First Impressions

*Originally released 20 January 2022*

Literature helped the New York-based writer and academic Douglas Berman escape from his troubled early years but he struggled to find the confidence to write. Success as a teacher and lawyer waylaid him further but now – helped by his extensive reading and dazzling wordsmithery – he is fully focused on poetry and prose, and the pandemic diary that has helped him stay on track over the last couple of years. 

In Episode 14 of First Impressions, which kicks off Season 2, we learn about Doug's writing life; some inspiring authors who ducked the limelight; the home invasion that led to him writing a short story now being translated into Japanese; how writing workshops and a book group formed in Hong Kong renewed his vigour; the advantages of taking the New York subway, and much else besides. 

Doug shares his writing advice and reads extracts from his diary throughout the show, seasoning his insights and meditations with poetry from Allen Ginsberg and Frank O’Hara. Rarely short of wit and wisdom, Doug concludes our chat by improvising a Christmas message for Boris Johnson and sharing his new year's resolution for 2022.

Hello! And welcome to First Impressions minis, a curated collection of favourite tunes from my First Impressions podcast series thus far. Featuring a mix of voices, samples, beats and (occasional) live bass, the episode from which each tune has been plucked is referenced in the description – naturally, I’d encourage you to go back and listen to the episode in full if you haven’t already. A like and follow on whichever platform you listen on is always appreciated. Thank you!  

Hello! And welcome to First Impressions minis, a curated collection of favourite tunes from my First Impressions podcast series thus far. Featuring a mix of voices, samples, beats and (occasional) live bass, the episode from which each tune has been plucked is referenced in the description – naturally, I’d encourage you to go back and listen to the episode in full if you haven’t already. A like and follow on whichever platform you listen on is always appreciated. Thank you!  

 Hello! And welcome to First Impressions minis, a curated collection of favourite tunes from my First Impressions podcast series thus far. Featuring a mix of voices, samples, beats and (occasional) live bass, the episode from which each tune has been plucked is referenced in the description – naturally, I’d encourage you to go back and listen to the episode in full if you haven’t already. A like and follow on whichever platform you listen on is always appreciated. Thank you!  

Hello! And welcome to First Impressions minis, a curated collection of favourite tunes from my First Impressions podcast series thus far. Featuring a mix of voices, samples, beats and (occasional) live bass, the episode from which each tune has been plucked is referenced in the description – naturally, I’d encourage you to go back and listen to the episode in full if you haven’t already. A like and follow on whichever platform you listen on is always appreciated. Thank you!  

Hello! And welcome to First Impressions minis, a curated collection of favourite tunes from my First Impressions podcast series thus far. Featuring a mix of voices, samples, beats and (occasional) live bass, the episode from which each tune has been plucked is referenced in the description – naturally, I’d encourage you to go back and listen to the episode in full if you haven’t already. A like and follow on whichever platform you listen on is always appreciated. Thank you!  

Hello! And welcome to First Impressions minis, a curated collection of favourite tunes from my First Impressions podcast series thus far. Featuring a mix of voices, samples, beats and (occasional) live bass, the episode from which each tune has been plucked is referenced in the description – naturally, I’d encourage you to go back and listen to the episode in full if you haven’t already. A like and follow on whichever platform you listen on is always appreciated. Thank you!  

Based in Kendal, where he works in mental health, Trevor Shepherd (aka Trev) has been playing guitar and composing music since he was a teenager. Currently helping propel contemporary indie-rock outfit Aigars and the Eel to new heights alongside singer-songwriter Sean Moore, and long-time collaborator, bassist Richard (aka Rich) Wilson, Trev was previously the frontman and leading force behind The Dead Letters, a band that likewise included Rich on bass, but also featured my brother Guy on drums and me briefly miscast as a ruthless rock n’ roll manager who made them a fort.. oh, hold on.   

Music included in this episode: Aigars & The Eel perform Me and You (00:00), Just Hold on to Me (11:49), Barry (17:50) and Makes You Sad (49:44); The Dead Letters perform Social (32:46) and Not Quite With Me Yet (38:10) either side of a very special Mike Humphreys-penned sketch featuring our beloved Pete and Dud (34:21).

Huge thanks to Mike for contributing once more to First Impressions! As well as his creative friendships with Guy and Rich, Trev and I also discuss his wide-ranging influences, wedding bands, living in the Lakes, being followers of a certain football team, and much else besides. 

Find Aigars & the Eel on Spotify here.

And on Facebook here. 

Literature helped the New York-based writer and academic Douglas Berman escape from his troubled early years but he struggled to find the confidence to write. Success as a teacher and lawyer waylaid him further but now – helped by his extensive reading and dazzling wordsmithery – he is fully focused on poetry and prose, and the pandemic diary that has helped him stay on track over the last couple of years.

In Episode 14 of First Impressions, which kicks off Season 2, we learn about Doug's writing life; some inspiring authors who ducked the limelight; the home invasion that led to him writing a short story now being translated into Japanese; how writing workshops and a book group formed in Hong Kong renewed his vigour; the advantages of taking the New York subway, and much else besides.

Doug shares his writing advice and reads extracts from his diary throughout the show, seasoning his insights and meditations with poetry from Allen Ginsberg and Frank O’Hara. Rarely short of wit and wisdom, Doug concludes our chat by improvising a Christmas message for Boris Johnson and sharing his new year's resolution for 2022.

Put away your preconceptions, open your ears, plug in your headphones, and get ready for the first of two poetry-themed episode of the podcast. To established poet Jacqueline Saphra, a driving force behind the fundraising project Poets for Ukraine, poetry is a form of prayer; moreover ‘poems can’t lie’. Jacqueline recalls Russian poet Anna Akhmatova (18:15) and reads Sonnet 56 from her ‘One Hundred Lockdown Sonnets’ (21:18).

My second guest, the Manchester-based poet Lisa O’Hare, took a chance on poetry after leaving the workplace and her enthusiasm and talent took her to unexpected heights during lockdown where the irreverent and insightful poems she shared on Instagram connected with followers far and wide. Lisa reads ‘When I met Poetry’ (32:23), ‘Identity’ (39:07) and ‘A Positive Poem’ (45:50); the latter two having also been broadcast on BBC Manchester. Lisa and I also discuss the poetry workshops she is running and the influence of Kae Tempest and others.

My third guest, Andy N, is a prolific poet and musician whose poems feature in the anthologies ‘Rainbows in a Jar’ and ‘neurodiVERSE’. We discuss the Speak Easy spoken word event he helps organise, writing about dyslexia and dyspraxia, and his experiences in Brazil as a young man. Andy reads ‘Between then and now: A life before and after the discovery of dyspraxia ‘ (58:37), ‘Ghosts into Negatives: Dreams of Brazil, 1995’ (1:02:37) and the flash fiction piece ‘Mannequin and Chips’ (1:07:30). Music from Andy’s ambient music project Ocean in a Bottle is also featured. He hosts the Spoken Label podcast.

My final guest this time round is poet and flash fiction specialist Amanda Nicholson who hosts the long-running podcast Reading in Bed, and regularly broadcasts and runs writing workshops with husband, Andy N. Amanda reads her flash fiction piece ‘Revenge of the Mannequin’ (1:20:29) and the poems ‘Seagulls of the Gym’ (1:25:48) and ‘Vultures of the Gym’ (1:28:26). Amanda’s darkly humorous work has also appeared on BBC Manchester and her poetry collections ‘Pieces of Me’ and ‘Love, Dates and Other Nightmares’ and novel ‘Ghost of Me’ are available to buy.

A huge thanks to my guests for taking part, and to you for listening. Do give the podcast a rating/some stars/a nice review if you’re enjoying it, it really helps spread the word.

** PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS EPISODE BEGINS WITH A SPOOKY SKETCH THAT CONTAINS A SINGLE SWEAR. AFTER THAT, THE LANGUAGE IS PURE POETRY – HONEST **

Poets for Ukraine https://www.facebook.com/PoetsForUkraine 
JW3 (venue for Sunday’s Poets for Ukraine event) https://www.jw3.org.uk/whats-on/poets-ukraine-gala#

Hope and Aid (for Ukraine) https://www.gofundme.com/f/poets-hope-and-aid

Goods for Good (for Ukraine) https://www.gofundme.com/f/poets-goods-for-good

Jacqueline Saphra’s website https://jacquelinesaphra.wordpress.com

Lockdown Life: A Rollercoaster of Emotions by Lisa O’Hare https://masterhousepublishing.com/shop/ols/products/lockdown-life-a-rollercoaster-of-emotions-paperback-lisa-ohare 

Lisa O’Hare’s website https://lisaoharewriter.com

Verbose at the King’s Arm in Salford https://www.facebook.com/VerboseMcr/

Speak Easy at Dulcimer in Chorlton https://www.facebook.com/groups/31201313119/

NeurodiVERSE anthology (featuring Andy N) https://flapjackpress.co.uk/shop/neurodiverse

BBC Upload opportunity https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3MPFWlx0dyTF9ZqQ6ljycgD/about

Andy N’s readings on Bandcamp https://andyn.bandcamp.com

Spoken Label podcast https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/spoken-label-andy-n-Qw1i5NKg6_Z/

Reading in Bed podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/reading-in-bed/id1501554795

Amanda’s website (as Amanda Steel) https://amandasteelwriter.wordpress.com/amanda-steel-copywriting-ghostwriting-blurbs-proofreading-editing/