Episode 001: Al DeGenova and Gwendolyn Brooks
The inaugural episode of Poetry Spoken Here features an interview/reading with Albert DeGenova, founding co-editor of After Hours: a journal of Chicago writing and art. The second part of the show looks at the impact of how poems are read on their meaning, with comments by Gwendolyn Brooks on her poem "The Pool Players. Seven at the Golden Shovel." popularly known as "We Real Cool."
Episode 002: Alice D'Alessio, Ted Kooser, and James Laughlin
This week, we feature an interview with Madison, Wisconsin poet, Alice D’Alessio who reads poems about her father, the creative educator who festooned her childhood home with questions to prompt curiosity and learning. She also shares work about her relationship with Henry David Thoreau, her love of nature, and her brief stint in Manhattan. In the second part of the show, Charlie examines the use of extreme imagery in poetry with examples from former poet laureate Ted Kooser, and the late, great James Laughlin.
Episode 003: Patrick Reninger and Lawrence Ferlinghetti
Patrick Reninger, accomplished poet and musician is featured. He reads selected poems from the last decade of his writing as well as older work. Whatever the subject of the poem, his mother's passing, his refusal to get direct deposit services, or his first experience watching HDTV, it is infused with his wit, and love of the absurd. In the second half of the show, Lawrence Ferlinghetti's new book, Blasts, Cries, Laughter is reviewed.
Episode 003.5: The Music of Patrick Reninger
Since Patrick is an accomplished musician as well as a skilled poet, we asked him to stay after his interview and record a few songs. The resulting four recordings are featured on this special edition of Poetry Spoken Here. Included are renditions of the classic songs Summertime and Wayfaring Stranger as well as two improvisations based on country and blues styles.
Episode 004: Antler Remembers Jeff Poniewaz, Gary Snyder's New Book Reviewed
Then-Wilwaukee poet laureate, Jeff Poniewaz, passed away in December 2014 after a long battle with cancer. In January 2015, his long-time partner and former poet laureate of Milwaukee Antler remembered him, reading a selection of his poems at the annual poetry marathon held at Woodland Pattern in Milwaukee. In the second part of the show, host Charlie Rossiter reviews Gary Snyder's new book This Present Moment.
Episode 005: Jude Genereaux, She Walks in Beauty Examined
Wisconsin poet, Jude Genereaux, reading poems about family, nature, and her late partner, the writer, Norb Blei. The second part of the show investigates the poem, She Walks in Beauty with perspective and analysis from professor Geri Chavis. Special thanks to Paul Geiger for providing an exclusive performance of the famous Lord Byron poem for this podcast.
Episode 006: Dan Wilcox, Gregorio Gomez on Bi-Lingual Poetry
Albany poet and activist Dan Wilcox is featured. He reads poems ranging in subject matter from a coyote who contemplates the many lovers of bored housewives, to a vivid description of the cast of characters at an open mic. In the second part of the show, Chicago Poet, Gregorio Gomez, discusses the impact of being bi-lingual on his writing, and his experience of poetry.
Episode 007: Gregorio Gomez, Dan Wilcox's Record Photo Collection
Gregorio Gomez runs one of the most notorious open mics in the country at Weeds, a bar in Chicago. Gomez has been a fixture in the Chicago poetry scene for many years. He shares with us stories of how he came to be the emcee at Weeds, and why he signs his e-mails "The Ghost Who Walks." In the second part of the show, we talk to Albany poet (and last week's feature) Dan Wilcox about his collection of photos of unknown poets, the largest in the world.
Episode 008: Sharon Auberle, Michael Czarnecki's 48 State Poetry Tour
Poet-photographer, Sharon Auberle, of Door County, WI is featured. Sharon has published several books of poetry, and her photography has graced the pages of her own work as well as that of other poets. For nine years she has authored the website, Mimi’s Golightly Café, which can be found at: sharonauberle.blogspot.com. In the second part of the show, we talk with poet-publisher Michael Czarnecki of upstate New York about his 14-week, 48-state reading tour.
Episode 009: Poetry Therapy [SPECIAL EPISODE]
A special themed episode of Poetry Spoken Here examining the theory and practice of Poetry Therapy. We talk to Lynn Kapitan, recent past-president of the American Art Therapy Association, Nick Mazza, founding and current editor of the Journal of Poetry Therapy, and Beth Jacobs, a psychotherapist who uses poetry and expressive writing in her practice.
Episode 010: Emily Calvo and Anja Notanja Sieger
Poet and artist Emily Calvo discusses her new book, Lending Color to the Otherwise Absurd and her recent battle with cancer. While in the hospital, she blogged her experience daily at emilyshead.wordpress.com. In the second part of the show, we talk to performance writer Anja Notanja Sieger who creates spontaneous written pieces for any occasion. We talk to her about her wide-ranging projects.
Episode 011: The Poetry of Family and Home [SPECIAL EPISODE] (Homer, Gillan & Schmidtkunz)_
A special holiday episode of Poetry Spoken Here examining poetry's long relationship with the themes of family and home. The show opens with a reflection on how those themes are used in Homer's Odyssey, the second oldest work in the western cannon. Next, a conversation with Italian-American poet Maria Maziotti Gillan about her work reflecting on her upbringing in an immigrant family. In the final part of the show, we talk to Bill Schmidtkunz of Sutton, Alaska whose personal search for home lead him ever north.
Episode 012: Andy Karol and Poetry App SlamFind
Andy Karol is a Chicago performance poet whose work has been called “raw, visceral, sensual, and rich in imagery.” She muses about her creative process, the anxieties of parenting, and discusses what inspires her. Learn more about Andy and see videos of her performing on her website: www.andykarol.com/
In the second part of the show, we talk with NYC’s Mason Granger. When he is not performing as one third of the Mayhem Poets, he is busy building a poetry app, SlamFind, designed to help poetic travelers locate slam venues and poets across North America. Learn more about SlamFind and sign up yourself or your event at: www.slamfind.com/.
Episode 013: Jacqueline Harris and Maria Mazziotti Gillan's Writing Book
Chicago performance poet, Jacqueline Nicole Harris discusses her inspirations, and reads examples of her passionate work. In the second part of the show, Maria Mazziotti Gillan talks about her book, "Writing Poetry to Save Your Life: How to Find the Courage to Tell Your Stories" full of advice and wisdom to help writers unlock their creative potential. We also offer a quick remembrance of Frank Sinatra's album of tone poems originally released in 1956
Episode 014: Poetry and Music [SPECIAL MUSIC] (Sandburg, Yeats, Ginsberg)
This special episode features historic recordings by Carl Sandburg, William Butler Yeats and Allen Ginsberg as well as interviews with singer-songwriter Brian Laidlaw and composer Ellie Rourke who discuss their experiences merging poetry and music in their own work.
Episode 015: John Sierpinski and Freesia McKee
Wisconsin poet, John Sierpinski reflects on his personal poetic journey and how he has been influenced by beat poets. Freesia McKee discusses her experience bringing poetry into prisons
Episode 016: Randy Brooks, (Haiku Master) and Robert Hass
Haiku master Randy Brooks featured, and former poet laureate, Robert Hass' book, The Essential Haiku reviewed.
Episode 017: Kristin LaTour and The Performance Poetry Preservation Project
Kristin LaTour reads from her new book "What Will Keep Us Alive" and talks about what inspires her to write. Wess Mongo Jolley discusses the Performance Poetry Preservation Project, an initiative dedicated to creating an online archive of recordings documenting the history of the poetry slam movement.
Episode 018: Bunkong Tuon and I Just Hope It's Lethal Review
Bunkong Tuon reads poems from his new book Gruel and talks about how the poetry of Charles Bukowski helped turn a community college drop-out from Cambodia into a professor of English. In the second part of the show, I Just Hope It’s Lethal, an anthology of poems about depression, is reviewed
Episode 019: Lori Desrosiers and Split this Rock
Massachusetts poet Lori Desrosiers reads from her new book, Sometimes I Hear the Clock Speak. Sarah Browning, Executive Director of Split This Rock talks about the D.C. organization and a festival that focuses on poetry that bears witness and provokes social change. Special music provided by Chicago-based harpist Yomi.
Episode 020: Anguish of the Earth: The Poetry of WWI Pt. 1 [SPECIAL SERIES PT. 1]
Producer Jack Rossiter-Munley talks with Sam Gayck about the the social, political, and cultural impact of WWI. The state of poetry and literature before and after the war, and the differing impact of the war in the various countries involved is also discussed.
Episode 021: Karen Holmes and Allen Ginsberg's Politics
Karen Holmes of Atlanta, GA, reads from her book of divorce and relationship poems, Untying the Knot. Eliot Katz's The Poetry and Politics of Allen Ginsberg is reviewed. Katz's book is the first in-depth critical analysis of politics in Ginsberg's work.
Episode 022: Mong-Lan and Smashwords
Mong-Lan, a poet, writer, multi-instrumentalist, dancer, and visual artist is featured. She was born in Saigon and left with her family in 1975. She has published many works of poetry and continually explores new realms of creative expression. On the podcast, she reads poems from her latest collection and discusses her many sources of creative inspiration. In the second part of the show, host Charlie Rossiter discusses smashwords.com a website that facilitates free self publishing.
Episode 023: Ladan Osman and The Book Thing
Somali-American poet, Ladan Osman is featured. She reads her poetry and discusses how she used Wordle to edit her book. In the second part of the show, The Book Thing, a free book warehouse in Baltimore, Maryland going through a hard time is highlighted.
Episode 024: Dulce et Decorum Est: The Poetry of WWI Pt. 2 [SPECIAL SERIES PT. 2]
Part two of Producer Jack Rossiter-Munley's interview with Sam Grayck about the poetry and poets of WWI. In this part of the interview they discuss specific poets and their poems. Siegfried Sassoon, Wilfred Owen, and Edmund Blunden are discussed among others. Poems analyzed include "Anthem for Doomed Youth", "Dulce et Decorum Est", "The Redeemer" and more.
Episode 025: Michael Czarnecki and Amazon Smile
Michael Czarnecki, poet and founding publisher of FootHills Publishing, is interviewed. He reads from his work and discusses his influences including Frost, Jeffers, Snyder and a variety of ancient Chinese poets. Host, Charlie Rossiter, explains how to support the non-profit of your choice when you shop online.
Episode 026: Amy King and Kirk Robertson
New York poet Amy King, winner of the 2015 Women’s National Book Association Award Winner, reads from "The Missing Museum." Host Charlie Rossiter introduces the work of Nevada poet, Kirk Robertson.
Episode 027: Melissa Studdard and Maya Angelou
Texas poet Melissa Studdard is featured. She reads from her new book "I Ate the Cosmos for Breakfast" and discusses her creative process. In the second part of the show, host Charlie Rossiter considers the implications of Maya Angelou's poem "The Human Family" being used by Apple in an ad during the Rio Olympics.
Episode 028: David Cope Discusses Allen Ginsberg [EXTENDED INTERVIEW]
Michigan poet, David Cope, talks about his long-time friendship and correspondence with Allen Ginsberg and reads poems, including two elegies for Allen in a special extended-length interview.
Episode 029: Anthony Bernini and W.S. Merwin's Latest Book Reviewed
New York poet Anthony Bernini from Brunswick, NY shares poems and talks about his life as a poet outside the system. Host Charlie Rossiter reviews W.S. Merwin’s latest book, "Garden Times," just out from Copper Canyon Press.
Episode 030: Craig Czury and Philip Levine's Latest Book Reviewed
Craig Czury reads and discusses poems from his new book "Thumb Notes Almanac: Hitchhiking the Marcellus Shale" which chronicles his time traveling Northeastern Pennsylvania's coal/fracking country. In the second part of the show, host Charlie Rossiter reviews former U.S. Poet Laureate Philip Levine’s just-published posthumous collection, "The Last Shift."
Episode 031: Tom Nicotera and Psyche
Tom Nicotera of Bloomfield, CT reads poems accompanied by bodhran and blues harmonica. Host Charlie Rossiter re-visits a piece of feminist literary history, the anthology Psyche: The Feminine Poetic Consciousness.
Episode 032: John Berry and Poetry's Power to Connect
Virginia poet John Berry, author of "Wobbly Man," reads his work and tells the story of how poetry saved his life. In the second part of the episode, Host Charlie Rossiter explores how poetry helped connect two friends, one in the advanced stages of dementia.
Episode 033: Alifair Skebe and Rita Dove
Alifair Skebe from Albany, New York, explains the subtleties of elliptical poetry and provides a few examples from her just-published book, Thin Matter. In the second part of the show, host Charlie Rossiter discusses former poet laureate Rita Dove's recently published, Complete Poems: 1974-2004.
Episode 034: Mason Granger and Billy Collins
New York City poet, Mason Granger, reads his poems, offers his thoughts on performance, and discusses the program he'll be hosting at New York's Bowery Poetry Club starting in January. Host Charlie Rossiter reviews Billy Collins' new book, The Rain in Portugal.
Episode 035: Nancy Klepsch and In the Bleak Midwinter
Nancy Klepsch, poet-activist from Troy, NY, talks about her projects for social justice and her poetic explorations. Host Charlie Rossiter reflects on the Solstice and how a poem by Christina Rossetti became what some consider the best Christmas carol ever written.
THANK YOU! A Look Back at Poetry Spoken Here in 2016
We posted 22 new shows with a global array of guests and a wide variety of subjects. We also launched a second podcast and grew our listener base. Thank you to all our listeners for tuning in and supporting our work!
Episode 036: Ralph Murre and Reading for Writing
Ralph Murre, poet laureate of Door County, Wisconsin, reads his poems and talks about his project that publishes previously published poems. Host Charlie Rossiter then talks about the importance of reading for writing using examples from NY poet, Eileen Myles.
Episode 037: Brando Skyhorse and Flash Fiction
Award-winning Latino author, Brando Skyhorse, reads from his work and talks about the basic elements of Flash Fiction and how that form relates to poetry. In the second part of the show, host Charlie Rossiter further explores Flash Fiction with excerpts and commentary from Joyce Carol Oates and others
Episode 038: Nicole Yurcaba and Insurgent Poetry
Nicole Yurcaba of Bridgewater VA reads her poetry and talks about how it is influenced by her love of music and Ukranian heritage. In the second part of the show, host Charlie Rossiter talks about Lawrence Ferlighetti’s book, "Poetry as Insurgent Art.
Episode 039: Jeanetta Calhoun Mish and Lola Ridge
Jeanetta Calhoun Mish, director of Red Earth Creative Writing MFA program at Oklahoma City University, reads from her recent book “What I Learned at the War.” In the second part of the show, host Charlie Rossiter talks about a new biography of radical modernist poet, Lola Ridg
Episode 040 Dawn Leas and the Joy of the Library
Dawn Leas reads and talks about her poetry rooted in place, family and daily life. Host Charlie Rossiter uses Chinese poetry, feral children and mountain climbing Beat poets to remind us why we love the physical library.
Episode 041: Lorette Luzajic on Ekphrastic Poetry and Paterson Reviewed
Lorette C. Luzajic, poet and visual artist from Toronto, talks about and reads her ekphrastic poetry. She's founder and host of ekphrastic.net, a website dedicated to poetry inspired by visual art. In the second part of the show, Charlie Rossiter reviews Jim Jarmusch’s new film Paterson.
Episode 042: PoetryMusic and Celebrating Poetry Month
Chris Lee and Colleen O’Brien from Port Angeles, Washington, talk about how they set poetry to music and use poetry as a catalyst for improvised music in their performances as "PoetryMusic". Host Charlie Rossiter offers ideas for activities to celebrate National Poetry Month.
Episode 043: Mary Panza and Poet Laureate History
Mary Panza of Troy, NY, addresses important issues of life and poetry and manages to add a light touch to the proceedings. Host Charlie Rossiter goes behind the scenes of the office of U.S. Poet Laureate discussing its history and recommending an excellent book on the subject.
Episode 044: Cheryl Rice and The American Writers Museum
Cheryl Rice explains the Sylvia Plath Bake-Off and talks about how her poetry has developed over the years. Host Charlie Rossiter gives a preview of the new American Writers Museum in Chicago
Episode 045: Hiram Larew and Budbill's Final Book Reviewed
Host Charlie Rossiter chats with DC area poet, Hiram Larew about poetic segregation and literary legacy. In the second part of the show he reviews David Budbill's latest and final book, "Tumbling Toward the End"
Episode 046: Michael Peters and the Library of America
Michael Peters, multi-genre artist from upstate New York, explores the integration of music and sound creations in his poetry performances. Host Charlie Rossiter talks about the Library of America, now celebrating 35 years of publishing fine editions of classic American literature
Episoce 047: John Roche and Jules Nyquist and Poetic Prose
New Mexico poets, John Roche and Jules Nyquist talk about poetry in the age of Trump and share poems from their publishing project, "Poets Speak." In the second part of the show, host Charlie Rossiter looks at poetic prose using examples from Zora Neale Hurston and Sherman Alexie
Episode 048: Juliet Cook from Ohio shares her poems, talks about her Blood Pudding Press and how she relearned language and continues to write poetry following recovery from a stroke. Host, Charlie Rossiter, reviews Paterson Light and Shadow, a collection of Poems by Maria Mazziotti Gillan and photographs by Mark Hillringhouse.
Episode 049: Don Levy from Albany New York presents poems from a gay perspective. Host Charlie Rossiter takes a look at Sherman Alexie’s newly published memoir.
Episode 050: Chicago Poet Carlos Cumpian is featured and recently-deceased Sam Shepard is remembered with some of his own prose.
Episode 051: New Jersey poet, John McKenna talks about the Beats, rhythm and performing poetry. Host Charlie Rossiter gives insight into Joyce Carol Oates’ creative process and views on writing with comments directly from her journals.
Episode 052: Cynthia Gallaher, from Chicago, talks about a wide range of topics and reads her new eclipse poem and others. Host, Charlie Rossiter talks about the upcoming 100 Thousand Poets for Change Global Event Day coming Sept 30.
Episode 053: Sally Rhoades, upstate NY poet and playwright, discusses her influences and processes for creating while sharing her autobiographical poems. Host Charlie Rossiter takes a look at zen and zen poetry through the translations of Lucien Stryk.
