Episode Summary In this episode of the All About Us podcast, host Carl Allen interviews poet Samantha Merz, who shares her experiences growing up in Vancouver, Canada, her journey into poetry, and the themes that resonate in her work. Samantha discusses her poetry collections, the evolution of her writing, and the importance of expressing feelings through poetry. She also offers advice for emerging poets and insights into the challenges of monetizing poetry in today's market. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Samantha Merz06:10 Samantha's Journey into Poetry11:55 The Evolution of Poetry Collections18:04 Themes of Loneliness and Acceptance23:59 Advice for Emerging Poets and Monetizing Poetry Takeaways Samantha Merz hails from Vancouver, British Columbia.Vancouver is known for its pleasant weather and diversity.Samantha's childhood was pleasant, influenced by music and family.She began her poetry journey through social media and community engagement.Her poetry reflects personal feelings of acceptance and societal observations.Samantha has published two poetry collections: Kazoo and Metalite.The themes in her poetry include loneliness, acceptance, and personal growth.Samantha emphasizes the importance of expressing thoughts through writing.Emerging poets should focus on writing and seek platforms for publication.Monetizing poetry can be challenging, but book sales are a viable option. 📲 Connect with Samantha Merz:Her Blog: https://samanthamerz.wordpress.comHer Instagram handle is: @marblemessages Follow Us:All About Us Podcast: IG:https://www.instagram.com/dalla_s4lr/Website:http://www.standupndosomething.org/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AllAboutUsAfricaandDiaspora/