Conversations with Poems Podcast

Listen in as Martin Lane ’s poem “Hesitation” and I get a surprise visitor. I encourage you to subscribe to Martin’s page on Substack and to read more of her work at https://substack.com/@enalnitram . To read and hear more from Amanda, visit amandairenerush.substack.com or check out her other writing at amandairush.com . This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscr...

In this week’s chat, Rae McMinn ’s “Museum” gifts me metaphors that help keep up my courage in the curation of a past from which I am bent on learning. I encourage you to subscribe to Rae’s page on Substack and to read more of her work at https://substack.com/@raemcminn . To read and hear more from Amanda, visit amandairenerush.substack.com or check out her other writing at amandairush.com . This...

Today’s two poems by Joe from his ‘stack Admit Absence , had me listening twice as hard to try to answer the oldest (and biggest) questions. I encourage you to subscribe to Joe’s page on Substack and to read more of his work at https://open.substack.com/pub/admitabsence . To read and hear more from Amanda, visit amandairenerush.substack.com or check out her other writing at amandairush.com . This...

This week, I sit in awe of and gratitude for this lovely and timely poem by j u a m y [EN] . I encourage you to subscribe to j u a m y [EN] ’s page on Substack and to read more of her work. You can find her at juamymcastilloen.substack.com . And for those who hablo español, find her at https://substack.com/@juamycastilloes . To read and hear more from Amanda, visit amandairenerush.substack.com or...

Rollo Ma y tells us in Courage to Create that “creativity is the result of a struggle between vitality and form.” This week’s poem by Isabelle Correa ( Good Girl and Other Yearnings . Write Bloody Publishing , 2025) shows us what he means. Come— listen to the dance! It’s a beauty. I encourage you to subscribe to Isabelle’s page on Substack and to read more of her work. You can find her @isabelleco...

Join me as I sit with this poem about life’s many hurts (by Tiffany Hutchings ) and practice stitching some new and messy patterns. I encourage you to subscribe to Tiffany’s page on Substack and read more of her work. You can find her at tiffanywritespoetry.substack.com . To read and hear more from Amanda Irene Rush , visit amandairenerush.substack.com or check out her other writing at amandairush...

Join me and this most unassuming poem by Nikita Glebov (Poetry) as we tread fine lines and contemplate what it means to be alive. Also, I share a poem of my own. I encourage you to subscribe to Nikita’s page on Substack and read more of his work. You can find him at nikitaglebov.substack.com . To read and hear more from Amanda, visit amandairenerush.substack.com or check out her other writing at a...

This week, Robert Linegar ’s poem “A Whole Life” leaves me room to be a whole and imperfect person on a day when I needed exactly that. You can read more of Robert’s work (and Subscribe!) on Substack at substack.com/@robertlinegar . To read and hear more from Amanda, visit @amandairenerush@substack.com or check out her other writing at amandirush.com . This is a public episode. If you would like t...

Listen in, friends, as I jump into this poem by Nicolezehn — and, jump into life! You can read more of (and subscribe to!) Nicole’s work on Substack at substack.com/@nicolezehn To read and hear more from Amanda, visit amandairenerush.substack.com or check out her other writing at amandairush.com . This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to b...

Feeling the need to slow down? Join me as I hold this poem by Lindsay Douglas up to my ear and listen to its soothing lack of urgency. You can read more of (and subscribe to!) Lindsay’s work at riversofreflection.substack.com . To read and hear more from Amanda, visit amandairenerush.substack.com or check out her other writing at amandairush.com . This is a public episode. If you would like to dis...

I’m back this week, tending to the fire, while a poem of mine in progress chat’s with this poem by Robert Charboneau . You can read more of (and subscribe to!) Robert’s work on Substack at @robertcharboneau . You can also follow in on X @Rob_Charboneau and on Instagram @ robert_charboneau . While you’re at it, check out his books: The Philosopher, The Poet, & The Politician and The Man With No Eye...

Today’s poem by Daisy J Fable gives me a much-needed reminder to slow my roll. You can read more of (and subscribe!) to Daisy J Fable on Substack at @flowergirlfables.substack.com. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit amandairenerush.substack.com

Come sit around the fires with me for a spiritually and intellectually engaging conversation with this gorgeous poem by Daniel Bishop . You can read more of, follow, and subscribe to Daniel Bishop on Instagram (@thebishopsilversmith) and on Substack (@bishopoftheeastwind). This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aman...

In this episode, I chat with this lovely ballad while some of my own inner children fret and refuse to budge from their desolate crag. You can read more of, follow, and subscribe to Joyce Enzor Maust on her website (www.jempoetry.com), on Instagram (@jem_poetry), and on Substack (@jempoetry). This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus...

This week, a poem by Kathlene Kelly reunites me with another beloved saint, and reminds me that a death is often the birth of something better. You can read more by Kathlene on Substack at substack.com/@kathlenekelly . This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit amandairenerush.substack.com

Listen in as I chat with this poem by Dorette Kriel about the many facets of grief and the things we can best (and maybe only) see in the darkness. You can read more by Dorette on Substack at substack.com/@dorette . This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit amandairenerush.substack.com

You might should listen to me chat with this shell song of a poem by Elise Powers . You can find her work on Instagram @elisepowerspoet and her Substack newsletter, Two Raw Sugars . And don’t forget to go to her website elisepowers.com and order a signed copy of The Size of Your Joy (Central Avenue Poetry, 2026). It is a gem of a collection! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss t...

Welcome subscribers to Bonus Show 2 of Season 1. My small thank you for your support. Listen in as I grieve all my careful plans, make new ones, and rejoice in the trusting nature of my many anxious parts. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit amandairenerush.substack.com

Welcome to Season Two! Listen in to find out where poem and pen lead me as I chat with this poem by John Sheils . (And please forgive the background ambient noise!) You can read more of his work (and subscribe to his Substack!) here: https://substack.com/profile/20921914-john-sheils This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes,...

Hello Substack subscribers! Please enjoy this first of several bonus episodes as my heartfelt thank you for supporting Conversations with Poems. In this episode, an untitled dedication poem by Sara Teasdale serves as an apt dedication to the launching of this Substack project. If you'd like to listen to the other nine bonus shows (which will be uploaded each Wednesday starting next week), you can...

In this episode, a crow and an owl from Petra ’s ekphrastic poem walk me home as I conclude Season One of Conversations with Poems. You can read more of her work (and subscribe to her Substack!) here: https://substack.com/@fromthequietmiddle This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit amandairenerush.substack.com

This week's poem by Mark Rico asked me to rethink my idea of failure and to consider why I continue doing what I'm doing. You can read more of his work (and subscribe to his Substack!) here: https://substack.com/@mimesiskinesis This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit amandairenerush.substack.com

I'm back after taking a week off, chatting with Betsy Johnson 's "Clover" about the power of "holding quiet in a field of noise." You can read more of her work (and subscribe to her Substack!) here: https://substack.com/@betsyjohnsonautismwriting This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit amandairenerush.substack.com

Listen as I stumble along my lot in life with this lovely poem by Kilby Austin as a guide. You can read more of her of work (and subscribe to her Substack!) here: https://substack.com/@kilbyaustin This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit amandairenerush.substack.com

Come sing along with this stunning poem by Christian Feliciano . It is a canticle of love and a psalm for yet another brutal century. You can read more of his work (and subscribe to his Substack!) here: https://substack.com/@awritersvoice This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit amandairenerush.substack.com