Bee Balm Presents

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–an...

In this episode of Bee Balm Presents, Julia Paganelli Marín and Cameron Mussar explore Richard Siken's "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 perspect...

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 nat...

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" 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...

In this episode of Bee Balm Presents, host Julia Paganelli Marín welcomes back Michael Vasquez from 3levated Dance, a versatile dance instructor with a passion for salsa, bachata, hip hop, cha-cha, and ballroom dancing. Michael opens up about the transformative power of dance in his life, emphasizing its role as a universal language of emotion and expression. Michael shares how dance has enabled him to navigate life's chal...

In this episode of Bee Balm Presents, host Julia Paganelli Marín welcomes Michael Vasquez, a dance teacher who found his passion for dance in an unexpected place: Alaska. Michael recounts his transformative journey from a difficult military service to finding solace and expression in dance. 

The episode also features a reading of Robert Frost's "Fire and Ice," leading to a thoughtful discussion on how the poem paralle...

In this episode of Bee Balm Presents, Julia Paganelli Marín talks with author Jane Blunschi about her novella Mon, Dieu, Love, and its exploration of complex queer identities and romantic choices. 

The conversation weaves through the narrative threads of the novella, discussing its portrayal of queer identities and the complexities of love. Julia and Jane talk about how their personal experiences have shaped their journeys of ...

In this episode of Bee Balm Presents, host Julia Paganelli Marín is joined by Jane Blunschi, author of Mon, Dieu, Love. Jane, a seasoned writer and teacher, shares her personal experiences that influenced her writing, including her time in the MFA program at the University of Arkansas and her journey from Louisiana to Fayetteville, Arkansas. 

Julia and Jane delve into Alex Dimitrov's poem "Having a Diet Coke with You."...

Julia Paganelli Marín welcomes back Cassie Sands for a deeper exploration of their journey as a writer and survivor. Cassie, an aerospace engineer turned poet, discusses the role of memoir writing and poetry in their trauma healing journey.

The episode features a reading of Cassie's poem, "The Archeologist," a vivid portrayal of their journey in piecing together and embracing the scattered fragments of their identity....

This week, Julia Paganelli Marín welcomes Cassie Sands, an aerospace engineer and writer with a unique story. Cassie shares Dorothy Walters' poem "The Skeptics," and opens up about their profound Kundalini experience. Cassie also discusses the way their writing has shaped their trauma-healing journey. Connecting the rationality of science with the depth of the spiritual world, this conversation asks where one ends and...

Join Julia Paganelli Marín for a bonus episode of Bee Balm Presents with Erin Allen. In this episode, Erin shares her poem "Letter from the In-between and Caring for the Land Ourselves." This piece is a personal reflection inspired by her experiences in gardening and her connections within her community. The discussion explores the power of poetry in everyday life, exploring how ordinary texts, emails, and even flowcharts...

This week, host Julia Paganelli Marín engages in a compelling conversation with Erin Allen, a stay-at-home mom, avid gardener, and passionate poet. Together, they explore the intersections of poetry, personal experience, and activism through Aracelis Girmay's "You Are Who I Love." This discussion explores the poem's commentary on societal issues and its call to action, mirroring the small yet significant acts of p...

Join Luís Paganelli Marín and Sophia Ordaz in this bonus episode of Bee Balm Presents, where they explore the nuances of being heritage speakers of Spanish. They share personal stories about growing up with English and Spanish, discussing how language shapes identity, family dynamics, and social interactions. 

This episode is a celebration of linguistic diversity, offering a glimpse into the joys and challenges of navigating two cu...

This week, host Julia Paganelli Marín welcomes her partner Luís Paganelli Marín for a discussion on Catherine Barnett's poem "Epistemology." Luís, a 1.5 generation immigrant and heritage speaker of Spanish, shares his insights into the nuances of language and its role in shaping our identity, self-definition, and worldview. Join us in this exploration of poetry's capacity to connect us to our inner selves and the ...

Join host Julia Paganelli Marín in this bonus episode of Bee Balm Presents as she returns to the whimsical world of poetry with J. Bailey Hutchinson. 

Filled with creativity, shared laughter, and pretzels, Bailey reads her poem, "The Dog Shits on the Neighbor's Lawn Every Morning," a piece that elevates the routine into a contemplation of nature and the sanctity of personal space. The discussion meanders through ...

In this episode of Bee Balm Presents, host Julia Paganelli Marín & guest, poet, and friend, J. Bailey Hutchinson wade into Claire Wahmanholm's poem "M" from her book ⁠Meltwater⁠. Their conversation delves into the poem's nuanced portrayal of birth and existence, the profound impact of sound in poetry, and how linguistic boundaries can unleash creative potential. Together, they reflect on how the act of writing...

Join host Julia Paganelli Marín in this bonus episode of Bee Balm Presents as she returns to the intricate world of poetry with Sophia Ordaz. 

Sophia shares her challenging yet rewarding experience of writing a sestina, a complex poetic form, and reads her piece "Sestina on Waking Up from a Dream of Decolonial Love." This poem entwines themes of intergenerational trauma, the impacts of colonialism, and personal family na...

This week, host Julia Paganelli Marín discusses with Sophia Ordaz, poet and cultural coordinator, about her work and environmental concerns highlighted in the poem ⁠⁠“The Age of Plastic”⁠⁠ by Craig Santos Perez. Sophia reflects on personal experiences, the impact of plastic on nature, and the intersection of poetry with activism.

Bee Balm Presents is a Bee Balm Arkansas project in partnership with the Listening Lab at KUAF Nat...

Welcome to Bee Balm Presents, a space for poetry.

Bee Balm Presents is a Bee Balm Arkansas project in partnership with the Listening Lab at KUAF National Public Radio.

Bee Balm Presents Host: Julia Paganelli Marin

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...