For this very special season finale, Dani interviews Leah about her latest book, Apocalypse Still. We discuss themes, inspiration, and her writing process. We also get into the myth of the Black superhero, the difficult decisions we make to survive, and how Black folks deserve alternate endings.  Leah Nicole Whitcomb is a community storyteller from Mississippi who writes about Black folks, love, and magic. She co-hosts the Hoodoo Plant Mamas podcast. Her writing has been featured in Sistories, Samjoko Magazine, and the young adult anthology, All the Ways a Heart Burns. A Courage to Write Grant recipient, Leah's work has been supported by The deGroot Foundation, Voices of Our Nation Arts Foundation, The Bereket Writing Community, Women of Color Writers Podcast, and the Women's National Book Association. She is the author of Apocalypse Still. RESOURCES * Apocalypse Still [https://bookshop.org/a/93534/9798989936809] by Leah Nicole Whitcomb * bloom [https://bookshop.org/a/93534/9798869310071] by Leah Nicole Whitcomb * The Black Girl Survives in This One: Horror Stories [https://bookshop.org/a/93534/9781250871657] Ed by Desiree S. Evans and Saraciea J. Fennell * "New Analysis Reveals Many Excess Deaths Attributed to Natural Causes are Actually Uncounted COVID-19 Deaths [https://www.bu.edu/sph/news/articles/2024/new-analysis-reveals-many-excess-deaths-attributed-to-natural-causes-are-actually-uncounted-covid-19-deaths/]" by Jillian McKoy. Boston University School of Health.  * "Black People Hysterically Await Superhuman Abilities During 'Negro Solstice [https://blavity.com/black-people-hysterically-await-superhuman-abilities-during-negro-solstice]'" by Jon Greig. Blavity.  * "A Jamaican Love Story: Lover's Leap in St. Elizabeth [https://thehub.news/a-jamaican-love-story-lovers-leap-in-st-elizabeth/]" by Bailey Huebner. TheHub.News. * Soul Talk: The New Spirituality of African American Women [https://bookshop.org/a/93534/9780892819430]by Akasha Gloria Hull * Genndy Tartakovsky's Primal [https://www.adultswim.com/videos/primal] * When I Was a Slave: Memoirs from the Slave Narration Collection [https://bookshop.org/a/93534/9780486420707] Ed by Norman R. Yetman * The Dead Don't Need Reminding: In Search of Fugitives, Mississippi, and Black TV Nerd Shit [https://bookshop.org/a/93534/9781645030263]by Julian Randall * "SAD FACE [https://substack.com/home/post/p-144155598?source=queue]" by Dani Bee. Home & Other Obsessions. * "Ep 14: Writing the Spirit [https://open.spotify.com/episode/7wMgtcTw8cz3MRxrCYjmaj?si=5f86e7c093054863]" Hoodoo Plant Mamas * "Ep 36: Writing as Conjure Work [https://open.spotify.com/episode/3SmOkJOLUwwLO4jYgUIpGH?si=17d3d07d05814048]" Hoodoo Plant Mamas * "Ep 47: Dreaming a New Dream with Austen Smith [https://open.spotify.com/episode/7cXkRIt1y6iDr29kQyPo3W?si=b94956c39e64455d]" Hoodoo Plant Mamas BOOKSHOP https://bookshop.org/shop/hoodooplantmamas BE A PATRON! https://www.patreon.com/hoodooplantmamas SOCIAL MEDIA Twitter: @hoodooplants Instagram: @hoodooplantmamas DONATE Paypal: paypal.me/hoodooplantmamas Cashapp: cash.me/$hoodooplantmamas This podcast was created, hosted, and produced by Dani & Leah. Our music was created by Ghrey, and our artwork was designed by Bianca.