If you were born before 1995, you'd have felt the loss of James Earl Jones.

The father of our childhood and the king of the monologue left our world for the next on the day of recording, so we wanted to share his voice on the show. He does a belter of a rendition of a Christina Rossetti poem that we hope you enjoy.

Ryan's been losing his mind over reading Frankenstein for the first time, so we delve into the world of novels that we think we know the story of, but not quite. We also share a Shelley poem, lovely.

Shelley and Lord Byron would have been rubbing shoulders back then, and when Byron wasn't dipping his wick into anything that moves, he did write a poem now and again. We share one on the show.

Polina Cosgrave then gives us a solid reminder of what to watch out for when picking a potential lover with her poem 'Don't Make Love To Them If They Don't Dance'

We wrap up the show with one of our favourite listener poems with the words of Nicola Clare. You're gonna love this one.

As always, thanks again to everyone who listens and share the show with their pals. If you do share the show, let us know asap so we can gush over you.

Poems from the show:

A Birthday - Christina Rosetti
https://www.bbc.co.uk/poetryseason/poems/a_birthday.shtml

Mary Shelley - Oh Listen While I Sing To Thee
https://www.best-poems.net/mary-shelley/oh-listen-while-i-sing-to-thee.html

Lord Byron - So, We'll Go No More a-Roving
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43845/so-well-go-no-more-a-roving

Polina Cosgrave - Don't Make Love To Them If They Don't Dance
https://gallerypress.com/authors-published-b-the-gallery-press/a-to-f-gallery-authors/polina-cosgrave/

Nicola Clare - Psychiatry Gave Me PTSD

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Original music by Matthew Keating
Artwork by Paddy Downey
Introduction and co-produced by Lisa Downey

We know. We agree. Last week was an absolute sausage fest.

Too many misters and not enough sisters if you ask us, which is why today's episode we are celebrating the powerful women of the Electric Picnic who had blown us away with their poetry over the festival.

We both felt very 'seen' when Tess McKevitt performed her poem all about the red flags and pitfalls of falling for a 'Mammies Boy', so we had to start there and discuss the poem.

Lizzy Byrne had the audience eating out of her hands on stage at the festival, but it was her piece 'The Festival Of Life' that brought us on a beautiful journey and we couldn't wait to share with you

Caoimhe Weakliam packs a punch anyway when she performs, but her spoken word poem 'Storm' will, and excuse the pun, blow you away. Brace for impact.

Anna D has magic in her veins anyway, but how fitting for her to give us the piece 'Droaicht' to share with you, which as you know already, is Gaelic for magic.

We wrap up the show with a tribute to Ryan's grandmother through the wonderful words of Wendy Cope and her poem, Names.

A warm welcome to our new Patreon subscribers Barbara and Muiris who have joined the family. Please feel free to support the show if this brings a little joy on a Monday morning for you.

Poems from today

Tess McKevitt - Fear And Lusting
https://www.tessmckevitt.com/

Lizzy Byrne - The Festival Of Love
Instagram - @lizzybyrneandthelymphnodes

Caoimhe Weakliam - Storm
Instagram - @caoimheweakliam

Anna D - Draoicht
Instagram - @annad.poetry

Wendy Cope - Names
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/wendy-cope

Support the show

Original music by Matthew Keating
Artwork by Paddy Downey
Introduction and co-produced by Lisa Downey

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

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Original music by Matthew Keating
Artwork by Paddy Downey
Introduction and co-produced by Lisa Downey

The robots are taking over lads, and they are starting with this podcast!

We wanted to see whether or not AI could put together a couple of decent verses, and you know what, we are regretting inviting AI on as it's shown just how bloody easy writing a few verses is.

Before that, inspired by a trip to Paris, we discuss one of France's most iconic raconteurs Marcel Lucont and share his poem 'Wine In A Can'

We then get into the scary world of Chat GPT, as we set it the task to write its own version of one of Ryan's poems and then one of Leon's. We'll call a taxi now.

Electric Picnic is around the corner with a lot of special performances across the whole weekend. We preview all the goings on at 'The Word' tent as well as share poetry from Gerard Devine and Steven Camden (AKA Polarbear)

Bonny Tyler then ends the show with a message of support. No, you aren't drunk, the actual Bonny Tyler

Come and say hello to us at the festival next week, and if you're reading this and not going, sad times.

Poems from the show

Marcel Lucont - Wine In A Can
https://www.tiktok.com/@marcellucont/video/7397405703473810721

Ryan Duggins - On Days When There Is Fuck All On
https://www.tiktok.com/@ryandugginspoet/video/7400690121160346913

Leon Dunne - Capitalism Rap
Instagram - @nomanticz

Chat GPT - Two AI Poems
https://openai.com/index/chatgpt/

Gerard Devine - Don't Wait
Instagram - @gerard_devine_poetry

Steven Camden - Poem from the collection Everything All At Once
https://www.bearstories.org/

Support the show

Original music by Matthew Keating
Artwork by Paddy Downey
Introduction and co-produced by Lisa Downey

Because you're there for me toooo, oooohh!

Yes ladies and gentleman, we were too worried about copyright law to use the Friends theme song for the intro, but today we are in the feels and talking about the value of friendship.

Muhammad Ali, when he wasn't being the best fighter that ever lived, was also a very talented poet and we kick off the show with his poem about friendship. We'll share more of Ali's work down the line, incredibly talented man.

Before we get all soppy, we received an Instagram message from someone last week after we asked out community the question: 'Why Do You Write?' The answer was not just an answer, but a poem. And a really good one from Tiiffany Hannon.

Leon shares the story of the DMC club at Crossfit Santry. The gym have been pushing their member to open up to each other and have created a meet-up for the male members to be vulnerable. Leon and the other members created something beautiful which we are delighted to share with you.

Emily Brontë had written one of the best novels in the English language with Wuthering Heights, but she also wrote some great poems. We share her poem comparing romantic and platonic love called 'Love And Friendship'

Sean Watmore's new collection Buried Beds And Bicycle Frames is out now, and amongst the bangers in the collection is his poem about long-lasting friendship called 'Time Spent Turning'

Friend of the show Andy Porter then wraps it up with a poem of celebration for the show itself, which is really just two mates being mates.

Thanks again for all the love and support, and make sure to tell your friends how much you love them after listening to the show

Poems from the show

Muhammad Ali - Friends
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HV1O7CNTY7s

Tiffany Hannon - Why I Write
Instagram - @tiffanyhannon_poetry

Crossfit Santry - DMC Club Poem
Instagram - @crossfitsantry

Emily Brontë - Love And Friendship
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/50537/love-and-friendship

Sean Watmore - Time Spent Turning
Instagram - @seanwatmorepoetry

Andy Porter - Poetry's Dead
TikTok - andyspangles

Support the show

Original music by Matthew Keating
Artwork by Paddy Downey
Introduction and co-produced by Lisa Downey

You Shall Not Pass...without listening to this episode!

Ian Mckellen and his BBC Radio 2 interview where he discusses the value of remembering Shakespeare's sonnets have pushed us to jump into the brain of Bill Shakespeare and see if we can pick a sonnet each that doesn't give us PTSD of having to study those bloody plays at school

After Ryan took a day off the session with some friends in Germany to read Ernest Hemingway's The Old Man And The Sea, we talk about pro's and con's of Hemingway as an influence on the modern man, but also gush over the quality of his writing and share one of his poems

Andy Porter writes us a lovely email of support and the gift of a poem all about that bloke that can't leave his tools alone.

We also welcome the return of our agony aunt who helps answer a question on how when we write, we judge our own thoughts and experiences. Interesting one this.

Poems from today

William Shakespeare:

Sonnet 25
https://nosweatshakespeare.com/sonnets/25/

Sonnet 55
https://nosweatshakespeare.com/sonnets/55

Ernest Hemingway - Advice To A Son
https://allpoetry.com/Advice-To-A-Son

Andy Porter - Death Of A DIY Man
https://www.tiktok.com/@andyspangles/video/7394401037815254304?lang=en

Agony Aunt - The Imposter

*Introduction clip taken from BBC Radio 2's interview with Ian Mckellen

Support the show

Original music by Matthew Keating
Artwork by Paddy Downey
Introduction and co-produced by Lisa Downey

Yo, dawg! Whattup, homey! Whatcha...geezer?

It didn't take us long to to run out of rap slang terms for friend as you can see, but we wanted to get you into the spirit of the show early as this week's episode is a special on rhythm and poetry, or as you lot would know it better as, RAP!

We have left the library this week and entered the basement rap battle scene as we explore the work of modern wordsmiths that prefer to have their voices alongside hip-hop beats to give us an easier way to experience their stories.

We discuss our early experiences of hearing stories we were way too young for, the value of rap in general for understanding the human experience and share a verse or two.

After we flip our caps the right way round and pull our jeans back up, we discuss one of Dublin's greatest current spoken word performers Emmet O'Brien who comes through with a magical piece about where our words go when they leave us.

James 'Jimbo' Dillon shares his letter of caution to his larger pal in his poem My Fat Friend, which is a belter of a poem, and we end it with the words of last week's competition winner Anna Nixon

So. Yeah. Word to your mother!

Poems from the show

Kendrick Lemar - DNA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uX6uBHPGfSs

Wretch 32 - Freestyle from Fire In The Booth
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nnLBzzQk-I&t=435s

Emmet O'Brien - Untitled
Instagram - @emmet_obrien_poetry

James Dillon - My Fat Friend
Instagram - @jimbosmyname

*Intro was taken from the YouTube channel for Rocawear with the video titled JAY-Z "Rap Is Poetry

Support the show

Original music by Matthew Keating
Artwork by Paddy Downey
Introduction and co-produced by Lisa Downey

And the winner is..

On today’s episode, we reveal the winning poem for our competition in collaboration with The Poetry Edit. It’s been incredible to read the pieces that have been submitted, and we can’t wait to share all three finalist’s with you.

As well as the competition, we talk about THAT interview between Jools Holland and Grian Chatten as we get a real-life example of how a poet can twist and turn normal folk into knots. And we loved it.

Fontaines D.C are one of our favourite bands, and we talk about Grian’s inspiration through poetry and the story of how his father introduced him to the world of verse

We’ll definitely have to do another competition so watch this space!

Poems from the show

Luke Kelly - For What Died The Sons Of Roisin
https://open.spotify.com/track/2skM6PxyViYGfP2FGIaxG9?si=5ce5da046d1b42b5

Grian Chatten - Big
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiLk6G5N-3Y

Sapphire Allard - I’m Flicking Past News Stories Like Men on Dating Apps
Instagram - @sapphirerosewriter

Miles Pascall - I Wonder
Instagram - @milespascall

Anna Nixon - A Stabbing By Numbers
Instagram - @annanixonwritings

Support the show

Original music by Matthew Keating
Artwork by Paddy Downey
Introduction and co-produced by Lisa Downey