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Maggie Smith’s second season hosting The Slowdown, returns November 2, 2026.


Season 7 Returns with Host Maggie Smith

After two years, two seasons and 443 episodes, Major Jackson is stepping down from the host chair. 


A Farewell to Major Jackson

Raising poetry to a more visible and influential position in American culture.


Produced in Partnership With the Poetry Foundation

Announcements

1593: Halloween in the Anthropocene by Karyna McGlynn

Today’s poem is 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 Halloween, I can admit that I’m not much of a Halloween person. It was fun when I was little, trick-or-treating with my friends, because, hey, free candy! And it was fun for me as a mother of young children. The speaker of today’s poem celebrates Halloween the way I do now: as an observer, outside of it all.” 

This show is supported by gifts from listeners. Support The Slowdown with a donation today. slowdownshow.org/donate


The Slowdown

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.


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 to know that one of my favorite genres is the zombie movie. I like my zombies fast, like in Train to Busan and 28 Days Later, and I like my zombies slow, like in the old classics directed by George Romero. In Night of the Living Dead, the zombies shamble so slowly, people can run right by them. They seem unable to figure out doorknobs and fence latches and cars. It’s black-and-white, so the gore isn’t that gory: the blood and guts are gray, after all! It’s still scary, though—because the zombies are seemingly uncontainable. They just keep coming at you. Today’s poem has been a favorite of mine for years, and it seemed like the right choice for Halloween.” 

This show is supported by gifts from listeners. Support The Slowdown with a donation today. Slowdownshow.org/donate 

1363: [encore] Notes on Beachgrass by Yong-Yu Huang

Today’s poem is Notes on Beachgrass by Yong-Yu Huan.


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 find in poetry: the ocean, the moon, dreams, a mother, a wound. But it offers us these elements in such a profoundly original and moving way. I couldn’t read this poem just once—I had to read it several times, picking up new treasures with each reading, like walking along the same stretch of beach at different times of day and finding new shells.” 

This show is supported by gifts from listeners. Support The Slowdown with a donation today. Slowdownshow.org/donate 


The Slowdown

Latest Episode

Recent Episodes

1593: Halloween in the Anthropocene by Karyna McGlynn

1386: [encore] Night of the Living, Night of the Dead by Kim Addonizio

1363: [encore] Notes on Beachgrass by Yong-Yu Huang

Announcements

Season 7 Returns with Host Maggie Smith

A Farewell to Major Jackson

Produced in Partnership With the Poetry Foundation

Other APM Podcasts

Truth Be Told

Ripple

The Splendid Table

The Slowdown

Latest Episode

Recent Episodes

1593: Halloween in the Anthropocene by Karyna McGlynn

1386: [encore] Night of the Living, Night of the Dead by Kim Addonizio

1363: [encore] Notes on Beachgrass by Yong-Yu Huang

Get a poem handpicked by Maggie Smith every weekday. The email includes an abridged version of Maggie’s introduction.

Announcements

Season 7 Returns with Host Maggie Smith

A Farewell to Major Jackson

Produced in Partnership With the Poetry Foundation

Other APM Podcasts

Truth Be Told

Ripple

The Splendid Table