When I ask our guests to name their hero or their inspiration, there is a name that I hear over and over again.

Sandra Cisneros, the poet, author,

and advocate came into each of our lives with her book, The House on Mungo Street, and has

continued to dazzle us with her poetry, her fiction, and her activism. Her newest book, Woman

Without Shame, is a collection of her poetry, hacked with messages about liberation and living life

on your own terms. We talk about everything from the preciousness of time and how she tunes out

distractions to her decision not to have children and the complexity of her bond with her own mother.

I'm not exaggerating when I say this conversation was life-changing for me. I hope it is for you as well.

Sandra Sizneros, I cannot believe that you're on our podcast. Thank you for doing this.

You're very welcome. Thank you for

talking to me and promoting my work. I'm the one that's grateful to you. There are so many poems

that I loved in Woman Without Shame, but if I had to pick a favorite, poem written at midnight

would be among them. Would you be willing to read that for me? Sure. Oh, I'm written at midnight.

I felt so alone in my marriage with my husband, who was not my husband.

And so I let him go.

I feel so alone in my city.

That is not my city.

And so I hope to flee I feel so

alone in my life

that is not my life

swelta me, my

life.

...