Friday Dec 20, 2024
Platica Y Poetics S2E7 w/ Marc Anthony Leal
In my platica with Marc Anthony Leal his poetry offered a rich tapestry of imagery, emotion, and cultural reflection, seamlessly weaving themes of nature, spirituality, memory, and community. His works, such as “A Moment in Flight,” “As Do,” “If Heaven is a Real Place,” “Woodlawn Sunsets,” and “Take Pause My Love,” serve as vivid explorations of life’s complexities, celebrating both its beauty and imperfection. The profound connections he forges
between personal experiences and universal truths is a craft deeply rooted in sensory experiences and visual storytelling. Sharing how inspiration often comes from the natural world and the vibrant community around him, noting that San Antonio, with its historic beauty and landmarks,
fuel his imagination. In discussing “A Moment in Flight” and “As Do,” he revealed his method of balancing abstract ideas with tangible imagery, using sensory detail to ground his themes while inviting readers to interpret the layers within. Marc delves into vulnerability and emotional
healing through physical imagery explaining that writing about intimacy often involves translating emotional states into physical sensations, creating a bridge between the body and soul. The influence of family, warmth of San Antonio, along with its rich culture and landscapes, plays a significant role in shaping his poetry. We spoke about how poetry becomes a space for navigating imperfection, allowing us to find meaning and beauty even in life’s struggles. His work reminds of the beauty in both fleeting moments and enduring connections, a
mark on the landscape of contemporary poetry.
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Friday Dec 20, 2024
Platica Y Poetics S2E6 w/ Melissa “Mo” Guerra
Melissa “Mo” Guerra a poetic hermana took us on an intimate journey through her poetry, weaving together themes of cultural identity, grief, resilience, and spiritual transcendence. Her work invited readers to walk in an exploration of raw emotions and shared humanity. Our platica delved into a deeper understanding of her creative process and the stories that have shaped her confessional voice. Speaking on her experiences of cultural assimilation, generational trauma, and the tension of navigating identity as a Latina she spoke candidly about how the sacrifices of her grandmother and mother were acts of survival, yet they left a trace for her to follow and connect to her Chicana roots through linguistic and cultural reclamation. This shift has been transformative, helping her bridge the gap between who she is and where she comes from. Mo shared how poetry became a refuge and a means of healing, allowing to process grief while create transforming sorrow into connection. Mo eloquently described how love weaves bonds that transcend time and space and her writing reminds us that what endures is a connection of
shared joy and sorrow—what survives of us is love. Her poetry, a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the universal need to seek, share, and sustain the bonds that thread and bind us together across time and experience.
Monday Dec 09, 2024
Platica Y Poetics S2E5 w/ Gume Laurel III
In my candid and heartfelt platica with Gume Laurel III, we delved into his literary artistry and personal journey as a queer, millennial, BIPOC author whose works explore identity, love, and cultural dualities. Gume opened the conversation by sharing an autobiographical poem that reflects his borderland, queer Chicanx creative voice. His poetry collections capture the cyclical nature of queer romantic relationships, blending raw honesty with sensitivity to inspire dialogue and reflection. In Assimilated Natives, Gume examines the tension between preserving cultural heritage and adapting to Americanization, drawing from his experiences growing up in the borderlands. This liminal space deeply informs his portrayal of fluidity, intersectionality, and identity exploration. As a queer Chicanx millennial author, Gume views his work as a platform to amplify underrepresented voices, embodying a commitment to inclusivity and visibility. He shared how vulnerability and cultural opposition shape his narratives and how the borderlands as a setting mirror the complexities of identity and belonging
Monday Dec 09, 2024
Platica Y Poetics S2E4 w/ Eduardo Cavazos Garza
In the presence of Chicano icon Eduardo Cavazos Garza—founder of the Jazz Poets of San Antonio, artist, musician, and spiritual practitioner—we explored the pivotal moments of his life and the intersections of art, activism, and resilience. I absorbed his wisdom and cuentos as he shared the richness of his journey, shaped by his familia’s influence, cultural roots, and personal trials. Growing up in the tight-knit community of El Indio, Eduardo was immersed in deep values of solidarity and resilience. The teachings of la siembra del campo—the sowing of the land—continue to inform his activism and artistic work today. His service in Vietnam became a crucible for his perspective on systemic inequities, particularly as a Mexican-American soldier questioning his purpose in the war. Those experiences laid the foundation for his involvement in the Chicano rights movement upon his return. Eduardo’s work as a singer, songwriter, and poet is inseparable from his activism. He discovered that art and music are powerful avenues for transcendence, and that we, as individuals, are agents of change within our communities. His mantra, “Con ganas y corazón, todo es posible” , underscores his encouragement to future artists and activists to find strength in their heritage and contribute to a collective narrative of resilience and pride. Our plática felt like a walk through el campo de poesía—a testament to Eduardo’s profound impact on the Chicano community and his enduring legacy as a mentor, artist, and civil rights pioneer.
Monday Nov 18, 2024
Platica Y Poetics S2E3 w/ Mandy Lynn
Mandy Lynn In my conversation with dear friend, and poet colleague, Mandy Lynn Lara, themes of feminism, motherly love, and poetics intertwined beautifully, illuminating how deeply her writing is rooted in both strength and tenderness. Feminism emerges in her poetry not only as a call for equality but as a powerful act of self-preservation. Maternal fierce love takes on a protective stance, with her speaking to the necessity of raising young women to recognize and resist the dangers in a world that often objectifies and silences them. Her work underscores the feminist principle of self-agency, demonstrating how women can defend their autonomy and assert their voice in both private and public spheres. Poetry is more than word art for Mandy—it’s a sanctuary. Writing becomes a radical, deeply personal act of self-care, allowing to pour our complex emotions onto the page and, in turn, reclaim our corporal power. By articulating these feelings—fear, anger, resilience, and love—she has found a therapeutic release, transforming her experiences and observations into something constructive and healing. Poetry has become a bridge between personal healing and communal empowerment.
Monday Nov 18, 2024
Platica Y Poetics S2E2 w/ Zack Sokoloski
Where punk vibes met Ram Dass my platica with Zack Sokoloski, we launched on a deep,
holistic exploration that felt more like a universal reflection session than a traditional Q&A. Our
cosmic convo was rooted in the present moment, gifting us space to delve into the multifaceted
intersections of Zack’s identity as an educator, poet, and musician. As layers unfolded of his
poetic journey, we spoke of how he exists within both the punk rock and poetics realms, two
worlds that seem disparate yet share a rebellious, raw energy. The intersections came through
vividly in his work ERATO/ERRATA, where symbols like a hummingbird and a ladybug capture
essence of vulnerability, presence, and resilience of the heart. Zack juxtaposes ancient wisdom
with pop culture, balancing reverence with a playful irreverence. He shared how he navigates
keeping humor as a gateway to deeper insights. His poetry rich in cinematic imagery, is inspired
by visual and cultural sources, brought this to life with its “flesh meeting flesh” motif,
connecting the physical and spiritual worlds. How he crafts a contrast between spirituality and
the mundane, reflecting on the poignancy of everyday transcendence—a moment he says he
experiences himself in fleeting, unexpected ways, his humor functions as a release, a way of
easing into profound questions. The stream-of-consciousness style we both share as writers
invites listeners into a meditative journey through identity, spirituality, and the ordinary.
Friday Nov 08, 2024
Platica Y Poetics S2E1 w/ Alexandra Gilliam
Episode 1 of season 2 was welcomed with poetic Thai delicacy. My interview with friend and poetic colleague Alexandra Gilliam we explored the emotional gravitas of her poetry collections Femmestuary and Lightsheen. Gilliam shared how the BP oil spill, environmental destruction, and marginalized identities are interwoven to critique societal neglect and environmental desecration. Offering a visceral engagement with ecological and feminist issues, encapsulating her concern for both environmental and bodily autonomy. Her deft balance between personal grief and societal trauma, includes themes of police violence, addiction, and the degradation of Louisiana’s coastline. In “Exile,” a poem about the last moments of Michael Brown, she reflected on the responsibility of bringing voice to such a profound moment of vulnerability, illustrating how poetry can bear witness to innocence amid tragedy. Gilliam models how, through love— termed uniquely as “bullet love,” through connection and intimacy, motions to a journey through evolving definitions of love and resilience. Her reverence for language as a living entity—a tool for survival, witness, and healing—reflects her approach to poetry as an act of reclamation and endurance, holding space for voices that need to be remembered and honored.
Monday Nov 04, 2024
Platica Y Poetics Ep.12 – M.R. “Chibbi” Orduña
In my platica with M.R. “Chibbi” Orduña, a vibrant, fluid, and unapologetic powerhouse in San
Antonio and the slam poetry world, I experienced firsthand the fierce conviction and
transformative energy that makes them a magnetic force on stage. Known for captivating
audiences with unapologetic truths, Chibbi’s performances weave personal resilience and
challenge social norms with raw, colorful authenticity. Our conversation explored poetry as a
powerful critique of America’s societal and political fractures, where they reflected on the pain
of ideological division and shed light on the internal contradictions within the Latinx community.
Through their work, Chibbi calls out the limitations of America’s polarized political landscape,
often overlooking those on the fringes. In “Semi-Automatic Christ,” they employ potent religious
and gun violence imagery to confront themes of faith, capitalism, and systemic negligence. For
Chibbi, poetry serves as a modern confessional—a space to expose societal hypocrisies and bring
healing through the art of truth-telling.
Thursday Oct 24, 2024
Platica Y Poetics Ep. 11 Jonathan Fletcher
In Episode 11, I sat down with my writing colleague and dear friend Jonathan Fletcher to explore
eucharistic themes in poetry, focusing on confession as a powerful force. In his debut chapbook
“This Is My Body”, we began with the body as a metaphor for desire and transformation—a
vessel for both spiritual and emotional redemption, shaped by melancholy. Jonathan spoke
candidly about how his work balances vulnerability, sacrifice, and salvation, while critiquing
power structures related to masculinity and intimacy. His upcoming collection invites readers
into an intimate space, skillfully balancing the public and private through poetic craft. We delved
into the intersections of identity, race, and sexuality, discussing how these themes shaped his
perspective as an outsider. Our conversation also drew on John Berger’s ideas on “being seen,”
highlighting how visibility becomes a key tension of rebellion and redemption throughout his
work.
Saturday Oct 19, 2024
Lip Liturgy w/ MERA MERA
Saturday Oct 19, 2024
Platica Y Poetics Ep. 10 w/ Carmen Tafolla “Transferencia de
In Episode 10, titled “Transferencia de Conocimiento del Barrio,” my fireside charla with Dr.
Carmen Tafolla was nothing short of transformative. As a trailblazer of Chicana literature and an unrelenting agent of change, our conversation opened with the heartfelt acknowledgment: “Without your voice, mine would be muffled.” Dr. Tafolla, one of the early feminist voices of the Chicano Movement, has gracefully challenged the stereotypes that have long marginalized our communities. Her literary journey, spanning decades of sociopolitical evolution, reflects an embrace of feminist, ecological, and multicultural perspectives that deeply honor indigenous roots. As a barrio storyteller, she uses poetry to pass down los cuentos y consejos of nuestra gente, empowering generations through words. Dr. Tafolla remins us why these stories matter—reflecting our collecitve painful history and beauty of cultural survival. In our conversation, she shared the wisdom and resilience that continues to break barriers and inspire a new generation of Chicanx writers. This plática with La Madrina of Chicana literatura turned into a session of transformative wisdom, revealing her enduring role as a beacon of cultural orgullo, resilience, and storytelling that transcends boundaries.
Monday Sep 30, 2024
Platica Y Poetics Ep.9 w/ Mauro De La Tierra
In Episode 9 calle punk arte met cosmic resistance in my interview with Mauro de la Tierra. We explored the intricate layers how graffiti became the form of expression against the backdrop of systemic inequality telling the stories of migrants capturing pain and resilience. Showcasing at times with satire he brings to the forefront the struggle in a world rife with anti-immigration sentiments. His provocative artistic style is a bold statement on the brutality and dehumanization embedded within systems of control. Mauro’s arte rich in indigenous symbolism, connect his art to the long history of resistance among indigenous people, emphasizing cultural memory and empowerment for the Latine community. As we discussed his creative process, it became clear that Mauro’s art is for all gente—transcending binaries and embracing the full spectrum of raza, gender, and identity. His legacy deeply rooted in the desire for justice, not just for migrants and indigenous people, but for all marginalized communities. To conclude our platica “Unknown Virgen ICE’ was written as an ekphrastic poem in honor of his arte and our hermanos crossing fronteras.
Monday Sep 30, 2024
Platica Y Poetics EP. 8 w/ Violeta Garza
Monday Sep 23, 2024
Platica Y Poetics Ep.7 w/ Jen Yáñez-Alaniz
A sensory delight and candid platica, Episode 7 with poetic comadre Jen Yáñez-Alaniz was a sweet dive into the sensuous universe she conjures in her debut poetry chapbook, Surrogate Eater. Our tableside exchange swirled around the intersections of pleasure, activism, and scholarship, with Jen guiding us through her approach to pleasure activism — reclaiming joy, desire, and pleasure as forms of resistance and empowerment. We grazed on topics such as how her poetry challenges societal norms, particularly concerning the body, sexuality, and identity within cultural contexts that often attach shame to female and queer bodies. Through this dialogue, we reclaimed the sacred through the body, turning poetry into a life-affirming, liberating force. Jen’s words resonated with the power of pleasure as a radical act, not just for the self, but for collective healing — especially within divine and marginalized communities.
Wednesday Sep 11, 2024
Platica Y Poetics Ep.6 w/ Natalia Treviño
This spiritual and esoteric platica carried us into the feminine divine universe, where we wove together cuentos of our abuelas and the universal sacred. We explored the dual presence of La Virgen in both our cultural and spiritual realms. Her poetry delves into the complexities of cultural and political identities, revealing how the divine transcends and unifies borders. We discussed the various archetypes she explores in her book “VirgenX” and how La Virgen is intricately woven into both the physical and political worlds. Our conversation touched on the life force, the power of love as an act of creation, and the cycle of generosity and life. She reminds us that the present moment and the afterlife are interconnected, bound by the threads of divine connection.
Wednesday Sep 11, 2024
Platica Y Poetics Ep.5 w/ Johnny Guerra
Monday Aug 19, 2024
Platica Y Poetics Ep.4 w/ Ire’ne Silva Lara
Our conversation with the 2024 Texas Poet Laureate was nothing short of a cosmic comadre platica. Ire’ne welcomed us into her creative sanctuary, where the blank page held limitless potential. In this sacred exchange of poetic wisdom, we delved into the significance of indigeneity in literature and the reclamation of identity after transcending historical traumas. The author of “Furia”, “Blood Sugar Canto”, “Cuicacalli”, and “The Eaters of Flowers” spoke of the “necessity” to write, describing poetry as a lifeline, a way to navigate grief and carve out space for understanding ancestral wounds. Through Ire’ne, we were reminded of the path of love or pain, leaving with her savant poetic brilliance as lyrical ancestral medicina.
Tuesday Aug 06, 2024
Platica Y Poetics Ep. 3 w/Olivia Ortiz
In our Mera Platica with Olivia, we explored her journey into the art world, beginning with her apprenticeship alongside her husband, Cruz Ortiz. Olivia shared how she navigates various mediums, from printmaking to oil on canvas and warehouse painting, and how personal life experiences influence artistic expression. Speaking about her feminine divine modernism style illuminates the female experience under male patriarchy, addressing themes of labor and limited autonomy. How Olivia describes abstract depictions of feminine beauty invites us to immerse ourselves in sensual art and the divine within her pieces. Our artistic space was one that manifested a divine poetic portal.
Monday Jul 29, 2024
Platica Y Poetics Ep.2 w/ Anel I. Flores
Our Platica with Anel was a sensual, sensory experience, where they explored generational voices, queer identity, and their parallel existence as both a painter and writer. A Xicane, Queer, Trans author and artist, Anel is a cherished icon of San Antonio. We delved into the pleasures of aligning with sensual space, discussing their work, including “Empanada: A Lesbiana Story en Probaditas” and the forthcoming “Cortinas de Lluvia”. Anel’s episodic and sensory memory weaves a cosmic tapestry that shapes queer narratives. Sharing queer poetic space with them, a poetic flow session, improvising a poem on the spot, was an erotic delicacy.
Monday Aug 19, 2024
Platica Y Poetics Ep.1 w/ Carmen Calatayud
Our first Platica is a cuento about how poetics has been a lifeline for Carmen, nourishing her innate ability to bring the healing art of storytelling to life through poetry. As both a psychotherapist and poet, Carmen explores the transformative power of healing through words.
