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Words That Burn - Poetry Podcast

Benjamin Collopy
Irish Sign Language
Raymond Carver
William Stanley Merwin
Audre Lorde
Mary Ruefle
John Keats
Poetry
Oralism
The Living Hand
The Transformation Of Silence Into Action
The Master's Tools Will Never Dismantle the Master's House
Louis De Paor
The Tree Is Missing
Liminal Spaces
Borders
Folklore
The Odyssey
Erasure Poetry
Innti
Real Estate

Are you curious about poetry but find it a bit intimidating? Tune into Words that Burn, the podcast that aims to demystify poetry, one captivating poem at a time.

Hosted by Ben, an Irish poetry enthusiast, this podcast takes a closer look at the world of poetic expression and technique.

Each episode offers a comprehensive analysis of a selected poem, exploring the poet's biography, the cultural an... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes93Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
EducationArtsBooks

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Artwork for Words That Burn

Latest Episodes

In this episode of Words That Burn, the poetry podcast dedicated to literary analysis and poetic interpretation, I sit down with Belfast poet Matthew Rice to discuss his new collection Plastic: a book-length poem mapped across a single night shift in... more

Welcome back to Words That Burn, the poetry podcast where host Benjamin Collopy takes a closer look at the verse that shapes our world.

Whether you're here to deepen your poetry appreciation or are simply looking for accessible poetry for beginners,... more

Welcome back to Words That Burn, the podcast taking a closer look at poetry. In this episode, host Benjamin Collopy offers a close reading of Mary Ruefle’s four-line masterpiece, “Deconstruction.”

This brief but devastating poem masterfully bridges ... more

In this episode of Words That Burn, I sit down with poet Shannon Kuta Kelly to explore the beautifully haunting landscapes of her debut poetry collection, The Tree is Missing (coming this April from Faber and Faber).

Shannon’s work has been featured... more

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Recent Guests

Mark Ward
Poet based in Dublin, author of Real Estate (Salmon Poetry)
Poet, Salmon Poetry
Episode: Interview with Dublin Poet Mark Ward
Shannon Kuta Kelly
Poet, debut collection The Tree Is Missing
Faber and Faber (publisher)
Episode: Shannon Kuta Kelly on Liminal Spaces, Folklore, and Her Debut Collection The Tree is Missing
Clíodhna Brannach
Irish poet, author of Pink Roses, Green
Irish poetry community, Greenbottle Press
Episode: An Interview with Irish Poet Clíodhna Bhreatnach

Host

Benjamin Colopy
Host of the show and primary narrator across episodes; leads deep-dive poetry analyses and hosts conversations with poets and guests.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 54 ratings
  • Enjoyable and thought-provoking

    I sort of stumbled on this podcast and have really enjoyed Benjamin’s thoughtful commentary and interpretation. Thank you!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ViciousTyrant
    United Statesa year ago
  • Great Chats

    Episode with Sam Riviere is especially solid.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Listener 3579
    United States2 years ago
  • Awesome podcast for poetry lovers

    Awesome show—I love the way the host dives quickly into a poem and the poet’s life and packs an analysis in as well. The episodes aren’t too long, so you can get a quick listen in to take with you the rest of the day/week/year. Highly recommended!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    OctoberDust
    United States2 years ago
  • bingeing all of the episodes

    I've always wanted to delve into poetry but often felt lost or overwhelmed when trying to start. These episodes are concise and insightful segments. You can feel Ben’s genuine passion and care shine through in his descriptions of the poets and their works. Thank you for creating this podcast

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    J.Miyabara
    United States3 years ago
  • Fantastic

    Absolutely fantastic podcast — it has introduced me to so many new poems and poets. I first came through searching for Mimi Khalvati’s Ghazal, and have been loving listening ever since.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    barebrickwalls
    United Kingdom3 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Thoughtful, concise poetry analysis with strong host empathy.
Introduces new poets and poems without overwhelming context.
Accessibility and pacing make deep dives feel approachable.
High-quality production and clear explanations keep episodes engaging.
Guest voices broaden perspectives and keep insights fresh.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#214
Ireland/Education

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Interview with Dublin Poet Mark Ward
Q: What is your approach to portraying desire and physicality in your poems?
Desire is treated as a fundamental, universal impulse that can be expressed openly; the challenge is to present it with immediacy and honesty while weaving in broader themes of love, power, and vulnerability.
Interview with Dublin Poet Mark Ward
Q: How do you handle the darkness of personal experiences when sharing them in your poetry?
Ward explains that balancing honesty with responsibility is key: you must be true to your feelings but respectful of real people involved, avoiding a one-sided, accusatory perspective while acknowledging the emotional truth of the events.
Interview with Dublin Poet Mark Ward
Q: How does revisiting old poems and reshaping them over time work for you?
Revisiting a manuscript is a long, iterative process that can span years between acceptance and publication, with the writer reframing past events as a time capsule rather than a strict autobiography, while keeping the core narrative in mind.
Interview with Dublin Poet Mark Ward
Q: What does the title Real Estate mean for you in the context of the collection?
Ward describes real estate as a metaphor for lines in poetry, emphasizing house and home as guiding ideas and noting that the phrase real estate appears only once in the text, used to underscore how landscapes—both built and natural—shape memory and identity.
Shannon Kuta Kelly on Liminal Spaces, Folklore, and Her Debut Collection The Tree is Missing
Q: What role does folklore play in your writing, and how do you balance it with contemporary themes?
Folklore naturally threads into my poetry; I see it as a living dialogue with the past that can illuminate present concerns. I aim to weave diverse symbols and languages without becoming prescriptive, letting readers bring their own knowledge to interpret the poems.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Words That Burn

What is Words That Burn about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Words That Burn offers accessible, focused analyses of poetry, pairing close readings of individual poems with biographical context and cultural backdrop. Episodes emphasize technique, form, and the poet's life to illuminate how meaning is crafted, making poetry approachable for both newcomers and seasoned readers. Noteworthy are concise episodes, clear explanations of poetic methods, and a steady stream of guest voices that broaden perspectives without sacrificing depth for brevity.

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Which podcasts are similar to Words That Burn?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Words That Burn:

1. The Poetry Exchange
2. The New Yorker: Poetry
3. The Daily Poem
4. Poetry Unbound
5. Free Thinking

How many episodes of Words That Burn are there?

Words That Burn launched 6 years ago and published 93 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 Words That Burn?

Recent guests on Words That Burn include:

1. Mark Ward
2. Shannon Kuta Kelly
3. Clíodhna Brannach

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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