Reality Poets TV

"Boss lady" is on the podcast this episode! Jennilie Brewster sits down with Vince and Var to talk about starting OPEN DOORS, their work together over the past 10 years, and her career as an aritst. Jennilie Brewster is an artist who works in various forms, often exploring connections between our inner and outer landscapes. Her paintings and installations have been shown widely. Her essays have appeared on Catapult and The Rumpus. She started the disability justice-and-arts organization OPEN DOORS NYC and produced the documentary film Fire Through Dry Grass, which was a New York Times Critic's Pick, won the Jury Award for Best Documentary at BlackStar Film Festival, and aired on PBS nationally. As the recipient of many residencies, grants, and awards, Jennilie supports other artists, film teams, and community-based organizations with articulating their visions, building effective, caring systems, and securing funding for their work. Currently, she's writing a memoir about trauma, art, and landscape. The transcript for this episode is available on Google Docs and the video version is available on Youtube. Reality Poets TV is a podcast from OPEN DOORS, a collective of disabled artists, nursing home residents, advocates and allies led by the experiences and voices of the Reality Poets. Hosted by Vince Pierce and Var Viggz. Available in audio format on all podcast platforms and in video format on YouTube. New episodes drop on the last Friday of every month!  Learn more about OPEN DOORS, the Reality Poets, and #NursingHomeLivesMatter at OpenDoorsNYC.org Watch the award-winning documentary Fire Through Dry Grass at FireThroughDryGrass.com Follow OPEN DOORS on Instagram and Facebook @OpenDoorsNYC and Fire Through Dry Grass on Instagram @FTDGfilm and Facebook @FireThroughDryGrass

We're spotlighting a Freestyle Friday conversation with Weston Gehman! Listen here or watch on YouTube. Weston is the founder of Stairs2Chairs, born with a disability called Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). Weston has been determined to bring positive change to individuals just like him based on his first-hand experience of living with a disability. This understanding separates him from most organizational founders. He recognized the need for an organization like Stairs2Chairs as a young child, as he was unable to enter certain facilities due to a lack of handicap accessible accommodations. Since graduating from Columbia Southern University with a Bachelor's Degree in Finance, Weston has built the connections necessary to operate a successful organization.  Freestyle Friday is a virtual hangout for artists & activists hoted every week by OPEN DOORS. You're invited! Share your artwork and experience, meet future collaborators, get tips on pursuing art and activism professionally. Contact [email protected] for details. Learn more about OPEN DOORS, the Reality Poets, and #NursingHomeLivesMatter at OpenDoorsNYC.org Watch the award-winning documentary Fire Through Dry Grass at FireThroughDryGrass.com Follow OPEN DOORS on Instagram, X, and Facebook @OpenDoorsNYC and Fire Through Dry Grass @FTDGfilm

Our podcast editor stepped out from behind the scenes to join us on the mic this episode! Vince and Var interview Kylie Miller about editing Reality Poets TV, getting connected with OPEN DOORS, and working with Judy Heumann. Kylie Miller is a Signal Award–winning and Shorty Award nominated audio journalist and social media specialist. She frequently works at the intersection of podcasting and disability advocacy, working as a producer on Judy Heumann's The Heumann Perspective, OPEN DOORS' Reality Poets TV, and The Wheelchair Activist. Her narrative audio work has been featured on SiriusXM's Atlas Obscura, The NY Climate Exchange's Climate Story Project, and on the Silver Podcast Network as the first place winner of the June 2024 Sonic Dash. The transcript for this episode is available on Google Docs and the video version is available on Youtube. Reality Poets TV is a podcast from OPEN DOORS, a collective of disabled artists, nursing home residents, advocates and allies led by the experiences and voices of the Reality Poets. Hosted by Vince Pierce and Var Viggz. Available in audio format on all podcast platforms and in video format on YouTube. New episodes drop on the last Friday of every month!  Learn more about OPEN DOORS, the Reality Poets, and #NursingHomeLivesMatter at OpenDoorsNYC.org Watch the award-winning documentary Fire Through Dry Grass at FireThroughDryGrass.com Follow OPEN DOORS on Instagram and Facebook @OpenDoorsNYC and Fire Through Dry Grass on Instagram @FTDGfilm and Facebook @FireThroughDryGrass

Reality Poets TV is back with the first episode of 2026! Vince and Var chat with Reality Poet Theresa Williams about joining the group, her upbringing, and the future of OPEN DOORS. Theresa grew up in Ghana, and when she was a teenager moved to Washington DC and later Queens, NY. In 2003, an illness left her unable to walk. She became an advocate for herself and her friends. Theresa joined OPEN DOORS in December 2021. She is passionate about disability justice, writing poetry, and reading non-fiction books. Theresa also loves to volunteer. She hopes to become an advocate for people with disabilities and work with the United Nations. She studies law and society at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. The transcript for this episode is available on Google Docs and the video version is available on Youtube. Reality Poets TV is a podcast from OPEN DOORS, a collective of disabled artists, nursing home residents, advocates and allies led by the experiences and voices of the Reality Poets. Hosted by Vince Pierce and Var Viggz. Available in audio format on all podcast platforms and in video format on YouTube. New episodes drop on the last Friday of every month!  Learn more about OPEN DOORS, the Reality Poets, and #NursingHomeLivesMatter at OpenDoorsNYC.org Watch the award-winning documentary Fire Through Dry Grass at FireThroughDryGrass.com Follow OPEN DOORS on Instagram and Facebook @OpenDoorsNYC and Fire Through Dry Grass on Instagram @FTDGfilm and Facebook @FireThroughDryGrass

It's our final episode of 2025! Vince and Var chat about their holiday plans with family, share stories from their youth, discuss AI and music, and look ahead at 2026 which marks the 10 year anniversary of OPEN DOORS 10. Stay tuned for more Reality Poets TV in the New Year! The transcript for this episode is available on Google Docs and the video version is available on Youtube.  Reality Poets TV is a podcast from OPEN DOORS, a collective of disabled artists, nursing home residents, advocates and allies led by the experiences and voices of the Reality Poets. Hosted by Vince Pierce and Var Viggz. Available in audio format on all podcast platforms and in video format on YouTube. New episodes drop on the last Friday of every month!  Learn more about OPEN DOORS, the Reality Poets, and #NursingHomeLivesMatter at OpenDoorsNYC.org Watch the award-winning documentary Fire Through Dry Grass at FireThroughDryGrass.com Follow OPEN DOORS on Instagram and Facebook @OpenDoorsNYC and Fire Through Dry Grass on Instagram @FTDGfilm and Facebook @FireThroughDryGrass.

This episode, Vince and Var are chatting with author, speaker, and real estate broker Jeffery Williams! They talk about the imporance of education and community for newly injured people, Jeff's journey as an author and real estate broker, and much more. The transcript for this episode is available on Google Docs and the video version is available on Youtube.  Reality Poets TV is a podcast from OPEN DOORS, a collective of disabled artists, nursing home residents, advocates and allies led by the experiences and voices of the Reality Poets. Hosted by Vince Pierce and Var Viggz. Available in audio format on all podcast platforms and in video format on YouTube. New episodes drop on the last Friday of every month!  Learn more about OPEN DOORS, the Reality Poets, and #NursingHomeLivesMatter at OpenDoorsNYC.org Watch the award-winning documentary Fire Through Dry Grass at FireThroughDryGrass.com Follow OPEN DOORS on Instagram and Facebook @OpenDoorsNYC and Fire Through Dry Grass on Instagram @FTDGfilm and Facebook @FireThroughDryGrass.

We've got a special guest for episode #10... Live Mula aka Chapo! Vince and Var talk with him about all things hip-hop, artistry and authenticity. Check out his new album Sinners! The transcript for this episode is available on Google Docs and the video version is available on Youtube.  Reality Poets TV is a podcast from OPEN DOORS, a collective of disabled artists, nursing home residents, advocates and allies led by the experiences and voices of the Reality Poets. Hosted by Vince Pierce and Var Viggz. Available in audio format on all podcast platforms and in video format on YouTube. New episodes drop on the last Friday of every month!  Learn more about OPEN DOORS, the Reality Poets, and #NursingHomeLivesMatter at OpenDoorsNYC.org Watch the award-winning documentary Fire Through Dry Grass at FireThroughDryGrass.com Follow OPEN DOORS on Instagram and Facebook @OpenDoorsNYC and Fire Through Dry Grass on Instagram @FTDGfilm and Facebook @FireThroughDryGrass.

This episode, Vince and Var interview Edward Funches, the founder of Inclusion Marketing and Advertising Group. Take a listen to learn about Edward's work, backstory, and more. The transcript for this episode is available on Google Docs and the video version is available on Youtube.  Reality Poets TV is a podcast from OPEN DOORS, a collective of disabled artists, nursing home residents, advocates and allies led by the experiences and voices of the Reality Poets. Hosted by Vince Pierce and Var Viggz. Available in audio format on all podcast platforms and in video format on YouTube. New episodes drop on the last Friday of every month!  Learn more about OPEN DOORS, the Reality Poets, and #NursingHomeLivesMatter at OpenDoorsNYC.org Watch the award-winning documentary Fire Through Dry Grass at FireThroughDryGrass.com Follow OPEN DOORS on Instagram and Facebook @OpenDoorsNYC and Fire Through Dry Grass on Instagram @FTDGfilm and Facebook @FireThroughDryGrass.

We're wrapping up summer with this podcast episode featuring our two summer interns, Owen and Thomas! They each talk with Vince and Var about their college experience, how they came to OPEN DOORS, what they hope for their futures, and more. The transcript for this episode is available on Google Docs and the video version is available on Youtube.  Reality Poets TV is a podcast from OPEN DOORS, a collective of disabled artists, nursing home residents, advocates and allies led by the experiences and voices of the Reality Poets. Hosted by Vince Pierce and Var Viggz. Available in audio format on all podcast platforms and in video format on YouTube. New episodes drop on the last Friday of every month!  Learn more about OPEN DOORS, the Reality Poets, and #NursingHomeLivesMatter at OpenDoorsNYC.org Watch the award-winning documentary Fire Through Dry Grass at FireThroughDryGrass.com Follow OPEN DOORS on Instagram and Facebook @OpenDoorsNYC and Fire Through Dry Grass on Instagram @FTDGfilm and Facebook @FireThroughDryGrass.

Welcome to this special episode of Reality Poets TV! The Reality Poets recently published a new poetry book, Wheeling & Healing 2: Holding the Mic in the Middle of the Storm. This podcast episode gives you a taste of the poetry in the book through poems performed at the book release party on Roosevelt Island. Wheeling & Healing 2 is a poetry anthology edited by the Reality Poets which includes the work of friends and family near and far. This anthology is divided into three parts: before the storm, during the storm, and after the storm. This collection of poems is rich with emotions. Reading Wheeling and Healing 2 will make you laugh and smile, feel sadness, and think deeply about your own life. Watch the release party video on Youtube.  The book and merch are on sale NOW! Reality Poets TV is a podcast from OPEN DOORS, a collective of disabled artists, nursing home residents, advocates and allies led by the experiences and voices of the Reality Poets. Hosted by Vince Pierce and Var Viggz. Available in audio format on all podcast platforms and in video format on YouTube. New episodes drop on the last Friday of every month!  Learn more about OPEN DOORS, the Reality Poets, and #NursingHomeLivesMatter at OpenDoorsNYC.org Watch the award-winning documentary Fire Through Dry Grass at FireThroughDryGrass.com Follow OPEN DOORS on Instagram, X, and Facebook @OpenDoorsNYC and Fire Through Dry Grass @FTDGfilm

We've got another Reality Poet joining Vince and Var on Reality Poets TV! Jay Molina is usually the man behind the camera on this podcast but this episode, he gets on the mic to talk about his experiences joining OPEN DOORS, co-directing Fire Through Dry Grass, growing up in the Dominican Republic, moving to New York, and more.  The transcript for this episode is available on Google Docs and the video version is available on Youtube.  Reality Poets TV is a podcast from OPEN DOORS, a collective of disabled artists, nursing home residents, advocates and allies led by the experiences and voices of the Reality Poets. Hosted by Vince Pierce and Var Viggz. Available in audio format on all podcast platforms and in video format on YouTube. New episodes drop on the last Friday of every month!  Learn more about OPEN DOORS, the Reality Poets, and #NursingHomeLivesMatter at OpenDoorsNYC.org Watch the award-winning documentary Fire Through Dry Grass at FireThroughDryGrass.com Follow OPEN DOORS on Instagram, X, and Facebook @OpenDoorsNYC and Fire Through Dry Grass @FTDGfilm

Reality Poets TV is BACK! Vince and Var speak with Felice Belle, Artists Network Director at Narrative4. They discuss the power of storyelling, collaborations between Narrative4 and OPEN DOORS, Felice's new poetry book Viscera, and more. The transcript for this episode is available on Google Docs and the video version is available on Youtube.  Reality Poets TV is a podcast from OPEN DOORS, a collective of disabled artists, nursing home residents, advocates and allies led by the experiences and voices of the Reality Poets. Hosted by Vince Pierce and Var Viggz. Available in audio format on all podcast platforms and in video format on YouTube. New episodes drop on the last Friday of every month!  Learn more about OPEN DOORS, the Reality Poets, and #NursingHomeLivesMatter at OpenDoorsNYC.org Watch the award-winning documentary Fire Through Dry Grass at FireThroughDryGrass.com Follow OPEN DOORS on Instagram, X, and Facebook @OpenDoorsNYC and Fire Through Dry Grass @FTDGfilm

Vince and Var are joined by OPEN DOORS Associate Director, Alex Eshelman. They talk about how he first became involved with OPEN DOORS, his love of Basketball, sports betting, and more. The transcript for this episode is available on Google Docs and the video version is available on Youtube.  Reality Poets TV is a podcast from OPEN DOORS, a collective of disabled artists, nursing home residents, advocates and allies led by the experiences and voices of the Reality Poets. Hosted by Vince Pierce and Var Viggz. Available in audio format on all podcast platforms and in video format on YouTube. New episodes drop on the last Friday of every month!  Learn more about OPEN DOORS, the Reality Poets, and #NursingHomeLivesMatter at OpenDoorsNYC.org Watch the award-winning documentary Fire Through Dry Grass at FireThroughDryGrass.com Follow OPEN DOORS on Instagram, X, and Facebook @OpenDoorsNYC and Fire Through Dry Grass @FTDGfilm

Episode #4 features a special guest, Alex Elegudin. Alex is the co-founder of Wheeling Forward and a friend of OPEN DOORS. Vince and Var ask Alex about his experience becoming injured as a teenager, meeting his wife, running a non-profit, and more. The transcript for this episode is available on Google Docs and the video version is available on Youtube.  Reality Poets TV is a podcast from OPEN DOORS, a collective of disabled artists, nursing home residents, advocates and allies led by the experiences and voices of the Reality Poets. Hosted by Vince Pierce and Var Viggz. Available in audio format on all podcast platforms and in video format on YouTube. New episodes drop on the last Friday of every month!  Learn more about OPEN DOORS, the Reality Poets, and #NursingHomeLivesMatter at OpenDoorsNYC.org Watch the award-winning documentary Fire Through Dry Grass at FireThroughDryGrass.com Follow OPEN DOORS on Instagram, X, and Facebook @OpenDoorsNYC and Fire Through Dry Grass @FTDGfilm

We're back with Episode #3! Meet Reality Poets El and Shannon. First hear El, Vince and Var talk about being gun violence survivors, El's journey to joining OPEN DOORS, the influence of music, and more. Then Shannon, Vince and Var discuss Shannon's transition moving out of Coler, their experiences during the pandemic, the impact OPEN DOORS has had on Shannon, and more. The transcript for this episode is available on Google Docs and the video version is available on Youtube.  Reality Poets TV is a podcast from OPEN DOORS, a collective of disabled artists, nursing home residents, advocates and allies led by the experiences and voices of the Reality Poets. Hosted by Vince Pierce and Var Viggz. Available in audio format on all podcast platforms and in video format on YouTube. New episodes drop on the last Friday of every month!  Learn more about OPEN DOORS, the Reality Poets, and #NursingHomeLivesMatter at OpenDoorsNYC.org Watch the award-winning documentary Fire Through Dry Grass at FireThroughDryGrass.com Follow OPEN DOORS on Instagram, X, and Facebook @OpenDoorsNYC and Fire Through Dry Grass @FTDGfilm

In Episode #2, meet Reality Poets Pete and Francene! They share their personal stories, how they became involved in OPEN DOORS, their hopes for Nursing Home Lives Matter, and more. The transcript for this episode is available on Google Docs and the video version is available on Youtube.  Reality Poets TV is a podcast from OPEN DOORS, a collective of disabled artists, nursing home residents, advocates and allies led by the experiences and voices of the Reality Poets. Hosted by Vince Pierce and Var Viggz. Available in audio format on all podcast platforms and in video format on YouTube. New episodes drop on the last Friday of every month!  Learn more about OPEN DOORS, the Reality Poets, and #NursingHomeLivesMatter at OpenDoorsNYC.org Watch the award-winning documentary Fire Through Dry Grass at FireThroughDryGrass.com Follow OPEN DOORS on Instagram, X, and Facebook @OpenDoorsNYC and Fire Through Dry Grass @FTDGfilm

In Episode #1 meet the Reality Poets TV hosts, Vince and Var. They share their personal stories, the origins of OPEN DOORS, and what is to come. The transcript for this episode is available on Google Docs and the video version is available on Youtube.  Reality Poets TV is a podcast from OPEN DOORS, a collective of disabled artists, nursing home residents, advocates and allies led by the experiences and voices of the Reality Poets. Hosted by Vince Pierce and Var Viggz. Available in audio format on all podcast platforms and in video format on YouTube. New episodes drop on the last Friday of every month!  Learn more about OPEN DOORS, the Reality Poets, and #NursingHomeLivesMatter at OpenDoorsNYC.org Watch the award-winning documentary Fire Through Dry Grass at FireThroughDryGrass.com Follow OPEN DOORS on Instagram, X, and Facebook @OpenDoorsNYC and Fire Through Dry Grass @FTDGfilm