Spoken Word

On this episode of Spoken Word, Carmen Main is Ela Fornalska's guest. She is a fierce, sensitive truth-sayer of a poet who explores the human condition of heart ache in all its guises and weaves musical themes through her work. A treat of a show. Take a listen...  

Steeped in the long traditions of centuries of classic poetry, yet sharply inserted into contemporary society, Marc Testart's highly expressive vocal delivery flies over the widest range of emotions. A past Australian Poetry Slam champion, Marc shares not only his poetry but the thinking behind it with Spoken Word presenter Santo Cazzati.

Over the past 16-17 years Steve Smart has performed all over the world, run workshops, gigs, festivals (RIP Overload Poetry Festival) and been sporadically published. He has released six poetry CDs, various self-published chapbooks and has a massive web presence. His hair is no longer categorised as brown, it is now officially ‘salt and pepper’. As a poet Steve has been described as ‘Melbourne’s r...

Tune in to hear internationally recognised award winning poet Gayelene Carbis as Ela Fornalska’s guest for August 2016 on 3CR’s Spoken Word. Music by Madeleine Peyroux and k.d.lang

Under various names and in a variety of disguises, ReVerse Butcher has been performing, experimenting with and publishing her poetry for 15 years. She was a founding member of the Speedpoets (QLD), and moved on to coordinate and collaborate on several other open mic poetry readings including: Trip the Word Fantastic (QLD), WamJam (QLD), Beat @ The Boat (NSW) and ContraVerse (QLD & VIC). She has pr...

Join Ela Fornalska and her guest Megan Bailey, for some fierce, honest, delicate poetry. Take a front seat ride to this talented, brave poet's return to the poetry world. We discuss making the ugly beautiful, how writing a poem can be a full stop on an experience and a way of completing a moment. We also discuss meaning making, the confessional tradition, poetry and a sense of self and whether poe...

Massaging Himmler: A Poetic Biography of Dr Felix Kersten. Poetry Anne M CarsonPiano Julian BaileyThe story of Dr Felix Kersten is a remarkable story, an archetypal story of the meeting of good and evil. But who is this relatively unknown man? Dr Felix Kersten was masseur to Heinrich Himmler, one of the most feared high ranking Nazis, head of the Gestapo and the SS.As a masseur, Kersten used his t...

Santo Cazzati reads all of the prizewinning and placegetting poems in this year's Rhonda Jankovic Awards for social justice through literature. The late Rhonda Jankovic was the founder of the Spoken Word programme, a long time stalwart at 3CR and a tireless grassroots activist for many social justice issues.

Kylie and Benjamin Solah perform at the 3CR Fundraiser

A live recording from the 3CR Fundraiser @ Hares & Hyenas of Sandy Jeffs and Peter Bakowski

This is a live recording made at Hares and Hyenas on 29 May 2016. Judith Rodriguez reads new poetry, including a series of poems about Oodgeroo Noonuccall - Kath Walker. They knew each other in Brisbane in the 1950s when a group of friends gathered to talk philosophy, read poetry and make music at the home of John Manifold. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oodgeroo_NoonuccalJudith is a legend of Aust...

Robert James Conlon is a long time exponent of the art of taking an audience in one direction, only to sneak up behind them and yell 'Gotcha!'. This is not to say he will not put himself in the firing line. We all come under scrutiny and Robert's work features a high level of self-analysis. He has been a part of the Melbourne poetry scene since the 90s and has performed widely; in addition to his...

Join Ela Fornalska and her guest and fellow 3CR ‘Spoken Word’ co-producer Peter Davis for a jam packed programme. Peter is a poet in his own right and shares some of his work. He also shares what it is like to be a busking flautist and his early involvement in 3CR community radio, as well as the history of poetry on 3CR. We discuss our up-coming inaugural ‘Spoken Word’ benefit gig for radiothon (S...

Linda Stevenson has a great poetry blog, 'Written there on skin' :http://writtenonskin.blogspot.com.au/'Linda Stevenson is a thoughtful poet whose work ranges from intellectual word play to direct and simple appeals to the emotions. One of her own paintings forms the beautiful cover illustration. Her words paint pictures too – scenes and images that continue to haunt the reader after the words hav...

Barry Dickins describes his journey in poetry and reads women poets such as Christina Rosetti, Anna Akhmatova and Melbourne icon, Kerry Scuffins.

Michael has been described as ‘the patron saint of Melbourne’s Poetry’ and is much loved by poets around Melbourne. He grew up in Geelong but is a mad Hawthorn fan. He started reading at the Dan in 1999 and currently runs Passionate Tongues at the Brunswick Hotel every second Monday night. He has done a lot for everyone, encouraging new poets to continue having a go on the open mic, and giving man...

Hear young, talented poet Robbie Coburn read brand new poems from a collection he is currently working on as well as some in-depth discussion about his poetic process, his influences and how he got started. We also take a closer look at particular poems and Robbie reveals how poetry saved him: “I 100% believe that I would be dead without poetry.” With musical excerpts by Lou Reed and Bob Dylan www...

Heather Ellis reads from her just released book Ubuntu: one woman's motorcycle journey across Africa Heather was a fin de siècle journalism student  at James Cook University, Cairns, and awed everyone with her quiet tales of travelling across Africa solo by motorbike during the nineties. Heather, you are the spirit of 'ubuntu'. For more details visit: www.heather-ellis.com http://motorbikewriter.c...

Barry reads the poem that inspired his love of poetry as a primary school kid in Keon Park. He also discusses his upcoming play on the Sydney anti-development activist, Juanita Neilsen. Barry Dickins is a much published poet, playwright, novelist and commentator.

Santo Cazzati performs Part One of his autobiographical spoken word oratorio, covering the first 12 years of life, from 1961-1972.

‘Wow! What a presence!’ ‘You didn’t just pop out of a flower, did you!’ These are some of the responses that Lady Longdrop (aka Kendra Keller) has been receiving, as she claims her place on stages and at campfires around the country. But the feed-back she likes best is an electric silence. Her sensuous surreal poetry is a delicate weave of themes and images that will make you fall in love with the...

Listen to Peter Godforsaken Matthews (stage name of author and journalist Peter Salvatore Matthews) share his excitement for Australian history through poetry. He really makes it come alive in performing his ‘short epic’ Vandemonian in its entirety, on the programme. Also learn more about this talented writer and his interesting writing background. It’s a cracker of a programme, sure to intrigue....

Norman Jensen, Steve Smart, Lish Skec and Patrick Boyle read poetry. The last three poets read live at tribute to late Patrick Alexanderhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Alexander_%28poet%29 Produced by Peter davis

Barry Dickins is guest on Spoken Word, interviewed by Di Cousenshttp://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/A21819 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barry_Dickins https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/53278.Barry_Dickinshttp://dailyreview.com.au/picture-this-barry-dickins/9205