On this episode we’re thrilled to talk with Nastashia Minto who is candid and loving about her family, her losses, her inherited trauma. Nastashia has experienced multiple family deaths, including her mom and grandma who raised her. She talks about how grief has affected her emotionally, physically, and spiritually, how grief has showed up as anger. She has these tender words to her younger self: “You have a neuro spicy brain. . . . You are deeply loved.” Nastashia Minto, uses all pronouns, is the author of Naked: The Rhythm and Groove of It. The Depth and Length to It. An African American born in South Georgia and raised there by her grandparents. Her life experiences led them to obtain an associate degree in occupational therapy, and a bachelor’s degree in psychology. Nastashia, an eccentric, spiritual dream tender, has been writing since she was nine years old and has found that her writing offers her a way to not only help herself, but others as well. Nastashia is a 2021 recipient of the Tanne Foundation Award. She has performed and worked with middle and high school teachers and students throughout Portland and Gresham. Her work has appeared in Nailed, Gobshite Quarterly, Portland Metrozine, SUSAN The Journal, the Unchaste Anthology, Survivorlit and Heron Clan 8. She is featured on podcast such as feminist book club, Literary speaking, and Beyond Well with Shelia Hamilton. She is a popular featured reader in Portland and Seattle reading series readings including Powell’s bookstore and Seattle Folklife.
You can find out more about Nastashia here:
More of her performances are posted on her YouTube and TicTok page.
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCu23TdrzKZwMrVrxlbaQ0Pg?view_as=subscriber
Book: https://eldredgebooks.com/naked/
Thank you for letting us be in your ears.
Grief and Gratitude is a created by Anne Gudger and Maria Gibson, a mom/daughter duo who talk about grief.
You can find them on Facebook at Coffee and Grief. Please join their private Facebook page: Coffee and Grief Community. You can also email them at: coffeeandgrief@gmail.com
Anne’s memoir, THE FIFTH CHAMBER, a memoir of loss and love, is forthcoming September 2023.
It’s available for pre-order at your local bookstore or
