In this episode of Bee Balm Presents, host Julia Paganelli Marín welcomes poet Megan Blankenship to explore poetry, memory, and the essence of living. They discuss Megan's personal growth and the seasons of her life through Rose McLarney's poem "Gather" by touching on themes of trust, renewal, and nature's precarious balance. 

The conversation shifts to the power of language and self-talk, inspired by Kay Ryan's "Say Uncle" and the impact of our internal dialogue. Megan recounts her journey from her early days writing for her hometown newspaper to earning her MFA in poetry, highlighting the holiness in the everyday and the value of viewing everyday life with new appreciation. Join us for a conversation that connects poetry's beauty with the depth of human emotions and the search for meaning amidst the mundane.

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.

“Say Uncle” from The Best of It by © 2010 by Kay Ryan. Used by permissions of Grove/Atlantic, Inc.

“Gather” from The Always Broken Plates of Mountains © 2012 by Rose McLarney. Used by permissions of Four Way Books.