Bee Balm Presents

Marking Our Bodies, Marking Ourselves with Sara Schellenberg

In this special episode of Bee Balm Presents, host Julia Paganelli Marín welcomes Sara Schellenberg [http://www.instagram.com/schberg/], a tattoo artist and co-owner of Paper Doll [http://www.instagram.com/paperdolltat/] in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Sara shares her journey, discussing the cooperative and inclusive nature of her tattoo shop, which serves as a creative and safe space in Northwest Arkansas. They explore the significance of personal expression through tattoos and how it empowers individuals to reclaim their bodies. Sara shares "Self-Portrait with Sylvia Plath's Braid" by Diane Seuss, reflecting on the poem's themes of beauty, identity, and self-expression, relating it to her experiences as a queer woman. They discuss the symbolism of hair and its connection to personal and cultural identity, exploring the concept of the "uncanny valley" in queerness—how slight deviations from norms can evoke strong reactions. Join us for a conversation that connects horror, beauty, and the transformative power of art and poetry to understand one’s identity and find self-acceptance.  Stay tuned for Season 2 of Bee Balm Presents. It’ll be in your feeds soon. Bee Balm Presents is a Bee Balm Arkansas⁠⁠ [http://beebalmarkansas.com] project in partnership with the Listening Lab⁠⁠ [https://www.kuaf.com/show/ozarks-at-large/2023-11-13/the-listening-lab-the-age-of-plastic] at KUAF National Public Radio. Bee Balm Presents Host: Julia Paganelli Marín Bee Balm Presents Producer: Micah Poor Listening Lab Coordinator: Emerson Alexander Special thanks to Avery Martin for permission to use their song “Peach Pretender”. It's a sneak peek from their unreleased EP by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Avery Lee and The Sweeties⁠⁠ [http://www.instagram.com/averyleeband/]⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about Bee Balm Arkansas at our ⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://beebalmarkansas.com] or by following us on⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠ [http://instagram.com/beebalmarkansas]⁠⁠⁠⁠. "Self Portrait with Sylvia Plath's Braid [https://poets.org/poem/self-portrait-sylvia-plaths-braid]" by Diane Seuss initially published on poets.org [http://poets.org] in the Poem-a-Day series on May 25, 2015.

Julia Paganelli Marín on Love & Bureaucracy

In this season finale of Bee Balm Presents, producer Micah Poor sits down with Julia Paganelli Marín to explore her poem “Dear USCIS Officer,” which explores the emotional and bureaucratic labyrinth of a U.S. green card process through United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Julia offers a personal window into her and her partner's strenuous journey of love, identity, and struggle for familial recognition–and the difference between living through something and telling the story of an experience.  This episode delves into the power of writing poetry to confront and navigate bureaucratic indifference and systemic barriers. Join us for a discussion on the transformative potential of poetry in the face of adversity. Bee Balm Presents is a ⁠⁠⁠⁠Bee Balm Arkansas⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://beebalmarkansas.com] project in partnership with the ⁠Listening Lab⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.kuaf.com/show/ozarks-at-large/2023-11-13/the-listening-lab-the-age-of-plastic] at KUAF National Public Radio. Bee Balm Presents Host: Julia Paganelli Marín Bee Balm Presents Producer: Micah Poor Listening Lab Coordinator: Emerson Alexander KUAF Executive Director: Leigh Wood Special thanks to Avery Martin for permission to use their song “Peach Pretender”. It's a sneak peek from their unreleased EP by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Avery Lee and The Sweeties⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://www.instagram.com/averyleeband/]⁠⁠⁠ dropping in Spring 2024.  Learn more about Bee Balm Arkansas at our ⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://beebalmarkansas.com] or by following us on⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://instagram.com/beebalmarkansas]⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Cameron Mussar on Illuminating the Self

In this episode of Bee Balm Presents, Julia Paganelli Marín and Cameron Mussar explore Richard Siken's "Visible World [https://reflections.yale.edu/article/end-times-and-end-gamesis-scripture-being-left-behind/visible-world]," a poem that navigates the complexities of self-discovery and the stark realities of human emotion. Their discussion strips back its layers, revealing how light and shadow serve as metaphors for the internal and external forces shaping our identities and experiences. Cameron brings a personal perspective to the conversation, linking the poem's themes to broader discussions on queer identity, the nature of loss, and the act of finding oneself amidst life's tumult. This episode not only highlights the poem's relevance to contemporary discussions about identity and loss but also underscores the transformative potential of poetry to challenge, comfort, and connect us across diverse life experiences. Join us for a conversation that looks beyond the surface poetry, engaging with the text's deeper questions about visibility, existence, and the barriers we face in understanding ourselves and each other. Bee Balm Presents is a ⁠⁠⁠⁠Bee Balm Arkansas⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://beebalmarkansas.com] project in partnership with the ⁠Listening Lab⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.kuaf.com/show/ozarks-at-large/2023-11-13/the-listening-lab-the-age-of-plastic] at KUAF National Public Radio. Bee Balm Presents Host: Julia Paganelli Marín Bee Balm Presents Producer: Micah Poor Listening Lab Coordinator: Emerson Alexander KUAF Executive Director: Leigh Wood Special thanks to Avery Martin for permission to use their song “Peach Pretender”. It's a sneak peek from their unreleased EP by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Avery Lee and The Sweeties⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://www.instagram.com/averyleeband/]⁠⁠⁠ dropping in Spring 2024.  Learn more about Bee Balm Arkansas at our ⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://beebalmarkansas.com] or by following us on⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://instagram.com/beebalmarkansas]⁠⁠⁠⁠. “Visible World [https://reflections.yale.edu/article/end-times-and-end-gamesis-scripture-being-left-behind/visible-world]” from Crush by Richard Siken, Copyright © 2005 by Yale University. Appearing by permission of Yale University Press

BONUS: Exploring our Origins through Roots & Rivers with Megan Blankenship

In this bonus episode of Bee Balm Presents, host Julia Paganelli Marín welcomes back Megan Blankenship for an intimate journey into the heart of Arkansas, where Megan's roots and poetic inspirations lie. Nestled within the natural beauty of Calico Rock and the small community of Gorby, Megan shares the influence of her childhood surroundings on her poetry, characterized by a deep connection to the wild, untamable aspects of nature. Megan reads her poem "Sunday Morning," exploring themes of family, tradition, and the looming presence of both real and perceived threats to their way of life. Through vivid imagery of communal Sunday lunches, packs of babies, and the constant preparation for unseen dangers, the poem navigates the intricate balance between bounty and scarcity, fear and safety, showcasing Megan's skillful weaving of personal and collective narratives. Join us for a thought-provoking conversation that celebrates the richness of rural life, the complexities of human and animal connections, and the never-ending quest for understanding through poetry. Bee Balm Presents is a ⁠⁠⁠⁠Bee Balm Arkansas⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://beebalmarkansas.com] project in partnership with the ⁠Listening Lab⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.kuaf.com/show/ozarks-at-large/2023-11-13/the-listening-lab-the-age-of-plastic] at KUAF National Public Radio. Bee Balm Presents Host: Julia Paganelli Marín Bee Balm Presents Producer: Micah Poor Listening Lab Coordinator: Emerson Alexander KUAF Executive Director: Leigh Wood Special thanks to Avery Martin for permission to use their song “Peach Pretender”. It's a sneak peek from their unreleased EP by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Avery Lee and The Sweeties⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://www.instagram.com/averyleeband/]⁠⁠⁠ dropping in Spring 2024.  Learn more about Bee Balm Arkansas at our ⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://beebalmarkansas.com] or by following us on⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://instagram.com/beebalmarkansas]⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Megan Blankenship on the Seasons of Renewal

In this episode of Bee Balm Presents, host Julia Paganelli Marín welcomes poet Megan Blankenship to explore poetry, memory, and the essence of living. They discuss Megan's personal growth and the seasons of her life through Rose McLarney's poem "Gather [https://poets.org/poem/gather]" by touching on themes of trust, renewal, and nature's precarious balance.  The conversation shifts to the power of language and self-talk, inspired by Kay Ryan's "Say Uncle [https://www.zocalopublicsquare.org/2008/12/09/by-kay-ryan/chronicles/poetry/]" and the impact of our internal dialogue. Megan recounts her journey from her early days writing for her hometown newspaper to earning her MFA in poetry, highlighting the holiness in the everyday and the value of viewing everyday life with new appreciation. Join us for a conversation that connects poetry's beauty with the depth of human emotions and the search for meaning amidst the mundane. Bee Balm Presents is a ⁠⁠⁠⁠Bee Balm Arkansas⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://beebalmarkansas.com] project in partnership with the ⁠Listening Lab⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.kuaf.com/show/ozarks-at-large/2023-11-13/the-listening-lab-the-age-of-plastic] at KUAF National Public Radio. Bee Balm Presents Host: Julia Paganelli Marín Bee Balm Presents Producer: Micah Poor Listening Lab Coordinator: Emerson Alexander KUAF Executive Director: Leigh Wood Special thanks to Avery Martin for permission to use their song “Peach Pretender”. It's a sneak peek from their unreleased EP by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Avery Lee and The Sweeties⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://www.instagram.com/averyleeband/]⁠⁠⁠ dropping in Spring 2024.  Learn more about Bee Balm Arkansas at our ⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://beebalmarkansas.com] or by following us on⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://instagram.com/beebalmarkansas]⁠⁠⁠⁠. “Say Uncle [https://www.zocalopublicsquare.org/2008/12/09/by-kay-ryan/chronicles/poetry/]” from The Best of It by © 2010 by Kay Ryan. Used by permissions of Grove/Atlantic, Inc. “Gather [https://poets.org/poem/gather]” from The Always Broken Plates of Mountains © 2012 by Rose McLarney. Used by permissions of Four Way Books.