27 MAY 2023 · In the final episode of season 2, Melina talks with Evan Kennedy, the 22nd poet to be featured in City Lights Booksellers’ Spotlight Series. Listen for a deep dive into Evan’s work and the series as a whole. Evan’s book was released March 21 and can be found https://citylights.com/poetry-published-by-city-lights/metamorphoses-2/. Music (in order of appearance): - Jazz And Hop, kidcut - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nPhcIG4gvE&list=PLk-IgAEKYl2yMm2-O57J7SKLz3mA1ykGb&index=2 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QElRIP-r9l4 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CERo3DpxCrA - Curiosity, All Good Folks - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOnJCRyCsM4&list=PLFB3FDECDA3A443A8&index=1 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKnlDOJpAKI

1 MAY 2023 · Melina travels all the way from Pegasus Books on Shattuck Ave to Elko, Nevada for the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering. This is part two of a two-part episode on cowboy poetry. Last episode talked about cowboy poetry’s history and today, listeners will catch a ride to Elko. Music (in order of appearance): - Jazz And Hop, kidcut - Ay Ay Ay, Rich & Valerie O’Brien - Saloon, Danijel Zambo - The Antics, West Valley Shakers - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdzrOS5tEeE&list=PLSRgPaEFtrEak-hj7Gq6KaWFdRo1LVQmi&index=2 - Southern Lord, Danijel Zambo - No Wonder, West Valley Shakers - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2a7QKwr-ino&list=PLSRgPaEFtrEak-hj7Gq6KaWFdRo1LVQmi&index=4 - Full Moon, Wisanga

15 APR 2023 · Melina travels all the way from Pegasus Books on Shattuck Ave to Elko, Nevada for the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering. This is part one of a two-part episode on cowboy poetry. Today’s episode defines cowboy poetry and talks about its history. Next episode will take listeners on the road and over to Elko. Sound credit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpJjMyBUoZM Music (in order of appearance): - Jazz And Hop, kidcut - El Gato, Sky Toes - Original songs by Kyle Keller - Home on the Range, Vernon Dalhart - Nevada, Danijel Zambo - Golden Coast, The Lakes Special thanks to Dave Matuszak, Larry Maurice, Kyle Keller and Grady Clark.

4 FEB 2023 · Lesser-known Berkeley street poet Julia Vinograd fought violence with bubbles and words. In this episode, Melina chats with Ken Paul Rosenthal, a filmmaker whose upcoming project documents the life and time of Julia. If you’d like to learn more about the film, you can visit betweenspiritandstonethefilm.com. Sound credit (in order of appearance): - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68j0I9_gyCA - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKS_uEyiB78 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDBb48lPfvU - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3fOA9OheMY - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnRX_bHbYgs - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QKdqm5TX6c - "The Calling of Jerusalem" Recording, c. Ken Paul Rosenthal, All Rights Reserved - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sy_Aje0hnac Music (in order of appearance): - One For The Hawk, Doug Organ - Jazz And Hop, kidcut - Spheres, Danijel Zambo - Shout, Tears For Fears (instrumental cover) - Beatnik Fly, Fenderman - Gold, Spandau Ballet (instrumental cover) - Prairie Tone, Yet Music

6 JAN 2023 · For many poets, community is key to creation. In this episode, Melina talks to two poets who performed at BAMPFA’s Black Poets’ Imagination reading event, chatting about poetry in community and as a form of storytelling. Music (in order of appearance): - No Mystery, Cutesy Chamber Ensemble - Jazz And Hop, kidcut - Godspeed, Frank Ocean - Boiling Point, LethalNeedle

28 NOV 2022 · Music and poetry have a special relationship. In this episode, Melina dives into that connection, talking to two Bay Area poets who use music in near-opposite ways to enhance their poetic work. Audio credit: - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3lI6Offi8M(by Maddy Tube on Youtube) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWwIj-xbIDg (from Youtube, Allen Ginsberg's The Fall of America: A 50th Anniversary Musical Tribute) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4BRffbfTlI (from Youtube, Damani Rhodes’ Not A Poem) - Supporting poetry courtesy of Tony Aldarondo and Carli Torres Music (in order of appearance): - Jazz And Hop, kidcut - Skateboard In My Hands, kidcut - Gratitude, SENSHO

22 OCT 2022 · In this episode, Melina takes listeners on a journey through the history of UCB’s Lunch Poems, a monthly poetry-reading event on the UCB campus that began in 1994. With past speakers like Giovanni Singleton and Lawrence Ferlinghetti paving the way for upcoming poets today, the resumption of in-person programming at Morrison library this year has kept the strong poetic tradition alive. Audio credit: - UC Berkeley Event’s Youtube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKtOBDnIUHY&list=PL482F31AA0F048B92) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDLwivcpFe8 (by Modo de Usar on Youtube, Taken from "USA: Poetry: Frank O'Hara" produced and directed by Richard Moore, for KQED and WNET. Originally aired on September 1, 1966.) Music (in order of appearance): - Jazz And Hop, kidcut - Coffee Shop, Soundroll - Fairytales, Danijel Zambo - Poem, Soundroll

27 AUG 2022 · Welcome to season 2 of Poetic Pontification! To kick off the new season, host Melina Kritikopoulos takes listeners on a tour of Poets’ Corner, a neighborhood in Central Berkeley made of streets named after poets. Audio credit: - Amantium Irae reading- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zNH7Qs8kTY Music (in order of appearance): - Jazz And Hop, kidcut - B Lee, Walz - Miles Away, Walz - Capitoline, Floor Model - Swing It, All Good Folks - In the Midnight Hour, Wilson Pickett - 2:32AM, Wisanga

23 JUN 2022 · Listen to come along on Melina’s experience of the annual Berkeley Book Festival, talking with 6 poets from in and around the Bay. With poems about lost histories and alcoholism and why poetry will save the world, there’s a bit of everything in this week’s episode.

12 MAY 2022 · In this episode, Melina sits down with yet another poet who displays their work on a fence. This time, Gary Turchin, a poet and writer for over 40 years, talks about the fence around his house as a place for self-publication, his work in elementary schools reciting poetry for kids, and his thoughts on pictures in the poetic space.