This week, I had fun learning more about another local favorite: Two Friends Books, a Bentonville-based independent bookstore & café! I’m joined by Rachel & Monica, co-founders and co-owners.
Interested in being a future featured guest? Let me know!
Category: Tightwires
Julia & Hallee of Pearl’s Independent Bookstore, my next Season 11 guests!
I’m joined by Hallee, operations manager, and Julia, events and social media manager— and fellow Arkansas MFA alum and Artists 360 grant recipient— in this episode featuring Pearl’s Independent Bookstore!
Interested in being a future featured guest? Let me know!
Bea Apple & Tram Colwin, my first Season 11 guests!
On this Independence Day, and in our first Season 11 episode, I’m delighted to share this conversation between three immigrants— and Artists 360 community activator grant recipients!
Gratitude to Mid-America Arts Alliance and the Walton Family Foundation— for the grants, and for connecting us!
Bea Apple is the co-owner and co-founder of Hillfolk, a textile studio and shop based in Bentonville.
Tram Colwin is an artist who sometimes teaches workshops at Hillfolk.
Topics included: How Hillfolk came to be, 8th Street Market’s surprisingly relevant history, COVID’s impact on craft shops, the importance of vulnerability, the joy of descending rabbit holes, and the thrill of finding a common language in art!
Interested in being a future featured guest? Let me know!
Poet & Journalist Mandy Shunnarah, my final Season 10 guest!
In our final Season 10 episode, I had a great conversation with Appalachian & Palestinian-American poet and journalist Mandy Shunnarah!
Topics included: the role of poetry and journalism in 2025 America, the challenges of Arabic translation, the integration of ancestral research in poetry, the bustling poetry community in Columbus, and the ubiquitous influence of Waffle House!
WE HAD MANSIONS will be released on July 1 and can be preordered here.
I’ll be back with our first episode of Season 11 on July 3! Featuring Tram Colwin & Bea Apple at the Bentonville-based textile shop Hillfolk!
Interested in being a future featured guest? Let me know!
Poet & Columbia MFA Eduardo Martínez-Leyva, my next Season 10 guest!
I had such a lovely conversation with poet, teacher, and Columbia MFA grad Eduardo Martínez-Leyva!
Topics included: the impact of crossing borders throughout childhood, the harrowing process of workshopping grief, Lucie Brock-Broido’s significant influence, and what God & border patrol agents have in common!
COWBOY PARK is already out and available for purchase here.
Interested in being a future featured guest? Let me know!
What can art & writing offer us in 2025? Five poets weigh in!
Wrapping up Season 9, an absolutely incredible season, this week. I felt so bad asking this question all season. But everyone delivered! So grateful to live and write in a world where these poets and their words exist.
Interested in being a future featured guest? Let me know!
Poet & financial analyst Farah Ghafoor, my FINAL Season 9 guest!
I’ve long been a fan of Toronto-based Pakistani poet Farah Ghafoor and was grateful to have the opportunity to speak to her about her utterly devastating debut collection SHADOW PRICE– out on April 1, 2025 from House of Anansi Press!
Topics include the challenges of writing and marketing such a book, the impact of economic theory, the critical role of poetry in addressing societal issues under capitalism, & Farah’s future projects!
SHADOW PRICE is available for preorder/purchase here!
Interested in being a future featured guest? Let me know!
Hiba Tahir 