The Poets

Today we have a special edition of The Poets. Local poet Ryan Flannigan recorded his double album, To Plant a Poem, by performing it live for his friends in studio with Coven Recording and Sound. This episode is a teaser with a bit of their conversations around poetry and some of the poems from the album.

You can get the full album on Bandcamp.

Ryan Flannigan (he/him) is a Denver based written and spoken-word poet who works in narrative, lyrical, and abstract forms—exploring themes of addiction, spirituality, and identity.

Follow Ryan on Instagram @flandragon.the.mighty_ish

Huge shout out and thank you to Lady Julianne and Sabrina Baker, who joined us in studio as special guests. Follow them as well @ladyjuliannee and @s.e.elune.poetry

This album was recorded and produced by Coven Recording and Sound, in case you find yourself inspired to record a project of your own (;

Mr. Bravo, aka Abraham Bravo, joins me to discuss his new book Love Hurts When Never Said, his poetry as whole, and the Slam Poetry scene in Phoenix, AZ.

Mr. Abraham Bravo is a Phoenix-based poet, performer, and author whose work bridges humor, vulnerability, and lyrical craft. He has built a reputation in the Arizona poetry scene for blending sharp wit with raw introspection, captivating audiences with both page and stage presence.

In 2023, he stepped onto the stage for his first open mic — and he hasn’t looked back since. By August 2024, he entered his first slam, and in 2025 he became the inaugural champion of the Tucson Slam.

After turning to poetry as a way to process grief and navigate mental health struggles, Mr. Bravo quickly developed a voice that resonates widely. His debut collection, Love Hurts When Never Said (October 10, 2025), gathers his signature mix of metaphor, rhythm, and emotional candor into a cohesive work that explores unspoken emotion, resilience, and identity.

Mr. Bravo doesn’t write to impress — he writes to feel, to process, to heal. His work often explores mental health struggles, identity, and grief with raw honesty. When he speaks, he only hopes you will listen.

Born some 30ish odd years ago in a Louisianan mill town called Bogalusa, Sunshine Whysteria Empress Abaddon attended the University of New Orleans for Anthropological and Film Studies for 6 years. A Hurricane Katrina survivor, she picked up and moved to Denver following her maternal grandfather's death in 2017. She is without a doubt a multi talented individual, because it says so on her business cards. In addition to poetry she has written in-depth articles for OUTFront Magazine, is a Colorado Public Notary, and Foster Mother for Denver Animal Shelter, specializing in long term care for court cases and The Denver Safe Haven Program. She also briefly worked for Former CO Rep Leslie Herod during her Mayoral Race. If you're residing in Capitol Hill you may come across her walking her Foster Dog someday.

Mitchel David Ring is a writer, poet, audio engineer, and the creator and host of The Poets, a podcast featuring poets and other artists sharing and discussing their work.

...and other poems is the debut poetry collection of Mitchel David Ring.

Print copies of ...and other poems can be purchased here.

Read (and listen to) Mitch's poetry at mitcheldavidring.com

Listen to The Poets at thepoets.co

Mitch also runs Coven Recording and Sound, a full service audio production company. Contact for inquiries at covenrecording.com

On this episode, Mitch is interviewed by his partner Lady Julianne (@ladyjuliannee @emmajuliannee) regarding his book release, poetry, love, the sacred feminine, and much more. Lady Julianne is a Denver based poet, performer, and typewriter poet who is available for bookings at ladyjulianne.co

Christian Lesniak features to share his work and discuss many topics including his poetry, to be or not to be a rapper, the use and misuse of language by the political right and left, the dangers of instant gratification when it comes to art, and much more.

Julian Thomas is an actor born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He is best known for appearing in Jordan Peele's "Hunters" (2020), ABC's "For Life" (2020), and "Day of the Dead II: Contagium" (2005). He has also appeared in numerous comedy sketches on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.

Julian Thomas graduated from the notable theatre program at Northwestern University. Most recently Julian has narrated a number of audio books in fiction and non-fiction, including "We Matter; Athletes and Activism", a collection of essays and interviews with high profile journalists, political activists and professional athletes, in which they explore the social justice landscape of today. It is available on Audible and Itunes.

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2003537/?ref_=ext_shr

Sophia Goodnight is a transgender poet and writer who has been performing at open mic nights since 2018, which also happens to be when she started transitioning. Her primary inspirations for her poetry are the declaration "it is impossible to say just what I mean!" and the question "so how should I presume?" She lives with three partners and has a fourth, which is important context for her whole deal. 

Sophia was formerly one of the hosts of the All Out Artists & Co. Open Mic, which went defunct in the wake of the pandemic. Some of her poetry can be found on tumblr at Sophia-Goodnight-Poetry, as well as on Patreon at SophiaGoodnight. In addition to her poetry, she is one of the hosts of the Star Wars Legends podcast We Have To Talk About Dash Rendar.

Arthur Bellfield is a poetic storyteller, filmmaker, wellness advocate, life coach, and cultural architect whose work bridges lyrical activism and soulful reflection. Drawing from ancestral wisdom, urban rhythms, and spiritual practice, Arthur’s voice amplifies themes of healing, resistance, and transformation. 

He founded the Colorado Springs Poetry Slam in the Spring of 2023 as a vehicle for inspiring literary, wellness, creativity, and community! 

The poetry slam host monthly events which bridge the gap between the literary arts movement and the musical sectors by empowering performers of all types and talent levels to live within their truths! 

Recently, Arthur has started conducting Poetic Wellness Workshops to give people additional tools to help them on their spiritual or healing journeys. 

www.coloradospringspoetryslam.com

https://www.fox21news.com/living-local/colorado-springs-poetry-slam-what-you-need-to-know/

https://www.visitcos.com/blog/spend-a-day-in-cos-at-these-black-owned-businesses/

S.L. Alderton is a Denver poet and librarian. Her work has appeared in publications such as Twenty Bellows, 2River View, and Suspect Press, as well as local independent zines. Her favourite things include Shakespeare, heavy metal, and British spelling. 

April Dawn's first poetry collection, “Lungs Like Elephants,” was published in 2020 and received the Langston Hughes Award from Missouri Southern State University in 2021. In 2022 she began working with 303 Magazine as a music journalist. April is passionate about words in all of their forms and expressions. Her life has been full of experiences both impossibly sour and unbelievably sweet. In all of these moments, she’s embraced the zest.

April is a proud graduate of Colorado School of the Healing Arts. She is a lover of live music and spontaneous trips to the hot springs. In her free time, you can find April eating tacos for breakfast, walking her friends’ dogs, or reading and writing in the sun. She is continuously working on her third poetry collection.