In this special episode of Learning Lab, we’re sharing a live conversation from BreakFree Education’s Cultivate Series featuring Grammy-winning artist and poet Tarriona “Tank” Ball of Tank and the Bangas. Recorded live at Baldwin & Co. Books in New Orleans, the conversation centers on intrinsic motivation and the ways creativity, identity, and trusted relationships help young people develop resilience, purpose, and belief in themselves. Tank reflects on the role creativity has played in her own journey and discusses the importance of helping young people stay connected to their voice and humanity, even when systems attempt to define them otherwise. The episode also features student poems from Words Unlocked, BreakFree Education’s national poetry initiative. This conversation offers a powerful reminder of the healing, connection, and possibility that can emerge when we create space for young people to tell their stories and be fully themselves.