Waking the Whispers

Uno Buno and Other Selected Works - Lilly

Lilly showcases the beautiful chaos of childlike creativity. About the Author/Reader/Performer: Lilly is a silly goose who likes Paw Patrol, Pepa Pig, and Spider-Man. She likes making bracelets and is a self-proclaimed bug expert. She starts kindergarten this year. If you are interested in being a featured author, reach out on Instagram @wakingthewhispers, or email me at bensbloomer@gmail.com Credits: Guest: Lilly Designated Reader: Jenn Music by: Solomon Bloomer Recorded, produced, edited by: Ben Bloomer Logo and art by: Ben Bloomer

The Test - Louis Urbanowski

Louis Urbanowski shares a short story from an upcoming anthology: In a not too distant future Britain has changed. Everyone who’s anyone takes ’The Test’ to become someone. It does one simple thing; determine their talent. Talent means employment, status, benefits and most importantly tax contribution. The government classifies different grades of talents and allows hobbyists to exist on the fringes of society. This all started with the great dismissal and the dark times. This is a standalone piece that will form part of an anthology book called ‘Future Britains’ to be released in 2026 in collaboration with other brilliant British Substack writers. About the Author/Reader/Performer: Louis Urbanowski is an author who gave up a corporate sales career to follow a writing dream. He's just published his debut novel, a political satire, the Right Members Club. His writing focuses on injecting a good dose of Kafka style absurdism into the everyday mundane. If you are interested in being a featured author, reach out on Instagram @wakingthewhispers, or email me at bensbloomer@gmail.com Credits: Guest: Louis Urbanowski Music by: Solomon Bloomer Recorded, produced, edited by: Ben Bloomer Logo and art by: Ben Bloomer

The Light Can Be Something You Love All On Your Own -- Stephanie Glass

Stephanie Glass shares reflections about growth, creativity, a love of words, and human connections, as well as the title poem of her new chapbook, the light can be something you love all on your own. About the Author/Reader/Performer: Stephanie Glass (she/her, they/them) is a poet, activist, and educator living in rural Nebraska with her partner, Dylan, and son, Milo. Glass' work has been published in Rattle Poetry Magazine, The Quarter(ly) Review, Writers in the Attic, and is soon to be published in The Lavender Review; her forthcoming chapbook, the light can be something you love all on your own, will be released in May/June of 2026. You can find Stephanie on teh following platforms: Insta: @WordyandDirty Facebook.com/wordyanddirty Website: GlassPoet.com TikTok: @WordyandDirty Stream: wordyanddirty Bluesky: @wordyanddirty.bsky.social Substack: Glasspoet.substack.com [http://glasspoet.substack.com/] * If you are interested in being a featured author, reach out on Threads or Instagram @wakingthewhispers, or email me at bensbloomer@gmail.com Credits: Guest: Stephanie Glass Music by: Solomon Bloomer Recorded, produced, edited by: Ben Bloomer Logo and art by: Ben Bloomer

I Am My Own God - Suzie Rivers

Suzie de-deifies mountain deities and climbs a mountain of their own. About the Author/Reader/Performer: Suzette Rivers is a writer, filmmaker, cosplayer, model, role-player and poet born and raised in Utah, fighting social norms and injustices through art. "I am a Projector. The Supporting Class. The Bard. The Giver of Inspiration. The Campaigner. This is how I make my way in the world." Head over to Suzie's socials and check out their book: Instagram: @suzieneverlands Threads: @suzieneverlands Poetry Book: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-supporting-class-suzette-rivers/1146474786 [https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-supporting-class-suzette-rivers/1146474786] If you are interested in being a featured author, reach out on Instagram @wakingthewhispers, or email me at bensbloomer@gmail.com Credits: Guest: Suzette Rivers Music by: Solomon Bloomer Recorded, produced, edited by: Ben Bloomer Logo and art by: Ben Bloomer *Note: This episode randomly disappeared from Spotify. I am updating the text of the show notes to see if that fixes it. Please ignore this Note. Or print it out and frame it, I'm not particular*

Holi is Spelled with an I - Rae Reed

* Rae navigates family relationship, religious deconstruction, and international aid work. About the Author/Reader/Performer: Rae Reed is a trans masculine social worker, writer and storyteller who has applied his value of improving cross cultural engagement to all of these roles. Rae works at a refugee agency in Chicago, has told stories at the Steppenwolf Theatre and The Moth and his nonfiction work has been published in an anthology and various newspapers across the US.  You can find Rae's work on his Substack: www.substack.com/@holden84 * If you are interested in being a featured author, reach out on Instagram @wakingthewhispers, or email me at bensbloomer@gmail.com Credits: Guest: Rae Reed Music by: Solomon Bloomer Recorded, produced, edited by: Ben Bloomer Logo and art by: Ben Bloomer