This week Repeat Beat Poet is in conversation with poet, author, broadcaster, activist, and longstanding rabble-rousing doyenne of UK poetry, Salena Goddena. The pair reflect on Salena's career in poetry and literature, the inspirations behind her debut novel Mrs Death Misses Death, and have a good chat about the complications and joys of writing t…

Cece's Speakeasy (30th June-3rd July 2021) - https://applesandsnakes.org/project/ceces-speakeasy/ This week The Repeat Beat Poet speaks to writer, performer, creative director, and tarot-reading multi-faceted artist and activist Zena Edwards. The pair talk about navigating corporate spaces while maintaining integrity, the importance of orality and …

The terms hard-working and “jack of all trades” get thrown around a lot, but Sarah Callaghan really embodies the two. She’s been a comedian for over ten years with shows across the world from Australia to Austria, and she made the move into poetry when she used it as a tool to work through a difficult period of her life. Poetry was a space that all…

This week Peter deGraft-Johnson (The Repeat Beat Poet) speaks to poet , educator, and writer Suhaiymah Manzoor-Khan. The pair start by speaking about overcoming the fears of speaking your truth publicly, learning to trust readers and publishers outside of immediate live audiences, and Suhaiymah's journey discovering poetry. Next, we jump into the t…

“A lot of the ethos that I learned from the punk scene – D.I.Y politics, inclusivity, that kind of thing – I brought with me into Burning Eye Books” - Bridget Hart This week Peter deGraft-Johnson (The Repeat Beat Poet) speaks to poet, editor, producer, publisher with Burning Eye Books, and Grease super-fan Bridget Hart. The pair start by discussing…

This week Peter deGraft-Johnson (The Repeat Beat Poet) speaks to Hip Hop artist and former Sheffield Poet Laureate, Otis Mensah. They discuss how the concept of introspective documentarianism underpins Otis' work of building a personal identity and creative voice around artistic truth and vulnerability, through rap and poetry. There's also talk of …

In his first full interview as host of the series, Peter deGraft-Johnson (The Repeat Beat Poet) speaks to poet, producer, and academic Katie Ailes. They speak about Katie's recent PhD study on performance and authenticity in UK Spoken Word poetry, the critical discourse around poetry, and firmly refute the idea that the talented craftspeople emergi…

In his final episode as host of the series, David Turner talks to Stephen Lightbown about his debut poetry collection Only Air (Burning Eye Books), writing as a wheelchair user and his experience of attending online events during the UK Covid-19 lockdown. Stephen reads three poems.Download a full transcript of this conversation here: https://lunarp…

David Turner is in Walthamstow talking to Caleb Klaces and publisher Jess Chandler to talk about Caleb’s latest book, Fatherhood. This conversation was recorded before Covid-19 hit Britain so is refreshingly free from any virus chat.Fatherhood was published by Prototype Publishing in 2019 and was long listed for the Republic of Consciousness Prize …

David Turner is in Walthamstow, east London talking to Vanessa Onwuemezi. The pair discuss how Vanessa came to be pursuing a life in writing and how she judges the quality of her writing.This episode includes a short tribute to friend and poet Mishi 'Dulwich Hamlet' Morath who sadly passed away before Christmas.Download a full transcript of this co…

David Turner is in central London talking to experimental poet and artist Steven J Fowler. The pair discuss Steven's approach to writing and editing (or lack of it), whether it helps to sometimes be ignored as a writer and his work as a curator of European and international literature events.Download a full transcript here: https://lunarpoetrypodca…

David Turner is in Walthamstow, east London talking to experimental poet and artist Astra Papachristodoulou about the importance of collaboration and the visual look of words on a page in her practice. Astra is pretty determined not to be restricted by conventional definitions of what it is to be a poet and happily exists on the boundary of differe…

David Turner is in Bristol chatting to Tom Sastry about his debut pamphlet, 'Complicity' (Smith|Doorstop) and the link between his writing and performing style. This is the final episode of this 'series'. Lunar Poetry Podcasts will return April 2019.For more from Tom:http://www.poetrybusiness.co.uk/tom-sastryhttps://andotherpoems.com/2018/11/16/thr…

David Turner chats to Shagufta K. Iqbal. David met up with Shagufta back in early October 2018 at her home in Bristol, to discuss her writing and the collaborative nature of providing platforms for other writers, focusing on the role she played in founding the YoniVerse collective, a platform and support network for South Asian women writers. For m…

To celebrate the fourth anniversary of Lunar Poetry Podcasts (01/10/2018) host and founder of the series David Turner chats to Abi Palmer about how and why LPP began. The pair discuss how the podcast has evolved since October 2014 and the changes made because of growing audiences and funding from Arts Council England. Abi and David also talk about …

I am in Manchester chatting to Andrew McMillan about his new and second full collection of poetry, Playtime (Cape Poetry). In 117 episodes, this is the first time I've met up with a poet to specifically discuss the transition from debut collection to second book. I found Andrew’s reflections on confidence in his writing, audience expectation and re…

This episode is in two parts:Part one - David Turner is in Peterborough chatting to Ross Sutherland about his podcast 'Imaginary Advice' and how it now informs his writing. The pair discuss Ross' recent British Podcast Award in the 'Best Fiction' category, how sound engineering can help with character development and pushing literary ideas and devi…

This episode is in two parts:Part one - David Turner is in London chatting to Jane Yeh about assuming personas and writing characters into her poetry, why fiction is such a common starting point for her poems and the influence that fine art, particularly 'old-master paintings' has on her creative practice.Some links relating to this section:https:/…

In this 'special' episode David Turner is at the London office of Arts Council England talking to Gemma Seltzer about the new funding scheme 'Developing Your Creative Practice'. The pair discuss how the funding will work, who will benefit from this scheme and how it differs from previous types of funding.*PLEASE NOTE - this funding scheme is only o…

This episode is in two parts -Part one: David Turner is in London talking to bilingual poet, Leo Boix. The pair chat about translating poetry from one language to another, the different processes at play when Leo writes in either English or Spanish, why Leo doesn’t translate his own writing and the positive influences various writing collectives ha…

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 …

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…

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 rea…

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) - '…

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 incl…

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…

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 kn…

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 Po…

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' - (0…

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…

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.Pa…

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…

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…

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.pdfPart One: David Turner talks to Dean Atta and Deanna Rodger about their regular poetry night, Come Rhyme With Me which takes place at Ova…

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.pdfPart One: David Turner is in Leeds talking to poet and playwright Zodwa Nyoni about incorporating spoken word poetry into her plays, their development process…

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.pdfPart 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…

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-…

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.pdfPart 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 …

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.pdfPart One (3:35) - David Turner is talking t…

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.pdfPart 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,…

Emily Harrison leads a discussion about how creative writing can be used in therapy both within a medical setting and 'in the community'. Emily is joined by Wendy French and Marie Larkin who talk about how their approaches differ and cross-over as well as giving tips to any writers that may be interested in facilitating creative writing workshops f…

This episode is in two parts. A full transcript of this episode can be downloaded here: https://lunarpoetrypodcasts.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/ep-91-matt-abbott-cat-madden-lpp-transcript.pdfPart one - David Turner talks to Matt Abbott about politics and poetry and his spoken word record label Nymphs & Thugs.http://www.mattabbottpoet.com/http://www…

This episode is three parts:Part one - David Turner talks to American poet Savon Bartley about how he got started with spoken word, teaching in the States and his impressions of the UK poetry scene.www.savonbartley.comhttps://www.facebook.com/savonbartley/?fref=tshttps://twitter.com/SavonBartleyPart two (31:43) - David Turner chats with Belinda Zha…

Harry Giles is in conversation with poets Abi Palmer and Andra Simons about what accessibility in the arts means to them, how it informs their practice and the obligations on arts organisers when using the term. A full transcript of the conversation is available to download as a PDF here: https://lunarpoetrypodcasts.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/ep-8…

This episode is in three parts:Part One - David Turner is in Haggerston, London to talk to Hannah Silva about her solo show Schlock! which runs until 26/11/2016. The pair discuss the writing of Kathy Acker, the novel Fifty Shades of Grey and accessibility in theatres.www.hannahsilva.co.ukwww.twitter.com/HannahSilvaUKwww.rosemarybranchtheatre.co.ukP…

David Turner is at PAPER Arts in Bristol talking to local poet Rebecca Tantony, poet and lecturer at Bath Spa University Lucy English and founder of Burning Eye Books, Clive Birnie. The quartet discuss the spoken word scene in Bristol and Bath compared to the rest of the UK as well as reading a few poems.A transcript of this episode is available to…

Download a transcript of this episode here: https://lunarpoetrypodcasts.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/ep86-lpp-transcript.pdfThis episode is in three parts:Part 1 - David Turner is in south London talking to poet and musician, Carlos (Emlyn) Maurizio Rojas. They talk about identity, queerness and the passing on of stories as the child of an immigrant…

This episode is in three parts:Part one - David Turner is at Oslo Literaturhuset speaking to local poet Maria Dorothea Schrattenholz. The pair discuss the influence that science fiction has had over her work. Image of Maria by Carsten Aniksdal.http://www.oktober.no/Forfattere/Norske/Schrattenholz-Maria-Dorotheahttps://soundcloud.com/soundafrica/7-s…

This episode is in three parts:Part 1 - Thomas "Ghetto Geek" Owoo is at Poetry at the PAD in Dagenham. We hear three poems from his feature set before he is joined on stage by the evening's host, The Repeat Beat Poet, and they chat about his writing practice.www.twitter.com/imaghettogeekwww.facebook.com/imaghettogeekwww.twitter.com/ThePADtvwww.face…

In celebration of National Poetry Day 2016 (UK) we invited ten poets to read a favourite poem to go out as a special episode. The readings are as follows:00:00 - David Turner reads "Hairdresser" by Emma Hammond.04:16 - Sarah Fletcher reads "Incubus" by Frances Leviston.09:08 - Rachel Long reads "The News" by Arda Collins.10:39 - The Repeat Beat Poe…