Heads Up - Commonplace Podcast

or to give it its full title, "Commonplace: Conversations with Poets (and Other People)"

 

 

It does, literally, not cease to amaze me how many good poets there are out there in the wider world (and here I am talking only of Angolphone writers) that I have never heard about.

I was apprised of the Commonplace Podcast by no other than the talented Alice Allan at Poetry Says (who somehow manages to keep many fingers in many poetry baked goods).

The podcast is the creation of American poet Rachel Zucker, who defines Commonplace as:

A series of intimate and captivating interviews by Rachel Zucker with poets and artists about quotidian objects, experiences or obsessions,Commonplace conversations explore the recipes, advice, lists, anecdotes, quotes, politics, phobias, spiritual practices, and other non-Literary forms of knowledge that are vital to an artist’s life and work. 

Which is a nice way of saying poets "shooting the shit" with other poets about life and poetry.  But it's the second part of the About Page blurb that gets to the heart of why I am hooked after only one listen:

One feels, when listening to Commonplace, the pleasure of eavesdropping on the kind of unexpected, intriguing connections that only happen when interesting people sit together in a small room and talk about their real concerns and ordinary lives.

I don't really want erudite, well presented essays in oral form.  I want the literary salon-like atmosphere in my headphones and Commonplace delivers.

Alice recommends starting at episode 18 where Zucker talks to fellow poet Terrence Hayes.  The conversation is so gloriously all encompassing and at the same time free ranging that I am inclined to agree with Alice here.

For non itunes folk go here  for Episode 18.