The Poets

Episoder

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  172. Westin Isaiah Koa Hess 17.08.2026 1t 1min

  Westin Isaiah Koa Hess depends on an active internal life for their creative works, and hopes to continually bring people back into their bodies, minds, hearts, and spirits through artwork.
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  171. Mxxx. J 03.08.2026 1t 48min

  Mxxx. J (xe, xem, xer(s) singular pronouns) is a full-time multidisciplinary artist who has been writing poetry since 2013 and performing since 2020. Xe is passionate about community and is involved with art events daily, including hosting a variety open mic at SAME Café every 3rd wednesday 6-9pm called So All May Express, and an interactive writing workshop with Sacred Voices Denver (in which xe is a board member as well) called Sacred Voices WRITE!, which is every 3rd saturday currently at Lighthouse Writers Workshop from 2-4pm. Follow xem at @m.x.x.x.j on Instagram and Eider Luda on Facebook to get and stay in touch if you aren't already! Xe is also primarily a maker and vendor (@sickeningcreations), as well as a drag performer, dancer, and drummer. Also, enjoy the T this episode includes, which Mxxx. J always has.Heads up - we talk about events in the episode that may no longer be upcoming, as this was recorded several months ago. Definitely check out Mxxx. J on socials or reach out to get info on the most up to date events and happenings.Recorded on April 14th, 2026
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  170. J Diego Frey 28.07.2026 1t 18min

  J Diego Frey is the preposterous nom de plume for a human poet raised in the southeast corner of Denver, Colorado, from a time at least a few years before anybody’s hiking boots scuffed up the Moon.J Diego has published two collections of poetry, Umbrellas or Else and The Year the Eggs Cracked, both of which are considered essential reading in several very hip bathrooms. The books can be purchased from the publisher, Conundrum Press, an imprint of Bower House Books (bowerhousebooks.com), for less than you would spend on overpriced coffee and prune danish over the course of a very jittery Monday. The books offer a unique aggregation of both formal and decidedly informal verse that comment on and rhyme with a cross-section of mundanity in modern (read, the last 40 years or so) American life.
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  169. Joshua Robinson 20.07.2026 53min

  Joshua C. Robinson (Xe/Xem/Xer) is an intersex, non-binary, poet and performer. Xe received degrees in Playwriting and Poetry from the University of Missouri; xe hold a Master’s of Arts Management from Columbia College Chicago. Xe are the founder of the Screaming at America anthologies, which is in its third iteration. Xer work is featured in a multitude of journals and stages, New City, The Maneater, Writer's Block Zine, The GuloGulo Anthology, Exposed and more. Xe survived a year and a half of nonconsecutive homelessness. Xer memoir “Homeless With God,” has yet to win any awards, but there's still time. Xe would like to take themselves less seriously someday. Xe would also like to take a nap. Xe love you, and xe mean it.Follow Joshua on IG @artbeforemoneyScreaming at America Anthology
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  168. Megan Foley 14.07.2026 35min

  Megan's collection Sike Ward is out now and available through South Broadway Press.Note - This episode contains a discussion about mental health topics including hospitalization and suicidal ideation.Megan Foley—aka: Cool Boots—is a queer poet, author, and artist who specializes in crying & trying. They write sad poems, they make unhinged art, and they spend 60% of their time on Thesaurus.com trying to find the exact word they want. Megan is a professional weirdo, a career cryptid, and the leading expert on how to make the world a weirder place. Instagram: @megan_jean_foley
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  167. Ghost Series 7 - Julian Thomas Interviews Clarence Barbee 06.07.2026 1t 20min

  Clarence's audiobook, Lessons and Libations, is available for free, along with other of his works here.Clarence Barbee is a multi-talented individual known for his literary achievements. As the author of multiple distinct works, “Chicken Soup and a Shot of Jack” and his debut poetry book “Fire Molten and Ash,” he showcases his versatility and creativity. Now, with the release of Lessons and Libations, Clarence continues to display a wit and keenness in his written (and spoken) works.With a background as a spoken word artist, he has mastered the art of weaving words into evocative pieces that resonate with emotions. He was known for traveling the southeastern US under the stage name Nabraska. Currently serving as an educator in the Denver area, Clarence continues to inspire and shape young and old minds. He’s also a pretty great girl Dad!His passion for writing remains unwavering as he diligently works on new ventures, including upcoming books, short stories, and poetry collections, further solidifying his place in the literary world.Follow Clarence on IG ⁠@authorclarencebarbee⁠ and ⁠@poet402⁠--Julian Thomas is an actor born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He is best known for appearing in Jordan Peele’s “Hunters” (2020), ABC’s “For Life” (2020), and “Day of the Dead II: Contagium” (2005). He has also appeared in numerous comedy sketches on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.Julian Thomas graduated from the notable theatre program at Northwestern University. Most recently Julian has narrated a number of audio books in fiction and non-fiction, including “We Matter; Athletes and Activism”, a collection of essays and interviews with high profile journalists, political activists and professional athletes, in which they explore the social justice landscape of today. It is available on Audible and Itunes.Follow Julian on IG @thomas_artandlife⁠Julian's IMDB page
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  166. David Latiff 29.06.2026 1t 5min

  David Latiff features to discuss their poetry collection THE CHAIR: A cluttered pile of neuroqueer poetry and themes of neurodivergence, executive dysfunction, battle bots, queerness, mental health, and getting your work out there as a poet and artist.Follow the link purchase David's collection THE CHAIR: A cluttered pile of neuroqueer poetryYou can read more from David at their Substack
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  165. Eve Addams 22.06.2026 59min

  Eve Addams is a performance poet whose work mixes storytelling with elements of magical realism to explore memory, religion, trauma, and love. She was a member of the 2025 Mercury Slam Poetry Team and is a 2x Moth StorySlam winner.Connect with her on Instagram @eveaddamspoet
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  164. Lighthouse Writers Workshop Lit Fest 2026 - The Poets Special Edition 19.06.2026 25min

  Today is a special edition of The Poets, and comes to you thanks to Lighthouse Writers Workshop and Lit Fest 2026. I was privileged to be invited to set up a table during LitFest on June 18th, 2026, and I brought a microphone with me. This episode features writers I met at Lit Fest who were kind enough to share their work with me, and with all of you, on the show. All of them will also most likely be featured in full episodes some time in the coming months, so stay tuned.Because some, but not all of them, said their name in the recording, I’ll start off by listing them here, and then we’ll get into their work. Thanks very much to Bridget Gwyn, festival and events manager, and Jasper Burak, Program Coordinator for Lighthouse, for allowing me to be a part of this event.Thanks to those who featured on this episode: Bridget GwynJoe SantiniJean-Marc Saint LaurentMalinda MillerFin ThomasJ. Diego FreyMary Robinette KowalJoshua Robinsonand Therese SamsonAnd of course, thank you all for listening.
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  163. Ashlynn Salazar 15.06.2026 49min

  If you are going to describe Ashlynn in 3 words it would be “five foot menace”. If you want a longer description it would go like this.Ashlynn is a recovering overachiever people pleaser who loves to complain in her poetry. When she’s not battling imposter syndrome, she is your Denver Mercury Grand Slam Champion. Other fun facts include Ashlynn likes talking about slavery, blush blindness, flirting with avoidant people and telling people she’s close to graduating with her history degree .If you find her to be cute and are under 25 or if you are into a poetry vibe similar to Solange coming out the elevator after fighting Jay-Z, you can follow Ashlynn at @yourstrulyashlynn
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  162. Aerik Francis (Phaentompoet) 11.06.2026 1t 32min

  Aerik Francis, the current Poet Laureate for Adams County, rejoins the show to discuss his recently released collection BODYPOLITIC and a wide range of topics.Aerik Francis is a poet & teaching artist based in Denver, Colorado, USA. Francis is currently serving as poet laureate of Adams County, Colorado (2025-2027). Francis is the author of three poetry chapbooks: BODYPOLITIC (Abode Press, March 2026 ), MISEDUCATION (New Delta Review, May 2023), and BODYELECTRONIC (Trouble Department, April 2022 [out of print]). Francis has received poetry fellowship support from SAFTA, the Chrysalis Institute, CantoMundo, Letras Latinas, and The Watering Hole. They are also a poetry reader for Underblong poetry journal. Francis has poetry published widely, links of which may be found at linktr.ee/aerik as well as their website phaentompoet.com . Find Aerik on social media @phaentompoet. Aerik said photo credit is most likely Stone (@persephone_stone/@thewriterstone)
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  161. Tomi Wakefield 01.06.2026 1t 16min

  A divorced rat bastard in my mid thirties. An on and off again poet, healing through poetry. New to Denver. New to being openly queer. New to loving myself in ways I've always needed.
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  160. Maxwell Gold 18.05.2026 35min

  Maxwell I. Gold is a Jewish-American author and poet with an extensive body of work comprising over 350 poems and nine poetry collections since 2017. His work has appeared in numerous literary journals, magazines, and anthologies. Maxwell’s work has earned nominations for two Bram Stoker Awards, the Eric Hoffer Award, the Pushcart Prize, the Rhysling Award and others. Find him and his work at www.thewellsoftheweird.com.Maxwell's book Neurotica is available for purchase here.Find Maxwell on Instagram, Bluesky, and Threads @cybergodwrites
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  159. Silas Vazquez 11.05.2026 1t 2min

  Silas Vazquez (any pronouns) is an actor, singer, improviser, and poet. You may have seen him in Titanic (UNC), Urinetown (UNC), Sweeney Todd (StageDoor Theatre), Ride the Cyclone (Vintage Theatre), Woodlands And Wyverns (Audacious Immersive Theatre), or as part of the Mercury Slam Poetry Team at Chicharra Poetry Festival (Albuquerque, NM) or Bigfoot Poetry Festival (Portland, OR). You usually can find her on some stage somewhere, opening old wounds and making some new ones.Instagram is @silasisbusy
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  158. The Coven Collective Discusses "Pieces of a Beautiful Something" 04.05.2026 1t 23min

  The Poets will be back to our regularly scheduled programming (i.e. individual poet features) after this.The album discussed in the episode is available on Bandcamp and on streaming platforms.On another slightly different episode of The Poets, I'm joined by BG and the first iteration of the Coven Collective to discuss an album of spoken word and music that recently was released. BG, Lady Julianne, Nikolai Riddle, and Jabe Pazoo all appear on the mic to discuss their contributions to the album, along with a conversation about broader themes like changing landscapes of art, AI usage, and what the hell to do about billionaires and narcissists.
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  157. Sidney Shaw: The Karma House Kava Bar Promo Episode 29.04.2026 36min

  Sidney Shaw is the Events Manager at The Karma House, a community-centered kava bar and gathering space in the Denver metro area. As an intuitive healer, Reiki Master, and tarot reader with over a decade of experience, Sidney weaves together event curation and spiritual practice to create spaces rooted in connection, healing, and authenticity.At The Karma House, Sidney helps bring people together through a diverse range of offerings—from live music and poetry to wellness events and community gatherings—all designed to foster belonging and meaningful connection. She is especially excited to welcome the legacy of the Mercury Cafe through the Mercury Legacy Jazz Jam and Poetry Open Mic, continuing a cherished tradition in a new home.The Karma House is a sober-friendly space that offers kava, herbal teas, and a vibrant calendar of events, serving as a hub for creativity, healing, and community in Colorado.608 Garrison St e, Lakewood, CO 80215 and thekarmahouse.org
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  156. Gabriel Gravagno - ANNOUNCEMENT RE CONTINUATION OF FRIDAY NIGHT JAZZ JAM AND OPEN MIC 22.04.2026 28min

  Gabriel Gravagno returns to the show to talk about how to continue the legendary Friday Night Jazz Jam and Poetry Open Mic, which began long ago at the Mercury Cafe. Any questions, comments, or concerns can be sent to Gabe, who is eager to hear others' thoughts and ideas.A trial run of sorts will take place at the Karma House Kava Bar & Tea House, located at 608 Garrison St e, Lakewood, CO 80215 and thekarmahouse.org.First, a jam and open mic will be held on April 25th, from 7pm to 10pm (this is a chance for the Mercury jazz and poetry crowd to try out integration with an existing Karma House jazz night) followed by a Friday night Jazz Jam and Poetry Open Mic on May 1st, from 7pm to midnight.The plan is for the Friday night Jazz Jam and Poetry Open Mic to continue in earnest beginning on May 22nd, 2026.It is understood that there may be confusion and many other feelings regarding this. Once again, Gabe is eager to have a conversation with anyone who wishes to voice concerns, questions, or other ideas.Much love.Photo of Gabe credit Amy Jordheim
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  155. Dominick Francois - Promo for Imagery Event on May 23rd, 2026 21.04.2026 20min

  A brief episode today with Dominick Francois discussing his Imagery EP and upcoming event celebrating its release to held on May 23rd, 2026 at Buell Public Media Center - 2101 Arapahoe St, Denver CO 80205Tickets available here.Imagery EP available here.
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  154. Frederick Kirwin's "Lost Songs of the Withlacoochee" read by Luis Garza 10.04.2026 35min

  Something a little different on The Poets today. I am joined by Luis Garza, a digital marketing strategist and representative of Frederick Kirwin, author of Lost Songs of the Withlacoochee. Luis shares an excerpt from Kirwin's book, and we discuss themes of first loves, love lost and found, the rivers of the world, Garza's work with Kirwin, and Kirwin's corpus overall.-Lost Songs of the Withlacoochee can be purchased at Apollo BooksYou can learn more about, and get in touch with, Luis Garza at his website.-Frederick Kirwin graduated from Florida State University with a BA in History and International Affairs and an MA in Government. He passed the preliminary examinations for the PhD program in Government, received a teaching fellowship, and co-authored a scholarly article with Richard Gray, PhD, titled “Presidential Succession in Chile: 1817– 1966,” published in the Journal of Inter-American Studies (January 1969). He later withdrew from the program to accept a Shubert Fellowship in Theatre, earning an MFA in Playwriting. His published works include Lost Songs of the Withlacoochee (poetry), Confessions of a Drowning Man (an epic poem), Songs Of the Garden of Delights (poetry), Body Carnal (poetry), Body Sacred (poetry), Talking About Diana's Death (a non-puff parody), Billy and Dakota (a BL love story), Dog Bites Man (a thriller), Past Love, Praise, Indifference, Blame (a play). Production of his plays includes Billy (Playwrights Horizons, NYC); Swan Dive (Playwrights Horizons, NYC); Dog Bites Man (Marlborough Theatre, Brighton, UK, and later at the Rock Theatre, Brighton, U.K.); The Lottery (Tristan Bates Theatre, Covent Garden, London, UK, and later at Fox Theatre, London, UK); Talking about Diana (King's Head Theatre, London, UK, and later at the Camden People's Theatre, London, UK). Kirwin is the recipient of The Dramatists Guild Fund Award and five Edward Albee Foundation Fellowships, and he served as Playwright-in-Residence at the North Carolina School of the Arts. His screenplay for the film, Dog Bites Man, received ten Best Script Awards.
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  153. Madden Wishard 24.03.2026 39min

  Madden Wishard (they/them) can be summed up as “a lumbering soul but trying to fly,” a phrase written by John Steinbeck. Growing up in Northern Virginia, they always felt an immense pressure to be who they were not. As a queer and trans person in a conservative evangelical Christian community, they felt a keen sense of rejection. As they grew, they realized the power of words and began writing about their experiences. They hope ultimately to touch others with their writing. Their poetry is focused on mental health, recovery, acceptance, and beauty. They have shared at Denver’s Pearl open mic night many times and are publishing their first book, Making Marmalade, which focuses on simple joys amidst harsh realities. They have just begun their career as a surgical technologist after graduating from school with a degree in applied science. Prior to this, they worked with kids in mental health for 9 years. Their writing often bends towards the beauty in the intricate human body and that found in young minds.