The American Poetry Review

About the show

Founded in 1972, The American Poetry Review is dedicated to reaching a worldwide audience with a diverse array of the best contemporary poetry and literary criticism. The podcast features guest interviews and lots of poetry talk from APR editor Elizabeth Scanlon, along with co-hosts and guests.

Learn more about APR at aprweb.org.

Episodes

  • Poets in Springtime

    April 8th, 2024  |  31 mins 23 secs
    arts, culture, literature, poems, poetics, poetry, story

    Join us as we revel in the intricate thought processes of some of our March/April 2024 contributors, Catherine Barnett, Omotara James, and Fritz Ward.

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    Ways, Shapes, and Forms

    February 21st, 2024  |  27 mins 28 secs
    arts, culture, literature, poems, poetics, poetry, story

    In this episode, we're talking about the January/February 2024 issue and appreciating some formal choices in poetry.

  •

    The Soul Of Brevity

    January 26th, 2024  |  28 mins 35 secs
    arts, culture, literature, poems, poetics, poetry, story

    It was the end of the year, we were a little punchy and so were the poems. We share some of our favorite super-compressed short poems from Etheridge Knight, Kay Ryan, and Jean Valentine, as well as some fiction recommendations for your wintertime reading pleasure. Also, some readings from our November/December 2023 issue by Todd Dillard and Maya C. Popa.

  • Beginnings

    January 2nd, 2024  |  28 mins 29 secs
    arts, culture, literature, poems, poetics, poetry, story

    We've been thinking about some great first lines of poems. What makes them great and how do we get there?

  •

    Dear Mary

    December 5th, 2023  |  22 mins 10 secs
    arts, culture, literature, poems, poetics, poetry, story

    This episode is a love letter to Mary Ruefle, as we reflect on a great reading of hers (available on YouTube), from her book Madness, Rack, and Honey.

  • Major Jackson live at The Philadelphia Ethical Society

    November 18th, 2023  |  23 mins 41 secs
    arts, culture, literature, poems, poetics, poetry, story

    Tune in for the second half of our special two-part podcast featuring Major Jackson, who shared selections from his new book Razzle Dazzle: New & Selected Poems (W.W. Norton & Co, 2023) at a recent event at APR's home base, the Philadelphia Ethical Society.

  • Kazim Ali live at The Philadelphia Ethical Society

    November 8th, 2023  |  25 mins 26 secs
    arts, culture, literature, poems, poetics, poetry, story

    Join us for the first half of a special two-part podcast featuring Kazim Ali, who recently visited us in Philadelphia to read from his new book Sukun: New and Selected Poems (Wesleyan University Press, 2023).

  • Ekphrastic Fantastic

    October 2nd, 2023  |  33 mins 15 secs
    arts, culture, literature, poems, poetics, poetry, story

    A deep dive on Information Desk, and so much more.

  •

    What makes it tick?

    August 24th, 2023  |  31 mins 41 secs
    arts, culture, literature, poems, poetics, poetry, story

    Join us for a new episode in which we discuss what makes a poem a poem! We touch upon poems from Indrani Sengupta and Laura Van Prooyen in the July/August issue.

  •

    Big (orange) summer vibes with Justin Rigamonti, Nomi Stone and more

    August 4th, 2023  |  31 mins 39 secs
    arts, culture, literature, poems, poetics, poetry, story

    We discuss the new issue and so much more.

  • Episode 16: Poems for people who aren’t in the habit of reading poems

    June 3rd, 2023  |  24 mins 54 secs

    Today on the show, Elizabeth Scanlon, Hannah Gellman and Steven Kleinman discuss:   An appreciation of Elaine Equi – in this issue, and Plus, a chat with Hannah re: recommending poems to those new to poetry. Poems mentioned: ...

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    Episode 15: Faylita Hicks

    May 19th, 2023  |  33 mins 44 secs

    Join us for a special feature on poet Faylita Hicks, who is the author of (, 2019),  a finalist for the , the 2019 Julie Suk Award, and the 2019 Balcones Poetry Prize. Currently, they are working on a second poetry collection, A Map of My...

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    Episode 14: Alina Pleskova, Kunitz Prize, and more!

    April 17th, 2023  |  36 mins 47 secs

    On this episode: Poet , whose new collection, Toska, is set to drop soon. Plus, join us as hosts Elizabeth Scanlon and Hannah Gellman discuss, among many other things: · APR's · Frank O'Hara · and new books on the horizon. is a ...

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    Episode 13: Gearing Up For #AWP23 w/ Chessy Normile, Live At The Philadelphia Ethical Society

    March 3rd, 2023  |  17 mins 1 sec

    On this episode, we talk about our plans for AWP in Seattle and revisit a spectacular Honickman Book Prize reading by Chessy Normile from AWP 2022 as we gear up for the conference next week.  For more, visit aprweb.org.

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    Episode 12: Chelsea Harlan, Live at The Philadelphia Ethical Society

    October 4th, 2022  |  22 mins 23 secs

    Celebrating the official pub date of Chelsea Harlan's Honickman First Book Prize winning Bright Shade! Chosen by Jericho Brown, who says: This beautiful debut seems to ask not just what poetry is but what it can be. And each poem...

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    Episode 11: Ada Limón, Live at APR's 50th Anniversary Reading

    July 13th, 2022  |  12 mins 6 secs

    Join us for a special edition mini-episode celebrating the appointment of Ada Limón as the new Poet Laureate of the United States. APR Editor Elizabeth Scanlon offers up an exclusive recording of Ada's reading at the APR 50th anniversary...