Speaking on Love, Dance & Sexism
Featured Guests: Samantha Isales and Emily Rigby
Today is all about about love. Whether it’s platonic, romantic, or some “situationship” in between, love is present in all of our lives and manifests in unique and personal ways. Unfortunately, these manifestations are often hindered by a multitude of barriers, especially sexism. In this episode, Girls Write Now Community Manager Emily Rigby speaks with former mentee and current mentor Samantha Isales about her piece “An Uncommon Love Story.” Fall in love with this beautiful and riveting tale of Harlemites navigating revolutionary love and regressive sexism inspired by Samantha’s experiences of home, bell hooks, and late nights in the club.
Music by mentee alum Jaya Rao-Herel
Samantha Isales Hernandez
Emily Rigby
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Samantha Isales Hernandez
Samantha Isales is a Puerto Rico born; NYC raised first generation college graduate. She is also a certified yoga instructor and a social emotional learning facilitator. Outside of work, Samantha is a mom, resume coach, writer, podcaster, and community organizer. In her free time, she loves traveling, playing volleyball, cooking, and hosting community gatherings
Emily Rigby
Emily Rigby (she/her) comes to Girls Write Now with a love of writing, meaningful experience developing curriculum for nonprofit organizations, and a long-held belief that there is no limit to the ways that people can express their thoughts and ideas. There is nothing that sparks her interest more than a complicated, messy protagonist whose story challenges and questions the status quo - and long-form,YouTube video essays. She holds a BA in Creative Writing and Psychology from Ithaca College and an MFA in Creative Writing from The New School and is excited to share her passion for stories in all forms as a member of the Girls Write Now team.
