As we prime our book club model for post-COVID growth, we are programming a couple of longer late-summer episodes about our own books via Hat & Beard Press. To support Big Table or Hat & Beard, join our book clubs. You can find out more about them at hatandbeard.com. Your support fuels our books, podcasts, exhibitions, and events, and we thank you.

On today’s episode of Big Table, we've recorded a long-form conversation between our own Mandy Kahn and Dana Gioia, both accomplished poets.

Masters of traditional lyrical forms and natives of Los Angeles, they are both also currently out with new books: Holy Doors, Mandy’s third collection, is one of the first titles on our Hat & Beard Editions imprint. Meanwhile, Mr. Gioia has published, collected, or translated dozens of books throughout his storied career, which includes a stint as the director of the NEA and poet laureate of California. His most recent collection is Meet Me at the Lighthouse (Graywolf Press, 2023). Both are available now.

This episode is more free form, with both poets reading from their work in dialogue with one another as they discuss their craft.

Please enjoy Mandy Kahn in conversation with Dana Gioia discussing their new books and a whole lot more.