Introducing Blank Verse, a podcast from 92NY’s Teen Producers in collaboration with the Unterberg Poetry Center. We’re Gabrielle, Naomi, and Jennifer, the creators and hosts of Blank Verse: a podcast that explores writing, media, and the Center’s archive of recorded public events. We interpret the term “blank verse” to be a space where we have the freedom to create without restriction. We believe that anything can be made out of everything. We have fun, dynamic conversations that we want to share with others. Our fifth episode, titled “Verse 4,” focuses exclusively on an in-person interview we conducted with our Teen Producers colleagues who work with 92NY’s Belfer Center for Innovation & Social Impact. Andrew, Katherine, Queena, and Raphael join us to discuss their work on the Less Lonely Project. We dive into how the project, led by and for Gen Z, destigmatizes loneliness, raises awareness about the impact of loneliness on youth, and provides simple tools to cultivate connection. We also explore how artistic and creative pursuits can be a crucial part of self-care practices. Blank Verse is going on hiatus for the summer but we’ll be back soon! In the meantime, we urge you all to take some time to find new writers that make you more passionate about the arts in the 92NY’s Archive. Happy listening, G, N, J Show Notes: Featured Websites: The Less Lonely Project https://www.92ny.org/lesslonely Less Lonely & Springtide #2022TimeCapsule https://www.springtideresearch.org/lesslonely Music Credits: “Eternal Funk Palace” by Ketsa “Breathing Out” by Mid-Air Machine “Wind It Up” by Ketsa Blank Verse Logo designed by Jennifer Mendoza

Introducing Blank Verse, a podcast from 92Y’s Teen Producers in collaboration with the Unterberg Poetry Center. We’re Gabrielle, Naomi, and Jennifer, the creators and hosts of Blank Verse: a podcast that explores writing, media, and the Center’s archive of recorded public events. We interpret the term “blank verse” to be a space where we have the freedom to create without restriction. We believe that anything can be made out of everything. We have fun, dynamic conversations that we want to share with others. Our fourth episode, titled “Verse 3,” focuses exclusively on an in-person interview we conducted with the writers Kaveh Akbar and John Murillo before their recent event at 92NY. We got to know them better (through more than just our computer screens). We focused on questions about their personal life, writing styles, and influences. We talked about John’s poem “Dolores, Maybe” and Kaveh’s titled “Gloves.” We learned about their techniques, preferences, and how they view their art and themselves as artists. Though we had not met them in person before the interview, we found ourselves really comfortable when talking to them. Our conversation was short but so impactful to all three of us. We hope you guys are able to find yourself building a connection with Kaveh and John through this podcast. Be sure to check out more of their work too! We urge you all to take some time to find new writers that make you more passionate about the arts in the 92Y’s Archive. Happy listening, G, N, J Show Notes: Featured Programs from the 92Y’s Archive: https://www.92ny.org/archives/kaveh-akbar-and-john-murillo Music Credits: “Eternal Funk Palace” by Ketsa “Breathing Out” by Mid-Air Machine “Wind It Up” by Ketsa Blank Verse Logo designed by Jennifer Mendoza

Introducing Blank Verse, a podcast from 92Y’s Teen Producers in collaboration with the Unterberg Poetry Center. We’re Gabrielle, Naomi and Jennifer, the creators and hosts of Blank Verse: a podcast that explores writing, media, and the Center’s archive of recorded public events. We interpret the term “blank verse” to be a space where we have freedom to create without restriction. We believe that anything can be made out of everything. We have fun, dynamic conversations that we want to share with others. Our third episode titled “Verse 2,” focuses on the very thing that inspired us to start this podcast, poetry. In our past episodes we’ve talked about other writers and their impact on our thinking but we feel like we haven’t given you all a proper introduction to us. As April is National Poetry Month we wanted to celebrate our own work as writers. We explore the start of our journey as readers, our favorite books, and our personal goals. Despite being teenagers, we’ve all been able to find comfort in writing and reading starting back in Pre-K. We all truly love writing in different ways and that’s ok. This episode is a little different than usual but through it we were able to learn more about each other and hope that you all are able to appreciate our authentic journeys. We urge you all to take some time to find new writers that make you more passionate about the arts in the 92Y’s Archive. Happy National Poetry Month! Happy listening, G, N, J Show Notes: Featured Programs from the 92Y’s Archive: https://www.92y.org/archives/hanif-abdurraqib-timothy-donnelly.aspx Music Credits: “Eternal Funk Palace” by Ketsa “Breathing Out” by Mid-Air Machine “Wind It Up” by Ketsa Blank Verse Logo designed by Jennifer Mendoza

Introducing Blank Verse, a podcast from 92Y’s Teen Producers in collaboration with the Unterberg Poetry Center. We’re Gabrielle, Naomi and Jennifer, the creators and hosts of Blank Verse: a podcast that explores writing, media, and the Center’s archive of recorded public events. We interpret the term “blank verse” to be a space where we have freedom to create without restriction. We believe that anything can be made out of everything. We have fun, dynamic conversations that we want to share with others. Our second episode is titled “Verse 1.” In it we explore the poetry of our highlighted artist for Women’s History Month, Tracy K. Smith, and make connections to all types of love, especially those found in YA novels and movies. We focus on selected works from her book Life on Mars, such as “The Speed of Belief,” “The Good Life,” and “Challenger.” We also dive into her poem “Wade in the Water” from the collection of the same name. We want to shed light on the toxicity of love that is marketed to young audiences and examine why these tropes endure. Throughout the podcast we discuss the importance of showing not only romantic love but platonic or familial love and try to clarify the difference between being naive and irrational. We hope this podcast reminds you all to demonstrate love to everyone in your life, in large and small ways. We urge you all to take some time to find new women writers in the 92Y’s Archive. Happy Women’s History Month! Happy listening, G, N, J Show Notes: Featured Programs from 92Y’s Archive: https://www.92y.org/archives/tracy-k-smith-jenny-xie-javier-zamora.aspx Music Credits: “Eternal Funk Palace” by Ketsa

Introducing Blank Verse, a podcast from 92Y’s Teen Producers in collaboration with the Unterberg Poetry Center. We’re Gabrielle, Naomi and Jennifer, the creators and hosts of Blank Verse: a podcast that explores writing, media, and the Center’s archive of recorded public events. We interpret the term “blank verse” to be a space where we have freedom to create without restriction. We believe that anything can be made out of everything. We have fun, dynamic conversations that we want to share with others. Our first episode is titled “Verse 0” because we’re starting at the beginning. In this episode, we dive deep into the connections between poetry and rap music. We focus on Tupac’s song “Keep Ya Head Up,” the poet Tracie Morris’s performance “ICE Children,'' Noname's “Don’t Forget Me,” and Latasha N. Nevada Diggs’s work. As it is Black History Month, we wanted to shed light on the wonders of rap, a genre made by Black people, for Black people. Throughout the podcast we discuss how these poets and artists utilize the technique of repetition and delve into topics such as comfort, motivation, and personal legacy. We urge you all to take some time to find new Black writers in the 92Y’s Archive. And don’t forget to check out the works of other Black musicians and examine the deeper meanings behind their songs and lyrics. Happy Black History Month! Happy listening, G, N, J Show Notes Featured Programs from the 92Y’s Archive: Tracie Morris: “ICE Children” https://www.92y.org/archives/tracie-morris-ice-children.aspx The Tenth Muse with Tyehimba Jess https://www.92y.org/archives/tenth-muse-tyehimba-jess.aspx Music Credits: “Eternal Funk Palace” by Ketsa “Breathing Out” by Mid-Air Machine “Wind It Up” by Ketsa Blank Verse Logo designed by Jennifer Mendoza