No Rhyme or Refill

We recorded this episode in January, but it's just now coming to you because life is hard. And that's OK.

"I think there is something in beers that I am slightly allergic to." - Erica

"I've been having a lot of dreams about giving birth, which is just a lot." - Alyx

Beer: Tangyland IPA (Sycamore Brewing)

Poetry: "I Am Montana: Student Reflections on Identity and Place" (Free Verse Writing and Second Season, 2022)

On Episode 47 of the pod, Erica brings the whimsy with the Tangyland IPA from Sycamore Brewing—a beer selected based on its colorful can—while Alyx brings the substance with readings from "I Am Montana," a book born out of the I Am Montana project. This project helps amplify lesser-heard voices, providing a platform for Montana's incarcerated youth to share their stories and counter the erasure of the prison system.

We hope you are as moved by their stories as we are, and that this episode encourages you to think about incarceration and the prison system in a new way. If you are interested in learning more about Free Verse, go to freeverseproject.org.

“What you think is going to kill you is not going to kill you” – Erica

"We believe in science and we love puns" - Our new motto

Poetry: "Horsefly Dress" by Heather Cahoon (The University of Arizona Press, 2020)

Beer: CRISPR Knockout Dry-Hopped Pilsner (Ology Brewing Co)

Girlcrush: Ursula K. Le Guin (author)

Let's be honest, we've got a lot going on these days. So instead of leaving you hanging, Alyx and Erica got together to chat about some of their fall favorites—books, records, poetry, beer, we've got it all.

Make sure to let us know if you check out any of these favorites, and we'll catch you with a full episode in a few weeks!

Poetry: "When I Grow Up I Want to Be a List of Further Possibilities" by Chen Chen

Beer: Old Stock Ale by North Coast Brewing Company

Girl Crush: Robin Wall Kimmerer (author of Braiding Sweetgrass)

In Episode 44, Erica gives us the rundown on aging beers, and then she tries the 5-year-aged Old Stock Ale by North Coast Brewing. They they read some of Chen Chen's fabulous poetry! You won't want to miss this one! Cheers.

Poetry: "Pilgrim Bell" by Kaveh Akbar

Beer: Les Rougettes by Green Bench Brewing Co. (St. Petersburg, Florida)

Girl Crush: Melissa Febos (Author of Girlhood)

It's time for Episode 43 and a whole lot of chatter about beer styles, some religion and spirituality, and more. Erica brings to the table a grisette—the pod's first (we think), and one that features foxes on the label. We also have our first duplicate poet with Kaveh Akbar's "Pilgrim Bell" (check out Ep. 22) for our first episode with Akbar's poems!

Crack open a beer or your favorite beverage, and enjoy the conversation. Cheers!

Poetry: "Its Day Being Gone" by Rose McLarney (Penguin Poets, 2014)

Beer: Escape Button from Athentic Brewing (Athens, GA)

Girl Crush: Stephanie Beatriz Bischoff Alvizuri (who plays Rosa Diaz in Brooklyn 99)

In the 42nd Episode, Alyx and Erica chat about a new micro-brewery that just celebrated their one-year anniversary, Athentic Brewing. They talk about the Escape Button IPA and then read some poetry from "Its Day Being Gone" by Rose McLarney, who often writes about southern Appalachia, and is currently teaching writing at Auburn University. We talk ecopoetry, bobcats and how the world is sort of ending. Cheers!

Beer: The Dude's Rug from B. Nektar Meadery (Ferndale, Michigan)

Poetry: "Eye Leve" by Jenny Xie (Graywolf Press, 2018)

Girl Crush: Maria Taylor, sports commentator and UGA grad

We said we would be back, and we're holding up our end of the promise! For episode 41, Alyx and Erica discuss The Dude's Rug — a cider with chai spices from B. Nektar — and Erica gives a quick lesson on The Big Lebowski. (Disclaimer, Erica re-watched the movie after recording this episode and apologizes for the plot inaccuracies in her recap. It was fueled by the time she watched the movie five years ago). Alyx also brings poetry from Eye Level by Jenny Xie, a book that highlights belonging, travel, immigration and finding yourself.

Grab a beer or other beverage and grab a book, and enjoy the ride! Also please get vaccinated.

No Rhyme or Refill is back for the rest of 2021!

Beer: Manic Pixie Dream #2 from Second Self Brewing Company (Atlanta, GA)

Poetry: "Oceanic" by Aimee Nezhukumatathil (Copper Canyon Press, 2018)

Girl Crush: Michelle Zauner, fabulous author, musician and the force behind the indie band Japanese Breakfast

After a much longer than anticipated break(hey, we needed it!), Erica and Alyx are back with new episodes of No Rhyme or Refill for the rest of summer 2021 and onward. With master degrees under their belts, a new job for Alyx and a new house for Erica, they're settling back into a beer lovin' and poetry praisin' routine.

This week, Erica introduces us to our first ever barleywine, Manic Pixie Dream #2, from a favorite brewery Second Self, and Alyx chats about aubades and the force of beauty that is Aimee Nezhukumatathil's "Oceanic" book. Episode 40 also features a knife lesson from Erica, whether people who don't typically like beer would like barleywines, and a fabulous poem that involves the gigantic whale shark. Cheers!

Also recommended: Aimee Nezhukumatathil's "World of Wonders"

"That's what our podcast should be... the study of the first poem in books."

"If you're grabbing this out of your friend's cooler, you best hope that they are giving you the warning about it because it is SO smooth!"

Beer: Seal Your Face Double IPA (Cahaba Brewing Company, Birmingham, AL)

Poetry: Citizen Illegal by José Olivarez (Haymarket Books, 2018)

Girl Crush: MissOrchidGirl on YouTube

In this week's episode, we talk about the smooth drinking that is Cahaba Brewing Company's 9.2 ABV Double IPA, Seal Your Face, and about their scholarship program for women in Birmingham to take the level 1 Cicerone Certification for beer! Then we talk about José Olivarez's first book, Citizen Illegal. Cheers!

“Rah rah seltzers.”

Beer: Sonic Seltzer from Variant Brewing (Roswell, GA)

Poetry: “Fanny Says” by Nickole Brown

Girl Crush: TheCottageFairy

On today’s pod, we stray away from the beer but stick with the craft as Erica discusses a craft seltzer from Variant Brewing. We also address the seltzer hate and why haters are just wrong. For poetry, Alyx brings back some Southern roots and things we didn’t know we needed to learn about Crisco. Kick back and enjoy, and maybe join as we all contemplate “Fuck.”