Category: Episodes
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Clarence Barbee returns to the show with his saxophone and excerpts from his new book, Lessons and Libations, available for free here. Clarence Barbee is a multi-talented individual known for his literary achievements. As the author of multiple distinct works, “Chicken Soup and a Shot of Jack” and his debut poetry book “Fire Molten and Ash,”…
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And now, the one and only Marilyn Megenity – Matriarch, Astrology, Mother, Poet, Playwright, Patron of the Arts, Friend, Grandmother, Activist, Cultural Revolutionary, Humanitarian, Environmentalist, Lover, Earth Lover, Restaurateur, Pacifist, Diviner, Mystic, Dancer, Feminist, Gardener, Leader, Community Builder, Satirist, Executive Chef, Businesswoman, Mentor, Actor, Brilliant, Beloved, Ineffable, Unstoppable founder and chef of the three ring…
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Today we have a special edition of The Poets. Local poet Ryan Flannigan recorded his double album, To Plant a Poem, by performing it live for his friends in studio. This episode is a teaser with a bit of their conversations around poetry and some of the poems from the album. You can get the…
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Mr. Bravo, aka Abraham Bravo, joins me to discuss his new book Love Hurts When Never Said, his poetry as whole, and the Slam Poetry scene in Phoenix, AZ. Mr. Abraham Bravo is a Phoenix-based poet, performer, and author whose work bridges humor, vulnerability, and lyrical craft. He has built a reputation in the Arizona…
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Born some 30ish odd years ago in a Louisianan mill town called Bogalusa, Sunshine Whysteria Empress Abaddon attended the University of New Orleans for Anthropological and Film Studies for 6 years. A Hurricane Katrina survivor, she picked up and moved to Denver following her maternal grandfather’s death in 2017. She is without a doubt a multi…
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Mitchel David Ring is a writer, poet, audio engineer, and the creator and host of The Poets, a podcast featuring poets and other artists sharing and discussing their work. …and other poems is the debut poetry collection of Mitchel David Ring. Print copies of …and other poems can be purchased here. Read (and listen to)…
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Christian Lesniak features to share his work and discuss many topics including his poetry, to be or not to be a rapper, the use and misuse of language by the political right and left, the dangers of instant gratification when it comes to art, and much more.
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Julian Thomas is an actor born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He is best known for appearing in Jordan Peele’s “Hunters” (2020), ABC’s “For Life” (2020), and “Day of the Dead II: Contagium” (2005). He has also appeared in numerous comedy sketches on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. Julian Thomas graduated from the notable…
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Sophia Goodnight is a transgender poet and writer who has been performing at open mic nights since 2018, which also happens to be when she started transitioning. Her primary inspirations for her poetry are the declaration “it is impossible to say just what I mean!” and the question “so how should I presume?” She lives…
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Arthur Bellfield is a poetic storyteller, filmmaker, wellness advocate, life coach, and cultural architect whose work bridges lyrical activism and soulful reflection. Drawing from ancestral wisdom, urban rhythms, and spiritual practice, Arthur’s voice amplifies themes of healing, resistance, and transformation. He founded the Colorado Springs Poetry Slam in the Spring of 2023 as a vehicle…
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S.L. Alderton is a Denver poet and librarian. Her work has appeared in publications such as Twenty Bellows, 2River View, and Suspect Press, as well as local independent zines. Her favourite things include Shakespeare, heavy metal, and British spelling.
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Honey B. Honest is a multifaceted visual and performance artist from Denver Colorado. She’s been a host and organizer at Mercury Cafe’s Sunday night open mic and slam, as well as partnered with organizations that aim to offer artistic opportunities to communities in need such as The Gathering Place, Redline Art Gallery, Art Restart and…
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Photographer turned poet turned essayist turned overall annoyance, Stone (they/them) explores themes of sobriety, queerness, and self love. Their works appear in publications such as Gnashing Teeth, Red Rose Thorns Journal, and have been featured on Button Poetry. Currently, they are editor in chief of Retrograde Review, an online zine dedicated to change. They reside…
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Ally Eden (she/they) is a queer artist and former Poet Laureate of Fort Collins, Colorado. An English/Spanish interpreter by trade, their role as a linguist parallels their poetic ethos— bridging difference by way of words. Ally’s work is vibrant, unabashedly poignant, and rooted in love for humanity. In her approach to art as a practice, she…
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My name is Dominick I go by Dom. I been in Colorado for five years and looking forward to the next 10-15 years here. I’m madly in love with the city of Denver. I’m a poet that stumbled into literary art. The goal is to a raise a daughter and retire my mom. I’m here for…
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In this episode recent guest Philip Tran returns for a part 2 of the long goodbye to the Mercury Cafe. Last time, we announced Waning Mercury, Waxing Pearl, a live recorded send off for the legendary venue. That event can be listened to in its 3+ hour entirety on episodes 125-127. On this episode, Philip…
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Holly Ajala (also known as TheGoodSis) is a writer and storyteller with a fierce belief in the power of effective narrative to inspire empathy in the face of difference, to propel the reach of social justice and above all, to challenge human beings to be more human. Her words have been featured in Ayo Magazine,…
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Carly Liberi (she/her) is a queer poet, depth therapist, and oracle reader. Her work is a conch shell to the ear of those who feel too much, for the parts of ourselves we’re still learning to love, and for those whose voices have been silenced. Embracing life’s mysteries, Carly creates in the liberated space between…
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Part 3 of the Friday night open mic poetry event at the Mercury Cafe. Recorded March 28th, 2025 by Coven Recording and Sound. This was the last night that this Friday night poetry open mic, one of the longest continuously running in the world, occurred under the legendary venue name Mercury Cafe. Special thanks to Philip…
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Part 2 of the Friday night open mic poetry event at the Mercury Cafe. Recorded March 28th, 2025 by Coven Recording and Sound. This was the last night that this Friday night poetry open mic, one of the longest continuously running in the world, occurred under the legendary venue name Mercury Cafe. Special thanks to Philip…
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Part 1 of the Friday night open mic poetry event at the Mercury Cafe. Recorded March 28th, 2025 by Coven Recording and Sound. This was the last night that this Friday night poetry open mic, one of the longest continuously running in the world, occurred under the legendary venue name Mercury Cafe. Special thanks to Philip…
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Lolita Vilar is a young poet who writes in prose, with a flair for abstract metaphor. Her poetry focuses on the magical, the mundane, and the music of our world.
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THIS EPISODE INCLUDES A SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT A SPECIAL EVENT AT THE MERCURY CAFE ON MARCH 28th, 2025. This is the last night the the Mercury Cafe will exist under that name. Come join us for a special (live recorded) night celebrating all the poets and poetry that have taken the stage over the years.…
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Racine Muse and iLL bg join return to the show to discuss their EP, Both of Everything. We talk about the collaborative process, their workflow, inspirations, and themes of the music. This episode also includes performances of three songs from the album, recorded in studio. You can find the album linked above, or here.
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Follow Nikolai on IG @thenikolairiddle and at his website. Nikolai Riddle is a born-and-raised Coloradan, writer, poet, and sometimes artist living in Denver. His writing has been described as “diabolical” and often involves things weird, dystopian, and darkly humorous. His work has appeared in Ludicrous Worlds Magazine, Birdy Magazine, and The American Journal of Poetry.
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Local artist and art enthusiast, Jabe Pazoo.
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Marissa Forbes (she/her) is a Pushcart Prize nominated author, visual artist, and creative instructor. Her poetry books, Surviving Peter Pan (Beyond the Veil Press) and Brief & Bleeding Margins (World Stage Press) were published in 2023. Other published poems and short fiction stories can be read on marissaforbes.com and @word_nerd_ris. She is the Managing Editor for Twenty Bellows, a CO indie press, the…
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Bardo is a feral rat that experiences moments of clarity and in that clarity writes pretty decent poems. — Correction: I said in the episode that this is ep 119. Obviously it is ep 118 (see above). “What, do you expect me to keep track of my own show?” Mitch
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Cecily Stone is a mother, writer, computer nerd, and author of These Chasms in the Earth. Her works have appeared in Welcoming The Muse (Twenty Bellows), Poems in Praise of Libraries (World Stage Press), Gypsophila Literary Magazine, Canvas Creative Arts Magazine (Indiana University), Retrograde Review, and on a set of compost liners distributed by Compost Colorado. Stone shares her stories of motherhood, sacrifice,…
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Guest host Moses Graytower, of Congress fame, interviews Viviantte aka Dell Allenn and Yasser Govula. They discuss making the art you want to make, finding fulfillment, music, and respecting those who came before you. Check out Viviantte’s album Lucy and Moses Graytower’s album Congress as well as Dell and Yasser’s project gardeniia, an unadulterated publication.…
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…rendering poetry more entertaining to general audiences. One of Colorado’s best known performance poets, SETH has made a career carving out creative ways of presenting poetry, with attention paid to both craft and performance. An actor and percussionist as well as a poet and fiction writer, SETH has collaborated with countless musicians, poets, actors, dancers…
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Mitch here. Heads up that for a lot of this episode—basically all of it—Nyx and I discuss our experiences growing up in and leaving the LDS church (Mormons). We hit on some heavy topics, and we express our unedited thoughts and feelings about the kind of abuses of power that, again and again, are seen…
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In the red corner, weighing in at 80 Serbian Kilos, the champion of humor and heartache, a Poet who’s never afraid to throw a punchline—ladies and gentlemen, give it up for Sasha “Max Jaw” T.! He writes short stories, comedy, poetry, film reviews, and draws comics like a pro. The northwestern sky, just after sunset,…
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Girl “i have a haiku about this” Harbor is a poet now based in Chattanooga, TN. Girl Harbor is not sad. Any small thing in life will likely fill her with great joy. In this episode, you will hear her write out many of her issues, but you should know she’s just happy to be…
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For almost 40 years, Ira Liss has performed as actor, improviser, pianist, singer, songwriter, show host, interviewer, performance poet, entertainer and more. He began his onstage career in NYC, doing standup comedy, singing his original songs at cabaret venues, joining several theater improv companies, and working as an improv actor/company member of a murder mystery…
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MWB (Mark Boczar) is a poet seeking to understand, and in the process,be understood. His work explores themes of love, identity, resilience,and the beauty to be found in every person, place & experience.Drawing inspiration from living remotely while traveling the UnitedStates and the rich tapestry of human emotion, his poetry blends hisoptimism for growing into…
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I’m gonna be the next hokage dhz. IG @mosesgraytower IG @ray.nay_
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Uche Ogbuji, more properly Úchèńnà Ogbújí, is a poet, spoken word performer and DJ. Author of two award-winning books of poetry, Ndewo, Colorado, 2013 (Colorado Book Award Winner), and Ńchéfù Road, 2022 (Christopher Smart Prize). He fell in love with poetry, spoken word and DJ crafts while studying engineering at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, a campus legendary for…
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With the given name Kaelie Barcus, I am here to express my spirit to you. “Old Turtle” is the umbrella artist name I’ve chosen to encompass all of my offerings and outlets for creative healing. 1:1 and group offerings embody the practices of Yin Yoga, Plant Communion & Vitalist Herbalism, and Re-Wilding. My chosen outlets…
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Today The Poets change it up by featuring the show’s first guest host, Racine Frank, interviewing Deneishia LeArtiste. Deneishia LeArtiste is a performance artist embracing the storytelling traditions of her multi-cultural lineage — drawing from the Western European bard, West African Griot, and Ogallala teachings. She unites communities by exploring ancestral experiences through poetry, visual…
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Micah Aaron Ferguson is a Texan-born poet who lives and writes in the suburbs of Denver. He has published one collection of poetry in 2016 under the name Micah-Nahum Ferguson entitled Brighter This Time (iUniverse Publishing) and is currently crafting pieces for a new collection. He performs at The Mercury Cafe and other spaces in downtown Denver. He can…
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Rae Monet, the eclectic muse creates spiritually, sexually, sensually; activating the collective “Inna G”. Her soulful, psychedelic sound coalesces stimulating textures and bluesy melodies with sultry vocals to soothe the aching soul. As a poet, the same applies, as her music is riddled with flows rooted in prose. On this episode she performs two songs from her…
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Silas Vazquez joins me to share and discuss his work, including poetry and music. We also discuss his style, dealing with anxiety, height, the desire for freedom, and love as both the source of and cure for pain. We touch on his upcoming move, and Silas talks about his beginnings in writing–only a few months…
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DANK PHART The Pirate Poet A.K.A Matty Bovard is a community organizer and cultural instigator based in Boulder, CO. Growing up in Fairfield, IA, a small rural farm town that is also the epicenter of Transcendental Meditation in the U.S., he was exposed to many different world views. This cosmopolitan experience reflects deeply in his…
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Sam Amabile joins the show to discuss his journey into music, musical styles and poetry, what a night at the Mercury Cafe looks like from behind a piano, boogie woogie music, jazz, the blues, music as a profession, and much more. Sam plays piano at the Mercury Cafe on Friday nights, and is open for…
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Sojo (So-Joe) is a multimedia artist who is passionate about investing herself into many forms of creation. Her favorites art forms include: poetry, collage, music, fashion, up-cycling found materials, tie-dye, photography, videography, as well as combining poetry and collage together. She finds peace in reading small-artist books at local coffee shops and stumbling into random…
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Mark DuCharme’s sixth full-length book of poetry, Here, Which Is Also a Place, was published in 2022by Unlikely Books. That same year, his chapbook Scorpion Letters was released by Ethel. Later this year, C22 Open Editions will publish his collection Thousands Blink Outside. His poetry has appeared widely in such venues as BlazeVOX, Blazing Stadium, Caliban Online, Colorado Review, Eratio, First…
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Raised in Minneapolis, a fourth generation on Positively 4th St., Deborah lived many years in Chicago and is home in Colorado. Her poems are found in journals based in the US, Canada, and Europe. A graduate of Northwestern University, Deborah has worked, lead, and written widely on behalf of non-profit organizations in the US and Mexico.…
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Aimee Herman is a gay writer and educator. They are the author of the novel, “Everything Grows” (Three Rooms Press) and two full length books of poems, “meant to wake up feeling” (great weather for MEDIA) and “to go without blinking” (BlazeVOX books), in addition to being widely published in journals and anthologies including BOMB,…
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The Poets 