Gifts For You Ep. 11 Featuring Shelby Birch

This week we bring you our 11th episode of this series; a conversation with Shelby Birch.

Here is the background on this project:

In the last few months leading up to my daughter’s birth, I began a podcast project.
I had a few intentions with this project. 

I wanted her to have a set of recordings that could serve as a time capsule of what life was like just as she was arriving.  And for her to begin life already surrounded by a community who was invested in her. 

In the end I interviewed over 20 people for this project.

I began these recordings in the late summer of 2019.  

Little did I know what was awaiting all of us just around the corner. 

As I’ve been relistening to these recordings I have found deep meaning in each conversation, and I hope you will appreciate them too.

That is why we are starting the 2022 season of THE Celebration podcast by sharing a new edited edition of these interviews. 

The series is entitled: Gifts For You. 

It will span 13 episodes in total. 

I hope you enjoy.

Guest Information:

IG: @shelbybirch

Listen to "Gifts For You Ep. 11 Featuring Shelby Birch" on Spreaker.

If you'd like to learn more about T.H.E. Celebration Academy.  Here's 30 days of Free Membership.

Gifts for My Child Episode 7

Featuring: Shelby Birch, Moses Weir, Walter Wally B. Jennings, and Jessica Estevez

Wow! Can you believe it?! This is the final episode of the ‘Gifts for My Child’ series. For those of you just tuning in – I highly recommend you start with episode 1 of this series. 

I am so grateful to all of my friends who shared their time, their love, and their wisdom with Jayanma by participating in this project. 

There are so many intentions and aspirations that went into this project. One of the main ones being that I want Jayanma to know that there is a community of people ready to listen and be there for her. 

As a new dad, these interviews have been such a resource! 

I am so excited for Jayanma to listen to this as she gets older. I envision her checking them out 32 years later, and reflecting on her dad creating them while he was 32 and preparing for her arrival. 

Wow. What a fun thought. 

Speaking of – I’d love to hear your thoughts on this project. And, as always, if you have any advice or reflections on any questions I asked my guests, please send them in!

Thank you so much for listening to this series! 

Listen to "Gifts for My Child Episode 7" on Spreaker.

If you'd like to learn more about T.H.E. Celebration Academy.  Here's 30 days of Free Membership.

Celebrating 3 Years of Expression

Next week marks the 3-year anniversary of the Live and Online: Expression Session. Each month, we have been honored to have internationally recognized poets and spoken word artists join us as features.

To celebrate, this week’s episode is a compilation of poetry shared by some of our pasts features. I really enjoyed putting this episode together for you and reminiscing on the powerful poetry that our past contributors have shared.

If you are looking for your poetry and spoken word fix, this episode is for you.

The Live and Online: Expression Session is a monthly writing workshop that brings together writers, creatives, and poets from around the world. The experience culminates with a performance by a featured artist.

If you’re interested in connecting with a diverse community of writers, creatives, and poets, join us for our next session this Sunday, June 30th. Dates and details can be found at tomearl.com/events.

Want to check out the full episode and interview of the poets from today’s episodes?

Here they are:

Matt Sedillo - tomearl.tom/matt (link to - http://www.tomearl.com/blog/2017/6/16/expression-session-matt)

Shelby Birch - tomearl.com/shelby (link to - http://www.tomearl.com/blog/shelbythepoet)

Dania Alkhouli ‘Lady Narrator’ - tomearl.com/dania (link to - http://www.tomearl.com/blog/dania

Destinny Fletcher - tomearl.com/destinny (link to http://www.tomearl.com/blog/destinny)

Super B - tomearl.com/superb ( http://www.tomearl.com/blog/superb)

Lady K - tomearl.com/ladyk (http://www.tomearl.com/blog/ladyk)

Listen to "Celebrating 3 Years of Expression" on Spreaker.

Lady K will be our feature on this week's edition of the Live and Online: Expression Session.  Register below! 

If you'd like to learn more about T.H.E. Celebration Academy.  Here's 30 days of Free Membership.

South Africa, Service and Birthday Reflections with Shelby Birch

On this week’s episode I interview author, poet and activist Shelby Birch from her Peace Corp assignment in South Africa.

 Shelby shares some of the highlights and surprises of her service. She also reflects  on her activism, and how overcoming challenges, has helped shape her worldview and aided her in becoming her best self. 

 Shelby brazenly tells her story through her writing, and her strong belief in wisdom, artistic freedom, and expressionism shines through. Her most recent published book, ‘Lit’ is a powerful illustration of how she uses poetry as a mirror to examine issues on womanhood, blackness, awkwardness, and heartbreak.

You can follow Shelby Birch on Instagram @shelbybirch

Listen to "South Africa, Service and Birthday Reflections with Shelby Birch" on Spreaker.

If you'd like to learn more about T.H.E. Celebration Academy.  Here's 30 days of Free Membership.