If Poets Ruled the World

Have Beauty Standards for Women Gone Too Far?

If Poets Ruled the World: The Podcast for dreamers 🎙️ Hosted by Ruth Elora (aka The Mayfair Poet) & Salma the Poet. Through insightful conversations and original poetry, we reimagine the world through a poetic lens. This month’s theme: Beauty & Body Image Trigger warning: this episode contains discussions of body dysmorphia, eating disorders and suicide. If you need support, please find the different topics and relevant organisations which can help below: * Body dysmorphic disorder – contact the Body Dysmorphic Disorder Foundation on support@bddfoundation.org [support@bddfoundation.org] * Eating disorders – contact Beat on 0808 801 0677 * Mental health – contact Samaritans on 116 123

The Homes We Build

If Poets Ruled the World: The Podcast for dreamers🎙️ Hosted by Ruth Elora (aka The Mayfair Poet) and Salma the Poet. Through insightful conversations and original poetry, we reimagine the world through a poetic lens. This month’s theme: Home & Community Trigger warning: this episode contains discussions of homelessness and domestic abuse. If you need support, please find the different topics and relevant organisations which can help below: * Homelessness - please call Shelter for on housing or homelessness on 0808 800 4444 if in England; 0808 800 4444 if in Scotland; or 0800 049 5495 if in Wales * Domestic abuse - please call the National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247 (for women) or Respect on 0808 8010327 (for men)

Growing up Brit(ish): Identity, Diaspora and Belonging

If Poets Ruled the World: The Podcast is hosted by Ruth Elora (also known as The Mayfair Poet) and Salma the Poet. Each month, we explore a different theme and ask one radical question: What would it look like if poets ruled it? Through honest conversation, cultural critique and original poetry, we reimagine the world through a poetic lens. This month, we’re looking at what it means to grow up in Britain while being part of the diaspora. In this episode of If Poets Ruled the World, Ruth Elora and Salma the Poet are joined by poet Kane to explore how growing up in the UK has shaped their identity and experiences. Through poetry and conversation, they share different anecdotes and key historical moments while reflecting on race, ethnicity and belonging. They dive into examples of good and poor media representation, fragmentation in their own communities and how we can do better when it comes to discussing and approaching the topic of race in the UK. Trigger warning: this episode includes discussions of racism and sexism. If you need support, please find the different topics and relevant organisations which can help: * Racism - please visit https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/tips-for-everyday-living/racism-and-mental-health/useful-contacts/ [https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/tips-for-everyday-living/racism-and-mental-health/useful-contacts/] which includes services tailored to specific communities * Any other support - please visit https://www.mind.org.uk/ [https://www.mind.org.uk/]

The Many Realities of Being a Woman Today

If Poets Ruled The World: The Podcast is hosted by Ruth Elora (also known as The Mayfair Poet) and Salma the Poet. Each month, we explore a different theme and ask one radical question: What would it look like if poets ruled it? Through honest conversation, cultural critique and original poetry, we reimagine the world through a poetic lens. This month’s theme is International Women’s Day. In this International Women’s Day episode of If Poets Ruled the World, Ruth Elora and Salma the Poet are joined by poet Chelsea to explore what it means to be a woman today. Through poetry and conversation, they reflect on safety, intersectionality, and the different realities women navigate across race, identity and experience. Together, they also look ahead — asking what solidarity between women could look like in the future, and what kind of world poets might imagine for women. Trigger warning: this episode includes discussions of sexual assault, domestic abuse, racism and sexism. If you need support, please find the different topics and relevant organisations which can help below. * Sexual violence - please contact Rape Crisis on their helpline on 0808 500 2222 (open 24/7) or on their live chat helpline [https://247sexualabusesupport.org.uk/] * Domestic abuse - please call the National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247 (for women) or Respect on 0808 8010327 (for men) * Racism - please visit https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/tips-for-everyday-living/racism-and-mental-health/useful-contacts/ [https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/tips-for-everyday-living/racism-and-mental-health/useful-contacts/] which includes services tailored to specific communities * Any other support - please visit https://www.mind.org.uk/ [https://www.mind.org.uk/]

If Poets Ruled the World - Episode 1 - Love

If Poets Ruled the World: The Podcast is hosted by Ruth Elora (also known as The Mayfair Poet) and Salma the Poet. Each month, we explore a different theme and ask one radical question: What would it look like if poets ruled it? Through honest conversation, cultural critique and original poetry, we reimagine the world through a poetic lens. This month’s theme is Love. In Episode 1, joined by poet Humus, we unpack what society teaches us about love — from gender roles and social media myths to family expectations — and contrast it with what poetry and literature reveal. Drawing on voices like Warsan Shire and Rumi, we explore love as devotion, compatibility, faith, revolution and legacy. Because if poets ruled the world, love wouldn’t just be romantic — it would be transformative.