The Poetic Turn
The Poetic Turn is a podcast hosted by Darren Stephens and Evan Carlson that explores poems and poetry through conversation—thoughtful, curious, and welcoming. Each episode invites listeners into close encounters with poems: how they work, why they matter, and what they can offer us.The show is...
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Recent Episodes
Jan. 27, 2026
The Chimney Sweeper, by William Blake
The conversation delves into the power of poetry as a means of social commentary and its impact on social change. It explores the personal connections to poetry and the discussion of William Blake's poem 'The Chimney Sweeper....
Jan. 20, 2026
How to Sing, by Dan Smart and an interview
The conversation introduces Dan Smart, a poet, and musician, and delves into the importance of daily writing as a habit and the focus on the process over the outcome. It explores the life of a poet, the habit of writing poetr...
Jan. 19, 2026
The Fish, by Elizabeth Bishop
The Poetic Turn podcast discusses 'The Fish' by Elizabeth Bishop, exploring its themes, emotions, and the impact of its powers of description. The hosts share their insights and encourage listeners to engage with the poem. Ta...
Jan. 12, 2026
In the Desert, by Stephen Crane
The conversation explores the value of poetry as a means of escape and reflection, delving into the works of Stephen Crane and his unique approach to poetry. The discussion highlights the impact of Crane's poems and their rel...
Jan. 6, 2026
To Carelessness, by Kenneth Koch
The conversation delves into the significance of poetry in different stages of life, the power of poetry to evoke emotions and images, an exploration of the poem 'To Carelessness' by Kenneth Koch, and an analysis of the line ...
Jan. 6, 2026
Welcome to The Poetic Turn - Poems by Billy Collins and Archibald McLeish
The conversation explores the idea of a poetry podcast, the concept of the poetic turn in poetry, the impact of poetry on perception, interpreting Ars Poetica, and the impact of wordless poetry. The key takeaways include the ...