Poetry Off the Shelf

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!!

I experience a moment of joy every time a new episode arrives. Thank you for your consistently interesting and enriching interviews.

This podcast has been healing broken parts of my soul every time I listen to one of the episodes on my way to college the past three years! The host’s voice and the great stories of the guests are very therapeutic to me, and as a poet myself, I wish to be a guest of the podcast one day.