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Poetry Off the Shelf

Poetry Foundation
Poetry
Grief
Identity
Family Dynamics
Mental Health
Motherhood
Martha Silano
Writing Process
Love
Loss
Family
Sebastian Merrill
Vietnamese Identity
Trans Identity
Black Trans Identity
Queer Identity
Death
Cultural Expectations
All the Voices Across the Great Divide
Language

Producer Helena de Groot talks to poets about language, dreams, love and loss, identity, connection, anger, discomfort, the creative process, the state of the world and the world of the soul. Hard conversations are welcomed—laughter is, too.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes99Founded20 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BooksArtsEducation

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Artwork for Poetry Off the Shelf

Latest Episodes

Laura Kolbe on hormones, sainthood, and the trouble with change.

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America at 250.

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Serena Chopra on prairie grass, manic rage, and the memories in her ears.

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J Brooke on testosterone, incinerators, and the mobster at home.

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Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Kenzie Allen
Haudenosaunee poet and artist
Oneida Nation / York University (via bio in episode)
Episode: We Hold These Truths
Drew Lopenzina
Professor of early American and Native American Literature
Old Dominion University
Episode: We Hold These Truths
Serena Chopra
Poet and author of A Catalog of Future Mercies
Episode: An Act of Mercy
J Brooke
Poet and author, debut poetry collection I Can Tell You the Version That Will Make You Take My Side
Episode: Don’t Make Any Noise
Chris Crowder
Poet, author of The Kin of Nakedness
Four Way Books (publisher)
Episode: The Act of Touching
Arielle Hebert
Poet and author of Bottom Feeders
Author; Blair, a non-profit independent publisher
Episode: Hereafter Parties
Ian McGilchrist
Author and physician versed in neuroscience and poetry
The Matter with Things, Oxford/Isle of Skye
Episode: A Handful of Dust
Dan Waldman
Poet and author of Atria
Author, based in New York City
Episode: The Wrong Details
Sony Tonebe
Haitian poet, essayist and translator
Pittsburgh Arts and Lectures
Episode: The Character in the Corner

Host

Helena de Groot
Host of Poetry Off the Shelf

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 715 ratings
  • About us and the world

    It is so wonderful each time when poetry is a way for Helena….who is the most fantastic interviewer to share knowledge and love of poetry… and so much more Thank you!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bernadette 1882
    United States3 months ago
  • Rewarding

    I so enjoy this podcast. The easy going but still penetrative style of interviewing which allows those poets being interviewed to be expansive in their answers while enabling the listener to both reflect and to learn. The episodes reward my love of the poetic form. Thank you.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    PineGroveCharlie
    United Kingdom4 months ago
  • Great podcast!

    After Michael Silverblatt quit Bookworm, it had been challenging to find solace in a podcast, until I stumbled upon Poetry Off the Shelf. So grateful for your work. Thank you!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Oreille attentive
    France10 months ago
  • An incredible interviewer

    There are so many poetry podcasts out there, but this one stands out — in a way that's enjoyable for both writers and non-writers — because of the depth and specificity of the questions asked.

    These are questions that go beyond craft, into a person's mind, history, and humanity. Some questions are surprisingly direct and personal, which another interviewer might be afraid to ask, and they consistently take the conversation to new places that other podcasts don't reach. You can tell the guests a... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    C.D.R. Poet
    United Statesa year ago
  • A Voice Like Shelter

    What a beautiful podcast! Whenever I need to breathe, to remember that softness and depth still exist in the world, I find my way back to de Groot and her special guests!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sarwa A
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise the host's empathetic, intelligent interviewing and the ability to draw out personal and universal insights from poets.
Many note the conversations go beyond craft to life, memory, and humanity, making poetry feel accessible and intimate.
Some listeners appreciate the depth and range of guests, while a few critique balance or perspective shifts in certain episodes.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#180
United States/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#78
United Kingdom/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#215
Canada/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#221
United Kingdom/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#95
Germany/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#207
Australia/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

An Act of Mercy
Q: What was it like to write the violent scenes in the book?
I had to enter the violent places of my body and stay in proximity to pain, which allowed a deeper wisdom and a balm through writing, while consciously avoiding overstepping into personal trauma.
The Act of Touching
Q: Can you tell me a little bit about that?
Crowder explains how discussions with an MFA editor about the perceived audience for his poems pushed him to channel body-related themes in a way that merged vulnerability with craft, turning critique into a productive prompt for writing.
A Handful of Dust
Q: What sparked your interest in neuroscience and medicine after a life in literature?
A desire to help people whose brain experiences alter their reality, and the belief that understanding the brain-poetry connection could illuminate both fields; medicine offered a practical way to explore these ideas.
A Handful of Dust
Q: Time, time, time—how does time relate to the structure of poetry and our experience of reality?
Time can disappear in the flow of deeply absorbed reading; the left hemisphere seeks sequential measures, while the right hemisphere experiences time as an ongoing, cohesive process.
A Handful of Dust
Q: So can you tell me a little bit, like how is it possible that the people who are most alive to beauty become the most numb to it?
It seems that the right hemisphere underpins empathy and implicit language in poetry, and when overactivated, may relate to depressive states; the balance between hemispheres is key to perceiving the world as a unified whole rather than a set of separate parts.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Poetry Off the Shelf

What is Poetry Off the Shelf about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show centers on deep, intimate conversations with poets and writers, exploring language, memory, identity, healing, and the creative impulse. Episodes frequently weave personal history with craft, touching on bold, boundary-pushing topics such as motherhood, illness, trauma, race, sexuality, migration, and social justice, all through a lyrical, thoughtful lens. The format often blends reading and interpretation with probing questions about the writer's life, influences, and the world's bigger questions, making it appealing to listeners who crave meaningful, human-centered discussions about poetry and its connections to culture and lived experience. A notable draw is the host's warm, attentive interviewing style, which has earned praise ... more

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How many listeners does Poetry Off the Shelf get?

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Which podcasts are similar to Poetry Off the Shelf?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Poetry Off the Shelf:

1. The New Yorker: Poetry
2. Poetry Unbound
3. The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily
4. Between The Covers : Conversations with Writers in Fiction, Nonfiction & Poetry
5. The New Yorker: Fiction

How many episodes of Poetry Off the Shelf are there?

Poetry Off the Shelf launched 20 years ago and published 99 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Poetry Off the Shelf?

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What guests have appeared on Poetry Off the Shelf?

Recent guests on Poetry Off the Shelf include:

1. Kenzie Allen
2. Drew Lopenzina
3. Serena Chopra
4. J Brooke
5. Chris Crowder
6. Arielle Hebert
7. Ian McGilchrist
8. Dan Waldman

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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