The Underground Writing Podcast is an audio channel focusing on student writing. Flowing in and through this river, as it were, are interviews, guests, and organizational updates, as well as two smaller tributaries: Linebreak (a single piece of writing) and Kite (our student writing audio zine).
We are a literature-based creative writing program serving migrant, incarcerated, recovery, and other at-need communities in Washington through literacy and personal transformation. We facilitate generative readings of literature spanning the tradition—from ancient texts to those written in our workshops. Honoring the transforming power of the word, we believe that attentive reading leads to attentive writing, and that attentive writing has the power to assist in the restoration of communities, the imagination, and individual lives.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Underground Writing Podcast is an audio channel focusing on student writing. Flowing in and through this river, as it were, are interviews, guests, and organizational updates, as well as two smaller tributaries: Linebreak (a single piece of writing) and Kite (our student writing audio zine).
We are a literature-based creative writing program serving migrant, incarcerated, recovery, and other at-need communities in Washington through literacy and personal transformation. We facilitate generative readings of literature spanning the tradition—from ancient texts to those written in our workshops. Honoring the transforming power of the word, we believe that attentive reading leads to attentive writing, and that attentive writing has the power to assist in the restoration of communities, the imagination, and individual lives.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Show Notes:
Today’s student writing is a poem is by Cristian, a student at our workshop site inside Skagit County Juvenile Detention.
Some items mentioned in—or aligned with—today’s episode // Announcements:
1. Remember that you can watch a short film of the featured poem today on our website under the “Collaborations” tab—choose “FilmVerse,” and you’ll be directed to the correct page. Cristian’s poem is part of the 2018 collection. Or, click the following link to go directly to FilmVerse | https://undergroundwriting.org/filmverse
2. Thanks to NPR / KNKX for featuring Underground Writing a couple of weeks ago, on October 10, 2025 in their series: Agents of Change: Addressing Youth Violence — Lessons that Work. And thanks to Emil Moffatt for the interview. If you’re interested in listening to the story: https://www.knkx.org/tags/agents-of-change-addressing-youth-violence-lessons-that-work
3. We’re heading into the final months of the year. And what a year—seemingly unending wars, a divided country teetering on the precipice, and deep funding and staff cuts in the Arts sector— and this is at both the national and local levels. As a community arts nonprofit that depends on grants and individual donations for our survival, we need your support now as much as ever. We’d be honored if you’d keep us in mind as you plan for your year-end giving: https://undergroundwriting.org/donate
4. We regularly hear from folks asking how they can be involved with—or help out—Underground Writing. We’re grateful for the interest. Please check out our “Get Involved” page on our website: https://undergroundwriting.org/get-involved Also, to highlight a few inroads for getting involved: 1) If you live locally, consider joining us for our once-a-month re/vision volunteer day (https://undergroundwriting.org/revision), 2) Spread the word about our Letters to a Young Inmate initiative (https://undergroundwriting.org/letters-to-a-young-inmate), and 3) Consider partnering with us by becoming a patron-donor – we’re only able to do our work because of our individual donors and grant partners . . . and we are always in need of these donor-partnerships so that we can continue our work (https://undergroundwriting.org/donate).
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Listeners!—You can also help us by writing a review on Apple Podcasts or other outlets. Podcast reviews help other like-minded folks find out about our show, as well as our broader work. Any help you can lend to this effort would be greatly appreciated.
Our website: www.undergroundwriting.org
You can send inquiries, or pitches for advertising, here: podcast@undergroundwriting.org
Thanks for listening, Friends.
Safe journey, and take good care.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Show Notes:
Today’s featured poem, “My Voice Ran Away” was by Xaiviar. You can support students like Xaiviar by spreading the word about our podcast, purchasing student writing anthologies in our website store, and donating to help our ongoing work via our website’s secure donation portal.
https://undergroundwriting.org/donate
Some items connected to today’s episode:
What No One Ever Tells You (student writing anthology): https://undergroundwriting.org/store
*Xaiviar’s poem is included – page 37.
Our re/vision program: https://undergroundwriting.org/revision
The Letters to a Young Inmate initiative: http://letterstoayounginmate.org/
Become a patron-donor: https://undergroundwriting.org/donate
Announcements:
1. We regularly hear from folks asking how they can be involved with—or help out—Underground Writing. We’re grateful for the interest. Please check out our “Get Involved” page on our website: https://undergroundwriting.org/get-involved Also, to highlight a few inroads for getting involved: 1) If you live locally, consider joining us for our once-a-month re/vision volunteer day (https://undergroundwriting.org/revision), 2) Spread the word about our Letters to a Young Inmate initiative (https://undergroundwriting.org/letters-to-a-young-inmate), and 3) Consider partnering with us by becoming a patron-donor – we’re only able to do our work because of our individual donors and grant partners . . . and we are always in need of these donor-partnerships so that we can continue our work (https://undergroundwriting.org/donate).
---
We’re repeating ourselves, but it’s good to say again . . . Listeners!—You can also help us by writing a review on Apple Podcasts or other outlets. And something new—we may even read some of them on the air. Podcast reviews help other like-minded folks find out about our show, as well as our broader work. Any help you can lend to this effort would be greatly appreciated.
Our website: www.undergroundwriting.org
Send inquiries, questions, or pitches for advertising here: podcast@undergroundwriting.org
Thanks for listening, Friends.
Safe journey, and take good care.
:
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Show Notes:
Today’s featured letters and feedback were written by students and ONE PAGE participants. This episode’s featured poem, “A Day So Happy,” was by Victor. You can support students like these by spreading the word about our podcast, purchasing student writing anthologies in our website store, and becoming a supporter. You can join our support team by donating to help our ongoing work via our website’s secure donation portal here:
https://undergroundwriting.org/donate
Some items mentioned in today’s episode:
What No One Ever Tells You (student writing anthology): https://undergroundwriting.org/store
Detention Center in the Seattle area: https://www.ice.gov/detain/detention-facilities/northwest-ice-processing-center-nwipc
Czeslaw Milosz’ poem, “A Gift”: https://www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/poem/gift-0/
Seattle Foundation: https://www.seattlefoundation.org/
ArtsWA: https://www.arts.wa.gov/
Paul G. Allen Family Foundation: https://www.allenphilanthropies.org/
Announcements:
1. We regularly hear from folks asking how they can be involved with—or help out—Underground Writing. We’re grateful for the interest. Please check out our “Get Involved” page on our website: https://undergroundwriting.org/get-involved Also, to highlight a few inroads for getting involved: 1) If you live locally, consider joining us for our once-a-month re/vision volunteer day (https://undergroundwriting.org/revision), 2) Spread the word about our Letters to a Young Inmate initiative (https://undergroundwriting.org/letters-to-a-young-inmate), and 3) Consider partnering with us by becoming a patron-donor – we’re only able to do our work because of our individual donors and grant partners . . . and we are always in need of these donor-partnerships so that we can continue our work (https://undergroundwriting.org/donate).
Our website: www.undergroundwriting.org
You can send inquiries, or pitches for advertising, here: podcast@undergroundwriting.org
Thanks for listening, Friends.
Safe journey, and take good care.
:
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Show Notes:
Today’s featured writing was by Ali, a writer experiencing incarceration in Oregon, who submitted to our ONE PAGE publication opportunity for incarcerated writers. You can support our students, ONE PAGE, and writers like Ali by spreading the word about our podcast, purchasing student writing anthologies in our website store, and making a donation to help sustain our ongoing work via our website’s secure donation portal.
Some items mentioned in—or aligned with—today’s episode:
UNICEF: Helping children around the world: https://www.unicefusa.org/
ONE PAGE (part of our re/vision program): https://undergroundwriting.org/revision
Detention Center in the Seattle area: https://www.ice.gov/detain/detention-facilities/northwest-ice-processing-center-nwipc
Announcements:
1. Please consider listening to S5E9, “Victor Manuel Vivanco Reyes,” to learn about/support Victor, former student now alumnus of our program. Victor is currently being detained by ICE in the Seattle/Tacoma area.
2. We regularly hear from folks asking how they can be involved with—or help out—Underground Writing. We’re grateful for the interest. Please check out our “Get Involved” page on our website: https://undergroundwriting.org/get-involved Also, to highlight a few inroads for getting involved: 1) If you live locally, consider joining us for our once-a-month re/vision volunteer day (https://undergroundwriting.org/revision), 2) Spread the word about our Letters to a Young Inmate initiative (https://undergroundwriting.org/letters-to-a-young-inmate), and 3) Consider partnering with us by becoming a patron-donor – we’re only able to do our work because of our individual donors and grant partners . . . and we are always in need of these donor-partnerships so that we can continue our work (https://undergroundwriting.org/donate).
---
We’re repeating ourselves, but it’s good to say again . . . Listeners!—You can also help us by writing a review on Apple Podcasts or other outlets. And something new—we may even read some of them on the air. Podcast reviews help other like-minded folks find out about our show, as well as our broader work. Any help you can lend to this effort would be greatly appreciated.
Our website: www.undergroundwriting.org
You can send inquiries, or pitches for advertising, here: podcast@undergroundwriting.org
Thanks for listening, Friends.
Safe journey, and take good care.
:
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
LINEBREAK is a single piece of student writing, offered as a pause during your daily life. We hope it will be generative of further creativity, perspective, and thought.
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Show Notes:
Today’s featured poem was by student and alumnus, Victor. You can support students like Victor by spreading the word about our podcast, purchasing student writing anthologies and other merch in our online store, and making a donation to help our work continue – you can donate via our website’s secure donation portal here: https://undergroundwriting.org/donate
Announcements:
1. We regularly hear from folks asking how they can be involved with—or help out—Underground Writing. We’re grateful for the interest. Please check out our “Get Involved” page on our website: https://undergroundwriting.org/get-involved Also, to highlight a few inroads for getting involved: 1) If you live locally, consider joining us for our once-a-month re/vision volunteer day (https://undergroundwriting.org/revision), 2) Spread the word about our Letters to a Young Inmate initiative (https://undergroundwriting.org/letters-to-a-young-inmate), and 3) Consider partnering with us by becoming a patron-donor – we’re only able to do our work because of our individual donors and grant partners . . . and we are always in need of these donor-partnerships so that we can continue our work (https://undergroundwriting.org/donate).
---
We’re repeating ourselves, but it’s good to say again . . . Listeners!—You can also help us by writing a review on Apple Podcasts or other outlets. And something new—we may even read some of them on the air. Podcast reviews help other like-minded folks find out about our show, as well as our broader work. Any help you can lend to this effort would be greatly appreciated.
Our website: www.undergroundwriting.org
You can send inquiries, or pitches for advertising, here: podcast@undergroundwriting.org
Thanks for listening, Friends.
Safe journey, and take good care.
:
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Show Notes:
Today’s featured poems were by student/alumnus, Victor. You can support students like Victor by spreading the word about our podcast, purchasing student writing anthologies and other merch in our online store, and making a donation to help our work continue – you can donate via our website’s secure donation portal here: https://undergroundwriting.org/donate
Some items mentioned in today’s episode:
Detention Center in the Seattle area: https://www.ice.gov/detain/detention-facilities/northwest-ice-processing-center-nwipc
Langston Hughes’ poem, “I, Too”: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/47558/i-too
Paul Valery’s poem, “The Angel Handed Me a Book”: https://friko-diamonddesigns.blogspot.com/2013/08/the-angel-handed-me-book.html
Czeslaw Milosz’ poem, “A Gift”: https://www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/poem/gift-0/
Ilya Kaminsky’s poetry book, Deaf Republic: https://www.graywolfpress.org/books/deaf-republic
Announcements:
We regularly hear from folks asking how they can be involved with—or help out—Underground Writing. We’re grateful for the interest. Please check out our “Get Involved” page on our website: https://undergroundwriting.org/get-involved Also, to highlight a few inroads for getting involved: 1) If you live locally, consider joining us for our once-a-month re/vision volunteer day (https://undergroundwriting.org/revision), 2) Spread the word about our Letters to a Young Inmate initiative (https://undergroundwriting.org/letters-to-a-young-inmate), and 3) Consider partnering with us by becoming a patron-donor – we’re only able to do our work because of our individual donors and grant partners . . . and we are always in need of these donor-partnerships so that we can continue our work (https://undergroundwriting.org/donate).
We’re repeating ourselves, but it’s good to say again . . . Listeners!—You can also help us by writing a review on Apple Podcasts or other outlets. And something new—we may even read some of them on the air. Podcast reviews help other like-minded folks find out about our show, as well as our broader work. Any help you can lend to this effort would be greatly appreciated.
Our website: www.undergroundwriting.org. You can send inquiries, or pitches for advertising, here: podcast@undergroundwriting.org
Thanks for listening, Friends. Safe journey, and take good care.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Show Notes:
Today’s featured writings were by incarcerated adult students at our workshop site with the Skagit County Community Justice Center. You can support students like them by spreading the word about our podcast, purchasing student writing anthologies in our website store, and donating to help our ongoing work via our website’s secure donation portal here: https://undergroundwriting.org/donate
Announcements:
1. For a 4th year in a row, we have received a very significant organizational grant from an Anonymous Donor via the Seattle Foundation. We want to thank the donor and the Seattle Foundation for believing in the work we’re doing and helping our students continue to read, write, and make their voices heard.
2. We’re grateful that Podcast Review—a Los Angeles Review of Books channel—recently included us on their list of “7 Indie Podcasts to Listen to This Spring.” Shout outs to the review’s author, Alice Florence Orr, who wrote in her review regarding the contexts in which we serve: “Some politicians and news outlets paint these communities with a broad and dark brush. But The Underground Writing Podcast offers a different perspective: writing as a communal act, a way to spark connection and hope . . . the podcast amplifies voices often lost in the noise, proving that the power of storytelling isn’t confined to MFA programs or publishing deals.” A big note of gratitude to Alice, Podcast Review, and the Los Angeles Review of Books. We truly, truly appreciate your support.
3. We regularly hear from folks asking how they can be involved with—or help out—Underground Writing. We’re grateful for the interest. Please check out our “Get Involved” page on our website: https://undergroundwriting.org/get-involved Also, to highlight a few inroads for getting involved: 1) If you live locally, consider joining us for our once-a-month re/vision volunteer day (https://undergroundwriting.org/revision), 2) Spread the word about our Letters to a Young Inmate initiative (https://undergroundwriting.org/letters-to-a-young-inmate), and 3) Consider partnering with us by becoming a patron-donor – we’re only able to do our work because of our individual donors and grant partners (https://undergroundwriting.org/donate).
---
Listeners!—Help us by writing a review on Apple Podcasts or other outlets. And something new—we may even read some of them on the air. Podcast reviews help other like-minded folks find out about our show, as well as our broader work. Any help you can lend to this effort would be greatly appreciated.
Our website: www.undergroundwriting.org
You can send inquiries, or pitches for advertising, here: podcast@undergroundwriting.org
Thanks for listening, Friends.
Safe journey, and take good care.
:
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Show Notes
Today’s featured writing was by Max, a student—and now alumnus—at our writing workshop site in Skagit County Juvenile Detention. You can support students like Max by spreading the word about our podcast, purchasing student writing anthologies and other merch in our online store, and making a donation to help our work continue – you can donate via our website’s secure donation portal here: https://undergroundwriting.org/donate
Announcements:
1. If you recently began listening to our podcast—or if you’ve been with us for a number of years—we want to remind you to check out the first 3 episodes of this reboot season to get an overview of where we’ve been and where we’re going. Check out season 5, episodes 1, 2, and 3.
2. We’re back from the winter break, and are working on more episodes, including interviews, student writing, and our in-stream serials: Linebreak and KITE. Stay tuned, friends!
3. We regularly hear from folks asking how they can be involved with—or help out—Underground Writing. We’re grateful for the interest. Please check out our “Get Involved” page on our website: https://undergroundwriting.org/get-involved Also, to highlight a few inroads for getting involved: 1) If you live locally, consider joining us for our once-a-month re/vision volunteer day (https://undergroundwriting.org/revision), 2) Spread the word about our Letters to a Young Inmate initiative (https://undergroundwriting.org/letters-to-a-young-inmate), and 3) Consider partnering with us by becoming a patron-donor – we’re only able to do our work because of our individual donors and grant partners . . . and we are always in need of these donor-partnerships so that we can continue our work (https://undergroundwriting.org/donate).
---
We’re repeating ourselves, but it’s good to say again . . . Listeners!—You can also help us by writing a review on Apple Podcasts or other outlets. And something new—we may even read some of them on the air. Podcast reviews help other like-minded folks find out about our show, as well as our broader work. Any help you can lend to this effort would be greatly appreciated.
Our website: www.undergroundwriting.org
You can send inquiries, or pitches for advertising, here: podcast@undergroundwriting.org
Thanks for listening, Friends.
Safe journey, and take good care.
:
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Today’s featured writings were by Anthony and Carlos, students at our writing workshop site in Skagit County Juvenile Detention. You can support students like Anthony and Carlos by spreading the word about our podcast, purchasing student writing anthologies and other merch in our online store, and making a donation to help our work continue – you can donate via our website’s secure donation portal here: https://undergroundwriting.org/donate
Laurie Parker is a screenwriter, film and music producer, and teacher. Since 2016 she has led writing workshops for people in the incarcerated, unhoused, undocumented, and foster youth communities. She taught screenwriting at Pacific University’s MFA Writing Program, at Hugo House in Seattle, and at the Calabash Literary Foundation in Jamaica. In 2018, she produced the Emmy Award-winning, PBS documentary, Finding Home, A Foster Youth Story. She co-wrote and produced the film and music for Rodrigo Rey Rosa’s documentary Carcel de Árboles/Prison of Trees in 2015 and his feature film Lo que soño Sebastían/What Sebastían Dreamt, both in Guatemala. More about Laurie
Book Laurie is currently reading: Civilizations by Laurent Benet
We want to thank the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, the Seattle Community Foundation, and the Renaissance Charitable Foundation for their generosity to us via grants made to Underground Writing in 2024. We are sustained by your generosity! Thanks for seeing and supporting us, and believing in the ongoing work we’re doing.
Book Shucker | A local independent bookstore we love! They sell our books, and we’re spreading the work about what they’re doing. You can buy books in person in Edison, WA, or online at their store. You can also make them your benefitting store on Bookshop.org, and they’ll receive a bit of kickback for every purchase you make.
We’re repeating ourselves, but it’s good to say again . . . Listeners!—You can also help us by writing a review on Apple Podcasts or other outlets. And something new—we may even read some of them on the air. Podcast reviews help other like-minded folks find out about our show, as well as our broader work. Any help you can lend to this effort would be greatly appreciated.
Our website: www.undergroundwriting.org
You can send inquiries, or pitches for advertising, here: podcast@undergroundwriting.org
Thanks for listening, Friends.
Safe journey . . . and take good care.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
LINEBREAK is a single piece of student writing, offered as a pause during your daily life. We hope it will be generative of further creativity, perspective, and thought.
_____
SHOW NOTES:
Tuesday, November 26, 2024
If you recently began listening to our podcast—or if you’ve been with us for a number of years—we want to remind you to check out the first 3 episodes of this reboot season to get an overview of where we’ve been and where we’re going. Check out season 5, episodes 1, 2, and 3.
Today’s featured poetry is included in our first anthology of student writing, What No One Ever Tells You.
The poems in this episode were written “after” the Swedish poet, Tomas Tranströmer. You can learn more about his life and work here: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/tomas-transtromer
Interested in reading more of Tranströmer’s work? We recommend this volume of his poetry (shout outs to New Directions for this lovely edition!): the great enigma (new collected poems)
Learn more about our re/vision program, as well as our re/vision program’s monthly volunteer day, on our website here: https://undergroundwriting.org/revision
Underground Writing’s photo-based NEWS page. (Hover over the images to access text, more information, and links to connected topics.)
Our website – Programs / News / Contact / Donations: www.undergroundwriting.org
You can send inquiries, or pitches for advertising, here: podcast@undergroundwriting.org
We’re repeating ourselves, but it’s good to say again . . . Listeners!—You can also help us by writing a review on Apple Podcasts or other outlets. And something new—we may even read some of them on the air. Podcast reviews help other like-minded folks find out about our show, as well as our broader work. Any help you can lend to this effort would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks for listening, Friends.
Safe journey . . . and take good care.
:
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
LINEBREAK is a single piece of student writing, offered as a pause during your daily life. We hope it will be generative of further creativity, perspective, and thought.
_____
Tuesday, November 5, 2024
Today is Election Day 2024. Listeners, if you have not already done so, we urge you to get out and vote as soon as possible! If you don’t know where to vote, check out Vote.org. You can access their voting location help here: https://www.vote.org/polling-place-locator/
If you recently began listening to our podcast—or if you’ve been with us for a number of years—we want to remind you to check out the first 3 episodes of this reboot season to get an overview of where we’ve been and where we’re going. Check out season 5, episodes 1, 2, and 3.
Learn more about the Letters to a Young Inmate initiative: www.letterstoayounginmate.org
Underground Writing’s photo-based NEWS page. (Hover over the images to access text, more information, and links to connected topics.)
Our website – Programs / News / Contact / Donations: www.undergroundwriting.org
You can send inquiries, or pitches for advertising, here: podcast@undergroundwriting.org
We’re repeating ourselves, but it’s good to say again . . . Listeners!—You can also help us by writing a review on Apple Podcasts or other outlets. And something new—we may even read some of them on the air. Podcast reviews help other like-minded folks find out about our show, as well as our broader work. Any help you can lend to this effort would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks for listening, Friends.
Safe journey . . . and take good care.
:
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
KITE ['kīt, noun] 1. A note requesting or providing information, passed from one inmate to another in a separate cell, to someone on the outside, or to a guard; 2. Underground Writing’s audio zine featuring a selection of student writing.
SHOW NOTES:
Today’s featured writings were written by our adult students at the Skagit County Community Justice Center (our county jail). These pieces were written during the Covid era. You can support these students, as well as all our students, by spreading the word about our podcast, purchasing student writing anthologies in our website store, and making a donation to help our ongoing work via our website’s secure donation portal.
For more information about where things are at with regard to our podcast reboot, as well as our organization overall, please listen to the previous two, reboot special episodes: S5E1, The Underground Writing Podcast (September 26, 2024) and S5E2, Linebreak (October 3, 2024).
Underground Writing’s photo-based NEWS page. (Hover over the images to access text, more information, and links to connected topics.)
Our website: www.undergroundwriting.org
You can e-mail us at: podcast@undergroundwriting.org
The Underground Writing podcast is recorded and produced by Underground Writing. You can access it via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other podcast outlets, as well as on our website where we include links of interest connected to items mentioned in each episode.
We’re repeating ourselves, but it’s good to say again . . . Listeners!—You can also help us by writing a review on Apple Podcasts or other outlets. And something new—we may even read some of them on the air. Podcast reviews help other like-minded folks find out about our show, as well as our broader work. Any help you can lend to this effort would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks for listening, Friends.
Safe journey, and take good care.
:
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
LINEBREAK is a single piece of student writing, offered as a pause during your daily life. We hope it will be generative of further creativity, perspective, and thought.
*A prefatory note. We recorded this episode on Monday, September 30, 2024. While in the process of recording it at a local college library, an “active shooter” event took place in the nearby vicinity—outside the library where we were located. The library and college went to lockdown, as did all the other schools in the area. The students and staff members all scrambled to locations inside the library—by walls, under tables, in offices, or, like us, in one of three side-area study rooms. In the seconds it took to grasp what was happening, I (Matt) saw a student walking around, unsure where he should go. He pointed at me, as I pointed at him through the glass window of the study room. I motioned for him to come inside. I turned off the light, and sat in the corner, my leg extending across the bottom inside of the door. The student sat across from me, also in the corner. He called his mom. I texted my family. We introduced ourselves. And what ensued was a wonderful conversation between Mason and me, two humans with about a two to three decade age difference, both caught in a situation with unknown variabilities and outcomes, getting to know each other, talking as a way to bring peace and calm amidst a fearful situation. Twenty minutes later—the situation under control—the library went off lockdown. Lights went back on. Mason and I stood up and shook hands and expressed gratitude for the time. If you’re reading this, Mason, thanks for the dialogue, for your willingness to share, and for your camaraderie in a time of danger.
On today’s episode, our featured student writing is, “Growing Up Is Not Easy” by Juli from our site with the Migrant Leaders Club in the Mount Vernon School District.
Collaboration with artist and photographer, Marilyn Montufar. Thanks to Marilyn and the MLC for your work with us. Marilyn’s own website.
Migrant Leaders Club & Underground Writing travel to New York (2018) to watch Quiara Alegría Hudes’ new musical Miss You Like Hell.
Underground Writing’s photo-based NEWS page. (Hover over the images to access text, more information, and links to connected topics.)
Our website – Programs / News / Contact / Donations: www.undergroundwriting.org
You can send inquiries, or pitches for advertising, here: podcast@undergroundwriting.org
We’re repeating ourselves, but it’s good to say again . . . Listeners!—You can also help us by writing a review on Apple Podcasts or other outlets. And something new—we may even read some of them on the air. Podcast reviews help other like-minded folks find out about our show, as well as our broader work. Any help you can lend to this effort would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks for listening, Friends.
Safe journey . . . and take good care.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this first episode of Season 5, we talk about the reboot of The Underground Writing Podcast. Highlights include a catchup / overview coming out of the Covid era, a few updates regarding programs and collaborations, and a reading of "Ode to My Journal," a poem by Anthony, one of our students at our writing workshop site in Skagit County Juvenile Detention.
Show Notes:
Today’s featured writing is “Ode to My Journal” by Anthony, a student at our writing workshop site in Skagit County Juvenile Detention. You can support Anthony, and students like him, by spreading the word about our podcast, purchasing student writing anthologies and other merch in our online store, and making a donation to help our work continue – you can donate via our website’s secure donation portal here: https://undergroundwriting.org/donate
Our website: www.undergroundwriting.org
You can send inquiries, or pitches for advertising, here: podcast@undergroundwriting.org
Learn more about the Letters to a Young Inmate initiative via our website here:
The Sentences That Create Us: Crafting a Writer’s Life in Prison is a wonderful resource, Edited by Caits Meissner (a member of our Advisory Board). You can learn more about this book online here: https://pen.org/program/the-sentences-that-create-us/
More about our re/vision program can be accessed via our website here:
www.undergroundwriting.org/revision
Podcast Review, a Los Angeles Review of Books channel, published an article in April 2024 about top writing podcasts, and included us in the list for a third time. We’re beyond grateful to be included amongst such company. You can read Alice Florence Orr’s article online here: https://podcastreview.org/list/best-writing-podcasts/
We’re repeating ourselves, but it’s good to say again . . . Listeners!—You can also help us by writing a review on Apple Podcasts or other outlets. And something new—we may even read some of them on the air. Podcast reviews help other like-minded folks find out about our show, as well as our broader work. Any help you can lend to this effort would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks for listening, Friends.
Safe journey . . . and take good care.
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Jen Bradbury, UW Teaching Writer, shares student writing from What No One Ever Tells You.
Underground Writing: a literature-based creative writing program serving migrant, incarcerated, recovery, and other at-need communities in northern Washington through literacy and personal transformation.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Yesica joins Matt and Alvin in the park on a sunny day. She shares new work and updates us on her journey. Matt gives updates on workshops, events, and amplifying voices.
Podcast Review: Underground Writing
The War and Peace of Tim O'Brien
Underground Writing: a literature-based creative writing program serving migrant, incarcerated, recovery, and other at-need communities in northern Washington through literacy and personal transformation.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
We’re still here. Matt and Alvin read excerpts from DEAR AMERICA, the newest collection of student writing, packaged as our latest chapbook. They check in on the state of… everything, having made it into the new year. Matt gives updates on writing workshops and amplifying voices.
Underground Writing: a literature-based creative writing program serving migrant, incarcerated, recovery, and other at-risk communities in northern Washington through literacy and personal transformation.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Matt shares student writing from the e-workshops at the Skagit County Community Justice Center site.
Underground Writing: a literature-based creative writing program serving migrant, incarcerated, recovery, and other at-risk communities in northern Washington through literacy and personal transformation.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
It’s been something—this year of 2020: the pandemic, the quarantine, the killing of George Floyd and the ensuing protests, the wildfires currently occurring up and down the west coast, the looming November election . . . It’s been a year of great challenges, and a year of hope for true and lasting change. How will this year—and how will we—be remembered? In this episode, Matt and Alvin read pieces circling the theme of remembrance, written before and during the Covid-19 pandemic. Additionally, they share a summary overview of the situation for Underground Writing, as well as program updates, forthcoming projects, and great news about a just-announced grant.
LINKS OF INTEREST:
'Last Will and Testament' – Sherman Alexie
'No Many of Them, It's True' – Gregory Orr (part of the “The World Has Need of You” collection)
'Orpheus and Eurydice: A Lyric Sequence' – Gregory Orr
'Poetry as Survival' – Gregory Orr
'Orpheus, Eurydice, Hermes' - Rainer Maria Rilke (translated by Steven Mitchell)
Hope in These Times: e-deliverable writing worksheet
Underground Writing’s active writing workshops:
The Change list of suggested books
Letters to a Young Inmate is in the home stretch, launching later 2020
Academy of American Poets
Community of American Magazines and Presses
National Book Foundation
COVID 19 pandemic
PNW wildfire smoke
Underground Writing: a literature-based creative writing program serving migrant, incarcerated, recovery, and other at-risk communities in northern Washington through literacy and personal transformation.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.