December 8, 2024 • 38 mins
Check out Amanda's conversation with Thomas Fucaloro!
The winner of numerous grants from the Staten Island Council of the Arts, the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, NYC Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes and NYC Commission of Human Rights to name a few. Thomas Fucaloro has been on six national slam teams. He holds an MFA in creative writing from the New School and is a co-founding editor of Great Weather for Media and NYSAI press. He is an adjunct professor at Wagner College, BMCC and CSI where he teaches various poetry and literature courses. Thomas is cofounder of Poetry in the Park, WORDPLAY, Creating Space, Poetry in Motion and Creativity Meets Geek. Thomas has released 2 full lengths: It Starts From the Belly and Blooms and Inheriting Craziness is a Soft Halo of Light by Three Rooms Press. He also has 4 chapbooks: Mistakes Disguised as Stars (Tired Hearts Press), Depression Cupcakes (Yes, Poetry), There is Always Tomorrow (Mad Gleam Press) and The Only Gardening I Do is When I Give Up by Finishing Line Press. His new chapbook LE(t)GO is out by Neuronautic Press.
Thomas's Links: @thomasfucaloro
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
Hello everyone, it's your host, Amanda Aka, and I have
some amazing news. Starting this fall, the post Speaks is
coming to your TV screens. Yes, that's right. After eight
amazing seasons as a podcast, The poet Speaks with Amanda
Aka is now a TV show erin at the Archaeology
Channel's new streaming service, Heritage. Everyone, get ready for a
(00:26):
visual feast of spoken more performances and deep dives into
the minds of pots from all over the world. Something
extraordinary is coming.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
And you won't want to miss a single moment. Stay tuned.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
Hello everyone, and welcome back to the poet Speaks podcast,
the number one spoken wor podcast in the world.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Don't forget now. Our next guest is.
Speaker 1 (00:46):
The winner of numerous grants from a Staten Island Council
of the Arts, the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, NYC
Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes at NYC Commission
of Human Rights, to name a few.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
He is being on six National Slam teams.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
Is a co founding editor of Great Weather for Media
and Nysai Press, co founder of Poetry in the Park, Wordplay,
Creating Space and Poetry in Motion. Is released two full
length in this new chat book let Go is out
now our Neuuronic Press. Everyone, please welcome to the Pole
Speaks podcast. Thomas Fucaloro. Thomas, how are you?
Speaker 3 (01:23):
I'm doing good today on this Thursday morning. Thank you
so much. How are you doing good?
Speaker 1 (01:27):
I'm doing pretty good, doing pretty good. Well, I'm doing
a lot better now that I get to talk to you,
So tell me a little bit before we get into it.
I have a lot of questions. Your bio is just
beyond fascinating. But first and foremost, tell me where are
we talking to you from? Give the longitudinal latitudinal knom skin.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
Where are we talking to you from today?
Speaker 3 (01:49):
I am based out in Staten Island, New York, statn Island.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
Yes, that accent came out that Staten Islander is Sadden Island.
That's the Family Guy. Family Guys takes place in Staten Island.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
Correct? Am I wrong or right?
Speaker 3 (02:05):
I am not sure. I don't think it does. I
think it's Long Island being.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
Long Island, Okay, for sure, for sure with that spot
all the time, for sure.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
Tell us.
Speaker 1 (02:15):
Staten Island is in is an island kind of based
off of New York City.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
It's considered one of the boroughs of New York.
Speaker 3 (02:21):
City, right, yes, yes, it's often considered the forgotten borough.
Speaker 1 (02:26):
I was about to say, I feel like for folks
that are not from the city, right, if you you
probably think, what's the borough like the I don't know,
like Bronx, right, what people think of those names?
Speaker 2 (02:39):
Right, I don't even know the boroughs off the top
of my head.
Speaker 1 (02:41):
But I think Staten Island definitely people don't recognize it.
What is Staten Island? Is it born and bred and
Staten Island? Where were you from?
Speaker 2 (02:49):
Originally?
Speaker 3 (02:50):
I was born in Brooklyn, lived there for like a
couple of years, but pretty much raised.
Speaker 4 (02:56):
I would say, I'm homegrown Staten Island.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
Homegrown. Nice. Nice.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
Now, tell us a bit about the kind of poetry
writing community out in Staten Island when you were kind
of raised there. Did poetry find you there or did
you find it in later parts of your childhood outside
of Staten Island.
Speaker 3 (03:14):
So if we're just talking about the poetry part, I
would say poetry found me pretty late in Staten Island,
and that was when I went to the College of
Staten Island. I discovered poetry probably like eighteen nineteen years old.
I mean I was always writing and journal song lyrics
(03:36):
and things like that at a very early age.
Speaker 4 (03:39):
But in terms of finding poetry, I discovered E.
Speaker 3 (03:43):
Cummings at CSI College of Staten Island, and that kind
of changed things for me. That opened up a vista
of just kind of like, oh my god, the things
you can do on a page. Forget about spoken word.
I was just very obsessed with the page at that
point point. And then I actually I didn't know much
(04:03):
about the Staten Island poetry scene at that point as
an eighteen year old. I'm forty seven right now, so
that's like thirty years ago. And then what I did
is I actually wound up moving. I'm moved out of
Staten Island. I moved to Manhattan. I lived there for
about eleven years, and I was on the New York
City poetry scene for that time, and I focused in.
(04:27):
I went to the New School, and I just focused
in on the New York City poetry scene for a
very very long time. And then I moved back to
Staten Island ten years later and then discovered the Staten
Island scene which was already blossomed and.
Speaker 4 (04:47):
Already doing its thing with readings.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
I think at these places called the Full Cup. There
was also this spoken word series called called Eargasms. So
when I was there, something was already happening. And then
I guess I moved there around two thousand and ten,
I would say, moved back to statn Island. But now
it's a much different scene. It's you know, we've had
(05:15):
some slam teams that have performed nationally. We've had some
poets who've performed nationally. We've had some touring poets. We've
had poets who've not saying that poets haven't released books before,
but we've had poets who've released books, chat books, performance.
Speaker 4 (05:33):
Videos, start their own thing.
Speaker 3 (05:34):
You know, the stat Island poetry scene is like alive
and well right now poets are definitely doing their own things.
Speaker 4 (05:43):
So yeah, it's doing really well.
Speaker 3 (05:44):
There's a lot to you know, there's a lot of
different things that you can be a part of here
right now.
Speaker 1 (05:51):
Absolutely, Why do you think do you think that's as
kind of broadcasted to the world.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
I mean, like, like we had.
Speaker 1 (05:58):
Talked about just about a couple of seconds ago when
we began Staten Island to the Forgotten Borough, do you
feel like more.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
Emphasis needs to be put, more of.
Speaker 1 (06:06):
A light needs to be shown on the Staten Island
poetry open mic scene for writing.
Speaker 3 (06:13):
I do think, I very much think so. I would
love to see that happen. I think that myself and
a few other people are that bridge to the other boroughs,
which is great, but definitely more of a light should
be shown. You know, we had a poet laureate for
(06:36):
four years and then that program was dropped, which was
really disappointing. That's something that I think would really bring
light to the borough. I think that's something gets very
very needed, which is something that myself and a few
other people are trying to bring back. But it's a
very very difficult process, whether it be the powers of
(06:57):
being the borough President's office or or whomever.
Speaker 4 (07:01):
I don't want to name drop.
Speaker 3 (07:02):
Here for things of that nature, but like you know,
things of that would definitely bring more attention to Staten Island.
We definitely try to bring other poets from the other
burroughs here. We have a poetry video program that we
do something called Poetry Emotion, where we not only create
(07:23):
poetry videos for poets of Staten Island, but poets from
the other burroughs.
Speaker 4 (07:27):
We repair you with other videoographers. We get a grant
to do this.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
We have a YouTube channel so we can pay the
videographers and the poets. They make these great poetry videos
and we try to enter them into contests. We have
one that got into Button Poetry. We have some in
film festivals. So these are ways that we try to
get Staten Island to a little bit more on the map.
(07:53):
We're lucky that, you know, poets of yesteryear, like Audrey Lord,
who is an amazing poet. You know, she lived here
for a huge chunk of her life. So Audie Lord's
house is here. So we actually just.
Speaker 4 (08:06):
Did a reading.
Speaker 3 (08:08):
We do an annual reading with this great organization called
Statnau not Out Loud. We did a reading in front
of her, Audie Laurd's house where we just read Audie
Lord poems. So things like that we try to That
gets a little you know, excitement from the other boroughs.
Speaker 4 (08:25):
At least it gets noticed by some of the other boroughs.
Speaker 3 (08:28):
So things like that do get some attention. But you know,
I think, you know, with Staten Island and poetry, it's
a slow burn. With the other boroughs, those things get
a lot more attention. They have poetry laureates, they have
a lot more you know. Also with Staten Island, you
know you need a boat to get here. You know,
(08:49):
you need the ferry unless you have a car. For
the other boroughs, it's a lot more accessible to get
where you're going. So you know, it's it's it's it's challenging,
but it's worth it.
Speaker 4 (09:01):
It's worth it absolutely.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
Now for sure.
Speaker 1 (09:05):
Yeah, and for those that, yeah, the Audrey Lord connection piece,
maybe some people aren't even aware of that.
Speaker 2 (09:11):
So now that's a fantastic thing.
Speaker 1 (09:14):
It's really great to hear what you all are able
to do and what y'all are still continuing to do.
I kind of want to move into a bit of
your amazing illustrious career now. Like I had read in
your bio, you're the winner of numerous grants from Staten Island,
Council of the Arts, NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, and
one thing I want to kind of go into tell
(09:34):
us about. So you've won to grant from the NYC
Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes. Tell us a
little bit about how did that come about. Was that
a project that you did for the Prevention of Hate
Crimes Unit for the NYC Office, tell us a little
bit about that.
Speaker 3 (09:49):
Yeah, so that was a reading series we did. That's
a reading series. We do something called wordplay, which has
actually had many different iterations. It was called life vest poetry,
it was called advanced poetry. It used to be a slam.
Now it's something called wordplay that.
Speaker 4 (10:12):
We do.
Speaker 3 (10:13):
Add of a clothing store called Richmond Hood Company which
is a really great community based store that does a
lot of great community work within stat nowand there they
not only you know it sounds weird, Oh it's a
clothing store, but it actually does. It produces clothing by
local artists who design clothing, which is a really big deal.
(10:37):
Plus they do tons, tons of community work within Staten Island,
you know, whether it be work for artists, murals, festivals,
like they are really like a pinnacle of doing the
important work on Staten Island.
Speaker 4 (10:56):
So I really have to like shout them out.
Speaker 3 (10:57):
And we've been doing poetry reading series there for it's
got to be about like ten years now, and we
did a three month series there where we focused on
we got this grant where we focused on doing a
(11:19):
series where the theme was you had to bring poetry
and work that focused on community based writing. It focused
on love not hate. How could you bring writing that
focused on like anti gun, anti violence. We brought in
a live drummer, Aj Pantaleo in We had a live artist,
(11:45):
Sean MacArthur, who created live art based on all the
poetry that was created that night.
Speaker 4 (11:51):
If you could.
Speaker 3 (11:52):
Actually see I'll eat it off my wall, this was
some of the live art that was created. And this
was like all the poetry that was read, and then
the artists created based off of people's lines.
Speaker 4 (12:09):
They created like based on the poetry.
Speaker 3 (12:13):
And then right next door to Richmond Hood there's a
place called Vodega, which is a vegan bodega, which is
so we took a bunch of that grant money and
we you.
Speaker 4 (12:29):
Know, fed the community.
Speaker 3 (12:31):
So we were able to feed anyone who just came,
even if they weren't participating. We need some food, We
got some food for you. And we were able to
pay the artists, the performers. It just became a big
community event showcasing and highlighting anti violence, anti gun prevention,
(12:51):
and then also just focusing on just you know.
Speaker 4 (12:54):
Peace and love.
Speaker 3 (12:55):
And this was a three month reading series. So we
did this three times, I think this was last year.
Speaker 1 (13:02):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (13:03):
Now that's phenomenal. That's phenomenal.
Speaker 1 (13:05):
What tell us about the kind of importance of that
community based poetry and finding that kind of you know,
community based work because a lot of people I think
they strive to kind of you know, use their platform
in terms of being a poet to not only just
be work. So I would say, you know, as a
as a writer, you first and foremost you do write
(13:27):
for yourself, because that's.
Speaker 2 (13:29):
Where a lot of your your your words come from.
But it's also you know, how do you.
Speaker 1 (13:34):
Now take your your writing, your poetry and use it
as a form of public service? How how important do
you think that is as a as a poet, especially
at this stage of your career, how important do you
think that aspect of your storytelling is?
Speaker 4 (13:51):
Yeah? I mean, I mean for me, it's extremely important.
Speaker 3 (13:55):
You know. And you know, every every poet has a
different mission or a different thing that they want yeat,
you know, for me, you know, for someone like you know,
the music I was raised on, the music that I love,
like punk rock and a lot of other music. But
like you know, punk rock is very community oriented, grassroots.
(14:17):
It's always about you know, not necessarily and I'm not
shunning anyone for making money or making a living off
of poetry, art or music.
Speaker 4 (14:27):
I think you absolutely should make money, make a living
or you know.
Speaker 3 (14:31):
But like also there's another aspect to this whole thing,
and it's about trying to create platforms for other people,
you know, and elevating and highlighting other artists when you can,
and community is a really big part of that. Sometimes
you stumble doing that work and sometimes you're successful.
Speaker 4 (14:53):
For me, a big.
Speaker 3 (14:55):
Part of that where I got my learning chops from
was the first series my first time posting a poetry
series was many moons ago in the city, which was
an organization called ABC No Rio which was in the
East Village, which they did a lot of community work,
(15:16):
They did a lot of protest work, They did a
lot of great work within the confines of the East
Village and beyond doing massive community work outside of the arts,
just like social work and stuff like that. And you
just learn from that, and you learn from other poets,
you know. I learned a great deal from John Sands,
(15:38):
who is a really great poet.
Speaker 4 (15:40):
You know.
Speaker 3 (15:40):
He had hired me to do poetry workshops at a
needle exchange on thirty fourth Street many years ago. You know,
you learn, you know, you learn from these, from these organizations,
from these this work that you do, that it's.
Speaker 4 (16:00):
Community is so important.
Speaker 3 (16:02):
That you know it's not always you know, it's about uplifting.
Poetry can be about uplifting and for me, for who
I am and.
Speaker 4 (16:12):
For what I think my role is.
Speaker 3 (16:15):
And I hate saying that my role, but for what
at least I need from this or and I even
hate saying what I need, but like what, you know,
what calls to me in this work is being able
to create some sort of community.
Speaker 4 (16:29):
But there is pitfalls to that too, you know.
Speaker 3 (16:33):
You know, sometimes you can get a big ego or
a big head when creating community, and that's happened to
me before too. Sometimes you're like, oh, wow, look at
all this, and you become a elitist and you start thinking, oh,
you can be a part of my community, but you
can't be a part of my community. And that becomes
very jarring at certain points. And I've had to check
(16:57):
myself in those instances as well. So you know, finding
the right balance in that can be something that you
have to really really negotiate within yourself. It's like a
seesaw and make sure you're doing this for the people
around you and not just for yourself. That's what I
wanted to say. It's not just about my needs. It's
(17:18):
about the needs of the people around you, and sometimes
it takes a second to realize that's what it's about.
Speaker 1 (17:25):
Absolutely No, Absolutely, So tell us a bit about to
you know, so, as you've mentioned a little bit already,
you're co founder of Poetry in the Park, wordplay, creating space, poetry, emotion,
kind of likening off what we've been talking about a
little bit.
Speaker 2 (17:41):
I mean, what you know, I.
Speaker 1 (17:43):
Even want you to look at, you know, from where
you started in your career to being a poet to now.
I mean, did you ever imagine that you'd be able
to create these spaces outside of a page, outside of
a chat book for people to really indul and you know,
really find themselves in poetry. Did you imagine that this
(18:05):
is kind of the path that you would take to
creating even more avenues for people to enjoy the word
I don't.
Speaker 4 (18:14):
I don't think I imagine.
Speaker 3 (18:16):
I think in the beginning, you know, I sound very
self righteous right now, but I think in the beginning,
I was, you know, reading a lot of kowski, drinking, drugging.
I was like that, you know, that white lame poet
who was like writing a lot of like, you know,
(18:38):
misogynistic poems, you know, like you know, oh the girl
wronged me, and like, you know, like I wasn't, I
wasn't in the right place. It took it took mentors,
it took a law, it took a long time to
find that path. So no, I didn't imagine that. I
(18:58):
think I've always been good of heart, whatever that means,
you know. I think besides these mentors, I've also like
I had a grandfather, my mother's father, who was he
had a very small stint on Broadway, but he was
always about performing and he was always so good of heart.
So I think I've always had that in me, always
(19:22):
a caring in me. So I think that's always been there.
But I think I never imagine that, you know. I
think it took a long time to get there, and
I think I'm still getting there.
Speaker 4 (19:34):
I think, you know you, you, you know you, you you.
Speaker 3 (19:37):
Gave that whole list, and I think I'm still figuring
all those things out. You know, all those things are great,
but I'm still figuring out. I still don't think I've
gotten to my peak yet or my you know, I
think I'm still climbing. It is great, I don't I
don't want to get to my peak. I think if
I get to my peak, that's when I'll feel, say, satisfied,
(20:00):
and I don't want that satisfaction just yet, you know.
Speaker 1 (20:05):
For sure, for sure, No, I think a lot of
people can relate to that. You know, we are ever evolving,
changing human beings. So it's our definite. Our definitions of
things ten years ago are now our definition of things now,
and how we perceive the world, especially as an artist.
So now that's it is quite the revelation. So I'm curious, then,
(20:27):
what are kind of the inspirations you see yourself kind
of drawing from now? What stage of your writing life
would you say you are in now? Like you said
you've been. You know, you're a not only are you
a numerous grant winner, but you know you're also a professor.
You're also a teacher, right, you know, you're a publishing author.
(20:51):
I mean, where do you see yourself in the whole.
Speaker 2 (20:53):
Scheme of things?
Speaker 1 (20:54):
What inspires one to write at this stage of your career.
Speaker 4 (20:59):
Right now? Well, I feel like I'm very self absorbed.
Speaker 3 (21:02):
I'm writing a lot of I mean, I'm right now.
Speaker 4 (21:09):
So my.
Speaker 3 (21:11):
Mom and her boyfriend passed away last year, and it's
been very, very challenging. In the years leading up to
that were extremely challenging, from just mental health to a
lot of misdiagnosis, to a lot of abuse, and plus
(21:32):
I was in an eight year relationship that was just crumbling,
so plus the pandemic. Yes, I have been really self absorbed.
I've been just I've been having a lot of mommy
issues and I've been really i would say, for the
past five or six years, writing a lot about my
mom and our relationship, which has really been you know,
(21:57):
I've been writing a lot of mom poems, a lot
of sad mommy poems. So that has been a huge,
huge part of what I've been writing lately, to a
point where I've been.
Speaker 4 (22:13):
Frustrated.
Speaker 3 (22:14):
I feel like I've been in a in a loop
writing those poems, and I know that I have to
write through you know, it's it's part of it. Eventually,
I'm starting to see the light and get out of
that loop. But that's what I've been stuck in lately,
is writing those poems. I'd like to get out of that.
(22:37):
I'm starting to get out of that. I think the
political climate and the climate that we're in right now,
I'm starting to get out of that a little. I'm
starting to write more about the teaching experience, which I
think I need to do because that's helping me figure
out teaching more. You know, I love I love teaching.
I'm where I teach at three different schools. I teach
(22:59):
night classes right now. I teach these online four hour
night classes right now, and that's tedious as hell, but
it's also I love it, you know, I love working
with youth. So but writing about it helps, you know,
you figure out, oh I could have did that better,
or I really liked what I did here, you know.
(23:21):
So I'm slowly getting out of that space, but I
need to start. But lately just writing a lot about
my parents, their divorce, thinking about the my last relationship,
writing about the new relationship that I'm in, you know,
just a lot of like a lot of you know,
(23:44):
a tangled web, and I'm trying to just untangle that
web so I can start writing about other things. You know,
it would be great to write about a sunset, you know,
or something like that out of my head a little.
Speaker 2 (24:00):
For sure, for sure, and now we definitely write where
we are.
Speaker 1 (24:03):
So that kind of goes into and I'm curious about
this title, your latest chatbook, let Go capital L, capital
E parentheses t g O let go. Tell us a
little bit. Is that inspired kind of by what you
just spoke about, and tell us a bit about that title.
Speaker 2 (24:22):
How that come about. It's a very interesting way to
spell let go.
Speaker 3 (24:26):
Yes, yes, So that's I'm going to hold the book
title up there the cover, let go. So this is
actually poems about Lego, as in the Lego Bricks. Well
they're all poems about Lego, but really there about the
taking apart and building back up of relationships and it's
(24:47):
everything that I just said right now. So you know,
during the pandemic go you know, I'm sure we all
know what was happening during the pandemic, the challenges everyone
was facing. So during the pandemic, you know, my mom
was going through a lot, and because of the pandemic,
(25:09):
trying to get her the care that she needed was
just I mean, it was ridiculous. It just was something
that was non existent. Couldn't go see her, but finally
was able to put her in a facility, and that
facility was just the worst, and I couldn't see her
(25:29):
because of like it was just I'm not going to
go through all the details right now, but it just
made everything just crazy.
Speaker 4 (25:38):
And again, like I mentioned the relationship that I was.
Speaker 3 (25:41):
In that was falling apart, I was also teaching at
that time online. That was probably the only thing that
was really saving me. So there was just so much
happening at that time. And during that whole time period,
I had started playing and with Lego because I just
needed something to just get me out of that space.
Speaker 4 (26:04):
Like I was.
Speaker 3 (26:05):
Building things just it was helping me with my anxiety.
I deal with anxiety. I'm sure you can tell I'm
like using my hands a lot and stuff, but it
was just helping me. It was helping me with the
calm of just being stuck, you know, just in my apartment.
Speaker 4 (26:20):
You know.
Speaker 3 (26:21):
So this chap book really analyzes the you know, the
falling apart of one relationship, the building back up of
another relationship, and then it also looks at my parents' relationship.
Speaker 4 (26:37):
They got divorced when they were four, when I was.
Speaker 3 (26:40):
Four, and then you know, my mom's mental health struggles
during that time and beyond. You know, I don't know
for those out there who had parents who are divorced,
you know, sometimes you're kind of forced to pick a
side in that, and that's kind of what happened to me.
(27:03):
So I think I was a strained from feeling positive
things from my father. So I think in writing this,
I started realizing that, you know, my father, my father
and my relationship actually I started building that relationship up.
Especially when my mom got sick, my father and my
(27:24):
relationship got better. So that book, this book is about
that building that back up again. And then there's some
funny poems in here too that I added in there
as well to break up a little bit of the
monotony of all that, you know, and then leading to
you know, my mom's passing and you know, you know,
(27:45):
just reminding myself that through all of this.
Speaker 4 (27:50):
Uh that you know, my.
Speaker 3 (27:54):
My goal in life is to always keep building, which
is the theme hopefully of this whole conversation with these
things that I do, whether it comes to writing poems
or you know, doing grants, teaching these great you know,
poetry in the Park that I co facilitate with Matt Figgs,
(28:15):
or poetry emotion or all these different things. A press
that I do, great weather for media that I that
I've been doing for about eleven to twelve years. And
I say press like is that it's always about building,
and you know, and then I can't forget that.
Speaker 1 (28:31):
So no, absolutely, Now we are building from the from
the birth, from your birth to the grave.
Speaker 2 (28:39):
Right, we are constantly building. It's a constant kind of stepping.
Speaker 1 (28:43):
Blocks now, so I love that kind of metaphor comparing
it to Legos tell us is that that's available worldwide.
Speaker 2 (28:50):
I work. Can people buy the piece of work?
Speaker 3 (28:54):
I think only at neuonoticpress dot com.
Speaker 4 (28:56):
I can share I guess the link later or yes,
so yeah.
Speaker 2 (29:01):
Link will be down below nowhere we will get that link.
Speaker 1 (29:04):
Awesome, so awesome to hear. Thank you so much for that, Thomas.
Speaking of building, so you know what you were actually
where we met you were actually for those that don't know,
and you would have heard before this episode, the Pote
Speaks podcast is now show streaming now on the Heritage Channel,
the Archaeology Channel's new streaming service.
Speaker 2 (29:24):
As well as on some local TV as well cable TV.
Speaker 1 (29:28):
So, Thomas tell Us, you were part of the first
season of the pote speaks with the Man a TV show.
Speaker 2 (29:34):
Tell us a little bit.
Speaker 1 (29:35):
Tell the folks how your experience was with that. That
was the first time we had met in New York
City filming the show. You were in the episode that
spoken were in the village talking about the great effect
that Grantwich Village has had on some amazing writers, your
self included. Tell us a little bit about your experience
filming the show.
Speaker 3 (29:54):
Yeah, I thought the filming of it was fantastic. It
went so smooth. You guys were so professional, you pampered me.
It was great. But it was a great experience. We
did it at the Poet's house, so I loved being there,
which was great. Even though it's not part of Greenwich Village,
it's still part of the poetry community of NYC. And
(30:16):
I think, like I said in our interview, I think,
like Greenwich Village, the Village NYC, it all bleeds and
melts into each other. I think the experience was amazing.
I'm like excited to see what the outcome of it
all is. You know, it's great to work with Reggie
Kubico because you know, he's just a mad poet who
(30:40):
is just so influential to not only me, but to
so many people just like you know, around the country
and the world. You know, so it was just a
great experience. How did you feel about the experience?
Speaker 2 (30:52):
No, I felt great.
Speaker 1 (30:53):
It's you know, it's it was an interesting experience, you know.
You know, when your executive produce, sir host as well
as directing, it's definitely it's hard to be in the
moment to enjoy all of it.
Speaker 2 (31:06):
But you know, when.
Speaker 1 (31:07):
Folks hear this podcast episode, we are on the other side,
so we are doing good.
Speaker 2 (31:12):
It's premiered and everything.
Speaker 1 (31:14):
It is definitely a lot, but we're so thankful to
you and Reggie for opening up your space, sharing your
amazing words for those listening. They Thomas is a very
very powerful piece that he shares, a piece of poetry,
and he has a very very powerful.
Speaker 2 (31:28):
Interview as well.
Speaker 1 (31:30):
And yeah, we do kind of a tour of how Grantwich,
that village, the idea of the village, how it's transpired
to so many places in New York City. So it's
some very inspiring talks and some inspiring things people have
to say. So a big shout out to you, Thomas,
thank you for appearing all The Posts Speaks The.
Speaker 2 (31:49):
Pote Speaks with Amanda Ega, which is now the TV show.
Speaker 1 (31:52):
So we are excited for folks to hear that and
only hear you on this podcast, also see you on
the show. So thank you so much. Big shouts for
doing that, and everyone go check it out. Heritage Broadcasts
streaming everywhere worldwide. All right, So Thomas tell us, as
we're kind of wrapping up here, you know, you've had
such an illustrious career thus far, you know, but I
(32:14):
always like to take it back. I mean, was there
a seminal moment in your life when you knew you
were a writer?
Speaker 4 (32:20):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (32:21):
Wow, I don't even know if I'm a writer just yet.
I mean, I guess I know I'm a writer. I
don't know if there's a seminal moment, you know. I
guess when your first book is published, you can look
at it that way. I guess as like a benchmark.
I don't know if there's a you know, I don't know.
I think it's just you're part of the process, You're
(32:44):
part of you know. I think it's just showing up
and just being part of a community, you know. I
don't think there is necessarily a specific.
Speaker 4 (32:59):
Time or I'm like, oh, I'm a writer now. You
know it could be a first publication.
Speaker 3 (33:05):
But I don't think there was a time where I
was just like, yes, you know this is I'm definitely
a writer. Now. I think I can't think of a
specific time. I do feel it now, you know, I
feel I'm a poet. I do think I'm a I'm
a mid level poet. I'll say that, like I think
(33:25):
there are tiers of poetry. There are those popular poets
who you know, who will just post something. They'll get
all the likes, they'll get the paycheck. Like I'm a
mid level poet. I'll say that about myself, a mid
level writer. You know, I'm just enough and and I'll
(33:47):
leave it at that.
Speaker 2 (33:49):
Fair enough.
Speaker 1 (33:50):
We all think you're more than enough, buddy, So we appreciate,
we appreciate the humbleness, but you do gotta say we
think you're more than enough, all right, Thomas, Well, last
question for you. We ask everyone on the Post Speaks podcast, Thomas,
why do you need to get your words out?
Speaker 3 (34:07):
So I you know, I know the cliche response will be,
you know it's therapeutic. You know, it's definitely about getting
something off your chest, and uh, there's that connection connecting
with people. I think that's part of it.
Speaker 4 (34:23):
But then there's also.
Speaker 3 (34:25):
You know, there's the creative muscle inside of me. Whatever
that muscle is, creativity. I think that's part of it.
You know, wanting to you know, what is a painter
or paint you know, they also want to show that
finished product, that creativity.
Speaker 4 (34:44):
You want to share that thing.
Speaker 3 (34:46):
You know. Some people, you know write journal entries, which
is great. I love that, but how do you turn
that journal entry into something creative? So there's that, and
then there's something you know, I'm a huge George Carlin fan,
and I think something he always says, and I agree
(35:06):
with it, there's that other thing inside of you, you know,
look at me, you know, look at me, look at
what I've done. And I think that's part of it too.
Maybe it's a narcissistic thing inside of you, but like,
you know, look at me, look at something I've done.
Whether that look at me is self centered or look
at me I need emotional support, or you know, look
(35:30):
at me reflected in you. Again, that's part of that
connection thing. So I think all of those things are
a part of it.
Speaker 1 (35:40):
Sure, sure, all right, well, Thomas, thank you so much
for amazing sharing your words of wisdom, some dropping some
amazing gems for us on this podcast today.
Speaker 2 (35:50):
Before we wrap up, wrap up.
Speaker 1 (35:52):
Tell us what's next for you in twenty twenty four
as well as where can folks find all of your
amazing work?
Speaker 2 (35:58):
Drop any links for the website, socials, all that good stuff.
Speaker 4 (36:02):
Yeah, so what's next for me?
Speaker 3 (36:04):
Yeah, We've got our season three of Poetry in Motion
dropping September twenty eighth. I believe we have eight amazing poets,
everyone from I'm trying to think about Peggy Roblas Alvarado
to Marissa Tornello. I know I'm missing so many people.
(36:24):
Matt Figgs Sin We're doing like five minute shorts as
part of those, so that's going to be happening. We
have our next Wordplay event that's going to be happening
in September as well. We have Roy and Marsh featuring,
which is going to be fantastic. I'm so excited about that.
We're going to be starting our next Creating Space series
(36:48):
of workshops that is a free online workshop series.
Speaker 4 (36:53):
I'm so excited about that.
Speaker 3 (36:55):
So that'll start September fourth, And that's something else I'm
really excited about too that everything that I try to
produce is free, so you know, there's no money exchanging hands.
The artists get paid, but you guys, no one has
to pay to get in. If you want to donate something,
that's great. August twenty first at the Living Room NYC,
(37:16):
which is on thirtieth Street, I think thirty five thirtieth
Street and Goma Hill. If anyone knows who that is,
an amazing, amazing poet. We'll be teaching a free poetry workshop.
He'll be including music and sound doing that workshop. That'll
be from seven to nine and that's part of the
Great Weather for Media Workshop series. So those are just
(37:37):
some of the things that will be happening. All of
those are free events. My social media things are at
Thomas Feklaro Instagram. That's where you could find all the
flyers and stuff for all of those amazing things.
Speaker 2 (37:52):
Awesome, all right, well, that is so great to hear.
Speaker 1 (37:55):
A lot of good stuff coming out and coming up everyone.
Thomas's links will be down below in the description box.
No matter where you listen to this podcast, no matter
the streaming service worldwide, all the Thomas's links will be
down the description box below. All Right, Thomas, I enjoyed you.
Thanks so much for being a guest on the Post
(38:15):
Speaks podcast. Thank you absolutely, and again everyone go check
out off Thomas's amazing work. Everyone check out the Post
Speaks podcasts and the Post Speaks with Amanda Eke on
TV streaming services.
Speaker 2 (38:29):
Everyone, all right, thank you so much, Bye byeveryone.
Hello everyone, it's your host, Amanda Aka, and I have
some amazing news. Starting this fall, the post Speaks is
coming to your TV screens. Yes, that's right. After eight
amazing seasons as a podcast, The poet Speaks with Amanda
Aka is now a TV show erin at the Archaeology
Channel's new streaming service, Heritage. Everyone, get ready for a
(00:26):
visual feast of spoken more performances and deep dives into
the minds of pots from all over the world. Something
extraordinary is coming.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
And you won't want to miss a single moment. Stay tuned.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
Hello everyone, and welcome back to the poet Speaks podcast,
the number one spoken wor podcast in the world.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Don't forget now. Our next guest is.
Speaker 1 (00:46):
The winner of numerous grants from a Staten Island Council
of the Arts, the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, NYC
Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes at NYC Commission
of Human Rights, to name a few.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
He is being on six National Slam teams.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
Is a co founding editor of Great Weather for Media
and Nysai Press, co founder of Poetry in the Park, Wordplay,
Creating Space and Poetry in Motion. Is released two full
length in this new chat book let Go is out
now our Neuuronic Press. Everyone, please welcome to the Pole
Speaks podcast. Thomas Fucaloro. Thomas, how are you?
Speaker 3 (01:23):
I'm doing good today on this Thursday morning. Thank you
so much. How are you doing good?
Speaker 1 (01:27):
I'm doing pretty good, doing pretty good. Well, I'm doing
a lot better now that I get to talk to you,
So tell me a little bit before we get into it.
I have a lot of questions. Your bio is just
beyond fascinating. But first and foremost, tell me where are
we talking to you from? Give the longitudinal latitudinal knom skin.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
Where are we talking to you from today?
Speaker 3 (01:49):
I am based out in Staten Island, New York, statn Island.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
Yes, that accent came out that Staten Islander is Sadden Island.
That's the Family Guy. Family Guys takes place in Staten Island.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
Correct? Am I wrong or right?
Speaker 3 (02:05):
I am not sure. I don't think it does. I
think it's Long Island being.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
Long Island, Okay, for sure, for sure with that spot
all the time, for sure.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
Tell us.
Speaker 1 (02:15):
Staten Island is in is an island kind of based
off of New York City.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
It's considered one of the boroughs of New York.
Speaker 3 (02:21):
City, right, yes, yes, it's often considered the forgotten borough.
Speaker 1 (02:26):
I was about to say, I feel like for folks
that are not from the city, right, if you you
probably think, what's the borough like the I don't know,
like Bronx, right, what people think of those names?
Speaker 2 (02:39):
Right, I don't even know the boroughs off the top
of my head.
Speaker 1 (02:41):
But I think Staten Island definitely people don't recognize it.
What is Staten Island? Is it born and bred and
Staten Island? Where were you from?
Speaker 2 (02:49):
Originally?
Speaker 3 (02:50):
I was born in Brooklyn, lived there for like a
couple of years, but pretty much raised.
Speaker 4 (02:56):
I would say, I'm homegrown Staten Island.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
Homegrown. Nice. Nice.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
Now, tell us a bit about the kind of poetry
writing community out in Staten Island when you were kind
of raised there. Did poetry find you there or did
you find it in later parts of your childhood outside
of Staten Island.
Speaker 3 (03:14):
So if we're just talking about the poetry part, I
would say poetry found me pretty late in Staten Island,
and that was when I went to the College of
Staten Island. I discovered poetry probably like eighteen nineteen years old.
I mean I was always writing and journal song lyrics
(03:36):
and things like that at a very early age.
Speaker 4 (03:39):
But in terms of finding poetry, I discovered E.
Speaker 3 (03:43):
Cummings at CSI College of Staten Island, and that kind
of changed things for me. That opened up a vista
of just kind of like, oh my god, the things
you can do on a page. Forget about spoken word.
I was just very obsessed with the page at that
point point. And then I actually I didn't know much
(04:03):
about the Staten Island poetry scene at that point as
an eighteen year old. I'm forty seven right now, so
that's like thirty years ago. And then what I did
is I actually wound up moving. I'm moved out of
Staten Island. I moved to Manhattan. I lived there for
about eleven years, and I was on the New York
City poetry scene for that time, and I focused in.
(04:27):
I went to the New School, and I just focused
in on the New York City poetry scene for a
very very long time. And then I moved back to
Staten Island ten years later and then discovered the Staten
Island scene which was already blossomed and.
Speaker 4 (04:47):
Already doing its thing with readings.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
I think at these places called the Full Cup. There
was also this spoken word series called called Eargasms. So
when I was there, something was already happening. And then
I guess I moved there around two thousand and ten,
I would say, moved back to statn Island. But now
it's a much different scene. It's you know, we've had
(05:15):
some slam teams that have performed nationally. We've had some
poets who've performed nationally. We've had some touring poets. We've
had poets who've not saying that poets haven't released books before,
but we've had poets who've released books, chat books, performance.
Speaker 4 (05:33):
Videos, start their own thing.
Speaker 3 (05:34):
You know, the stat Island poetry scene is like alive
and well right now poets are definitely doing their own things.
Speaker 4 (05:43):
So yeah, it's doing really well.
Speaker 3 (05:44):
There's a lot to you know, there's a lot of
different things that you can be a part of here
right now.
Speaker 1 (05:51):
Absolutely, Why do you think do you think that's as
kind of broadcasted to the world.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
I mean, like, like we had.
Speaker 1 (05:58):
Talked about just about a couple of seconds ago when
we began Staten Island to the Forgotten Borough, do you
feel like more.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
Emphasis needs to be put, more of.
Speaker 1 (06:06):
A light needs to be shown on the Staten Island
poetry open mic scene for writing.
Speaker 3 (06:13):
I do think, I very much think so. I would
love to see that happen. I think that myself and
a few other people are that bridge to the other boroughs,
which is great, but definitely more of a light should
be shown. You know, we had a poet laureate for
(06:36):
four years and then that program was dropped, which was
really disappointing. That's something that I think would really bring
light to the borough. I think that's something gets very
very needed, which is something that myself and a few
other people are trying to bring back. But it's a
very very difficult process, whether it be the powers of
(06:57):
being the borough President's office or or whomever.
Speaker 4 (07:01):
I don't want to name drop.
Speaker 3 (07:02):
Here for things of that nature, but like you know,
things of that would definitely bring more attention to Staten Island.
We definitely try to bring other poets from the other
burroughs here. We have a poetry video program that we
do something called Poetry Emotion, where we not only create
(07:23):
poetry videos for poets of Staten Island, but poets from
the other burroughs.
Speaker 4 (07:27):
We repair you with other videoographers. We get a grant
to do this.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
We have a YouTube channel so we can pay the
videographers and the poets. They make these great poetry videos
and we try to enter them into contests. We have
one that got into Button Poetry. We have some in
film festivals. So these are ways that we try to
get Staten Island to a little bit more on the map.
(07:53):
We're lucky that, you know, poets of yesteryear, like Audrey Lord,
who is an amazing poet. You know, she lived here
for a huge chunk of her life. So Audie Lord's
house is here. So we actually just.
Speaker 4 (08:06):
Did a reading.
Speaker 3 (08:08):
We do an annual reading with this great organization called
Statnau not Out Loud. We did a reading in front
of her, Audie Laurd's house where we just read Audie
Lord poems. So things like that we try to That
gets a little you know, excitement from the other boroughs.
Speaker 4 (08:25):
At least it gets noticed by some of the other boroughs.
Speaker 3 (08:28):
So things like that do get some attention. But you know,
I think, you know, with Staten Island and poetry, it's
a slow burn. With the other boroughs, those things get
a lot more attention. They have poetry laureates, they have
a lot more you know. Also with Staten Island, you
know you need a boat to get here. You know,
(08:49):
you need the ferry unless you have a car. For
the other boroughs, it's a lot more accessible to get
where you're going. So you know, it's it's it's it's challenging,
but it's worth it.
Speaker 4 (09:01):
It's worth it absolutely.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
Now for sure.
Speaker 1 (09:05):
Yeah, and for those that, yeah, the Audrey Lord connection piece,
maybe some people aren't even aware of that.
Speaker 2 (09:11):
So now that's a fantastic thing.
Speaker 1 (09:14):
It's really great to hear what you all are able
to do and what y'all are still continuing to do.
I kind of want to move into a bit of
your amazing illustrious career now. Like I had read in
your bio, you're the winner of numerous grants from Staten Island,
Council of the Arts, NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, and
one thing I want to kind of go into tell
(09:34):
us about. So you've won to grant from the NYC
Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes. Tell us a
little bit about how did that come about. Was that
a project that you did for the Prevention of Hate
Crimes Unit for the NYC Office, tell us a little
bit about that.
Speaker 3 (09:49):
Yeah, so that was a reading series we did. That's
a reading series. We do something called wordplay, which has
actually had many different iterations. It was called life vest poetry,
it was called advanced poetry. It used to be a slam.
Now it's something called wordplay that.
Speaker 4 (10:12):
We do.
Speaker 3 (10:13):
Add of a clothing store called Richmond Hood Company which
is a really great community based store that does a
lot of great community work within stat nowand there they
not only you know it sounds weird, Oh it's a
clothing store, but it actually does. It produces clothing by
local artists who design clothing, which is a really big deal.
(10:37):
Plus they do tons, tons of community work within Staten Island,
you know, whether it be work for artists, murals, festivals,
like they are really like a pinnacle of doing the
important work on Staten Island.
Speaker 4 (10:56):
So I really have to like shout them out.
Speaker 3 (10:57):
And we've been doing poetry reading series there for it's
got to be about like ten years now, and we
did a three month series there where we focused on
we got this grant where we focused on doing a
(11:19):
series where the theme was you had to bring poetry
and work that focused on community based writing. It focused
on love not hate. How could you bring writing that
focused on like anti gun, anti violence. We brought in
a live drummer, Aj Pantaleo in We had a live artist,
(11:45):
Sean MacArthur, who created live art based on all the
poetry that was created that night.
Speaker 4 (11:51):
If you could.
Speaker 3 (11:52):
Actually see I'll eat it off my wall, this was
some of the live art that was created. And this
was like all the poetry that was read, and then
the artists created based off of people's lines.
Speaker 4 (12:09):
They created like based on the poetry.
Speaker 3 (12:13):
And then right next door to Richmond Hood there's a
place called Vodega, which is a vegan bodega, which is
so we took a bunch of that grant money and
we you.
Speaker 4 (12:29):
Know, fed the community.
Speaker 3 (12:31):
So we were able to feed anyone who just came,
even if they weren't participating. We need some food, We
got some food for you. And we were able to
pay the artists, the performers. It just became a big
community event showcasing and highlighting anti violence, anti gun prevention,
(12:51):
and then also just focusing on just you know.
Speaker 4 (12:54):
Peace and love.
Speaker 3 (12:55):
And this was a three month reading series. So we
did this three times, I think this was last year.
Speaker 1 (13:02):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (13:03):
Now that's phenomenal. That's phenomenal.
Speaker 1 (13:05):
What tell us about the kind of importance of that
community based poetry and finding that kind of you know,
community based work because a lot of people I think
they strive to kind of you know, use their platform
in terms of being a poet to not only just
be work. So I would say, you know, as a
as a writer, you first and foremost you do write
(13:27):
for yourself, because that's.
Speaker 2 (13:29):
Where a lot of your your your words come from.
But it's also you know, how do you.
Speaker 1 (13:34):
Now take your your writing, your poetry and use it
as a form of public service? How how important do
you think that is as a as a poet, especially
at this stage of your career, how important do you
think that aspect of your storytelling is?
Speaker 4 (13:51):
Yeah? I mean, I mean for me, it's extremely important.
Speaker 3 (13:55):
You know. And you know, every every poet has a
different mission or a different thing that they want yeat,
you know, for me, you know, for someone like you know,
the music I was raised on, the music that I love,
like punk rock and a lot of other music. But
like you know, punk rock is very community oriented, grassroots.
(14:17):
It's always about you know, not necessarily and I'm not
shunning anyone for making money or making a living off
of poetry, art or music.
Speaker 4 (14:27):
I think you absolutely should make money, make a living
or you know.
Speaker 3 (14:31):
But like also there's another aspect to this whole thing,
and it's about trying to create platforms for other people,
you know, and elevating and highlighting other artists when you can,
and community is a really big part of that. Sometimes
you stumble doing that work and sometimes you're successful.
Speaker 4 (14:53):
For me, a big.
Speaker 3 (14:55):
Part of that where I got my learning chops from
was the first series my first time posting a poetry
series was many moons ago in the city, which was
an organization called ABC No Rio which was in the
East Village, which they did a lot of community work,
(15:16):
They did a lot of protest work, They did a
lot of great work within the confines of the East
Village and beyond doing massive community work outside of the arts,
just like social work and stuff like that. And you
just learn from that, and you learn from other poets,
you know. I learned a great deal from John Sands,
(15:38):
who is a really great poet.
Speaker 4 (15:40):
You know.
Speaker 3 (15:40):
He had hired me to do poetry workshops at a
needle exchange on thirty fourth Street many years ago. You know,
you learn, you know, you learn from these, from these organizations,
from these this work that you do, that it's.
Speaker 4 (16:00):
Community is so important.
Speaker 3 (16:02):
That you know it's not always you know, it's about uplifting.
Poetry can be about uplifting and for me, for who
I am and.
Speaker 4 (16:12):
For what I think my role is.
Speaker 3 (16:15):
And I hate saying that my role, but for what
at least I need from this or and I even
hate saying what I need, but like what, you know,
what calls to me in this work is being able
to create some sort of community.
Speaker 4 (16:29):
But there is pitfalls to that too, you know.
Speaker 3 (16:33):
You know, sometimes you can get a big ego or
a big head when creating community, and that's happened to
me before too. Sometimes you're like, oh, wow, look at
all this, and you become a elitist and you start thinking, oh,
you can be a part of my community, but you
can't be a part of my community. And that becomes
very jarring at certain points. And I've had to check
(16:57):
myself in those instances as well. So you know, finding
the right balance in that can be something that you
have to really really negotiate within yourself. It's like a
seesaw and make sure you're doing this for the people
around you and not just for yourself. That's what I
wanted to say. It's not just about my needs. It's
(17:18):
about the needs of the people around you, and sometimes
it takes a second to realize that's what it's about.
Speaker 1 (17:25):
Absolutely No, Absolutely, So tell us a bit about to
you know, so, as you've mentioned a little bit already,
you're co founder of Poetry in the Park, wordplay, creating space, poetry, emotion,
kind of likening off what we've been talking about a
little bit.
Speaker 2 (17:41):
I mean, what you know, I.
Speaker 1 (17:43):
Even want you to look at, you know, from where
you started in your career to being a poet to now.
I mean, did you ever imagine that you'd be able
to create these spaces outside of a page, outside of
a chat book for people to really indul and you know,
really find themselves in poetry. Did you imagine that this
(18:05):
is kind of the path that you would take to
creating even more avenues for people to enjoy the word
I don't.
Speaker 4 (18:14):
I don't think I imagine.
Speaker 3 (18:16):
I think in the beginning, you know, I sound very
self righteous right now, but I think in the beginning,
I was, you know, reading a lot of kowski, drinking, drugging.
I was like that, you know, that white lame poet
who was like writing a lot of like, you know,
(18:38):
misogynistic poems, you know, like you know, oh the girl
wronged me, and like, you know, like I wasn't, I
wasn't in the right place. It took it took mentors,
it took a law, it took a long time to
find that path. So no, I didn't imagine that. I
(18:58):
think I've always been good of heart, whatever that means,
you know. I think besides these mentors, I've also like
I had a grandfather, my mother's father, who was he
had a very small stint on Broadway, but he was
always about performing and he was always so good of heart.
So I think I've always had that in me, always
(19:22):
a caring in me. So I think that's always been there.
But I think I never imagine that, you know. I
think it took a long time to get there, and
I think I'm still getting there.
Speaker 4 (19:34):
I think, you know you, you, you know you, you you.
Speaker 3 (19:37):
Gave that whole list, and I think I'm still figuring
all those things out. You know, all those things are great,
but I'm still figuring out. I still don't think I've
gotten to my peak yet or my you know, I
think I'm still climbing. It is great, I don't I
don't want to get to my peak. I think if
I get to my peak, that's when I'll feel, say, satisfied,
(20:00):
and I don't want that satisfaction just yet, you know.
Speaker 1 (20:05):
For sure, for sure, No, I think a lot of
people can relate to that. You know, we are ever evolving,
changing human beings. So it's our definite. Our definitions of
things ten years ago are now our definition of things now,
and how we perceive the world, especially as an artist.
So now that's it is quite the revelation. So I'm curious, then,
(20:27):
what are kind of the inspirations you see yourself kind
of drawing from now? What stage of your writing life
would you say you are in now? Like you said
you've been. You know, you're a not only are you
a numerous grant winner, but you know you're also a professor.
You're also a teacher, right, you know, you're a publishing author.
(20:51):
I mean, where do you see yourself in the whole.
Speaker 2 (20:53):
Scheme of things?
Speaker 1 (20:54):
What inspires one to write at this stage of your career.
Speaker 4 (20:59):
Right now? Well, I feel like I'm very self absorbed.
Speaker 3 (21:02):
I'm writing a lot of I mean, I'm right now.
Speaker 4 (21:09):
So my.
Speaker 3 (21:11):
Mom and her boyfriend passed away last year, and it's
been very, very challenging. In the years leading up to
that were extremely challenging, from just mental health to a
lot of misdiagnosis, to a lot of abuse, and plus
(21:32):
I was in an eight year relationship that was just crumbling,
so plus the pandemic. Yes, I have been really self absorbed.
I've been just I've been having a lot of mommy
issues and I've been really i would say, for the
past five or six years, writing a lot about my
mom and our relationship, which has really been you know,
(21:57):
I've been writing a lot of mom poems, a lot
of sad mommy poems. So that has been a huge,
huge part of what I've been writing lately, to a
point where I've been.
Speaker 4 (22:13):
Frustrated.
Speaker 3 (22:14):
I feel like I've been in a in a loop
writing those poems, and I know that I have to
write through you know, it's it's part of it. Eventually,
I'm starting to see the light and get out of
that loop. But that's what I've been stuck in lately,
is writing those poems. I'd like to get out of that.
(22:37):
I'm starting to get out of that. I think the
political climate and the climate that we're in right now,
I'm starting to get out of that a little. I'm
starting to write more about the teaching experience, which I
think I need to do because that's helping me figure
out teaching more. You know, I love I love teaching.
I'm where I teach at three different schools. I teach
(22:59):
night classes right now. I teach these online four hour
night classes right now, and that's tedious as hell, but
it's also I love it, you know, I love working
with youth. So but writing about it helps, you know,
you figure out, oh I could have did that better,
or I really liked what I did here, you know.
(23:21):
So I'm slowly getting out of that space, but I
need to start. But lately just writing a lot about
my parents, their divorce, thinking about the my last relationship,
writing about the new relationship that I'm in, you know,
just a lot of like a lot of you know,
(23:44):
a tangled web, and I'm trying to just untangle that
web so I can start writing about other things. You know,
it would be great to write about a sunset, you know,
or something like that out of my head a little.
Speaker 2 (24:00):
For sure, for sure, and now we definitely write where
we are.
Speaker 1 (24:03):
So that kind of goes into and I'm curious about
this title, your latest chatbook, let Go capital L, capital
E parentheses t g O let go. Tell us a
little bit. Is that inspired kind of by what you
just spoke about, and tell us a bit about that title.
Speaker 2 (24:22):
How that come about. It's a very interesting way to
spell let go.
Speaker 3 (24:26):
Yes, yes, So that's I'm going to hold the book
title up there the cover, let go. So this is
actually poems about Lego, as in the Lego Bricks. Well
they're all poems about Lego, but really there about the
taking apart and building back up of relationships and it's
(24:47):
everything that I just said right now. So you know,
during the pandemic go you know, I'm sure we all
know what was happening during the pandemic, the challenges everyone
was facing. So during the pandemic, you know, my mom
was going through a lot, and because of the pandemic,
(25:09):
trying to get her the care that she needed was
just I mean, it was ridiculous. It just was something
that was non existent. Couldn't go see her, but finally
was able to put her in a facility, and that
facility was just the worst, and I couldn't see her
(25:29):
because of like it was just I'm not going to
go through all the details right now, but it just
made everything just crazy.
Speaker 4 (25:38):
And again, like I mentioned the relationship that I was.
Speaker 3 (25:41):
In that was falling apart, I was also teaching at
that time online. That was probably the only thing that
was really saving me. So there was just so much
happening at that time. And during that whole time period,
I had started playing and with Lego because I just
needed something to just get me out of that space.
Speaker 4 (26:04):
Like I was.
Speaker 3 (26:05):
Building things just it was helping me with my anxiety.
I deal with anxiety. I'm sure you can tell I'm
like using my hands a lot and stuff, but it
was just helping me. It was helping me with the
calm of just being stuck, you know, just in my apartment.
Speaker 4 (26:20):
You know.
Speaker 3 (26:21):
So this chap book really analyzes the you know, the
falling apart of one relationship, the building back up of
another relationship, and then it also looks at my parents' relationship.
Speaker 4 (26:37):
They got divorced when they were four, when I was.
Speaker 3 (26:40):
Four, and then you know, my mom's mental health struggles
during that time and beyond. You know, I don't know
for those out there who had parents who are divorced,
you know, sometimes you're kind of forced to pick a
side in that, and that's kind of what happened to me.
(27:03):
So I think I was a strained from feeling positive
things from my father. So I think in writing this,
I started realizing that, you know, my father, my father
and my relationship actually I started building that relationship up.
Especially when my mom got sick, my father and my
(27:24):
relationship got better. So that book, this book is about
that building that back up again. And then there's some
funny poems in here too that I added in there
as well to break up a little bit of the
monotony of all that, you know, and then leading to
you know, my mom's passing and you know, you know,
(27:45):
just reminding myself that through all of this.
Speaker 4 (27:50):
Uh that you know, my.
Speaker 3 (27:54):
My goal in life is to always keep building, which
is the theme hopefully of this whole conversation with these
things that I do, whether it comes to writing poems
or you know, doing grants, teaching these great you know,
poetry in the Park that I co facilitate with Matt Figgs,
(28:15):
or poetry emotion or all these different things. A press
that I do, great weather for media that I that
I've been doing for about eleven to twelve years. And
I say press like is that it's always about building,
and you know, and then I can't forget that.
Speaker 1 (28:31):
So no, absolutely, Now we are building from the from
the birth, from your birth to the grave.
Speaker 2 (28:39):
Right, we are constantly building. It's a constant kind of stepping.
Speaker 1 (28:43):
Blocks now, so I love that kind of metaphor comparing
it to Legos tell us is that that's available worldwide.
Speaker 2 (28:50):
I work. Can people buy the piece of work?
Speaker 3 (28:54):
I think only at neuonoticpress dot com.
Speaker 4 (28:56):
I can share I guess the link later or yes,
so yeah.
Speaker 2 (29:01):
Link will be down below nowhere we will get that link.
Speaker 1 (29:04):
Awesome, so awesome to hear. Thank you so much for that, Thomas.
Speaking of building, so you know what you were actually
where we met you were actually for those that don't know,
and you would have heard before this episode, the Pote
Speaks podcast is now show streaming now on the Heritage Channel,
the Archaeology Channel's new streaming service.
Speaker 2 (29:24):
As well as on some local TV as well cable TV.
Speaker 1 (29:28):
So, Thomas tell Us, you were part of the first
season of the pote speaks with the Man a TV show.
Speaker 2 (29:34):
Tell us a little bit.
Speaker 1 (29:35):
Tell the folks how your experience was with that. That
was the first time we had met in New York
City filming the show. You were in the episode that
spoken were in the village talking about the great effect
that Grantwich Village has had on some amazing writers, your
self included. Tell us a little bit about your experience
filming the show.
Speaker 3 (29:54):
Yeah, I thought the filming of it was fantastic. It
went so smooth. You guys were so professional, you pampered me.
It was great. But it was a great experience. We
did it at the Poet's house, so I loved being there,
which was great. Even though it's not part of Greenwich Village,
it's still part of the poetry community of NYC. And
(30:16):
I think, like I said in our interview, I think,
like Greenwich Village, the Village NYC, it all bleeds and
melts into each other. I think the experience was amazing.
I'm like excited to see what the outcome of it
all is. You know, it's great to work with Reggie
Kubico because you know, he's just a mad poet who
(30:40):
is just so influential to not only me, but to
so many people just like you know, around the country
and the world. You know, so it was just a
great experience. How did you feel about the experience?
Speaker 2 (30:52):
No, I felt great.
Speaker 1 (30:53):
It's you know, it's it was an interesting experience, you know.
You know, when your executive produce, sir host as well
as directing, it's definitely it's hard to be in the
moment to enjoy all of it.
Speaker 2 (31:06):
But you know, when.
Speaker 1 (31:07):
Folks hear this podcast episode, we are on the other side,
so we are doing good.
Speaker 2 (31:12):
It's premiered and everything.
Speaker 1 (31:14):
It is definitely a lot, but we're so thankful to
you and Reggie for opening up your space, sharing your
amazing words for those listening. They Thomas is a very
very powerful piece that he shares, a piece of poetry,
and he has a very very powerful.
Speaker 2 (31:28):
Interview as well.
Speaker 1 (31:30):
And yeah, we do kind of a tour of how Grantwich,
that village, the idea of the village, how it's transpired
to so many places in New York City. So it's
some very inspiring talks and some inspiring things people have
to say. So a big shout out to you, Thomas,
thank you for appearing all The Posts Speaks The.
Speaker 2 (31:49):
Pote Speaks with Amanda Ega, which is now the TV show.
Speaker 1 (31:52):
So we are excited for folks to hear that and
only hear you on this podcast, also see you on
the show. So thank you so much. Big shouts for
doing that, and everyone go check it out. Heritage Broadcasts
streaming everywhere worldwide. All right, So Thomas tell us, as
we're kind of wrapping up here, you know, you've had
such an illustrious career thus far, you know, but I
(32:14):
always like to take it back. I mean, was there
a seminal moment in your life when you knew you
were a writer?
Speaker 4 (32:20):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (32:21):
Wow, I don't even know if I'm a writer just yet.
I mean, I guess I know I'm a writer. I
don't know if there's a seminal moment, you know. I
guess when your first book is published, you can look
at it that way. I guess as like a benchmark.
I don't know if there's a you know, I don't know.
I think it's just you're part of the process, You're
(32:44):
part of you know. I think it's just showing up
and just being part of a community, you know. I
don't think there is necessarily a specific.
Speaker 4 (32:59):
Time or I'm like, oh, I'm a writer now. You
know it could be a first publication.
Speaker 3 (33:05):
But I don't think there was a time where I
was just like, yes, you know this is I'm definitely
a writer. Now. I think I can't think of a
specific time. I do feel it now, you know, I
feel I'm a poet. I do think I'm a I'm
a mid level poet. I'll say that, like I think
(33:25):
there are tiers of poetry. There are those popular poets
who you know, who will just post something. They'll get
all the likes, they'll get the paycheck. Like I'm a
mid level poet. I'll say that about myself, a mid
level writer. You know, I'm just enough and and I'll
(33:47):
leave it at that.
Speaker 2 (33:49):
Fair enough.
Speaker 1 (33:50):
We all think you're more than enough, buddy, So we appreciate,
we appreciate the humbleness, but you do gotta say we
think you're more than enough, all right, Thomas, Well, last
question for you. We ask everyone on the Post Speaks podcast, Thomas,
why do you need to get your words out?
Speaker 3 (34:07):
So I you know, I know the cliche response will be,
you know it's therapeutic. You know, it's definitely about getting
something off your chest, and uh, there's that connection connecting
with people. I think that's part of it.
Speaker 4 (34:23):
But then there's also.
Speaker 3 (34:25):
You know, there's the creative muscle inside of me. Whatever
that muscle is, creativity. I think that's part of it.
You know, wanting to you know, what is a painter
or paint you know, they also want to show that
finished product, that creativity.
Speaker 4 (34:44):
You want to share that thing.
Speaker 3 (34:46):
You know. Some people, you know write journal entries, which
is great. I love that, but how do you turn
that journal entry into something creative? So there's that, and
then there's something you know, I'm a huge George Carlin fan,
and I think something he always says, and I agree
(35:06):
with it, there's that other thing inside of you, you know,
look at me, you know, look at me, look at
what I've done. And I think that's part of it too.
Maybe it's a narcissistic thing inside of you, but like,
you know, look at me, look at something I've done.
Whether that look at me is self centered or look
at me I need emotional support, or you know, look
(35:30):
at me reflected in you. Again, that's part of that
connection thing. So I think all of those things are
a part of it.
Speaker 1 (35:40):
Sure, sure, all right, well, Thomas, thank you so much
for amazing sharing your words of wisdom, some dropping some
amazing gems for us on this podcast today.
Speaker 2 (35:50):
Before we wrap up, wrap up.
Speaker 1 (35:52):
Tell us what's next for you in twenty twenty four
as well as where can folks find all of your
amazing work?
Speaker 2 (35:58):
Drop any links for the website, socials, all that good stuff.
Speaker 4 (36:02):
Yeah, so what's next for me?
Speaker 3 (36:04):
Yeah, We've got our season three of Poetry in Motion
dropping September twenty eighth. I believe we have eight amazing poets,
everyone from I'm trying to think about Peggy Roblas Alvarado
to Marissa Tornello. I know I'm missing so many people.
(36:24):
Matt Figgs Sin We're doing like five minute shorts as
part of those, so that's going to be happening. We
have our next Wordplay event that's going to be happening
in September as well. We have Roy and Marsh featuring,
which is going to be fantastic. I'm so excited about that.
We're going to be starting our next Creating Space series
(36:48):
of workshops that is a free online workshop series.
Speaker 4 (36:53):
I'm so excited about that.
Speaker 3 (36:55):
So that'll start September fourth, And that's something else I'm
really excited about too that everything that I try to
produce is free, so you know, there's no money exchanging hands.
The artists get paid, but you guys, no one has
to pay to get in. If you want to donate something,
that's great. August twenty first at the Living Room NYC,
(37:16):
which is on thirtieth Street, I think thirty five thirtieth
Street and Goma Hill. If anyone knows who that is,
an amazing, amazing poet. We'll be teaching a free poetry workshop.
He'll be including music and sound doing that workshop. That'll
be from seven to nine and that's part of the
Great Weather for Media Workshop series. So those are just
(37:37):
some of the things that will be happening. All of
those are free events. My social media things are at
Thomas Feklaro Instagram. That's where you could find all the
flyers and stuff for all of those amazing things.
Speaker 2 (37:52):
Awesome, all right, well, that is so great to hear.
Speaker 1 (37:55):
A lot of good stuff coming out and coming up everyone.
Thomas's links will be down below in the description box.
No matter where you listen to this podcast, no matter
the streaming service worldwide, all the Thomas's links will be
down the description box below. All Right, Thomas, I enjoyed you.
Thanks so much for being a guest on the Post
(38:15):
Speaks podcast. Thank you absolutely, and again everyone go check
out off Thomas's amazing work. Everyone check out the Post
Speaks podcasts and the Post Speaks with Amanda Eke on
TV streaming services.
Speaker 2 (38:29):
Everyone, all right, thank you so much, Bye byeveryone.
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