“It’s not like I set out to be a poet,” explains M.L. Liebler, Fulbright Specialist, Wayne State University professor and Poet Laureate of St. Clair Shores. And yet, this self-described product of working-class upbringing did what came naturally, cultivating a life of writing, teaching, and performing, making poetry accessible to the average person. He speaks with Lynne Golodner on this episode of the Make Meaning podcast about how his passion for writing and teaching, his world travels as a Fulbright Specialist, even to war zones, and his passion for the Beatles have impacted and informed his path as a literary arts activist. He also reads an original work from his collection of poems, “I Want to be Once”. Listen here:
M.L. has built a life as a literary arts activist who passionately experiences the ever-changing elements of this perplexing world and captures clarity through word and sound.
What events, people, or experiences have lit a spark in your pursuit of purpose? Share your stories here.
In this episode, Lynne and M.L. discuss:
- Cultivating a life by doing what comes naturally
- M. L.’s education inspired by the Beatles and Elvis
- When being prepared means letting events unfold
- Making poetry accessible – even in war zones
- M. L.’s original poem, “Khandahar Mission Briefing”
- The role of spirituality and higher purpose in finding meaning
Links and resources:
- Fulbright Specialist Program
- Michael Moore and Alicia Ostriker
- The Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show
- Afghan Women’s Writing Project
Coming up April 6th on the Make Meaning Podcast:
The Mission of Higher Education with Philomena Mantella. Philomena is the first female president of Grand Valley State University and a leading entrepreneur in higher education. Tune in when she and Lynne discuss her views on making a college education more accessible, integrating a learning plan with an earning plan, and acknowledging that the path to a degree isn’t always linear – nor should it be.
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