Episode 148

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Published on:

4th Jan 2026

Jewel Rodgers S3E148

Nebraska State Poet, Jewel Rodgers, talks about how her poems arrive, and how they land; the possibilities of writing and performing to make sense of herself and for community, and what it takes to step fully into an artistic life when your creativity and work become public and the stakes feel real.

Jewel Rodgers is the 2025–2029 Nebraska State Poet, a 2025 Academy of American Poets Fellow, and a nationally touring interdisciplinary performer who blends poetry, storytelling, and placemaking. A three-time TEDx speaker and Omaha Entertainment & Arts Award–nominated performance poet, she’s shared her work from major arts stages to civic gatherings and moments of social witness. Beyond performance, Rodgers also reshapes neighborhoods through PlaceMade, the resident-led initiative she founded to transform blighted lots into community spaces.

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Lives Radio Show & Podcast with Stuart Chittenden
Every Sunday at 9am on KIOS 91.5FM, Omaha's NPR affiliate, Season Three of Lives will tackle the big questions: What is a good life? Why are we here? How might we feel more connected? These and other big questions about how we live will be explored each week. Through intimate conversations, fascinating guests will share their spiritual, philosophical, artistic, and cultural approaches to exploring the wonders of our human experience. Join me as we delve into the practical and profound possibilities of living well.

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stuart chittenden

I'm Stuart Chittenden—an existential coach, Certified Humanist Professional, and the creator and host of Lives Radio Show & Podcast. My work centers on helping people explore who they are, what matters most, and how to live well in a world that often rushes past those questions.

Throughout my journey—from law in London to brand strategy and community dialogue in the American Midwest—I’ve always been drawn to what lies beneath: the quiet, often unspoken work of making meaning. Lives is one of the most enduring expressions of that calling. For over eight years, I’ve invited guests from all walks of life into deep, human conversations about identity, purpose, and how we shape—and are shaped by—our stories.

Whether through coaching, workshops, or the microphone, I create space for reflection, connection, and the rich conversations that help us live more fully.