Quintessential Poetry: A Global Poetry & Spoken Word Poetry Podcast

Feb 22, 2026 · 1h 34m

This tribute episode honors the life and poetic legacy of Genevieve F. Ray (1987–2026), a gifted storyteller whose work blended vulnerability, resilience, and emotional truth. Through selected readings and reflection, this spoken word poetry episode celebrates her creative spirit and the impact she made on listeners around the world. This Quintessential Poetry podcast tribute offers a space for remembrance, gratitude, and connection through the power of language.Recorded on a Saturday morning across continents (January 23, 2023), this interview reveals Genevieve at her most luminous—honest, funny, vulnerable, brilliant, and fully herself. This episode explores themes of identity, reflection, and the emotional landscape of spoken word poetry.We dedicate this rebroadcast to Genevieve’s loving memory. This conversation remains one of the brightest moments ever captured on Quintessential Poetry, reflecting the heart of a poetry podcast rooted in empathy, connection, and the transformative power of language.In this episode, Genevieve speaks aboutpoetry as a living companionneurodiversity and self‑understandingancestry, identity, and belongingmental health and survivalher one‑woman show Free Roaming Adult Womanthe courage it takes to tell the truthHer voice—her laughter, her pauses, her fire—remains a gift. This interview stands as a portrait of who she was when the world wasn’t watching, only listening. This episode also creates a thoughtful, performance‑driven space for poetry enthusiasts, spoken word poetry performers, cultural storytellers, and audio creatives alike.About Genevieve Ray: Genevieve was a poet, performer, educator, and community builder whose work uplifted countless voices. Her debut poetry collection, Free Roaming Adult Woman, is still moving readers around the world.May her words continue to rise. May her fire continue to guide.00:00 Welcome to Quintessential Poetry + Meet Genevieve Ray01:55 What Is Poetry? Genevieve’s Definition & Why It’s Human Nature03:49 Finding Her Voice: Pandemic, Identity, Neurodiversity & Advocacy08:44 Why Poetry Matters: Access, Flexibility & Community Conversations10:38 Why ‘Genevieve Firepoint’? The Phoenix Metaphor & Creative Rebirth13:56 Performance: “Free Roaming Adult Woman” (and the Encore)18:35 Literary Roots & Early Power of Poetic Language (William Blake)23:43 Reading Together: William Blake’s “The Tyger” + Craft Talk26:19 Guard Down or Wall Up? Persona, Truth, and the Poet’s Self28:39 Performance: “For Eulogies” + Does Writing Poetry Hurt?35:53 Themes & Mission: Love, Protest, Teaching, and Empowering Others38:37 Performance: “Doubt” + Process—How Poems Start, End, and Get Edited44:20 Performance: “The Muse Will Not Lift” + Influences & Theater Voice50:10 Writing for Connection: Making Language Accessible52:55 From Page to Stage: What Spoken Word Means54:45 The Poet’s Role Today: Emotional Journalism & Ancestry57:22 Can Poetry Be About Anything? From Rocks to Stamps01:07:38 Mentorship & Finding Your Voice: “Collect the Gems, Build the Crown”01:14:21 Mini Poetry Concert: “Trance (Six Minutes)” & Ophelia Reimagined01:18:43 Destiny, Surprise, and What Poetry Gives Back01:24:25 What’s Next Creatively: Travel, Collaborations, One-Woman Show01:26:15 Poetry UK Behind the Scenes: Building Community on Facebook01:29:33 Where to Follow Genevieve + Final Farewell

Dec 21, 2025 · 1h 8m

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode!This episode of the Quintessential Poetry podcast, a quintessential poetry podcast rooted in spoken word and literary expression, aired December 24, 2025, chronicles Jacqueline James’ ongoing artistic evolution through new poems, fresh insights, and expanded dialogue. Author of 19 books, Jacqueline reflects on her creative journey in excerpts from our 2024 interview, now fully remastered and re-edited for new audiences.Selected as a Staff Favorite by the New York Podcast Association, this episode showcases Jacqueline’s extraordinary journey—from raising five children to writing seventeen books in a single year. Her warmth, wisdom, and poetic brilliance make this 2025 release one of the most powerful installments in the Timeless Classics series.What You’ll Discover in This Updated 2025 Edition:• Literary Brilliance — new poems and expanded reflections that showcase Jacqueline’s mastery of language, rhythm, and storytelling.• Artistic Expression — how she transforms lived experience into art, blending humor, faith, and emotional truth with a signature poetic voice.• Wellness & Healing — her groundbreaking use of poetry to support seniors with dementia, nurture children’s literacy, and promote emotional resilience.• Spiritual Insight — the faith journey behind her poems, including how divine inspiration shaped her creative rebirth and her mission to uplift others.• The Radiance of Black Womanhood — Jacqueline’s extraordinary evolution from dormancy to prolific creation, embodying the power, grace, and brilliance of a Black woman’s journey.More About Jacqueline James:Jacqueline is a multidimensional artist whose work spans spiritual poetry, children’s literature, social justice verse, and educational storytelling. She brings poetry into senior residential communities, where her words become a form of cognitive care—helping elders stay connected, engaged, and emotionally grounded. Through her work with the YMCA, she nurtures young voices and builds early literacy with compassion and creativity. She also crafts personalized keepsake poems for families navigating grief, transforming memory into something sacred and enduring. Jacqueline’s poetry doesn’t simply move listeners. It restores, uplifts, and reshapes the way we understand healing, community, and the power of a Black woman’s voice.Blog Posthttps://www.quintessentialpoetry.com/blog/a-journey-through-poetry-the-inspirational-world-of-jacqueline-james/📖 BONUS MATERIAL:This 2025 release includes poems recorded exclusively for the Timeless Classics limited series. Download the PDF collection here: https://pdflink.to/a930e69d/About Quintessential PoetryQuintessential Poetry is an award-nominated global podcast featuring more than 500 poets across 475+ episodes, reaching 350,000+ listeners worldwide. Created and hosted by four‑time Pushcart Prize nominee Dr. Michael Anthony Ingram, the podcast celebrates diverse voices in contemporary poetry and spoken word, offering a space where creativity, culture, and community flourish.Connect With UsWebsite: www.quintessentialpoetry.networkFacebook: Quintessential Poetry NetworkInstagram: @quintessentialpoetry

Dec 20, 2025 · 1h 12m

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode!🎷EPISODE 2: MIKE JURKOVIC Poetry That Swings, Sings, and Refuses to Sit StillMike Jurkovic joins the Quintessential Poetry podcast for a vibrant conversation blending poetry, jazz, rhythm, and creative expression. Known for making “jazz sing and words swing,” he shares insights into sound‑driven writing, performance, and the emotional energy that shapes his work. This spoken word poetry interview highlights his unique voice and artistic approach.Mike is the host of an acclaimed jazz radio show, as well as the Ulster County Poet Laureate for 2025. As a poet, Mike's work is a wonderful blend of humor, wisdom, and folksy charm. The vivid imagery and surrealist style that characterize his poetry have brought him widespread renown. His understanding of rhythm's importance is another defining feature of his jazzy, melodic, lyrical poetry. Rhythm is an inherent part of Mike's poetry.BACKGROUNDMike is originally from the South Bronx and has lived in Ulster County, New York, for over 30 years. He is the president and co-founder of Calling All Poets, a prominent poetry organization in the Hudson Valley that has been fostering poetic expression for 26 years. His widely read poetry collections and acclaimed poetry readings often explore themes of everyday life, absurdity, and human connection, making them relatable and impactful.THE CONVERSATIONThis conversation, originally recorded live on May 13, 2024, explored the deep connections between jazz improvisation and poetic rhythm, how music and poetry inform each other, and the art of making complex ideas feel accessible and inviting after being edited and remastered for rebroadcast. From getting nauseous listening to Bob Dylan at 14 to becoming a poet who puts a backbeat in every line—this is Mike's journey. "This conversation has rhythm. It has laughter. It has depth." This episode creates a thoughtful, performance‑driven space for poetry enthusiasts, spoken word poetry performers, cultural storytellers, and audio creatives alike.📖 BONUS:Podcast includes six poems from Mike Jurkovic exclusively for Timeless Classics (in order): The Whereabouts of Heaven, Your North Star Still stirs (Sojourner Truth), Mama's Meatballs (off Jerome Avenue), Charming Ineptness You’ve Taken to Heart, Only Here and Saltwater Taffy with Nick Bisanz.WHENCatch the episode on Monday, December 22, 2025, at 8:00 PM (EST) by visiting the Quintessential Poetry website at https://rss.com/podcasts/quintessential-poetry/2393065.ORVisit this link on YouTube to listen to the episode: https://youtu.be/o2Swis9mWRQ?si=hRKd17ksu2EwEGsdAbout Quintessential Poetry: The award-nominated podcast, Quintessential Poetry, has featured 500+ poets across 450+ episodes, reaching 350,000+ listeners globally. Created and hosted by four-time Pushcart Prize nominee Dr. Michael Anthony Ingram, the podcast celebrates diverse voices in contemporary poetry and spoken word.Connect with us:Website: www.quintessentialpoetry.networkFacebook: Quintessential PoetryInstagram: @quintessentialpoetryKeywords: poetry podcast, spoken word, Mike Jurkovic, contemporary poetry, literary interviews, American poets, creative writing, poetry performance, literary podcast, Dr. Michael Anthony Ingram, poetry community, alternative poetry,

Dec 19, 2025 · 52m

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode!John Patrick Robbins joins the Quintessential Poetry podcast for a raw and unfiltered conversation about craft, honesty, and the uncompromising voice that defines his work. Known as “The Mad Editor,” Robbins brings a fierce commitment to truth-telling through poetry, exploring themes of grit, survival, and emotional clarity. This spoken word poetry interview highlights his distinctive style, his editorial insight, and the lived experiences that shape his creative expression.Dr. Michael Anthony Ingram, host of this episode, returns to his impactful conversation with John Patrick Robbins. John is the editor-in-chief of ten magazines, one of which is the Rye Whiskey Review. Nominated for the Pushcart Prize, he is also a renowned author of Southern Gothic-style short stories and poetry. This conversation focuses on his poetry collection, 'Are We Dead Yet?' published by Black Circle Publishing in 2023 (https://www.amazon.com/Are-Dead-John-Patrick-Robbins/dp/B0BL52F4HH).The poetry book reached the number one spot on the Amazon charts. Dark and unapologetic, Robbins delivers poetry that is both raw and unfiltered. Robbins stands out as one of the most innovative and thought-provoking figures in the realm of contemporary poetry. His unabashed candor and biting humor invigorate the poetry scene. Here is a link to a bonus collection of his three poems: https://pdflink.to/e372857d/. This episode creates a thoughtful, performance‑driven space for poetry enthusiasts, spoken word poetry performers, cultural storytellers, and audio creatives alike.What You Will Discover:Why this conversation continues to resonate with audiences worldwide.His uncompromising approach to writing and performanceBehind-the-scenes stories from the poetry circuitInsights on authenticity in creative workThe intersection of rebellion and artistry in modern poetryAbout Quintessential Poetry: The award-nominated podcast, Quintessential Poetry, has featured 500+ poets across 450+ episodes, reaching 350,000+ listeners globally. Created and hosted by four-time Pushcart Prize nominee Dr. Michael Anthony Ingram, the podcast celebrates diverse voices in contemporary poetry and spoken word.Connect with us:Website: www.quintessentialpoetry.comFacebook: Quintessential PoetryInstagram: @quintessentialpoetry

Apr 19, 2025 · 1h 13m

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode!Kolawole Alatishe, a Nigerian poet and thinker, joins the Quintessential Poetry podcast for a thoughtful exploration of the power of poetry, language, and creative expression. In this book club discussion, he reflects on the emotional, cultural, and philosophical dimensions of poetry, offering insights shaped by lived experience and a deep commitment to storytelling. His 2025 book, HUMAN TOGETHERNESS: Promoting Human Mutual Inter‑dependence, expands on these themes by championing unity, cooperation, and the transformative potential of human interconnectedness. This spoken word poetry conversation highlights his reflective voice, his approach to meaning-making, and the ways poetry connects us across borders and identities.