https://ampers.org/programs/in-our-words-mn-bipoc-writers Transistor (https://transistor.fm) https://feeds.transistor.fm/in-our-words-mn-bipoc-writers In Our Words: MN BIPOC Writers is a series highlighting Minnesota’s Black, Indigenous and people of color writers, thinkers and activists, hosted by Carolyn Holbrook and David Mura. In conversations with authors across genre, region, and career, we explore these writers’ lasting legacy and emerging work, and how they’ve bent the arc of justice in both our state and across the country. Hosts: Carolyn Holbrook & David Mura Producers: Autumn Haeg, Britt Aamodt, Deanna StandingCloud, Faaya Adem, Jamad Jama, Julie Censullo, and Ngoc Bui Lead production & editorial support: Emily Krumberger Mixing and mastering: Chris Harwood Early editorial support: Thuba Nguyen Original theme music: TaliaKnight Original graphics: SpiritFolk AMPERS © 2026 a0ea9444-444e-5a7d-be45-50975debe056 yes en Fri, 06 Nov 2026 10:00:13 -0600 Fri, 06 Nov 2026 10:02:46 -0600 https://img.transistorcdn.com/lobaEWk50p3UC7A2Ly2ULCZi3J8VVy89Coz0j-Njab0/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS8zNjM0/YjhjZjU1M2M4YmJl/ZTE3MmFmYmYyMmI5/NmYwMy5wbmc.jpg https://ampers.org/programs/in-our-words-mn-bipoc-writers episodic AMPERS In Our Words: MN BIPOC Writers is a series highlighting Minnesota’s Black, Indigenous and people of color writers, thinkers and activists, hosted by Carolyn Holbrook and David Mura. In conversations with authors across genre, region, and career, we explore these writers’ lasting legacy and emerging work, and how they’ve bent the arc of justice in both our state and across the country. Hosts: Carolyn Holbrook & David Mura Producers: Autumn Haeg, Britt Aamodt, Deanna StandingCloud, Faaya Adem, Jamad Jama, Julie Censullo, and Ngoc Bui Lead production & editorial support: Emily Krumberger Mixing and mastering: Chris Harwood Early editorial support: Thuba Nguyen Original theme music: TaliaKnight Original graphics: SpiritFolk In Our Words: MN BIPOC Writers is a series highlighting Minnesota’s Black, Indigenous and people of color writers, thinkers and activists, hosted by Carolyn Holbrook and David Mura. AMPERS jglaser@ampers.org No No 1 1 20 20 Segment 20: The Future of Literacy full 8508d44a-5820-4882-a437-1e2d3134b5b5 https://ampers.org/segment-20-the-future-of-literacy/ In Our Words: MN BIPOC Writers hosts Carolyn Holbrook and David Mura talk about what the future of literacy looks like in an age of AI and the importance of learning and creating within sites of community.

]]> In Our Words: MN BIPOC Writers hosts Carolyn Holbrook and David Mura talk about what the future of literacy looks like in an age of AI and the importance of learning and creating within sites of community.

]]> Fri, 06 Nov 2026 10:00:00 -0600 AMPERS AMPERS 120 In Our Words: MN BIPOC Writers hosts Carolyn Holbrook and David Mura talk about what the future of literacy looks like in an age of AI and the importance of learning and creating within sites of community.

]]> No 1 1 19 19 Segment 19: Demographic Shifts in Minnesota full dc56484d-f7e7-46d8-a30e-6ffc93995a68 https://ampers.org/segment-19-demographic-shifts-in-minnesota/ In Our Words: MN BIPOC Writers hosts Carolyn Holbrook and David Mura discuss demographic shifts in Minnesota and how they have overlapped with local BIPOC writers and artists’ work.

]]> In Our Words: MN BIPOC Writers hosts Carolyn Holbrook and David Mura discuss demographic shifts in Minnesota and how they have overlapped with local BIPOC writers and artists’ work.

]]> Thu, 05 Nov 2026 10:00:00 -0600 AMPERS AMPERS 120 In Our Words: MN BIPOC Writers hosts Carolyn Holbrook and David Mura discuss demographic shifts in Minnesota and how they have overlapped with local BIPOC writers and artists’ work.

]]> No 1 1 18 18 Segment 18: Carl Gawboy full 931354dd-f890-4503-9efc-2be9c79dd069 https://ampers.org/segment-18-carl-gawboy/ Carl Gawboy discusses his book, Fur Trade Nation: An Ojibwe’s Graphic History, his own family’s history of trapping, and how Ojibwe technology shaped Minnesota.

]]> Carl Gawboy discusses his book, Fur Trade Nation: An Ojibwe’s Graphic History, his own family’s history of trapping, and how Ojibwe technology shaped Minnesota.

]]> Wed, 04 Nov 2026 10:00:00 -0600 AMPERS AMPERS 120 Carl Gawboy discusses his book, Fur Trade Nation: An Ojibwe’s Graphic History, his own family’s history of trapping, and how Ojibwe technology shaped Minnesota.

]]> No 1 1 17 17 Segment 17: Rebecca Nichloson full f286be07-5c45-46a6-88bb-1e266dd9ab90 https://ampers.org/segment-17-rebecca-nichloson/ Rebecca Nichloson talks about the Black legacy of theater, her play, “Mara Queen of the World,” and how being an artist is akin to a life-long marriage.

]]> Rebecca Nichloson talks about the Black legacy of theater, her play, “Mara Queen of the World,” and how being an artist is akin to a life-long marriage.

]]> Tue, 03 Nov 2026 10:00:00 -0600 AMPERS AMPERS 120 Rebecca Nichloson talks about the Black legacy of theater, her play, “Mara Queen of the World,” and how being an artist is akin to a life-long marriage.

]]> No 1 1 16 16 Segment 16: Crown Shepherd full 4ca377ea-d56c-4ca8-beff-aafa1de8a726 https://ampers.org/segment-16-crown-sheperd/ Crown Shepard shares the story behind her first children’s book, Black Boy, Black Boy, her journey of self-publishing, and how literature can address racism.

]]> Crown Shepard shares the story behind her first children’s book, Black Boy, Black Boy, her journey of self-publishing, and how literature can address racism.

]]> Mon, 02 Nov 2026 10:00:00 -0600 AMPERS AMPERS 120 Crown Shepard shares the story behind her first children’s book, Black Boy, Black Boy, her journey of self-publishing, and how literature can address racism.

]]> No 1 1 15 15 Segment 15: Swati Avasthi full 3a1e45c8-6e45-41e7-80ab-d477c71c1b96 https://ampers.org/segment-15-swati-avasthi/ Swati Avasthi talks about how young adult literature can provide adolescents with a roadmap for survival and resilience, the new novel she’s writing, and how important it is for students of all backgrounds to read BIPOC authors.

]]> Swati Avasthi talks about how young adult literature can provide adolescents with a roadmap for survival and resilience, the new novel she’s writing, and how important it is for students of all backgrounds to read BIPOC authors.

]]> Fri, 30 Oct 2026 10:00:00 -0500 AMPERS AMPERS 120 Swati Avasthi talks about how young adult literature can provide adolescents with a roadmap for survival and resilience, the new novel she’s writing, and how important it is for students of all backgrounds to read BIPOC authors.

]]> No 1 1 14 14 Segment 14: Marcie Rendon full 318e2a6d-0033-4502-b858-9b70a2b96c2b https://ampers.org/segment-14-marcie-rendon/ Marcie Rendon talks about writing success against the odds – including rejection from publishers, being inspired by and then creating her own plays about Native stories and how being grounded in community creates an ethical framework for artists.

]]> Marcie Rendon talks about writing success against the odds – including rejection from publishers, being inspired by and then creating her own plays about Native stories and how being grounded in community creates an ethical framework for artists.

]]> Thu, 29 Oct 2026 10:00:00 -0500 AMPERS AMPERS 120 Marcie Rendon talks about writing success against the odds – including rejection from publishers, being inspired by and then creating her own plays about Native stories and how being grounded in community creates an ethical framework for artists.

]]> No 1 1 13 13 Segment 13: Jokeda “JoJo” Bell full 5a3ce13d-14bf-4bd1-836c-edc7663bf2d8 https://ampers.org/segment-13-jokeda-jojo-bell/ Jokeda “JoJo” Bell talks about the process of writing Red Stained: The Life of Hilda Simms, her work with her organization, the African American Interpretive Center of Minnesota, and expanding the collective knowledge of Black life in the state.

]]> Jokeda “JoJo” Bell talks about the process of writing Red Stained: The Life of Hilda Simms, her work with her organization, the African American Interpretive Center of Minnesota, and expanding the collective knowledge of Black life in the state.

]]> Wed, 28 Oct 2026 10:00:00 -0500 AMPERS AMPERS 120 Jokeda “JoJo” Bell talks about the process of writing Red Stained: The Life of Hilda Simms, her work with her organization, the African American Interpretive Center of Minnesota, and expanding the collective knowledge of Black life in the state.

]]> No 1 1 12 12 Segment 12: Anthony Ceballos full 7cf50fc4-c3aa-46ea-906d-f624fe375a90 https://ampers.org/segment-12-anthony-ceballos/ Anthony Ceballos discusses his poetry collection, Glass Full of Prayer, how the Twin Cities literary community has nurtured his work, and the message he might send to his younger self.

]]> Anthony Ceballos discusses his poetry collection, Glass Full of Prayer, how the Twin Cities literary community has nurtured his work, and the message he might send to his younger self.

]]> Tue, 27 Oct 2026 10:00:00 -0500 AMPERS AMPERS 120 Anthony Ceballos discusses his poetry collection, Glass Full of Prayer, how the Twin Cities literary community has nurtured his work, and the message he might send to his younger self.

]]> No 1 1 11 11 Segment 11: Danez Smith full 7b27fb29-1cc8-4045-877a-b6ea7363ea94 https://ampers.org/segment-11-danez-smith/ Danez Smith discusses their upcoming poetry collection, how the Twin Cities spoken word scene raised them, and one of their biggest muses – love.

]]> Danez Smith discusses their upcoming poetry collection, how the Twin Cities spoken word scene raised them, and one of their biggest muses – love.

]]> Mon, 26 Oct 2026 10:00:00 -0500 AMPERS AMPERS 120 Danez Smith discusses their upcoming poetry collection, how the Twin Cities spoken word scene raised them, and one of their biggest muses – love.

]]> No 1 1 10 10 Segment 10: 신 선 영 Sun Yung Shin full 179c47e6-1fc8-41bf-a112-959f059f74f3 https://ampers.org/segment-10-신-선-영-sun-yung-shin/ Sun Yung Shin talks about the impact of her anthology, A Good Time for the Truth: Race in Minnesota, how connecting with community has been a lifeline for her work, and her recent memoir, Heart Eater: A Memoir of Immigration, Belonging, and How We Find Ourselves in Language.

]]> Sun Yung Shin talks about the impact of her anthology, A Good Time for the Truth: Race in Minnesota, how connecting with community has been a lifeline for her work, and her recent memoir, Heart Eater: A Memoir of Immigration, Belonging, and How We Find Ourselves in Language.

]]> Fri, 23 Oct 2026 10:00:00 -0500 AMPERS AMPERS 120 Sun Yung Shin talks about the impact of her anthology, A Good Time for the Truth: Race in Minnesota, how connecting with community has been a lifeline for her work, and her recent memoir, Heart Eater: A Memoir of Immigration, Belonging, and How We Find Ourselves in Language.

]]> No 1 1 9 9 Segment 9: Kennedy Gisege full 75c546a3-0ca5-4b15-9446-de06e02e7bc8 https://ampers.org/segment-9-kennedy-gisege/ Kennedy Gisege discusses a current story he’s working on and how writing can mediate some of the loss felt by and return agency to those who are imprisoned. He also talks about how the Twin Cities literary community has supported writers who are incarcerated.

]]> Kennedy Gisege discusses a current story he’s working on and how writing can mediate some of the loss felt by and return agency to those who are imprisoned. He also talks about how the Twin Cities literary community has supported writers who are incarcerated.

]]> Thu, 22 Oct 2026 10:00:00 -0500 AMPERS AMPERS 120 Kennedy Gisege discusses a current story he’s working on and how writing can mediate some of the loss felt by and return agency to those who are imprisoned. He also talks about how the Twin Cities literary community has supported writers who are incarcerated.

]]> No 1 1 8 8 Segment 8: Sarah Warren full 00a70671-7841-439b-97e8-c1fca2b850bb https://ampers.org/segment-8-sarah-warren/ Sarah Warren talks about why she started writing children’s books, the story behind her organization, Picture Book Parade, and the impact of book bans on BIPOC writers.

]]> Sarah Warren talks about why she started writing children’s books, the story behind her organization, Picture Book Parade, and the impact of book bans on BIPOC writers.

]]> Wed, 21 Oct 2026 10:00:00 -0500 AMPERS AMPERS 120 Sarah Warren talks about why she started writing children’s books, the story behind her organization, Picture Book Parade, and the impact of book bans on BIPOC writers.

]]> No 1 1 7 7 Segment 7: Marian Hassan full b1877a56-c1f9-4218-b8f5-776318f7ac73 https://ampers.org/segment-7-marian-hassan/ Marian Hassan discusses the importance of poems and proverbs to Somali culture, her oral history work with the Sing Along Project, and her experience as a writer witnessing Operation Metro Surge take place in her hometown.

]]> Marian Hassan discusses the importance of poems and proverbs to Somali culture, her oral history work with the Sing Along Project, and her experience as a writer witnessing Operation Metro Surge take place in her hometown.

]]> Tue, 20 Oct 2026 10:00:00 -0500 AMPERS AMPERS 120 Marian Hassan discusses the importance of poems and proverbs to Somali culture, her oral history work with the Sing Along Project, and her experience as a writer witnessing Operation Metro Surge take place in her hometown.

]]> No 1 1 6 6 Segment 6: Bao Phi full c5edc3b5-072c-4ab3-a186-266387b0fef0 https://ampers.org/segment-6-bao-phi/ Bao Phi talks about growing up in South Minneapolis, writing Asian American history into children’s literature, and the impact of Black, Native, Asian American, Latinx, and SWANA writers’ work on Minnesota.

]]> Bao Phi talks about growing up in South Minneapolis, writing Asian American history into children’s literature, and the impact of Black, Native, Asian American, Latinx, and SWANA writers’ work on Minnesota.

]]> Mon, 19 Oct 2026 10:00:00 -0500 AMPERS AMPERS 120 Bao Phi talks about growing up in South Minneapolis, writing Asian American history into children’s literature, and the impact of Black, Native, Asian American, Latinx, and SWANA writers’ work on Minnesota.

]]> No 1 1 5 5 Segment 5: Heid Erdrich full f3da91ba-d01e-4c12-9ceb-77ccef5d964e https://ampers.org/segment-5-heid-erdrich/ Former Minneapolis Poet Laureate Heid Erdrich discusses her Poetry Service Announcement project, how Minnesotan poets use their voices for change, and the role BIPOC writers play not only in creating beauty, but also work that serves people.

]]> Former Minneapolis Poet Laureate Heid Erdrich discusses her Poetry Service Announcement project, how Minnesotan poets use their voices for change, and the role BIPOC writers play not only in creating beauty, but also work that serves people.

]]> Fri, 16 Oct 2026 10:00:00 -0500 AMPERS AMPERS 120 Former Minneapolis Poet Laureate Heid Erdrich discusses her Poetry Service Announcement project, how Minnesotan poets use their voices for change, and the role BIPOC writers play not only in creating beauty, but also work that serves people.

]]> No 1 1 4 4 Segment 4: Alexs Pate full 2a4a2309-76dd-4403-a4cb-5ca2516cd766 https://ampers.org/segment-4-alexs-pate/ Alexs Pate discusses the process of editing Blues Vision: African American Writing from Minnesota, how the state’s literary community has evolved since the 1980’s, and writing his upcoming novel, Black Arrow.

]]> Alexs Pate discusses the process of editing Blues Vision: African American Writing from Minnesota, how the state’s literary community has evolved since the 1980’s, and writing his upcoming novel, Black Arrow.

]]> Thu, 15 Oct 2026 10:00:00 -0500 AMPERS AMPERS 120 Alexs Pate discusses the process of editing Blues Vision: African American Writing from Minnesota, how the state’s literary community has evolved since the 1980’s, and writing his upcoming novel, Black Arrow.

]]> No 1 1 3 3 Segment 3: Beyond the Publishing Industry’s Limited Investment full e5361539-c4e7-40cc-a36b-48b65b6c444f https://ampers.org/segment-3-beyond-the-publishing-industrys-limited-investment/ In Our Words: MN BIPOC Writers hosts Carolyn Holbrook and David Mura discuss the publishing industry's ebb and flow of platforming BIPOC authors, but the often lack of long-term, deep investment.

]]> In Our Words: MN BIPOC Writers hosts Carolyn Holbrook and David Mura discuss the publishing industry's ebb and flow of platforming BIPOC authors, but the often lack of long-term, deep investment.

]]> Wed, 14 Oct 2026 10:00:00 -0500 AMPERS AMPERS 120 In Our Words: MN BIPOC Writers hosts Carolyn Holbrook and David Mura discuss the publishing industry's ebb and flow of platforming BIPOC authors, but the often lack of long-term, deep investment.

]]> No 1 1 2 2 Segment 2: We Are Meant to Rise full 5124a8cf-8b74-4ad7-a263-0bf9e1c0a770 https://ampers.org/segment-2-we-are-meant-to-rise/ In Our Words: MN BIPOC Writers hosts Carolyn Holbrook and David Mura discuss their 2021 anthology, We Are Meant to Rise: Voices for Justice from Minneapolis to the World, and how Minnesota’s BIPOC authors have influenced culture and social change.

]]> In Our Words: MN BIPOC Writers hosts Carolyn Holbrook and David Mura discuss their 2021 anthology, We Are Meant to Rise: Voices for Justice from Minneapolis to the World, and how Minnesota’s BIPOC authors have influenced culture and social change.

]]> Tue, 13 Oct 2026 10:00:00 -0500 AMPERS AMPERS 120 In Our Words: MN BIPOC Writers hosts Carolyn Holbrook and David Mura discuss their 2021 anthology, We Are Meant to Rise: Voices for Justice from Minneapolis to the World, and how Minnesota’s BIPOC authors have influenced culture and social change.

]]> No 1 1 1 1 Segment 1: In Our Words Introduction full 99487729-a410-48d0-9ba6-181137af019e https://ampers.org/segment-1-in-our-words-introduction/ In Our Words: MN BIPOC Writers hosts Carolyn Holbrook and David Mura introduce the series. They discuss how 2020 was a jumping off point for change and reflection amongst Minnesotans that BIPOC authors helped
inform, speak to and lead. Plus, how the anthology, A Good Time for the Truth: Race in Minnesota, impacted residents’ response to Operation Metro Surge.

]]> In Our Words: MN BIPOC Writers hosts Carolyn Holbrook and David Mura introduce the series. They discuss how 2020 was a jumping off point for change and reflection amongst Minnesotans that BIPOC authors helped
inform, speak to and lead. Plus, how the anthology, A Good Time for the Truth: Race in Minnesota, impacted residents’ response to Operation Metro Surge.

]]> Fri, 09 Oct 2026 10:00:00 -0500 AMPERS AMPERS 120 In Our Words: MN BIPOC Writers hosts Carolyn Holbrook and David Mura introduce the series. They discuss how 2020 was a jumping off point for change and reflection amongst Minnesotans that BIPOC authors helped
inform, speak to and lead. Plus, how the anthology, A Good Time for the Truth: Race in Minnesota, impacted residents’ response to Operation Metro Surge.

]]> No