Episodes
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
Full transcript of the episodes are available. Click here to access.
Our Abortion Stories:
On September 18, 2024, we launched a new series in support of a family’s reproductive rights—specifically Yes on 4 here 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.
As the country gears up for the election on November 5th 2024, we will be sharing all seven stories one week at a time. These stories highlight what the current ban limits and excludes, and how this ban negatively impacts all women and families. We hope these stories will help you understand why keeping abortion legal (which means voting yes on amendment 4) is not only important but will also save lives. We know that sounds counter intuitive, but abortions save lives.
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 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)