The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily podcast

The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily

Host Maggie Smith is your daily poetry companion. Poetry is one of the greatest tools we have to wield our own attention — to consider our own lives and the lives of others, to help us live creatively and compassionately, to use that attention to lean into wonder, and joy, and truth, and to find hope — to keep hoping. The Slowdown community knows that reflecting on a poem, every weekday, can connect us to our inner world and the world around us. Listen as you make your morning coffee, as you go on a walk in your neighborhood, as you pull away from the to-do list, as you resist the dismal, endless scroll to share five minutes of perspective through the lens of poetry, from poets old and new, well-loved and emerging onto the scene. Brought to you by American Public Media, in partnership with the Poetry Foundation.

Host Maggie Smith is your daily poetry companion. Poetry is one of the greatest tools we have to wield our own attention — to consider our own lives and the lives of others, to help us live creatively and compassionately, to use that attention to lean into wonder, and joy, and truth, and to find hope — to keep hoping. The Slowdown community knows that reflecting on a poem, every weekday, can connect us to our inner world and the world around us. Listen as you make your morning coffee, as you go on a walk in your neighborhood, as you pull away from the to-do list, as you resist the dismal, endless scroll to share five minutes of perspective through the lens of poetry, from poets old and new, well-loved and emerging onto the scene. Brought to you by American Public Media, in partnership with the Poetry Foundation.

 

#399

[encore] 1376: Laura, I Want You Pulling Your Hair Back by Natalie Dunn

Today’s poem is Laura, I Want You Pulling Your Hair Back by Natalie Dunn. The Slowdown is ... more

12 Dec 2025

05 MINS

05:52

12 Dec 2025


#398

[encore] 1343: /’mīgrent/ by Tiana Nobile

Today’s poem is /’mīgrent/ by Tiana Nobile. The Slowdown is taking a week to return to som... more

11 Dec 2025

06 MINS

06:14

11 Dec 2025


#397

[encore] 1368: Do You Consider Writing to be Therapeutic? by Andrew Grace

Today’s poem is Do You Consider Writing to be Therapeutic? by Andrew Grace. The Slowdown i... more

10 Dec 2025

05 MINS

05:29

10 Dec 2025


#396

[encore] 1332: Tea by Leila Chatti

Today’s poem is Tea by Leila Chatti. The Slowdown is taking a week to return to some of ou... more

09 Dec 2025

06 MINS

06:03

09 Dec 2025


#395

1364: Hiking Moraine State Park by Violeta Garcia-Mendoza

Today’s poem is Hiking Moraine State Park by Violeta Garcia-Mendoza. The Slowdown is taki... more

08 Dec 2025

05 MINS

05:43

08 Dec 2025


#394

1411: Amalgam by Rebecca Foust

Today’s poem is Amalgam by Rebecca Foust. The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In thi... more

05 Dec 2025

06 MINS

06:50

05 Dec 2025


#393

1410: Go by Kathleen Ossip

Today’s poem is Go by Kathleen Ossip. The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this ep... more

04 Dec 2025

06 MINS

06:17

04 Dec 2025


#392

1409: Sal, 1950 by Paula Colangelo

Today’s poem is Sal, 1950 by Paula Colangelo. The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In... more

03 Dec 2025

05 MINS

05:45

03 Dec 2025


#391

1408: Noah's Nameless Wife Takes Inventory by C.T. Salazar

Today’s poem is Noah's Nameless Wife Takes Inventory by C.T. Salazar. The Slowdown is your... more

02 Dec 2025

06 MINS

06:15

02 Dec 2025


#390

1407: At the Base of the Mountain by Amanda Hawkins

Today’s poem is At the Base of the Mountain by Amanda Hawkins. The Slowdown is your daily ... more

01 Dec 2025

06 MINS

06:53

01 Dec 2025


#389

1406: Paperweight by Ryan Teitman

Today’s poem is Paperweight by Ryan Teitman. The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In ... more

28 Nov 2025

06 MINS

06:53

28 Nov 2025


#388

1405: Entry by Chet'la Sebree

Today’s poem is Entry by Chet'la Sebree. The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this... more

27 Nov 2025

06 MINS

06:22

27 Nov 2025


#387

1404: Before Lunar New Year, Our Mothers Go Missing by Uyen Phuong Dang

Today’s poem is Before Lunar New Year, Our Mothers Go Missing by Uyen Phuong Dang. The Slo... more

26 Nov 2025

05 MINS

05:54

26 Nov 2025


#386

1403: Echo by Pura López-Colomé, translated by Forrest Gander

Today’s poem is Echo by Pura López-Colomé, translated by Forrest Gander. The Slowdown is ... more

25 Nov 2025

06 MINS

06:54

25 Nov 2025


#385

1402: Gloria Mundi by Michael Kleber-Diggs

Today’s poem is Gloria Mundi by Michael Kleber-Diggs. The Slowdown is your daily poetry r... more

24 Nov 2025

05 MINS

05:33

24 Nov 2025


#384

1401: LeaveTaking by Rita Dove

Today’s poem is LeaveTaking by Rita Dove. The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In th... more

21 Nov 2025

07 MINS

07:03

21 Nov 2025


#383

1400: The Eulogy I Didn’t Give (I) by Bob Hicok

Today’s poem is The Eulogy I Didn’t Give (I) by Bob Hicok. The Slowdown is your daily poet... more

20 Nov 2025

05 MINS

05:27

20 Nov 2025


#382

1399: Alarm Clock by Jennifer Maier

Today’s poem is Alarm Clock by Jennifer Maier. The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. I... more

19 Nov 2025

05 MINS

05:57

19 Nov 2025


#381

1398: A dead whale can feed an entire ecosystem by Rachel Dillon

Today’s poem is A dead whale can feed an entire ecosystem by Rachel Dillon. The Slowdown i... more

18 Nov 2025

05 MINS

05:43

18 Nov 2025