Writing Class Radio is an award winning podcast that airs true personal stories and teaches listeners how to write their own stories. Hosts Allison + Andrea also offer private and group writing classes to help bring the personal into your writing.
If you have time and energy and don’t mind rude language and rough subjects, my daughter, Andrea, has a podcast. She and Allison teach memoir, so all kinds of personal stories get told. It's called "Writing Class Radio."
—Bonnie Askowitz
EPISODES
Full transcript of the episodes are available. Click here to access.
Episode 197: Shut the F*ck up, Please
Today on our show, we bring you a story by Sarena Neyman. Sarena is in Allison’s 2nd Draft class, which contains writers who come together to share a draft of their essay and receive feedback from the group. Sarena was previously published on Writing Class Radio. Episode 187: The Bigger Table: How I Lost My Husband But Gained a Bigger Family. In that episode, we discussed Sarena’s brilliant landings.
In this episode we will discuss landings again, because like last time, they are perfect. We will also talk about humor and details. This narrator is hilarious and so good at the highlighting little things.
Sarena Neyman has been writing for numerous human rights groups for more than 20 years, working on causes from digital privacy to affordable housing to marriage equality. She writes for cabinlife.com and PeaceVoice.com. Sarena lives in Western Massachusetts.
ABORTION SERIES: On September 18, 2024, we launched a series in support of a family’s reproductive rights—specifically Yes on 4, an amendment on the ballot in Florida to get rid of a near total abortion ban and reinstate the liberties under Roe v Wade. The stories in the series were told live on stage in front of 400 people at Temple Beth Am in Miami, Florida on September 5th 2024.
This event was produced and created by Writing Class Radio, Rabbi Greengrass at Temple Beth Am, and 19 collaborative partners: The Women’s Fund, Equal Justice Society, Cuban American Women Supporting Democracy, Men for Choice, Books and Books, Planned Parenthood, Temple Judea, Coral Gables United Church of Christ, Tikkun Olam at Temple Beth Am, Florida Women’s Freedom Coalition, Women’s Emergency Network, Sisterhood of Temple Beth Am, Catholics for Choice, Temple Israel, Women of Reform Judaism, All Angels Episcopal Church, RAC Florida, National Council of Jewish Women, The Workers Circle.
Episode 196: My Abortion at 11 Wasn’t a Choice. It Was My Life
The seventh and final story in Our Abortion Stories is by Nicole Walker whose story tells us everything we need to know about why she writes and why she wrote this story.
When Nicole wrote about her abortion at 11 years old in the New York Times, all the shame she carried for more than forty years melted away. This is why we write.
Nicole Walker is an English professor at Northern Arizona University and the author of 8 books. You can find Nicole on Facebook, Twitter @nikwalkotter, Instagram @nikwalker28, and her website nikwalk.com.
Episode 195: Florida’s Abortion Law Almost Killed My Wife
The sixth story in Our Abortion Stories is by Derick Cook who describes his wife’s near-death experience when doctors sent her home after her water broke at 16 weeks. Derick’s wife should have gotten an abortion right away, but because her fetus still had cardiac activity and she wasn’t yet on the verge of death, her doctor was afraid to offer common-sense care. This story is tragic, but it has a happy ending.
Derick Cook is a high school football champ, drummer, and guitar player. Because of what Derick’s wife went through, Derick has become an activist. He told us he wants to write a book. Find Derick on Facebook.
Episode 194: A Physician's Duty
The fifth story in Our Abortion Stories series is by Dr. Cecilia Grande, an OB-GYN in Miami, Florida.
Dr. Grande’s story is about how the current abortion laws are prohibiting her and her colleagues from giving standard care to her patients and tragically, women are dying. Dr. Grande lists the exceptions provided by the law, but walks us through why these exceptions are grossly inadequate and why even the exception for rape and incest does not protect rape victims unless they report their rape and can provide a court order. The exceptions, in short, are cruel.
Dr. Cecilia Grande has been a practicing OB-GYN physician in Miami for 30 years.
Episode 193: Another Try at a Better Life
The fourth story in Our Abortion Stories series is by Nilsa Ada Rivera.
Nilsa’s story shows what someone living on the street goes through when she learns she’s pregnant and wants to have a baby. In Nilsa’s case, the fetus had severe health problems and Nilsa had to make the hard decision to terminate the pregnancy. Nilsa is Catholic and until recently struggled with her decision. Ultimately she believes God is the only entity that can judge her.
For more Nilsa, listen to Episode 29 and Episode 107.
Nilsa Ada Rivera is a housing analyst and writer. Nilsa and I have been in writing groups together for about 15 years. She is coming out with her first book in 2025 about affordable housing. You can find Nilsa Rivera on Instagram @nilsawrites and Facebook.
Episode 192: A Letter to My Son About His Abortion
The third story in Our Abortion Stories series is by Matt Tente.
Matt’s story is in the epistolary form, which means it was told in the form of a letter. Matt comes with a perspective about how healthcare could be handled if we in Florida work hard enough to win Yes on 4. We found Matt’s story on HuffPost, where it was published in a longer form.
Matt Tente is a screenwriter and portrait photographer who came in from California where he lives with his wife and one-year-old son. You can find Matt on Instagram @matttenteheadshots.
Episode 191: The Shade of Our Grandmothers’ Trees
The second story in Our Abortion Stories series is by Nicole Crooks.
Nicole tells the story of sexual molestation and rape. Neither the abuse nor the rape were described, but there is mention of both. In Nicole’s story she grapples with reporting her rape and ultimately doesn’t, just as the women she counseled ultimately didn’t report theirs.
Nicole Crooks is a coach and consultant who is committed to black women’s well-being and building community. You can find Nicole on Instagram at @Iamnicolecrooks
Episode 190: Then and Now and Back to Then
Our first story in Our Abortion Stories series is by Liz Chifari.
Liz had two abortions. In 1970, before abortion was legal, Liz had to proclaim she was mentally ill to get an abortion. In 1997, when she thought she was in perimenopause and already had a family, she went to an abortion clinic. Her story is about how radically different her experiences were.
Liz Chifari is a retired Lawyer and law librarian. She lives in Miami. We asked Liz why she wrote this story and she said, “.... because it was time.”
Episode 189: I Found Connection Through a Tattoo of a Bee
Today on our show, we bring you a story by Jennifer Sizeland, who lives in Manchester, England. Her story is a great example of situation and story. It’s important to know the difference, and on this episode, Andrea and Allison will discuss why.
There is also something very special about this essay. It is a story of hope and connection after a tremendous loss. The situation, as described in the piece, is a public shooting which brings great sadness to the town of Manchester, England. The story, however, is about more than just this horrible situation. The story is about much much more.
Jennifer Sizeland is a freelance writer and assistant producer with 14 years of experience in the media industry. She has written for many publications including the BBC, the Independent, Metro, Manchester Mill, Fodor’s Travel, Gastro Obscura, Reader’s Digest, and Stylist. For more Jennifer Sizeland, go to her website Jennifersizeland.com. She lives in Manchester, England and you can follow her on Instagram at @lifeofsize.
Episode 188: Making Room for Hope after My Daughter Died
Today on our show, we bring you a story by Farida Taha. Farida writes about losing her daughter to cancer and how she’s moving forward.
We talk a lot about loss on our podcast, because writing is how so many people process grief. We believe writing opens the heart, clears the mind, and helps us understand and process. In this essay, Farida throws out some incredibly poignant lines that reveal intense pain and so much hope for the future.
Andrea and Allison will discuss the details Farida drops in early then calls back to later.
Farida Taha is a writer and mother of three. She is originally from New York City and resides in Miami, FL. She is an avid listener and former writing class radio student. You can find her on Instagram @faridae.
Episode 187: How I Lost My Husband But Gained a Bigger Family
Sarena Neyman has been writing for numerous human rights groups for more than 20 years, working on causes from digital privacy to affordable housing to marriage equality. She writes for cabinlife.com and PeaceVoice.com. Sarena lives in Western Massachusetts.
Today on our show, we bring you a story by Sarena Neyman. Sarena is in Allison’s 2nd Draft class, which is made up of writers who come together to share a draft of their essay and receive feedback from the group. The goal is to get published, and with the help of other writers, many students achieve this goal.
Sarena’s story is an insane example of humor and voice and perfect landings. This essay is masterfully created and delightful to hear. It is also a unique take on two complex situations: divorce and sexuality. In this episode, listeners will hear how one family dealt with dissolution without dissolving the love.
Photo: Sarena, new husband, former husband, former husband’s partner. (not nec. in that order)