Trafika Europe Radio

In this episode, host Clayton McKee speaks with Polish poet Radosław Wiśniewski and poet/translator Anna Błasiak (from Poland, now based in the United Kingdom) about the poem "Psalm to Saint Sabina. In addition to the poem, the duo discusses poetics and publishing, including the launch of Anna Błasiak's Sideway Press. You can also listen to a bilingual reading of "Psalm..." which won Trafika Euro...

In this episode, host Clayton McKee talks with poet and translator Marc Alan Di Martino about his translations of Mario Dell'Arco's poetry written originally in Romanesco. Marc collected much (not all!) of Dell'Arco's work in the collection  Day Lasts Forever , published by  World Poetry Books . You can read a sampling of his translation in Trafika Europe's All Poetry Issue . In February...

With this episode, we celebrate a forthcoming translation of Mark Murphy's poetry collection  Out of the Ordinary: The Importance of Being Helene Demuth . The collection is being translated into Italian by TE collaborator Franco Malanima, and it will be published on February 10, 2026 by Articoli Liberi. Enjoy this reading of "Venturing Beyond" read by the poet Mark Murphy, as well as a readin...

In this episode, host Joe Williams speaks with translator Elina Alter about her translation of Russian author Alla Gorbunova's It's the End of the World, My Love . She discusses the novel through the lens of the translator, giving insight into the craft of literary translation. Stay tuned for our upcoming issue of the journal to read an excerpt of this work. Can't wait for the next issue to drop?...

In this episode, host Clayton McKee speaks with Danish poet Pia Tafdrup about her five poetry collections that make up  The Senses Quintet . Bloodaxe Books published the Quintet in two collections:  The Sight of Light / The Sound of Clouds /  The Touch of Skin and  The Taste of Steel / The Smell of Snow . Pia Tafdrup explains how she created the quintet and dives into her...

In this episode, host Joe Williams speaks with Irish author Eoghan Smith about his novel A Provincial Death . They discuss Smith's approach to writing, particularly the experimental aspects in his novel. An excerpt of this novel will appear in our forthcoming issue of the journal. Check out our most recent, all-poetry issue here: www.trafikaeurope.org/all-poetry   Support the show: https://ww...

In this episode, host Joe Williams speaks with Slovenian author Lucija Stupica about her poetry collection Vanishing Points . They discuss the collection as well as Stupica's approach to language and writing, with specific attention to her poetics. An excerpt of this novel will be included in our forthcoming issue.  Check out our most recent, all-poetry issue here: www.trafikaeurope.org/all-p...

In this episode, host Clayton McKee speaks with Icelandic author Eva Björg Ægisdóttir and translator Victoria Cribb. We discuss their work on the noir novel Home Before Dark . We dive into the importance of geography/place and how Eva and Victoria view the noir and Eva's intervention in it. You can read an excerpt of the novel here .  You can see the full Meta Mystery issue...

In this episode, host Clayton McKee speaks with Welsh poet Gwyneth Lewis. Gwyneth discusses her career, including her time as the National Poet of Wales. We also dive into her poetics, in particular in relation to her recent collection First Rain in Paradise . You can read an excerpt of that collection published by Bloodaxe Books here . The collection can be viewed on Bloodaxe Books' website .&nbs...

In this episode, host Clayton McKee speaks with English-language Maltese poet and translator Abigail Ardelle Zammit. We discuss her translation work on Gioele Galea's poems  Ilma / Water . You will hear the original Maltese poems and their English translations throughout the episode, read by the author and the translator, respectively. We also get insight into Abigail Ardelle Zammit's poetics...

Our 2025 EUPL Mini-Series finishes this week with our final of three episodes. This interview is with Italian author Nicoletta Verna. In addition to Nicoletta and host Clayton McKee, you hear Debora Vitulano interpreting for us throughout the episode. Hear us discuss Verna's use of history to comment on the present. You can also listen to her reading an excerpt of the novel that won her the title...

Our 2025 EUPL Mini-Series continues with the second of three episodes. This interview is with Belgian author Philippe Marczewski. Hear us discuss Marczewvski speak about his relationship to language(s) in Belgium and his thoughts on memory. You can also listen to him reading an excerpt of his special-mention novel, Quand Cécile , followed by a reading of the English translation by Holly Jam...

Our 2025 EUPL Mini-Series kicks off with an interview with Irish author Sheila Armstrong. This first of three episodes features a cheerful discussion of Armstrong's writing process and love of the short story genre. You can also listen to Armstrong reading an excerpt of her special-mention novel,  Falling Animals You can see more about Sheila Armstrong on the EUPL's website . Support the show...

Welcome to our fourth episode associated with our most recent issue of Trafika Europe: Meta Mystery! In this episode, host Joe Wiliams speaks with Slovene author Aleš Štege and translator Noah Charney about the novel Absolution . You can read an excerpt in our most recent issue of the journal here . Check out the full issue here .  Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/trafi...

Welcome to our third episode associated with our most recent issue of Trafika Europe: Meta Mystery! In this episode, host Clayton McKee speaks with Galician author Fabio Rivas and translator Jonathan Dunne about the short story "Darkie and White Eyes" from the collection The Proper Painting . Written originally in Galician, this story presents the world through the perspective of a blind girl. But...

In this episode, we return to our first issue of 2025: Trafika Europe's Literary Prizes. Host and TE Literary Prize judge Ági Bori speaks with translator Ena Selimović about her translation of Tatjana Gromača's  Black . This wonderful, lighthearted interview digs into Ena's beginnings as a translator, including her pro bono family work. This conversation is full of literary insight and...

Welcome to our second episode associated with our most recent issue of Trafika Europe: Meta Myster! In this episode, host Joe Williams speaks with author Liliana Corobca and translator Monica Cure about the novel The Censor's Notebook . Written originally in Hungarian, this novel explores the communist past and how it affected everyday lives, specifically through the lens of a censor. You can read...

In this episode, we return to our first issue of 2025: Trafika Europe's Literary Prizes. Host and TE Literary Prize judge Ági Bori speaks with translator Anna Bentley. They discuss Anna's translations of ten poems from Hungarian from Orsolya Láng's  House Afternoon  and provide insight into the practice of translation and the Hungarian language. Read the poems from  Ho...

Welcome to our first episode associated with our most recent issue of Trafika Europe! Host Joe Williams speaks with author Tom Spencer about his novel  The Mystery of the Crooked Man . You can read an excerpt in our most recent issue of the journal here .  Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/trafikaeurope See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Host Clayton McKee speaks with author Julian Darragjati. Darragjati's short story "A Death in the Spring" appeared in TE's Literary Prizes issue. Listen to how Julian approaches literature and how the story reflects aspects of his memory from growing up in Albania. Read "A Death in the Spring" by Julian Darragjati here . Check out our most recent issue featuring Trafika Europe's prizes here . Cons...

Host Joe Williams speaks with poet Joanna Lilley. Joanna's poems were published in TE's Literary Prizes issue. Her work was inspired by paintings of the late Rebecca Lilley. Listen to how her verse fuse with her sister's art in her wonderful poetic tribute to life and art.  Read poems from Joanna Lilley and see Rebecca Lilley's paintings here . Check out our most recent issue featuring Trafik...

Host Clayton McKee speaks with poet Maria Carbunaru. Maria's poetry was featured on Trafika Europe Corner hosted by the European Literature Network. Tune in here to hear a reading of other poems as well as to get insight into Maria's creative process.  Read the poems on ELN here . Check out the song referenced in the episode by Maria, Carlos, and Mauro on Spotify or on Youtube . Constantin Se...

Host Joe Williams speaks with translator Keith Payne. Keith's translations of Olga Novo's poems (originally written in Galician) are among the two runners-up in TE's Andrew Singer Prize for Verse. Keith describes Novo's work and gives insight into his creative practice. Read poems from Olga Novo, translated by Keith Payne here . Check out our most recent issue featuring Trafika Europe's prizes her...

Join host Clayton McKee speak with Bulgarian author Zdravka Evtimova and translator of Bulgarian Yana Ellis about the novel  The Wolves of Staro Selo . The novel is set to release on March 11 by Héloïse Press! Tune in for a bilingual reading and a deep discussion about Evtimova's creative process and how Ellis masterfully brings the novel into English. Pre-order the book now on&nb...

We are excited to be back with our fourth episode of 2025! Listen to a reading of chapters "14" and "15" from  Abandonment by Erminia Dell'Oro, in English translation from the Italian by Oonagh Stransky. Check out the published chapters in Trafika Europe's  Blast from the Past . Constantin Severin will be donating proceeds from the sale of his amazing artwork titled "Text and Time 113."...