For the season finale of Rough Draft, we’re welcoming poet Robin Coste Lewis.

Robin’s blazing intellect and pitch-perfect way with words are no shocker. Her debut poetry collection Voyage of the Sable Venus won the National Book Award in poetry in 2015, the first time a debut collection by an African-American had won the prize (and the first time a debut had won since 1974). She brings it all in this conversation that touches on growing up in Compton and New Orleans, removing the “I” from her writing, and pursuing beauty. Featuring guest poetry performances from Marquesha Babers and Monique Mitchell!

Watch Rough Draft and other Topic shows on the Apple TV app. Go to apple.co/topic to get your free 7-day trial.

Follow Robin Coste Lewis @robincostelewis

Follow Marquesha Babers @LADI3LYRIX

Follow Monique Mitchell @mnqmtchll

Rough Draft is a Topic Original Series.

Hosted by Reza Aslan

Executive Produced by Reza Aslan, David Andreone, Alfredo de Villa, and Safa Samieyazde’-Yazd. Executive Producers for Topic, Ryan Chanatry, Anna Holmes, and Gena Konstantinakos. Production aid from Russell Sperberg.

Music and Theme by Jacob Snider. Sound by Sean Oakley. Editing and mixing by Will Stanton, with additional editing by Blake V.

Twitter | @roughdraftreza

Facebook | Rough Draft with Reza Aslan

Follow Reza @rezaaslan

Email us at roughdraftpodcast@topic.com

For transcripts and full credits, head to https://www.topic.com/rough-draft-podcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mikel Jollett’s memoir Hollywood Park isn’t your typical rock star memoir. The frontman for The Airborne Toxic Event joins Reza for a socially-distanced chat about his genre-defying, rule-breaking book. They discuss Mikel’s childhood in the infamous Synanon cult, the difference between writing a book and writing a song, and Mikel’s love for boundary-pushing memoirs. There’s also a special acoustic performance of his song “Come On Out”!

Watch Rough Draft and other Topic shows on the Apple TV app. Go to apple.co/topic to get your free 7-day trial.

This talk was originally presented by the 92nd Street Y.

Follow Mikel Jollett @Mikel_Jollett

Rough Draft is a Topic Original Series.

Hosted by Reza Aslan

Executive Produced by Reza Aslan, David Andreone, Alfredo de Villa, and Safa Samieyazde’-Yazd. Executive Producers for Topic, Ryan Chanatry, Anna Holmes, and Gena Konstantinakos. Production aid from Russell Sperberg.

Music and Theme by Jacob Snider. Sound by Sean Oakley. Editing and mixing by Will Stanton, with additional editing by Blake V.

Twitter | @roughdraftreza

Facebook | Rough Draft with Reza Aslan

Follow Reza @rezaaslan

Email us at roughdraftpodcast@topic.com

For transcripts and full credits, head to https://www.topic.com/rough-draft-podcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Melissa Rosenberg has written some of the most successful, resonant scripts of the last two decades, from Dexter to Twilight to Jessica Jones. She and Reza chat about finding her own perspective on the Twilight saga, wrapping up Jessica Jones, and navigating harassment in Hollywood. They also play “Team Bella or Team Jessica”!

Watch Rough Draft and other Topic shows on the Apple TV app. Go to apple.co/topic to get your free 7-day trial.

Follow Melissa Rosenberg @tallgirlmel

Rough Draft is a Topic Original Series.

Hosted by Reza Aslan

Executive Produced by Reza Aslan, David Andreone, Alfredo de Villa, and Safa Samieyazde’-Yazd. Executive Producers for Topic, Ryan Chanatry, Anna Holmes, and Gena Konstantinakos. Production aid from Russell Sperberg.

Music and Theme by Jacob Snider. Sound by Sean Oakley. Editing and mixing by Will Stanton, with additional editing by Blake V.

Twitter | @roughdraftreza

Facebook | Rough Draft with Reza Aslan

Follow Reza @rezaaslan

Email us at roughdraftpodcast@topic.com

For transcripts and full credits, head to https://www.topic.com/rough-draft-podcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.