Breaking Form: a Poetry and Culture Podcast
Episodes
Vitamin D (A Poetry Salon)
29 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Please Support Breaking Form!Review the show on Apple Podcasts here.Aaron's STOP LYING is available from the Pitt Poetry Series.James's ROM...
Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral (A Poetry Salon)
22 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Please Support Breaking Form!Review the show on Apple Podcasts here.Aaron's STOP LYING is available from the Pitt Poetry Series.James's ROM...
Knight Him (A Poetry Salon)
15 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Please Support Breaking Form!Review the show on Apple Podcasts here.Aaron's STOP LYING is available from the Pitt Poetry Series.James's ROM...
That Moon Will Kill Me (A Poetry Salon)
08 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
All Tops
01 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Nerd tops, dom tops, soft tops: the queens go gaga over a discussion of their top poems by favorite poets. Please Support Breaking Form!Review the sh...
OnlyForms
24 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Let's get trioleted, girls! The queens delve into some fun poetic forms.Please Support Breaking Form!Review the show on Apple Podcasts here.Aaro...
Fear Less (with Special Guest Tracy K. Smith)
17 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Tracy K. Smith joins for the Breaking Form Interview to discuss her new book of prose about poetry, Fear Less.Please Support Breaking Form!Review the...
Language of Survival
10 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sometimes poetry is a shield.Please Support Breaking Form!Review the show on Apple Podcasts here.Aaron's STOP LYING is available from the Pitt P...
National Book Awards 2025
03 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The ladies break out the poetry crystal ball and predict the winner of the 2025 National Book Award for Poetry.Please Support Breaking Form!Review the...
Song
27 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The queens revisit and sing the praises of Brigit Pegeen Kelly's poem "Song." Please Support Breaking Form!Review the show on Apple P...
Ekphrastic Poetry
20 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The queens put the SIS in ekphrasis!Please Support Breaking Form!Review the show on Apple Podcasts here.Aaron's STOP LYING is available from the...
About Time (with Special Guest David Duchovny)
13 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The queens talk with David Duchovny about poetry, Lacanian psychotherapy, love, the future perfect, and the lost past. Please Support Breaking Form!R...
The Dating Game
06 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The queens select some very poetic bachelors and decide where they'd read them on their date.Please Support Breaking Form!Review the show on App...
Aaron and James Went to Pittsburgh
29 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The queens descend upon Pittsburgh for a bittersweet (but dishy) tribute for Ed Ochester (1939-2023).Please Support Breaking Form!Review the show on ...
Pairings
22 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The ladies pair poets together that prove complementary--or contrarian!Please Support Breaking Form!Review the show on Apple Podcasts here.Aaron&apos...
Tossing off with Tommy
15 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The judgy Judies play Toss or Keep to help their friend Tommy downsize his poetry library.Please Support Breaking Form!Review the show on Apple Podca...
That's What She Said
08 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The ladies get manifesto on that butt! (And mouth.) Please Support Breaking Form!Review the show on Apple Podcasts here.Aaron's STOP LYING is a...
I Myself Am Hell
01 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The queens summon lines designed to stop readers in their tracks. Please Support Breaking Form!Review the show on Apple Podcasts here.Aaron's S...
I Do Know Some Things (with Richard Siken)
25 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The queens are joined by poetry crush Richard Siken, & talk heroes, rabbits, robots, & healing.Please Support Breaking Form!Review the show o...
The Hof(f)man(n)s
18 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The hosts get familiar with the poetry of three Hof(f)man(n)s--Carlie, Michael, and Richie.Please Support Breaking Form!Review the show on Apple Podc...
Location! Location! Location!
11 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How do poets write about place, and how does place shape a poet? Play along as the queens place these poems!Please Support Breaking Form!Review the sh...
Touchstone Poems (Part 2)
04 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Touchstones part 1 hit so good, we decided to go another round!Please Support Breaking Form!Review the show on Apple Podcasts here.Aaron's STOP ...
Poetry Babies
28 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The queens play poetry matchmakers and nine months later, boom, there's a poetry baby!Please Support Breaking Form!Review the show on Apple Podc...
Touchstone Poems
21 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The gals talk foundational poems--and they might just surprise you!Please Support Breaking Form!Review the show on Apple Podcasts here.Aaron's S...
Prose for Poets
14 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The library is open--to prose the queens find indispensable for poets!Please Support Breaking Form!Review the show on Apple Podcasts here.Aaron'...
Where Are They Now
07 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The queens put the "arch" in "archive" and rediscover some favorite poetry blasts from the past.Please Support Breaking Form!Revie...
A Pride Episode: Trans Poetry
30 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The queens talk literary confidantes; then we discuss the pros and pitfalls of poetic friendships.Please Support Breaking Form!Review the show on App...
Thank You for Being a Friend
23 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The queens talk literary confidantes; then we discuss the pros and pitfalls of poetic friendships.Please Support Breaking Form!Review the show on App...
The Broads Abroad
16 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Breaking Form broads recount their poetic travels abroad in this Season 3 opener.Please Support Breaking Form!Review the show on Apple Podcasts h...
Encore Presentation: The Bones of Power (with Special Guest Diane Seuss) (Ep. 132)
09 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Encore Presentation: The Great Unsayable Sex Workshop (Ep. 71)
02 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Encore Presentation: Mona in the Corner (Ep. 6)
26 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Encore Presentation: Fan Fic (Ep. 137)
19 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Really?
12 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The queens boil down the essence of some favorite poems and poets in this game that decides what poetry is *really* about.Please Support Breaking Form...
Just the Tips: Literary Submissions
05 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If you're looking to submit, the queens have some advice for you!Please Support Breaking Form!Review the show on Apple Podcasts here.Aaron'...
The Poems of Brad Pitt
28 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The ladies ask AI to write poems about Brad Pitt's butt. It’s not so bad Brad, sad Brad, is it?Please Support Breaking Form!Review the show on...
The Final Countdown
21 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The queens discuss and revise a recent list of "best poetry," adding other tops (& bottoms & verses & sides, you get the point, ...
James Went to AWP
14 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The queens dish this year’s AWP Conference!Please Support Breaking Form!Review the show on Apple Podcasts here.Aaron's STOP LYING is available ...
Leather Bar
07 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Get in, gurl, we're reading poetry at your unfriendly neighborhood leather bar.Please Support Breaking Form!Review the show on Apple Podcasts he...
Super Gay Poems w/ Guest Stephanie Burt
31 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The queens super-gay it up with Stephanie Burt, the editor of the new poetry anthology, SUPER GAY POEMS.Please Support Breaking Form!Review the show ...
Brenda's Resistance Playlist (w/ Brenda Shaughnessy)
24 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We're talking resistance, joy, and queer communities with Brenda Shaughnessy!Please Support Breaking Form!Review the show on Apple Podcasts here...
Erase-Him Poems
17 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The queens get to the poetic essence with the help of erasure and re-envisioning.Please Support Breaking Form!Review the show on Apple Podcasts here....
Her Kind: Anne Sexton
10 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join the thirsty queens for a gin & Sextonic, in this tribute to the iconic work of Anne Sexton.Please Support Breaking Form!Review the show on A...
The Loves of My Life (with Special Guest Edmund White)
03 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The queens talk with gay literary icon Edmund White about his new book, The Loves of My Life: A Sex Memoir. (Miguel Murphy joins in the fun, too!)Plea...
Shorties
24 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The queens prove that it's not the size of the ship but the motion etc etc in this episode devoted to short poems.Please Support Breaking Form!Re...
Fusion
17 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Get out your UV lights & swabs--the queens play a game that fuses poems, then guess the poetic DNA samples. Then we spark up a fusion of a differe...
Sissy
10 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The queens get sassy and sissify toxic cisheteronormative gender ideas about poetry.Please Support Breaking Form!Review the show on Apple Podcasts he...
Male Nipples (with Special Guest Brenda Hillman)
03 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The queens discuss gay icon status with Brenda Hillman--and then launch in to a revisit of several of her poems, including her fabulous "Male Nip...
Sex Lives of Poets: Langston Hughes
27 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Candle-extinguishing butts, 3am afterparties, collections of seamen (and semen)--this dishy tour of Langston Hughes's love life will leave you ga...
Half a Poem
20 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Whet your appetite with half a poem from 3 fabulous poets and choose your own poetic fulfillment!Please Support Breaking Form!Review the show on Appl...
In & Out (2025)
13 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The queens go in (and out) on poetry trends for 2025, all while doing their Kegel exercises. Please Support Breaking Form!Review the show on Apple Po...
World AIDS Day (Encore Presentation)
01 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A special encore presentation of our World AIDS Day episode from last year, featuring work by writers we've lost to AIDS.Please Support Breaking ...
Step Your Poetry Up
25 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The queens play a round of Step Your Poetry Up before poet-voicing porn dialogue. Please Support Breaking Form!Review the show on Apple Podcasts here...
Circe’s Power: A Tribute to Louise Glück
18 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
If they wanted only to hold you, the queens could hold you prisoner in this tribute to America's most recent Nobel Laureate. Please Support Break...
Ross Gay Mathews
11 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The queens get Bossy Rossy before they compare thee to a summer's eve.Please Support Breaking Form!Review the show on Apple Podcasts here.Pretty...
Darling Nicky ( w/ special guest Nicky Beer)
04 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The queens talk bisexual poetics and genius with Nicky Beer, before getting all dolled up in a game of real vs fake Dolly. Support Breaking Form!Revie...
What Werk Is
28 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The queens have one thing to say: you better werk!Support Breaking Form!Review the show on Apple Podcasts here.Buy our books:   Aaron's STO...
Cherapy: Poet Casting Call
21 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Snap INTO it, girlarina! The queens re-cast Cher movies with poets.Support Breaking Form!Review the show on Apple Podcasts here.Buy our books:   ...
The Brendas
14 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The queens get all Brenda on that Brenda, you Brenda? Support Breaking Form!Review the show on Apple Podcasts here.Buy our books:   Aaron's...
Be Afraid to Say It
07 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join the Salami Sisters for this episode of The Real Housef*gs of Breaking Form. Support Breaking Form!Review the show on Apple Podcasts here.Buy our...
National Book Awards
30 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The queens get out their big smooth (crystal) balls to predict the National Book Award shortlist in poetry. Play along! The shortlist is announced Oct...
Following Orders (Occasional Poems)
23 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Your favorite bridesmaids are (drunk and dis)orderly in this episode about writing for special occasions. Support Breaking Form!Review the show on Ap...
Wet Geography
16 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The queens are all lubed up and waiting for you in the badlands that is Breaking Form.If you'd like to support Breaking Form:Review the show on ...
James Goes to Bread Loaf
09 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Go tell it on the mountain, darlings! Join the queens for a special Breaking Form report on the Bread Loaf Writers' Conference.If you'd like...
Summer Poetry Salon #5
02 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join the queens for this last poetry salon, where we highlight fabulous poets we haven't discussed much on the show.If you'd like to support...
Summer Poetry Salon #4
26 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Settle in for this fourth poetry salon, a show as jam-packed with radiant pleasure as a dark room in Rehoboth.If you'd like to support Breaking F...
Summer Poetry Salon #3
19 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This Summer Salon has zero tan-lines and a ton of fabulous poetry! If you'd like to support Breaking Form:Review the show on Apple Podcasts here....
Summer Poetry Salon #2
12 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Who wears short shorts? Celebrate summer with the queens as we read poets we haven't focused on before.If you'd like to support Breaking For...
Summer Poetry Salon #1
05 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Breaking Form girls are taking a little August break, but we still want to brighten your summer with poems!Â
Stoned
29 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Spill all the tea but spill it slant with the Breaking Form queens in this episode dedicated to the art of secrets.If you'd like to support Break...
Commitments: A Revisit of Essex Hemphill
22 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Aaron and James revisit an iconic poem about queer duty and erasure by Essex Hemphill.If you'd like to support Breaking Form:Review the show on ...
Secrets
15 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Spill all the tea but spill it slant with the Breaking Form queens in this episode dedicated to the art of secrets.If you'd like to support Break...
Funny
08 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Knock knock, darlings! Join the queens as we talk about funny poems.If you'd like to support Breaking Form:Review the show on Apple Podcasts her...
F*ck You Poems
01 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Celebrating the art of the poetic punch & helping Form Breakers everywhere say "f*ck you" to their nemesissies. If you'd like to su...
Golden Girls
24 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Are you a friend of Dorothy? This episode pays tribute to The Golden Girls, but in the most Breaking Form way possible!If you'd like to support B...
Versesucker
17 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On your knees with the queens in the poetry darkroom, poetic pleasures await! Then we wipe off our kneecaps before hitting the Pride Parade.If you&a...
The Tortured Poets Department
10 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We're snatching wigs in this one! The queens get real about bad poetry. If you'd like to support Breaking Form:Review the show on Apple Podc...
Leading Ladies
03 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A leading ladies game leads to a tombstone-poetry pop quiz before Monica Farrell reads a poem by Michael Dumanis. Happy Pride Month!Watch Anne Sexton ...
Early Reads
27 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The queens revisit some early, inspiring books of poetry that still slap! Come nerd out with us. If you'd like to support Breaking Form:Review th...
Heathers
20 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Break out the croquet for a game of poets named Heather before the queens talk poetry inspired by the movie Heathers. No, Heather, it's Heather&a...
Letters to a Stranger
13 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The queens blur the boundaries between Dylan Thomas James, then become shady ladies about Broetry.If you'd like to support Breaking Form:Review t...
The Art of Losing: The Love Life of Elizabeth Bishop
06 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The art of losing isn't hard to master in this episode devoted to the loves and losses of Elizabeth Bishop's life. If you'd like to sup...
The Gods at 3 A.M. (guest Jericho Brown on Reginald Shepherd pt. 2)
29 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jericho Brown returns to finish the conversation about Reginald Shepherd, (in)formalism, and inspiration. If you'd like to support Breaking Form:...
Book Club
22 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
If you bring along to Breaking Form Book Club an extra bottle of chardonnay, we'll read some poems from books you may have missed....If you&apo...
Make Myself a Myth (guest Jericho Brown on Reginald Shepherd)
15 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
If you'd like to support Breaking Form:Review the show on Apple Podcasts here.Buy our books:Â Â Â Aaron's STOP LYING is available from the...
Love at First Hate
08 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The queens love to love you--but it didn't always start out like that. Stick around for our game: "Pulitzer Prize Winning Titles from an Alt...
Fan Fic
01 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The queens remake the endings of iconic poems, then play a round of "Gay or Homophobic?"Support Breaking Form!Review the show on Apple Podca...
Outside the Lines
25 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Aaron spills the tea about recording a spoken word album, then the queens get on all fours for some Poet Sex Positions. Woof woof, darlings!Support ...
The King Is Dead (with guest Diane Seuss)
18 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It's a queens' jubilee as we discuss Clifton and Glück poems with Diane Seuss, who concludes by reading a new poem!Support Breaking For...
Satan Says
11 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Get ready to unlock your box with the Breaking Form queens as they discuss Sharon Olds's icon poem, "Satan Says"Read the text of "...
Queer Eye for the Str8 Poet
04 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join the gals for the queer makeover you secretly knew straight cis guy poetry needed.Support Breaking Form!Review the show on Apple Podcasts here.Buy...
The Bones of Power (with special guest Diane Seuss)
26 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In every symptom is a seed of power, ladies! Diane Seuss joins to talk Adrienne Rich and Gwendolyn Brooks.Support Breaking Form!Review the show on App...
Hanky Code
19 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The ladies reach into your back pocket to talk gay hanky codes and the poets they ASSociate with them.Support Breaking Form!Review the show on Apple P...
Galentine's Day (with Guest Diane Seuss)
12 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The ladies are joined by the Queen herself, Diane Seuss, to spread some love for Galentine's Day. Support Breaking Form!Review the show on Apple ...
Dead Poets Society
05 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The queens discuss some unusual, at times outlandish (or downright made-up), and unfortunate ends some poets have met. Support Breaking Form!Review...
Red Flags
29 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The queens issue a BOLO for poetry red flags before getting around to a satisfying Jack-Off.Support Breaking Form!Review the show on Apple Podcasts ...
Your Next Seduction
22 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Support Breaking Form!Review the show on Apple Podcasts here.Buy our books:Â Â Â Aaron's STOP LYING is available from the Pitt Poetry Series. Â ...
Sex Lives of Poets: Eliot
15 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It's the love song of J. Alfred Prufcock--er, Prufrock this week as the queens discuss the sex life of T.S. Eliot.Support Breaking Form!Review th...
Frankly
08 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Get frankly franking frank with the queens this week--then let's talk about sex, baby! Support Breaking Form!Review the show on Apple Podcasts he...
Queer-Ass Poems
01 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The queens help you start your new year off right: with some fierce, unapologetic, fabulous queer writers!Support Breaking Form!Review the show on App...