We're All Gonna Die! (And Other Fun Facts)

The multi-talented Judith Dorian joins me for a conversation about poetry, play, music, memory, and what’s worth holding onto. However, most of our conversation is about Judith’s new book Vanishment, which I consistently call the wrong name throughout the podcast. Judith has lived a fascinating life of creating art, researching the classical music canon, teaching … Continue r

For this episode, our most stalwart guest (Jason Baldinger) joins one of our favorite guests (James Benger) to talk about their new poetry collection Waiting on Hummingbirds, as well as James Benger’s new-ish book Floating Downstream. Through the course of our conversation we talk about poetic collaboration, old cars, and the perspective that comes when … Continue reading Ep 11

Rebecca Schumejda is an excellent narrative poet and editor of Trailer Park Quarterly. In this podcast we discuss her ekphrastic collaboration with old friend of the podcast Jason Baldinger. Hope is a Prison is a collection of photographs from a former prison and sanitarium while Rebecca’s poetry tells the story of the complicated life of … Continue reading Ep 115 Hope Really I

Shannon Norman is a Pittsburgh based standup comic, barber, and runs the Good Enough Comedy Showcase. Shannon also is recording a new comedy album on September 14, 2024. Instead of talking about his new album, I engage in cynical self-promotion, we discuss being an insufferable college radio DJ, and we do talk a bit about … Continue reading Ep 114 Shannon Norman’s New Groove

This episode is about a poet I try (and fail) at emulating. John Dorsey is profoundly prolific and prolific at being profound. He publishes on average 8 to 10 books a year. This includes his greatest hits collection from the last 3 years Holocaust Agave, the forthcoming Farewell Tour from Tangerine Press in the UK, … Continue reading Ep 113: John Dorsey is Really Good at Writing

Gem Fair does literally everything, from writing about music for Pitchfork, to making music as Space Buns Forever, drumming for Big Baby, Playing second bass for Larval State, and being the front man for Positive Thinking. Gem does it all, including some stuff we forgot, like being a ring announcer for Enjoy Wrestling. And like … Continue reading Ep 112 Renaissance Gem

Old friend Jason Baldinger is back with a new book and new conversation. Jason did a lot of reading from his new book American Aorta, and American Aorta comes with its own playlist! As always, Jason is super funny, engaging, and honest. Our conversation ranges from rust belt memories, travel, and the craft of poetry. … Continue reading Ep 111 American Aorta

Dr. Hazel is a botanist, punk bassist, artist, zine publisher, and as you will hear in this podcast, intellectual powerhouse. I learned a lot about the natural world and tried not to sound stupid. Check out her art on Instagram, and see more things Dr. Hazel created on Tumblr, Hear her talk more about post-industrial … Continue reading Ep 110 Dr. Hazel Contains Multitudes

For this episode I sit down with Pittsburgh Poet Charlie Brice to talk about his 7th and soon to be 8th books. In the process we talk about the power of humor and the persistence of memory in poetry. Charlie’s book Miracles that Keep Me Going is out now, and the best way to purchase … Continue reading Ep 109 Miracles that Keep Charlie Brice Going

If you can believe it, Jason Baldinger is back on the podcast! HOWEVER, Jason is with us to talk about his new adventures as a photographer. Right before he departed to set up his gallery show at the Osage Arts Community, Jason and I discuss the ways in which poetry and photography often come from … Continue reading Ep. 108 Rust Belt Resurrections