MAKE POETRY WEIRD AGAIN

Nols sits down on a rainy February day with Jake Nathan a poet and artist, from East London. They talk about mental health, masculinity, social justice and being working class in England.The show explores how Jake went from hip hop to open mic and the challenges of open mic burn out.Jake is a multiple-time poetry slam winner and grand poetry slam champion. Based in Essex, he performs his poetry and teaches workshops across the country.Jake has featured at the Faversham Literary Festival, Essex Writers’ House Festival, Margate Bookie Festival and the Medway River Lit Festival. His poems have been featured on BBC Radio and various podcasts. His page poetry has been published by Anti-Heroin Chic, Thanet Writers and elsewhere.A Life in the Day of Nathan Jake (Incomplete) is the debut pamphlet from Jake . Combining two of his passions, the pamphlet is composed of poems written to the titles of hip-hop songs. A Life in the Day of Nathan Jake (Incomplete)Nols and Jake make poems with prompts from Kestral Gaia.Keep this podcast runnin' on the patreonwww.patreon.com/makepoetryweirdagain

Nols Nathankski provides all you need to know about the Hold Space Poetry Festival.A sober gift to the London Open Mic scene in collaboration with the Crypt Gallery running from the 1st - 7th April 2026.A festival dreamed up and produced in only 2 weeks to run during the most sacred days of the Christian calendar. Of course it begins on APRIL FOOLS DAY!After an open call fifteen poets will take up residence in The Crypt Gallery underneath St Pancras New Church for seven whole days during Holy Week 2026. Yes, its a crypt. Yes, there are 557 departed souls down there. Yes, it's going to be SEVEN days of back to back open mic.A week of free experimental poetry, workshops, open mics, and a zine built page by page across the week. Entry is free throughout. Workshops are mainly free with some paid and pay what you can with booking.1–7 April 2026 · The Crypt Gallery, 165 Euston Road, London NW1 2BAWhat's on:Wed 1 Apr — Residency opens. Set-up, intentions. Opening Ceremony & Open mic from 6pmThu 2 Apr — Podcast recordings. Scary Stories workshop with Stevie Grant. Open mic from 6pmFri 3 Apr (Good Friday) — Live podcast recordings. Writing from the ashes workshop with the Trashfire poet. Zine Day. Good Friday Open Mic.Sat 4 Apr (Holy Saturday) — Penance tea ceremony and workshop. Podcast recordings. Open mic from 6pmSun 5 Apr (Easter Sunday) — Sensual Small Poem workshop with Alexia Chrysostomou. Open mic from 6pmMon 6 Apr — Saying the Unsayable workshop facilitated by Nols. Zine workshop. The River Returns Home immersive performance fundraising for Ukrainian charities + Open Mic.Tue 7 Apr (Easter Tuesday) — Zine assembly and distro. Closing performances + Open mic.The resident poets — give them a follow:Pia Fajelagutan / The Piss I Call Art — Abu Dhabi-bred word wrangler, debut collection Whiskey For The Uninitiated. Feral charm, unfiltered verse.Emma Keun — London-based, published in Kite String II–IV, four honourable mentions from Dark Poets Club.Luigi Coppola / The Only Emperor — featured at Glastonbury, Tate Modern, Southbank Centre. Slam champion. Debut from Broken Sleep Books. linktr.ee/PoetryPreacherMaria Cohut — Romanian writer in Brighton . Debut collection Multiple Exposures out 2026 on Flight of the Dragonfly.Maddy Kilsbury McMurray — non-binary poet, neurodiversity advocate, LGBTQIA+ community stalwart.Oscar Rodriguez — Salvadoran American poet. Diaspora, generational trauma, noise music, queer liberation. Does it all at once.Em Cosgrove / Girl Can't Sing Well — spoken word artist. The body, decay, rebirth, and campy humour. Hyper-visual.Bee Wylie — witchy wordsmith from the West Midlands. Debut book Dream Weaving coming through Hay House. Exploring spirituality, grief, love.Tadgh Haran — trans poet, London. Work in Anthropocene, Scab, Perverse, Tentacular. Writes out of anger and curiosity. Sobriety anchors everything.Jordan Minga — Afro British, first-gen Ugandan, from Peckham. Poet and visual artist. Self-identity, spirituality, intergenerational discourse. Refuses to ask permission.Tom Bland - Tom has published Camp Fear and The Death of a Clown, with Bad Betty Press. His work has been nominated for the Polari Prize and have been on Dennis Cooper's yearly Fav Books List. He writes on the relationship between language and sexuality, trauma and liberationLeatrice — originally NYC, now UK. Memory, obsession, mental illness. Co-hosts Oxford DIY Pride. Debut collection Yearbook Signing.H Phillips — started performing poetry in early 2025 and has not stopped. Surreal social satire, tranquilised emotions, characters. @haitch_speaksByuka Makodru — trans, disabled, migrant writer. Mixing immersive performance, ritual, visual art. Writing with ash. Poetry as liberation.Get tickets for all events here: OutSavvy - Make Poetry Weird Again tickets and events. Book tickets instantly via the OutSavvy app or website for Make Poetry Weird AgainFind us:Instagram: @makepoetryweirdagainnols@makepoetryweirdagain.com

Nols Nathankski makes a very chaotic field recording of day 4 in the Crypt gallery London during the February residency. Expect all kinds of phantasmagorical goings on.Nols made poems with N00mi, Rosie Reed Gold, Jo Delvauney, Pid'Or, Choral Poetique and Tanyeli Taze.The episode is endurance art and some have said impossible to listen to!You be the Judge!Give the poets a follow;@n00m_i@rosiereedgoldartist@tanyeli.taze@choralepoetique@ptplays@sweetamanita@pollyannaknight_@chi.laferlaKeep nols doing this @makepoetryweirdagain

Nols Nathankski sits down to tell stories with Adam RW, a poet, writer and literary tour guide based in London. Adam runs Bookmarked, a literary walking tour company, and Storytime, a weekly storytelling night. His first poetry collection was published in December 2023.Adam and Nols discuss the creation of Story Time, and it's unique place in the London Open Mic Scene. They talk to what makes a good story and make plans on how to get George Saunders, Karl Ove Knausgard and Nikolai Gogol (RIP) to perform at Story Time.Nols and Adam make stories with prompts from Maddy Kilsby-McMurray.The next story time is at Galeria Objets in London on the 18th March 2026 Hosted by Kofi Achina & Adam, stories from Georgie Jones, Takunda, Tony Bell & open mic spots.Storytime at Galleria Objets: Live story-telling night Tickets, Wednesday, Mar 18 from 7 pm to 10 pm | EventbriteFollow the @TheAdamrw and @storytimelondon

Nols Nathankski sits down with Maddy Kilsby-McMurray a non-binary poet & writer based in Southend-On-Sea, UK. Maddy describes writing as their therapy, a way to process a world that is too harshand too fast for their queer, disabled heart. Nols and Maddy talk 'Trash fire poetry' written in haste and often destined to be burnt. They fortunately burn less poems now.Maddy and Nols make poems from Teresa Check out Maddy's work - www.trashfirepoet.com Instagram - @trashfirepoetMaddy shouts out southend pride - @southendprideTranspire - @transpire_southendSt Mark's Church - @stmarkschurchsouthendSouth Street Coffee house - @southstreetcoffeehouseRJ Learmouth - @j.learmouth.artDangerous Poetry Night Pride PoetryKeep this podcast's fire alivewww.patreon.com/makepoetryweirdagain

Nols Nathankski makes poems in the crypt on Day 2 of the Make Poetry Weird Again Residency.No other poets show up so Nols has a bit of an existential crisis about the project and works through a series of prompts. Does his pages and meditates on what a successful residency is. Mainly he speaks his poems to walls and ghosts.The prompts are below.Write a poem that erodes. What is it made of ? What does it degrade into?Make a poem for the departedMake a remembrance poem for someone you wish you knew better.Make a poem for the last day of judgement.Make a poem with an echo that you have to tell to be quiet.Make a poem of several rooms - tell us about them.Make a poem that resonates - end in a great hum!Come to the crypt and keep Nols company on the 19th and 20th February 3-6pm.Keep us from the wolves.www.patreon.com/makepoetryweirdagain

Nols Nathankski sits down in the Crypt gallery with Teresa Rendell, a poet and creative director based in London. Teresa makes sense of the world in fairy tales and nursery rhymes. Her poetry deals with very serious themes of childhood trauma, listener discretion is advised.Nols and Teresa speak to the London open mic scene and how to put together a one person show. @choralpoetique provide songs in the background.They make poems with prompts from the crypt residency on Day 1.Teresa shouts out the following poets and open mics.WordspaceSteve Tasane White Feather PoetryKofi Achina Heart of the Community Chelsea BeechwoodKrystal SisodiaEchoverset’ART @t_tartpressIf Poet’s Ruled the WorldTed Temple host of spitnights and groove verseCosmic PumpkinCamden Women’s Writing Festival Tickets for the show (the three poems we did on the podcast are part of the show)https://www.citizenticket.com/events/etcetera-theatre/a-year-in-the-life/A YEAR IN THE LIFEWritten & Performed by Teresa Rendell“Actually really enjoyable, but obviously horrid” - a close and supportive friend“Very impressive” - my therapistTeresa’s debut spoken word show, A YEAR IN THE LIFE, reflects on (an imprecise) calendar year through poetry and one hell of a yap.This collection is full of pathos, dark humour, deeply personal stories, andpseudonyms. Teresa captures the realities of processing a sexual assault, while grieving the death of her dad.It’s been a rough ride, so buckle up, for 45 minutes on the dangers of publictransport, a nightmare full of spiders, and just how frustrating recovery can be.Keep Nols making poemswww.patreon.com/makepoetryweirdagain

Nols Nathankski sits down in the crypt with Dan Webber an award winning LGBTQ+ poet, performer, producer and events coordinator based in Derby. Who while yet to win a slam won Nols's heart with his tales of gothic queerness.The pair made poems as part of day 3 of the Make Poetry Weird Again Residency at the Crypt Gallery in London.Dan can be found on insta @imgenrefluidFind out more about his practice below.https://www.derbypoetryfestival.com/https://www.derby.ac.uk/departments/school-of-humanities-law-creative-arts/dracula-returns-to-derby/https://nottinghampoetryfestival.com/https://imgenrefluid.com/Keep us sucking bloodwww.patreon.com/makepoetryweirdagain

Nols Nathankski's field recording of day 1 of the crypt gallery residency.Nols has created a series of poetry prompts on day 1 of the residency.Poets are welcome to come to the crypt between 16th - 20th February 2026 to create poems and perform them under penance conditions.Prompts.Write a poem to the people underground who are not sleeping.Write a prayer to say goodbye to winter.Write a poem to say hello to the spirits in this tomb.Write a poem you could carve into the inside of your coffinWrite a sonnet to an unloved placeWrite a ballad of two lovers that meet in the cryptwrite a pome describing how being here feels use only taste, touch and smell.Find a place in the crypt. Stand there until a poem comes to you. Write.Make a poem for the front doors of the crypt.Make a last will and testament - but as a poem.Make a poem to whisper into a wall. Go and whisper it in the crypt.Find a word to sum up the crypt. Use it 5 times in your poem.Write a poem from the perspective of the cold.Make a poem out of fragments of words from the crypt.Make a poem for whatever is behind this vent.Nols meets various visitors to the crypt over the course of the day. Teresa Rendall pops in to make a podcast and the pair make poems together as well as read some of Teresa's poem's together.Keep this residency going by joining the patreonwww.patreon.com/makepoetryweirdagain

Nols Nathankski and his friend the Bulgarian Pop Star Ivka Fox decided to record a catch up episode onFriday 13th February 2026 to talk to Ivka's new role as a pole dancer at a central London strip club and how this has influenced her writing.However the bad luck lived up to its favourite Friday and two attempts at recording failed due to a black out and an unexplained technical error.This show is an attempt to recreate the episode using voice note recordings of Ivka's new poems and a demo of Ivka's new track "Break Up Sex"This is the first episode of the podcast produced during the crypt gallery residency.Nols is making poems and podcast episodes in a central London tomb.If you want to reach out to ivka her instagram is @ivka_369Keep this podcast awake in the dreamwww.patreon.com/makepoetryweirdagain

Nols Nathankski sits down with Kestral Gaian (They/Them) Queer Writer and Poet, to talk about making poems on the Tube, The best sandwich and why we need to make poems that burn down data centers.Nols and Kestral make love poems with prompts from Kim Addonizio's book Ordinary Genius.You can buy Kestal's poetry book Tubelines below!Tubelines – Reconnecting Rainbows PressThey can be found at www.kestr.alInstagram: @kes.tr.alBluesky: @kestr.alKeep this podcast going by subscribing to the Patreon.www.patreon.com/makepoetryweirdagain

OPEN CALL TO POETS! MAKE POETRY WEIRD AGAIN PRESENTS PENANCE RESIDENCY @ THE CRYPT GALLERY, LONDON. We are very excited to announce that we will be having our first PENANCE residency at the historic Crypt gallery in London. FREE ENTRY FOR ALL. From @nolsnathankski : "Hey lovely human 🌒 I wanted to invite you to PENANCE at the Crypt Gallery, beneath St Pancras Church, running 16–20 February 2026. As someone who’s been part of Make Poetry Weird Again, it would be really special to have you there. PENANCE is about making poems under simple constraints, being properly present together, and seeing what happens. Across the week there’ll be PENANCE sessions, open working time, and daily podcast recordings in the space. Some sessions will be small and invitation-based, others more open. It’s completely free. No pressure to perform beyond what feels right. Turning up, listening, writing, or just being there is enough. If you’re up for it, let me know which day or days might work and I’ll share more details closer to the time. Would love to share the crypt with you 🖤 Nols" All poets that make poems under Penance conditions will have completed A poetry 'residency' and will receive an email confirmation of the same. There will be Penance prompts for all who attend to make poems under strict rules. - No Phones - No Vapes/Smoking - No alcohol Poets can work to automatic prompts and perform them in the space to be recorded on the podcast. All poets are welcome to simply come and make poems in the space. Nols will be making podcasts with poets, artists and whoever shows up! There will be workshops and a performance event. With details on how to book coming soon. If you are interested in attending on any date and wish to be recorded or have a great idea for making poems in a crypt. Send us a DM or email nols@makepoetryweirdagain.com. Share this with a poet you know or just people who like making things in crypts. There is no heating in the crypt so dress appropriately! The crypt is still the final resting place of 557 people so we must respect their presence. Keep Nols warm by signing up to the patreon. www.patreon.com/makepoetryweirdagain

We put on a wake for Nols Nathankski's pamphlet "Oh, Nols!" at Burley Fisher Books on the 12th February 2026. The event Sold Out but only 6 poets and a wizard showed up so Nols turned the event into an impromptu poetry workshop which you can hear in its badly recorded entirety.When life gives you lemons - eat cake and make poetry.The prompts we worked to wereWrite an elegy for NolsLove is...(resentment)Huge thanks to Sam and Una of Burley Fisher Books for hosting the night so gracefully.Massive thanks to the poets that joined us.Redeeming Features Josh Hallam and his puppyStevie Grant Haitch Tanyeli Taze Tom OldhamNeva Ziv Keep the sponsors from freaking out www.patreon.com/makepoetryweirdagain

Nols Nathankski inspired by Kiik Araki-Kawaguchi makes an episode on stage craft at the open mic for beginners and people wondering whether they should come to a local open mic. His only expertise being his own addiction to performing at the open mic. Nols provides his own insights about performing at the open mic and gives examples of reading from your phone, from paper and straight from the dome. This show is an attempt at a performance workshop from an enthusiastic amateur. If you would like to provide your own expertise get in touch!The sponsors are freaking out that the show is bombing so this a desperate attempt for attention, much like every performance should be at the open mic. Keep the sponsors happy by signing up to the patreon.www.patreon.com/makepoetryweirdagain

Nols Nathankski gets to stan one of his favourite poets Kiik Araki-Kawaguchi who is the author of THE BOOK OF KANE AND MARGARET (FC2 / UAP) and Nols favourite poetry book of 2025 - DISINTEGRATION MADE PLAIN AND EASY (Piżama Press). Kiik is also a mentor and educator at Western Washington University.A chance encounter with Kiik's poetry online, led to Nols being forever changed. Kiik makes weird gentle poems, channelling voices that help him process feelings. The poems are delightfully surreal and speak to Nol's commitment to being very silly at the end of the world.Nols and Kiik make poems with prompts from Tyger Soul.Kiik performs some of his about the author poems and a poem for his children called Burial.Check out Kiik's website below;About – Kiik A.K.Buy his deluxe edition here - Disintegration Made Plain and Easy (Digital Deluxe) — [neonpajamas]Keep Nols meeting his poetic heroes by subscribing to the Patreon.www.patreon.com/makepoetryweirdagain

Nols Nathankski takes a trip to the Word Zoo with host Tyger Soul. They talk about the last decade in the scene, the best tomatoes and how to jam with a band as a poet.The Word Zoo happens every 1st Thursday of the month, at The Others in SToke Newington. There are always Open Mic slots, a chance to say your poems or songs with our houseband Vibe Machine, plus featured acts and a book raffle. Search The Word Zoo for tickets and more info. Tyger Soul likes poems that bite. You'll often find him on a mic or traversing the country with his band Vibe Machine. All socials are @_tygersoul and @the_word_zoo They make poems with prompts from LeatriceKeep this poem biting on patreonwww.patreon.com/makepoetryweirdagain

Nols Nathankski takes to the sofa with Erika Loch. They talk shared open mic experiences and how to find quiet to write.Erika is a poet, lyricist, and a creative and commercial writer – writing in defiance of modern book burning, she leaves messages for those who seek to read between the lines. Erika collaborates with artists, brands, galleries, and organisations – she takes commissions via WORDS by Erika Loch and hosts monthly open mics @wordsoutloudchichesterFind out more about Erika below!www.erikaloch.com | @erika_loch | @theunknownpoetproject (Instagram)They make prompts by Hedde Annersberg from Stockholm

Nols Nathankski its down for a cup of tea with Leatrice. An American Poet who is now living in Oxford.Leatrice makes intricate poems exploring early relationships, memory and connection.The pair discuss the stress of slam scores, the difference between New York & London open mics and making poems on the tube.Nols and Leatrice make poems with prompts from Vidya Gosain.Leatrice shouts out the following Open Mics:@oxfordpoetrylibrary@33artsy (Leatrice will be reading on 5 Feb 2026)@poetrymondaysjamboreeLeatrice shouts out the following Poets:@garretandbasement @maybeitsmoberley@phoebn@sophias1000daychallenge@thewrongjam@alilewispoetOthers:@reconnectpress (my publisher)@cailin.in.character (best friend & cover designer)Link to the "official" Yearbook Signing playlist—there's a song for the title, each poem, and the little epigraph/signature page at the end: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0V9mEQPegOTX8GLz2UCuxg?si=ac29bfb2d6364c61You can buy Leatrice's book here: Yearbook Signing – Reconnecting Rainbows PressKeep Nols in poetry books by subscribing to the patreon.www.patreon.com/makepoetryweirdagain

Nols Nathankski and Vidya Gosain sit down to cook about disenfranchisement at the open mic. Changes in the scene and how to give space to people with lived experience of racism and homophobia.Vidya (she/her) is a writer who finds the comedy and tragedy in everyday life; constantly searching for meaning in mundanity and trying to tell you stories about what she finds. Her favourite colour is green and her favourite chef is Anthony Bourdain. They make poems with prompts from Kim Addonizio's book Quiet Genius.First ever open mic night: @houseofrhymes_@where.the.word.things.liveNY poetry night - @voicesinpower_ / host: @imsuperdope_The book I mention at 58 mins is called "Big Magic (Creative Living Beyond Fear)" by Elizabeth Gilbert (@elizabeth_gilbert_writer)Favourite poets / poet shout outs:@sumnerbrook@theadamrw@zakariyyee@aaronmccallumhepple@l.p.macpherson@hannahwallwork87Favourite open mics / open mic shout outs:@everythingpoetrynight@storytimelondon@rhymesandstitches@versespoetrynightKeep this podcast cooking and Nols eatingwww.patreon.com/make poetryweirdagain

Nols Nathankski presents a fuck you to writing retreats and writing holidays. In this episode Nols will take you through some ideas of how you can find time every week to find a place to attack from. Not spending loads of money. Not going away anywhere. How to reclaim your time and dedicate it to your work.This episode looks at where to write, what sort of schedule you should set yourself and how you can comfortably and cheaply focus on your writing without having to go much further than a local library, church or cafe. Nols provides example schedules and prompts for how to begin and end writing sessions. Focusing on attention, rest and encouragment.If you have a writing practice you wish to share get in touch, we would love to hear from you!Keep this show going on patreon.www.patreon.com/makepoetryweirdagain