Author | Lightnews

Be True, Episode 113: We Hold These Truths

Reposted by John Tessitore

Unite Against Book Bans @uabookbans.bsky.social · Oct 6

Have you heard? Censorship is /so/ 1984.

Take action throughout #BannedBooksWeek and on its conclusion, #LetFreedomReadDay, on Saturday, 10/11. Let's #UniteAgainstBookBans and fight to make censorship a thing of the past—where it belongs! Learn more: uniteagainstbookbans.org/let-freedom-read-day

Banned Books Week. Oct. 5-11, 2025. Censorship is so 1984. Read for your rights. ALA.org/BBooks. ALA American Library Association.

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John Tessitore @jtessitore.bsky.social · Oct 5

In this one, The Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson, the rights we defend…and the eerie echoes of King George III in 21st century America.

youtu.be/yaxCGIA4hts?...

YouTube video by John Tessitore

youtu.be

Reposted by John Tessitore

John Tessitore @jtessitore.bsky.social · Sep 28

Thanks to @rawheadjournal.bsky.social for publishing this one. You can find Be True wherever you find your podcasts or visit linktr.ee/jtessitorewr....

#betrue #poetrypodcast #poetry #johntessitore #scholarship #research #goodandbad #humanism #ihavefriendseverywhere

John Tessitore @jtessitore.bsky.social · Sep 28

Thanks to @rawheadjournal.bsky.social for publishing this one. You can find Be True wherever you find your podcasts or visit linktr.ee/jtessitorewr....

#betrue #poetrypodcast #poetry #johntessitore #scholarship #research #goodandbad #humanism #ihavefriendseverywhere

Reposted by John Tessitore

John Tessitore @jtessitore.bsky.social · Sep 21

You can find Be True wherever you find your podcasts, or visit linktr.ee/jtessitorewr...

#poetry #poetrypodcast #betrue #cavafy #cities #immigrantstories #johntessitore #ihavefriendseverywhere

John Tessitore @jtessitore.bsky.social · Sep 21

You can find Be True wherever you find your podcasts, or visit linktr.ee/jtessitorewr...

#poetry #poetrypodcast #betrue #cavafy #cities #immigrantstories #johntessitore #ihavefriendseverywhere

Reposted by John Tessitore

John Tessitore @jtessitore.bsky.social · Sep 14

In this one I read “Chicago,” a poem by Carl Sandburg. I also discuss the changing fashions of American literature, and the dangers of cynicism, and celebrate the complicated diversity of American cities. linktr.ee/jtessitorewr...

John Tessitore @jtessitore.bsky.social · Sep 14

In this one I read “Chicago,” a poem by Carl Sandburg. I also discuss the changing fashions of American literature, and the dangers of cynicism, and celebrate the complicated diversity of American cities. linktr.ee/jtessitorewr...

John Tessitore @jtessitore.bsky.social · Sep 12

For more visit
linktr.ee/jtessitorewr...

Reposted by John Tessitore

John Tessitore @jtessitore.bsky.social · Sep 7

In this episode of my podcast Be True, I read "There's a certain slant of light," a poem by Emily Dickinson. I also discuss the joy of experiencing poetry rather than explaining poetry, and (bonus!) I do a bad Bob Dylan impression.

linktr.ee/jtessitorewr...

John Tessitore @jtessitore.bsky.social · Sep 7

In this episode of my podcast Be True, I read "There's a certain slant of light," a poem by Emily Dickinson. I also discuss the joy of experiencing poetry rather than explaining poetry, and (bonus!) I do a bad Bob Dylan impression.

linktr.ee/jtessitorewr...

Reposted by John Tessitore

John Tessitore @jtessitore.bsky.social · Aug 31

Be True, Episode 108: Restless Wanderers on the Earth

In this one I read the poem “Thy Brother’s Blood” by Jones Very. I also discuss the poetry of transcendence, voices of outcasts, the tradition of American messiahs, and the future of American weirdness.

linktr.ee/jtessitorewr...

John Tessitore @jtessitore.bsky.social · Aug 31

Be True, Episode 108: Restless Wanderers on the Earth

In this one I read the poem “Thy Brother’s Blood” by Jones Very. I also discuss the poetry of transcendence, voices of outcasts, the tradition of American messiahs, and the future of American weirdness.

linktr.ee/jtessitorewr...

A Quieter Tone in a Louder World

Reposted by John Tessitore

John Tessitore @jtessitore.bsky.social · Aug 27

This is really about some of the things I’ve published in 2025 and why. You know the world’s a mess when my tone is comparatively “quiet.” open.substack.com/pub/johntess...

Some thoughts about Substack chatter, American volume, and a summary of 2025 so far

open.substack.com

A Quieter Tone in a Louder World

John Tessitore @jtessitore.bsky.social · Aug 27

Quick, Americans. Name that document!

1

John Tessitore @jtessitore.bsky.social · Aug 27

This is really about some of the things I’ve published in 2025 and why. You know the world’s a mess when my tone is comparatively “quiet.” open.substack.com/pub/johntess...

Some thoughts about Substack chatter, American volume, and a summary of 2025 so far

open.substack.com

Reposted by John Tessitore

John Tessitore @jtessitore.bsky.social · Aug 24

This episode is important to me. In it, I read Queen Hecuba’s speech of mourning from The Trojan Women, a play by Euripides. I also discuss the fear that drives violence, power’s war on children, and why protest is always too late.

Available on most podcasts or linktr.ee/jtessitorewr....

John Tessitore @jtessitore.bsky.social · Aug 25

Go back to the first week of Trump 1, when Erdogan’s thugs beat protesters in Washington DC and no one said a word.

2

John Tessitore @jtessitore.bsky.social · Aug 24

This episode is important to me. In it, I read Queen Hecuba’s speech of mourning from The Trojan Women, a play by Euripides. I also discuss the fear that drives violence, power’s war on children, and why protest is always too late.

Available on most podcasts or linktr.ee/jtessitorewr....

Reposted by John Tessitore

John Tessitore @jtessitore.bsky.social · Aug 17

In Episode 106 of my podcast Be True, I read my poem "Salvator Mundi,” originally published in The Paradox. I also discuss the challenges of faith and authenticity, the world's most expensive painting, the legacy of Leonardo da Vinci, and the mystery of being human.
linktr.ee/jtessitorewr...

John Tessitore @jtessitore.bsky.social · Aug 17

In Episode 106 of my podcast Be True, I read my poem "Salvator Mundi,” originally published in The Paradox. I also discuss the challenges of faith and authenticity, the world's most expensive painting, the legacy of Leonardo da Vinci, and the mystery of being human.
linktr.ee/jtessitorewr...

Reposted by John Tessitore

John Tessitore @jtessitore.bsky.social · Aug 10

In Episode 105 of Be True, “People Trying to Stay Alive,” I read “Returning, We Hear the Larks,” a poem by Isaac Rosenberg, written during World War I. I also discuss the heroism of immigrants, the challenges of “identity,” and surviving a war zone.

linktr.ee/jtessitorewr...

John Tessitore @jtessitore.bsky.social · Aug 10

In Episode 105 of Be True, “People Trying to Stay Alive,” I read “Returning, We Hear the Larks,” a poem by Isaac Rosenberg, written during World War I. I also discuss the heroism of immigrants, the challenges of “identity,” and surviving a war zone.

linktr.ee/jtessitorewr...