Sometime in my mid-twenties, I listened to a podcast interview with poet Kim Addonizio. Before then, I had little awareness of contemporary poetry. The idea of living poets felt distant. They were an elite class of people far removed from my reality. At the time, I had a new baby and was living in rural Arkansas. (And I wasn’t on Twitter yet. Somewhat sadly, that would become my second major introduction to contemporary poetry.) I first fell in love with Kim Addonizio as an interviewee, then sought out her poetry, which I loved even more.
That interview broke something open in me. It was a behind-the-scenes look at craft and career, and for the first time, I understood poetry as something that could be learned and, eventually, published. The journey from that interview to my own publications was long, and my relationship with creating and publishing remains complicated, but I am forever grateful to podcasts and fate for delivering exactly what I needed, right when I needed it.
Later, when I was immersed in craft books and searching for someone to work with one-on-one (eventually I found fellow fellow Lemon Grove Writer Jessica!), I discovered The Poet Salon—an incredible free resource.* It remains my favorite craft-focused poetry podcast—a true masterclass. I love learning about the lives of writers as much as anyone (I’m a sucker for morning routines and odd writer rituals), but when it came to understanding craft elements such as prosody, titling, and subtext, The Poet Salon delivered in ways no other podcast had.
Since then, I’ve kept a list of poetry and writerly podcasts, loosely separating craft-heavy shows from lifestyle- and career-focused ones. Below are some of my favorites:
The Poet Salon (on hiatus)
A podcast where poets talk over drinks.
Each episode features an interview with a poet over a drink specially prepared for them. Hosted by Gabrielle Bates, Luther Hughes, and Dujie Tahat.
First Draft: A Dialogue on Writing
A literary podcast hosted by Mitzi Rapkin. Each week features an in-depth interview with a fiction, nonfiction, essay, or poetry writer.
This was the Kim Addonizio episode that sparked my understanding all those years ago. When possible, I try to read the author’s work before listening to an episode.
Between the Covers
A literary radio show and podcast hosted by David Naimon, produced by Tin House.
What can I say? If you don’t already listen, you should start now!
Life of a Poet (Library of Congress – YouTube Channel)
Okay, not a podcast and not neatly organized, but absolutely worth watching. There’s no official playlist, so hop onto YouTube and search “Library of Congress Life of a Poet.” My link takes you to the Ross Gay interview, which makes me cry.
This is Just to Say (Archive)
A radio show and podcast hosted by poet Carrie Fountain. I have such a soft spot for this interview series, which aired from 2018 to 2020. Beautiful conversations with poets that often touched on process and craft.
The American Poetry Review
Founded in 1972, The American Poetry Review is dedicated to reaching a worldwide audience with a diverse array of the best contemporary poetry and literary criticism. The podcast features guest interviews and lots of poetry talk from APR editor Elizabeth Scanlon, along with co-hosts and guests.
The Poetry Review Podcast
Listen to our expanding audio library of both readings by poets and the fascinating exchanges between editors of The Poetry Review and contributors, past and present, as they explore ideas and themes generated by the issue.
Line/Break, Copper Canyon Press (Youtube series)
Line / Break is an interview series that goes off the page and into the homes and minds of our beloved poets.
Commonplace Pod (on hiatus)
A series of intimate and captivating interviews by Rachel Zucker with poets and artists about quotidian objects, experiences or obsessions, spiritual practices, and other non-Literary forms of knowledge that are vital to an artist’s life and work.
Keep the Channel Open
A series of in-depth and intimate conversations with people working in all different creative fields. Since 2016, I’ve talked with painters, novelists, short-story writers, poets, photographers, podcasters, gallerists, and more, about their work, their creative processes, and the things that matter to them.
Of Poetry Podcast
Kitchen table conversations with poets. Hosted by Han VanderHart.
Sewanee Review
A monthly podcast from the oldest continuously published literary quarterly in the U.S., featuring conversations with contemporary poets and writers.
Faber Poetry Podcast
The Faber Poetry Podcast, produced and presented by poets Rachael Allen and Jack Underwood, brings together some of the most exciting voices from the world of poetry.
Poetry For All
This podcast is for those who already love poetry and for those who know very little about it. In this podcast, we read a poem, discuss it, see what makes it tick, learn how it works, grow from it, and then read it one more time.
The Chapbook (Archive)
Noah Stetzer and Ross White, editors at Bull City Press, reveal the secrets of chapbooks—writing, editing, and publishing them—and take you behind the scenes at some chapbook presses.
Viewless Wings Poetry Podcast Interviews
Host James Morehead (Poet Laureate – Dublin, CA) explores the art of poetry through interviews with poets and artists including Safia Elhillo, A.E. Stallings, Dana Gioia, Yanyi, Olivia Gatwood, Lisa Marie Simmons and more. The podcast also features monthly submitted poetry, read by the poets.
Ode & Psyche Podcast
A podcast devoted to starting conversations around how poetry illuminates the mechanisms of human consciousness. Focusing in on elements of poetic craft, mental health and the intricacies of our ever-changing understanding of the mind, this podcast is devoted to exploring honestly the lyrical and uncertain areas of thought.
What about you? Have podcasts helped shaped your writerly life? Which ones are your favorite?
