MAKE POETRY WEIRD AGAIN

Nols Nathankski presents an end of year podcast with a round up of some of THE BEST POEMS made and spoken on the show. With highlights of moments from poets across the last 6 months. Someone told Nols that getting past 40 episodes means that he is a real podcaster now. Comment your thoughts below. This is a recap to celebrate the end of the first 6 months of MAKE POETRY WEIRD AGAIN and a desperate...

Nols reviews Pertinent Interruptions a very weird experiment in open mic with interruptions and heckling. The brain child of Play On Words Dr Lee Campbell and Colin B Osborn the night allowed the crowd to jump in with poems or just loud sexual innuendos. The night was a very raucous end of year poetry jam but also taught Nols a lot of respect for the silence of the open mic and being held rather t...

Nols Nathankski sits down with Sarthak Mukherji London Slam Champion 2025 and CENTURION of the London Open Mics about what it takes to perform at 100 open mics. Sarthak Mukherji is a London based poet whose work navigates the immigrant experience, mental health and relationships. Known for blending heartfelt honesty with sharp wit. He has quickly made a name for himself on the city's slam scene, w...

Nols Nathankski went to make poems with the Longplayer a 1000 year song at The Trinity Bouy Wharf Experimental lighthouse to celebrate a year off the booze. He wrote to 36 prompts below. Trinity Buoy Wharf is home to the iconic Experimental Lighthouse- London’s only remaining example- built in 1864. The Lighthouse was never used to aid navigation on the Thames, but to experiment. Nols has played t...

Nols sits down with Colin B Osborn to talk going punk to poetry. Osborn poetry navigates the landscapes of personal history and keen observation with a lyrical and accessible style. These poems are a testament to self-discovery, celebrating the moments—both quiet and profound—where we define our own narratives. For lovers of contemporary poetry that is both thoughtful and resonant, is a compelling...

Nols Nathankski sits down with Tom Manning (shout out to Dawn Web for also hanging out!) Tom is a London-based spoken word artist and a self-described ‘poet for non-poetry fans’. Using direct, colloquial, and rhythmic lyrics, Tom pours his heart onto the page to cover topics such as mental health, addiction, hedonism, love and relationships. Nols and Tom make poems with live prompts from Dawn who...

Nols Nathankski sits down with Dawn Web (They/Them) to make poems and talk open mic. Dawn is a multi-media artist, award-winning dancer and queer neurodivergent advocate for mental health as well as marginalized individuals and communities. They find comfort in multiple mediums such as playing music, writing, painting, and dancing. Nols and Dawn make poems with prompts from Ivka Fox This led Dawn...

Nols Nathankski sits down with his bestie Ivka Fox for a giggle. Ivka is a Bulgarian popstar, singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, writer and actress. They discuss why she is most certainly NOT a poet. Ivka debut's "Shes a Gaslight" one of the new tracks she is working on which can be heard at the start of the episode. Ivka suggested the idea of Nols making a podcast so this is all her fault...

Nols Nathankski & Annika Paniza celebrate William Blake's 268th birthday!  Annika is a writer and poet currently living in Brighton. Annika and Nols discuss Annika's brilliant idea for an open mic centred around navigating queer relationships in a vegan restaurant. They obsess about finding the infinity in the ordinary and why mental health walks always make the best poems. They make Blakean p...

BONUS EPISODE - Nols makes an episode on two of his queer poetry icons William Blake and Oscar Wilde.  The show is a meditation on the two poets as Nols had a birthday party for William Blake on the 28th November 2025 with some incredible poets making poems in his living room.  Oscar Wilde died on the 30th November 1900 an exile in Paris. He was misquoted until the end.  Nols read work from both p...

Nols Nathankski and Redeeming Features come up with a new hardcore open mic! They talk about punk poetry and how open mic can save your life. Redeeming Features is a punk poet: visceral, hyperactive, and absurd. He has opened for a number of UK punk bands and gigs regularly in the UK and abroad. He has a published book called ‘Sniffing Glue and Playing Chicken on the M4.’ All profits from the book...

Nols Nathankski sits down for a proper brew with Rick McLean aka @MaccathePoet to talk about anti-racism at the Open Mic and how to piss off flag shaggers on tiktok, a Leeds-born, London-lost ranter who sees the world through a lens of dry wit, frustration, and the occasional moment of nostalgia. If you like a bit of John Cooper Clark, a strong cuppa, shit loads of vinegar on your chippy tea, raw ...

Nols Nathankski finds out that Ella Frears HAS NEVER DONE AN OPEN MIC! They also discuss her new brilliant collaborative collection of prompts POETRY FRUIT MACHINE, the power of prompts and why no poems will be read the poets office Christmas party on the 1st December 2025 at the Social. Ella Frears is a poet based in London. She has been shortlisted for The T. S. Eliot Prize, a Sky Arts Award, an...

Nols Nathankski speaks with Elijah a Canadian/Scottish neurodivergent poet who travels the world making art with people and talking with them about Jesus. Nols and Elijah met @versespoetrynight at @Bardonalondon at the start of Nol's open mic pilgrimage in February. Elijah brings a hardcore punk energy to the open mic that must be heard to be believed. Nols and Elijah make poems with prompts from...

Nols Nathankski sits down for a smoke with Tyreece Asamoah a Ghanaian visionary poet from Peckham, who William Blake's angel would be proud of. About Tyreece Asamoah (from the poet): Smog Smut, Gutta  Geechi Gully El-Ghizali Feni El-Salahi Okomfo        Alhaji Alhaji, Alhaji Son Of Latona Spitting out-da Glen w/ Gall. Nols and Tyreece speak to the sublime and splitting the veil at open mics. Wheth...

Nols Nathankski examines his recent poems around the theme of Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria, or RSD, is an intense emotional reaction to real or perceived rejection or criticism. It’s often linked to ADHD, but it affects many highly sensitive, creative people. Nols uses his symptoms and intrusive thoughts to make poems and discusses how RSD effects daily life and...

Nols Nathankski presents a Halloween Spooktacular! Across Halloween we have been putting out prompts on @makepoetryweirdagain on Instagram and apart from @richbliss the entire open mic poetry scene has ghosted them! The sponsors are getting thirsty for Nol's Blood and so in a desperate attempt to hold a séance for the ratings this show has been hastily put together on too much sugar and a great de...

Nols Nathankski and Eliza Vezen bridge the gap from London to Berlin in this special international episode. Eliza is a poet and multidisciplinary artist, from everywhere and nowhere, currently living in Berlin. Eliza is so dedicated to open mic poetry she regularly travels from Berlin to London to perform for 5 minutes at open mics! Nols and Eliza make poems from @ellarfrears wonderful poetry frui...

Nols sits down with Kristal Sisodia (They/Them), performer, actor and poet extraordinaire to discuss making and performing poetry pre-and post diagnosis, the way pain can make your world small, the life of a disabled performance artist and all the magic they bring to Open Mic. Nols and Kristal make poems from prompts provided by Deptford Doggerels Kristal shouts out the following poets The Metapho...

Nols goes deep on the business of poetry and open mic and how you could potentially make £50k a year off poetry* in 1-3 years. This is a silly episode and shouldn't be seen as a get rich quick scheme ;) Nols Year 1 Step-by-Step Plan Months 1–3: Foundation & Visibility Months 4–6: Credibility & First Earnings Months 7–9: Professionalisation & Diversification Months 10–12: Scaling &...

Nols sits down with Alannah and Pádraic the owners of Deptford Doggerells a night of poetry and revelry in the AAJA basement in Deptford, Southeast London. The 3 discuss open mic from Dublin to Deptford. What makes an inclusive night and how to be both a community and an experience. Nols learns he has been writing Doggerels all year. We make poems with prompts from Word Space's Josh Hallam. The n...

HOW TO MAKE POETRY FROM YOUR SITUATIONSHIPS FOR THE OPEN MIC Nols takes on the cursed role of master of ceremonies to present a selection of this season's poets and some special guests talking all things situationships. Back in the olden days you wouldn't see your crush for years, now we take anti-anxiety meds because they didn't heart emoji the song we sent them at 2am. Situationships aint going...

Nols Nathankski meets Josh Hallam from Word Space to obsess about Open Mic and Poetry. Joshua Hallam is a poet and facilitator from Derby. His work has been longlisted in the National Poetry Competition and Live Canon International Prize, highly commended in the Shelley Memorial Prize, Runner up of the Wirral Festival Prize, and been a winner of the Hot Poets Climate Poetry Prize. He is the founde...

Nols Nathankski talks to neurodivergent burnout, quiet self neglect and how you lose your mind after too many open mics. Nols speaks to turning to poetry for recovery how you can also end up making things much more chaotic and strange. This is a bonus episode to keep the sponsors happy, but drifts off into some dark poetic territories. Nols performs 3 new poems and provides 3 prompts at the end of...

Nols continues his open mic Journey at the Bosla Arts solidarity workshop at the Jago in Dalston facilitated by Fedzilla. Nols talks to musician and activist Tanyeli Taze who he met at the workshop about their experiences and how to write poems of solidarity. Tanyeli and Nols made poems with prompts from Dave Jackson-Keen. Tanyeli recommends Keiran Goddard Orchestrated Discontent Ella Frears Noah...