Versify

They say you should never go into business with family — but for Craig Fernandes, starting a patriotic clothing company with his son Brady has actually brought the two of them closer together. Craig speaks to poet Kelley Bell about how experiencing a mid-career layoff helped him get to know his son better, at a point in life where most parents and their children grow apart.

For Betty and Raul Malo, lead singer of country band the Mavericks, their romantic life has been punctuated by a series of severe storms. August of '92: Hurricane Andrew throttled the Florida coastline, destroying Betty's home just months before their wedding. So she and Raul eloped instead and moved to Nashville. But then, May of 2010: A 1,000-year flood devastated the city. In this episode, we’ll hear from Betty about the couple's struggles over 25 years of marriage and learn why their experience resonates with poet Allison Boyd Justus, who takes what she’s heard and turns it into poetry. Versify is a production of Nashville Public Radio and The Porch — Nashville’s nonprofit literary center. Editing for this episode came from WPLN’s Mack Linebaugh and Tony Gonzalez, with additional editing by Anita Bugg and The Porch’s Susannah Felts. The episode was written, hosted and produced by Joshua Moore. The music is by Raul Malo of The Mavericks and by Daddy Long Legs, found through the Free Music Archive. The show is distributed by PRX. Today’s story and poem were recorded by Luke Wiget at Cornelia Fort Airpark.

Emily Tan comes from generations of immigrants and refugees; and she’s traveled the globe in pursuit of a family history fragmented by war. In this episode, Emily speaks with poet Destiny Birdsong about her journey to reconnect with relatives both past and present. You’ll hear about Emily’s experiences abroad, her mother’s ongoing search for the siblings she lost while fleeing Cambodia, and Emily’s own search for a relationship with her older brother, who lives in the same city but might as well be on the other side of the world. Credits: Versify is a production of Nashville Public Radio and The Porch, which trains our poets and hosts our storytelling events. Editing for this episode came from WPLN’s Blake Farmer, Tony Gonzalez, and Anita Bugg, along with The Porch’s Susannah Felts. Production for this episode came from Tasha Lemley. The episode was written, hosted, and co-produced by Joshua Moore. The music is by Podington Bear and Jahazzar — found through the free music archive.\ The show is distributed by PRX. \ The story and poem were recorded by Sean Clark at SNAP Community Center.

In our second season of Versify, we bring you moments of impact: those times when our storytellers’ lives were changed forever. Decisive moments, pivotal shifts, and even brushes with death. You’ll hear moving personal stories, and also how our writers turn what they hear into poetry. Season 2 launches Feb. 8 Music in this trailer by Yuichiro Fujimoto and the Salakapakka Sound System.

In creating Versify, we’ve realized the power of listening to people's stories and sharing them as poetry. To close out our first season, we’re gonna take you through some of the first poems and conversations that inspired us to make this show. And you’ll journey with us as we explore what it truly means — for our participants and our poets — to feel heard. * *Credits: Versify is a production of Nashville Public Radio and The Porch writers’ collective, which trains our poets and hosts our storytelling events. Editing and production today came from WPLN’s Tony Gonzalez, Emily Siner, Anita Bugg, and Joshua Moore along with The Porch’s Susannah Felts. The music is by Jahazzar — found through the Free Music Archive. The show is distributed by P-R-X.

For Nashville Councilwoman Nancy VanReece, her passion for public service began with an act of intimidation. It was 1968 — and she was 4 — when someone threw a rock through the window of her family home. It was the day after the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., and her father, a dentist, had lowered the flag on their porch to half-staff. VanReece, who has since become the first openly out lesbian elected to a legislative body in Tennessee, shares the pivotal childhood moment and then listens as Nashville poet Kelley Bell turns her words into poetry: I was wrapped in the colors of nighttime. Sleeping curled until I heard the crash. A blast then short cascade like beads my mother's feet down the hall. The ‘go back to sleep.’ Then the murmur of voices like any other bedtime … Credits: This episode of Versify was edited and mastered by WPLN’s Tony Gonzalez, with additional editing by Emily Siner and Anita Bugg, and Susannah Felts. The show is written, hosted and produced by Joshua Moore, a poet with The Porch. Today’s story and poem were recorded by Sean Clark at the 2017 Nashville Neighborhoods Celebration. The music is by Josh Woodard, Dr. Turtle, Jahazzar, Yair Yona, all found through the Free Music Archive.

For Eloise Briscoe, raising two daughters hasn’t been about splashy gestures, but more “the simple things” — an approach gleaned from the long line of women in her family. As the unofficial family historian, Eloise is a diligent keeper of memories, and today she challenges poet J. Joseph Kane to honor all of these women — Emma, Nana, Margaret, Eloise, Shannon, and Maura — with a poetic gift that she intends to share with her aging 92-year-old mother. As a bonus, we also hear a story-turned-into-poetry from the youngest Briscoe generation, as Eloise’s daughter also takes part with Nashville poet Alicia Marie Brandewie. Credits: This episode of Versify is hosted by Joshua Moore, a poet with The Porch, Nashville’s nonprofit literary center. The episode was written, edited, produced, and mastered by WPLN’s Tony Gonzalez, with additional editing by Mack Linebaugh and Anita Bugg. The music is by Rest You Sleeping Giant, found through the Free Music Archive, and the original composition paired with the poem is by Alicia Enstrom.

More than most people, Ben Groner feels pretty lucky to be alive — and that’s because his life is the result of some pretty remarkable choices. In this episode, Ben tells poet Megan Smith about his parents’ unlikely love story, how he and his twin brother came to be, and about a secret that could have kept the two of them from ever coming into existence. **Credits: This episode of Versify was hosted and produced by Joshua Moore, a poet with The Porch, Nashville’s nonprofit literary center. The episode was edited by WPLN’s Blake Farmer and Tony Gonzalez, with additional editing by Anita Bugg. Carl Pedersen masters the show. The music is by Alex Mason, Podington Bear, Kaela Drew and Hawkin — all found through the Free Music Archive. Today’s story and poem were recorded by producer Sean Clark at the Converge Nashville gallery space.

Ask anyone about their neighbors and they’ll likely have a strong opinion to share. This week, Versify’s team of poets sit down with strangers to hear stories about neighbors and neighborhoods. They discover unusual recollections and moments of camaraderie — and then turn those memories into original poems. * * Credits: Versify is hosted by Joshua Moore, a poet with The Porch, Nashville’s nonprofit literary center. The show is edited and produced by WPLN’s Tony Gonzalez, with additional editing on this episode by Blake Farmer, Anita Bugg, and Susannah Felts. Carl Pedersen masters the show. The music is by Mystery Mammal and the Anamorphic Orchestra, found through the Free Music Archive. Today’s stories and poems were recorded at the 2016 Athens of the South Music and Arts Festival in Nashville, Tenn.

Ambushed by a menacing dog, Nashville  physics teacher (and standup comedian) Bob Clark taps into some unconventional wisdom in his attempt to flee. Bob slyly reveals his story to poet Destiny Birdsong. She’s caught off guard, but weaves the compelling tale into an original poem about physics, relationships, and survival. Credits: Versify is hosted and co-produced by Joshua Moore, a poet with The Porch, Nashville’s nonprofit literary center. The show is edited and produced by WPLN’s Tony Gonzalez, with additional editing on this episode by Emily Siner, Anita Bugg, and Susannah Felts. Carl Pedersen masters the show. The music is by Aoiroooasamusi and by Moons, found through the Free Music Archive.  Today’s story and poem were recorded by producer Tasha French Lemley at Parnassus Books in Nashville, Tenn., during Independent Bookstore Store 2017.

For much of her life, Ali Russell has been uncertain about religion. Even as a little girl, she’d ask her parents, “How do we know we’re worshiping the right God?” She even had a Jesus dream that still lingers with her today. In this episode, Ali shares her story to her longtime friend and Nashville poet Dana Malone, who takes Ali’s religious odyssey and transforms it into poetry.   The story and poem from this episode were recorded by field producer Tasha French Lemley at Casa Azafran in Nashville.  Credits: Versify is hosted by Joshua Moore, a poet with The Porch, Nashville’s nonprofit literary center. The show is edited and produced by WPLN’s Tony Gonzalez, with additional editing on this episode by Mack Linebaugh, Alicia Marie Brandewie, Anita Bugg, and Susannah Felts. The show is mastered by Carl Pedersen. The music is by Chris Zabriskie and Textile Audio, found through the Free Music Archive. Versify is a production of Nashville Public Radio and PRX. Stories and poems are gathered with the help of The Porch. ****

Serg Rodriguez hasn’t seen his family in years. He was excommunicated by their church and grew apart from his parents and siblings. But now as a writer in Nashville, his little sister is never far from his mind. Without warning, she troubles his thoughts and finds here way into everything he puts on paper. In this episode, we find out how family rejection has actually helped Serg to better understand unconditional love. And then Nashville poet Ciona Rouse turns Serg’s story into an original poem. Credits: Editing and production by Tony Gonzalez, hosting and editing by Joshua Moore. Additional editing assistance: Emily Siner, Blake Farmer, Anita Bugg, Susannah Felts, Katie McDougall, & J. Joseph Kane. The show is mastered by Carl Pedersen. The music is by The Ampersand Posture, with additional tracks by Coolzey, and DarkSunn. Versify is a production of Nashville Public Radio and PRX. Stories and poems are gathered with the help of The Porch, Nashville's nonprofit literary center.

Ebralie Mwizerwa is a mother of five, an accountant, a devoted church-goer — and a survivor of the 1994 Rwandan genocide. She fled with her family while pregnant and now runs a nonprofit that assists incoming refugee families in Nashville, Tennessee. Ebralie shares the story of her harrowing escape to poet Destiny Birdsong, who takes up the challenge of crafting an original poem for Ebralie — “trying to figure out how to speak the unspeakable,” as Destiny says. This story was recorded at Legacy Mission Village and the poem recorded live on stage as part of the International Women’s Day celebration at OZ Arts Nashville in March 2017. Credits: Editing/Co-production by: Tony Gonzalez, Hosting/Co-production by: Joshua Moore Additional Editing assistance: Emily Siner, Blake Farmer, Anita Bugg, Susannah Felts, Ciona Rouse, and Carissa Stolting The show is mastered by Carl Pedersen. The music is by The Pangolins and by Komiku — both found through the Free Music Archive.

Fred Bailey grew up blind on a farm in Gallatin, Tennessee — except he didn’t actually know he was blind at first. Through a run in with a teacher, a visit to a doctor, and a confrontation with his father, he learned how to find strength in his limitations. And now he strives to pass on a similar tenacity to children through his after-school program, Children Are People. In this episode, Fred shares his story to Nashville poet and rapper Saran Thompson. And then within minutes, Saran takes what he’s heard and transforms it into an original poem. Credits: Editing/co-production by: Tony Gonzalez, Hosting/co-production by: Joshua Moore. Additional Editing assistance: Emily Siner, Blake Farmer, Anita Bugg, and Susannah Felts. Production assistance, recording, and mastering by Luke Wiget. A special thanks to The McJimpsey Center and the Jefferson Street Art Crawl for hosting the event where this audio were recorded on March 25, 2017. The music is by Saran Thompson. Versify is a production of Nashville Public Radio and PRX. Stories and poems are gathered with the help of The Porch, Nashville’s nonprofit literary center.

In the newest podcast from Nashville Public Radio, The Porch writers’ collective, and PRX, people tell life stories and hear writers turn their words into poetry. We launch on Aug. 24 with three episodes. Here’s a sneak peak.