Lunar Poetry Podcasts

This episode is in two parts: Part one - David Turner talks to Mary Jean Chan about her debut pamphlet, 'a hurry of english' (Ignition Press), finding queer and gender-bending identities in classic English literature and how it feels to be demanding space as a published queer writer. Mary Jean also reads three poems: (00:04:00) - Rules for a Chinese Child Buying Stationery in a London Bookshop (00:28:11) - Dragon Hill Spa (1:00:30) - Tea Ceremony http://www.maryjeanchan.com/ https://www.brookes.ac.uk/poetry-centre/ignition-press/ Part two (1:02:06) - David Turner is at Verve Poetry Festival in Birmingham interviewing Sandeep K Parmar in front of a lovely crowd of festival goers. The pair discuss whether poems are always retrospective or if they can ever exist in the moment, what role live literature events play in the development of Sandeep's writing and how Sandeep balances the dual roles of writing and literary criticism. Sandeep also reads two poems: (1:05:20) - Invocation (1:15:49) - Against Chaos http

This episode is in two parts: David Turner talks to poet and playwright Jackie Hagan talk about Jackie’s new play, ‘This Is Not A Safe Space’, which she’s just started touring. The play, presented by Unlimited and Big Feast, is based on interviews with over 80 people and in it, Jackie examines the impact of benefit cuts on disabled people and others on the margins of society. Perhaps predictably, considering the theme of this work, we discuss class - a lot. More specifically, when the idea of class entered Jackie’s consciousness and the effect it had on her gall bladder and mental health. Dates for 'This Is Not A Safe Space': 23 and 24 March 2018 at the Attenborough Centre in Leicester as part of De-Stress Fest 25 March 2018 the Alhambra Theatre in Morecambe 29 March 2018 at the Creation Space in Basingstoke 30 March 2018 at the Lawrence Batley Theatre in Huddersfield 17-21 April 2018 Camden People’s Theatre in London Part two [00:58:33]: David Turner is in front of a live audience at the Verve Poetry Fe

David Turner is in south east London talking to poet Caroline Bird about her fifth collection, 'In These Days of Prohibition' (Carcanet Press, 2017). The pair discuss how Caroline chose, in this collection, to confront feelings of shame and guilt and examine why we might deny these feelings. As it frequently does, the topic of honesty in poetry rears its head. Caroline reads three poems: (00:04:37) - Eye Contact (00:33:11) - To Be Explicit (01:00:53) - Megan Married Herself http://www.carolinebird.co.uk/ https://lunarpoetrypodcasts.com/ https://www.facebook.com/LunarPoetryPodcasts/?ref=bookmarks https://twitter.com/Silent_Tongue Transcript available to download here: https://lunarpoetrypodcasts.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/ep110-caroline-bird-transcript.pdf

David Turner is in Bristol chatting to documentary-maker, performance poet and director, Byron Vincent. Byron talks about the role that slam poetry played in his development as a writer and how it allowed him time on stage to shape his writing style. The pair also discuss writing as a mental health service user. Byron reads two poems: (00:40:35) - 'Wot' (00:42:50) - 'Citroën DS' https://twitter.com/Silent_Tongue https://www.facebook.com/LunarPoetryPodcasts/ http://www.byronvincent.com/ https://twitter.com/IAmByronVincent A full transcript is available to download here: https://lunarpoetrypodcasts.files.wordpress.com/2018/01/ep109-byron-vincent-lpp-transcript.pdf

David Turner is at Bristol Central Library talking to Belfast-born poet Susannah Dickey about her debut pamphlet, 'I had some very slight concerns' (The Lifeboat) and beginning her creative writing MA at Goldsmith's University. The conversation covers prose poetry, naming titles and spending too much time on mumsnet. Susannah reads three poems including two from issue #230 of Ambit Magazine: 00:03:56 - 'We are not nearly as sad as we think we ought to be' 00:21:49 - 'I have a reason for asking but I'd rather not share' 00:39:04 - ' 'Plywood is the liberation of wood.' Frank Lloyd Wright, in conjunction with the United States Plywood Corporation. Episode transcript can be downloaded here: https://lunarpoetrypodcasts.files.wordpress.com/2017/11/ep108-susannah-dickey-lpp-transcripts.pdf You can find Susie on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/susannahdickey?lang=en You can buy Susie's pamphlet here: http://lifeboatbelfast.tictail.com/

To celebrate National Poetry Day 2017 here in the UK we gathered some poets together to share their work with us. This episode contains some strong language and as it's in the poems I've decided not to bleep the words. Poets and Readings are as follows: David Turner - "Milk" by Susannah Dickey (00:02:00) Rishi Dastidar - "Contour" (00:06:10) Mary-Jean Chan - "Conversation with fantasy mother" (00:07:07) "They would have all that" (00:08:02) Holly Corfield-Carr - "Z" (00:10:16) Lizzy Turner - "Putting the art back in K-mart" by Scott Laudati (00:14:11) Thomas Darby - "Alfresco in waves" (00:1702) Khairani Barokka - "Meteorology" (00:18:40) "Pineapple" (00:21:19) David Turner - "over skype" by Sean Wai Keung (00:24:14) A transcript can be downloaded here: https://lunarpoetrypodcasts.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/ep-107-national-poetry-day-2017-lpp-transcript.pdf

This is a revisit of episodes 77 and 78 as i don't think I did a good enough job of editing the discussion the first time around. Host Jacob Sam-La Rose is joined by Miriam Nash and Keith Jarrett, they talk about the work they do within schools with poetry education, how they got into educational work in the first place and what they wish they’d known when they first started out. There are lots of great tips here for those already working as educational facilitators or those thinking about moving into this area of work as well as teachers looking to introduce poetry into their lessons. http://www.jsamlarose.com/ http://zoneonetosix.blogspot.co.uk/ https://miriamnash.com/ Transcript available to download here: https://lunarpoetrypodcasts.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/ep106-poetry-in-schools.pdf

Khairani Barokka is joined by poets Raymond Antrobus, Sandra Alland and Giles L. Turnbull for a discussion about access to publishing in the UK. Link to transcript below. The quartet discuss the variety of barriers they have faced or addressed during their careers. Taking the recently published anthology, Stairs and Whispers: D/deaf and Disabled Poets Write Back, as their starting point, they move on to cover magazine submissions, live reading, poetry competitions, and the often 'tokenistic' approach to diversity within poetry publishing. More info about the host and guests: Khairani: http://khairanibarokka.com Sandra: www.blissfultimes.ca Raymond: http://www.raymondantrobus.com/ Giles: http://gilesturnbullpoet.com A transcript of this conversation can be downloaded here: https://lunarpoetrypodcasts.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/episode-105-access-to-publishing-lpp-transcripts.pdf Accompanying blogpost with further details about guests etc: https://lunarpoetrypodcasts.com/2017/08/20/episode-105-access-to-pub

This episode is in two parts: Part 1 - David turner is in Wrexham, north Wales talking to Young People's Laureate of Wales, Sophie McKeand. The pair discuss her role as YPLoW with Literature Wales, her educational work and why politics features so heavily in her writing. Sophie reads three poems from her debut collection, Rebel Sun: 'Paper News' - (00:02:19) 'Rebel Sun' - (00:17:27) 'From The Ashes (00:30:45) Part 2 (00:31:52) - David Turner briefly chats to Tim Humphrey-Jones and Natasha Borton about their regular spoken word night, Voice Box Spoken Word which takes place at Undegun Arts space in Wrexham. A selection of performers from the night follow this chat including the feature act for the evening, Tukaiisloveletter; Pat Edwards, 'Facelift' -(00:39:46) Graham Weaver, 'Runaways' - (00:41:10); 'Wrexham Baths' - (00:42:12) Lucid, 'BEATBOXING' - (00:42:52) Evrah Rose, 'Slithering' - (00:47:40) Natasha Borton, 'Dminor7th' - (00:49:45) Tukaiisloveletter, Feature Act - (00:53:53) A transcript of this episo

David Turner is in Kennington, south London, talking to Rishi Dastidar about his latest collection, Ticker Tape (Nine Arches Press), editing for The Rialto magazine and poetry blog And Other Poems and how this editing experience has informed his own writing. A transcript of this conversation is available to download here: https://lunarpoetrypodcasts.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/interview-rishi-dastidar-lpp-transcript-ep-103.pdf www.lunarpoetrypodcasts.com https://twitter.com/betarish?lang=en-gb http://ninearchespress.com/publications/poetry-collections/ticker-tape.html https://andotherpoems.com/

This episode is in three parts: Part One/Intro - David Turner talks to Editors of the new Belfast-based literature magazine, The Tangerine. https://thetangerinemagazine.com/ Part Two (06:29) -David Turner talks to poet Matthew Rice about his writing practice and the importance he places on recognising those that have influenced his writing practice. Part Three (27:10) - Lizzy Turner talks to Anne McMaster about the Northern Ireland-based Women Aloud NI. The pair discuss the work that the organisation does in providing a platform for women writers in the region. This section also contains a reading by the poet Mary Montague. http://womenaloudni.com/ https://marymontaguewritersite.wordpress.com/ A transcript of this episode is available to download here: https://lunarpoetrypodcasts.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/ep-102-belfast-lpp-transcript.pdf

This episode is in two parts: Part One - Recorded in February 2017, David Turner talks to Kim Moore about the links between her poetry and teaching brass instruments to school children. Kim reads from her collection The Art of Falling (Seren) and the pair also discuss the subject of her phD. https://kimmoorepoet.wordpress.com/ Part Two (25:20) - David Turner is at the Royal Festival Hall in London talking to Lebanese poet Zeina Hashem Beck. The pair discuss Zeina's writing, Punch the poetry event she established in Dubai and Zeina reads three poems from her recent collection Louder Than Hearts (Bauhan Publishing). http://www.zeinahashembeck.com/louder-than-hearts A transcript of this episode is available to download here: https://lunarpoetrypodcasts.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/ep-101-kim-moore-zeina-hashem-beck-lpp-transcript.pdf

In celebration of our 100th episode we gave over our microphones to the wonderful Octavia Collective, a collective for women writers of colour based at the Southbank Centre in London. Collective director Rachel Long invited members Sunayana Bhargava and Tania Nwachukwu to respond to the works of both June Jordan and Safia Elhillo. As well as reading their response poems the trio discuss the impact and influence of June and Safia along with whether there needs to be established a separate canon for writers of colour or if the established poetry canon needs to do more to acknowledge the work of writers of colour. A transcript of this conversation can be downloaded here: https://lunarpoetrypodcasts.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/ep-100-octavia-collective-lpp-transcript.pdf For more info: https://writesrachell.com/ https://twitter.com/gwehgweh?lang=en https://twitter.com/sunayanab?lang=en

This episode is in two parts. A transcript of this conversation is available to download here: https://lunarpoetrypodcasts.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/ep-99-come-rhyme-with-me-anthony-anaxagorou-lpp-transcript.pdf Part One: David Turner talks to Dean Atta and Deanna Rodger about their regular poetry night, Come Rhyme With Me which takes place at Ovalhouse Theatre in south London. https://www.facebook.com/ComeRhymeWithUs/ https://twitter.com/comerhymewithus https://sites.google.com/site/deanatta/about https://deannarodger.co.uk/ Part Two (30:58): David Turner talks to Anthony Anaxagorou about his poetry organisation, Out-Spoken. The pair discuss live events, publishing and writing masterclasses under the Out-Spoken umbrella. https://twitter.com/OutSpokenLDN http://www.outspokenldn.com/ http://anthonyanaxagorou.com/

This episode is in two parts. A full transcript is available to download here: https://lunarpoetrypodcasts.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/ep-98-theatre-making-in-west-yorkshire-lpp-transcript.pdf Part One: David Turner is in Leeds talking to poet and playwright Zodwa Nyoni about incorporating spoken word poetry into her plays, their development process and the pros and cons of casting actors as poets. https://www.zodwanyoni.com/ Part Two (30:24): David Turner is still in Leeds, this time, talking to playwright Javaad Alipoor about poetry and politics and the role, if any, artists can play in affecting political change. http://blacktheatrelive.co.uk/companies/bradford-javaad-alipoor http://www.ovalhouse.com/whatson/detail/the-believers-are-but-brothers-by-javaad-alipoor1

This episode is in two parts. Full transcript available to download here: https://lunarpoetrypodcasts.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/ep-97-rachel-long-raymond-antrobus-lpp-transcript.pdf Part One: David Turner talks to Rachel Long about her work as a poetry educator and facilitator for Barbican Young Poets, leading Octavia - the collective for Women of Colour and the effect this has on her own writing practice. https://writesrachell.com/ https://www.barbican.org.uk/education/young-people/young-poets Part Two (30:51): David Turner talks to Raymond Antrobus about the influence Derek Walcott has had on his writing, taking a relatively fresh look at his Jamaican heritage and his new pamphlet To Sweeten Bitter out through Out Spoken Press. Frankie the cat also makes an appearance. http://www.raymondantrobus.com/ http://www.outspokenldn.com/ http://chill-pill.co.uk/

Melissa Lee-Houghton (Sunshine)talks to Joe Dunthorne (Submarine) and Max Porter (Grief is the Thing with Feathers) about writing as a compulsion, the differences between poetry and prose in practice and how as readers we still aren’t able to divorce the writer from their work. Transcript: https://lunarpoetrypodcasts.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/ep-96-poets-and-prose-writing-lpp-transcript.pdf For more info about the host and guests: https://melissaleehoughton.wordpress.com/ http://joedunthorne.com/ https://twitter.com/maxjohnporter

This episode is in two parts. A full transcript is available to download here: https://lunarpoetrypodcasts.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/ep-95-khairani-barokka-wayne-holloway-smith-lpp-transcript.pdf Part one: David Turner chats to Khairani Barokka about co-editing the first major UK anthology of poetry and essays by Disabled and D/deaf poets, Stairs and Whispers. The pair also talk about Khairani's upcoming debut collection, Rope. http://www.khairanibarokka.com/ http://docs.tenderjournal.co.uk/tender-eight.pdf http://disabilityarts.online/magazine/opinion/khairani-barokka-poetry-collection-indigenous-species/ Part two (27:39): Lizzy Palmer talks to Wayne-Holloway-Smith about his debut collection, Alarum (Bloodaxe Books) and teaching a short course at The Poetry School. http://www.bloodaxebooks.com/ecs/product/alarum-1133

This episode is in three sections and opens with an introduction which includes a quick chat with Verve Poetry Festival organiser, Stuart Bartholomew. A full transcript of this episode is available to download here: https://lunarpoetrypodcasts.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/ep-94-birmingham-lpp-transcript.pdf Part One (3:35) - David Turner is talking to Brummie poet and youth worker Amerah Saleh about the work she does in and around Birmingham with the youth engagement organisation, Beatfreeks as well as her own writing. http://www.amerahsaleh.co.uk/ http://www.beatfreeks.com/ Part Two (25:20): David Turner is talking to the founder of The Emma Press (now based in Birmingham), Emma Wright about why she started the press and their new Birmingham based anthology, This is Not Your Final Form. https://theemmapress.com/ Part Three (32:52)- David Turner talks to Luke Kennard, a poet and lecturer at Birmingham University. The pair discuss Luke's latest collection, Cain which has recently been long listed for the

This episode is in three parts. Transcript available here: https://lunarpoetrypodcasts.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/ep-93-ross-monaghan-stuart-mckenzie-poetry-on-the-picket-line-lpp-transcript.pdf Part One - The Repeat Beat Poet chats to spoken word artist Ross Monaghan at the monthly event Poetry at the PAD in Dagenham. The pair chat about activism, youth work and street art. https://www.facebook.com/RustPoetry/ https://twitter.com/RustPoetry https://www.facebook.com/thepadtv/ Part Two (19:53)- Lizzy Palmer is talking to Stuart McKenzie about his writing and the cross-overs and differences between his poetry and lyric writing. Stuart reads three poems from the Laudanum Chapbook Anthology One. http://www.laudanumpublishing.co.uk/chabook-volume-one/4592761194 Part Three (42:25) - David Turner is out on the Hackney Picturehouse picket line talking to founder of Poetry on the Picket Line, Grim Chip. The pair briefly discuss the motives of the group and why the poets involved want to show solidarity with stri