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Artwork for The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily

The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily

American Public Media
Poetry
The Slowdown
American Public Media
Poetry Foundation
Grief
Parenting
Memory
Love
Death
Mental Health
Nostalgia
Relationships
Identity
Kelly Hoffer
The Poetry Foundation
Parenthood
Stanley Plumly
Loss
Midlife Crisis
Nature

Host Maggie Smith is your daily poetry companion. Poetry is one of the greatest tools we have to wield our own attention — to consider our own lives and the lives of others, to help us live creatively and compassionately, to use that attention to lean into wonder, and joy, and truth, and to find hope — to keep hoping. The Slowdown community knows that reflecting on a poem, every weekday, can conne... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes420Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Performing ArtsArts

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Artwork for The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily

Latest Episodes

Today’s poem is Dialogue with the Oldest Tree in the U.S., whose Location is a Closely-Guarded Forest Service Secret by Nina Sudhakar.

The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, Maggie writes… “I like to think that I’m still growing ... more

Today’s poem is Summer Strawberries by Cat Wei.

The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, Maggie writes… “We move through life with so many doors opening and closing all around us. One of the gifts and burdens of being human is bei... more

Today’s poem is Guava Jelly by Quinn Franzen.

The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, Maggie writes… “Sometimes, as we see in today’s poem, even when things are difficult, even just the smallest bit of sweetness helps.”

This sho... more

Today’s poem is Wabi-Sabi by Catherine Esposito Prescott.

The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, Maggie writes… “Today’s poem invites us to celebrate what is, rather than what could be — so it invites us to accept ourselves exac... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Quinn Franzen
Poet of the poem being read
Poet
Episode: 1571: Guava Jelly by Quinn Franzen
Abbie Scott
Host of How We Survive, a podcast about climate solutions
How We Survive
Episode: 1567: Assistance by Abbie Kiefer
Rekha Mera
Listener contributor who reflects on the poem and daily life
Washington, DC (agricultural economist)
Episode: 1561: So Much Space for Song by James Crews
Abdulmueed Balugun Adewale
Listener who contributed reflections
Ibadan, Nigeria
Episode: 1560: Gratification to the survivors of daily damnations by Oladejo Abdullah Feranmi
Prerna Barwa
Reader sharing a personal narrative about trains and memory from Jorhat, Assam, India
Episode: 1557: All Trains Are Going Local by Timothy Liu
Isaac Pickell
Poet introduced as the author of the featured poem
Episode: 1553: When you have to remind me to do the dishes by Isaac Pickell
Robin Coste Lewis
Poet
Kincletso, Yellow House
Episode: 1552: Mother Church No. 3 by Robin Coste Lewis
Omotara James
Poet
Poet
Episode: 1541: Poem to Watch over You by Omotara James
Chen Chen
poet and author of the poem featured in this episode
poet (author)
Episode: 1536: i love you to the moon & by Chen Chen

Host

Maggie Smith
Host of The Slowdown

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 1.7k ratings
  • The Slowwww Down

    The host speaks excruciatingly slowly. It is patronizing to the listener of moderate cognitive capacity (such as myself) to expect them to speed up the podcast. Very disappointing.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Stourleyk
    United States5 months ago
  • Still daydreaming

    Thank you for choosing so carefully works that inspire awe.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    AMH957
    United States8 months ago
  • I look forward to this daily!

    And today, Maggie your choice brought me to grateful tears. Waiting on the porch of the Old Faithful Inn soaking in the poker straight pines and geysers in a distance decided to flip on the slowdown. And to listen to a poem about the beauty of our Earth and stopping life to notice it- a little more magic added to an already otherworldly magical day. You are the best!! The Slowdown is a gift

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Climgirl
    United States10 months ago
  • My everyday treat

    Joy *is* an act of resistance. (Toi Derricotte) Thank you for creating a daily place to cultivate that joy.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Andrea Montana
    United Statesa year ago
  • Great show!

    I love this show. I find that I need it more than ever in these current troubled times. I look forward to the new host.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    PR 3672
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

Some listeners note pacing or ad placement at the top can be distracting.
Listeners praise the daily ritual and calm it provides to start the day.
Many appreciate accessibility of poetry and classroom-friendly applications for discussion.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#17
United States/Arts/Performing Arts
Apple Podcasts
#118
United States/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#25
Canada/Arts/Performing Arts
Apple Podcasts
#31
United Kingdom/Arts/Performing Arts
Apple Podcasts
#161
Canada/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#90
France/Arts/Performing Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

1518: On Being Told I Should Write a Memoir by Jan-Henry Gray
Q: Sometimes people ask me, why did you write a memoir? Why not a collection of poems on the same subject?
In this case, I just couldn't have done the same narrative work in poems.
1332: Slow Take: An Evening of Poetry and Reflection with The Slowdown and The Porch
Q: What would be essential to share with students if you were teaching a course?
I would emphasize that poetry captures real, visceral experiences with an economy of words.
1332: Slow Take: An Evening of Poetry and Reflection with The Slowdown and The Porch
Q: How do you decide what to keep in and what to leave out in a poem?
I don't think anything was made up in there; we have the liberty to add details, but the story was crazy enough without them.

Audience Metrics

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions About The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily

What is The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show operates as a five-minute daily poetry companion, pairing short readings with thoughtful host commentary to spark reflection, calm, and a sense of possibility at the start of listeners' days. Most episodes center on a single poem or literary excerpt, weaving personal memory, social themes, and everyday observations into accessible meditations on resilience, aging, loss, belonging, and hope. A distinctive quality is the consistent blend of intimate reading, gentle analysis, and an emphasis on community through public-media partnerships and ongoing engagement with readers and poets. The format and tone make it appealing for busy professionals seeking a mindful, creativity-forward start to their day, as well as educators seeking acces... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily:

1. Poetry Unbound
2. Poetry Off the Shelf
3. The New Yorker: Poetry
4. Between The Covers : Conversations with Writers in Fiction, Nonfiction & Poetry
5. The Book Review

How many episodes of The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily are there?

The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily launched 8 years ago and published 420 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily?

Recent guests on The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily include:

1. Quinn Franzen
2. Abbie Scott
3. Rekha Mera
4. Abdulmueed Balugun Adewale
5. Prerna Barwa
6. Isaac Pickell
7. Robin Coste Lewis
8. Omotara James

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