, Drag and Poetry and plenty of other great things. Jim Crickard’s poetry is camp and entertaining work with a sassy social-political edge. His work explores themes such as culture, sexuality and identity. In 2019 he was selected by Poetry Ireland for the inaugural Versify series, and performed to a sold out show at Dublin Fringe Festival. He came second in the 2019 All Ireland Poetry Slam Final. In 2018, he won the Cuirt Spoken Word Platform and was awarded a slot to perform at Electric Picnic. In January, 2020 he will be performing in Cork and Dublin with the First Fortnight festival alongside acclaimed poet, Stephen James Smith. He was shortlisted for the 2018 O'Bheal International Five Words Competition, and has work published in Automatic Pilot, A New Ulster, and Contemporary Poetry. He can be found on Facebook. With Being Earnest, I hope to create a space away from the noise of everyday life and distraction. I hope to offer a place, to listen, to share, to be engaged and hopefully inspired. Each week I'll be joined by sound people doing great things to have honest and genuine chats. I hope you enjoy Being Earnest. Thanks for Listening. Many more thanks go to the following people: Photography: Caitríona Muireann Music: Chef Brian- LATASHÁ/YouTube Audio Library Special Thanks to Jen Butler Go Raibh Míle Maith Agat agus Grá Mór

Authors on the Air host Pam Stack welcomes the highly acclaimed poet, educator and author Kwame Alexander to the studio to discuss SWING and his many other achievements. 1/27/20 The Undefeated, an ode to great black Americans illustrated by Kadir Nelson and written by Kwame Alexander, won the Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished picture book for children. Kwame Alexander is a poet, educator, and the New York Times Bestselling author of 28 books, including SWING, SOLO, and REBOUND, the follow-up to his, NEWBERY medal-winning middle grade novel, THE CROSSOVER. Some of his other works include BOOKED, a NATIONAL BOOK AWARD Nominee, THE PLAYBOOK: 52 RULES TO HELP YOU AIM, SHOOT, AND SCORE IN THIS GAME OF LIFE, and the picture books, OUT OF WONDER, SURF'S UP, and THE UNDEFEATED. A regular contributor to NPR's Morning Edition, Kwame is the recipient of numerous awards, including The Coretta Scott King Author Honor, The Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Prize, Three NAACP Image Award Nominations, and the 2017 Inaugural Pat Conroy Legacy Award. He believes that poetry can change the world, and he uses it to inspire and empower young people around the world through THE WRITE THING, his K-12 Writing Workshop. The 2018 NEA Read Across America Ambassador, Kwame is the founder of VERSIFY, an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, and the host and producer of the literary variety/talk show, Bookish, which airs on Facebook Watch. He's led cultural exchange delegations to Brazil, Italy, Singapore, and Ghana, where he built the Barbara E. Alexander Memorial Library and Health Clinic, as a part of LEAP for Ghana, an international literacy program he co-founded. This is a copyrighted podcast owned by the Authors on the Air Global Radio Network.

It's not an exaggeration to say that Rhiannon Giddens is a narrative archeologist. A historical thaumaturge who conjures the often willfully forgotten chronicles of American history and renders them with a rosined bow. For Rhiannon that process of narrative excavation has led to some of her most spellbinding work. Rhiannon speaks with podcaster Colleen Phelps, of WPLN's Classically Speaking, about the process of disinterring narratives from the annals of American history, how her collaboration with the Nashville Ballet led her to composing out of poetry, and how motherhood has deepened her relationship to her subject matter while furthering her commitment to her art. Then poet Destiny Birdsong takes the major chords of Rhiannon's artistic journey and turns them into poetry. Versify is a production of Nashville Public Radio and The Porch — Nashville's nonprofit literary center.  Editing for this episode came from WPLN's Mack Linebaugh with additional editing by Anita Bugg. The episode was written, hosted, and produced by Joshua Moore. Today's story was recorded by Carl Pederson at WPLN for Live in Studio C in January of 2019 and the poem was recorder by Joshua Moore at The Nashville Ballet. The music is by Rhiannon Giddens & Francesco Turrisi. The show is distributed by PRX

For artist, influencer and activist, Thaxton Waters, the roots of his artistic practice began with a suspicion of history. An unease about the stories around the community he was born into. And that sense of questioning spurred Thaxton toward a career of unearthing untold histories — through art. Thaxton speaks with Versify host Joshua Moore about the process of interrogating history through art. How the dual legacies of education and art making he inherited from his parents have shaped his practice, and how he persists in his commitment to storytelling, in the midst of a city that seems intent on leaving people like him behind. Then Joshua takes the narrative tiles of Thaxton’s life and shapes them into poetry. Versify is a production of Nashville Public Radio and The Porch — Nashville’s nonprofit literary center.  Editing for this episode came from WPLN’s Mack Linebaugh with additional editing by Anita Bugg. The episode was written, hosted and produced by Joshua Moore. Today’s story and poem were recorded by Tasha Lemley at WPLN in March of 2018. * The music is by Blue Dot Session. The show is distributed by P-R-X. *

Demetria Kalodimos is something of a Nashville institution, anchoring the Channel Four news desk since she first arrived in Music city in 1984. But thirty plus years into her career, Demetria was unprepared to have her decades of dedicated news coverage cut short. Demetria speaks with poet Lagnajita Mukhopadhaya about her enduring commitment to the power of journalistic storytelling, how she coped with closing the book on over three decades as a news reporter, and how revisiting family narratives is helping Demetria to write her next chapter. Then Lagnajita takes the weave of Demetria's personal and professional histories and turns them into poetry. *Versify is a production of Nashville Public Radio and The Porch — Nashville’s nonprofit literary center.  * Editing for this episode came from WPLN’s Mack Linebaugh with additional editing by Anita Bugg. The episode was written, hosted, and produced by Joshua Moore. Today’s story and poem were recorded by Tasha Lemley at WPLN in March of 2018. The music is by Blue Dot Sessions. *The show is distributed by P-R-X. *

Tasha Lemley, has spent much of her professional life championing the stories of people on the margins. She Cofounded The Contributor, a Nashville nonprofit “street newspaper” that helps to empower people experiencing homelessness. But even with a career’s worth of exposure to the types of hardship that can come from living on a social periphery. There were still some harsh realities that Tasha was unprepared for. Today Tasha speaks with poet Sally Harvey Anderson, about her visit to a Southern Nevada cathouse, and how a brush with the unglamorized fact of the American Sex trade transformed her commitment to social advocacy. Then Sally takes that formative experience and turns it into poetry. Versify is a production of Nashville Public Radio and The Porch — Nashville’s nonprofit literary center.  Editing for this episode came from WPLN’s Mack Linebaugh with additional editing by Anita Bugg. The episode was written, hosted, and produced by Joshua Moore. Today’s story and poem were recorded by Tasha Lemley at Southern Festival of Books in October of 2018. The music is by Blue Dot Session and Lee Rosevere — found through the Free Music Archive. *The show is distributed by P-R-X. *

This week, Liberty and Alice discuss Marilou is Everywhere, Rotherweird, Speaking of Summer, and more great books. This episode was sponsored by the Versify podcast and HarperCollins and The Rogue to Ruin by Vivienne Lorret. Pick up an All the Books! 200th episode commemorative item here. Subscribe to All the Books! using RSS, iTunes, or Spotify and never miss a beat book. Sign up for the weekly New Books! newsletter for even more new book news. Books discussed on the show: Marilou Is Everywhere: A Novel by Sarah Smith Radical Ritual: How Burning Man Changed the World by Neil Shister Speaking of Summer: A Novel by Kalisha Buckhanon Rotherweird by Andrew Caldecott An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar & Max Gladstone The Ascent to Godhood (The Tensorate Series Book 4) by JY Yang Deadly Aim The Civil War Story of Michigan's Anishinaabe Sharpshooters by Sally M. Walker What we're reading: American Heiress: The Wild Saga of the Kidnapping, Crimes and Trial of Patty Hearst by Jeffrey Toobin American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins More books out this week: LaGuardia by Nnedi Okorafor, Tana Ford (Illustrator) In Her Feminine Sign by Dunya Mikhail   The Arrangement by Robyn Harding  The Grave on the Wall by Brandon Shimoda Scary Stories for Young Foxes by Christian McKay Heidicker Never Have I Ever: A Novel by Joshilyn Jackson The Chelsea Girls: A Novel by Fiona Davis  Blood Sisters by Yideum Kim and Jiyoon Lee The Book Charmer by Karen Hawkins  The Churchgoer: A Novel by Patrick Coleman  The Merciful Crow (The Merciful Crow Series) by Margaret Owen The Hero Next Door edited by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich Brazen and the Beast: The Bareknuckle Bastards Book II by Sarah MacLean How to Hack a Heartbreak by Kristin Rockaway  Goodnight Stranger by Miciah Bay Gault That's What Frenemies Are For by Sophie Littlefield and Lauren Gershell  The Year They Fell by David Kreizman The Vexations by Caitlin Horrocks  Semicolon: The Past, Present, and Future of a Misunderstood Mark by Cecelia Watson For Black Girls Like Me by Mariama J. Lockington This Is Not America: Stories by Jordi Punti Someone We Know: A Novel by Shari Lapena  Boys Will Be Boys by Clementine Ford Too Close by Natalie Daniels The Escape Room: A Novel by Megan Goldin Chances Are . . .: A novel by Richard Russo  Smokescreen (Eve Duncan) by Iris Johansen  Tallulah the Tooth Fairy CEO by Tamara Pizzoli, Federico Fabiani (Illustrator)

This week, Liberty and Vanessa discuss Gods of Jade and Shadow, Theme Music, The Marriage Clock, and more great books. This episode was sponsored by the Versify podcast, ThirdLove, and Doubleday and The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead. Pick up an All the Books! 200th episode commemorative item here. Subscribe to All the Books! using RSS, iTunes, or Spotify and never miss a beat book. Sign up for the weekly New Books! newsletter for even more new book news. Books discussed on the show: The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep by H. G. Parry Gods of Jade and Shadow: A Novel by Silvia Moreno-Garcia Theme Music: A Novel by T. Marie Vandelly Three Women by Lisa Taddeo The Marriage Clock by Zara Raheem How to Hack a Heartbreak by Kristin Rockaway Tell Me Everything by Cambria Brockman Because Internet: Understanding the New Rules of Language by Gretchen McCulloch  What we're reading: The Golden Tresses of the Dead: A Flavia de Luce Novel by Alan Bradley Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu More books out this week: Beijing Payback: A Novel by Daniel Nieh Black Sun: A Novel by Owen Matthews Medusa in the Graveyard: Book Two of the Medusa Cycle by Emily Devenport  Jade War (The Green Bone Saga) by Fonda Lee  The Lager Queen of Minnesota: A Novel by J. Ryan Stradal Cowboy Up by Stacy Finz  History. A Mess. by Sigrún Pálsdottír and Lytton Smith The Two Lila Bennetts by Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke  Hummingbird in Underworld: Teaching in a Men’s Prison, A Memoir by Deborah Tobola  Desdemona and the Deep by C. S. E. Cooney A Terrible Thing to Waste: Environmental Racism and Its Assault on the American Mind by Harriet A. Washington  Gravity Is the Thing: A Novel by Jaclyn Moriarty  Bagehot: The Life and Times of the Greatest Victorian by James Grant A Stranger on the Beach: A Novel by Michele Campbell  Meet Me in Monaco by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb You've Been Volunteered: A Class Mom Novel by Laurie Gelman  Love Street: Pulp Romance for Modern Women by Leah Rachel Lady in the Lake by Laura Lippman We Love Anderson Cooper: Short Stories by R.L. Maizes  Reasons to Be Cheerful by Nina Stibbe   Screen Tests: Stories and Other Writing by Kate Zambreno The Violent Century: A Novel by Lavie Tidhar The Undoing of Thistle Tate by Katelyn Detweiler The Last Astronaut by David Wellington The Pillars by Peter Polites My Friend Anna: The True Story of a Fake Heiress by Rachel DeLoache Williams Home for Erring and Outcast Girls: A Novel by Julie Kibler  The Redeemed: The West Country Trilogy by Tim Pears  The Dinner Guest by Gabriela Ybarra The Floating Feldmans by Elyssa Friedland  The Possession (The Anomaly Files) by Michael Rutger  The Dark Above: A Novel by Jeremy Finley  Furnace of This World: Or, 36 Observations About Goodness by Ed Simon Skulls! by Blair Thornburgh, Scott Campbell (Illustrator)

There are about as many ways to fall in love with the craft of writing as there are books to be read. But whatever the means of introduction, that first literary gateway drug, it’s typically hard to forget. But for Nashville non-fiction writer Rob Simbeck, his route to an early love of literature, began with and American tragedy. Today Rob speaks with poet Ashley Trabue, about his experience, living through a decade that fractured the country, and how that turmoil pointed him towards a love of telling stories, a discovery that helped to keep Rob from unraveling in more ways than one. Then Ashley takes the broad scope of those experiences, and turns them into poetry. Versify is a production of Nashville Public Radio and The Porch — Nashville’s nonprofit literary center. Editing for this episode came from WPLN’s Mack Linebaugh with additional editing by Anita Bugg. The episode was written, hosted, and produced by Joshua Moore. Today’s story and poem were recorded by Tasha Lemley at the 2018 Southern Festival of Books. The music is by Lee Rosevere — found through the Free Music Archive. The show is distributed by P-R-X.

It’s our 6th Annual Sunday Morning Magazine with Rodney Lear Recommended Summer Reading List Show. We have reviewed a number of books and put together a list of what we think are some of the best summer reads in three categories: Picture Books, Middle School and Young Adults. Picture Book--THE UNDEFEATED by Kwame Alexander

This week, Liberty and María Cristina discuss The Nickel Boys, Turbulence, Body Leaping Backward, and more great books. This episode was sponsored by the Versify podcast, Ritual, and Libro.fm. Pick up an All the Books! 200th episode commemorative item here. Subscribe to All the Books! using RSS, iTunes, or Spotify and never miss a beat book. Sign up for the weekly New Books! newsletter for even more new book news. Books discussed on the show: The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead Akissi: More Tales of Mischief by Marguerite Abouet and Mathieu Sapin Body Leaping Backward: Memoir of a Delinquent Girlhood by Maureen Stanton Her One Mistake by Heidi Perks (paperback) The Rage of Dragons by Evan Winter  Turbulence: A Novel by David Szalay   The Book of X by Sarah Rose Etter My Family Divided by Diane Guerrero with Erica Moroz (paperback) What we're reading: Paper Girls by Brian K Vaughan and Cliff Chiang From the Wreck by Jane Rawson More books out this week: Stubborn Archivist by Yara Rodrigues Fowler Everything Below the Waist: Why Health Care Needs a Feminist Revolution by Jennifer Block  The Redemption of Time: A Three-Body Problem Novel by Baoshu and Ken Liu Storm Blown by Nick Courage Raised in Captivity: Fictional Nonfiction by Chuck Klosterman The Wedding Party by Jasmine Guillory The Other Mrs. Miller by Allison Dickson Beirut Hellfire Society by Rawi Hage  The Weil Conjectures by Karen Olsson The Oddmire, Book 1: Changeling by William Ritter A Girl Goes Into the Forest by Peg Alford Pursell Family of Origin: A Novel by CJ Hauser They Called Us Enemy by George Takei and Justin Eisinger The Border Keeper by Kerstin Hall Tell Me Everything: A Novel by Cambria Brockman  This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone  If You Want to Make God Laugh by Bianca Marais Costalegre by Courtney Maum What Do We Need Men For?: A Modest Proposal by E. Jean Carroll  The Heart Keeper by Alex Dahl  Fu Ping: A Novel (Weatherhead Books on Asia) by Anyi Wang, Howard Goldblatt (Translator) The Expectations by Alexander Tilney  Sophia, Princess Among Beasts by James Patterson and Emily Raymond Blue Hours: A Novel by Daphne Kalotay 

This week, Liberty and Kelly discuss The Chain, A Prayer for Travelers, The Need, and more great books. This episode was sponsored by the Versify podcast, Lola, and Bombas. Pick up an All the Books! 200th episode commemorative item here. Subscribe to All the Books! using RSS, iTunes, or Spotify and never miss a beat book. Sign up for the weekly New Books! newsletter for even more new book news. Books discussed on the show: The Chain by Adrian McKinty  The Saturday Night Ghost Club: A Novel by Craig Davidson  Pan's Labyrinth: The Labyrinth of the Faun by Guillermo del Toro, Cornelia Funke  The Need by Helen Phillips Dapper Dan: Made in Harlem: A Memoir by Daniel R. Day A Prayer for Travelers: A Novel by Ruchika Tomar Wilder Girls by Rory Power The Boy and Girl Who Broke The World by Amy Reed What we're reading: Moon Of The Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice The Most Fun We Ever Had by Claire Lombardo More books out this week: Knife: A New Harry Hole Novel (Harry Hole Series) by Jo Nesbo  Your Strange Fortune by Chloe N Clark The Shameless (A Quinn Colson Novel) by Ace Atkins  Let's Hope for the Best by Carolina Setterwall Murderabilia by Carl Vonderau Breathe In, Cash Out: A Novel by Madeleine Henry  The Reunion by Guillaume Musso  The Toll by Cherie Priest In the Shadow of Wolves by Alvydas Šlepikas and Romas Kinka Copperhead: A Novel by Alexi Zentner  The Last Englishmen: Love, War, and the End of Empire by Deborah Baker  Stay and Fight: A Novel by Madeline ffitch Jacob's Ladder: A Novel by Ludmila Ulitskaya, Polly Gannon (translator) Circus: or, Moira Orfei in Aigues-Mortes: A Novel by Wayne Koestenbaum Shapes of Native Nonfiction: Collected Essays by Contemporary Writers by Elissa Washuta and Theresa Warburton The Vagabonds: The Story of Henry Ford and Thomas Edison’s Ten-Year Road Trip by Jeff Guinn Bad Axe County: A Novel by John Galligan Death and Other Happy Endings: A Novel by Melanie Cantor  Heartwood Box by Ann Aguirre Say Say Say: A novel by Lila Savage The Stories You Tell (Roxane Weary) by Kristen Lepionka The Trouble with Gravity: Solving the Mystery Beneath Our Feet by Richard Panek Cheshire Crossing by Andy Weir, Sarah Andersen (Illustrator)  Under Currents by Nora Roberts The Bastard Brigade: The True Story of the Renegade Scientists and Spies Who Sabotaged the Nazi Atomic Bomb by Sam Kean Killing with Confetti (A Detective Peter Diamond Mystery Book 18) by Peter Lovesey  The Cuban Comedy by Pablo Medina The Golden Hour: A Novel by Beatriz Williams Inhabitation: A Novel by Teru Miyamoto and Roger K. Thomas Vincent and Alice and Alice by Shane Jones Three Women by Lisa Taddeo The Last Book Party by Karen Dukess  If: The Untold Story of Kipling’s American Years by Christopher Benfey Supper Club by Lara Williams The Lightest Object in the Universe by Kimi Eisele Hungry: Eating, Road-Tripping and Risking It All with the Greatest Chef in the World by Jeff Gordinier Famous People: A Novel by Justin Kuritzkes The Last List of Miss Judith Kratt: A Novel by Andrea Bobotis Me Myself & Him by Chris Tebbetts The Survival of Molly Southbourne by Tade Thompson Season of the Witch (The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Book 1) by Sarah Rees Brennan Late Migrations: A Natural History of Love and Loss by Margaret Renkl Null Set (Cas Russell) by S. L. Huang The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman  Hope Rides Again: An Obama Biden Mystery (Obama Biden Mysteries) by Andrew Shaffer  Salvation Day by Kali Wallace One Little Secret: A Novel by Cate Holahan  Past Perfect Life by Elizabeth Eulberg Accommodations by Wioletta Greg and Jennifer Croft When Islam Is Not a Religion: Inside America's Fight for Religious Freedom by Asma T. Uddin  Spin the Dawn (The Blood of Stars Book 1) by Elizabeth Lim Death in a Desert Land by Andrew Wilson

Perhaps you’ve had the experience of standing on some nondescript street corner, minding your own business, when a stranger comes along and tries to chat you up. Maybe you found yourself thinking "I hope this person’s not a murderer” — a fear which typically seems dramatic. But when Rachel Gladstone had a similar type of run in with her neighborhood exterminator, she was shocked to find just how plausible that concern actually was. Rachel Speaks with poet Alicia Marie Brandewie about a series of unsettling encounters with the pest control man up the street. Then Alicia takes Rachel’s surprising narrative and turns it into poetry. Versify is a production of Nashville Public Radio and The Porch — Nashville’s nonprofit literary center.  Editing for this episode came from WPLN’s Mack Linebaugh with additional editing by Anita Bugg. The episode was written, hosted, and produced by Joshua Moore. Today’s story and poem were recorded by Sean Clark at Coco’s Italian Market in February of 2018. The music is by Blue Dot Session and Lee Rosevere — found through the Free Music Archive. *The show is distributed by P-R-X. *

This week, Liberty and Rebecca discuss The Way Through the Woods, Lock Every Door, Symptoms of a Heartbreak, and more great books. This episode was sponsored by the Versify podcast, Simon & Schuster and The Best Lies, and Sourcebooks and Kingdom of Exiles. Pick up an All the Books! 200th episode commemorative item here. Subscribe to All the Books! using RSS, iTunes, or Spotify and never miss a beat book. Sign up for the weekly New Books! newsletter for even more new book news. Books discussed on the show: Second Sight: A Novel by Aoife Clifford I Like to Watch: Arguing My Way Through the TV Revolution by Emily Nussbaum Lock Every Door: A Novel by Riley Sager The Way Through the Woods: On Mushrooms and Mourning by Litt Woon Long and Barbara J. Haveland Symptoms of a Heartbreak by Sona Charaipotra Casting into the Light: Tales of a Fishing Life by Janet Messineo Girls Like Us by Cristina Alger  In at the Deep End by Kate Davies What we're reading: Erosion: Essays of Undoing by Terry Tempest Williams From Hell to Breakfast by Meghan Tifft More books out this week: Sealed by Naomi Booth Under the Cold Bright Lights by Garry Disher Layover by David Bell  Surfside Sisters: A Novel by Nancy Thayer  Betrayal in Time: A Novel (Kendra Donovan Mysteries) by Julie McElwain  The Tribe (Paperbacks from Hell) by Bari Wood The Twelve by Cindy Lin The Plus One by Sarah Archer Unsung Heroine (Heroine Complex) by Sarah Kuhn   Whisper Network by Chandler Baker Buzz, Sting, Bite: Why We Need Insects by Anne Sverdrup-Thygeson The Gifted School: A Novel by Bruce Holsinger  American Predator: The Hunt for the Most Meticulous Serial Killer of the 21st Century by Maureen Callahan  Never Look Back by Alison Gaylin Maggie Brown & Others by Peter Orner We Went to the Woods: A Novel by Caite Dolan-Leach The Wind That Lays Waste by Selva Almada The Ghost Clause by Howard Norman The Big Book of Classic Fantasy by Ann Vandermeer and Jeff VanderMeer In Oceans Deep: Courage, Innovation, and Adventure Beneath the Waves by Bill Streever  Pretty Revenge by Emily Liebert They Could Have Named Her Anything: A Novel by Stephanie Jimenez Mixed-Race Superman: Keanu, Obama, and Multiracial Experience by Will Harris Temper by Layne Fargo Stone Cold Heart: A Novel by Caz Frear Growing Things and Other Stories by Paul Tremblay Deep River by Karl Marlantes Big Cabin by Ron Padgett  Very Nice: A Novel by Marcy Dermansky We Came Here to Forget: A Novel by Andrea Dunlop A Girl Returned by Donatella Di Pietrantonio, Ann Goldstein (Translator) Chimes of a Lost Cathedral (Revolution of Marina M.) by Janet Fitch Tell Me Who We Were by Kate McQuade Dragonslayer (The Dragonslayer) by Duncan M. Hamilton  In the Valleys of the Noble Beyond: In Search of the Sasquatch by John Zada The Flight Girls by Noelle Salazar  The Best Lies by Sarah Lyu Across the Void: A Novel by S.K. Vaughn Pan's Labyrinth: The Labyrinth of the Faun by Guillermo del Toro, Cornelia Funke

When Ritagay Sisk-Jaimson first joined the Phillidelphia chapter of the Black Panther Party in 1969, she was under scrutiny not only from some of its members but also the federal government. Ritgay & her daughter Tandekile Francis sit down to speak with poet Courtney Sinclaire Brown, about their family’s multigenerational commitment to public service. And how Ritagay’s lifelong association with the Black Panther Party has cemented their belief in offering public aid by any means necessary. And then Courtney takes their activist’s legacy and turns it into poetry. Versify is a production of Nashville Public Radio and The Porch — Nashville’s nonprofit literary center.  Editing for this episode came from WPLN’s Mack Linebaugh with additional editing by Anita Bugg. The episode was written, hosted, and produced by Joshua Moore. Today’s story and poem were recorded by Tasha Lemley at The Nashville Symphony’s 2019 Let Freedom Sing Concert. * The music is by Blue Dot Session — found through the Free Music Archive. * *The show is distributed by P-R-X. *

For Nashville muralist Andee Rudloff, the process of making a public artwork is about a lot more than adding a little color to urban landscapes. Andee sits down with poet J Joseph Kane, to talk about how an early exposure to her grandmother’s love of narrative and improvisational art spurred her towards a career crafting murals out of community stories. And then Joe takes the arc of Andee’s artistic journey and turns it into poetry. Versify is a production of Nashville Public Radio and The Porch — Nashville’s nonprofit literary center. Editing for this episode came from WPLN’s Mack Linebaugh with additional editing by Anita Bugg. The episode was written, hosted, and produced by Joshua Moore. Today’s story and poem were recorded by Tasha Lemley at 2018 Southern Festival of Books. The music is by Blue Dot Session, Podington Bear, and Jahzzar— found through the Free Music Archive.

When we talk about the casualties of war, often the emphasis gets placed on the visible losses, but for the people like Rani Banjarian, a Lebanese international student turned East Nashville Maths teacher, who actually endure those conflicts,  the intangible changes, are often just as costly. Today Rani speaks with his form college professor, poet Destiny Birdsong, about his experience living under the shadow of war, and how what he learned from that ordeal, transformed is relationship to his country, and led him to pursue an education overseas. A decision that’s caused Rani to be torn between his family and his ambitions. And then Destiny takes his complex history, and turns it into poetry. Versify is a production of Nashville Public Radio and The Porch — Nashville’s nonprofit literary center.  Editing for this episode came from WPLN’s Mack Linebaugh with additional editing by Anita Bugg. The episode was written, hosted, and produced by Joshua Moore. Today’s story and poem were recorded by Joshua Moore at Nashville Public Radio. The music is by Jahzzar, and Blue Dot Session— found through the Free Music Archive. *The show is distributed by P-R-X. *

Welcome back! This week, we're chatting with author Lamar Giles about his newest book, The Last Last Day of Summer, and the brand-new Versify imprint it's helping launch. Giles has written several YA books (Fake ID, Overturned, Spin), and The Last Last Day of Summer is his first go at middle grade fiction. And he knocks it out of the park. On this episode, we chat about The Last Last Day of Summer (and its unique twists), Versify, We Need Diverse Books (he's a cofounder), Hong Kong, LEGO obsessions, and... Grumpy Cat?

A little glitter to get you feeling good, and a little gossip we can't live without! We publish new episode every week, make sure to subscribe to get new episode notifications. Follow us on Instagram & Like us on Facebook @glitterandgossipshow www.glitterandgossipshow.com glitterandgossipshow@gmail.com Brought to you by: The Hair Show Article & Thread Boutique --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/glitterandgossip/support

Today, Tom’s guest is award-winning young-adult author, poet and educator Kwame Alexander. He has written 28 books, including ----Booked,---- which was nominated for a National Book Award, and ----The Crossover,---- winner of the Newberry Medal for middle grades novel. ----Swing,---- his latest novel co-written with Mary Rand Hess, is a follow-up to ----The Crossover.----He is the winner of many awards, including the Coretta Scott King Author Honor and the Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Prize, and he’s received three NAACP Image Award nominations. He’s also the founder of Versify, a publishing arm of Houghton Mifflin, and he hosts a literary show called Bookish, which airs on Facebook Watch.

Today, Tom’s guest is award-winning young-adult author, poet and educator Kwame Alexander. He has written 28 books, including Booked, which was nominated for a National Book Award, and The Crossover, winner of the Newberry Medal for middle grades novel. Swing, his latest novel co-written with Mary Rand Hess, is a follow-up to The Crossover.He is the winner of many awards, including the Coretta Scott King Author Honor and the Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Prize, and he’s received three NAACP Image Award nominations. He’s also the founder of Versify, a publishing arm of Houghton Mifflin, and he hosts a literary show called Bookish, which airs on Facebook Watch.Known to many from his frequent appearances on NPR’s Morning Edition, he is one of America’s most persuasive Pied Pipers when it comes to igniting a love of reading and exploration in young and old alike.Kwame Alexander joins Tom to discuss his new book, discovering his voice as a child and the eternal pursuit of finding your cool. This conversation was pre-recorded.

A story of Jakob’s is turned into poetry courtesy of the podcast Versify. Fighting wildfires is dangerous work. But to a 20 year old Jakob Lewis the work was all fun and games—at first. Jakob tells his story about fighting fire in Redding California to poet Lagnajita Mukhopadhyay. She then turns his story into a poem and reads it back to him. 

Linda Ragsdale felt lucky to get the last seat on a trip to Mumbai, intending to deepen her practice of meditation. She found herself instead struggling for survival — in the middle of India's most severe terrorist attack in decades. In part one of this two-part season finale, we hear how Linda's world disintegrated into chaos - and began to find order once again. Warning: This episode contains descriptions of violence. Versify is a production of Nashville Public Radio and The Porch, Nashville’s nonprofit literary center. Editing and production came from WPLN’s Emily Siner, with additional editing by Anita Bugg, Susannah Felts and Mack Linebaugh. The episode was hosted, scripted and produced by Joshua Moore. The music is by Blue Dot Sessions and Jahzzar. Versify is distributed by PRX. Please support Nashville Public Radio’s podcasts at wpln.org/give.

Have you ever had the nightmare where you’re standing at the front of an audience, about to say something important, but when you open your mouth there’s nothing? Well imagine waking up in that nightmare and realizing that you couldn’t get out. That’s exactly what happened to KC Steedle, the night that a mysterious blackout nearly killed his dream of ever having a career in music. KC tells poet Ciona Rouse about the disquieting experience of confronting a medical anomaly. And a surprising change in plan that ultimately saved his career, and his life. Then Ciona takes his unsettling tale, and turns it into poetry. Versify is a production of Nashville Public Radio and The Porch, Nashville’s nonprofit literary center. Editing and production came from WPLN’s Mack Linebaugh, with additional editing by Anita Bugg. The episode was hosted, scripted, and produced by Joshua Moore. Today’s story and poem were recorded by Luke Wiget at the March 2017 Jefferson St. Art Crawl. **The music is by Kevin Chambers. Versify is distributed by PRX.

A craving for novelty and excitement is a hallmark of early adulthood. But for Jakob Lewis, host of WPLN’s podcast Neighbors, a summertime quest for new experiences nearly cost him his life. Today, Jakob tells the story of how a thirst for adventure landed him on the front lines of a California wildfire at the age of 20. He shares his experience to poet Lagnajita Mukhopadhyay, who takes his fiery tale and turns it into poetry. Versify is a production of Nashville Public Radio and The Porch, Nashville’s nonprofit literary center. Editing and production came from WPLN’s Mack Linebaugh, with additional editing by Anita Bugg. The episode was hosted, scripted and produced by Joshua Moore. Today’s story and poem were recorded by Tony Gonzalez at the 2017 Southern Festival of Books. ** **The music is by Blue Dot Sessions, Scott Gratton and Jahzzar, courtesy of the Free Music Archive. Versify is distributed by PRX.

After leaving suburban Tennessee for a career in Hollywood when he was just 18, Brad Wear became, in a lot of ways, the picture of LA success. But twenty years later, Brad was struck with a feeling of absence, of being fully out of touch — with himself and his family, from whom he'd been estranged. Brad tells the story about his journey to reconnect and the cost of finding home again to poet Chance Chambers, who takes what he hears and composes an original poem. Versify is a production of Nashville Public Radio and The Porch, Nashville’s nonprofit literary center. Editing and production came from Susannah Felts, with additional editing by Anita Bugg. The episode was hosted, scripted, and produced by Joshua Moore. Today’s story and poem were recorded by Tasha Lemley at OZ Art’s 2018 MusiCircus Event. The music is by Chad Crouch, Jahzzar, Podington Bear, and Yair Yona, courtesy of the Free Music Archive. Versify is distributed by PRX.

For singer-songwriter Mary Gauthier, coming to country music in her 40s was one of many things that made her feel like an industry outsider. Today, Mary speaks with poet Destiny Birdsong about her unconventional entry into the music business, and how an unforgettable performance at the Ryman redefined Mary’s relationship to her music — and to herself. Destiny takes the high notes of their conversation and composes an original poem. Versify is a production of Nashville Public Radio and The Porch, Nashville’s nonprofit literary center. Editing and production came from WPLN’s Blake Farmer, with additional editing by Anita Bugg and Susannah Felts. The episode was hosted, scripted, and produced by Joshua Moore. Today’s story and poem were recorded by Tony Gonzalez at The Porch Writers’ Collective 2017 Annual fundraiser. The music is by Mary Gauthier, as well as Josh Woodard, Podington Bear and Jahzzar— found through the Free Music Archive. Versify is distributed by PRX.

For Lyzette Garza, learning to embrace her Mexican American heritage has been a lifelong journey. Lyzette speaks with poet Kelley Bell about her formative childhood moments: hearing stories from her dad under the stars, encountering prejudice on a family trip to Colorado, and how those experiences — along with her father’s enduring love of boots — have helped shape Lyzette’s perspective on her culture. And Kelley takes Lyzette’s account and turns it into poetry. Versify is a production of Nashville Public Radio and The Porch — Nashville’s nonprofit literary center. Editing and production came from WPLN’s Mack Linebaugh, with additional editing by Anita Bugg and Susannah Felts. The episode was hosted, scripted and produced by Joshua Moore. Today’s story and poem were recorded by Luke Wiget at The 2018 Casa Azafran Valentine's Day Bazaar. The music is by Chad Crouch, Podington Bear, Doctor Turtle, and Yair Yona found through the Free Music Archive. Versify is distributed by PRX.

Chris Gethard describes how Beautiful/Anonymous satisfies his craving for human connection. Plus: therapy with Esther Perel, poetry with Versify, and a podcaster who invites strangers to his home.

When Mark Lemley was 17, he lived through a near-death experience that fundamentally altered his outlook on life: a car accident that has haunted him for 24 years, and he wasn't even the one in the car. In this episode hear the story of Mark's relationship with his childhood best friend Ryan — and how Ryan's brush with death forced Mark to reevaluate his beliefs. Mark tells his story to poet Megan Leanne, who takes his complicated history and turns it into poetry. Versify is a production of Nashville Public Radio and The Porch — Nashville's nonprofit literary center. Editing and production came from WPLN's Blake Farmer, with additional editing by Anita Bugg and Susannah Felts. The episode was hosted, scripted and co-produced by Joshua Moore. The music is by Podington Bear, found through the Free Music Archive. Versify is distributed by PRX. Today's story and poem were recorded by Tasha Lemley at The 2017 Southern Festival of Books.

For Betty and Raul Malo, lead singer of country band the Mavericks, their romantic life has been punctuated by a series of severe storms. August of '92: Hurricane Andrew throttled the Florida coastline, destroying Betty's home just months before their wedding. So she and Raul eloped instead and moved to Nashville. But then, May of 2010: A 1,000-year flood devastated the city. In this episode, we’ll hear from Betty about the couple's struggles over 25 years of marriage and learn why their experience resonates with poet Allison Boyd Justus, who takes what she’s heard and turns it into poetry. Versify is a production of Nashville Public Radio and The Porch — Nashville’s nonprofit literary center. Editing for this episode came from WPLN’s Mack Linebaugh and Tony Gonzalez, with additional editing by Anita Bugg and The Porch’s Susannah Felts. The episode was written, hosted and produced by Joshua Moore. The music is by Raul Malo of The Mavericks and by Daddy Long Legs, found through the Free Music Archive. The show is distributed by PRX. Today’s story and poem were recorded by Luke Wiget at Cornelia Fort Airpark.

This week, Jeff and Rebecca talk about Kobo and Wal-Mart teaming up, bad adaptations, the National Book Award adding a translation prize, and much more.   This episode is sponsored by: The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert Here We Lie by Paula Treick DeBoard Playing Atari with Saddam Hussein by Jennifer Roy with Ali Fadhil   Links discussed in this episode: Follow-up: EarthSea books WERE adapted, and Ursula K Le Guin hated it Walmart to begin selling Kobo ereaders & ebooks National Book Award for works in translation New prize launched for thrillers that don’t involve violence against women Boston Public Library launches crowdsourced project to transcribe anti-slavery documents Kwame Alexander to start imprint Versify

In our second season of Versify, we bring you moments of impact: those times when our storytellers’ lives were changed forever. Decisive moments, pivotal shifts, and even brushes with death. You’ll hear moving personal stories, and also how our writers turn what they hear into poetry. Season 2 launches Feb. 8 Music in this trailer by Yuichiro Fujimoto and the Salakapakka Sound System.

In creating Versify, we’ve realized the power of listening to people's stories and sharing them as poetry. To close out our first season, we’re gonna take you through some of the first poems and conversations that inspired us to make this show. And you’ll journey with us as we explore what it truly means — for our participants and our poets — to feel heard. * *Credits: Versify is a production of Nashville Public Radio and The Porch writers’ collective, which trains our poets and hosts our storytelling events. Editing and production today came from WPLN’s Tony Gonzalez, Emily Siner, Anita Bugg, and Joshua Moore along with The Porch’s Susannah Felts. The music is by Jahazzar — found through the Free Music Archive. The show is distributed by P-R-X.

For Nashville Councilwoman Nancy VanReece, her passion for public service began with an act of intimidation. It was 1968 — and she was 4 — when someone threw a rock through the window of her family home. It was the day after the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., and her father, a dentist, had lowered the flag on their porch to half-staff. VanReece, who has since become the first openly out lesbian elected to a legislative body in Tennessee, shares the pivotal childhood moment and then listens as Nashville poet Kelley Bell turns her words into poetry: I was wrapped in the colors of nighttime. Sleeping curled until I heard the crash. A blast then short cascade like beads my mother's feet down the hall. The ‘go back to sleep.’ Then the murmur of voices like any other bedtime … Credits: This episode of Versify was edited and mastered by WPLN’s Tony Gonzalez, with additional editing by Emily Siner and Anita Bugg, and Susannah Felts. The show is written, hosted and produced by Joshua Moore, a poet with The Porch. Today’s story and poem were recorded by Sean Clark at the 2017 Nashville Neighborhoods Celebration. The music is by Josh Woodard, Dr. Turtle, Jahazzar, Yair Yona, all found through the Free Music Archive.

Chris Gethard describes how Beautiful/Anonymous satisfies his craving for human connection. Plus: therapy with Esther Perel, poetry with Versify, and a podcaster who invites strangers to his home.

For Eloise Briscoe, raising two daughters hasn’t been about splashy gestures, but more “the simple things” — an approach gleaned from the long line of women in her family. As the unofficial family historian, Eloise is a diligent keeper of memories, and today she challenges poet J. Joseph Kane to honor all of these women — Emma, Nana, Margaret, Eloise, Shannon, and Maura — with a poetic gift that she intends to share with her aging 92-year-old mother. As a bonus, we also hear a story-turned-into-poetry from the youngest Briscoe generation, as Eloise’s daughter also takes part with Nashville poet Alicia Marie Brandewie. Credits: This episode of Versify is hosted by Joshua Moore, a poet with The Porch, Nashville’s nonprofit literary center. The episode was written, edited, produced, and mastered by WPLN’s Tony Gonzalez, with additional editing by Mack Linebaugh and Anita Bugg. The music is by Rest You Sleeping Giant, found through the Free Music Archive, and the original composition paired with the poem is by Alicia Enstrom.

More than most people, Ben Groner feels pretty lucky to be alive — and that’s because his life is the result of some pretty remarkable choices. In this episode, Ben tells poet Megan Smith about his parents’ unlikely love story, how he and his twin brother came to be, and about a secret that could have kept the two of them from ever coming into existence. **Credits: This episode of Versify was hosted and produced by Joshua Moore, a poet with The Porch, Nashville’s nonprofit literary center. The episode was edited by WPLN’s Blake Farmer and Tony Gonzalez, with additional editing by Anita Bugg. Carl Pedersen masters the show. The music is by Alex Mason, Podington Bear, Kaela Drew and Hawkin — all found through the Free Music Archive. Today’s story and poem were recorded by producer Sean Clark at the Converge Nashville gallery space.

Ask anyone about their neighbors and they’ll likely have a strong opinion to share. This week, Versify’s team of poets sit down with strangers to hear stories about neighbors and neighborhoods. They discover unusual recollections and moments of camaraderie — and then turn those memories into original poems. * * Credits: Versify is hosted by Joshua Moore, a poet with The Porch, Nashville’s nonprofit literary center. The show is edited and produced by WPLN’s Tony Gonzalez, with additional editing on this episode by Blake Farmer, Anita Bugg, and Susannah Felts. Carl Pedersen masters the show. The music is by Mystery Mammal and the Anamorphic Orchestra, found through the Free Music Archive. Today’s stories and poems were recorded at the 2016 Athens of the South Music and Arts Festival in Nashville, Tenn.

For much of her life, Ali Russell has been uncertain about religion. Even as a little girl, she’d ask her parents, “How do we know we’re worshiping the right God?” She even had a Jesus dream that still lingers with her today. In this episode, Ali shares her story to her longtime friend and Nashville poet Dana Malone, who takes Ali’s religious odyssey and transforms it into poetry.   The story and poem from this episode were recorded by field producer Tasha French Lemley at Casa Azafran in Nashville.  Credits: Versify is hosted by Joshua Moore, a poet with The Porch, Nashville’s nonprofit literary center. The show is edited and produced by WPLN’s Tony Gonzalez, with additional editing on this episode by Mack Linebaugh, Alicia Marie Brandewie, Anita Bugg, and Susannah Felts. The show is mastered by Carl Pedersen. The music is by Chris Zabriskie and Textile Audio, found through the Free Music Archive. Versify is a production of Nashville Public Radio and PRX. Stories and poems are gathered with the help of The Porch. ****

Serg Rodriguez hasn’t seen his family in years. He was excommunicated by their church and grew apart from his parents and siblings. But now as a writer in Nashville, his little sister is never far from his mind. Without warning, she troubles his thoughts and finds here way into everything he puts on paper. In this episode, we find out how family rejection has actually helped Serg to better understand unconditional love. And then Nashville poet Ciona Rouse turns Serg’s story into an original poem. Credits: Editing and production by Tony Gonzalez, hosting and editing by Joshua Moore. Additional editing assistance: Emily Siner, Blake Farmer, Anita Bugg, Susannah Felts, Katie McDougall, & J. Joseph Kane. The show is mastered by Carl Pedersen. The music is by The Ampersand Posture, with additional tracks by Coolzey, and DarkSunn. Versify is a production of Nashville Public Radio and PRX. Stories and poems are gathered with the help of The Porch, Nashville's nonprofit literary center.

Fred Bailey grew up blind on a farm in Gallatin, Tennessee — except he didn’t actually know he was blind at first. Through a run in with a teacher, a visit to a doctor, and a confrontation with his father, he learned how to find strength in his limitations. And now he strives to pass on a similar tenacity to children through his after-school program, Children Are People. In this episode, Fred shares his story to Nashville poet and rapper Saran Thompson. And then within minutes, Saran takes what he’s heard and transforms it into an original poem. Credits: Editing/co-production by: Tony Gonzalez, Hosting/co-production by: Joshua Moore. Additional Editing assistance: Emily Siner, Blake Farmer, Anita Bugg, and Susannah Felts. Production assistance, recording, and mastering by Luke Wiget. A special thanks to The McJimpsey Center and the Jefferson Street Art Crawl for hosting the event where this audio were recorded on March 25, 2017. The music is by Saran Thompson. Versify is a production of Nashville Public Radio and PRX. Stories and poems are gathered with the help of The Porch, Nashville’s nonprofit literary center.

In the newest podcast from Nashville Public Radio, The Porch writers’ collective, and PRX, people tell life stories and hear writers turn their words into poetry. We launch on Aug. 24 with three episodes. Here’s a sneak peak.