J. Ivy

This week, we welcome J. Ivy to the show.

Born and raised in Chicago, J. Ivy is an award winning poet, recording artist, songwriter, actor and author who's collaborated with hip-hop icons like Kanye West and Jay Z.

With Tyler, J. talks about growing up in Chicago and dealing with generational trauma, as well as the struggles associated with his parents' divorce. He also brings to life the people that saw and nurtured his talents, about the process of forgiving his father and about the realization that those who raise us aren't the perfect "superheroes" we make them out to be.

As we end this crazy year, J. Ivy's story reminds us of the beautifully messy ways we make our families - and the ways they end up making us.

Watch J. Ivy's "Dear Father" performance: bit.ly/2KGacir

About the Guest
J. Ivy is a poet, musician, actor, and speaker. He received a Peabody Award for his performance on Russell Simmons’s Def Poetry, and a Grammy Award for his contribution with Jay-Z on Kanye West’s The College Dropout album. J. has also collaborated with John Legend, RZA, The Last Poets, The Roots, Common, Mos Def, The Black Crowes, Bob Dylan, and more. He is also the founder of his Write to Live Academy and the Dear Father Initiative, encouraging young people to explore arts careers.

Find Us Online

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The Team

This podcast is a production of The Story Producer.
Executive Producer & Host: Tyler Greene
Senior Producer: Tricia Bobeda
Editor & Engineer: Adam Yoffe
Associate Producer: Jackie Ball
Community Manager: Anika Exum
Art Director: Ziwu Zhou
Composer: Andrew Edwards

About Us

"This Is My Family" is a new podcast about building a life with the people we love.
As a gay dad in an interracial marriage, host Tyler Greene’s life is a testament to the fact that there are many ways to define family today. Each week, his conversations with guests reveal funny and heartfelt stories about how you can make a family, and how your family makes you.
Join us as we celebrate the beautifully messy connections that shape our lives.