The prolific and extremely talented John Dorsey is back to discuss poetics and the many, many things he does and why he does them, as well as Richard Hugo.

Contact John directly to buy his books, but also check out Tangerine Press, Maverick Duck Press, Sacred Parasite Press, Pure Sleaze Press, because he has (or will soon have) something out on all of these presses. John will be reading in Portsmouth, Ohio on March 19, 2025, and he will be reading at the Sacramento Poetry Center later in 2025.

The multi-talented Judith Dorian joins me for a conversation about poetry, play, music, memory, and what’s worth holding onto. However, most of our conversation is about Judith’s new book Vanishment, which I consistently call the wrong name throughout the podcast. Judith has lived a fascinating life of creating art, researching the classical music canon, teaching piano, writing poetry, and living around the world. Buy Vanishment, come see Judith Dorian read her poetry at Riverstone Books in Squirrel Hill on January 14th, and buy her children’s book A Tiny Little Door because it’s wonderful.

For this episode, our most stalwart guest (Jason Baldinger) joins one of our favorite guests (James Benger) to talk about their new poetry collection Waiting on Hummingbirds, as well as James Benger’s new-ish book Floating Downstream. Through the course of our conversation we talk about poetic collaboration, old cars, and the perspective that comes when writing about youth in middle age.

You should attend the Zoom book launch for Waiting on Hummingbirds on Friday, December 6th at 8 PM Eastern Time, and buy the book from either James Benger’s Bandcamp Page or Jason Baldinger’s Bandcamp Page, and if you do, you get a bonus broadside.

You bet there’s swearin’.

Rebecca Schumejda is an excellent narrative poet and editor of Trailer Park Quarterly. In this podcast we discuss her ekphrastic collaboration with old friend of the podcast Jason Baldinger. Hope is a Prison is a collection of photographs from a former prison and sanitarium while Rebecca’s poetry tells the story of the complicated life of Liberty, a child who has seen the worst of what this world has to offer. We also discuss her books Sentenced and Waiting at the Dead End Diner. If you like this podcast, be sure to tune into the Hope is a Prison Virtual Book Launch on November 15, 2024

I swear once, because I have to.

Shannon Norman is a Pittsburgh based standup comic, barber, and runs the Good Enough Comedy Showcase. Shannon also is recording a new comedy album on September 14, 2024. Instead of talking about his new album, I engage in cynical self-promotion, we discuss being an insufferable college radio DJ, and we do talk a bit about writing comedy in the shadow of bad teenage poetry.

You really should get tickets to Shannon’s show, or another Good Enough Comedy Showcase, and maybe give Human Raccoon a listen, though it was a different Shannon Norman than the Shannon Norman that’s Shannon Normaning right now.

Yes, we swear.

This episode is about a poet I try (and fail) at emulating. John Dorsey is profoundly prolific and prolific at being profound. He publishes on average 8 to 10 books a year. This includes his greatest hits collection from the last 3 years Holocaust Agave, the forthcoming Farewell Tour from Tangerine Press in the UK, and several titles from Spartan Press. He will also be soon appearing in the Literarium. He also does a subscription model which you can find out about on John’s Facebook. You can also find him on tour in March of 2024 at Mac’s Backs on Coventry in Cleveland and Daredevil Records in Niagara Falls, as well as many other things.

Seriously, just follow John Dorsey on Facebook to find out more.

Gem Fair does literally everything, from writing about music for Pitchfork, to making music as Space Buns Forever, drumming for Big Baby, Playing second bass for Larval State, and being the front man for Positive Thinking. Gem does it all, including some stuff we forgot, like being a ring announcer for Enjoy Wrestling. And like everyone one this podcast who practices in more than one medium, we go deep on what parts of the human brain get exorcise with each medium, as well as what it means to make art before the apocalypse. Finally, be sure to check out Gem’s podcast A Dog With a Mullet.

Old friend Jason Baldinger is back with a new book and new conversation. Jason did a lot of reading from his new book American Aorta, and American Aorta comes with its own playlist! As always, Jason is super funny, engaging, and honest. Our conversation ranges from rust belt memories, travel, and the craft of poetry. Jason reads a poem about a famous Ben Shahn painting and many others. Catch Jason reading at the Poets Building Bridges Series on February 10, 2024.

Dr. Hazel is a botanist, punk bassist, artist, zine publisher, and as you will hear in this podcast, intellectual powerhouse. I learned a lot about the natural world and tried not to sound stupid. Check out her art on Instagram, and see more things Dr. Hazel created on Tumblr, Hear her talk more about post-industrial ecology on the Plant Pals Podcast.

For this episode I sit down with Pittsburgh Poet Charlie Brice to talk about his 7th and soon to be 8th books. In the process we talk about the power of humor and the persistence of memory in poetry. Charlie’s book Miracles that Keep Me Going is out now, and the best way to purchase a copy is to get one from Charlie at charlie.brice[at]gmail[dot]com, or come to the Miracles that Keep Me Going Book Launch Party at Riverstone Books in Squirrel Hill.