New Books Network Podcast

Digital Humanities November 30, 2022

Ourboox

A Conversation with Mel Rosenberg

Mel Rosenberg

Hosted by Caleb Zakarin

In this interview, Mel Rosenberg discusses his love for children's literature, what makes for a memorable picture book, and the company he created, Ourboox. Ourboox is a free site that …

Writ Large November 4, 2022

On John Milton's "Paradise Lost"

A Discussion with Erik Gray

Erik Gray

Hosted by Zachary Davis

As a young student at Christ’s College Cambridge, John Milton announced to the world that he was going to write the greatest poem that the world has ever seen. He …

Poetry October 26, 2022

Temple Lamp

Verses on Banaras by Mirza Asadullah Beg Khan

Maaz Bin Bilal

Hosted by Iqra Shagufta Cheema

Today I talked to Maaz Bin Bilal about Temple Lamp: Verses on Banaras by Mirza Asadullah Beg Khan (India Penguin Classics, 2022). The poem ‘Chirag-e-Dair’ or Temple Lamp is an eloquent …

The Common Magazine October 14, 2022

In Which Raging Weather is a Gift

The Common magazine (Spring, 2022)

Ellen Doré Watson

Hosted by Emily Everett

Ellen Doré Watson speaks to managing editor Emily Everett about her poem “In Which Raging Weather is a Gift,” which appears in The Common’s spring issue. Ellen talks about the …

Poetry October 10, 2022

Daylight Has Already Come

Kristina Marie Darling

Hosted by Hal Coase

Kristina Marie Darling’s Daylight Has Already Arrived (Black Lawrence Press, 2022) spans six years and countless styles. Motifs and images reappear, but the formal choices are wide-ranging. The poet utilizes prose …

Spiritual Practice and Mindfulness October 5, 2022

The Gift of Rumi

Experiencing the Wisdom of the Sufi Master

Emily Jane O'Dell

Hosted by Meg Gambino

The Gift of Rumi: Experiencing the Wisdom of the Sufi Master (St. Martin’s Press, 2022), written by Dr. Emily Jane O’Dell was published by St. Martin’s Press in 2022. In …

The Common Magazine September 30, 2022

Letter to Emily Brontë

The Common magazine (Spring, 2022)

Jane Satterfield

Hosted by Emily Everett

Jane Satterfield speaks to managing editor Emily Everett about her poem “Letter to Emily Brontë,” which appears in The Common’s spring issue. Jane talks about her longstanding interest in the …

Literature July 28, 2022

Where are the Snows

Poems

Kathleen Rooney

Hosted by Eric LeMay

Hello, this is Eric LeMay, a host on New Books in Literature, a channel on the New Books Network. Today I interview Kathleen Rooney about her new collection of poems, Where …

Popular Culture July 19, 2022

Why Patti Smith Matters

Caryn Rose

Hosted by Rebekah Buchanan

Patti Smith arrived in New York City at the end of the Age of Aquarius in search of work and purpose. What she found—what she fostered—was a cultural revolution. Through …

Literary Studies July 12, 2022

Spenser and Race

A Discussion with Dennis Austin Britton and Kimberly Anne Coles

Dennis Austin Britton and Kimberly Anne Coles

Hosted by John Yargo

Today’s guests are Dennis Austin Britton and Kimberly Anne Coles who have co-edited a special issue of Spenser Studies in 2021, on “Spenser and Race.” Dennis is Associate Professor of …

Literary Studies July 7, 2022

Poetry, Politics, and the Law in Modern Ireland

Adam Hanna

Hosted by Miranda Melcher

Dr. Adam Hanna’s Poetry, Politics, and the Law in Modern Ireland (Syracuse University Press, 2022) is a richly detailed exploration of how modern Irish poetry has been shaped by, and …

The Common Magazine June 24, 2022

Adoption Day

The Common magazine (Spring, 2022)

Mark Kyungsoo Bias

Hosted by Emily Everett

Mark Kyungsoo Bias speaks to managing editor Emily Everett about his poem “Adoption Day,” which appears in The Common’s new spring issue. Mark talks about the inspiration and process behind …

High Theory June 14, 2022

Ghazal

A Discussion with Manan Kapoor

Manan Kapoor

Hosted by Kim Adams and Saronik Bosu

Manan Kapoor talks about the Ghazal, the medieval Arabic poetic form which travelled to the Indian subcontinent in the 12th century and flourished there ever since. He focuses on the …

On Religion June 10, 2022

On Koans

A Discussion with Corey Ichigen Hess

Corey Ichigen Hess

Hosted by Gregory Soden

Corey Ichigen Hess is an ordained Zen monk and body therapist. He lived a monastic life for many years at Sogenji Zen Monastery in Okayama, Japan. He teaches meditation classes …

Poetry June 6, 2022

Glory Hole

Kim Hyun

Hosted by Jennifer Lee

In this episode, co-translators Suhyun J. Ahn and Archana Madhavan discuss their Korean-to-English translation of Glory Hole by Kim Hyun (Seagull Books, 2022). Released as part of The Pride List …

Literary Studies May 26, 2022

Song of Ourselves

Walt Whitman and the Fight for Democracy

Mark Edmundson

Hosted by Jon Najarian

Walt Whitman knew a great deal about democracy that we don’t. Most of that knowledge is concentrated in one stunning poem, Song of Myself. In Song of Ourselves: Walt Whitman and …

Recall This Book May 19, 2022

The Underworld

A Conversation with David Ferry and Roger Reeves

David Ferry and Roger Reeves

Hosted by Elizabeth Ferry and John Plotz

Since the original airing of this episode in June 2021, Roger Reeves' second book Best Barbarian was published by W. W. Norton, and the paperback edition of David Ferry's translation …

Poetry May 17, 2022

Synaptic

Alison Calder

Hosted by Sine Yaganoglu

This intricate, yearning work from award-winning poet Alison Calder asks us to think about the way we perceive and the ways in which we seek to know ourselves and others …

Poetry May 13, 2022

Daughters of Harriet

Poems

Cynthia Parker-Ohene

Hosted by Deidre Tyler

Drawing inspiration from the life of Harriet Tubman, Cynthia Parker-Ohene's poetic narratives follow a historical arc of consciousness of Black folks: mislaid in potters' fields and catalogued with other misbegotten …

Recall This Book May 5, 2022

We are Not Digested

A Conversation with Rajiv Mohabir (Ulka Anjaria, JP)

Rajiv Mohabir

Hosted by Elizabeth Ferry and John Plotz

Rajiv Mohabir is a dazzling poet of linguistics crossovers, who works in English, Bhojpuri, Hindi and more. He is as prolific as he is polyglot (three books in 2021!) and …