LIVE from Ren's Coffeehouse & Books in Blackwood, New Jersey! This episode is packed with poems from finding love in your 30s to getting off of dating apps. Get ready to find out why it's hard to find a good man in New York City!

Poem Credits:

“western hemlock” by Missy Morgan

Follow @mossdictionary on Instagram

“heART” by Jon

“Verified” by Marco Romeo

“Under my skin” by V

Follow @valsyerpal on Instagram

“Personal Ad” by Ricky

Self Published

Purchase here https://www.amazon.com/Selfish-Lee-Lanser/dp/B0GPJ4TC5F

Follow @makeericawriteagain on Instagram

Our team is comprised of:

Social Media/Editorial

Head of Social Media: Rach Ventrella

Assistant editors: Cecilia Combs, Robert Pallante, and Tara Grier

Public Relations

Head of Public Relations: Eric Uhorchuk

Public Relations Assistant: Jackson Hummel 

Production

Head of Production: Nick Koumis

Media Editors: Adam Buckley, Adam Castar, and Robert Pallante

Executive Members

Vice President and Treasurer: Hannah Tran

President: Thom LaPorte 

And a special thank you to Creature Feature for creating our show music. 

Support the show

Calliopod proudly presents the final episode of Verse & Voice, recorded at the Princeton Public Library!

Thank you to everyone who tuned into these amazing poets, to the public library for collaborating with us, and the the poets for trusting us with their work!

We'll return to our regular release schedule--one episode on the first Monday of the month-- in September 2026! And keep checking our Instagram and Calliopepoetrypodcast.com for upcoming show dates!

Show Notes:

“Life is a Journey” by Deanna J Woodall
Mornings at the Cemetery, published by Wipf and Stock Publishers
Available for purchase https://wipfandstock.com/9798385248278/mornings-at-the-cemetery/

“Last Hopes”; “Rain” and “Feeling” by Danielle Pitter
Destinations and Reality Check, Self-published
Available for purchase
Destinations: https://a.co/d/0g7ctQZi
Reality Check: https://a.co/d/0g4BW3qO
Follow @/PoetryBooksYA on Instagram

“Meeting” and “Mountain Cabin” by Maxine Susman
My Mother’s Medicine and Northern Swim, published by Grayson Books and Ragged Sky Press
Available for purchase
My Mother’s Medicine: https://graysonbooks.com/products/my-mothers-medicine-by-maxine-sussman
Northern Swim: https://a.co/d/0jbvRC58

“The Siren Song” and “A Mermaid Greets A Sailor” by Mark Schardine
As if in a Distant Dream and Under Watchful Eyes, published by Blue Jade Press
Available for purchase
As if in a Distant Dream: https://a.co/d/08cFDeYC
Under Watchful Eyes: https://a.co/d/088TAPJO
Follow https://www.facebook.com/mark.schardine.75 on Facebook

“The Call”; “The Other Side” and “Watch Over Us” by Matthew Thorburn
The Grace of Distance, published by Louisiana State University Press
Available for purchase https://bookshop.org/p/books/string-matthew-thorburn/7acd5328771a9d19?ean=9780807179048&next=t
Follow @/thorburnpoet on Instagram

“Glass Frog Epilogue"; “Parasol”; “Burnt”; “Blanket”, and “Unjournied” by Moon

“Searching for Anna”; “Old Photos of New Years Eve” and “Birthrite” by Marie Gray Wise
Anna and her Daughters, published by Finishing Line Press
Available for purchase https://a.co/d/03rIkska
Visit her website https://www.mariegraywise.com/my-writing/poems

“The Frog and the Field” by Hannah Tran
Banned from the Dinner Table, published by Inspiration Strikes Publishing
Available for purchase at Calliope: A Poetry Podcast events and Mixam https://mixam.com/print-on-demand/6a17a6eb1c0525df2b61a23b

“Pterodactyl”; “A Greater Love Than Chocolate Cake” and “How to Respond to Anger” by William “Bill ”Waldorf
101 Stories of Love, published by Prolific Pulse Press
Available for purchase https://a.co/d/09JxNexL
Follow @/william_waldorf_poems on Instagram

Our team is comprised of:

Social Media/Editorial

Head of Social Media: Rach Ventrella

Assistant editors: Cecilia Combs, Robert Pallante, and Tara Grier

Public Relations

Head of Public Relations: Eric Uhorchuk

Public Relations Assistant: Jackson Hummel 

Production

Head of Production: Nick Koumis

Media Editors: Adam Buckley, Adam Castar, and Robert Pallante

Executive Members

Vice President and Treasurer: Hannah Tran

President: Thom LaPorte 

And a special thank you to Creature Feature for creating our show music. 

Support the show

This is the second part of our recording at Verse & Voice: A Festival of Poetry, held at the Princeton Public Library! Eight poets took to our stage to read some amazing and heartfelt poetry. We hope you enjoy!

The final part of Verse & Voice: A Festival of Poetry will be released in two weeks, on August 17, 2026.

Show Notes:

“Dodge Poetry Festival”; “Wile E Coyote” and “On the edge of the wild” by Coleen Marks

Published by Cool Women Press

“Phone Home”; “In Praise of Random Things, June 21st” by Ilene Millman

A Jar of Moths published by Ragged Sky Press

Available for purchase https://a.co/d/08TA7Wrk

Follow on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ilene.millman 

“Three Coins in the Futon” by Ed. Belding

Self-published 

2 of his books can purchased at public events hosted by the Kingston Historical Society (http://khsnj.org/)

Visit his website for more https://ebelding001.wordpress.com/

“Autobiography of the United States of America” and “Spring Joy” by Lakshman Bulusu

Pearls and Rubies is Self-published

Available for purchase https://a.co/d/0298b0rB

“The Idiot”; “Ah, Katya” and Untitled by Keith O’Shaughnessy

Petrushka published by Ragged Sky Press

Available for purchase https://a.co/d/0jboloNX

Follow on instagram @/keith_devlin_

“Alright”; “Bimentalism”; “Tulips”; “Bell Jar” and “Volitile” by Moon

“Woodcutters” and “Weekend Warriors” by Lew

Smiling Axes and Quixote Contemplates Retirement published by Kelsay Books

Available for purchase 

Smiling Axes: https://kelsaybooks.com/products/smiling-axes 

Quixote Contemplates Retirement: https://kelsaybooks.com/products/quixote-contemplates-retirement 

“The View” by Judith McNally & Kevin McNally

Walking Without Walking published by Cool Women Press

To purchase poetry collection, please email Judith directly [email protected]

Our team is comprised of:

Social Media/Editorial

Head of Social Media: Rach Ventrella

Assistant editors: Cecilia Combs, Robert Pallante, and Tara Grier

Public Relations

Head of Public Relations: Eric Uhorchuk

Public Relations Assistant: Jackson Hummel 

Production

Head of Production: Nick Koumis

Media Editors: Adam Buckley, Adam Castar, and Robert Pallante

Executive Members

Vice President and Treasurer: Hannah Tran

President: Thom LaPorte 

And a special thank you to Creature Feature for creating our show music. 

Support the show

SUPRISE! Instead of our 1 episode on the first Monday of every month, we are switching it up for July and August 2026! We'll be releasing 2 EPISODES EACH MONTH! This extremely special set of episodes were recorded at Princeton Public Library during the "Verse & Voice: A Festival of Poetry" event! 

We were invited to record over 20 poets at the event and are happy to present them here! 

So sit back and enjoy the poetry!

Show notes:

“Continuo”; “Symphony at sunset” and “Release” by Barbara H Williams.

Continuo published by Cool Women Press.

“I Went to the Doctor”; “The Pickle Man” and “Ode to Spandex” by Roberta Batorsky.

Perihelion published by Prolific Pulse Press 

Available for purchase: https://a.co/d/080wC7Oj

Follow @/robertabatorsky_poetry on Instagram.

“Muse Mother in my Kitchen” and Untitled by Christine Reed.

“Me” by Priyanki Vyas Bhatt. 

Let Your Thoughts Fly is self-published

Available for purchase https://a.co/d/0gfEsV8n 

Follow @/thoughtsinsoftink on Instagram and visit their blog with the same name https://thoughtsinsoftink.com/

“Traveled Poems” by Lydia Liu.

The problem of deer published by Finishing Line Press

Available for purchase https://finishinglinepress.com/product/the-problem-of-deer-by-lydia-t-liu/

“That time you stole someone’s shopping cart” and “Flavor is in the Hands” by Jin Cordaro.

A Map for Exiting The Body published by Terrapin Books

Available for purchase https://a.co/d/0bjCkDWi

Follow @/jincordaro on Instagram. 

“Reorientation” by Lines by Linds, aka Lindsay Gordon. 

Follow @linesbylinds on Instagram and visit their website linesbylinds.com 

[email protected]

Our team is comprised of:

Social Media/Editorial

Head of Social Media: Rach Ventrella

Assistant editors: Cecilia Combs, Robert Pallante, and Tara Grier

Public Relations

Head of Public Relations: Eric Uhorchuk

Public Relations Assistant: Jackson Hummel 

Production

Head of Production: Nick Koumis

Media Editors: Adam Buckley, Adam Castar, and Robert Pallante

Executive Members

Vice President and Treasurer: Hannah Tran

President: Thom LaPorte 

And a special thank you to Creature Feature for creating our show music. 

Support the show

Part two of our show at Brewed Awakening in Pitman, New Jersey!

“The Mountain, The Wall, The Wrong” by Faro

“The Book of Revelation” by Rob, follow @Goodbye_Blue_Monday on Instagram

"Let Me Tell You About My Fleshy, Stupid, Wise, Hopeful Heart" By Rach, follow @rachventrella on Instagram

"Untitled" by Janay, follow @nervous90sbitch on Instagram

Our team is comprised of:

Social Media/Editorial

Head of Social Media: Tara Grier

Assistant editors: Cecilia Combs, Rach Ventrella, and Robert Pallante

Public Relations

Head of Public Relations: Eric Uhorchuk

Public Relations Assistant: Jackson Hummel 

Production

Head of Production: Nick Koumis

Media Editors: Adam Buckley, Adam Castar, and Robert Pallante

Executive Members

Vice President and Treasurer: Hannah Tran

President: Thom LaPorte 

And a special thank you to Creature Feature for creating our show music.

Support the show

Support the show

Part one of our show at Brewed Awakening! Our featured guest, Maya Solomon, reminds us to take pictures to capture sweet, sweet memories.

Poem Credits:

"Fuego (Kauil)" by Thom LaPorte. This piece is published by Inspiration Strikes Publishing in "Banned from the Dinner Table". Follow thomlaporte.writer on Instagram.

"What?" by Rowan Reznick

Untitled by Spike Hussay, follow @spike_the_bard on Instagram.

"Thank You For The Pictures" by Maya Solomon

Our team is comprised of:

Social Media/Editorial

Head of Social Media: Tara Grier

Assistant editors: Cecilia Combs, Rach Ventrella, and Robert Pallante

Public Relations

Head of Public Relations: Eric Uhorchuk

Public Relations Assistant: Jackson Hummel 

Production

Head of Production: Nick Koumis

Media Editors: Adam Buckley, Adam Castar, and Robert Pallante

Executive Members

Vice President and Treasurer: Hannah Tran

President: Thom LaPorte 

And a special thank you to Creature Feature for creating our show music.

Support the show

This is part II of our show at Interzone in Autobahn, New Jersey! Our featured guest is Len, reading a poem he wrote over 40 years ago!

Poem Credits:

“Tank Man” by Hannah, follow @hannahlantran on Instagram.

“Malaga Lake Childood” by Madi. 

“Born with the Tremble” by Sam, follow @poemsbysammsy on Instagram.

“Empty House” by Sully, follow @Smkzprod on Instagram.  

“LITTLE MEN WITH BIG IDEAS” by Len.

Our team is comprised of:

Social Media/Editorial

Head of Social Media: Tara Grier

Assistant editors: Cecilia Combs, Rach Ventrella, and Robert Pallante

Public Relations

Head of Public Relations: Eric Uhorchuk

Public Relations Assistant: Jackson Hummel 

Production

Head of Production: Nick Koumis

Media Editors: Adam Buckley, Adam Castar, and Robert Pallante

Executive Members

Vice President and Treasurer: Hannah Tran

President: Thom LaPorte 

And a special thank you to Creature Feature for creating our show music.

Support the show

Welcome to season 2 of Calliopod! We've had so much fun recording poets at our live events and are proud to bring you these amazing poems to you!

Poem credits:

"Vapor" by Thom LaPorte, follow @thomlaporte.writer on Instagram.

"Windows of Woe" by Noah Aviles, follow @cactus_noah on Instagram.

"the question to my father" by Amber, follow @ahoke on Instagram.

"No One Likes Late Audience Members" by Faro

Our team is comprised of:

Social Media/Editorial

Head of Social Media: Tara Grier

Assistant editors: Cecilia Combs, Rach Ventrella, and Robert Pallante

Public Relations

Head of Public Relations: Eric Uhorchuk

Public Relations Assistant: Jackson Hummel 

Production

Head of Production: Nick Koumis

Media Editors: Adam Buckley, Adam Castar, and Robert Pallante

Executive Members

Vice President and Treasurer: Hannah Tran

President: Thom LaPorte 

And a special thank you to Creature Feature for creating our show music.

Support the show

In this HOLIDAY BONUS EPISODE, members of the Calliopod team gather to discuss holidays past. 

Support us on Patreon to help fund Season 2!

Support the show