How can writing help you survive during political turmoil and have difficult conversations with your family and friends during this time of social unrest? Listen in to hear Lauren and Caroline talk about bridging the political divide through writing.

In this episode, Lauren is having a special and rather deep conversation with Caroline Rothstein.
Caroline is an internationally acclaimed writer, poet, journalist, and performer, based in New York City. She and Lauren met years ago via Twitter, and ever since this happened, Lauren has been delighted by the way this magnificent artist puts her thoughts into words, making the online space what our host describes as “a bearable place” thanks to the thoughtful input she shares and her storytelling abilities.

Today, you’ll hear Lauren and Caroline talk about the challenges of being an artist in a capitalist world, the psychology of being a writer, Caroline’s activism through the written word, how creativity and art have helped heal her inner child, activism, social justice, and so much more!

Once they dive into politics, Caroline beautifully explains how people can share the same values and still vote for a different person for the same reason we’d vote for the opposite which unleashes a whole new spectrum of understanding and at the same time raises the questions: how can we use our shared values and language to talk to people about politics? and how can we hold space for the reality of the intergenerational language?

Make sure you listen until the end of this magical conversation, follow @schoolforwriters on Instagram, and share your biggest takeaways from the episode! If you want to spread the love even further, consider subscribing, rating, and reviewing!

Things you will learn in this episode:
-How to use writing, reading, and storytelling to engage in difficult conversations.
-How to use our shared values and language to talk to people about politics.
-How to talk to people who disagree with you politically.
-How to create space and permission for art in our lives.
-How to use art and activism to impact the world.

About Caroline Rothstein:

Caroline Rothstein is a New York City-based writer, poet, performer, and educator. Her work has appeared in Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, The Guardian, Narratively, BuzzFeed, NYLON, The Forward, Hey Alma, Radius, and elsewhere. Caroline and her work have been featured widely including in The New Yorker, MTV News, Chicago Tribune, CBS Evening News, BuzzFeed News, HuffPost, Mic, and Newsweek. She tours year-round performing her poetry, speaking, facilitating workshops, and teaching at colleges, universities, schools, summer camps, community organizations, and performance venues worldwide and virtually. She has a B.A. in classical studies from the University of Pennsylvania, and an M.S. from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism.

Connect with Caroline:
Instagram: @carolinerothstein https://www.instagram.com/carolinerothstein/
Twitter: @cerothstein https://twitter.com/cerothstein
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CarolineRothstein
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/CarolineRothsteinTV
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolinerothstein/

If you haven’t listened to episode 11 where we talk about the dark night of the soul and what the hero’s journey can teach us about life during COVID, then go back and check it out!

I want to know who you are and where you’ve been! Come hang out with me in the Writers Squad Facebook group and over on Instagram @laurenmariefleming. I can’t wait to chat with you there!

Resources mentioned in this episode:
Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert
Get my FREE Guide to Journaling Through Difficult Times HERE!

Book recommendation of the week:
All books by Jasmine Guillory!
Royal Holiday
The Wedding Date
The Proposal 
The Wedding Party
Party of Two

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Wondering why we don’t link to Amazon? Check out Episode 2 of the Business School for Writers Podcast to hear all about how supporting independent bookstores helps you see more stories like yours out in the world.