I was mowing the lawn (probably because we're self isolating at home and I got bored) and my mind was racing with creative thoughts. Which is kind of weird timing? But maybe not. Maybe we need to lean into our creativity as we process this strange time in history. Maybe as the well oiled machine of society is forced to a halt...we could recover some of our vulnerable humanity? Here are a few thoughts I recorded - and a call to your inner creative. You have one. Whoever you are. I'm planning to record more of these as this thing plays out. Poems, conversations and reflections for this unique time we are living through. If you're interested in some creativity amidst the chaos, come along for the ride.Grace and peace to you.

Poetic Beings with Will Small

Poetry for a Pandemic & a Message for Your Inner Artist

FRIENDS. This is the last episode of Poetic Beings....maybe not forever, but at least for a while.I'm going to be giving more dedicated time and energy to Man;Kind poddy (so go over there if you want to keep hearing my voice) - all links at leadbystory.com.au/mankindpodcast. But, THIS is a special episode to finish my season of 'poems for a pandemic'. My mate Dylan gets real and shares openly and vulnerably about his experience of the pandemic in relation to his mental health, as well as giving us a poem he wrote. Our conversation is a window into some of the challenges that many people were experiencing prior to COVID-19 - and maybe it could be a wake-up call to us, to look out for people in our context, who could use some connection. Thanks so much for listening to Poetic Beings! I may not be recording any new episodes now, but there's a solid back-log there, so please share with your friends, family, English teachers, strange poet friends etc. You can buy the Poetic Beings book here: https://www.willsmall.com.au/store/p4/poeticbeingsbook.html

Mental health and isolation beyond the pandemic with Dylan Nunn

I've been lucky enough to interview some incredible humans in recent years, but this one is pretty dang special. I recently connected with Sam Illingworth, who has a PhD in atmospheric physics, and a passion for connecting science and the arts. He makes a brilliant poddy called 'The Poetry of Science', and uses poetry to facilitate learning experiences for both scientists and non-scientists. I loved hearing Sam's thoughts on the valuable relationship science and poetry are able to have, and I'm sure you will also.If you enjoy the Poetic Beings podcast, I'd love it if you would take 2 minutes to leave a rating/review on apple podcasts or share this episode with someone you think would dig it!Huge gratitude to my Patreon community who generously support the creation of this show: www.patreon.com/willsmallSearch 'The Poetry of Science' to check out Sam's podcast, or connect with his work here: https://www.samillingworth.com/

The Poetry of Science with Dr. Sam Illingworth

My friend Rachael Williams joins me for another poem for the pandemic!I also mention Uncontained Festival of the Podcast. You can check that out at:leadbystory.com.au/uncontainedfacebook.com/leadbystoryAND...Season 2 of Man;Kind podcast is launching this Friday, May 29th! Conversations about healthy manhood in the modern world. Subscribe to that bad boy and help me spread the word.https://www.leadbystory.com.au/mankindpodcast

Waiting for the Sun with Rachael Williams

Listening to this episode is pretty dang good decision, but brace yourself, Andrew's poem might take you to some deep places! I was blown away by what he shared here, after I asked him to write a poem for the times we're living in. It's a gift. You're welcome.You can read all my poems for a pandemic here: https://www.willsmall.com.au/blog/poems-for-a-pandemicConnect with Andrew here: https://www.instagram.com/andrewcoxpoetry/Find out about unContained festival of the podcast here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1280466062163863/ 

The Roses Still Grow with Andrew Cox

More poems for a pandemic! In this episode I share two more I've written recently and then an interview with my good friend Roje Ndayambaje, who also wrote a poem for these times we are living in. You can see the words to Roje's poem below: As we standstatic with fear in this confluence our feet torn between the norm and the chaos navigating reality with forlorn faceslet’s walk in it courageously though these unannounced storms have been placed upon us causing our spines to fold in fear and for someto beg with the same palms that they pray with but stilllet’s search for joy like Paul in jailacknowledging our ego and nurturing compassion in this solitudewe must solidify our connection to self, to neighbour becoming archaeologists of stories and excavating each other intentlylifting up the weak and immersing the lonely with love removing the stains on a darkened soul this is the purpose we were made for and these times a testament the streets are filled with ghosts and memories but there is hope in Italy, in Spainhomes have become sanctuaries like they were intended brothers bellowing salutations on balconies this virus will not fracture us though it seems we are fading we will not languish finding the holy in hellhospitals have become chapels of silent prayers and God hears God hears, and he is in control And maybe beneath this this torrent of uncertainty There is a dormant silver lining And maybe this is the only sabbath long enough in our lifetime To correct and rebuild, to be still and let the earth breathe.

Excavating Stories with Roje Ndayambaje

In this episode I share two 'poems for a pandemic' I've recently written, and I chat to my friend Marissa who also wrote one after I asked my poet friends to join me in writing these. Below are the words to Marissa's poem: The Hopeful Calm, Marissa Niven~~~Surreal.Definition:Having the qualities of surrealismExample:To live through a time you know history will look back on,Whilst doing nothing noteworthyAnd yet in doing soMaking historyThis situation is surreal to meYou got people too scared to go into the streets,While neighbours ignore fears and say cheers to breaking the rules,You'll find no social distancing hereShopping aisles turned to fight clubs,City streets to forgotten histories,Pharmacies look like crime scenes, taped up cause the visual makes it impossible to ignore the new boundariesMaybe that's why there's a reminder on every screen...News headlines never change,Just the numbers do,And it's easy to forget that each number is a name, and each name is a person, and each person is a story-...a story with an unsatisfying end…And still we have leaders who manage to pretend that things aren't so badAnd I wonderDo they see the same news we do?Do they see their people dropping in the streets?Hear the pleas of their doctors to help them?Or do they only care about who can buy the best publicity and make profit from tragedy?And as is the way with Tragedy,She brought her brother RageAngrily he searches for someone to blame for his sister's griefBut blame is a funny thingFor rage leads to blame, and blame leads to rage, and all too soon tragedy is born again anew,And I fear for the people who those grieving will blameA 2 year old stabbed in a parking lot can attest to thatDrowning in the pains of the world,And the ignoranceAnd the griefIt's easy to believe that hope she has left us…But ask Pandora what remained…When the box is opened,And the evils have been unleashedHope still stays.A quiet but steady light to fight the fright of perpetual nightAnd in this wayWe look past the noise of the world in panicAnd find the hopeful calmWe find it in the music played from balconies in cities,Closed down but never forgotten,In wild eyes of nature as she sends her children to reclaim what we have borrowed,In the sky's, clear for the first time in how many years,In the smiles of children, reminders of innocence still safe from all of thisAnd with our quiet hopeful calm,We wait for this to passFor while this fear may be loudIt is hope who's music lasts.

The Hopeful Calm with Marissa Niven

My friend Olivia Wolfe was doing a semester of study abroad in Manchester - but due to COVID-19 she has returned home to Aus. During her quarantine period, I asked her to write a poem to share on this podcast. And man, did she deliver. We had a chat about this moment we find ourselves in, the importance of creativity and of course, Olivia shared her wonderfully insightful and profound poem. 

Spinning Anxiety into Art with Olivia Wolfe

Amongst the enormous disruption of a global health pandemic...I wonder if we might learn something from the humble centipede?Here's a thought and a poem for you today, where ever you are.However you are experiencing this right now, I hope that you find wonder amidst the wounds and peace amidst the pain.

#Notcancelled: Finding Wonder in the Disruption

The Poetic Beings epilogue. Thoughts on the process. A taster of the book. An update on what I'm making next. And a poem for you, dear listener! Buy the Poetic Beings book at: https://www.willsmall.com.au/store/p4/poeticbeingsbook.html

Epilogue: Create What's Next

Tim Boreham is one of the creators of the North Journal, "a story telling publication that aims to bring together a conversation of like minded people on both a local and global scale." It's a beautiful publication you can find predominantly in cafes around Sydney's Northern beaches (but you can also grab copies online here: http://www.thenorth.co/)Along with his wife Grace, Tim also runs an amazing little coffee spot/bakery called Flour & Co, in Toowoon Bay.It was so fascinating to me hearing some of Tim's story and realising that the seeds of being a writer and seeking out interesting human stories were there from very early on in his life. I loved hearing about road-trips with his Mum and sister as a kid, the house he rented with a mate where North Journal was born and just generally exchanging thoughts about creative process. ALSO, I'm about to release a Poetic Beings BOOK! 12 poems + original artworks by my friend Grant Molony.There will be limited copies of this special book available, but you can guarantee you'll get one of the first copies if you sign up to become one of my Patreon supporters:$5USD a month - get the book sent to you upon release.$10USD a month - your name will be in the acknowledgments of the book (Sign up by Feb 16).Head to patreon.com/willsmall to sign up.

Creating the North Journal with Tim Boreham

Mariko Konno is an artist and illustrator with Japanese and Scottish heritage. The Japanese side of her family are from one of the towns that was most impacted by the 2011 Tsunami. We had a rich conversation about culture, family and art and how they can intersect in unexpected ways. And as always, a poem at the end inspired by the interview. This one is called 'The Convergence'.Check out Mariko's work at https://www.instagram.com/marikoartist/. ALSO, I'm about to release a Poetic Beings BOOK! 12 poems + original artworks by my friend Grant Molony. There will be limited copies of this special book available, but you can guarantee you'll get one of the first copies if you sign up to become one of my Patreon supporters:$5USD a month - get the book sent to you upon release.$10USD a month - your name will be in the acknowledgments of the book (Sign up by Feb 16).Head to patreon.com/willsmall to sign up.

East meets West with Mariko Konno

Dave Berlach is the co-founder/director of Bohemian Traders (along with his wife Emily).I first met Dave a few years back when he asked me to perform poetry at a gig he was hosting in his backyard. It was an amazing night. And a great introduction to this thoughtful, well-read, generous and philosophical guy. Over the last few years I've had the occasional privilege of sharing a beer with Dave. The conversation is always rich and varied and leaves me feeling inspired. These are the exact kind of conversations that made me want to podcast in the first place - when you have such a good chat with someone that you immediately wish a bunch of other people could have been part of it. So, here you go. A chat with Dave that you get to be part of. We talk about permaculture, the importance of story, the gift of critical thinking and a stack of other good stuff.And it ends with a poem that references surfing, Tim Winton and tomatoes.

A Gentle Subversion with Dave Berlach

Danielle Habib is honestly one of the most kind-hearted, resilient, compassionate people I have ever met. As if it's not enough to spend your working life in the area of high crisis family and domestic violence, she then gives her spare time to advocating for refugees and seeking to educate her community about issues of social justice. What motivates someone to be like that? Listen to my chat with Danielle to hear her answer. Plus a poem that references pyramids, hip-hop and shoes. Support the Poetic Beings podcast at patreon.com/willsmallCheck out my other creative work at willsmall.com.au or leadbystory.com.au

Hungry for Change with Danielle Habib

Trent Brailey is a digital creator and storyteller. Founder of Forrest Buddy Creative. He's got a deep diversity of experience and a stack of stories to tell. He's also just a top guy and I could listen to him speak for ages. I think both Trent and I felt like this conversation reminded us of some of the important, real stuff. I hope it will do the same for you.Read more about what it means to help me create Poetic Beings through Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/willsmallCheck out my other work at willsmall.com.au or leadbystory.com.au

Light and Shade with Trent Brailey

Will Small, Australian spoken word poet and storyteller interviews a diverse range of interesting people who have found a home on the Central Coast and then writes spoken word poetry that brings their unique story to life in a fresh way. This show has been proudly supported by the Central Coast Council.