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Benno's avatar

I like that the intro's have been getting more collage-y, audio-poetry-collage is something that might've some interesting places to go. Sometimes when my poems get to be highlighted, I get the sensation that I'm eavesdropping haha, but also gives a way to detach from the authorial pov and take it as a now independent thing going about it's own way in the world.

Enjoyed the comment you made about not being able to perceive something when you're in it, as it ties to the note about rationality, and how when one is immersed in it it seems like the solution to everything, when it might actually be completely delusional from the lack of perspective, which leads to the un-intuitive realization that irrationality may even help rationality work better as it grants it an outside perspective that can correct it. As a kid I fantasized a lot with submarines and I think it answered to the wish of being in a isolated-safe rational world, but, eventually, you have to resurface.

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Josh Datko's avatar

Well, submarines are pretty cool so I can understand the appeal. :) thanks for listening!

Irrationality can act like a kind of random number generator. When we are trapped in this way of thinking we can role some dice and it will say something like, do a headstand. Which, how will that help?

But then, your entire perspective flips and the solution is now clear :)

I think this is also basically the theme to Mary Poppins where the children can find a solution but the parents are stuck in adulthood. There might be something to that as well worth exploring. Anyway, thanks for the thoughtful poem and comments!

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Allison Taylor Conway's avatar

Finally got to slow down with coffee this fine Sunday morning and listen to this whole session. Loved your intro and all the side discussions going on throughout this episode, about medium, message, rationality, labeling, virality on Substack, POV... and of course the fire poetry and poets.

Thank you as always, Josh! Hope you had (are having) a great holiday weekend! :)

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Josh Datko's avatar

I’m catching up with coffee as well :) I feel like a lot of writers here have an aversion to podcasts — and I get it. Most of them prioritize the written word (too much imho). But there are just some things easier for me at least to discuss orally.

Like once I looked up the Sappho poems influence from your poem it would be like a page of comments. These kind of things are best described in a spoken format I think.

But thank you for the comment, written :), none-the-less. It was a very nice one to read on this Monday morning!

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Allison Taylor Conway's avatar

I totally agree! And I'm glad you said that about prioritizing the written over the oral, I think it's silliness in some ways. This holding words more sacred, or higher on some made up scale of what is more prestigious or something?

You inspire me in this way because I love doing audio and I feel like I want to do more riffs, like (heaven forbid! clutches pearls!) thoughts on topics without a transcript so the material has to be listened to, can't be read. I don't really know why, just a creative impulse. :)

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Josh Datko's avatar

Yeah @Mary-Kate Ultra as you know, is the master of this. I like how she does it where you get the raw voice over with all sorts of secrets and then the text only. Substack makes things feel so polished, but it’s like a draft in a word document — easily changed.

I’ve done this before where I did the voiceover for the poem, than I just chatted for a few minutes afterwards. I feel that’s not a bad approach either.

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Allison Taylor Conway's avatar

MK is stellar. Absolutely the master of the riff universe to me. I just love the idea of the completely unique style all around. No pre-fab format. Unmistakably her own art, expression, secrets.

I like the addition of personal notes, too, whether written or spoken. You were spot on: I like the feeling of secrets, telling things like you would if you were hanging out in private, even though you release it publicly.

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Mary-Kate Ultra's avatar

Secrets, secrets are so fun! Sometimes. Lol. I think a lot of people can relate to having tons of ideas and not enough resources to get even half of them out into the world. Thats why I do my posts the way I do. If I just turn on the faucet and get creative in all ways possible, then I get the most outta my brain. This is coming from someone who REFUSED to listen to podcast a few years ago.

Also, you guys rule and I’m so happy to witness the unstoppable creations from you both.

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Allison Taylor Conway's avatar

We must bring back the art of the secret! lol-- I love all of this, and especially the idea of just turning on the faucet, and how you emphasized REFUSED.

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Danny Maldonado's avatar

Excellent show today

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Josh Datko's avatar

Thanks!

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Rajani Radhakrishnan's avatar

Thanks so much for reading my poem, Josh. It was a whole different experience listening to it!!

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Josh Datko's avatar

I am still thinking about it as I butter my toast this morning!

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Rajani Radhakrishnan's avatar

:)

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Bence Ádók's avatar

Thank you for the kind words Josh!

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B. Eldon Calder's avatar

Listening with my daughter, in the back, on a commute, essentially to test a new car.

Your admirers love you, Josh.

This is your best episode to date. It's a very special project.

Thank you.

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