As the former host of Everyday Poetry on Radio Free Nashville (WRFN), I had the honor of interviewing many wonderful contemporary poets. Check out some of the broadcasts here: (With credit and thanks to the poets here who made their own audio or video presentations following the show, some of which are borrowed here.)
Everyday Poetry Show with Poet Jessica Bates: (video/audio)
Everyday Poetry Show with Poet Justin Hamm: https://chirb.it/69bc8b
“Poets as First Responders” Show with Jim Sims. “Poets as first responders” is a phrase coined by John Sims: It isn’t meant with irreverence to traditional first responders, but in a concept where artists, writers, and poets can help us all find a language for transformation and to express and heal. This is an archived broadcast from Everyday Poetry aired the day after another a horrific event in our country: the march in Charlottesville. (Go to the 4 minute mark if you want to skip past the theme song — and the end of the previous show that tripped over mine a bit!) John Sims wasn’t a planned guest for that day, but somehow he and I were able to scramble to have him join us, and I was blown away by the power of his projects which range from hauntingly beautiful Afro Dixie Remixes to art/math/film endeavors, to events that “bury the hate” of the Confederate flag across the country. Here is just one of many articles about his work: https://www.google.com/…/605200017%3ftemplate=ampart — We talked about our sadness that day, but also how poets are truly needed at these times of great tragedy and conflict in our nation. Some might think that the arts would take a lesser place when the weight of the world is upon us, but John reminds us that artists and poets can and should be right there in the mix: in protest, in attempting to transform tragedy, and in stirring dialogue and change. For more info on John’s projects — go to www.johnsimsprojects.com. Listen to our interview broadcast here:
**Many more Everyday Poetry broadcasts are in the process of being archived and uploaded to this site: check back again for updates.