Courtney Marie Andrews — ”Poetry is asking you to get beneath the surface.”

What is poetry asking of us? This question was top of mind when speaking with artist Courtney Marie Andrews.

The critically acclaimed musician (and self-proclaimed “student of experience”) has translated her wisdom and storytelling prowess into her debut poetry collection, Old Monarch, which “centers around themes of longing and a desire to belong while excavating scenes from her childhood in the American Southwest.”

In Old Monarch, Courtney's lyrical poetry is reminiscent of not only earthen terrain but of more complex territories, including self-discovery and transformation. Like a monarch itself, Courtney's creative work travels far and wide. But for Courtney, poetry acts as a mechanism to go deeper. While this debut collection has come during a historic time of transformation, it is also a timeless reminder of how art can capture—and honor—the human condition. 

In this interview, Courtney shared more about creating with intention, her life as a musician and poet, and what she's learned about slowing down—and looking in. This episode also opens with a reading by Katie Yee.