Meet Casey Gates Frey and Jazmine Aluma | Writer & Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Casey Gates Frey and Jazmine Aluma of First Words Podcast and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Casey and Jazmine, as parents, what have you done for you children that you feel has had the most significant impact?
.CGF: Practicing presence of mind when I’m interacting with my children. When I transitioned to motherhood I was coming from a long stretch of working in the corporate world and was used to having 15 tabs open on my computer at once. Which made me feel like I always had 15 tabs open in my brain as well. When my first daughter was born I had to really practice surrendering to the “slower” pace. Sitting and nursing for hours a day, talking to my newborn about the small details of her children’s book, sitting and waiting for my nine month old to “eat a meal” (AKA smush their food around a tray) without being on my phone or distracted by some other activity.

I believe this practice of showing up to the moment is the greatest gift I could give my kids. Of course it’s not always possible, but to let go of the urge to always be multitasking and just sit in the present with them creates strong connection, deep feelings of love, and models the skill of focus for their little brains to develop in the most efficient way possible.

JA: Fostering sibling team spirit. My husband and I have taught our two kids (ages 8 and 5) that they are a team and that bond should never be broken. They each watch us parent from a unique perspective. Our oldest kid will sometimes jump in and try to support our parenting by echoing reprimands of our youngest. Classic eldest child! I am an eldest child too, so I totally get it. Our youngest is still learning about what’s right and wrong, so she also tries out her authoritative voice in this way. But we cut this kind of thing right off and remind them that they are a team. Someday decades from now, my husband and I will be gone. But they will still have each other.

As a result, we’ve watched a friendship grow between them that is stronger than anything I’ve ever seen. They have each other’s back and advocate for each other in a way that is astonishing. This isn’t to say they don’t bicker. They do. But they spend a lot more time connecting as best friends. I truly feel like the greatest gift I have given them is each other.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
.CGF: Our podcast First Words came about because my cohost Jazmine and I wanted this show to exist and we hadn’t seen anything like it yet. As parents and writers ourselves we want to know how other parent/writers live their life between creativity, career, and kids. I’ve always been a creator and I’ve learned over the years that in addition to making my own art, I’m just as excited about lifting up the voices of other artists I believe in. First Words was a perfect platform to showcase other creatives and give voice to the tension of raising littles while trying to keep up with your own inner child.

JA: Motherhood has impacted both of us in terms of the content, form, and style of the writing we do. Still, as writers we both believe strongly in the benefits of community. Finding community is what got us both through the rough early months of motherhood and we’ve found that writing is no different. Writers need each other, especially writers who are trying to juggle family, home, and nourishing their artistic careers. So we created the kind of artistic parent-writer community we wanted to see.

I believe in the power of storytelling. And podcasting is a beautiful way to share stories and foster the community that we long for. When artists share their stories it normalizes so many aspects of life that we have been taught to ignore or feel shame about—specifically, depression, isolation, or artistic blocks or setbacks. “Community over competition” is a phrase I hear a lot lately because I think that folks are starting to recognize that a scarcity mindset helps no one. Being part of a community of writers and artists means sharing resources and acting as a source of cheerleading or support. But it also removes the veil hiding our common struggles. Seeing that we aren’t alone, making the invisible visible, connects us in a powerful way.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
.CGF: One of my favorite spots for entertainment is seeing live comedy at Dynasty Typewriter. Other favorite activities include hikes in Griffith Park and walks through Descanso Gardens. If possible, The Magic Castle is another absolute favorite place to take people for the first time. Some favorite spots to eat would be Little Dom’s in Los Feliz, the KimBob Rex sushi burrito truck, and Girl & The Goat.

JA: I used to live in the Old Bank District in Downtown LA. A little piece of my heart still lives there. And while Downtown has changed a lot, I really love showing off the part of it that still sparkles for me. I’d probably sign us up for a Broadway Historic Theatre and Commercial District Walking Tour. The theatres in Downtown LA are spectacular! If our feets don’t have blisters yet, I’d take them over to the Bradbury Building then hop across the street to eat at Grand Central Market. Then afterwards, we’d spend the afternoon browsing books at The Last Bookstore. My favorite thing is taking people upstairs and watching their faces as they see the book art hidden up there for the first time.

https://www.laconservancy.org/events/broadway-historic-theatre-and-commercial-district-walking-tour

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
.CGF: I want to shoutout London A’lexus, a talented singer and artist, and who also happens to be our nanny. She is a bright energy that enriches our home and brings joy and love to our children. Her support enables me to continue being creative and I believe in her as an artist who brings that bright light with her wherever she goes. https://open.spotify.com/artist/2tLWbxTdFjVymLNzharR6n

JA: I’d like to dedicate our shoutout to Celia da Poet. Celia hosts a monthly open mic night at Barclays Coffee & Tea in Northridge. The events are always a diverse gathering of artists varying in age and experience. Beyond their nac for bringing talented poets and artists together, Celia is one of the most warm and sincere people you will ever meet. A phenomenal poet themselves, Celia has the kind of warm smile and energy that will make you feel right at home. You can catch the Open Mic Night every first Friday of the month.
More info here: https://www.instagram.com/celia_dapoet/

Website: www.firstwordspodcast.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/firstwords.podcast