Historically, my relationship with poetry has been, well… sketchy. I enjoyed the presenters as they read and discussed the poem I listened to in Episode 92. As a beginner, the words of a poem don’t always jump off the page and into a meaningful experience. But when I listen to a detailed discussion of a poem (like the one I listed to today) the poem becomes more meaningful and relatable to me. For me, that is the value added provided by an excellent Podcast like “Poetry For All”. Thanks to everyone who had a part in producing this show. Cheers!

I’ve just discovered PFA and could not have been happier. The discussion of Ted Kooser’s Winter Morning walks is great and made me wish for more. Kooser is a national treasure and Joanne and Abram do a great job of highlighting his gifted skills. Thank you.

I’ve always enjoyed Poetry for All but each episode of the current season feels like sitting down to a feast in a time of famine. A nourishing gift rich with humanity, with truth that frees and beauty that uplifts and sustains my faith in the better angels of our nature.

Exactly what I need to start my day with lovely engaging people that help me see the world more clearly. I am happier from listening to this podcast

This is such a wonderful podcast, lively and smart and entertaining. I learn so much and feel inspired and encouraged to think like a poet in all things I do.

I love and have learned so much from this podcast! Probably like many people, I struggle to access poetry on the page, but it comes to life for me in the readings and discussions in each episode. The selections and the interpretations are unfailingly fresh and exciting and the whole vibe is welcoming and unpretentious. Joanne and Abram, you two are awesome! I want to invite you to dinner so that I can sit back and listen to you talk poetry 😄

Instantly engaging, I’ve been listening to one after another since finding this podcast. Delightful to hear an analysis of familiar old favorites like Kenyon and Kooser and discover others (Chang) I need on my shelves. Thank you!

As a retired English and Creative Writing teacher, I am so impressed by the quality of this podcast. Sharp and deep discussions of the poems and of the craft of writing delivered with clarity and enthusiasm for how poetry enriches our lives.

Consistently interesting, thoughtful, and well considered. Joanne and Abram select poems from up and down the spectrum, and every single episode is fun, enjoyable, and educational not just for seasoned poetophiles but poetry newcomers as well. Cheers!

Wow! I’ll be forwarding this and reposting! You demonstrate an exemplary way to say what needs said in this time and place by placing it in historical context. Powerfully presented!

I love every episode and have shared many with friends, colleagues, and students. The most recent episode about Psalm 52 is sheer genius. It has lifted my post-election spirits immeasurably.

This is my favorite poetry podcast! From the hosts’ lovely, engaging voices and cameraderie to the deep take on each poem, Poetry for All leaves me in a creatively happy mindset. I often am inspired to read more of the featured poet after each podcast. I only wish there were more episodes to listen to since I am all caught up!

I wish there was someone who rang a celebratory bell when I declared my English major all those years ago! I love the enthusiasm of the two professors. Thanks for the poetry interludes.

Erudite with an effervescent joy lacking any hint of condescension, this podcast is pure gift. Thank you!

These two poetry enthusiasts really know how to dig into a poem and make it accessible. They are knowledgeable and fun to listen to. Thoroughly enjoyable.

This podcast is a dream come true. The two hosts' bring alive poems with their extensive knowledge of poetry as well as their passion.

The absolute best poetry podcast! I have learned so much.

I love listening to this brilliant duo as they break open poems and share their insights. Highly recommend!

This is an excellent podcast. A gift in my life. Thank you and keep up the good work!

Great energy! Just the right amount of analysis to be insightful and inspiring.

This podcast is always a wealth of insight, offering great perspective and probing questions. I find myself referring to or recalling tidbits I learned from Joanne, Abram, and guests to spark interesting conversations with friends. Needless to say, this is a great podcast!

Joanne and Abram bring their deep knowledge of poetry and of literature generally to this fascinating podcast. I love listening to them read the poems and then take a deep dive into SO many aspects of each poem - structure, sound, punctuation, line breaks. They are delightful guides to the magic of poetry, their joy in language palpable. And last but not least, the relationship between Joanne and Abram is a refreshing conversation, as they (truly) listen and learn from each other. More, more! Can’t get enough!

I’ve been on the lookout for a poetry podcast that was approachable, engaging, informative, inspiring … this is it. I love the format … starting and ending with a careful reading of the subject poem. The length is comfortable. The two hosts, in conversation, share insights and reactions, educating each other with their discoveries right along with the listener. Their passion for poetry is palpable. I love that the poems span the centuries … offering close looks at classics as well as introductions to current poets. The authors featured are diverse, which is expansive and enlightening. I’m bingeing!

Both hosts bring many gifts to the table. Inner wisdom and insight clothed in voices that resonate with their understanding. Thanks to both and all their support staff for the hard work that blesses us.

The best poetry podcast ever, I so much appreciate the two hosts and hope for many more wonderful episodes! 👍❤️

I’ve admired poetry but often felt locked out of its meaning — but this terrific podcast opens doors to poetry’s beauty. The two hosts are very knowledgeable and also great teachers — they walk us through one poem per episode, word by word and line by line, filled with enthusiasm. I’ve learned a lot and most of all come away nourished by the poetry — highly recommended.

I just stumbled upon this podcast and listened to the episode on Leaves of Grass. Your guest’s stirring reading is reason enough for recommending this show — my God! But then you all proceed to unpack Whitman in a half hour of smart, heartfelt, humorous discussion. This is the work of “pros” with a passion. Thank you for the gift of this podcast!

This podcast has opened a door that I did not know existed. I have crossed the threshold and I’m never turning back. Thank you.

Hands-down my favorite poetry podcast. Joanne and Abram offer a great variety of (short) classic and contemporary poems and make them more accessible, giving context and drawing out what the author is doing in each poem. They read the poem once at the beginning and once at the end, and it’s amazing how much more I’m able to appreciate it the second time after they’ve drawn out its beauty. Their conversation is lively, fun, and full of insight. I've listened to every episode and have learned so much from these two. Highly recommended.

I hardly had any exposure to poetry before discovering this podcast. Now, I’ve heard so many good poems and learned so much about different kinds of poems and how to appreciate them. Abram and Joanne do a wonderful job explaining each poem in an interesting and accessible way and I enjoy how they work together. A great podcast for anyone.

Abram and Joanne’s Poetry for All podcast is exactly that — for anyone of any level of interest or expertise in poetry. The podcast’s format is brilliantly simple, beginning and ending with a reading of the poem, which sandwiches their delightful analysis. By the end you hear the poem again, as if it were the first time. They handle the technical aspects of poetry as expert teachers, which is to say accessibly, and with wit and wisdom to deepen your understanding of the poem even as they deepen your understanding of poetry. Not only that, but they are both fun and funny — I often laugh out loud as I’m listening. I have learned much, been introduced to new poets and poems, been reintroduced to famous poems, and also heard guest poets speaking about their work with Joanne and Abram. I highly recommend this podcast!

So happy to have found this podcast. There is so much poetry to know. The pace, format, and honest discussions in Poetry for All give me a way to approach my newfound love for this art.

You two. You offer it all: clarity, depth, accessibility, humor, discernment, theological acumen,awe, humility, and an easy -not silly- engaging rapport . You are part of my morning offices. May the wonder and joy return to you.

I have loved poetry since I was a child, but still find it intimidating to approach at times. This podcast is totally addictive, mostly because the hosts’ enthusiasm is 100% contagious. They offer accessible insight that has academic integrity, deep grounding in the mechanics and traditions of poetry, without dumbing anything down. There was at least one episode where I didn’t like the poem on the first read, but by the end their discussion convinced me to appreciate it. At 20ish minutes an episode, they are jam packed nuggets of enlightenment to easily add to a walk with the dog, folding a load of laundry, or doing the dishes. It’s even got me writing again myself. Thanks, and keep up the good work!

Warm and whip-smart, these delightful explications never overstay their welcome.

I wish I had these two as my English teachers in high school, college, and beyond. They make poetry come alive and off the page. It’s great to listen to in the car or a jog, but even better when you can sit down in front of a computer and click on the links and listen to them deconstruct, analyze, and appreciate nuances I never would have picked up or cared about before.