In this episode of Inquire Within, I’m joined by Sekou. He shares the frustrations of spoken word artists who are trying to make a living in their category of art. Sekou talks about the work he does to kick down new doors in the industry, so more spoken word poets can gain access to the industry and make a living. Towards the end of our conversation, he also talks about the difference between compromise and sacrifice as an artist. Learn more about Sekou here: sekouandrews.com 

In this episode of Inquire Within, I'm joined by Ed Mabrey. He talks about how our patriotic society had led him to believe poetry was not something men should be doing. For the longest time, he drank the kool aid and tried to shape himself and his art to fit the world of rap, which was what our society would expect from men until he discovered slam poetry. Ed also uncovers the rules that evolve around slam poetry. Find more from Ed here: edmabrey.com 

In this episode of Inquire Within, I'm joined by Natalie Patterson. Natalie can best be identified as a teaching artist and poet. She is known for her integrity, passion, social activism, and her ability to work with people of all ages, genders, races, and cultures by showing up fully and inviting folks to remember that who they are is enough. And in this episode, we explore these topics and more.

Where are you in your life? Where are you in the plot right now? Remember, you are the star. You are the supporting characters. You are the writers. You are the director. You are the grips. In this 3 minute episode, it is just me, IN-Q. I wanted to share my poem, Fairytales, with you, and I give a journal prompt. Your life is a movie, write about it.

In this weeks episode of “Inquire Within”, myself and Instagram famous poet, Kamilla Tolnø, dive deep into what started her poetry journey, growing up in Copenhagan, and how instagram played such a big part in her career. Her writing has inspired so many, and has even helped readers learn English. We talk about the power of words and what past writings can teach our future self.

In this episode, I’m joined by Javon Johnson. The two of us dive into Javon's journey from the epics fails as a beginner poet to building a solid career focused on a political agenda. Javon is the author of Killy Poetry, Ain’t Never Not Been Black, and Viral Poems. Additionally, he writes for The Huffington Post, The Root, and Our Weekly. And, he has appeared on HBO’s Def Poetry Jam, BET’s Lyric Café, TV One’s Verses & Flow, and The Steve Harvey Show, and also co-wrote the Showtime...

I've been thinking a lot about time horizon recently. We are in such an instant culture – everything has to happen right away and we need instant gratification. But what about incremental and cumulative growth? What happened to things happening slowly, adding up over time, and absolutely changing an area of your life or changing your entire life? In this episode of Inquire Within, I contemplate this thought and give you a journal prompt to help you contemplate this thought as well. 

In this episode, I am joined by the talented Dante Basco. Dante is most known for his role as Rufio, the leader of the Lost Boys in Steven Spielberg's Hook, and for his voice acting role as Prince Zuko from Nickelodeon's Avatar: The Last Airbender. Because of Dante’s stand-out roles, he has become an important role model in the Asian-American community, which is what we dive into in this episode of Inquire Within

Gratitude is a muscle. If we don't use it, we experience atrophy. But here's the thing: If we stop being grateful for the things the universe presents us, the universe will stop presenting us with things to be grateful for. In this episode of Inquire Within, I challenge you to contemplate the gratitude you have in your life. I also share a thought-provoking spoken word poem, as well as a journal prompt to encourage you to inquire within. Find more from me on Instagram: @inqlife.

In this episode of Inquire Within, I'm joined by political poet, Propaganda. Throughout our conversation together, Propaganda reminds us that while we may be tempted to overstep our limits and boundaries, doing so will cause us to use ourselves as resources, which like any other resource, can run out. Towards the end of our conversation, he also shares with us his childhood and how the neighborhood he lived in shaped the art he makes today.

In this episode of Inquire Within, I share a poem on love. What is love? What does it look like to love? How do we navigate love? Plus, at the end of the episode, I also share a piece of personal advice on relationships. This is something I found to be powerful in my own relationships and hope you will find it to be just as powerful in yours. 

In this episode, I'm joined by the amazing Humble the Poet who shares the details of his journey to becoming an artist, how he navigated his newly found success and resisted the urge to cater to a style of art that wasn’t pure to himself, and what making art meant for him back then, and today.

Today’s interview dives into the world of NFT’s…a new medium of art that many people still don’t quite understand. That’s why, today’s guest, David Bianchi, explains the what and the why behind NFTs, as well as his thoughts, experience, and advice on this new medium.

In this 3-minute solo episode of Inquire Within, I challenge you to question the problems you have in your life. Can you put them down? Can you try to look at them from a place of solution? Can you let go of being problem-oriented and discover the life you are really living right now?

In this episode of Inquire Within, I'm joined by Janne Robinson who shares all her thoughts about love, including why we love LOVE more than the actual person we are in a relationship with and why we fall out of love. Throughout our conversation together, Janne reminds us that even in today’s age of oversharing, we are permitted to set boundaries around our most private thoughts and vulnerabilities. Towards the end of our conversation, she also shares the importance of openness and...

In this episode, I’m joined by Allie Michelle. Together, we dive into breaking free from the need to be perfect, aligning what we do with what’s actually true to us, and how living in honesty leads us to creating our best work. She also shares amazing insight into creating, where she says people feel the energy you write with, and that there are no rules to poetry, you can rhyme or not rhyme, it’s all about owning your voice and saying what’s true to you. 

In this solo episode of Inquire Within, I share a poem with you that I have actually never shared before. I wrote it out of inspiration from a butterfly dancing above a marching band at Mardi Gras. It's my hope by sharing this poem that you are inspired to pay closer attention to the beauty that surrounds you and to the small moments that bring you joy, and to give them the appreciate they deserve.

If you think success happens overnight, you're wrong. And if you think reaching success is glamorous, you're wrong. Success is a difficult journey. And in this episode of Inquire Within, Rudy Francisco shares more. Before becoming one of the most successful poets of our time, Rudy used to sleep on trains and in bus stations when trying to make it as a poet and couldn’t make ends meet. I believe Rudy’s story will inspire you to keep working, keep pushing, and keep creating.

In this episode, Najwa Zebian beautifully explains why pain is one of our greatest blessings if we use it correctly.  So if you’re someone who has experienced, or is experiencing, pain, adversity, or displacement, Najwa shares not only how to process it, but how to transform it and use it to your advantage…and to create something of impact.

In this episode of Inquire Within, I share an unheard poem that challenges you to think about your life’s purpose.

In this episode, I’m joined by a dear friend of mine, Yesika Salgado. Together we chat about how poetry flows through us, finding our place in the world, and Yesika’s beautiful and unique outlook on both life and poetry. Yesika is willing to be seen and willing to speak her truth to the world, and after listening to this conversation, I know you’ll be inspired to do the same.

Welcome to the first solo episode of Inquire Within with me, IN-Q. My solo episodes are a place for me to share unspoken poems, my current inspirations, and life lessons I've learned. Be sure to stay tuned until the end, as I share a journal prompt with you to encourage you to inquire within. In this episode, I share two poems, with one being a poem I've never shared before. My intention with both is to challenge you to consider who you are pretending to be. The birds aren't singing to win a...

In this episode, I'm joined by the amazing poet, Atticus, who shares his very deep and interesting story as to how he became a poet, insights into his creative process, and the why behind his mask. Throughout our conversation together, Atticus continues to remind us of the importance of our “why”. He challenges us to re-asses our intentions behind what we are doing and ensure it aligns with what really matters. Towards to end of our conversation, he also shares one of the most moving stories...