On this episode of the Poetry As Usual podcast, we’re joined by members of the collective known as The Dope Poets: Imani Waweru, Storyteller Gordon, Brittany Barker, and Jerome Heka. For this special episode, they welcome their first-ever guest to the podcast: Brandon Leake. Brandon Leake is the Season 15 winner of America’s Got Talent, a seven-time Telly Award winner, a SOVAS Award winner, and an Emmy Award winner. Together, they discuss the journey of a spoken word poet, from writing a poem and sharing it at open mics to earning opportunities that come only through dedication, perseverance, and hard work. Brandon reflects on what it took to compete on and ultimately win America’s Got Talent, offering insight into the discipline and determination required to succeed at the highest level. The conversation also explores  ...