How did you become involved with The Good Listening Project?
I met Frankie when he was writing free custom poetry at an event in 2018. My husband actually met him first and said, “you have to meet my wife!” Frankie wrote us a poem and I was immediately struck by the power of the experience he was offering—an opportunity for someone to be heard and to capture what they wanted to express. His approach was very aligned with my work at the time as a leadership coach supporting building trust in organizations. I knew right away that I wanted to collaborate with Frankie to bring listening and custom poetry to more people.
About how many poems have you written for people?
About 50!
What’s your writing process like?
My writing usually starts with a feeling. When I’m listening to someone I tend to pay attention to the emotional response they’re communicating, both verbally and non-verbally. From witnessing that feeling, words usually start to percolate in my mind. Sometimes they’re organized into phrases and other times they’re scattered. When the former happens, I usually put pen to paper and churn something out in a few minutes. When it’s the latter, I’ll carry a piece of paper around and as I’m doing other things - resting, walking, cooking - the thread tends to come to me out of nowhere.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever heard?
The wisdom to not make assumptions about people.
What’s your favorite poem that someone else has written?
I have a few favorites but the first that comes to mind is “The Tree of Dreams” by Nic Askew:
“Many had gathered under the tree of dreams.
All but one stood shaking its branches for dreams to fall.
Dreams that had been whispered to them by the voices of others.
Dreams that would fade with time.
But one sat quietly waiting for a dream to recognize his soul.
And to consume him with no doubt.”
What’s your favorite poem that you’ve written?
I wrote a poem for my mom that I now recite to my daughter often:
“I’ll never not be with you
because I’m always in your heart
so leave your heart open and forever there, with you, I’ll be”
What makes you laugh out loud?
Pretty much every single episode of "Friends"!
