We are excited to debut a new venture: Blackbird Literary Podcast. Our podcast quilts together readings, interviews, excerpts, and narratives with soundscapes and original compositions. Episodes harmonize with and build upon the journal’s literary and visual art content. Unlike traditional print or other podcasts, our project elevates text beyond the page into multi-sensorial experiences, fusing established and emerging writers with original compositions and sound design.

Episode One: Archive, Nest features "prayer that goes: dear god" by Diane Seuss, "Stringed Instrument Collection" and "Piano Fire" by Claudia Emerson, "Elegy for Poe with the Music of a Carnival Inside It" by Larry Levis, "Lodge: a Lyric Essay" by Emilia Phillips, and interview excerpts with one of Blackbird’s founders, Mary Flinn.

The production of this episode was made possible by Blackbird: An Online Journal of Literature and the Arts, the VCU MFA in Creative Writing program, the VCU English Department, the VCU Kinetic Imaging Department, the VCU School of Music, the VPM + ICA Community Media Center, and VCU Libraries.

Special thanks to Blackbird’s Faculty editors Jessica Hendry Nelson and Kathy Graber.

The Blackbird Literary Podcast’s episode 1 production team consisted of lead producer and editor Trey Burnart Hall and associate producer and editor Anna Leonard.

“prayer that goes: dear god” was written by Dianne Suess, published in Blackbird Vol. 6. No. 1, composed and performed by Kendra Lyons with a voiceover from Carolyn Baker Stewart.

“Stringed Instrument Collection” was written by Claudia Emerson, published in Blackbird Vol. 21 No. 3, composed and performed by Stephen Kuester, featuring production and performance by Trey Burnart Hall and upright bass from Beatrice Kelly with a voiceover from Mal Chowdhury.

“Piano Fire” was written by Claudia Emerson, published in Blackbird Vol. 21 No. 3, composed and performed by Claudia Andrade Ayala with a voiceover from Mal Chowdhury.

“Elegy for Poe with the Music of a Carnival Inside It” was written by Larry Levis, published in Blackbird Vol. 21 No. 2, composed and performed by Max Kadence with a voiceover from Charles Meyer.

“Lodge: A Lyric Essay” was written by Emilia Phillips, published in Blackbird Vol. 14 No. 1, composed and performed by Miri Sluis with a voiceover from Anna Leonard with post-voiceover audio editing by Stephen Vitiello.

Mary Flinn was interviewed by Jessica Hendry Nelson, with interview music composed and performed by Max Kadence.

Episode narration was written and performed by Trey Burnart Hall.

This episode was mixed by Max Kadence and mastered by Allen Bergendahl.

Blackbird Literary Podcast thanks you for supporting this creative endeavor.