On today’s episode of The Poems We Made Along The Way Gregory chats to Joe Carrick-Varty about writing based on real experiences, being an editor and his debut collection More Sky. 

Joe Carrick-Varty is a poet based in London whose collection More Sky was published by Carcanet and was shortlisted for the TS Elliot Prize. Joe was a founder and editor for the online poetry journal Bath Magg.

You can buy Joe’s book here: www.carcanet.co.uk/cgi-bin/indexer?product=2453

You can read the back catalogue of issues of Bath Magg here: www.bathmagg.com/ 

(We’d also recommend enquiring with your local bookshops or libraries as well.)

Tell us what you thought of this episode by posting on Instagram or Twitter and tagging us. You can find us @ThePoemsWeMade.

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Theme tune: Joe Chesterman-March who can be found here: joecm.co.uk

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On today’s episode of The Poems We Made Along The Way Gregory chats to Malika Booker about sonnets, Afrostyle school and how you develop a sense of voice in poetry.

Malika Booker is a poet based in Leeds whose collection Pepper Seeds, published by Peepal Tree Press was shortlisted for the Seamus Heaney Centre Prize and in 2023 Malika’s poem Libation won the Forward Poetry Prize for best single poem. In 2001 Malika founded writing collective Malika’s Poetry Kitchen and now she is a lecturer in creative writing at Manchester Metropolitan University.

You can buy Malika’s book here: www.peepaltreepress.com/books/pepper-seed

(We’d also recommend enquiring with your local bookshops or libraries as well.)

Please give the show a five star rating on whatever podcasting app you are listening to this on.

Tell us what you thought of this episode by posting on Instagram or Twitter and tagging us. You can find us @ThePoemsWeMade.

The intro and outro music is produced by Joe Chesterman-March. 

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On today’s episode of The Poems We Made Along The Way Gregory chats to Mark Pajak about Seamus Heaney, dyslexia and how to build imagery in poetry.

Mark is a poet based in Liverpool and had his debut collection Slide published by Jonathan Cape. He has received a Northern Writers’ Award, a Society of Authors’ Grant, an Eric Gregory Award and an UNESCO international writing residency. Mark is a lecturer at The Open University. 

You can buy Mark’s book here: uk.bookshop.org/p/books/slide-mark-pajak/6881991?ean=9781787330313 

Mark spoke about Seamus Heaney’s poem Lightening VIII which can be read here: www.nobelprize.org/prizes/literature/1995/8424-poetry-1995-2 

(We’d also recommend enquiring with your local bookshops or libraries as well.)

Tell us what you thought of this episode by posting on Instagram or Twitter and tagging us. You can find us @ThePoemsWeMade.

Make sure you don’t miss future conversations by subscribing and if you enjoyed this episode consider sharing it with a friend or anyone else you think might also like it.

Theme tune: Joe Chesterman-March who can be found here: joecm.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today’s episode of The Poems We Made Along The Way Gregory chats to Helen Tookey about stanza construction, Wittgenstein and what it is like to teach poetry.

Helen is a poet based in Liverpool who has published three collections with Carcanet, most recently In the Quaker Hotel. She has been shortlisted for the Seamus Heaney Prize for Best First Collection and the Forward Prize. 

Helen is a Senior Lecturer at Liverpool John Moores University where, amongst other achievements she tutored Gregory during his undergraduate degree.

You can buy Helen’s book here: www.carcanet.co.uk/cgi-bin/indexer?product=9781800171824

(We’d also recommend enquiring with your local bookshops or libraries as well.)

Tell us what you thought of this episode by posting on Instagram or Twitter and tagging us. You can find us @ThePoemsWeMade.

Make sure you don’t miss future conversations by subscribing and if you enjoyed this episode consider sharing it with a friend or anyone else you think might also like it.

Theme tune: Joe Chesterman-March who can be found here: joecm.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today’s episode of The Poems We Made Along The Way Gregory chats to Andrew McMillan about sonnets, what counts as a tour and what it's like to move from poetry to prose writing.

Andrew McMillan has published three collections of poetry and his first novel, Pity, was published this year by Canongate. His first collection Physical was the first poetry collection to win the Guardian First Book Award and his subsequent books have all received critical acclaim. Andrew is a professor in contemporary writing at Manchester Metropolitan University. 

Andrew was one of Gregory’s lecturers during his undergraduate degree at Liverpool John Moores University.

You can buy Andrew’s most recent poetry collection Pandemonium here: www.poetrybookshop.co.uk/product/pandemonium-2/

You can buy Andrew’s most recent book, his debut novel Pity here: www.gaystheword.co.uk/product-page/pity-by-andrew-mcmillan

(We’d also recommend enquiring with your local bookshops or libraries as well.)

Please give the show a five star rating on whatever podcasting app you are listening to this on.

Tell us what you thought of this episode by posting on Instagram or Twitter and tagging us. You can find us @ThePoemsWeMade.

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Theme tune: Joe Chesterman-March

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On today’s episode of The Poems We Made Along the Way Gregory Kearns speaks to Anthony Anaxagorou about the myth of inspiration, cinematic writing and maximalism in poetry.

Anthony Anaxagorou has written numerous collections including Heritage Aesthetics and After the Formalities (published by Granta Books and Penned in the Margins respectively). Anthony is artistic director of Out-Spoken, a monthly poetry and music night held at London’s Southbank Centre, and publisher of Out-Spoken Press. In 2023 he was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.

***

Haia Mohammed’s fundraiser: https://www.gofundme.com/f/gaza-emergency-haia-and-family?lid=sc2q43jcnq4&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAafY6LnM05WyVGeoI1Z3KQxA9PPUhy6XXzCW6C7_ZQGamBO0AaZoEHEc_6_nGQ_aem_XEPtXGqBQrv2yfCXcT79vg

Out-Spoken Press’ Letter to MP template – Gazan Student Visa Biometrics Deferral: https://docs.google.com/document/d/14S23OHv-vhzWKM8GWertXFka324efYKp6sP09_Oak8c/edit?tab=t.0 

You can also email your MP through this website: https://newscord.org/action/gaza-students

You can also donate to Medical Aid for Palestinians here: https://www.map.org.uk/?form=FUNFXHDCJPK

***

You can buy Anthony’s most recent book Heritage Aesthetic here: https://anthonyanaxagorou.com/heritage-aesthetics

You can also check out the Out-Spoken Press shop here: https://www.outspokenldn.com/press

You can also use our affiliate link for Bookshop to find most of the books by most of the guests from the show. They are organised into lists for each series. If you use this link we get a fraction of the money you spend: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/thepoemswemade

We’d also recommend enquiring with your local bookshops or libraries as well.

Please give the show a five star rating on whatever podcasting app you are listening to this on.

Tell us what you thought of this episode by posting on Instagram. You can find us @ThePoemsWeMade.

Make sure you don’t miss future episodes by subscribing and if you enjoyed this episode consider sharing it with a friend or anyone else you think might also like it.

Theme tune: Joe Chesterman-March who can be found here: https://joecm.co.uk/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today’s episode of The Poems We Made Along the Way Gregory Kearns speaks to Daniel Sluman about the importance of time to the writing process, the influence of music on his work and the poetics of disability.

Daniel Sluman has written numerous collections including Single Window, The Terrible and Absence has a weight of its own. In 2021 Daniel was nominated for the T.S. Elliot award. He also was the co-editor of the first major UK Disability poetry anthology Stairs and Whispers: D/deaf and Disabled Poets.

You can buy Daniel’s most recent book Single Window here: https://ninearchespress.com/publications/poetry-collections/single-window

You can also use our affiliate link for Bookshop to find most of the books by most of the guests from the show. They are organised into lists for each series. If you use this link we get a fraction of the money you spend: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/thepoemswemade

We’d also recommend enquiring with your local bookshops or libraries as well.

Please give the show a five star rating on whatever podcasting app you are listening to this on.

Tell us what you thought of this episode by posting on Instagram. You can find us @ThePoemsWeMade.

Make sure you don’t miss future episodes by subscribing and if you enjoyed this episode consider sharing it with a friend or anyone else you think might also like it.

Theme tune: Joe Chesterman-March who can be found here: https://joecm.co.uk/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Part Two:

On today’s episode of The Poems We Made Along The Way Gregory chats to Jacob Sam-La Rose about inventing forms, computational poetics and how Jacob approaches structuring poems.

You can buy Jacob’s book here: https://www.bloodaxebooks.com/ecs/product/breaking-silence-1010 

For more information about The Barbican Young Poets: https://www.barbican.org.uk/take-part/young-creatives/barbican-young-poets

(We’d also recommend enquiring with your local bookshops or libraries as well.)

Please give the show a five star rating on whatever podcasting app you are listening to this on.

Tell us what you thought of this episode by posting on Instagram and tagging us. You can find us @thepoemswemade.

Make sure you don’t miss future conversations by subscribing and if you enjoyed this episode consider sharing it with a friend or anyone else you think might also like it.

Theme tune: Joe Chesterman-March who can be found here: joecm.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Part One:

On today’s episode of The Poems We Made Along The Way Gregory chats to Jacob Sam-La Rose about Urban Poets Society, being an editor and starting Barbican Young Poets.

Jacob Sam-La Rose is a poet, editor and facilitator based in London. His collection Breaking Slience was published by Bloodaxe. He established and leads Barbican Young Poets – a literary development programme.

You can buy Jacob’s book here: https://www.bloodaxebooks.com/ecs/product/breaking-silence-1010  

For more information about The Barbican Young Poets: https://www.barbican.org.uk/take-part/young-creatives/barbican-young-poets

(We’d also recommend enquiring with your local bookshops or libraries as well.)

Please give the show a five star rating on whatever podcasting app you are listening to this on.

Tell us what you thought of this episode by posting on Instagram and tagging us. You can find us @thepoemswemade.

Make sure you don’t miss future conversations by subscribing and if you enjoyed this episode consider sharing it with a friend or anyone else you think might also like it.

Theme tune: Joe Chesterman-March who can be found here: joecm.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today’s episode of The Poems We Made Along The Way Gregory chats to Hera Lindsay Bird about children’s literature, writing long poems and her fandom of the writer Mark Leidner.

Hera Lindsay Bird is a writer based in New Zealand. She has published two books including her self-titled debut collection Hera Lindsay Bird and her pamphlet Pamper Me to Hell & Back was a Laureate’s choice. She has won awards including the Jessie Mackay Best First Book Award and has been profiled in VICE, The Guardian and other publications too. She regularly writes an agony aunt column for The Spinoff.

You can buy Hera’s book here: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/307929/hera-lindsay-bird-by-bird-hera-lindsay/9780141987408

You can buy Hera’s pamphlet here: https://poetrybusiness.co.uk/product/pamper-me-to-hell-and-back/

(We’d also recommend enquiring with your local bookshops or libraries as well.)

Here is Hera’s advice column for The Spinoff: https://thespinoff.co.nz/authors/hera-bird

Please give the show a five star rating on whatever podcasting app you are listening to this on.

Tell us what you thought of this episode by posting on Instagram or Twitter and tagging us. You can find us @PoemsWMATW.

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Theme tune: Joe Chesterman-March who can be found here: joecm.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today’s episode of The Poems We Made Along The Way Gregory chats to Liz Berry about Zines, vernacular poetry and the importance of libraries.

Liz Berry is a poet based in Birmingham  who has published numerous books including Black Country, The Republic of Motherhood and The Home Child. Liz has won numerous awards including the Geoffrey Faber Memorial Prize, The Writers’ Prize and won two Forward Prizes.

You can buy Black Country here: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/419006/black-country-by-liz-berry/9780701188573

You can buy The Home Child here: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/438568/the-home-child-by-berry-liz/9781529937817

(We’d also recommend enquiring with your local bookshops or libraries as well.)

Please give the show a five star rating on whatever podcasting app you are listening to this on.

Tell us what you thought of this episode by posting on Instagram and tag us. You can find us @PoemsWMATW.

Make sure you don’t miss future conversations by subscribing and if you enjoyed this episode consider sharing it with a friend or anyone else you think might also like it.

Theme tune: Joe Chesterman-March who can be found here: joecm.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today’s episode of The Poems We Made Along The Way Gregory chats with Roger Robinson about creative citizenship, travelling the UK and writing haikus.

Roger Robinson is a writer and educator who has published numerous books including his T.S. Eliot Prize winning collection A Portable Paradise. Roger also has published digital resources to support people to become better poets and to help “make creative blocks obsolete”.

You can buy Home Is Not A Place here: https://rogerrobinsononline.com/home-is-not-a-place/

You can buy A Portable Paradise here: https://rogerrobinsononline.com/a-portable-paradise/

You can buy On Poetry, On Creativity bundle here: https://rogerrobinsononline.com/on-poetry-on-creativity/

Roger mentioned the Palestinian poet Taha Muhummed Ali. You can buy his book here: https://www.bloodaxebooks.com/ecs/product/so-what-888

The particular poem of Ali’s that Roger mentioned called Revenge can be read here: https://www.lionsroar.com/about-a-poem-ruth-ozeki-on-tahamuhammad-alis-revenge/

You can buy Mosab Abu Toha’s most recent book here: https://harpercollins.co.uk/products/forest-of-noise-mosab-abu-toha?utm_campaign=buy_button&utm_medium=hcwpnetwork&utm_source=www.4thestate.co.uk&variant=41658362560590

You can buy Mohammed El-Kurd’s most recent book here: https://www.haymarketbooks.org/books/1744-rifqa

Link to MAP (Medical Aid for Palestinians): https://www.map.org.uk/

Link to a guide published by BDS: https://bdsmovement.net/Guide-to-BDS-Boycott  

Please give the show a five star rating on whatever podcasting app you are listening to this on.

Tell us what you thought of this episode by posting on Instagram or Twitter and tagging us. You can find us @ThePoemsWeMade

Make sure you don’t miss future conversations by subscribing and if you enjoyed this episode consider sharing it with a friend or anyone else you think might also like it.

Theme tune: Joe Chesterman-March who can be found here: joecm.co.uk 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today’s episode of The Poems We Made Along The Way Gregory chats with Helen Mort about writing rhymes, how to find permission and how to get good at metre.

Helen Mort is a writer based in Sheffield. Back in 2015 she was chosen as one of the Next Generation poets and has won numerous awards including the Eric Gregory Award in 2007. Helen’s most recent publication Dad Vs. Dad from Verse Poetry Press explores the aftermath of her father’s stroke through a combination of lyric and erasure poetry.

You can buy Dad vs Dad here: https://vervepoetrypress.com/product/helen-mort-dad-vs-dad/?v=79cba1185463

You can buy The Illustrated Woman here: https://www.poetrybooks.co.uk/products/the-illustrated-woman-by-helen-mort-pre-order  

Please give the show a five star rating on whatever podcasting app you are listening to this on.

Tell us what you thought of this episode by posting on Instagram or Twitter and tagging us. You can find us @ThePoemsWeMade

Make sure you don’t miss future conversations by subscribing and if you enjoyed this episode consider sharing it with a friend or anyone else you think might also like it.

Theme tune: Joe Chesterman-March who can be found here: joecm.co.uk  

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today’s episode of The Poems We Made Along The Way Gregory chats with Ella Frears about the need for deadlines, sending work to friends and how to get good at metre.

Ella Frears is a poet and artist based in London. She has been shortlisted for prizes like The Forward Prize for Best First Collection and the T.S. Eliot Prize. Ella’s most recent book, Goodlord is published by Rough Trade Books and is a book that defies form definition, a vortex of novel, long poem and email.

You can buy Goodlord here: https://roughtradebooks.com/products/goodlord-an-email-ella-frears

You can buy Shine, Darling here: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/shine-darling-ella-frears/3082167?ean=9781916015920

Please give the show a five star rating on whatever podcasting app you are listening to this on.

Tell us what you thought of this episode by posting on Instagram or Twitter and tagging us. You can find us @ThePoemsWeMade

Make sure you don’t miss future conversations by subscribing and if you enjoyed this episode consider sharing it with a friend or anyone else you think might also like it.

Theme tune: Joe Chesterman-March who can be found here: joecm.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today’s episode of The Poems We Made Along The Way Gregory chats with Stevie Ronnie about developing voice, unpicking what a poem is, and the similarities between visual art and poetry.

Stevie Ronnie is an interdisciplinary artist and writer based in Northumberland. He was longlisted for the John Moores Prize for his piece called Thirty Hours or So of Being Awake. Stevie works with The Writing Squad as one of their mentors to young writers.  

You can check out more of Stevie Ronnie’s work can be found at his website here: stevieronnie.com

The project he worked on based on his trip to the artic can be found here: https://stevieronnie.com/the-arctic-was-a-poem-twisted-into-rope-2

The poem Stevie wrote called I Dream of Canute (& the Sea is Rising) can be found here: https://stevieronnie.com/i-dream-of-canute-the-sea-is-rising-2

Please give the show a five star rating on whatever podcasting app you are listening to this on.

Tell us what you thought of this episode by posting on Instagram or Twitter and tagging us. You can find us @ThePoemsWeMade

Make sure you don’t miss future conversations by subscribing and if you enjoyed this episode consider sharing it with a friend or anyone else you think might also like it.

Theme tune: Joe Chesterman-March who can be found here: joecm.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today’s episode of The Poems We Made Along The Way Gregory chats with Charlotte Shevchenko Knight about her sad girl Tumblr phase, which is better poetry or prose, and railcards for poets.

Charlotte Shevchenko Knight is a poet based in York and her collection Food for the Dead was published by Jonathan Cape in 2024. Charlotte has gone on to win the Laurel Prize for first collection, and has been shortlisted for the Felix Dennis prize for best first collection amongst other prizes.

You can buy Charlotte’s book here: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/food-for-the-dead-a-masterpiece-olia-hercules-charlotte-shevchenko-knight/7607613?ean=9781787334892 

(We’d also recommend enquiring with your local bookshops or libraries as well.)

Please give the show a five star rating on whatever podcasting app you are listening to this on.

Tell us what you thought of this episode by posting on Instagram or Twitter and tagging us. You can find us @ThePoemsWeMade

Make sure you don’t miss future conversations by subscribing and if you enjoyed this episode consider sharing it with a friend or anyone else you think might also like it.

Theme tune: Joe Chesterman-March who can be found here: joecm.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today’s episode of The Poems We Made Along the Way Gregory Kearns speaks to Mimi Khalvati about The Poetry School, syntax in poems and the role listening plays in writing.

Mimi Khalvati is a poet who received the King’s Gold Medal for Poetry in 2023. In 2024 her Collected Poems were published by Carcanet, which later won the Jhalak Poetry Prize. Mimi was one of the co-founders of The Poetry School.

You can buy Mimi’s Collected Poems here: https://www.carcanet.co.uk/9781800173330/collected-poems/

(We’d also recommend enquiring with your local bookshops or libraries as well.)

Please give the show a five star rating on whatever podcasting app you are listening to this on.

Tell us what you thought of this episode by posting on Instagram. You can find us @ThePoemsWeMade.

Make sure you don’t miss future episodes by subscribing and if you enjoyed this episode consider sharing it with a friend or anyone else you think might also like it.

Theme tune: Joe Chesterman-March who can be found here: joecm.co.uk  

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today’s episode of The Poems We Made Along The Way, Gregory Kearns speaks to Rachael Allen about The Minack Theatre’s creator Rowena Cade, the myth of filler poems and surrealism.

Rachael Allen is a poet and editor. Her books Kingdomland and God Complex have been published by Faber and Faber. The latter shortlisted for the Forward Prize and longlisted for the Laurel Prize. She was the recipient of a Northern Writers' Award and an Eric Gregory Award. Rachael was the poetry editor for Granta and now is the poetry editor at Fitzcarraldo Editions.

You can buy Rachael’s most recent collection God Complex here: https://www.faber.co.uk/product/9780571379910-god-complex/

You can buy Kingdomland here: https://www.faber.co.uk/product/9780571341115-kingdomland/

(We’d also recommend enquiring with your local bookshops or libraries as well.)

Please give the show a five star rating on whatever podcasting app you are listening to this on.

Tell us what you thought of this episode by posting on Instagram. You can find us @thepoemswemade.

Make sure you don’t miss future conversations by subscribing and if you enjoyed this episode consider sharing it with a friend or anyone else you think might also like it.

Theme tune: Joe Chesterman-March who can be found here: joecm.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today’s episode of The Poems We Made Along The Way Gregory Kearns speaks to Jacob Polley about writers who influenced him from his hometown Carlisle, riddles and Wilfred Owen

Jacob Polley is a poet and Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Newcastle. He has published 5 collections of poetry and a novel called Talk of the Town. His collection, Jackself won the 2016 T.S. Eliot Prize.

You can buy Jacob’s most recent collection Material Properties here: https://www.panmacmillan.com/authors/jacob-polley/material-properties/9781035000081

You can buy Jackself here: https://www.panmacmillan.com/authors/jacob-polley/jackself/9781447290445

(We’d also recommend enquiring with your local bookshops or libraries as well.)

Photo of Jacob Polley that we use was taken by Ian Fenton.

Please give the show a five star rating on whatever podcasting app you are listening to this on.

Tell us what you thought of this episode by posting on Instagram or Twitter and tagging us. You can find us @thepoemswemade.

Make sure you don’t miss future conversations by subscribing and if you enjoyed this episode consider sharing it with a friend or anyone else you think might also like it.

Theme tune: Joe Chesterman-March who can be found here: joecm.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today’s episode of The Poems We Made Along The Way Gregory Kearns speaks to Sandeep Parmar about the Ledbury Critics Scheme, racism in the British poetry world and the drafting process.

Sandeep Parmar is a poet and Professor of English literature at the University of Liverpool. She has published a broad range of books from her poetry collections to her critical work, including her exploration of the work of Mina Loy.

In the episode we talked about Sandeep’s essay Not a British Subject, and her follow up, Still Not a British Subject.

You can read Not a British Subject here: https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/not-a-british-subject-race-and-poetry-in-the-uk/

You can read Still Not a British Subject here: https://poetry.openlibhums.org/article/id/3384/

You can buy Faust here: https://www.poetrybooks.co.uk/products/faust-by-sandeep-parmar-pre-order-b-br-pbs-autumn-choice-2022-b?srsltid=AfmBOop_DOJ3gjqjyxXQ7vDr6T8OMyK0jUKKI4RZsMw0BjWGZpM90465

You can buy The Marble Orchard here: https://www.shearsman.com/store/Sandeep-Parmar-The-Marble-Orchard-p102839006

(We’d also recommend enquiring with your local bookshops or libraries as well.)

Please give the show a five star rating on whatever podcasting app you are listening to this on.

Tell us what you thought of this episode by posting on Instagram or Twitter and tagging us. You can find us @thepoemswemade.

Make sure you don’t miss future conversations by subscribing and if you enjoyed this episode consider sharing it with a friend or anyone else you think might also like it.

Theme tune: Joe Chesterman-March who can be found here: joecm.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today’s episode of The Poems We Made Along The Way Gregory Kearns speaks to Rachel Mann about negative space, counter factuals and the etymology of a few religious words. 

Rachel Mann is a poet and is the Archdeacon of Bolton and Salford. She has authored several books spanning poetry, non-fiction and fiction. Her theological texts include Do Not Be Afraid, Dazzling Darkness and her novel is called The Gospel of Eve. Her most recent collection of poetry, Eleanor Among the Saints was shortlisted for the T.S. Eliot Prize.

You can buy Eleanor Among the Saints here: https://www.carcanet.co.uk/9781800173811/eleanor-among-the-saints/

You can buy A Kingdon of Love here: https://www.carcanet.co.uk/9781784108571/a-kingdom-of-love/

(We’d also recommend enquiring with your local bookshops or libraries as well.)

Please give the show a five star rating on whatever podcasting app you are listening to this on.

Tell us what you thought of this episode by posting on Instagram or Twitter and tagging us. You can find us @thepoemswemade.

Make sure you don’t miss future conversations by subscribing and if you enjoyed this episode consider sharing it with a friend or anyone else you think might also like it.

Theme tune: Joe Chesterman-March who can be found here: joecm.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today’s episode of The Poems We Made Along The Way Gregory Kearns speaks to Steve Ely about feral poetics, Ted Hughes and Yorkshire Arts Circus.

Steve Ely is a poet and Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing at the University of Huddersfield. He has published numerous collections including Oswald’s Book of Hours, Englaland and Eely. He also has published a novel, Ratmen and ran the Ted Hughes Network.

You can buy Steve Ely’s collaborative book with photographer Michael Faint here: https://www.brokensleepbooks.com/product-page/steve-ely-michael-faint-orasaigh

You can buy Steve’s book Eely from Longbarrow Press here: https://longbarrowpress.com/current-publications/steve-ely/

(We’d also recommend enquiring with your local bookshops or libraries as well.)

Please give the show a five star rating on whatever podcasting app you are listening to this on.

Tell us what you thought of this episode by posting on Instagram or Twitter and tagging us. You can find us @thepoemswemade.

Make sure you don’t miss future conversations by subscribing and if you enjoyed this episode consider sharing it with a friend or anyone else you think might also like it.

Theme tune: Joe Chesterman-March who can be found here: joecm.co.uk

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Today’s episode of The Poems We Made Along the Way Gregory chats to Betty Doyle about Sylvia Plath, Tarot cards and some short words on Taylor Swift.

Betty Doyle is a poet from Liverpool. She completed a PhD at Manchester Metropolitan University on the poetics of infertility. Betty has published pamphlets with both Verve Poetry Press and Seren.

You can buy Betty’s most recent pamphlet Fruits of Labour here: https://www.serenbooks.com/book/fruits-of-labour/

You can buy Betty’s pamphlet Girl Parts here: https://vervepoetrypress.com/product/betty-doyle-girl-parts-pre-order-free-uk-pp-due-mar-22/?v=79cba1185463

(We’d also recommend enquiring with your local bookshops or libraries as well.)

Please give the show a five star rating on whatever podcasting app you are listening to this on.

Tell us what you thought of this episode by posting on Instagram or Twitter and tagging us. You can find us @thepoemswemade.

Make sure you don’t miss future conversations by subscribing and if you enjoyed this episode consider sharing it with a friend or anyone else you think might also like it.

Theme tune: Joe Chesterman-March who can be found here: joecm.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today’s episode of The Poems We Made Along the Way Gregory chats to Wendy Allen about Barbara Hepworth, collaborative writing and inventing forms.

Wendy Allen is a poet and ex-cabin crew member for 20 years. She is currently working on her PhD at Manchester Writing School. She has three pamphlets published and one forth coming. She often works collaboratively including with poets Charley Barnes and Galia Admoni.

Can you pre-order Wendy’s most recent pamphlet (Collab with Galia Admoni) here: https://www.salopress.com/store/art-sundays/

You can buy Wendy’s pamphlet Portrait in Mustard here: https://www.serenbooks.com/book/portrait-in-mustard/

You can buy Wendy’s pamphlet Plastic Tubed Bird here: https://www.brokensleepbooks.com/product-page/wendy-allen-plastic-tubed-little-bird

You can buy Wendy’s pamphlet Freebleeding (collab with Charley Barnes) here: https://www.brokensleepbooks.com/product-page/wendy-allen-charley-barnes-freebleeding

(We’d also recommend enquiring with your local bookshops or libraries as well.)

Please give the show a five star rating on whatever podcasting app you are listening to this on.

Tell us what you thought of this episode by posting on Instagram or Twitter and tagging us. You can find us @thepoemswemade.

Make sure you don’t miss future conversations by subscribing and if you enjoyed this episode consider sharing it with a friend or anyone else you think might also like it.

Theme tune: Joe Chesterman-March who can be found here: joecm.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today’s episode of The Poems We Made Along the Way Gregory Kearns speaks to Lewis Buxton about how to be a good performer of poems, writing sonnets and how to build an audience.

Lewis Buxton is a writer, theatre maker and co-director of TOAST. His books include Boys in Various Poses (published by Nine Arches Press) and Mate Arias (published by Emma Press). He toured his debut theatre show ‘Workout!’ and toured FRIEND in 2024.

You can buy Lewis’ book Mate Arias here: https://theemmapress.com/shop/poetry/pamphlets/mate-arias/  

And you can buy Boys in Various Poses here: https://ninearchespress.com/publications/poetry-collections/boy-in-various-poses

You can also use our affiliate link for Bookshop to find most of the books by most of the guests from the show. They are organised into lists for each series. If you use this link we get a fraction of the money you spend: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/thepoemswemade   

We’d also recommend enquiring with your local bookshops or libraries as well.

Please give the show a five star rating on whatever podcasting app you are listening to this on.

Tell us what you thought of this episode by posting on Instagram. You can find us @ThePoemsWeMade.

Make sure you don’t miss future episodes by subscribing and if you enjoyed this episode consider sharing it with a friend or anyone else you think might also like it.

Theme tune: Joe Chesterman-March who can be found here: https://joecm.co.uk   

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today’s episode of The Poems We Made Along the Way Gregory Kearns speaks to Katie Hale about museums, traveling to the Antarctic and the importance of mentoring/being mentored.

Katie Hale is a poet, novelist and mentor. She won the Northern Debut Award for her poetry collection, White Ghosts and has published two novels: The Edge of Solitude and My Name is Monster. Katie also mentors young writers through The Writing Squad.  

You can buy Katie’s book White Ghosts here: https://www.samreadbooks.co.uk/product/pre-order-katie-hale-white-ghosts/11714

And you can buy The Edge of Solitude here: https://www.samreadbooks.co.uk/product/pre-order-katie-hale-the-edge-of-solitude-signed-/13007

You can also use our affiliate link for Bookshop to find most of the books by most of the guests from the show. They are organised into lists for each series. If you use this link we get a fraction of the money you spend: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/thepoemswemade  

We’d also recommend enquiring with your local bookshops or libraries as well.

Please give the show a five star rating on whatever podcasting app you are listening to this on.

Tell us what you thought of this episode by posting on Instagram. You can find us @ThePoemsWeMade.

Make sure you don’t miss future episodes by subscribing and if you enjoyed this episode consider sharing it with a friend or anyone else you think might also like it.

Theme tune: Joe Chesterman-March who can be found here: https://joecm.co.uk  

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today’s episode of The Poems We Made Along the Way Gregory Kearns speaks to Luke Kennard about the importance of funding small presses, outrunning the inner critic and his obsession with sitcoms.

Luke Kennard is a multi award-winning poet for collections including Notes on the Sonnets. His forthcoming collection The Book of Jonah is published by Picador. He is Professor of Creative Writing at University of Birmingham.

You can buy Luke’s most recent book The Book of Jonah here: https://www.panmacmillan.com/authors/luke-kennard/the-book-of-jonah/9781035069262

You can also use our affiliate link for Bookshop to find most of the books by most of the guests from the show. They are organised into lists for each series. If you use this link we get a fraction of the money you spend: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/thepoemswemade

We’d also recommend enquiring with your local bookshops or libraries as well.

Please give the show a five star rating on whatever podcasting app you are listening to this on.

Tell us what you thought of this episode by posting on Instagram. You can find us @ThePoemsWeMade.

Make sure you don’t miss future episodes by subscribing and if you enjoyed this episode consider sharing it with a friend or anyone else you think might also like it.

Theme tune: Joe Chesterman-March who can be found here: https://joecm.co.uk/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today’s episode of The Poems We Made Along the Way Gregory Kearns speaks to Deryn Rees-Jones about silence, Posthuman feminism and how place effects the way you write.

Deryn Rees-Jones is author of several books of poetry including Hôtel Amour, Erato and What It’s Like To Be Alive, all published by Seren. She is also a professor of Poetry at University of Liverpool and editor of the Pavilion Poetry list.

You can buy Deryn’s most recent book Hôtel Armour here: https://www.serenbooks.com/book/hotel-amour/

You can also use our affiliate link for Bookshop to find most of the books by most of the guests from the show. They are organised into lists for each series. If you use this link we get a fraction of the money you spend: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/thepoemswemade

We’d also recommend enquiring with your local bookshops or libraries as well.

We talked a fair amount about Rosi Braidotti’s Posthuman Feminism, if you interested in finding out more you can do so here: https://rosibraidotti.com/publications/2239/

Please give the show a five star rating on whatever podcasting app you are listening to this on.

Tell us what you thought of this episode by posting on Instagram. You can find us @ThePoemsWeMade.

Make sure you don’t miss future episodes by subscribing and if you enjoyed this episode consider sharing it with a friend or anyone else you think might also like it.

Theme tune: Joe Chesterman-March who can be found here: https://joecm.co.uk/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today’s episode of The Poems We Made Along the Way Gregory Kearns speaks to Clare Pollard about breaking your own rules, poems being like haunted houses, and the word poetess.

Clare Pollard is a poet, novelist, children’s author, translator non-fiction writer and editor. She wrote her first poetry collection The Heavy-Petting Zoo (published by Bloodaxe) was written while she was still in school. Her other books include The Modern Fairies, The Untameables, Delphi and her most recent collection of poetry The Lives of the Female Poets is published by Bloodaxe. 

Links to writing

Lives of the Female Poets: https://www.bloodaxebooks.com/ecs/product/lives-of-the-female-poets 

Incarnation: https://www.bloodaxebooks.com/ecs/product/incarnation-1134

Look, Clare ! Look!: https://www.bloodaxebooks.com/ecs/product/look-clare-look--817

Delphi: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/447396/delphi-by-pollard-clare/9780241995266 

You can also use our affiliate link for Bookshop to find most of the books by most of the guests from the show. They are organised into lists for each series. If you use this link we get a fraction of the money you spend: https://uk.bookshop.org/lists/series-five-the-poems-we-made-along-the-way     

We’d also recommend enquiring with your local bookshops or libraries as well.

Clare's Poetry Circle Substack: https://clarespoetrycircle.substack.com/

Things I watched in the lead up to this interview

Launch reading by Emilie Jenlinek, Clare Pollard and Jessica Traynor (Bloodaxe): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=He4JaXNJzdw

Clare Pollard in conversation with Helen Eastman (Archive of Performances of Greek and Roman Drama): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUqZU6JNJo0&t=205s

Poetry as a way to gain control | A Drink with Clare Pollard (Idler): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmB955IJFJg 

The Usual

Please give the show a five star rating on whatever podcasting app you are listening to this on.

Tell us what you thought of this episode by posting on Instagram. You can find us @ThePoemsWeMade.

Make sure you don’t miss future episodes by subscribing and if you enjoyed this episode consider sharing it with a friend or anyone else you think might also like it.

Theme tune: Joe Chesterman-March who can be found here: https://joecm.co.uk   

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today’s episode of The Poems We Made Along the Way Gregory Kearns speaks to George Szirtes about form, translation, and the exact moment that he decided that he wanted to become a poet.

George Szirtes is a poet, memoirist, editor and translator. He has published numerous collections of poetry including Reel (which won the TS Eliot Prize), Mapping the Delta and his most recent collection Fresh Out of the Sky published by Bloodaxe. He has translated numerous Hungarian writers into English including 2025’s Nobel Prize for Literature winner László Krasznahorkai.

Fresh Out of the Sky: https://www.bloodaxebooks.com/ecs/product/fresh-out-of-the-sky-1280

The Photographer at Sixteen: https://www.hachette.co.uk/titles/george-szirtes/the-photographer-at-sixteen/9780857058553/

The London Review Bookshop documentary focusing on George produced by Anthony Wilks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_IwmwUH570

You can also use our affiliate link for Bookshop to find most of the books by most of the guests from the show. They are organised into lists for each series. If you use this link we get a fraction of the money you spend: https://uk.bookshop.org/lists/series-five-the-poems-we-made-along-the-way        

We’d also recommend enquiring with your local bookshops or libraries as well.

Please give the show a five star rating on whatever podcasting app you are listening to this on.

Tell us what you thought of this episode by posting on Instagram. You can find us @ThePoemsWeMade.

Make sure you don’t miss future episodes by subscribing and if you enjoyed this episode consider sharing it with a friend or anyone else you think might also like it.

Theme tune: Joe Chesterman-March who can be found here: https://joecm.co.uk    

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today’s episode of The Poems We Made Along the Way Gregory Kearns speaks to Mary Jean Chan about clarity, truth vs fact in a poem and the drafting process as a form of play.

Mary Jean Chan is the author of Flèche (Faber & Faber, 2019), which won the Costa Book Award for Poetry. Bright Fear (Faber, 2023), Chan's second book, was shortlisted for the Forward Prize for Best Collection, the Dylan Thomas Prize and the Writer’s Prize. They co-edited the anthology 100 Queer Poems (Vintage, 2022) with Andrew McMillan and served as a judge for the 2023 Booker Prize. Chan is currently Departmental Lecturer in Poetry on the MSt in Creative Writing at the University of Oxford and a Research Fellow at Harris Manchester College, Oxford.

Flèche: https://www.faber.co.uk/product/9780571348046-fleche/

Bright Fear: https://www.faber.co.uk/product/9780571378906-bright-fear/

100 Queer Poems Anthology: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/445204/100-queer-poems-by-chan-edited-by-andrew-mcmillan-and-mary-jean/9781529115338

Credit for Mary Jean’s photo: Ray Burmiston

You can also use our affiliate link for Bookshop to find most of the books by most of the guests from the show. They are organised into lists for each series. If you use this link we get a fraction of the money you spend: https://uk.bookshop.org/lists/series-four-the-poems-we-made-along-the-way       

We’d also recommend enquiring with your local bookshops or libraries as well.

Please give the show a five star rating on whatever podcasting app you are listening to this on.

Tell us what you thought of this episode by posting on Instagram. You can find us @ThePoemsWeMade.

Make sure you don’t miss future episodes by subscribing and if you enjoyed this episode consider sharing it with a friend or anyone else you think might also like it.

Theme tune: Joe Chesterman-March who can be found here: https://joecm.co.uk   

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today’s episode of The Poems We Made Along the Way Gregory Kearns speaks to Erica Hesketh about poetic form, the creativity of translation and exploring heritage.

Erica Hesketh is a poet and editor, originally from Japan and Denmark, now based in London. Her poetry has been commissioned by the Royal Festival Hall, Spread the Word and the London Philharmonic Orchestra. From 2016 to 2024 she was Director of the Poetry Translation Centre. Her debut collection, In the Lily Room, is published by Nine Arches Press and explores early motherhood.

Erica Hesketh’s Website: https://ericahesketh.co.uk

In the Lily Room: https://ninearchespress.com/publications/poetry-collections/in-the-lily-room

Living in Language, essay anthology: https://www.poetrybooks.co.uk/products/living-in-language-pre-order?srsltid=AfmBOop5G-U5NLC42s6RGCKVFraMKl5kJO7gMG5WhRdRGhfx3bmXuGCq

You can find Erica on Instagram: @hesketherica

Credit for Erica’s photo: Christy Ku

Links relating to Gaza:

The Sameer Project Medical Campaign: https://chuffed.org/project/136892-medical-campaign-x-sameer-project

Readers and Writers against the Genocide: https://rwag.teemill.com/

Medical Aid For Palestinians: https://www.map.org.uk/

You can also use our affiliate link for Bookshop to find most of the books by most of the guests from the show. They are organised into lists for each series. If you use this link we get a fraction of the money you spend: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/thepoemswemade     

We’d also recommend enquiring with your local bookshops or libraries as well.

Please give the show a five star rating on whatever podcasting app you are listening to this on.

Tell us what you thought of this episode by posting on Instagram. You can find us @ThePoemsWeMade.

Make sure you don’t miss future episodes by subscribing and if you enjoyed this episode consider sharing it with a friend or anyone else you think might also like it.

Theme tune: Joe Chesterman-March who can be found here: https://joecm.co.uk   

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today’s episode of The Poems We Made Along the Way Gregory Kearns speaks to Rishi Dastidar about the death of rhetoric, the importance of good titles and the links between poetry and advertising.

Rishi Dastidar is a poet, copywriter and brand strategist. His books Ticker Tape, Safron Jack and Neptune’s Projects have all been published by Nine Arches Press. His new book A Hobby of Mine was published by Broken Sleep Books earlier this year. He is on the board of 26 and is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

Rishi Dastidar’s Website: https://www.rishidastidar.com/

Rishi’s BBC Radio show on the relationship between poetry and advertising: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000kfvf

A Hobby of Mine: https://www.brokensleepbooks.com/product-page/rishi-dastidar-a-hobby-of-mine

Neptune’s Projects: https://ninearchespress.com/publications/poetry-collections/neptune-s-projects

Saffron Jack: https://ninearchespress.com/publications/poetry-collections/saffron-jack

The Craft, essay anthology: https://ninearchespress.com/publications/poetry-collections/the-craft

Poems from Malika’s Poetry Kitchen: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/too-young-too-loud-too-different-poems-from-malika-s-poetry-kitchen-malika-s-poetry-kitchen/5b6dd2106fdcc93a

You can also use our affiliate link for Bookshop to find most of the books by most of the guests from the show. They are organised into lists for each series. If you use this link we get a fraction of the money you spend: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/thepoemswemade    

We’d also recommend enquiring with your local bookshops or libraries as well.

Please give the show a five star rating on whatever podcasting app you are listening to this on.

Tell us what you thought of this episode by posting on Instagram. You can find us @ThePoemsWeMade.

Make sure you don’t miss future episodes by subscribing and if you enjoyed this episode consider sharing it with a friend or anyone else you think might also like it.

Theme tune: Joe Chesterman-March who can be found here: https://joecm.co.uk    

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.