Ascent, Accent (featuring work by Ira Sukrungruang, Jessica Poli, James Ciano, Kimberley Grey, Nicole Walker, and Lina Maria Ferreira Cabeza-Vanegas)

Ascent, Accent (featuring work by Ira Sukrungruang, Jessica Poli, James Ciano, Kimberley Grey, Nicole Walker, and Lina Maria Ferreira Cabeza-Vanegas)

Thank you for listening to the Blackbird Literary Podcast. The production of this episode was made possible by Blackbird: An Online Journal of Literature and the Arts, the VCU MFA in Creative Writing program, the VCU English Department, the VCU Kinetic Imaging Department, the VCU School of Music, the VPM + ICA Community Media Center, and VCU Libraries. Special thanks to Blackbird Faculty editor, Jessica Hendry Nelson and, Blackbird faculty poetry editor, Devon Walker-Figueroa. The Blackbird Literary Podcast’s episode 3 production team was lead producer and editor, Trey Burnart Hall, and associate producer and editor, Anna Leonard. “This Body Can Hardly Contain [https://blackbird.vcu.edu/this-body-can-hardly-contain/]” was written by Ira Sukrungruang, published in Blackbird Flight v23n1, composed and performed by Betsy (Pod-sea-odd-low) Podsiadlo, with a voiceover from Bhavya Bhagtani. “The Duchess of Lightning Drowns [https://blackbird.vcu.edu/the-duchess-of-lightning-drowns//]” & “Anonymous Horse and Rider [https://blackbird.vcu.edu/anonymous-horse-and-rider/]” were written by Jessica Poli, published in Blackbird Flight v23n3, composed and performed by Markus Chu, with a voiceover for “The Duchess of Lightning Drowns [https://blackbird.vcu.edu/the-duchess-of-lightning-drowns//]” from Sarp Demiral and a voiceover for “Anonymous Horse and Rider [https://blackbird.vcu.edu/anonymous-horse-and-rider/]” from Lil Lamberta. “Unsent (Brother) [https://blackbird.vcu.edu/unsent-brother/]” was written and read by James Ciano, published in Blackbird Flight v23n3, composed and performed by Stephen Kuester with additional production and composition by Fig Vishton. “The Situation and the Story [https://blackbird.vcu.edu/the-situation-and-the-story/]” was written by Kimberley Grey, published in Blackbird Flight v23n1, composed and performed by Miri Sluis with a voiceover from Jesse Lacy. “Why Your Ears Ring at Night [https://blackbird.vcu.edu/why-your-ears-ring-at-night/]” was written and read by Nicole Walker, published in Blackbird Flight v23n3, and composed and performed by Claudia Andrade Ayala. Lina Maria Ferreira Cabeza-Vanegas was interviewed by Trey Burnart Hall during the 2025 Nonfiction Now Conference at Notre Dame, with interview music composed and performed by Benji Wilson. Episode narration was written and performed by Trey Burnart Hall, with episode narration music composed and performed by Benji Wilson. This episode was mixed by Markus Chu and mastered by Allen Bergendahl. The Blackbird Literary Podcast thanks you for supporting this creative endeavor.

Fledgling, Flight (featuring work by Hannah Bonner, Victoria Chang, Sara Elkamel, Sarah Minor, Kivel Carson, and Jessica Hendry Nelson)

Thank you for listening to the Blackbird Literary Podcast [https://blackbird.vcu.edu/podcast/]. Episode Two: Fledgling, Flight features “Pastoral” & “Without Warning” by Hannah Bonner, “Elegy with a Chinese Checkerboard” by Victoria Chang, “The Only Recipe My Grandma Ever Wrote Down” by Kivel Carson, “How Most of the Dreams Go” by Sara Elkamel, “Smithereen (1, 2, 3)” by Sarah Minor, a musical performance from the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra, and interview excerpts with Blackbird’s faculty editor, Jessica Hendry Nelson. The production of this episode was made possible by Blackbird: An Online Journal of Literature and the Arts, the VCU MFA in Creative Writing program, the VCU English Department, the VCU Kinetic Imaging Department, the VCU School of Music, the VPM + ICA Community Media Center, and VCU Libraries. Special thanks to Blackbird’s Faculty editors Jessica Hendry Nelson and Devon Walker-Figueroa. The Blackbird Literary Podcast’s episode 2 production team was lead producer and editor, Trey Burnart Hall, and associate producer and editor, Anna Leonard. “Pastoral [https://blackbird.vcu.edu/pastoral//]” & “Without Warning [https://blackbird.vcu.edu/without-warning/]” were written and read by Hannah Bonner, published in Blackbird Flight v23n2, composed and performed by Claudia Andrade Ayala. “Elegy with a Chinese Checkerboard [https://blackbird-archive.vcu.edu/v8n1/poetry/chang_v/chinese_page.shtml]” was written by Victoria Chang, published in Blackbird Vol. 8 No. 1, composed and performed by Stephen Kuester, featuring production and sound design by Markus Chu, with a voiceover from Carolyn Baker Stewart. “The Only Recipe My Grandma Ever Wrote Down [https://blackbird.vcu.edu/the-only-recipe-my-grandma-ever-wrote-down/]” was written by Kivel Carson, published in Blackbird Flight v23n3, field recordings by Ærn Stapel, composed and performed by Steph Roach with additional editing by Adrian Wood, and a voiceover from Bernita Sykes. “How Most of the Dreams Go [https://blackbird.vcu.edu/how-most-of-the-dreams-go/]” was written by Sara Elkamel, published in Blackbird Flight v23n2, composed and performed by Mallie Schneider with a voiceover from Mara Hyman. “Smithereen (1 [https://blackbird.vcu.edu/smithereen-1/], 2 [https://blackbird.vcu.edu/smithereen-2//], 3 [https://blackbird.vcu.edu/smithereen-3//])” was written and read by Sarah Minor, published in Blackbird Flight v23n3, composed and performed by Miri Sluis. The closing musical composition was inspired by Hannah Bonner’s poetry, composed by Claudia Andrade Ayala, and performed by the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra. Jessica Hendry Nelson was interviewed by Anna Leonard, with interview music composed and performed by Benji Wilson. Episode narration was written and performed by Trey Burnart Hall, with episode narration music composed and performed by Benji Wilson. This episode was mixed by Markus Chu and mastered by Allen Bergendahl. The Blackbird Literary Podcast thanks you for supporting this creative endeavor.

Archive, Nest (featuring work by Diane Seuss, Claudia Emerson, Larry Levis, Emilia Phillips, and Mary Flinn)

We are excited to debut a new venture: Blackbird Literary Podcast. Our podcast quilts together readings, interviews, excerpts, and narratives with soundscapes and original compositions. Episodes harmonize with and build upon the journal’s literary and visual art content. Unlike traditional print or other podcasts, our project elevates text beyond the page into multi-sensorial experiences, fusing established and emerging writers with original compositions and sound design. Episode One: Archive, Nest features "prayer that goes: dear god" by Diane Seuss, "Stringed Instrument Collection" and "Piano Fire" by Claudia Emerson, "Elegy for Poe with the Music of a Carnival Inside It" by Larry Levis, "Lodge: a Lyric Essay" by Emilia Phillips, and interview excerpts with one of Blackbird’s founders, Mary Flinn. The production of this episode was made possible by Blackbird: An Online Journal of Literature and the Arts, the VCU MFA in Creative Writing program, the VCU English Department, the VCU Kinetic Imaging Department, the VCU School of Music, the VPM + ICA Community Media Center, and VCU Libraries. Special thanks to Blackbird’s Faculty editors Jessica Hendry Nelson and Kathy Graber. The Blackbird Literary Podcast’s episode 1 production team consisted of lead producer and editor Trey Burnart Hall and associate producer and editor Anna Leonard. “prayer that goes: dear god [https://blackbird-archive.vcu.edu/v6n1/poetry/seuss_d/prayer.htm]” was written by Dianne Suess, published in Blackbird Vol. 6. No. 1, composed and performed by Kendra Lyons with a voiceover from Carolyn Baker Stewart. “Stringed Instrument Collection [https://blackbird-archive.vcu.edu/v21n3/poetry/emerson-c/stringed-page.shtml]” was written by Claudia Emerson, published in Blackbird Vol. 21 No. 3, composed and performed by Stephen Kuester, featuring production and performance by Trey Burnart Hall and upright bass from Beatrice Kelly with a voiceover from Mal Chowdhury. “Piano Fire [https://blackbird-archive.vcu.edu/v21n3/poetry/emerson-c/piano-page.shtml]” was written by Claudia Emerson, published in Blackbird Vol. 21 No. 3, composed and performed by Claudia Andrade Ayala with a voiceover from Mal Chowdhury. “Elegy for Poe with the Music of a Carnival Inside It [https://blackbird-archive.vcu.edu/v21n2/poetry/levis-l/elegy-page.shtml]” was written by Larry Levis, published in Blackbird Vol. 21 No. 2, composed and performed by Max Kadence with a voiceover from Charles Meyer. “Lodge: A Lyric Essay [https://blackbird-archive.vcu.edu/v14n1/nonfiction/phillips_e/lodge_page.shtml]” was written by Emilia Phillips, published in Blackbird Vol. 14 No. 1, composed and performed by Miri Sluis with a voiceover from Anna Leonard with post-voiceover audio editing by Stephen Vitiello. Mary Flinn was interviewed by Jessica Hendry Nelson, with interview music composed and performed by Max Kadence. Episode narration was written and performed by Trey Burnart Hall. This episode was mixed by Max Kadence and mastered by Allen Bergendahl. Blackbird Literary Podcast thanks you for supporting this creative endeavor.