The Poets

Silas Vazquez (any pronouns) is an actor, singer, improviser, and poet. You may have seen him in Titanic (UNC), Urinetown (UNC), Sweeney Todd (StageDoor Theatre), Ride the Cyclone (Vintage Theatre), Woodlands And Wyverns (Audacious Immersive Theatre), or as part of the Mercury Slam Poetry Team at Chicharra Poetry Festival (Albuquerque, NM) or Bigfoot Poetry Festival (Portland, OR). You usually can find her on some stage somewhere, opening old wounds and making some new ones.Instagram is @silasisbusy

The Poets will be back to our regularly scheduled programming (i.e. individual poet features) after this.The album discussed in the episode is available on Bandcamp and on streaming platforms.On another slightly different episode of The Poets, I'm joined by BG and the first iteration of the Coven Collective to discuss an album of spoken word and music that recently was released. BG, Lady Julianne, Nikolai Riddle, and Jabe Pazoo all appear on the mic to discuss their contributions to the album, along with a conversation about broader themes like changing landscapes of art, AI usage, and what the hell to do about billionaires and narcissists.

Sidney Shaw is the Events Manager at The Karma House, a community-centered kava bar and gathering space in the Denver metro area. As an intuitive healer, Reiki Master, and tarot reader with over a decade of experience, Sidney weaves together event curation and spiritual practice to create spaces rooted in connection, healing, and authenticity.At The Karma House, Sidney helps bring people together through a diverse range of offerings—from live music and poetry to wellness events and community gatherings—all designed to foster belonging and meaningful connection. She is especially excited to welcome the legacy of the Mercury Cafe through the Mercury Legacy Jazz Jam and Poetry Open Mic, continuing a cherished tradition in a new home.The Karma House is a sober-friendly space that offers kava, herbal teas, and a vibrant calendar of events, serving as a hub for creativity, healing, and community in Colorado.608 Garrison St e, Lakewood, CO 80215 and thekarmahouse.org

Gabriel Gravagno returns to the show to talk about how to continue the legendary Friday Night Jazz Jam and Poetry Open Mic, which began long ago at the Mercury Cafe. Any questions, comments, or concerns can be sent to Gabe, who is eager to hear others' thoughts and ideas.A trial run of sorts will take place at the Karma House Kava Bar & Tea House, located at 608 Garrison St e, Lakewood, CO 80215 and thekarmahouse.org.First, a jam and open mic will be held on April 25th, from 7pm to 10pm (this is a chance for the Mercury jazz and poetry crowd to try out integration with an existing Karma House jazz night) followed by a Friday night Jazz Jam and Poetry Open Mic on May 1st, from 7pm to midnight.The plan is for the Friday night Jazz Jam and Poetry Open Mic to continue in earnest beginning on May 22nd, 2026.It is understood that there may be confusion and many other feelings regarding this. Once again, Gabe is eager to have a conversation with anyone who wishes to voice concerns, questions, or other ideas.Much love.Photo of Gabe credit Amy Jordheim

A brief episode today with Dominick Francois discussing his Imagery EP and upcoming event celebrating its release to held on May 23rd, 2026 at Buell Public Media Center - 2101 Arapahoe St, Denver CO 80205Tickets available here.Imagery EP available here.

Something a little different on The Poets today. I am joined by Luis Garza, a digital marketing strategist and representative of Frederick Kirwin, author of Lost Songs of the Withlacoochee. Luis shares an excerpt from Kirwin's book, and we discuss themes of first loves, love lost and found, the rivers of the world, Garza's work with Kirwin, and Kirwin's corpus overall.-Lost Songs of the Withlacoochee can be purchased at Apollo BooksYou can learn more about, and get in touch with, Luis Garza at his website.-Frederick Kirwin graduated from Florida State University with a BA in History and International Affairs and an MA in Government. He passed the preliminary examinations for the PhD program in Government, received a teaching fellowship, and co-authored a scholarly article with Richard Gray, PhD, titled “Presidential Succession in Chile: 1817– 1966,” published in the Journal of Inter-American Studies (January 1969). He later withdrew from the program to accept a Shubert Fellowship in Theatre, earning an MFA in Playwriting. His published works include Lost Songs of the Withlacoochee (poetry), Confessions of a Drowning Man (an epic poem), Songs Of the Garden of Delights (poetry), Body Carnal (poetry), Body Sacred (poetry), Talking About Diana's Death (a non-puff parody), Billy and Dakota (a BL love story), Dog Bites Man (a thriller), Past Love, Praise, Indifference, Blame (a play). Production of his plays includes Billy (Playwrights Horizons, NYC); Swan Dive (Playwrights Horizons, NYC); Dog Bites Man (Marlborough Theatre, Brighton, UK, and later at the Rock Theatre, Brighton, U.K.); The Lottery (Tristan Bates Theatre, Covent Garden, London, UK, and later at Fox Theatre, London, UK); Talking about Diana (King's Head Theatre, London, UK, and later at the Camden People's Theatre, London, UK). Kirwin is the recipient of The Dramatists Guild Fund Award and five Edward Albee Foundation Fellowships, and he served as Playwright-in-Residence at the North Carolina School of the Arts. His screenplay for the film, Dog Bites Man, received ten Best Script Awards.

Madden Wishard (they/them) can be summed up as “a lumbering soul but trying to fly,” a phrase written by John Steinbeck. Growing up in Northern Virginia, they always felt an immense pressure to be who they were not. As a queer and trans person in a conservative evangelical Christian community, they felt a keen sense of rejection. As they grew, they realized the power of words and began writing about their experiences. They hope ultimately to touch others with their writing. Their poetry is focused on mental health, recovery, acceptance, and beauty. They have shared at Denver’s Pearl open mic night many times and are publishing their first book, Making Marmalade, which focuses on simple joys amidst harsh realities. They have just begun their career as a surgical technologist after graduating from school with a degree in applied science. Prior to this, they worked with kids in mental health for 9 years. Their writing often bends towards the beauty in the intricate human body and that found in young minds.

Ashley Howell Bunn (she/they) completed her MFA in poetry through Regis University and holds a MA in Literature from Northwestern University. Their first chapbook, in coming light, was published in 2022 by Middle Creek Publishing and their second chapbook, Living Amends, is forthcoming through Galileo Press . Her first full-length collection, burning, breaking, building was published by South Broadway Press. Their work has been supported by Bread Loaf Writers' Conference and Sundress Publications. She is an adjunct instructor of English at the Community College of Denver and the Youth Program Manager at Lighthouse Writers Workshop. When she isn’t writing, she is practicing yoga, running in the sunshine, playing with her kids, or daydreaming and staring off into space.Ashley will be launching her new book burning, breaking, building on Thursday, April 23rd 2026 at Strawberry Mountain from 6-8 pm.

Brock is an author and poet whose work lives at the intersection of performance and the printed page. A familiar voice at the Pearl open mic and poetry slam, he is the author of the poetry collections Mercury Prepared and Moonlight Speaks—which were brought together in the volume Mercury and Moonlight.Venturing from the stage to the bookshelf, Brock has also published the children’s picture book The Lost Dragon. When not actively suffering from a bout of writer’s block, they can usually be found circling Sloan’s Lake or scouting Denver’s quietest corners, searching for that next spark of local inspiration.Brock's Book of Poetry, Mercury and Moonlight, can be purchased here.

Elizabeth Woods-Darby is a somatic therapy-trained poet, mother & multi-media artist.Her work centers on the permeability and grit of motherhood and is influenced by her childhood growing up on a rural farmstead in Colorado without running water. Her work often seeks to connect the wilderness of nature to the wildness of humanity. Her first book of poetry Bones We Made Together out Feb 21st, 2026 from Daxson Publishing.Elizabeth will be part of an event celebrating her book launch THIS SATURDAY February 21st, 2026 at Babe's Tea Room (Entrance on, 2401 15th Street, Platte St #170, Denver, CO 80202) from 5:30 to 7:30pm. All are welcome!Follow Elizabeth on Instagram, TikTok, and see more of her work at her website.

Lady Julianne is a poet, film maker, business owner & visionary — working to build her audience & grow in every direction of her passions. With a handful of life experiences that taught her resilience fairly early - Lady Julianne transmutes her lessons & pain into reframes that feel light & magical while simultaneously encouraging introspection & depth. Lady Julianne seeks to use written & performance poetry to inspire one to see themselves, the world, & their own potential differently. In her words: I’d love it if people consumed my work & thought to themselves: "maybe I can" or - even better, "maybe I am."  Julianne has no intention of shying away from how deeply she cares about writing & expanding her craft. Often visualizing a reality where global reach is attainable for her. This is only the beginning. IG @LadyJuliannee

Doctor Ricardo J. Bogaert-Álvarez is a retired Dominican-American chemical engineer and award-winning poet. He was born in Santiago, Dominican Republic and grew up in a hacienda. He obtained his B.S. in chemical engineering at the PUCMM[1] in Santiago. Then he attended the University of Delaware where he graduated with his chemical engineering masters and PhD. He has lived in the United States since 1981 and resides in Denver with his beloved wife Laura. He has published poems in the “El Sol” newspaper and in the magazines “The New Press” and “Ribbons” among other publications. He taught chemistry and chemical engineering in several universities. He has published four bilingual poetry books: “The Samurai Poet”, “The Dance of the Phoenix,” “Romance and Haiku Elixir” and now “Chronicles of a Young Dominican.” In those books, each poem is in Spanish and English. He is a member of the Columbine Poets, Inc, which is a poetry club at the state level in Colorado. In poetry contests of this club, he has won several awards. He also presented several workshops in that club. He’s also a member of the Tanka Society of America. He’s the treasurer of the Colorado Alliance of Latino Mentors and Author (CALMA). Since 2021 his main efforts have been focused on introducing the poetic form Tanka to Colorado.

Clarence Barbee returns to the show with his saxophone and excerpts from his new book, Lessons and Libations, available for free here.Clarence Barbee is a multi-talented individual known for his literary achievements. As the author of multiple distinct works, “Chicken Soup and a Shot of Jack” and his debut poetry book “Fire Molten and Ash,” he showcases his versatility and creativity. Now, with the release of Lessons and Libations, Clarence continues to display a wit and keenness in his written (and spoken) works.With a background as a spoken word artist, he has mastered the art of weaving words into evocative pieces that resonate with emotions. He was known for traveling the southeastern US under the stage name Nabraska. Currently serving as an educator in the Denver area, Clarence continues to inspire and shape young and old minds. He’s also a pretty great girl Dad!His passion for writing remains unwavering as he diligently works on new ventures, including upcoming books, short stories, and poetry collections, further solidifying his place in the literary world.Follow Clarence on IG ⁠@authorclarencebarbee⁠ and ⁠@poet402⁠Clarence’s Works can be found through the following links: ⁠On The Brink (Chapbook/ebook) 3/2013⁠ ⁠Shattered (Chapbook/ebook) 3/2013⁠ ⁠Chicken Soup & A Shot of Jack (essays/poetry/short stories) 6/2015⁠⁠Fire Molten & Ash (poetry) 1/2020⁠

In this special episode, enjoy a live recorded duet performance of "Nothing New Under The Sun" performed by SETH and Lady Julianne. Recorded on Friday, November 21st at The Pearl in downtown Denver, [email protected]'s website

And now, the one and only Marilyn Megenity-Matriarch, Astrology, Mother, Poet, Playwright, Patron of the Arts, Friend, Grandmother, Activist, Cultural Revolutionary, Humanitarian, Environmentalist, Lover, Earth Lover, Restaurateur, Pacifist, Diviner, Mystic, Dancer, Feminist, Gardener, Leader, Community Builder, Satirist, Executive Chef, Businesswoman, Mentor, Actor, Brilliant, Beloved, Ineffable, Unstoppable founder and chef of the three ring circus, The Mercury Cafe.Feeding patrons healthy food for 46 years, her exploration of arts, politics, and community that surrounded food began on the Ides Of March 1975 in Indian Hills Colorado. After several incarnations in Denver, The Mercury Cafe settled at 2199 California St, the center of town in 1990, opening on Halloween.Marilyn would like to remind you Local Organic Food is your birthright.-Philip Tran is a poet of many mediums—words, collage, and the ephemeral art of live performance. Hailing from Denver, he is a passport-wielding wanderer, a florist with an eye for beauty, a handyman with a poet’s touch, a roller skater chasing rhythm, and an emcee who curates spaces where voices rise and resonate.As the longtime host of Denver’s beloved 4th Friday poetry open mic—formerly at The Mercury Cafe, soon to be The Pearl—Philip fosters a stage where vulnerability meets applause. His podcast, From My Open Mic, captures the raw electricity of live poetry, available on Spotify.In 2023, he launched Bound By The Beat, an event weaving together Denver’s rope bondage and jazz communities, an experiment in trust, tension, and improvisation. Stay tuned for the next edition of Bound By The Beat.With a choose-your-own-adventure poetry book in the works and a hunger for new stages, Philip may soon be performing near you. When asked what superpower he’d choose, he answered: To awaken the superpowers in those unaware of their own.@invader_4 & (NSFW) @invader__4

Today we have a special edition of The Poets. Local poet Ryan Flannigan recorded his double album, To Plant a Poem, by performing it live for his friends in studio with Coven Recording and Sound. This episode is a teaser with a bit of their conversations around poetry and some of the poems from the album.You can get the full album on Bandcamp. Ryan Flannigan (he/him) is a Denver based written and spoken-word poet who works in narrative, lyrical, and abstract forms—exploring themes of addiction, spirituality, and identity.Follow Ryan on Instagram @flandragon.the.mighty_ishHuge shout out and thank you to Lady Julianne and Sabrina Baker, who joined us in studio as special guests. Follow them as well @ladyjuliannee and @s.e.elune.poetryThis album was recorded and produced by Coven Recording and Sound, in case you find yourself inspired to record a project of your own (;

Mr. Bravo, aka Abraham Bravo, joins me to discuss his new book Love Hurts When Never Said, his poetry as whole, and the Slam Poetry scene in Phoenix, AZ.Mr. Abraham Bravo is a Phoenix-based poet, performer, and author whose work bridges humor, vulnerability, and lyrical craft. He has built a reputation in the Arizona poetry scene for blending sharp wit with raw introspection, captivating audiences with both page and stage presence.In 2023, he stepped onto the stage for his first open mic — and he hasn’t looked back since. By August 2024, he entered his first slam, and in 2025 he became the inaugural champion of the Tucson Slam.After turning to poetry as a way to process grief and navigate mental health struggles, Mr. Bravo quickly developed a voice that resonates widely. His debut collection, Love Hurts When Never Said (October 10, 2025), gathers his signature mix of metaphor, rhythm, and emotional candor into a cohesive work that explores unspoken emotion, resilience, and identity.Mr. Bravo doesn’t write to impress — he writes to feel, to process, to heal. His work often explores mental health struggles, identity, and grief with raw honesty. When he speaks, he only hopes you will listen.

Born some 30ish odd years ago in a Louisianan mill town called Bogalusa, Sunshine Whysteria Empress Abaddon attended the University of New Orleans for Anthropological and Film Studies for 6 years. A Hurricane Katrina survivor, she picked up and moved to Denver following her maternal grandfather's death in 2017. She is without a doubt a multi talented individual, because it says so on her business cards. In addition to poetry she has written in-depth articles for OUTFront Magazine, is a Colorado Public Notary, and Foster Mother for Denver Animal Shelter, specializing in long term care for court cases and The Denver Safe Haven Program. She also briefly worked for Former CO Rep Leslie Herod during her Mayoral Race. If you're residing in Capitol Hill you may come across her walking her Foster Dog someday.

Mitchel David Ring is a writer, poet, audio engineer, and the creator and host of The Poets, a podcast featuring poets and other artists sharing and discussing their work....and other poems is the debut poetry collection of Mitchel David Ring.Print copies of ...and other poems can be purchased here.Read (and listen to) Mitch's poetry at mitcheldavidring.comListen to The Poets at thepoets.coMitch also runs Coven Recording and Sound, a full service audio production company. Contact for inquiries at covenrecording.comOn this episode, Mitch is interviewed by his partner Lady Julianne (@ladyjuliannee @emmajuliannee) regarding his book release, poetry, love, the sacred feminine, and much more. Lady Julianne is a Denver based poet, performer, and typewriter poet who is available for bookings at ladyjulianne.co

Christian Lesniak features to share his work and discuss many topics including his poetry, to be or not to be a rapper, the use and misuse of language by the political right and left, the dangers of instant gratification when it comes to art, and much more.

Julian Thomas is an actor born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He is best known for appearing in Jordan Peele's "Hunters" (2020), ABC's "For Life" (2020), and "Day of the Dead II: Contagium" (2005). He has also appeared in numerous comedy sketches on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.Julian Thomas graduated from the notable theatre program at Northwestern University. Most recently Julian has narrated a number of audio books in fiction and non-fiction, including "We Matter; Athletes and Activism", a collection of essays and interviews with high profile journalists, political activists and professional athletes, in which they explore the social justice landscape of today. It is available on Audible and Itunes.https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2003537/?ref_=ext_shr

Sophia Goodnight is a transgender poet and writer who has been performing at open mic nights since 2018, which also happens to be when she started transitioning. Her primary inspirations for her poetry are the declaration "it is impossible to say just what I mean!" and the question "so how should I presume?" She lives with three partners and has a fourth, which is important context for her whole deal. Sophia was formerly one of the hosts of the All Out Artists & Co. Open Mic, which went defunct in the wake of the pandemic. Some of her poetry can be found on tumblr at Sophia-Goodnight-Poetry, as well as on Patreon at SophiaGoodnight. In addition to her poetry, she is one of the hosts of the Star Wars Legends podcast We Have To Talk About Dash Rendar.

Arthur Bellfield is a poetic storyteller, filmmaker, wellness advocate, life coach, and cultural architect whose work bridges lyrical activism and soulful reflection. Drawing from ancestral wisdom, urban rhythms, and spiritual practice, Arthur’s voice amplifies themes of healing, resistance, and transformation. He founded the Colorado Springs Poetry Slam in the Spring of 2023 as a vehicle for inspiring literary, wellness, creativity, and community! The poetry slam host monthly events which bridge the gap between the literary arts movement and the musical sectors by empowering performers of all types and talent levels to live within their truths! Recently, Arthur has started conducting Poetic Wellness Workshops to give people additional tools to help them on their spiritual or healing journeys. www.coloradospringspoetryslam.comhttps://www.fox21news.com/living-local/colorado-springs-poetry-slam-what-you-need-to-know/https://www.visitcos.com/blog/spend-a-day-in-cos-at-these-black-owned-businesses/

S.L. Alderton is a Denver poet and librarian. Her work has appeared in publications such as Twenty Bellows, 2River View, and Suspect Press, as well as local independent zines. Her favourite things include Shakespeare, heavy metal, and British spelling. 

April Dawn's first poetry collection, “Lungs Like Elephants,” was published in 2020 and received the Langston Hughes Award from Missouri Southern State University in 2021. In 2022 she began working with 303 Magazine as a music journalist. April is passionate about words in all of their forms and expressions. Her life has been full of experiences both impossibly sour and unbelievably sweet. In all of these moments, she’s embraced the zest.April is a proud graduate of Colorado School of the Healing Arts. She is a lover of live music and spontaneous trips to the hot springs. In her free time, you can find April eating tacos for breakfast, walking her friends’ dogs, or reading and writing in the sun. She is continuously working on her third poetry collection.

Honey B. Honest is a multifaceted visual and performance artist from Denver Colorado. She's been a host and organizer at Mercury Cafe's Sunday night open mic and slam, as well as partnered with organizations that aim to offer artistic opportunities to communities in need such as The Gathering Place, Redline Art Gallery, Art Restart and Boulevard One. Many describe her performances as eccentric, energetic, and genuine. The stories told through her poetry are personal accounts used to inspire listeners and readers to express themselves authentically and practice healing and self-care.__Holly Ajala (also known as TheGoodSis) is a writer and storyteller with a fierce belief in the power of effective narrative to inspire empathy in the face of difference, to propel the reach of social justice and above all, to challenge human beings to be more human. Her words have been featured in Ayo Magazine, AfriWowWri Literary Journal and more. Holly truly believes that good stories can change the world.All human experiences are cosmic eventsQuantum miraclesAtomic revelations__Recorded June 16, 2025__Produced by Coven Recording and Sound

Photographer turned poet turned essayist turned overall annoyance, Stone (they/them) explores themes of sobriety, queerness, and self love. Their works appear in publications such as Gnashing Teeth, Red Rose Thorns Journal, and have been featured on Button Poetry. Currently, they are editor in chief of Retrograde Review, an online zine dedicated to change.  They reside in Denver, but you can find them online @stonewroteapoem or @persephone_stone but you can also probably find them wherever Taylor Swift is playing, wherever there are good mocktails, or wherever there are disco balls

Ally Eden (she/they) is a queer artist and former Poet Laureate of Fort Collins, Colorado. An English/Spanish interpreter by trade, their role as a linguist parallels their poetic ethos— bridging difference by way of words. Ally’s work is vibrant, unabashedly poignant, and rooted in love for humanity. In her approach to art as a practice, she strives to curate participatory experiences that offer everyone a seat at the table. She co-founded the Gulo Gulo Poetry Collective, runs a bimonthly peer-critique group, The Rabbit Hutch, and facilitates collaborations and workshops that bring together musicians and artists, immigrants and refugees, incarcerated writers, fellow writers, queer youth, and the community at-large. Ally’s work has been featured in Milk Press, The Imaginables, Nudie Magazine, Scrapped Magazine, and “Songs of Revolution” by Sunday Mornings at the River. Learn more and get connected at allyeden.com

My name is Dominick I go by Dom. I been in Colorado for five years and looking forward to the next 10-15 years here. I’m madly in love with the city of Denver. I’m a poet that stumbled into literary art. The goal is to a raise a daughter and retire my mom. I’m here for the city and like everybody else serving a purpose I want to be used not misused. Write on! Find Dominick on:MediumYoutubeInstagramSnapchatTikTokTwitter

In this episode recent guest Philip Tran returns for a part 2 of the long goodbye to the Mercury Cafe. Last time, we announced Waning Mercury, Waxing Pearl, a live recorded send off for the legendary venue. That event can be listened to in its 3+ hour entirety on episodes 125-127. On this episode, Philip returns to discuss moving forward now that the Mercury Cafe has been re-christened as The Pearl with new ownership. I'm deeply appreciative to Philip for coming on the show and giving the Merc as good a send-off as we were able to. Hope you all enjoy the episode. I am looking forward to whatever comes next—the good and the bad. In this episode Philip and I also discuss many other topics around poetry—what we look for in a poem, attachment, how to read poetry, how to "fix" poetry, appetites, and much much more.Philip Tran is a poet of many mediums—words, collage, and the ephemeral art of live performance. Hailing from Denver, he is a passport-wielding wanderer, a florist with an eye for beauty, a handyman with a poet’s touch, a roller skater chasing rhythm, and an emcee who curates spaces where voices rise and resonate.As the longtime host of Denver’s beloved 4th Friday poetry open mic—formerly at The Mercury Cafe, soon to be The Pearl—Philip fosters a stage where vulnerability meets applause. His podcast, From My Open Mic, captures the raw electricity of live poetry, available on Spotify.In 2023, he launched Bound By The Beat, an event weaving together Denver’s rope bondage and jazz communities, an experiment in trust, tension, and improvisation. The next Bound By The Beat is on May 31st, which we discuss in the episode. With a choose-your-own-adventure poetry book in the works and a hunger for new stages, Philip may soon be performing near you. When asked what superpower he’d choose, he answered: To awaken the superpowers in those unaware of their own.@invader_4 & (NSFW) @invader__4

Holly Ajala (also known as TheGoodSis) is a writer and storyteller with a fierce belief in the power of effective narrative to inspire empathy in the face of difference, to propel the reach of social justice and above all, to challenge human beings to be more human. Her words have been featured in Ayo Magazine, AfriWowWri Literary Journal and more. Holly truly believes that good stories can change the world.All human experiences are cosmic eventsQuantum miraclesAtomic revelationsRecorded on April 7th, 2025Produced by Coven Recording and Sound

Carly Liberi (she/her) is a queer poet, depth therapist, and oracle reader. Her work is a conch shell to the ear of those who feel too much, for the parts of ourselves we’re still learning to love, and for those whose voices have been silenced. Embracing life’s mysteries, Carly creates in the liberated space between anything and everything.HallwayBirdsongQueer not QuietSensitiveFullHeart on LoanSpiral

Part 3 of the Friday night open mic poetry event at the Mercury Cafe. Recorded March 28th, 2025 by ⁠Coven Recording and Sound⁠. This was the last night that this Friday night poetry open mic, one of the longest continuously running in the world, occurred under the legendary venue name Mercury Cafe. Special thanks to Philip Tran for commissioning this recording, assisting with the editing/organization process, and also for creating the event artwork. This section of the open mic features the following poets (most names appear as they were written on the sign-up list):35. Simon36. RP37. Mir-I-Am38. Carol39. SETH40. SOJO41. Dispeller of Darkness42. Nyah43. Makenna44. EM45. Brock46. Olivia Todd47. Will48. Lady Julianne49. Darian50. Christian51. Philip Tran

Part 2 of the Friday night open mic poetry event at the Mercury Cafe. Recorded March 28th, 2025 by ⁠Coven Recording and Sound⁠. This was the last night that this Friday night poetry open mic, one of the longest continuously running in the world, occurred under the legendary venue name Mercury Cafe. Special thanks to Philip Tran for commissioning this recording, assisting with the editing/organization process, and also for creating the event artwork. This section of the open mic features the following poets (most names appear as they were written on the sign-up list):19. Brian R.20. Ryan21. Madalia22. Uriel23. Louis24. Carly25. Shade26. Niko27. Elizabeth28. Michelle29. Adesuwa30. Nina31. Clem!32. Lydia33. Tony V.34. Jabe

Part 1 of the Friday night open mic poetry event at the Mercury Cafe. Recorded March 28th, 2025 by Coven Recording and Sound. This was the last night that this Friday night poetry open mic, one of the longest continuously running in the world, occurred under the legendary venue name Mercury Cafe. Special thanks to Philip Tran for commissioning this recording, assisting with the editing/organization process, and also for creating the event artwork. This section of the open mic features the following poets (most names appear as they were written on the sign-up list):1. Absalon2. Moses3. Ricardo4. Sophie5. Mitch6. MWB7. Q8. BG9. David Price10. Ted Vaca11. Stan12. Marilyn Megenity13. David Steele14. Emily15. Raul16. Molly17. Silas18. Haley A.

Lolita Vilar is a young poet who writes in prose, with a flair for abstract metaphor. Her poetry focuses on the magical, the mundane, and the music of our world.

Philip Tran is a poet of many mediums—words, collage, and the ephemeral art of live performance. Hailing from Denver, he is a passport-wielding wanderer, a florist with an eye for beauty, a handyman with a poet’s touch, a roller skater chasing rhythm, and an emcee who curates spaces where voices rise and resonate.As the longtime host of Denver’s beloved 4th Friday poetry open mic—formerly at The Mercury Cafe, soon to be The Pearl—Philip fosters a stage where vulnerability meets applause. His podcast, From My Open Mic, captures the raw electricity of live poetry, available on Spotify.In 2023, he launched Bound By The Beat, an event weaving together Denver’s rope bondage and jazz communities, an experiment in trust, tension, and improvisation. With a choose-your-own-adventure poetry book in the works and a hunger for new stages, he may soon be performing near you.When asked what superpower he’d choose, he answered: To awaken the superpowers in those unaware of their own.@invader_4 & (NSFW) @invader__4

Racine Muse and iLL bg join return to the show to discuss their EP, Both of Everything. We talk about the collaborative process, their workflow, inspirations, and themes of the music. This episode also includes performances of three songs from the album, recorded in studio. You can listen to the EP here.

Follow Nikolai on ⁠IG⁠ @thenikolairiddle and at his ⁠website⁠.Nikolai Riddle is a born-and-raised Coloradan, writer, poet, and sometimes artist living in Denver. His writing has been described as “diabolical” and often involves things weird, dystopian, and darkly humorous. His work has appeared in Ludicrous Worlds Magazine, Birdy Magazine, and The American Journal of Poetry.Haiku 21ParanoiaThe Day the Humans DiedPostcardsThe CityElegy for your StraysHopes for My ExCurious Child of DeathKarma AdvanceHaiku 777

Local artist and art enthusiast, Jabe Pazoo.

Marissa Forbes (she/her) is a Pushcart Prize nominated author, visual artist, and creative instructor. Her poetry books, Surviving Peter Pan (Beyond the Veil Press) and Brief & Bleeding Margins (World Stage Press) were published in 2023. Other published poems and short fiction stories can be read on marissaforbes.com and @word_nerd_ris. She is the Managing Editor for Twenty Bellows, a CO indie press, the Development Coordinator for Civic Center Conservancy, and teaches poetry for the Denver Chapter of Community Literature Initiative’s 10 month Poetry for Publication program. Marissa was the 2024 Winter Resident with Tiny Spoon, has curated poetry activations with Aurora History Museum and the Center for Colorado Women’s History, coordinated the second annual Creative Colorado Writer’s Retreat held at Mint & Serif in 2024, and was named the 2025 Poet Laureate for 40 West Arts District in Lakewood CO.  Forbes has resided all over the country but now lives a colorful life in Denver with her two children, where she hones her personal mission to amplify art and community in Colorado. IG @word_nerd_ris Marissa's Website 40 West Arts District Twenty Bellows

Bardo is a feral rat that experiences moments of clarity and in that clarity writes pretty decent poems. -- Correction: I said in the episode that this is ep 119. Obviously it is ep 118 (see above). "What, do you expect me to keep track of my own show?" Mitch

Cecily Stone is a mother, writer, computer nerd, and author of These Chasms in the Earth.  Her works have appeared in Welcoming The Muse (Twenty Bellows), Poems in Praise of Libraries (World Stage Press), Gypsophila Literary Magazine, Canvas Creative Arts Magazine (Indiana University), Retrograde Review, and on a set of compost liners distributed by Compost Colorado.  Stone shares her stories of motherhood, sacrifice, and rebirth at open mics and on instagram: @cecilystonespeaks.  On the weekends, you can usually find her behind the mic, outdoors climbing rocks, or camping with her husband Michael and their large zoo of children and pets. cecily-stone.com worldstagepress.org

Guest host Moses Graytower, of Congress fame, interviews Viviantte aka Dell Allenn and Yasser Govula. They discuss making the art you want to make, finding fulfillment, music, and respecting those who came before you. Check out Viviantte's album Lucy and Moses Graytower's album Congress as well as Dell and Yasser's project gardeniia, an unadulterated publication. @mosesgraytower @dellallenn @got_b6

…rendering poetry more entertaining to general audiences. One of Colorado’s best known performance poets, SETH has made a career carving out creative ways of presenting poetry, with attention paid to both craft and performance. An actor and percussionist as well as a poet and fiction writer, SETH has collaborated with countless musicians, poets, actors, dancers and other performance artists for more than 30 years in his never-ending quest to render poetry more entertaining to general audiences. He was a founding member of the performance poetry troupe Open Rangers (1989- 2000) and member of the critically-acclaimed performance arts trio Jafrika (1993-2004). He currently spearheads Art Compost & the Word Mechanics, an improvisational poetic-musical ensemble appearing every Sunday night at the Mercury Café. Their first CD, Love, Death & Poetry, received Westword’s Best of Denver 2005 for Spoken Word CD. Over the years SETH has won several Best of Westwords for his pioneering efforts to meld spoken word with the other performance art forms. SETH is author of A Black Odyssey, a poetic memoir which uses Homer’s ancient epic as an allegoric scaffold for his own experiences as a Black poet in contemporary America. His short stories have appeared in numerous literary magazines. His satirical novel, The Perfect Stranger, received the Award of Excellence from the Colorado Authors League and first place in literary fiction from the Colorado Independent Publishers Association. For more details visit www.wagingart.com.

Just keep swimming  Nyx C — Mitch here. Heads up that for a lot of this episode—basically all of it—Nyx and I discuss our experiences growing up in and leaving the LDS church (Mormons). We hit on some heavy topics, and we express our unedited thoughts and feelings about the kind of abuses of power that, again and again, are seen as direct results of organized religion. I speak only for myself here, though I think both of us express in this episode feeling that it is necessary to talk openly about our experiences in the hopes that good can come of it. If you're in the LDS church and happen to come across this, know that there is a lot more love in the world that does not come from the church. Those are my thoughts on the matter.

In the red corner, weighing in at 80 Serbian Kilos, the champion of humor and heartache, a Poet who’s never afraid to throw a punchline—ladies and gentlemen, give it up for Sasha “Max Jaw” T.! He writes short stories, comedy, poetry, film reviews, and draws comics like a pro. The northwestern sky, just after sunset, is his favorite. He’s got a knack for expression in verse and always spells “Love” with a capital L. Comedy is his mistress, Poetry his wife, and creativity his life. When he’s not creating, it’s like taking a body blow: sickness in the stomach, misery in the veins, and depression in the air. He’s not always the easiest to get along with, and he’s been known to say some stupid shit, but hey—he’s here to learn, even if it means risking sounding like a fool. Stepping into the ring with a pen in one hand and a wild imagination in the other, ready to deliver the knockout prose… Sasha “Max Jaw” T! Check out maxjaw.com for my work @maxjawofficial (for social.)

Girl “i have a haiku about this” Harbor is a poet now based in Chattanooga, TN. Girl Harbor is not sad. Any small thing in life will likely fill her with great joy. In this episode, you will hear her write out many of her issues, but you should know she’s just happy to be here. Girl Harbor loves to sing, write, meet new folks, and hang out with old friends. A dabbler at the core, she can tell you about any of her abundant hobbies, if you ask. If you would like ask, you can find her on instagram at er5in_ — **Mitch here. Some more recording woes—we were using a video meeting to record this episode, and I accidentally had my webcam selected for my audio instead of my mic. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Girl Harbor sounds good though, and that's what matters.

Photo to come! (I forgot to ask Ira for one and am scheduling this to post late at night, sorry) For almost 40 years, Ira Liss has performed as actor, improviser, pianist, singer, songwriter, show host, interviewer, performance poet, entertainer and more. He began his onstage career in NYC, doing standup comedy, singing his original songs at cabaret venues, joining  several theater improv companies, and working as an improv actor/company member of a murder mystery dinner theater that presented shows at dozens of venues all over Manhattan. He has acted in several plays in Colorado, most notably as co-creator, co-director, and actor in an original musical, Breaking Open, which was performed on the Front Range and in NYC. He’s performed his one-man shows, Piano, Poetry & Passion, on the CU-Boulder campus, at the Dairy Center, and as part of the Boulder International Fringe Festival, where he won an Audience-Choice Award. Currently, he hosts a monthly variety-talk show called,  Boulder Tonight (directed by Hektor Munoz), featuring guest artists who perform their original works and are interviewed about their life and art. The show also features house band, Black Market Translation – the band of Punketry, a monthly, musical/poetry event. He performs his original works, mostly improvised, with freestyle musical band, Art Compost & the Word Mechanics, in a Sunday evening time slot called, the Jam Before the Slam, at the Mercury Café in Denver. On Sundays, he can be seen playing piano and improvi–sing arrangements of American Songbook melodies of the last century in the Mercury Café’s main dining room. He has served as piano accompanist for Red Thread Playback Theater as well as several musical improv theater groups. Video recordings of his various performances can be seen on his YouTube channel, @TheIraLissShow (https://www.youtube.com/@TheIraLissShow/playlistb).

MWB (Mark Boczar) is a poet seeking to understand, and in the process, be understood. His work explores themes of love, identity, resilience, and the beauty to be found in every person, place & experience. Drawing inspiration from living remotely while traveling the United States and the rich tapestry of human emotion, his poetry blends his optimism for growing into the humans we are called to be with a deep sense of vulnerability. Since arriving in Denver, MWB has been a regular performer at the Mercury Café’s legendary Friday night poetry open-mic, using poetry as a way to connect and to navigate both the personal and the universal. If you relate to his words or simply wish to connect, he can be reached at: [email protected]. Setlist: The Bird from Sao Paulo that Makes Me Sing (0:21) The Wound Time Couldn't Heal (1:56) The Devil in Me (4:31) Lost In Thought (7:01) Jigsaw (8:08) Lucid Lovers (8:36) The Time I Gave Myself the Heimlich (8:56) Bare Soles (11:12) Corsica, July 26th, 2024 6:59 pm (12:52) Newton's 3rd Law, & the Consequences of Me and You (13:34) Ignited (14:44) The Early Worm (15:06) My Dear Eunice (16:35)