Season 3 – Apples and Snakes

S3 EP20 | Amen Noir – Maintaining Presence

D237 — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 23:00:00 +0000

In the final episode of the season, Amen Noir and Yomi talk on the spoken word scene over the years and what gives strength to presence on stage, they touch on music and the power of harnessing your vulnerability. They discuss the importance of archiving in documenting the Black British cultural journey within the scene.

S3 EP19 | Belinda Zhawi – Connecting to your voice

D237 — Tue, 15 Apr 2025 23:00:00 +0000

Yomi is joined by Belinda Zhawi where they delve into how Belinda uses sound and voice in her work to transport audiences. They discuss the influences that fed into their craft and the legacies and contexts that come into storytelling.

S3 EP18 | Asmaa Jama – Honour your words

D237 — Tue, 08 Apr 2025 23:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Yomi is joined by Asmaa Jama. They talk about the interdependencies that writing and visuals have had on Asmaa’s work and creative journey. They discuss the importance of embodying and honouring your words through your work, allowing yourself to take up space and reach audiences.

S3 EP17 | Emmanuel Sugo – ‘Its a natural language’

D237 — Tue, 01 Apr 2025 23:00:00 +0000

Join Yomi and Emanuel Sugo as they discuss the intersection of poetry, fitness, and cultural storytelling and the many other doors that poetry has opened for them.

S3 EP16 | Vanessa Kisuule – The power of performance

D237 — Wed, 06 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This week, Yomi speaks to Vanessa Kisuule where they talk on the transformative power of performance. This episode delves into evolution of craft, the balance between page and stage and the profound impact of community and collaboration, discussing the richness of voices that are reshaping the poetry landscape.

S3 EP15 | Muneera Pilgrim – Witness your journey

D237 — Tue, 24 Sep 2024 23:00:00 +0000

In this week’s episode, Muneera Pilgrim joins Yomi in discussing her experience as a poet, coming from a hip hop background. They touch on the journey you take in seeing your worth and believing in yourself and how they were able to embody that.

S3 EP14 | Jeremiah Brown – Its a journey

D237 — Tue, 18 Jun 2024 23:00:00 +0000

In our latest episode, Yomi speaks to Jeremiah about his poetry journey, touching on the various mediums that Jeremiah has experimented with through his work. They talk on exploring poetry commercially, navigating poetry as a multidisciplinary artist and how you find yourself through these transitions.

S3 EP13 | Courtney Conrad – Keeping the faith

D237 — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 23:00:00 +0000

This week, Courtney joins Yomi in discussing what keeps them going. They touch on the value of community, taking things at your own pace and not limiting yourself. Courtney walks through different moments that have been pivotal, exploring religion, culture and other elements that feed into your authenticity.

S3 EP12 | Roger Robinson on being unapologetically you

D237 — Tue, 14 May 2024 23:00:00 +0000

In this week’s episode, Yomi speaks to Roger about his experience in different poetry scenes. They talk on the different dynamic talent that Roger has encountered and how it has highlighted the value of individuality. Roger discusses his relationship with music and how balancing different crafts feeds into his creativity.

S3 EP11 | BREIS – Its important to feel seen

D237 — Wed, 27 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

In our latest episode Yomi talks with Breis about balancing his life as a poet, author, hip hop educator and MC. They discuss business in poetry and Breis reflects on some of his proudest moments and how his work and outlook have evolved over time.

S3 EP10 | Miss Jacqui – It takes a lot of heart

D237 — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

In this week’s episode Yomi and Miss Jacqui discuss social influences, being a multidisciplinary artist and accessibility in the industry. Miss Jacqui talks about being human and how her work highlights the emotions that we all feel but don’t know how to articulate. Miss Jacqui reads the poem version of her song ‘Body Beautiful’.

S3 EP09 | Ragz CV – It’s all about the community

D237 — Wed, 28 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Yomi talks to Ryan about the power of community and the importance of supporting young people. Ryan pays homage to those who have fed into finding his purpose, whilst also speaking on the frustrations he experienced that have fuelled him towards his path. Ryan reads his poem ‘Don’t let the ends be the end’.

S3 EP08 | Joshua Idehen – You gotta get your hands dirty

D237 — Wed, 14 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This week, Yomi and Joshua discuss the “urgency” of writing. Joshua explores the impactful moments in his artistic career, reminiscing on the integral people he’s met along the way, from poetry nights to performing to the King of Sweden on national television. Joshua reads his poem ‘It’s closing time’.

S3 EP07 | Roy McFarlane – You’ve got to speak your truth

D237 — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Yomi and Roy recognise the people and the environments that have created the poetry scene today. They talk on the process of publishing and how to maintain your voice and access rawness as you progress. Roy reads his poem ‘To the Heron who stood with me in the ruins of another Black man’s life, After Gwendolyn Brooks and Gil Scott-Heron’.

S3 EP06 | Showing up with PA Bitez

D237 — Wed, 17 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Yomi speaks to PA Bitez on the power of the alter ego and being able enter the scene saying it all. They discuss the various entry points encountered, taking them into poetry and how cultures have impacted the vitality of their writing. PA Bitez reads her poem ‘Thunder Music’.

S3 EP05 | Anthony Joseph – When you say ”I’m a poet” it’s a huge thing

D237 — Wed, 29 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Yomi speaks to T.S. Eliot Prize-winning Anthony Joseph on what it means to be a poet and the various transitions through that journey. Anthony touches on the different landscapes he’s encountered, from being on stage in a rock band in the 80s to traveling the world and the surprising pleasures along the way.

S3 EP04 | Ty’rone Haughton – I’m not owed an audience

D237 — Tue, 14 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000

This week Yomi speaks with Ty’rone Haughton, founder and artistic director of Literati Arts, a non‑profit that promotes the art of poetry/spoken word and its role in community organising and healing. Ty’rone explores the sacrifices he has made to follow his path in poetry, the impact of Tupac and how the way poetry is taught in school kept him silent for 5 years. He reads his poem ‘Daddy don’t dance’.

S3 EP03 | Tolu Agbelusi – Sometimes, we just have to get it done.

D237 — Tue, 17 Oct 2023 23:00:00 +0000

In this week’s episode, Yomi and Tolu talk about the various pressures, obstacles and communities they have encountered over the years. They discuss the late writing nights, juggling work and writing and the complexity of trusting your voice. Tolu shares her poem ‘Things I can’t say’.

S3 SP02 | At risk of being excellent with Shirley May

D237 — Tue, 03 Oct 2023 23:00:00 +0000

In this week’s episode, Yomi and Shirley discuss Shirley’s journey to poetry. From freestyling to crafting poems and how poets that she had poured so much into, finally helped her lay out and push her own collection.

S3 EP 01 | Malika Booker – Live and Direct from The Roundhouse

D237 — Tue, 19 Sep 2023 23:00:00 +0000

For our first episode of this brand new season, Yomi talks live with Malika Booker as part of our 40th Birthday Celebrations at Roundhouse. Yomi and Malika talk about poetry, lessons and the rituals that have formed a big part of their lives and writing journey. Malika shares her poem ‘Jesus in the wilderness’.