*Originally released 24 March 2022*

Put away your preconceptions, open your ears, plug in your headphones, and get ready for the first of two poetry-themed episode of the podcast. To established poet Jacqueline Saphra, a driving force behind the fundraising project Poets for Ukraine, poetry is a form of prayer; moreover ‘poems can’t lie’. Jacqueline recalls Russian poet Anna Akhmatova (18:15) and reads Sonnet 56 from her ‘One Hundred Lockdown Sonnets’ (21:18).

My second guest, the Manchester-based poet Lisa O’Hare, took a chance on poetry after leaving the workplace and her enthusiasm and talent took her to unexpected heights during lockdown where the irreverent and insightful poems she shared on Instagram connected with followers far and wide. Lisa reads ‘When I met Poetry’ (32:23), ‘Identity’ (39:07) and ‘A Positive Poem’ (45:50); the latter two having also been broadcast on BBC Manchester. Lisa and I also discuss the poetry workshops she is running and the influence of Kae Tempest and others.

My third guest, Andy N, is a prolific poet and musician whose poems feature in the anthologies ‘Rainbows in a Jar’ and ‘neurodiVERSE’. We discuss the Speak Easy spoken word event he helps organise, writing about dyslexia and dyspraxia, and his experiences in Brazil as a young man. Andy reads ‘Between then and now: A life before and after the discovery of dyspraxia ‘ (58:37), ‘Ghosts into Negatives: Dreams of Brazil, 1995’ (1:02:37) and the flash fiction piece ‘Mannequin and Chips’ (1:07:30). Music from Andy’s ambient music project Ocean in a Bottle is also featured. He hosts the Spoken Label podcast.

My final guest this time round is poet and flash fiction specialist Amanda Nicholson who hosts the long-running podcast Reading in Bed, and regularly broadcasts and runs writing workshops with husband, Andy N. Amanda reads her flash fiction piece ‘Revenge of the Mannequin’ (1:20:29) and the poems ‘Seagulls of the Gym’ (1:25:48) and ‘Vultures of the Gym’ (1:28:26). Amanda’s darkly humorous work has also appeared on BBC Manchester and her poetry collections ‘Pieces of Me’ and ‘Love, Dates and Other Nightmares’ and novel ‘Ghost of Me’ are available to buy.

A huge thanks to my guests for taking part, and to you for listening. Do give the podcast a rating/some stars/a nice review if you’re enjoying it, it really helps spread the word.

Poets for Ukraine https://www.facebook.com/PoetsForUkraine  JW3 (venue for Sunday’s Poets for Ukraine event) https://www.jw3.org.uk/whats-on/poets-ukraine-gala#

Hope and Aid (for Ukraine) https://www.gofundme.com/f/poets-hope-and-aid

Goods for Good (for Ukraine) https://www.gofundme.com/f/poets-goods-for-good

Jacqueline Saphra’s website https://jacquelinesaphra.wordpress.com

Lockdown Life: A Rollercoaster of Emotions by Lisa O’Hare https://masterhousepublishing.com/shop/ols/products/lockdown-life-a-rollercoaster-of-emotions-paperback-lisa-ohare 

Lisa O’Hare’s website https://lisaoharewriter.com

Verbose at the King’s Arm in Salford https://www.facebook.com/VerboseMcr/

Speak Easy at Dulcimer in Chorlton https://www.facebook.com/groups/31201313119/

NeurodiVERSE anthology (featuring Andy N) https://flapjackpress.co.uk/shop/neurodiverse

BBC Upload opportunity https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3MPFWlx0dyTF9ZqQ6ljycgD/about

Andy N’s readings on Bandcamp https://andyn.bandcamp.com

Spoken Label podcast https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/spoken-label-andy-n-Qw1i5NKg6_Z/

Reading in Bed podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/reading-in-bed/id1501554795

Amanda’s website (as Amanda Steel) https://amandasteelwriter.wordpress.com/amanda-steel-copywriting-ghostwriting-blurbs-proofreading-editing/