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Welcome to the Pod, this is Jim Nog. Thank you for listening. On this episode, my conversation with Zar of the Moon. Zar is somewhat of a mysterious figure. He is a masked rapper whose subject matter is the stuff of nightmares. He has not done a lot of publicity, so I’m grateful that he decided to spend time with me. I must say, though, that we faced a number of difficulties on the day we had scheduled to meet. We ended up recording in my car during quite a downpour. Parked in a residential area of The Bronx, we did the best we could. However, due to some technical difficulties, most of the conversation was lost. Alas. Live and learn. I decided to salvage what I could and release it. I might schedule somethign else with Zar in the future. But for now this will have to do. It begins with a scary rap song titled “Run.” Then the conversation begins. If you find this podcast valuable, please support it. I really could use your support. With sufficient funding I will be able to hire an editor, which will allow me to make more episodes. Here are some ways to support the Pod: - Become a patron at Patreon.com/jimnog - Subscribe to the Pod’s youtube channel - Send donations to Paypal.me/jimnog - Tell your friends about the Pod or share episodes or write reviews - And, finally, you can purchase any of my books (linked below) OUTLINE 0:00 - Intro song 0:44 - Introduction 2:37 - "Run" by Zar of the Moon 5:02 - Start of convo: Why run? Does Zar run? 7:35 - The Smiths' influence on Zar of the Moon 11:30 - Zar's message about his future in rap 13:15 - Zar's parting message 14:12 - Outro song & credits PODCAST LINKS - Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/jim-nog-pod/id1212086477 - LibSyn: https://jimnogpod.libsyn.com - Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5Ulkfhlzvz9HoZt7Jnb3dy?si=jsIAF5ynTgGbYQbeJ6_aiw JIM'S LINKS - Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/james.noguera.page - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jimnog/ - Twitter: https://twitter.com/jimnog - Website: http://www.jamesnoguera.com JIM'S BOOKS - _Monsters_ (2016, novella): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01B1W8R7S?*Version*=1&*entries*=0 - _Remember Me like This_ (2013, poetry chapbook): https://www.amazon.com/Remember-like-This-James-Noguera-ebook/dp/B00HFKYE4G/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1387731326&sr=8-2&keywords=remember+me+like+this REFERENCES - "How Soon Is Now" by The Smiths: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnpILIIo9ek 

Welcome to alAndar w/ Marcos & Jim, a podcast where two friends, united in their love of art, share and discuss their work, their struggles, and their thoughts on all things creative; it’s sort of like show-and-tell - but for grown-ups!   Marcos de Jesús “de la Guagua” is a singer, song writer, and rapper.    James “Jim” Noguera is a fiction writer, university instructor, and podcaster.    This episode is about using curse words. Both artists share their differing perspectives on the use of profanity and, on the way, reach a compromise for the sake of the show.   Please like, share, comment, hit the notification bell, and subscribe to show your support!   The new Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-rQiTgW28XuE3Ub0bHWUPQ   MARCOS - Instagram: @marcos_de_la_guagua - Twitter: @delaguagua - Website: MarcosDeLaGuagua.com   JIM - Instagram: @jimnog - Twitter: @jimnog - Website: JamesNoguera.com

Welcome to alAndar w/ Marcos & Jim, a podcast dedicated to sharing and discussing art; it’s sort of like show-and-tell - but for grown-ups.   Who are these grown-ups? Well . . .   Marcos de Jesus “de la Guagua” is a singer, song-writer, and rapper. He’s multi-talented, multi-dimensioanl, multi-cultural, and multi-lingual, and multi-other things. I am proud and lucky enough to call him a good friend and to start this project with him.   James "Jim" Noguera is a fiction writer and poet, a university instructor, and a podcaster. He's published & self-published work online and has an MFA in Creative Writing.   This episode is about productivity, meaning, and process. It’s hard to find the right balance. For an artist, the mandate of creation requires sacrifice.   TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 - Intro song "Ghostly Grace" 0:33 - Intro 2:50 - What is productivity? 10:32 - Limitless possibility mindset vs. stoic acceptance of limitations 15:52 - Productivity, art, and neurodivergence 37:17 - Maximizing meaningful experience vs. minimizing regret 40:43 - What you do and how you do it; productivity vs. meaning 48:01 - Quoting rappers 49:14 - "Wild Geese" by Mary Oliver & outro song "Space Jam"   Please like, share, comment, hit the notification bell, and subscribe to show your support!   The new Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-rQiTgW28XuE3Ub0bHWUPQ   MARCOS - Instagram: @marcos_de_la_guagua - Twitter: @delaguagua - Website: MarcosDeLaGuagua.com   JIM - Instagram: @jimnog - Twitter: @jimnog - Website: JamesNoguera.com

On this episode, my conversation with Marcos de Jesus “de la Guagua.” Marcos is a good friend and has been on the show many times and needs little introduction. So, here’s a short and sweet one. Marcos de Jesus “de la Guagua” is an artist, most notably, a singer, rapper, and dancer. He has roots in Milwaukee, the Bronx, Puerto Rico, and Pomerania. He's also a licensed NYC tour guide and is a virtual artist in residence at TLCofNYC.org. His compositions have been presented by What a Neighborhood! and Annabella Gonzalez Dance Theatre.   We had a hoot discussing his newest project Erstwhile Shuffle, a motet, or short sacred piece, encompassing varoius characters and genres, all anchored on the existential angst of modern life and inevitability of death. We talked about the meaning of music, coping with anxiety in modern life, why there’s a dance challenge associated with the project, meaning in the finiteness of existence, the state of contemporary hiphop, and more. We also listened to Erstwhile Shuffle. It’s fun; quirky; silly; hiphop-py; meaningful; emotional; and just, well, good.   Thank you for listening. I hope you enjoy.     Currently, Jim Nog Pod is a one-man show. JNP takes a lot of effort and time. Please show your support via Patreon.com/jimnog.   Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro song 0:44 - Introduction 3:33 - Start of convo: What is the meaning of music? 16:15 - Some context for the Erstwhile Shuffle project 19:17 - "Erstwhile Shuffle II-Rap Song for the Club" 23:05 - What is the Erstwhile? 25:22 - "Erstwhile Shuffle III-BOTS et al. Dance, party! etc." 27:39 - What is the Erstwhile? cont'd 34:00 - How to cope with the existential angst of modern life? 43:09 - Why the suit coats, Marcos? 50:39 - Why does Erstwhile Shuffle have a dance challenge? 55:28 - "Erstwhile Shuffle IV-Extending Grace" 56:49 - What's the meaning of death? 1:09:38 - What's the state of contemporary hiphop? 1:20:10 - Wrap up 1:23:22 - Outro song: "Erstwhile Shuffle II-Rap Song for the Club" 1:26:38 - Credits   Jim's Socials: - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jimnog/ - Twitter: https://twitter.com/jimnog - Website: http://www.jamesnoguera.com   References: - "Don't Be an A-hole" by Marcos de Jesús "de la Guagua": https://delaguagua.com/track/2344139/don-t-be-an-a-hole - www.delaguagua.com - Marcos' Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/guaguaelectrica - Marcos' TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@marcosdelaguagua 

Jan Robertson has been the BCC Writing Center Director since 2002. She holds a B.S. in Theater from Skidmore College, an MA in English from Columbia Teachers’ College and has completed graduate coursework at the NYU School of Educational Theater. She has taught Writing, including the CUNY Language Immersion Program (CLIP); ESL; and Freshman Composition for 32 years, beginning in Independent Schools, the Board of Education, later as an adjunct for BCC, Hostos, City College and in CLIP at Hostos. Since 2002, as BCC Writing Center Director, she has been dedicated to teaching Writing Center tutors how to help BCC students write, building confidence in their ideas and experiences, giving them hope, and keeping them in school.   We discuss a few of Jan’s key formative childhood experiences related to teaching, advice for new teachers, qualities of a good tutor, qualities of a successful writing center, how to better advocate on behalf of a writing center, and more.   Currently, Jim Nog Pod is a one-man show. The Pod takes a lot of time and effort. Please show your support: like, subscribe, leave a comment, and you can donate via Patreon.com/jimnog. And thank you for your interest!   Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro song 0:42 - Introduction 3:21 - Start of convo; early formative experiences 6:06 - Did Jan always want to teach? 18:30 - Advice to new teachers 24:02 - Connection between teaching and acting 27:24 - Introversion being situational 28:34 - Why did Jan go into writing center work? 39:21 - What are qualities of a good tutor? 51:37 - What does a successful writing center do right? 1:00:53 - How to better advocate on behalf of a writing center 1:05:35 - Jan's parting message 1:06:55 - Outro song 1:08:02 - Credits   Jim's Socials: - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jimnog/ - Twitter: https://twitter.com/jimnog - Website: http://www.jamesnoguera.com   References: - Writing Center FB page: https://www.facebook.com/BCCWritingCenter - Writing Center Web page: https://www.bcc.cuny.edu/campus-resources/writing-center/ 

Layla M. is a multi-faceted creator. She studied screenwriting in the Harlem Dramatic Writing Workshop at Columbia University and literature at The University of Michigan and The City College of New York. Her style is often dark comedy, imbued with themes of personal and systemic oppressions. She sees her work in the emerging genre of psychologically disturbing comedies like films from Jordan Peele and Bong Joon Ho. She has published short fiction and written, directed and produced off broadway theatre. We discuss dealing with writerly criticism, the MFA experience, her award-winning screenplay titled Baby Teeth, and more.   Currently, Jim Nog Pod is a one-man show. The Pod takes a lot of effort and time. Please show your support via Patreon.com/jimnog.   Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro song 0:44 - Introduction 1:59 - Start of convo; dealing with writerly criticism 11:07 - How to give constructive criticism 18:33 - Hemingway's writing 22:31 - Simplicity in writing 27:30 - Is an MFA "worth it"? 36:56 - About Layla's award-winning script Baby Teeth 40:09 - Dark comedy influences 46:44 - Outro song   Jim's Socials: - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jimnog/ - Twitter: https://twitter.com/jimnog - Website: http://www.jamesnoguera.com 

Stephanie Gaitán is a writer, editor, and mother from the Bronx whose work has been featured in 433. Her past-times include laughing, sharing photos of cute everything with her friends, and binge-watching childhood TV shows with her daughter. Her work has also been featured in Stone of Madness Press, Voyage YA, and Palabritas, and she has work forthcoming in LaLibreta. You can find her on Twitter @GaitanWrites and on Instagram @JupiterGaitan. On this episode, we discuss the value of writing workshops and MFA programs, Stephanie’s academic background, her passions, depression, effects of social media on society, our personal politics, socialism vs capitalism, UBI, SF movies and series that have influenced us, mixed identity, post-colonialism, the writing process, and much more. She also reads from an upcoming work titled “Hood Phantom.”  Episodes are also posted on Youtube on a new channel, Jim Nog Pod.  Currently, I am a one-man show. JNP takes a lot of effort and time. Please show your support via Patreon.com/jimnog. Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro song 0:44 - Introduction 2:20 - Start of convo; about Stephanie 3:44 - 433 (magazine) 6:15 - Stephanie's creative writing background 12:02 - MFA programs and independent writing workshops 18:12 - About Stephanie's story “Neutron Star" 20:10 - Stephanie's academic background 25:00 - Stephanie’s biggest passions 27:00 - Depression 31:12 - Therapy and mental health 35:55 - Effects of social media on society 41:59 - How to social media better 46:12 - Stephanie's politics 49:11 - Jim’s politics 50:33 - How to define hard work 52:43 - Tax the rich 56:34 - UBI 1:02:22 - Star Trek: TNG 1:03:03 - Dr. Who 1:04:30 - HHGG 1:07:28 - Major Cow scene and philosophy 1:12:58 - Other influences (writers) 1:16:45 - Other influences (movies and series) 1:22:52 - Language learning 1:24:14 - Transracial Jimin 1:30:34 - Mixed racial identity 1:32:13 - Defensiveness & post-colonialism 1:36:12 - Stephanie reads her poem "Hood Phantom" 1:38:16 - Discussion of poem 1:42:52 - A story from Jim about artifice 1:45:34 - Stereotypes of hiphop heads 1:46:49 - Good writing in hiphop 1:48:24 - Stephanie's writing process 1:50:55 - Jim’s writing process (w/ examples from others) 1:53:38 - Writers and cats 1:54:30 - Vegetarianism and pets 1:55:20 - NaNoWriMo 1:56:32 - Stephanie's parting message; being a "good writer" 2:01:04 - Outro song & some words about next time 2:02:11 - Credits Jim's Socials: - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jimnog/ - Twitter: https://twitter.com/jimnog - Website: http://www.jamesnoguera.com References: - 433: https://www.fourthreethree.org - When We Make It by Elizabeth Velasquez: https://amzn.to/3uTML84 - "Forbidden Words (#TTR)" by Marcos de la Guagua: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iNIiLOUhM8 

Draea is a singer-songwriter based in Florida. She sings in a variety of genres, from jazz to oldies to hip hop and, yes, even rap. Along her journey, she has equipped herself with various skillsets such as videography, photography, retouching and creative directing, all culminating in an independent powerhouse of a creator. Draea's goal is to be an example for other independent artists in the music industry and to create a community where independent artists can help each other - instead of being shackled to the toxic dynamics of record labels. Draea is here to bring a new vibe and build a new tribe! On this episode, we discuss the creative process, society's toxicity, expanding your conscious, influences, predatory capitalist practices by the music industry and more. We also listen to three of Draea's songs: "Salt," "Narrow Minds," and "Used2." Support the Pod via Patreon.com/jimnog 

Welcome to alAndar (from the Spanish for "when walking"), a hopeful new podcast and YouTube series, where singer-rapper Marcos de Jesus and writer and educator James Noguera share and explore their individual works of music and creative writing; it's like show-and-tell, but for grown-ups! On this episode, Jim shares the first story he ever published, the science fiction short story "Tim & the Parallel Worlds." Originally published as "Jim and the Parallel Words" in The WiFiles, it is the darkly humorous story of a boy who finds himself unstuck in a parallel world. Please like, share, comment, and subscribe to show your support! MARCOS - Instagram: @marcos_de_la_guagua - Twitter: @delaguagua - Website: MarcosDeLaGuagua.com JIM - Instagram: @jimnog - Twitter: @jimnog - Website: JamesNoguera.com

Welcome to alAndar (from the Spanish for "when walking"), a hopeful new podcast and video series, where singer-rapper Marcos de Jesus and writer James Noguera share and explore their individual works within their respective crafts: music and creative writing; it's like show-and-tell, but for grown-ups! On this episode, Marcos shares his beautifully passionate work-in-progress "Costly Grace," a part-gospel, part-rap song inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s last speech "I've Been to the Mountaintop." Please like, share, comment, and subscribe to show your support! MARCOS - Instagram: @marcos_de_la_guagua - Twitter: @delaguagua - Website: MarcosDeLaGuagua.com JIM - Instagram: @jimnog - Twitter: @jimnog - Website: JamesNoguera.com

Jim Reads his flash fiction story "Snowflake" (1,100 words). Snow descends from the sky, covering all beneath its path in a white blanket, muffling the activity of the creatures on the surface, who trudge back and forth like ants. You are one of millions of them, making a way through the snow. Read the story via JamesNoguera.com/stories-poems  Support the Pod via Patreon.com/jimnog

The Bronx Overthinkers Society is a group of Bronx-born/raised individuals who work or have worked in education and who, as a whole, tend to overthink things. They are my friends. On this episode, I speak with Noman Jalal and Miguel Gil. Noman is a software engineer - and newest member of BOTS. He's also the youngest member. Miguel Gil is an educator, and is the oldest and, I would say, wisest BOT. They bring their different perspectives together to join me in a discussion of a wide range of financial topics, including, but not limited to, income inequality, hard work, luck, financial education, and social democracy. We start the conversation with the question: Should billionaires exist? Support the Pod via Patreon.com/jimnog