And we are back for Season Two of Dear Reader!  This season we are exploring such words as empathy, manifest, grief, joy, and breathless. Come listen every week as we talk with writers and thinkers about this and so much more.  What is empathy and how do you live an empathic life. This week's guest, writer, poet, and publisher Edward Vidaurre tells us not only how he shows empathy in his life but also in his work.  To learn more about Flower Song Press visit their website at https://www.flowersongpress.com/ To buy Edward Vidaurre's latest, Pandemia and Other  Poems, visit Aztlan Press https://aztlanlibrepress.com/pandemia-by-edward-vidaurre/ To learn more about the show, visit our website at dearreaderpodcast.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/dearreader/message

Dear Reader: Mental Health and the Writing Life

Empathy with Edward Vidaurre

Exhaustion. With the chaos of the world and with the impact on people of color, specifically Black people, writer and host Icess Fernandez Rojas talks about exhaustion, writing as activism, and living as an Afro-Latinx during this time.  If you liked this episode, please subscribe, write a review, or spread the word. Or do all of the above. You can always contact the host via twitter at Icess. Check out our new website at dearreaderpodcast.com for show notes, links to the things I’ve mentioned, and to the blog post that goes to this episode. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/dearreader/message

Bonus Episode: Exhaustion

It's the end of the year and you're probably looking back thinking that you HAVE to do better next year. But do you know how to do that?  For the past couple of years, the guiding word(s) technique has gathered popularity. That's when you choose one word (or a couple) to guide your next 365 days. That process is easier said than done!  In this episode, we go over how to pick your guiding words for the year and how to stick to it for the best year of your life!  If you liked this episode, please subscribe, write a review, or spread the word. Or do all of the above. You can always contact the host via Twitter at Icess. Check out our new website at dearreaderpodcast.com for show notes, links to the things I’ve mentioned, and to the blog post that goes to this episode. Dear Reader is based on the popular blog of the same name. Hosted by writer, educator, and blogger Icess Fernandez Rojas, each episode, will discuss the ins and outs of a guiding word and how the guests’ lives have been shaped by that word. We’ll talk to mental health advocates, changed lives, and, of course, writers who have lived their best lives guided by words. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/dearreader/message

Bonus Episode: How to Focus Your New Year

Have you ever taken a risk? Hopefully, there's a yes to that question, however, for some taking a risk is too much to handle. In the world of mental health and writing, risks can happen daily.  In this episode, writer and editor Angelique Imani Rodriguez discusses the word risk, the big one she's taking now, and how taking opportunities have helped space her life and career. Risk doesn't have to be a bad thing. Some times, you have to step out on faith and bet on yourself.  You can follow Angelique on Instagram and Twitter at @theboricongobookgang. If you liked this episode, please subscribe, write a review, or spread the word. Or do all of the above. You can always contact the host via Twitter at Icess. Check out our new website at dearreaderpodcast.com for show notes, links to the things I’ve mentioned, and to the blog post that goes to this episode. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/dearreader/message

Episode 7: Risk

The holidays are here and soon we'll be attending events that may put us out of our comfort zones.  It's difficult to establish boundaries when you're trying to join in the merriment but how about in your everyday life?  How does one establish boundaries? According to journalist and writer David Dunn, it's baptism by fire.  In this episode, he'll discuss how he's been able to establish boundaries not only in his workplace but in other aspects of his life.   If you liked this episode, please subscribe, write a review, or spread the word. Or do all of the above. You can always contact the host via twitter at Icess. Check out our new website at dearreaderpodcast.com for show notes, links to the things I’ve mentioned, and to the blog post that goes to this episode. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/dearreader/message

Episode 6: Boundaries

When someone says retrograde, do you think Mercury? Of course, you do, however, retrograde also means the feeling of moving backward. We have all felt that one time or another.   In this episode, we'll talk about the feeling of moving backward or standing still and what we can distill from it. It's a solo show so it's just you and !, reader!  If you liked this episode, please subscribe, write a review, or spread the word. Or do all of the above. You can always contact the host via twitter at Icess. Check out our new website at dearreaderpodcast.com for show notes, links to the things I’ve mentioned, and to the blog post that goes to this episode. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/dearreader/message

Episode 5: Retrograde

Welcome to Dear Reader: Mental Health and the Writing Life where we take one word and explore. Our guiding word for this episode is "Pause".  Writer and educator Hugo Esteban Rodriguez stops by to talk about what it means to pause. As a person living with adult ADHD, he routinely practices "pausing" in this life. He does this not only for little things like remembering where his keys are but also for his writing.  Follow host Icess Fernandez Rojas on Twitter @Icess or visit the Dear Reader website at icessfernandez.com or leave us a message. Maybe you'll get on the show! If you have a workshop horror story, please leave us a message at our Anchor site! Links from the episode: Rodriguez's Instagram / Rodriguez's Poet and Writer's site / Rodriguez's Book - "And Other Stories" / Dear Reader Blog / Host Icess Fernandez Rojas' Twitter / --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/dearreader/message

Episode 4: Pause

What is opportunity? Do you know it when you see it, even if it doesn't look how you think it's supposed to? In this episode,  we talk to Dr. Trevor Boffone, educator, writer, and community organizer, who recognized opportunity during a tough time.  He'll also tell give us some writing advice.  Also in this episode, I talk about the latest in my writing life< Bassey Ikpi, and the joys for writing workshops.  Follow host Icess Fernandez Rojas on Twitter @Icess or visit the Dear Reader website at icessfernandez.com or leave us a message. Maybe you'll get on the show! If you have a workshop horror story, please leave us a message at our Anchor site!  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/dearreader/message

Episode 3: Opportunity

In this second episode of Dear Reader,  we'll talk about another form of self-care...adulting. We'll also talk about a Dia de los Muertos tradition, an altar, and how remembering your ancestors can be a form of meditation.  Follow host Icess Fernandez Rojas on Twitter @Icess or visit the Dear Reader website at icessfernandez.com or leave us a message. Maybe you'll get on the show! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/dearreader/message

Episode 2: Meditation: Take Your Meds and Remember Your People

Welcome to the first episode of Dear Reader where we talk about writing, the writing life, and mental health. This episode we talk about what self care actually is and the power of no. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/dearreader/message

Dear Reader: Episode 1, self care, the power of no, and setting a foundation.

--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/dearreader/message

Dear Reader: Mental Health and the Writing Life (Trailer)

What does it mean to live your best life? What does it mean to write your best life? Dear Reader, the podcast, is based on the popular blog of the same name. Hosted by writer, educator, and blogger Icess Fernandez Rojas, each episode, will discuss the ins and outs of a guiding word and how the guests’ lives have been shaped by that word. We’ll talk to mental health advocates, changed lives, and, of course, writers who have lived their best lives guided by words.

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Dear Reader: Mental Health and the Writing Life

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