Episode 160: In this, our 4th anniversary episode Things That Frighten You, we begin with a dark poem and conversation about what makes a poem scary. It ‘s not all werewolves and vampires and haunted houses. Sometimes it’s the dread of a terminal disease, the fear of losing a child, the very real possibility of racial violence. A scary poem is specific about the evils we cannot control or that we humans do to one another. A scary poem is about . . . life.

Episode 159: Unshackled from Cash: The Immersive Experience of Live Performance brings you musings and profundity (of a sort) as we discuss poetry readings, live theater, and live performances, in general. This episode was inspired by a line from Nicole Stellon O’Donnell: “Unshackled from cash, poetry can go wherever it pleases.”

Episode 158: In this episode, we are joined by local musician extraordinaire Tom Henry who told us stories and sang poetic songs. He sang, “I’m just not with it. I just don’t get it.” And we don’t either, Tom. He also treated us to “Wild Cherry Wine,” and many other poetic impressions, like “When the Dream Becomes Ours.” Oh people, just listen.

Episode 157: Tom Holland is Not Squalid covers 10 vocabulary words, a host of short and diabolically pithy poems, and Shaun having allergy sneezes, while Bill attempts to keep his papers dry and clarify the meaning of “scintillate.” In short, just the kind of entertainment you need right now.

Episode 156: Wishes and Eyeore is a poetic discussion of wishes and the desire for and the striving for. A “wish” is not a naïve thing. It is a necessary thing, an adult thing, a beautiful thing, even when it is necessarily unlovely. Does this not make any sense? Then, listen, and it will.

Episode 155: Shake Your Catoosa is a bit about Route 66 attractions and the upcoming poetry exhibit Rhyming on Route 66 and is also about just getting out there and being amongst people, especially people you are not used to. Get out there and shake your catoosa and be alive while you’re living your life.

Episode 154: Call Me Nightmare explores 4 impromptu poems written by attendees of PopCon Indy in Indianapolis this June 2025. Your co-hosts Shaun and Bill revel in the imagery despite the brain fog of trying to learn how to line dance the night before. Trust us, it will all make sense when you listen. And if it doesn’t, that’s probably all right, too.

Episode 153: Dig a Hole entertains you with the mellifluous sounds of Woody Guthrie, whose birthday on July 14 is celebrated each year at the Woody Guthrie Folk Festival in Okemah, Oklahoma. Yes, mellifluous, and also rebellious and truth-telling. Herein are some songs and poems and all manner of talk about digging a hole for the fascists. Please excuse the hairy arm of Shaun with age spots above.

Episode 152: Wildness Tonic gets wild with musings about the museum’s upcoming book club on nature themes inspired by Henry David Thoreau, among others. Sandy Burford, local naturalist and volunteer extraordinaire, joins us as we discuss kleptotrichy, utility company tree maintenance, the speed of the telegraph, and actual poetry. We get wild. It is wild. You should be wild.