Explore every episode of the podcast The Elixir Poetry Podcast
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36. Thomas Hardy's ‘The Darkling Thrush’ Read & Chosen By Tad | 01 Oct 2025 | 00:15:32 | |
In this episode of Elixir, Helen is talking to Tad about the poem ‘The Darkling Thrush’ by Thomas Hardy (1840-1928). Free texts of the poems and extra episode info! Support The Elixir Poetry Podcast, buy Helen a coffee buymeacoffee.com/helenwing | |||
| 35. Meron Berhanu’s Poetry From The Ethiopian Diaspora | 17 Sep 2025 | 00:36:11 | |
In this episode of Elixir, Helen is talking to Meron Berhanu about her poetry. Meron is from London with Ethiopian heritage. Free texts of the poems and extra episode info! Support The Elixir Poetry Podcast, buy Helen a coffee buymeacoffee.com/helenwing | |||
| 26. Vietnamese American Poet Ocean Vuong: The Pain & Joy In Making Art with Actor Chris Kelham | 04 Mar 2025 | 00:32:26 | |
In this episode of Elixir, Helen is talking to Chris Kelham about the poem ‘Ars Poetica as The Maker’ by Ocean Vuong Topics of discussion:
Discover poetry through the heart of another… Free texts of the poems and extra episode info! Support The Elixir Poetry Podcast, buy Helen a coffee buymeacoffee.com/helenwing | |||
| 25. African Literature, Language, and Cultural Identity with Silindiwe from Zimbabwe | 19 Feb 2025 | 00:25:54 | |
In this episode of Elixir, Helen is talking to Silindiwe, who is from Zimbabwe, about the Birthday Song she wrote in Ndebele for her son, Mbulelo, when he was born.
Silindiwe's African Literature recommendations Discover poetry through the heart of another… Free texts of the poems and extra episode info! Support The Elixir Poetry Podcast, buy Helen a coffee buymeacoffee.com/helenwing | |||
| 24. Parental Love vs Romantic Love & Why We Need the Arts in Schools! Rozâ Reads Her Own Poems | 11 Feb 2025 | 00:35:02 | |
In this episode of Elixir, Helen is talking to Rozâ about two of her own poems ‘Mother’ & ‘My grandfather’s socks’: Topics of discussion:
Discover poetry through the heart of another…
Free texts of the poems and extra episode info! Support The Elixir Poetry Podcast, buy Helen a coffee buymeacoffee.com/helenwing | |||
| 23. Liberté: "Take The Brave Step By Putting Your Thoughts Into Writing" with Quitterie | 05 Feb 2025 | 00:30:44 | |
In this episode of Elixir, Helen is talking to Quitterie about the poem ‘Liberté’ by Paul Éluard (1895-1952). Discover poetry through the heart of another…
Free texts of the poems and extra episode info! Support The Elixir Poetry Podcast, buy Helen a coffee buymeacoffee.com/helenwing | |||
| 22. Archangel: "I Breathed In The Angel And The Words Came To Me". Helen Wing's Own Poetry with Alegria | 30 Oct 2024 | 00:49:03 | |
Helen always asks her guests to read a poem that means a lot to them, and this week, Alegria flipped the switch by asking Helen to read her own poems from her book Archangel.
Free texts of the poems and extra episode info! Support The Elixir Poetry Podcast, buy Helen a coffee buymeacoffee.com/helenwing | |||
| 21. "The Netherlands' Favourite Poem!" Nelleke reads Hendrik Marsman's ‘Memories of Holland’ | 23 Oct 2024 | 00:17:22 | |
In this episode of Elixir, Helen is talking to Nelleke about a Dutch poem called ‘Memories of Holland’ by Hendrik Marsman.
Discover poetry through the heart of another…
Free texts of the poems and extra episode info! Support The Elixir Poetry Podcast, buy Helen a coffee buymeacoffee.com/helenwing | |||
| 20. Lily Reads ‘The Lovesong of J. Alfred Prufrock’ by T.S. Eliot | 16 Oct 2024 | 00:10:30 | |
In this episode of Elixir, Helen is talking to Lily about ‘The Lovesong of J. Alfred Prufrock’ by T.S. Eliot. Discover poetry through the heart of another…
Free texts of the poems and extra episode info! Support The Elixir Poetry Podcast, buy Helen a coffee buymeacoffee.com/helenwing | |||
| 19. "The KGB Could Have Got Me For Reading This Poem". Growing Up In The Soviet Union (with artist Varvara Keidan Shavrova) | 09 Oct 2024 | 00:27:42 | |
In this episode of Elixir, Helen is talking to Varvara Keidan Shavrova about a poem called ‘An autumn evening in the modest square’ by the Russian poet, Joseph Brodsky (1940-1996)
Discover poetry through the heart of another… Find out more about the poems on Elixir and read them here! Free texts of the poems and extra episode info! Support The Elixir Poetry Podcast, buy Helen a coffee buymeacoffee.com/helenwing | |||
| 18. "Tyrants and Bullies Will Ultimately Be Grounded". Tim Butcher reads ‘Ozymandias‘ by Shelley | 02 Oct 2024 | 00:24:05 | |
In this episode of Elixir, Helen is talking to Tim Butcher about ‘Ozymandias’ by Percy Bysshe Shelley.
Discover poetry through the heart of another… Find out more about the poems on Elixir and read them here! Free texts of the poems and extra episode info! Support The Elixir Poetry Podcast, buy Helen a coffee buymeacoffee.com/helenwing | |||
| 17. “We Were Best Friends For 40 Years”. Rod Dedicates An Irish Blessing To Markie | 25 Sep 2024 | 00:10:23 | |
In this episode of Elixir, Helen is talking to Rod about an Irish Blessing, ‘May the road rise to meet you’. Find out more about the poems on Elixir and read them here! Free texts of the poems and extra episode info! Support The Elixir Poetry Podcast, buy Helen a coffee buymeacoffee.com/helenwing | |||
| 34. Chinese Poet Han Dong Reads His Own Poetry! With Translator Nicky Harman | 07 May 2025 | 00:35:37 | |
In this episode of Elixir, Helen is talking to the translator Nicky Harman about the Chinese poet Han Dong (1961-) Discover poetry through the heart of another… Free texts of the poems and extra episode info! Support The Elixir Poetry Podcast, buy Helen a coffee buymeacoffee.com/helenwing | |||
| Voicenote 4. ‘I do not crush the world’s corolla of wonders’ by Lucian Blaga | 23 Sep 2024 | 00:01:28 | |
‘I do not crush the world’s corolla of wonders’ by Lucian Blaga is read by Andreea and the music is composed by Tom Platts.
Find out more about the poems on Elixir and read them here! Free texts of the poems and extra episode info! Support The Elixir Poetry Podcast, buy Helen a coffee buymeacoffee.com/helenwing | |||
| 16. Sitting With Your Emotions: "Each Has Been Sent as a Guide From Beyond" (with Nicole) | 18 Sep 2024 | 00:12:23 | |
In this episode of Elixir, Helen is talking to Nicole about a Persian poem called ‘The Guest House’ by Rumi.
Discover poetry through the heart of another… Find out more about the poems on Elixir and read them here! Free texts of the poems and extra episode info! Support The Elixir Poetry Podcast, buy Helen a coffee buymeacoffee.com/helenwing | |||
| 15. "Say The Difficult Thing, Get The Monsters Out On The Page, & Explore Them" - Albanian Poet Amina Meshnuni | 11 Sep 2024 | 00:21:17 | |
In this episode of Elixir, Helen is talking to Amina Meshnuni about her own poem ‘Our Children’ written in Albanian and also about a poem by another Albanian poet, Mojkom Zeqo, called ‘The Mask of God’.
Find out more about the poems on Elixir and read them here! Free texts of the poems and extra episode info! Support The Elixir Poetry Podcast, buy Helen a coffee buymeacoffee.com/helenwing | |||
| Voicenote 3. 'Winter Swans' by Owen Sheers | 09 Sep 2024 | 00:01:13 | |
'Winter Swans' by Owen Sheers is read by Donna and the musical underscore is composed by Tom Platts. Discover poetry through the heart of another… Find out more about the poems on Elixir and read them here! Free texts of the poems and extra episode info! Support The Elixir Poetry Podcast, buy Helen a coffee buymeacoffee.com/helenwing | |||
| 14. "Nostalgic, Abstract & Inspiring". Chen Du Reads 'At Home' by Chinese Deaf Poet, Zuo You | 04 Sep 2024 | 00:14:01 | |
In this episode of Elixir, Helen is talking to Chen Du about ‘At Home’ by a modern Chinese poet, Zuo You.
Find out more about the poems on Elixir and read them here! Free texts of the poems and extra episode info! Support The Elixir Poetry Podcast, buy Helen a coffee buymeacoffee.com/helenwing | |||
| Voicenote 2. 'Sonnet of Fidelity' by Vinicius de Moraes | 01 Sep 2024 | 00:01:19 | |
'Soneto de fidelidade' 'Sonnet of Fidelity' by Brazilian poet Vinicius de Moraes. It is read by Eduardo and the musical underscore is composed by Tom Platts. Discover poetry through the heart of another… Find out more about the poems on Elixir and read them here! Free texts of the poems and extra episode info! Support The Elixir Poetry Podcast, buy Helen a coffee buymeacoffee.com/helenwing | |||
| 13. "The Beautiful, Magical, Fantastic Power Of This Poem Will Carry You." - Emma | 28 Aug 2024 | 00:23:44 | |
In this episode of Elixir, Helen is talking to Emma about ‘Lord Ullin’s Daughter’ by Thomas Campbell (1777 – 1844)
Find out more about the poems on Elixir and read them here! Free texts of the poems and extra episode info! Support The Elixir Poetry Podcast, buy Helen a coffee buymeacoffee.com/helenwing | |||
| Voicenote 1. 'The Ruin' an Anglo-Saxon poem from The Exeter Book | 25 Aug 2024 | 00:01:27 | |
Extract of 'The Ruin' an Anglo-Saxon poem from The Exeter Book. It is read by Kate and the musical underscore is composed by Tom Platts. Find out more about the poems on Elixir and read them here! Free texts of the poems and extra episode info! Support The Elixir Poetry Podcast, buy Helen a coffee buymeacoffee.com/helenwing | |||
| 12. “My Mother Taught Us Love”. Teaching Children Emotional Literacy Through Poetry (with Tom) | 21 Aug 2024 | 00:16:53 | |
In this episode of Elixir, Helen is talking to (our second) Tom about, ‘Mother any distance’ by Simon Armitage.
Discover poetry through the heart of another… Find out more about the poems on Elixir and read them here! Free texts of the poems and extra episode info! Support The Elixir Poetry Podcast, buy Helen a coffee buymeacoffee.com/helenwing | |||
| 11. The Brutality Of War: "This Is The Dark Truth About Human Nature!" (with Richard) | 14 Aug 2024 | 00:28:01 | |
In this episode of Elixir, Helen is talking to Richard about an extract from book 22 of the Iliad by Homer.
Find out more about the poems on Elixir and read them here! Free texts of the poems and extra episode info! Support The Elixir Poetry Podcast, buy Helen a coffee buymeacoffee.com/helenwing | |||
| 33. ‘She Walks in Beauty’ by Lord Byron with Mark Saunders: "No One Should Tell You How You Should Interpret Poetry!" | 30 Apr 2025 | 00:30:05 | |
In this episode of Elixir, Helen is talking to Mark Saunders, a writer and broadcaster, about ‘She Walks in Beauty’ by Lord Byron (1788—1824)
Discover poetry through the heart of another… Free texts of the poems and extra episode info! Support The Elixir Poetry Podcast, buy Helen a coffee buymeacoffee.com/helenwing | |||
| 10. “Zhuangzi Gave Me Strength To Deal With All My Traumas." The Poet Of Transcendence (with Vivienne Lo) | 07 Aug 2024 | 00:23:18 | |
In this episode of Elixir, Helen is talking to Vivienne Lo about 2 Daoist poems: Chapter 8 of Lao Tzu’s Tao Te Ching and Zhangzi's (Chuang-Tzu's) Butterfly Dream Parable.
The producer adds music when the two poems are read in Chinese. Find out more about the poems on Elixir and read them here! Free texts of the poems and extra episode info! Support The Elixir Poetry Podcast, buy Helen a coffee buymeacoffee.com/helenwing | |||
| 9. "I Have My Wife's Heart With Me All The Time". The Power Of True Love (with Martyn) | 31 Jul 2024 | 00:22:35 | |
In this episode of Elixir, Helen is talking to Martyn about [i carry your heart with me(i carry it in] by e.e. cummings (1894–1962).
On the second reading of the poem the producer adds an original musical soundtrack. Find out more about the poems on Elixir and read them here! Free texts of the poems and extra episode info! Support The Elixir Poetry Podcast, buy Helen a coffee buymeacoffee.com/helenwing | |||
| 8. Sharp Edges: "How I Learnt That My Body Is My Best Friend" - Tom | 24 Jul 2024 | 00:16:48 | |
In this episode of Elixir, Helen is talking to Tom, our producer, about one of his own poems, ‘Sharp Edges’. The poem is read twice with a musical underscore on the second reading. Find out more about the poems on Elixir and read them here! Free texts of the poems and extra episode info! Support The Elixir Poetry Podcast, buy Helen a coffee buymeacoffee.com/helenwing | |||
| 7. "This Poem Is The Way I See The World!" - Andreea | 17 Jul 2024 | 00:09:27 | |
In this episode of Elixir, Helen is talking to Andreea about a Romanian poem called ‘I do not crush the world’s corolla of wonders’ by Lucian Blaga.
Original musical underscore on the second reading. Find out more about the poems on Elixir and read them here! Free texts of the poems and extra episode info! Support The Elixir Poetry Podcast, buy Helen a coffee buymeacoffee.com/helenwing | |||
| 6. Winter Swans: "So Many Of Us Don't Have Someone To Rely On" - Donna | 10 Jul 2024 | 00:09:49 | |
In this episode of Elixir hosted by Helen Wing, Donna tells the heartbreaking story of why ‘Winter Swans’ by Owen Sheers means so much to her. They discuss:
Original musical underscore on the second reading.
Find out more about the poems on Elixir and read them here! Free texts of the poems and extra episode info! Support The Elixir Poetry Podcast, buy Helen a coffee buymeacoffee.com/helenwing | |||
| 5. Assembly Line: "I Worked In A Chinese Missile Factory When I Was 16" - Lijia Zhang | 03 Jul 2024 | 00:18:56 | |
In this episode of Elixir, Helen is talking to Lijia Zhang about ‘Assembly Line’ by Shu Ting. Free texts of the poems and extra episode info! Support The Elixir Poetry Podcast, buy Helen a coffee buymeacoffee.com/helenwing | |||
| 4. Soneto de fidelidade: "We Must Enjoy Everything While It Lasts" - Eduardo | 26 Jun 2024 | 00:06:52 | |
In this episode of The Elixir Poetry Podcast, Helen talks to Eduardo who reads a Brazilian poem called ‘Soneto de fidelidade’ by Vinicius de Moraes. Free texts of the poems and extra episode info! Support The Elixir Poetry Podcast, buy Helen a coffee buymeacoffee.com/helenwing | |||
| 3. The Masque of Anarchy: The Ultimate Protest Song - Bryn | 19 Jun 2024 | 00:09:06 | |
In this episode of Elixir, Helen is talking to Bryn about ‘The Masque of Anarchy’ by Percy Bysshe Shelley. Free texts of the poems and extra episode info! Support The Elixir Poetry Podcast, buy Helen a coffee buymeacoffee.com/helenwing | |||
| 2. La medida de mi madre: "How We Always Found A Way To Love Each Other" - Julia | 12 Jun 2024 | 00:05:54 | |
In this episode of Elixir, Helen is talking to Julia about a poem called ‘La medida de mi madre’ or ‘The Measure of My Mother’ by Begoña Abad. Free texts of the poems and extra episode info! Support The Elixir Poetry Podcast, buy Helen a coffee buymeacoffee.com/helenwing | |||
| 1. The Ruin: "I Feel Less Lonely When I Read This Poem" - Kate | 05 Jun 2024 | 00:13:30 | |
Helen Wing is talking to Kate from Gosport (England) about an Anglo-Saxon poem called ‘The Ruin’ from The Exeter Book. Free texts of the poems and extra episode info! Support The Elixir Poetry Podcast, buy Helen a coffee buymeacoffee.com/helenwing | |||
| 32. The Power of Poetry with Russian-Ukrainian Filmmaker Albina Kovalyova. “Poetry Is An Oral Tradition”. | 23 Apr 2025 | 00:26:06 | |
In this episode of Elixir, Helen is talking to Albina Kovalyova about two of her own poems, discussing poetry & filmmaking, the Russian & Ukrainian languages, and much more! Discover poetry through the heart of another… Free texts of the poems and extra episode info! Support The Elixir Poetry Podcast, buy Helen a coffee buymeacoffee.com/helenwing | |||
| INTRO | 29 May 2024 | 00:01:08 | |
Welcome to The Elixir Poetry Podcast! We are excited to announce that Episode 1 will air on Wednesday 5th June where Helen's guest reads an Anglo-Saxon poem! Free texts of the poems and extra episode info! Support The Elixir Poetry Podcast, buy Helen a coffee buymeacoffee.com/helenwing | |||
| 31. On Raglan Road: Patrick Kavanagh, Irish Poetry, Rural Poverty, Love, and Cultural Communication with Ann | 09 Apr 2025 | 00:30:38 | |
In this episode of Elixir, Helen is talking to Ann Moroney, who is from Ireland, about the poem ‘On Raglan Road’ by Patrick Kavanagh (1904-1967). Discover poetry through the heart of another… Free texts of the poems and extra episode info! Support The Elixir Poetry Podcast, buy Helen a coffee buymeacoffee.com/helenwing | |||
| 30. "To Be, Or Not To Be, That Is The Poem". Christopher Hamilton reads Shakespeare | 02 Apr 2025 | 00:21:32 | |
In this episode of Elixir, Helen is talking to Christopher Hamilton about the soliloquy ‘To be or not to be’ in Hamlet (Act 3, Scene 1) by William Shakespeare (1564 –1616) Discover poetry through the heart of another… Free texts of the poems and extra episode info! Support The Elixir Poetry Podcast, buy Helen a coffee buymeacoffee.com/helenwing | |||
| 29. Spring Special: “Why My Dad Loved The Words of John Clare” with Richard | 26 Mar 2025 | 00:23:04 | |
In this episode of Elixir, Helen is talking to Richard about a section of ‘The Shepherd’s Calendar’, ‘April’ and ‘I am’ by John Clare (1793 - 1864). Topics:
Discover poetry through the heart of another… Free texts of the poems and extra episode info! Support The Elixir Poetry Podcast, buy Helen a coffee buymeacoffee.com/helenwing | |||
| 28. The Poem of Cuban Liberation with Raycel (& How Love Took Him Across The World) | 19 Mar 2025 | 00:24:01 | |
In this episode of Elixir, Helen is talking to Raycel, who is from Cuba, about the poem ‘Yo soy un hombre sincero’ by José Martí (1853-1895) as sung by Pablo Milanés (1942-2022). Topics of discussion:
Discover poetry through the heart of another… Free texts of the poems and extra episode info! Support The Elixir Poetry Podcast, buy Helen a coffee buymeacoffee.com/helenwing | |||
| 27. Portuguese Poetry and The Spiritual Power of Writing Poetry with Miguel Royo | 12 Mar 2025 | 01:04:44 | |
In this episode of Elixir, Helen is talking to Miguel Royo about Modern Portuguese Poetry and his own work:
Discover poetry through the heart of another… Free texts of the poems and extra episode info! Support The Elixir Poetry Podcast, buy Helen a coffee buymeacoffee.com/helenwing | |||