ELIZA FIVER is a poet and spoken word artist from North London that survived art school to write poems as she speaks to rooms full of people.

Nols and Eliza make some automatic poems, get very off track and put the London spoken word scene to rights.

Eliza's first poetry showcase is at TRADE STARS in Islington on the 14th August 2025.

Give Eliza a follow @elizafiver on instagram

Sign up to the patreon.com/makepoetryweirdgain to access the bonus episode where we read Eliza's tarot.

Bună Ziua!

Nols is joined by Thea, a resident artist at the Roundhouse for 2025, a silly messy artist and the humblest slam poet on the scene. Thea is currently working on a bilingual show called:

IF I WERE TO SAY IT IN ENGLISH

Thea's instagram is @that1thea - FOLLOW NOW

Nols and Thea make poems to the following prompts

Things that hang - 3 mins

Write your horoscope for last year - 3 mins

Tell your father how you are winning - 3 mins

Thea recommends the following poets!

Bogdan Pălici @bogdanpalici

Olga Ștefan @olga.stefan.kantor

Tyrone Lewis @tyronelewis

Cătălin Iovu @iamthepartyinsideyourhead

Kayla Feldman @kaylamtf

Răzvan Omotă @razvan.omota

Bradley Taylor @bradleytaylorpoet

Eva Luca @cerneala.inalta

Bella Cox @Bellacoxpoet

Anastasia Gavrilovici @anastasiagavrilovici

Lola Theresa @theresa_lola

Festival: Transylvania Spoken Word Festival @transylvaniaspokenword

Catch Thea at open mics around London

Team Thea T-Shirts available soon

Patreon.com/makepoetryweirdagain

Nols Nathankski and friend of the show Stevie Grant make a special episode to promote Stevie's fundraiser for Hackney Night Shelter on the 22nd January 2026 at Stoke Newington Bookshop.

Stevie Grant is a poet, performer and emergency shelter worker from Hackney who works with the people suffering from homelessness in London.

Nols and Stevie make prompts for each other and make poems on the show.

They also perform new material they have both been working on.

If you wish to support Hackney Night Shelter please make a donation.

We need your support | Hackney Night Shelter

If you would like to know more about volunteering for Hackney Night Shelter email: volunteer@hackneydoorways.org.uk

Find Hackney Night Shelter on insta: https://www.instagram.com/hackneynightshelter?igsh=MTFtMGUycTdwNTdxOQ==

Find Stevie at SteviePoems on insta: https://www.instagram.com/steviepoems?igsh=MW83Z3A4Mzl0MzFrYg==

Ticket page: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/hackneynightshelter1/2002560

Don't bother signing up to the Patreon - give your money to someone that needs it.

www.patreon.com/makepoetryweirdagain

Trigger warning: Death, Cancer, medical scenes, invasive surgery, lots of swearing.

Nols first episode of 2026 looking back at a year of medical drama. The poems in this episode were made across 2025 around the multiple hospital and doctors visits Nols has to find out if he is dying too quickly or not.

Nols explores how death and dying have been key influences on his poetry and his life in 2025 and the experience of navigating a national health service that is slowly being eaten up by private interests.

Nols reads i like your body from page 10 of e.e. cumming's collected poems 1923-1958 E. E. Cummings: Selected Poems 1923-1958 | Faber Poetry

Nols reads Heat Map by Richard Siken Heat Map | Poem

and Pain Scale by Richard Siken out now in Rattle Magazine 89 -Pain Scale by Richard Siken - Rattle: Poetry #89 – Fall 2025 - Rattle: Poetry

Find more Richard's work here: www.richard-siken.com

Nols recites Bill Knott's 'Death' from his first book The Naomi Poems Corpse and Beans out now on Black Ocean Press The Naomi Poems: Corpse and Beans by Bill Knott — Black Ocean

Nols also plays recordings of voicenotes and works to several prompts.

If you have been effected by this episode reach out to a friend or family member or email nols@makepoetryweirdagain.com and make some poetry out of it.

Keep this podcast going at www.patreon.com/makepoetryweirdagain

Nols Nathankski sits down with his bestie Ivka Fox for a giggle. Ivka is a Bulgarian popstar, singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, writer and actress. They discuss why she is most certainly NOT a poet. Ivka debut's "Shes a Gaslight" one of the new tracks she is working on which can be heard at the start of the episode.

Ivka suggested the idea of Nols making a podcast so this is all her fault. They discuss making poems as a baby, what poems to read an alien baby locked in a basement and why too many people are practicing at the Open Mic.

Ivka and Nols make poems with prompts from Redeeming Features. 

Ivka reads from Ella Frears Shine, Darling , the Koestler trust new poetry from prisons Vol.1 and Nol's unreleased pamphlet. 

Check out Ivka's latest movie project below;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cp5eHk1RTBY

Check out Ivka's past musical projects below;

Tapeheart | Drop Out Venus

Supercool | Dark Willow

Contact her @ivka_369 on instagram to give her a publishing deal.

Keep this podcast going by supporting us on www.patreon.com/makepoetryweirdagain

Nols Nathankski & Annika Paniza celebrate William Blake's 268th birthday! 

Annika is a writer and poet currently living in Brighton. Annika and Nols discuss Annika's brilliant idea for an open mic centred around navigating queer relationships in a vegan restaurant. They obsess about finding the infinity in the ordinary and why mental health walks always make the best poems.

They make Blakean prompts with the help of an english teacher's forum that Nols now cannot find. 

1. Write a poem that starts with a small thing and find infinity it. Blake was always finding the divine in the ordinary. - 3 mins
2. Write a poem that begins with the voice of childlike wonder. Then in the second half use the voice of sad experience. Show that neither is wrong.- 3mins
3. Mindforged manacles - Write a liberation poem. - 3 mins

Annika shouts out the Actors pub in brighton 

Fiona Chan - @inbetweenlanguages

Aflo - @aflo.thepoet

LINK TO ANNIKA'S SUBSTACK: 

https://substack.com/@journalspills?r=4sjua9&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=profile

Follow us on Patreon - www.patreon.com/makepoetryweirdagain

BONUS EPISODE - Nols makes an episode on two of his queer poetry icons William Blake and Oscar Wilde. 

The show is a meditation on the two poets as Nols had a birthday party for William Blake on the 28th November 2025 with some incredible poets making poems in his living room. 

Oscar Wilde died on the 30th November 1900 an exile in Paris. He was misquoted until the end. 

Nols read work from both poets and some new poems written this weekend to both. 

Check out Oscar Wilde's poem Requiescat here.

Requiescat by Oscar Wilde - Poems | Academy of American Poets

You can read De Profundis here;

De Profundis

This show was massively influenced by Philip Hoare's William Blake and the Sea Monsters of Love - Buy it here; 

William Blake and the Sea Monsters of Love - Philip Hoare

Read William Blake's Introduction here;

Introduction to the Songs of Innocence | The Poetry Foundation

Read William Blake's Introduction here;

Auguries of Innocence | The Poetry Foundation

If you wish to make poetry weirder sign up to the Patreon 

www.Patreon.com/MakePoetryWeirdAgain

Nols Nathankski and Redeeming Features come up with a new hardcore open mic! They talk about punk poetry and how open mic can save your life.

Redeeming Features is a punk poet: visceral, hyperactive, and absurd. He has opened for a number of UK punk bands and gigs regularly in the UK and abroad. He has a published book called ‘Sniffing Glue and Playing Chicken on the M4.’ All profits from the book go to the UK mental health charity MIND. 

His second book "Sex Injuries" is out now, published by London Poetry.

Buy his books direct off his insta @RedeemingF 

Nols and Redeeming Features make poems to 3 prompts from @Maccathepoet

@RedeemingF performs NEW SHIT never heard before but coming to an open mic near you! 

Redeeming Features shouts out:

@Avawordpoetry

@BYOBpoetry

@Wordzoo

@Thatgoddamnpoetryjam

@rioatactshowtime

@richbliss

@arcadia

Follow us on Instagram @makepoetryweirdagain

Sign up to patreon.com/makepoetryweirdagain to make Nols Rich!

Nols Nathankski sits down for a proper brew with Rick McLean aka @MaccathePoet to talk about anti-racism at the Open Mic and how to piss off flag shaggers on tiktok, a Leeds-born, London-lost ranter who sees the world through a lens of dry wit, frustration, and the occasional moment of nostalgia.

If you like a bit of John Cooper Clark, a strong cuppa, shit loads of vinegar on your chippy tea, raw honesty, lots of swearing and complaining about everything, you’ll probably like this too.

They make a poem from The Poetry Fruit Machine out now on Rough Trade Books and then do poem swap taking inspiration from Switched Up poetry in Manchester. 

Rick Shouts out 

The famalam, the pals,the London poetry, the Mrs, the cats and the local kebab bossman.

Ava Word Poetry 

Rich Bliss

Follow us on Patreon.com/makepoetryweirdagain

Nols Nathankski finds out that Ella Frears HAS NEVER DONE AN OPEN MIC!

They also discuss her new brilliant collaborative collection of prompts POETRY FRUIT MACHINE, the power of prompts and why no poems will be read the poets office Christmas party on the 1st December 2025 at the Social.

Ella Frears is a poet based in London. She has been shortlisted for The T. S. Eliot Prize, a Sky Arts Award, and The Forward Prize twice. Her books Shine, Darling, and Goodlord are out with Corsair and her collaborative poetry card game The Poetry Fruit Machine is out with Rough Trade Books. She hosts chat and music show Tears for Frears on Soho Radio. 

Nols and Ella make poems from 3 minute prompts provided by Tyreece Asamoah and the POETRY FRUIT MACHINE.

Buy The Poetry Fruit Machine from @roughtradebooks

POETRY FRUIT MACHINE - ELLA FREARS & JESSICA TODD – Rough Trade Books

Ella reads Drunk By Noon by Jennifer L. Knox (with kind permission from @jenniferlknoxpoet)

Ella shouts out

@jessicatodd

@eileenmyles

@Willharris

@joedunthorne

See Ella sing Karaoke and be in a room of poets not reading any poems at the Social on the 1st December 2025 - Nols will be there after @wordspacepoems :)

The Poets' Office Christmas Party London Tickets at The Social W1 on 1st December 2025 | Ents24

Huge thanks to @tanyelitaze who inspired this episode!

keep this podcast going by subscribing to the patreon

www.patreon.com/makepoetryweirdagain

Nols Nathankski speaks with Elijah a Canadian/Scottish neurodivergent poet who travels the world making art with people and talking with them about Jesus.

Nols and Elijah met @versespoetrynight at @Bardonalondon at the start of Nol's open mic pilgrimage in February.

Elijah brings a hardcore punk energy to the open mic that must be heard to be believed.

Nols and Elijah make poems with prompts from Tyreece Asamoah.

Elijah shouts out his sister Acacia Mitchell's debut poetry collection Waiting Spaces out now.

Elijah shouts out @wordspacepoems and @spitnights as Open Mic's to check out.

As well as Psalms 23 and 88.

If you wish to follow Elijah on instagram he can be found @elijahdoespoetry

Keep this show going by subscribing to the Patreon

www.patreon.com/makepoetryweirdagain

Nols Nathankski sits down for a smoke with Tyreece Asamoah a Ghanaian visionary poet from Peckham, who William Blake's angel would be proud of.

About Tyreece Asamoah (from the poet):

Smog Smut, Gutta 

Geechi

Gully El-Ghizali

Feni El-Salahi

Okomfo

       Alhaji

Alhaji, Alhaji

Son Of Latona

Spitting out-da

Glen w/ Gall.

Nols and Tyreece speak to the sublime and splitting the veil at open mics. Whether there is a difference between page and spoken word poetry and why more poets need to try and make you levitate.

They make poems from prompts from @ElizaVezen

Tyreece does a 15 minutes set that is no-holds-barred-pure-fire.

Tyreece shouts out too many poets and artists to mention so listen to the show!

They recommend @everythingopenmic @poeticunity @goddamnpoetryjam

Buy Tyreece's second book 'FLICK' from him on insta @ty.asamoah or at Scooter Cafe in Lower marsh.

Keep this show going by subscribing to the patreon www.patreon.com/makepoetrygreatagain

Nols Nathankski examines his recent poems around the theme of Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria

Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria, or RSD, is an intense emotional reaction to real or perceived rejection or criticism. It’s often linked to ADHD, but it affects many highly sensitive, creative people.

Nols uses his symptoms and intrusive thoughts to make poems and discusses how RSD effects daily life and relationships.

If you have RSD or love someone who has it, consider therapeutic intervention as well as writing poems about it. Go see your doctor, free yourself.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) | Waiting Room

assist nols' RSD today by signing up to the patreon www.patreon.com/makepoetryweirdagain

or send an email to nols@makepoetryweirdagain.com with your own poem!

Nols Nathankski presents a Halloween Spooktacular!

Across Halloween we have been putting out prompts on @makepoetryweirdagain on Instagram and apart from @richbliss the entire open mic poetry scene has ghosted them!

The sponsors are getting thirsty for Nol's Blood and so in a desperate attempt to hold a séance for the ratings this show has been hastily put together on too much sugar and a great deal of fear.

All the prompts can be found on @makepoetryweirdagain but see what Nols used below!

• Write a Poem about how you would most hate to be murdered
• Write a Poem about what the moon turns you into
• Write a Poem about how to raise the dead.
• Make a Poem from a nightmare
• zombie poem - resurrect an old poem - cut bits off and let it eat your brains
• Write a poem about the most unlucky thing that has ever happened to you.

Comment which ones you have done and send your poems to nols@makepoetryweirdagain.com to be featured in a future episode.

As when you are a neuroqueer gothic poet everyday is halloween and Nols will read it on the show.

Nols Nathankski and Dr. Lee Campbell meet at betwixmass to make poems, talk queer love and gardening.

Dr Lee Campbell is an artist, poet, filmmaker, co-curator of POW! Play on Words (a regular spoken word platform in London along with Colin B. Osborn) and Senior Lecturer at University of the Arts London.His debut poetry collection ’See Me: An (Almost) Autobiography’ was published by London Poetry Books in November 2024. Other publications of his poetry include The Atticus Review, Ink, Sweat and Tears, Otherwise, You Are Here - The Journal of Creative Geography, Queerlings, Streetcake. Step Away Magazine, London Grip and Flight of the DragonFly. His chapbook ‘Queering the Landscape’ was shortlisted for the 2024 Broken Spine Chapbook Poetry Competition. In 2025, he headlined at many established poetry platforms including The Word Zoo, Rhymes and Stitches, Big Trouble and Medway Poetry Night, Testing Grounds and The Poetry Shack. His experimental performance poetry films have been selected for many international film festivals and prizes since 2019 including shortlisted for Best Poetry Film at the Out-Spoken Poetry Prize 2023, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre, London.

Dr Lee Campbell has performed at 150 open mics this year!

Nols and Lee make poems with prompts from Sarthak Mukherji

Lee shouts out

Play On Words

Colin B Osborn

Redeeming Features

Eliza Fiver

Keep Nols happy in 2026 by subscribing to the patreon www.patreon.com/makepoetryweirdagain

Nols Nathankski and Eliza Vezen bridge the gap from London to Berlin in this special international episode.

Eliza is a poet and multidisciplinary artist, from everywhere and nowhere, currently living in Berlin.

Eliza is so dedicated to open mic poetry she regularly travels from Berlin to London to perform for 5 minutes at open mics!

Nols and Eliza make poems from @ellarfrears wonderful poetry fruit machine game released on @roughtradebooks

Eliza shouts out the following open mics

@versesverses

@lostsouls

@outcastsonthemic

Subscribe to the patreon to keep this podcast going please!

www.patreon.com/makepoetryweirdagain

Nols sits down with Kristal Sisodia (They/Them), performer, actor and poet extraordinaire to discuss making and performing poetry pre-and post diagnosis, the way pain can make your world small, the life of a disabled performance artist and all the magic they bring to Open Mic.

Nols and Kristal make poems from prompts provided by Deptford Doggerels

Kristal shouts out the following poets

The Metaphorest

Joshua Hallam

Milli Rose

Casey Arturo

Ayo Fawole

A the poet

El crisis

Shore as the Tide

Rob Auton

Poetry for lover girls

Tstarnay

Naheem Bashir

Benjamin Goode

Tish Chhaya

Taraalexx_jay

Tifany Marsah

Elijah Mitchell

Bradley Taylor

Sam Des Fluers

Valera Simonchuk

Chloe Tenasha

SAmYUL David

Vig

I am Tariq

Ella Grace

George Lawrence

Ren

Nols Nathanski

Kavita talks

Kofi Achina

Sarthaksays

Carla Roda

Nols goes deep on the business of poetry and open mic and how you could potentially make £50k a year off poetry* in 1-3 years. This is a silly episode and shouldn't be seen as a get rich quick scheme ;)

• Nols Year 1 Step-by-Step Plan
• Months 1–3: Foundation & Visibility
• Months 4–6: Credibility & First Earnings
• Months 7–9: Professionalisation & Diversification
• Months 10–12: Scaling & Touring Prep
• Example Weekly Routine (from Month 4 onward)
• Long-Term Trajectory Beyond Year 1

• THIS IS NOT FINANCIAL ADVICE

For the full episode join the PATREON and make Nols RICH!

www.patreon.com/makepoetryweirdagain

Nols sits down with Alannah and Pádraic the owners of Deptford Doggerells a night of poetry and revelry in the AAJA basement in Deptford, Southeast London.

The 3 discuss open mic from Dublin to Deptford. What makes an inclusive night and how to be both a community and an experience. Nols learns he has been writing Doggerels all year.

We make poems with prompts from Word Space's Josh Hallam.

The next Deptford Doggerels is on the 2nd October 2025 at the AAJA Basement in Deptford Southeast London.

The Gang shout out

@kevinblackpoems

@hebah_a

If you wish to send us your poems from the prompts send them to nols@makepoetryweirdagain.com and listen to the bonus episodes on

Patreon.com/makepoetryweirdagain

HOW TO MAKE POETRY FROM YOUR SITUATIONSHIPS FOR THE OPEN MIC

Nols takes on the cursed role of master of ceremonies to present a selection of this season's poets and some special guests talking all things situationships.

Back in the olden days you wouldn't see your crush for years, now we take anti-anxiety meds because they didn't heart emoji the song we sent them at 2am.

Situationships aint going anywhere so we may as well make poems out of them.

LISTEN AND WEEP.

POETS IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE

NOLS NATHANKSKI @NOLSNATHANKSKI

JEAN AKINTOYE @ARBITARY_HUMAN

ELIZA VEZEN @ELIZAVEZEN

STEVIE GRANT @STEVIEPOEMS

GABRIELLE @POETRY_FOR_LOVERGIRLS

ALANNAH CAMPBELL @ALANNAHCAMPBELL

ELIZA FIVER @ELIZAFIVER

THEA @THAT1THEA

IF YOU ENJOYED THE POETS POEMS SEND THEM A DM - NOT THAT KIND OF DM THOUGH!

SEND ME YOUR POEMS TO READ ON A BONUS EPISODE FOR PATREON

Nols Nathankski meets Josh Hallam from Word Space to obsess about Open Mic and Poetry.

Joshua Hallam is a poet and facilitator from Derby. His work has been longlisted in the National Poetry Competition and Live Canon International Prize, highly commended in the Shelley Memorial Prize, Runner up of the Wirral Festival Prize, and been a winner of the Hot Poets Climate Poetry Prize. He is the founder of Word Space – hosting community poetry events and poetry education in London since 2022. He is a graduate of the Poetry School MA Writing Poetry programme and a tutor with The Writing School Online. 

Josh and Nols made poems with three prompts from Alexia Chrysostomou

Josh can be found on Instagram @wordspacepoems

Tickets for Word Space can be found below!

Word Space - Joshua Hallam Events - 6 Upcoming Activities and Tickets | Eventbrite

If you liked these prompts and wish to show us the poems you made email nols@makepoetryweirdagain.com

Or Join the Patreon - www.patreon.com/makepoetryweirdagain

Nols Nathankski talks to neurodivergent burnout, quiet self neglect and how you lose your mind after too many open mics.

Nols speaks to turning to poetry for recovery how you can also end up making things much more chaotic and strange.

This is a bonus episode to keep the sponsors happy, but drifts off into some dark poetic territories.

Nols performs 3 new poems and provides 3 prompts at the end of the episode.

Trigger warnings: Self Harm, Burn Out, Eating Disorders, Body Dysmorphia

Get 8 hours sleep, cultivate healthy relationships, exercise, give blood, don't be a poet and avoid open mic if you want to stay sane.

Beateatingdisorders.co.uk

How to help someone with eating disorder - NHS

Nols continues his open mic Journey at the Bosla Arts solidarity workshop at the Jago in Dalston facilitated by Fedzilla. Nols talks to musician and activist Tanyeli Taze who he met at the workshop about their experiences and how to write poems of solidarity.

Tanyeli and Nols made poems with prompts from Dave Jackson-Keen.

Tanyeli recommends

Keiran Goddard

Orchestrated Discontent

Ella Frears

Noah Vale

City Lit

FREE PALESTINE

FREE PALESTINE

FREE PALESTINE

All Patreon Subs this week will be matched by Nols and donated to Medical Aid for Palestinians.

How You Can Support Our Work - Medical Aid For Palestinians

NOLS AND STEVIE GET FILTHY

Two vile queers putting the world to weird and talking all things poetry, open mic and the decent into puritanism.

Stevie is raising money for Hackney Night Shelter where he volunteers.

Fundraise | Hackney Night Shelter

The Poetry Jam will be at Stokey Books on the 4th September 2025.

www.tickettailor.com/events/hackneynightshelter1/1810955

If you cant make it donate here.

Stevie shouts out

the LGBTQI Open Mic at Morocco Bound Books

Stevie will be performing and getting kinky at LEATHERBOUND community showcase on Saturday 20th September 2025.

Nols makes poems with Jean Akintoye. Hailing from Dalston, Hackney, Jean Akintoye is a London-based performance poet.

He studied the International Baccalaureate at UWC Atlantic College, and has seen print in The Looking Glass Anthology (ed.13 and 14), The Nouse and The Resonance Anthology (2025). Stylistically, Jean aims to strike a balance between the flourishes one would expect from 20th century Irish poetry, the far more disruptive overtones of modern spoken word and, perhaps, just a dash of comedy. This results in a performance style that is as elegant as it is messy, frenetic yet precise, creating a bridge between the 'old' and the 'new.

Jean talks to the poetics of sci-fi, finding poetry, the small spoken word scene in york and performs poems that cut deep.

Jean and Nols use prompts from the PENANCE workshop.

Jean can be found at the below Open Mics

POW Play On Words

Process

That Goddamn Poetry Jam

Nols Nathankski presents an end of year podcast with a round up of some of THE BEST POEMS made and spoken on the show. With highlights of moments from poets across the last 6 months.

Someone told Nols that getting past 40 episodes means that he is a real podcaster now. Comment your thoughts below.

This is a recap to celebrate the end of the first 6 months of MAKE POETRY WEIRD AGAIN and a desperate attempt to keep the sponsors happy.

Featured poets

Anika Paniza

Allanah Campbell

Avouleance

Colin B Osborn

Dave Jackson Keen

Ella Frears

Eliza Fiver

Eliza Vezen

Ivka Fox

Jean Akintoye

Kristal Sisodia

Tanyeli Taze

Thea

The Mad Po3t

Tyreece Asamoa

Ollie Words on Eggs on Toast

Sarthak Mukherji

Stevie Grant

Will from Switched Up Poetry

The podcast continues into 2026 unless the Sponsors pull the funding.

Help Nols pay the rent on the studio

www.patreon.com/makepoetryweirdagain

Nols makes poems with Avouleance Cook (They/Them) a spoken word artist and playwright based in London. Their work centers on as a process, both how it is created and interpreted by others.

The pair discuss making ethical poems under capitalism, the last decade of open mic and the rise and fall of investor goose.

Spooky prompts provided by the Mad Po3t.

Find Avouleance at the below open mics and on instagram @avouleance

@thesweetsundays

@processproductions

@goddamnpoetryjam

Nols meets London open mic legend Alex Murdock, The Mad Po3t, a writer, poet and creative spirit who has produced 4 books of poetry.

The pair about how the London Open Mic Scene has flourished and speak to poetic flow, what mad really means, self improvement and the poet's journey.

Trigger warning: Shadow Work

They make 3 poems from prompts provided by the girl from 1982.

Follow the Mad Po3t on instagram

@TheMadPo3t

Buy The Mad Po3t's books here.

Dream.Imagine.Express. Network

Listen to his podcast

Change philosophy - MadPo3t Podcast| Art|Life| Creative exploration - Apple Podcasts

Nols sits down with The Girl From 1982, an artist who has been using spoken word as part of her practice since entering the scene in 2023.

The Girl From 1982 talks to neurodivergence, mid 40s invisibility, rave culture and how to speak about periods at an open mic.

We make 3 poems with prompts from Tanyeli Taze that take us on some incredible adventures.

The girl from 1982 currently has a poem in the @vaginamuseum 's current Lip Service zine Issue 2 Menstruation, which can be bought here: https://vaginamuseumshop.co.uk/collections/books/products/lip-service-issue-2-menstruation

Some of the poetry nights that have been part of her open mic journey so far:

@offthechest (various events and locations through the year)

@everythingpoetrynight (First Monday of the month)

@firepit.tales (Last Wednesday of the month)

@riversiderhyme (a few events a year I think)

@adamdesalle and @greenwichlibs for Eltham Poetry Open Mic (starts back in September, next one Friday 26th September)

@billiejeyes (for Billie's Poetry Open Mic Night, every 3rd Thursday of the month)

@poetryisforthepeople (a few events a year)

Www.cleofelstead.com (Host of Poetry Evening on the last Thursday of every month in Beckenham).

Two fab accounts that share when and where various poetry nights are happening:

@where.the.word.things.live

@pulsepoetryofficial

Nols invites his dear friend Dave a fellow neurodivergent queer in recovery, onto the show. They talk open mic, trauma poems, monsters, spoken word friendships and trans poetics.

Dave Jackson-Keen (They/Them) is a spoken word artist and make up genius that creates vast detailed monologues speaking to violent trauma, healing and the non-binary experience.

They can be found at Sober AF, Orbit Brewery Open Mic and Cross-Word Lyric as well lots of other spoken word events around London every month.

They will be performing poetry with Nols at Urban Oasis fundraiser on the 24th August 2025.

Instagram - 2steps4ward1stepback

Thanks for Jon from Testing Ground for the prompts, send us your attempts!

BONUS EPISODE TO KEEP THE SPONSORS HAPPY

TRIGGER WARNING : BODY DYSMORPHIA

Nols Nathankski makes an episode about his recent performance of a cento to his queer hero Quentin Crisp at Hackney Wick Life Drawing.

The episode begins with a recording of the poem being improvised the night before the performance, using only Quentin Crisp quotes as a reference.

Nols talks to his own body dysmorphia and disordered eating, as well as how he has found healing self love and redemption in being a Queerdo at London spoken word nights.

Nols performs two first draft poems from his chapbook and treats listeners to a a couple of poetry prompts. As ever send us your poetic responses to be read on the show!

nols@makepoetryweirdagain.com

Heavy themes of self hatred, listener discretion advised.

This was meant to only be on the patreon but nobody has signed up yet!

Instagram:

@makepoetryweirdagain

@nolsnathankski

@hwlifedrawing

patreon.com/makepoetryweirdagain

Nols sits down with Ollie a Poet and Spoken Word artist from East London to talk about the state of the nation, break ups, giving up gardening to make poetry, what queerness means, why everything is fucked and how to make political poems that make people chuckle.

Trigger warning for suicide, substance misuse, british dread.

Ollie's instagram is @olliewordsoneggsontoast

OPEN MIC SPOTLIGHT: TESTING GROUND

@nolsnathankski makes poems with John Nordon an educator and poet from East London. His writing covers the weird and wonderful of the world through many angles. He is a co-founder and co-host of Testing Ground, an open mic based performance evening which takes place on the first Wednesday of each month @wearebardbooks

Nols and John talk about the rising stars of open mic and how open mic makes the world a better place.

SHOUT OUT

@OFFTHE_CHEST

@REPEATBEATPOET

@FXTM

If you want the secret deleted scenes and the prompts for this episode.

SIGN UP TO THE PATREON!

PATREON.COM/MAKEPOETRYWEIRDAGAIN

Bard Books | Independent Book Shop | Bàrd Books, Roman Road, London, UK

@testing.ground.performance

If you want the secret deleted scenes and the prompts for this episode.

SIGN UP TO THE PATREON!

PATREON.COM/MAKEPOETRYWEIRDAGAIN

Nols reviews Pertinent Interruptions a very weird experiment in open mic with interruptions and heckling.

The brain child of Play On Words Dr Lee Campbell and Colin B Osborn the night allowed the crowd to jump in with poems or just loud sexual innuendos.

The night was a very raucous end of year poetry jam but also taught Nols a lot of respect for the silence of the open mic and being held rather than being at war with your audience.

Here is to more weird experimentation in 2026!

The night included some fantastic poets including but not limited to:

Redeeming Features

Rich Bliss

Eliza Fiver

Hannah Wallwork

Dr Lee Campbell

Colin B Osborn

Ollie Words on Eggs on Toast

Alexia Chrysostomou

And many regulars of Play On Words

Check out Play On Words on Instagram

Keep screaming at Nols on Patreon

www.patreon.com/makepoetryweirdagain

Nols Nathankski sits down with Sarthak Mukherji London Slam Champion 2025 and CENTURION of the London Open Mics about what it takes to perform at 100 open mics.

Sarthak Mukherji is a London based poet whose work navigates the immigrant experience, mental health and relationships. Known for blending heartfelt honesty with sharp wit. He has quickly made a name for himself on the city's slam scene, winning stages across London including the Genesis Poetry Slam earning him the title of London's 2025 Slam Poetry Champion.

His Instagram and Tiktok is @Sarthaksays

Nols and Sarthak make poems with prompts from Tom Manning

Sarthak Shouts out Genesis finalists

@That1Thea

@oscarthewriter

@spitnights

@process

@onenightslam

Nols Nathankski went to make poems with the Longplayer a 1000 year song at The Trinity Bouy Wharf Experimental lighthouse to celebrate a year off the booze. He wrote to 36 prompts below.

Trinity Buoy Wharf is home to the iconic Experimental Lighthouse- London’s only remaining example- built in 1864. The Lighthouse was never used to aid navigation on the Thames, but to experiment.

Nols has played the Longplayer at all of the PENANCE poetry workshops where over 200 poems have been made to the sound of the singing bowls.

Longplayer is a one thousand year long musical composition. It began playing at midnight on the 31st of December 1999, and will continue to play without repetition until the last moment of 2999, at which point it will complete its cycle and begin again. Conceived and composed by Jem Finer of the KLF.

Listen to the Long Player and make poems to some prompts!

Longplayer

1. Describe the lighthouse as if it were a friend you meant to text back weeks ago

3. Write a list-poem of strange items found in the lighthouse lost-and-found, each item revealing something about the person who left it.

4. Let the 1,000-year song narrate a single moment from your life—one it refuses to forget.

5. Compose a love letter to London from the top of the lighthouse, but your pen keeps drifting into mystic metaphors

6. Write a poem where every stanza is a different decade of the lighthouse’s future, as the song continues playing.

7. Describe the lighthouse as if it were gossiping about the city below.

8. Imagine the lighthouse is the last remaining building above water after a flood write the poem as a survivor’s diary entry.

9. Write a poem that begins with a mundane task (making tea, sweeping, checking your phone) but ends in a spiritual awakening triggered by the long player .

10. Write a dialogue between you and the lighthouse itself; the lighthouse knows too much.

11. Write a poem about leaving a party early to climb the lighthouse stairs alone

12. write a poem as the lighthouse lens as if it were an oracle reflecting possible futures.

13. Write a poem that takes place entirely during the ten seconds it takes the beacon to make one revolution.

14. Use the long player as a metaphor for something in your life that won’t end, can’t end, shouldn’t end.

15. Describe a moment when you wanted to disappear

16. Write a poem from the perspective of the final visitor the lighthouse will ever receive.

17. Rewrite a childhood memory as if it happened inside the lighthouse

18. write the chorus of the long player

19. Write a poem where you try to map all of London using only the emotions you feel inside the lighthouse.

20. Invent a superstition that strangers whisper about this lighthouse—then break it.

21. Describe the long player - without referencing music: use taste, smell, texture, weather.

22. Write a poem as a secret you tell only to the lighthouse staircase while climbing.

23. Describe a mundane London street scene but filter it through a sudden mystical vision sparked by the lighthouse’s light.

24. Write an elegy for everyone the lighthouse didnt save.

25.Write a poem that begins with the line: “I didn’t come here to be redeemed, but…”

26.Let the fog surrounding the lighthouse be a character with opinions.

27.Write a poem where the lighthouse becomes a stand-in for your own body its cracks, its shining, its stubbornness.

28.Describe the longplayer as if it were composed from fragments of every poem you have ever written in london.

29.Write a poem where frank O’Hara, diane Seuss, and herman Hesse all appear in the lighthouse at 3 a.m. and give you conflicting advice.

30.write a poem that imagines what happens after the song finally stops—one thousand years from now—and who is there to hear the silenc

31.write a poem as a singing bowl

32.write a sonnet to the longplayer

33.write a prayer to the human race

34.you have to get out of the lighthouse when it is locked using only a poem

35. write a poem as an ending vibration

36. ⁠Write a prayer to save yourself

Nols sits down with Colin B Osborn to talk going punk to poetry.

Osborn poetry navigates the landscapes of personal history and keen observation with a lyrical and accessible style. These poems are a testament to self-discovery, celebrating the moments—both quiet and profound—where we define our own narratives. For lovers of contemporary poetry that is both thoughtful and resonant, is a compelling and masterful first outing from a promising new voice.

Nols and Colin make poems from Poetry Fruit Machine by Ella Frears & Jessica Todd out now on Rough Trade Books.

Colin is co-founder of POW play on words which have two events this month. Including Pertinent Interruptions on the 19th December 2025 - a night of heckling at the open mic.

POW! End of 2025 Special: ft Benjamin Goode & Black Bile Coven Tickets, Mon, Dec 15, 2025 at 7:00 PM | Eventbrite

Colin and Nols are working with Rich Bliss, Redeeming Features and Im Not Leaving yet are raising money for MIND on the 29th January 2026 at the Fiddler's Elbow with a show called THROW WORDS DOWN where poets and anyone can get 3 minutes on stage with a hardcore band and scream their guts out.

I Choose the Rhymes, In his fabulous debut collection can be purchased here:

I Choose the Rhymes - London Poetry Books TM

Keep this podcast going on Patreon.

www.patreon.com/makepoetryweirdagain

Nols Nathankski sits down with Tom Manning (shout out to Dawn Web for also hanging out!)

Tom is a London-based spoken word artist and a self-described ‘poet for non-poetry fans’. Using direct, colloquial, and rhythmic lyrics, Tom pours his heart onto the page to cover topics such as mental health, addiction, hedonism, love and relationships.

Nols and Tom make poems with live prompts from Dawn who is a great facilitator.

Tom's work can be found on instagram @tommanning_97

Post-bender depression can be heard on Callout UK:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DMqKCwgNYPw/?igsh=MW80ZjAxcTU0eHAzNg==

Tom shouts out :

Spit Nights

Callout UK:

https://www.instagram.com/calloutuk?igsh=Mzk3ajNwb3V3bHYx

Soul Compositions:

https://www.instagram.com/_soulcompositions?igsh=aWsyaXQwMjVpYWth

If you want to keep this podcast going join the Patreon.

www.patreon.com/makepoetryweirdagain

Nols Nathankski sits down with Dawn Web (They/Them) to make poems and talk open mic.

Dawn is a multi-media artist, award-winning dancer and queer neurodivergent advocate for mental health as well as marginalized individuals and communities. They find comfort in multiple mediums such as playing music, writing, painting, and dancing.

Nols and Dawn make poems with prompts from Ivka Fox

This led Dawn to making a poem from a line by Georgie Jones and Nols using a line from Diane Seuss.

Dawn's critically acclaimed first book is out now, you can DM them to get a copy or use this link to a big evil company Red Corner: a poetry anthology: 1 (Primary) : Web, Dawn, Tremblay, Alexandre, Wrona, Angelina: Amazon.co.uk: Books

The release is accompanied by an incredible spoken word album you can listen to here

Red Corner by Dawn Web & Salwa: Listen on Audiomack

Dawn is founder of PLUM POETRY OPEN MIC in Halifax Nova Scotia.

Plum Poetry | Lit. Open Mic & Creative Writing Workshop at The Maxwell's Plum, Halifax on 6th May, 2025

If you want to keep this podcast going join the patreon

www.patreon.com/makepoetryweirdagain

Nols Nathankski and Vidya Gosain sit down to cook about disenfranchisement at the open mic. Changes in the scene and how to give space to people with lived experience of racism and homophobia.

Vidya (she/her) is a writer who finds the comedy and tragedy in everyday life; constantly searching for meaning in mundanity and trying to tell you stories about what she finds. Her favourite colour is green and her favourite chef is Anthony Bourdain.

They make poems with prompts from Kim Addonizio's book Quiet Genius.

First ever open mic night: @houseofrhymes_

@where.the.word.things.live

NY poetry night - @voicesinpower_ / host: @imsuperdope_

The book I mention at 58 mins is called "Big Magic (Creative Living Beyond Fear)" by Elizabeth Gilbert (@elizabeth_gilbert_writer)

Favourite poets / poet shout outs:

@sumnerbrook

@theadamrw

@zakariyyee

@aaronmccallumhepple

@l.p.macpherson

@hannahwallwork87

Favourite open mics / open mic shout outs:

@everythingpoetrynight

@storytimelondon

@rhymesandstitches

@versespoetrynight

Keep this podcast cooking and Nols eating

www.patreon.com/make poetryweirdagain

Nols Nathankski presents a fuck you to writing retreats and writing holidays.

In this episode Nols will take you through some ideas of how you can find time every week to find a place to attack from.

Not spending loads of money. Not going away anywhere. How to reclaim your time and dedicate it to your work.

This episode looks at where to write, what sort of schedule you should set yourself and how you can comfortably and cheaply focus on your writing without having to go much further than a local library, church or cafe.

Nols provides example schedules and prompts for how to begin and end writing sessions. Focusing on attention, rest and encouragment.

If you have a writing practice you wish to share get in touch, we would love to hear from you!

Keep this show going on patreon.

www.patreon.com/makepoetryweirdagain

Nols Nathankski meets Hedde Annerberg (@heddeee_) who is a grassroots poetry organiser & writer from Stockholm.

You can find their events @openmicpoetrynight ; if you're in Stockholm and can present your self there, they'd love to hear what you have to bring.

They send their love to everyone who is a part of these nights; to co-host Ryan without whom they would not be doing this; to @alabaster_deplume for sending them to this podcast & for the work he does; to you, here, reading this, possibly listening, thank you

A whatsapp group conversation about which open mics to attend while here, turned into an invitation to record an episode about Hedde's English speaking open mic in Stockholm.

Nols and Hedde talk about making poems in the face of societal collapse and fascism. Why people need to be needed more, and their new pamphlet that they have just released.

Nols and Hedde make prompts from Gwilym

Hedde shouts out

Alabaster de Plume

@theopenmicpoetrynight

Lets get this podcast international

www.patreon.com/makepoetryweirdagain

Nols Nathankski sits down with Emma Keun, (she/her) to discuss following your butterflies, the queering of religious imagery and the best places to get emo at the open mic.

Emma is published online (Dark Poets Club) and in hard copy anthologies (Kite String II and III; via Word Space, an open mic and poetry collective). She lives in London and when not performing or writing, attempts making and growing things. She has a poetry website https://elkwrites.substack.com/and can be found on Instagram as @elkwrites000555.

Nols and Emma make poems from Kim Addonizio's Ordinary Genius: A Guide for the poet within.

Emma Shouts out

@wordspace

@lostsouls

@steviepoems

@s-barks LGBTQIA open mic @ Morocco Bound

Everything Poetry @ The Walrus, Lambeth

Firepit Tales @ Firepit Art Gallery, Greenwich

That Goddamn Poetry Jam @ Fiddlers Elbow, Kentish Town

Poets in Putney

Crossword Lyric

See Emma perform at Stokey Bookshop on the 22nd January 2026 as part of a fundraiser for Hackney Night shelter.

Support this podcast on our patreon.com/makepoetryweirdagain

Nols Nathankski sits down with Gwilym a Goth poet living in Wales. They talk about making gothic love poems in grave yards. They talk to the catharsis of poetry, vegan cooking and the end of the world.

Nols and Gwilym make poems from prompts from Stevie Grant

Gwilym's book is called Talking Headstones and can be purchased through his linktree

https://linktr.ee/Praxis_Studios?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio

Gwilym shouts out his all time favourite artist - Suzi Sabotage

https://gothsforpalestine.bandcamp.com/album/goths-for-palestine-vol-ii

https://suzisabotage.bandcamp.com/?search_item_id%3D2777158925%26search_item_type%3Db%26search_match_part%3D%253F%26search_page_id%3D5002153631%26search_page_no%3D0%26search_rank%3D1

Some Great Goth music

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27HaBqJgfBM

https://luxmala.bandcamp.com

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ll5wq7_2B3g

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTC-vGWJaDQ

Gwilym gives a big shout to Romanian Poet Paul Damian.

https://eruptingspirit.com

If you want to fund Nol's decadent lifestyle please support the patreon.

www.patreon.com/makepoetryweirdagain

Nols Nathankski talks about self publishing "Oh, Nols!" his first poetry pamphlet and why you should self publish to. This episode was pre-recorded to be released after his surgery on the 13th January 2026...just in case he dies on the operating table.

Nols discusses his feelings of uncertainty about the pamphlet and examines Maurice Blanchot's philosophy of literature to try and finds a weird friend in a dead French philosopher.

In this episode Nols talks to the triumph and despair of self publishing your first poetry pamphlet. The weirdness of sending poems into the world to not be yours anymore.

Who owns poems and what happens when it is not you reading them at an open mic?

This is a poetic existential crises with some new poems thrown in and bits from the pamphlet.

Expect poetic despair and a desperate request to join the patreon so the box of pamphlets does not haunt Nols like a ghost.

Nols printed his pamphlet at the burley fisher bookshop community press:

Merch – Burley Fisher Books

If Nols is still with us, he will be hosting a wake for the pamphlet at the shop on Thursday 12th February 2026 at 6pm-9pm

This podcast was very influenced by

The infinite conversation by Maurice Blanchot

The Space of Literature by Maurice Blanchot

The Space Of Literature

The @hermetix episode below was also really informative.

Maurice Blanchot, Literature, and Language with Bryan Counter

An immodest proposal by Joseph Brodsky out now in

On Grief And Reason

Join the Patreon to get a copy or message Nols on instagram.

www.patreon.com/makepoetryweirdagain

Nols Nathankski talks hardcore poetry with Pulling Teeth a London based poet who writes about love, spider webs , alcoholism and more importantly accidentally going on a date with a racist.

They talk to his poetry video series Im Not Leaving Yet which is an exploration of the London Open Mic scene through poets performing their poems in the street.

Nols provides some hardcore prompts for them to make poems from.

Pulling Teeth shouts out

Mikey

T.Mo

Nols and Pulling Teeth are working together to put on THROW WORDS DOWN an open mic with a hardcore backing band on the 29th January 2026 at the Fiddlers Elbow in Camden,

Pulling Teeth is planning an open mic of his own so follow his pages for more info!

Pay Nol's dentist bills by subscribing to the patreon.

www.patreon.com/makepoetryweirdagain

Nols Nathankski sits down for a chat and a tarot reading with Hebah, a jack of all trades, regularly performs a variety of moving yet comedic poetry in the London poetry circuit using her outfits and other items as props.

Blending her acting, directing and DJing skills she has enhanced the listener experience by focusing on the way poems sound and feel, exploring the senses with her words.

Her tarot and astrology work have also had measurable impact on her art as she fuses her tarot cards into her poetry performance.

She plays with language as an English teacher and Corporate language coach, helping others to present themselves with confidence. She continues introducing blended poetry with 3 languages and cultures fusing her Iraqi origins with her British/Italian life living between London and Rome.

Managing illness, death and instability have all played a major role in her spoken word and poetic resonance.

She would like to thank and shout out the following people mentioned in the podcast:

@deptforddoggerels

@resonance.poetry

@cwiththec

@natethelyricist

@spitnights

@louisthehippie

@houseofvox

@iam_tariqq

@yourstruly_reverend

@jessica_fowler_actor

@storytimelondon

@rachel._.loveday

@wordsoneggsontoast

@kofi_anchina

@wowromapoetryslam

@gio_drew

Nols and Hebah make prompts from POW's Dr Lee Campbell.

Hebah has an open mic planned in Rome at the Cabaret Voltaire Galleria at the end of January.

Keep this podcast going by subscribing to the Patreon

www.patreon.com/makepoetryweirdagain

Nols Nathankski explains how to perform your poems with a hardcore backing band for THROW WORDS DOWN the MAKE POETRY WEIRD AGAIN x AVA WORD Open Mic night - born on the podcast with Redeeming Features.

The night is poetry experiment to try and raise £500 for MIND the mental health charity at the most miserable time of the year.

On the 29th January 2026 at 6.30pm you can bring your poems to the Fiddlers Elbow in Camden and scream them into a microphone.

Every performer will get 3 minutes and they will have the opportunity to have fast, slow or fucking extreme music backing them.

Nols thinks all poets quietly want to be rockstars so this is a way to do it loud.

If you are not a poet and just want to make loud noises then this is also a night for you.

Nols explains how the night has been planned to work and plays clips from the very chaotic band practices which included Redeeming Features, Richard Allen, Rich Bliss, Colin B Osborn and Im Not Leaving Yet.

Nols make poems based on some of the themes of the night.

Screaming and shouting is very good for the soul, reduces anxiety and can be cathartic. We all need to scream our poems sometimes...

See you on the 29th January 2026 - Tickets can be purchased below!

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/make-poetry-weird-again-presents-throw-words-down-tickets-1977797556733?aff=oddtdtcreator

If you want to get the first word on events and sneaky discounts - SIGN UP TO THE PATREON

www.patreon.com/makepoetryweirdagain

Nols Nathankski its down for a cup of tea with Leatrice. An American Poet who is now living in Oxford.

Leatrice makes intricate poems exploring early relationships, memory and connection.

The pair discuss the stress of slam scores, the difference between New York & London open mics and making poems on the tube.

Nols and Leatrice make poems with prompts from Vidya Gosain.

Leatrice shouts out the following Open Mics:

@oxfordpoetrylibrary

@33artsy (Leatrice will be reading on 5 Feb 2026)

@poetrymondaysjamboree

Leatrice shouts out the following Poets:

@garretandbasement

@maybeitsmoberley

@phoebn

@sophias1000daychallenge

@thewrongjam

@alilewispoet

Others:

@reconnectpress (my publisher)

@cailin.in.character (best friend & cover designer)

Link to the "official" Yearbook Signing playlist—there's a song for the title, each poem, and the little epigraph/signature page at the end: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0V9mEQPegOTX8GLz2UCuxg?si=ac29bfb2d6364c61

You can buy Leatrice's book here: Yearbook Signing – Reconnecting Rainbows Press

Keep Nols in poetry books by subscribing to the patreon.

www.patreon.com/makepoetryweirdagain

Nols Nathankski takes to the sofa with Erika Loch. They talk shared open mic experiences and how to find quiet to write.

Erika is a poet, lyricist, and a creative and commercial writer – writing in defiance of modern book burning, she leaves messages for those who seek to read between the lines. Erika collaborates with artists, brands, galleries, and organisations – she takes commissions via WORDS by Erika Loch and hosts monthly open mics @wordsoutloudchichester

Find out more about Erika below!

www.erikaloch.com | @erika_loch | @theunknownpoetproject (Instagram)

They make prompts by Hedde Annersberg from Stockholm