Tag: Pittsburgh Poetry

Ep 111 American Aorta

Old friend Jason Baldinger is back with a new book and new conversation. Jason did a lot of reading from his new book American Aorta, and American Aorta comes with its own playlist! As always, Jason is super funny, engaging, and honest. Our conversation ranges from rust belt memories, travel, and the craft of poetry. Jason reads a poem about a famous Ben Shahn painting and many others. Catch Jason reading at the Poets Building Bridges Series on February 10, 2024.

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Ep 109 Miracles that Keep Charlie Brice Going

For this episode I sit down with Pittsburgh Poet Charlie Brice to talk about his 7th and soon to be 8th books. In the process we talk about the power of humor and the persistence of memory in poetry. Charlie’s book Miracles that Keep Me Going is out now, and the best way to purchase a copy is to get one from Charlie at charlie.brice[at]gmail[dot]com, or come to the Miracles that Keep Me Going Book Launch Party at Riverstone Books in Squirrel Hill.

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Ep. 102: Jason Baldinger’s KTel Record

Our most frequent guest has released his KTel record of the greatest hits and unreleased poems. A History of Backroads Misplaced is a retrospective of the last decade of his work. During this episode we look back at Jason Baldinger‘s evolution as a poet, what it means to revise old work, and there are some special surprises at the end.

And sooo much swearing

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Ep. 100: Ghost Mother

For our 100th episode we didn’t do a cheesy clip show. Instead, poet Valerie Bacharach stopped by for a deep discussion on memory, grief, and poetry as a tool for healing. Valerie reads from her new excellent book Ghost Mother, which you should buy Ghost Mother from Finishing Line Press or buy it from the big borg book retailer.

On October 7, 2021 at 7 PM Valerie and a host of other great Pittsburgh Poets will be reading at the official book launch for Ghost Mother, through the White Whale Bookstore, and you can sign up to watch the reading from the comfort of your own home through White Whale’s website.

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Ep. 99: The Afterlife is a Hangover

Jason Baldinger is one of the folks who has made this podcast what it is, and who better to have on for our last show in the double digits but him. However, this was perhaps the most difficult podcast I have ever recorded, because it is about his split poetry and art book co-authored by Nell Hendricks called The Afterlife is a Hangover. The book is about the death of someone who meant a lot to a lot of people Pittsburgh musician, writer, professor, and record store owner Karl Hendricks.

We miss Karl, we love Karl, and unfortunately sometimes we have to meet the grief head on as we do for this extensive conversation about poetry, death, and record stores.

We swear a lot, and well . . . f*ck cancer anyway.

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Ep. 96 Uprooted

Nina Padolf is a poet who writes about family history, trauma, and memory. Her poems exist at the intersection of personal history and that which we often prefer not to discuss. Thankfully, during our podcast we were able to have a deep and meaningful conversation about poetics, identity, and Dr. Padolf reads for us.

You can buy Uprooted from the big Borg Online Retailer, OR you could contact Nina at ninapoet[at]gmail[dot]com. You can also check out her readings at Riverstone Books in Pittsburgh on September 30th at 7 PM and at the Uprooted Book Launch Reading at White Whale Books in Pittsburgh on November 9th at 7.

As always, a little bit of swearing spices things up.

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Episode 85: The Rumproller

Kristofer Collins stops by our unfortunately named podcast to discuss his new book The River is Another Kind of Prayer. During the course of our conversation, we do a deep dive on his poetics, Kristofer reads to us several poems, and I make sure that by recording this episode, I’m not committing wire fraud.

While you could buy The River is Another Kind of Prayer from some big internet book consortium, wouldn’t you rather get it from City of Asylum or White Whale Bookstore?

This is only the second podcast I have recorded over the phone, and I did a lot of work on the sound quality. That said, there is a deliciously nostalgic landline analog hum throughout. Also, swearing.

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Episode 84: Site Work

Robert Walicki lives in two worlds. He is a poet and a plumber. His poetry bridges the gap between these two worlds, and we discuss his amazing new collection entitled Fountain in depth. Robert reads a number of his poems, including one about seeing The Cure in the 90’s.

We also discuss the value of art and culture in this era. I get on that interregnum thing again, and Bob reveals the worst car he has ever driven. Buy Fountain from Main Street Rag, buy Robert’s other collection Black Angels from the big book selling website, and follow Robert Walicki on Facebook.

As always, I swear, and I forgot to pay Bob the dollar I owe him.

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Episode 83: Tilted World & the Economy of Words

Bart Solarczyk is a Pittsburgh poet whose ability to capture a moment in time with very few words fills me with envy and admiration. His new book Tilted World is out on Low Ghost Press, and in this podcast Bart reads extensively from the book (Hey, they’re short poems!), and we talk poetics, de-industrialization, and the inherently surreal nature of Lunchables.

You can get all of Bart Solarczyk’s books (including Tilted World, Walt Whitman’s Watching, Right Direction, and Vicodin and the Christian Broadcasting Network) directly from him at a reading or hit him up via email at bsolarczyk[at]comcast[dot]net if you’re not local. However, the best thing to do is to hit him up at the Tilted World Book Launch Party on Saturday February 22, 2020, where you can also say goodbye to the Coffee Buddha.

As always, there’s light but pleasant swearing.

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Episode 78: The Better Angels of Our Nature

Every time Jason Baldinger writes a new book, it’s his best book, and so for this new podcast we have a hard time, because Jason is here to talk about two new books: The Better Angels of our Nature and Everyone’s Alone Tonight, co-written with the great Kansas City poet James Benger.

In the course of our conversation Jason and I talk about our long state of national emergency, the importance of travel for poetics, why Jack Kerouac kinda sucks even though he’s important to us both, and American mythology. Jason’s new books The Better Angels of our Nature and Everyone’s Alone Tonight can be bought from a big (but not the biggest) internet book retailer, at independent books stores, or just find Jason on Facebook. He is also going to be going on a reading tour starting with the dual book launch party on October 2nd at The White Whale Bookstore in Pittsburgh at 7PM. Look him up on Facebook to find the other tour dates.

As always, I swear.

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