Michael VanCalbergh makes an historic third appearance on the show, bringing one from his past that he just can't seem to put down. A college professor's sweater vest becomes an inside joke to a class and young Michael just had to make it... awkward. Good thing Dave and Aaron are the most mature of hosts or this episode would have just become one long sophomoric gigglefest... It isn't that is it?? O dear.

Episode 8.12 "I named it after your favorite clothing (w/ Michael VanCalbergh)"

End Poem from a Real Poet: "Nicole Asks Me for a Poem and I Write About Ariadne Instead"

Michael is a poet, essayist, and lecturer living in Illinois. You can find his works in Parenthesis Journal, autofocus Lit, Atticus Review, Spoon River Poetry Review, and monthly writings here: https://widely-read.ghost.io/ You can follow him on social media @MVCPoet and check out his open mic poetry readings in Normal, IL.

Podcast Email: mybadpoetry.thepodcast@gmail.com

Bluesky: @mybadpoetrythepod.bsky.social Instagram & Threads: @MyBadPoetry_ThePodWebsite: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.mybadpoetry.com

This week Dave and Aaron welcome Todd Dillard on the show. Though they could have probably done a whole half an hour discussing snow and shovels, they did end up discussing Todd's weird poems. What the hosts could never have expected was how That Thursday turned into the Present Tense. Enjoy the ride!

End Poem from a Real Poet: "Present Tense" by Todd Dillard

Todd Dillard is a poet from Texas now living in Pennsylvania. He is the author of Ways We Vanish and the chapbook Ragnarök at the Father-Daughter Dance. You can follow Todd on Instagram and Bluesky.

Podcast Email: mybadpoetry.thepodcast@gmail.com

Bluesky: @mybadpoetrythepod.bsky.social

Instagram: @MyBadPoetry_ThePod

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.mybadpoetry.com

Although this episode started out mainly as a book recommendation list the hosts eventually got back on track. In between the last episode and this one, Aaron had a birthday. So this week Aaron and Dave dive into a punny poem about aging, that actually got published! What star puns did Aaron miss?

My Bad Poetry Episode 8.10: "Body and Sol"

"Body and Sol" is found on Roi Faineant's arc hive page.

End Poem from a Real Poet: "A Glorious Dawn" Cosmos quotes from Carl Sagan collected by melodysheep for the Youtube Series "Symphony of Science" Sept. 17th 2009

Podcast Email: mybadpoetry.thepodcast@gmail.com

Bluesky: @mybadpoetrythepod.bsky.social

Instagram: @MyBadPoetry_ThePod

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.mybadpoetry.com⁠

What a better way to start a new year than to remember that life is pain? Perhaps a poem that goes Full Moon on you when you least expect it! Nina Prater dug through her back catalogue to find the utter gems when it comes to bad poetry. Hope you enjoy this episode as much as much as these three did.

My Bad Poetry Episode 8.9: "Samsara, Alaska Radio, & Barnacles Feeding (w/Nina Prater)"

End Poem from a Real Poet: "Every Summer" by Nina Prater

Nina Prater works in sustainable agriculture while living in the Ozarks. While you can watch for a full book collection coming in 2027, you can purchase her current published chapbook "Under the Canopy of Unpruned Leaves through Belle Point Press now!

Podcast Email: mybadpoetry.thepodcast@gmail.com

Bluesky: @mybadpoetrythepod.bsky.social

Instagram: @MyBadPoetry_ThePod

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.mybadpoetry.com⁠

The show's first ever non-official guest when Aaron and Dave were still figuring everything out, makes her official return! Aaron walked the dog on a very cold day to coax Abbe back with some of her private- and one public- poem from years ago. These memories may have been better forgotten, but here they are for all to hear.

My Bad Poetry Episode 8.8: "Memories & Not Enough (w/Abbe)"

End Poem by a Real Poet: "Woman With A Flower" by Naomi Long Madgett

Podcast Email: mybadpoetry.thepodcast@gmail.com

Bluesky: @mybadpoetrythepod.bsky.social

Instagram: @MyBadPoetry_ThePod Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.mybadpoetry.com⁠

Is it enigmatic, melodramatic, or just plain problematic? Listen as Dave and Aaron try to navigate a treacherous imitation of a Joni Mitchell text provided by their guest Erick Garske. Then they all fall into a parallel universe that is either a utopia or dystopia and the lack of clarity may be the reason its on the show!

My Bad Poetry Episode 8.7: "Photo Stock & Parallel Poetry Universe (w/Erick Phillips Garske)"

Erick Phillips Garske is a Pushcart nominated poet, with the published chapbook Terms and Conditions of Endearment and newest book Words Alone.

Podcast Email: mybadpoetry.thepodcast@gmail.com

Bluesky: @mybadpoetrythepod.bsky.social

Instagram: @MyBadPoetry_ThePod Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.mybadpoetry.com⁠

The poems started out as one may expect...then Dave and Aaron found themselves faced with a poem of a very different nature. They kind of forgot the original goal was to record this episode on Halloween... but Kristin didn't! :)

My Bad Poetry Episode 6.8: "The Doves, Waterline, & Fall is the Best Season (w/Kristin LaTour)"

End Poem from a Real Poet: "Easter Sestina" by Kristin LaTour

Kristin LaTour is a teacher at Joliet Jr. College and the founder of the Aurora Writers Workshop. Her works have appeared in the journals like Rhino, Oven Bird, and Escape into Life. Her poetry book What Will Keep Us Alive is available through Sundress Publications.

Podcast Email: mybadpoetry.thepodcast@gmail.com

Bluesky: @mybadpoetrythepod.bsky.social

Instagram: @MyBadPoetry_ThePod Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.mybadpoetry.com⁠

After an unplanned hiatus Dave and Aaron return with Rory Philstrom aka the Dungeon Master Pastor. But rather than lead the podcast through a campaign, Rory leads them through three poems spanning nearly 20 years. All in the 21st Century though.

My Bad Poetry Episode 8.5: Counter-Me, The 21st Century, and a Draft of a Eulogy (w/Rory Philstrom)

End Poem from a Real Poet: "I live my life in widening circles" by Rainer Maria Rilke

Rory Philstrom is a pastor, spiritual director, and DnD Dungeon Master. His podcast "Roll for Joycast" looks at the intersection of religion and table top game playing. Rory is the founder of Roll for Joy which helps people use games and the Spirit of Play to enjoy the fullness of their humanity and the depths of divinity within.

Podcast Email: mybadpoetry.thepodcast@gmail.com

Bluesky: @mybadpoetrythepod.bsky.social

Instagram: @MyBadPoetry_ThePod Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.mybadpoetry.com⁠