Poetry Unbound

On Being Studios

Short and unhurried, Poetry Unbound is an immersive exploration of a single poem, hosted by Pádraig Ó Tuama.

Pádraig Ó Tuama greets you at the doorways of brilliant poems and walks you through — each one has wisdom to offer and questions to ask you.

Already a listener? There’s also a book (Poetry Unbound: 50 Poems to Open Your World), a Substack newsletter with a vibrant conversation in the comments, and occasional gatherings.

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224 episodes
Updated July 24

Episodes224

Newest first

Nov 21, 2022 · 14 min
Dunya Mikhail — Eva Whose Shadow Is a Swan
Some friendships are built on small encounters and last a lifetime. Two women — from across culture, location, and age — spend a lifetime in communication.
Nov 18, 2022 · 13 min
Aaron Caycedo-Kimura — What’s Kept Alive
At the hingepoint of change, a poet walks through the garden his late father planted.
Nov 14, 2022 · 14 min
Kevin Goodan — We give…
Firefighting pushes the body to breaking point; Kevin Goodan’s poem locates the “ash-dark art” of firefighting not just in the wilderness where the team worked, but in the muscles of the firefighters.
Nov 11, 2022 · 15 min
David Whyte — Leaving the Island
Sometimes leaving feels like you’re splitting yourself in two, but you leave anyway. What compels us? What holds us together even as we look back? David Whyte’s poem combines pain and promise as someone is both departing and venturing at the same time.
Nov 7, 2022 · 14 min
Andrés N. Ordorica — Mis raíces
What is the landscape that has most influenced you? When do you go there? In person? Andrés N. Ordorica goes in dreams.
Nov 4, 2022 · 12 min
Laura Villareal — My Worries Have Worries
If you were to use a metaphor for your worries, what metaphor would you turn to? Here, the worries have worry babies of their own. And they look back at the poet. What do they see?
Oct 31, 2022 · 13 min
Stephanie Burt — Prayer for Werewolves
The search for authentic love is a powerful hunger in humans and, as Stephanie Burt shares, in werewolves.
Oct 28, 2022 · 15 min
Fiona Benson — Mama Cockroach, I Love You
Do you experience disgust at the sight of certain insects? Which ones? Fiona Benson teaches us how to see.
Oct 24, 2022 · 14 min
Saddiq Dzukogi — Learning about Constellations
A man whose baby daughter has died turns to stars, mythology, and imagination for solace. There, he encounters what might help, a little.
Oct 21, 2022 · 12 min
Adam Zagajewski — Transformation
What do you do when what sustains you no longer sustains you? A poet tries everything he can to reconnect with his art.
Oct 17, 2022 · 14 min
Carolina Ebeid — Reading Celan in a Subway Station
The sounds of a city can be overwhelming — but in the imagination of this poem, they are made into something new.
Oct 14, 2022 · 14 min
Molly Twomey — The Drop Off
Asking for help is a thing of bravery. A poet describes her journey towards that help.
Oct 10, 2022 · 14 min
Hinemoana Baker — if i had to sing
In the aftermath of disaster, how do you sing a song to mark what’s gone, and praise what’s growing?
Oct 7, 2022 · 14 min
Jennifer Huang — Departure
What’s a moment when you grew up? When you realized the help you get might not be the help you want?
Oct 3, 2022 · 12 min
Gabeba Baderoon – The pen
After her father’s death, a poet considers her relationship with loss.
Sep 30, 2022 · 13 min
Michael Kleber-Diggs — Gloria Mundi
Is there life after death? This poem says yes: where one life is part of a cycle of life that continues.
Sep 26, 2022 · 12 min
David Wagoner — Lost
A person is lost, and in panic. A calm voice says strangely comforting things.
Sep 19, 2022 · 2 min
Poetry Unbound — Season 6 Trailer
Poetry Unbound with host Pádraig Ó Tuama is back on Monday, September 26. Featured poets in this season include Rumi, Fiona Benson, Michael Kleber-Diggs, Victoria Adukwei Bulley, and many more. New episodes released every Monday and Friday through December 16. Follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Overcast, or wherever you listen.
Jun 3, 2022 · 14 min
Yu Xiuhua — Crossing Half of China to Sleep with You
How far would you go for great love? And what distances would you cross?
May 30, 2022 · 13 min
Andy Jackson — The change room
When all eyes seem to lock on you, how do you cope with self-consciousness? How do you look back?

Poetry Unbound

Dunya Mikhail — Eva Whose Shadow Is a Swan

Aaron Caycedo-Kimura — What’s Kept Alive

Kevin Goodan — We give…

David Whyte — Leaving the Island

Andrés N. Ordorica — Mis raíces

Laura Villareal — My Worries Have Worries

Stephanie Burt — Prayer for Werewolves

Fiona Benson — Mama Cockroach, I Love You

Saddiq Dzukogi — Learning about Constellations

Adam Zagajewski — Transformation

Carolina Ebeid — Reading Celan in a Subway Station

Molly Twomey — The Drop Off

Hinemoana Baker — if i had to sing

Jennifer Huang — Departure

Gabeba Baderoon – The pen

Michael Kleber-Diggs — Gloria Mundi

David Wagoner — Lost

Poetry Unbound — Season 6 Trailer

Yu Xiuhua — Crossing Half of China to Sleep with You

Andy Jackson — The change room