In this episode, hosts Matt and Joy sit down with Aubrey Barnes, a poet, educator, and entrepreneur from the Quad Cities. They introduce Aubrey and delve into his impressive bio, highlighting his accomplishments as a poet, founder of poetry organizations, author of multiple books, and educator.
Aubrey describes his career as primarily focused on education. He currently teaches 4th grade and runs Young Lions Roar, an organization that invites students to explore creative expression through poetry. With a decade of experience teaching poetry workshops, Aubrey is passionate about fostering creativity in young minds. Additionally, he shares his daily routine, which includes reciting his poems to improve, checking emails for opportunities, working on curriculum for Young Lions Roar, and practicing for upcoming performances.
When asked about finding inspiration, Aubrey explains that he draws from everyday conversations and observations, allowing life to fuel his creativity. He emphasizes the importance of freely expressing all ideas before analyzing which ones to develop further. As an overthinker, he spills all his ideas without judgment and then examines which ones best fit his narrative and audience. He also discusses the role of performance in developing ideas and how rehearsing pieces hundreds of times allows him to be fully present during shows.
Moving on to making poetry a career, Aubrey notes that while it may be more accepted in bigger cities, it is still very possible to pursue poetry as a full-time job. He encourages listeners to think of poetry beyond just performances, mentioning workshops and collaborations as other avenues for success. With a team to handle business and marketing aspects, Aubrey believes that making a career out of poetry can be a realistic goal.
The episode concludes with Aubrey sharing an impactful poem and offering advice to his younger self. He urges embracing differences and using them to pave one's own path instead of trying to fit in. He emphasizes the importance of fully embracing passions and encourages listeners to do the same.
