Hollerin Poets Podcast

"It's important to see where you started and where you are because if you don't you will never be able to celebrate the success that you've had in the in-between. Nothing will ever feel like it's enough and if nothing feels like it's enough, you will never find home because you will never stop wandering."

Egypt wraps up her album "Wanderer" exploring how far she's come so far in her journey. She doesn't want to lose sight of what's important and sees that continuing in the growth of her character is more valuable than perceived success.

"We're Gonna Be Ok" is the last poem on "Wanderer" and Egypt considers this track a thank you. This poem is a thank you to all of the people in her life who are there for her through the good and bad times in her journey.

Egypt explores the idea of having things in life to reach for that bring hope while recognizing that grasping those goals is not always what it's cracked up to be. 

Egypt explores some of her fears associated with relationships in this poem.

The coordinates of Egypt's grandmother's home, this poem explores detailing going back to your foundation, going back to your roots, going back to the home that made you who you currently are. 

Remembering where you came from and remembering the struggles you've overcome. 

Though hardships may define your circumstance, they don't have to define who you are.

"I can tell you that I'm feeling something really badly... is different than vulnerability which is how can i find help, how can i move forward. being stuck in that rut is honest, but being vulnerable is willing to empower yourself or others to continue to push on and move through that honesty to find hope."

"I wanted to... create this track not so much as an open letter to the church but as an open letter to the people  the church shunned."

"I didn't want to blame God for the shortcomings of His people."

Egypt shares about the discomfort she's experienced when people have looked at her as a hero, as a role model.

"It's never what I set out to do... I would rather have friends than fans."

"There had been instances where I had idolized figures in music and I met them and it crushed me."

We talk about the struggle of being open and honest with others in a way that invites them to share about how they truly are.

Egypt shares about the importance of being open and transparent with those areas of our lives that are embarrassing and shameful. 

"A pawn shop isn't a place where dreams go to die, it's a spot where those things that symbolize those defeats and those valleys that you've been through have a chance to be used again, to be whole again, to be new again... I want anyone hearing it to know that there is still hope for them."

"I'm talking in this poem, about wandering with intent and a purpose"

Egypt sets the tone of the album with the title track, sharing about the struggle of finding purpose while on the road, trying to find a sense of home while being away from home.

"If I am gonna write a record talking about wanting to find home, I needed to start from the place that I left.

And if I didn't leave home, where did I start from, and why am I doing this?"

The first track from Egypt's album "Wanderer" was recorded 5 years before its release. "October 1, 2014" was recorded on a phone by one of Egypt's friends. It's served as a reminder of why Egypt started writing and where she hopes to head with her art.

" none of the situations had changed, but I had..this record forced me to - you can't write something like this and not change as a person."

Egypt shares about her writing process for this album and how she grew through the process.

"I learned protest poetry simply by trying to get out of doing chores"

Egypt shares about how she starting to write poetry in elementary school and how that has led to her current pursuits with poetry today.

"Home." closes out the album "Create" and Micah shares about a time period of crashing on friends' couches and finding a sense of Home and identity.

MicahKimber.bandcamp.com

Intro music - "I Believe It" by Flatfoot 56

"Make sure you're celebrating people around you."

Micah shares some of his story involving being part of the family of Christian brothers and sisters.

MicahKimber.bandcamp.com

Intro music - "I Believe It" by Flatfoot 56

Micah's comic book influence takes center stage with the poem "The Last Son." This poem reflects on what was in the face of trauma and loss.

MicahKimber.bandcamp.com

Intro music - "I Believe It" by Flatfoot 56

"Golem" is inspired by Psalm 139 and Micah talks about our uncreated form devoid of life. Micah dives into themes of identity and where our true identity comes from with this poem.

MicahKimber.bandcamp.com

Intro music - "I Believe It" by Flatfoot 56

"Ancients" was inspired by the idea that much of what is around us - the dirt, the air, water - is ancient, is timeless.

MicahKimber.bandcamp.com

Intro music - "I Believe It" by Flatfoot 56

Micah shares about his poem "Create," the title track from his debut album. In this poem Micah explores the creative process and the deep need to create.

MicahKimber.bandcamp.com

Intro music - "I Believe It" by Flatfoot 56

Micah shares about the first track on his album called "Passionate."

He shares about the decision to begin the album with this track and about desiring to create in a passionate way.

MicahKimber.bandcamp.com

Intro music - "I Believe It" by Flatfoot 56

Micah gives an overview of his album "Create" and the themes contained throughout the structure of the album.

MicahKimber.bandcamp.com

Intro music - "I Believe It" by Flatfoot 56

Micah shares about how he began writing poetry and some of his inspirations. Check out Micah's debut album "Create" at the link below!

MicahKimber.bandcamp.com

The last poem on the album, "1P57" is the encapsulation of hope alluded to in each previous poem. 

Janelle shares about how far she has come and how some everyday tasks are indicators to her of how far she has come. 

JanelleMaree.bandcamp.com

TWLOHA.com/find-help

We discuss healthy coping vs. unhealthy avoidance of very real life issues. 

Janelle shares the importance of reminding herself of simple truths about her identity. 

JanelleMaree.bandcamp.com

TWLOHA.com/Find-help

Shame lies to us and attempts to use our honesty against us. 

This is Janelle's declaration that even when shame strikes, she will continue fighting back. 

JanelleMaree.bandcamp.com

TWLOHA.com/find-help

"Shock Trauma" is Janelle's redemption story - many of the things that were once triggers and reminders of pain in the past have been redefined as symbols of hope and healing. 

JanelleMaree.bandcamp.com

TWLOHA.com/find-help

Being present with friends in their most difficult times is important, but what about in the aftermath? Janelle shares her desire to be the type of friend who intentionally reaches out to those experiencing hurt and pain and allowing others space to heal in their timing. 

JanelleMaree.bandcamp.com

TWLOHA.com/find-help

Janelle's story may have been marked by trauma, mental illness, depression, and despair - but HOPE will win out in the face of what threatened to destroy her. 

JanelleMaree.bandcamp.com

TWLOHA.com/find-help

In this self-reflective and honest poem, Janelle takes responsibility for the ways in which she held herself back. We discuss taking personal responsibility while not beating ourselves up for not being in the past, where we are now. 

JanelleMaree.bandcamp.com

TWLOHA.com/find-help

The grieving process often takes many different forms and sequences. "Grieving by Numbers" approaches the stages of grief and conveys that grieving may repeat and hit us in unexpected ways.  It's always worth it to keep going and start over, and start over again and again. 

JanelleMaree.bandcamp.com

TWLOHA.com/find-help

With this powerful and real poem, Janelle shares about starting to write a suicide note and in the midst recognizing that there is much to live for and hope for. 

JanelleMaree.bandcamp.com

TWLOHA.com/find-help

"Welcome Home" is the first poem from "The Valley is Not Your Home" and Janelle shares about it setting the tone for the album as a whole. 

This poem establishes the trajectory of the album in a way that tells the listener where we're headed - opening up about pain and trauma does not need to result in commiseration - there is hope. 

JanelleMaree.bandcamp.com

TWLOHA.com/find-help

This season we are breaking down 10 of the 24 tracks from Janelle's album "The Valley is Not Your Home." 

Janelle shares about the themes of the album and about what the poems have meant to her. 

JanelleMaree.bandcamp.com

TWLOHA.com/find-help

Janelle shares about some very deep and heavy experiences on this season of the podcast and we discuss some resources for people who have had similar experiences. Please reach out if that's you, you are not alone. 

JanelleMaree.bandcamp.com

TWLOHA.com/find-help

Poet Janelle Maree shares about what poetry means to her and what form it has taken in her life!

JanelleMaree.bandcamp.com

TWLOHA.com/find-help

Chris shares about going through a very difficult time over the past couple of years and finding healing and joy in things that had been very broken. 

ChrisBernstorf.com

Intro and outtro: "Tables" and "Trinity" by Kevin Schlereth

KevinSchlereth.bandcamp.com

Chris shares about his poem "Dirt" and dives into the fact that Jesus taught a lot of difficult messages that are unpalatable. Each piece is important even if we can't contextualize or find resolve in it. 

ChrisBernstorf.com

Intro and outtro: "Tables" and "Trinity" by Kevin Schlereth

KevinSchlereth.bandcamp.com

"Sci-Fi" explores the awe Chris experiences in the undeserving love of God and of his wife. 

ChrisBernstorf.com

Intro and outtro: "Tables" and "Trinity" by Kevin Schlereth

KevinSchlereth.bandcamp.com

Chris shares about his first trip to France and how that experience shaped the poem "Paris."

ChrisBernstorf.com

Intro and outtro: "Tables" and "Trinity" by Kevin Schlereth

KevinSchlereth.bandcamp.com

Chris shares more about the story behind the poem. "Doing This" is a display of a husband's love for his wife in a time of great difficulty (in particular, Chris's parents when his mother was losing her sight when he was a child).

ChrisBernstorf.com

Intro and outtro: "Tables" and "Trinity" by Kevin Schlereth

KevinSchlereth.bandcamp.com

 "There's been a lot of turmoil and a lot of pain... but God has stayed the same."

ChrisBernstorf.com

Intro and outtro: "Tables" and "Trinity" by Kevin Schlereth

KevinSchlereth.bandcamp.com

In Josh's opinion, this poem "makes town meetings sexy." A love poem from the album, "County Government" explores the concept of continuing the process of learning the person you love. 

ChrisBernstorf.com

Intro and outtro: "Tables" and "Trinity" by Kevin Schlereth

KevinSchlereth.bandcamp.com

Chris shares that love is a fact - "it just IS, like gravity."
We talk about the particular facts Chris chose for the poem and if all of the facts in the poem are in fact, well, facts. 

ChrisBernstorf.com

Intro and outtro: "Tables" and "Trinity" by Kevin Schlereth

KevinSchlereth.bandcamp.com

 "Joy can't be quantified." Chris shares that many of the joys of life can't be explained through logic or easily quantifiable means. 

ChrisBernstorf.com

Intro and outtro: "Tables" and "Trinity" by Kevin Schlereth

KevinSchlereth.bandcamp.com

Chris shares about his most recent album "It's All Joy."

ChrisBernstorf.com

Intro and outtro: "Tables" and "Trinity" by Kevin Schlereth

KevinSchlereth.bandcamp.com

Chris Bernstorf shares about how he started writing poetry, his main inspirations, and about the form his poetry takes now. 

ChrisBernstorf.com

Intro and outtro: "Tables" and "Trinity" by Kevin Schlereth

KevinSchlereth.bandcamp.com

 The interludes on the album (produced by Andrew Alojipan from Kept on Hold) tie the poems together with the concept of the album. 

TiradesofaTimidTongue.bandcamp.com 

hollerinpoets.bandcamp.com 

https://open.spotify.com/artist/6syFODvq7dRZv4DKylnSdm 

When our eyes are opened to our failures, we can either be defeated by our lack or let it push us forward to change. 

TiradesofaTimidTongue.bandcamp.com 

hollerinpoets.bandcamp.com 

https://open.spotify.com/artist/6syFODvq7dRZv4DKylnSdm