Host Maggie Smith is your daily poetry companion. Poetry is one of the greatest tools we have to wield our own attention — to consider our own lives and the lives of others, to help us live creatively and compassionately, to use that attention to lean into wonder, and joy, and truth, and to find hope — to keep hoping. The Slowdown community knows that reflecting on a poem, every weekday, can connect us to our inner world and the world around us. Listen as you make your morning coffee, as you go on a walk in your neighborhood, as you pull away from the to-do list, as you resist the dismal, endless scroll to share five minutes of perspective through the lens of poetry, from poets old and new, well-loved and emerging onto the scene. Brought to you by American Public Media, in partnership with the Poetry Foundation.
Latest episodes
Showing 20 · updated from the feed
1600: The Thing Is by Ellen Bass
#7 trending · Performing Arts
Today’s poem is The Thing Is by Ellen Bass.
The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, Maggie writes… “Today’s poem is one that I seek out, and one that
Nov 11 5 min
1599: Heading Out to Sea by José A. Alcántara
#23 trending · Performing Arts
Today’s poem is Heading Out to Sea by José A. Alcántara.
The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, Maggie writes… “The truth is, all bodies are imperfec
Nov 10 5 min
1598: Advice to a Monolith by Talley V. Kayser
#43 trending · Performing Arts
Today’s poem is Advice to a Monolith by Talley V. Kayser.
The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, Maggie writes… “Landscape is psychological. It impac
Nov 9 5 min
1597: On Children by Kahlil Gibran
Today’s poem is On Children by Kahlil Gibran.
The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, Maggie writes… “I’ve always believed my son and daughter came t
Nov 6 5 min
1596: Hares by Angela Ball
Today’s poem is Hares by Angela Ball.
The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, Maggie writes… “Sometimes I read or listen to a poem, and I’m absolutel
Nov 5 5 min
1595: My Shark by Ellie Black
Today’s poem is My Shark by Ellie Black.
The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, Maggie writes… “Writing is a process of discovery. When I’m working o
Nov 4 5 min
1594: The Grass Could Be Yours by Emily Lee Luan
Today’s poem is The Grass Could Be Yours by Emily Lee Luan.
The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, Maggie writes… “Feeling at home somewhere new is
Nov 3 6 min
1593: Halloween in the Anthropocene by Karyna McGlynn
Today’s poem is Halloween in the Anthropocene by Karyna McGlynn.
The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, Maggie writes… “Now that we’re past Hallowee
Nov 2 4 min
1386: [encore] Night of the Living, Night of the Dead by Kim Addonizio
Today’s poem is Night of the Living, Night of the Dead by Kim Addonizio.
The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, Maggie writes… “It might surprise you
Oct 30 6 min
1363: [encore] Notes on Beachgrass by Yong-Yu Huang
Today’s poem is Notes on Beachgrass by Yong-Yu Huang.
The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, Maggie writes… “Today’s poem offers us images we often
Oct 29 6 min
1360: [encore] Wind, Blue Sky by Susan Aizenberg
Today’s poem is Wind, Blue Sky by Susan Aizenberg.
The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, Maggie writes… “Today’s poem speaks to the challenge of st
Oct 28 6 min
1354: [encore] Checkout by Caroline Bird
Today’s poem is Checkout by Caroline Bird.
The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, Maggie writes… “I’m willing to bet that no one on their death bed
Oct 27 5 min
1352: [encore] Blue by Jodie Hollander
Today’s poem is Blue by Jodie Hollander.
The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, Maggie writes… “Today’s poem speaks to how we all see the world—and o
Oct 26 6 min
1351: [encore] The Happy Middle by Hedgie Choi
Today’s poem is The Happy Middle by Hedgie Choi.
The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, Maggie writes… “Today’s poem walloped me with its authentic
Oct 23 6 min
1350: [encore] Real Estate by Richard Siken
Today’s poem is Real Estate by Richard Siken.
The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, Maggie writes… “Today’s poem unpacks some of what happens when
Oct 22 5 min
1349: [encore] Sati by Vandana Khanna
Today’s poem is Sati by Vandana Khanna.
The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, Maggie writes… “Today’s poem is a persona poem from the point of view
Oct 21 6 min
1345: [encore] Arrangements by Adrienne Chung
Today’s poem is Arrangements by Adrienne Chung.
The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, Maggie writes… “Today’s poem speaks to the things we are draw
Oct 20 5 min
1344: [encore] Cento Between the Ending and the End by Cameron Awkward-Rich
Today’s poem is Cento Between the Ending and the End by Cameron Awkward-Rich.
The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, Maggie writes… “In times that f
Oct 19 5 min
Alynda Segarra: Holes by Eileen Myles (Extended Version)
Today’s poem is Holes by Eileen Myles, with special guest Alynda Segarra of Hurray for the Riff Raff.
Alynda Segarra is a singer-songwriter and frontperson of the band H
Oct 16 12 min
Alynda Segarra: Holes by Eileen Myles
Today’s poem is Holes by Eileen Myles, with special guest Alynda Segarra of Hurray for the Riff Raff.
Alynda Segarra is a singer-songwriter and frontperson of the band
Oct 15 7 min
Chart trend
Position in the Performing Arts chart (US), last 90 days.
#1#15#28AugSepOctNov
#2
all-time peak
2
days in the top 3 since Nov 2024
Chart positions
Where The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily ranks today in each Apple Podcasts chart (US, Nov 12, 2026).
A curated, balanced selection of Apple Podcasts reviews.
And today, Maggie your choice brought me to grateful tears. Waiting on the porch of the Old Faithful Inn soaking in the poker straight pines and geysers in a distance decided to flip on the slowdown. And to listen to a poem about the beauty of our Earth and stopping life to notice it- a little more magic added to an already otherworldly magical day. You are the best!! The Slowdown is a gift
Climgirl · Sep 2025
I love that Slowdown consistently offers beautiful, accessible poetry read by someone passionate about life and the craft. I often use the slowdown in the classroom and professional development teaching workshops as a powerful opener to spark curiosity and discussion. I shared the “Chaos Theory” episode with 125 students in our last class of the academic year. What a gift! Thanks for all that you do, Major.
Allie 🐊 · May 2024
Major takes me back to the 1980s when I was a teenager and when I was judged, and when I judged, based on the radio station I listened to. The voices of my favorite DJs are recorded in my memory like a beloved mixtape. I counted on them to wake me up, introduce me to the latest songs, and lull me to sleep. I listen to Major every morning. He is my current day DJ. I count on him for inspiration, wisdom, and messages so beautiful I am dazzled all day long.
Roblox_lover♥️♥️♥️♥️ · Mar 2024
I remember when Tracy left the show and I thought, “oh my gosh - it will never be the same” and then Ada, and then Major showed up and I was like “oh my gosh - this is amazing” and then there is a guest host and I think “this is going to be horrible!” and then I get a hot take that thrills me from Jason Schneiderman or Shira Erlichiman and I’m again reminded that change is good. I love the voices and reflections on the poems. The intros are often poems themselves. We listen in the car as the sun comes up on our way to work. Communing silently as we listen. Sometimes only a sigh or breath is heard for a few minutes after a particularly powerful episode. Thank you all so very much.
erinbryn · Oct 2023
I want to love this podcast as I appreciate the content and the host, however the pace of speech is so unnatural and scripted that it feels forced and difficult to engage with as a result. Talk to us like we’re sitting over a cup of coffee or tea together instead.
&7eju385 · Jul 2026
The quadruple skip to start the program should get you past the obligatory Nissan Ariya ad + de jour ad; it’s the same format every day, at least when Tracy or Ada did it they would occasionally start the program with their voice, or something other than predictable ads.
Jackson just feels like a less enthusiastic host and when paired with the idiosyncratic ads just being plugged and played, it feels drastically lazier than it’s Limon and K Smith led counterparts. It happens.
Snibblers · Apr 2023
We strive to present a balanced view by showing a diverse range of reviews from Apple Podcasts.
More podcasts like The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily
Popular shows in Performing Arts, for your next listen.
About The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily on Reason.fm
Here you find the Apple Podcasts chart positions of The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily, its latest episodes to listen to directly, and reviews from listeners. Rankings are updated daily for the United States.
