Scottish Poetry Library Podcast

Colin heads down to the launch of the 2010 One City One Edinburgh literature campaign, which this year is focusing on the poems we carry with us and includes a free collection of poems given out all across the city called "Carry A Poem". Including snippets from Ken Cockburn, Ron Butlin, Stuart Kelly, Sara Grady and charming couple Mark and Elena Fraser. Ryan also asks Colin what his Carry A Poem choices would be. Find out more at http://www.carryapoem.com and follow them on Twitter @carryapoem Presented by Ryan van Winkle. Produced by Colin Fraser. Incidental music by Ewen Maclean.

In the final part of our Highland trilogy, Ryan chats with John Glenday about what it's like to be a drug counsellor and a poet, which poem he carries with him and we get an opportunity to hear John read from new collection, "Grain", from Picador. We also have the track "Nothing to Hold Onto" by Kim Edgar, which was a response to a work by John during the 7 Short Sails project- more info on that may found at http://tinyurl.com/johnglenday and Kim's website is http://kimedgar.com Presented by Ryan van Winkle. Produced by Colin Fraser. Incidental music by Ewen Maclean. Mail: [email protected]

In the second of our Scottish Highland trilogy of podcasts, Ryan is up in Portree chatting to Gaelic poet Maoilios Caimbeul (Myles Campbell) and English poet Mark O. Goodwin about their new book, "The Two Sides of the Pass", a conversation in poems across two languages and the landscape of the Isle of Skye. Presented by Ryan van Winkle. Produced by Colin Fraser. Incidental music by Ewen Maclean.

In our first podcast of the year Ryan presents the first of his interviews from a recent trip to the Scottish Highlands, and he starts the ball rolling with poet, novelist and playwright Hamish MacDonald, director of the beautiful creative writing centre Moniack Mhor. We also have a haunting track from Shelia K Cameron, "Last NIght I Dreamed About Doris Lessing". Presented by Ryan van Winkle. Produced by Colin Fraser. Incidental music by Ewen Maclean.

In this Festivus podcast we feature a specially commissioned interpretation of the classic Christmas poem "A Visit from St Nicholas" aka "Twas the Night Before Christmas" from the amazing Toby Mottershead and some of Black Diamond Express. And as home is something many of us return to at this time of year, we've also a discussion on poetry and homecoming between New Zealand born Robyn Marsack, Director of the Scottish Poetry Library, and Connecticut bred Ryan van Winkle, Reader in Residence at the SPL and Edinburgh City Libraries. They talk about their respective journeys to Scotland from their native lands and explore the influence of the poems they have brought with them from their homes and a few they have picked up along the way.

We ask the fine people of the Scottish Poetry Library which poetry books they'd recommend for seasonal gifts, and Ryan catches up with multi-talented writer Kapka Kassabova for an scintillating interview. Presented by Ryan van Winkle. Produced by Colin Fraser. Incidental music by Ewen Maclean.

Ryan chats with Francis Bickmore, senior editor at Canongate Books, and Toby Mottershead of Black Diamond Express about their favourite poem, Coleridge's "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner". Their discussion covers Nick Cave, Iron Maiden, what we expect from literature and how poetry can fit neatly into a busy schedule, among other things. Also features the track "Jack" by Black Diamond Express. Presented by Ryan van Winkle. Produced by Colin Fraser. Incidental music by Ewen Maclean. For feedback, mail [email protected]

In this bumper packed edition of the SPL Podcast, Ryan chats with actors Gilchrist Muir and Jamie Gordon about reciting poetry to all and sundry at the Poetry Garden in St Andrews Square. He also discusses poetry and hip-hop with multi-talented poet and performer Alasdair Maloney whose track "Thunder and Sun" with his band Sileni rounds off this week's episode. Presented by Ryan van Winkle. Produced by Colin Fraser. Incidental music by Ewen Maclean. For feedback, mail [email protected]

Ryan catches up with American/Australian poet Emily Ballou just before her event at the SPL. They discuss what it's like to be a poet abroad, the influences on her work and her recent collection, "The Darwin Poems". We're also treated to "Bluegrass", a poem by Ryan, with musical accompaniment by Jed Milroy. Presented by Ryan van Winkle. Produced by Colin Fraser. Incidental music by Ewen Maclean. For feedback, mail [email protected]

In this week's episode Ryan tells us about the Global Poetry System project he's been helping organise and how you can take part in it. He also catches up with poet Andrew Philip who discusses the poem that he carries with him, his views on poetry and reads us a poem from his recent collection "The Ambulance Box." Making his debut in front of the microphone, Colin speaks with another Salt Publishing poet, Julia Bird who discusses her live literature tour "You Are Here" that takes poetry into theatres in England. Presented by Ryan van Winkle. Produced by Colin Fraser. Incidental music by Ewen Maclean. For feedback, mail [email protected]