s.p. burke has been one of the most prolific poets featured on the Savage Wonder literary blog - and for good reason. He has only just begun to deconstruct and unpack the significant emotional events of a 20-year Army career. I got the sense, in speaking with him, that his writing is just trying to catch a waterfall in a cup and he will be mining his life experiences for years. I was also struck by how nakedly partisan he is about poetry. He is a true aficionado of poetry - not just its poignancy and beauty, but also its form and structure. We talked craft, we talked about how poetry has affected his life, and we talked about his future plans with it. I ended the interview feeling that s.p. burke will be a significant writer for a very long time. It was a privilege to catch up with him and take stock at this point in his journey.   Show Notes   Follow s.p. burke here.   Veterans Repertory Theater

In a crowded field of veteran poets, Dex stands out. Sure, there are not a lot of former Marine MPs writing poetry, but that’s not what sets her apart. And she doesn’t just stand apart because of her eloquent, poignant writing. I think what makes her exceptional is the diversity of subjects she tackles: motherhood, family history, the expectations of being a wife, the expectations of being a woman - and the way they intersect, conflict, or harmonize with her warrior self. She was a rock star at the VetRep poetry reading last month. Have a listen and you'll see why. Show Notes Follow Dex here. Veterans Repertory Theater  

Sure, he was a Navy SEAL. Yes, he's become an established actor and producer. But most of all, David B. Meadows is an articulate thinker, a trait cultivated after years of introspection and accumulated self-knowledge. What a conversation we had. His operating system - how he has managed to live two very different lives while blending the best of both together and avoiding the negativity - is more than worth hearing. By the end, our phones were buzzing with missed texts, emails and calls - our friends and family probably thought we were missing or being held hostage. It was that good a conversation. Show Notes The Manson Brothers Midnight Zombie Massacre Max Martini Psycho Cybernetics by Maxwell Maltz  

Luke Ryan was raised in the US, Pakistan and Thailand. He survived a school shooting. He was an Army Ranger. And instead of writing a memoir or three, he opted for post-apocalyptic fiction, authoring The First Marauder. Borrowing from the tradition of Hemingway, Joseph Conrad and George Orwell, Luke has somewhat intentionally sought to build a trove of adventurous life experiences from which he can now mine his fiction. We talk about the book, but we talk about so much more - everything from the craft of writing to pondering your own mortality. The First Marauder Luke Ryan author page Veterans Repertory Theater Get tickets to live shows at VetRep’s Parlor here.

Savage Wonder podcast, Episode 8 - part II of our conversation with Roman Baca. How does a Marine machine gunner transition from Fallujah, Iraq back to being a professional dancer? How does wartime experience in Iraq change Roman's purpose? How does dance help Roman return to Iraq? You don't want to miss this conversation. . .  Exit12 Dance Company Veterans Repertory Theater

USMC machine gunner, veteran of Fallujah, Iraq in 2005...professional dancer. Yeah, you read that right. Roman Baca is neither an ordinary Marine nor an ordinary dancer. What makes a professional dancer want to join the Marine Corps? Does he tell anyone he's a dancer? What does Marine Corps fitness do for his dancing? So many questions and Roman had no shortage of humble, articulate, intelligent answers. Such an enjoyable, articulate interview that we couldn't finish it in one sitting. This is Part I. I, for one, can't wait for Part II. Exit12 Dance Company Veterans Repertory Theater

Doc Oliver is a Singer-Songwriter based out of the Central Coast of California. He is also a medically retired Navy Corpsman with two deployments to Afghanistan. On August 31, 2021 on the day the US pulled out of Afghanistan, Doc released his first record “Welcome Home” which is an autobiographical record about his life pre-, during, and post- Operation Enduring Freedom. The record was engineered by Grammy winner Mark Rains at his studio Station House in Los Angeles, and Mastered by multi Grammy Winner Pete Lyman in Nashville. Doc Oliver Doc Oliver on Instagram Welcome Home Veterans Repertory Theater  

Mason Rodrigue is a former USMC machine gunner with multiple overseas deployments. He is currently a professional poet and writer about to finish his first poetry collection.    Show Notes Support Mason Rodrigue here. Follow Mason Rodrigue here. Savage Wonder literary blog Veterans Repertory Theater @veteransrepertorytheater

Nicholas Luchenbill is a photographer who has been featured in Dek Unu Magazine, The Esthetic Apostle, and Fraction Magazine. His photography has been juried at Crossland Gallery, El Paso, Texas, won first place at the New Mexico Veteran’s Art Show, won the Prix de Photographie at Salon International Art Résilience, Saint-Frajou Art Museum, France, and won People's Choice at the International Museum of Art. He is also an Army veteran who served 10 years on active duty, including three combat tours. He was medically retired and receives 100% disability for the trauma he endured from combat. Have a listen here. Show Notes Nicholas Luchenbill Photography Nicholas Luchenbill on Instagram Savage Wonder literary blog Veterans Repertory Theater @veteransrepertorytheater  

Lilla Faint is the Managing Director of the Veterans Repertory Theater. She served in the Army for a decade, including assignments with the 101st Airborne and JSOC. She is also a military spouse, a mother, and a lifelong, singer, dancer, and musician.  Show Notes Veterans Repertory Theater @veteransrepertorytheater Savage Wonder literary blog