Poetry Off the Shelf

It is so wonderful each time when poetry is a way for Helena….who is the most fantastic interviewer to share knowledge and love of poetry… and so much more Thank you!

I find the interviewer’s process of crafting questions to be intrusively exhausting. I would prefer to hear more from the poet and to hear more of their poetry and the interviewer’s process to be more efficiently in the service of platforming the poet.

There are so many poetry podcasts out there, but this one stands out — in a way that's enjoyable for both writers and non-writers — because of the depth and specificity of the questions asked. These are questions that go beyond craft, into a person's mind, history, and humanity. Some questions are surprisingly direct and personal, which another interviewer might be afraid to ask, and they consistently take the conversation to new places that other podcasts don't reach. You can tell the guests appreciate it. So even if you've heard every other interview with a writer you love, this one will not be duplicative. Every episode is good. And for writers, it will enrich your craft. It's almost as if this podcast goes upstream from craft, to the things that made the writer need to write about their subjects in the form that they chose. Get into it!

What a beautiful podcast! Whenever I need to breathe, to remember that softness and depth still exist in the world, I find my way back to de Groot and her special guests!!