This is the first installation in our guest artist series. Jocelyn Johnson reads from her story "Control Negro," which was printed in Guernica and The Best American Short Stories 2018. Learn more about Jocelyn and find links to works including "Control Negro" on her website: http://jocelynjohnson.com/

This special episode features stories from former and present students and faculty, in honor of Rosemary Guruswamy, the chair of the Radford University Department of English. She will step down as chair at the end of the semester.

Graduate Research Fellow Jessie Kirby reads a poem she was inspired to write after reading The Taming of the Shrew for a class she helped supervise in Western Virginia Regional Jail.

Dr. Lou Gallo, Professor at Radford University, reads from his poetry and talks about what inspires him to write.

Mikaela Kelley, Graduate Teaching Assistant at Radford University, reads from her piece on a couple addicted to heroin. Mikaela shares the following contact information and resources for anyone affected by the opioid epidemic: Contact: [email protected] Resources: SAVES at Radford University: https://www.radford.edu/content/saves/home.html The recovery community at Virginia Tech: https://gobblerconnect.vt.edu/organization/vtrecovers The rehab she attended: https://www.inova.org/healthcare-services/behavioral-health/cats/index.jsp NA programs in VA: http://www.usrecovery.info/NA/Virginia.htm Roanoke Valley NA meetings: http://www.roanokena.com/meetings/ The counseling center she attends: https://compassnrv.com/home/ She is happy to share her personal strategies for recovery with anyone who would like to meet for coffee or exchange emails.

MA candidate and Graduate Teaching Fellow Megan Hightower reads selections from her poetry and provides some insight into her writing process.

Graduate student Nick McCord reads from his short play "Dirty Dirt."

In this episode, Dr. David Beach performs his short monologue, "Silent as the Dawn."

Dr. Rick Van Noy reads an excerpt from his new book, Sudden Spring: Stories of Adaptation in a Climate-Changed South. Learn more about Dr. Van Noy and his writing at https://www.rickvannoy.com/

Dr. Sean Keck, Assistant Professor of English at Radford University, reads from his story "Rules for Entering Unsecured Spaces"