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A Conversation with Poet & Interviewer Paul E. Nelson

Over the past 26 years, Paul E. Nelson has interviewed poetic luminaries such as Allen Ginsberg, Michael McClure, Anne Waldman, Eileen Myles, and many, many more. As host of a whole-systems public affairs radio program, he also interviewed authors, activists, and spiritual leaders on a wide range of topics. He has recently published an anthology of his interviews titled American Prophets. Nelson is also the founder of SPLAB, the Seattle Poetry Lab, which organizes poetry readings and events in and around Seattle, and the Cascadia Poetry Festival. He is the author of several books of his own poetry and editor of multiple anthologies. He lives in the Rainier Beach neighborhood of Seattle.

Paul E. Nelson joined Chris Maccini in the SPR studios to talk about the art of the interview, the value of poetry, the August Poetry Postcard Fest, and more.

Chris Maccini previously worked at SPR as Morning Edition host and producing arts and special programming such as The Bookshelf, Poetry Moment, Northwest Arts Review, special features and more.