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The Elixir Poetry Podcast

The Elixir Poetry Podcast

Written by: Helen Wing
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About this listen

British poet Helen Wing has spent the past 20 years living between the UK, China and the Middle East, experiencing first-hand the human impact of poetry across borders. On The Elixir Poetry Podcast, she asks anonymous individuals from around the world to read the poem that has touched them the most, and to unveil why. (Each episode includes original music)

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Episodes
  • 41. The Poetry of Laurier Tiernan: 'Fifty-Five Ways to Survive' Read & Discussed With the Poet!

    41. The Poetry of Laurier Tiernan: 'Fifty-Five Ways to Survive' Read & Discussed With the Poet!
    Jan 21 2026

    In this episode of Elixir, Helen is talking to Laurier Tiernan about his poetry book Fifty-Five Ways to Survive, Cinquante-cinq voies de survie (Poésie visuelle pour la résilience | Graphic Poetry for Strength | English and French. En français et en anglais)

    Buy Laurier's book

    Free texts of the poems and extra episode info!

    Support The Elixir Poetry Podcast, buy Helen a coffee buymeacoffee.com/helenwing

    The Podcast is Produced by Tom Platts at Sound Sapien
    All Music Composed by Tom Platts
    soundsapien.com
    Show More Show Less
    28 mins
  • 40. “I Always Followed My Internal Compass”. Carlotta Reads Puerto Rican Poet Julia de Burgos in Spanish & English

    40. “I Always Followed My Internal Compass”. Carlotta Reads Puerto Rican Poet Julia de Burgos in Spanish & English
    Jan 7 2026

    In this episode of Elixir, Helen is talking to Carlotta about the poem ‘Yo misma fui mi ruta’ by the Puerto Rican poet Julia de Burgos (1914-1953)

    Carlotta and Helen explore themes of identity, belonging, and the personal connection she feels to the poem having travelled to Latin America from the UK before moving to Madrid with her partner. The conversation delves into the significance of following one's internal compass and the impact of our surroundings on personal choices. They also discuss the challenges of translation. In this case, Spanish to English.

    Original music by Tom Platts accompanies the readings.


    Want to hear more about this story?! Listen to episode 28. The Poem of Cuban Liberation with Raycel (& How Love Took Him Across The World)

    Free texts of the poems and extra episode info!

    Support The Elixir Poetry Podcast, buy Helen a coffee buymeacoffee.com/helenwing

    The Podcast is Produced by Tom Platts at Sound Sapien
    All Music Composed by Tom Platts
    soundsapien.com
    Show More Show Less
    31 mins
  • 39. Gaza ‘My Motherland’ & The Therapy of Writing Poetry with Rana

    39. Gaza ‘My Motherland’ & The Therapy of Writing Poetry with Rana
    Nov 12 2025

    In this moving episode, Helen talks with Rana, a teacher and poet from Gaza, who shares her heartfelt poem“My Motherland.” Written during her first journey away from home, the poem captures her love and longing for Palestine.

    Rana reflects on poetry as a way to heal, remember, and resist, and shares how she encourages her students to turn their feelings into songs and poems. Together, Helen and Rana explore the power of art to connect, comfort, and give hope — even in the hardest times.

    💫 Listen to Rana read her poem in both English and Arabic.

    📖 Read featured poems: HelenWing.com
    ☕ Support the show: Buy Me a Coffee
    ⭐ Follow & leave a review to help others discover Elixir Poetry.

    Free texts of the poems and extra episode info!

    Support The Elixir Poetry Podcast, buy Helen a coffee buymeacoffee.com/helenwing

    The Podcast is Produced by Tom Platts at Sound Sapien
    All Music Composed by Tom Platts
    soundsapien.com
    Show More Show Less
    20 mins
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