SLEERICKETS

SLEERICKETS is a podcast about poetry and other intractable problems. My book Midlife [https://bookshop.org/p/books/midlife-matthew-buckley-smith/20945363?ean=9781939574381] now exists. Buy it here [https://bookshop.org/p/books/midlife-matthew-buckley-smith/20945363?ean=9781939574381], or leave it a rating here [https://www.amazon.com/Midlife-Matthew-Buckley-Smith/dp/1939574382#customerReviews] or here [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/203591067-midlife] For more SLEERICKETS, check out the SECRET SHOW [https://sleerickets.substack.com] and join the group chat [https://sleerickets.substack.com/chat] Leave the show a rating here [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sleerickets/id1565263890] (actually, just do it on your phone, it’s easier). Thanks! Wear SLEERICKETS t-shirts and hoodies [https://www.teepublic.com/stores/sleerickets?ref_id=26322]. They look good! SLEERICKETS is now on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@sleerickets]! Some of the topics mentioned in this episode: – Princess Shikishi [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princess_Shikishi] – The Poetry Says ep where Alice talks about her translations of Shikishi [https://poetrysays.com/ep-288-cuckoos-moons-sleeves-and-silence/] – Sabrina Orah Mark [https://www.sabrinaorahmark.com] – The Rattle Chapbook contest [https://rattle.com/page/chapbookprize/] – Tim Green & Katy Dozier [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-poetry-space/id1675796320] – Gotham Chess [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levy_Rozman] – Hikaru Nakamura [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hikaru_Nakamura] – Moby Dick [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moby-Dick] by Herman Melville – AlphaZero [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AlphaZero] – Stockfish [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stockfish_(chess)] – A. O. Scott’s Poetry Lessons by Jonathan Farmer [https://slate.com/culture/2025/04/ao-scott-nyt-poems-column-criticism.html] – Two Extravagant Teachings [https://www.jstor.org/stable/2929831] by Neil Hertz – On Bullshit [https://www2.csudh.edu/ccauthen/576f12/frankfurt__harry_-_on_bullshit.pdf] by Harry Frankfurt – The episode on the AI poetry study, Pt. 1 [/sleerickets/pe8nshntt6xxfex-zfjcw-ppapj-976xb-4ajcg-ssjbt-yzmdc-ktjcx-gjcfl-89e9e-33pyy-yby8c-5e68z-9kh7w-egrye-tyblf-9fyke-jydn9-6b26n-cmpyj-jf4jm-88bpt-dphka-7cak6-h5lwx-6xrls-yc2cf-5ljws] & Pt. 2 [https://sleerickets.substack.com/p/ep-122-less-human-than-human-pt-2] – The episode on AI poetry with Carmine Starnino [/sleerickets/tag/AI+Poetry] – The episode where I talk about luxury beliefs [/sleerickets/sh7gk2sjw3cma67-23e9s-b73tn-4yrww-gm6t9-8js6w-tmg24-eetwz] – Big Ideas, Little Pictures [https://sketchplanations.com/big-ideas-little-pictures] by Jono Hey – Richard Hamming [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Hamming] – Paul Muldoon [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Muldoon] – The Symposium [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symposium_(Plato)] by Plato – Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bnlAso3p7A] – Aunt Imogen [https://allpoetry.com/Aunt-Imogen] by E. A. Robinson – Brian Brodeur’s essay on Robinson [https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/the-flicker-not-the-flame-e-a-robinsons-narrative-compression/] Frequently mentioned names: – Joshua Mehigan [https://twitter.com/joshuamehigan] – Shane McCrae [https://twitter.com/akasomeguy?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor] – A. E. Stallings [https://twitter.com/ae_stallings?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor] – Ryan Wilson [https://ryanwilsonpoetry.com] – Morri Creech [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morri_Creech] – Austin Allen [https://austinallenwriting.com] – Jonathan Farmer [https://www.tamupress.com/book/9781622884728/that-peculiar-affirmative/] – Zara Raab [http://www.versedaily.org/2022/aboutzararaab.shtml] – Amit Majmudar [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amit_Majmudar] – Ethan McGuire [https://substack.com/@ethanmcguire] – Coleman Glenn [https://twitter.com/colemanglenn?lang=en] – Chris Childers [https://callidaiunctura.substack.com/] – Alexis Sears [https://www.alexissears.com/] – JP Gritton [https://www.jpgritton.com] – Alex Pepple [https://www.ablemusepress.com/authors/alexander-pepple] – Ernie Hilbert [https://www.ernesthilbert.com] – Joanna Pearson [https://www.joanna-pearson.com] Other Ratbag Poetry Pods: Poetry Says [https://poetrysays.com] by Alice Allan I Hate Matt Wall [http://www.ihatemattwall.com/category/podcast/] by Matt Wall Versecraft [https://www.ohiopoetryassn.org/versecraft] by Elijah Blumov Ratbag Poetics [https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1300-ratbag-poetics-127056250/] By David Jalal Motamed Alice: Poetry Says [https://poetrysays.com] Brian: @BPlatzer Cameron: CameronWTC [at] hotmail [dot] com Matthew: sleerickets [at] gmail [dot] com Music by ETRNL Art by Daniel Alexander Smith [https://www.danielalexandersmith.com/]

SLEERICKETS is a podcast about poetry and other intractable problems. My book Midlife [https://bookshop.org/p/books/midlife-matthew-buckley-smith/20945363?ean=9781939574381] now exists. Buy it here [https://bookshop.org/p/books/midlife-matthew-buckley-smith/20945363?ean=9781939574381], or leave it a rating here [https://www.amazon.com/Midlife-Matthew-Buckley-Smith/dp/1939574382#customerReviews] or here [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/203591067-midlife] For more SLEERICKETS, check out the SECRET SHOW [https://sleerickets.substack.com] and join the group chat [https://sleerickets.substack.com/chat] Leave the show a rating here [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sleerickets/id1565263890] (actually, just do it on your phone, it’s easier). Thanks! Wear SLEERICKETS t-shirts and hoodies [https://www.teepublic.com/stores/sleerickets?ref_id=26322]. They look good! SLEERICKETS is now on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@sleerickets]! Some of the topics mentioned in this episode: – The Little Review [https://thelittlereviewuk.substack.com] – Tristram Fane Saunders [https://tristramfanesaunders.com] – Tristram’s review selections: Useful Quotes [/s/USEFUL-QUOTES.pdf] Memorably Good Reviews [/s/TWO-MEMORABLY-GOOD-REVIEWS.pdf] Jorie Graham Reviews [/s/JORIE-GRAHAM-BUNDLE.pdf] Tristram’s review of Jorie Graham [/s/MY-JORIE-GRAHAM-REVIEW.pdf] – A. O. Scott’s Poetry Lessons [https://slate.com/culture/2025/04/ao-scott-nyt-poems-column-criticism.html] by Jonathan Farmer – Alice’s Substack [https://aliceallan.substack.com] – On Fear [https://newversereview.substack.com/p/on-fear?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=2647807&post_id=160139402&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=1fbkrr&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email] by Alice Allan – Better [https://tarriverpoetry.com/prose/] by Alice Allan – David Orr [https://www.davidorr.com] – Anthony Madrid [https://www.anthonymadrid.net] – The Rusty Paperweight: April ‘25 [https://newversereview.substack.com/p/the-rusty-paperweight-april-25] by Ethan McGuire – Alex Wong [https://stevenlebron.com] – The Adroit Journal [https://theadroitjournal.org] – The Poetry Review [https://poetrysociety.org.uk/publications-section/the-poetry-review/] – Birds, Beasts, and Flowers [https://www.gutenberg.org/files/60337/60337-h/60337-h.htm] by D. H. Lawrence – On Bullshit [https://www2.csudh.edu/ccauthen/576f12/frankfurt__harry_-_on_bullshit.pdf] by Harry Frankfurt – Carol Rumens [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carol_Rumens] – Andrew Chan [https://research.berkeley.edu/surf-fellows/andrew-chan/] Frequently mentioned names: – Joshua Mehigan [https://twitter.com/joshuamehigan] – Shane McCrae [https://twitter.com/akasomeguy?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor] – A. E. Stallings [https://twitter.com/ae_stallings?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor] – Ryan Wilson [https://ryanwilsonpoetry.com] – Morri Creech [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morri_Creech] – Austin Allen [https://austinallenwriting.com] – Jonathan Farmer [https://www.tamupress.com/book/9781622884728/that-peculiar-affirmative/] – Zara Raab [http://www.versedaily.org/2022/aboutzararaab.shtml] – Amit Majmudar [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amit_Majmudar] – Ethan McGuire [https://twitter.com/AHeavyMetalPen] – Coleman Glenn [https://twitter.com/colemanglenn?lang=en] – Chris Childers [https://callidaiunctura.substack.com/] – Alexis Sears [https://www.alexissears.com/] – JP Gritton [https://www.jpgritton.com] – Alex Pepple [https://www.ablemusepress.com/authors/alexander-pepple] – Ernie Hilbert [https://www.ernesthilbert.com] – Joanna Pearson [https://www.joanna-pearson.com] Other Ratbag Poetry Pods: Poetry Says [https://poetrysays.com] by Alice Allan I Hate Matt Wall [http://www.ihatemattwall.com/category/podcast/] by Matt Wall Versecraft [https://www.ohiopoetryassn.org/versecraft] by Elijah Blumov Ratbag Poetics [https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1300-ratbag-poetics-127056250/] By David Jalal Motamed Alice: Poetry Says [https://poetrysays.com] Brian: @BPlatzer Cameron: CameronWTC [at] hotmail [dot] com Matthew: sleerickets [at] gmail [dot] com Music by ETRNL Art by Daniel Alexander Smith [https://www.danielalexandersmith.com/]

NB: For those who are interested/concerned, I ended up deciding against the influential-editor-publication strategy discussed in the intro. Slightly long story, but in the end I just didn’t have the stomach for it. And don’t you start lecturing me about Chubby Checker. He did The Twist. The Beatles did Twist and Shout. So there. SLEERICKETS is a podcast about poetry and other intractable problems. My book Midlife [https://bookshop.org/p/books/midlife-matthew-buckley-smith/20945363?ean=9781939574381] now exists. Buy it here [https://bookshop.org/p/books/midlife-matthew-buckley-smith/20945363?ean=9781939574381], or leave it a rating here [https://www.amazon.com/Midlife-Matthew-Buckley-Smith/dp/1939574382#customerReviews] or here [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/203591067-midlife] For more SLEERICKETS, check out the SECRET SHOW [https://sleerickets.substack.com] and join the group chat [https://sleerickets.substack.com/chat] Leave the show a rating here [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sleerickets/id1565263890] (actually, just do it on your phone, it’s easier). Thanks! Wear SLEERICKETS t-shirts and hoodies [https://www.teepublic.com/stores/sleerickets?ref_id=26322]. They look good! SLEERICKETS is now on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@sleerickets]! Some of the topics mentioned in this episode: – Literary Matters [https://www.literarymatters.org] – Before the Bath [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PoP07Ox06k] by Ismail Kadare (Albanian, not Turkish!) – The University of St. Thomas in Houston [https://www.stthom.edu/Home/Index.aqf] – New Verse Review [https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=new+verse+review&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sei=EJX1Z6HbH5nQ5NoP8ryF8AI] – Paradise Lost [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paradise_Lost] by John Milton – Red Scare [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Scare_(podcast)] – Grok [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grok_(chatbot)] – Chubby Checker [https://www.literarymatters.org/17-2-chubby-checker/] by M. I. Devine – Regarding your workplace matter [https://www.literarymatters.org/17-2-regarding-your-workplace-matter/] by Belinda Rule – Human Math [https://www.literarymatters.org/17-2-human-math/] by Tin Fogdall Frequently mentioned names: – Joshua Mehigan [https://twitter.com/joshuamehigan] – Shane McCrae [https://twitter.com/akasomeguy?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor] – A. E. Stallings [https://twitter.com/ae_stallings?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor] – Ryan Wilson [https://ryanwilsonpoetry.com] – Morri Creech [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morri_Creech] – Austin Allen [https://austinallenwriting.com] – Jonathan Farmer [https://www.tamupress.com/book/9781622884728/that-peculiar-affirmative/] – Zara Raab [http://www.versedaily.org/2022/aboutzararaab.shtml] – Amit Majmudar [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amit_Majmudar] – Ethan McGuire [https://twitter.com/AHeavyMetalPen] – Coleman Glenn [https://twitter.com/colemanglenn?lang=en] – Chris Childers [https://callidaiunctura.substack.com/] – Alexis Sears [https://www.alexissears.com/] – JP Gritton [https://www.jpgritton.com] – Alex Pepple [https://www.ablemusepress.com/authors/alexander-pepple] – Ernie Hilbert [https://www.ernesthilbert.com] – Joanna Pearson [https://www.joanna-pearson.com] Other Ratbag Poetry Pods: Poetry Says [https://poetrysays.com] by Alice Allan I Hate Matt Wall [http://www.ihatemattwall.com/category/podcast/] by Matt Wall Versecraft [https://www.ohiopoetryassn.org/versecraft] by Elijah Blumov Ratbag Poetics [https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1300-ratbag-poetics-127056250/] By David Jalal Motamed Alice: Poetry Says [https://poetrysays.com] Brian: @BPlatzer Cameron: CameronWTC [at] hotmail [dot] com Matthew: sleerickets [at] gmail [dot] com Music by ETRNL Art by Daniel Alexander Smith [https://www.danielalexandersmith.com/]

SLEERICKETS is a podcast about poetry and other intractable problems. My book Midlife [https://bookshop.org/p/books/midlife-matthew-buckley-smith/20945363?ean=9781939574381] now exists. Buy it here [https://bookshop.org/p/books/midlife-matthew-buckley-smith/20945363?ean=9781939574381], or leave it a rating here [https://www.amazon.com/Midlife-Matthew-Buckley-Smith/dp/1939574382#customerReviews] or here [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/203591067-midlife] For more SLEERICKETS, check out the SECRET SHOW [https://sleerickets.substack.com] and join the group chat [https://sleerickets.substack.com/chat] Leave the show a rating here [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sleerickets/id1565263890] (actually, just do it on your phone, it’s easier). Thanks! Wear SLEERICKETS t-shirts and hoodies [https://www.teepublic.com/stores/sleerickets?ref_id=26322]. They look good! SLEERICKETS is now on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@sleerickets]! Some of the topics mentioned in this episode: Derek Walcott [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derek_Walcott] Ruins of a Great House [https://allpoetry.com/poem/14327963-Ruins-Of-A-Great-House-by-Derek-Walcott] by Derek Walcott Disjecta membra [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disjecta_membra] Ep 173: Swart Verse, ft. A. E. Stallings, Pt. 1 [https://www.matthewbuckleysmith.com/sleerickets/pe8nshntt6xxfex-zfjcw-ppapj-976xb-4ajcg-ssjbt-yzmdc-ktjcx-gjcfl-89e9e-33pyy-yby8c-5e68z-9kh7w-egrye-tyblf-9fyke-jydn9-6b26n-cmpyj-jf4jm-88bpt-dphka-7cak6-h5lwx-6xrls-yc2cf-5ljws-pzeaz-33nrb] The Islander [https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2004/02/09/the-islander] by Hilton Als Walcott Withdraws From Poetry Professor [https://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/13/books/13poet.html] Election by Sarah Lyall Poetic Justice: Briton Says She Helped Taint Rival [https://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/26/books/26poet.html] by John F. Burns Derek Walcott, a Mighty Poet, Has Died [https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/derek-walcott-a-mighty-poet-has-died] by Hilton Als Hilton Als: "I had this terrible need to confess, and I still do it. It’s a bid to be loved [https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/feb/02/hilton-als-interview-pulitzer-prize-criticism-white-girls]" by Emma Brockes We Might Have to "Shut Down the Country" [https://www.newyorker.com/podcast/the-new-yorker-radio-hour/the-aclu-vs-trump-20] by David Remnick The Gifts of John Forbes [https://meanjin.com.au/memoir/the-gifts-of-john-forbes/] by Kath Kenny In Memory of W. B. Yeats [https://poets.org/poem/memory-w-b-yeats] by W. H. Auden Alice Munro’s Retreat [https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2024/12/05/alice-munros-retreat-anne-enright/] by Anne Enright André Malraux [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andr%C3%A9_Malraux] Causeway (2022) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VojBOTd6Euo&ab_channel=AppleTV] Frequently mentioned names: – Joshua Mehigan [https://twitter.com/joshuamehigan] – Shane McCrae [https://twitter.com/akasomeguy?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor] – A. E. Stallings [https://twitter.com/ae_stallings?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor] – Ryan Wilson [https://ryanwilsonpoetry.com] – Morri Creech [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morri_Creech] – Austin Allen [https://austinallenwriting.com] – Jonathan Farmer [https://www.tamupress.com/book/9781622884728/that-peculiar-affirmative/] – Zara Raab [http://www.versedaily.org/2022/aboutzararaab.shtml] – Amit Majmudar [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amit_Majmudar] – Ethan McGuire [https://twitter.com/AHeavyMetalPen] – Coleman Glenn [https://twitter.com/colemanglenn?lang=en] – Chris Childers [https://callidaiunctura.substack.com/] – Alexis Sears [https://www.alexissears.com/] – JP Gritton [https://www.jpgritton.com] – Alex Pepple [https://www.ablemusepress.com/authors/alexander-pepple] – Ernie Hilbert [https://www.ernesthilbert.com] – Joanna Pearson [https://www.joanna-pearson.com] Other Ratbag Poetry Pods: Poetry Says [https://poetrysays.com] by Alice Allan I Hate Matt Wall [http://www.ihatemattwall.com/category/podcast/] by Matt Wall Versecraft [https://www.ohiopoetryassn.org/versecraft] by Elijah Blumov Ratbag Poetics [https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1300-ratbag-poetics-127056250/] By David Jalal Motamed Alice: Poetry Says [https://poetrysays.com] Brian: @BPlatzer Cameron: CameronWTC [at] hotmail [dot] com Matthew: sleerickets [at] gmail [dot] com Music by ETRNL Art by Daniel Alexander Smith [https://www.danielalexandersmith.com/]

SLEERICKETS is a podcast about poetry and other intractable problems. My book Midlife [https://bookshop.org/p/books/midlife-matthew-buckley-smith/20945363?ean=9781939574381] now exists. Buy it here [https://bookshop.org/p/books/midlife-matthew-buckley-smith/20945363?ean=9781939574381], or leave it a rating here [https://www.amazon.com/Midlife-Matthew-Buckley-Smith/dp/1939574382#customerReviews] or here [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/203591067-midlife] For more SLEERICKETS, check out the SECRET SHOW [https://sleerickets.substack.com] and join the group chat [https://sleerickets.substack.com/chat] Leave the show a rating here [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sleerickets/id1565263890] (actually, just do it on your phone, it’s easier). Thanks! Wear SLEERICKETS t-shirts and hoodies [https://www.teepublic.com/stores/sleerickets?ref_id=26322]. They look good! SLEERICKETS is now on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@sleerickets]! Some of the topics mentioned in this episode: Teachers Who Tutor [https://www.nycteacherswhotutor.com/] An Elite School, a Boy’s Suicide and a Question of Blame [https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/02/nyregion/saint-anns-suicide.html] by John Leland The Shame of Saint Ann’s [https://archive.md/phjku#selection-1317.0-1327.11] by Caitlin Moscatello and James Walsh Bottoms (2023) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vH5NAahf76s] Adrienne Rich [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adrienne_Rich] Frequently mentioned names: – Joshua Mehigan [https://twitter.com/joshuamehigan] – Shane McCrae [https://twitter.com/akasomeguy?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor] – A. E. Stallings [https://twitter.com/ae_stallings?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor] – Ryan Wilson [https://ryanwilsonpoetry.com] – Morri Creech [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morri_Creech] – Austin Allen [https://austinallenwriting.com] – Jonathan Farmer [https://www.tamupress.com/book/9781622884728/that-peculiar-affirmative/] – Zara Raab [http://www.versedaily.org/2022/aboutzararaab.shtml] – Amit Majmudar [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amit_Majmudar] – Ethan McGuire [https://twitter.com/AHeavyMetalPen] – Coleman Glenn [https://twitter.com/colemanglenn?lang=en] – Chris Childers [https://callidaiunctura.substack.com/] – Alexis Sears [https://www.alexissears.com/] – JP Gritton [https://www.jpgritton.com] – Alex Pepple [https://www.ablemusepress.com/authors/alexander-pepple] – Ernie Hilbert [https://www.ernesthilbert.com] – Joanna Pearson [https://www.joanna-pearson.com] Other Ratbag Poetry Pods: Poetry Says [https://poetrysays.com] by Alice Allan I Hate Matt Wall [http://www.ihatemattwall.com/category/podcast/] by Matt Wall Versecraft [https://www.ohiopoetryassn.org/versecraft] by Elijah Blumov Ratbag Poetics [https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1300-ratbag-poetics-127056250/] By David Jalal Motamed Alice: Poetry Says [https://poetrysays.com] B Cameron: CameronWTC [at] hotmail [dot] com Matthew: sleerickets [at] gmail [dot] com Music by ETRNL Art by Daniel Alexander Smith [https://www.danielalexandersmith.com/]