In this special episode of Bee Balm Presents, host Julia Paganelli Marín welcomes Sara Schellenberg, a tattoo artist and co-owner of Paper Doll in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Sara shares her journey, discussing the cooperative and inclusive nature of her tattoo shop, which serves as a creative and safe space in Northwest Arkansas. They explore the significance of personal expression through tattoos and how it empowers individuals to reclaim their bodies.

Sara shares "Self-Portrait with Sylvia Plath's Braid" by Diane Seuss, reflecting on the poem's themes of beauty, identity, and self-expression, relating it to her experiences as a queer woman. They discuss the symbolism of hair and its connection to personal and cultural identity, exploring the concept of the "uncanny valley" in queerness—how slight deviations from norms can evoke strong reactions. Join us for a conversation that connects horror, beauty, and the transformative power of art and poetry to understand one’s identity and find self-acceptance.

Stay tuned for Season 2 of Bee Balm Presents. It’ll be in your feeds soon.

Bee Balm Presents is a Bee Balm Arkansas⁠⁠ project in partnership with the Listening Lab⁠⁠ at KUAF National Public Radio.

Bee Balm Presents Host: Julia Paganelli Marín

Bee Balm Presents Producer: Micah Poor

Listening Lab Coordinator: Emerson Alexander

Special thanks to Avery Martin for permission to use their song “Peach Pretender”. It's a sneak peek from their unreleased EP by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Avery Lee and The Sweeties⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about Bee Balm Arkansas at our ⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or by following us on⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

"Self Portrait with Sylvia Plath's Braid" by Diane Seuss initially published on poets.org in the Poem-a-Day series on May 25, 2015.

In this season finale of Bee Balm Presents, producer Micah Poor sits down with Julia Paganelli Marín to explore her poem “Dear USCIS Officer,” which explores the emotional and bureaucratic labyrinth of a U.S. green card process through United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Julia offers a personal window into her and her partner's strenuous journey of love, identity, and struggle for familial recognition–and the difference between living through something and telling the story of an experience.

This episode delves into the power of writing poetry to confront and navigate bureaucratic indifference and systemic barriers. Join us for a discussion on the transformative potential of poetry in the face of adversity.

Bee Balm Presents is a ⁠⁠⁠⁠Bee Balm Arkansas⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ project in partnership with the ⁠Listening Lab⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ at KUAF National Public Radio.

Bee Balm Presents Host: Julia Paganelli Marín

Bee Balm Presents Producer: Micah Poor

Listening Lab Coordinator: Emerson Alexander

KUAF Executive Director: Leigh Wood

Special thanks to Avery Martin for permission to use their song “Peach Pretender”. It's a sneak peek from their unreleased EP by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Avery Lee and The Sweeties⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ dropping in Spring 2024.

Learn more about Bee Balm Arkansas at our ⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or by following us on⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this episode of Bee Balm Presents, Julia Paganelli Marín and Cameron Mussar explore Richard Siken's "Visible World," a poem that navigates the complexities of self-discovery and the stark realities of human emotion. Their discussion strips back its layers, revealing how light and shadow serve as metaphors for the internal and external forces shaping our identities and experiences. Cameron brings a personal perspective to the conversation, linking the poem's themes to broader discussions on queer identity, the nature of loss, and the act of finding oneself amidst life's tumult.

This episode not only highlights the poem's relevance to contemporary discussions about identity and loss but also underscores the transformative potential of poetry to challenge, comfort, and connect us across diverse life experiences. Join us for a conversation that looks beyond the surface poetry, engaging with the text's deeper questions about visibility, existence, and the barriers we face in understanding ourselves and each other.

Bee Balm Presents is a ⁠⁠⁠⁠Bee Balm Arkansas⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ project in partnership with the ⁠Listening Lab⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ at KUAF National Public Radio.

Bee Balm Presents Host: Julia Paganelli Marín

Bee Balm Presents Producer: Micah Poor

Listening Lab Coordinator: Emerson Alexander

KUAF Executive Director: Leigh Wood

Special thanks to Avery Martin for permission to use their song “Peach Pretender”. It's a sneak peek from their unreleased EP by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Avery Lee and The Sweeties⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ dropping in Spring 2024.

Learn more about Bee Balm Arkansas at our ⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or by following us on⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

“Visible World” from Crush by Richard Siken, Copyright © 2005 by Yale University. Appearing by permission of Yale University Press