The Poetry's Dead Podcast

Ryan Duggins and Leon Dunne

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

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Episodes

Pat Ingoldsby, Eavan Boland and The Irish Leaving Cert
4d ago
Pat Ingoldsby, Eavan Boland and The Irish Leaving Cert
The Poetry’s Dead Podcast x Leaving Cert Special!Well. Kind of. We couldn’t do a whole bloody show about it, that would be as dull as doing the actually exams. But! We’ve got a few leaving cert stories from Leon, poetry from Eavan Boland @eavanbolandpoetry (anyone over 22 that just got a shot of PTSD, don’t worry, you don’t have to do the leaving cert again) and the defining poem of this apparently life defining time called Leaving Cert from Leon himselfWe get a reminder of the how fun running can be with Josefin Anna Friberg @josefinlequeen, feel the disappointment of opening a biscuit tin and finding bloody knitting equipment with the help of Eva Mary Lucy @evamarylucy and a very special segment on Irelands only, current living mythical being and wizard, the incredible Pat Ingoldsby (thanks to @seanwatmorepoetry) for his help on this one.We also give a nudge about our poetry competition running in association with @the_poetryedit, head over to their page for all the info ❤️Released on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and load of other places Monday morning. All the links are up in the bio (including Ryan’s book, our Patreon and the competition so have a gander)Best of luck to all the amazing students across the next two weeks, and give us a listen yis belters Poems from the showJosefin Anna Friberg - Runners HighInstagram - @josefinlequeenPat Ingoldsby - Welcome To Our Woehttps://winding-stair-bookshop.myshopify.com/products/poems-so-fresh-and-so-new-yahoo-by-pat-ingoldsby?_pos=9&_sid=3e6ca9bfb&_ss=rEavan Boland - The Black Lace Fan My Mother Gave Mehttps://www.poetrybyheart.org.uk/poems/the-black-lace-fan-my-mother-gave-meEva Mary Lucy - The Biscuit TinInstagram - @evamarylucyLeon Dunne - Leaving CertInstagram - @nomanticzSupport the Show.Original music by Matthew Keating Artwork by Paddy DowneyIntroduction and co-produced by Lisa Downey
Whitney Hanson, Kim Kardashian and Reality Television
Jun 3 2024
Whitney Hanson, Kim Kardashian and Reality Television
Wake up slowly on this Bank Holiday Monday (here in Ireland) my child and allow us to soothe you back into life with another fun episode of The Poetry's Dead Podcast!We whizz around every conversational topic known to man on this one like two ADHD teenagers having their first pint, and we had a great time with it.Our patreon community's first featured poem on the show comes from Fin Brennan, sharing his poem of affection to his pals with the poem 'Both My Friends Are Scientists'.Our first non-native speaking poet on the show comes in the form of Juan De Dios Peza who explains to us how everything is not always what it seems when people pretend they are doing great. His poem is called Reir Llorando, or 'To Laugh While Crying' for most of us.The incredible Whitney Hanson, with 3 books published at just 22 years old, helps us through grief with her poetry collection Harmony, a friend in need for millions of people already. We talk about TikTok as a platform for creatives too, and throw aside any of the old brigade of snobs that my poo-poo poets like Hanson. Jo Spivey takes us back to 'Madchester' in the 90's with his tribute to rave culture titled 'There Used To Be A Rave There', which then leads us to the story of how the song DARE by The Gorillaz became DARE and not THERE thanks to Shaun Ryder.Adele Leahy brings some necessary craic (quite literally) with a poem of sympathy for the owner of, probably, the most famous bum on the planet with 'Kim Kardashian's Arse'We reveal the details of our poetry competition at the end of the show where we are teaming up with the team at The Poetry Edit (Instagram @the_poetryedit) to run a poetry competition with a chance of being featured on the show, which who knows, might lead to bigger stuff. We're massive in Sweden, don't you know!Thanks as always for your love and support, and have a belter of a Bank Holiday Monday.Ryan and LeonThe Poetry's Dead PodcastPoems from the show:Fin Brennan - Both My Friends Are ScientsistsInstagram - finbrennanpoetryJuan De Dios Peza - Reir Llorandohttps://aliciamblair.squarespace.com/work/2016/8/17/rer-llorando-by-juan-de-dios-pezaWhitney Hanson - Harmony https://www.easons.com/harmony-whitney-hanson-9781529432633Jo Spivey - There Used To Be A Rave ThereInstagram - joe_spiveyAdele Leahy - Kim Kardashian's ArseInstagram - adele_leahySupport the Show.Original music by Matthew Keating Artwork by Paddy DowneyIntroduction and co-produced by Lisa Downey
Kae Tempest, Sylvia Plath And Stag Parties
May 27 2024
Kae Tempest, Sylvia Plath And Stag Parties
Oh we bloody missed you, and we hope a few of you missed us too!We're back with a bang or two as we share stories of stag parties, proposals and ask the question that everyone is asking. How depressing is it to be a poet?We talk about the magic of Kae Tempest, and the way she twists words around sound like nobody else.Sylvia Plath makes her debut on the show with her tragic but beautiful poem 'Sheep In Fog', which leads us to look at other geniuses who tended to lose their own minds too.Phil Lynch's new collection 'Moving On' is out, and to celebrate, we share 'Storm Warning', a lovely piece about long-lasting love and the safety it offers.One of the students Leon has been working with through his teaching shares something special, which then sparks a chat about how kids are getting on in Ireland.We have an exclusive offer too for our Patreon subscribers for a discount with The Winding Stair Bookshop so feel free to sign up and join the community. There's a gift on the way to our new subscribers, too!Thanks as always for the love and support, we couldn't appreciate it more!Ryan and LeonThe Poetry's Dead PodcastPoems from the show:Leon Dunne - StagRyan Duggins - I'm Shagging Someone I Likehttps://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CCZV865T?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860Kae Tempest - Getting Onhttps://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/75479957Sylvia Plath - Sheep in Foghttps://allpoetry.com/Sheep-In-FogPhil Lynch - Storm Warninghttps://www.salmonpoetry.com/details.php?ID=615&a=284Brendan - RobbieLeon Dunne - My Mate's Getting Married Support the Show.Original music by Matthew Keating Artwork by Paddy DowneyIntroduction and co-produced by Lisa Downey
Oscar Wilde, Dylan Thomas And Taylor Swift
May 13 2024
Oscar Wilde, Dylan Thomas And Taylor Swift
We are finally showing just how basic we both are with this latest episode guys, so be warned!We've been putting Oscar WIlde on the back burner since the show launched, but today's the day we give him a proper segment with a journey around his one-liners, plays, fictional works and poetry. A little moan about Dylan Thomas being a bit 'up himself' doesn't get in the way of us gagging to share one of our most favourite poems ever published, and thank Taylor Swift for mentioning him in the new album 'The Tortured Poets Society that pushed us to feature the pompous Welshman.Colm Keegan wants us to see the world through a horse's eyes, which we then do through his poem 'Howya Horse'.A little bit of sad-girl poetry from Jose Cameron proceeds our Agony Aunt where we help someone who has been caught in the middle of two gossip queens at work.Get in touch with us on Instagram, TikTok or email (thepoetrysdeadpodcast@gmail.com) and keep an eye out for our Patreon that we'll launch that will give exclusive access to our upcoming book club and ways to contact other members of the podcast 'poetics', which is the name we're now calling you.Hope you love this one guys. (Go Taylor Swift )Poems from the episode:Oscar Wilde - The Ballad Of Reading Goal (an exert)https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/45495/the-ballad-of-reading-gaolDylan Thomas - Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Nighthttps://allpoetry.com/do-not-go-gentle-into-that-good-nightColm Keegan - How'ya HorseInstagram - Colm_KeeganJosie Cameron - Your Favourite JumperTikTok - josiecameron1Leon Dunne - Woes At WorkSupport the Show.Original music by Matthew Keating Artwork by Paddy DowneyIntroduction and co-produced by Lisa Downey
Seamus Heaney, Carol Ann Duffy And Skipping Meals By Accident
Apr 29 2024
Seamus Heaney, Carol Ann Duffy And Skipping Meals By Accident
Another episode with the lads yapping on about poems just for your enjoyment!This one, we challenge some preconceptions that can sit in front of poets by talking about the whole Poet Laurete role and share some of Carol Ann Duffy's work.We delve into the muddy fields of Seamus Heaney next, one of Ireland's most celebrate modern poets of our time. Who Ryan doesn't really get. Daragh Fleming and Jessie Floods are our homegrown choices this week. Both beautiful writers, and we've handpicked our favourite poems from them.Our Agony Aunt is all about making better plans around having stuff on at night, specifically about missing dinner. Ryan share's a poem about the loveliness of having 'stuff on', where Leon takes a more direct route to the issue with his poem 'Midnight Pizza'.Get in touch with us with your poems via Instagram @thepoetrysdeadpodcast or email us thepoetrysdeadpodcast@gmail.comThanks as always for listening to usRyan and LeonCorrection - In the section discussing Carol Ann Duffy, Ryan introduces Duffy as the first poet laureate where he meant to say first FEMALE poet laureate. Poems from the episodeCarol Ann Duffy - Tea (Taken from Rapture 2005)https://www.waterstones.com/book/rapture/carol-ann-duffy/9781509852789Seamus Heaney - Scaffoldinghttps://poets.org/poem/scaffoldingDaragh Fleming - Be AliveInstagram - @daraghflemingJessie Floods - The Revolving DoorInstagram - @jfloodersW.H Davies - Leisurehttps://englishverse.com/poems/leisureLeon Dunne - Midnight PizzaSupport the Show.Original music by Matthew Keating Artwork by Paddy DowneyIntroduction and co-produced by Lisa Downey
Emily Dickinson, Harry Baker And A Tribute To Paddy Downey
Apr 22 2024
Emily Dickinson, Harry Baker And A Tribute To Paddy Downey
A special PACKED episode for you after a short break which we are very excited to share.We pay tribute to our own Paddy Downey, who not only created the logo for our show, but was also a poet himself. We heard the incredibly sad news that Paddy had passed a few weeks ago, so we asked his daughter Lisa (who is the voice of our show's intro) to come on and talk about her dad, which she did beautifully.After a touching start, we talk about Emily Dickinson as a influence on society even if she wasn't able to see her own work land the way it did during her own lifetime.Harry Baker shows us how its done next with a snippet from his latest book 'Wonderful' that makes us all look very amateur, indeed.We giggle in the words of Aine Budds, who brings to our table (she's a chef, get it!) a bit of seasoning that we need in our lives with her poem, 'Greasy Love'Fingal Poetry Slam winner Kev Kennedy comes through with his piece Mankee Candle, before Leon answers our Agony Aunt section with a poem to help someone struggling with keeping to a routineWe missed you, and we hope you kinda missed us too :)Ryan and LeonPoems from the showPaddy Downey - Dublin Zoo@poemsbypaddy On InstagramLisa Downey - My Daddy PaddyEmily Dickinson - 'Hope' Is The Thing With Feathershttps://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/42889/hope-is-the-thing-with-feathers-314Harry Baker - Ingridhttps://www.harrybaker.co/storeAine Budds - Greasy Love@flowerbudds On InstagramKev Kennedy - Mankee Candle@heavy_keavvy_ On InstagramLeon Dunne - RoutineSupport the Show.Original music by Matthew Keating Artwork by Paddy DowneyIntroduction and co-produced by Lisa Downey
Edgar Allen Poe, Benjamin Zephaniah and Parenting
Apr 1 2024
Edgar Allen Poe, Benjamin Zephaniah and Parenting
Happy Easter Everyone!Not that we are going to church or anything, but we have a few days off the rat-race so thank you Jesus and all that were involved for such a gift! As we mumble through eating our chocolate eggs, we have a ton of lovely stuff on this week's episode.We tribute the late Benjamin Zephaniah and his work to help those impacted by a true modern British atrocity, the Windrush ScandalWe then go into 'Mr Cheerful' himself Edgar Allen Poe and talk about his brilliance as a poet and storyteller.We share the stresses of being a budding writer in 2024 through the story of Lee Sheridan, who started his own publishing company in defiance of rejections of his work. Mikey Cullen then comes through with a much needed vacation poem that we know you're going to loveWe end with our Agony Aunt section where we have a disgruntled parent wanting to give their kids a bit of a kick, and we assist with poems from Hollie McNish as well as a poem from Leon himself.As always, give us a like and a follow and Happy Fecking EasterPoems from the episode:Benjamin Zephaniah - People Need Peoplehttps://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/benjamin-zephaniah-people-will-always-need-peopleEdgar Allen Poe - A Dream Within A Dreamhttps://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/52829/a-dream-within-a-dreamLee Sheridan - The Place To Behttps://www.writing.ie/member-authors/lee-sheridan/Mikey Cullen - Elysium Instagram - @mikey___cullenHollie McNish - Do You Remember?https://holliepoetry.com/2015/09/17/nobody-told-me/Leon Dunne - The ShedInstagram - @nomanticzSupport the Show.Original music by Matthew Keating Artwork by Paddy DowneyIntroduction and co-produced by Lisa Downey
Brendan Behan, Jan Brierton And James Joyce's Obsession With Farts
Mar 25 2024
Brendan Behan, Jan Brierton And James Joyce's Obsession With Farts
Well, well!It was a long week after St Patrick's Day weekend ladies and gentlemen, but we have climbed out of our beds finally to bring you a fresh new episodeThis week, Leon delivers on his promise of blowing Ryan's mind with a James Joyce love letter. Just...wow. We climb into the world of Brendan Behan for a little bit before we talk about Jan Brierton's new collection 'Everyone Is A Poem' and how her work has captured the mood of of the Irish people (especially the mammies.)We introduce Swedish two-tone poet Josefin Friberg as well as share a beauty of a poem by James PollardRyan shares his relationship with clothing and why having affordable options for the disadvantaged is key helping those people into better futuresWe wrap it up with Leon going into the labratory and creating a poem to help our Agony Aunt contributor with the issue if being overrun by stupid, pointless emailsWe hope you love this one. Give us a like, subscribe and get into those dms Ryan and LeonPoems from today's episodeJames Joyce Love Letterhttps://www.theparisreview.org/blog/2018/02/02/james-joyces-love-letters-dirty-little-fuckbird/Brendan Behan - Oscarhttps://www.independent.ie/regionals/herald/oscar-wilde-from-the-irish-of-brendan-behan/27996289.htmlJan Brierton - You Got Back Your Funnyhttps://www.newisland.ie/poetry-drama/what-day-is-itJosefin Friberg - Never LearnInstagram @josefinlequeenJames Pollard - How Heavy Is The MoonRyan Duggins - Topman Saved My LifeInstagram @RyanDugginsLeon Dunne - EmailSupport the Show.Original music by Matthew Keating Artwork by Paddy DowneyIntroduction and co-produced by Lisa Downey
John Cooper Clarke, The Late Ann Delaney and Staying Happy
Mar 11 2024
John Cooper Clarke, The Late Ann Delaney and Staying Happy
Episode 2. We've had an incredible first date and now we choose to go on that hike...Uh oh.In our second episode we gush over 'The Bard of Salford'  Dr John Cooper Clarke as well as wind it way back to one of the lesser known Irish poets from yesteryear, James Clarence ManganWe then tribute the late Ann Delaney, the former nurse who was living homeless in Dublin and passed away on the week we were recording. She was a poet herself, quite beautifully. Ryan and Leon recite their own work as a tribute to the homeless.We end the show with our Agony Poet answering the question 'Are you happier than are sad?' as we share a lovely poem by Brian BilstonAgain, thanks to everyone who has sent us poems, shared the podcast and been so sound to us about what we're up to.You can email us at thepoetrysdeadpodcast@gmail.com, give us a follow on Insta at @thepoetrysdeadpodcast and we're now on TikTok too @poetrys.dead.podcastGive us a like and a review if you like :)Poems from today's episode:John Cooper Clarke - Bed Blocker Blueshttps://www.clc.sllf.qmul.ac.uk/?p=387James Clarence Mangan - The Nameless Onehttp://www.ricorso.net/rx/library/authors/classic/Mangan_JC/Sel_Poems/Nameless.htmRyan Duggins - There Is No ProblemInstagram - @ryandugginsLeon Dunne - Around Town Most DaysInstagram - @nomanticzBrian Bilston - Serenity Prayerhttps://www.lovemydress.net/blog/wedding-readings/serenity-prayer-by-brian-bilstonRyan and LeonSupport the Show.Original music by Matthew Keating Artwork by Paddy DowneyIntroduction and co-produced by Lisa Downey