
Ian McMillan hosts Radio 4's cabaret of the word, featuring the best poetry, new writing and performance.
| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 280 | Founded | 14 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Category | Society & Culture | |||

Ian McMillan and poets Vona Groake, Jardel Rodrigues, Mira Rosenthal and Malgorzata Lebda bring poetry that helps us navigate storms, rivers and seas - real and metaphorical, and sound artist and musician SHHE (Su Shaw) immerses us in surprising soun... more
The celebrated writer Daniel Mendelsohn on his acclaimed translation of Homer's epic poem, The Odyssey.
Poet Lydia Unsworth on finding inspiration for her new collection, Stay Awhile, in ring roads, shopping centres, and cooling towers.
BBC New Ge... more
The poems that nourish us, and the myths that nourish poems. What can a connection with a mythical figure give us, or a legendary flower?
Ian McMillan is joined by Zeus, Poseidon, the Green Man, the trees of Under Milk Wood, and Wordsworth's favour... more
Ian McMillan is joined by Lindsey Hilsum, Channel 4 News' International Editor, who shares poems that have sustained her while reporting from conflict zones around the world.
Richard Skinner, editor of 14, the annual poetry publication dedicated to ... more
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Fascinating and thought provoking, done with good humour
I listen to all sorts of stuff on podcasts; science, news, comedy, history, drama and stories, but these are the episodes I look forward to most.
Each episode is interesting, entertaining, educational and varied. I love listening. Thanks for putting it on!!
a wonderful series of entertaining & thought provoking conversations between poets and authors about their craft which is intellectually stimulating yet accessible at the same time. as someone who hasn’t really “gotten” poetry before, this show is giving me a newfound appreciation for language and the fascinating ways in which writers craft their work
I love this podcast. What helps it move so smoothly over different ideas funny, thoughtful, sad, etc is the host Ian. I have spread the word about The Verb to my friends and work colleagues, all have been impressed with the subjects covered.
I also love the extras given on the podcasts. The Verb = great stuff.
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Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.
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A conversation-driven show that centers on poetry, writing, and language, featuring in-depth chats with poets, editors, critics, and academics. Episodes blend readings, craft discussions, editorial insight, and exploration of form, memory, and translation, often weaving personal narratives with broader literary themes. Noteworthy is the mix of long-form dialogue, live readings, and thoughtful prompts that encourage listeners to experiment with form and voice. The format tends to attract literature enthusiasts, writers, and arts-curious professionals who enjoy thoughtful, exploratory conversations about language and creativity.
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1. Front Row
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The Verb launched 14 years ago and published 280 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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Recent guests on The Verb include:
1. Joe Shute
2. Lydia Unsworth
3. Khadijah Ibrahiim
4. Daniel Mendelsohn
5. Angie Hobbs
6. Samantha Wynne-Rhydderch
7. Bradley Taylor
8. Lindsey Hilsum
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