It's All Poetry

Oh, hello to all you Prizefighting Poets, Warring Wordsmiths, and Vying Verbivores! Welcome back to It's All Poetry and the season we're lovingly referring to as “The Bitter Taste.”

In this episode, Nicole engages in a one-on-one discussion with writer, conflict facilitator, and author of Intimate Practice, Shivani Mehta Bhatia. And it's all about conflict.

Nicole and Shivani dive into one of our most uncomfortable words, exploring its history, its violent associations, and its surprisingly generative possibilities. They question the idea that conflict is simply something we're good or bad at and instead reframe it as a practice we can develop. Along the way, they explore the fears that fuel our disagreements and the ways tension can sometimes lead to growth.

So, let's hit pause on The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives and forget all about fight or flight. Because sometimes, the medicine we need comes with that familiar “Bitter Taste.” And remember, it'll all be “Pollyanna,” probably... as we define conflict.

Further Research

• You can find more information about Shivani here - https://www.shivani.co/
• Subscribe to the Intimate Practice Newsletter -  https://shivanimehtabhatia.kit.com/
• As always, you can reach the team at [email protected]

Oh, hello to all you Piloted Poets, Logical Linguists, and Finely Tuned Phoneticists! Welcome to Season 6 of It’s All Poetry! Or, as we’re lovingly referring to it, “The Bitter Taste…”.

This season, we’re going to be looking at words that sometimes leave a bitter taste in our mouths. In our first episode, Nicole sits down with Brigitte Flick, a systems and self-care witch who builds intentional systems for neurodivergent creatives who want to feel proud, be successful, and get shit done.
     
Brigitte and Nicole dig into the etymology and peel back the rigid, rule-bound associations of “structure” to discover something much more forgiving. Together, they explore how the right structures can support all our lives and why borrowing someone else’s perfect morning routine might be doing more harm than good.

So grab yourself a bagel with almond butter, have yourself a nice “brain dump,” and let’s take a closer look at that pile of dirty laundry as we try to make bitter a bit better… with structure.

Further Research

• You can find out more from Brigitte here - https://www.brigitteflick.studio
• And find out more about her free energy experiment workshop here - https://www.brigitteflick.studio/energy-experiment-its-all-poetry
• As always, you can reach the team at [email protected]

Oh, hello to all you Public Poets, Local Linguists, and Neighborhood Nerds of Everything Word. In the final episode of this season, Nicole is joined by the founder of Barre Roots and, of course, her mentor Kelly Porter.

Together, Kelly and Nicole explore the history of the word community, why belonging has almost nothing to do with place, and how something as simple as remembering someone's job interview can transform a group of people into something that feels like home.

So get ready to take a walk, talk about the weird things, and remember: stop worrying and love the disco ball as we define community.

Further Research

• Learn more about Barre Roots: https://www.barreroots.com/
• Follow Barre Roots on Instagram for studio updates, classes: https://www.instagram.com/barreroots
• Read more about the poet Rumi, whose quote on community opens a beautiful conversation in this episode.
• Explore the work of Ursula K. Le Guin and Kurt Vonnegut, whose reflections on listening and loneliness shape the episode's final discussion.

Oh hello, to all you "Piling Poets," "Scoffing Scops," and "Wide-Eyed Versifiers." We're continuing this season's theme of 'Mentor'tainers as Nicole sits down with poet, novelist, playwright, and her own college writing professor of twenty years, Jim Peterson, to discuss the word poet.

They explore the word's many meanings, from its plainest root to its modern reputation for genius, sensitivity, and gatekeeping. Together, they discuss: whether poets choose their poems or the poems choose them, why free will might be a myth, and what furniture makers and tennis players have in common with sonnets.

So, let's rest our eyes at the red light, look at the edge of the tree instead of the tree, and buy our books from our indie publishers.

Further Research

• Jim's books, including Towheaded Stone Thrower: The Harriet Poems, are available directly from Press 53 — https://www.press53.com/jim-peterson
• More of Jim's work at Red Hen Press — https://redhen.org/book_author/jim-peterson/
• And at Gunpowder Press, publisher of Original Face — https://gunpowderpress.com
• If you buy a book, buy it from the indie publisher.
• As always, you can reach the team at [email protected]

Oh hello, to all you "Penciling Poets," "Lithoing Lexophiles," and "Verbalizing Vocababulists." We're continuing this season's theme of 'Mentor'tainers as Nicole sits down with the creator of the Comprehensive Copywriting Academy and longtime mentor, Nicki Krawczyk, to discuss the word copy.

They explore the word's many meanings, from its older roots in reproduction and news to its modern role in marketing and persuasion. Together, they trace how the word evolved across centuries, why it still causes confusion, and how it connects to ideas like abundance, power, and creative strategy.

So, let's order some hors d'oeuvres for the table, pick a fight with our favorite AI model, and get ready to learn the best-kept secret in writing as we define copy. And remember... your handwriting doesn't matter.

Further Research 

• You can find Nicki and the Comprehensive Copywriting Academy here - https://thecca.co/
• As always, you can reach the team at [email protected]

Oh, hello to all you "Planting Poets," "Laboring Linguists," and "Weeding Word Nerds," and welcome to Episode 60 of It's All Poetry. This week's episode is an absolute treat as Nicole is joined once again by Notion teacher, digital gardener, and, of course, mentor, Podge Thomas. The two sit down for a wonderfully thought-provoking conversation about the word garden.

Together, Nicole and Podge dig into the surprising history of gardens, the connection between tending plants and tending ideas, and why reclaiming curiosity is one of the most meaningful acts of resistance.

So get ready to bring your curiosity back to life, find some joy in what you've made, and hopefully know something today that you didn't yesterday as we talk garden. And remember... the office plants are not as real they look.

Further Research - 

• Be sure to check out Podge's Website - https://www.podgethomas.com/

As always, you can reach the team at [email protected]

Oh, hello to all you Packaged Poets, Localized Linguists, and Encapsulating Etymologists! And welcome back to Season 5 of It's All Poetry! We're so glad to have you here and greatly appreciate you joining us. This season is all about mentors, and to start things off, we have a captivating conversation about container.

Nicole sits down with creativity advisor, director of cross-disciplinary programs in higher education, and mentor Catherine LaSota. They trace container all the way back through its etymology and discover a bit of tension between “holding and stretching,” “support and restraint,” and “protection and control.” They also discuss the more nefarious side of container and why the best and most important creative containers are the ones you build yourself.

So throw away your used-up candle collection, decorate your walls with piano guts, and fill a discarded toilet with plaster as we dive down the proverbial rabbit hole (rabbit container?) of words and weird art. And remember... all the cool people have multiple beverages.

Further Research

• Be sure to check out Catherine's work -catherinelasota.com
• As always, you can reach the team at [email protected]

Oh, hello to all you Picketing Poets, Lie-In Linguists, and Walkout Word Nerds.

In this week's episode, Nicole is joined by Alexa Speed, an old friend, former colleague, and the creator behind Cut Off The Spigot.

Nicole and Alexa dive into the unexpected and surprisingly recent history of the word boycott. A word born in rural Ireland that became a global tool for resistance.

So grab your picket signs, fill your water bottles with "billionaires' tears," and remember that here, we have "No Kings" as we define boycott.

*Also just a heads up this episode may set off your home smart devices. Thanks for listening!*

Further Research

• Be sure to check out Cut Off the Spigot - https://cutoffthespigot.com/
• Also on Substack - https://cutoffthespigot.substack.com/
• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cutoffthespigot
• Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/cw/CutOfftheSpigot
• As always, you can reach the team at [email protected]

Oh, hello to all you Punctilious Poets, Long-Standing Linguists, and Venerable Vocab-ulites. In this week's episode, Nicole is joined by the founder of Kindred and Kin, Juliette Joseph, to discuss the word ritual.

Together, Nicole and Juliette trace its meaning from the present-day little rituals that help keep us sane back to the ancient rituals that were meant to keep the Earth spinning.

So, let's forget the daily routine, pour a nice warm bath (Lego optional), and press that proverbial reset button. And remember: healing yourself is a non-negotiable... as we define ritual.

Further Research

• You can find out more about Kindred and Kin here - https://kindredandkin.com/
• Also check out their Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/wearekindredandkin/
• As always, you can reach the team at [email protected]

Oh, hello to all you Partnered Poets, Like-Minded Linguists, and Gregarious Grammatists. In this week's episode, Nicole sits down with writer, facilitator, and mother Sara El-Sayeh to discuss the word belonging.

As Nicole and Sara trace the roots of the word, they uncover surprising connections between longing, community, and the human need to be woven into something larger than ourselves.

So take a break from the chaos, cook a random meal with a friend, and keep an eye out for wandering cats... as we define belonging.

Further Research

• Be sure to check out Sara's Instagram here - https://www.instagram.com/sara.el.sayeh/
• And Sara's Substack Blaqube here - https://blaqube.substack.com/
• As always, you can reach the team at [email protected]