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The Poetry's Dead Podcast

The Poetry's Dead Podcast

Written by: Ryan Duggins and Leon Dunne
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Ryan and Leon are delighted to bring you your NEW favourite poetry podcast, exploring the work of poets old and new, with a little bit of craic mixed in.

We'll share our love of poetry every week, taking you on a journey through work from poets you'll have heard of, as well as poets you may not have heard of and even people you had no idea wrote poetry.!

We'll also help with our Agony Poet part of the show where we'll accept any challenge of solving a problem with a poem. Nothing is too trivial or too serious.

Ryan Duggins is a published English poet based in Dublin, with work found in journals Dreich, Flare and his first collection 'You're Never Too Old To Know Better' was published in April '23. He's also performed at Electric Picnic and is a regular on the open mic scene in Dublin

Leon Dunne is a spoken word artist and cornerstone of the poetry scene in Ireland. He is the 2022 All Ireland Poetry Slam Champion and co-founder of Rising Tide, an events company hosting the best spoken word performers the country has to offer out of Pearse Street library

Both of them are more fun than these descriptions would have you believe

Give us a follow, leave us a review, send this to your Ma' and join us :)

Original music by Matthew Keating
Introduced and co-produced by Lisa Downey

© 2026 The Poetry's Dead Podcast Art Entertainment & Performing Arts
Episodes
  • Michael Jackson, Road Dahl & Poetry From Jessie Buckley's Dad

    Michael Jackson, Road Dahl & Poetry From Jessie Buckley's Dad
    May 18 2026

    In this week’s episode we look at the conflict and tension that comes natural when there is out you like from awful people. Sparked by the new Michael Jackson biopic, we discuss.

    We also share a poem from Tim Buckley, the father of actor Jessie Buckley, after she talked about her dad’s poems on the Desert Island Discs radio show with Lauren Laverne.


    A poem from Patti Smith before music by Becca Colley to end the show. Lovely hurling.


    On a break next week as we plan/perform at a few live gigs but we’ll be back asap.


    Ryan and Leon


    Poems from the show:

    Tim Buckley - The Actress

    https://www.radiokerry.ie/podcasts/kerry-today/our-jessie-dad-tim-on-family-joy-and-kerry-pride-march-13th-2026-475726


    James Oppenheim - Bread And Roses

    https://allpoetry.com/poem/8550457-Bread-And-Roses-by-James-Oppenheim

    Road Dahl - Little Red Riding Hood

    https://www.poetrybyheart.org.uk/poems/little-red-riding-hood-and-the-wolf

    Charlie Chaplin - Speech from The Great Dictator

    https://www.charliechaplin.com/en/articles/29-the-final-speech-from-the-great-dictator-

    Patti Smith - True Music

    https://www.reddit.com/r/Poetry/comments/1o487me/poem_true_music_by_patti_smith/

    Becca Colley - Nicely

    https://open.spotify.com/track/2vGGbTZwyd4OQ2NlD5tCO1?si=7dE060GMSyKXyVKyJFdVvg


    Support the show

    Original music by Matthew Keating
    Artwork by Paddy Downey
    Introduction by Lisa Downey

    Produced by Ryan Duggins
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 2 mins
  • Baz Luhrmann, 'The Matchmaker' Willie Daly And Intrusive Thoughts

    Baz Luhrmann, 'The Matchmaker' Willie Daly And Intrusive Thoughts
    May 11 2026

    Poems from the show:


    Aisling Bonner - Dublin, Oh Dublin (Taken from RTE's 2FM Breakfast Show)

    Aisling Bonner (@aisling_bon) | TikTok

    Robert Sheehan - Untitled Poem

    Robert Sheehan - IMDb

    Claudine Tierney - Willie Daly, Matchmaker Extraordinaire

    Claudine Tierney (@claudine_artist) • Instagram photos and videos

    James Joyce - Araby (A Short Story)

    Dubliners - Wikipedia

    Niamh Be - Busy Intrusive Thoughts

    Busy Intrusive Thoughts – Niamh Be Musings

    Baz Luhrmann - Everybody's Free To Wear Sunscreen

    Baz Luhrmann - Everybody's Free To Wear Sunscreen

    Support the show

    Original music by Matthew Keating
    Artwork by Paddy Downey
    Introduction by Lisa Downey

    Produced by Ryan Duggins
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 5 mins
  • Seamus Heaney, John Keats And What Ever Happened To Timbaland?

    Seamus Heaney, John Keats And What Ever Happened To Timbaland?
    May 4 2026

    This week's show we keep it a little lighter, but I think in doing so we accidentally got a bit macho. Nightmare really. Especially that chat we have about what dog should you aspire to be. That was definitely a toxic conversation lol.

    Anyway! Poems this week about being sound, being brave, being aware, being alert to the way you show up in the world and we also have a poem about the naivety of human kindness thanks to James Tate's 'Good Time Jesus'.

    If you'd like to see this mess of a show in person, we will be at the International Literature Festival Dublin in Merrion Square on Saturday 16th May so see you there!

    International Literature Festival Dublin | The Poetry's Dead Podcast Live - International Literature Festival Dublin

    Poems from the show:

    David Hynes - I Am Here

    https://www.instagram.com/hynestein1/

    Seamus Heaney - From The Republic Of Conscience

    https://www.rte.ie/radio/dramaonone/1349892-from-the-republic-of-conscience-by-seamus-heaney

    John Keats - When I Have Fears That I May Cease To Be

    https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44488/when-i-have-fears-that-i-may-cease-to-be

    Good Time Jesus - James Tate

    https://poets.org/poem/goodtime-jesus

    Ciara Ni E - A Different Animal

    https://www.instagram.com/miseciara/

    Music by Mathilde Lotti - Cumbia Del Amor Perdido

    https://www.instagram.com/matilde_lotti/

    Support the show

    Original music by Matthew Keating
    Artwork by Paddy Downey
    Introduction by Lisa Downey

    Produced by Ryan Duggins
    Show More Show Less
    51 mins
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