Franny and Danez vs. the Couch

EWell, turns out the world can turn upside down. In the midst of social isolation and self-isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Franny and Danez tapped in from their homes in Massachusetts and Minneapolis, respectively, to talk about how they’re processing the absurd and unsettling time, what isolation has taught them, and the role of artistry in this crisis. Plus, they each read a new poem, send out a call for mailbag questions, and share some WRITING PROMPTS FOR Y’ALL! PLEASE share your questions for the hosts and the poems that you write to the prompts with us by emailing a voice memo recording of you reading your poem to vsthepodcast@gmail.com, so we can include them in next month’s VS episode! NOTE: Make sure you rate us on Apple Podcasts and write us a review!

Aricka Foreman vs. the Depths

EAricka Foreman is going deep. The formerly aspiring marine biologist and current excellent poet talks about her love of the ocean, her new collection Salt Body Shimmer, how she digs into the emotional depths and then pulls herself back out, and much more. NOTE: Make sure you rate us on Apple Podcasts and write us a review

Toaster vs. Big Kid Energy

EThis week’s guest, Toaster Henderson, is a poet, teaching artist at Young Chicago Authors, and cofounder of Big Kid Slam, an all-ages slam in Chicago that’s subverting the form’s expectations and carving some really great space for poets

Parneshia Jones vs. 2020

ESeason 4, y’all! Danez and Franny kick off the new year with Parneshia Jones. Parneshia is the author of Vessel, and serves as Editorial Director for Trade and Engagement at Northwestern University Press. They talk about the unique potential of art-making in this moment, the space she intentionally carves for Black women in the publishing world, the majesty of the front porch, and much more. Plus, a brand new unpublished poem! Poems read by Parneshia: 2020, The Day After Resurrection Under the Moon NOTE: Make sure you rate us on Apple Podcasts and write us a review!

VS Live with Patricia Smith at Chicago Humanities Festival

ESeason 3 of VS goes out with a bang! Franny and Danez take the stage as part of the Chicago Humanities Festival with the true gawd of this poetry world Patricia Smith. They talk about the most bone-chilling prompt ever, discuss form as a way to invite readers into the room, and finally settle the page vs. stage question once and for all. VS will return in early 2020! In the meantime, jump into the archives and enjoy three seasons of amazing conversations. NOTE: Make sure you rate us on Apple Podcasts and write us a review!

Beyza Ozer vs. Taking Time

Beyza Ozer brings love into the room and into their gorgeous poems on this episode, the penultimate episode of Season 3! The squad talks about taking time away from poems until they feel urgent and necessary again, writing love poems, Katya from Drag Race as muse and inspiration, and much more. NOTE: Make sure you rate us on Apple Podcasts and write us a review!

Xandria Phillips vs. Digging vs. Running

Franny and Danez dig real damn deep with Xandria Phillips. They discuss their collection Hull, learning how to write and revise with beginners’ eyes, painting and color theory, and much more. This one is a deep dive in the best possible way. NOTE: Make sure you rate us on Apple Podcasts and write us a review!

VS Live at the Asian American Literature Festival with Cathy Linh Che, Joseph Legaspi, and Sarah Gambito

Live from the Asian American Literature Festival, it’s VS! Danez and Franny talk with Cathy Linh Che, Joseph Legaspi, and Sarah Gambito about the remarkable work they’ve done building and maintaining Kundiman. Plus we hear some beautiful poems by all three guests, and some truly excellent shade is thrown. NOTE: Make sure you rate us on Apple Podcasts and write us a review!

Wo Chan vs. Drag

If hearing the brilliant Wo Chan talk with Danez and Franny about the mystical ritual of drag isn’t enough for you, maybe the spoiler alert that this episode is the first in VS history to need a crying break for all participants will get you to push that play button. Wo talks about the similarities of drag and poetry, the extreme loneliness of a childhood spent at Table 4a, and much more. Recorded at the Smithsonian Asian American Literature Festival! NOTE: Make sure you rate us on Apple Podcasts and write us a review!

Cathy Park Hong vs. Triumph

Cathy Park Hong has some thoughts for you, and some thoughts on how best to share them. The poet and essayist talks about her newest essay collection Minor Feelings, waking people up from the American Dream, practicing poetry in the real world, and more. Recorded at the Smithsonian Asian American Poetry Festival in DC–please excuse the “on-location” audio! In this episode, we incorrectly gendered brilliant poet CA Conrad. We apologize for the mistake, and encourage you to check out their work here: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/c-a-conrad. NOTE: Make sure you rate us on Apple Podcasts and write us a review!