Suzie de-deifies mountain deities and climbs a mountain of their own.

About the Author/Reader/Performer:

Suzette Rivers is a writer, filmmaker, cosplayer, model, role-player and poet born and raised in Utah, fighting social norms and injustices through art. "I am a Projector. The Supporting Class. The Bard. The Giver of Inspiration. The Campaigner. This is how I make my way in the world."

Head over to Suzie's socials and check out their book:

Instagram: @suzieneverlands

Threads: @suzieneverlands

Poetry Book: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-supporting-class-suzette-rivers/1146474786

If you are interested in being a featured author, reach out on Instagram @wakingthewhispers, or email me at bensbloomer@gmail.com

Credits:

Guest: Suzette Rivers

Music by: Solomon Bloomer

Recorded, produced, edited by: Ben Bloomer

Logo and art by: Ben Bloomer

*

Rae navigates family relationship, religious deconstruction, and international aid work.

About the Author/Reader/Performer:

Rae Reed is a trans masculine social worker, writer and storyteller who has applied his value of improving cross cultural engagement to all of these roles. Rae works at a refugee agency in Chicago, has told stories at the Steppenwolf Theatre and The Moth and his nonfiction work has been published in an anthology and various newspapers across the US.

You can find Rae's work on his Substack: www.substack.com/@holden84

*

If you are interested in being a featured author, reach out on Instagram @wakingthewhispers, or email me at bensbloomer@gmail.com

Credits:

Guest: Rae Reed

Music by: Solomon Bloomer

Recorded, produced, edited by: Ben Bloomer

Logo and art by: Ben Bloomer

This is just an announcement that "Season 1" is now over and I'll be taking some time off from publishing in order to prep the episodes for Season 2, which I'll announce in a few weeks.

Laura Van Vorst reads Troublemaker and discusses her poetry and her debut collection of the same name.

About the Author/Reader/Performer:

Laura Van Vorst is a poet, singer-songwriter and psychologist, originally from Northern Ireland and now living in Sydney, Australia. Her debut poetry collection, Troublemaker, is available now.

You can find Laura on Instagram, Threads, and TikTok @poems.by.laura, or on Facebook under Poems By Laura. Check out her Linktree for more (https://linktr.ee/poems.by.laura)

If you are interested in being a featured author, reach out on Instagram @wakingthewhispers, or email me at bensbloomer@gmail.com

Credits:

Guest: Laura Van Vorst

Music by: Solomon Bloomer

Recorded, produced, edited by: Ben Bloomer

Logo and art by: Ben Bloomer

Ben shares poetry about the story he deeply wants to still have and subtly expresses his insecurity about his ability to network while asking for additional readers.

If you are interested in being a featured author, reach out on Instagram @wakingthewhispers, or email me at bensbloomer@gmail.com

Credits:

Guest: Ben Bloomer

Music by: Solomon Bloomer

Recorded, produced, edited by: Ben Bloomer

Logo and art by: Ben Bloomer

Devon Love discusses her creative process and shares a piece in the works about the perceived flirtations from a barista.

About the Author/Reader/Performer:

Devon Love is a fashion designer turned award-winning soul musician from Philadelphia in the midst of writing her first album. Devon Love released her EP last year and continues to grow all aspects of her creative pursuits.

You can find Devon on Instagram and Twitter @DevonLoveMusic and you can check out her music on her Spotify: (https://open.spotify.com/artist/1b3uOKyc1ZT2unluhGxxXT?si=QiGb01TZQvarNjHD3AB34w&nd=1&dlsi=80b5b1622b6146aa)

If you are interested in being a featured author, reach out on Instagram @wakingthewhispers, or email me at bensbloomer@gmail.com

Credits:

Guest: Devon Love

Music by: Solomon Bloomer

Recorded, produced, edited by: Ben Bloomer

Logo and art by: Ben Bloomer

Lisa Marie Farver shares two poems: One of love of self and one of love of David Attenborough. Lisa and Ben discuss creativity. Surprise, surprise.

About the Author/Reader/Performer:

Lisa Marie Farver is a poet and storyteller whose work has been featured at the Uptown Poetry Slam, You’re Being Ridiculous, Beast Women, That’s Poetic! and more. Lisa was a finalist in the 2025 Gwendolyn Brooks Open Mic Awards. She teaches journalism at ChiArts and is the founder of Everyone's Type Poetry & Performance.

You can connect with Lisa at her website: www.everyonestype.com, and on instagram, @everyoneztype

If you're listening in February of 2026, check out Lisa's upcoming events, as described by her:

On Feb. 12 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., I'll be typing free love poems at the Intercontinental Hotel.

On Feb. 14 at 8 p.m., I'll be performing poetry at The Poetry Brothel Chicago: DEVOTION at Aloft Circus Arts. I have fashioned a corset-like top out of two thrifted heart-shaped placemats. And I'll be debuting new poems.

On Feb. 15 at 3 p.m., I'll be performing as The Typing Bat as part of the Uptown Poetry Slam at the Green Mill.

On 2/21 from 2 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. I'll be doing typewriter poetry at Mindful Baking's Tempt*a*tion Market. There's a poetry slam open mic I'm hosting there that starts at 5:30 p.m.

On 2/21 at 8 p.m., I'm going to be doing storytelling for Ladies' Night at Atlantic Pub & Grill.

*

If you are interested in being a featured author, reach out on Instagram @wakingthewhispers, or email me at bensbloomer@gmail.com

Credits:

Guest: Lisa Marie Farver

Music by: Solomon Bloomer

Recorded, produced, edited by: Ben Bloomer

Logo and art by: Ben Bloomer

Michael Bane shares a story from 2020 about a search for family and the significance of seemingly insignificant decisions. Notably absent: a review of The Old Guard.

About the Author/Reader/Performer:

Michael is an attorney, a dad, and a formerly closeted nerd. He once ran marathons, but has since made peace with himself.

If you are interested in being a featured author, reach out on Instagram @wakingthewhispers, or email me at bensbloomer@gmail.com

Credits:

Guest: Michael Bane

Music by: Solomon Bloomer

Recorded, produced, edited by: Ben Bloomer

Logo and art by: Ben Bloomer