159 episodes

Delve into an immersive exploration of a single poem. Poetry Unbound is short and unhurried; contemplative and energizing — with a podcast, a book, a vibrant conversation on Substack, and occasional gatherings.

Pádraig Ó Tuama greets you at the doorways of brilliant poems, and invites you to meet them with stories of your world. The poems are eager to meet you, too.

Poetry Unbound On Being Studios

    • Arts
    • 4.9 • 3.2K Ratings

Delve into an immersive exploration of a single poem. Poetry Unbound is short and unhurried; contemplative and energizing — with a podcast, a book, a vibrant conversation on Substack, and occasional gatherings.

Pádraig Ó Tuama greets you at the doorways of brilliant poems, and invites you to meet them with stories of your world. The poems are eager to meet you, too.

    BONUS: Truth-seeking and the Symphony of Language with Henri Cole

    BONUS: Truth-seeking and the Symphony of Language with Henri Cole

    A central duality appears in the work of Henri Cole: the revelation of emotional truths in concert with a “symphony of language” — often accompanied by arresting similes. We are excited to offer this conversation between Pádraig and Henri, recorded during the 2022 Dodge Poetry Festival in Newark, New Jersey. Together, they discuss the role of animals in Henri’s work, the pleasure of aesthetics in poetry, and writing as a form of revenge against forgetting.

    • 1 hr 4 min
    BONUS: Making Space for the Erotic with Aimee Nezhukumatathil

    BONUS: Making Space for the Erotic with Aimee Nezhukumatathil

    Aimee Nezhukumatathil’s poems are filled with butchery and blood as she carves space for desire, motherhood, and an encyclopedic knowledge of plants to coexist in life and on the page. We are excited to offer this conversation between Pádraig and Aimee, recorded during the 2022 Dodge Poetry Festival in Newark, New Jersey. Together, they explore the beauty of solitude, eroticism in poetry, and a letter writing practice for taking inventory of a life.

    • 1 hr
    BONUS: Poetry That Pays Attention with Patricia Smith

    BONUS: Poetry That Pays Attention with Patricia Smith

    Through her poetry, Patricia Smith generously, skillfully puts language around what can be seen both in the present and deliberately looking back at oneself. We are excited to offer this conversation between Pádraig and Patricia, recorded during the 2022 Dodge Poetry Festival in Newark, New Jersey. Together, they explore how memory, persona, and a practice of curiosity inform Patricia’s work, and the ways writing a poem is like writing a piece of music.

    • 1 hr 8 min
    Maya C. Popa — They Are Building a Hospital

    Maya C. Popa — They Are Building a Hospital

    So much of what was once deemed impossible was found — during Covid — to be possible. Here, a poet watches a tent, a huge temporary hospital, be raised up on the green of Central Park, a place she’d previously walked her dog.

    • 15 min
    Jenny Mitchell — A Man in Love with Plants

    Jenny Mitchell — A Man in Love with Plants

    How to remember a beloved who died tragically, violently? Remember the violence? Sometimes, yes. But also this: remember his love of flowers.

    • 13 min
    Vidyan Ravinthiran — Artist

    Vidyan Ravinthiran — Artist

    What self-consciousnesses do artists carry? It can be difficult to know how to hold onto confidence in your work, especially when small jibes from others remain long after apologies have been offered. Art compels and calls, and also complicates.

    • 13 min

Customer Reviews

4.9 out of 5
3.2K Ratings

3.2K Ratings

OneAmongSeven ,

Soul Restoring

Love the voice and the thoughtful conversation around poetry. Do yourself a favor and listen.

nlachance521 ,

Conversation with poetry

I loop through these podcasts to soothe my soul. Learning how to be in conversation with poetry and the world around me. Thanks to on being for giving padraig this place to share.

Nana@5531 ,

Why…

…would you miss THIS? 🖤

Top Podcasts In Arts

NPR
The Moth
Snap Judgment
Roman Mars
Super Carlin Brothers
Rusty Quill

You Might Also Like

On Being Studios
American Public Media
WNYC Studios and The New Yorker
Poetry Foundation
On Being Studios
Poetry Foundation

More by On Being Studios

On Being Studios
On Being Studios
On Being Studios
On Being Studios