Welcome to Twice 5 Miles Radio, I’m your host, James Navé.

In this episode, we begin with Leandro Reyes, Manila’s dynamic “Basyang Kid”—a spoken-word artist who channels a century-old literary legacy into powerful performances, poetic craft, and cultural community-building. From open mic stages across Makati to the pages of Postscript Magazine, 

Leandro honors the legacy of his great-grandfather, Severino “Lola Basyang” Reyes—the iconic playwright and “Father of Tagalog Zarzuela”—while forging his own bold new path. His debut poem, “Sugarcoats,” contemplates loss with quiet precision, and his work in theater and advocacy reveals a deep devotion to Filipino artistry and imagination.

Then we travel from Manila to Taos for a conversation I recorded a few years ago with Ocean Vuong, bestselling author of On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous and his current novel, The Emperor of Gladness, published on May 13, 2025.  Ocean was in Northern New Mexico for the Taos Poetry Festival, and we sat down to talk about poetry, language, loss, and what it means to carry beauty and grief in the same breath.

To close the show, I offer a short writing workshop—an invitation called “A Long Look at Yourself.” It’s a simple, powerful practice in awareness and emotional truth, designed to help you connect with your voice and see your own story in a fresh light.

Whether you're a writer, a listener, or someone simply curious about the human spirit, I hope this episode offers you something to carry with you.

A Long Look at Yourself with poets Leandro Reyes and Ocean Vuong

This episode is meant for secondary teachers who are on the fence about whether to try reading and writing workshop in their class. You'll hear ten convincing (I hope) reasons why you should definitely give workshop a chance!

https://amandawritenow.com/10-reasons-secondary-teachers-should-try-reading-writing-workshop/

The Amanda Write Now Podcast Season 1

1. Ten Reasons Secondary Teachers Should Try Reading & Writing Workshop

Learn exactly what I did in my classroom to launch both reading and writing workshop in fourteen days.

https://amandawritenow.com/launching-writing-workshop/

Amanda Write Now Podcast Season 1

2. Launching Reading & Writing Workshop

For the next five weeks, we'll bring you a story written and read by Writing Class Radio co-host, Andrea Askowitz, with commentary by her editor, co-host, Allison Langer. Andrea took a weekly essay challenge, which was inspired by a quote by the author of Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury. He said, “Write a short story every week. It’s not possible to write 52 bad stories in a row.”

This week, something cool happened. Andrea didn’t know what to write about, so she called Allison and they both set timers for 15 minutes and wrote to the prompt: Christmas. On this episode, Allison and Andrea read the stories they wrote. And they talk about how to get from writing prompt to getting published. Andrea writes about what bringing a Christmas tree into her Jewish family meant for them. And why she thinks the Christmas tree is the gateway drug to Christianity. 

Allison reads her story, which was recently published in The Washington Post. The story is about her perspective as a photographer who takes holiday pictures of other families while suffering through the grief of losing her daughter. Andrea details exactly what was considered in the editing process and what ultimately led to the final paragraph, where Allison steps into the higher register and speaks directly to the reader/listener. They also talk about the question they always ask their students: What is this story about? 

We hope this process will inspire you to write and get published. 

Writing Class Radio is a podcast where you’ll hear true personal stories from the students in our class and learn a little about how to write your own stories. Writing Class Radio is equal parts heart and art. By heart we mean the truth in a story. By art we mean the craft of writing. No matter what’s going on in our lives, writing class is where we tell the truth. It’s where we work out our shit, and figure out who we are. There’s no place in the world like writing class. 

Writing Class Radio is co-hosted by Allison Langer (www.allisonlanger.com) and Andrea Askowitz (www.andreaaskowitz.com). 

Writing Class Radio is produced by Virginia Lora, Andrea Askowitz and Allison Langer and is sponsored by and recorded at The Launchpad at The University of Miami, which aims to make the practice of entrepreneurship available to all students and alumni. 

Theme music is by Justina Shandler. Additional music by Podington Bear. You can find all our music on our website.

There’s more writing class on our website (www.writingclassradio.com), twitter (@wrtgclassradio) and Facebook. 

If you have a story ready for publication, we have a free publishing guide. Go to writingclassradio.com and join our mailing list and we’ll send you the guide.

If you want to be a part of the movement that brings people together through storytelling, please go to writingclassradio.com and hit the DONATE button.

Episode 54: From Writing Prompt to Published Story

This week, Andrea uses the epistolary form--story written as a letter--to get her point across. The letter form is very intimate because the narrator is speaking directing to you. We hope this process will help writers get published or at least get inspire to write.

For the next four weeks, we will bring you a story written and read by Writing Class Radio co-host, Andrea Askowitz, with commentary by her editor, co-host, Allison Langer. Andrea took a weekly essay challenge, which was inspired by a quote by the author of Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury. He said, “Write a short story every week. It’s not possible to write 52 bad stories in a row.”

Writing Class Radio is a podcast where you’ll hear true personal stories from the students in our class and learn a little about how to write your own stories. Writing Class Radio is equal parts heart and art. By heart we mean the truth in a story. By art we mean the craft of writing. No matter what’s going on in our lives, writing class is where we tell the truth. It’s where we work out our shit, and figure out who we are. There’s no place in the world like writing class. 

Writing Class Radio is co-hosted by Allison Langer (www.allisonlanger.com) and Andrea Askowitz (www.andreaaskowitz.com). 

Writing Class Radio is produced by Virginia Lora, Andrea Askowitz and Allison Langer. 

Writing Class Radio is sponsored by and recorded at The Launchpad at The University of Miami which aims to make the practice of entrepreneurship available to all students and alumni. 

Theme music is by Justina Shandler. Additional music by Paddington Bear. You can find all our music on our website.

There’s more writing class on our website (www.writingclassradio.com), twitter (@wrtgclassradio) and Facebook. 

If you want to be a part of the movement that brings people together through storytelling, please go to writingclassradio.com and hit the DONATE button.

Episode 55: The Mean Letter You Always Wanted to Write

Can You Crowdfund Your Writing - WritersLife.org 

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Grab your free writer's toolkit by going to  http://www.writerslife.org/finish-your-book
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     Hello there it's writers life and Peter     here again with some more tips and     advice for writers and coming up today     can you crowd fund your writing without     a budget for your book it can be      challenging to find the time to keep     going if you are fitting in writing     while trying to hold down a full-time     job it can be a massive challenge trying     to get to the end even if you do then     having the capacity of budget to market     your novel can also become problematic     but what if you could get other people     to fund your work so you could actually     pay yourself to do the research writing     and promotion of your book to give it     the best chance of success many people     think this is only possible if you find     a publisher we'll need to give you an     advance and take on the role of markets     of themselves however there are      alternatives and many authors are     looking to crowdfund their writing to     make it possible for them to complete     their work so how does crowdfunding work      crowdfunding allows a person who wants     to create something to pre-sell their     products to raise the necessary funds to     do so you as the author need to explain     why it's essential for your book to come     into existence how will it benefit      people     what's its USP being able to explain     this succinctly     and make your project sound worthwhile     is what will draw investors in when it     comes to crowdfunding a book authors     tend to steer clear of offering equity     in the projects as this can get      complicated     however offering investors some     incentive or reward is important a     mention enly forward or a copy of the     finished book works well some authors     have had fantastic success using      crowdfunding platforms to help raise a     budget to write their book some have     made hundreds of thousands of dollars     before they've had     a single book that sure beats waiting     for sales to trickle in to try and make     a money back and is better than lots of      publishers would offer to crowdfunding     your book also helps to build booths and      excitements around it and drape some     potential fanbase before your book hits     the shelves it also gives your book      validation before you write it if people     are willing to part with their      hard-earned cash because they believe in     your projects and you're managing your     ...

Can You Crowdfund Your Writing - WritersLife.org

On this episode, we talk about procrastination. We also talk about speaking directly to the reader from a place of experience. And giving advice, which is really hard in a story and in life. If you're willing to be vulnerable, you can do it.

We’re starting with a story by Jenni Berrett called You Aren’t Lazy--You’re Just Terrified: On Paralysis and Perfectionism. Jenni is a columnist at Ravishly, an online magazine that celebrates the mess of being human. Her story is relevant to all of us messy humans, especially the messy writers among us. 

Writing Class Radio is a podcast where you’ll hear true personal stories from the students in our class and learn a little about how to write your own stories. Writing Class Radio is equal parts heart and art. By heart we mean the truth in a story. By art we mean the craft of writing. No matter what’s going on in our lives, writing class is where we tell the truth. It’s where we work out our shit, and figure out who we are. There’s no place in the world like writing class. 

Writing Class Radio is co-hosted by Allison Langer (www.allisonlanger.com) and Andrea Askowitz (www.andreaaskowitz.com). 

Writing Class Radio is produced by Virginia Lora, Andrea Askowitz and Allison Langer. 

Writing Class Radio is sponsored by The Launchpad at The University of Miami which aims to make the practice of entrepreneurship available to all students and alumni. This episode is also sponsored by the podcast, Made Visible. Made Visible is hosted by Harper Spero who struggles with a hidden illness. She uses her podcast to bring other people’s hidden illnesses to light. This episode is also sponsored by Allison Langer, writing coach and editor. 

Theme music is by Justina Shandler. Additional music is by Podington Bear. You can find all our music on our website. 

There’s more writing class on our website (www.writingclassradio.com), twitter (@wrtgclassradio) and Facebook. 

Writing Class Radio is now open to submissions from our listeners. Go to the submissions page on our website for guidelines. We pay! 

If you want to be a part of the movement that brings people together through storytelling, please go to writingclassradio.com and hit the DONATE button.

Episode 61: How to Stop Procrastinating and Write Your Story

The next few episodes will share live presentations from the MovingWriters.org team! These presentations were shared and recorded at #NCTE19 in Baltimore Maryland.

In the first part of our MovingWriters.org mini-series, author and Moving Writers co-founder, Allison Marchetti, and contributing writer, Megan Kortlandt, will share some tips on setting up and managing Writing Workshop.
@MeganKortlandt
@AllisonMarchett
www.MovingWriters.org

@owpmu
@BethRimer
@MrWteach

003 Moving Writers Mini-Series: Setting Up And Managing Writing Workshop Logistics

In part II of our Moving Writers mini-series, Mike Zigler and Hattie Maguire share tips and tricks around making time to confer with students and weaving in the magic of writing workshop, even when teaching AP courses, in which there is an rigid expectation of rigor.

Follow Mike: @ZigThinks
Follow Hattie: @TeacherHattie
For more information and ideas: check out www.movingwriters.org

Also, be sure to keep up with current OWP events by finding the Ohio Writing Project at miamioh.edu (or google: Ohio Writing Project).
Follow us on Twitter: @owpmu @MrWteach @BethRimer

Email your burning questions about teaching to  noah.waspe@gmail.com, and your question might be featured on a future episode!

004 Moving Writers Mini - Series  Time To Confer And Overcoming Rigid Requirements

In this Episode you'll have the chance to listen to Michael Duszat discuss his Deep Reading: Becoming a Better Writer course with the Reader Berlin. If you're curious about the course and want an inside scoop into how the course is run, what sort of texts you'll be reading and how much you'll be writing, then press play and have a listen! This one's for you!

CoronaFiles Episode#5 with Michael Duszat

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Writing Class Radio is for people who love stories and who get inspired by hearing other people tell their stories and who wants to learn a little bit about how to write their own stories.  You'll hear students write their way to the truth.  And you'll hear students trying to deal as we follow them outside of class and into their real lives.  Plus you'll hear all the juicy stuff that happens in writing class---resistance, crying, break-throughs, connection.  There's no better way to understand ourselves and each other than by writing and telling our stories. Everyone has a story. What's yours?


Write Answers is brought to you by the Ohio Writing Project. This podcast is for writers, teachers, and teachers who teach writers. In each episode we pitch the biggest questions in the field to the smartest people in the field.

Provocative Conversations from Twice 5 Miles Radio is a podcast devoted to candid, often surprising exchanges with artists, thinkers, and cultural instigators who speak from the core. Each episode dives beneath the surface to explore the stories and questions that shape our lives.

I’m James Navé—poet, storyteller, educator, and longtime creative collaborator. With an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts and decades of teaching experience across the globe, I help writers and performers tap into their authentic voices through public speaking, creative writing, and the Imaginative Storm method, which I co-developed with Allegra Huston.

My most recent book, 100 Days: A Poetic Memoir After Cancer (3: A Taos Press), documents a hundred days of healing and poetic reckoning. I’m also co-author of Write What You Don’t Know and How to Read for an Audience—practical guides for anyone seeking to speak and write with more truth and power.

I’ve directed festivals, hosted literary salons, taught with Julia Cameron, and memorized over 600 poems. I still believe in the power of a well-told story, the light through stained glass, and the open road with nothing but a podcast and a windshield full of stars.

Amanda has been a passionate full time classroom teacher for 14 years. She’s worked in a wide range of educational settings teaching students grades 3rd-8th. Amanda worked for a Title I, charter, magnet, and National Blue Ribbon school and now she homeschools her twice exceptional daughter.

No matter what type of school or grade she’s taught, engaging and empowering students has always been at the forefront of her work as an educator and teacher author.

Amanda understands that helping students find their voice is core to being an effective teacher and social justice advocate.

Even with a teacher willing to listen, there are many barriers that exist and hinder movement towards more equitable schools. Amanda has experienced first hand the many problems that exist in K-12 education. Listening to students is only the first step on a long road ahead. Amanda’s website, courses, lesson resources, and podcast are dedicated to supporting teachers and students in this important work for change.

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