For the season finale, I brought Brad onto the show to give you a life update, chat our biggest life perspective shifts, and talk about our healing journey as individuals and as a couple since his brain injury cycling accident. We talk about moving forward WITH the experience versus moving on FROM the experience. I ask Brad how it feels to have a second chance at life and how his perspective changed from feeling punished to feeling blessed. It's about time + consciousness, not just sitting around idly waiting for "time to heal all wound." Brad talks about his patience level as one of his biggest changes, as he used to feel very restless, impatient and always feeling he has to be further ahead. He talks about his new appreciation of stillness and presence, whereas before, meditation was never interesting. I ask him if he feels content with life and I answer the same. We talk about how much we radically feel like ourselves now that we're on other side of so much pain and FINALLY in our own home again after 8 months of living in his parent's basement apartment to aid in his physical recovery. That brings up the different kinds of healing: physical, spiritual, emotional/mental and the power of our environment over our willpower and motivation. We discuss how/when we realized that the majority of his physical healing was done and  that our emotional/spiritual healing needed to take a front seat, which meant we needed to move out of his parents. We squeal about our new apartment and how much we radically feel like ourselves and a husband and wife again after losing that intimate connection. We of course talk about my 2022 book and how I feel more peace and acceptance around the fact that his voice has changed. We conclude with the difference between "why did this happen to ME?" versus "WHY did this happen to me?"

Thank you for a beautiful season 6 - this episode feels full circle and I so look forward to the fall season!
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Ever thought about being a creative for a living or are in the midst of that path or are simply inspired by those whose presence oozes depth and art? Then you’re going to love this conversation! Marcus Amaker is the epitome of Artist as an award winning spoken word poet, graphic designer and musician and the Poet Laureate of Charleston.

He addresses the stereotype of the “starving artist” narrative to overcome our fears around pursing our creativity for a living and gives 3 tips on imposter syndrome. He provides fascinating insight into the child versus adult mind based on his experience working in schools. We talk about how/when we lose our identification as “artist” and what that term even means. Marcus generously offers a “self portrait” writing prompt PDF that he uses in schools to get kids writing their feelings, which you’ll find in the show notes for free (yes, it's for adults too).

 We talk about what a Poet Laureate actually does, how he became one, and of course I ask him about his feelings on Amanda Gorman. We talk joy triggers, trauma porn, and I ask Marcus how he strikes a balance between pain and joy in this world, especially as a writer and black man. He tells me that balance doesn’t exist and asks us to look to how we respond to children’s joy versus our own.

We also talk about a second artist stereotype, that you have to suffer for great Art, in which Marcus refutes such argument. We talk healthy, empathic ways of processing stress and pain through creativity, and all of this concludes with Marcus sharing his take on self care as a self emptying. He reads 3 poems aloud, and the one on self love gave me the biggest chills! ________________
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Your 100th Episode Gift! BODY ART "thorns and roses" 90 minute embodied dance writing workshop to somaticize the thorns and roses of life and life. alyssakuzins.com/roses

For Marcus's books, albums, the "self portrait" writing prompt PDF:  alyssakuzins.com/marcus-amaker

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Aija Mayrock was a young girl with a speech impediment who was bullied, even told to “kill herself,” but now she’s a 25 year old spoken word poet who has shared her words with over four million people. Aija is a humble soul who is sharing the experience of girlhood to womanhood and finding your voice with her latest book, Dear Girl. We talk about vulnerabilty breeding vulnerabilty, and about the power of not just having a voice, but using your voice. Writing became her outlet for safe expression when speaking up failed her, but as an adult, she’s taking her power back by speaking up and sharing the truth of her written word. We talk the power of embodied words, why she chose the term “girl” versus woman in her book title, and how you can be afraid and do it anyways. We also discuss how we tend to blame ourselves or avoid asking for help because we assume that we must be doing something wrong. She talks about how she broke that cycle, and we discuss healing the little girl in all of us. Finally, we talk beauty privilege and self care as allowing yourself to grow. And about halfway through the episode, Aija shares a piece called “Wounds Like Crowned Jewels” that had me smirking up a storm!
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For Aija's book and show notes head to alyssakuzins.com/aija-mayrock

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Naked, powerful poetry and prose on heartbreak, love and sobriety - that’s what Jon Lupin, better known as @ThePoetryBandit to his almost 200k followers on Instagram, is all about. The sweetly humorous, Jon, rekindled his love of the creative arts after his ex wife bought a type writer and he began sharing writing in the early days of IG poets. He self published his first book, My Sober Little Moon, in 2014, and shared that he wrote much of it while still battling alcoholism. He said it reminds him and others why those chose sobriety. Jon is also staunchly honest about his particular kind of OCD that causes incessant overthinking, his divorce, his drunken stupors and even pokes fun of himself with how his IG handle used to be @thehopelessloser. In his opinion, poetry throughout the centuries will always have an air of suffering to it, as is the human condition. As such, we discuss how we become addicted to our suffering, how some only love us when we’re suffering, and we ruminate over the age old question, do you have to suffer to make great art? Jon even nerds out with me over the structural differences between prose and poetry that makes for a different psychological, emotional experience for the reader, which helps us answer the question, “Why do I love that poem?” Jon is also the author of You Only Love Me When I’m Suffering and Encyclopedia of a Broken Heart. This is an intelligent, honest, and surprisingly funny conversation that shouldn’t be missed! 
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For Jon’s books and show notes head to alyssakuzins.com/the-poetry-bandit 

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“My mental health wouldn’t be where it is today without poetry.”At the age of 19, Cassie Wood aka cm.writer, is the youngest guest I’ve had on my show. A Canadian poetess who has already written 3 poetry compilations, Cassie is most definitely going places! In this episode, we strongly focus on the ability of poetry to aid in our mental health and navigate the inevitable changes of life. Cassie shares her struggles as a teen with an old soul these days and how we have to have patience in the blossoming. We also discuss the Gen Z approach to pronouns, why she advocates for this, and how she sees life through the perspective of Queer. We talk Purpose as happiness and on a structural level why she writes in short form prose on Instagram versus her books. And then of course, we get to her books! We talk about “inspiration hits,” how we “paint women red,” and she recites 3 pieces for us! A beautiful share for adults to teens! 
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Episode show notes + Cassie's books and Etsy shop: alyssakuzins.com/cassie-wood

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“Words turn you on.” I couldn’t agree more with Ukrainian poetess, Sasha Nudel, author of A Mouth Full of Lust, who emigrated to the US when she was 16. Sasha describes how, although, she never planned on becoming a mother, how motherhood awakened her to her sensuality and sexuality. She not only gave birth to a child, but finally to her creative passions and lust for life. She challenges the narrative and reminds us that motherhood does not equal martyrdom. Sasha also describes how this indescribable love helped her relate to others, not just lovers, sensually. We expand the arch of lust and discuss why the pursuit of lust, not just love, is SO worthwhile in the short time we have in this life, along with why writing sensually and about our fantasies is so potent, especially for women. #wordporn The conversation ends with our love languages and the power of touch. Lucky for you, Sasha reads aloud multiple juicy pieces throughout the episode!
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Episode shownotes + Sasha's book: alyssakuzins.com/sasha-nudel

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“Words not for the ears but for the soul", that’s what guest, Arielle Estoria has to offer. In my opinion, Arielle is one of the best, modern spoken word poets. A writer, poet, emcee, speaker, and model, Arielle tells it like it is, and when questioned, told me poetry is healing, simply because it is! She calls us to question why we need to understand everything. We discuss the rise of poetry in popular culture and yet why she believes we need more of it. She talks about how she balances her love of fashion and the art of captivating an audience without distracting them from her words. Arielle describes herself as a professional feeler and reads aloud three spoken word pieces, including “Bloom From These Tombs,” which came out amongst the racial injustices and tragedies of 2020. She tells us that anger doesn’t sit well with her and explains what she believes is the mission of poetry; hope and healing, at least hers. It’s about seeking beauty in the pain, and she leaves us just that way with the triumphant spoken poem, “This is for You” to close the episode.
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All of this to say, thank you for healing and sharing this message!

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After a year hiatus as I stepped into the role of caregiver, I’m back and with life perspectives that I never had access to before, but that I want to share.  Because as hearts heal, they share. In July 2020, my husband, Brad, a 3 time half Iron Man finisher, was in a cycling accident. He survived but with a traumatic brain injury.  

Trigger warning. This first episode is just me and the mic, telling our story to set the foundations. You’ll hear me recount in raw detail what happened and how the healing journey really went, and is going 8 months out. 2.8 million people in the US sustain a TBI ever year, and I never want anyone to feel alone.

This is about healing, resiliency, hope, and love. 

I discuss why I'm writing a book and how poetry was a healing medium that I didn't even know I needed. I recite some pieces from my book, and I'm letting you in on what this new series, Poetic Healing, is all about and why I felt called to create it. 

Every week after this, you’ll hear a different conversation with one of today’s well-known poetry authors on poems to heal racial injustice, sexual empowerment, to using your voice, love and more. As a bonus, they’ll share some pieces with spoken word!

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All of this to say, thank you for healing and sharing this message!

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Season 6: On July 7, 2020 at 4:30am, my husband Brad was in a cycling accident. He survived but with a traumatic brain injury. Since 2017 I’ve been dedicated to real talk self care, and this season, we’re focusing on one healing modality, writing, specifically, poetry. Welcome to the Poetic Healing, season 6 series. I’m currently writing my first poetry memoir on this journey, but in the meantime, I want to highlight the poets and poetess out there who are sharing the messy human experience through the art and catharsis of beautiful words. Because the world needs healing and hope and human relating, more than ever. Every week, you’ll hear a different conversation with one of today’s well-known poetry authors on poems to heal racial injustice, sexual empowerment, to using your voice, love and more. As a bonus, they’ll share some pieces with spoken word!! I am not here to be a poet. I am here to feel my feelings, and thus maybe help you, feel yours.

Season 6 series launching Tuesday, April 6, 2021.
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In this special episode, join Alyssa as she introduces her husband and new Co-host, Brad, as they unveil their new spin-off show, A Self Care Summer of Love, as a part of Alyssa's first ever Patreon membership for the Self Care Spotlight podcast! So what are the perks of this membership, how exactly is Brad going to be involved, what juiciness are they going to talk about, and why did he push Alyssa to do this membership (even though she resisted it). + Alyssa will explain her vision for the very first group episode live reflection chat that gets YOU access to our amazing guests!

Uncensored. Relatable. Fun. Yet Deeper.

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For the final installment of Season 5’s theme, relationships as self care, we’re talking adult friendships with The Joy List founder and author of Unlonely Planet, Jillian Richardson. During a global pandemic where seeing your friends isn’t an option, this conversation felt ironic and yet timely. Jillian told Alyssa she doesn’t really see herself as a friendship expert, but more like a communication expert, but isn’t that what we’re really talking about with mature friendships? From how friendship is like dating to how to communicate hurt feelings, Jillian provides beautiful, tangible communication techniques and wisdom. Because in a world where loneliness is just as detrimental as smoking (Jillian' drops stats), having these kinds of conversations is imperative to us finding conscious friendships to have these kinds of conversations with. This was one of the most anticipated topics of this season, and it doesn’t disappoint!
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Show Notes including books and trainings mentioned: alyssakuzins.com/self-care-spotlight/the-joy-list

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