In our season-ending cross-over episode which first aired on the podcast “I’m No Hero,” Street Poets Founder and former Executive Director Chris Henrikson shares some of the challenges, joys and hard-won wisdom from Street Poets’ early days - in conversation with our former associate director, comedy writer Justin Heimberg (a.k.a. Justy Jones).  Street Poets has come a long way since Chris first began teaching poetry to the incarcerated boys at Camp Fred Miller (Los Angeles County Probation Department) back in 1995, but the core practice of “listening with love” remains at the heart of our work.  We invite you to join us in that practice now as we hear from two original Street Poets family members who helped to plant and nurture the seed of what continues to blossom into a beautiful Grandfather tree here on the streets of our City of Angels.

This STREET POETS PODCAST crossover episode
"GOOD SEEDS: Chris Henrikson & the Street Poets Origin Story"
first aired in 2022 on the I'M NO HERO" podcast and is being re-published by Street Poets Inc. with the blessing & permission of Justin Heimberg.
• Hosted by Art Quiros
• Produced by Chris Henrikson
• Featuring Chris Henrikson with Justin Heimberg (a.k.a. Justy Jones)
• Edited by Art Quiros
• Street Poets "I Got Love" Podcast Theme Music features:
Vocals by BRIA & Taylor Code, Music by Dave Wittman

For more soulful, funny, entertaining interviews exploring the theme of bravery, check out the "I'M NO HERO" podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you like to listen.

For more information about Street Poets' youth outreach programs in the streets, schools and probation facilities of Los Angeles and beyond: streetpoetsinc.com   

Thank you for listening & supporting our first season of the STREET POETS PODCAST!

METAPHORS BE WITH YOU!  

This episode illuminates the inspiring origin story of Street Poets' former Artistic Director, poet/author and Minister of Metaphor, Barbara Fant.  Since her early days growing up in Youngstown, Ohio, Barbara has followed her calling – the transformational practice of poetry – through hardship and healing, darkness and light, to the cafe open-mics of Columbus to West Africa to our City of Angels and beyond.  Barbara's journey is a celebration of the power of the Word.  It's a real-life story of faith and resilience and the kind of hard-earned wisdom so desperately needed in our world today. 

This STREET POETS PODCAST episode
"OF POETRY & PRAYER: The Barbara Fant Story"
is a production of Street Poets Inc. (streetpoetsinc.com)
• Hosted by Art Quiros
• Produced by Chris Henrikson
• Edited by Art Quiros
• Original Poems by Barbara Fant featured herein include: "LONG LINE," "HANDFULS OF HONEY," "HOUSE OF DUST" and "WHEN HEALING HAS HER WAY." 
• Additional drumming/music ("Sofa" rhythm) performed by Rhythm Arts Alliance
• Street Poets "I Got Love" Podcast Theme Music features:
Vocals by BRIA & Taylor Code, Music by Dave Wittman

For more information about Barbara's work, or to purchase her latest collection of poetry "MOUTHS OF GARDEN," we invite you to visit: barbarafant.com

For more information about Street Poets' youth outreach programs in the streets, schools and probation facilities of Los Angeles and beyond: streetpoetsinc.com   

METAPHORS BE WITH YOU!  

"THE BURNING RIVER," an origin story for aspiring adults, was conceived as a narrative prayer for transformation & peace.  Inspired by the many traditional stories and songs from around the world that have helped us to remember who we are, and are becoming, here at Street Poets, "The Burning River" is a fresh fable fed by ancient roots.  We hope, as you listen, you'll find some thread of your own story, and of our greater human story, within it. 

A big THANK YOU to mythologist/storyteller MICHAEL MEADE of Mosaic Multicultural Foundation for the inspiration, and elder MIGUEL RIVERA for teaching us the song in the story, a traditional Mayan song for releasing grief, first gifted to him by the late great poet HUMBERTO AK’ABAL and the Maya K’iché people of Guatemala.

This BONUS EPISODE of the STREET POETS PODCAST is hosted by ART QUIROS. 
and features ORIGINAL MUSIC by RAFAEL BEJARANO.
"THE BURNING RIVER" was WRITTEN & READ by CHRIS HENRIKSON
with SOUND DESIGN by KEVIN WOODS.
Street Poets Podcast THEME SONG "I Got Love" features VOCALS by BRIA and TAYLOR CODE, with MUSIC by DAVE WITTMAN.

We invite you to subscribe to the STREET POETS PODCAST on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your inspiration, and to learn more about Street Poets’ programs within and beyond Los Angeles at streetpoetsinc.com.

METAPHORS BE WITH YOU!