The Slowdown

The Slowdown
A poem and a moment of reflection every weekday.

“A true break from the cacophony of life.”

- Alice Florence Orr from Podcast Review
Listen via Apple PodcastsListen via Spotify Podcasts
more ways to subscribe

Latest Episode

May 21, 2026 3:00 AM
1520: The New City by Hieu Minh Nguyen
The Slowdown
Photo by: Chad Cochran
The Slowdown

Recent Episodes

View All
20260521 Hieu Minh Nguyen

1520: The New City by Hieu Minh Nguyen

May 21, 2026

Today’s poem is The New City by Hieu Minh Nguyen.

20260520 Maya C Popa

1519: At the Entrance of a Love Poem, I Hesitate by Maya C. Popa

May 20, 2026

Today’s poem is At the Entrance of a Love Poem, I Hesitate by Maya C. Popa.

20260519 Jan-Henry Gray

1518: On Being Told I Should Write a Memoir by Jan-Henry Gray

May 19, 2026

Today’s poem is On Being Told I Should Write a Memoir by Jan-Henry Gray.

The Slowdown

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

Announcements

View All
Major Jackson Profile Photo 3

A Farewell to Major Jackson

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

NEA logo jpg

Supported in Part by National Endowment for the Arts

To find out more about how National Endowment for the Arts grants impact individuals and communities, visit www.arts.gov.

Poetry Foundation

Produced in Partnership With the Poetry Foundation

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

Other APM Podcasts

View All
Truth Be Told Podcast Tile

Truth Be Told

Ripple Podcast

Ripple

Splendid Table - APM Studios Podcast Art

The Splendid Table