SoundPages Podcast

Larissa Min reflects on global migration through her own family’s journey from Korea to Brazil to the United States. Her intimate story is told with poignant lyricism and brings to light not only her own history, but also the transformations that families experience through migration. Music by Randal Bays, produced as part of the Jack […] The post Moving through History – Larissa Min appeare...

In his exploration of trade, Donald Fels brings to light stories of rich, cultural heritage. As a world traveler, artist, and writer, Fels weaves together his experiences and research, resulting in an intricate account of history. Music by August Denhard and Munir Nurettin Beken, produced as part of the Jack Straw Artist Support Program. The post Travel through Trade – Donald Fels appeared first o...

Anne McDuffie creates a sensory portrait of fog in a set of essays from an earlier chapter in her life. Her descriptions are immersive, and saturated by deep hues. The reader learns of her time in Madrid as a student and joins her for a long walk through the fog. Music by the Black Cat […] The post The Color of Fog – Anne McDuffie appeared first on Jack Straw Cultural Center .

In his work, Harold Taw explores voice and perspective. Readers travel through cultural and emotional territory with complex characters, moving through stories with remarkable storytellers. Music by Victor Noriega, produced as part of the Jack Straw Artist Support Program. The post A Cultural Journey – Harold Taw appeared first on Jack Straw Cultural Center .

In her Jack Straw residency, Ann Teplick shares her grief, wrestling the difficulties and pain of losing parents. Her poetry imparts sorrow, beauty, love, and loss. Each word is chosen with courage, leaving the reader absorbed in the fragility of human life. Music by the Bird Tribe Orchestra, produced as part of the Jack Straw […] The post By the Bedside – Ann Teplick appeared first on Jack...

Through her study of a Mies van der Rohe glass house in Illinois, architect and poet Nora Wendl illuminates the life of Dr. Edith Farnsworth. Yearly visits to the home and extensive research inform Wendl’s portrayal of the house and the character of Farnsworth. With an architectural lens, Wendl brings life and sentiment to marble […] The post Architecture of Poetry – Nora Wendl appeared firs...

In her writing, Maritess Zurbano depicts the little known world of a female magician. Her work brings to light racial and gender issues surrounding the art and captures the intrigue of performance. Original subject matter and dramatic delivery make for a captivating read. Music by the Owcharuk Sextet, produced as part of the Jack Straw […] The post That’s Magic – Maritess Zurbano appeared fi...

As a poet and fiction writer, Katharine Whitcomb serves a complex blend of sentiment. Her playful wording often frames serious content. Music by Lori Goldston, produced as part of the Jack Straw Artist Support Program. The post Shades of Sensibility – Katharine Whitcomb appeared first on Jack Straw Cultural Center .

Blending nature themes and rustic imagery, Annette Spaulding-Convy has created a collection of poems that brings the past to life. Her work delves into family history and tells the story of a lost ancestor. With grace and force, Spaulding-Convy pays tribute to a forgotten individual. Music by Sean Osborn, produced as part of the Jack […] The post Forgotten Light – Annette Spaulding-Convy app...

Debra Jarvis‘s humorous and personable writing invites readers to pull up a chair. Her connection to both people and animals is felt in her fluid narrative. Meet her therapy dog Max and fall in love. Music by Jes Raymond, produced as part of the Jack Straw Artist Support Program. The post Canine Connection – Debra Jarvis appeared first on Jack Straw Cultural Center .

Louise Spiegler lets her imagination take the reins to lead readers through life in early Rome. In her novel, history is intermingled with an engaging plot that’s suitable for both young and adult readers. Her careful research and original characters make for entertaining reading. Music by Sean Osborn, produced as part of the Jack Straw […] The post Destination Rome, Circa 193 CE – Louise Sp...

Through her use of expressive language, Denise Calvetti Michaels creates poignant snapshots of her own experiences and those of others. Her writing takes different forms in order to capture the scene and the sentiment she’s depicting. Translating memories to poetry, Michaels gives voice to beautiful personal stories. Music by the St. Helen’s Quartet, produced as part […] The post Unwrapping...

Inspired by magical realism, Amber Flame ventures into new territory with her Jack Straw project, creating vignettes that take the reader into the heart of the desert. Her vibrant imagery and earthy tone, make her colorful stories tangible. THIS PODCAST CONTAINS ADULT LANGUAGE. Music by Johanna Kunin, produced as part of the Jack Straw Artist […] The post Desert Melody – Amber Flame appeared...

Roberto Ascalon writes instinctually. He reaches into the core of his subjects and exposes raw emotion. His poems, which flow like essays, reveal an unspoken history, surprising and powerful. THIS PODCAST CONTAINS ADULT LANGUAGE. Music by Seattle Experimental Opera, produced as part of the Jack Straw Artist Support Program. The post Hearing History – Roberto Ascalon appeared first on Jack Straw Cu...

Michael Dylan Welch explores haiku and longer poetry, as well as his own spirited take on the traditional Japanese haiku. He uses Allen Ginsberg’s haiku-derived form of American Sentences to record his family’s witticisms, and he’s written hundreds of haiku-like “neon buddha” poems as “a surreal sort of personal mythology.” Music by the St. Helens […] The post Meet Neon Buddha – Michael Dyla...

Through her writing, Marjorie Manwaring explores her fascination with the tiny. Keenly observant and uniquely funny, Manwaring creates a sense of nostalgia for gumball machines and tiny dolls. Her short poems lead listeners into the often overlooked world of miniscule things. Music by Matt Weiner and Del Rey, produced as part of the Jack Straw […] The post Something Tiny – Marjorie Manwaring...

Poignant and painful, Esther Altshul Helfgott documents the Alzheimer’s experience through poetry. Her writing fragments play a somber melody, both moving and beautiful. While her Jack Straw project focuses on illness, her writing covers a broad range of subject matter, with a penchant for history. Music by Tamara Friedman, produced as part of the Jack […] The post Documenting with Care – Es...

Martha Clarkson writes with humor and an element of surprise. Her unique ideas come to life in short, sharp pieces. Original subject matter and clever delivery make Clarkson’s work widely appealing. Music by Christopher Roberts, produced as part of the Jack Straw Artist Support Program. The post Punchy Shorts – Martha Clarkson appeared first on Jack Straw Cultural Center .

Tara Roth is an adept storyteller who turns to her Armenian family for material. The colorful characters and scenarios are imbued with humor and familiarity. Roth translates her appreciation for her heritage with a witty slant and a touch of nostalgia. Music by Grand Hallway, produced as part of the Jack Straw Artist Support Program. The post Family. Stories. Cookies. – Tara Roth appeared first on...

Rich in detail, including period vocabulary, Bill Carty‘s poems are authentic and engaging. The retelling of a duel in his hometown of Thomaston, Maine evokes the image of a painting from the era. His writing illustrates history with a timeless and gracious style. Music in this podcast is performed by Shulamit Kleinerman and was recorded […] The post History in Your Hometown – Bill Carty app...

Using a frank and earnest approach, Katherine Grace Bond offers readers insight into her own adolescence. The difficulties she faced during her teen years become fodder for the fictional character Alice, who works as a docent at the Seattle Art Museum. Her poems capture the fear and angst she once experienced during family struggles. Bond […] The post To Write Is to Heal – Katherine Grace Bo...

Deftly weaving together people and scenes, Brian James Barr presents rich commentary on adult relationships. Barr’s characters speak with an open and true voice, creating genuine intimacy in his writing. His vernacular, subject matter, and style, all work to make Barr’s writing distinctly contemporary. THIS PODCAST CONTAINS ADULT LANGUAGE. Music by Cynthia Mullis and was […] The post Getting...

With her diverse ancestry, Storme Webber brings a unique perspective to the literary world. Her writing allows her to give voice to those who are marginalized due to poverty, race, and sexual orientation. As a multi-disciplinary artist, Storme enlivens her readings with sonorous vocals, deepening the impact of her words. Music by Dan Blunck and […] The post Bluesy Verse – Storme Webber appea...

For his Jack Straw residency, Kevin Simmonds brings to life historic figures in his lilting and revealing poetry. His background as a musician and his roots in New Orleans, lend a rhythmic, melancholic sensibility to his work. Among the themes he touches on are rights issues, loss, and sexuality. Music  by The Black Cat Orchestra, […] The post Deliberate Rhythm – Kevin Simmonds appeared firs...

Madeline Ostrander works global politics into a flowing narrative that hinges on personal stories. Her experiences abroad fill her writing with distinct, tangible scenes with genuine characters. Readers and listeners are forced to contemplate war and responsibility. Music by Amy Rubin and Dawn Clement, produced as part of the Jack Straw Artist Support Program. The post Politics and Place – Madelin...