Be True

Be True, Episode 130: Did We Act Honorably?

John reads “The Second Coming,” a poem by William Butler Yeats. He also discusses the challenge of meeting this moment of historic change, fighting America’s decline, and losing unless everyone wins. John Tessitore is a writer, poet, and liberal arts advocate. His poems have appeared in a variety of journals, he has published several chapbooks and two novellas. He has been a journalist, biographer, and editor, taught history and literature at colleges around Boston, managed national policy studies on education and civil justice, and directs a national language-education association. He serves as Co-Editor Across the Pond for The Wee Sparrow Poetry Press. In each episode of Be True—available on most major podcast platforms—he reads and discusses “the writing he loves and the writing he does.” www.johntessitore.com [http://www.johntessitore.com]Substack: @johntessitore YouTube: @johntessitore6366Instagram: @jtessitorewriter1 TikTok: @jtessitorewriterFacebook: JohnTessitore, Writer Threads: @jtessitorewriterBlueSky: @jtessitore.bsky.social This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit johntessitore.substack.com/subscribe [https://johntessitore.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Be True, Episode 129: How to Be Discriminating

John reads a passage of The Souls of Black folk, by W.E.B. DuBois. He discusses the Supreme Court’s vile, racist decision in Louisiana vs. Callais, and the persistence of the color line in America. John Tessitore is a writer, poet, and liberal arts advocate. His poems have appeared in a variety of journals, he has published several chapbooks and two novellas. He has been a journalist, biographer, and editor, taught history and literature at colleges around Boston, managed national policy studies on education and civil justice, and directs a national language-education association. He serves as Co-Editor Across the Pond for The Wee Sparrow Poetry Press. In each episode of Be True—available on most major podcast platforms—he reads and discusses “the writing he loves and the writing he does.” www.johntessitore.com [http://www.johntessitore.com]Substack: @johntessitore YouTube: @johntessitore6366Instagram: @jtessitorewriter1 TikTok: @jtessitorewriterFacebook: JohnTessitore, Writer Threads: @jtessitorewriterBlueSky: @jtessitore.bsky.social This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit johntessitore.substack.com/subscribe [https://johntessitore.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Be True, Episode 128: Oh, That Sinful Fruit

To celebrate spring, John reads “Pomegranate,” a poem by D.H. Lawrence. He also discusses the beauty of...the birds and the bees, the hypocrisy of our species, stupid euphemisms, and The Beach Boys. John Tessitore is a writer, poet, and liberal arts advocate. His poems have appeared in a variety of journals, he has published several chapbooks and two novellas. He has been a journalist, biographer, and editor, taught history and literature at colleges around Boston, managed national policy studies on education and civil justice, and directs a national language-education association. He serves as Co-Editor Across the Pond for The Wee Sparrow Poetry Press. In each episode of Be True—available on most major podcast platforms—he reads and discusses “the writing he loves and the writing he does.” www.johntessitore.com [http://www.johntessitore.com]Substack: @johntessitore YouTube: @johntessitore6366Instagram: @jtessitorewriter1 TikTok: @jtessitorewriterFacebook: JohnTessitore, Writer Threads: @jtessitorewriterBlueSky: @jtessitore.bsky.social This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit johntessitore.substack.com/subscribe [https://johntessitore.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Be True, Episode 127: An Earth Day Message

John reads an excerpt from his novella, Thy Brother’s Blood. He also discusses our daily abuse of the environment, the trouble with podcast fiction, Marshall McLuhan, and the return of his dog Luna. John Tessitore is a writer, poet, and liberal arts advocate. His poems have appeared in a variety of journals, he has published several chapbooks and two novellas. He has been a journalist, biographer, and editor, taught history and literature at colleges around Boston, managed national policy studies on education and civil justice, and directs a national language-education association. He serves as Co-Editor Across the Pond for The Wee Sparrow Poetry Press. In each episode of Be True—available on most major podcast platforms—he reads and discusses “the writing he loves and the writing he does.” www.johntessitore.com [http://www.johntessitore.com]Substack: @johntessitore YouTube: @johntessitore6366Instagram: @jtessitorewriter1 TikTok: @jtessitorewriterFacebook: JohnTessitore, Writer Threads: @jtessitorewriterBlueSky: @jtessitore.bsky.social This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit johntessitore.substack.com/subscribe [https://johntessitore.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Be True, Episode 126: On Telling Ourselves Better Lies

John reads “The New Colossus” by Emma Lazarus. He also discusses his memories of the centennial of the Statue of Liberty, current conflicts between asylum and militarism, and a morality we can share. John Tessitore is a writer, poet, and liberal arts advocate. His poems have appeared in a variety of journals, he has published several chapbooks and two novellas. He has been a journalist, biographer, and editor, taught history and literature at colleges around Boston, managed national policy studies on education and civil justice, and directs a national language-education association. He serves as Co-Editor Across the Pond for The Wee Sparrow Poetry Press. In each episode of Be True—available on most major podcast platforms—he reads and discusses “the writing he loves and the writing he does.” www.johntessitore.com [http://www.johntessitore.com]Substack: @johntessitore YouTube: @johntessitore6366Instagram: @jtessitorewriter1 TikTok: @jtessitorewriterFacebook: JohnTessitore, Writer Threads: @jtessitorewriterBlueSky: @jtessitore.bsky.social This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit johntessitore.substack.com/subscribe [https://johntessitore.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]