In this episode of the poetry edition of the Reformed Journal, Rose Postma interviews Dave Warners about his poem “November Cold.” Beginning in 1997, Warners has been teaching Botany and Ecology at Calvin University. Since 2009 he has directed Plaster Creek Stewards (PCS), a faith-based watershed initiative based at Calvin. Dave also teaches at Au …

In this episode of the poetry edition of the Reformed Journal Podcast, Rose Postma interviews James Ryan Lee about his poem “5th commandment.” Lee received an M.F.A. from the University of California, Irvine, where he studied under poets James McMichael, and Michael Ryan. His poems have appeared in Aethlon, The Minnesota Review, Juked, Interdiscipl…

In this episode of the poetry edition, Rose Postma interviews Olga Dugan about her poem “The Writer.” Olga Dugan is a Cave Canem poet. Nominated for Best of the Net and Pushcart prizes, her award-winning poems appear in many literary journals and anthologies including Ekstasis, Spirit Fire Review, Relief: A Journal of Art and Faith, The Windhover, …

In this episode of the Reformed Journal Podcast, the poetry edition, Rose Postma interviews Jack Ridl about his poem “After the Thirteenth Shock Treatment.” Ridl is an American poet and former professor of English at Hope College. He is the author of several collections of poetry, has published more than 300 poems in journals, and has work included…

In this episode of the poetry edition of the Reformed Journal Podcast, Rose Postma interviews Katherine Indermaur about her poem “What Depths I Pass Through Unknowing.” Katherine is the author of I|I (Seneca Review Books), winner of the 2022 Deborah Tall Lyric Essay Book Prize and 2023 Colorado Prize for Poetry, and two chapbooks. She is an editor …

In this episode of the poetry edition of the Reformed Journal Podcast, Rose Postma interviews Paul J. Willis about his poem “Setting Flagstones.” Paul is Professor Emeritus of English at Westmont College and a former poet laureate of Santa Barbara, California. Paul has published eight collections of poetry and the most recent is entitled Losing Str…

In this episode of the poetry edition of the Reformed Journal Podcast, Rose Postma interviews D.A. Cooper about his poem “God.” Cooper is a husband and father of three children. He lives in Houston, Texas where he teaches political science and the Italian language at a local community college. He is currently pursuing an MFA at the University of St…

In this episode of the poetry edition of the Reformed Journal Podcast, Rose Postma interviews Matthew Miller about hos poem “The Woman at the Well Would Pay Any Price.” Matthew teaches social studies, swings tennis rackets, and writes poetry - all hoping to create home. He and his wife live beside a dilapidating orchard in Indiana, where he tries t…

In this episode of the poetry edition of the Reformed Journal Podcast, Rose Postma interviews Nathaniel A. Schmidt about his poem “Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none.” Schmidt is an ordained minister in the Christian Reformed Church and serves as a hospice chaplain. He holds degrees from Calvin Theological Seminary, Calvin University, and th…

In this episode of the poetry edition of the Reformed Journal Podcast, Rose Postma interviews Matt Thomas about his poem “Moriah.” Matt is a smallholder farmer, engineer, and poet. His work has appeared recently in Halfway Down the Stairs, Copihue Poetry, and Brief Wilderness and is upcoming in Dreich Magazine and Pinhole Poetry. Disappearing by th…

In this episode of the poetry edition at the Reformed Journal Podcast, Rose Postma interviews Tom Schmidt about his poem, “Particle (Meta)physics.” Schmidt is a retired humanities professor who began submitting his poetry in 2018. Since then, he has published two chapbooks, Enough to Drink or Drown (Kelsay Books, 2020) and Like, A Metaphor (Encircl…

In this episode of the poetry edition, Rose Postma interviews D.S. Martin about his poem “Any Such Tree”(Metaphysicals XIX). D.S. is the author of five poetry collections including Angelicus (2021), Ampersand (2018), and Conspiracy of Light: Poems Inspired by the Legacy of C.S. Lewis (2013) — all from Cascade Books. He is Poet-in-Residence at McMas…

In this episode of the poetry edition of the Reformed Journal Podcast, Rose Postma interviews Patricia L. Hamilton about her poem, “Rachel, Cunning.” Patricia is a Professor of English in Jackson, Tennessee, and is the author of The Distance to Nightfall. She won the Rash Award in Poetry in 2015 and 2017 and has received three Pushcart nominations.…

In this episode of the poetry of edition of the Reformed Journal Podcast, Rose Postma interviews Laurie Klein about her poem “Loaf.” Laurie Klein is the author of a poetry collection, Where the Sky Opens, and a prize-winning chapbook, Bodies of Water, Bodies of Flesh. A past recipient of the Thomas Merton Prize for Poetry of the Sacred, her work ha…

In this episode of the poetry edition, Rose Postma interviews Olivia Oster about her poem “Obnubilated.” Oliva is a writer living on Lookout Mountain, GA, whose fiction and poetry explore the spiritual aspect of common everyday life as well as the elements of life with which she is most familiar: chronic pain, parenting, gardening, cooking, and hom…

In this episode of the poetry edition of the Reformed Journal Podcast, Rose Postma interviews Ryan Keating about his poem “Jesus Heals a Paralytic.” Ryan is a writer, teacher, and pastor on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus. His work can be found in publications such as Saint Katherine Review, Ekstasis Magazine, Amethyst Review, Macrina Magazine, …

In this episode of the poetry edition, Steven Peterson talks about his poem “Summer Drums.” Steven writes poems and plays in Chicago. A selection of his poems are in the anthology Taking Root in the Heart (Paraclete Press, 2023). His recent poems appear in Alabama Literary Review, The Christian Century, Dappled Things, First Things, Reformed Journa…

In this episode of the poetry edition, Rose Postma interviews Haley Hodges Schmid about her poem “Known.” Haley is an MFA (Poetry) candidate at Seattle Pacific University. She holds qualifications from Hope College, Shenandoah Conservatory, and Oxford University. Her work has been published in Cassandra Voices and Ekstasis Magazine. Recent projects…

In this episode of the poetry edition, Rose Postma interviews Matthew Pullar about his poem “Vespers.” Matthew is a teacher and writer based in Melbourne, Australia. He is the author of three collections of poetry. You can read “Vespers” on reformedjournal.com.

In this episode of the poetry edition, Rose Postma interviews Bethany Besteman about her poem “Parable of the Lost.” Bethany works as a worship coordinator and a church administrator for Silver Spring CRC in Maryland. She's also the intake editor for Reformed Worship. You can read “Parable of the Lost” at reformedjournal.com.…

In this episode of the poetry edition, Rose Postma interviews LC Gutierrez about his poem “A Recovered Alcoholic-Addict Talks of Grace.” LC is a product of many places in the South and the Caribbean, as well as writing and comparative literature programs at Louisiana State and Tulane University. An erstwhile academic, he now writes, teaches and pla…

In this episode of the poetry edition, Rose Postma interviews Jo Taylor about her poem, “How to Reconcile with a Brother.” Jo is a retired, 35-year English teacher from Georgia. Her favorite genre to teach high school students was poetry, and today she dedicates more time to writing it, her major themes focused on family, place, and faith. She says…

In this episode of the poetry edition, Rose Postma interviews Cody Adams on his poem “Be Killing Sin.” Cody is an English teacher from Buffalo, NY. His poetry has appeared in Ekstasis Magazine, Heart of Flesh, Cacti Fur, among others. He received the 2016 Clarence Amann award for his short story Unstuck. He also serves as a Board Member for Forefro…

In this episode of the Poetry Edition of the Reformed Journal Podcast, Rose Postma interviews Lynn Domina about her poem “Above the Tree Line.” Lynn is the author of 3 collections of poetry and a professor at Northern Michigan University. Her articles have appeared in Studies in American Indian Literature, a/b: Auto/Biography Studies, and other aca…

In this episode of the poetry edition, Rose Postma interviews DS Martin about his poem Love Like an Ocean (Metaphysicals XIV) inspired by one of John Donne’s Holy Sonnets. Don is a widely published poet and the Poet-in-Residence at McMaster Divinity College. He's also a series editor for the Poiema Poetry Series. You can listen to other poems in th…

In this episode of the Poetry Edition, Rose Postma interviews Josiah Cox about his poem “Everything That Rises.” Josiah is a writer, editor, and educator from Kansas City, Missouri. He holds an MAR from Yale Divinity School and an MFA from The Writing Seminars at Johns Hopkins University, where he currently serves as a junior lecturer. He has serve…

In this episode of the Poetry Edition, Rose Postma interviews Paul J. Willis about his poem “Oversight.” Paul is a retired professor of English from Westmont College and the author of several collections of poetry. His most recent poetry collection is Somewhere to Follow. His newest project is entitled A Radiant Birth: Advent Reading for a Bright S…

On the last episode of the holiday special by James C. Schaap, author and retired English professor, he reads "Somewhere in the Judean Hills." Today, the youngest shepherd in the hills is the one directed to stay behind with the sheep when the others go to Bethlehem.

In this episode of the Poetry Edition, Rose Postma interviews Eric Potter about his poem “Advent: A Crown of Sonnets.” Eric is the author of several chapbooks and poetry collections, including “Things Not Seen.” He is also a professor of English at Grove City College, where he teaches courses in modern poetry, American literature, and creative writ…

On the third episode of the holiday special by James C. Schaap, author and retired English professor, James reads the “Shroud of Turin.” Today, a holiday visit to her daughter’s family— far, far away— stresses a recently-widowed grandma who wants, more than anything, for her beloved family not to forget the child come to earth for those he loves.…

In this episode of the poetry edition, Rose Postma interviews Lory Widmer Hess about her poem "Announcement." Lory is an American currently living with her family in Switzerland. She works with adults with developmental disabilities and is in training as a spiritual director. Her publication credits include Parabola, Amethyst Review, and Ekstasis, …

On the second episode of the holiday special by James C. Schaap, author and retired English professor, James shares “Testimony.” Today, an arrogant artist who proudly calls himself elitist agrees to narrate the simple holiday program at his church, and is startled to find himself on his knees on Christmas Eve.…

This is the first episode of the holiday special by James C. Schaap, author and retired English professor. Today, an eighth grader, fed up with smarmy Sunday School Christmas programs, races home to find a baby Jesus doll, only to discover, slowly, something she had never pondered about the gift in the manger.…

In this episode of the poetry edition, Rose Postma interviews Nathaniel Schmidt about his poem “Anti-Hero,” based on Matthew 26:52. Nathaniel A. Schmidt is an ordained minister in the Christian Reformed Church of North America and serves as a hospice and hospital chaplain. He holds degrees from Calvin Theological Seminary, Calvin University, and Th…

In this episode of the poetry edition, Rose Postma interviews Mary Grace Mangano about her poem “Desert Eyes.” Mary Grace has worked as a middle and high school English teacher in several major cities and has published freelance and creative writing. She received her MFA in Creative Writing at the University of St. Thomas in Houston as an inaugural…

In this episode of the Reformed Journal Podcast, Rose Postma interviews Patricia L. Hamilton about her poem “Sarah, Long Suffering.” Patricia is a professor of English at Union University and the author of The Distance to Nightfall. She won the Rasch Award in Poetry in 2015 and 2017 and has received three Pushcart nominations.…

In this episode of the poetry edition, Rose Postma interviews Rev. Dr. Harold J. Recinos about his poem “Butterfly.” Harold is professor of church and society at the Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University. A cultural anthropologist, he specializes in work and ethnographic writing dealing with undocumented Central American migra…

In this episode of the Reformed Journal Podcast, book review editor Deb Van Duinen interviews Jennifer Holberg, professor of English and department chair at Calvin University, co-director of Calvin's Center for Faith and Writing, and frequent writer for the Reformed Journal. Jennifer discusses her recently published book, Nourishing Narratives: The…

In this episode of the poetry edition, Rose Postma interviews Bill Stadick about his poem “Nominal APR as Call to Worship, or the Glorious Application of the Immutable Rule of 72 to the Words of the Prophet.” Bill has published poetry, fiction and creative nonfiction in The Christian Century, The Windhover, Relief Journal, The Ekphrastic Review, Fi…

In this episode of the Poetry Edition, Rose Postma interviews Julie L. Moore about her poem “Harlem Sunday.” A Best of the Net and eight-time Pushcart Prize nominee, Julie is the author of four poetry collections, including, most recently, Full Worm Moon, which won a 2018 Woodrow Hall Top Shelf Award and received honorable mention for the Conferenc…

In this episode of the poetry edition, Rose Postma interviews Sydney Lea about his poem “250th Anniversary: Newbury Congregational Church.” Sydney was Poet Laureate of Vermont from 2011-2015. In 2021, He received Vermont’s highest artistic distinction, The Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts. In 2022, he published Seen from all Sides: Lyric…

In this episode of the poetry edition, Rose Postma interviews Ellis Purdie about his poem “Nighthawk in Hand.” Ellis earned a Master’s degree in Creative Writing at the University of Southern Mississippi. He now teaches at East Texas Baptist University. When he is not teaching, he is usually reading, working on his own creative writing, seeing film…

In this episode of the poetry edition, Rose Postma interviews Sarah Reardon about her poem “The Waiting Room.” Sarah teaches at a classical Christian school in Philadelphia and is pursuing an MFA from the University of St. Thomas Houston.

In this episode of the poetry edition, Rose Postma interviews Jill Baumgaertner about her poem "Ash Wednesday.” Jill is Professor Emerita of English and former Dean of Humanities and Theological Studies at Wheaton College. She is also poetry editor at The Christian Century. She has recently published a poetry collection called From Shade to Shine: …

In this episode of the poetry edition, Rose Postma interviews Andrew Lansdown about his poem “Among Autumn Maples.” Andrew is a widely published and award-winning Australian writer. His most recent books are: Distillations of Different Lands, Kyoto Momiji Tanka: Poems and Photographs of Japan in Autumn, and Abundance: New and Selected Poems.…

In this episode of the poetry edition, Rose Postma interviews K.G. Munro about her poem “In Blind Faith.” Kristen is an author and poet, and has been published by Agape Review, Poetry Potion, Love Poetry amongst many others.

In this episode of the poetry edition, Rose Postma interviews Katlyn DeVries about her poem “Slaughterhouse.” Katlyn runs the writing studio at Western Theological Seminary. She is also a Doctor of Ministry candidate and Ginod Assistant at Western.

In this episode of the poetry edition, Rose Postma talks to Jacob Schepers about his poem “The Quiet-Out-Loud.” Jacob Schepers is a writer and professor at University of Notre Dame. He is the author of A Bundle of Careful Compromises, and his writing has appeared in or is forthcoming from such places as Verse, The Common, The Fanzine, Entropy, Tupe…

In this episode of the poetry edition, Rose Postma interviews Jessamyn Rains about her poem “Journey of Monarchs.” Jessamyn is a homeschooling mom of four who writes and makes music. Her writing appears and is forthcoming in several publications, including Dappled Things and Kosmeo Magazine, which she helps to edit. You can also listen to her music…

In this episode of the Poetry Edition, Rose Postma interviews Kevin LaTorre about his poem “True Believer.” Kevin is a poet and writer living with his family in North Carolina. His work has appeared in The Blotter, Echo Literary Magazine, Walter Magazine, Ad Fontes, and the Front Porch Republic. He writes about poetry, Christianity, and literature …