Ben reads a couple Christmas themed writings because he ran out of time to publish a proper episode. Happy holidays.

If you want to be featured, reach out to @wakingthewhispers on instagram

Mercedes reads her poem about child abuse and the failures of churches to protect children

Trigger warning: Child sexual abuse

About the Author:

Mercedes is Ben's older sister and loves her family and her crows. She is beautiful and delightful always there for her siblings.

About the Thumbnail:

Mercedes and Ben being adorable kids, worth protecting

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

Credits:

Guest: Mercedes

Recorded, produced, edited by: Ben Bloomer

Music by: Solomon Bloomer

Logo and art by: Ben Bloomer

Ben talks too long about attachment theory and reads poems about his divorce. Cheers.

Curious about attachment theory? Check out Heidi Priebe's channel on youtube

About the Author:

Ben is a kind of silly human who recently discovered that he likes poetry and art. He also has a podcast, if you can believe it. I'd list his hobbies, but he has ADHD, so he has a new hobby every week or two.

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

Recorded, produced, edited by: Ben Bloomer

Music by: Solomon Bloomer

Logo and art by: Ben Bloomer

Mars Gomez shares a poignant metaphor drawing inspiration from the dogs inside us.

About the Author:

Mars lives in Normal, IL and is passionate about storytelling. They love to draw and work on creative writing while sipping tea and playing D&D with friends.

See some of Mars' art on their instagram @marssumii

You can listen to their D&D Podcast on Spotify here

Credits:

Guest: Mars Gomez

Recorded, produced, edited by: Ben Bloomer

Music by: Solomon Bloomer

Logo and art by: Ben Bloomer

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

The magic of artistic independence, fighting to keep your voice-- Ariel Bloomer shares her essay and we discuss how hard it is to share cheesecake.

About the Author:

Ariel Bloomer is the lead singer and lyricist of Icon for Hire, a rock band based in Nashville. She's obsessed with the creative process and inspiration, and using her voice to empower others to face their mental health challenges with courage and self love. Also a wonderful big sister.

Get in touch with Ariel on Instagram: @iconforhire

Check out their full page on Spotify

Or jump to Ben's favorite songs:

Venom; Shadow

Credits:

Guest: Ariel Bloomer

Recorded, produced, edited by: Ben Bloomer

Music by: Solomon Bloomer

Logo and art by: Ben Bloomer

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

Transfixed around the fire, transcendent moments in community. Chris Easley and I discuss the ways that poetry and community captures us.

About the Author:

Chris Easley is Team Leader at Mission Central, a ministry based in Aurora, Illinois dedicated to forming Christians for mission in everyday life. When he’s not writing poetry, you'll find Chris reading a time travel novel or cooking dinner with his wife Katie and their three cats.

Get in touch with Chris:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christophereasley/

IG: @teammissioncentral

FB: @TeamMissionCentral

Credits:

Guest: Chris Easley

Recorded, produced, edited by: Ben Bloomer

Music by: Solomon Bloomer

Logo and art by: Ben Bloomer

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

Grace McCutcheon shares three poems themed around the deaths of the scripts we follow, egos, and trees.

About the Author:

Grace loves community, nature, and whimsy, and she's looking forward for a life alongside the ocean doing adventure therapy. If you'd like to get to know her more, reach out on Instagram @grutcheon. She also wanted me to highlight a resource that was helpful for her in her journey out of covert emotional abuse--check out themendproject.com if you'd like to learn more.

Credits:

Guest: Grace McCutcheon

Recorded, produced, edited by: Ben Bloomer

Music by: Solomon Bloomer

Logo and art by: Ben Bloomer

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

Listening to the yearning song of the magnolia tree. Karen Savella Stallard shares her poem and we discuss its inspirations, implications, and evocations.

Credits:

Guest: Karen Savella Stallard

Recorded, produced, edited by: Ben Bloomer

Music by: Solomon Bloomer

Logo and art by: Ben Bloomer

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