We, The Poets

Recorded at Backland Studios, this episode features a brilliant, honest chat with Hollie McNish — poet, performer, and bestselling author. We talk about creativity, criticism (including that PN Review moment), why simplicity in writing takes real craft, and how Hollie balances poetry and motherhood (including the story of her daughter quietly sitting behind the curtain at gigs).

We also dive into the world of performance poetry vs. page poetry, and the bigger conversation about elitism, accessibility, and who gets to be called a poet — with plenty of laughs, reflections, and warmth along the way.

Plus, we share powerful new poems from Stu Freestone and Silje Stromsten, and Hollie reads a moving piece from her upcoming book Virgin, celebrating love, family, and the small food and drink rituals that connect us. Somehow, this episode ended up with a lot of poems about snacks, meals, and cups of tea — lucky us! Whether you’re a seasoned writer, just starting out, or just here to listen in — there’s something here for you.

We’d love to feature your work on a future episode! Send recordings of your poems to Silje Stromsten on Facebook

We're kicking off Season 2 of We, The Poets with a deep dive into the power of names and poetry that pays attention. Jay Sandhu and Mark Grist sit down with award-winning poet Theresa Lola to talk about her stunning new collection, Ceremony for the Nameless—a rich, resonant exploration of identity, memory, and language.

We get into:

Why names carry such weight in our lives and our writing.

The difference between writing poetry and short stories.

How poets like Neruda and Dickinson find magic in the mundane.

Some helfpul rituals and routines that shape the creative process.

The evolving power of poem titles—especially when students rename your work!

Plus, fresh new pieces from James Domestic and Hannah Walker, and a few surprising tangents (as always).

📚 Buy Theresa’s collection: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/462275/ceremony-for-the-nameless-by-lola-theresa/9781802065794

We’re back for Season 2— bigger, bolder and packed with more poetry goodness than ever before! For the first time, all five of your hosts—Charley Genever, Keely Mills, Leanne Moden, Jay Sandhu and Mark Grist—are in the same room at the same time at Backland Studios in Oundle, (UK). Expect joyful chaos, heartfelt confessions, terrible old poems and unexpected wisdom as we catch up, share our poetic ‘superpowers’ (and our kryptonites), and reflect on what it really means to be a poet right now.

In this warm and welcoming season opener, we talk about the challenges of creative life, the lessons we’ve learned the hard way, and what you can expect from this season’s incredible guests—including Theresa Lola, Hollie McNish, Murray Lachlan Young and Raymond Antrobus. We also share how you can send in your own questions or poems to be featured in the show.

Thank you to Arts Council England for making Season 2 possible through our successful Project Grant. We’re thrilled to be back—and we can’t wait for you to join us.

Things get spicy in this brand-new episode of We, The Poets! Recorded at Backland Studios and produced by our sound wizard Chris Barn, this one sees Mark Grist, Keely Mills, and Charley Genever reflecting on everything we’ve learned during Season 1—and getting properly stuck into this episode’s bold and blush-worthy theme: NSFW.

Expect racy, rude, and deeply personal poetry as we celebrate intimacy, honesty, and the parts of ourselves we usually keep under wraps. This episode is 100% for grown-ups—and definitely not one to play on speaker at work!

We’re also featuring incredible submissions from:

Thanks to everyone who submitted work for Season 1 – we’ve had an absolute blast, and Season 2 is just around the corner... 👀

#WeThePoets #PoetryPodcast #NSFWPoetry #SpokenWord #SeasonFinale #AdultPoetry

Episode 8 is all about the wonderfully unpredictable A.F. Harrold—children's poet, author and the creative force behind the Fizzlebert Stump series and The Imaginary, which recently soared to new heights with a Netflix adaptation by animation studio Studio Ponoc. Hosted by Charley Genever and Mark Grist, this episode delves into the art of writing short poems for kids vs. longer children’s novels, plus the whirlwind of seeing your story transform into a movie.

A.F. also shares insights on performing in schools, staying creatively fresh, and what’s on the horizon. We’ve even got two brilliant listener poems from David and Yashvi that you won’t want to miss! Recorded at Backland Studios by Chris Barn, it’s a must-listen for anyone curious about weaving words for young readers. Check out more of A.F. Harrold’s work here, including ways to book a poetry postcard subscription for your school: https://afharroldkids.com/. Enjoy!

In this episode of We, The Poets, hosts Mark Grist, Keely Mills, and Leanne Moden are joined by the brilliant Joshua Idehen to explore the dynamic fusion of poetry and music. Joshua shares insights from his artistic journey, including his transition from spoken word to music and the creation of his new poetry collection, Songbook: Collected Works (published by Bad Betty Press). We discuss the power of collaboration, the lessons learned from failure, and how to navigate the unique challenges of performing poetry with and without music.

This episode also features two of Joshua’s evocative poems, "Mum Does the Washing" and "Learning to Swim," and a guest poem from Harry Wilding. Recorded at Backland Studios with sound production by Chris Barn, this episode is an inspiring deep dive into the intersection of rhythm, words, and resilience. Tune in and join the conversation!

In this episode, hosts Mark Grist, Charley Genever, and Keely Mills sit down with the incredible Jess Green at Backland Studios. We delve into Jess's journey from the spoken word scene to writing for television, including popular soaps and her recent work on the new Paramount series Curfew. Join us as we explore the challenges of transitioning between creative mediums, the importance of authenticity, and how to maintain confidence amidst rejection and public scrutiny.

Featuring additional poetry from Sarah Waites and Lizzy Dening.

In this midway point episode, Mark returns from the Edinburgh Fringe and chats with Chris Barn, our rock 'n' roll Sound Sorcerer from Backland Studios, about his experiences. Mark also interviews international poet Gig Bella about her show Big Feelings, her writing style, and her journey (and fitness routine) as she prepares for Edinburgh.

There's also an insightful piece from Samantha Goodlett on accessibility (or the lack of it) in architecture, plus a callout for submissions for our final three episodes of the series. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to hit the Fringe as a poet or want tips on making the most of it, this is the episode for you!

In this episode, we dive deep into the art of putting together a successful national tour with the incredible Harry Baker. Joining the conversation are Mark Grist and Keely Mills, with local arts legend Tony Nero guest hosting as well. We explore everything from knowing when your tour is ready, building a solid touring structure, mastering the art of contacting venues, and how to focus your energy in the right places and staying true to yourself in the ever-changing industry. 

Plus, we've got stunning new poetry from Beccy Golding and Aaron Isaac, and even take a moment to discuss the nuances of memorizing work. This episode is packed with insights, inspiration, and practical advice for creatives at any stage of their journey. Don't miss it!

Mark Grist, Leanne Moden, and Charley Genever chat with Jasmine Gardosi about her experiences applying for and being the poet laureate of Birmingham, the knockbacks she received along the way, and the incredible ways Jasmine has evolved as she gained a greater understanding of the letters that help define her identity.

Link to We, the Poets workshop signup: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/leanne-moden-19985031763

Link to Jasmine's rollercoaster poem: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IFMpF6JIko&ab_channel=NationalLiteracyTrust

Link to JAsmine's 'Dancing to Music you Hate': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEOImvSX6LY&ab_channel=JasmineGardosi

Find more out about Jasmine's work here: https://www.jasminegardosi.com/

Link to Tara Singh's workshop series: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/speak-the-word-poetry-salon-33042426159