Rephonic
Artwork for The Verb

The Verb

BBC Radio 4
Poetry
Hip Hop
Language
Poetic Endings
Music
International Women's Day
Last Lines
Literature
Sisterhood
Literary Techniques
Tessa Hadley
Contains Strong Language Festival
Writing
The Verb
Belfast
Time
Leeds
Jazz
Gender Identity
Creativity

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes274Founded13 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Society & Culture

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Verb

Latest Episodes

Michael Laskey has produced six collections of poetry since his first pamphlet in 1988. That was also the year he co-founded the Aldeburgh Poetry Festival. His career in poetry which has seen him teach, edit, and publish and has resulted in him becom... more

Ian McMillan is joined by Blake Morrison with the poetry of sibling relationships, Natalie Shapero - who reports poetically from the world of cinema in L.A., and Tara Bergin, who looks at how to escape from a poem, as well as sharing a 'Neon Line' wi... more

George Szirtes, winner of the T. S. Eliot Prize and the King’s Gold Medal for Poetry, is the most recent poet to join the small selection panel for arguably the UK's most public celebration of poetry - Poems on the Underground. As the London Tube ini... more

Ian McMillan's guests this week are the singer and songwriter Richard Dawson, T.S. Eliot prize winning poets Jacob Polley and Sarah Howe and Children's Laureate Frank Cottrell Boyce - who celebrates Professor John Carey and the art of poetry criticis... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Bookclub
BookclubBBC Radio 4
Great Lives
Great LivesBBC Radio 4
Close Readings
Close ReadingsLondon Review of Books
The LRB Podcast
The LRB PodcastThe London Review of Books

Recent Guests

Tara Bergin
Poet, author of This Is Yarrow and Savage Tales
Poet
Episode: Sibling relationships with Blake Morrison, Natalie Shapero, Tara Bergin, and the word 'literally'
Blake Morrison
Poet and prose writer, author of Savage Tales and When Did You Last See Your Father
Poet
Episode: Sibling relationships with Blake Morrison, Natalie Shapero, Tara Bergin, and the word 'literally'
Natalie Shapiro
LA-based poet and poetry correspondent for The Verb
Poet/Correspondent
Episode: Sibling relationships with Blake Morrison, Natalie Shapero, Tara Bergin, and the word 'literally'
Katie Clarke
Director of Literature at the Reader Organisation
Reader Organisation
Episode: George Szirtes, Iryna Starovoyt, Zain Rishi, Katie Clarke
Zain Rishi
A poet from Birmingham, currently based in Edinburgh
Episode: George Szirtes, Iryna Starovoyt, Zain Rishi, Katie Clarke
Iryna Starovoyt
Ukrainian poet and academic
Episode: George Szirtes, Iryna Starovoyt, Zain Rishi, Katie Clarke
Paul Farley
Poet and author known for his works on edgelands and contemporary life.
Episode: Rilke's life-changing poems and Paul Farley, Kate Fox, Griot Gabriel
Griot Gabriel
Forward Prize-winning poet from Manchester, focusing on community and social issues in his work.
Episode: Rilke's life-changing poems and Paul Farley, Kate Fox, Griot Gabriel
Katrina Naomi
A poet who writes about the intersection of public and private through dance.
Episode: Shaun Usher, Katrina Naomi, Amani Saeed, Fran Edwards and Jennifer Jones

Host

Ian McMillan
Host of a vibrant literary series, engaging with various poets and writers, exploring themes of language and personal experiences.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 175 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 States5 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 Kingdom6 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.

Many find the discussions about poetry accessible and enjoyable, helping to deepen their appreciation for the art form.
Listeners appreciate the blend of entertainment and education, citing it as a highlight of their week.
The host, Ian, is praised for his ability to engage with guests and make each episode feel dynamic and insightful.

Chart Rankings

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

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?

Featuring a vibrant mix of poetry, new writing, and performance, the discussions hosted by Ian McMillan center around themes of language and human experiences. Guests, often acclaimed poets and writers, engage in thought-provoking conversations, exploring everything from personal relationships to broader cultural narratives, all while celebrating the transformative power of words. The show is known for its engaging format that combines entertainment with education, making poetry accessible and relevant to listeners from various backgrounds, often weaving in humor and profound insights that resonate with everyday life. Unique episodes celebrate specific topics like love poetry, the intersection of art and community, and reflections on person... more

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?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The Verb, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for The Verb?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Verb, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

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. This Cultural Life
2. Bookclub
3. Great Lives
4. Close Readings
5. The LRB Podcast

How many episodes of The Verb are there?

The Verb launched 13 years ago and published 274 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.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Verb?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Verb. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on The Verb?

Recent guests on The Verb include:

1. Tara Bergin
2. Blake Morrison
3. Natalie Shapiro
4. Katie Clarke
5. Zain Rishi
6. Iryna Starovoyt
7. Paul Farley
8. Griot Gabriel

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days