To live a good life. Oh, to be connected, to love, to celebrate, to feel deeply and to continuously be becoming, to welcome the becoming and the shift that, you know, hopefully in our last breaths here, we're, I want to in my last breath, think, but there's more I wanted to become.

And then hopefully the others, you know, it's like running death like a stop sign. And you just

keep on going and keep becoming.

So every once in a while, you meet someone in life that just leaves you profoundly changed.

And such was the case with poet and spoken word artist Andrea Gibson.

I had the opportunity to record a conversation with them back in 2020 that just really cracked my heart and mind open.

And as I've deepened into their work over the years, I've been captivated, I've been wowed, I've

been inspired by the way they lived their life. And I'm using the past tense because as I record this

on the morning of July 14th, this transcendent poet, performer, and soul who showed us how to feel

deeply and loved fiercely died. Andrea was a legendary spoken word artist, poet laureate of

Colorado, and the author of seven books, including the acclaimed, You Better Be Lightning.

With a unique blend of just raw vulnerability and embody compassion, Andrea shattered rigid

boundaries, giving voice to the depth of the human experience.

And so many times I'd be reading or listening to their words and just find myself in tears of joy or sorrow or awakening and recognition.

When we learned of Andrew's passing on July 14th, at just 49 years old, it felt like the world lost just a blazing comet, a radiating light

with truth in every revolution. And while their physical form may be gone, their spirit and

words and performances remain, undying sparks, igniting others to just live authentically

and appreciate life's beauty amidst the chaos.

And during our chat, you'll hear Andrea's piercing insights on creativity, identity,

and the courage really required to express one's whole self.

And don't miss the section of this conversation, where they powerfully perform their acclaimed poems

homes homes homesick and a year of no grudges.

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