398. Keeonna Harris with Jodi-Ann Burey: Mainline Mama: Raising a Family Through Incarceration and Resistance

Town Hall Seattle Arts & Culture Series

#Books #Arts #Culture #Music #Poetry #Storytelling #Townhallseattle #Town Hall Seattle #Communities #Innovation #TownHall

39:33

"The basic premise of the event is that hunters hunt rattlesnakes from the surrounding environment all across West Texas, and bring them into the roundup for the weekend. And during the roundup, these snakes are kept in a pit and then, one by one, beheaded and skinned in front of in front of audiences." - Elizabeth MeLampy Elizabeth MeLampy is a lawyer dedicated to animal rights and protection, and her passion for this work shines through in her latest book, Forget the Camel, the Madcap World of Animal Festivals and What They Say About Being Human . To research the book, Elizabeth traveled across the country, immersing herself in a wide range of animal festivals — from the Iditarod dog sled race to the rattlesnake roundup in Sweetwater, Texas. Elizabeth examines these festivals as revealing microcosms of our broader relationship with animals. Whether it's rattlesnake hunts, frog-jumping contests, ostrich races, or groundhog celebrations, these events reflect the ways humans use animals to express cultural identity, community pride, and historical traditions. Yet beneath the pageantry and excitement lies a deeper question: Is our fascination with these spectacles worth the toll it takes on the animals involved? With compassion and insight, Elizabeth invites readers to consider whether there’s a more ethical and empathetic way to honor our stories — one that respects both animals and the traditions they inspire. Please listen, share and read, Forget the Camel. It will be released on April 8th, 2025. https://apollopublishers.com/index.php/forget-the-camel/…

25 days ago 1:01:45

MP3•Episode home

Writer and prison abolitionist Keeonna Harris shares her intimate memoir, Mainline Mama, about the formidable challenge of raising a family separated by prison walls and how we can fight back against a broken Byzantine system.

Keeonna and Jason met as young teens. Only fourteen, Keeonna had never had a boyfriend before, dreamed of attending Spelman to become an obstetrician, and thought she was “grown.” Within a year she was pregnant, and Jason was in prison, convicted of a carjacking and sentenced to twenty-two years. Overnight Keeonna had become a “mainline mama,” a parent facing the impossible task of raising a child — while still growing up herself — with an incarcerated partner.

Keeonna recalls her harrowing journey in Mainline Mama, from learning to overcome the exhausting difficulties of navigating the carceral system in the United States, to transforming herself into an advocate for other women like her — the predominantly Black and brown women left behind to pick up the pieces of their families and fractured lives. She offers inspiration and solace, showing how to create moments of beauty, humanity, and love in a place designed to break spirits.

Mainline Mama is about creating self-love and community — crucial acts of radical resistance against a prison industrial complex that is designed to dehumanize and to separate and shut away incarcerated individuals and their loved ones from the world.

Keeonna Harris is a writer, storyteller, mother of five, and prison abolitionist. She is a Ph.D. Candidate at Arizona State University finishing her dissertation Everybody Survived but Nobody Survived: Black Feminism, Motherhood, and Mass Incarceration. Her memoir, Mainline Mama draws from her experiences as a Black woman, teen mother, and twenty years of raising children with an incarcerated partner and building community in the borderlands of the prison.

Jodi-Ann Burey (she/her) is a writer and critic who works at the intersections of race, culture, and health equity. Her debut book, Authentic: The Myth of Bringing Your Full Self to Work disrupts traditional narratives about racism at work and is forthcoming in 2025 with Flatiron Books.

Buy the Book Mainline Mama

Elliott Bay Book Company

131 episodes

Town Hall Seattle Arts & Culture Series

398. Keeonna Harris with Jodi-Ann Burey: Mainline Mama: Raising a Family Through Incarceration and Resistance

Town Hall Seattle Arts & Culture Series

13 subscribers

published 25 days ago

MP3•Episode home

Buy the Book Mainline Mama

Elliott Bay Book Company

131 episodes

#Books #Arts #Culture #Music #Poetry #Storytelling #Townhallseattle #Town Hall Seattle #Communities #Innovation #TownHall

All episodes

Town Hall Seattle Arts & Culture Series

1
401. Torrey Peters: In Conversation with Aster Olsen, Ebo Barton, Corinne Manning, and Amber Flame 1:11:30

3 days ago1:11:30

1:11:30

Trans stories are not confined to political rhetoric and headlines. The world of creative writing is replete with narratives that explore complex worlds of gender and how identity intersects with people’s lives and relationships. In a new collection of one novel and three stories, bestselling author Torrey Peters’s keen eye for the rough edges of community and desire push the limits of trans writing. In Stag Dance , the titular novel, a group of lumberjacks working in an illegal winter logging outfit plan a dance that some of them will attend as women. When the most unlikely of the axmen announces his intention to dance as a woman, he finds himself caught in a strange rivalry, inviting a cascade of obsession, jealousy, and betrayal that culminates on the big night in an exploration of gender and transition. A trio of shorter tales surround Stag Dance : “Infect Your Friends and Loved Ones” imagines a gender apocalypse brought about by an unstable ex-girlfriend. “The Chaser” presents a secret romance between roommates at a Quaker boarding school, and “The Masker” details a Vegas party weekend that turns dark when a young crossdresser must choose between two guides: a mystery man who thrills but objectifies her, or a veteran trans woman who offers sisterhood and cynicism. Peters’ talk and work is especially timely surrounding ongoing conversations about trans rights in our nation but is an invitation to any fiction reader. Torrey Peters is the bestselling author of the novel Detransition, Baby , which won the PEN/Hemingway Award for Debut Novel and was named one of the 100 Best Books of the 21st Century by The New York Times. It was also a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle’s John Leonard Prize, a finalist for the Brooklyn Public Library Book Prize, and longlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction. She has an MFA from the University of Iowa and an MA in comparative literature from Dartmouth. Peters rides a pink motorcycle and splits her time between Brooklyn and an off-grid cabin in Vermont. Aster Olsen is the author of the novella Performance Review. S he lived most of her life in the gorgeous swampy parts of Florida people don’t visit on vacation, but now lives in Seattle, where she spends her time swimming in alpine lakes alongside aquatic insect larvae. A professional scientist, she rejects the binary oppositional positioning of STEM and Art and seeks to collapse and expand imposed categories and narratives to further understanding. Her writing is found in Lilac Peril , Hey Alma , Autostraddle , Inner Worlds , Itch.io, and elsewhere. She is the creator, editor, and publisher of TRANSplants Zine , a zine series about transness and place, and runs the trans open mic reading and art series please (t)read with me . Find more at asterolsen.com . Ebo Barton comes from salt— from the moment before worlds converge. You may have seen Ebo’s work in the book Black Imagination and heard in the audiobook read by Grammy and Tony award winner Daveed Diggs. You have also seen Ebo’s work online on Write About Now, Button Poetry, and All Def Poetry channels. In 2016, they placed 5th in the World at the Individual World Poetry Slam. In 2017, they co-wrote and co-produced the award-winning play Rising Up. In 2018, they played “Invisible One” in Anastacia Renee’s Queer. Mama.Crossroads and reprised the role in 2019. Ebo debuted his first published collection of poetry, Insubordinate , in 2020. As the Director of Housing Services at Lavender Rights Project, and a Washington State LGBTQ Commissioner, Barton’s impact transcends artistic endeavors. A leader in arts and activism, Ebo Barton is committed to creating opportunities for others to organize, heal, and rejoice. Corinne Manning is the author of the acclaimed story collection We Had No Rules . Once upon a time, they reimagined the publishing industry with the literary project The James Franco Review (it made sense from 2014-2017). Their creative work and literary criticism are published widely, including in The New York Times . Corinne lives in Seattle and works as a teaching artist through Seattle Arts & Lectures and their own mentorship project Deeper, Wider. Amber Flame is an interdisciplinary artist garnering residencies with Hedgebrook, Baldwin for the Arts, Millay Arts, and more. A former church kid from the Southwest, Flame’s first collection of poetry, Ordinary Cruelty , was published in 2017 through Write Bloody Press. Flame’s second book, apocrifa , a love story told in verse, launched in May 2023 from Red Hen Press. Flame is Deputy Publisher at Generous Press, a new romance venture publishing inclusive love stories, and Program Director for Hedgebrook, a literary organization serving women. Amber Flame is a queer Black dandy mama who falls hard for a jumpsuit and some fresh kicks. Presented by Town Hall Seattle and Seattle Public Library. Buy the Book Stag Dance Charlie’s Queer Books…

Town Hall Seattle Arts & Culture Series

1
400. Arigon Starr: Sacred Breath: An Indigenous Writing and Storytelling Series 1:12:51

16 days ago1:12:51

1:12:51

Why do people feel compelled to share stories? Why do we yearn to reach others with our words, beyond necessary communication? Storytelling is a vital facet of human culture and is constantly expanding as we create new ways to communicate through words, art, and tangible experience. The Department of American Indian Studies at the University of Washington hosts an annual literary and storytelling series, Sacred Breath, featuring Indigenous writers and storytellers sharing their craft in the Seattle area. Storytelling offers a spiritual connection, a sharing of sacred breath. Literature, similarly, preserves human experience and ideals. Both forms are durable and transmit power that teaches us how to live. Both storytelling and reading aloud can impact audiences through the power of presence, allowing for the experience of the transfer of sacred breath as audiences are immersed in the experience of being inside stories and works of literature. The series begins with an evening program at Town Hall Seattle featuring Arigon Starr and guest Roger Fernandes. A multitalented, multidisciplinary performer, Arigon Starr promises to deliver a mix of music, reading, art, and storytelling. Arigon Starr is an enrolled member of the Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma. Her father, Ken Wahpecome (Kickapoo) was a career Navy man and her mother, Ruth (Muscogee (Creek) / Cherokee / Seneca) was a graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University. Starr is a storyteller in many mediums including music, comic books, and live theater. Across her many disciplines, she brings bold characters, contemporary perspectives, and the intention of countering negative Indigenous stereotypes. Her work has been highlighted in the publications First American Art and Native Peoples, featured on the national news program PBS News Hour and on the arts blog of the National Endowment for the Arts. Visit Arigon’s website to learn more. About Sacred Breath The Department of American Indian Studies at the University of Washington hosts an annual literary and storytelling series. Sacred Breath features Indigenous writers and storytellers sharing their craft in Seattle. Storytelling offers a spiritual connection, a sharing of sacred breath. Literature, similarly, preserves human experience and ideals. Both forms are durable and transmit power that teaches us how to live. Both storytelling and reading aloud can impact audiences through the power of presence, allowing for the experience of the transfer of sacred breath as audiences are immersed in the experience of being inside stories and works of literature.…

Town Hall Seattle Arts & Culture Series

1
399. Sabina Nawaz with Frank X. Shaw: Are You a Good Boss? Navigating Leadership, Power, and Performance 50:17

17 days ago50:17

50:17

How do you know if you are a good boss? Whether you’re in the C-Suite or middle management, you’re probably not reaching your full potential, according to Sabina Nawaz, Fortune 500 coach and author of You’re the Boss: Become the Manager You Want to Be (and Others Need) . Unfortunately, it’s often hard to recognize pitfalls as a boss or know how to address them. Luckily, Nawaz has some ideas. Pulling from over one thousand interviews at Amazon, Microsoft, Google, Motorola, Nordstrom, and the United Nations, Nawaz offers managers advice on how to succeed. Her proprietary data includes over two decades of coaching and in-depth research into the psychology of behavior and relationships. One key finding, she says, is that as our job expands, the added pressure to perform corrupts our actions, and our increased power blinds us to the impact of those actions. No one is immune to this. Even the most well-intentioned manager can quickly become the boss nobody wants to work for. Nawaz offers an in-depth framework for managing pressure and power with grace and intelligence. Knowing if you’re a good boss doesn’t need to be a mystery. To be a good one, Nawaz says, is to manage yourself and others, navigate working relationships, and communicate effectively. You’ll know you’re a good boss when you’re doing these things, while also experiencing less stress and greater impact, becoming the boss everyone wants to work for. Sabina Nawaz is an elite executive coach who advises C-level executives and teams at Fortune 500 corporations, government agencies, nonprofits, and academic institutions around the world. Sabina gives dozens of keynotes, seminars, and conferences each year and teaches faculty at Northeastern and Drexel University. During her fourteen-year tenure at Microsoft, she went from managing software development teams to leading the company’s executive development and succession planning efforts for over 11,000 managers and nearly a thousand executives, advising Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer directly. She has written for and been featured in Harvard Business Review , The Wall Street Journal , Forbes , Inc. , Fast Company , NBC, Nasdaq, and MarketWatch . Frank X. Shaw is the Chief Communications Officer at Microsoft, leading global communications strategy, storytelling, media relations, executive and employee communications, and more. With over 25 years of experience, he served as president of the Microsoft account at Waggener Edstrom Worldwide and has worked across government, entertainment, food, and retail sectors. A U.S. Marine Corps veteran, he holds a journalism degree from the University of Oregon and serves on the boards of the Seattle YMCA and The LAGRANT Foundation. Buy the Book You're the Boss: Become the Manager You Want to Be (and Others Need) The Elliott Bay Book Co.…

Town Hall Seattle Arts & Culture Series

1
398. Keeonna Harris with Jodi-Ann Burey: Mainline Mama: Raising a Family Through Incarceration and Resistance 1:01:45

25 days ago1:01:45

1:01:45

Writer and prison abolitionist Keeonna Harris shares her intimate memoir, Mainline Mama , about the formidable challenge of raising a family separated by prison walls and how we can fight back against a broken Byzantine system. Keeonna and Jason met as young teens. Only fourteen, Keeonna had never had a boyfriend before, dreamed of attending Spelman to become an obstetrician, and thought she was “grown.” Within a year she was pregnant, and Jason was in prison, convicted of a carjacking and sentenced to twenty-two years. Overnight Keeonna had become a “mainline mama,” a parent facing the impossible task of raising a child — while still growing up herself — with an incarcerated partner. Keeonna recalls her harrowing journey in Mainline Mama , from learning to overcome the exhausting difficulties of navigating the carceral system in the United States, to transforming herself into an advocate for other women like her — the predominantly Black and brown women left behind to pick up the pieces of their families and fractured lives. She offers inspiration and solace, showing how to create moments of beauty, humanity, and love in a place designed to break spirits. Mainline Mama is about creating self-love and community — crucial acts of radical resistance against a prison industrial complex that is designed to dehumanize and to separate and shut away incarcerated individuals and their loved ones from the world. Keeonna Harris is a writer, storyteller, mother of five, and prison abolitionist. She is a Ph.D. Candidate at Arizona State University finishing her dissertation Everybody Survived but Nobody Survived: Black Feminism, Motherhood, and Mass Incarceration . Her memoir, Mainline Mama draws from her experiences as a Black woman, teen mother, and twenty years of raising children with an incarcerated partner and building community in the borderlands of the prison. Jodi-Ann Burey (she/her) is a writer and critic who works at the intersections of race, culture, and health equity. Her debut book, Authentic: The Myth of Bringing Your Full Self to Work disrupts traditional narratives about racism at work and is forthcoming in 2025 with Flatiron Books. Buy the Book Mainline Mama Elliott Bay Book Company…

Town Hall Seattle Arts & Culture Series

1
397. Shiza Shahid: Dinner at Our Place 37:04

5 weeks ago37:04

37:04

Celebrate culture and connection with Dinner at Our Place , the latest cookbook from the team behind Our Place, the makers of the beloved Always Pan®. Shiza Shahid, co-founder and CEO of the acclaimed cookware shares the brand’s mission to bring people together through the joy of cooking and dining. With contributions from 11 renowned chefs, tastemakers, and restaurateurs, the book presents over 100 recipes alongside curated menus designed to inspire memorable gatherings. Each chapter of Dinner at Our Place is a fully crafted dining experience, complete with playlists, mood-lighting suggestions, and tips to elevate your hosting game. From Shiza Shahid’s cozy family dinners to Kia Damon’s creative take on Friendsgiving, the book offers a rich tapestry of culinary traditions and innovative approaches. Other highlights include Jen Monroe’s playful Valentine’s celebration, DeVonn Francis’s Caribbean-inspired feast, and Keegan Fong’s hot pot night with Mama Fong. At this event, Shahid will share the stories behind the cookbook and the collaborations that shaped its pages. Learn how each menu came to life, explore the joy of hosting through recipes like Saffron Tachin and Whole Salt-Roasted Fish, and discover the deeper purpose of building connections through food. Whether you’re an experienced entertainer or new to the kitchen, this event is your invitation to celebrate the art of gathering. Shiza Shahid is the Co-founder and Co-CEO of Our Place, a mission-driven brand reimagining kitchenware for the modern, global kitchen. Before Our Place, Shiza co-founded the Malala Fund with Nobel Prize winner Malala Yousafzai, serving as its founding CEO to champion every girl’s right to education. She also launched NOW Ventures, an angel fund investing in mission-driven startups with a focus on female founders. Shiza has been recognized as one of TIME ’s “30 Under 30 People Changing the World,” Forbes ’ “30 Under 30 – Social Entrepreneurs,” and INC Magazine’ s “Top Female Founders.” Her thought leadership has been featured in The New York Times , Forbes , Fast Company , and more. She’s also a sought-after speaker, frequently appearing at major events like Aspen Ideas Festival, Fortune Most Powerful Women, and the World Economic Forum. Buy the Book Dinner at Our Place: Recipes for Gathering Elliott Bay Book Company…

Town Hall Seattle Arts & Culture Series

1
396. Kay Smith-Blum in Conversation with Joshua Frank, Moderated by Gerry Pollet: Nuclear Secrets, Past and Present 1:07:41

9 weeks ago1:07:41

1:07:41

Environmental advocate and HOANW founder, Gerry Pollet moderates a conversation with debut author Kay Smith-Blum and investigative journalist and author, Joshua Frank. They will explore the real-life inspirations behind Smith-Blum’s novel, Tangles , and its themes of environmental justice and human resilience against the stark backdrop of the state of the cleanup today, highlighted in Frank’s non-fiction volume, Atomic Days . Don’t miss this chance to dive into an emotionally charged story that daylights the fallout—both literal and figurative—of America’s nuclear ambitions and the stark realities of the nuclear waste troubles today. Kay Smith-Blum enters the nuclear discussion with her novel Tangles , a gripping historical thriller that weaves together mystery, personal struggles, and a government conspiracy. Set against the backdrop of Hanford’s radioactive history, the story follows young scientist Luke Hinson as he uncovers the hidden dangers of nuclear contamination while grappling with his thyroid cancer diagnosis and a haunting connection to Mary Boone, his former neighbor who vanished under mysterious circumstances. The narrative alternates between the 1940s when Mary fought to expose government cover-ups, and the 1960s, as Luke pursues the truth amid bureaucratic resistance and personal turmoil. Investigative journalist and award-winning author, Joshua Frank, has been knee-deep in all things nuclear for almost a decade. His most recent book, Atomic Days daylights the most toxic place in America: Hanford. Once home to the United States’s largest plutonium production site, the Hanford Nuclear Reservation in Washington state is laced with 56 million gallons of radioactive waste. The threat of an explosive accident at Hanford is all too real—an event that could be more catastrophic than Chernobyl. Frank provides a much-needed refutation of the myths of nuclear technology—from weapons to electricity—and shines a spotlight on the ravages of Hanford and its threat to communities, workers, and the global environment. Kay Smith-Blum, a former business owner and Seattle School Board President, is lover of the natural world. An avid gardener, Smith-Blum founded Environmental Endeavors, the first greenhouse program in Seattle Public Elementary Schools. A fan of mid-20th-century history, Smith-Blum has penned two other manuscripts set in Texas, but the recent upheaval over leaking waste tanks at the Hanford site compelled her to write her debut novel, TANGLES . Named the Western WA Woman Business Owner of 2013, Smith-Blum has lived in Seattle for four decades. She works out her writer’s block in her sons’ gardens and the nearest lap pool. For more info see https://www.kaysmith-blum.com Joshua Frank is co-editor of CounterPunch and co-host of CounterPunch Radio. His latest book is Atomic Days: The Untold Story of the Most Toxic Place in America . He is currently finishing up a book on the downside of the green energy revolution, to be published by Haymarket Books in the summer of 2025. State Representative Gerry Pollet ( 46 th District : North Seattle) is the co-founder (1987) and Executive Director of Heart of America Northwest, the region’s largest public group advocating for the cleanup of the Hanford Nuclear Reservation. In 1986, Gerry wrote and directed the statewide ballot referendum which stopped Hanford from becoming the nation’s High Level Nuclear Waste dump. He continues to direct Heart of America Northwest, working closely with affected Tribal Nations. Gerry led efforts to stop the US Department of Energy from dumping radioactive chemical wastes into unlined ditches at Hanford in 2004 and continues working to protect the Columbia River from leaking High Level Nuclear Waste tanks. Buy the book Tangles: A Cold War Love Story and Mystery Queen Anne Book Company…

Town Hall Seattle Arts & Culture Series

1
395. Cynthia Brothers with Tom Eykemans: Signs of Vanishing Seattle 58:06

10 weeks ago58:06

58:06

Cities in postcards and sweeping film shots are all dramatic skylines and big recognizable features, but to really love a city is to know it on the ground level. The spaces that build community, shape culture, and support neighborhoods may not always be the flashiest silhouettes, but they’re often the most iconic to the people who live amongst them. This is something Vanishing Seattle knows all too well, as they’ve built an expansive media movement around shining lights on displaced small businesses and disappearing local institutions across the city. In their most recent collaborative endeavor, Signs of Vanishing Seattle: Places Loved and Lost, Cynthia Brothers and the Vanishing Seattle team have compiled a handheld visual scrapbook of spaces that have influenced Seattle culture over the decades. In 2016, Cynthia Brothers took to social media under the title Vanishing Seattle to document restaurants, businesses, venues, and other local institutions being pushed out and shut down by shifting priorities, urban development, and gentrification. Over the years, Vanishing Seattle has brought countless people together over small businesses still trying to make it in a rapidly changing city and the growing number of old haunts that have closed for good. Via their own online community as well as through media coverage, award-winning documentary shorts, and public presentations, the group has strived to show and tell the ways these establishments shape culture and why people should care about keeping their doors open. Signs of Vanishing Seattle draws from a 12,000-square-foot interactive exhibit dedicated to community-sourced local legacy that Brothers curated in the historic RailSpur building in 2023. This book preserves the ephemeral exhibit into physical form – combining photos of the original signage from shuttered establishments that was on display with the personal notes visitors left under the faded font of their once-favorite cafe or the bar where they saw their first punk show. Signs of Vanishing Seattle presents a first-hand visual history of the way gathering spaces, local commerce, and physical objects connect communities and hold memories long after the neon goes dark. Cynthia Brothers is a born and raised Seattleite, nonprofit consultant, and the founder of the Vanishing Seattle project with a background in advocacy for immigrant rights, arts & culture, and online organizing. She is a founding member of the anti-displacement organizing group Chinatown-International District (CID) Coalition and has twice been named one of “Seattle’s Most Influential” by Seattle Magazine . Brothers and Vanishing Seattle have been featured in publications including the Seattle Times , the New York Times, Real Change , and Crosscut as well as outlets like King 5, KEXP, and KUOW. Tom Eykemans is a designer and artist preoccupied with books and the Pacific Northwest from his studio at the historic Woodland Theater in Ballard. Born in Seattle and an alumnus of the University of Washington, he spent a decade designing books at UW Press and is now design director at Marquand Books. Tom is co-founder of the nonprofit Seattle Art Book Fair, owner of the independent Tome Press, advisor to ARCADE Magazine, and instructor at the UW School of Art. He has received many design recognitions, given numerous talks, contributed to various art shows, and has been featured in The Stranger , at SxSW, and by the Washington State Book Awards. He also studies and teaches traditional martial arts at the sixty-year-old Seattle Kung Fu Club in the C-ID. Buy the Book Signs of Vanishing Seattle: Places Loved and Lost Third Place Books…

Town Hall Seattle Arts & Culture Series

1
394. Unlearning with Lindsey T.H. Jackson: Misogynoir — The Intersection of Misogyny and Anti-Blackness 1:17:37

12 weeks ago1:17:37

1:17:37

Explore the uncomfortable conversations you’ve been eager for in a space that encourages open and safe expression. Weaving together storytelling, poetry, music, and panel interviews with powerful voices, Unlearning offers the opportunity to address issues like discrimination, social justice, violence, and many other pressing (and often taboo) topics while healing and learning together. Join Lindsey T.H. Jackson, a visionary social activist, podcaster, author, and CEO at LTHJ Global, for this first edition of Unlearning focusing on Misogynoir. Misogynoir is the intersection of misogyny and anti-blackness. There is a specific kind of bias against and oppression of Black women. Have you examined your biases in an intersectional context? At this event, attendees will explore what misogynoir is and why we are all (regardless of race or gender) susceptible to it while learning strategies to recognize and combat misogynoir internally and in our communities. Lindsey T.H. Jackson is a North American-based leader serving humans around the world. As CEO at LTHJ Global, Lindsey empowers people, leaders, and organizations to pursue and achieve their full potential. For 15+ years Lindsey has been authentically leading empowering entities for personal and organizational wellness. Lindsey specializes in executive coaching using the Enneagram, group facilitation, DEI training and implementation, and team development. Dr. Moya Bailey is a professor at Northwestern University, the founder of the Digital Apothecary , and co-founder of the Black Feminist Health Science Studies Collective . Her work focuses on marginalized groups’ use of digital media to promote social justice, and she is interested in how race, gender, and sexuality are represented in media and medicine. She is the digital alchemist for the Octavia E. Butler Legacy Network and the Board President of Allied Media Projects , a Detroit-based movement media organization that supports an ever-growing network of activists and organizers. She is a co-author of #HashtagActivism: Networks of Race and Gender Justice and is the author of Misogynoir Transformed: Black Women’s Digital Resistance . She is the director and producer for the forthcoming documentary, Misogynoir in Medicine . Amelia Ransom, SPHR is Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Smartsheet. She is responsible for driving strategy and initiatives that impact, solidify and improve company culture. She also leads Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) for the organization. Amelia has over 30 years of experience building and executing strategy within Human Resources and Business Operations in a world-class and customer-centric organization. In addition to DEI, her areas of expertise include leadership development, early in career engagement and executive level mentorship and advisement. Before joining Smartsheet, Amelia was the Sr. Director of Engagement and Diversity at Avalara. She created the company’s first DEI strategy and was responsible for improving company engagement scores each year. Prior to that, she held multiple regional and company-wide leadership positions at Nordstrom including store management, Diversity and Inclusion and Learning and Development Amelia serves on the boards of Evergreen Goodwill of Northwest Washington, The YWCA Seattle, King and Snohomish, Leadership Tomorrow Seattle and The Institute for Sustainable Diversity and Inclusion. Fleur Larsen, of Fleur Larsen Facilitation , began facilitating 20 years ago on challenge course programs with youth and adults. Her style is based on sharp analysis, flexible thinking, joy, and purposeful results. Her work is relationship-based with connection, collaboration, and community as integral elements to reach goals. Currently, she works with several corporate and nonprofit groups facilitating retreats, trainings and workshops in addition to one-on-one coaching. Fleur’s work as a facilitator is focused on equity, social justice, diversity and inclusion, team building, emotional intelligence, experiential education and community development.…

Town Hall Seattle Arts & Culture Series

1
393. Rob Sheffield: An Era Like No Other — How Taylor Swift Reinvented Pop Music 1:08:31

16 weeks ago1:08:31

1:08:31

Throughout her storied career, Taylor Swift has kept her name in the news with chart-topping hits, aesthetic reinvention, and nonstop global influence. Over the years and across the genres, die-hard fans and scholars alike have chronicled the cultural phenomenon that is Taylor Swift. And long story short, pop music expert and self-described Taylor Swift aficionado Rob Sheffield has been along for the whole ride. In his newest book, Heartbreak Is the National Anthem: How Taylor Swift Reinvented Pop Music, Sheffield dives fearlessly into the labyrinth of Taylor Swift’s extensive artistic legacy, personal lore, and professional highlights. From her diaristic songwriting to her command of live audiences to her media presence speckled with both acclaim and criticism, Sheffield presents a case for why Taylor Swift’s impact on the pop music landscape just hits different. Heartbreak Is the National Anthem reaches deep into the many award-winning chapters of Taylor Swift’s career, from teenaged girl with a guitar to multi-hyphenate record breaker. In this bejeweled biography, Sheffield explores the depths of the golden grip Taylor Swift has on style, storytelling, and her legions of fans across the globe. Rob Sheffield is a music journalist and best-selling author who has extensively covered music, TV, and pop culture over the years. He is a longtime contributor to Rolling Stone and has previously contributed to Blender and Spin . His previous publications include music biographies On Bowie and Dreaming the Beatles: The Love Story of One Band and the Whole World, as well as the autobiographical memoir Love Is a Mix Tape: Life and Loss, One Song at a Time. Buy the Book Heartbreak Is the National Anthem: How Taylor Swift Reinvented Pop Music Third Place Books…

Town Hall Seattle Arts & Culture Series

1
392. Opening Doors to the Outdoors: Inclusivity in Climbing 1:01:08

17 weeks ago1:01:08

1:01:08

Access to the outdoors is a basic human need—from the granite under our feet during adventures or simply a breath of fresh air. Yet, that access isn’t equal. In the U.S., more than one in three people lack access to a park within a 10-minute walk of home, disproportionately affecting Black and Brown communities. The outdoor and climbing industries face similar challenges. Lack of diversity in leadership, limited funding, and gate-kept information make the climb steeper for many. However, climbers of color have risen to become some of the sport’s most accomplished athletes, demonstrating the potential that comes with overcoming barriers. By expanding diversity in leadership, increasing funding, and fostering open access to knowledge, we can create a more inclusive and level playing field for all climbers. Join Trust for Public Land for an inspiring conversation with prominent Asian American climbers Cody Kaemmerlen, Kathy Karlo, and Nina Williams. Moderated by Trust for Public Land’s Northwest Director, Mitsu Iwasaki, panelists will delve into their personal journeys, discuss obstacles to equitable access to the sport, and explore the benefits of creating a more inclusive environment for everyone. Cody Kaemmerlen is a passionate rock climber and advocate for inclusivity in the climbing community as well as the outdoors. He is the Director of Advancement Operations for NOLS and serves on the Board of Directors for the American Alpine Club. Based in Wyoming, Cody leads efforts to create welcoming and equitable spaces in the outdoors by addressing barriers to diversity and inclusion. With personal experiences as a South Korean adoptee raised in rural Oregon, he brings a unique perspective to his work. Cody’s commitment to equity is also highlighted in the film “Dear Mother,” where he delves into his identity and the challenges faced by people of color in the climbing world. Kathy Karlo is a storyteller at heart who has dedicated herself to reshaping the narrative around climbing and the outdoors. As the creator and host of the For the Love of Climbing podcast, she dives into the emotional and vulnerable sides of the sport, while also amplifying the voices of those often left out of the conversation. Kathy also leads as Executive Director of No Man’s Land Film Festival, an all-women adventure film festival that challenges traditional narratives by showcasing female-driven stories. Through her work, Kathy strives to create a more inclusive outdoor space where everyone can feel empowered to share their authentic experiences. Nina Williams is a professional rock climber recognized for her groundbreaking achievements in highball bouldering and trad climbing. Based in Boulder, Colorado, Nina has pushed the limits of what is possible, becoming the first woman to climb iconic routes like “Too Big to Flail” and “Ambrosia” in Bishop, California. Her climbing career is marked by a deep mental discipline, and she is passionate about access and mentorship in the climbing world. Beyond her personal accomplishments, Nina is committed to fostering inclusivity in outdoor spaces, working with organizations like Flash Foxy, Color the Crag, and the Women’s Climbing Symposium to ensure everyone can connect with nature. As Board President of the American Alpine Club and a Certified Professional Coach, Nina’s work reflects her belief in the power of the outdoors to inspire and uplift all communities. Mitsu Iwasaki , our moderator for the evening, is the Associate Vice President and Northwest Director of Trust for Public Land. Born in Japan, Iwasaki’s family immigrated to Seattle, WA soon after he turned six years old. Growing up in the relative comfort of the suburbs, his parents felt it would be best to ‘build his character’ by sending him to work on a commercial fishing boat throughout his teenage summers in Chignik, Alaska. Those experiences sparked an enduring love for wild places, inspiring a life-long journey of adventure and exploration of both natural landscapes and his capacity as a person. He has been climbing, skiing, and running across our beloved northwest mountains and around the world for over three decades. Presented by Town Hall Seattle and Trust for Public Land.…

Town Hall Seattle Arts & Culture Series

1
391. Alison Fensterstock with Emily Fox and Rachel Flotard: How Women Made Music — A Revolutionary History 1:22:13

17 weeks ago1:22:13

1:22:13

Celebrate women who rock in a discussion with the hosts of NPR music’s series Turning the Tables as they share their new book How Women Made Music: A Revolutionary History from NPR Music . Uncovering the role women have played in shaping the music industry, editor Alison Fensterstock brings long-overdue recognition to female artists, challenging traditional best album lists and highlighting overlooked contributions in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. By bringing together material from over fifty years of NPR’s coverage, Fensterstock underscores the enduring impact of women in music. Audience members will gain insight into Joan Baez’s reflections on nonviolence as a musical principle, discover Dolly Parton’s favorite song and the story behind it, and learn about Nina Simone’s use of her voice as a tool against racism. The book also captures Odetta’s transition from classical music to folk as a way to express her anger over Jim Crow laws and Taylor Swift’s early uncertainties about her career. Music enthusiasts, songwriters, feminist historians, and anyone intrigued by the creative process are invited for a compelling evening of composition conversation at Town Hall. Alison Fensterstock is a New Orleans-based writer and editor. A contributor to NPR Music since 2016, she’s written and edited for Turning the Tables and appeared on NPR programs including All Things Considered , World Café and Word of Mouth ; her writing about popular music and culture has appeared in Rolling Stone , the NewYork Times , the Oxford American and MOJO , among others. Emily Fox hosts and produces KEXP’s music interview show, Sound & Vision. Music and storytelling are her passions. Prior to working at KEXP, Emily was a host, producer, and reporter on Michigan Radio, WKAR and Seattle’s KUOW. Rachel Flotard is the singer, songwriter and guitarist of the Seattle rock band Visqueen and mother of three. She manages artists at Red Light Management and previously served as Director of Operations at Fretboard Journal. Flotard is a creative producer and founded her own independent record label, Local 638 Records, inspired by her dad’s New York City Steamfitter’s Union. She continues to tour, record and collaborate with folks she loves. Buy the Book How Women Made Music: A Revolutionary History from NPR Music The Elliott Bay Book Company…

Town Hall Seattle Arts & Culture Series

1
390. Trimpin in Discussion with Gary Faigin: The Sound of Invention 51:29

17 weeks ago51:29

51:29

Combining digital technology with everyday salvaged materials, sculptor and composer Trimpin has invented ways of playing everything from giant marimbas to a 60-foot stack of guitars using MIDI commands. Taking inspiration equally from junkyards, museums, and concert halls, Trimpin creates eccentric and interactive instruments from found materials, including saw blades, toy monkeys, duck calls, beer bottles, Bunsen burners, slide projectors, turkey basters, and pottery wheels. Trimpin’s computer-driven musical contraptions defy the constraints of traditional instruments. In conversation with Gage’s Gary Faigin, Trimpin will discuss specific projects from his career and share short videos that highlight his unique approach and philosophy. Trimpin is a German born kinetic sculptor , sound artist , and musician currently living in Seattle and Tieton, Washington . Trimpin’s work integrates sculpture and sound across a variety of media including fixed installation and live music, theater, and dance performance. Beginning in July 2005, several Washington museums engaged in a year-long survey of his work. A feature documentary film about the artist/inventor/composer’s life and work, TRIMPIN: The Sound of Invention , was produced and directed by Peter Esmonde. Painter, critic, and author Gary Faigin is cofounder and Artistic Director of Gage Academy of Art in Seattle, as well as the school’s Still Life Atelier instructor. He has taught in art schools across the country including the National Academy of Design and the Parsons School of Design. Presented by Town Hall Seattle and Gage Academy of Art.…

Town Hall Seattle Arts & Culture Series

1
389. Tonya Lockyer with Jackson Cooper: Navigating Creative Administration — With Advice from Firsthand Accounts 51:08

19 weeks ago51:08

51:08

When we think about consuming art, whether reading a book, visiting a museum, or maybe watching an outdoor performance act, we rarely consider the administrative efforts that go into making art possible. Creative administration is an evolving field that considers the innovation and organizational management necessary to create and present art. Artists find themselves having to balance their own vision, with the practicalities of physical production, collaboration, and so many other factors. Artists on Creative Administration: A Workbook from the National Center for Choreography , is a collection curated by Tonya Lockyer, containing firsthand accounts of creative administration in action. Lockyer is focused on telling stories that can help others progress, making a point to state, “This book is for anyone looking for paths forward; for anyone who believes we are in an exceptional moment of change—change is happening and needs to happen.” Please join us at Town Hall for an expansive conversation on the arts, leadership, and the craft of creative administration. Tonya Lockyer is an award-winning movement artist, choreographer, writer, and cultural curator. Lockyer was the executive and artistic director of Velocity Dance Center in Seattle from 2011 to 2018. Currently, she is also an adjunct professor in Arts Leadership at Seattle University. Her new anthology, Artists on Creative Administration , features the voices of thirty artists and arts workers, sharing their experiences as they navigate issues of equity, design, leadership, collaboration, family, ethics, and care. Jackson Cooper is the Executive Director of the American Genre Film Archive, the world’s largest nonprofit archive and distributor dedicated to preserving, collecting, and presenting the greatest genre films of all time. In 2023, he was named one of the Top 30 Arts Professionals by Musical America magazine and was appointed by Governor jay Inslee to the Washington State Arts Commission in 2024. He serves on the faculties of both Seattle University and UNC-Greensboro where he teaches Fundraising and philanthropy. His first book entitled A Kids Book About Kindness was published in 2023 and his forthcoming book on Sustainable Fundraising will be published by Columbia Business School Publishing in 2026. He holds an MFA in Arts Leadership at Seattle University and a BA in Theatre/Business from UNCG which honored him with the university’s Young Alumni Award this past October 2024. Buy the Book Artists on Creative Administration: A Workbook from the National Center for Choreography Elliott Bay Book Company…

Town Hall Seattle Arts & Culture Series

1
388. Nathan Myhrvold with Bethany Jean Clement: Modernist Bread at Home 1:14:46

19 weeks ago1:14:46

1:14:46

Join Modernist Cuisine founder and author Nathan Myhrvold to explore one of the world’s most beloved (and occasionally controversial) foods: bread. In this conversation that’s sure to be like naan other, Myhrvold will discuss his new book, Modernist Bread at Home , and why now is the perfect time to rise to the occasion and start making bread in your own kitchen. Myhrvold will draw on the Modernist Cuisine team’s extensive research to share some of his favorite insights, tips, and tricks from the book, all the info you knead to make better bread at home. Nathan Myhrvold is founder of Modernist Cuisine and lead author of Modernist Cuisine: The Art and Science of Cooking , Modernist Cuisine at Home , The Photography of Modernist Cuisine , Modernist Bread and the forthcoming Modernist Pizza . He has had a passion for science, cooking, and photography since he was a boy. Nathan enrolled in college at the age of 14 and went on to earn a doctorate in theoretical and mathematical physics as well as a master’s degree in economics from Princeton University. He holds an additional master’s degree in geophysics and space physics and a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of California, Los Angeles. He did postdoctoral work with Stephen Hawking at Cambridge University researching cosmology, quantum field theory in curved space-time, and quantum theories of gravitation before starting a software company that would be acquired by Microsoft. Bethany Jean Clement is a food critic for the Seattle Times . Her writing has also appeared in multiple Best Food Writing anthologies, Food & Wine , The Stranger , Edible Seattle, Gourmet , and many other publications, as well as on the windows of the Greenwood Space Travel Supply Co. She is the former food writer and managing editor of The Stranger , and a former staff writer and managing editor for Seattle Weekly . Buy the Book Modernist Bread at Home Book Larder…

Town Hall Seattle Arts & Culture Series

1
387. André Aciman with Marcie Sillman: Coming of Age in The Eternal City — A New Book by the Author of "Call Me by Your Name" 1:06:09

20 weeks ago1:06:09