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.
Chart trend
Position in the Performing Arts chart (US), last 90 days.
#1#15#28JunJulAugSep
#2
all-time peak
2
days in the top 3 since Nov 2024
Latest episodes
Showing 20 · updated from the feed
[encore] 1491: The Plum You're Going to Eat Next Summer by Gayle Brandeis
#11 trending · Performing Arts
Today’s poem is The Plum You're Going to Eat Next Summer by Gayle Brandeis. This episode was originally released on April 10, 2026.
The Slowdown is your daily poetry ri
Sep 11 6 min
[encore] 1358: Parts of a Body House by Erika Meitner
Today’s poem is Parts of a Body House by Erika Meitner. This episode was originally released on September 23, 2025.
The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this ep
Sep 10 5 min
[encore] 1478: If Night You Were a City by Adam Wiedewitsch
Today’s poem is If Night You Were a City by Adam Wiedewitsch. This episode was originally released on March 17, 2026.
The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this e
Sep 9 6 min
[encore] 1362: For You Who Have Loved Old Dogs by Silas House
Today’s poem is For You Who Have Loved Old Dogs by Silas House. This episode was originally released on September 29, 2025.
The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In
Sep 8 5 min
[encore] 1373: Protection Spell Jar by Cynthia Marie Hoffman
Today’s poem is Protection Spell Jar by Cynthia Marie Hoffman. This episode was originally released on October 14, 2025.
The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In thi
Sep 7 5 min
1586: WHITMAN: by Larry Levis
Today’s poem is WHITMAN: by Larry Levis.
The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, guest host Myka Kielbon writes… “Every year, the Association of Write
Sep 4 5 min
1585: Dialogue on Violence by Jayne Cortez
Today’s poem is Dialogue on Violence by Jayne Cortez.
The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, guest host Myka Kielbon writes… “If you’re listening to
Sep 3 6 min
1584: Missed Time by Ha Jin
Today’s poem is Missed Time by Ha Jin.
The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, guest host Myka Kielbon writes… “I love to journal as documentation. To
Sep 2 4 min
1583: Are You Not Tired Yet? by Mohammed al-Khatib, translated by Tayseer Abu Odeh and Sherah Bloor
Today’s poem is Are You Not Tired Yet? by Mohammed al-Khatib.
The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, guest host Myka Kielbon writes… “Though under ce
Sep 1 5 min
1582: Visitor's Center by T Bambrick
Today’s poem is Visitor's Center by T Bambrick.
The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, guest host Myka Kielbon writes… “Today’s poem takes me back to
Aug 31 4 min
From Death of an Artist | Petra Mathers and Her Michael
We’re bringing you a preview of the new series from the podcast, Death of An Artist. In February 2024, celebrated children’s book author and illustrator Petra Mathers and
Aug 29 4 min
1581: Stop Thinking & End Your Problems by Elisa Gabbert
Today’s poem is Stop Thinking & End Your Problems by Elisa Gabbert.
The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, guest host Myka Kielbon writes… “So often
Aug 28 5 min
1580: Story of My Life by Jameson Fitzpatrick
Today’s poem is Story of My Life by Jameson Fitzpatrick.
The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, guest host Myka Kielbon writes… “Today’s poem shows u
Aug 27 5 min
1579: Rain by Jennifer Grotz
Today’s poem is Rain by Jennifer Grotz.
The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, guest host Myka Kielbon writes… “Loss of possibility is one of the gre
Aug 26 5 min
1578: Lover of Cars by Olivia Sokolowski
Today’s poem is Lover of Cars by Olivia Sokolowski.
The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, guest host Myka Kielbon writes… “I keep today’s poem tape
Aug 25 5 min
1577: Portrait of the Speaker Riding a Greyhound Bus by Eduardo Martinez-Leyva
Today’s poem is Portrait of the Speaker Riding a Greyhound Bus by Eduardo Martinez-Leyva.
The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, guest host Myka Kie
Aug 24 4 min
[encore] 1486: from Perihelion: A History of Touch by Franny Choi
The Slowdown is taking a break. We’ll be back soon with new episodes. This encore episode was originally released on April 3, 2026.
Today’s poem is from Perihelion: A Hi
Aug 21 5 min
[encore] 1438: The Long Now by Robin Beth Schaer
The Slowdown is taking a break. We’ll be back soon with new episodes. This encore episode was originally released on January 20, 2026.
Today’s poem is The Long Now by Ro
Aug 20 6 min
[encore] 1355: Rancho Bar by Margot Kahn
The Slowdown is taking a break. We’ll be back soon with new episodes. This encore episode was originally released on September 18, 2026.
Today’s poem is Rancho Bar by Ma
Aug 19 5 min
[encore] 1340: From the Sky by Sara Abou Rashed
The Slowdown is taking a break. We’ll be back soon with new episodes. This encore episode was originally released on August 28, 2025.
Today’s poem is From the Sky by Sar
Aug 18 6 min
Chart positions
Where The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily ranks today in each Apple Podcasts chart (US, Sep 12, 2026).
A curated, balanced selection of Apple Podcasts reviews.
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’m so grateful for this podcast. Major Jackson frames each poem in such a poignant way, and I look forward to his stories as much as the daily poem. I am invariably moved to thought and feeling. Truly soul nourishing. Thank you to Mr Jackson and his production team!
H45987 · Aug 2023
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
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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.
