Welcome to the premiere episode of Timeless Classics—a curated series bringing you the most memorable conversations from 450+ episodes of the Quintessential Poetry podcast.
In this episode, podcast host Dr. Michael Anthony Ingram is joined by guest John Patrick Robbins.

John is the editor-in-chief of ten magazines, one of which is the Rye Whiskey Review. Nominated for the Pushcart Prize, he is also a renowned author of Southern Gothic-style short stories and poetry. This conversation focuses on his poetry collection, 'Are We Dead Yet?', published by Black Circle Publishing in 2023 (https://www.amazon.com/Are-Dead-John-Patrick-Robbins/dp/B0BL52F4HH) "Are We Dead Yet?" hit number one on Amazon’s poetry list, sparking conversations about the dark, sarcastic themes in his work, his sources of inspiration, and the raw self-reflection woven into his verses. Robbins shares new poems while looking back on his writing journey and ahead to future plans. It’s an intimate, revealing dive into the extraordinary power of language.

00:00 Introduction to Quintessential Listening Poetry
00:44 Meet John Patrick Robbins
01:47 Discussing 'Are We Dead Yet?'
03:34 Exploring Gothic and Dark Themes
06:36 John Patrick's Poetry Readings
09:48 Reflections and Advice for Young Writers
12:36 Humor and Dark Poetry
20:28 Caller Interaction and Q&A
23:16 More Poetry and Reflections
27:22 The Role of Humor in Writing
28:01 Sharing Vulnerable Poetry
28:52 Reading 'Concessions from the Dragon's Lair'
30:59 Discussing the Creative Process
32:56 Reading 'Dark Rose Jubilee'
34:21 Reading 'She Had a Face for Radio'
35:06 Reading 'The Rain Falls'
40:00 Reading 'Dead Ends and Red Light Vacancies'
42:20 Reading 'Seduction and Darkness'
43:24 The Yin and Yang of Writing
48:27 The Future of Writing Projects
49:38 Closing Remarks and Farewell

About Quintessential Poetry: The award-nominated podcast, Quintessential Poetry, has featured 500+ poets across 450+ episodes, reaching 350,000+ listeners globally. Created and hosted by four-time Pushcart Prize nominee Dr. Michael Anthony Ingram, the podcast celebrates diverse voices in contemporary poetry and spoken word.

Connect with us:
Website: www.quintessentialpoetry.com
Facebook: Quintessential Poetry
Instagram: @quintessentialpoetry

Keywords: poetry podcast, spoken word, John Patrick Robbins, contemporary poetry, literary interviews, American poets, creative writing, poetry performance, literary podcast, Dr. Michael Anthony Ingram, poetry community, alternative poetry,

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