A Matter of Survival with Katerina Canyon

On this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha speaks with Katerina Canyon, author of the poetry collection, Surviving Home. Katerina is a 2020 and 2019 Pushcart Prize Nominee. Her stories have been published in New York Times and Huffington Post. She also served as the Poet Laureate of Sunland-Tujunga from 2000 - 2003.  She has published multiple chapbooks and an album.

In our conversation, Katerina explains why she doesn't believe she has to be happy, how she was tricked into being committed to a psychiatric ward by her own therapist, and how she's learning to take pride in sharing the truth of her trauma. 

Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions of suicidal ideations, domestic and sexual abuse, extreme poverty and homelessness. Please be gentle with yourself when listening.