It's a Counter Culture Club Random minus the Maher as we Monkey around with not Boy George of the Jungle but founder of the Light in the Dark Fest, a glorious gathering of peace, environmentalism and creative expression, Becca Joseph who admits to Mickey Dolenz having been her imaginary friend at age 4.

Music, road trips and how easy is it to be an easy writer.

The Open Road and Open Mics.

Waffle House!

Other movies mentioned: Sisu, Will and Harper, Good Fortune, The Matrix and more.

Light in the Dark Festival's mission is to bring socially and environmentally conscious music and art events, including an annual festival to Southeast Florida. These events feature critically acclaimed national acts, rising and local artists ranging from the visual arts to the oratory arts with a focus on themes such as environmentalism and unity.

https://www.lightinthedarkfest.com/

Hey Hey!! Keep it Reel.

After a brief cover of A DOZEN VIRGINS, AKA Beowulf's Army by Scottt (adapted from the screenplay by Neil Gaiman and Roger Avary) we hear our magnificent guest, Crystal Espinosa deliver her thrilling piece on the film in her signature style of revealing a poem's title only at the end of its delivery.

In addition to getting to know Crystal better, as a poet and a person, an educator turned administrator, we have a great talk about the film centered on heroism, legacy, and power concluding with an encore of her poem and one from each of our hosts.

Follow Crystal's incredible work in Miami curating @popupoetrymia with the next edition slated for February 21st at the CAMP GALLERY.

And please check out her leg spinning sentence swinging synthesis of words and movement in her wonderful book Paragraphs and Pirouettes.

Having been wowed by Cronos early on, we were bowling balled over and struck by Nightmare Alley, tried keeping it reel with Pinocchio and have been repeatedly chilled and charmed by this filmmaker's work.

On today's episode we take out our white coats and microscopes to dig in to the Pan's Lab from the inimitable and imaginative Guillermo Del Toro with our special guest Stella Amador. Raise a glass, toss your toast, its Pan-demonium on today's episode of Reel Poets.

Labyrinth is a fantasy horror film following a young girl named Ofelia escaping her brutal stepfather Captain Vidal through a series of fanciful quests inside an otherworldly experience of fauns and baby eaters. Vidal's the kind of guy who makes Cinderella's stepsisters seem like (step)Mother Teresa and its proving exceedingly more and more difficult for Princess Moana to get back to her castle in tact. What's been your experience with step parents? Let us know in the comments below along with some of your spookiest and absolute favorite fairy tales.

Also if you are up to the challenge send us a reel poem about a Nightmare you recently had.

Before we chop it up on the film, we talk with Stella Amador, an American poet with Nicaraguan roots, an entrepreneur, and a community builder whose work lives where intention meets imagination. As the founder of @bloombystella, she creates tools and spaces that help people grow with purpose and care.

With a background in psychology and two decades of experience across law, construction, and startups, Stella developed the PLANT Framework (Prioritize, Learn, Act, Nurture, Take Care), a philosophy grounded in reflection, sustainability, and real-world momentum.

Check out her PLANT Your Life Planner (Spring 2025) and @wildbloompoetry and catch her LIVE at the Huizenga Park Grand Reopening with our hosts...

Saturday, January 24, 2026 | 10 AM–2 PM

Enjoy the conversation and keep it reel!