#044 - Writing Poetry is Frustrating (Why That's A Good Thing)

#045 - The Secret of Occult Book Publishing with Anathema CEO Gabriel McCaughery

What's it like to get inside the mind of one of the most famous occult book publishers in the world? 👉 JOIN OUR FREE POETRY COMMUNITY TO FIND OUT MORE: https://www.nathanhassall.com/the-poetry-vessel-podcast-with-gabriel-mccaughry In this captivating episode of The Poetry Vessel Podcast, host Nathan Hassall (Malibu Poet Laureate Emeritus '23-'25) sits down with the visionary founder and CEO of Anathema Publishing, Gabriel McCaughry to explore the deep intersection of poetry, alchemy, and perception. In this conversation, Gabriel pulls back the curtain on how he risked everything to start his business with just C$6,000, the profound traveling experiences in Laos that inspired the birth of his company, and the secrets behind the high-end, tactile art of fine and limited-edition bookmaking. We dive into how creative writing and poetic language can help us process trauma, gain healthy distance from suffering, and write from a selfless place, and his his highly anticipated upcoming book introducing his new concept: "para-alchemy." Whether you're interested in creative writing tips, Jungian psychology, spiritual alchemy, or the philosophy behind powerful storytelling, this episode offers a profound look at how perception itself becomes the alchemical vessel. 📖 Learn More about Gabriel McCaughry: - Gabriel's LinkTree: https://shorturl.at/pkTbU - (h)Auroræ by Gabriel McCaughry - https://www.anathemapublishing.com/archives/p/h-aurorae EVERYTHING ELSE: 👉 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/nathanhassall 📜 SUBMIT YOUR POETRY: https://www.thepoetryvessel.com/submit 🙏 SUPPORT US ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/cw/ThePoetryVessel ✍️ POETRY WORKSHOP WAITLIST: https://www.nathanhassall.com/workshopwaitlist 🧠 HOW POETRY CHANGES YOUR BRAIN COURSE (LIMITED TIME DISCOUNT): https://www.nathanhassall.com/changeyourbrain 🦋 OVERCOME CREATIVE FRUSTRATION WITH OUR NEW ONLINE WORKSHOP - LIMITED SPACES: https://tinyurl.com/TPV-Poetry-Workshop 📌 CHAPTERS: 0:00:00 – Who is Gabriel McCaughry? 0:01:22 – From graphic design to indie publishing: Gabriel's creative journey 0:04:40 – The spiritual pilgrimage to Laos and the origin of the Anathema logo 0:14:45 – The hidden linguistic and musical origin behind the name "Anathema" 0:17:53 – Carl Jung's Red Book as a masterpiece of visionary art and Jungian psychology 0:20:00 – "Paralchemy": Gabriel's spiritual framework for perception and transformation 0:30:46 – How to find the right poetic language to express a clear image 0:42:41 – Why alchemy is the "royal art" above all creative practices 0:47:52 – EXCLUSIVE: A sneak peek into Gabriel's upcoming book... 1:00:40 – How poetry creates healthy distance from personal trauma through defamiliarization 1:03:04 – Why focusing on one precise image creates more powerful writing 1:11:07 – Poetry as catharsis: finding beauty in suffering like a lotus in mud 1:18:56 – The three-fold intent behind Gabriel's first book, Ouroboros 1:25:50 – Identity as an artist: why "what do you do?" is the wrong question PODCAST DISCLAIMER: The views, opinions, discussions, and statements expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and are intended to represent their personal opinions and perspectives. Listener discretion is advised. The Poetry Vessel is not responsible for the accuracy or reliability of any information presented and disclaims any liability arising from the use of or reliance on any information presented in this podcast. FTC DISCLAIMER: Some of the links above may be affiliate links, which means that if you click on them we may receive a small commission. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. The commission is paid by the retailers, at no cost to you, and this helps to support our channel and keep our videos free. Thank you!

#044 - Writing Poetry is Frustrating (Why That's A Good Thing)

Why is writing a poem so FRUSTRATING?!🦋 OVERCOME CREATIVE FRUSTRATION WITH OUR NEW ONLINE WORKSHOP🦋https://tinyurl.com/TPV-Poetry-Workshop(Limited workshop spaces so act fast)The poetry writing process is harder than anyone tells you — and that creative frustration is exactly where great poems are born.In this video, Malibu Poet Laureate Emeritus, Nathan Hassall, and his I/O psych expert wife Rachael explore why feeling stuck during poetry editing is a natural part of the craft, touching on Carl Jung’s ideas about the visible mental struggles within great literature. Whether you're wrestling with word choice, rhythm, line breaks, or the gap between the brilliant idea in your head and the language on the page, this conversation reframes creative struggle as your greatest asset in creative writing.👉 JOIN OUR FREE POETRY COMMUNITY: https://www.thepoetryvessel.com/signupEVERYTHING ELSE: 👉 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/nathanhassall📜 SUBMIT YOUR POETRY: https://www.thepoetryvessel.com/submit🙏 SUPPORT US ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/cw/ThePoetryVessel✍️ POETRY WORKSHOP WAITLIST: https://www.nathanhassall.com/workshopwaitlist🧠 HOW POETRY CHANGES YOUR BRAIN COURSE (LIMITED TIME DISCOUNT): https://www.nathanhassall.com/changeyourbrain📌 CHAPTERS:0:00:00 Why Creative Frustration is Essential for Poets0:00:23 What Makes the Poetry Editing Process So Difficult?0:01:11 How Word Choice and Condensation Create Poetic Resonance0:01:53 How to Balance Rhythm, Sound, and Line Breaks in a Poem0:02:17 How Poets Guide Reader Emotions and Interpretations0:03:08 What Are the Biggest Challenges When Starting or Ending a Poem?0:03:39 How to Write Better Poem Beginnings Using Intriguing Imagery0:05:01 How to Master Poetic Closure and Avoid Ending Too Late0:06:23 Why Embracing Frustration Leads to Better Poetry Writing0:07:38 What Causes the Gap Between a Poetic Idea and the Page?0:08:34 How Poetry Workshops Facilitate Healing and Growth0:10:22 Why Metaphors Transform Heavy Emotions Into Beautiful Art0:12:40 What the Structural Turn (Volta) Teaches Us About Perspective0:13:24 How Reading Great Poems Elevates Creative Conversations0:14:59 Why Genuine Artistic Reward Requires Effort Over AI ShortcutsPODCAST DISCLAIMER:The views, opinions, discussions, and statements expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and are intended to represent their personal opinions and perspectives. Listener discretion is advised. The Poetry Vessel is not responsible for the accuracy or reliability of any information presented and disclaims any liability arising from the use of or reliance on any information presented in this podcast.FTC DISCLAIMER:Some of the links above may be affiliate links, which means that if you click on them we may receive a small commission. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. The commission is paid by the retailers, at no cost to you, and this helps to support our channel and keep our videos free. Thank you!

#043 - What Makes Confessional Poetry Bad?

Stop writing bad confessional poetry! 👉 JOIN OUR FREE POETRY COMMUNITY INSTEAD: https://www.thepoetryvessel.com/signup Why does so much modern confessional poetry fall flat — and how do the greats like Sylvia Plath, Anne Sexton, and Robert Lowell get it right? In this episode of The Poetry Vessel, Malibu Poet Laureate Emeritus Nathan Hassall sits down with host Rachael Hassall to dissect the history, craft, and common pitfalls of autobiographical poetry and how to fix them. So much of today’s "Instagram poetry" and open mic verse falls into the trap of being self-absorbed instead of creating a real connection. We dive deep into the fascinating history of the original 1950s and 60s confessional poets—like Sylvia Plath and Anne Sexton—to look at what they did differently, why they actually rejected the "confessional" label, and how they used powerful metaphors to bring readers into their world. This episode is a masterclass in turning personal pain into poetry that actually reaches people. 📚 BOOKS MENTIONED: - The Colossus and Other Poems by Sylvia Plath - https://amzn.to/3REPYbg - The Complete Poems: Anne Sexton - https://amzn.to/3RN6O7O - Breaking into Blossom: Poems with Extraordinary Endings - https://amzn.to/3S4aIJr - Portrait of the Alcoholic by Kaveh Akbar - https://amzn.to/3RN746M - Calling a Wolf a Wolf by Kaveh Akbar - https://amzn.to/43fZSm4 EVERYTHING ELSE: 👉 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/nathanhassall 🙏 SUPPORT US ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/cw/ThePoetryVessel 📜 SUBMIT YOUR POETRY: https://www.thepoetryvessel.com/submit 🧠 HOW POETRY CHANGES YOUR BRAIN COURSE (LIMITED TIME DISCOUNT): https://www.nathanhassall.com/changeyourbrain 📌 CHAPTERS: 00:00 - What is confessional poetry — and why most of it fails 01:12 - Why your poetry is bad 03:05 - How to avoid abstractions and telling in poetry 04:41 - When did confessional poetry start? 08:53 - Why historical poets rejected the label 12:48 - What are the biggest mistakes in modern poetry? 15:03 - How to identify and fix a fake "poetry voice" 20:06 - When do line breaks and pauses actually work? 22:14 - How identity is asserted through feminist poetry 33:32 - How to transform raw experience into actual art 35:43 - Tip 1: How to turn trauma into vivid imagery 36:32 - Tip 2: Pay Attention to Rhythm 37:13 - Tip 3: When and how to gather honest feedback 38:28 - What it means to treat a poem as an offering 41:56 - "I," "You," "We" — when the speaker isn't actually you PODCAST DISCLAIMER: The views, opinions, discussions, and statements expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and are intended to represent their personal opinions and perspectives. Listener discretion is advised. The Poetry Vessel is not responsible for the accuracy or reliability of any information presented and disclaims any liability arising from the use of or reliance on any information presented in this podcast. FTC DISCLAIMER: Some of the links above may be affiliate links, which means that if you click on them we may receive a small commission. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. The commission is paid by the retailers, at no cost to you, and this helps to support our channel and keep our videos free. Thank you!

#042 - Why Every Poet Should Study Philosophy

Can studying philosophy make you a better poet? In this episode of The Poetry Vessel, host Nathan Hassall sits down with philosopher-poet DeForeest Wright to explore the profound historical and structural relationship between poetry and philosophy. Drawing from the dark academic realms of H.P. Lovecraft and J.R.R. Tolkien, alongside the logical frameworks of Plato, Kant, and Wittgenstein, Deforest breaks down his original framework of Progressive Romanticism—a dialectical synthesis of modernism and postmodernism. The conversation dives into the mechanics of writing metered sonnets, the importance of structural logic in verse, and a deep look at how the incantatory use of language functions as a form of psychological and aesthetic magic. Deforest also shares live readings from his chatbook manuscript, "Lotuses from Leng," demonstrating how traditional forms like the English and Spenserian sonnet can be subverted to craft compelling, modern horror narratives. 👉 JOIN OUR FREE POETRY COMMUNITY: https://www.thepoetryvessel.com/signup CONNECT WITH DEFOREEST AT:https://www.instagram.com/the_sunless_sea_poetry_show/ 🙏 SUPPORT US ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/cw/ThePoetryVessel 📜 SUBMIT YOUR POETRY:https://www.thepoetryvessel.com/submit 🧠 HOW POETRY CHANGES YOUR BRAIN COURSE (LIMITED TIME DISCOUNT):https://www.nathanhassall.com/changeyourbrain EVERYTHING ELSE: 👉 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/nathanhassall 📌 CHAPTERS: 00:00 — Why Great Poets Must Be Profound Philosophers 01:12 - What Ancient Greece Can Teach Us About the Meaning of Poetry 03:25 - What is the Classical Philosophical Defense of Poetry?06:49 - What is Progressive Romanticism in Art and Literature?12:51 — Behind DeForeest's Book: Lotuses from Leng 16:32 — The Anatomy of a Sonnet: Quatrains, Couplets, and the Volta 21:10 — Poem Reading: "The Thinning Veil" 23:27 — Kantian Aesthetics: Phenomena, Numina, and the Sublime 26:03 — Secondary Worlds and Tolkien's Concept of Fantasy 33:55 - How Reading Historical Philosophy Improves Your Originality 42:00 - How to Apply Pathos, Ethos, and Logos to Creative Writing 48:08 — Poem Reading: "Pre-Established Harmony" (Leibniz & Azathoth) 59:25 — The Sublime vs. The Beautiful 1:04:00 - Why Meter and Rhythm Matter in Contemporary Poetry 1:19:04 — The Gothic Backstory: Byron, Polidori, and the Year Without a Summer 1:27:36 — Rhetoric as Enchantment: How Words Act on the Psyche PODCAST DISCLAIMER :The views, opinions, discussions, and statements expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and are intended to represent their personal opinions and perspectives. Listener discretion is advised. The Poetry Vessel is not responsible for the accuracy or reliability of any information presented and disclaims any liability arising from the use of or reliance on any information presented in this podcast. FTC DISCLAIMER: Some of the links above may be affiliate links, which means that if you click on them we may receive a small commission. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. The commission is paid by the retailers, at no cost to you, and this helps to support our channel and keep our videos free. Thank you!

#041 - We React to YOUR Poetry

It’s time to react to YOUR poetry.In this episode, we give our honest reaction to our audience-submitted poetry, starting with our Pulitzer-Prize nominated featured poet, followed by 4 “Mystery Box Poets.” So grab a cup of tea and settle in to this poetry reading and discussion of the surreal, the mystical, and everything in between here at The Poetry Vesesl with Malibu Poet Laureate Nathan Hassall, and his wife and business partner, Rachael. 👉 JOIN OUR FREE POETRY COMMUNITY: https://www.thepoetryvessel.com/signup📜 SUBMIT YOUR POETRY FOR CONSIDERATION:https://www.thepoetryvessel.com/submit⭐FEATURED POET: ROSS TALARICO⭐ Talarico is the winner of The Mina Shaughnessy Prize, The Lillian Fairchild Award, Designated Langston Hughes Poet/Scholar, and Pulitzer Prize NomineeBUY HIS BOOK, THE RECKONING, HERE:https://amzn.to/4a6QZ1V—🔍 MYSTERY BOX POETS— CLINT FRAKESFrakes is a poet, writer and naturalist living in Sedona, AZ. His poetry and prose has appeared in over 100 publications. He was named one of the 50 Best New Poets of 2008 by American Poet Laureate, Mark Strand, and received the Josephine Darner Prize, the James Vaughan Prize, The Pudding House Chapbook Prize, and the Peggy Ferris Prize. He is a graduate of the Jack Kerouac School at Naropa, Northern Arizona University writing program, and received his PhD from the University of Hawaii. He is the former Chief Editor of The Hawaii Review and Big Rain.LUKE HANKINSHankins is the author of several poetry collections, including MAGNITUDE: New & Selected Short Poems (Texas Review Press, forthcoming 2027). He is also the author of a book of essays, The Work of Creation, and a volume of translations from the French of Stella Vinitchi Radulescu, A Cry in the Snow. The founder and editor of Orison Books, a non-profit literary press focused on the life of the spirit from a broad and inclusive range of perspectives, Hankins lives in Asheville, NC.DARRELL LINDSEYLindsey is a Pushcart Prize and Rhysling Award-nominated poet from Nacogdoches, the oldest town in Texas, and author of three poetry collections, the most recent being Spectrum ( Cyberwit.net, 2020). His work has appeared in more than 85 journals, magazines, and anthologies. His short-form poetry has garnered numerous international honors.RAKHIM POWERS Powers is a young Black queer writer based in New York. His work explores identity, mental health, intimacy, masculinity, and survival through lyric, conversational, and hybrid forms. His poems have appeared in The Voyager, Prairie Margins, and Wingless Dreamer. He is also a musician and audio engineering student, and his creative practice moves fluidly between sound, language, and performance. His work centers lived experience, cultural memory, and the labor of becoming.EVERYTHING ELSE: 👉 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/nathanhassall📌 CHAPTERS:PODCAST DISCLAIMER:The views, opinions, discussions, and statements expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and are intended to represent their personal opinions and perspectives. Listener discretion is advised. The Poetry Vessel is not responsible for the accuracy or reliability of any information presented and disclaims any liability arising from the use of or reliance on any information presented in this podcast.FTC DISCLAIMER:Some of the links above may be affiliate links, which means that if you click on them we may receive a small commission. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. The commission is paid by the retailers, at no cost to you, and this helps to support our channel and keep our videos free. Thank you!