Episode 7 - Idris Goodwin (Recorded Dec 2021)

In this episode of the podcast our guest is the in demand wordsmith and titan of a man, Idris Goodwin. 

Idris Goodwin is an award winning scriptwriter, breakbeat poet, educator and executive director of The Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College. He was recently named a 2021 United States Artist Fellow. In addition to Can I Kick It?, he’s had several publications from Haymarket Books including Inauguration co written with nico wilkinson, Human Highlight: Ode To Dominique Wilkins, and the play This Is Modern Art. He’s appeared on Nickelodeon, HBO Def Poetry, Sesame Street, NPR, BBC Radio, and the Discovery Channel.  His plays include And In This Corner Cassius Clay, How We Got On, Hype Man and Jacked!

While every guest has been greatly anticipated by me personally, I think I can say with a great deal of confidence that maybe no guest so far has been as repeatedly requested by people I talk to in the field of TYA. I was introduced in full force to today's guest, Idris Goodwin, when I saw his interview with Jason Reynolds leading up to an incredible production of Ghost at the TYA/USA conference in Atlanta, GA almost 3 years ago. Since then I've continued to find that Idris is behind some of my favorite TYA work including "And in this Corner, Cassius Clay" and "This is Modern Art." This episode holds up (even if some of his projects that he refers to as being in the works have already occured!) 

Our conversation today is wide ranging, and covers a broad scope of topics including his writing process, what he sees as needs in the field of TYA, and the creative stimuli that make his work hum. I do want to make a note that we discuss the topic of "messiness" in theatre, and at the end of the podcast I have a message I want to share to give context for something I said in our conversation. Howver, at this point? Trust me, you're not going to want to miss a second of this conversation. The man is incredible, and I wish we'd had twice as much time!

Audio Engineer: Darius Fletcher | Lumber Beard Designs
Theme Music: Wallpaper by Kevin Macleod