Community and the Lure of the Disco Ball (with Kelly Porter)

Oh, hello to all you Public Poets, Local Linguists, and Neighborhood Nerds of Everything Word. In the final episode of this season, Nicole is joined by the founder of Barre Roots and, of course, her mentor Kelly Porter.

Together, Kelly and Nicole explore the history of the word community, why belonging has almost nothing to do with place, and how something as simple as remembering someone's job interview can transform a group of people into something that feels like home.

So get ready to take a walk, talk about the weird things, and remember: stop worrying and love the disco ball as we define community.

Further Research

• Learn more about Barre Roots: https://www.barreroots.com/
• Follow Barre Roots on Instagram for studio updates, classes: https://www.instagram.com/barreroots
• Read more about the poet Rumi, whose quote on community opens a beautiful conversation in this episode.
• Explore the work of Ursula K. Le Guin and Kurt Vonnegut, whose reflections on listening and loneliness shape the episode's final discussion.