Thru the Mill with Marc Kelly Smith

As a BONUS TRACK, Chuck Perkins reads "What I Learned Versus What I Knew" from  Beautiful and Ugly Too .

In this Episode, we return to the early days of the Poetry Slam with Chuck Perkins. Currently, a leading voice in New Orleans and author of the book,  Beautiful and Ugly Too , Chuck discusses his formative years of poetry in Chicago and life before his time at New Orleans'  Cafe Istanbul . Recorded by Tony Green Edited by Kevin O'Rourke Produced by Emily Calvo Directed by Hugh Schulze

As a graduate in physics from the University of Pavia, Filippo Capobianco finds the humor and humanity in the fusion of science and poetry. In this episode, you can hear why his performances in English and Italian have won him international acclaim. Recorded by Tony Green Edited by Kevin O'Rourke Produced by Emily Calvo Directed by Hugh Schulze

With over 20 years on the Slam Poetry scene (and several books of poetry under his belt), Scott joins Mark to discuss his experience—and shares two of his poems. Recorded by Tony Green Edited by Kevin O'Rourke Produced by Emily Calvo Directed by Hugh Schulze

Madagascar is 9,332 miles from Chicago as the Malagasy Kingfisher flies. That's where Poetry Slam impresario, Marc Smith, flew to join the thriving Slam community there. In this episode, you'll meet, Bini Josoa, a Madagaslam International Project Manager, and hear him perform some of his own poetry. Check out one more reason Slam Poetry is having an international impact. Recorded by Tony Green Edi...

In which Marc and Mark finally get around to talking to Cin about Sheila Donohue,  Betty's Mouth  and other slam poetry innovations.   Recorded by Joe Velez Edited by Kevin O'Rourke Produced by Emily Calvo Directed by Hugh Schulze

In this episode, poet Cin Salach takes us back to the mid-1980's when she walked into her first Poetry Slam and experienced a "spiritual chiropractic adjustment." How big an adjustment? She quit her job, has pursued poetry ever since, and Slam Poetry has never been quite the same. Recorded by Joe Velez Edited by Kevin O'Rourke Produced by Emily Calvo Directed by Hugh Schulze

Tony Fitzpatrick shares some of his latest haiku with Marc and Mark. He also delves into a bit of haiku history and the inspiration from his correspondence with former U.S. poet laureate, Ted Kooser. Recorded by Tony Scott-Green Edited by Kevin O'Rourke Produced by Emily Calvo Directed by Hugh Schulze

Artist-poet-actor-and-raconteur Tony Fitzpatrick stops by to talk with Marc and Mark about the history of  the Slam and how it’s changed since 1986. He also shares one of his early poems: “Poem for My Wife  While She Sleeps.” (Find out more about his work at: tonyfitzpatrick.co/ ) Recorded by Tony Scott-Green and Joe Velez Edited by Kevin O'Rourke Produced by Emily Calvo Directed by Hugh Schulze

The episode opens with Billy performing his quintessentially Chicago classic: Poem for Lennard . Then he continues the conversation with Marc and Mark about his Bridgeport roots. (If you're looking for more of Billy's writing, check out Morning Will Come .)   Recorded by Tony Scott-Green and Joe Velez Edited by Kevin O'Rourke Produced by Emily Calvo Directed by Hugh Schulze

Poet, short story writer and novelist ( Morning Will Come ), Billy Lombardo, joins Marc and Mark for the  first of two conversations about the history of the Slam and thoughts on writing and performing.  Recorded by Tony Scott-Green and Joe Velez Edited by Kevin O’Rourke Produced by Emily Calvo  Directed by Hugh Schulze 

Sicilian slam poet and scholar, Eleonora Fisco, joins Marc and Mark to discuss slam poetry in Italy and perform one of her own compositions. Recorded by: Tony Scott-Green Edited by: Kevin O'Rourke Directed by: Hugh Schulze    BONUS MATERIAL For this episode, we’ve included a bonus video of a recent Green Mill Slam collaboration with our Italian contingent, including poets Alessandro Minnucci, Eleo...

In this episode, Marc and Mark discuss how the Slam grew from Chicago to Tours, France and Osaka, Japan and many cities in-between. How does the Slam transcend language and what exactly is the So What Academy? Recorded by: Tony Scott-Green Edited by: Kevin O’Rourke Directed by: Hugh Schulze

The relationship between poetry and alcohol is a complicated one. In this episode, Marc and Mark discuss the early, inebriated years of the Poetry Slam and the lessons learned that have helped shape the Slam as it spread internationally.

Marc and Mark talk the Chicago Poetry Ensemble, Green Mill and motorcycles with poet, Jean Howard.  Recorded by: Joe Velez Directed by: Hugh Schulze

In this episode, Marc and Mark are joined by Slam Poet alum, Jean Howard, to talk about the early days in the evolution of the slam at Butchies’ Get Me High Lounge in the much-changed Wicker Park. Recorded by: Joe Velez Directed by: Hugh Schulze

In this episode, Marc Kelly Smith, the founder of the poetry slam movement, traces its origins from a Chicago jazz lounge to a global phenomenon that merges performance with poetry. He highlights the transformative power of slams in fostering community and empowering diverse voices, showcasing the movement's lasting impact on the art of spoken word. Recorded by: Tony Scott-Green Directed by: Hugh...