Sharon Katz on The Anne Leighton Inclusion Interview Show

 

It's a pleasure and honor to work with Sharon Katz, who has worked with a number of folks I love--Pete Seeger, Nelson Mandela, Miriam Makeba.  

Her latest album, "Desert Air" is a collaboration with our friends, The Afrika Mamas. 

Crack the Sky's John Palumbo on The Anne Leighton Inclusion Interview Show

 I enjoyed this interview with Crack the Sky's John Palumbo. I've been a longtime fan of both his and the band's music and am thrilled they're playing ProgStock this October. Visit progstock.com for more information. https://youtu.be/ZiBx-phEQCw?si=BfkpnueCIQKHFFtw

Poet Tom Cintula on the Anne Leighton Inclusion Interview Show

 Poet and New Friend Tom Cintula on the Anne Leighton Inclusion Interview Show. We're both reading with Noel A. Figueroa's Poets With Purpose this Saturday for the NYC Poetry Society on the Blackbird stage at noon at Governors Island! https://youtu.be/Iq-ig-_RX8U?si=um968jcPWwNsADfg via @YouTube

Rachael Sage on the Anne Leighton Inclusion Interview Show

 We're celebrating the release of "Nexus" from Rachael's upcoming album, "Under My Canopy." This interview talks about what keeps this songwriter/business woman/artist/mensch going. P.S. Congrats to her wonderful record label MPress, which is about to celebrate its 30th Anniversary. 

thank you, Haikuniverse

 

It's here! It's here!  haiku by Anne Leighton – haikuniverse

Congressional Candidate & Edgar Poe Reader on the Anne Leighton Inclusion Interview Show

 I enjoyed this new interview with Congressional Candidate Jose Vega, who is running for the 15th District here in the Bronx in both the Independent and Democratic primary races. We talk about peace, deportation, music, and Edgar Poe, and his Intervention advice with party leaders that don't pay attention to their constituents. #Civics https://youtu.be/WCSLxFzjmGc?si=4wF1kRJ9zGz3WMuK If you have any concerns about comments made in our interview, please express them in the comments under the video, and cite sources. Thanks.

Ghetto Blaster

 

I don’t see it  

much in the Bronx

a kid wearing

a Celtic Frost

T-shirt walks by

looking like he’s

in Celtic Frost

 

-May 2026

Veteran

(To Peppy)

I wanted to thank him for his understanding

And I got to again and again

‘Cause he was a man of wisdom,

“I know you want to heal that rift

to go out to give your ex a lift."

 

His instruction rooted in experience

one that’s been forgotten and remembered

by the unreasonably offended

sometimes by souls with sweet intentions

in hopes they find connection.

 

His soul-to me- full of good intentions,

Every moment filled with inspiration

Always he saw our potential as good

not that there’s anything wrong with that

….except when we miss those we didn’t get to thank.

-May 2026

Eye Doc

oversized pupils

baby cataracts left eye

grade school ones in the right

-May 4, 2026

Poet and Singer-Songwriter Cornelius Eady on The Anne Leighton Inclusion Interview Show

 

 It was a pleasure interviewing my friend and fellow poet/songwriter Cornelius Eady. He wrote and read "Proof" for the Inauguration of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.  "Proof" is his upcoming chapbook, which will be out this September on Tupelo Press.

Author, Poet, Businessman Bill Pezzimenti on the Anne Leighton Inclusion Interview Show

 It's a pleasure to interview my longtime friend Bill Pezzimenti, who wrote the book "Facing the Monkey's Grin," a delightful and easy read about crazymakers in the work world. Bill's also a working poet and talented salesperson. https://youtu.be/abAWDZ1KBtc?si=qtif8T6ETkJX2IBm via @YouTube

Gaelynn Lea on the Anne Leighton Inclusion Interview Show

 My interview with singer-songwriter-violinist-public speaker-- and now author Gaelynn Lea is live on YouTube. She's on tour in support of her book, “It wasn’t meant to be Perfect." I'll be hearing her live at Joe's Pub Saturday. https://youtube.com/watch?v=HOPsy8M2r4o&si=sL_UXJwQWOFtN-3h

Poets with Purpose's Noel Figueroa on the Anne Leighton Inclusion Interview Show

 

Noel Figueroa loves poetry and poets, and he created a group "Poets with Purpose." He's curating the Blackbird Stage happening the New York City Poetry Festival on July 18 at Governor's Island. We also talk about his poetry book, "One Man's Journey" in this interview.

Johanna Hall on the Anne Leighton Inclusion Interview Show

 Rich interview with Orleans and Janis Joplin co-writer Johanna Hall. She is a multi-faceted writer, contributing to classic music magazines Crawdaddy and the Village Voice, plus independent outlets in her homebase of Woodstock, NY.  I think this is one of my all-time favorite interviews. Full disclosure--I've worked with Orleans and her ex-John Hall a lot through the years. 

April 16 The Kindness Session Returns to Poe Cottage

 

The Bronx County Historical Society is presenting "The Kindness Session," a free poetry workshop on recognizing the difference between kindness and cruelty to channel that in our writing on Thursday, April 16 at 6 PM till approximately 7:45. The Poetry Workshop takes place at Poe Cottage, 2640 Grand Concourse, in the Bronx. Subways near the Visitors Center are the 4, B, and D train at the Kingsbridge stop. Buses to the Center are Bx9, Bx22, Bx28, Bx38, and BxM4 (Express bus). The Poe Visitors Center is up the Hill from the Fordham Metro North train stop. 

Led by area poet Anne Leighton, the Kindness Session will include sharing works from classic and contemporary writers including Edgar Allan Poe, Naomi Shihab Nye, the Bronx’s Peppy Castro, Charlie Iris, Mary Oliver, John Masefield, Emily Dickinson, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, as well as selected poems from attendees.

 

Once the attendees discuss poems, they’ll be encouraged to think of incidents where they recognize kindness from life experiences, friends and acquaintances, and how it affected their lives. From there, writers will be encouraged to create a first draft of poetry. Writers will read their poems, and be encouraged to revise the poem in the days, weeks, or months to come.  

 

Anne Leighton appears on the Grammy-nominated album, “Healthy Food for Thought: Good Enough to Eat,” (Audio & Video Labs) reading her poem “Feed Your Parents Well.” She’s contributed to The Indie Collaborative, The Literary Parrot, and Elephant Journal. Her poetry book “The Leighton Explosion” made enough of a profit to use her earnings to record an original song, “Got My Eye on You, Santa,” which found her a publishing deal with Sheer Music South Africa/Downtown Music, USA. Anne's performed in the Bronx at ART in the Basin, Johnny Zs, and throughout New York State including NYC's Nuyorican Poets Cafe and Peter Max's Studio. Visit workinggalrockandroll.blogspot.com.

 

For more information, please reach out to Anne at LeightonMedia@aol.com. 

BCHS Home bronxhistoricalsociety.org

 

workinggalrockandroll.blogspot.com/2024/10/bronx-historical-society-presents.html

The Levins on the Anne Leighton Inclusion Interview Show

 It was a pleasure to interview my friends Ira Scott Levin and Julia Bordenaro for my Inclusion Interview Show. Ira and Julia are The Levins who specialize in harmony and making the world a better place. I've attended some of their performances and "Checking Inward" online events. Join us. https://youtu.be/k7J4rshkw8s?si=uagRpPg0FqbnuoWN

Michael Harrison on the Anne Leighton Inclusion Interview Show

  I'm psyched to interview Michael Harrison on my Inclusion Interview Show. I've been a fan of his since the early 1980s, and his career predates that. In addition to being a spectacular spoken word artist with Gunhill Road, he's innovated both album and talk radio.

Drummer/Author Rob Mitzner on the Anne Leighton Inclusion Interview Show

 

I love the joy and sense of humor Rob combines with a lucid sense of ethnomusicology to his work. (I've had him work on some of my still-unreleased poetry projects, too) He's translated these talents into two books on professional gigging for drummers.  His latest book is "Drummer A-Z: MORE Stuff You Can Use." I had the pleasure of interviewing him.

Jane Getter on the Anne Leighton Inclusion Interview Show

 

Jane Getter, leader of The Jane Getter Premonition on the Anne Leighton Inclusion Interview Show. She loves how inclusive the Prog Community is to people. There are music lessons in this interview, about song ideas, listening, determination, sending the elevator down. Full disclosure: Jane and my artist Joe Deninzon & Stratospheerius are sharing the bill at The Iridium on March 1.

Dayna Steele on the Anne Leighton Inclusion Interview Show

 https://youtu.be/hBv_53NAygk?si=-1KhOOyvDnOP0aGn

Radio Hall of Famer Dayna Steele has been on my wish list for interviews since I discovered her daily column "Today's Facts," which tells the truth in easy-to-read sentences on what's happening in the world, humanity, and politics. I met her when she connected her friend, astronaut Cady Coleman with Jethro Tull's Ian Anderson for a flute duet of "Bouree" from space. Dayna's written books, run for Congress, acted, and is a major superstar radio host in Houston.

The Cynz' Cyndi Dawson on the Anne Leighton Inclusion Interview Show

 Cyndi Dawson and I talk about music, animals (dog and cats), TV, winter, friendship, discipline, Hoboken in the latest Anne Leighton Inclusion Interview Show.

Dr. Susan Whittred on the Anne Leighton Inclusion Interview Show

Dr. Susan Whittred on the Anne Leighton Inclusion Interview Show https://youtu.be/3usaLULqbNQ?si=8yCMNaLFSijcosk1 via YouTube We talk about senior citizens adopting senior cats, why declawing is bad, Dr. Whittred's work pre-veterinarian days with Rory Gallagher, Jethro Tull, and favorite TV shows! Last century, both of us worked for Imago Records, and earlier than that she worked at Chrysalis Records. #ThePawProject #PatriciaLadewFoundation

Big Big Train's Clare Lindley on The Anne Leighton Inclusion Interview Show

Big Big Train's violinist/multi-instrumentalist/co-writer/occasional singer Clare Lindley on The Anne Leighton Inclusion Interview Show. Their album "Woodcut" is due March 6 on InsideOut https://youtu.be/3AR0xz1r3V0?si=x9HPLYZYttn8QOlh via @YouTube