Storytelling on Orchard Street

#Queens #NYC #poet #laureate #travel #writer #editor #workshop #leader Italian American Writers Association board member

#poet #photographer #author new #book Coda (published by Omnidawn 2025) #philosophical #discourse #visual #artist #poetic #discourse #timbres #published #multiple #languages

Canadian born #author #editor #fictive #memoirist #journalist

#published #poet #workshop #facilitator #activist #reiki #meditation

#musician #multidisciplinary #artist #activist #founder #co-executive #director FREER Records for formerly and currently incarcerated musicians #debut #release of his first #album Escape From LES

#romantic #poet #singer #musician #band Barbiana Complex #spoken #word

#guest Suzanne Cope #scholar #narrative #journalist #author Women Of War: The Italian Assassins, Spies and Couriers Who Fought The Nazis #political #social #change #feminism #professor NYU University

#podcast #guest #award #winning #poet #nyc #lower #eastside #art #culture #teacher #theater #published #writer

Mary Morris #award #winning #author seventeen #books #novels five #travel #memoirs three #collections #short #stories #former #professor at #Princeton #University #SarahLawrence# College #new #novel The Red House

#poet #theatre #actor #musician David Lawton #beat #culture new #book Graveyard Of Memory #available Bottlecap Press #band Hydrogen Junkbox

#comedian #variety #show #host #teacher #cemetery #educator #guide #podcast #comedy #short #film #writer #producer

Poet, artist, art therapist, musician Samm Cohen www.sammcohen.com

#italian #american #poet

Jerry T Johnson is a poet and spoken word artist whose poetry has appeared in a variety of literary publications worldwide. Jerry Is author of three poetry collections: "A Coldness" published by Finishing Line Press, "Poets Should Not Write About Politics" by Evening Street Press and "Bad Fruit" by Gnashing Teeth Press which comes out July 8, 2025. His poetry collection "Poets Should Not Write About Poetry" was selected for 2020 Sinclair Poetry prize and his poem "The Apology" (Evening Street Press) was nominated for a Pushcart prize in 2021

#Brooklyn #born #Italian #American #novelist #poet #author #writer #editor #playwright Catherine Gigante-Brown

Peter Marra has had over 300 #poems #published either in #print or #online in over 25 #journals. Born in Brooklyn, he moved to the #EastVillage in the late 70’s when #PunkRock and #TimesSquare were exploding. Peter’s work often deals with the forgotten hidden civilization usually found in urban areas – people we rarely notice – junkies, the #unhoused, #sexworkers, etc. . His 6th #poetry #collection A Dirty Diary of Ordinary Days recounting his time spent haunting Times Square and the East Village of #NYC circa 1977-1989 has been recently published by INCUNABULA MEDIA

Carla Zanoni is a writer, poet, and journalist whose Spanish-English chapbook, Knowing/Saber—exploring grief, whimsy, and life in New York City—was published in 2024. She is writing her first literary memoir and her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Common, Modern Loss, TueNight, and more. She is a media executive, formerly of The Wall Street Journal and TED, and leads the Engagement Journalism program at the Newmark Graduate School at CUNY. She splits her time between New York City and the Catskills with her husband and their dog and cat, Gertrude and Earnestine. Catch her monthly newsletter, The Em Dash at carla.substack.com

Jeffrey Cyphers Wright is a New Romantic poet and author of 20 books. He received an MFA in poetry after studying with Allen Ginsberg. He publishes Live  Magazine. Wright has received a Kathy Acker Award and a James Tate Prize. His work was included in the Best American Poetry anthology for 2023. 

The most dangerous woman is an unapologetic funny woman.  This is Evelyn F. Katz—a writer whose voice is both humorous and haunting.  Her work has appeared in Indolent Books What Rough Beast, The Voices’ Project, Coffee Shop Poems, Tell Us A Story Blog, Leisure…Dinner with the Muse Vol. III, Nomad’s Choir, First Literary Review East, Prospectus: A Literary Offering, New York Writers Coalition The Journal, BEAT Gen Anthology, Wine Cellar Press,  Wild World Magazine and Dribble Drabble.  When she’s not writing, which is much more often than she would like, Evelyn is an assistant principal in a public high school.  She is committed to helping students find their creative voices and using their voices to be the agency for change

Leisha Nicole Stanek is a writer, performance poet and publisher. This fall, Leisha debuted her provocative one woman show “What We’re Doing In Iowa Instead of Church,” a biographical dark passage of feminine independence within the the constraints of encroaching Christian Nationalism. Her work has appeared in Peach Fuzz Magazine, Press Pause Press, The Rye Whiskey Review and others. Leisha is currently working on a hand-made limited edition of her first novel, OBJECT, a memoir about her career as an art model, which will be available in early 2025.

Joe Irizarry was born into a blue-collar family and grew up in Park Slope, Brooklyn, in the 1980s. He began writing poetry after a moment of reflection during George Floyd's protest.    George's death hashed up many of the inequalities that Joe saw growing up in Brooklyn. It opened up the anger and pain that he saw and also felt. Joe felt a sense of responsibility to his people by telling their story and his own. Joe's discovery of poetry in his 50's has been uplifting and has given him a new perspective on life. 

Ms. Yvonne Sotomayor, is an internationally-touring bilingual poet, is also an educator, administrator, producer and artist, born of Peruvian dreamers in Jersey City. She blends her spoken word with music accompaniment by her husband Kenn Rowell and has performed at the Iowa State and Kentucky State Fairs, the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and the NYC Marathon. Her recordings have aired on radio in North America and overseas – most notably on Australia's National Public Radio.   Her first bilingual spoken word EP, "Radical Chica", was released in 2021 and her first book of poetry is scheduled for release for Summer, 2025. Accompanying her on guitar is her husband Kenn Rowell of the Baghdaddios.

Maria Giura is the author of Celibate: A Memoir, which won a 1st Place Independent Press Award and What My Father Taught Me, a finalist for the Paterson Poetry Book Prize. Her writing has appeared in New York Quarterly, Prime Number, I-70, Liguorian, Presence, Midstory, Voices in Italian Americana, Lips and the Paterson Literary Review. An Academy of American Poets winner, Giura has taught writing at multiple universities including Binghamton University where she received her PhD in English. She currently teaches writing workshops for Casa Belvedere Cultural Foundation.

#writer #reporter #independent #journalist #philosopher Anne Kadet #nyc #life at Cafe Anne

#next #guest #Pete Dolack #activist, #photographer #poet and #writer 

#poet #correspondent #nature #lover #traveller Amy Barone #bravitas #italian #american #writer

#poet #musician #teacher #nassaucounty #poetlaureate @alansemerdjian

#podcast #guest #poet #storyteller #spokenword #multimedia #youth #poetry #slam #judge @douglasgcala

Kathy Curto teaches at Sarah Lawrence College/The Writing Institute and Montclair State University as well as several nonprofit organizations and writing centers in the metropolitan area. She is the author of Not for Nothing-Glimpses into a Jersey Girlhood and her work has been featured in The New York Times, on NPR, in the anthology Listen to Your Mother: What She Said Then, What We’re Saying Now, and in many other publications. Kathy’s piece, “Still Cooking Side by Side” considered a “Modern Love in miniature” by The New York Times, was included in The Best of Tiny Love Stories in August 2021. Kathy lives with her family in the Hudson Valley and her website is www.kathycurto.com.

Saara Dutton is a writer, performer, and gadfly about town. She's been published in The New York Times, The New York Observer, Salon and Writer's Digest. She's happy to be here to share some stories with you.

John Pietaro and Laurie Towers have been performing over decades in duet or as the Red Microphone (with saxophonists Ras Moshe Burnett and Rocco John Iacovone, plus others) or protest song combo the Flames of Discontent. Pietaro’s latest book, Innocent Postcards: Poetry, Ciphers, Verse, will be launched April 1. He’s also an active percussionist and arts journalist: JohnPietaro.com. Towers, in addition to being a uniquely gifted musician, is a nationally recognized publicist sitting at the helm of public relations firm New Masses Media, balancing work on both east and west coasts: LaurieTowers.net. The pair host Beneath the Underground on WFMU.

Jane LeCroy is a NYC based poet, singer, performance artist and home-birthing mother of 3, who fronts the avant-pop band, The Icebergs, and the spontaneous experimental music project, Ω▽Ohmslice. She has toured with the SanFrancisco based, all women’s poetry troupe, “Sister Spit”.  She also performs as a featured character in the immersive theater experience, “Poetry Brothel NYC”.  Among her many publications and recordings, her chapbook, “Names”, was published by the art-book house, Booklyn, in the award winning, ABC chapbook series, that was purchased by the Library of Congress along with her braid!  Three Rooms Press published, “Signature Play”, a multimedia book of lyrical poems, including a nomination for a Pushcart Prize. Pink Trees Press published a full length poetry collection, “Spellbook of Ordinary Mistakes” In 2024. The Smithsonian has many of her poems included in their Fast Folk archive, all available through the Smithsonian. Jane teaches poetry all over NYC and publishes their work at UptownStories.org 

Sparrow lives in a trailer in the snowbound hamlet of Phoenicia, New York with his wife Violet Snow. He has published 11 books, including Small Happiness & Other Epiphanies (Monkfish) and The Princeton Diary (Vinal). His poems and essays have appeared in the New Yorker, The New York Times, the Sun, and Reptiles of the Mind. Each month Sparrow writes an art review for Chronogram. He is currently running for President for the ninth time. Sparrow plays slide flute in the tempestuous pop group Truffles.

Felix Guzman is a New York City native, homegrown poet, community organizer and advocate. He is the author of three chapbooks, Savage Garden Concrete Jungle: A Chapbook to Remember Me By, Shakur&Bronte&Hughes&Angelou&Shakespeare: Under the Influence and Scars: A Love Letter to Yesterday. Felix writes on the themes of redemption, transformation and the importance of building healthy communities inclusive of all. With an upcoming full length poetry collection, You Hold Space, You Have Value, You Are Loved! to be released in 2024, Felix is sure to captivate audiences everywhere.

Nicca Ray is the author of the poetry collections, Curve (Gutter Snob Books), and Back Seat Baby (Poison Fang Books,) and the memoir, Ray by Ray: A Daughter’s Take on the Legend of Nicholas Ray (Three Rooms Press). She has two books coming in 2024, a poetry collection, Go-Go-Go Girl from Poison Fang Books and a memoir, Love and Cigarettes: A Mother Daughter Story from Punk Hostage Press. Her poetry has recently appeared in Glue Gun #4, Maintenant #15, #16, and #17 (Three Rooms Press), A Shape Produced by a Curve and Paper Teller Diorama (Great Weather for Media), Love Love Magazine Issues #4, #5, and #6, the anthology NYC from the Inside, Artedolia, Moon and Sun Issue #10 & #11 and poetrybay, January 2022. She is a 2020 Acker Award recipient for memoir and a Pushcart Prize nominee.

In this episode, Pete talks to Jacob R. Moses. Jacob is a poet and spoken word artist from Staten Island, NY. He is the author of the full-length poetry book, Grimoire (iiPublishing, 2021). He recently completed his Master’s in English and Creative Writing with a concentration in poetry at New Hampshire University. Other projects in the works include a new full-length book and is the subject of a documentary about poetry that he has worked on with fellow poet Doug Cala and musician Lou Alzamora.

Originally from the gorgeous woods of southern New Hampshire, USA, Meghan Grupposo holds a BFA in Dance from The Juilliard School. She is a co-founder of NeuroNautic Institute Presents and Press. Meghan’s work can be found in her chapbook, Bouquet (NeuroNautic Press, 2021), & in various anthologies, including NYC From the Inside (Blue Light Press), Escape Wheel and Arriving at a Shoreline (great weather for MEDIA), the Dada Journal Maintenant, Issues 14, 15, 16, & 17 (Three Rooms Press). She happily resides in New York City.

C.O. Moed grew up on New York’s Lower East Side when it was still a tough neighborhood.  An alum of the infamous WOW Cafe, her work has appeared in the Silver Tongued Devil Anthology; AWAKE: Reader for the Sleepless; MadHatters; Thorn Literary Magazine; Unexpected Stories; Sensitive Skin; and Inspirational Art Magazine.  My Private Coney, her 10-year blog (2006-2016) about New York City has been featured in Jeremiah’s Vanishing New York, and excerpted in various online magazines and websites.  Her book, It Was Her New York, true stories and big pictures about dementia, gentrification, undying love, old lesbians and family is being published by Rootstock on February 13, 2024.

Meagan Brothers is the author of Debbie Harry Sings in French, a 2009 ALA Best Book for Young Adults, and its prequel, Supergirl Mixtapes.  Her third novel, Weird Girl and What's His Name, was named one of Kirkus Review's Best Teen Books of 2015.  Her poetry has appeared most recently in NYC From the Inside, edited by George Wallace, as well as in Persian Sugar in English Tea, the Dada journal Maintenant, and Great Weather for Media's anthologies Before Passing and The Other Side of Violet. 

Serge Rodriguez is the General Manager of the P & T Knitwear bookstore podcast studio. Serge was born and raised in the Lower East Side of Manhattan. He has a rich family heritage including a family-owned bookstore on Book Row. He's a storyteller, poet, disc jockey and film maker.

Puma Perl is a poet, writer, and performer and is the author of two chapbooks, Ruby True and Belinda and Her Friends, and three full-length poetry collections, knuckle tattoos, Retrograde (great weather for MEDIA), and Birthdays Before and After (Beyond Baroque Books.) Her band, Puma Perl and Friends, brings spoken word together with rock and roll and has performed together since 2012.

Pete Solomita and Fred Argenziano, The Bitter Pill Collective. This collaboration of long time friends blends the poetry of Pete with the guitar playing of Fred live in the P & T Knitwear podcast studio.

Bruce E. Whitacre’s poetry collection, Good Housekeeping, will be out in 2024 from Poets Wear Prada. His debut collection, The Elk in the Glade, was a BookLife Reviews Editors Pick and Indy Spotlight, and placed 2nd in Contemporary Poetry at The BookFest Spring 2023. His poems have been nominated for the Pushcart and Best of the Net Prizes. He's been published in many poetry journals and publications.

Host Pete Solomita talks to Charles William Lane. A native of Florida, Charles is a New York based television producer, writer, and director. Working mostly in the true crime genre, he has produced programming for ABC, CBS, NBC, Investigation Discovery, CNN and the Oxygen Channel. He also has an extensive background in theater and music, on which he draws from in his writing. Charles recently wrote and directed his debut short film We Are The Apocalypse.

Wil Wynn is the pseudonym for Guillermo Echanique Wynn, a bilingual (Spanish) poet, translator, spoken word enthusiast and performer, publisher (Chimbarazu Press), non-fiction and fiction writer,  photographer, printer, and musician. He has received four grants for poetry and has been active in the New York City Literature and Arts scene for many years. He has published widely and some of the most prestigious American journals have rejected his work. 

Matthew Hupert is a writer and multi-media artist from New York City. He is a founder of the the NeuroNautic Institute &  of NeuroNautic Press. He has 2 full length collections, Ism is a Retrovirus (2011-Three Rooms Press) and Secular Pantheism (2019 - NeuroNautic Press). He is also the author of several chapbooks, & his writing has appeared in numerous journals and anthologies.

In this episode, host Pete Solomita talks to Francine Witte. Francine Witte’s flash fiction and poetry have appeared in numerous journals. Most recently, her stories have been in Best Small Fictions and Flash Fiction America. Her latest flash fiction book is Just Outside the Tunnel of Love (Blue Light Press.) Her upcoming collection of poetry, Some Distant Pin of Light is forthcoming from Cervena Barva Press. She lives in NYC. Visit her website francinewitte.com.

Host Pete Solomita talks to Evie Ivy, a dancer/poet in the NYC poetry circuit. Evie hosts one of the longest running poetry open mics in the city at The Green Pavilion in Brooklyn. She also produces a seasonal/holiday program of poetry, music and song, "Dance of the Word." She writes in free verse and form. 

Jennifer Blowdryer is a poet, writer and musician. Formerly known as Megan Baring-Gould Waters, she got her name from her San Francisco punk band The Blowdryers. As an author she has written a novel, a memoir, a dictionary, and an advice book. As a journalist she wrote a column for Maximum Rock and Roll, New York Press and Downtown. She’s still very active in the artist and cultural scene of NYC.

Rich Dana is a zine-maker and a lover of arcane technologies, visionary art, and analog anarchy. Rich also runs Obsolete Press, creating limited edition books and zines with artists and writers from around the world, editing and publishing OBSOLETE! Magazine, and teaching workshops on historical printing techniques and zine-making. His latest book is Cheap Copies!: The OBSOLETE! Press Guide to DIY Hectography, Mimeography & Spirit Duplication.