visibility and vulnerability in poetry with the bee

You’re in for a great convo today! The Bee is a seasoned slam competitor born and raised in Harlem, whose voice has been a powerful force in the world of poetry. Launching their journey in slam poetry only a few years ago, The Bee brings a deep understanding of storytelling, performance, and community building to this conversation. 

Beyond the stage, their work as a writer and educator helps inspire the next generation of poets and performers. In this episode, we explore their journey in slam poetry, the transformative power of words, and how they’re working to change the narrative around non-visible disabilities each time they get on stage. We’re diving into all of this and more in this conversation.

timestamps

timestamps

  • 1:32 Meet The Bee 

  • 4:26 Learning poetry and finding inspiration 

  • 7:20 Challenges as a young person in poetry 

  • 10:12 Balancing personal vulnerability and public performance 

  • 13:18 Themes in Bee’s writing and real-life impact 

  • 18:58 Thinking about audience 

  • 21:30 Writing vs performing and some history on spoken word

  • 33:45 Highlights of the year 2024 and looking ahead at 2025

  • 38:15 Advice to aspiring poets 

  • 43:50 Some of Bee’s favorite things 

Connect with The Bee:

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soft life, real work with priscilla o. agyeman of saddie baddies