The Poetry Vessel Poetry Podcast Episode List: What to Watch
The Growing Success of Our Poetry Podcast
Last updated 06/29/2026
The Poetry Vessel, a poetry education platform, podcast, and video publisher, has well over 100 videos in its YouTube video library, with 9,300+ subscribers, and almost 500,000 total views. We believe in the necessity of accessible poetry education and have been creating free poetry videos every week for our platform for over a year.
Although we make YouTube revenue for this business, we are supplemented by patrons, YouTube members, and sales of our workshops and courses (our current workshop, Poetry as Transformation, is open for enrollment and starts July 12th), most of what we make is free.
We do what we do out of an unquenchable passion and conviction to resist nefarious forces actively dismantling the humanities, freedom of thought and expression, and those who see the making of language, music, and art as only useful if used as a propagandistic tool, weaponized by rhetoricians who excite the emotions without substance.
So we say, in plain, unpoetic English: Fuck that.
We’re here to do our bit to serve our community or viewers, the poetry curious, the enthusiasts, and the obsessed in whatever way we can through The Poetry Vessel.
Our modus operandi is synthesis — the vessel is an alchemical tool after all — where we are made stronger by the wide range of voices, guests, and poems we have on the platform. We search, and are joined in searching — poetically and humanistically speaking — for the alchemical tincture, or the philosophical gold, that helps move our world towards a kinder, more open, and more peaceful place by reclaiming our attention, hearts, and poetic sensibilities. Part of that is developing our use of language to be more exacting and nuanced, something a poetry practice helps make possible.
With that in mind, we value all guests, associates, viewers, fans, poets, art lovers, makers, and more, and invite any of you who are poetry-curious, poetry-enthusiastic, or poetry-obsessed to join our freethinking community.
The simplest way to get involved is to watch, “like,” subscribe, comment on, and share our videos. Each time you take these simple actions, the algorithm (that all-powerful force!) alerts new people to poetry videos. Other ways to get involved include joining our workshops, subscribing to our free mailing list, becoming a member on YouTube, or simply sharing this blog post. Your supportive actions allow us to keep doing what we believe is essential, global work.
In the spirit of synthesis, I’d like to share the following with you: Rachael and I often make videos together on salient poetry topics, from how to write a poem to writing dream poems to what makes poems good, bad, or downright strange. However, we also invite guests onto The Poetry Vessel Podcast, where we talk about poetry and the poetic with poets who write and publish their poetry, but also across disciplines, from music to psychology to neuroscience to philosophy, and more.
So, I’ve been reflecting on just how much I have learned from our first 16 guests on The Poetry Vessel Podcast, and I'm thankful to each of them for being a part of the continually-developing alchemical experiment that is The Poetry Vessel. It is with this spirit of gratitude that I write this post, and it is with the spirit of listening and attention that I continue this work.
Overall, I've learned a whole lot about how different people approach and communicate their relationship with poetry and the arts, from guests as wide-ranging as national best-selling nonfiction neuroscience researchers, to poet laureates, prize-winning poets, therapists, occultists, and esoteric book publishers. I am eclectic by nature, and this is reflected, refined, dissolved, and extracted within the ever-changing and developing nature of The Poetry Vessel.
Below, I've given an overview of each guest we've featured so far, and just a small part of their impact on The Poetry Vessel Podcast, along with a link to their episode.
This list is ordered by our most recent guest at the top.
Special Guest Episodes on The Poetry Vessel Podcast
16: Gabriel McCaughry, Founder and CEO of Anathema Publishing and Fount ULTD., Author, and Graphic Designer
How Occult Poetry Can Heal Wounds. Anathema CEO and occult/esoteric book publisher, French-Canadian Gabriel McCaughry invites us to peer behind the veil as we learn more about his publishing company, Anathema, how to make poetry out of wounds, and his delightful concept of “paralchemy”. A deep dive into the occult strangeness of language, where he provides intimate details on a forthcoming book.
15: DeForeest Wright, Poet and Autodidactic Philosopher
Why Poets Should Study Philosophy. In this conversation, we learn about the deep intersection of poetry and philosophy, and why poets could write better poems if they paid better attention to philosophy. DeForeest is a good friend who coined the term “Progressive Romanticism,” a term he saved to reveal in our episode. A heady, intellectual episode, but with good flow and light teasing, which includes select readings from DeForeest’s forthcoming collection of Lovecraftian- and Tolkien-inspired sonnets, Lotuses from Leng.
14: Lisa Marie Basile, Author, Poet, Editor, and Journalist
How to Write a Magic Poem. In this conversation, Luna Luna magazine Founder Lisa and I cover poetry, Italian folk magic, poetry as enchantment, and Lisa’s unapologetic use of “I” in poetry. A resonant episode with casual, chatty elements and practical takeaways for practicing poets. Includes select readings from Lisa’s book, Saint Of, published by White Stag Publishing.
13. Aakriti Kuntal, Published Poet and Artist
How to Write Surreal Poetry. This conversation has a relaxing, dreamlike quality to it. Aakriti read from her highly acclaimed collection, Night breaks apart, like pomegranate seeds in my palms. Since we had such a significant time difference, Aakriti stayed up late in India so we could conduct the interview in Southern California. A pleasingly liminal discussion about dreams, the surreal, and how language can warp and contort perception.
12: Charlotte Ward, Malibu Poet Laureate, Published Poet
89 Years of Poetry Writing Wisdom. Malibu Poet Laureate (‘25-’27) Charlotte Ward blesses us from her home in Malibu, overlooking the Pacific Ocean, with poetic wisdom earned from a long life of writing poetry. When I asked her what her biggest challenge is when it comes to poetry writing, she grinned and said, “Time.” A witty exchange and profound lesson in wise artmaking.
11: Maria Giesbrecht, Jack McCarthy Poetry Prize Winner, published poet, and Founder of Gather
How to Build a Career in Poetry: A fun episode where we dive into Maria’s upbringing in a Mennonite community in Mexico before she emigrated to Canada, how she built a career in poetry, and how she used Instagram to build an impressive following of poetry fans. A fun, informative deep-dive, with readings from her prize-winning book, A Little Feral.
10: Matthew Stillman, Award-Winning Filmmaker, Published Author, Poetry-as-Memorization Whizz, and All-Round Great Guy
How to Memorize a Poem: An intellectual yet approachable conversation packed with information about memory and poetry, the philosophy of etymology, and storytelling. A gem of a chat by a man who was gracious enough to be The Poetry Vessel’s first online guest, a (profoundly intelligent) guinea pig. He also runs courses on memorizing poetry and poetry discussion groups. Reach out to him to get on his email list and take one of his classes. They're great.
9.2: Mark Waldman (2nd recording), Bestselling Author of “How Words Change Your Brain” and Neuroscience Researcher
The Neuroscience of How Poetry Changes Your Brain. A deep dive into using poetry to change your brain, a prelude to our course, “How Poetry Changes Your Brain.” Filmed at his house in Southern California, replete with frequent “yawning” exercises to place you into a relaxed state. A fun and approachable conversation, enchanted by Mark’s characteristically deep, melodic voice.
9.1: Mark Waldman (1st recording, only placement not in chronological order)
Poetry Changes Your Brain. In this conversation, we discuss how to speak, think, and write poetically, and the neuroscience underpinning why this is good for deepening your relationships. Since our first collaboration, we have filmed 15 or so videos together. A relaxing conversation in front of a fireplace in his living room.
8: Alex Hassall, Residential Support Worker, My Brother
Two Brothers on Poetry and Mental Health: A deep, honest, and meaningfully poetic conversation about mental health, the power of the poetic, and healing. Filmed in a friend’s house in England, overlooking a garden, flanked by the flapping of crows and the sound of a distant train horn. Lots of humour from a lifetime of making stupid jokes together.
7: Dr. Ian C. Edwards, Prolific Author, Psychotherapist, and Occultist
A strange dive into the poetic, philosophic, and occult. We met Dr. Edwards at an undisclosed location in Pittsburgh while traveling the East Coast to discuss his book, “A Druid in Psychologist’s Clothing,” on the groundbreaking, maverick psychologist, E. Graham Howe. We dive deep into the druidic concept of “Awen,” phenomenology, and how poetry reveals itself in therapeutic contexts. A deliciously dark conversation, and Dr. Edwards first made me realize that these recordings become, in a sense, their own poems.
6: Paul Hassall, Mediation and Trust Specialist, My Father
A Father and Son Chat Poetry and Life. A conversation with my dad about me being a poet, his poetic experiences, and some storytelling about his difficult investments in Bulgarian ski apartments (some of which made local English and national Bulgarian news), and the subsequent fallout. Emotion and sentiment, father-and-son bonding with the cameras rolling. Fun fact: my dad is fluent in Greek and, growing up bi-lingual, he didn’t realize as a kid that Greek and English were two separate languages. He also gives me business advice from an adult lifetime in entrepreneurship, and, along with my mother, encouraged me to pursue poetry as it was my passion.
5: Dr. Sean Colletti, Published Poet, Educator, and Friend
Happier Because of Poetry. We dive into why The Poetry Vessel got its name, Sean’s belief in poetry as a healing force, and a wonderful, tea-drinking chat about life as a poet. Approachable and warm conversation between two poet-friends whose PhD thesis was inspired by Harold Bloom’s Anxiety of Influence. Sean is also a pillar of his community, hosting all sorts of events, including the Ventura County Poetry Festival (I hope to see you all there in 2027…).
4: Cynthia Good, Published Poet, Entrepreneur, and Journalist
I Used to Hide my Poetry Notepads. A conversation where Cynthia goes into detail about how she used to write poetry in secret and hide her journals from an ex, her journey to publication, and some warm, free-flowing, and fast back-and-forth from her Santa Monica apartment. She reads from her own published poetry collection, “In the Thaw of Day” and “What We Do With Our Hands.” You can tell she’s a journalist with how good she is at keeping a conversation going, and a poet with how her language waltzes. Fun fact: I am included in the acknowledgments section in her collection, “In the Thaw of Day.”
3: Eduardo del Signore, Grammy-nominated Musician and Founder of the Nonprofit, ACall2Peace
The Poetry of Music. Lovely conversation between two friends on poetry, music, and peace. Filmed in front of Ann Buxie’s fireplace and an audience of three, this kind and generous conversation includes an improvised song from Eduardo and an improvised poem from yours truly. A warm blanket of an exchange.
2: Dr. Ericha Scott, Expressive Art Therapist, Published Author, and Poet
Art Can Heal Your Trauma. A wonderful conversation about poetry and art as having the power to heal trauma, therapeutic modalities, and Ericha’s use of poetry in her life. Ericha’s psychological insights blew my mind multiple times, including a story about the profound effect art-making has had on her clients. A thoughtful, meditative chat.
1: Dr. Ann Buxie, 4th Poet Laureate of Malibu, Published Poet, and Depth Psychology Expert
Wonderful conversation with my mentor and the poet who preceded my term as Malibu Poet Laureate, who guided me through my two years in the position. Quick-witted conversation with one of the most well-respected members of our community, with a depth of knowledge in many fields, including mythology, psychology, and etymology. Our first guest episode.
0: Rachael Hassall, Beautiful Wife, Co-conspirator, Video Editor, Podcast Co-Host, Website Designer, and Love of My Life.
Rachael is Ground Zero, where it all began. First, Rachael, as we say in England, is bloody great. She was a Senior Director of a public company before she was 30. She supported me absolutely when I showed her my plan to start a poetry company. She gave up her (impressive six-figure+) salary to help facilitate and contribute extensively to this vision. She devotes so much time to making things work, is a budding poet in her own regard, and is highly respected by our family, friends, local community, and fans of The Poetry Vessel (countless people have reached out via email to specifically give her kudos). She appears second most on the channel (after me) and keeps me balanced and on track.
I love Rachael beyond language, but I appreciate that language helps me express an iota of that knowing.
I’ve attached a short video on how poetry can transform your life at the button below.
How You Can Support US
The Poetry Vessel accepts contributions as an LLC. Know that we are not a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit (meaning anything you contribute would not be tax-deductible). If you would like to contribute, take a workshop, or purchase a rolling YouTube membership, we would gladly welcome your support.
We also appreciate support in all the things you can do for free: watching, liking, and sharing any of the videos, courses, or workshops we have with others.
Lastly, if there’s any specific poetry-related topic you’d like to hear us discuss on The Poetry Vessel, have any questions, or just want to say hi, email us at info[at]thepoetryvessel[dot]com.
May poetry continue to live long and prosper in your life, and for many generations to come.
With love and gratitude,
Nathan Hassall
Founder of The Poetry Vessel
Malibu Poet Laureate ‘23-’25
