Author: hibatahir

Poet & Journalist Mandy Shunnarah, my final Season 10 guest!

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In our final Season 10 episode, I had a great conversation with Appalachian & Palestinian-American poet and journalist Mandy Shunnarah!

Topics included: the role of poetry and journalism in 2025 America, the challenges of Arabic translation, the integration of ancestral research in poetry, the bustling poetry community in Columbus, and the ubiquitous influence of Waffle House!

WE HAD MANSIONS will be released on July 1 and can be preordered here.

I’ll be back with our first episode of Season 11 on July 3! Featuring Tram Colwin & Bea Apple at the Bentonville-based textile shop Hillfolk!

Interested in being a future featured guest? Let me know!

Poet & Columbia MFA Eduardo Martínez-Leyva, my next Season 10 guest!

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I had such a lovely conversation with poet, teacher, and Columbia MFA grad Eduardo Martínez-Leyva!

Topics included: the impact of crossing borders throughout childhood, the harrowing process of workshopping grief, Lucie Brock-Broido’s significant influence, and what God & border patrol agents have in common!

COWBOY PARK is already out and available for purchase here.

Interested in being a future featured guest? Let me know!

We went to the DEEP SOUTH CONVENING! Here’s pretty much everything we learned.

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On May 24, 2025, I attended the Deep South Convening, a historical gathering of literary folks based in the South, and had the best time.

I was joined by my friend, poet and fellow Arkansas MFA and Artists 360 alum Elizabeth Muscari, who was kind enough to also join me on this somewhat scattered but enthusiastic post-convening conversation!

You can read more about the event and all the speakers we mentioned here: https://www.deepsouthconvening.org

Not pictured: Sightseeing in Birmingham; the broken elevator and subsequent series of steps to climb the Vulcan, Birmingham’s beloved cast iron statue; my first trip to Milo’s; turbulence on the flight home

Interested in being a future featured guest? Let me know!

Poet & Richmond Poetry Festival Founder Rosa Castellano, my next Season 10 guest!

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I had such a beautiful and inspiring conversation with poet and Richmond Poetry Festival founder Rosa Castellano this month! I do truly feel like her magical book, ALL IS THE TELLING, found me.

Topics include advice on writing about abstractions like time, the influence of Rilke and Shakespeare, the origins of the Richmond Poetry Festival, and tracks you’ll find on Rosa’s playlist!

ALL IS THE TELLING is already out! You can purchase it from Diode Editions here.

Interested in being a future featured guest? Let me know!

Poet, filmmaker, & world traveler Maggie Dewane, my first Season 10 guest!

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I stumbled across climate activist Maggie Dewane because of a viral post about her book HAIKU AND HOPE, and I had such a great time talking to her! Topics include Maggie’s diverse educational and political background, the addition of a narrative nonfiction section, national and global travels, and a charmed (but frightening) submission experience.

HAIKU AND HOPE will be released on Earth Day, April 22, and is available for preorder/purchase here!

Interested in being a future featured guest? Let me know!

Poet & financial analyst Farah Ghafoor, my FINAL Season 9 guest!

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I’ve long been a fan of Toronto-based Pakistani poet Farah Ghafoor and was grateful to have the opportunity to speak to her about her utterly devastating debut collection SHADOW PRICE– out on April 1, 2025 from House of Anansi Press!

Topics include the challenges of writing and marketing such a book, the impact of economic theory, the critical role of poetry in addressing societal issues under capitalism, & Farah’s future projects!

SHADOW PRICE is available for preorder/purchase here!

Interested in being a future featured guest? Let me know!