We, The Poets

Episode 1 'What Do You Want On Your Pizza?' (Ft.Salena Godden, Charley Genever, Keely Mills & Mark Grist)

Welcome to the electrifying premiere of 'We, the Poets'! In this inaugural episode, we have the absolute honour of hosting poetry powerhouse Salena Godden. Salena's kicking off her 2024 tour with a visit to our humble abode to chat Bowie, pizzas, and how to accept your writing and performing monsters. Salena also takes us on a journey through her latest collection, 'With Love, Grief and Fury,' only just released by Canongate. Get ready for a treat as she unveils two poems from hercollection - poems that Salena has never read to an audience before(!).
Alongside the readings we delve into the nitty-gritty of Salena's creative process and daily routine, especially during colder winter months. We discuss identity, costume, balancing the energies of both poet and performer - and even how to navigate writing commissions without losing sight of our authenticity.Salena shares invaluable insights gleaned from her years in the literary trenches & this chat led to all three of us writing brand new poems!
And if that weren't enough, we're thrilled to feature the captivating work of two additional poets—Lateral G and Sarah L Dixon—with two new pieces that we absolutely loved.
Sure, we might still be figuring out how to work our cameras in the studio, but when it comes to unfiltered poetry goodness, we've got you covered.Welcome to 'We, the Poets'.Link to 'With Love, Grief & Fury': https://www.awesomebooks.com/book/9781805303510/with-love-grief-and-fury?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwl4yyBhAgEiwADSEjeB5jLZnOUi380qk7VzeDF7xz6TQygfJ03UdF_GvJP1EyZNDE8i4umRoCsbAQAvD_BwELink to Salena's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/salena.godden/?hl=enLink to work by Sarah L Dixon: http://thequietcompere.co.uk/poetry-by-sarah-l-dixon/Link to work by Lateral G: https://lateralg.co.uk/Link to all 'We, The Poets' workshops this season: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/leanne-moden-19985031763

Episode 2: 'Transformations & Toolboxes' (Ft. Ross Sutherland, Keely Mills, Charley Genever & Mark Grist)

How do you balance the act of creating poetry with the various other roles you have to play as a poet—editor, promoter, workshop leader, performer? Do you ever find it tiring juggling so many roles?In this episode Charley, Keely & Mark meet with Ross Sutherland to chat about Ross' poetry, theatre shows & even his recent opera. They also discuss the 90s alternative comedy circuit,  Ross' incredible podcast 'This Imaginary Life' and how best to clean up Andrew Motion's Jizz. We hope you enjoy listening as much as we enjoyed making it!Poems included: Ross shares his Univocal poem 'Two Moons' and we have guest appearances from Alex Tyler & James Domestic. Link for Ross Sutherland's 'This Imaginary Life': https://www.imaginaryadvice.com/Link for Alex Tyler's poetry night 'Good Shout': https://www.facebook.com/GoodShoutSpokenWordLink for James Domestic's new collection 'Domesticated Vol.2': https://jamesdomestic.com/product/940918

Episode 3: 'Alphabet of Identity' (Ft.Jasmine Gardosi, Charley Genever, Leanne Moden & Mark Grist)

Mark Grist, Leanne Moden, and Charley Genever chat with Jasmine Gardosi about her experiences applying for and being the poet laureate of Birmingham, the knockbacks she received along the way, and the incredible ways Jasmine has evolved as she gained a greater understanding of the letters that help define her identity. Featuring additional poetry from Tara Singh and Hilary Steele.
Link to We, the Poets workshop signup: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/leanne-moden-19985031763
Link to Jasmine's rollercoaster poem: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IFMpF6JIko&ab_channel=NationalLiteracyTrust
Link to JAsmine's 'Dancing to Music you Hate': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEOImvSX6LY&ab_channel=JasmineGardosi
Find more out about Jasmine's work here: https://www.jasminegardosi.com/
Link to Tara Singh's workshop series: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/speak-the-word-poetry-salon-33042426159

Episode 4: Crafting a National Tour (Ft. Harry Baker, Mark Grist, Keely Mills & Tony Nero)

In this episode, we dive deep into the art of putting together a successful national tour with the incredible Harry Baker. Joining the conversation are Mark Grist and Keely Mills, with local arts legend Tony Nero guest hosting as well. We explore everything from knowing when your tour is ready, building a solid touring structure, mastering the art of contacting venues, and how to focus your energy in the right places and staying true to yourself in the ever-changing industry. 
Plus, we've got stunning new poetry from Beccy Golding and Aaron Isaac, and even take a moment to discuss the nuances of memorizing work. This episode is packed with insights, inspiration, and practical advice for creatives at any stage of their journey. Don't miss it!Link to Harry's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harrybakerpoet/?hl=enTo see more of Tony Nero's work: https://www.artoftonynero.com/To find out more about Beccy Golding (Including her poem-a-day that's been running since April 2021): https://www.instagram.com/fridayispoetsdayTo find out more about Aaron Isaac: https://www.instagram.com/aaronisaacgigs/
 

Episode 5: Taking a Show to The Edinburgh Fringe (Ft. Gigi Bell, Mark Grist & Chris Barn)

 
In this midway point episode, Mark returns from the Edinburgh Fringe and chats with Chris Barn, our rock 'n' roll Sound Sorcerer from Backland Studios, about his experiences. Mark also interviews international poet Gig Bella about her show Big Feelings, her writing style, and her journey (and fitness routine) as she prepares for Edinburgh.
There's also an insightful piece from Samantha Goodlett on accessibility (or the lack of it) in architecture, plus a callout for submissions for our final three episodes of the series. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to hit the Fringe as a poet or want tips on making the most of it, this is the episode for you!

Episode 6: From Stanzas to TV Scripts (Ft. Jess Green, Charley Genever, Keely Mills & Mark Grist)

In this episode, hosts Mark Grist, Charley Genever, and Keely Mills sit down with the incredible Jess Green at Backland Studios. We delve into Jess's journey from the spoken word scene to writing for television, including popular soaps and her recent work on the new Paramount series Curfew. Join us as we explore the challenges of transitioning between creative mediums, the importance of authenticity, and how to maintain confidence amidst rejection and public scrutiny.
Featuring additional poetry from Sarah Waites and Lizzy Dening.Link to Jess' new collection: https://burningeye.bigcartel.com/product/dressed-as-love-by-jess-green-pre-order-due-out-7th-decemberLink to Curfew on Paramount+: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVLZcNNLnbs