2019 EPISODES AND EVENTS
THE POETRY PROFESSORS ARE BACK FOR THE 19-20 SCHOOL YEAR!
After our roller coaster derailed last year’s plan, we’ve made some adjustments to our lives so we can keep our dream of “Less Guessing; More Accessing” alive on this podcast. We want to release bi-weekly podcasts building on our system and the work of the Poetry Foundation. They’ve published common-core-aligned exemplar poems and we’re here to break them down for you! Of course, we’ll also sprinkle in some poet guest appearances (Dr. Etlinger is back!) and the occasional special broadcast. Welcome back and enjoy! Here’s our reboot episode:
Yes, we are taking the summer to refresh and rejuvenate for next school year, but in the meantime, enjoy this 4th of July themed episode we’re publishing…on the 4th of July! It highlights the poem that is featured on the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty.
April 30, 2018: Episode 210 [Interpret Techniques and Look/Listen/Lesson]: Layer-y Goodness, Parts 4 and 5
Here is the culmination of our National Poetry Month special analysis – taking Sonnet 130 by William Shakespeare through every layer of the system.
April 24, 2018: Episode 209 [Voice and Events]: Layer-y Goodness, Parts 2 and 3
We put both Voice and Events in this episode, recorded during the spring snowstorm, then had We will have the final two layers for you next week on the 30th as we round out Poetry Month.
April 2, 2018: Episode 208 [UNderstand Words]: All the Layer-y Goodness, Step One
For National Poetry Month, Dan and Becky are taking Shakespeare’s Sonnet 130 and breaking it down in all five layers. This week begins the process with the UNderstand Words layer.
March 17, 2018: Episode 207 [Voice]: Why So Sad, Spring?
In this Voice-layer episode, Dan and Becky talk about the different targets “to whom” a voice may be speaking. Their examples are spring poems that seem to show poets have a hard time being happy about spring. Featuring poems by Robert Herrick, Emily Dickinson, Edna St. Vincent Millay, and Thomas Carew.
BONUS CONTENT: Here’s some video of Dan performing “ISO: 2 Bedroom Home with Attached Belonging” at the Wisconsin Fellowship of Poet’s Winter Festival.
March 1, 2018: Episode 206 [Look/Listen/Lesson]: This Little Poem Went to Market
In this Look/Listen/Lesson layer episode, Dan and Becky talk about letting your work shine in the light of day – whether it be publication or performance – and getting students to do so as well. Dan performs his poem “An Arrow to the Knee” PDF: AnArrowtotheKnee
February 18, 2018: Episode 205 [Special]: Awkward White Poets Talk the Harlem Renaissance
In this special episode for Black History Month, Dan and Becky talk about the history of African-American poetry, the Harlem Renaissance, controversial modern issues, and allyship.
February 11, 2018: Episode 204 [Interpret Techniques]: Walt Whitman is Our Valentine
This techniques episode talks about repetition, inversion, parenthetical comments in Vigil Strange I Kept on the Field One Night by Walt Whitman. We also dish on romantic things we do for each other. So whether you celebrate Valentine’s Day the holiday or are more the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre type, there’s something for everyone in this episode.
Feburary 4, 2018: Episode 203 [Events]: Not Just Innesxpensive, but Innisfree!
This Events episode talks about our crazy January and our desire to arise and go to William Butler Yeats’ “Isle of Innisfree”.
January 18, 2018: Special Episode 202 [Voice]: Poetry is Slammin’!
This is live audio from our poetry slam in East Troy, WI at Ivan’s Backstage. Credit to Greg Klas for the recording. Enjoy!
And here is some bonus video content of us making fun of ridiculous song lyrics!
January 4, 2018: Episode 201 [Look/Listen/Lesson]: Happiness is the Warm and Tim Gunn
This Look/Listen/Lesson Episode is our intention to analyze a happy poem after the crazy holidays. It stars Happiness by Raymond Carver.
2017 EPISODES AND EVENTS:
December 22nd, 2017: Episode 112 [Interpret Techniques]: Is Anybody Waving Back at Carl Sandburg?
In this episode, Dan and Becky talk about a busy week for the *now award-winning* Poetry Professors, and study apostrophe in Carl Sandburg’s “At a Window“.
Here is Gizmo #KittyNotHelping on this episode….
December 8th, 2017: Episode 111 [Events]: Damsels and Damnation in Victorian London
In this events episode Dan and Becky talk about things Victorian London with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s poem “The Outcasts”
December 1st, 2017: Episode 110 [Voice]: There Will Come Snoop Dogg
In this voice episode, Becky and Dan talk Thanksgiving, Snoop Dogg, and politely apocalyptic poetry in Sara Teasdale’s “There Will Come Soft Rains“.
November 24th, 2017: Episode 109 [Understand Language]: Ice, Ice, and my Baby
This episode features Becky Hansen’s poem Cold. Hard. Cash. and its use of the unique language of the Wisconsin ice harvesting industry. Learn about it here and then go see/hear it as a part of the Kenosha Public Museum’s new exhibit!
November 16th, 2017: Episode 108 [Look/Listen/Lesson]: Just Hear those Sleigh Bells Jingling…and Death.
This episode dives into Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Bells” and all its wonderful sounds from the delightful sleigh bell to the creepy (as only Poe can do it) funeral bell for (of?) the dead.
November 9th, 2017: Episode 107 [Interpret Techniques]: The Curator Has the Final Word with guest poet Dr. Sarah Etlinger!
This episode discusses the approach and techniques behind Dr. Etlinger’s poem “The Collection”
November 2nd, 2017: Episode 106 [Events]: Don’t Hate the Shepherd, Hate the Game
This episode includes making relentless fun of the amazing yet ridiculous poem “The Passionate Shepherd to His Love” by Christopher Marlowe.
October 26th, 2017: Episode 105 [Voice]: Oh, the Voices You’ll Know
This episode starts with discussion of different kinds of voices and ends in hilarity as Dan and Becky play the classroom game “Lines and Voices”.
October 19, 2017: Episode 104 [Look/Listen/Lesson]: Horse-Eating Butterflies
This episode features the poem To an Athlete Dying Young by A.E. Houseman.
Oct. 13, 2017: Presenting “UnVeiling Poetry” at the Wisconsin Teachers of English regional conference.
We had a fantastic time working with a great group of fellow educators. We’d love to hear even more feedback, so give us a comment or an email about what you’d like more of, what you’d like us to bring to next year’s conference, et.
Oct. 12, 2017: Episode 103 [Interpret Techniques]: Revenge of the Simile
This episode features the poem Dulce et Decorum Est by Wilfred Owen and A Valediction: Forbidden Mourning by John Donne. Download it from the player below or at this link.
MIND THE GAP: There was supposed to be an “Events” episode here, but a technical error has caused it to be a non-event. Don’t worry – you can either forge ahead into techniques with episode 103 OR go listen to an events episode later in the sequence (like episode 106) and come back!
Oct. 5, 2017: Episode 102: Focus on Voice and Your Little Dog Too
This episode features the poem “Ah, Are You Digging On My Grave?” by Thomas Hardy. It also references “If I Had a Brontosaurus” by Shel Silverstein.
Download Episode 102 Here or listen below. Also, our RSS/Subscription feed is now operational. Subscribe by clicking the 
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Sept. 28, 2017: Episode 101: Welcome to the Poetry Professors Podcast
You can download the podcast here or listen to it here in the player below: