Join poetry prof Tara Stubbs (Oxford) as she talks all things poetry with poets, educators, anthologists and even ‘poetry pharmacists’. In each podcast, Tara asks her guests about their relationships with poetry, their favourite poets, and the ways they use poetry to think about wider issues that relate to the world we live in. The conversations are informal and wide-ranging, but they all try to ‘demystify’ poetry – challenging and removing some of the barriers to poetry that we often find in education, community and society.
After the first series, some listeners asked for an episode about the host. So, for this last (and longer) episode, Tara is in conversation with the podcast’s editor, the performance poet, skateboarder and film-maker Rydian Cook (https://www.rydcook.com/). Tara and Rydian think about how their very different educations have shaped their attitudes toward poetry. This episode also acts as a commentary on the two series of Demystifying Poetry, making connections between the guests, their work, and their poems.
Creator & Host - Tara Stubbs
Recording, Editing & Producing - Rydian Cook
Funder: The British Academy
5 Feb 2026
Erica McAlpine
In this episode, Tara talks to award-winning poet and academic Dr. Erica McAlpine (https://www.ericamcalpine.com/ (https://www.ericamcalpine.com/)). Erica shares poems from her latest collection Small Pointed Things, and Tara and Erica talk about a wide range of subjects including contemporary poetry and form, rhyme and comedy, and poetry and (auto)biography. They also discuss Erica’s study The Poet’s Mistake, which identifies errors in the work of poets such as John Keats. They ask why critics go to such efforts to excuse or deny poets’ errors, and wonder why we revere some poets more than others.
Creator & Host - Tara Stubbs
Recording, Editing & Producing - Rydian Cook
Funder: The British Academy
29 Jan 2026
Nicola Simpson
For this episode, Tara discusses how to approach more abstract ideas around poetry with Dr. Nicola Simpson, whose work straddles visual art, poetry and philosophy (https://norwichuni.ac.uk/about-us/meet-our-staff/dr-nicola-simpson (https://norwichuni.ac.uk/about-us/meet-our-staff/dr-nicola-simpson)). They talk about concrete poetry, sand poetry, and kinetic art; and. they even consider interactions between poetry and yoga. They think about how the poetry world might learn from the art world’s open-mindedness, while keeping the language around poetry accessible and inclusive.
Creator & Host - Tara Stubbs
Recording, Editing & Producing - Rydian Cook
Funder: The British Academy
22 Jan 2026
Kate Wakeling
In this episode, Tara talks to Oxford-based children’s and adults’ poet Kate Wakeling (http://www.katewakeling.co.uk (http://www.katewakeling.co.uk)). By writing for a curious young audience, Kate’s work redefines what might be meant by ‘children’s poetry’. Her thoughtful, explorative poetry reveals the influence of collaborations with illustrators, musicians and orchestras. Here, she shares one ‘adult’ poem and one ‘children’s’ poem, showing how the lines between the two might become blurred and demonstrating her wider interests in music, grief and memory.
Creator & Host - Tara Stubbs
Recording, Editing & Producing - Rydian Cook
Funder: The British Academy
15 Jan 2026
Will May
Professor Will May discusses his research project, 'Invisible Mentors' in British poetry, with host Tara Stubbs, highlighting issues of representation and diversity in the field in this interview.
8 Jan 2026
Dominic Berry
To kick off series 2, Tara talks to Manchester-based performance poet, children’s poet, and vegan activist Dominic Berry (https://dominicberry.net/ (https://dominicberry.net/)).
Dominic reads some of his poems, and Tara and Dominic discuss inclusivity in the performance poetry world, the place of ‘rage’ in contemporary poetry, and the challenge of writing for different audiences. Throughout they consider the importance of spoken performance to Dominic’s work. [TW: use of strong language]
Creator & Host - Tara Stubbs
Recording, Editing & Producing - Rydian Cook
Funder: The British Academy
19 Feb 2025
Liz Ison
In this episode, Tara talks to the poetry educator and anthologist Liz Ison. Liz leads poetry walks, as well as running poetry reading workshops in a variety of different spaces, from care homes to pubs. She has also edited the Taylor Swift-inspired anthology Poems for Tortured Souls. We talk about the value of reading poetry out loud, how Liz’s working life is informed by poetry, and how she came into her various roles in the poetry world.
For more on Liz, go to https://societyofauthors.org/soa-member/liz-ison/ (https://societyofauthors.org/soa-member/liz-ison/). You can also find her on Instagram @liz.ison https://www.instagram.com/liz.ison/?hl=en (https://www.instagram.com/liz.ison/?hl=en)
12 Feb 2025
Carol Jacobi
For this episode, Tara talks to Dr. Carol Jacobi, curator of British Art 1850–1915 at Tate Britain. Carol’s curation of 2023’s ‘The Rossettis’ exhibition at Tate Britain fused poems, painting and pre-recorded poetry ‘sound showers’. Carol tells us what inspired her to curate the exhibition in this way, and what she learned about different audiences’ reactions to poetry as well as to art. We also discuss the significance of the women poets and painters in the Rossettis’ story, as well as Carol’s own interests in poetry.
For more on Carol, go to https://britishartnetwork.org.uk/membership/members/carol-jacobi/. You can also find her on Instagram @caroljac0bi https://www.instagram.com/caroljac0bi/?hl=en
5 Feb 2025
Jacqueline Saphra
For this episode Tara talks to the poet, activist and agitator Jacqueline Saphra. Jacqueline has published several collections of poetry, but also believes in the power of poetry to debate the big issues and to inspire change. We discuss Jacqueline’s activism, her love of form – particularly the sonnet – and the idea that a poem finds its own shape. We also think about whether poetry can really make things happen.
For more on Jacqueline, go to https://www.jacquelinesaphra.com/. You can also find her on Instagram @jacquelinesaphra https://www.instagram.com/jacquelinesaphra/?hl=en
29 Jan 2025
Dinah Roe
In this episode, Tara talks to academic and researcher Dr. Dinah Roe (Oxford Brookes), who runs a project around poetry and care. Dina discusses the origins of the project in her work on the Victorian poet Christina Rossetti, who was a carer herself, and discusses her creative writing workshops with contemporary carers. Dinah also tells us about her own reading and teaching of poetry, and reveals her favourite poems to teach.
For more on Dinah, and on her project on poetry and care, you can follow her on X (@preraphsrule) https://x.com/preraphsrule (https://x.com/preraphsrule), and go to the project website, https://carerspoetry.org/ (https://carerspoetry.org/).
22 Jan 2025
Brian Bilston
In this episode, Tara is joined by ‘the Banksy of contemporary poetry’ Brian Bilston (not his real name). Brian has had huge success sharing his poems over the internet, with over 500,000 followers on social media. He has since published several collections of poetry for different audiences. Today Brian talks about his feelings around having the job title ‘Poet’, how his persona came about, and the poets and poems that inspire him.
For more on Brian Bilston, you can find him on www.brianbilston.com (http://www.brianbilston.com), on Facebook (Brian Bilston), and on Instagram at @brian_bilston https://www.instagram.com/brian_bilston/?hl=en (https://www.instagram.com/brian_bilston/?hl=en)
15 Jan 2025
Deborah Alma
In this episode, Tara is joined by ‘emergency poet’ and ‘poetry pharmacist’ Deb Alma, founder of the Poetry Pharmacy in Bishop’s Castle, Shropshire and of the Poetry Pharmacy and café in Oxford Street, London. Deb tells the story of the origins of the Poetry Pharmacy from its inception as a ‘poetry ambulance’ to the enormous success of the stand-alone bookshops and café. Deb also discusses her own relationship with poetry, including working on anthologies as part of a new Poetry Pharmacy list.
For more on the Poetry Pharmacy, see https://www.poetrypharmacy.co.uk/ (https://www.poetrypharmacy.co.uk/), and on Instagram at @poetry_pharmacy_ https://www.instagram.com/poetry_pharmacy_/?hl=en (https://www.instagram.com/poetry_pharmacy_/?hl=en)
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18 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 47 / 100
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Quality
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YouTube
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Engagement
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