The Poet (delayed)

Episode 17: She is Steady and She Waits

January 23rd, 2023  |  Season 1  |  1 hr 34 secs

authenticity, cancer, hodgkin’s lymphoma, mental health, poetry, self discovery, truth

I was joined by Allison Spencer as we read and discussed my poem, She is Steady and She Waits. Allison was diagnosed with Stage 2 Unfavorable Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. (By the way, “unfavorable”? Who comes up with these terms, soccer match announcers? - “That was unlucky!”) But as terrifying as that was, she rose up to battle and, with the help of family, friends and competent medical providers, she waged battle as a head shorn warrior and the cancer is now in remission.

Episode 16: Nirvana

December 19th, 2022  |  Season 1  |  1 hr 1 min

authenticity, depression, mental health, mental health awareness, nirvana, poetry, self discovery, suicide, suicide prevention

TRIGGER WARNING: Suicide is discussed in this episode. If anyone listening is struggling with suicidal ideation, please reach out to a friend or family member. There is also a national hotline in the USA that you can call: 988.

I was joined by Monte Wingle as I ready my poem, Nirvana, and we discussed thoughts and ideas that came. Also, in the spirit of craving nothingness, we visited True Rest Float Spa to experience their float tank and see how close we could get to nothingness.

Episode 15: Terrible Potential

November 12th, 2022  |  Season 1  |  1 hr 20 mins

authenticity, fear, know thyself, nietzsche, poetry, self discovery

In this episode, I was joined by my nephew, Justin “Justino” Foster. I read my poem “Terrible Potential” and Justino and had a great discussion about the themes in the poem.

Episode 14: Beacons

October 27th, 2022  |  Season 1  |  51 mins 3 secs

authenticity, beacons, poetry, self discovery

I’m joined again by Aunt Kash to discuss people who’ve been beacons in our lives as well as our being beacons in the lives of others.

Episode 13: Inconsequential

October 13th, 2022  |  Season 1  |  52 mins 48 secs

authenticity, connection, parenting, poetry, self discovery

I’m joined by my friend Jason Langston as I read my poem, Inconsequential. Then we get into a discussion of connection, addiction, parenting and relationships and the fact that no person is inconsequential. As John Donne wrote (old English spelling and all): “No man is an Iland, intire of it selfe.”

Episode 12: The Remains of the Day

October 7th, 2022  |  Season 1  |  1 hr 41 mins

authenticity, dignity, great butler, kazuo ishiguro, poetry, self discovery, the remains of the day

I’m joined by Nate Morris this episode as we discuss the book, The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro.

Episode 11: “The Sadness Will Last Forever”

August 2nd, 2022  |  Season 1  |  58 mins 16 secs

artist, authenticity, creativity, jung, poetry, self discovery, van gogh

In this episode, I read my poem, “The Sadness Will Last Forever,” which is about Vincent Van Gogh. I am joined by Adam Nisenson who is a therapist in Salt Lake City as well as an accomplished artist. We discuss creativity and its importance in our lives.

Episode 10: A Subtle Wound

July 23rd, 2022  |  Season 1  |  55 mins 53 secs

authenticity, childhood trauma, emotional connection, poetry, self discovery

In this episode I read and discuss my poem “A Subtle Wound” with Jackie Pack. We talk about the importance of connection and holding space for those who’ve experienced trauma.

Episode 8: Besieged

June 25th, 2022  |  Season 1  |  1 hr 3 mins

authenticity, poetry, self discovery

I’m joined by Jason Small in this episode as I read my poem “Besieged” and we discuss the difficulty of facing challenges to our way of thinking and being and how we’ve dealt with it.

Episode 6: On Pain by Khalil Gibran

June 15th, 2022  |  Season 1  |  47 mins 2 secs

authenticity, poetry, self discovery suffering

In this episode, I read Khalil Gibran’s passage on pain from his book, The Prophet and discuss pain, including discomfort and fear, and the impact it’s had in my life. I also, discuss ways that I’ve found to work through pain such as finding meaning in it.