We're back with another banger - Rachel Long was the season finale to our first series of the podcast back when everything was online, so it was a joy to have her in person as a new Margate Local! 

Recorded in October last year and released just in time for Rachel's new book, Sparrow on a Rooftop, coming out in June, it was amazing to hear Rachel's insight as an editor, her stunning work as a writer, and her warmth and generosity in everything in-between. Featuring poems about swimming, dummies, love, sandwiches, the goodness of people, and more. 

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did x

Hello friends - we are back with what can only be described as a classic. Returning to the glorious ARK in Margate with the glorious Caitlin O'Ryan. Caitlin is a brilliant poet and actor and was also the host for my favourite podcast guest appearance when I went on her podcast a few years ago so I was very excited to try and return the favour. We talk about poetry origins stories, slams, going viral, how to value your work vs getting affirmation from others, becoming the face/voice of a movement, and a frankly excellent story about stamps. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

You can pick up Caitlin's book here and follow her here

Hello Friends,

Our final international instalment comes all the way from mighty Scotland! Streamed live at Greenbelt Festival, I am joined by the fantastic Len Pennie to talk about her new collection Poems Annaw (now a Sunday Times bestseller!), how she is the Wario to Robert Burns' Mario, her love of Scots, and her disdain for a themed collection among other things. It is the most I have ever felt roasted by a guest and I loved every second of it, I hope you do too.

We're back, baby! Another international special courtesy of Greenbelt festival, we have the wonder that is Luka Lesson all the way from Australia! 

It's been over a decade since me and Luka last crossed paths and it was worth the wait in every sense. We talk about poetry slam origins to writing and performing for longer form, the lifespan of a poem, the skillset a performance poet picks up, the Joy of missing out, and so so much more. 

We have one more international guest to come, then it's back to Margate - thanks for rocking with us!

Season 5 Baby! 

We're kicking off with a collab of dreams that is enough to restore your faith in the internet. Lyndsay Rush aka Mary Oliver's Drunk Cousin has made me laugh and cry from halfway around the world and it turns out my poetry had been doing exactly the same thing to her, so what better excuse to have our first of three Worldwide International guests to kick off this season. We talk poems and jokes, faith and doubt, a truly blue finale and so much more. This was filmed at Greenbelt festival with Lyndsay streaming in in front of a live audience, and as such our sound saint Buddy had his work cut out to clean up the audio, but I hope you'll agree he has worked wonders and it is absolutely worth it.

See you at the next one x

Hello friends,

It's been a long time coming but i think you'll agree it's worth the wait. Our final guest of Season 4 is the one and only Lemn Sissay ! Lemn came earlier in the year but the recordings were lost forevermore so we had to have him back. One of my absolute favourite poets, it was a joy to sit down and discuss old and new work, there being no one way to write a poetry book, challenging people's opinions of you, and the importance of letting yourself be magical among other bits. What a ride! 

He's back! With a record third appearance on the show, it's everyone's favourite lizardy lyrical wizard - singer-storyteller Gecko! Recorded back in March and release just in time for his Autumn tour of his NEW ALBUM, we talk about the origins of our friendship, the difference between a gig and a show, playing at each others weddings, regional food-based misunderstandings, the process of making an album as well as some stunning songs (and poems!) in amongst it all.

I hope you love it as much as I do.

Our superstar season continues with the one and only Hollie McNish! Hollie is one of my favourite poets and one of my favourite people and it was a joy to have her for a live recording of Something Borrowed ON TOUR in Bath. We discuss body parts we're proud of, the bits between the poems, Hollie's editing process, friendship, parenting, reviews, and Hollie brings a triple whammy blue poem to finish - what an absolute treat !

We are joined this month by the one and only Maria Ferguson! For our Something Old(s) we dive back to the last time we saw each other at the Edinburgh Fringe for a heady mix of falafel and UK Garage and it just gets better from there. We go on to discuss Maria's fantastic new collection Swell, writing about the difficult bits of motherhood, a songs of praise poppadom-based warmup and much more, featuring a guest visit from the pope and a Harry Styles Cameo. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. 

You can order Maria's fantastic book here

You can pre-order my book (!) here

Something Borrowed on Tour! The first of two episodes recorded at the fantastic Bath Komedia featuring fellow Poetry Team GB Alumni Vanessa Kisuule! Vanessa is one of my favourite poets and people and I could happily talk to her for hours, so it was a joy to have an excuse to do so in front of a live audience! Vanessa is constantly pushing her writing in both craft and content, and willing to tackle nuance and grey areas in a way so many shy away from, and just happens to be incredibly funny in the process. We talk about octopuses, wellies, irrepressible optimism, racist neighbours, and her new book Neverland! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did x