The Poetry's Dead Podcast
Ryan Duggins and Leon Dunne
Ryan and Leon are delighted to bring you your NEW favourite poetry podcast, exploring the work of poets old and new, with a little bit of craic mixed in.
We'll share our love of poetry every week, taking you on a journey through work from poets you'll have heard of, as well as poets you may not have heard of and even people you had no idea wrote poetry.!
We'll also help with our Agony Poet part of the show where we'll accept any challenge of solving a problem with a poem. Nothing is too trivial or too serious.
Ryan Duggins is a published English poet based in Dublin, with work found in journals Dreich, Flare and his first collection 'You're Never Too Old To Know Better' was published in April '23. He's also performed at Electric Picnic and is a regular on the open mic scene in Dublin
Leon Dunne is a spoken word artist and cornerstone of the poetry scene in Ireland. He is the 2022 All Ireland Poetry Slam Champion and co-founder of Rising Tide, an events company hosting the best spoken word performers the country has to offer out of Pearse Street library
Both of them are more fun than these descriptions would have you believe
Give us a follow, leave us a review, send this to your Ma' and join us :)
Original music by Matthew Keating
Introduced and co-produced by Lisa Downey
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Top 10 The Poetry's Dead Podcast Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best The Poetry's Dead Podcast episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to The Poetry's Dead Podcast for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite The Poetry's Dead Podcast episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
Live At Electric Picnic
The Poetry's Dead Podcast
08/26/24 • 76 min
We survived Electric Picnic. Just.
As we were doing our best to thrive over the weekend at Ireland's biggest music festival, we also grabbed a few poetry peeps to lend us their ears for a whopper episode of The Poetry's Dead Podcast!
Jan Brierton hadn't met Stephen James Smith before their in-conversation chat at the Manifest stage, so we did the honours and hosted their first meet! We talk about life on the road, fame and making sure you keep your circle close.
David Hynes, the brains behind The Word stage at EP where we both got to perform, dragged himself away from hosting duties to join us for a chat with UK poet Polar Bear and Unorthodox Coolock himself, Craig Doyle for a conversation that celebrated the importance of art in the world of the working class.
James 'Jimbo' Dillon and Daragh Fleming then join us to discuss the scene in Dublin and Cork respectively as well as share how poetry is a solid antidote to mental health struggles.
We end the show with a show-stopping interview with The Scauldy Ones. The Poet Geoff, Emmet O'Brien and Heavy Kevvy are three of the countries best performers, and after we were treated to a banging ensemble performance from the lads, they joined us to discuss how creating poetry works, crafting the perfect set and the relationship between the performer and the audience.
With so many new faces to the show making an appearance or receiving a name drop, next week we'll do a showcase show sharing the stories and poetry of the newcomers to the The Poetry's Dead Podcast.
Thanks again for all your support, and we hope you enjoy our window into the more arty side of Stradbally Farm.
Ryan and Leon
Original music by Matthew Keating
Artwork by Paddy Downey
Introduction and co-produced by Lisa Downey
Allen Ginsberg, Wedding Poetry and Sharing Friends With Your Ex
The Poetry's Dead Podcast
10/21/24 • 40 min
It took 6 months for us to mention the movie 'Dead Poet's Society' so give us a break!
On the show this week, we have love, former loves, and all that life offers you in-between so settle in for 40 minutes of poetry and giggles.
Leon had travelled out to Scotland for a wedding between two poets who had set each other a task of writing each other a poem during the getting-to-know you stage of their relationship. We share those poems on the show. Beautiful stuff.
Ryan, from his posing position in Merrion Square, with a notepad in hand wrote a poem that he shares on the show that will put a smile on your face for sure.
We mentioned Allen Ginsberg on the show last week, and the lads didn't know too much about him. We fix that with a poem and a short backstory of that 'Beat Generation' of American poets
Menna Siwan treats us with a poem that sends thanks to someone who crawled back from the edge with a piece called 'For You'.
Our Agony Aunt this week is all about who keeps the friends after a break-up. Spoiler: You might need a few new friends
We have the read-along now live and kicking so if you'd like to join us, sign up to our Patreon. We have a new book every month so get involved you absolute ride.
Poems from the show:
Dave and Sophie McIntyre - Wedding Poems
Instagram: @sm_gruber and @davidrobertmcintyre
Ryan Duggins - My Favourite Day
Instagram - @ryanduggins
Allen Ginsberg - When The Light Appears
https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/books/01/04/08/specials/ginsberg-obit.html?oref=login
Menna Siwan - For You
Instagram - @mennasiwan
Agony Aunt - The Split
Original music by Matthew Keating
Artwork by Paddy Downey
Introduction and co-produced by Lisa Downey
Georgie Jones, Sean Walsh and Postnatal Depression
The Poetry's Dead Podcast
10/14/24 • 46 min
The days are the shorter, and we're here to keep you company
It's getting colder, but the leaves are looking mighty fine out there so take us with you on that walk this week, but grab a scarf.
Georgie Jones gives us a poem this week that paints a picture of a world that we will never see: the feminine power of the women's bathroom.
Seems just yesterday that Dublin was practically on fire and LUAS trains being destroyed, but it was a year ago would you believe. Those dark days are shared through a poem by Sean Walsh.
We are lucky enough to have a lovely community following the show, and luckily for us, poems are always coming out of our folk so we wanted to share poems this week from two very talented community members, Joao Coimbra and Muiris Cloherty.
We received an agony aunt problem since the last show that we just didn't feel qualified at Poetry's Dead HQ to help with, so we drafted in a specialist in the form of the Ireland Poetry Grand Slam champion Anna Doran, who delivers one of our favourite pieces of the show so far.
We also have the voice of Ethan Hawke, funeral chat (It is an Irish podcast afterall) and a confession that could lead to Ryan losing his university degree.
Our read-along is now live for our Patreon subscribers, so if you'd like to join us read a new poetry collection each month and get an exclusive show about it, you can join us here - https://www.patreon.com/thepoetrysdeadpodcast
Stay savage and enjoy
Ryan and Leon
Poems from the show:
Georgie Jones - Ode To The Ladies Loo
https://www.tiktok.com/@georgiejonez/video/7205734276208332038
Sean Walsh - Grief
Instagram - @sean.walsh.96
Muiris Cloherty - The Daylight Atheist
Instagram - @muiris_cloherty7
Joao Coimbra - Good And Empty
Instagram - @joaowrites
Anna Doran - Matrescence
Instagram - @annad.poetry
Original music by Matthew Keating
Artwork by Paddy Downey
Introduction and co-produced by Lisa Downey
Cillian Murphy, Small Things Like These And The History Of The Irish Church
The Poetry's Dead Podcast
11/17/24 • 49 min
Mass is in session this week on the podcast with banger poems replacing hymns.
Now we've both watched and essentially been shook by the movie Small Things Like These, we get into why that movie hits so hard and wind poetry around the experience of the film to help us understand how to navigate that tricky world of church and religion in Ireland.
Before that, as Leon had spent 24 hours in Sligo and Ryan had been watching the show 'Rivals' where rough and ready Declan O'Hara enjoys reciting poetry from WB Yeats, we thought we'd share a poem from him, recited by Cillian Murphy.
We get into the history of the Irish church and box that off with a poem written by Leon. Warning: This isn't a light one.
It's not all bad with the church in Ireland so we try and add meat to that bone with the poem 'Solitude' by Ella Wheeler Wilcox. Hopefully that helps as we navigate the blessings and historical curses around religion in Ireland.
Nate Gladdin from the Whiskey And Ink podcast gave us a belter of a poem that takes us right into a world where a town used to be something and isn't now. Apologies for any County Clare folk but we dig out the town Tulla in this chat, don't hate us.
One of the highlights of the year we've had living and breathing poems was seeing Rachel Mulqueen perform at the storytelling tent Seanchoíche. We share her poem and tribute to her male friends 'A Belated Thank You To My Boy Friends (remix)' a reboot and homage to Hollie McNish's poem of the same (ish) name. Lovely piece.
We received an Agony Aunt all about longing love and missed opportunities so enjoy that one.
If you'd like to join our second read-along, sign up to our patreon and get involved. We have teamed up with The Winding Stair Bookshop for the read-along with the team there picking the collections moving forward and giving us a discount on the books if you buy from them. Means we can join the excitement of not knowing what we're reading, savage.
Let us pray. Amen. Blessed be the fruit and all the other stuff they say in church.
Ryan and Leon
Poems from the show
WB Yeats - When You Are Old (read by Cillian Murphy)
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43283/when-you-are-old
Leon Dunne - Raimcha na blathnana
Instagram - @nomanticz
Ella Wheeler Wilcox - Solitude
https://www.poemhunter.com/poem/solitude/
Nate Gladdin - French Valley
https://open.spotify.com/show/4nNbc0ImIHdGjYpmQOcS1J
Rachel Mulqueen - A Belated Thank You To My Boys (remix)
Instagram - @rach_mulqueen
Patreon for read-along:
https://www.patreon.com/c/thepoetrysdeadpodcast
Original music by Matthew Keating
Artwork by Paddy Downey
Introduction and co-produced by Lisa Downey
Our Agony Aunt Special
The Poetry's Dead Podcast
09/23/24 • 25 min
Today we celebrate the unsung hero of The Poetry's Dead Podcast, our Agony Aunt.
Since we started the show, our resident helper has been penning poems to support all problems we get sent in by our listeners, so today we are putting them all in one giant, whopper Agony Aunt episode.
Do you have a problem you'd like a poem for? You know what to do! Email us at [email protected] or if you click our linktree we have an NGL that you can use to send a message anonymously. Just head over to our instagram @thepoetrysdeadpodcast
Stay sound!
Ryan and Leon and our Agony Aunt
Original music by Matthew Keating
Artwork by Paddy Downey
Introduction and co-produced by Lisa Downey
Oscar Wilde, Dylan Thomas And Taylor Swift
The Poetry's Dead Podcast
05/13/24 • 44 min
We are finally showing just how basic we both are with this latest episode guys, so be warned!
We've been putting Oscar WIlde on the back burner since the show launched, but today's the day we give him a proper segment with a journey around his one-liners, plays, fictional works and poetry.
A little moan about Dylan Thomas being a bit 'up himself' doesn't get in the way of us gagging to share one of our most favourite poems ever published, and thank Taylor Swift for mentioning him in the new album 'The Tortured Poets Society that pushed us to feature the pompous Welshman.
Colm Keegan wants us to see the world through a horse's eyes, which we then do through his poem 'Howya Horse'.
A little bit of sad-girl poetry from Jose Cameron proceeds our Agony Aunt where we help someone who has been caught in the middle of two gossip queens at work.
Get in touch with us on Instagram, TikTok or email ([email protected]) and keep an eye out for our Patreon that we'll launch that will give exclusive access to our upcoming book club and ways to contact other members of the podcast 'poetics', which is the name we're now calling you.
Hope you love this one guys.
(Go Taylor Swift )
Poems from the episode:
Oscar Wilde - The Ballad Of Reading Goal (an exert)
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/45495/the-ballad-of-reading-gaol
Dylan Thomas - Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night
https://allpoetry.com/do-not-go-gentle-into-that-good-night
Colm Keegan - How'ya Horse
Instagram - Colm_Keegan
Josie Cameron - Your Favourite Jumper
TikTok - josiecameron1
Leon Dunne - Woes At Work
Original music by Matthew Keating
Artwork by Paddy Downey
Introduction and co-produced by Lisa Downey
Maya Angelou, Seán Watmore and STI's
The Poetry's Dead Podcast
03/01/24 • 28 min
The teasing is over. The flirting is done. Time to grab the coats and hail down a cab.
Welcome to the first full episode of The Poetry's Dead Podcast.
In episode one, we kick things off by sharing our thoughts and love for two of the greats, Maya Angelou and Charles Bukowski. We had to have the big cynic in episode one.
We then share a piece from Irish writer Seán Watmore, as well as a treat of a love poem from Mumbles Poet.
We wrap it up (so to speak) with the proof that a poem can solve any ailment as our Agony Aunt has received something in the mail from a man with an issue downstairs.
Get in touch with us with your poetry, someone else's poetry or a question for our Agony Poet at [email protected]
Poems from today's episode:
Maya Angelou - Phenomenal Woman
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/48985/phenomenal-woman
Charles Bukowski - Go All The Way
https://consciouslyinspired.com/go-all-the-way-charles-bukowski-poem/
Seán Watmore - Parachutes
Instagram - @seanwatmorepoetry
@mumblespoet (Instagram) - She's My Girl
John Greeleaf Whittier - Don't Quit
https://www.virtuesforlife.com/poem-dont-quit/
Leon Dunne - The Clinic
Instagram - @poetrysdeadpodcast
Ryan and Leon
Original music by Matthew Keating
Artwork by Paddy Downey
Introduction and co-produced by Lisa Downey
Pam Ayres, Charity Shop Books And Staying On The Right Path
The Poetry's Dead Podcast
05/06/24 • 47 min
This. One. Was. Fun
We parade around the fun and freeing mind of Pam Ayres, as she gives us a lovely spring in our steps with her warm and giggly poetry.
We share some tips on getting back into reading, and our love of spending time in charity shops and picking up a book for a euro.
David Hynes comes in with his Perfectly Polished Poem flooded with P's like an overflowing pub urinal of poetry.
Our agony aunt is all about how to to stay on the right track, and finding out what that track is.
We also gush over Matthew McConaughey, share a theory about Roddy Doyle and read out a message from a listener that had us both in tears. Oh, we talk about tears as well.
We basically talked way too much on this one lol.
As always, get in touch with us on Instagram @thepoetrysdeadpodcast or email us at [email protected]
Poems from the episode:
Dave Jones - Among The Fools
Instagram - @davedelirious
Pam Ayres - Geriatric Juliet
https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/43520176
Leon Dunne - Lidl Siblings and Ed's Keys
Instagram - @nomanticz
David Hynes - Porter Price
Instagram - @hynestein1
Ryan Duggins - The End
Instagram - @ryanduggins
Original music by Matthew Keating
Artwork by Paddy Downey
Introduction and co-produced by Lisa Downey
Emily Dickinson, Harry Baker And A Tribute To Paddy Downey
The Poetry's Dead Podcast
04/22/24 • 41 min
A special PACKED episode for you after a short break which we are very excited to share.
We pay tribute to our own Paddy Downey, who not only created the logo for our show, but was also a poet himself. We heard the incredibly sad news that Paddy had passed a few weeks ago, so we asked his daughter Lisa (who is the voice of our show's intro) to come on and talk about her dad, which she did beautifully.
After a touching start, we talk about Emily Dickinson as a influence on society even if she wasn't able to see her own work land the way it did during her own lifetime.
Harry Baker shows us how its done next with a snippet from his latest book 'Wonderful' that makes us all look very amateur, indeed.
We giggle in the words of Aine Budds, who brings to our table (she's a chef, get it!) a bit of seasoning that we need in our lives with her poem, 'Greasy Love'
Fingal Poetry Slam winner Kev Kennedy comes through with his piece Mankee Candle, before Leon answers our Agony Aunt section with a poem to help someone struggling with keeping to a routine
We missed you, and we hope you kinda missed us too :)
Ryan and Leon
Poems from the show
Paddy Downey - Dublin Zoo
@poemsbypaddy On Instagram
Lisa Downey - My Daddy Paddy
Emily Dickinson - 'Hope' Is The Thing With Feathers
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/42889/hope-is-the-thing-with-feathers-314
Harry Baker - Ingrid
https://www.harrybaker.co/store
Aine Budds - Greasy Love
@flowerbudds On Instagram
Kev Kennedy - Mankee Candle
@heavy_keavvy_ On Instagram
Leon Dunne - Routine
Original music by Matthew Keating
Artwork by Paddy Downey
Introduction and co-produced by Lisa Downey
Donna Ashworth, James Mooney and The Victims Of The Stardust Nightclub Fire
The Poetry's Dead Podcast
12/09/24 • 62 min
Our last episode of the year is busier than the traffic getting to Dublin Airport at Christmas
After Daragh Fleming welcomes us in with a vibe-setting poem about longing and love, we step in to a whopper episode that leaves no Christmas cracker unopened, at a time of year where poetry can help us navigate the tricky waters of the festive season.
We hear from Ramona, the front of office at Ryan's work, on her new found exploration into poetry in an inspiring story of how getting creative can change your life.
Aoife Dunne then gives us her beautiful tribute to her late mother in a poem that we hope will help anyone who is preparing for the festive period knowing there are tough days ahead.
James Mooney, AKA The Wandering Paddy, gives his caramel gravel-voice a break and sends us a poem to recite about how grief isn't always about the breakdowns, but can be nudges too.
Donna Ashworth, fresh from her performance at Jan Brierton's 'Wild Words' gig shares a poem of hope with her piece 'Joy Finds You'. What a woman, and what a poem.
Leon was asked by Dublin City Council to create a poem to celebrate the opening of a new art space that sits in the former location of Stardust Nightclub. A tragic evening in 1981 left families without their loved ones as a fire broke out and killed 48 people inside. Leon's poem is a tribute to the victims of that night.
Ger Devine opens the curtain on what its like for a couple who have been around the block on Christmas Eve before our Agony Aunt wraps up the show with a poem to help someone going through the despair of turning 30.
Thank you to everyone for listening this year and being so sound. We'll be back in Spring 2025 with a new series and even more amazing poetry.
Our new book is available now so grab a copy:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DNY54SFC
Loves ya,
Ryan and Leon
Poems from the show
Daragh Fleming - Snowflakes At Christmas
https://thoughtstoobig.ie/daraghfleming/
Aoife Dunne - Untitled tribute to her mother
https://www.tiktok.com/discover/aoife-dunne-comedian
James Mooney - I Missed You, Quietly
https://www.tiktok.com/@thewanderingpaddy
Donna Ashworth - Joy Chose You
https://donnaashworth.com/
Leon Dunne - More Than A Name
https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/art/2024/12/08/stardust-reimagined-its-time-for-other-people-to-fulfil-their-dreams-here-what-our-loved-ones-never-got-to-do/
Ger Devine - Pinholes
https://www.gerarddevinepoetry.com/
Agony Aunt - Flirty Thirty
Original music by Matthew Keating
Artwork by Paddy Downey
Introduction and co-produced by Lisa Downey
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FAQ
How many episodes does The Poetry's Dead Podcast have?
The Poetry's Dead Podcast currently has 35 episodes available.
What topics does The Poetry's Dead Podcast cover?
The podcast is about Poetry, Culture, Ireland, Writers, Podcasts, Books, Arts and Performing Arts.
What is the most popular episode on The Poetry's Dead Podcast?
The episode title 'Pam Ayres, Charity Shop Books And Staying On The Right Path' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on The Poetry's Dead Podcast?
The average episode length on The Poetry's Dead Podcast is 43 minutes.
How often are episodes of The Poetry's Dead Podcast released?
Episodes of The Poetry's Dead Podcast are typically released every 7 days.
When was the first episode of The Poetry's Dead Podcast?
The first episode of The Poetry's Dead Podcast was released on Feb 28, 2024.
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