In preparation for the book, I sat down with my friend and collaborator Sozita Goudouna, who is always there to help clear things up when I’m taking a new direction, or need a little magic. A bit of looking back, a lot of looking forward. Always in the shortest time possible.
“IF YOU HAD TO DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN ONE LINE?”
Poet first. Then educator, curator, and communication strategist, in whatever order a given week demands.
“WHERE’S HOME, THESE DAYS?”
Two of them. New York, and Granada, where I was born. I stopped choosing between them a while ago. Though really, home is anyone I meet who’s willing to open a real conversation.
“WHAT DOES NEW YORK GIVE YOU THAT GRANADA DOESN’T?”
Strangers, and speed. In Granada I’m known before I walk into a room. In New York I arrive new every day, which is exactly what I teach.
“YOU COULD STOP TEACHING. WHY HAVEN’T YOU?”
Because a classroom, a Yale seminar or a Manhattan middle school, is where I find out if an idea actually works before I hand it to an adult.
“WHAT WAS THE PHD ACTUALLY FOR?”
Columbia. It bought me permission to keep asking the questions I was already asking, just with better footnotes.
“SO WHAT IS THE ART OF ARRIVING, ACTUALLY?”
Everything I know about walking into a room well, taught to people who have a room to walk into.
“WHAT DO PEOPLE GET WRONG ABOUT YOU?”
Coaching, poetry, training: they’re not the same, but they belong to the same principle. When I’m training, I’m doing poetry. When I’m writing, I’m training. The connectivity of skills is one of my most important strengths, maybe my most important skill. Anybody who’s worked with me for a few months starts to see it in their own work.
“WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON RIGHT NOW?”
Curating “La Granada que Sueña,” opening at the Biblioteca de Andalucía this November. And writing, in the gaps.
“AND THE BOOK?”
It’s the hook, not the whole story. More on that soon, here first.
“ANY REGRETS?”
Yes. Too few to mention.
“WHAT’S NEXT?”
More of this, honestly. Less explaining, more showing up.
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