Thru the Mill with Marc Kelly Smith Castos https://through-the-mill.castos.com Thru the Mill is a podcast tracing the creation of the Uptown Poetry Slam by Mark Kelly Smith and its now international impact. Featuring Mark Eleveld, writer and editor of the Spoken Word Revolution book series. Thu, 18 Dec 2025 17:29:14 +0000 en © 2024 https://episodes.castos.com/6113e4d6a4bbe0-22570756/images/podcast/covers/c1a-qoow9-60k32omdi8w-6lomuo.png Thru the Mill with Marc Kelly Smith https://through-the-mill.castos.com Thru the Mill is a podcast tracing the creation of the Uptown Poetry Slam by Mark Kelly Smith and its now international impact. Featuring Mark Eleveld, writer and editor of the Spoken Word Revolution book series. Marc Kelly Smith episodic Thru the Mill is a podcast tracing the creation of the Uptown Poetry Slam by Mark Kelly Smith and its now international impact. Featuring Mark Eleveld, writer and editor of the Spoken Word Revolution book series. Hugh Schulze digitalteam@cchangeinc.com false https://feeds.castos.com/x47k4 yes <![CDATA[BONUS: Chuck Perkins reads "What I Learned Versus What I Knew"]]> Thu, 18 Dec 2025 17:29:14 +0000 Marc Kelly Smith https://permalink.castos.com/podcast/58924/episode/2295265 https://through-the-mill.castos.com/episodes/bonus-chuck-perkins-reads-what-i-learned-versus-what-i-knew As a BONUS TRACK, Chuck Perkins reads "What I Learned Versus What I Knew" from Beautiful and Ugly Too.

]]> bonus 1 false As a BONUS TRACK, Chuck Perkins reads "What I Learned Versus What I Knew" from Beautiful and Ugly Too.

]]> 00:04:04 <![CDATA[Episode 16: Chuck Perkins]]> Thu, 18 Dec 2025 17:13:14 +0000 Marc Kelly Smith https://permalink.castos.com/podcast/58924/episode/2295243 https://through-the-mill.castos.com/episodes/episode-16-chuck-perkins In this Episode, we return to the early days of the Poetry Slam with Chuck Perkins. Currently, a leading voice in New Orleans and author of the book, Beautiful and Ugly Too, Chuck discusses his formative years of poetry in Chicago and life before his time at New Orleans' Cafe Istanbul.

Recorded by Tony Green
Edited by Kevin O'Rourke
Produced by Emily Calvo
Directed by Hugh Schulze

]]> full 16 1 false In this Episode, we return to the early days of the Poetry Slam with Chuck Perkins. Currently, a leading voice in New Orleans and author of the book, Beautiful and Ugly Too, Chuck discusses his formative years of poetry in Chicago and life before his time at New Orleans' Cafe Istanbul.

Recorded by Tony Green
Edited by Kevin O'Rourke
Produced by Emily Calvo
Directed by Hugh Schulze

]]> 00:23:35 <![CDATA[Episode 15: Filippo Capobianco]]> Tue, 09 Sep 2025 22:56:40 +0000 Marc Kelly Smith https://permalink.castos.com/podcast/58924/episode/2137199 https://through-the-mill.castos.com/episodes/episode-15-fillipo-capobianco As a graduate in physics from the University of Pavia, Filippo Capobianco finds the humor and humanity in the fusion of science and poetry. In this episode, you can hear why his performances in English and Italian have won him international acclaim.

Recorded by Tony Green
Edited by Kevin O'Rourke
Produced by Emily Calvo
Directed by Hugh Schulze

]]> full 15 1 false As a graduate in physics from the University of Pavia, Filippo Capobianco finds the humor and humanity in the fusion of science and poetry. In this episode, you can hear why his performances in English and Italian have won him international acclaim.

Recorded by Tony Green
Edited by Kevin O'Rourke
Produced by Emily Calvo
Directed by Hugh Schulze

]]> 00:41:39 <![CDATA[Episode 14: Scott Woods, Slam Impresario out of Columbus, OH]]> Thu, 22 May 2025 16:23:44 +0000 Marc Kelly Smith https://permalink.castos.com/podcast/58924/episode/2044625 https://through-the-mill.castos.com/episodes/episode-14-scott-woods-slam-impresario-out-of-columbus-oh With over 20 years on the Slam Poetry scene (and several books of poetry under his belt), Scott joins Mark to discuss his experience—and shares two of his poems.

Recorded by Tony Green
Edited by Kevin O'Rourke
Produced by Emily Calvo
Directed by Hugh Schulze

]]> full 14 1 false With over 20 years on the Slam Poetry scene (and several books of poetry under his belt), Scott joins Mark to discuss his experience—and shares two of his poems.

Recorded by Tony Green
Edited by Kevin O'Rourke
Produced by Emily Calvo
Directed by Hugh Schulze

]]> 00:46:27 <![CDATA[Episode 13: From Here to Madagascar with Bini Josoa]]> Thu, 13 Mar 2025 17:34:21 +0000 Marc Kelly Smith https://permalink.castos.com/podcast/58924/episode/1992400 https://through-the-mill.castos.com/episodes/episode-13-from-here-to-madagascar-with-bini-josua Madagascar is 9,332 miles from Chicago as the Malagasy Kingfisher flies. That's where Poetry Slam impresario, Marc Smith, flew to join the thriving Slam community there. In this episode, you'll meet, Bini Josoa, a Madagaslam International Project Manager, and hear him perform some of his own poetry. Check out one more reason Slam Poetry is having an international impact.

Recorded by Tony Green
Edited by Kevin O'Rourke
Produced by Emily Calvo
Directed by Hugh Schulze

]]> full 13 1 false Madagascar is 9,332 miles from Chicago as the Malagasy Kingfisher flies. That's where Poetry Slam impresario, Marc Smith, flew to join the thriving Slam community there. In this episode, you'll meet, Bini Josoa, a Madagaslam International Project Manager, and hear him perform some of his own poetry. Check out one more reason Slam Poetry is having an international impact.

Recorded by Tony Green
Edited by Kevin O'Rourke
Produced by Emily Calvo
Directed by Hugh Schulze

]]> 00:32:27 <![CDATA[Episode 12: The Celebrated Cin Salach (Part Two)]]> Fri, 11 Oct 2024 14:05:19 +0000 Marc Kelly Smith https://permalink.castos.com/podcast/58924/episode/1856805 https://through-the-mill.castos.com/episodes/episode-12-the-celebrated-cin-salach-part-two In which Marc and Mark finally get around to talking to Cin about Sheila Donohue, Betty's Mouth and other slam poetry innovations.

 

Recorded by Joe Velez

Edited by Kevin O'Rourke

Produced by Emily Calvo

Directed by Hugh Schulze

]]> full 12 1 false In which Marc and Mark finally get around to talking to Cin about Sheila Donohue, Betty's Mouth and other slam poetry innovations.

 

Recorded by Joe Velez

Edited by Kevin O'Rourke

Produced by Emily Calvo

Directed by Hugh Schulze

]]> 00:17:38 <![CDATA[Episode 11: The Celebrated Cin Salach]]> Mon, 30 Sep 2024 22:05:16 +0000 Marc Kelly Smith https://permalink.castos.com/podcast/58924/episode/1847821 https://through-the-mill.castos.com/episodes/episode-11-the-celebrated-cin-salach In this episode, poet Cin Salach takes us back to the mid-1980's when she walked into her first Poetry Slam and experienced a "spiritual chiropractic adjustment." How big an adjustment? She quit her job, has pursued poetry ever since, and Slam Poetry has never been quite the same.

Recorded by Joe Velez

Edited by Kevin O'Rourke

Produced by Emily Calvo

Directed by Hugh Schulze

]]> full 11 1 false In this episode, poet Cin Salach takes us back to the mid-1980's when she walked into her first Poetry Slam and experienced a "spiritual chiropractic adjustment." How big an adjustment? She quit her job, has pursued poetry ever since, and Slam Poetry has never been quite the same.

Recorded by Joe Velez

Edited by Kevin O'Rourke

Produced by Emily Calvo

Directed by Hugh Schulze

]]> 00:30:03 <![CDATA[Episode 10: BONUS episode – A Taste of Haiku]]> Fri, 20 Sep 2024 18:30:03 +0000 Marc Kelly Smith https://permalink.castos.com/podcast/58924/episode/1839412 https://through-the-mill.castos.com/episodes/episode-10-bonus-episode-a-taste-of-haiku Tony Fitzpatrick shares some of his latest haiku with Marc and Mark. He also delves into a bit of haiku history and the inspiration from his correspondence with former U.S. poet laureate, Ted Kooser.

Recorded by Tony Scott-Green

Edited by Kevin O'Rourke

Produced by Emily Calvo

Directed by Hugh Schulze

]]> full 10 1 false Tony Fitzpatrick shares some of his latest haiku with Marc and Mark. He also delves into a bit of haiku history and the inspiration from his correspondence with former U.S. poet laureate, Ted Kooser.

Recorded by Tony Scott-Green

Edited by Kevin O'Rourke

Produced by Emily Calvo

Directed by Hugh Schulze

]]> 00:08:41 <![CDATA[Episode 9: With Chicago Legend Tony Fitzpatrick]]> Fri, 06 Sep 2024 18:50:28 +0000 Marc Kelly Smith https://permalink.castos.com/podcast/58924/episode/1830494 https://through-the-mill.castos.com/episodes/episode-9-with-chicago-legend-tony-fitzpatrick Artist-poet-actor-and-raconteur Tony Fitzpatrick stops by to talk with Marc and Mark about the history of the Slam and how it’s changed since 1986. He also shares one of his early poems: “Poem for My Wife While She Sleeps.” (Find out more about his work at: tonyfitzpatrick.co/)

Recorded by Tony Scott-Green and Joe Velez
Edited by Kevin O'Rourke
Produced by Emily Calvo
Directed by Hugh Schulze

]]> full 9 1 false Artist-poet-actor-and-raconteur Tony Fitzpatrick stops by to talk with Marc and Mark about the history of the Slam and how it’s changed since 1986. He also shares one of his early poems: “Poem for My Wife While She Sleeps.” (Find out more about his work at: tonyfitzpatrick.co/)

Recorded by Tony Scott-Green and Joe Velez
Edited by Kevin O'Rourke
Produced by Emily Calvo
Directed by Hugh Schulze

]]> 00:37:59 <![CDATA[Episode 8: The Famous Billy Lombardo (Part 2)]]> Fri, 16 Aug 2024 14:04:55 +0000 Marc Kelly Smith https://permalink.castos.com/podcast/58924/episode/1812675 https://through-the-mill.castos.com/episodes/episode-8-the-famous-billy-lombardo-part-2 The episode opens with Billy performing his quintessentially Chicago classic: Poem for Lennard. Then he continues the conversation with Marc and Mark about his Bridgeport roots.

(If you're looking for more of Billy's writing, check out Morning Will Come.)

 

Recorded by Tony Scott-Green and Joe Velez

Edited by Kevin O'Rourke

Produced by Emily Calvo

Directed by Hugh Schulze

]]> full 8 1 false The episode opens with Billy performing his quintessentially Chicago classic: Poem for Lennard. Then he continues the conversation with Marc and Mark about his Bridgeport roots.

(If you're looking for more of Billy's writing, check out Morning Will Come.)

 

Recorded by Tony Scott-Green and Joe Velez

Edited by Kevin O'Rourke

Produced by Emily Calvo

Directed by Hugh Schulze

]]> 00:29:22 <![CDATA[Episode 7: The Famous Billy Lombardo (Part 1)]]> Tue, 30 Jul 2024 19:43:37 +0000 Marc Kelly Smith https://permalink.castos.com/podcast/58924/episode/1795575 https://through-the-mill.castos.com/episodes/the-famous-billy-lombardo-part-1 Poet, short story writer and novelist (Morning Will Come), Billy Lombardo, joins Marc and Mark for the first of two conversations about the history of the Slam and thoughts on writing and performing. 

Recorded by Tony Scott-Green and Joe Velez

Edited by Kevin O’Rourke

Produced by Emily Calvo 

Directed by Hugh Schulze 

]]> full 7 1 false Poet, short story writer and novelist (Morning Will Come), Billy Lombardo, joins Marc and Mark for the first of two conversations about the history of the Slam and thoughts on writing and performing. 

Recorded by Tony Scott-Green and Joe Velez

Edited by Kevin O’Rourke

Produced by Emily Calvo 

Directed by Hugh Schulze 

]]> 00:37:41 <![CDATA[Episode 6: The Italian Job (with special guest Eleonora Fisco)]]> Fri, 28 Jun 2024 16:43:13 +0000 Marc Kelly Smith https://permalink.castos.com/podcast/58924/episode/1773793 https://through-the-mill.castos.com/episodes/episode-6-the-italian-job-with-special-guest-eleonora-fisco Sicilian slam poet and scholar, Eleonora Fisco, joins Marc and Mark to discuss slam poetry in Italy and perform one of her own compositions.

Recorded by: Tony Scott-Green

Edited by: Kevin O'Rourke

Directed by: Hugh Schulze 

 

BONUS MATERIAL

For this episode, we’ve included a bonus video of a recent Green Mill Slam collaboration with our Italian contingent, including poets Alessandro Minnucci, Eleonora Fisco, Andy Karol, Ryan Doyle, and Jeffrey Helgeson 

Recorded by: Joe Velez    

Produced by: Emily Calvo

]]> full 6 1 false Sicilian slam poet and scholar, Eleonora Fisco, joins Marc and Mark to discuss slam poetry in Italy and perform one of her own compositions.

Recorded by: Tony Scott-Green

Edited by: Kevin O'Rourke

Directed by: Hugh Schulze 

 

BONUS MATERIAL

For this episode, we’ve included a bonus video of a recent Green Mill Slam collaboration with our Italian contingent, including poets Alessandro Minnucci, Eleonora Fisco, Andy Karol, Ryan Doyle, and Jeffrey Helgeson 

Recorded by: Joe Velez    

Produced by: Emily Calvo

]]> 00:37:41 <![CDATA[Episode 5: The Slam Goes International]]> Tue, 18 Jun 2024 19:11:24 +0000 Marc Kelly Smith https://permalink.castos.com/podcast/58924/episode/1765510 https://through-the-mill.castos.com/episodes/episode-5-the-slam-goes-international In this episode, Marc and Mark discuss how the Slam grew from Chicago to Tours, France and Osaka, Japan and many cities in-between. How does the Slam transcend language and what exactly is the So What Academy?
Recorded by: Tony Scott-Green Edited by: Kevin O’Rourke
Directed by: Hugh Schulze

]]> full 5 1 false In this episode, Marc and Mark discuss how the Slam grew from Chicago to Tours, France and Osaka, Japan and many cities in-between. How does the Slam transcend language and what exactly is the So What Academy?
Recorded by: Tony Scott-Green Edited by: Kevin O’Rourke
Directed by: Hugh Schulze

]]> 00:21:00 <![CDATA[Episode 4: Poetry – Straight, no chaser]]> Mon, 03 Jun 2024 21:08:36 +0000 Marc Kelly Smith https://permalink.castos.com/podcast/58924/episode/1755677 https://through-the-mill.castos.com/episodes/episode-4-poetry-straight-no-chaser The relationship between poetry and alcohol is a complicated one. In this episode, Marc and Mark discuss the early, inebriated years of the Poetry Slam and the lessons learned that have helped shape the Slam as it spread internationally.

]]> full 4 1 false The relationship between poetry and alcohol is a complicated one. In this episode, Marc and Mark discuss the early, inebriated years of the Poetry Slam and the lessons learned that have helped shape the Slam as it spread internationally.

]]> 00:45:55 <![CDATA[Episode 3: In the Spotlight with Jean Howard]]> Thu, 30 May 2024 18:59:49 +0000 Marc Kelly Smith https://permalink.castos.com/podcast/58924/episode/1752825 https://through-the-mill.castos.com/episodes/episode-3-in-the-spotlight-with-jean-howard Marc and Mark talk the Chicago Poetry Ensemble, Green Mill and motorcycles with poet, Jean Howard. 

Recorded by: Joe Velez

Directed by: Hugh Schulze

]]> full 3 1 false Marc and Mark talk the Chicago Poetry Ensemble, Green Mill and motorcycles with poet, Jean Howard. 

Recorded by: Joe Velez

Directed by: Hugh Schulze

]]> 00:22:35 <![CDATA[Episode 2: The Get Me High Lounge and Beyond (with Special Guest Jean Howard)]]> Wed, 08 May 2024 18:19:43 +0000 Marc Kelly Smith https://permalink.castos.com/podcast/58924/episode/1737636 https://through-the-mill.castos.com/episodes/episode-2-the-get-me-high-lounge-and-beyond-with-special-guest-jean-howard In this episode, Marc and Mark are joined by Slam Poet alum, Jean Howard, to talk about the early days in the evolution of the slam at Butchies’ Get Me High Lounge in the much-changed Wicker Park.

Recorded by: Joe Velez

Directed by: Hugh Schulze

]]> full 2 1 false In this episode, Marc and Mark are joined by Slam Poet alum, Jean Howard, to talk about the early days in the evolution of the slam at Butchies’ Get Me High Lounge in the much-changed Wicker Park.

Recorded by: Joe Velez

Directed by: Hugh Schulze

]]> 00:45:29 <![CDATA[Episode 1: Origins of the Uptown Poetry Slam]]> Thu, 04 Apr 2024 18:51:17 +0000 Marc Kelly Smith https://permalink.castos.com/podcast/58924/episode/1712500 https://through-the-mill.castos.com/episodes/origins-of-the-uptown-poetry-slam In this episode, Marc Kelly Smith, the founder of the poetry slam movement, traces its origins from a Chicago jazz lounge to a global phenomenon that merges performance with poetry. He highlights the transformative power of slams in fostering community and empowering diverse voices, showcasing the movement's lasting impact on the art of spoken word.

Recorded by: Tony Scott-Green

Directed by: Hugh Schulze

]]> full 1 1 false In this episode, Marc Kelly Smith, the founder of the poetry slam movement, traces its origins from a Chicago jazz lounge to a global phenomenon that merges performance with poetry. He highlights the transformative power of slams in fostering community and empowering diverse voices, showcasing the movement's lasting impact on the art of spoken word.

Recorded by: Tony Scott-Green

Directed by: Hugh Schulze

]]> 00:35:35