Lunar Poetry Podcasts

June 2015. A transcript of this conversation is available to download here: https://lunarpoetrypodcasts.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/interview-niall-osullivan-lpp-transcript-ep-32.pdf Niall O’Sullivan talks to David Turner about his history of hosting open mic night Poetry Unplugged, the need for better critiquing at spoken word events, the difference between critiquing and reviewing, ideas around how the poetry scene should develop, sensitivity in choosing how to perform poetry, and the effects that one’s social class can have on writing and image. Niall reads three poems: ‘Interglacial’ - 00:14:43 ‘Shanked on a Clear Winter’s Day’ - 00:38:37 'Untitled' - 01:04:07 www.twitter.com/Silent_Tongue www.niallosullivan.co.uk

May 2015. A transcript of this conversation is available to download here: https://lunarpoetrypodcasts.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/interview-with-donald-chegwin-lpp-transcript-ep31.pdf Donald Chegwin talks to David Turner about the economical, precise nature of poetry and short stories, the catharsis he finds in performance poetry, his love of horror films for being equally funny and sinister, and using surreal humour to channel real emotions and issues. Donald reads three poems: 'Kingdom' - 00:00:30 'Egg City Blues' - 00:06:54 'Waking of Insects' - 00:12:13 www.twitter.com/Silent_Tongue

May 2015. A transcript of this conversation is available here: https://lunarpoetrypodcasts.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/interview-alexander-woodward-lpp-transcript-ep-30.pdf Lizzy Palmer talks to Alexander Woodward about being read poetry at bedtime, how he came to writing poetry through stand-up comedy, writing specifically to read aloud, the lack of a definite writing process, and the differences between performing poetry, acting and comedy. Alexander reads three poems: ‘Should I Have a Daughter’ - 00:00:28 ‘Why Can’t I Sleep?’ - 00:07:11 ‘On Humanity’ - 00:16:27 www.twitter.com/Silent_Tongue www.adwoodwardthings.blogspot.com www.twitter.com/adwoodward227

Download a transcript of this conversation here: https://lunarpoetrypodcasts.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/ep29-tim-wells-transcript.pdf May 2015. David Turner talks to poet and editor of poetry zine, Rising, Tim Wells. Tim gives a brief history of Ranting Poetry and talks about his Ranting archive project Stand Up and Spit, as well as reading poems by himself and other Ranting poets. For more information about Stand Up and Spit go to: http://www.speaking-volumes.org.uk/SUS/ https://standupandspit.wordpress.com www.twitter.com/Silent_Tongue

May 2015. David Turner talks to Paul McMenemy about getting into poetry by accident as a way of passing exams, the immediacy of poetry and the beauty of how it lingers in the mind, publishing and selling Lunar Poetry magazine, and the failure of most poetry to market itself well. Paul reads three poems: 'Untitled' - 00:00:43 ‘Scottish Country Dancing’ - 00:11:40 ‘It’s not the economy and don’t call me stupid’ - 00:25:37 Download a transcript of this conversation here: https://lunarpoetrypodcasts.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/ep28-paul-mcmenemy-transcript.pdf

May 2015. A transcript of this conversation is available to download here: https://lunarpoetrypodcasts.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/interview-james-massiah-lpp-transcript-ep-27.pdf David Turner talks to James Massiah talks the mixed influences on his work of memorising and reciting Bible verses alongside hearing dub music and poetry when young, how performance has always been tied into poetry, working through multiple disciplines as an artist, and his spoken word night, The A and the E. James reads three poems: 'Death Dance' - 00:00:14 'The Funk' - 00:10:00 'South London Style' - 00:24:45 www.twitter.com/Silent_Tongue www.theaandthee.com www.jamesmassiah.com

May 2015. A transcript of this conversation is available here: https://lunarpoetrypodcasts.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/interview-selena-nwulu-lpp-transcript-ep-26.pdf Kyla Manenti talks to Selina Nwulu about writing as a natural process, links in her work with political activism, publication and sharing her work, and how she aims to publish as many books as possible. Selina reads three poems. Image of Selina by Nadyah Aissa. 'Encyclopaedia' - 00:00:16 'Two Sides of A Coin' - 00:03:02 'Be Silent' - 00:07:19 www.twitter.com/Silent_Tongue

April 2015. A transcript of this conversation is available to download here: https://lunarpoetrypodcasts.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/interview-janine-booth-poet-lpp-transcript-ep25.pdf David Turner is in Hackney, east London talking to Janine Booth about her part in the ranting poetry scene in the 1980s, poetry as one of many different platforms from which to speak and bring about change, political activism and union work, and being taken seriously as a woman in male-dominated scenes. Janine reads three poems: 'Mostly Hating Tories' - 00:00:14 'Real Rape' - 00:16:32 ‘The Housewife’s Trial’ - 00:24:47 www.twitter.com/Silent_Tongue www.janinebooth.com

April 2015. Lizzy Palmer is in Kennington, south London talking to Hannah Gordon about how she came to writing poetry through prayer and confession, words as expression and therapy, spoken word performance, open-mic night Spoken Word London, and losing ownership of work through publication on the page. Hannah reads three poems: 'So Drunk' - 00:00:25 'Untitled' - 00:07:22 'Uncle Monkey' - 00:12:20 Download a transcript of this conversation here: https://lunarpoetrypodcasts.files.wordpress.com/2020/06/ep24-hannah-gordan-transcript.pdf www.twitter.com/Silent_Tongue

April 2015. David Turner is in Camberwell, south-east London talking to Kadeem Beresford-James about how he came to start writing poetry, how poetry helps with processing emotions, seeking validation through performance and sharing of work, and being a perfectionist in critiquing his own work. Kadeem reads three poems: 'Creatives' - 00:00:22 'Contradictions' - 00:10:12 'Incomplete Masterpiece' - 00:23:27 www.twitter.com/Silent_Tongue www.kerosenechronicles.com Download a transcript of this conversation here: https://lunarpoetrypodcasts.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/ep23-kadeem-beresford-james-transcript.pdf

April 2015. David Turner is in Turkey talking to the host of Spoken Word Istanbul, Justin Pahl. They talk about the spoken word scene in the city and its influence over writers. The episode includes readings from Eric James Beyer, Mosab Al-Nomaire, Lydia Beardmore and Johnny Day. Download a transcript of this episode here: https://lunarpoetrypodcasts.files.wordpress.com/2020/06/ep22-spoken-word-istanbul-transcript.pdf www.twitter.com/Silent_Tongue www.facebook.com/spokenwordistanbul Justin - www.justinpahl.blogspot.com Eric - www.ordinarytalent.wordpress.com Lydia - www.manicpixieanalogue.wordpress.com Johnny - www.thatcrippledspace.com

April 2015. David Turner talks to Bethany W. Pope about poetry as something which is necessary to survival though not necessarily a pleasant experience, about the poetry scenes of Swindon and Wales, writing in complex forms using mythical imagery, and the pitfalls of workshopping poems. Bethany reads three poems: 'Machete' - 00:00:44 'Three-legged Crow' - 00:07:01 'No Exit' - 00:15:04 www.twitter.com/Silent_Tongue www.bethanywpope.com www.blacksheepjournal.com Download a transcript of this episode here: https://lunarpoetrypodcasts.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/ep21-bethany-w-pope-transcript.pdf

April 2015. A transcript of this conversation is available here: https://lunarpoetrypodcasts.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/interview-martin-pettitt-lpp-transcript-ep-20.pdf In the first 'live' recorded podcast David Turner talks to poet Martin Pettitt at the spoken word event, Silence Found a Tongue in Waterloo, south London. Martin read three poems. www.twitter.com/Silent_Tongue

April 2015. David Turner is in Istanbul talking to Elisa Pieper about her poetry and short story writing. Download a transcript of this conversation here: https://lunarpoetrypodcasts.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/ep19-elisa-piepr-transcript.pdf www.twitter.com/Silent_Tongue www.elisasymptom.com

April 2015. David Turner talks to Australian-Turkish novelist Ender Baskan at MauMau Works in Istanbul about his time in Turkey and his novel in development. Download a transcript of this conversation here: https://lunarpoetrypodcasts.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/ep18-ender-baskan-transcript.pdf www.twitter.com/Silent_Tongue www.maumauworks.com www.enderbaskan.com www.enderbaskan.tumblr.com

April 2015. David Turner is in Istanbul talking to Sine Ergun and Naz Cugouglu about their own writing and the artist residency programme they run at MauMau Works. The artists they recommend at the end are: Camila Alegria and Ernesto Klar. Download a transcript of this conversation here: https://lunarpoetrypodcasts.files.wordpress.com/2020/04/ep17-maumau-works-transcript.pdf www.twitter.com/Silent_Tongue www.maumauworks.com www.turkishculture.org (search for Sine Ergun)

April 2015. David Turner is in Istanbul talking to Syrian poet Mosab Al-Nomairy about his poetry and the development of his writing. Download a transcript of this conversation here: https://lunarpoetrypodcasts.files.wordpress.com/2020/04/ep16-mosab-alnomaire-transcript.pdf www.twitter.com/Silent_Tongue

April 2015. David Turner is in Istanbul talking to Cecilia Erismann about her poetry, writing process and taking part in the residency programme at MauMau Works. Download a transcript of this conversation here: https://lunarpoetrypodcasts.files.wordpress.com/2020/04/ep15-cecilia-erismann-transcript.pdf Cecilia reads three poems: 'Untitled' - (00:00:30) 'Maybe' - (00:05:06) 'Mimar' - (00:09:13) www.twitter.com/Silent_Tongue www.ceciliaerismann.com www.charlottejward.com

March 2015. A transcript of this conversation is available to download here: https://lunarpoetrypodcasts.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/interview-tory-town-poets-lpp-transcripts-ep-14.pdf David Turner is in Basildon, Essex talking to Olmo Lazarus and Sioni Richards a.k.a Tory Town Poets about their poetry, creative process and growing up in a satellite town. Olmo and Sioni each read a poem: Olmo: 'Untitled' - (00:21:46) Sioni: 'We Were The Kids' - (00:32:48) www.twitter.com/Silent_Tongue

March 2015. A transcript of this conversation is available to download here: https://lunarpoetrypodcasts.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/interview-the-bros-grim-lpp-transcript-ep-13.pdf Lizzy Palmer talks to Grim Chip at The All Stars Boxing Gym in Kensal, north-west London. Chip reads three poems and chats about his writing and creative process. Poems: 'I Spy' - (00:00:51) 'A Class Act' - (00:10:52) 'Not Half-empty. Drained' - (00:19:44) www.twitter.com/Silent_Tongue www.facebook.com/facebook.com/GrimChippoet