The Underground Writing Podcast
by Underground Writing
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. See <a style='color:grey;' target
Episodes
-
Journeying '18 Revisited
Today’s student writing was a poem by Lucian, who was a student at our writing workshop site inside Skagit County Juvenile Detention. Lucian’s poem, “Journeying,” appears in our 1st anthology, What No One Ever Tells You (available on our website: www.undergroundwriting.org). --- Some items...
-
What's Written in the Heart
Today’s student writing is, “What’s Written in the Heart,” a poem by Destery, a student at our workshop site at the YMCA Oasis Daylight Center. Destery’s poem appears in our 1st anthology, What No One Ever Tells You (available on our website: www.undergroundwriting.org). --- Some items mentioned...
-
Linebreak | To Myself When I Get Out
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. --- Today’s student writing is a poem by Josh, a student at our workshop site inside Skagit County Juvenile Detention. Some…
more -
Stars (and sextant)
Today’s student writing is a poem is by Aracely, a student at our workshop site with the Migrant Leaders Club in the Mount Vernon, Washington school district. This poem appears in our second anthology, When the Dust Rises --- Some items mentioned in—or aligned with—today’s episode +…
more -
Linebreak | Behind the Reflection
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: Today’s student writing is a poem by Eloisa (Ela), a student at our workshop site with the Migrant Leaders Club...
-
Linebreak | The One
Today’s student writing is a poem is by Justin, a student at our workshop site with the Skagit County Community Justice Center (our county’s jail for adult women and men). Some items mentioned in—or aligned with—today’s episode + Announcements: 1. The long quote about the subject of time in…
more -
Robert S. (Student/Alumnus) // Interview & Catch Up
We’re excited to let you know that after a series of pilot writing workshops in the Summer and Fall of 2025, we have—as of January 22, 2026—officially launched our 6th writing workshop site—Boys & Girls Clubs of Skagit County (https://skagitclubs.org/). Thanks to Yesica, Dena, Marco, Clemente,...
-
Thanks !
Show Notes: As we mentioned several times, Skagit County is experiencing flooding at historic levels. Here are some contact points for help: Emergency: Call 911 General / non-emergency help and updates Incident Information Evacuation Map --- Today’s student writing is a poem is by Dustin, a…
more -
Home
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…
more -
My Voice Ran Away
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....
-
Gratitude // Wrap Up
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...
-
Linebreak | God's Tears in the Eyes of Children
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...
-
Linebreak | I'm Not A Monster
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: Today’s featured poem was by student and alumnus, Victor. You can support students like Victor by spreading the...
-
Victor Manuel Vivanco Reyes
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...
-
Kite 11
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...
-
Number in the System // Interview with Max
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...
-
When I Say . . .
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…
more -
Linebreak | Haiku from Juvenile Detention
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...
-
Linebreak | Dear America
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...
-
Kite 10
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...
-
Linebreak | Growing Up Is Not Easy
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...
-
Reboot | Ode to My Journal
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...
-
Podcast Reboot - Teaser
Fall 2024 Podcast Reboot - We're back!
-
Kite 9
KITE: A. A NOTE PASSED FROM AN INMATE TO AN INMATE IN ANOTHER CELL OR TO A GUARD B. UNDERGROUND WRITING’S AUDIO ZINE FEATURING STUDENT WRITING Jen Bradbury, UW Teaching Writer, shares student writing from What No One Ever Tells You. My Cell -Victor I Won’t Front -J.S. I Am Not What You Think I Am...
-
I Know You Remember
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. LINKS OF INTEREST: Podcast Review: Underground Writing Dear America chapbook The Change - Book Pipeline Marilyn Montufar Jacob...
-
A Good Remedy
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. LINKS OF…
more -
Kite 8
KITE: A. A NOTE PASSED FROM AN INMATE TO AN INMATE IN ANOTHER CELL OR TO A GUARD B. UNDERGROUND WRITING’S AUDIO ZINE FEATURING STUDENT WRITING Matt shares student writing from the e-workshops at the Skagit County Community Justice Center site. Finding Hope (excerpt) - Garrett Helping - C. Seven...
-
Recollection
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…
more -
Separate Rooms
To say that the Coronavirus has changed things is an understatement. The world is in a state of forced improvisation. Things have been quite different for us, too, during the quarantine. In this episode, Matt provides a summary overview of the situation for Underground Writing, program updates…
more -
Community Spotlight: Elizabeth Riley, graduate student
BEFORE any stay-at-home orders were in effect, Elizabeth Riley joined Matt and Alvin in the studio to talk about her research project, the high school classroom vs leading a creative writing workshop with UW, and how she navigated a love of reading/writing into a career. Elizabeth is a graduate...
-
Icarus Moment
“Club Icarus” is a poem by Matthew W. Miller that was brought in to UW writing workshops at the Skagit County Community Justice Center. Elizabeth Riley, local high school teacher and grad student, joins Matt and Alvin in the studio to explore the myth of Icarus. LINKS OF INTEREST: Hadestown...
-
Kite 7: Susanne Antonetta, Teaching Writer
KITE: A. A NOTE PASSED FROM AN INMATE TO AN INMATE IN ANOTHER CELL OR TO A GUARD B. UNDERGROUND WRITING’S AUDIO ZINE FEATURING STUDENT WRITING Susanne Antonetta, UW Teaching Writer and editor of the Bellingham Review, shares student writing from the workshops at Skagit County Community Justice...
-
Back Forward
We’re back for the first podcast of 2020. Matt and Alvin revisit the numbers from 2019 and give you a heads up of what’s planned for 2020, so mark your calendars. Thanks to the Rick Epting Foundation for the Arts and ArtsWA for supporting our efforts. Talk About Me, by Yesica Solano is available...
-
Partner
When people ask, "What's Underground Writing?" the quick answer is that we're a creative writing program for at-risk communities. One of the follow up questions we sometimes receive: "How does it all work financially?" We think this is a great year-end question! Matt and Alvin discuss these…
more -
His Cup
“His Cup” is a piece of student writing from the Skagit Recovery Community Site. Matt gives context on this site and he and Alvin discuss grief and mourning, as we carry the items of our deceased loved ones. LINKS OF INTEREST: Brigid Collins Family Support Center Habibi, retail pop-up shop in…
more -
KITE 6: A. Muia, Teaching Writer
KITE: A. A NOTE PASSED FROM AN INMATE TO AN INMATE IN ANOTHER CELL OR TO A GUARD B. UNDERGROUND WRITING’S AUDIO ZINE FEATURING STUDENT WRITING A. Muia, UW Teaching Writer, shares student writing from the workshops at Skagit County Juvenile Detention. Where I’m From by E I Am From by J I Belong…
more -
Introducing: Habibi
Habibi is Arabic for beloved, darling. It's also the holiday pop-up market in downtown Mount Vernon sponsored by Voices of the Children, Skagit River Poetry Foundation, and Underground Writing. This short episode has the directors of those local organizations and Habibi's Featured Artist Asil…
more -
I See You; Your Story Matters with Julie Ryan
Julie Ryan and UW Director Matt attended graduate school together in Vancouver, B.C. Earlier this year, Julie reached out to Matt from her English classroom in Dunedin, New Zealand in response to The Underground Writing Podcast episode about our 2018 week-long intensive at juvenile detention. She...
-
Kite 5: Yesica Solano / Part 2
This episode of KITE 5 is part 2 with our first intern, Yesica Solano.KITE: A. A NOTE PASSED FROM AN INMATE TO AN INMATE IN ANOTHER CELL OR TO A GUARD B. UNDERGROUND WRITING’S AUDIO ZINE FEATURING STUDENT WRITING4. Smile Like You Mean It5. My Favorite Lesson6. Get Up7. Jose LuisLINKS OF INTEREST…
more -
Kite 5: Yesica Solano / Part 1
This episode of KITE 5 is part 1 with our first intern, Yesica Solano.KITE: A. A NOTE PASSED FROM AN INMATE TO AN INMATE IN ANOTHER CELL OR TO A GUARD B. UNDERGROUND WRITING’S AUDIO ZINE FEATURING STUDENT WRITING1. Stranger2. Letter to My Mom3. No Woman’s Land
-
I Have to Swallow the Time
This piece comes from our site at Skagit County’s Juvenile Detention. UW Teaching Writer Suzanne brought in a poem from a Chinese factory worker. Matt and Alvin discuss protest, despair, hope, and transformation. Links of Interest: What No One Ever Tells YouIron Moon: An Anthology of Chinese…
more -
Kite 4: Community Justice Center
KITE: A. A NOTE PASSED FROM AN INMATE TO AN INMATE IN ANOTHER CELL OR TO A GUARD B. UNDERGROUND WRITING’S AUDIO ZINE FEATURING STUDENT WRITING1. Dear Self by Jay 2. Broken by Rocky3. Lost Boy Rich by Richard4. Border of Paradise by Rocky5. There Have Been So Many Times by Ray6. This City is a Map...
-
Our Story
Matt and Alvin meet with Migrant Leaders Club students to discuss the piece OUR STORY from the collaborative anthology WHEN THE DUST RISES. Underground Writing: a literature-based creative writing program serving migrant, incarcerated, recovery, and other at-risk communities in northern…
more -
Can I Ask For Help?
We’re back! Matt and Alvin witness a short piece from the Community Justice Center of Skagit County. Underground Writing: a literature-based creative writing program serving migrant, incarcerated, recovery, and other at-risk communities in northern Washington through literacy and personal...
-
Kite 3: Chris Hoke, Teaching Writer
Chris Hoke, UW Teaching Writer, shares recent student writing from the workshops at the Skagit County Community Justice Center. Note: We are a creative writing program serving at-risk populations. We do not broadcast names or identifying details of the students we work with.LINKS OF…
more -
Community Spotlight: Janice Blackmore of Migrant Leaders Club
What has grown into a generative collaboration began when we first met in June 2015 with Janice Blackmore, founder and advisor for the Mount Vernon Migrant Leaders Club. Underground Writing was a few weeks out from its official launch and we were meeting with Janice to talk about the club…
more -
My Life Has Been Difficult
This piece comes from the Migrant Leaders Club of the Mount Vernon School District. Matt and Alvin find common ground on themes of isolation, loneliness, hatred, and division. Note: We are a creative writing program serving at-risk populations. We do not broadcast names or identifying details of...
-
Kite 2: Zoe Mullery of Brothers in Pen
KITE: A. A NOTE PASSED FROM AN INMATE TO AN INMATE IN ANOTHER CELL OR TO A GUARD B. UNDERGROUND WRITING’S AUDIO ZINE FEATURING STUDENT WRITING This episode features six pieces of writing from Brothers in Pen, the creative writing class at San Quentin State Prison. Kenny Brydon, short story, "A...
-
Book of Hours with Teaching Writer Chris Hoke
Chris Hoke is a Gang Pastor and Prisoner Reentry Organizer as the Founder and Director of Underground Ministries. He joins Matt and Alvin in the studio to discuss what he’s encountered in his almost four years as a Teaching Writer at Underground Writing. Note: We are a creative writing program...
-
Kite 1
Kite: a. a note passed from an inmate to an inmate in another cell or to a guard b. Underground Writing’s audio zine featuring student writingThis episode features twelve pieces of writing from the Skagit County Community Justice Center, read by Matt Malyon. I’m Cold and the Temperature Doesn’t...
About this show
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.
See <a style='color:grey;' target
Hosted by
Underground Writing