Thru the Mill with Marc Kelly Smith

As a BONUS TRACK, Chuck Perkins reads "What I Learned Versus What I Knew" from Beautiful and Ugly Too.

In this Episode, we return to the early days of the Poetry Slam with Chuck Perkins. Currently, a leading voice in New Orleans and author of the book, Beautiful and Ugly Too, Chuck discusses his formative years of poetry in Chicago and life before his time at New Orleans' Cafe Istanbul.

Recorded by Tony Green
Edited by Kevin O'Rourke
Produced by Emily Calvo
Directed by Hugh Schulze

As a graduate in physics from the University of Pavia, Filippo Capobianco finds the humor and humanity in the fusion of science and poetry. In this episode, you can hear why his performances in English and Italian have won him international acclaim.

Recorded by Tony Green
Edited by Kevin O'Rourke
Produced by Emily Calvo
Directed by Hugh Schulze

With over 20 years on the Slam Poetry scene (and several books of poetry under his belt), Scott joins Mark to discuss his experience—and shares two of his poems.

Recorded by Tony Green
Edited by Kevin O'Rourke
Produced by Emily Calvo
Directed by Hugh Schulze

Madagascar is 9,332 miles from Chicago as the Malagasy Kingfisher flies. That's where Poetry Slam impresario, Marc Smith, flew to join the thriving Slam community there. In this episode, you'll meet, Bini Josoa, a Madagaslam International Project Manager, and hear him perform some of his own poetry. Check out one more reason Slam Poetry is having an international impact.

Recorded by Tony Green
Edited by Kevin O'Rourke
Produced by Emily Calvo
Directed by Hugh Schulze

In which Marc and Mark finally get around to talking to Cin about Sheila Donohue, Betty's Mouth and other slam poetry innovations.

Recorded by Joe Velez

Edited by Kevin O'Rourke

Produced by Emily Calvo

Directed by Hugh Schulze

In this episode, poet Cin Salach takes us back to the mid-1980's when she walked into her first Poetry Slam and experienced a "spiritual chiropractic adjustment." How big an adjustment? She quit her job, has pursued poetry ever since, and Slam Poetry has never been quite the same.

Recorded by Joe Velez

Edited by Kevin O'Rourke

Produced by Emily Calvo

Directed by Hugh Schulze

Tony Fitzpatrick shares some of his latest haiku with Marc and Mark. He also delves into a bit of haiku history and the inspiration from his correspondence with former U.S. poet laureate, Ted Kooser.

Recorded by Tony Scott-Green

Edited by Kevin O'Rourke

Produced by Emily Calvo

Directed by Hugh Schulze

Artist-poet-actor-and-raconteur Tony Fitzpatrick stops by to talk with Marc and Mark about the history of the Slam and how it’s changed since 1986. He also shares one of his early poems: “Poem for My Wife While She Sleeps.” (Find out more about his work at: tonyfitzpatrick.co/)

Recorded by Tony Scott-Green and Joe Velez
Edited by Kevin O'Rourke
Produced by Emily Calvo
Directed by Hugh Schulze

The episode opens with Billy performing his quintessentially Chicago classic: Poem for Lennard. Then he continues the conversation with Marc and Mark about his Bridgeport roots.

(If you're looking for more of Billy's writing, check out Morning Will Come.)

Recorded by Tony Scott-Green and Joe Velez

Edited by Kevin O'Rourke

Produced by Emily Calvo

Directed by Hugh Schulze