Scottish Poetry Library Podcast

In Conversation with Mohammed Moussa

27 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Mohammed Moussa, a Palestinian freelance journalist and poet, was born and raised in the Gaza Strip. Growing up in this conflict-ridden region, he fac...

In Conversation With Valerie Gillies

22 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In this special extended SPL podcast the poet Valerie Gillies discusses her life in poetry with the SPL's Samuel Tongue and Sukhema (aka Larry Butler)...

From the Archive: Brian Turner. May 2014

18 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Brian Turner is an American poet. He served for seven years in the U.S. Army, completing tours of duty in Bosnia-Herzegovina (1999-2000) before being...

From the Archive: Antonio Ochoa and Eduardo Milán. July 2013

18 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In this podcast from July 2013, former SPL Programme Manager Jennifer Williams talks to poet, teacher and editor Antonio Ochoa about living and workin...

Nothing But The Poem - Andrea Gibson

15 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

When Andrea Gibson died from cancer in 2025 it was a huge loss to the poetry community worldwide. Her poetry resonated deeply with a wide audience of ...

From the Archive: Far Off Places. October 2014

11 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In 2014 we chatted to the editors of Far Off Places, a young literary magazine, brave in its outlook and willing to seek connections between genres an...

From the Archive: Ilyse Kusnetz. May 2014

04 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In this podcast Jennifer Williams talks to Ilyse Kusnetz (1966—2016) who was visiting Scotland during the StAnza Festival 2014. They talk about whe...

From the Archive: Jacob Polley. March 2015

28 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This podcast was recorded at-and in partnership with-the 2014 StAnza International Poetry Festival. Jennifer Williams talked to Jacob Polley about mea...

From the Archive: Jem Rolls. January 2015

21 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Performance poet Jem Rolls tells all about the page/stage debate, what it takes to make a living from performing poetry and how rhyme helps you remem...

Nothing But the Poem - Thomas A Clark

15 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Thomas A Clark's latest poetry collection - thrums - is an experimental book-length sequence of minimalist verse. The poems reward repeated reading, ...

From the Archive: Quaich. December 2014

14 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this podcast Jennifer Williams talks to Madeleine Campbell, A C Clarke, Christine De Luca and Haris Psarras about poetry translation in Scotland an...

From the Archive: Commonwealth Poets United-Salma. January 2015

07 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this podcast from 2015, Jennifer Williams speaks to Salma*, an Indian poet and crusader for women’s rights.  They talk about Salma’s strength ...

From the Archive: Commonwealth Poets United-Tolu Ogunlesi. November 2015

30 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It has been some time since this podcast was recorded with one of our Commonwealth Poets United visitors, Tolu Ogunlesi, however it feels like just th...

From the Archive: Alasdair Paterson. June 2014

23 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Odysseys of one sort or another theme this archive edition of the SPL podcast. Our guide, the poet Alasdair Paterson, takes us on a journey from a wry...

From the Archive: Speaking in Tongues – Bilingual Poetry. August 2015

16 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this podcast guest interviewer and multi-lingual writer and translator Jessica Johannesson Gaitán talks to three bilingual poets about what it mea...

From the Archive: Commonwealth Poets United-Toni Stuart and Rachel McCrum. June 2014.

09 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Commonwealth Poets United was an international exchange between six Scottish poets and poets from six Commonwealth nations. Toni Stuart is a South Afr...

From the Archive: Gerry Loose. October 2014

02 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In August 2014, our then regular podcast host Colin Waters travelled to Faslane, home of the UK’s nuclear deterrent, to talk to poet Gerry Loose. Lo...

Nothing But the Poem - Isabelle Baafi

27 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This edition of our Nothing But The Poem podcast, hosted as usual by Samuel Tongue, features two poems by Isabelle Baafi, from her 2025 Forward Prize ...

From the archive: Hugo Williams. November 2014

26 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Hugo Williams won the 1999 TS Eliot Prize for Billy’s Rain, a collection that captured a certain amount of journalistic interest for its unvarnished...

From the Archive: Jenny Lewis. May 2014

19 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When we think of World War One, our images of the conflict are largely shaped by those of the Western Front or perhaps Gallipoli. It was a truly globa...

Nothing But The Poem - Juana Adcock

16 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The latest edition of our Nothing But The Poem podcast, hosted as usual by Samuel Tongue, features two poems by Juana Adcock. Samuel Tongue comments: ...

From the Archive: J.L. Williams. March 2014

12 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

J.L. Williams is a poet fascinated by the possibility of metamorphosis, whether it be witnessed in the natural world or experienced in one’s own lif...

Tony Harrison Interview at Edinburgh Filmhouse in 2018

06 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

On Monday 19th November 2018 the poet Tony Harrison took part in a special event at Edinburgh Filmhouse. It was a rare public appearance from harrison...

From the Archive: After Lermontov. December 2014

05 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

2014 marked the bicentenary of the birth of the Russian novelist and poet Mikhail Lermontov. A book, After Lermontov, featured a number of the Russian...

From the Archive: Niall Campbell. April 2014

28 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In 2014 Niall Campbell was described as one of the most promising poets of the younger generation of Scottish writers. Hailing from the island of Sout...

From the Caribbean to Caledonia: Two National Bards in Conversation At Burns's Ellisland Farm

24 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

On a sun-kissed Autumn's afternoon on the banks of the River Nith two National Poets sat down to chat about Rabbie Burns, Bob Marley, Dante's Inferno,...

From the Archive: Sheena Blackhall. July 2015

21 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sheena Blackhall is a poet, novelist, short story writer, illustrator, traditional storyteller and singer who is the author, as the podcast explores, ...

From the Archive: Caroline Bird. May 2014

14 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In 2014 presenter Ryan Van Winkle talked with poet Caroline Bird after her reading at The Sutton Gallery in Edinburgh. She discussed her collection Th...

From the Archive: My Life in Poetry with Candia McWilliam. December 2012

07 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In November 2012, we staged the first in a new series of My Life in Poetry events at the Scottish Poetry Library. My Life in Poetry invites guests to ...

From the Archive: Fiona Sampson. August 2012

31 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Fiona Sampson is an award-winning poet whose honours include the Cholmondeley Award and Newdigate Prize, as well as being shortlisted twice for both t...

From the Archive: Glyn Maxwell. October 2013

24 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this podcast, recorded in August 2013 during the Edinburgh International Book Festival, Glyn Maxwell reads poems from his collection Pluto (Picador...

Samuel Tongue In Conversation with Taylor Dyson

20 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Our resident podcast host, Samuel Tongue, speaks with the Dundee poet Taylor Dyson about her work and her appointment as the new Dundee and Angus Scot...

From the Archive: Judy Brown. September 2012

17 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Judy Brown’s first book, Loudness (Seren, 2011) was shortlisted for the 2011 Forward Felix Dennis prize for best first collection. Jennifer Williams...

From the Archive: Kay Ryan. August 2013

10 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this longer-than-usual podcast from 2013, Jennifer Williams talks to Kay Ryan, American poet, educator and 16th United States Poet Laureate. Kay wa...

From the Archive: Ken Babstock. May 2013

03 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Jennifer Williams talks with Griffin Award Winning Canadian poet Ken Babstock about ‘the thingyness of things’, Paul Muldoon, the weather, Canadia...

From the Archive: Lynn Davidson & Alyson Hallett. January 2014

27 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this 2014 podcast Jennifer Williams talks to two Hawthornden Fellows: Lynn Davidson and Alyson Hallett about where they come from, loneliness versu...

From the Archive: Marie Howe. October 2012

20 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

“I feel poets have saved my life. The poets are our companions. They have found words for states all of us have experienced.” So said Marie Howe o...

From the Archive: Robert Wrigley. December 2013

13 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this podcast Jennifer Williams talks to Robert Wrigley about his collection and first book to be published in the UK, The Church of Omnivorous Ligh...

Nothing But The Poem - Mick Imlah

10 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this Nothing But The Poem podcast, our usual host Samuel Tongue, with the SPL Friends Group, take a look at two poems from Mick Imlah. In a Guardia...

From the Archive: Sean Borodale. August 2012

06 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We met up with Sean Borodale at the Edinburgh International Book Festival in August 2012, where he was reading from his debut collection Bee Journal, ...

From the Archive: Tadeusz Dąbrowski. June 2013

29 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this podcast, Jennifer Williams talks to Polish poet, essayist, editor and critic Tadeusz Dąbrowski. They are joined by Kasia Kokowska of Interak...

Nothing But The Poem - Naomi Shihab Nye

26 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The prize-winning and former Chancellor of the Academy of American Poets, Naomi Shihab Nye is the subject of this month’s Nothing But The Poem podca...

From the Archive: Tony Lopez. February 2013

22 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this podcast, Jennifer Williams discusses constructivist poetry and more with award-winning poet, fiction writer, critic and professor Tony Lopez a...

From the Archive: Tracey S. Rosenberg. April 2013

15 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

On 15 February 2013, Jennifer Williams and poet/author Tracey S. Rosenberg had a chat about that dreaded and unavoidable demon that every publishing w...

Nothing But the Poem - Ngwatilo Mawiyoo

09 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The multidimensional Kenyan poet, filmmaker and writer Ngwatilo Mawiyoo is the subject of this month’s Nothing But The Poem podcast. Keguro Macharia...

From the Archive: Eddie Linden. May 2013

08 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Who was Eddie Linden (1935-2023)? A poet, an editor, and a man with an extraordinary range of contacts and friends who ranged from Tom Leonard to Haro...

From the Archive: George Szirtes. March 2013

01 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Born in Budapest and brought up in England after coming to the UK as a refugee in 1956, George Szirtes has remained one of the country’s most intere...

From the Archive: Marianne Boruch. January 2013

25 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Good poetry gets beneath the skin of readers. This episode features a poet who, for a short period, literally got ‘under the skin’. In the autumn ...

From the Archive: Liz Lochhead 40th Anniversary of Memo for Spring. September 2012

18 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In 1972, Liz Lochhead published her debut collection, Memo For Spring, a landmark in Scottish literature. In an extended interview with Colin Waters, ...

From the Archive: Ross Sutherland. October 2013

11 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In 2013, Edinburgh-born Ross Sutherland was described as one of the most interesting young poets working in Britain. Inspired by cut-ups and technolog...

Nothing But The Poem - Norman MacCaig

07 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of Nothing But The Poem podcast, our usual host Samuel Tongue goes in deep on two weel kent poems by Norman MacCaig, one of Scotland's...

From the Archive: Iain Sinclair. July 2013

04 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Iain Sinclair is one of the UK’s greatest living writers. Famed for his novels, such as Downriver, and documentary prose, of which London Orbital is...

From the Archives: The Gift to See Ourselves – The Best Scottish Poetry Collections. December 2012

27 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We have all heard the arguments in favour of Scotland’s best poet or favourite poem, but what about its greatest collection? In this recording from ...

From the Archive: Anita Govan. November 2014

20 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Anita Govan has been involved in performance poetry for many years, long before it became as widespread as it is today, both as a performer and an org...

From the Archive: The Written World. October 2012

13 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Written World was the Scottish Poetry Library’s London 2012 project. To mark the Olympics, we launched a scheme to find a poem for each of the 2...

From the Archive: Aonghas MacNeacail. Feb 2013

06 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Aonghas MacNeacail (1942-2022) was a leading voice in Gaelic poetry for decades, as poet, and as a regular literary commentator in print and on Gaelic...

From the Archive: Ian Bell on Bob Dylan. December 2013

30 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Bob Dylan has played many roles in his life: voice of a generation, rock ‘n’ roll Judas, Christian convert, even Victoria’s Secret salesman. The...

Wild Writing talk to the SPL

26 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Lorna French and Anna Gray lead small groups of (mostly) women to let loose their wild side, to dive in to their unconscious and find their buried tre...

From the Archive: Best Scottish Poems 2012

23 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Best Scottish Poems is the Scottish Poetry Library’s annual online anthology of the 20 Best Scottish Poems, edited each year by a different editor. ...

From the Archive: MacGillivray. February 2014

16 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this podcast the poet and artist MacGillivray reads from and discusses her book, The Last Wolf of Scotland (Pighog). The collection is an explorati...

From the Archive: Kae (Kate)Tempest. September 2013

09 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this 2013 podcast, Jennifer Williams talks to poet, playwright and recording artist Kate Tempest* about hip hop, poetry, their play Brand New Ancie...

From the Archive: Jenny Lindsay. August 2014

02 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Jenny Lindsay was co-creator of the popular ‘poetry cabaret’ Rally and Broad (which ran from 2012-2016), a hit originally in Edinburgh that spread...

Nothing But The Poem - RS Thomas

26 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The famous Welsh poet RS Thomas is the subject of this month's Nothing But The Poem podcast. Anne Stevenson of the Listener describes Thomas as a reli...

From the Archive: Chrys Salt.April 2015

23 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Poet Chrys Salt talks about who has the right to write about certain subjects, about writing war poetry when you have a son who is a soldier, and how ...

From the Archive: Brian Johnstone. August 2010

16 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Brian Johnstone (1950 - 2021) was a poet and former director of the StAnza poetry festival. In this archive podcast he discusses the highlights of his...

From the Archive: Alexander Hutchison. March 2014

09 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Alexander Hutchison (1942-2015) was a poet and translator in Scots and English. His first book Deep-Tap Tree (University of Massachusetts Press, 1978)...

Nothing But The Poem - Niall Campbell

06 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Niall Campbell is the subject of this month's Nothing But The Poem podcast. The South Uist poet has had three collections of poetry published, has won...

From the Archive: Walking With Poets. November 2013

02 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Walking With Poets was an SPL project that looked at an old subject, nature, using new media. We put four poets – Sue Butler, Mandy Haggith, Jean At...

From the Archive: John Burnside and Allison Funk.November 2012

30 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Possessing a friendship that spanned the Atlantic, Scotland’s John Burnside (1955-2024) and America’s Allison Funk were captured in conversation,...

Nothing But The Poem - Victoria Chang

21 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Victoria Chang is the subject of this month's Nothing But The Poem podcast. The Taiwanese-American poet has had seven collections of poetry published,...

Celebrating 30 years of Dream State with its editor Donny O'Rourke

17 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this extended version of Nothing But The Poem Kevin Williamson interviews Donny O'Rourke, editor of Dream State - The New Scottish Poets which was ...

Nothing But The Poem - Gboyega Odubanjo

31 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The poetry community was shocked and saddened when the much-loved young poet Gboyega Odubanjo died last year. Since then a full length collection of h...

Into Poetry - a conversation between David Cameron and Samuel Tongue

23 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Into Poetry is an exciting new outlet for poetry in both print and online based in Scotland. In the run up to its launch its editor, David Cameron, d...

Nothing But The Poem - Kathryn Bevis

15 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

“To make art out of something painful, uncertain or damaging is an act of real empowerment” wrote Kathryn Bevis, who died in May 2024. Her first f...

Nothing But The Poem - Caroline Bird

17 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Our usual host, Sam Tongue, puts two poems by the wonderful Yorkshire poet Caroline Bird, under the groupchat microscope. Caroline Bird has publishe...

Hai-Aidh! Pod-chraolaidh #7 - Petra Johana Poncarová agus Donnchadh Sneddon

15 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Ann an Hai-Àidh #7, tha Petra Johana Poncarová agus Donnchadh Sneddon a’ coimhead air dìleab Ruaraidh MhicThòmais mar bhàrd, neach-deasachaidh...

Hai-Aidh! Pod-chraolaidh #6 - Niall O’Gallagher agus Alasdair C. Whyte

24 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Ann an Hai-Àidh #6, thagh Niall O’Gallagher ‘Bisearta’ le Deòrsa Mac Iain Dheòrsa agus Alasdair C. MacIlleBhàin ‘Gur fad ’am thàmh mi ...

Nothing But The Poem - Alexander 'Sandy' Hutchison

10 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The much-loved and much-missed Scottish poet and translator, Alexander 'Sandy' Hutchison, is the latest subject of the Nothing But The Poem podcast, p...

Moon Tell Me Truth: audio accompaniment

31 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A short audio recording to accompany the Moon Tell Me Truth exhibition at the Scottish Poetry Library.

Hai-Aidh! Pod-chraolaidh #5 - Joy Dunlop agus Peigi Nic a’ Phiocair

29 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Ann an Hai-Àidh #5, thagh Peigi Nic a’ Phiocair ‘Oidhche Na' Mo Chadal Dhomh’ le Nellie Ruadh, dàn a chaidh lorg o chionn ghoirid ann an tasg...

Nothing But The Poem - Nuala Watt

23 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Our usual host, Sam Tongue, is back from paternity leave, and between feeds and nappy changes has recorded the latest episode of our regular Nothing B...

Hai-Aidh! Pod-chraolaidh #4 - Meg Bateman agus Joy Dunlop

14 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Ann an Hai-Àidh #4, thagh Meg Bateman ‘Cànan na Deighe’ le Beth Frieden agus Joy Dunlop ‘Nam Aonar le Mo Smaointean’ le Iain MacLeòid. Tha...

Nothing But The Poem - Billy Collins

22 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Billy Collins, the former Poet Laureate of the United States, is the latest subject of the Nothing But The Poem podcast. With our regular podcast host...

Nothing But The Poem - Eavan Boland

04 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Eavan Boland is the latest subject of the Nothing But The Poem podcast. With our regular podcast host Sam Tongue on paternity leave this edition has B...

Nothing But The Poem - Jane Clarke

20 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Jane Clarke is the latest subject of the Nothing But The Poem podcast. Jane Clarke is an Irish poet; the author of three poetry collections and an ill...

Bertony Louis Interviewed

28 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

On Wednesday 27th September 2023 the acclaimed Haitian poet Bertony Louis visited the Scottish Poetry Library to speak at an event where he discussed ...

Nothing But The Poem - Kei Miller

14 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Kei Miller is the latest subject of the Nothing But The Poem podcast. Kei Miller is a Forward Prize-winning Jamaican poet; a prolific author who has p...

Nothing But The Poem - Douglas Dunn

02 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Douglas Dunn is one of Scotland's most decorated poets - he has an OBE and a Queen's Medal - as well as one of Scotland's most loved poets. He is undo...

Nothing But The Poem - Dionne Brand

08 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In a fair and equal world Toronto-based poet Dionne Brand would be widely recognised as one of the world’s foremost practitioners of poetry. Yet, in...

Nothing But The Poem - Jonathan Edwards

17 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welsh poet Jonathan Edwards is the latest subject of the Nothing But The Poem podcast. As always our host Sam Tongue takes a deep dive into two of hi...

Nothing But The Poem - Ross Gay

26 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

American poet Ross Gay is the subject of the new Nothing But The Poem podcast. The SPL’s regular podcast host, Sam Tongue, takes a deep dive into ...

Nothing But The Poem - Neurodiversity Special with Julie McNeil, Victoria McNulty, Beth McDonough and Craig Houston

05 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

As part of our Poetry Unravelled project, we invited three poets – Victoria McNulty, Beth McDonough and Craig Houston - to join project-lead Julie M...

Nothing But The Poem - Anthony Vahni Capildeo

15 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Anthony Vahni Capildeo is the subject of the new Nothing But The Poem podcast. The SPL’s regular podcast host, Sam Tongue, takes a deep dive into ...

Nothing But The Poem - Helen Mort

09 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Helen Mort is the subject of the new Nothing But The Poem podcast. The SPL’s regular podcast host, Sam Tongue, takes a deep dive into two of Helen ...

Hai-Aidh! Pod-chraolaidh #3 - Meg Bateman agus Pàdraig MacAoidh

03 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Am mìos-sa tha Meg Bateman agus Pàdraig MacAoidh a’ còmhradh air ‘Aig an Fhaing’ le Anna Frater agus ‘Duan an Dannsair’ le Flòraidh NicP...

Nothing But The Poem - Jorie Graham

03 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Jorie Graham is the subject of the new Nothing But The Poem podcast. The SPL’s regular podcast host, Sam Tongue, takes a deep dive into two of Jorie...

Hai-Aidh! Pod-chraolaidh #2 - Rona Dhòmhnallach agus Màrtainn Mac an t-Saoir

17 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Air Hai-àidh! #2 tha Rona Dhòmhnallach agus Màrtainn Mac an t-Saoir a’ còmhradh air seanachas agus nòsan ùra de bhàrdachd. Tha Rona a toirt t...

Nothing But The Poem - Hagiwara Sakutaro & Japanese Poetry in Translation

09 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The SPL's regular podcast host Sam Tongue chats with translator Norman Angus, a long time resident of Japan, about the unique challenges of translatin...

Nothing But The Poem - LGBTQ+ History Month Special

08 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this LGBTQ+ History Month special edition of Nothing But the Poem, the Scottish Poetry Library's Toni Velikova is joined by Kirsten MacQuarrie, aut...

Hai-Aidh! Pod-chraolaidh #1 - Pàdraig MacAoidh agus Màrtainn Mac an t-Saoir

22 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

'S e pod-chraolaidh ùr Leabharlann Bàrdachd na h-Alba a th' ann an Hai-àidh! Air gach clàr bi dà phìos bhàrdachd air a thaghadh le dà bhàrd (...