Liberation is Lit Podcast

Tayler Simon
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Books
  • Weekly

Welcome to the Liberation is Lit podcast, where the power of storytelling meets the force of social change! In this podcast, we believe in the profound impact of stories – stories that amplify voices, challenge norms, and foster understanding.Whether you're a literature enthusiast, an advocate for social justice, or simply someone who believes in the transformative power of stories, you're in the right place. Tune in, and let's embark on a journey together – one where every story has the potential to change the world.

  1. 1d ago

    Ororo’s Liberation: Celebrating Black Speculative Fiction Month with Cebo Campbell

    Dr. Ebony Toussaint and Tayler Simon host a crossover episode between Ororo Comics Podcast and Liberation is Lit with Cebo Campbell, author of Sky Full of Elephants. We discuss Black Speculative Fiction Month, storytelling, and home within diaspora. Campbell describes writing at his mother’s busy Southern dinner table, his extensive travel to explore Black identity and diaspora, and reveals his upcoming sequel to Sky. You don’t want to miss this rich discussion, including whether red velvet cake beats pound cake and whether Cebo Campbell puts sugar in his grits! Cebo Campbell Books Sky Full of Elephants Pre-order Wells Without Water Timeline 00:00 Crossover Welcome 00:47 Meet Tayler Simon 01:58 Introducing Cebo Campbell 03:35 Birthday Banter 04:27 Sky Full Opening 05:57 Writing With Toni 07:40 Moms Table Process 13:08 Food Talk Debate 15:16 Travel Diaspora Arc 16:50 Part Two Reveal 22:16 Ending Signal Discourse 24:23 Being Meta in America 25:06 Melanin as Light 27:01 Marking Up the Book 27:29 Diaspora Energy and Connection 28:27 Why Mobile Alabama 30:48 Reverse Migration and Home 34:30 Four Books One Slate 35:18 Lightning Round Fun 38:08 Wells Without Water Tease 40:32 Tour and Final Thanks Thank you for being part of the Liberation is Lit podcast! If you have stories to share, want to suggest topics, or just want to connect, find us on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok @liberationislit or visit our website at liberationislit.com. If you enjoyed the episode, please consider leaving a review! Remember, your voice matters, and together, through the lens of stories, we're making a difference in the world.

    Ororo’s Liberation: Celebrating Black Speculative Fiction Month with Cebo Campbell

  2. Oct 16

    Building A Cultural Hub of Creativity, Care, and Community (with Dr. Shaquinta Richardson and Nik Stephney)

    In this episode, we welcome Dr. Shaquinta Richardson of Audre’s Den (a nonprofit mobile bookstore) and Nik Stephney of Voyage Farm and Tea Bar (a backyard farm turned pop-up tea bar) to discuss our trio’s collaboration in Columbia. We share how we connected through pop-ups, chose collaboration over competition, and navigated pivots while building community-centered events such as our upcoming November event featuring Ashante Reese’s Gather. We discuss rejecting competition, especially among Black businesses, and describe our shared vision for a future cultural hub with books, food, gathering, creativity, and care that centers Black people. Books Mentioned in this Episode Where is Home?: Lost, Found, Made published by Liberation is Lit Press (and features Dr. Shaquinta Richardson) Gather: Black Food, Nourishment, and the Art of Togetherness by Ashanté M Reese Praise Song for the Kitchen Ghost: Stories and Recipes from Five Generations of Black Country Cooks by Crystal Wilkinson Writer in Residence by Rhonda McKnight The Thing About Home by Rhonda McKnight Timeline 00:00 Welcome and Introductions 00:45 Meet Nik and Voyage Farms 01:26 How the Trio Connected 05:03 Meet Shaquinta and Audres Den 08:09 Collaboration Over Competition 11:51 Nik on Books and Hospitality 14:36 Upcoming Events and Shared Vision 15:26 Building a Cultural Hub 17:44 Feeding People and Pleasure Portal 22:36 Book Picks and Inspirations 26:13 Follow and Closing Thanks Thank you for being part of the Liberation is Lit podcast! If you have stories to share, want to suggest topics, or just want to connect, find us on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok @liberationislit or visit our website at liberationislit.com. If you enjoyed the episode, please consider leaving a review! Remember, your voice matters, and together, through the lens of stories, we're making a difference in the world.

    Building A Cultural Hub of Creativity, Care, and Community (with Dr. Shaquinta Richardson and Nik Stephney)

  3. Oct 2

    Empathy and Pride (with Edward Dennis)

    In this episode, we welcome artist and author Edward Dennis to discuss his children’s books celebrating Mexican and Latine culture and building empathy. Dennis shares how, while teaching special education at a mostly Hispanic school, current events and students’ questions led him to search for books explaining immigration experiences—only to find none—so he quit teaching to write them. We talk about how children’s literature can counter warped narratives, support critical thinking amid censorship debates, and help kids see intrinsic human value. Dennis also previews upcoming projects, including a middle-grade graphic novel, and advises listeners to persist despite rejection and hardship. Edward’s Books The Boy From Mexico The Boy From Mexico Becomes a Farm Worker The Boy From Mexico Becomes a U.S. Citizen The Super Awesome Activity Book for Kids: Exploring Diversity with Bilingual Drawing, Coloring, Games and Literacy Where to Find Edward Instagram https://www.artofedwarddennis.com/ Timeline 00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 00:36 Why He Writes 01:54 Building Cultural Pride 03:11 Activity Book Breakdown 04:32 Kids Books and Empathy 06:47 Staying Grounded 10:39 New Projects Ahead 13:25 Advice to Changemakers 16:55 What He’s Reading 18:25 Where to Find Him Thank you for being part of the Liberation is Lit podcast! If you have stories to share, want to suggest topics, or just want to connect, find us on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok @liberationislit or visit our website at liberationislit.com. If you enjoyed the episode, please consider leaving a review! Remember, your voice matters, and together, through the lens of stories, we're making a difference in the world.

    Empathy and Pride (with Edward Dennis)

  4. Sep 25

    Branching Outward to Community (with Riley Danvers)

    In this episode, we talk with poet and author Riley Danvers about writing, identity, and Riley’s new poetry collection, Arborism of Branching: Sonnets for Post-Divorce Photosynthesis. Riley shares how reading and nature inspire their work, beginning with a childhood love of haiku, and explains how the book’s sonnets chronicle a year after leaving an abusive marriage, moving through seasons as metaphors for shedding, searching, and self-actualization. We discuss the vulnerability of writing trauma, the importance of grounding through reading and community, and poetry recommendations. Riley urges artists to create as an act of resistance, sharing work widely. Riley’s Books Arborism of Branching Even the Air, Too Heavy Other Books Mentioned No Language is Neutral by Dionne Brand Fierce Departures by Dionne Brand Surge by Etel Adnan Night by Etel Adnan Revelated by Matt Hart Fierce Fairytales: Poems and Stories to Stir Your Soul by Nikita Gill Hekate: The Witch by Nikita Gill Styx: The River by Nikita Gill Where to Find Riley Instagram Threads www.writingasajourney.com Timeline 00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 00:45 Riley’s Writing Origins 03:16 Arborism of Branching Overview 04:40 Seasons of Healing 06:24 Identity After Abuse 09:49 Staying Grounded as a Writer 12:22 Recent Reads and Poetry Recs 14:51 What’s Next Feminist Rage Manuscript 17:50 Advice Artists as Resistance 20:44 Where to Find Riley Closing Thank you for being part of the Liberation is Lit podcast! If you have stories to share, want to suggest topics, or just want to connect, find us on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok @liberationislit or visit our website at liberationislit.com. If you enjoyed the episode, please consider leaving a review! Remember, your voice matters, and together, through the lens of stories, we're making a difference in the world.

    Branching Outward to Community (with Riley Danvers)

  5. Sep 18

    Stories to Understand the World (with Susanne Kuhlendahl)

    In this episode, we welcome German graphic artist and writer Susanne Kulendahl to discuss her graphic adaptation of Virginia Woolf’s Orlando. Kulendahl shares her path from studying visual arts and illustrating calendars and children’s books to creating graphic novels. She explains how a publisher’s Virginia Woolf biography project led her to read Woolf’s work, with Orlando becoming her favorite, and describes translating the novel into images. We discuss how Orlando treats gender change as natural, Woolf’s ironic tone, and why the story remains relevant today.  Susanne’s Books Orlando: A Graphic Novel Adaptation of Virginia Woolf's Queer Classic Death in Venice: According to Thomas Mann  Where to Find Susanne https://susanne-kuhlendahl.de/ Instagram Timeline 00:00 Welcome to Liberation is Lit 00:20 Meet Susanne Kulendahl 00:56 Why Graphic Classics Work 01:24 Susanne’s Creator Journey 02:34 Finding Virginia Woolf 03:43 Adapting Orlando in Images 04:57 Reading as Inner Cinema 06:22 Storytelling and Social Change 08:52 Favorite Scenes to Draw 09:51 What She’s Reading Now 10:30 Staying Grounded as an Artist 11:50 Where to Find Susanne Online 12:24 Podcast Wrap Up and Farewell Thank you for being part of the Liberation is Lit podcast! If you have stories to share, want to suggest topics, or just want to connect, find us on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok @liberationislit or visit our website at liberationislit.com. If you enjoyed the episode, please consider leaving a review! Remember, your voice matters, and together, through the lens of stories, we're making a difference in the world.

    Stories to Understand the World (with Susanne Kuhlendahl)

  6. May 29

    This is How You Love Her (with Traci Saulsberry)

    In this episode, we welcome author and publicist Traci Saulsberry to discuss her upcoming book, This Is How You Love Her. Saulsberry shares her long-held desire to write, her career in publicity including working at NBC, and how leaving corporate prompted questions of identity that led her back to writing. She describes a non-traditional publishing journey that began with a LinkedIn message to a publishing president and evolved into a book deal and a “meta” narrative that shows her finding herself while writing about self-love. The book releases in August, so pre-order today! Traci’s Book This is How You Love Her (out on 8/14) Where to find Traci Instagram LinkedIn Timeline 00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 00:34 Traci’s Path to Authorship 02:23 Landing a Book Deal 03:31 Why the Book Is Nonlinear 04:51 Finding the Title and Theme 06:40 Identity Beyond the Work 09:49 Surrender, Control, and Vulnerability 13:15 Journaling as a Map to Self 15:51 Upcoming Projects and Promotion 17:25 Advice, Preorders, and Farewell Thank you for being part of the Liberation is Lit podcast! If you have stories to share, want to suggest topics, or just want to connect, find us on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok @liberationislit or visit our website at liberationislit.com. If you enjoyed the episode, please consider leaving a review! Remember, your voice matters, and together, through the lens of stories, we're making a difference in the world.

    This is How You Love Her (with Traci Saulsberry)

  7. May 15

    Making It Over the Tobin Bridge (with Charity Collier)

    In this episode, we welcome debut novelist Charity Collier to discuss her journey to becoming an author, from journaling and overcoming dyslexia-related discouragement to gaining confidence with her writing. Charity shares the inspiration and symbolism behind her romance novel, Making It Over the Tobin Bridge, rooted in Boston’s North Shore/South Shore culture and the bridge’s meaning as a personal crossing. We explore how romance can be powerful and subversive, emphasizing self-love, empowerment, and platonic love alongside romantic relationships.  Charity’s Book Making It Over the Tobin Bridge Other Books Mentioned Midnight Library by Matt Haig The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion by Beth Brower Olivia and Jai by Rebecca Ryman Where to Find Charity Instagram Timeline 00:00 Welcome to the Podcast 01:10 Charity’s Writing Journey 04:00 Why Tobin Bridge 05:39 Reinventing Romance 09:37 Staying Grounded 10:59 Next Book Wolf Eyes 14:22 Books Inspiring Her 17:08 Community Impact Advice 19:45 Where to Find Charity 20:33 Final Thanks and Outro Thank you for being part of the Liberation is Lit podcast! If you have stories to share, want to suggest topics, or just want to connect, find us on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok @liberationislit or visit our website at liberationislit.com. If you enjoyed the episode, please consider leaving a review! Remember, your voice matters, and together, through the lens of stories, we're making a difference in the world.

    Making It Over the Tobin Bridge (with Charity Collier)

  8. May 8

    Stories of Hurt That Heal (with Kim Coleman Foote)

    On the Liberation is Lit podcast, host Tayler Simon talks with New Jersey author Kim Coleman Foote about her lifelong journey as a writer, the family storytelling that inspired her historical fiction, and how her novel Coleman Hill uses both tragedy and humor to humanize relatives and explore intergenerational trauma rooted in slavery. Foote discusses researching family history, using imagination when records are missing, and how writing helped her gain empathy without excusing harm, while challenging normalized cycles of violence. She shares grounding practices like taking breaks, prioritizing mental health, and accountability, and previews her upcoming book Saltwater Sister, which moves between the 18th century and 1999 to examine the Dutch role in the slave trade, repeating history, Ghana, and reparations. The episode closes with community-impact advice: start small by building respectful relationships with neighbors. Kim’s book Coleman Hill Where to Find Kim Website Instagram Facebook Timeline 00:00 Welcome and Introductions 00:37 Kim’s Writing Journey 01:30 Why Historical Fiction 04:48 Trauma and Humor in Coleman Hill 07:52 Humanizing Family Through Backstory 09:05 Research and Character Childhoods 11:40 Writing as Healing and Breaking Cycles 13:56 Staying Grounded as a Writer 16:50 Saltwater Sister Preview 19:58 Making Impact Locally 21:12 Where to Follow and Closing Thank you for being part of the Liberation is Lit podcast! If you have stories to share, want to suggest topics, or just want to connect, find us on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok @liberationislit or visit our website at liberationislit.com. If you enjoyed the episode, please consider leaving a review! Remember, your voice matters, and together, through the lens of stories, we're making a difference in the world.

    Stories of Hurt That Heal (with Kim Coleman Foote)
See All (78)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Welcome to the Liberation is Lit podcast, where the power of storytelling meets the force of social change! In this podcast, we believe in the profound impact of stories – stories that amplify voices, challenge norms, and foster understanding.Whether you're a literature enthusiast, an advocate for social justice, or simply someone who believes in the transformative power of stories, you're in the right place. Tune in, and let's embark on a journey together – one where every story has the potential to change the world.

Information

  • Creator
    Tayler Simon
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    78
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Liberation is Lit Podcast
  • Show Website
    Liberation is Lit Podcast