In this episode I share Part one of a five-part series:  First Days of A Five-Week Journey - https://medium.com/write-speak-play/first-days-of-a-five-week-journey-538cfd570e87?sk=bf1dfa42c6ca6cc981308e1c5a94824d Poetry from the recently published anthology, A Safe and Brave Space from Garden of Neuro Publishing. Poetry is read by the authors. Vol 1, Issue 1 of Garden Variety, a weekly newsletter hosted on the Garden of Neuro publication on Medium --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/writespeakplay/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/writespeakplay/support

I had the honor of reviewing "Kaleidoscope, An Asian Journey of Colors," by Sweta Vikram in 2011 on Page Readers, my podcast way back when.  I was thrilled when she reached out to share her latest work, Piece of Peace, an autobiographical account of one woman’s unique struggle with a near-fatal disease in a collection of essays. We jumped into the conversation about the importance of our stories, the healing power of writing and poetry, and her work with sexual abuse and assault survivors, and the importance of the words we chose to support, uplift, and create the connections we all need no matter our journey. Sweta covers a couple of topics, but what we circle back to is how important it is that we are true to ourselves and to our stories.  Visit Sweta Vikram online If you're interested in participating in a women's only poetry group, visit the Garden of Neuro poetry circle here. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/writespeakplay/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/writespeakplay/support

In this episode of Write Speak Play: Book Review by Nanci Arvizu: Nooh Finds His Lost Whisker by Shalu Bajaj Ahuja. POETRY MIC DROP: The Ink Well, read by the author, Lisa Tomey, Prolific Prose Press Music: Whispering Dream. Written and performed by Jennifer Gehl. Soundworks by Jennifer Gehl --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/writespeakplay/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/writespeakplay/support

"What Lies Ahead," poetry by Nanci Arvizu, spoken by the author. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/writespeakplay/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/writespeakplay/support

Words Into Wool, by Nanci Arvizu This poem was created in response to a Garden of Neuro Poetry Circle Prompt, hosted by Lisa Tomey. The Garden of Neuro is free to join 🌱 Use this link to visit the Garden of Neuro Poetry Circle --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/writespeakplay/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/writespeakplay/support

"If God were to pray over you, what would She say?" This is just one of the many memorable lines contained between the beautiful covers of Carla Cherry's latest book of words "Stardust and Skin." In this episode of Write Speak Play, I turn the mic over to the Garden of Neuro Poetry Book Club Meeting from July 7, 2021. Our group discussed the book, sharing our favorite lines and what the words brought up for us as we answered questions presented by the author.  Carla also gave us a 10-minute poetry writing exercise, to create a poem from a favorite line from one of her poems. The poetry and prose that flowed were uplifting and positively joyful. Find Stardust and Skin here and on Amazon here. It's also available as an ebook (Kindle) for free. (Which is fine, but you'll want the printed copy for the art!) On a personal level, this introduction to poetry by the Garden of Neuro's Poetry Circle Leaders, Lisa Tomey, has opened my eyes to poetry in a whole new way. I've enjoyed our monthly Mic Drops and First Wednesday's Poetry Book Club gatherings tremendously, even though we've had just a few events. I hope that as we return to lives that take us away from being inside and in front of a computer so much, that this virtual space will remain active in connecting us from all different places around the world.  Visit the Garden of Neuro Poetry Circle here --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/writespeakplay/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/writespeakplay/support

Our words are powerful. We need to learn how to use them to make the world a better place for everyone, not just some. Links to things I talk about in this episode: YouTube Video - Why Gender Equality is Good For Everyone - Men Included. Abortion Avoidance through Science, Education, Access, and Accountability. A Work in Progress: Changing Education, and The World, With A Garden. Or how about adding your voice to this qualitative research project, Red Flags or Flowers, 10 Questions are the beginning of a journey for those needing to find a way to their truth. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/writespeakplay/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/writespeakplay/support

We all have our dreams.  Personally, I am someone with Many Big Dreams. To be a world-famous, best-selling author, speaker, podcaster, changer of the world, and a songwriter. I love a song with a story to tell. Something that comes from the writer's soul, a tiny piece or a great big chunk set to a softly picked guitar or loud pounding drums.  I've got notebooks full of half begun songs, a chorus here a verse there. When the mood strikes me, I'll work on something that sounds like a song in my head.  January's Moons and the Hole in My Heart This song is both the tiny piece and big chunk of my soul. While it's for anyone who's lost someone special in their life, I wrote this song when my four-legged soulmate, my horse, My Romeo, died suddenly, leaving a massive hole in my heart. The first time I shared the song with a musician, he put his music to my words. It was a thrill just to have someone say yes, and he created the first version of Hole in My Heart. It was like a simple form of therapy, hearing my words put to music. It felt good and I put the song away.  Then, a sister speaker, Jill Christ from my Speaker Sisterhood group shared how she found a professional songwriter from Nashville with some serious street creds, on Air BnB Experiences. Have you heard of this? Jill hired a woman who worked with her for two hours and turned about a beautiful song using Jill's words and Caitlin Evanson's talent and expertise to create a memory. Dang that Jon Bon Jovi. Those are kind of his words. I booked a session with Caitlin. From the get-go she makes the whole two hours fly by, asking all the right questions, providing the guidance to dig deep and holding the space where all those emotions are safe - and usable for the song you are creating.  Sharing the story of My Romeo still makes my heart squeeze. There were tears shed in this session, and it was okay. Caitlin said this is what it's all about this kind of therapy she provides by letting us spill our emotions into the mixing pot, by feeling all the feelings to tell the story we need to tell.  Caitlin shared how she wants to expand what she does into a kind of therapy, using music to dig into those spaces where we need help to let the words flow.   She is already doing it.  I hope to work with Caitlin again, to create more songs and to help her share her gifts with the world.  Because we could all use some light in our souls and our song playing on the radio.  **I do have the Big Dream of Trisha Yearwood singing this song. ❤️ Links to Caitlin Evanson caitlinevanson.me Insta: @theredweddings Twitter: @caitlinbird Insta: @caitlinbird3651 Link to January Moons, paid Air BnB Experience with Caitlin Evanson Link to Hole in My Heart, collaboration with Andrew Underhill If you want to write a song, here's a link for all the info on this amazing experience: https://www.airbnb.com/experiences/1674796?guests=1&adults=1&s=67&unique_share_id=19508852-3f5a-4d89-8f43-3f33b1220e46 Song dedicated to my daughter ❤️ I love you baby. Follow me everywhere I roam. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/writespeakplay/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/writespeakplay/support

It's the things we don't talk about that scare us the most. Why is it people - we, us, you, me, find it so hard to talk about Mental Illness when 1 in 3 people on the planet suffer from some form of mental illness? In this episode of Write Speak Play, I talk with author Sheree Ann Martines about mental illness and the effect it's had on her life. We discuss our inability to have uncomfortable conversations surrounding Mental Illness and offer possible ways we can begin to get comfortable talking about Mental Illness. About Sheree Ann Martines (from her bio): As a communications professional for almost three decades, Sheree Ann Martines has written extensively for the American Red Cross and Goodwill Industries. She is a poet, a contributor to NPR, and author of Rude Awakening, a true-crime thriller. Sheree is currently at work on her second book, Tempered Soul-Surviving Trauma, Grief, and Bipolar Disorder, about her dark struggle with the aftermath of child abuse, devastating grief, and her long battle with bipolar disorder. Learning how to survive and thrive, Sheree hopes this book will help others dealing with tragedy and mental health issues. Discussing her writing style, Sheree states, “I have lived a life that leaves me no option but to torture paper with pen. I do so with the hope at least one soul will be set on the road to recovery.” She infuses her writing with personal, painful, sometimes graphic, but ultimately hopeful insight. Martines graduated cum laude from Appalachian State University with degrees in Communications and Marketing. An avid outdoorswoman who loves camping, whitewater rafting, and “digging in the dirt,” Sheree calls the mountains of North Carolina home. #### Links To Sheree Ann Martines Living with Bipolar Disorder Blog: Website www.livingbipolardisorder.blogspot.com Rude Awakening-Author 2013-2019, published December 2019 www.rude-awakening-rob-whedbee.com https://www.amazon.com/Sheree-Ann-Martines/e/B084Q13FCH?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1611774888&sr=8-1 I Know Mental Health Podcast-February 2021 Poetic Pulse Podcast-February 2021 Derek Hanjora Podcast-“Mental Health”-March 2021 Fine Lines Poetry Journal-Summer Edition-2021-Seasons www.shereeannmartines.com/Living With Bipolar Disorder-Under Construction Links to Nanci Arvizu www.NanciWrites.com www.RedFlagsorFlowers.com Click here to Visit the Garden of Neuro #SafeandBraveSpace --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/writespeakplay/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/writespeakplay/support

WARNING: In this episode, we are discussing child predators, sexual abuse, and exploitation.  This is why Write Speak Play exists.  Every story is important.  Our stories are even more important when detailing life-changing trauma while seeking justice for an altered present and future.  Being denied our ability to Speak Our Truth inhibits our path to healing. It also ends the opportunity to make real change, by changing perceptions and behavior. Today's guest was denied to right to read her Victim Impact Statement for the court to hear what an older, 'respected' military man caused in her life with predatory actions, sexual abuse, and exploitation.  And here, for the first time, she will read her entire statement in full.  I am honored to host this young woman's story. And, I've been so moved by what she has shared I've asked her to join me for a series of talks, to give her the opportunity to share more of her journey through the trauma of abuse and the work necessary to find healing. Mary-Elizabeth is now an Advocate. She is sharing her story because she knows there are others out there, victims of the same man who prayed upon her who will not receive their day in court due to their extremely young age, and millions of others who are denied justice. the things she feels others need to know to protect themselves, their friends, family members, and children from the predators who unfortunately inhabit every spectrum of our world.  LINKS TO The Body Keeps The Score, by Bessel van der Kold M.D. available on Amazon Red Flags or Flowers 10 Questions to discuss the difficult topics of Transgenerational Dysfunction, Narcissistic Abuse, and Sexual Trauma. Find host Nanci Arvizu at: www.NanciWrites.com On Instagram and Twitter @NanciWrites --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/writespeakplay/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/writespeakplay/support