TalkWithME

Robert Hansen, Poems-For-All

Robert Hansen is the person behind Poems-For-All, a project that for the last 17 years has been designing and publishing miniature books of poetry that are scattered like seeds out into the world. To date, he has published over 1,500 different little books, no bigger than the size of a business card, featuring poets from all around the world, including Scotland, England, Pakistan, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and The Philippines. The series features poems in English, French, German, Catalan, and Gaelic.

 

Instagram: www.instagram.com/scattered.like.seeds  Facebook: www.facebook.com/Poems-For-All-7169297601
Official website: www.poems-for-all.com

 

 

Simone Savannah, Poet and More

Simone Savannah  was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio. and currently resides in Lawrence, KS.  She is the author of a new chapbook, Like Kansas (Big Lucks, 2018). She is a 2017 finalist for the Rita Dove Award in Poetry. Her poems have appeared or are forthcoming in Big Lucks, GlitterMob, The Fem, Powder Keg, The Continental Review, and The Pierian. Simone holds a PhD in Creative Writing from the University of Kansas, where her research areas were: 20th century African American women's literature, black feminist criticism, and African American poetry.

Learn more about Simone Savannah's poetry on numerous online poetry journals, on Twitter @PerfectVerse22 and at https://www.SimoneSavannah.com/

Brandon Whitehead, Poet & Poetic-Host

Brandon Whitehead is a misanthropic and reclusive creature seldom seen in public unless there is free beer.  His poetry collection Thieves, Pharaohs and Mexican Daredevils is available for cash-money or decent whiskey. Brandon is a member of the FountainVerse group; he is one of the organizers of this October 12-14, 2018 FountainVerse KC Small Press Poetry Fest which features poets from across North America.  Brandon is also the host of The Speakeasy @ Swordfish Tom's Poetry and Spoken Word Review in KC. 

The Speakeasy @ Swordfish Tom's https://www.facebook.com/speakeasypoetryatswordfishtoms/   FountainVerse https://www.facebook.com/fountainverse/  and https://www.fountainverse.com/

Lusie Cuskey and Sarah VanZwoll of Spring Awakening

Listen, be inspired, and laugh as Assistant Director Lusie Cuskey and female lead Sarah VanZwoll describe the production and the personal journeys that led them to major roles in Spring Awakening.

 

In this pulse-pounded rock musical adapted from the controversial 1891 German play, young men and women struggle to define themselves within a repressive culture. A smash hit on Broadway and winner of 8 Tony Awards. KU's University Theatre April 2018 production of Spring Awakening features a (mostly) student cast as well as an eight-piece, all-student band, and choreography by Michelle Heffner Hayes, Dance Dept Chair.   http://KUTheatre.com/Spring-Awakening

Matt Spezia, Poet-and-More

Matt Spezia was recently named a Prince of Poetry.  He is a national powerhouse of Lyrical Ability, combining his 3-time national award winning Poetry Style, Kansas City Hip Hop, and Thespian Experience.  Spezia uses his platform and his art to promote self confidence and betterment, social awareness, and cultural change. 

 

Spezia has worked to directly influence youth in 26 different school districts.   He hosts multiple weekly national award winning Radio Shows.  Spezia has 2 Albums and a Book published and has appeared in an anthology CD and book. He was recently signed by CX1DJS and E&E Entertainment.  His third CD “Babylon” releases June 25.

Currently based in Topeka, Kansas, Matt Spezia regularly hosts Poetry Events and Performs his Poetry across the Midwest and more.  All of this while being a proud Washburn University Ichabod.  Follow @MattSpezia913 on Twitter and Instagram; plus www.facebook.com/Matt-Spezia-176173993172520/ and http://MattSpeziaMusic.com/

Lexi Rodriguez of Hope Through Headphones

Lexi is the founder of Hope Through Headphones.  She is also a music-lover, a person living with mental illness, and a student pursuing a degree in Marketing at Washburn U in Topeka, KS.

Hope Through Headphones is a movement dedicated to providing mental health education and support to students using music to connect and inspire. HTH works with high school and college campuses to create social, welcoming events raising awareness of mental illnesses, how to help yourself, and how to help others.  HTH is hosting the first annual Mental Music Scene on Saturday 4/7/2018 in Topeka, KS at Lake Shawnee.  Music by 13 artists/groups.  Food trucks on site. Plus info tables and speakers about living well with mental illness. Tix available online and at the event. “Stick it to the Stigma!”

 

Follow Lexi's adventures at https://www.facebook.com/HopeTHeadphones/

 

 

John Burroughs, Poet & Publisher

John Burroughs is a nationally-touring poet and performer from the Cleveland area and the author of over a dozen books including Water Works, Electric Company, Beat Attitude and The Eater of the Absurd. His latest, Loss and Foundering, will be released April 6th by NightBallet Press (nightballet.com). In various past lives, John served as playwright-in-residence for the Ministry of Theatre at Marion Correctional Institution, his blog was ranked #1 on MySpace, he won the first poetry slam he ever competed in, and he co-founded (with Dianne Borsenik) the infamous Lix and Kix Poetry Extravaganza and almost-annual Snoetry: A Winter Wordfest. John has edited numerous volumes, including the Oct Tongue poetry series, Cheap and Easy Magazine and the anti-censorship anthology Fuck Poetry, and he is probably most proud of his work since 2008 as the founding editor of Crisis Chronicles Press.

Follow John Burroughs to www.crisischronicles.com