Something more than Gibberish Podcast

Something more than Gibberish Episode 40 - Jeremy Hickson

In this episode Stephanie and Rainier feature the amazing Jeremy Hickson. This segment expounds on selected poetry by featured guests, extending a warm welcome to our featured guest this week, the talented and affable Jeremy Hickson (IG: @jack_val_trades)
The stage/pen name “Jack Val Trades” is inspired by the idea that, as a creative being, this artist is a Jack of all trades… master of some. The writer within is Jeremy Hickson. Jeremy’s work reaches at once backwards as roots, and forwards as canopy. It ranges from the metaphysical to the very physical; diversity rings out — an anthem.
Jeremy holds a BA from Rutgers University, where he double majored in English and Sociology.
In many of Jeremy’s poems, glimpses of the old masters can be gleaned, as well as influences from his present day poetic peers. A heartfelt thank you to all who hold space, and who carry a torch to contrast the darkness.
If you are unfamiliar with Jeremy’s work, check out his  page on Instagram (@jack_val_trades).
Sincere thanks to GeminiFox, always a pleasure hosting the show each week with you, thank you Gemini.

Something more than Gibberish Episode 39 - Vanessa Crampel

In this episode Stephanie and Rainier feature the amazing Vanessa Crampel. This segment expounds on selected poetry by featured guests, extending a warm welcome to our featured guest this week, the multidisciplinary artist, Vanessa Crampel (IG: @artness___).
Vanessa, also known as “Queen V” is a French Caribbean multidisciplinary artist with a deep passion for writing and performance. Raised in France, she began her artistic journey as a child, immersed in journaling, reading, and reciting poems.
Her love for words took center stage in 2019 when she performed spoken word poetry at Bar Oussou, where she met inspiring poets and artists. The pandemic offered her a chance to refine her skills, leading to a notable performance at the “Good Bread” online event in October 2021. Her impactful stage presence continued to grow, culminating in her roles as an MC and renom poet at Bar Oussou and the Black History Month Festival 2023 in Naarm (Melbourne).
Vanessa’s work captures an intuitive and free-spirited journey, characterised by love and calmness. It aims to foster reflective, curious engagement and build meaningful connections within her community.
Fun fact: She has a slice of cheese tattooed behind her left ear.
If you are unfamiliar with Vanessa’s work, check out her page on Instagram (@artness___). Also check out Vanessa's work on Kriyaness.com/queenv 
Sincere thanks to GeminiFox, always a pleasure hosting the show each week with you, thank you Gemini.

Something more than Gibberish Episode 38 - Nick Jenkins

In this episode Stephanie and Rainier feature the amazing Nick Jenkins. This segment expounds on selected poetry by featured guests, extending a warm welcome to our featured guest this week, a Melbourne based poet, Nick Jenkins (IG: @nick.jenx or on TikTok @crayonvisuals).
A young poet from Bay-side Melbourne, Australia, with a little over a years experience in his new found love for poetry. Nick aims to compel those who listen, to act on his words to have a better day.
Though starting his writing journey recently, Nick has captured audiences around the Melbourne spoken word scene through his profound memorised recitals that are heart warming, insightful and encouraging. Nick has been featured at prominent venues around Melbourne never failing to touch the hearts of listeners through his touching poetry. I personally love his balanced outlook on life which comes through in his writing.
If you are unfamiliar with Nick’s work, check out his page on Instagram (@nick.jenx), or on TikTok (@crayonvisuals).
Sincere thanks to GeminiFox, always a pleasure hosting the show each week with you, thank you Gemini.

Something more than Gibberish Episode 37 - Lanai Monroe

In this episode Stephanie and Rainier feature the beautiful Lanai Monroe. This segment expounds on selected poetry by featured guests, extending a warm welcome to our featured guest this week, the one and only Lanai Monroe (IG: @lanaimonroe91).
Lanai Monroe Is the Founder Of Thee Mother Herbal Butterfly brand & Lanai Monroe LLC.
Living her life as a Mother of 2, Entrepreneur, a Traveling Poet, Student, Herbalist, & Event Coordinator.
Lanai started her journey hosting her first Open Mic show "Poetic Shenanigans. She used this show to promote transparent & vulnerable conversations virtually while expressing poetry. Her Goal is to spread love back into the core of humanity by being an advocate for self healing and self growth.
Lanai and her life partner ‘Slow Mo The Poet’ now curate their own events "Open Mic Party" in Frederick MD, through their collaborative Brand "A Poetry Life Open Mic Party Events."
Don't forget to Live Laugh Love and Heal!!  Thee Mother Herbal Butterfly Loves You. 
If you are unfamiliar with Lanai’s work, check out her page on Instagram (@lanaimonroe91), catch her on IG Lives or her follow up on her published work.
Sincere thanks to GeminiFox, always a pleasure hosting the show each week with you, thank you Gemini.

Something more than Gibberish Episode 36 - Kaleel John

In this episode Stephanie and Rainier feature the amazing Kaleel John. This segment expounds on selected poetry by featured guests, extending a warm welcome to our featured guest this week, the amazing Kaleel John (IG: @kingchozen1).Born and raised in Montreal, Canada, of Caribbean descent, Kaleel John has always been creative, even though he never saw himself as a writer. Poetry was a means of expression, starting at a very young age he wrote poems for the loves of his life, about growing up in Montreal, and considered his poems a form of therapy and self-reflection.Over the years, Kaleel amassed a collection of poems on hard drives, on sheets of loose-leaf paper, and in notebooks. It became clear to him that it was time to put them together for the world to see. Enjoy his captivating artistry with the ebbs and flows of his pen and connect with his poetry in your own way.If you are unfamiliar with Kaleel’s work, check out his page on Instagram on @kingchozen1Sincere thanks to GeminiFox, always a pleasure hosting the show each week with you, thank you Gemini.

Something more than Gibberish Episode 35 - Ms. Ieshya Parker

In this episode Stephanie and Rainier feature the amazing Ms. Ieshya Parker. This segment expounds on selected poetry by featured guests, extending a warm welcome to our special guest this week, the amazing Ieshya Parker (IG: @ms.parker_speaks).
Ieshya Parker is a master at weaving poetry that engages the listeners every sense. A native Californian who grew up in the city of Compton and the streets of LA., Ieshya has danced with poetry for many moons.
Early on, Ieshya’s music teacher / grandmother exposed her to the likes of Edgar Allan Poe, Emily Dickinson and Shakespeare encouraging her to memorise their works.
Ieshya’s actual walk with poetry, however, began at the feet of her mother, Yvonne Adams, an amazing yet undiscovered writer; Ieshya’s inspiration and personal favorite.
With so much of her mother’s work unheard before her passing in 2011, in her mother’s honor Ieshya was inspired to create a platform called ” Spoken Word, Voices Heard, Women’s Amateur Poetry Slam ”.
Unfortunately her mother transitioned before being able to grace the stage her daughter secretly created for her but, Ieshya’s work continues as her personal mission. She says, “Through my art it is my goal to encourage, motivate, stand for, and speak loudly for those not ready to speak for themselves. Hopefully through my voice people will find their voice and live out loud.
If you are unfamiliar with Ieshya’s work, check her page @ms.parker_speaks or catch her Instagram Live shows.
Sincere thanks to GeminiFox, always a pleasure hosting the show each week with you, thank you Gemini.

Something more than Gibberish Episode 34 - Janaya STephens

In this episode Stephanie and Rainier feature the amazing Janaya Stephens (aka LG). This segment expounds on selected poetry by featured guests, extending a warm welcome to our special guest this week.
Janaya Stephens hails from small town Canadian roots. She  joined Instagram to share her writing under the handle of @throughthelookingglasspoet, which was quickly and endearingly shortened to LG which has become her pen name. You can also find her at @janaya_stephens on IG.She has loved poetry from a young age and began writing very young. In University she played for the Varsity Basketball team, sports were always her passion. Janaya’s Majors were English Literature and Drama; she then went on to Theatre School in Toronto and from there began a successful career in film & TV.Janaya is a Canadian mother, she has a daughter and a son. When COVID hit, she was inspired to start writing once again, and discovered the poetry community on Instagram. It was there she found enjoyment from reading others’ poetry. Her live shows are popular, and her love of entertaining shines through.Janaya’s most poignant pieces seem to stem from her experiences as a mother and her love for her children. Nostalgia and time are recurring themes and also a good dose of self reflection.If you are unfamiliar with Janaya’s work, checkout her pages on IG mentioned above or catch her IG Lives on @glass_of_meadSincere thanks to GeminiFox, always a pleasure hosting the show each week with you, thank you Gemini.

Something more than Gibberish Episode 33 - Jamie Dawson

In this episode Stephanie and Rainier feature the amazing Jamie Dawson (aka DawsonTheArtist) This segment expounds on selected poetry by featured guests, extending a warm welcome to our special guest this week.
Jamie Dawson is a professional performer and award-winning spoken word poet who inspires, heals and entertains through poetry and music. Growth and community stay on Jamie’s heart.
From solo stage works Goddess At Your Feet and Feast of Flowers, to projects with esteemed artists such as literary star Rupi Kaur and legendary spoken word cultivators The Last Poets, join the thousands who have been inspired by her journey to be art, effortlessly.
Jamie is also a member of the official tribute to the Motown legacy of The Supremes. For more  transformative power of poetry, listen  to Jamie’s works on her premiere spoken word albums “It’s Hot Outside: Live from Tampa, Florida” and studio recorded work “God Is At Your Feet” now available on all platforms. dawsontheartist.com  / @dawsontheartist on all platformsIf you are unfamiliar with Jamie’s work, checkout her page on IG or other social platforms and her released albums.Sincere thanks to GeminiFox, always a pleasure hosting the show each week with you, thank you Gemini.

Something more than Gibberish Episode 32 - Ramon Carty & Kheneil Black

In this episode, Stephanie and Rainier feature the amazing poets, Ramon Carty (IG: ramrockspeaks) and Kheneil Black. (IG: @kheneilblack). This segment expounds on selected poetry by featured guests, extending a warm welcome to our special guests.
Previously Ram and Kheneil have featured independently on the show and this time we host them jointly to learn of their friendship since childhood and their collective roles within the poetry community.Ramon Carty is a Jamaican- Canadian Poet from Ajax Ontario. Ramon has been writing from a tender age of 13 in hopes to leave behind a legacy immortalizing his penned poetry. He is the founder of 6ixPoetsSociety and focusses on event curation and inspiring people to scrape away the silence lodged in their throat and mind and put it to paper. "If all I have are my words, then I armed for the worst" - Ramon CartyKheneil is a Jamaican Born, Canadian poet, is a proud father and husband. Founder & Co-Host of Mosaic Mondays and Co-founder of The 6ix Poets Society. He enjoys writing, spending time with his family and many other creative writing endeavours and most things from the nerdosphere, including but not limited to comics, video games, anime and movies. Kheneil loves to foster growth and encourage poets to explore other writing avenues and never stop writing. "The world is too small to make enemies" - Kheneil BlackSincere thanks to GeminiFox, always a pleasure hosting the show each week with you, thank you Gemini.

Something more than Gibberish Episode 31 - Nikki Viveca

In this episode Stephanie and Rainier feature the amazing, talented Nikki Viveca. (IG: @nikkiviveca). This segment expounds on selected poetry by featured guests, extending a warm welcome to our special guest this week.Nikki Viveca is a slam poet, stand up comedian, actress and burlesque performer.Nikki has been seen most recently in Griffin Theatre’s epic Lewis Trilogy and in cabaret spectacular Gender Euphoria, which received a Community Inspiration Award at the 2023 Victorian Pride Awards and was an official show of Sydney World Pride.Nikki’s poetry is featured in the album “a love is a love is a love”, available through ABC Classic (Australia).Nikki’s Past shows include The Femme Commandments, ACEtravaganza,  Wasp Movie, Three Dollar Bill, The Lazy Show and Asexual Healing. She also scripted Back Pocket, a devised theatre show exploring queer joy, and is currently working on her first full length narrative play script.Nikki brings to the table theatrical talents which enhance recitals of her amazing poetry. If you are not familiar with Nikki’s work, please do check out Nikki’s page on Instagram (@nikkiviveca).Sincere thanks to GeminiFox, always a pleasure hosting the show each week with you, thank you Gemini.