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.

Episode 74: Hemingway’s Summer Poetry Series

For the last 45 years, Hemingway’s has been the host of a summer poetry series. Founded by the late Jimmy Cvetic, the Hemingway’s Summer Poetry Series has been a place where academics have met street poets and shared their voices, and the series has become a foundation of the Pittsburgh literary community.

Joan E. Bauer and Kristofer Collins stop by to discuss the legacy of Jimmy Cvetic, what it takes to keep a series running for 45 years, we make a damn good case for why poetry is for everyone, and they even offer sage advice to those of you who really should start your own damn reading series (seriously, you really should). Step 1 is you should sign up for Joan E. Bauer’s email blast by sending an email to JBauer103w [AT] aol.com.

The Hemingway’s Summer Poetry Series can be found at Hemingway’s at 3911 Forbes Avenue , in the Oakland section of Pittsburgh. The series runs every year from the first Tuesday in May to the last Tuesday in July. You can find out more from the Hemingway’s Summer Poetry Series Facebook, and a photo and audio archive from the last 8 years can be found on the Hemingway’s Summer Poetry Series Blogspot Page.

I don’t remember if we swear or not, but I think I did.

Episode 56: Love Poems, Nothing but Love Poems

We have four guests this time out to talk about a great new anthology of poems entitled Unconditional Surrender from Low Ghost Press.  We have editors Kristofer Collins and Scott Silsbe, as well as contributors Stephanie Brea and Richard Gegick. Stephanie and Richard read their contributions.  Kristofer and Scott discuss the construction of this beautiful, surprising, sad, and tender collection.  In the process I get on my high horse about being confident in your creativity, we reference Roland Barthes several times, and we find out which of our guests would like to see what Stalin would think of Frank Sinatra.

You can (and really, really freakin’ should) buy the collection at a number of Pittsburgh’s fine independent bookstores as well as directly from Low Ghost Press through Amazon. Also, check out Low Ghost Press on Facebook for details about the December book launch event.

I’m not the only one who swears this time.