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The Verb

BBC Radio 4
Poetry
Language
Identity
Music
Literature
Community
Memory
Nostalgia
Storytelling
Time
Hip Hop
Christmas
Performance Poetry
Childhood Memories
International Women's Day
Poetic Endings
Morecambe Poetry Festival
Friendship
Language Change
Cultural Identity

Ian McMillan hosts Radio 4's cabaret of the word, featuring the best poetry, new writing and performance.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes280Founded14 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Society & Culture

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Verb

Latest Episodes

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

Key Facts

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Podcast Host
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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Joe Shute
BBC New Generation Thinker, River Irk researcher
Manchester Metropolitan University
Episode: The Verb - a house of multipoet occupancy
Lydia Unsworth
Poet
Episode: The Verb - a house of multipoet occupancy
Khadijah Ibrahiim
Poet and Leeds-based literary activist
Another Crossing, Libretti
Episode: The Verb - a house of multipoet occupancy
Daniel Mendelsohn
Award-winning essayist and translator of The Odyssey
Author, translator
Episode: The Verb - a house of multipoet occupancy
Angie Hobbs
Professor of the Public Understanding of Philosophy, University of Sheffield
University of Sheffield
Episode: Myths to nourish your life: poetry with Ian McMillan and Angie Hobbs, Rishi Dastidar, Bradley Taylor, Samantha Wynne-Rhydderch
Samantha Wynne-Rhydderch
Poet and performer from Newquay
Independent poet
Episode: Myths to nourish your life: poetry with Ian McMillan and Angie Hobbs, Rishi Dastidar, Bradley Taylor, Samantha Wynne-Rhydderch
Bradley Taylor
Slam champion, poet from Birmingham
Independent poet
Episode: Myths to nourish your life: poetry with Ian McMillan and Angie Hobbs, Rishi Dastidar, Bradley Taylor, Samantha Wynne-Rhydderch
Lindsey Hilsum
Channel 4 journalist, foreign correspondent
Channel 4
Episode: Poetry - a bullet-proof vest for the soul
Kym Deyn
Poet, performer, publisher
The Brag (publisher)
Episode: Poetry - a bullet-proof vest for the soul

Host

Ian McMillan
Host of the program, guiding conversations around poetry, language, and literary culture.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 176 ratings
  • Fascinating and thought provoking, done with good humour

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Mark
    4 years ago
  • My favourite podcast

    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.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    The flower garden in Appley
    United Kingdom5 years ago
  • Everything a good podcast could be

    Each episode is interesting, entertaining, educational and varied. I love listening. Thanks for putting it on!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JC2late
    United States6 years ago
  • if you’re a poet and you *don’t* know it, listen to this podcast

    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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    thewilliamrayner
    United Kingdom7 years ago
  • Enjoyable listen

    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.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    HoveGirl
    United Kingdom7 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise the show for its wit, depth, and wide-ranging conversations about language.
Fans appreciate accessible yet thoughtful discussions that illuminate poetry for non-experts.
Guest lineups and host guidance are frequently highlighted as a strength, with many episodes described as engaging and educational.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Christmas Adverb
Q: Jackie, tell us about your childhood Christmases. Your parents were communists, weren't they? How was Christmas?
She recalls receiving presents but also discusses her parents' critical views on the commercialization of Christmas.
The Christmas Adverb
Q: Brian, do you see your poems as safe spaces for people of questions about the festive or family rituals?
Yes, but he notes that people often misinterpret his work, leading to misunderstandings.
Train Poetry with Don Paterson, Bella Hardy, Carmen Marcus, Patrick McGuinness
Q: How did you feel when we asked you to respond to Homeward Bound?
I was delighted; I grew up with that song and it was influential in my own songwriting.
Train Poetry with Don Paterson, Bella Hardy, Carmen Marcus, Patrick McGuinness
Q: How did it feel writing this dystopian poem about a platform?
It felt like a step into the unknown, as train stations can create a place where time and space are in reversible flux.
Train Poetry with Don Paterson, Bella Hardy, Carmen Marcus, Patrick McGuinness
Q: Did your father find railways and the language of railways poetic?
Yes, he loved the idea of finding connections and making different bits of a journey cohere.

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 The Verb

What is The Verb about and what kind of topics does it cover?

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.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Verb?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Verb. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Verb and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Verb get?

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What are the audience demographics for The Verb?

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How many subscribers and views does The Verb have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Verb has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Verb?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Verb:

1. Front Row
2. Free Thinking
3. The Book Club
4. This Cultural Life
5. The TLS Podcast

How many episodes of The Verb are there?

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.

How do I contact The Verb?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Verb?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Verb from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on The Verb?

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

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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