In this new podcast series, we explore elements of American operas - production and reception histories, social contexts, historical valences and more - through our artist and scholar community. In this episode from May 2018 Dana Gioia, internationally acclaimed and award-winning poet, former California Poet laureate and chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, discusses one of his heroes, Walt Whitman, and how Whitman's great love of opera influenced his life and work. To continue learning about American opera visit our Lesson Plans and Resources page at LAOpera.org/Connects.