From our contributors

Sarah Kay (“The Soldier and the Movie Star”) captivated us with her family’s epic love story. For more of Sarah’s poetry, start with “If I should have a daughter.” Then grab a copy of one of her poetry collections, like The Type. Sarah is also the co-founder of Project Voice, an organization that uses poetry to entertain, educate, and inspire students around the world.

You may recognize Ryan O’Connell (“Roaring Thirties”) from his starring role in Netflix’s Special, a semi-autobiographical series he also created and executive-produced, adapted from his memoir, I’m Special. Next up, you can catch Ryan starring in Peacock’s Queer as Folk or get more familiar with his writing by reading his new novel, Just by Looking at Him.

If you’re looking to watch another powerful film from Nadav Kurtz (“Sam and Omar”), take a look at Paraíso, his documentary short following three immigrant window cleaners who rappel down Chicago’s tallest skyscrapers. The film was a Sundance Film Festival selection. Watch it now.

When not writing apology letters, Pamela Rae Schuller (“Sorry, Not Sorry”) is a comedian and disability advocate. She has brought her blend of advocacy and comedy to almost every state in the U.S. and across six countries and has opened for everyone from Joan Rivers to Pete Holmes to Fetty Wap. Next up, catch her live at an upcoming performance of her one-woman show, What Makes Me Tic.

For more music from Victoria Canal (“Swan Song”), listen to Victoria’s latest EP, Elegy. She joined the Pop-Up Magazine stage hot off her headline Elegy tour and a memorable duet with Chris Martin on “Swan Song.” Martin called the song “one of the best songs ever written.” We agree!

Hermit crab fans, rejoice: You can hear more of Rachael Cusick’s (“Be the Ocean”) reporting from her work as a radio producer at Radiolab. Rachael has produced such memorable episodes as “The Queen of Dying,” about the stages of grief and death. And make it a point to read her Modern Love essay about her relationship with her grandmother.

Marc Bamuthi Joseph (“The Love Movement”) heads from the Pop-Up Magazine stage to touring for The Just and the Blind, a short film series and an evening-length multimedia performance looking at the unseen and under-heard experiences of incarcerated youth and the realities their families face. Joseph’s next piece, Watch Night, inspired by the forgiveness exhibited by the congregation of Emanuel AME church in Charleston, will premiere at The Perelman Center in New York.

Annie Brown (“Blind Date”) has produced some of your favorite podcasts. Have a listen: As a founding producer of The Daily, she helmed the four-part documentary series Odessa about a West Texas high school reopening during the pandemic. She also helped launch the 1619 podcast. Next up, catch her work over at Pineapple Media.

Thanks to the very talented artists and illustrators who helped make tonight’s show beautiful: The Little Labs (“Blind Date” and “Drawing a New Path”), Anuj Shrestha (“Blind Date”), Hokyoung Kim (“The Soldier and the Movie Star”), Jeremy A. Leung (“The Love Movement”), Miranda Bruce (“Sorry, Not Sorry”), Min Heo (“Be the Ocean”), Danie Drankwalter (“Roaring Thirties”), Jordan Kay (“For Black Girls”), and an extra-special thanks to our incredible music director, Minna Choi, and our house band, the Magik*Magik Orchestra.