In this episode of Bend Don’t Break, host Aaron Switzer sits down with award-winning author and poet Ellen Waterston, the 2024 Oregon Poet Laureate. With four poetry collections and four literary nonfiction titles to her name—including her most recent release, We Could Die Doing This (2024)—Waterston is a force in the literary world. She is also the founder of The Writing Ranch, which has nurtured emerging and established writers since 2000, and the Waterston Desert Writing Prize, now part of the High Desert Museum.
Ellen and Aaron discuss the role of the Poet Laureate, her latest book, and the power of writing and the arts to foster community connections. From her decades of experience advocating for the literary arts to her work with OSU-Cascades’ MFA program, Waterston shares insights on the transformative impact of poetry and why storytelling remains essential in today’s world.
Tune in for an inspiring conversation about the intersection of creativity, place, and community—and why poetry still matters.
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This article appears in Jan 28, 2025 – Jan 28, 2026.
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