Syncreate Podcast Episode 52 [AUDIO]: Texas Poet Laureate Amanda Johnston

Amanda Johnston is the 2024 Texas Poet Laureate, the first Black woman appointed to the role by the Texas State Legislature. She is also the recent winner of a 2024 Academy of American Poets Laureate Fellowship. She is the author of two chapbooks, GUAP and Lock & Key, and the full-length collection Another Way to Say Enter. Her work has appeared in numerous online and print publications.
Named one of Blavity’s "13 Black Poets You Should Know," Amanda’s work has been featured on Bill Moyers, the Poetry Society of America’s series In Their Own Words, The Moth Radio Hour, and the Academy of American Poets Poem-a-Day series. She is the Founder of Torch Literary Arts, which amplifies Black women’s voices through publishing opportunities and an annual writer’s retreat. In this episode, we discuss her literary efforts and activities, as well as her creative process, and she recites two of her notable poems.
For our Creativity Pro-Tip, we encourage you to build your creative community by going to events, connecting with other artists, and supporting your fellow creatives. The more you connect with your community, the more opportunities arise.
Credits: The Syncreate podcast is created and hosted by Melinda Rothouse, and produced at Record ATX studios with in collaboration Michael Osborne and 14th Street Studios in Austin, Texas. Syncreate logo design by Dreux Carpenter.
If you enjoy this episode, you might also like our conversations in Episode 6: Gratitude, Gentleness, and Generosity with Mayela Padilla Manasjan, Episode 9: Music and Psychology: "The Pocket" Experience with Dr. Jeff Mims, and Episode 12: Creativity, Inclusivity and Community Theater with Sharanya Rao.
At Syncreate, we're here to support your creative endeavors. If you have an idea for a project or a new venture, and you’re not sure how to get it off the ground, find us at syncreate.org. Our book, also called Syncreate, walks you through the stages of the creative process so you can take action on your creative goals. We also offer resources, creative process tools, and coaching to help you bring your work to the world. You can find more information on our website, where you can also find all of our podcast episodes. Find and connect with us on social media and KZbin under Syncreate, and we’re now on Patreon as well. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and leave us a review!
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