Beyond the Frontlines: Veterans in the Humanities

Husband-and-wife duo, Kent and Stacey Walker, both hold MFAs in writing and team-teach Veterans Writing Workshops for Missouri Humanities. Kent was a sergeant in the 3rd Infantry Division of the Army and completed two tours in Iraq. His wife, Stacey, is a lecturer at University of Missouri-St. Louis, St. Louis Community College, and Jefferson College.

In this episode, we hear about Kent’s experience as a M240 gunner, the preparation of his unit leading up to the 2003 invasion into Baghdad, and the process of writing about his wartime experience. We learn from Stacey how her family inspired her to write about connection, relationships, and identity. Kent & Stacey reveal their “meet cute” and discuss how writing, storytelling, teaching, and therapy have been influential and healing parts of their relationship. In this conversation we are left with the concept of “living life one page a day.”

Show Notes

Husband-and-wife duo, Kent and Stacey Walker, both hold MFAs in writing and team-teach Veterans Writing Workshops for Missouri Humanities. Kent was a sergeant in the 3rd Infantry Division of the Army and completed two tours in Iraq. His wife, Stacey, is a lecturer at University of Missouri-St. Louis, St. Louis Community College, and Jefferson College.

In this episode, we hear about Kent’s experience as a M240 gunner, the preparation of his unit leading up to the 2003 invasion into Baghdad, and the process of writing about his wartime experience. We learn from Stacey how her family inspired her to write about connection, relationships, and identity. Kent & Stacey reveal their “meet cute” and discuss how writing, storytelling, teaching, and therapy have been influential and healing parts of their relationship. In this conversation we are left with the concept of “living life one page a day.”

In this segment, Kent reads his poem, "Gun Baby" and Stacey reads her poem, "Grace in War." Both poems are published in PTB, Volume 5.

What is Beyond the Frontlines: Veterans in the Humanities?

Drawing on the legacy of Proud to Be, Missouri Humanities is thrilled to release "Beyond the Frontlines: Veterans in the Humanities." Hosted by Missouri Humanities Program Coordinator and Marine Corps Veteran Nick Lopez, this podcast explores veterans’ experiences during their military service and how that service led them to art, poetry, prose and the preservation of history and culture.

Disclaimer: This podcast contains themes of war and violence, and the use of adult language. Discretion is advised. If you are a veteran in crisis please call the Veteran Crisis Line by dialing 988 and pressing 1.

Episodes 1-9: "Proud to Be" highlights veterans, military personnel, and family members published in Proud to Be: Writing by American Warriors. Proud to Be (PTB) is a creative writing anthology that preserves and shares our nation’s military experience through poetry, fiction, essay, interviews, and photography. This season interviews PTB contributors as we discover their military affiliation and the stories behind their PTB contributions.