I used to absolutely adore this podcast when Franny and Danez were the hosts (I never missed an episode), but the hosts who replaced them are not nearly as articulate, thoughtful, or sincere— which has drastically reduced the quality of the conversations. When I do occasionally listen to Vs now (which is not often), I’m immediately turned off by the current hosts’ interview style and often can’t even finish the episode, which, again, is disappointing as this was once my go-to podcast.

I have deeply missed this podcast in a way that this episode felt like coming home. The tenderness, the talks on vulnerability, ugh. Thank you for your statements at the beginning of this episode and thank you for the starting once over again with us listeners. Much much love 🩶

Thank you for your statement in solidarity with Palestine. Have always been a big fan of this podcast, and especially appreciate you for this clear and principled stance. Palestine will be free 🇵🇸♥️🇵🇸♥️🇵🇸

I’m a poet myself and one thing I hate is poets acting better than others. That does NOT happen here. This is real discussions with real people with poetry as a reason to talk. Keep on!

This used to be a phenomenal podcast. New hosts are fine, but nowhere near as compelling as the previous ones.

Ajanaé and Brittany are phenomenal hosts and expand beautifully upon the legacy of Franny and Danez. Their questions are thoughtful yet still accessible to those who aren’t in the poetry world. I love how comfortable they make the guests, and their conversations really involve getting a deep, unbuckled knowing of artists and their craft. Their energies are also so inviting. Love it! Love them!

Danez: “I want her to be my second grade teacher, and I want to be held back EVERY YEAR.” 💛💛💛💛

Listening to Gabrielle Civil take us through an examination of Black time is opening space for new understandings and new paths of creativity. Thank you.

This podcast got me through the year! Danez Smith and Franny Choi are such fun and smart hosts. I got exposed to a wide variety of poets. I’m a visual artist and hearing poets talk about their craft and process is of great help. Thank you Danez and Franny will miss you as hosts.

While writing my dissertation in the field of biology this podcast was a vital opportunity to engage with something mostly opposite to my field but equally challenging. Keeps my brain going and heart light. Though pockets a bit empty from buying so many poetry books written by their guests!

I’ve been a big fan since season one and keep coming back for the profoundness ensconced in the silly raucousness that pumps my body with laughter. Kind of feels like I’ve been witnessing the poets grow and that reminds me that I know poetry, even if my relationship with poetry wanes.

Thoughtful, smart, meaningful, and inclusive. Grateful for this podcast. Thanks, Poetry Foundation!

danez and franny are two of my favorite poets so to hear them be goofy and also vastly intelligent with each other is a blessing. this show has helped me as a poet with encouragement, inspiration, and idk just all around good vibes. 10/10

Like listening to a bunch of seventh graders.

This is the first time I’ve cared enough about anything to write a review. Franny Choi and Danez Smith are amazing. All the conversations are so engaging. I feel like I’m part of a poetry community, which is something I’ve never really had going through life. This podcast means a lot me. It is a significant part of my daily life and such a great way to get motivated to think and write. It’s also great for finding more authors to read. Big fan of both hosts as people and poets. So inspiring. Also the production on this is fantastic. Appreciate ya, Daniel Kisslinger. I recommend this podcast to anyone who likes poetry and wants to be challenged while still being caught up in joy.

I’ve just been introduced to this podcast and am slowly working my way through the back catalog. It is so invigorating to listen to poets really talk about craft and ideas in this intimate way. A great way to wake up in the morning.

This podcast makes me happy. Danez and Franny do an excellent job of discussing complex important questions about poetry and life and have such fun doing it. I leave with more questions than answers and a serious urge to start writing. It’s like drinking a cup of delicious coffee - it wakes up my brain.

Love the dynamic between Franny & Danez and the flow between all the guests they have on. This is my favorite podcast in general and my favorite poetry podcast.

I often struggle to engage with podcasts as a medium, for any number of reasons. One of the biggest is that they so easily feel artificial; the humor seems forced in & feels like it makes it hard to focus in on what the Podcast is really “about.” But this is never the case with Vs. Danez Smith & Franny Choi, as hosts make me truly feel I am listening to old friends enjoying one another’s company. And in that company come these amazing poets, sharing & talking so intimately. As a reader of poetry and occasional writer of it, this podcast never fails to make me think and reflect. As a person, it never fails to make me think & reflect on identity & self in new and complex ways. And it never fails to make me laugh along the way. Thank you for what is a beautiful gift; my only question is, when can we get some VS swag to support the work? :)

There is a “complexity” I take away with on how much I LOVED the interview with Chris Abani. I’m still processing how he unpacked and speaks to what language is...and what is poetry...I’m right there with him...and yes, major claps to his thoughtful process for writing whatever is next and how it has it’s own time...such as “grown-ass” way to be as a poet. I am 59, poet, teaching artist, Black Woman and totally inspired by this conversation across generation and culture. I want to see & hear MORE OF THIS, and will make this episode a required assignment for my upcoming summer virtual writing workshops. Thank you.

One of my favorites - every episode’s fun, charming, and moving at different moments. Worth every listen!

^^^

This podcast occupies the cleanish bidet stationed in that vague space you only hear of in myth: you’ll be pleased no matter your pleasures — be they rhythms and majesty and the beautiful — or the squished, the dirty and the disreputable.

I love the chemistry between the hosts and the guests. Interviews tend to get repetitive but VS are consistently fresh, new, and fun. Craft becomes demystified. Ordinary people writing extraordinary work. So engaging I feel like I’m on the podcast. Poetry/Life/Everythang

The poems from the guests are spectacular, the hosts have great chemistry, and I have scared my coworkers by laughing several times this week. I do wish that the episode notes had more information though. It would be great if the poem titles and links to everyone’s social media accounts were included.

Too much.

I always learn something when I listen and it has definitely broadened my knowledge of modern poets and what it means to be a poet.

I love the show and its hosts.

like the Wheels of Birds

I love every episode of Vs so much! I have taken notes from every episode, there is so much to learn, so much about every conversation that is heartbreaking and heartwarming and it puts one inside the minds of people we revere while humanising them staggeringly! I love the honesty of this podcast, the lack of veneer! Thank you for all the work, it is so important, you give words to so many thoughts and you make me feel held.

Thanks for great episode. Was really nice hearing a poet so open honest and vulnerable.

Franny and Danez are such fantastic interviewers. Funny and sweet, extremely intelligent and thoughtful. The guests are always extremely well selected

I saw Don Share at AWP and, rather than ask him about Poetry, I yelled for several minutes about how great VS is. Danez and Franny are the revolution and guess what? the revolution is a heartbreakingly honest conversation about what moves poets. 11/10 would recommend

No other podcast makes me feel more present, involved, and invested. Thank you to Danez and Franny for openng up so many possibilities in my brain by doing this. Y'all and all of your wonderful guests are absolutely amazing and I hope if you're reading that you have a wonderful day.

This is the first podcast I reach for, and even when I’m “all caught up” on episodes, rather than go to a different podcast, I’ll just play an old one again; I’ll still get something new from listening, every time. I’ve recommended it to everyone — and I’m not even a poet! Listening has helped my writing, my own language, and it generally helps me escape the chaos and mayhem of everyday life for the length of the episode. The humor is wonderful, the interviews are insightful and nourishing, and the order of episodes I listen to are eerily synchronous: I skip around and just so happen to listen to the one episode I needed the most that day. I love it, I love it, I love it. Please never go away.

I continue to be enamored by this podcast, both by the hosts and the guests! Danez and Franny if you see this can you please invite Joy Harjo to be on the podcast? She’s my favorite poet. 💚

this podcast consistently features thoughtful & brilliant conversations as well as really important discourse. i’m grateful to be a young person who has access to this podcast and the voices of the lovely people who are involved with it.

This podcast is so comforting and I always try to listen to an episode after a horrible day. These conversations have challenged me to become a stronger writer, but more importantly, it has allowed me to rediscover beauty and joy in this world. Thank you Danez & Franny for the work that you do for QTPOC folks and thank you for introducing us those who are also doing this work. Y’all are saving lives. <3

Don't listen to this podcast if you don't want the following to happen: entertainment, laughter, love, inspiration, joy, and forgiveness. (P.S. You should share this podcast with everyone.)

INSPIRING ! Thank you...Bob

I love to read poetry, but until I heard this podcast I didn’t fully grasp what it means to be an embodied poet that is living in this moment. The whole show is so thoughtful and beautiful - it makes me feel like I’m part of a community of people who love language enough to laugh and cry and scream about it. Love y’all.

I should love this, because it’s Poetry Foundation. The two hosts are gratingly giggly and earnestly hep. Maybe a 16-year-old would like it?

This is the only podcast that is fascinating, brilliant, and funny enough that I can go running while I listen to it. Every time someone tells me I look good lately I pass the compliment directly on to Franny and Danez

Love this podcast. The conversations are always deep, rich, thought-provoking and I feel like I learn something beautiful and new every time. Franny and Danez feel like long-lost friends, and listening to them chat is so fun.

No other podcast makes me laugh & talk out loud in response & in agreement with such terrific & spirited interviews in public spaces like the subway where I listen with joy to such intelligent questions & readers who have verve & verse. Thank you for this fabulousness & friendship in poetry!!!

very good thx

love you guys your sweet giggles and your sweeter insights

This is the best podcast ever, period.

Playful, challenging, and alive, this podcast is a place of honest art. Listening brings me the same unique comfort as a trusting a good poem, or learning from a good teacher.

This is not a poetry podcast. There is no point critiquing, it has no potential to ever be good. These positive reviews are either friends, paid or they've never listened to an entire episode.