Tinikling Between Two Wor(l)ds: A Poetry Podcast

This is not meant to be a one-way street with me as a “sage on stage.” My goal is to share a poem that will inspire others to write. Each episode will include an original poem, a brief discussion or interview, and a prompt for the listener. This was made for you, for me, for us.

Episode 19: Promotion 04/21/2023

Episode 19: Promotion For today, I want you to think about the most important life lesson you learned. It could be from experience, an elder, a friend, a teacher, or anything in between. It could be about friendship, money, love, failure, death, hope, or countless other themes. Share your insight, wisdom, and values. I hope to learn from you. /episode/index/show/46f58e0a-6963-4b6b-a031-5debfba0154e/id/26608866

Episode 18: Teachers' Blues 04/07/2023

Episode 18: Teachers' Blues Now, let’s take a moment of silence. In fact, let that be our focus this week. Sit with silence. Reflect on a time when you had to be silent. Was the moment uncomfortable, peaceful, painful, hostile, or a mixture of emotions? Was it ceremonious, voluntary, or forced? Was it political, religious, personal, or accidental? Were you alone? Some moments with tension and silence revolve around death, goodbyes, longings. Explore wherever the silence leads you. /episode/index/show/46f58e0a-6963-4b6b-a031-5debfba0154e/id/26412579

Episode 17: Lesson Plan (March 26, 2014) 04/01/2023

Episode 17: Lesson Plan (March 26, 2014) For this week, I want you to think about a lesson you learned (or taught) while at school that did not involve academic standards. Through that experience, you might have developed character, self-awareness, pride, confidence, or some other attribute. Those are the moments that make my job worthwhile. As Lola Ida used to say, “Teaching is not just a profession; it is a mission.” /episode/index/show/46f58e0a-6963-4b6b-a031-5debfba0154e/id/26410905

Episode 16: There are books here (after Jamaal May) 03/24/2023

Episode 16: There are books here (after Jamaal May) Now, it is your turn. I want you to think of something that is missing from the classroom. If you are choosing something tangible, do not make a supply list. Focus on one item: tissue paper, markers, flexible seating. It could be something more abstract: a course (art, home economics, woodwork) or even subject matter (SEL, diversity, financial literacy). Whether a student, teacher, parent, or visitor, your observation matters. Why is that item or topic so important? What are the possibilities when it is accessible in the classroom? /episode/index/show/46f58e0a-6963-4b6b-a031-5debfba0154e/id/26312877

Episode 15: Daily Routine 12/16/2022

Episode 15: Daily Routine CDK: Either they could write about how they have faced a similar hurdle in their life where they struggled with self confidence, or how they would approach someone else going through this—like a close loved one. KT: I think that would be an interesting spin-off. CDK: I would like the listeners to respond to how they would approach—say a loved one or just a friend—going through a hurdle in their life, battling self-confidence, and low-self esteem. /episode/index/show/46f58e0a-6963-4b6b-a031-5debfba0154e/id/25345902

Episode 14: Confidance 12/09/2022

Episode 14: Confidance This week’s prompt is about confidence. Too much of it can lead to hubris, ignorance, and pride. Too little can result in low self-esteem, doubt, and even depression. For your writing, pick an extreme. Life is all about balancing the thin lines between two words, but the reality is we often lean one way or another. The journey is worth telling and exploring. /episode/index/show/46f58e0a-6963-4b6b-a031-5debfba0154e/id/25274193

Episode 13: Tongue Twister 12/02/2022

Episode 13: Tongue Twister This week, I want to focus on the sound of language. Students often assume that poetry has to rhyme. When they only consider words by matching the ending sound, their final poems are often limited, forced, and corny. That’s where lessons on alliteration, assonance, and consonance come in. The repetition of sounds can either be a vowel or consonant that is placed at the beginning, middle, or end of words. Have your writing explore one or more of these literary devices. /episode/index/show/46f58e0a-6963-4b6b-a031-5debfba0154e/id/25195866

Episode 12: Halo Halo 11/18/2022

Episode 12: Halo Halo Rather than focusing on the content of this poem, my challenge for this week is to go back to the basics. This poem centered around CVC words and simplicity. Have the majority of your writing include simple CVC words. Enjoy exploring a childlike voice with wonder, amusement, worry, or any other strong emotion. Have fun. /episode/index/show/46f58e0a-6963-4b6b-a031-5debfba0154e/id/25058292

Episode 11: Sipa 11/11/2022

Episode 11: Sipa With that said, I want you to describe something that you learned from an older generation. This might be a mother, father, grandmother, grandfather, aunt, uncle, neighbor, colleague. Try to be specific. For instance, if you are going to talk about cooking, then focus on a certain dish. Try to recall what happened that exact day down to the “little-big” moments. I am curious if your story will focus on a certain game, food, art, skill, hobby, or something else I didn’t expect. /episode/index/show/46f58e0a-6963-4b6b-a031-5debfba0154e/id/24976953

Episode 10: Friend Groups 11/04/2022

Episode 10: Friend Groups AK: Write about a time where you realized that you are the only person in your life that is permanent. Because that’s an important realization to have. And, I feel everyone should have that realization. /episode/index/show/46f58e0a-6963-4b6b-a031-5debfba0154e/id/24902088

Episode 9: Declaration 10/28/2022

Episode 9: Declaration For this week, explore a topic or style that captures you. It does not have to be biographical or true. It can delve into science fiction, fantasy, mystery, and so forth. You do not have to be the center of the writing, but I want the piece to reflect your interests and imagination. /episode/index/show/46f58e0a-6963-4b6b-a031-5debfba0154e/id/24828627

Episode 8: The Flip 10/21/2022

Episode 8: The Flip For this week’s prompt, I want you to think about style or format. Specifically, palindromes. I suggest that you start small by attempting only one stanza to flip. However, if palindrome poetry sounds too intimidating, you can try a different approach. Instead, you can use as many words that are palindromes within your writing. To get you started, here are a few: Anna, civic, kayak, level, madam, mom, noon, racecar, radar, refer, rotator, sagas, solos, stats, tenet, wow. The goal is to have fun and try something new. /episode/index/show/46f58e0a-6963-4b6b-a031-5debfba0154e/id/24756696

Episode 7: History 10/14/2022

Episode 7: History As mentioned, our gathering was not only a sharing of his story but of history. For this week, I want you to retell a story that is not often included in the history textbooks. It can be your own story or from someone you know—sibling, cousin, parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, teacher, neighbor, friend. Focus on one specific moment or event. War, immigration, emigration, discrimination, acculturation, death, accomplishment, contribution. Feel free to interview others and/or conduct research that might help to better understand the time period. /episode/index/show/46f58e0a-6963-4b6b-a031-5debfba0154e/id/24672468

Episode 6: Pledge 10/07/2022

Episode 6: Pledge I want you to think about a time when you did not feel included. Describe the setting: home, park, playground, school, classroom, church, temple, cafeteria, table, store, street. What caused your feeling of alienation, difference, and/or discomfort? Was it a person (or group of people), a sign (or other form of print), or a norm (such as a status quo)? Tell your story. You might shed light on a microaggression or a blatant/intentional act. Either way, someone reading your writing might relate to a similar circumstance while others might learn something they did not know or notice. Conversations can lead to understanding and clarify misunderstandings. Your words have power. /episode/index/show/46f58e0a-6963-4b6b-a031-5debfba0154e/id/24615411

Episode 5: My Hero 09/30/2022

Episode 5: My Hero LL: So, my prompt for your listeners is to think of a person who has impacted your life in a positive way--that you see as your hero. /episode/index/show/46f58e0a-6963-4b6b-a031-5debfba0154e/id/24540510

Episode 4: Tinikling 09/23/2022

Episode 4: Tinikling For this week, I want you to focus on an important cultural aspect you want others to learn or better understand. It can center around a particular food, custom, celebration, dance, etc. Is the item or ritual symbolic of something else? Are there any misconceptions? How will you carry this tradition to future generations? /episode/index/show/46f58e0a-6963-4b6b-a031-5debfba0154e/id/24309906

Episode 3: What does it mean to be Asian American? 09/16/2022

Episode 3: What does it mean to be Asian American? Create a poem where you are answering a question: What does it mean to be ____? You can focus on a noun: an athlete, a nerd, a sister/brother, a cousin, a friend, a Catholic, a Muslim, an atheist, an outcast. Or, you can focus on an adjective or state of being: invisible, lonely, happy, depressed, objectified, seen. You might want to consider turning it into a group poem where, like the original version of this project, the title becomes a transition between each speaker. /episode/index/show/46f58e0a-6963-4b6b-a031-5debfba0154e/id/24309849

Episode 2: Parts of Speech 09/09/2022

Episode 2: Parts of Speech This was a fun poem to create because I was passionate about the topic and vision. Having a finite amount of topics and stanzas provided me with structure. My challenge for you is to anchor a group of things that have some sort of connection–three branches of government, four horsemen, five stages of grief, five food groups, seven days in a week, seven deadly sins. If possible, personify one of those categories and have that character encounter (or embody) a misunderstanding, unlikely hero, victim turned vigilante, or some other concept. For example, imagine the five food groups as siblings while highlighting the insecurity of your main character (one of the categories). /episode/index/show/46f58e0a-6963-4b6b-a031-5debfba0154e/id/24309801

Episode 1: Acknowledgement 08/30/2022

Episode 1: Acknowledgement Near the end of the poem, I describe myself as a bridge. Many of us had to assume that role at some point; therefore, I want you to write about a time in which you served as a link between two ideas/concepts/people/moments. Maybe you were a translator in the literal, cultural, or generational sense. Describe how you had to navigate the meeting, appointment, transaction. Or, perhaps you will explore a coming of age theme that links your old and new self—growing out of something and transforming into something/someone new. It could also focus on something more abstract (like a moment or an idea). Explore your two worlds through words. Jump in and out of the cultures/ideas/perspectives. Was it a burden, honor, privilege? How did it shape you? /episode/index/show/46f58e0a-6963-4b6b-a031-5debfba0154e/id/24207489

Tinikling Between Two Wor(l)ds: A Poetry Podcast

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