The Poet (delayed)

In this episode of The Poet (delayed), I am joined by returning guest Josh Baron for a wide-ranging conversation on uncertainty, growth, and what it means to truly live inside the unknown. Drawing from the Tao Te Ching’s line—“darkness within darkness, the gateway to all understanding”—we explore a central idea: uncertainty isn’t something to escape, but something to enter. Together, we examine why we instinctively avoid uncertainty—fear, discomfort, and the pressure to “have it figured out”—and what happens when we resist that impulse and instead choose to stay. Through personal stories, philosophy, and lived experience, they uncover several key insights: • That uncertainty is not the exception, but the condition of being alive • That clarity is not forced, but revealed over time • That many of our reactions are not to reality itself, but to our interpretation of it under pressure • And that growth often requires moving through discomfort rather than around it The conversation moves fluidly through topics like faith, science, parenting, identity, integrity, and even music theory—illustrating how tension, dissonance, and uncertainty are not obstacles to understanding, but necessary parts of it. At its core, this episode is an invitation: to sit a little longer, to resist the urge to resolve too quickly, and to discover what becomes visible when we don’t leave the doorway. I'd love to hear what you have to say about the episode including thoughts on the poetry and the topics that were discussed. You can email me at poetdelayed@gmail.com. My books of poetry are availabe for purchase at Amazon.com ["The Ghost of a Beating Heart", "My Mother Sleeps" and "Haiku Village"]()Special Guest: Josh Baron.

This is Part 2 of my series We Die of Being Alive. In Part 1, I explored a difficult truth: we don’t die because something goes wrong—we die because we are alive. Life includes uncertainty, loss, and things we cannot control. But that leaves a deeper question: How do we actually live inside that reality? In this episode, I explore what happens when fear takes over—when we panic, freeze, or react too quickly—and how, in those moments, we can lose something essential within ourselves. Through a personal story, reflections on thinkers like Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius, and ideas drawn from poetry and lived experience, this episode moves toward a simple but demanding principle: Stay in the doorway long enough… then move with integrity. This isn’t about eliminating fear. It’s about learning how to face it without abandoning yourself. I also share practical ways this shows up in daily life—how awareness, boundaries, and what I call “containers” can help reduce overwhelm and allow us to respond more clearly instead of reacting out of pressure. If Part 1 was about accepting reality, this episode is about how to move within it. I'd love to hear what you have to say about the episode including thoughts on the poetry and the topics that were discussed. You can email me at poetdelayed@gmail.com. My books of poetry are availabe for purchase at Amazon.com ["The Ghost of a Beating Heart", "My Mother Sleeps" and "Haiku Village"]()

Most of us carry a quiet belief: if life feels hard, something must be wrong. In this episode, I challenge that idea. Drawing on a line from Michel de Montaigne—“You do not die of being sick, you die of being alive”—I explore what it really means to be alive, and why pain, loss, uncertainty, and struggle are not signs of failure, but expressions of life itself. But understanding that intellectually is one thing. Living it is another. When life becomes overwhelming, many of us respond in fear. We avoid. We run. We freeze. And in doing so, we don’t just avoid pain—we begin to step out of our own lives. This episode is about that tension: • The difference between knowing that struggle is part of life… and actually facing it • Why avoidance feels natural—but costs us something deeper • And how, in trying to protect ourselves from pain, we can lose touch with our own lives This is Part 1 of a 2-part series. In the next episode, I’ll explore what it looks like to stay, to move, and to live with integrity in the middle of it all. I'd love to hear what you have to say about the episode including thoughts on the poetry and the topics that were discussed. You can email me at poetdelayed@gmail.com. My books of poetry are availabe for purchase at Amazon.com ["The Ghost of a Beating Heart", "My Mother Sleeps" and "Haiku Village"]()

Healing alchemy: That load you struggle under— Is it lead or gold? It’s an invitation to look at the weight we carry with different eyes—to see our struggles not as proof that we’re failing, but as the raw material for something deeper, stronger, and more meaningful. I brought in a line from Epictetus that has been sitting with me lately, and we explore what it means to transform our suffering instead of being crushed by it. And as a way of saying thank you, I wrote this haiku in calligraphy, framed it, and I’m giving it away. Giveaway details: Email me at poetdelayed@gmail.com with “healing alchemy” in the subject line. I’ll put every entry into a drawing and choose a winner at random. Thanks for joining me. “may I be I is the only prayer—” — e. e. cummings I'd love to hear what you have to say about the episode including thoughts on the poetry and the topics that were discussed. You can email me at poetdelayed@gmail.com. My books of poetry are availabe for purchase at Amazon.com ["The Ghost of a Beating Heart", "My Mother Sleeps" and "Haiku Village"]()

Nature's beauty is The result of letting go Life's beauty is too We hold on so tightly sometimes—trying to shape outcomes, control people, or force clarity when life just isn’t ready to give it. But nature reminds us: the leaf releases when its season is done. In this week’s episode of The Poet (delayed), I talk with my friend Sarah Daniels about the quiet strength of letting go—about learning to release what we can’t control, trusting the timing of life (or God, the universe, whatever name you give it), and finding peace in that surrender. Letting go isn’t easy. It’s uncomfortable. It’s scary. But it’s also where calm begins. I'd love to hear what you have to say about the episode including thoughts on the poetry and the topics that were discussed. You can email me at poetdelayed@gmail.com. My books of poetry are availabe for purchase at Amazon.com ["The Ghost of a Beating Heart", "My Mother Sleeps" and "Haiku Village"]()Special Guest: Sarah Daniels.

In this special episode, recorded live at "Torchlight" last April, I reflect on the defining losses, trials, and awakenings of my life through the lens of poetry and personal story. Drawing on Nietzsche’s insight that “to live is to suffer, to survive is to find meaning in the suffering,” I explore how our deepest wounds can become bridges—not barriers—to human connection. This is an honest meditation on grief, growth, and the strange alchemy that happens when we turn toward our pain and find each other there. I'd love to hear what you have to say about the episode including thoughts on the poetry and the topics that were discussed. You can email me at poetdelayed@gmail.com. My books of poetry are availabe for purchase at Amazon.com ["The Ghost of a Beating Heart", "My Mother Sleeps" and "Haiku Village"]()

When Vesuvius Rumbled in her deep, Pompeii’s Blue skies were a lie. Sometimes our gut warns us to leave, but we stay. Other times, it calls us to act, but fear keeps us frozen. And in both moments, the mind often steps in—trying to quiet what the body already knows. This week on The Poet (delayed), we explore what happens when we ignore that deep inner rumble. Why we override our intuition. Why we stay when we should go. Why we hide when we’re being called to step forward. And what it might look like to finally trust the wisdom of the gut over the noise of the mind. I'd love to hear what you have to say about the episode including thoughts on the poetry and the topics that were discussed. You can email me at poetdelayed@gmail.com. My first book of poetry, My Mother Sleeps, is availabe for purchase at The King's English Bookshop and Amazon.com

God speaks to each of us as he makes us, then walks with us silently out of the night. These are the words we dimly hear: You, sent out beyond your recall, go to the limits of your longing. Embody me. Flare up like a flame and make big shadows I can move in. Let everything happen to you: beauty and terror. Just keep going. No feeling is final. Don’t let yourself lose me. Nearby is the country they call life. You will know it by its seriousness. Give me your hand. I was joined this episode by Chris and Elise Jones and Ali Talbot. We gathered in the warm, book-lined library at Chris and Elise Jones’ home and just talked. We read Rainer Maria Rilke’s poem Go to the Limits of Your Longing, and from there we let the conversation unfold naturally. We talked about suffering — not in a heavy, hopeless way, but in the way you talk when you know that pain and beauty are woven into the same thread. We explored what it means to surrender to life’s difficulties instead of resisting them. We laughed about childhood memories, tofu meatloaf, and the glory of Saturday morning cartoons. We got real about trauma, caretaking, creating from heartbreak, and what it means to show up for each other when life breaks us open. This episode is about sitting with what’s hard, about finding connection through vulnerability, and about how creativity — whether it’s poetry, baking, music, or just making something out of pain — can save us in quiet, powerful ways. It’s also about joy. Tangents. Belly laughs. Tears. Root beer ice cream sandwiches. Give it a listen. It’s not polished, but it’s real. And sometimes that’s exactly what we need most. I'd love to hear what you have to say about the episode including thoughts on the poetry and the topics that were discussed. You can email me at poetdelayed@gmail.com. My books of poetry, My Mother Sleeps, The Ghost of a Beating Heart and Haiku Village are availabe for purchase at Amazon.com Special Guests: Ali Talbot, Christian Jones, and Elise Jones.

Join me and Sherrie Love as we read her poem, Descension and then have a conversation about the slow, brave work of reclaiming ourselves—of getting to know who we are again after life has scattered the pieces. We talk about the struggle, the beauty, and the quiet joy of becoming whole. And we draw wisdom from the sun—how it simply shines, without apology, without hesitation, no matter who is beneath its light. What would it mean for us to live like that? Descension Something is shifting. It has felt heavy and loud in my soul for a while. It twists in my stomach And lurches upward Squeezing my heart Tighter and tighter until I can’t breathe Then it weaves its slimy black sludge claws Into my mind And plants seeds of doubt, fear, hopelessness Until they bloom Oozing the thick tar of my descension What does it mean? Where does it come from? I thought I was through I thought I was in the clear Didn’t I already learn this lesson? And I notice the giant black infection Of fear expanding, enveloping me In its unrelenting grip What am I afraid of? Fear, what are you trying to show me? I move toward it now I embrace it back Shining every shred of light I have left Toward it Begging it to tell me what it wants And I see Tiny pricks of light Piercing through the thick, black darkness I left my light, my energy, my joy, behind Somewhere on the trail Like a lost glove Being blown away by the wind Left to dance its way through the wilderness Is it even still mine? Did someone find it? Did they pick up And turn it over, curious who it belonged to Did they take it home and try it on? Did something about my essence affect them in some way? I miss it Why do I keep doing that? Giving away my light? When all I’m trying to do Is shine on those I love On those who need a light in their own darkness Because I know how deeply painful and dark it is To wander this world in the dark Alone Maybe I overwhelm and blind with my light because I feel so desperate to connect Yet somehow, my light is too bright, too glaring, too intense Even for those who, at first, thought they liked basking in the glory And I remember that even the Sun, who shines unapologetically, gets too hot sometimes And may unintentionally burn you But she keeps on shining And we love her for it And we welcome the clouds and the rain and night and the winter And when they come, we miss the Sun And long for her return For the pink spring sunrise For the glowing summer sunsets And bright autumn mornings I wonder if the Sun misses me too when the night comes I wonder if she feels lonely and scared too Maybe she sees me As much as I see her I'd love to hear what you have to say about the episode including thoughts on the poetry and the topics that were discussed. You can email me at poetdelayed@gmail.com. My books of poetry, My Mother Sleeps and The Ghost of a Beating Heart are availabe for purchase at Amazon.com Special Guest: Sherrie Love.

Some conversations only happen on the road—miles slipping by, the hum of tires, and the kind of quiet that invites reflection. In this episode, I drove with my friend Jason Wheatley to Sun Valley, Idaho, where he was delivering paintings for an upcoming art show. As we drove, we talked about his journey into art, the impulse to create, and the ways beauty can emerge from both solitude and connection. It’s a meandering, thoughtful exchange—about art, life, and the things we’re still trying to understand. After dropping off his work, we made a stop at Hemingway’s grave and memorial, a silent moment that seemed to echo the themes of the trip: legacy, voice, and what we leave behind. I'd love to hear what you have to say about the episode including thoughts on the poetry and the topics that were discussed. You can email me at poetdelayed@gmail.com. My first book of poetry, My Mother Sleeps, is availabe for purchase at The King's English Bookshop and Amazon.com Special Guest: Jason Wheatley.

In this conversation, I talk with my friend Christian Jones—a local musician and songwriter who’ll be performing at Torchlight on June 21. We explore the tension between daily responsibilities and the need to stay connected to our creativity. Christian opens up about how songwriting and playing guitar have helped him navigate life, stay emotionally grounded, and build meaningful connections with others. We reflect on how creativity not only heals us, but also creates ripples that reach those around us. The episode ends with Christian sharing his moving original song, A Little Less Blue I'd love to hear what you have to say about the episode including thoughts on the poetry and the topics that were discussed. You can email me at poetdelayed@gmail.com. My first book of poetry, My Mother Sleeps, is availabe for purchase at The King's English Bookshop and Amazon.com Special Guest: Christian Jones.

In this episode of The Poet (delayed), I sit down with my friend Chris Hales to unpack a journey that pushed him to the edge—physically, mentally, and emotionally. Chris took on the Grand Canyon rim to rim to rim, a grueling 50+ mile hike through one of the most unforgiving landscapes on earth. He spent months preparing, training his body and mind for the challenge ahead. But even with all the planning and readiness, nothing could fully prepare him for the brutal terrain, the heat, the exhaustion—and the moments of doubt that crept in along the way. What emerged from the struggle, though, was something far greater. Chris shares how the hardship brought him closer to the people he hiked with, including his wife, and how those shared miles—step after painful step—forged memories and connections that will last a lifetime. It’s a story of endurance, humility, and discovering the strength that comes not just from finishing, but from walking the hard road with people you love. I'd love to hear what you have to say about the episode including thoughts on the poetry and the topics that were discussed. You can email me at poetdelayed@gmail.com. My first book of poetry, My Mother Sleeps, is availabe for purchase at The King's English Bookshop and Amazon.com Special Guest: Chris Hales.

In this episode of The Poet (delayed), I sit down with my friend Josh Barron to talk about The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis. We just begin to unpack this powerful and thought-provoking book, discussing its clear Christian themes while also exploring how its core ideas—about selfishness, humility, perspective, and human connection—transcend religious boundaries. Whether you’re deeply spiritual, loosely spiritual, or not religious at all, the principles in this book speak to how we can build better relationships, stronger communities, and more compassionate lives. It’s the beginning of a larger conversation, and we’ll be diving deeper in future episodes. I'd love to hear what you have to say about the episode including thoughts on the poetry and the topics that were discussed. You can email me at poetdelayed@gmail.com. My books of poetry, My Mother Sleeps, The Ghost of a Beating Heart and Haiku Village are availabe for purchase at Amazon.com Special Guest: Josh Baron.

In this episode of The Poet (delayed), I read my allegory “The Raft,” which explores what it means to face fear and step beyond the limitations that keep us small. It is about becoming whole again—learning to sit with our younger selves, heal old wounds, and expand into who we truly are. This one’s about transformation, courage, and the quiet power of growth. I'd love to hear what you have to say about the episode including thoughts on the poetry and the topics that were discussed. You can email me at poetdelayed@gmail.com. My first book of poetry, My Mother Sleeps, is availabe for purchase at Amazon.com

In Episode 61 of The Poet (delayed), I sit down with my friend Howard Burkholz for a fun and thoughtful chat all about travel. Howard shares what he loves about hitting the road — from local getaways to international adventures — and how those experiences have brought him joy, taught him new perspectives, and helped shape the way he sees the world. We also talk about how photography has been a huge part of his travels, helping him slow down and capture the moments that matter. Whether you’ve got a trip planned or you’re just daydreaming, join us for a fun conversation. I'd love to hear what you have to say about the episode including thoughts on the poetry and the topics that were discussed. You can email me at poetdelayed@gmail.com. My books of poetry, My Mother Sleeps, The Ghost of a Beating Heart and Haiku Village are availabe for purchase at Amazon.com Special Guest: Howard Burkholz.

In this heartfelt episode, I sit down with Ali Talbot to explore the healing power of creativity and the importance of sharing our creative work with others. We talk about how the art we make to heal ourselves can also resonate with and support those around us—reminding us that creation is not only personal but deeply communal. We also introduce Torchlight, a new monthly program we’ve launched to bring people together through art, music, and poetry. Each month, we invite local artists, musicians, and writers to share their work, with occasional open mic nights to encourage participation from the community. It’s all about connection, creativity, and creating space for shared expression. Tune in for a conversation about why what we make matters—and how it can light the way for others. I'd love to hear what you have to say about the episode including thoughts on the poetry and the topics that were discussed. You can email me at poetdelayed@gmail.com. My first book of poetry, My Mother Sleeps, is availabe for purchase at The King's English Bookshop and Amazon.com Special Guest: Ali Talbot.

In this episode, I’m joined again by my friend Tim Robison as we read and reflect on the poem “To Satch” by Samuel Washington Allen. What follows is an honest, free-flowing conversation about living with intention, making your own decisions, and figuring out what really matters. We touch on work-life balance, the search for joy, and doing the things you love — even when it’s hard. We also wrestle with questions around success and failure: What does it mean to lose? What does it mean to win? Is one better than the other? And who gets to decide? This episode is about choosing a meaningful life — and the courage it takes to do so. To Satch Sometimes I feel like I will never stop Just go on forever Till one fine mornin I'm gonna reach up and grab me a handfulla stars Swing out my long lean leg And whip three hot strikes burnin down the heavens And look over a God and say How about that!!!! I'd love to hear what you have to say about the episode including thoughts on the poetry and the topics that were discussed. You can email me at poetdelayed@gmail.com. My first book of poetry, My Mother Sleeps, is availabe for purchase at The King's English Bookshop and Amazon.com Special Guest: Tim Robison.

This episode of The Poet (delayed) is raw, real, and completely impromptu. No scripts, no pretense—just an honest conversation with four 20/21 years olds (Ian Edgar, Ryan Murphy, Conner Evans and Max Jones) and me about what makes us human. We all carry wounds, scars, and shadows, and instead of hiding them, what if we embraced them? What if our imperfections and life experiences are actually what make us wonderful, relatable, and deeply connected to one another? Join us as we explore how self-acceptance leads to true happiness and how recognizing our own freedom—freedom to choose, to grow, to be—can transform the way we move through the world. This is a conversation about finding beauty in our brokenness and power in our choices. MOAB This land, wounded and scarred and full of shadows, She turns his head to Her To see and he sees Her stillness and Her beauty And he understands What can be. ThePoetDelayed #EmbraceYourScars #FindYourFreedom I'd love to hear what you have to say about the episode including thoughts on the poetry and the topics that were discussed. You can email me at poetdelayed@gmail.com. My first book of poetry, My Mother Sleeps, is availabe for purchase at The King's English Bookshop and Amazon.com Special Guests: Conner Evans, Ian Edgar, Max Jones, and Ryan Murphy.

On this episode of The Poet (delayed), I sit down with my friend Jen Adams, a children’s book author, to talk about her newest project—a board book adaptation of The Great Gatsby, coming out on March 11th. We discuss the classic novel itself, how our understanding of literature shifts over time, and the powerful role books play in shaping our lives. It’s a conversation about storytelling, nostalgia, and the lasting impact of great literature. I'd love to hear what you have to say about the episode including thoughts on the poetry and the topics that were discussed. You can email me at poetdelayed@gmail.com. My first book of poetry, My Mother Sleeps, is availabe for purchase at The King's English Bookshop and Amazon.com Special Guest: Jennifer Adams.

New Episode: The Power of Friendship In this episode, I read On Friendship by Khalil Gibran and sit down with my friend Sarah Daniels for a heartfelt conversation about what it truly means to be a friend. We explore the importance of boundaries in friendships, the value of being our own best friend, and how cultivating a strong relationship with ourselves allows us to build deeper, more meaningful connections with others. Friendship is not just about companionship—it’s about growth, healing, and becoming the best versions of ourselves. Listen in as we share insights, stories, and reflections on the role of friendship in our lives. And a youth said, Speak to us of Friendship. And he answered, saying: Your friend is your needs answered. He is your field which you sow with love and reap with thanksgiving. And he is your board and your fireside. For you come to him with your hunger, and you seek him for peace     When your friend speaks his mind you fear not the “nay” in your own mind, nor do you withhold the “ay.” And when he is silent your heart ceases not to listen to his heart; For without words, in friendship, all thoughts, all desires, all expectations are born and shared, with joy that is unacclaimed. When you part from your friend, you grieve not; For that which you love most in him may be clearer in his absence, as the mountain to the climber is clearer from the plain. And let there be no purpose in friendship save the deepening of the spirit. For love that seeks aught but the disclosure of its own mystery is not love but a net cast forth: and only the unprofitable is caught.     And let your best be for your friend. If he must know the ebb of your tide, let him know its flood also. For what is your friend that you should seek him with hours to kill? Seek him always with hours to live. For it is his to fill your need but not your emptiness. And in the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures. For in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed. I'd love to hear what you have to say about the episode including thoughts on the poetry and the topics that were discussed. You can email me at poetdelayed@gmail.com. My first book of poetry, My Mother Sleeps, is availabe for purchase at The King's English Bookshop and Amazon.com Special Guest: Sarah Daniels.