Hack Sessions

The guest for this poetry potluck is someone whom you can consider a romantic renaissance man. Samuel H. Hurley comes to HACK sessions to share his passion, talent, and gracious kindness with me as we discuss our two poems “The Patience of a Moment” and “Cogitating on the Characters of Saturn”.    Thanks for listening!!! Please subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend. 

Not only did my guest take to writing some beautifully haunting poetry for his 12 issue maxi series for DC Comics, he also wrote original music to use as trailers to promote this project. At the end of this bonus episode you will hear his poem, “Sleep”, set to music, featuring yours truly on double bass.    Thanks for listening!!! Please subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend. 

Exclusive! This episode features up and coming comic book author, Phillip Kennedy Johnson.  He has taken to writing poetry to further develop the lore and back story of his latest project, The Last God.  This 12 issue high fantasy maxi series will be released by DC Comics on October 30, 2019.    Thanks for listening!!! Please subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend. 

Episode 14 has Ryan King as a guest. Patience has paid off for me (and you, dear listener) with waiting for this very episode. Our schedules finally aligned for us to get together for this poetry potluck where we dive deep into our pieces “A Penchant for Repetition” and “Like a Whisper”. Plus a surprise ending where Ryan and I try something different.    Thanks for listening!!! Please subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend. 

Episode 13 has Roz Inga as a guest. She is a painter with a poet’s heart and captures keen observations on paper as well as canvas. Join us in our discussion on how profound moments can be found in ordinary life from a meditative gaze.    Thanks for listening!!! Please subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend.

SOLO session #8 closes off my trilogy of episodes reflecting on the time that I took off this summer, and I use Part V of T.S. Eliot's Second Quartet, East Coker, to illustrate the last of those insights.   Thanks for listening!! Please subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend.

Part 2 of my poetry potluck with Patrick Montanaro opens up right where we left off and continues our deep dive conversation that sprung from the interaction of our two poems: The World is a Persuasive Drink (Patrick) and A Walk in the Dark (Joel).   Thanks for listening!! Please subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend!

In part 1 of this poetry potluck episode of HACK sessions, I talk to my guest Patrick Montanaro, a gifted writer with a lock on the long form performance-based poetry. Listening to him is like hearing an actor deliver a monologue that is embedded in their soul. You'll get this and so much more as we leave no stone unturned in our 2 part conversation.   Thank you for listening!! Please subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend!

In part 2 of a three-part SOLO session series, I extend my reflections on finding a balance between being a modern creative in the realms of social media and taking time off. I feature a piece by Charles Bukowski to help illustrate what I mean.   Thank you for listening! Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend.

This episode of HACK sessions has poet Adam Shove (@thepoetshove) as a guest. This craftsman of pop culture references, vodka connoisseur, and expert typewriter, and I talk about the power of relevant references and the context of language in poetry.   Thank you for listening!! Please subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend!

Solo Session #6 is the first episode of HACK sessions after taking the month of August off. Ever the contemplative, Joel comes back from leave with a fresh mind and renewed perspective on what it really takes to be a creative person in modern times without losing your soul.  This episode features a reading of Sonnet 21 by William Shakespeare as vehicle for this topic.   Thanks for listening!!! Please subscribe, rate, review and share with a friend.

Episode 10 of HACK sessions brings Casey of @caseywritesthings to the podcast for another poetry potluck. She brings her signature writing and spoken word stylings to the show as she reads her poem "Soft Thoughts" in response to my absurdist poem, "Control or the Absurdity of Life".    Thank you for listening! Please Subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend!!

In Solo Session #5 I feature poetry with memorable ending lines. I take several listener submissions as well as a few selections of my own to relish and reflect on masterful way in which some of the greatest writers leave us with the most profound and lasting impressions through their words. This will not be the last time I record an episode like this.   Thank you for listening! Please subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend.

This episode of HACK sessions has Jaime Lee Lewis as a guest. He is a highly sought-after Spoken Word Poet and Educator, as well as the 2016 Nyorican Slam Champion, and the first guest that I have actually met in person. Our conversation focuses on the concept of human vulnerability which naturally came as a result of paring his poem "Affection" with my piece, "Speak". Thanks for listening! Please subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend!

In Solo Session #4 I feature three poems by William Z (@zilliam_poetry on instagram), make a special announcement, and take a moment to reflect and thank my first batch of guests for the previous 8 potluck episodes.   Thank you for listening! Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend!

Episode 8 of HACK sessions has Angela Marie Niemiec, the author of Once Around the Halo: A Poetic Journey From Grieving to Healing, as a guest. She wrote a new poem just for this episode called "Birds Fall" to pair with my piece, "The Abuse of Being". We discuss how anxiety and the imposter syndrome are common companions to writers specifically and creatives in general.   Thanks for listening! Please subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend.

In this episode, I feature the poetry of Angela Marie Niemiec (@angel_writer on instagram) with 3 selections from her debut book titled, "Once Around the Halo: A Poetic Journey From Grieving to Healing". These poems are woven into a discussion about the pros and cons of social media for a creative person, and in particular - a poet. Thank you for listening! Please subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend!!!

Episode 7 of HACK sessions has its first erotic/sensual poet, Rosa Newport (@belezaangel on Instagram) as a guest. She brings her playfully erotic poem "Angel in Disguise" to pair with my Poem LOST for this poetry potluck, where we talk about the pros and cons of being an erotic/sensual poet.   Thank you for listening! Please sucbscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend.

In the second solo episode I take my commentary to new caffeinated heights with the help of poetry by my friend and writer extraordinaire, Ryan King (@vayouking) and listener submissions on the best and worst writing advice ever received (solicited or not). Thank you for listening, please subscribe, rate, and share with a friend!!!