Wild Roof Podcast

#34 - Wild Roof Roundtable: Wendy Wallace of Peatsmoke Journal

In the November episode, editor and writing professor Wendy E. Wallace joins host Aaron Lelito to talk about Peatsmoke Journal.

We chat about the origin story of Peatsmoke, what sets it apart from other online lit mags, what they look for during the review process, along with some general submission advice. Wendy grew up in Buffalo, NY, so it was great to talk a bit about the WNY region — the friendly people, beautiful summers, and over-the-top Halloween decorations!

If you like good writing, visually appealing lit mags, and a wee dram of peaty Laphroaig, you'll want to listen up!

See more about Wendy at her website.

#33 - Wild Roof Roundtable: Dawn Leas and John Tessitore

In the March episode, authors Dawn Leas and John Tessitore join host Aaron Lelito to read some poems and talk about how they were made. If you like getting a behind-the-scenes view of the creative process, listen up!

We also chat about the question, “What keeps you going as a writer?” and how we choose to include personal life in our writing. Lastly, we offer a few practical writing suggestions (because, after all, we’re here to help!).

See more about Dawn at her website. John’s poetry collections are available here.

#32 - Wild Roof Discussion with Kelly Gray

In the January episode, writer and previous WRJ contributor Kelly Gray joins host Aaron Lelito to chat about her new poetry chapbook called The Mating Calls of a Specter, out now from Tusculum Review.

Kelly writes about what she knows or is trying to know: parenting, systemic violence, dead things, monsters, prophetic animals, relationships to self and others, and rural life. In our conversation, we cover some of Kelly's early writing experiences and how they impacted her, the writing process for her new chapbook, and the question of how to respond to creative blocks. Kelly finishes with a reading of her poem "Parade Day."

See more about Kelly's work at her website.

#31 - Wild Roof Discussion with Amber Herzog Lyman

In the November episode, poet, film writer, and adventurer Amber Herzog Lyman joins hosts Aaron Lelito and Nicole Bethune Winters to chat about her creative process and her connection to nature, as well as her new poetry/music album called Listen Deep.

Amber also shares a poem from the album called “Our Mother.” If you like poetry, music, and cetaceans (a classic trio), I recommend that you listen in, listen up, and listen deep!

See more about Amber’s work at her website and on Instagram @wildwondernature.

#30 - Wild Roof Roundtable: Marybeth Holleman and Eric Williamson

In the September episode, authors Marybeth Holleman and Eric Williamson join host Aaron Lelito to read some poems and talk about how they were made. If you like getting a behind the scenes view of the creative process, listen up!

We also chat about the “nuts-and-bolts” of putting together a poetry collection, as well as a pretty hefty reading recommendations list.

See more about Marybeth’s book Tender Gravity at her website. Eric’s chapbook This Is Our Secret is available to order here.

#29 - Wild Roof Roundtable: Morgan Stephens and Eben Bein

In the August episode, WRJ contributors Morgan Stephens and Eben Bein join hosts Aaron Lelito and Chris Vogt for a writer-centric conversation.

Here, both guests offer a poem from their collections. Eben reads "What I Meant to Ask" (published in WRJ's Issue 13), and Morgan reads "Better this way" (published in Issue 21).

We get some wonderful behind-the-scenes insights about these poems as well. It's always fascinating to peel back the layers and see some of the experiences that inspired the poems we love. Eben and Morgan certainly don't disappoint in that area!

See more about Morgan at her website. Eben's chapbook is available to order here!

#28 - Wild Roof Roundtable Discussion

In the July episode, WRJ contributors Morgan Stephens and Eben Bein join hosts Aaron Lelito and Chris Vogt for a writer-centric conversation.

We chat about the questions "How can you describe your creation process?" and "How do you gain useful insight into your writing?"

Both Morgan and Eben have chapbooks in various stages in the publication process, so they are able to offer some great experiential commentary. If you are thinking about putting together a chapbook or are already in progress with a collection of your writing, listen up! And if you're not, you're still welcome to come along for the ride.

See more about Morgan at her website. Eben's chapbook is available to pre-order here!

#27 - Wild Roof Discussion with Anne Marie Wells: Extra

In the May episode, author, teacher, and ecologist Anne Marie Wells joins hosts Aaron Lelito and Chris Vogt for the second part of our conversation.

We chat about the question What is the role of letting go in the creative process? Also, Anne Marie shares a poem called "Grief is the Ghost," which is from her new poetry collection Survived By. It is available now!

#26 - Wild Roof Discussion with Anne Marie Wells

In the April (aka National Poetry Month) episode, author, teacher, and ecologist Anne Marie Wells joins hosts Aaron Lelito and Chris Vogt.

We chat about overcoming second-guessing yourself as a writer (as well as some other writer-centric pitfalls), and Anne Marie takes us behind the scenes of her poem "Prairie Fire," which was published in the November 2021 issue of WRJ. Anne Marie also has a new poetry collection that is coming out on April 30th. It's titled Survived By and is available for pre-order here.

We hope you enjoy our conversation as much as we did having it. Part two of our conversation will be coming out next month!

#25 - Wild Roof Contributor Reading

For the March episode, we have another group of previous WRJ contributors to read some of their work.

12 contributors join us for this reading. Enjoy!

J.D Goodman (0:41)
Kris Whorton (3:38)
Shannon Vare Christine (7:14)
Liam Day (9:42)
Emma McNamara (11:44)
Melody Wilson (16:29)
Veronica Barker-Barzel (19:44)
Victoria Dym (23:34)
David A. Goodrum (27:38)
Justine Payton (30:40)
John Tessitore (38:22)
Bracha K. Sharp (40:53)