Five poetry podcasts you should be tuning into

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Among the numerous days celebrating poetry across the world, August 20 happens to be Poet's Day. While poems have enchanted readers for centuries, modern poetry and its consumption has evolved in the digital age. The internet has democratised art in an unprecedented manner which has enabled people to engage with poetry outside the confines of books and intimidating poetry readings. Podcasts offer an immersive experience that can be solitary and instantaneous, often heightening its emotional impact. Regardless of how nuanced of a reader you are or the time and effort you can spare, podcasts give you access to curated global poetry, be it contemporary or classical. On Poet's Day we've rounded up five interesting poetry podcasts for you to indulge in.

Poems everyday

The Audio Poem of the Day podcast is ideal for those who want to dip their toes in and build a habit of listening to poetry often in a seamless way. The podcast releases an episode each day, and hosts poets and actors who read classic and contemporary poems. Barely lasting a minute or two, the episodes cover an extensive category of subjects and are performed in a captivating manner.

Available on: Apple, Spotify

Contemporary exploration

Poetry off the Shelf is a podcast dedicated to exploring the dynamic world of contemporary poetry. Featuring poetry readings, interviews, reviews, and engaging discussions, the podcast introduces its listeners to a new breed of poets. The tone never gets too serious, even when host and producer Helena de Groot delves into deeper explorations of beauty, forgiveness, memories, and much more. Each episode ranges from 20 to 60 minutes and makes for an engaging listen.

Available on: Apple, Spotify

Classical touch

If you are someone who craves to discover works of classical poetry, Classic Poetry Aloud might be appealing to you. The podcast features recordings of some of the most popular poems by great poets including Emily Dickinson, Rudyard Kipling, Edgar Allen Poe, even William Shakespeare. With over 600 episodes, their vast library is intended to be a valuable poetry resource for anyone interested in listening to poetry which may seem a bit intimidating to tackle at first.

Available on: Apple, Spotify

Playing favourite

If there is anything that complements a poetry reading beautifully, it is when someone shares why it is their favourite. The podcast Interesting People Reading Poetry provides a unique experience to its listeners as artists and luminaries read their favourite poems and share the affection and fondness they nurture for that piece of art. The sound-rich podcast has only 24 short episodes (9 to 15 minutes) and is ideal for binge-listening.

Available on: Apple, Spotify

From the archives

The New Yorker: Poetry podcast is hosted by their poetry editor, Kevin Young. Every episode, Young is joined by a contemporary poet for a reading of a poem from the magazine's archives followed by one of their own. What ensues is a conversation delving into the archived poem with different perspectives owing to the distinct lens that each guest brings. The podcast provides an interesting premise that effortlessly ties contemporary themes to the past. Each episode is roughly 30 minutes long.

Available on: Apple, Spotify

Also Read: 5 Poetry platforms you need to check out