Life of JEM

JEM reads a piece from her substack on recovery about Hamlet and desire! Listen in and check out her substack! Just search Juanita Mantz on substack!

So excited to share this mini episode from an epic writer! Listen in to Pushcart nominated writer and award winning filmmaker D.R. Garrett read an except from her upcoming auto fiction memoir "I Can Only Give You Everything", about her coming of age in the Northwest punk scene! It's a must listen to!

This is another special mini episode!! JEM reads a lil story from her substack titled "We Are All Young" a story about one of her favorite bands The Replacements! Take a listen and then subscribe to her substack! Be pleased to meet me!! 

This is a special mini episode! Professor, Writer, and extraordinary person and my friend Jo Scott-Coe, reads from her sublime recently published story titled "Daughters for Liberty", appearing in the Flowersong Press anthology "The White Picket Fence: Stories of Individuality as Rebelliousness" (curated & edited by Gina Rae Duran). Listen in. And get the anthology from Flowersong Press!!

This is a special mini episode! Writer Thomas A. Davila reads a short excerpt from his recently published story "A Day in the Life", about a person overcoming his disability to thrive, a story appearing in the Flowersong Press anthology "The White Picket Fence: Stories of Individuality as Rebelliousness" (curated & edited by Gina Rae Duran). Listen in. And get the anthology from Flowersong Press which contains many writers including JEM! 
 

This is such an important touchstone of an episode! JEM interviews her twin sister, Writer Dr. Jacqueline Mantz Rodriguez (aka Jackie), whose epic book "Hey Miss: Unveiling Learning's Promise" (909 Books, 2026) will drop on April 6, 2026 (available for preorder now!). This is the last episode before JEM goes on an extended year hiatus!! In their fascinating conversation, Jackie & JEM talk about teaching as Jackie's life purpose, and about what happened when they met David Sedaris together. Then, they chat about sequencing & about a special troll named Emo who is in one of the stories in Jackie's book, and how empathy and hope led Jackie on a path from chaos to redemption and giving back, and much more!! Jackie reads from her beautiful & inspiring book! Available now for preorder!! Please order! And share!!

JEM is super excited to post this mini episode of Tomas Baiza whose book "Mexican Teeth: Stories and Artifacts from an Errant Chicanidad" won the Inlandia Institute's Eliud Martinez prize!! JEM was the judge and she can tell you that his voice is everything, and it cuts through! It's brilliant, compelling and all voice! Epic!! So listen in for a treat with his reading of the story "Thieves". 

Listen in to this special mini episode by Inland Empire poet Michelle Gonzalez who reads poetry for us from her just rereleased collection "Morning in the House by the Field". As I say in my blurb, "Michelle paints a much needed portrait of what it means to be a Mexican American Inland Empire girl..."  Go get her book and take a listen!!

JEM reads a piece from her recovery substack, a story inspired by X's song "Because I Do"! Check out her substack: https://lifeofjem.substack.com/p/because-i-do?r=7cq4g&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQKNjYyODU2ODM3OQABHudOl0tQuBQ6nVgMKuAHlor4Sq0uq9MP1hS2psT4-E9JukBTGV5nmQX_EUUd_aem_-9aVT6BgBn4XhHOw0Txyqg&triedRedirect=true

JEM interviews David A. Romero, a writer with multiple books of poetry and prose. They talk about his first novel, the epic noir mystery thriller The Enemy Sleeps (El Martillo Press, 2026). Published to critical acclaim, The Enemy Sleeps is must read fiction and David reads from a chapter and he and JEM talk about the novel's genesis and how David used his novel to speak on issues of identity, colonialism, immigration and race. This is a must read novel that will both inspire and entertain you. So check out this beautifully wrought book that both entertains you and makes you think. Listen in to the podcast and get his book. Available everywhere books are sold!!