Art and Verse

Art and Verse

By Heather ArringtonArts
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Art and Verse episodes

  • Art & Verse Podcast - January 15, 2025: Martin Luther King Jr., Molière, Edward Teller & Featured Poem by Ken Tomaro

    Show Notes:Welcome to Art & Verse! On January 15th, we’re celebrating:

    • Martin Luther King Jr. (b. 1929), civil rights leader whose nonviolent activism and iconic speeches continue to inspire equality movements worldwide.
    • Molière (b. 1622), legendary French playwright known for timeless comedies like Tartuffe and The Misanthrope.
    • Edward Teller (b. 1908), physicist known as the “father of the hydrogen bomb,” whose work in nuclear energy remains a topic of debate.

      • Today’s featured poem is “He Asked the Wrong Question” by Ken Tamaro. Tamaro discovered poetry later in life and quickly made a name for himself, with his work appearing in literary journals, podcasts, and on his YouTube channel, Screaming Down the Poetic Highway.

      If you'd like your original work featured on the show, email us at ⁠[email protected]⁠.Support this indie podcast by joining us on Patreon! For just $5 a month, you’ll receive a hand-typed poem delivered to your door. Visit Patreon.com/ArtandVerse to learn more.

      Thanks for listening! Until next time—be well and stay inspired.

      5 min
    • Art & Verse Podcast - January 14, 2025: Albert Schweitzer, Faye Dunaway, Hugh Lofting & Featured Poem by Emily Dickinson

      Welcome to Art & Verse! I’m Heather Arrington, and on January 14th, we’re celebrating:

      • Albert Schweitzer (b. 1875), Nobel Prize-winning humanitarian and founder of a hospital in Africa.
      • Faye Dunaway (b. 1941), acclaimed actress known for iconic films like Bonnie and Clyde and Network.
      • Hugh Lofting (b. 1886), author of the beloved Dr. Doolittle series, enchanting readers with tales of a doctor who could talk to animals.

        • Today’s featured poem is “Hope is the Thing with Feathers” by Emily Dickinson, a timeless reflection on resilience and optimism, now in the public domain.

        If you'd like your original work featured on the show, email us at [email protected].
        Support this indie podcast by joining us on Patreon! For just $5 a month, you’ll receive a hand-typed poem delivered to your door. Visit Patreon.com/ArtandVerse to learn more.

        Thanks for listening! Until next time—be well and stay inspired.

        4 min
      • Art & Verse Podcast - January 13, 2025: Horatio Alger, Michael Bond, Charles Perrault & Featured Poem by Carl Sandburg

        Welcome to Art & Verse! On January 13th, we’re celebrating:

        • Horatio Alger (b. 1832), known for his inspiring rags-to-riches tales embodying the American Dream.
        • Michael Bond (b. 1926), beloved creator of Paddington Bear, who has delighted readers of all ages since 1958.
        • Charles Perrault (b. 1628), the French author whose iconic fairytales, including Cinderella and Little Red Riding Hood, laid the groundwork for the genre.

          • Today’s featured poem is “Fog” by Carl Sandburg, a brief but vivid piece that captures the quiet, mysterious nature of fog as it rolls into a city.

          If you'd like your original work featured on the show, email us at [email protected].
          Support this indie podcast by joining us on Patreon! For just $5 a month, you’ll receive a hand-typed poem delivered to your door. Visit Patreon.com/ArtandVerse to learn more.

          Thanks for listening! Until next time—be well and stay inspired.

          4 min
        • Art & Verse Podcast - January 12, 2025: Jack London, John Hancock, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi & Featured Poem by T.S. Eliot

          Welcome to Art & Verse! On January 12th, we’re celebrating:

          • Jack London (b. 1876), famed novelist known for The Call of the Wild and White Fang.
          • John Hancock (b. 1737), American founding father whose bold signature made history.
          • Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (b. 1918), the Indian guru who popularized Transcendental Meditation worldwide.

            • Today’s featured poem is “Macavity, the Mysterious Cat” by T.S. Eliot, a playful yet cunning ode to a master criminal in feline form. Originally published in 1939, this classic is now in the public domain.

            If you'd like your original work featured on the show, email us at [email protected].
            Support this indie podcast by joining us on Patreon! For just $5 a month, you’ll receive a hand-typed poem delivered to your door. Visit Patreon.com/ArtandVerse to learn more.

            Thanks for listening! Until next time—be well and stay inspired.

            6 min
          • Art & Verse Podcast - January 11, 2025: Alice Paul, Naomi Judd, William James & Featured Poem by Ada Limón

            Welcome to Art & Verse!

            In this episode:

            • Alice Paul (b. 1885), a leading figure in the fight for women’s suffrage and equality in the U.S.
            • Naomi Judd (b. 1946), legendary country singer-songwriter and half of the iconic duo, The Judds.
            • William James (b. 1842), renowned philosopher and psychologist who helped shape modern psychology and founded pragmatism.

              • Today’s featured poem is “Wonder Woman” by Ada Limón, read by Heather Arrington. This powerful piece from Limón’s collection The Carrying reflects on strength, pain, and finding inspiration in unexpected places.

              If you'd like your original work featured on the show, email us at [email protected].
              Support this indie podcast by joining us on Patreon! For just $5 a month, you’ll receive a hand-typed poem delivered to your door. Visit Patreon.com/ArtandVerse to learn more.

              Thanks for listening! Until next time—be well and stay inspired.

              5 min
            • Art & Verse Podcast - January 10, 2025: January 10: George Foreman, Max Roach, Robinson Jeffers & Featured Poem by Cheryl J. Jackson

              Welcome to Art and Verse! Today, January 10th, we’re celebrating the lives of:

              • George Foreman, boxing legend turned successful entrepreneur.
              • Max Roach, an innovative jazz drummer who reshaped modern music and fought for civil rights.
              • Robinson Jeffers, a poet whose verses evoke the raw beauty of California’s coastline.

                • Today’s featured poem is “Evolution of the Blues” by Cheryl J. Jackson, the 2025 Poet Laureate of the Garden of Nero. Her works span anthologies, journals, and global magazines, reflecting her deep connection to Black literature and culture.

                Cheryl J. Jackson can be found at Garden of Neuro Institute and with her sister, Lyris Wallace, at https://sistersrocnrhyme.blogspot.com/


                Enjoying the show? Support us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠ to help keep Art & Verse going strong!

                Thanks for tuning in—be well and stay inspired!

                6 min
              • Art & Verse Podcast - January 9, 2025: Simone de Beauvoir, Joan Baez, Nixon & a Voice to the Voiceless by Lyris Wallace

                Welcome to Art and Verse! Today, January 9th, we’re celebrating the birthdays of three influential figures:

                • Simone de Beauvoir (b. 1908), a pioneering French writer and existential philosopher whose work, The Second Sex, challenged societal norms and laid the foundation for modern feminist thought.
                • Joan Baez (b. 1941), the iconic singer-songwriter and activist who became a voice for peace and justice during the Civil Rights era, with timeless songs like We Shall Overcome and Diamonds and Rust.
                • Richard Nixon (b. 1913), the 37th President of the United States, whose legacy is marked by both significant diplomatic achievements and the historic Watergate scandal.

                  • Today’s featured poem is “Voice to the Voiceless” by Lauras Wallace. Wallace is a groundbreaking literary figure, a two-time #1 bestselling Amazon author, and a masterful writer of Black dialect. Her powerful works draw inspiration from African American literature and her Southern roots. In 2023, Wallace earned her first Pushcart Prize nomination for her poem No Justice for Breonna, published in Social Justice Inc.'s anthology.

                  You can find Lyris Wallace and her Sister, Chyrel J. Jackson at https://sistersrocnrhyme.blogspot.com/https://sistersrocnrhyme.blogspot.com/


                  Enjoying the show? Support us on ⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠ to help keep Art & Verse going strong!

                  Thanks for tuning in—be well and stay inspired!


                  7 min
                • Art & Verse Podcast - January 8, 2025: Elvis, Hawking, Collins & a Gritty Ode to Chicago

                  Welcome to Art and Verse! Today, we’re celebrating the 8th of January by highlighting three extraordinary figures:

                  • Elvis Presley (b. 1935), the King of Rock and Roll, whose legendary voice and stage presence reshaped modern music.
                  • Stephen Hawking (b. 1942), the brilliant physicist who changed the way we understand black holes and the universe, inspiring millions with his intellect and resilience.
                  • Wilkie Collins (b. 1824), a master of suspense and an early pioneer of the modern detective novel, best known for The Woman in White and The Moonstone.

                    • Today’s featured poem is Carl Sandburg’s “Chicago”, a powerful tribute to the bustling city’s gritty spirit and raw beauty.

                    Enjoying the show? Support us on ⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠ to help keep Art & Verse going strong!

                    Thanks for tuning in—be well and stay inspired!

                    6 min
                  • Art & Verse Podcast - January 7, 2025: Zora Neale Hurston, Charles Addams, Gerald Durrell, and a Poem by Ken Tomaro

                    Welcome to Art & Verse!

                    In this episode, we celebrate:

                    • Zora Neale Hurston (1891): Literary giant of the Harlem Renaissance, author of Their Eyes Were Watching God, and anthropologist known for her vibrant storytelling and exploration of African American culture.
                    • Charles Addams (1912): Brilliant cartoonist and creator of The Addams Family, whose delightfully macabre humor transformed the strange and unusual into something beloved by generations.
                    • Gerald Durrell (1925): Naturalist, conservationist, and author of My Family and Other Animals, a humorous memoir of his childhood in Corfu. Durrell founded the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, dedicated to protecting endangered species.


                      • Our featured poem is Indiana 1, Cleveland 0 by Ken Tomaro, a poet who discovered his craft later in life. Since then, he has been published in literary journals, featured on podcasts, and launched a YouTube channel to share his work.

                      Enjoying the show? Support us on ⁠Patreon⁠ to help keep Art & Verse going strong!

                      Thanks for tuning in—be well and stay inspired!

                      6 min
                    • Art & Verse Podcast - January 6, 2025: Khalil Gibran, Carl Sandburg, Jacobo Timerman, and a Poem by Robert Frost

                      Welcome to Art & Verse!

                      In this episode, we celebrate:

                      • Khalil Gibran (1883): Visionary Lebanese American poet, philosopher, and artist, best known for The Prophet, a timeless work blending Eastern and Western philosophies on love, freedom, and self-discovery.
                      • Carl Sandburg (1878): Celebrated American poet known for his stark realism in collections like Chicago Poems and Cornhuskers, as well as his biography of Abraham Lincoln.
                      • Jacobo Timerman (1923): Fearless Argentine journalist and author of Prisoner Without a Name, Cell Without a Number, who exposed the brutality of Argentina’s dictatorship and became a symbol of courage in the fight for human rights.


                        • Our featured poem is Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost, from his collection New Hampshire, published in 1923 by Henry Holt and Company.

                        Enjoying the show? Support us on ⁠Patreon⁠ to help keep Art & Verse going strong!

                        Thanks for tuning in—be well and stay inspired!

                        5 min

                      About Art and Verse

                      From the publisher's feed

                      Art and Verse is your daily escape into poetry. Hosted by Heather Arrington, each episode features a carefully chosen poem and interesting facts from history, all with an arts and culture twist. Whether you’re a poetry lover or just seeking a moment of inspiration, Art and Verse offers a quick, meaningful break to brighten your day.