Page Fright: A Literary Podcast

Kevin Spenst is back to talk about his latest poetry collection, A Bouquet Brought Back from Space. Andrew celebrates 5 years of Page Fright. Everyone's thinking about words!-- Kevin Spenst is the author of sixteen chapbooks and three full-length books of poetry plus his newest collection A Bouquet Brought Back from Space (Anvil Press, 2024). He is one of the organizers of the Dead Poets Reading Series, has a chapbook review column for subTerrain magazine, occasionally co-hosts Wax Poetic on Vancouver Co-op Radio, and teaches poetry through The Writer’s Studio at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver on unceded xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səl̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) territory where he cohabitates with the one and only Cheryl Rossi.  -- Andrew French is an author from North Vancouver, British Columbia. They have published two chapbooks, Poems for Different Yous (Rose Garden Press, 2021) and Do Not Discard Ashes (845 Press, 2020). Andrew holds a BA in English from Huron University College at Western University and an MA in English from UBC. They write poems, book reviews, and host this very podcast.

Rob Taylor is back to talk about his new book, Weather. Rob Taylor is the author of five collections of poetry, including Strangers and The News, which was a finalist for the Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize. He is also the editor of What the Poets Are Doing: Canadian Poets in Conversation and Best Canadian Poetry 2019. He lives with his family in Port Moody, BC. -- Andrew French is an author from North Vancouver, British Columbia. They have published two chapbooks, Poems for Different Yous (Rose Garden Press, 2021) and Do Not Discard Ashes (845 Press, 2020). Andrew holds a BA in English from Huron University College at Western University and an MA in English from UBC. They write poems, book reviews, and host this very podcast.

-- Rhea Tregebov is the acclaimed author of eight collections of poetry. Her most recent, Talking to Strangers, was published by Signal Editions/Véhicule Press in April 2024. She has also published two award-winning novels, Rue des Rosiers (2019) and The Knife Sharpener’s Bell (2009). Tregebov served as Chair of the Writers’ Union of Canada from 2021 to 2023. Born in Saskatoon and raised in Winnipeg, she now lives and writes in Vancouver, where she is Associate Professor Emerita at the School of Creative Writing at UBC. -- Andrew French is an author from North Vancouver, British Columbia. They have published two chapbooks, Poems for Different Yous (Rose Garden Press, 2021) and Do Not Discard Ashes (845 Press, 2020). Andrew holds a BA in English from Huron University College at Western University and an MA in English from UBC. They write poems, book reviews, and host this very podcast.

Matt Rader returns to talk about his second poetry collection, Fine. Andrew wonders about the beauty in the struggle. Everybody leaves a bit lighter! -- Details on Matt's Vancouver launch here. Details on the Dead Poets Reading Series event here. -- Matt Rader is an award-winning author of six volumes of poetry, a collection of stories and a book of nonfiction. His previous book of poems, Ghosthawk (2021), was shortlisted for the Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize. He teaches Creative Writing at the University of British Columbia Okanagan and lives in Kelowna, BC. -- Andrew French is an author from North Vancouver, British Columbia. They have published two chapbooks, Poems for Different Yous (Rose Garden Press, 2021) and Do Not Discard Ashes (845 Press, 2020). Andrew holds a BA in English from Huron University College at Western University and an MA in English from UBC. They write poems, book reviews, and host this very podcast.

Kayla Czaga drops in to discuss her third full-length poetry collection, Midway. Andrew asks about elegies and editing together a manuscript. It's a fascinating chat! -- Kayla Czaga is the author of two previous poetry collections: For Your Safety Please Hold On (Nightwood Editions, 2014) and Dunk Tank (House of Anansi, 2019). Her work has been short-listed for the Governor General's Award for poetry and the BC and Yukon Book Prizes' Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize. Frequently anthologized in the Best Canadian Poetry in English series, her writing has also appeared in The Walrus, Grain, Event, The Fiddlehead, and elsewhere. She lives with her wife on the traditional territory of the Lekwungen people. -- Andrew French is an author from North Vancouver, British Columbia. They have published two chapbooks, Poems for Different Yous (Rose Garden Press, 2021) and Do Not Discard Ashes (845 Press, 2020). Andrew holds a BA in English from Huron University College at Western University and an MA in English from UBC. They write poems, book reviews, and host this very podcast.

THREE poets read and talk about their poems from Best Canadian Poetry 2024! Nicholas Bradley discusses an atmospheric river. Matt Rader explores heat domes. Joanna Streetly searches the depths. It's a powerful set of chats! -- Nicholas Bradley lives in Victoria, BC. He is the author of two books of poetry: Rain Shadow (University of Alberta Press, 2018) and Before Combustion (Gaspereau Press, 2023). He teaches in the Department of English at the University of Victoria. Matt Rader lives in Kelowna, BC. He's the author of five collections of poems, most recently, Ghosthawk (Nightwood, 2021). He teaches Creative Writing at the University of British Columbia, Okanagan. Joanna Streetly has lived on the west coast of Vancouver Island since 1990. She is the published author of four books and has been listed for the FBCW Literary Writes Poetry Contest, the Canada Writes Creative Non-fiction Prize, and The Spectator's Shiva Naipaul award. Her work appears in the literary magazines, anthologies, and Best Canadian Essays 2017. From 2018-2020, she was the inaugural Tofino Poet Laureate. -- Andrew French is an author from North Vancouver, British Columbia. They have published two chapbooks, Poems for Different Yous (Rose Garden Press, 2021) and Do Not Discard Ashes (845 Press, 2020). Andrew holds a BA in English from Huron University College at Western University and an MA in English from UBC. They write poems, book reviews, and host this very podcast.

andrea bennett pops by to chat about their latest poetry collection, the berry takes the shape of the bloom. Andrew asks about bodies and gets too excited talking about the ocean. It's a fun one! ----- Listen to more episodes of Page Fright here. Follow the podcast on Instagram here. ----- andrea bennett is a National Magazine Award–winning writer and senior editor at The Tyee who lives in the Ayjoo mixw area of what is currently known as Powell River, B.C. Their previous book, Like a Boy but Not a Boy: Navigating Life, Mental Health, and Parenthood Outside the Gender Binary (Arsenal Pulp Press), was a CBC Books’ pick for the top Canadian nonfiction of the year. Their most recent book is the berry takes the shape of the bloom (Talonbooks). ----- Andrew French is an author from North Vancouver, British Columbia. They have published two chapbooks, Poems for Different Yous (Rose Garden Press, 2021) and Do Not Discard Ashes (845 Press, 2020). Andrew holds a BA in English from Huron University College at Western University and an MA in English from UBC. They write poems, book reviews, and host this very podcast.

Kit Roffey jumps into the Zoom to chat about their first chapbook, Civilian of Dirt. Andrew mistakenly assumes Kit organizes readings because of their reading skills. It's a good ol' time! ----- Listen to more episodes of Page Fright here. Follow the podcast on Instagram here. ----- Kit Roffey is a queer writer. They hold a BA in English and Cultural Studies from Huron at Western University. Their work has appeared in Vallum, Event, Existere and Grain among others. Their first collection of poetry “Civilian of Dirt” is out now with 845 Press. They can be found on Instagram @poetry_kit and are always happy to talk writing, or debate over the best pen brands, boygenius songs, and coffee orders. ----- Andrew French is an author from North Vancouver, British Columbia. They have published two chapbooks, Poems for Different Yous (Rose Garden Press, 2021) and Do Not Discard Ashes (845 Press, 2020). Andrew holds a BA in English from Huron University College at Western University and an MA in English from UBC. They write poems, book reviews, and host this very podcast.

Chris Johnson stops in to talk about their new chapbook, 320 Lines of Poetry. Andrew asks what it's like running a successful poetry journal. It's a fun one! ----- Listen to more episodes of Page Fright here. Follow the podcast on Instagram here. ----- Chris Johnson (he/they) is a bi, settler poet from Scarborough, ON, currently living on unceded, unsurrendered territory of the Anishinaabe Algonquin Nation. He is the Managing Editor for Arc Poetry Magazine, a board member for the Ottawa Arts Council, and a member of the creative collective VII. ----- Andrew French is an author from North Vancouver, British Columbia. They have published two chapbooks, Poems for Different Yous (Rose Garden Press, 2021) and Do Not Discard Ashes (845 Press, 2020). Andrew holds a BA in English from Huron University College at Western University and an MA in English from UBC. They write poems, book reviews, and host this very podcast.

Chris Banks pops by to discuss his 7th poetry collection, Alternator. Andrew talks about being a writer who doesn't write. It's a lovely chat! ----- Listen to more episodes of Page Fright here. Follow the podcast on Instagram here. ----- Chris Banks is a Canadian poet and the author of seven collections of poetry, most recently Alternator with Nightwood Editions in 2021. His first full-length collection, Bonfires, was aw2arded the Jack Chalmers Award for Poetry by the Canadian Authors Association in 2004. Bonfires was also a finalist for the Gerald Lampert Memorial Award for best first book of poetry in Canada. His poetry has appeared in The New Quarterly, Arc Magazine, The Antigonish Review, Event, The Malahat Review, GRIFFEL, American Poetry Journal and PRISM International, among other publications. He lives and writes in Kitchener, Ontario. ----- Andrew French is an author from North Vancouver, British Columbia. They have published two chapbooks, Poems for Different Yous (Rose Garden Press, 2021) and Do Not Discard Ashes (845 Press, 2020). Andrew holds a BA in English from Huron University College at Western University and an MA in English from UBC. They write poems, book reviews, and host this very podcast.

Brandi Bird stops by the virtual studio to talk about their debut poetry collection, The All + Flesh. Andrew relates their obsession with Mary Oliver to Brandi's work. It's a great time! ----- Listen to more episodes of Page Fright here. Follow the podcast on Twitter here. ----- Brandi Bird is an Indigiqueer Saulteaux, Cree, and Métis writer and editor from Treaty 1 territory. They currently live and learn on the land of the Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh, and Musqueam peoples. Bird’s poems have been published in Catapult, The Puritan, Room Magazine, and others. They are a fourth year BFA student at the University of British Columbia, but their heart is always yearning for the prairies. ----- Andrew French is an author from North Vancouver, British Columbia. They have published two chapbooks, Poems for Different Yous (Rose Garden Press, 2021) and Do Not Discard Ashes (845 Press, 2020). Andrew holds a BA in English from Huron University College at Western University and an MA in English from UBC. They write poems, book reviews, and host this very podcast.

Tom Cull joins Andrew to reconnect and talk about his new poetry collection, Kill Your Starlings. Andrew asks about elegies and IKEA. It's a good one! ----- Listen to more episodes of Page Fright here. Follow the podcast on Twitter here. ----- Tom Cull was born and raised in Huron County in Treaty 29 territory. He currently resides in London, Ontario, on the traditional lands of the Anishinaabeg, Haudenosaunee, Lenape, Attawandaron and Huron-Wendat peoples. Tom works at the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority and teaches creative writing at Western University. He was the Poet Laureate for the City of London from 2016-2018. Tom is the author of two books of poems: Kill Your Starlings (Gaspereau Press, 2023) and Bad Animals (Insomniac Press, 2018). His chapbook, What the Badger Said, was published in 2013 (Baseline Press). His work has appeared in several journals, and anthologies including This Magazine, The Rusty Toque, Long Con Magazine, The Windsor Review, The New Quarterly, The Dalhousie Review, and Undocumented: Great Lakes Poet Laureates on Social Justice (Michigan State UP). His work has also been included in group exhibitions through Embassy Cultural House, and GardenShip and State. Cull is the director of Antler River Rally (ARR), a grass roots environmental group he co-founded in 2012 with his partner Miriam Love. ARR works to protect and restore the Deshkan Ziibi (Antler River).   ----- Andrew French is an author from North Vancouver, British Columbia. They have published two chapbooks, Poems for Different Yous (Rose Garden Press, 2021) and Do Not Discard Ashes (845Press, 2020). Andrew holds a BA in English from Huron University College at Western University and an MA in English from UBC. They write poems, book reviews, and host this very podcast.