Next Man Up, Poetry in Motion

Poetry can be a lifeline when emotions feel too heavy to name. In this episode, Grand Slam poetry champion, author, and teacher Poetic V shares how writing began as a way to process trauma in fourth grade and grew into a lifelong tool for working through grief, including the loss of her mother and grandmother, and bringing subconscious thoughts into the open. She also discusses her book, Poetically Affirmed: A Collection of I Am Poems That Affirm You Daily, a 31-day collection of affirmations written during the pandemic. The hour features spoken-word performances from Poetic V, Donavan LeDean, Chelsea Maraee, Mei-Mei Mijares, The Unknown Odist, and others, exploring resilience, identity, self-worth, community struggles, and recovery. Donavan closes with a reminder that self-control and de-escalation protect your safety, your reputation, and your future.