The Writers' Circle: A Podcast Experience

After hibernating all Winter, the Writers' Circle is back on and poppin'! Khaliah is joined by first time Circle guests and good friends Troy / Yunglibrary, Dez Holland and Deezion. Inspired by a prompt from Philly poet laureate @TrepetaMason and @YolanadWisher, we dig into our phones and confront our past selves, writing poems inspired by our last text message. We turn to the books for inspiration and pontificate on performing self, politics around dress, the showmanship of open mic and slam culture, and how uptown jawns be so damn hype. Grab a pen and join in as we write, share and talk our shit.  Prompts: 3-min Freewrite Look in your messages and find the last text you sent. Write a piece using that line. (5m) Choose a book at random off your shelf. Turn to page 17. Read the 5th line. Write a piece using the line. (5m) Remember, the prompt is just a suggestion! Share your writing with us by emailing writerscirclepod@gmail.com or send a DM. Follow The Writers' Circle on Instagram @writercirclepod and Twitter @writerscirclepc.    -- Guests: Troy / Yunglibrary - @yunglibrary Dez Holland - Catch her in these streets! Deezion - @thephiimoves just chilling out by Barradeen | https://soundcloud.com/barradeen Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US

This episode we journey from the warm confines of Khaliah’s apartment to capture poetry in the real world, recording sounds from As Above So Below, an artist showcase created and hosted by Writers’ Circle fam Illadel and Lenora Elaine. Among dope performances and delicious vibes provided by DJ Matic, we’re introduced to the wordplay of Pablo Maldonado from Moses Honey, Neffratiti the Queen and StoopKid. Being pulled away from the show and put on the spot, these brilliant artists explore themes of reality, searching for what we’ve never had and what we leave behind. Grab your notebook, pen and join in! Remember, the prompt is just a suggestion. Follow The Writers' Circle on Instagram @writercirclepod and Twitter @writerscirclepc. If you would like to be a guest writer or would like to submit a writing prompt email writerscirclepod@gmail.com. -- Guests:  Pablo Maldonado - @moseshoneymusic |Keep an eye out for Pablo’s upcoming project Sweetened Milk | moseshoneymusic.com  Neffratiti the Queen - @neffratiti_the_queen | @nefratiti_the_chef   StoopKid - @therealstoopkid_  Hosts: Khaliah D. Pitts - @the_kdp | khaliahdpitts.com Illadel (Jon Doe aka Doe Ali) - @illadel | YouTube, Soundcloud Lenora Elaine - @lenoraelaine_ | @orisunwellness | orisunwellness.com just chilling out by Barradeen | https://soundcloud.com/barradeen Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US

This episode we journey from the warm confines of Khaliah’s apartment to capture poetry in the real world, recording sounds from As Above So Below, an artist showcase created and hosted by Writers’ Circle fam Illadel and Lenora Elaine. Among dope performances and delicious vibes provided by DJ Matic, we’re introduced to the wordplay of Pablo Maldonado from Moses Honey, Neffratiti the Queen and StoopKid. Being pulled away from the show and put on the spot, these brilliant artists explore themes of reality, searching for what we’ve never had and what we leave behind. Grab your notebook, pen and join in! Remember, the prompt is just a suggestion. Follow The Writers' Circle on Instagram @writercirclepod and Twitter @writerscirclepc. If you would like to be a guest writer or would like to submit a writing prompt email writerscirclepod@gmail.com. -- Guests:  Pablo Maldonado - @moseshoneymusic | Keep an eye out for Pablo’s upcoming project Sweetened Milk | moseshoneymusic.com  Neffratiti the Queen - @neffratiti_the_queen | @nefratiti_the_chef   StoopKid - @therealstoopkid_  Hosts: Khaliah D. Pitts - @the_kdp | khaliahdpitts.com Illadel (Jon Doe aka Doe Ali) - @jondoeofthc | YouTube, Soundcloud Lenora Elaine - @lenoraelaine_ | @orisunwellness | orisunwellness.com just chilling out by Barradeen | https://soundcloud.com/barradeen Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US

This episode is all love and laughs as Khaliah host a mini-reunion with some her high school girlfriends Natasha Jovan, Nina Foster-Wilmer and Kaila Mullen. We tell the story of how The Writers’ Circle began and share memories of teenage angst, dollar hoagies, the magic of pincurls and what it was like being Black children in white spaces. Most important we look back on our past lives as visual artists, writers, musicians and dancers and how we continue to express our creativity through different types of “motherhood”. Much love to all our Girls’ High girls and of course the 251st graduating class. Grab your notebook, pen and join in! Remember, the prompt is just a suggestion. Follow The Writers' Circle on Instagram @writercirclepod and Twitter @writerscirclepc. If you would like to be a guest writer or would like to submit a writing prompt email writerscirclepod@gmail.com.   -- Guests: Natasha Jovan - @natashajovan | Listen to Love Is Trending at  natashajovanjordan.wixsite.com/natashajovan Nina Foster-Wilmer - @LadySketch215 | Listen to Turntables: Hip Hop Culture & Beyond on Stitcher Kalia Mullen - @4theloveof40 | @kalia_jene just chilling out by Barradeen | https://soundcloud.com/barradeen Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US

We had our ladies’ night, so it’s only fair the brothas get some love. Episode 6 is all about the men folks as Khaliah is joined at the table by brother-friends poet Enoch the Poet, musician Jeide 8Track and comedian Bruce Juice. The conversation evolved from contemplating the philosophy of samsara, celebrating Black boyhood, debating sensitivity versus emotionality and how anime is life.  Grab your notebook, pen and join in! Remember, the prompt is just a suggestion. Follow The Writers' Circle on Instagram @writercirclepod and Twitter @writerscirclepc. If you would like to be a guest writer or would like to submit a writing prompt email writerscirclepod@gmail.com.    -- Guests: Enoch the Poet- @enochthepoet Jeide 8Track - @jeide8track Bruce Canada Jr. - @brucejuice92 just chilling out by Barradeen | https://soundcloud.com/barradeen Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US

Episode 5 has Khaliah crying laughing over the silliest things with artists and MCs Aethon Blaque and Imah X and a favorite girlfriend, Chef Nia D. Minard. Somehow through a barrage of laughter and teasing, poems were written, challenging our agility with words… and interestingly writing a lot about food.  Grab your notebook, pen and join in! Remember, the prompt is just a suggestion. Follow The Writers' Circle on Instagram @writercirclepod and Twitter @writerscirclepc. If you would like to be a guest writer or would like to submit a writing prompt email writerscirclepod@gmail.com.    -- Guests: Aethon Blaque - @aethonblaque Imah X - @imahx Nia D. Minard - @imbitecurious Shoutout to Da Lantern Jawn @phillylanternfly just chilling out by Barradeen | https://soundcloud.com/barradeen Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US

Episode 4 has Khaliah joined by some warm and witty writers: community activist Daquisha Jones, yogi Kamila Ahmad and a returning Gabrielle Clark, fabulous Philly photographer. The theme is inspiration, as the ladies allow themselves to be inspirited by the work of poet Keith S. Wilson, having fun with odes, pie graphs (yes... math!) and writing love poems to some of the world’s most accomplished artists.    Grab your notebook, pen and join in! Remember, the prompt is just a suggestion. Follow The Writers' Circle on Instagram @writercirclepod and Twitter @writerscirclepc. If you would like to be a guest writer or would like to submit a writing prompt email writerscirclepod@gmail.com. -- Guests: Daquisha Jones - @negropolitical | The ECO Foundation; Bad Ally Kamila Ahmad - @kamilian.yoga | @thewell_shoppe Gabrielle Clark - @allwolfnosheep | @somaticstories | thegabrielleclark.com Shoutouts and Mentions: Keith S. Wilson - @keithing_it_real | keithswilson.com just chilling out by Barradeen | https://soundcloud.com/barradeen Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US

Episode 3 has Khaliah joined by old and new friends, artist and producer Illadel (Jon), all around creator Kaang (Chev) and the illustrious Dia G. to discuss how memory defines us. Chuckling over childhood stories, sharing favorite songs and revealing in the fluidity of time, new memories are created over some good word and classic shit talk.  Grab your notebook, pen and join in! Remember, the prompt is just a suggestion. Follow The Writers' Circle on Instagram @writercirclepod and Twitter @writerscirclepc. If you would like to be a guest writer or would like to submit a writing prompt email writerscirclepod@gmail.com. -- Guests: Illadel (Jon Doe aka Doe Ali) - @jondoeofthc| YouTube, Soundcloud, Bandcamp, Distrokid Kaang LE Loup (Chev) - @kaanggrooviin | Spotify, AppleMusic Dia G. – If you know, you know 😉 Shoutouts and Mentions: Wishing on A Star x Teena Marie The Creator Has a Master Plan x Brooklyn Funk Essentials For All We Know x Donny Hathaway I’d Rather Go Blind x Etta James just chilling out by Barradeen | https://soundcloud.com/barradeen Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US

In this episode Khaliah hosts a ladies’ night with some of her “brown baby savin’ sisters” Sabriaya Shipley, Jasmine Hawkins and a returning Lenora Elaine. Amid howling laughter and teasing about age and sloppy handwriting, we revel in the joys and strains of Black womanhood, reminding each other that “Black girl magic” ain’t nothin’ new. Grab your notebook, pen and join in! Remember, the prompt is just a suggestion. Follow The Writers' Circle on Instagram @writercirclepod and Twitter @writerscirclepc. If you would like to be a guest writer or would like to submit a writing prompt email writerscirclepod@gmail.com. -- Guests: Sabriaya Shipley - @ubuntusab | @treehousebooks Jasmine “Mizz Jasz” Hawkins - @mizzjasz | @urgent365 | mizzjasz.com Lenora Elaine - @lenoraelaine_ | @orisunwellness | orisunwellness.com Special thanks to WC alum Dia Garnett for contributing the prompt “what’s in my juju box”. Shoutouts and Mentions: Connecting the Dots (hosted by Khaliah’s father) - soundcloud.com/connectingthedots-1 Broke, Black & Busy Podcast (hosted by Enoch the Poet aka “Grits”) - listennotes.com/podcasts/broke-black-busy-broke-black-busy-KTdemN0gywR/ just chilling out by Barradeen | https://soundcloud.com/barradeen Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US

The Writers' Circle is expanding! In our inaugural episode Khaliah is joined by friends and fellow artists YOSHiSUHN, Gabrielle Clark and Lenora Elaine, to discuss how we're navigating the craziness of 2020. From pandemics to protests we explore our feelings and philosophies through poetry, taking lead from our ancestor Nina Simone, doing the artist's duty and reflecting the times. Grab your notebook, pen and join in! Remember, the prompt is just a suggestion. Prompts (5 minutes each): Quickwrite (3 minutes continuous writing) – 7:20 Nina Simone: “You can't help it. An artist's duty, as far as I'm concerned, is to reflect the times.” – 14:56 Craft a piece comprised entirely of questions – 40:57 “If this is the apocalypse” (provided by Lenora Elaine) – 1:05:14 Imagining a new world – 1:20:10 Connect with The Writers' Circle on Instagram @writercirclepod and Twitter @writerscirclepc. If you would like to be a guest writer or would like to submit a writing prompt email writerscirclepod@gmail.com. -- Guests: YOSHiSUHN - Bandcamp, YouTube, Soundcloud Gabrielle Clark - @allwolfnosheep | @somaticstories | thegabrielleclark.com Lenora Elaine - @lenoraelaine_ | @orisunwellness | orisunwellness.com Shoutouts and Mentions: Ashley's Naturals - www.facebook.com/AshleysNaturals/ Our Mothers' Kitchens - www.ourmotherskitchens.org just chilling out by Barradeen | https://soundcloud.com/barradeen Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US