The Poetry Podcast was born from a lifelong journey.

I was very fortunate to have a wonderful childhood. My mom ran a daycare at our home and one of the parents built children’s theatre sets, my dad built us a playground and an above ground pool in our backyard. My childhood was FILLED with imagination.

This podcast is in part in homage to Rabbit Ears Radio (& Circle Round), a radio series in which well-known actors would read children’s fairy tales in the 1990s which was part of a broader trend of using radio to engage children with literature and storytelling. It certainly captured my imagination as a child.

I began traveling at a young age due to my father’s work.

At 22, I turned down a place in drama school and set off on a trip around the world to commemorate & honour the deep love (& pain) felt within my family over this loss, to extend the reach of my father’s all too short life, and to counter the deeply corrosive internal feelings I had in response to his death.

My travels led me to give back to others through my work in arts education and disaster relief.

I discovered that art—especially music and storytelling—was a powerful way to connect with people, even in the most difficult circumstances. It gave space for people to trust each other, share honestly about their experiences, be vulnerable, and to witness the life experience of other people.

For this work, I received a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship to study music and performance, which deepened my dedication to using the arts as a bridge between cultures.

As a committed artist and arts educator, now based in London, I believe that sharing art is a way to build peace and understanding across communities.

This podcast is my way of continuing that mission. In a world that often aims to divide us, The Poetry Podcast reminds us that we have far more in common than we have differences.

Through poetry—especially works from different cultures and traditions—we build curiosity, compassion, and connection.

This podcast is my love letter to the world.

The Poetry Podcast is currently free to listen to and advertisement-free. The show is supported by listeners like you via Ko-Fi (and whatever money Jessica has in her bank account).

You can support the show by making a Ko-Fi donation, rating the show with 5 ★, or get a Spotify subscription.