The Unruly Muse

Song 1: “You Can’t Do That” (composed and performed by John Modaff)Poem 1: “Vegetable Medley” by Mikki Aronoff, a much-published Albuquerque poet, Pushcart nominee, and animal advocate. Poem first published in The Dribble Drabble Review. Fiction: excerpt from Death of a Department Chair by Lynn C. Miller.Her fifth novel, The Surrogate, comes out in Spring, 2026 from the University of Wisconsin Press. https://uwpress.wisc.edu/Books/T/The-Surrogate  Feed the Cat Break: “Never Goodbye” (composed by John Modaff, performed by jvm and The Mystery Woman)           Poem 2: “Who Knew” by poet and artist Julie Williams, author of Escaping Tornado Season and Drama Queens in the House. A poetry collection is in process. Song 2: “Original Sin” (composed and performed by John Modaff)  Episode artwork by Lynda Miller Show theme and Incidental music by John V. Modaff The Unruly Muse is Recorded in Albuquerque, NM and Morehead, KY. NEXT UP: Jan 2026, Episode 55, “Ancestors”     Thank You to our listeners all over the world. Please tell your friends about the podcast. Lynn & John

Song 1: “Homeless” (by Daniel P. Modaff with Good Enough)Poem 1: “Burned” by Jack Cooper, author of Silly Lily’s Rhyming Adventures In Nature (2023) and Across My Silence (2007) World Audience, Inc. https://sillylilysadventures.com/Fiction: “Displaced,” a short story by Lynn C. Miller. Her fifth novel, The Surrogate, comes out March 31, 2026 from the University of Wisconsin Press. To pre-order go to: https://uwpress.wisc.edu/Books/T/The-Surrogate Lynn’s website: www.lynncmiller.comFeed the Cat Break: excerpt from “Lost Soul” (composed and performed b y David R. Merrill)    Poem 2: “Still Life with Extinctions,” by Lauren Camp who has been the Poet Laureate of New Mexico for the past three years. Author of eight collections of poetry, Lauren’s new book In Old Sky won the New Mexico Book Award.Song 2: “Old Texas Town,” composed by Mark E. Collins, Dan and John Modaff. Performed by J. Modaff      Episode artwork by Lynda Miller Theme & Incidental Music by John V. Modaff, BMI Recorded in Albuquerque NM and Morehead KY Produced at The Creek Studio NEXT UP on Episode 54: The Forbidden   Thank You to our listeners all over the world. Please tell your friends about the podcast. Lynn & John

Song 1: “Is That Love” (John V. Modaff)Poem 1: “Little Histories” by Scott Wiggerman whose new book of poems comes out in Spring of 2026 with Casa Urraca Press. Scott lives in Albuquerque and is a painter and a poet among other things. https://scottwiggerman.myportfolio.com/Fiction: from the novel The Surrogate by Lynn C. Miller. Coming out March 31, 2026 from the University of Wisconsin Press. To pre-order go to: https://uwpress.wisc.edu/Books/T/The-Surrogate  Lynn’s website:  www.lynncmiller.comFeed the Cat Break: a clip from “A Fine Romance,” Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire version.Poem 2: “Persephone” by Sarah Kotchian. From her collection Light of Wings. University of New Mexico Press, 2024. https://www.unmpress.com/9780826365972/light-of-wings/Song 2: “Victory” (Sasha Colette and The Magnolias) Episode artwork by Lynda MillerTheme & Incidental Music by John V. Modaff, BMIRecorded in Albuquerque NM and Morehead KYProduced at The Creek StudioNEXT UP on Episode 53:  Homeless Thank You to our listeners all over the world. Please tell your friends about the podcast. Lynn & John

Song 1: “Disappear” (Daniel P. Modaff with Good Enough on the CD Dakota Plains)Poem 1: “For the Dark Girl” by Susan Aizenberg. Published in her first full-length collection, Muse. Susan lives in Iowa City, IA. Her most recent book is A Walk With Frank O’Hara (U of New Mexico Press, 2024.)Fiction: “Shock Without Awe,” a short story by Lynn C. Miller. Her most recent book is The Lost Archive: Stories. www.lynncmiller.comFeed the Cat Break: excerpt from “Moment of Time” (Dave Merrill)            Poem 2: “The Messiah Horse” by Mark Sanders. Mark lives in Nacogdoches, TX and teaches at Stephen F. Austin University. https://sandersme1.wixsite.com/mark-sanders/ Song 2: “Hold On” (John V. Modaff, cello by David R. Merrill)Episode artwork by Lynda Miller Theme & Incidental Music by John V. Modaff, BMI Recorded in Albuquerque NM and Morehead KYProduced at The Creek Studio NEXT UP on Episode 52: Love?              Thank You to our listeners all over the world. Please tell your friends about the podcast. Lynn & John

Song 1: “Twenty Wishes” (John V. Modaff, w/ lead guitar and mandolin by Dan Modaff)Poem 1: “You Weary Listening To Their First World Complaints” by Mikki Aronoff. Published in Gooseberry Pie. Mikki is featured this year in Best Microfiction 2025 and Best Small Fictions 2025.Fiction excerpt: Scene from the novel The Unmasking by Lynn C. Miller, published by UNM Press, 2020. www.lynncmiller.comFeed the Cat Break: “Bittersweet” (JVM.)Poem 2: “Fat Boy Poems” by Kelly Yenser, whose most recent collection is Walking Uphill at Noon. Kelly publishes fiction and poetry.Song 2: “Jesus & Satan Take a Nap,” (John V. Modaff.)Episode artwork by Lynda MillerTheme & Incidental Music by John V. Modaff, BMIRecorded in Albuquerque NM and Morehead KY.Produced at The Creek StudioNEXT UP on Episode 51:  Stop the World, I Want to Get Off.     Thank You to our listeners all over the world. Please tell your friends about the podcast. Lynn & John

Song 1: “Speak Up,” (composed and performed by John V. Modaff, with guitars by Dan Modaff and Dave Merrill)Poem 1: “Sound Barrier” by Scott Wiggerman from the “Fire” chapter of Presence (San Antonio TX: Pecan Grove Press, 2011), a book arranged around the elements.Fiction excerpt: from the novel Death of a Department Chair by Lynn C. Miller. University of Wisconsin Press, 2006. https://uwpress.wisc.edu/Books/D/Death-of-a-Department-Chair Feed the cat break: “Cats, Cats, Cats” (Andrew Preston and AP Harbor)Poem 2: from ee cummings, poem #22 from XAIPE, 1950. This innovative modern poet (1894-1962) revitalized language from the familiar. He was also a painter, essayist, author, and playwright.Song 2: “Tell Me,” composed and performed by John V. Modaff.Episode artwork by Lynda Miller Theme & Incidental Music by John V. Modaff, BMI Recorded in Albuquerque NM and Morehead KY. Produced at The Creek Studio NEXT UP on Episode 50: “Levity and Gravity”        Thank You to our listeners all over the world. Please tell your friends about the podcast. Lynn & John

Song 1: “The Eyes Have It,” composed and performed by John V. ModaffPoem 1: “In Hurricane With Horses” by Mark Sanders. Mark lives in Nacogdoches, TX and teaches at Stephen F. Austin University. https://sandersme1.wixsite.com/mark-sanders/Fiction excerpt: from the novel Death of a Department Chair by Lynn C. Miller. University of Wisconsin Press, 2006. https://uwpress.wisc.edu/Books/D/Death-of-a-Department-ChairFeed the cat break: “Beastly Beauty” by John V. ModaffPoem 2: “My Hipster” by Barbara Rockman, author of the poetry collections To Cleave and Sting and Nest. Barbara is a poet and teacher whose homebase is Santa Fe.Song 2: “Sonnet 130” by William Shakespeare. Set to music by Phil Schmidt and performed by John V. ModaffEpisode artwork by Lynda MillerTheme & Incidental Music by John V. Modaff, BMIRecorded in Albuquerque NM and Morehead KY. Produced at The Creek StudioNEXT UP on Episode 49: “Speaking Up”     Thank You to our listeners all over the world. Please tell your friends about the podcast. Lynn & John

Song 1: “Day Never Comes,” composed and performed by David R. Merrill.Poem 1: “Leda and the Swan” by Nobel prize-winning poet W. B. Yeats, composed in 1923 and first printed in 1924.Fiction: “The Secret Pool,” by Lynn C. Miller, excerpted from her first novel The Fool’s Journey, 2002 (Winedale Press). In press is the novel The Surrogate for 2026.  www.lynncmiller.comFeed the Cat Break: “The Legend of the Myth” by John V. ModaffPoem 2: “Another Story” by poet Hilda Raz, from a story that inspired Yeats and many others about the beautiful Leda and the god-turned-swan Zeus. In New and Collected Poems, Letter from a Place I’ve Never Been, from University of Nebraska Press, 2022.Song 2: “The Old Monsters Rest Home,” by John V. Modaff.Episode artwork by Lynda MillerShow theme and incidental music by John V. Modaff , BMIThe Unruly Muse is Recorded in Albuquerque, NM and Morehead, KY and produced at The Creek StudioNEXT UP:   Episode 48, “Beauty and the Beast”   Thank You to our listeners all over the world. Please tell your friends about the podcast. Lynn & John

Song 1: The God Machine (Dave Merrill and John V. Modaff)Poem 1: “To the Mother of the Sixteen-Year-Old Boy Shot Dead by the Police After She’d Called Them” by Susan Aizenberg. From Quiet City, BkMk Press 2015. Her most recent book is A Walk With Frank O’Hara (U of New Mexico Press, 2024).Fiction: Excerpt from The Surrogate by Lynn C. Miller, in press with U of Wisconsin Press, 2026. www.lynncmiller.comFeed the Cat Break: "Harpsong," by John V. ModaffPoem 2: “Butterflies Just Out of Reach” by David Meischen from Anyone’s Son: 3 A Taos Press, 2020. His short story collection is the recent Nopalito, U of New Mexico Press.Song 2: "Someplace Safe"  (John Modaff with Dave Merrill) Episode artwork by Lynda MillerShow theme and incidental music by John V. ModaffThe Unruly Muse is Recorded in Albuquerque, NM & Morehead, KYProduced at The Creek StudioNEXT UP:   Episode 47, “Myths and Legends”          Thank You to our listeners all over the world. Please tell your friends about the podcast. Lynn & John

Song 1: “The Swing Set Song” by Andrew Preston and AP Harbor, from the album MildepondPoem 1: “Contemplating Eternity While Sticking Its Neck Out” by Julie Williams, author of Escaping Tornado Season and Drama Queens in the House. A poetry collection is under review.Story excerpt: “Neighbors” by Lynn C. Miller, from David’s Harvest, stories, in process. Her latest book is The Lost Archive: stories, https://uwpress.wisc.edu/books/6155.htmFeed the Cat Break: excerpt from “A Self-Setting Sun,” by Annie Wonder & Jonathan A. ModaffPoem 2: “Good Neighbor” by Jack Cooper, author of Silly Lily’s Rhyming Adventures In Nature (2023) and Across My Silence (2007) World Audience, Inc. https://sillylilysadventures.com/Song 2: “Bluebilly,” composed and sung by John V. Modaff, BMI Episode artwork by Lynda MillerShow theme and incidental music by John V. ModaffThe Unruly Muse is Recorded in Albuquerque, NM and Morehead, KYProduced at The Creek Studio, Morehead KY NEXT UP: Episode 46 coming in March, 2025:  Judgment  Thank You to our listeners all over the world. Please tell your friends about the podcast. Lynn & John

Song 1: “The Young & The Old” (composed by David R. Merrill, performed with John Modaff)Poem 1: “Cousin Judy Paints” by Mikki Aronoff, a much-published Albuquerque poet, Pushcart nominee, and animal advocate.Short Story: “Satisfaction” by Lynn C. Miller. Her novel THE SURROGATE is in process with the University of Wisconsin Press for 2026. www.lynncmiller.comFeed the Cat Break: “Bouree” (JS Bach/Ian Anderson, performed by David R. Merrill)Poem 2: “Bloom” by Sarah Kotchian. From “Light of Wings,” her new collection from University of New Mexico Press in 2024. https://sarahkotchian.com/Song 2: “Sweet Songs” (by John V. Modaff, performed with Good Enough on the album “TOO”)Episode artwork by Lynda MillerShow theme and incidental music by John V. Modaff, BMIThe Unruly Muse is Recorded in Albuquerque, NM and Morehead, KYProduced at The Creek Studio, Morehead 40351NEXT UP: Episode 45 coming February 2025: “Neighbors”       Thank You to our listeners all over the world. Please tell your friends about the podcast. Lynn & John

Song 1: “I Can’t Sing That Song” (John V. Modaff)Poem 1: “Ecdysis Sonnet” by Sandra Yannone. Sandy’s new collection is the glass studio (Salmon Poetry, 2024).Fiction: excerpt from the novel in progress, “The Angel of Devastation.” Her latest book is The Lost Archive: stories, https://uwpress.wisc.edu/books/6155.htmFeed the Cat Break:  “Different Same,” by Jonathan A. ModaffPoem 2: “Sympathetic Magic” by Susan Aizenberg. Susan’s new collection is A Walk With Frank O’Hara (UNMP, 2024).Song 2:  “I Call Crazy” (T Bone Kelly, from the album Toast)Episode artwork by Lynda MillerShow theme and incidental music by John V. Modaff, BMIThe Unruly Muse is Recorded in Albuquerque, NM and Morehead, KYProduced at The Creek Studio, Morehead 40351NEXT UP:   Episode 44 coming January 2025: “Harmony”  Thank You to our listeners all over the world. Please tell your friends about the podcast. Lynn & John

Song 1: “Clever Brilliant Mind” (by David R. Merrill with John Modaff)Poem 1: “I’m” by Jack Cooper, author of Silly Lily’s Rhyming Adventures In Nature (2023) and Across My Silence (2007) World Audience, Inc. https://sillylilysadventures.com/ Fiction: three short excerpts from her third novel The Day After Death by Lynn C. Miller, published by the University of New Mexico Press, 2016. www. lynncmiller.comFeed the Cat Break: “One November Evening” by Chris Geyerman with John V. ModaffPoem 2: “Sunday Afternoon with Seurat” by David Meischen, author of the linked story collection Nopalito, University of New Mexico Press, 2024 and the poetry collection Anyone’s Son (3, A Taos Press, 2020).Song 2: “Counting Down the Raindrops” by Andrew Preston and  A. P. Harbor.Episode artwork by Lynda Miller Show theme and incidental music by John V. Modaff The Unruly Muse is Recorded in Albuquerque, NM and Morehead, KY Produced at The Creek Studio NEXT UP: Episode 43, “Breaking Up”            Thank You to our listeners all over the world. Please tell your friends about the podcast. Lynn & John

Song 1: “I’m Not Your Maybe” (Daniel P. Modaff, performed with GOOD ENOUGH from the album Saturday’s Child)Poem 1: “Conditional Love Story” by Barbara Rockman, author of the poetry collections To Cleave and Sting and Nest. Barbara is a poet and teacher whose homebase is Santa Fe.Fiction: Excerpt from “The Surrogate,” a novel in process by Lynn C. Miller, whose latest book is The Lost Archive: stories, https://uwpress.wisc.edu/books/6155.htmFeed the Cat Break: “Counting Down the Raindrops” (Andrew Preston and A.P. Harbor)Poem 2: “The Impossibility of Stasis," by Hilda Raz whose New and Collected Poems, Letter from a Place I’ve Never Been, came out from University of Nebraska Press.Song 2: “I Doubt It” (John V. Modaff)Episode artwork by Lynda MillerTheme and Incidental Music by John V. Modaff, BMIRecorded in Albuquerque NM and Morehead KYProduced at The Creek StudioNEXT UP on Episode 42: “Unruly Thoughts”      Thank You to our listeners all over the world. Please tell your friends about the podcast. Lynn & John

Song 1: Glimpses by Daniel P. Modaff, Jennifer Butler Modaff & Mark E. Collins, performed by GOOD ENOUGH from their new album, Saturday’s Child (2024).Poem 1: “Remember the Boneyard,” by Julie Williams from a collection in progress. Author of Escaping Tornado Season and Drama Queens in the House.Fiction: “Near Death,” a short story by Lynn C. Miller. www.lynncmiller.comFEED THE CAT BREAK: “Just Before the Curtain Opens,” by John V. Modaff.Poem 2: “Living Room Scene,” by Scott Wiggerman, based on Eric Fischl’s ‘Krefeld Project, Living Room Scene 1.’ https://scottwiggerman.myportfolio.com/Song 2: TV Jesus, written and performed by John V. Modaff with Jonathan Modaff on drums.Episode artwork by Lynda Miller Show theme and Incidental music by John V. Modaff, BMI The Unruly Muse is Recorded in Albuquerque, NM and Morehead, KY. NEXT UP: Episode 41, “The Age of Doubt”    Thank You to our listeners all over the world. Please tell your friends about the podcast. Lynn & John

Song 1: “Long Road” (Mark E. Collins & Daniel P. Modaff, BMI)Poem 1: “Breath” by Sarah Kotchian, from her new collection Light of Wings, UNM Press (2024): https://www.unmpress.com/9780826365972/light-of-wings/Fiction: excerpt from “Curiosities” a short story by Lynn C. Miller, from The Lost Archive by (2023) https://uwpress.wisc.edu/books/6155.htm   www.lynncmiller.comFeed the Cat Break: cut from“Walk a Mile In My Blues” (Dan, Ken, & John Modaff joined by Dave Merrill on the harmonica.) From the new album, Saturday's Child.Poem 2: “Dreaming Orion” by David Meischen, from his collection Anyone’s Son, 3: A Taos Press. David’s new book is Nopalito, UNM Press, 2024.   Song 2: “Sweet Songs” (John V. Modaff, with Good Enough)        Episode artwork by Lynda Miller Theme and Incidental Music by John V. Modaff, BMI Recorded in Albuquerque NM and Morehead KY. Produced at The Creek Studio NEXT UP:  Episode 40 “Behind the Curtain”    Thank You to our listeners all over the world. Please tell your friends about the podcast. Lynn & John

Song 1: You Told, composed and performed by John V. Modaff.Poem 1: “The Wicked Stepmother Tells Her Story,” published in bosque journal and later in We Were Meant to Carry Water as “Frail Cradle.” https://tinacarlsonpoetry.com/Fiction: “Cautionary Tale” by Lynn C. Miller, author of, most recently, The Lost Archive: Stories (2023), from a novel in progress.  www.lynncmiller.comFeed the Cat Break: “The Rear View” by JVM.Poem 2: “I Could Taste It” by Marjorie Saiser, whose book, The Track the Whales Make won the High Plains Award. Saiser's Losing the Ring in the River (University of New Mexico Press) won the Willa Award for Poetry in 2014. www.poetmarge.comSong 2: No Fly Zone composed and sung by JVMEpisode artwork by Lynda Miller Show theme and incidental music by John V. Modaff, BMIThe Unruly Muse is Recorded in Albuquerque, NM and Morehead, KY Produced at The Creek Studio NEXT UP: Episode 39, “What is Healing?”    Thank You to our listeners all over the world. Please tell your friends about the podcast. Lynn & John

Song 1: "Old Truck" composed by David R. Merrill, performed by D.R. Merrill & John ModaffPoem 1: “Data Affirmative” by Scott Wiggerman, Albuquerque poet, artist, and editor https://scottwiggerman.myportfolio.com/Fiction: excerpt from The Unmasking, a novel by Lynn C. Miller (www.lynncmiller.com)Published by University of New Mexico Press: https://www.unmpress.com/9780826361714/the-unmasking/Feed the Cat break: “Plow” composed and performed by David R. MerrillPoem 2: “Outbreak” by Jack Cooper, author of Silly Lily’s Rhyming Adventures In Nature (2023) and Across My Silence (2007) World Audience, Inc. https://sillylilysadventures.com/Song 2: “The Message Radiation Sends” composed and performed by John V. ModaffEpisode artwork by Lynda MillerShow theme and incidental music by John V. ModaffThe Unruly Muse is Recorded in Albuquerque, NM and Morehead, KYProduced at The Creek StudioNEXT UP: Episode 38, “Revenge and Regret”        Thank You to our listeners all over the world. Please tell your friends about the podcast. Lynn & John

Song 1: “Family at the Door,” (by John V. Modaff with Good Enough)Poem 1: “Midnight, with Dogs” by Mark Sanders. Mark lives in Nacogdoches, TX and teaches at Stephen F. Austin University. https://sandersme1.wixsite.com/mark-sanders/Fiction: Excerpt from “Words Shimmer,” from The Lost Archive by Lynn C. Miller (2023) https://uwpress.wisc.edu/books/6155.htm  www.lynncmiller.comFeed the cat break: "On the Porch" (Chris Geyerman and John Modaff)Poem 2: “Sundays in Wichita,” by Kelly Yenser. Author most recently of Walking Uphill at Noon,  poems, UNM Press, 2022. https://www.unmpress.com/9780826363732/walking-uphill-at-noon/Song 2: “All Right Here,” Dan Modaff & Mark Collins, performed by Good Enough. Episode artwork by Lynda MillerTheme and Incidental Music by John V. Modaff, BMIRecorded in Albuquerque NM and Morehead KY.Produced at The Creek StudioNEXT UP: Episode 37, “Machines”  Thank You to our listeners all over the world. Please tell your friends about the podcast. Lynn & John

SONG 1: "Backwagon Man" (composed, sung, and played by John Modaff with mandolin and sundry string by Dan Modaff)POEM 1: “Another Story” by Hilda Raz, a retelling of the myth of  Leda and the Swan. Collected in Letters from a Place I’ve Never Been: Collected and New Poems. University of Nebraska Press, 2021. https://hildaraz.com/FICTION: excerpt from “Duluth” by Lynn C. Miller, from The Lost Archive by Lynn C. Miller (2023) https://uwpress.wisc.edu/books/6155.htm www.lynncmiller.comFeed the Cat Break: "Continental Drift" (by JVM)POEM 2: “Taking Leave” by Scott Wiggerman, a golden shovel poem inspired by haiku. Scott is also a visual artist. https://scottwiggerman.myportfolio.com/SONG 2: Centrum Amsterdam Purples (composed and sung by “T-Bone” Kelly) from his CD: No Expectations (2004)Episode artwork by Lynda MillerShow theme and Incidental music by John V. ModaffRecorded in Albuquerque, NM and Morehead, KYProduced at The Creek StudioNEXT UP: The Unruly Muse #36 “The Family”    Thank You to our listeners all over the world. Please tell your friends about the podcast. Lynn & John