Episode Ten: Poets for Palestine

I speak with three writers and activists from Massachusetts. Carolyn Cushing, the former poet-laureate of Easthampton, Rachel Teferet, young adult fiction writer, and Carolyn Zaikowksi, current poet-laureate of East Hampton. These three friends and neighbors continue to work passionately on behalf of the Palestinian people amidst the genocide that continues. Carolyn, Rachel, and Carolyn share their motivations, strategies, and the vital importance of community in the context of activism. 

THE WHIMSY FARM PODCAST September 1, 2025 

SHOW NOTES FROM CAROLYN CUSHING, RACHEL TEFERET, AND CAROLYN ZAIKOWSKI

Links to Speakers

Carolyn Zaikowski

• Substack: http://carolynzzz.substack.com
• Website: http://www.carolynzaikowski.com 
• Instagram: http://instagram.com/carolynzaikowski/ 

Carolyn Cushing

• Website: https://soulpathsanctuary.com/ 
• Substack: https://soulpathsanctuary.substack.com 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carolyn_cushing/ 

Rachel Teferet

• Instagram + activism: http://instagram.com/rachelteferet/
• Creative writing blog: http://lettersandfeathers.wordpress.com 

Calls to action

Fundraising/Mutual Aid:

• Donate to Sameer Project: https://opencollective.com/the-sameer-project
• MECA’s (Middle Eastern Children’s Alliance) emergency campaign for Gaza: https://secure.everyaction.com/b00t33wD-EOVJ1cNTyHixg2
• PCRF’s (Palestine Children's Relief Fund) emergency campaign for Gaza: ​​https://pcrf1.app.neoncrm.com/forms/gaza-recovery?_gl=1*rf6ycr*_gcl_au*MTA0NjgyNTgzMC4xNzU1NTI2MjA2*_ga*MTkwMDA4NTkyOS4xNzU1NTI2MjA2*_ga_1DBT989QE4*czE3NTU1MjYyMDYkbzEkZzAkdDE3NTU1MjYyMDYkajYwJGwwJGgw
• The Sumud School through Friends of the Sumud School on Insta and FB https://www.instagram.com/friendsofsumudschool/?hl=en

Rachel also mentioned one of their fave mutual aid projects on the podcast: 

Jamal Abu Al-Ata, General Director of the" FOOD NOT BOMBS" project in Gaza, who does incredible work. Learn more about him at https://www.instagram.com/jamal_fromgaza/ and please contribute to his Go Fund Me: https://www.gofundme.com/f/jamalfromgaza 

For more extensive show notes, visit Carolyn Crane and Whimsy Farm on YouTube and see Episode Ten.