Episode 155: Emerging Form Guests Share Their Words for 2026

About this episode

In this episode, Emerging Form guests share their chosen words for the year 2026, reflecting on themes of creativity and expression.

After our end of the year episode , in which we talked about the words we had chosen as our theme for the year, we asked a bunch of Emerging Form guests to tell us their word. We were overwhemed by the response! We had so many great submissions that we decided to make them into a stand alone episode. Here are the contributors, in order of appearance. Andrea BarrettBonnie TsuiMaria KelsonAlison LutermanAlex HutchinsonAdam BeckerBil LeppChris DuffyDavid BaronDavid EpsteinDiana HillKristin Pedemonti Lisa GardinierMichael Kleber DiggsSherry Richert BelulStarre VartanTodd Mitchell Kyra Kopestonsky with us at KOTO radio recording the theme music for Emerging Form. We’re so grateful that we will continue to have a little piece of her on every show. Lit by Rosemerry for Kyra Tonight when I light the candle and say your name, I notice how you have lit me— with your words, your voice, the way you clap your hands at the smallest of joys. Because you’ve given me light you’ve gathered from the darkest of places, I will never be the same. Again and again, you have lit me as if my life is beeswax and love is the wick and your courageous life is flame. This is a public episode. If you'd like to…

People in this episode

Host: Christie Aschwanden

Guests: Andrea Barrett, Bonnie Tsui, Maria Kelson, Alison Luterman, Alex Hutchinson, Adam Becker, Bil Lepp, Chris Duffy, David Baron, David Epstein, Diana Hill, Kristin Pedemonti, Lisa Gardinier, Michael Kleber Diggs, Sherry Richert Belul, Starre Vartan, Todd Mitchell, Kyra Kopestonsky

Topics covered

• words for the year
• guest contributions
• creative expression
• literary themes
• community engagement

Keywords

• words for the year
• Emerging Form
• guest contributions
• literary themes
• creative expression
• community engagement

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: KOTO radio

Books & works: Emerging Form, Lit by Rosemerry

More episodes of Emerging Form

• Episode 166: Kelli Russell Agodon on Play in Poetry · June 4, 2026 · 32 min
• Episode 165: Ramona Ausubel Will Get You Unstuck · May 21, 2026 · 31 min
• Episode 164: Christie and Rosemerry Interview One Another · May 7, 2026 · 31 min
• Episode 163 James Crews on the Radical Act of Rest · April 23, 2026 · 31 min
• Episode 162: Dimity McDowell on Creative Identities · April 9, 2026 · 30 min
• Episode 161- Mason Currey on Making Art and Making a Living · March 26, 2026 · 31 min