Mark The Poet - The Podcast

In this episode Mark talks about another of his favourite TV shows: "Dexter". Mark talks about the compelling, the complex, the multi-dimensional fictional serial killer Dexter Morgan, played by Michael C. Hall, and other characters and actors from 'Dexter', and the recent announcement that there is to be revival of the series coming in 2021. And Mark recites his poem "Dark Characters".

In this episode Mark talks about one of his favourite TV shows: 'The Sopranos' created by David Chase - whose cast starred many great actors over its seven seasons, including: James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano, Eddie Falco as Carmela Soprano, Michael Imperioli as Christopher Moltisanti, as well as several award-winning actors who through their memorable portrayals of their iconic characters and the...

In this episode Mark talks about the world of poetry that we all live in and are constantly surrounded by at all hours of the day - but Mark explains that for him there are exact places and there are exact times when and where Mark is the most inspired than when anywhere else or at any other time. Mark explains that all stories and storytellers use the language of poetry in the art that they - bot...

In this episode Mark talks about the experience of being a teacher, the experience of being a student, and subsequently then seeing those who teach pass on what you have taught them to others in a constantly repeating cycle of teaching and learning. Mark talks about the fact that some people learn at different speeds and some people benefit from being taught differently so that they may grasp the...

In this Special Announcement Episode, Mark makes an announcement that "Mark The Poet - The Podcast" is transitioning to become "The Mark Hastings Experience". Mark announces that the podcast will now include Mark's opinions on a great many of the things that his interest him - from his opinions on life, to films, to TV shows, to books; however what will not change is Mark's passion for writing poe...

In this supernatural themed episode Mark talks about his obsession with all things supernatural - especially when it comes to the stories that he writes and tells in the books that he publishes. Mark explains why he believes writing supernatural stories about supernatural characters gives him more freedom to be even more imaginative in the way that he tells his stories. Mark talks about some of th...

In this episode Mark talks about the process of being on the surface of the "ocean of inspiration" - the analogy that Mark likes to use when attempting to describe what it like to be a poet, a writer, an artist, in the process of creating a brand piece of art. Mark talks about the analogy of "feeding the Wolf" within him - and he imparts his thoughts on why what an artist creates depends greatly o...

In this episode Mark talks about the importance of colour in our daily lives and what colour means to different people at different times in their life. Mark describes how colour is used deliberately by both advertisers and advertisements to drawn people to choose a specific product over another, and also how the colour palette of nature and light can influence people into thinking, feeling, and a...

This episode is dedicated to Mark's favourite artist: Vincent van Gogh - who he was, what he was, the incredible art that he created, the profound gift that he had as an artist, and how he was able to see and highlight the beauty and the poetry of nature and the universe like nobody else before or since has been able to. Mark talks about the legacy of Vincent van Gogh's art and how he has inspired...

In this episode Mark talks about the epic space-opera, world wide cultural phenomenon, science fiction/fantasy franchise and universe of films, TV shows, books, comics and toys that is the one and the only 'Star Wars', created by George Lucas. The first film of the space-opera franchise, called simply 'STAR WARS' (now commonly known as 'Star Wars - Episode IV: A New Hope), was released back in 197...

In this episode Mark talks about one of the most interesting mythologies the world has ever known, which contains some of the most recognisable Gods that have ever been written about, which take centre stage in some of the stories and in some of the tales that have been retold for centuries - which includes characters, heroes, and figureheads that have guided and influenced the lives of countless...

In this episode Mark talks about his first novel 'The Wolf In Me', which was published in 2017, and he explains in-depth about why he was inspired to write the story of his protagonist Olivia Hunter and The Wolf within her. Mark talks about the meaning behind the story of 'The Wolf In Me' and he recites an excerpt from his book that describes who the character of Olivia Hunter is and why she does...

In this episode Mark heralds the start of the month of October and the beginning of the hallowed season that so many people look forward to at this time of the year, by reciting his poem "October"; and by reciting his poem "Baba Yaga" Mark hopes to bring to life the superstitious side of people in preparation for Halloween. And with his poem "Rough" Mark shines a light upon the harrowing plight of...

In this episode Mark talks about one of his favourite films 'The Truman Show' - and by using this profound, inspirational, and thoroughly enjoyable film as a guide Mark talks about the concepts of reality, identity, control, materialism, voyeurism, and the journey that everybody is on throughout their life to discovery who they truly are. And Mark recites his poems "The Virtual/Reality", "Revolvin...

In this episode Mark talks about the "mobile world" that we all now live in: a world in which anybody and everybody can connect to one another, instantaneously, at a speed and in ways like never before in human history. Mark talks about the many mobile technological innovations that surround us all that everybody might accidentally take for granted, because the means to be connected to what is hap...

In this episode Mark looks back on September 2019 - a month and a year that Mark has mixed feelings about, because at the beginning of September 2019 Mark and his family had to contend with the harrowing reality that his Dad had had a heart-attack and that for days his Dad lay unconscious, and for weeks Mark's Dad lied in a hospital bed, day after day. Mark openly talks about the fear that lingere...

This episode is dedicated to the "Man in Black" himself... the one and the only Mr. Johnny Cash! In this episode Mark talks about how much he loves and has been inspired by the music of Johnny Cash, and how he has always seen something of himself in Johnny Cash and how he has always seen something of Johnny Cash in himself. Mark talks about Johnny Cash's life and the demons that he had to daily li...

In this episode Mark talks about his favourite coffee shop chain - which he has visited many different stores of all around the world, and where and when on almost every occasion he has been inspired to write a poem, or a part of one of his stories: the one and the only, Starbucks. Mark explains what it is about drinking, eating, and writing at Starbucks that has made all the difference over the y...

In this episode Mark talks about his incredibly talented and amazing friend Natalia Paruz a.k.a. "The Saw Lady". Mark was lucky to be able to meet, to talk to, and to hear Natalia Paruz play the magical, beautiful, ensorcelling music of her musical saw back in 2013, on the New York Subway - and Mark was instantly spellbound by the transcendental music that he heard, because of the way that "The Sa...

In this episode Mark talks about the power that people have when they have the right to freely express themselves through their art - from writers, to painters, to musicians, to comedians - and how much depth certain artists imbue into their creations and with the power of their ideas, which all invariably start after being written down upon a blank sheet of paper. Mark talks about why it is impor...

In this episode once again Mark talks about his fascination with all things space and he discusses the potential of life on other planets - such as Venus, Mars, or the moon of Jupiter Europa. Mark talks about the potential of future manned missions to other planets, in particular the red planet Mars - and why the thought of such missions in the near future is an exciting prospect that everybody sh...

In this episode Mark talks about his film favourite of all time: 'The Shawshank Redemption' - and Mark describes in great depth the story of the film, the meaning and the symbolism of the film, the main characters, why he loves 'The Shawshank Redemption' so much, and why it his favourite film of all time over all the other many incredible films that he has seen over his life. Mark also recites his...

This episode is dedicated to the power of love - specifically the love that Mark shares with his fiancé Melissa. In this episode Mark recites some poems that were inspired by the love that Mark feels for, and the love that is reciprocated by, his fiancé Melissa that were all taken from Mark's book 'Truly Madly Deeply', which was published in 2016, which is filled with poems that describe the love...

In this episode Mark talks about one of his favourite seasons of nature: the beautiful and the respedant Autumn. Mark explains what he loves the most about Autumn/Fall, and he describes how magical and magnificent it is to him and how it has always been inspiring to him and to many people from all around the world, especially when they are outside and enjoying the transitions that can be witnessed...

This episode is dedicated to the renowned physicist and cosmologist Stephen Hawking, who unfortunately died in 2018. Stephen Hawking was an inspiration to countless people from all around the world over his life - Mark included; and in this episode Mark discusses why Stephen Hawking was, is, and will always be an inspiration and a hero to him - mostly because of the way that he never allowed his M...