Recent Episodes
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Recent Reviews
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Steve@;"-)(83!;8389;)1):A moment of calmA lovely moment of calm in my day. Even on the days I’m listening at 1.25X.
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Home girl from DYes it is a giftThe reminder to “Praise the mutilated world” arrived right on time. As did your introduction so resonate with the morning I ran out of my favorite coffee. Thank you from a newly minted fan of your show.
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1009926144189363uuIf you can get past the host, it’s great!The boring, cliched host opens every episode with a story about Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me but if you can survive those 45-60 seconds you’re typically rewarded with a fresh, insightful poem. Just try to ignore what the host has gleaned from it and you’ll be better off.
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Allie 🐊What a gift!I love that Slowdown consistently offers beautiful, accessible poetry read by someone passionate about life and the craft. I often use the slowdown in the classroom and professional development teaching workshops as a powerful opener to spark curiosity and discussion. I shared the “Chaos Theory” episode with 125 students in our last class of the academic year. What a gift! Thanks for all that you do, Major.
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Roblox_lover♥️♥️♥️♥️That’s my DJ!Major takes me back to the 1980s when I was a teenager and when I was judged, and when I judged, based on the radio station I listened to. The voices of my favorite DJs are recorded in my memory like a beloved mixtape. I counted on them to wake me up, introduce me to the latest songs, and lull me to sleep. I listen to Major every morning. He is my current day DJ. I count on him for inspiration, wisdom, and messages so beautiful I am dazzled all day long.
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BellacaligrlQuiet and powerful showPoetry is always been a love of mine, and the show delivers in such a powerful and beautiful way. Major has a great way of delivering such beautiful reflections. It's a great way to start the day! Thank you so much.
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erinbrynWhat a Gift !I remember when Tracy left the show and I thought, “oh my gosh - it will never be the same” and then Ada, and then Major showed up and I was like “oh my gosh - this is amazing” and then there is a guest host and I think “this is going to be horrible!” and then I get a hot take that thrills me from Jason Schneiderman or Shira Erlichiman and I’m again reminded that change is good. I love the voices and reflections on the poems. The intros are often poems themselves. We listen in the car as the sun comes up on our way to work. Communing silently as we listen. Sometimes only a sigh or breath is heard for a few minutes after a particularly powerful episode. Thank you all so very much.
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H45987Awesome podcastI’m so grateful for this podcast. Major Jackson frames each poem in such a poignant way, and I look forward to his stories as much as the daily poem. I am invariably moved to thought and feeling. Truly soul nourishing. Thank you to Mr Jackson and his production team!
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Invent BostonLove itLove being read the poems they choose.
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Houston 66No matter the host, a job well doneI’ve listened to all three hosts insights prior to each reading. All have an insight that gives the poem more meaning. I barely thought of poetry prior to listening to this podcast. Thanks for opening my mind.
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madi3hFormatCould there be some clarity on format? I’m confused when the host is reading his own thoughts or the poem. I’m a new listener and I feel like there’s some inside knowledge here to understand what’s going on? I feel like I would love this if I understood what I was listening to.
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SnibblersOkay poems but it’s the setups,The quadruple skip to start the program should get you past the obligatory Nissan Ariya ad + de jour ad; it’s the same format every day, at least when Tracy or Ada did it they would occasionally start the program with their voice, or something other than predictable ads. Jackson just feels like a less enthusiastic host and when paired with the idiosyncratic ads just being plugged and played, it feels drastically lazier than it’s Limon and K Smith led counterparts. It happens.
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BigReadingLifeWonderfulI loved Ada Limon as host, and I am enjoying Major Jackson as the new host as well. It’s a great way to get poetry in on the regular. Sometimes a poem takes my breath away.
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htth91One of my favoritesI love this show for the minutes of respite it provides me from the world. So I am bummed about the ads at the top of the show, though I know you gotta make money, it does take away from the experience.
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songbird4799Thrilled this show is back, and with Major Jackson!!This show is my favorite daily ritual, and I’m so pleased that Major Jackson has joined the lineage of amazing hosts! I love the way this show makes poetry accessible, and I really appreciate the host’s commentary. Kudos to the production team!
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DogLoverMarthaSometimes this is the best part of my dayAda and Tracy are both gorgeous poets and beautiful celebrators of others’ work. Take the time to listen. It’s healing.
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Karen DHDAdaAda doesn’t have large feet, but still her shoes will be hard to fill.
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EyeDoc86Ada Limón is the best!Love listening to Ada. Her voice and the way she articulates the poetry she reads is so unique. She will definitely be missed.
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jaywasheldcGuest host Shira ErlichmanI’m a longtime listener of The Slowdown, so when consummate host and poet Ada Limon announced she’d be going on vacation this August, I found myself dreading her upcoming absence. Turns out, however, there was nothing but delight in store as Shira Erlichman stepped in as guest host. Her soulful delivery quickly became the portal to my morning meditations and sent me down multiple rabbit holes in search of more work by the poets she so skillfully introduced. Suffice it to say I will miss her when she goes and hope The Slowdown will consider bringing her back as a more permanent contributor to this excellent show.
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question thingsMy TakeThe intros to poems are poetic as well!
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al's shadowPoems first.I would enjoy each listen - hearing the poem, first! I do enjoy Ms. Limon’s voice, explanations, etc - it would all work best, after hearing the poems. MSS/España, EU
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K.C.22Meditative momentsSuch a nice way to hear many poets’ voices
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J AldridgeA requisite for good daysFor me, this show is a great concept corrector for the start of my days. Love this show, and you will too.
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rpb139Start of my DayA few moments each morning and I can bring a bit more attention to the rest of the day Ada Limon has a wonderful voice and her introduction to each poem helps give a better sense of what’s to come
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Jess M FDaily injection of beautyA lovely change of pace from my usual round up of podcasts. Relaxing, inspiring, thoughtful. Pressing “play” in and of itself is a recommitment to a life of wonder and delight.
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Corrine63WonderfulAn
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SarainthecloudsFor all the buried voicesAda’s intro to “Sligo Abbey” was poetry itself, for ex: “Sometimes the job of the poet is to listen and sometimes it is to become the unburied voice” Thanks for the podcast xx
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Midwest MeditatorNot Dandelion WineAda sent me on a wild goose chase for a story by Ray Bradbury about the wind that wanted to kill a man, which she says she read in the 8th grade in his book “Dandelion Wine.” But that’s a memoir, not a book of stories! Now I'm wondering where I can find that story. Very frustrating, considering he wrote and published hundreds of them. I hope her other references are fact-checked. Otherwise, this is a very nice podcast about poetry — although I prefer those that simply present the poem without any preface by someone other than the poet.
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Mrs.W 2008ThankfulThankful for this calming and beautiful way to start the day.
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Jimmyjimjim!anti-immigrationI really enjoyed today’s thought-provoking poem. Thanks!
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sydneysmom2020RelaxingYour calm voice helps me relax, thank you. The content keeps me entertained and engaged. It’s a welcome distraction to my stressful day. 😀
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flowerlover33Love this podcastStarted listening recently and Ada is fantastic. Poems are gorgeous. Much needed balm during this chaotic time.
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SupersmartsquirrelJudithrousseauSo glad you’re back Slowdown! Ada Limon’s voice is wonderful
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Meta peletThank you for this giftI have often thought that these daily gems must take a lot of work. I appreciate your introductions to each prom so much; you are a wonderful guide. I now plan to find a collection of your work at my local indy bookstore.
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TayvallichThe Slowdown is a GiftI’ll miss you Tracy K Smith. I look forward to your new poems and amazing voice in the world. Thank you for introducing me to poets I may have never found without you. You are a gift.
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AEM2;-)Feeding people is loving people.Thank you, Tracy, for this poetry offering of love. I am grateful for these connections that I feel each day from the slowdown. Hearing your own and the other poets’ thoughts through your kind and gentle voice is a soothing balm for me these days. I will miss you, when your hiatus happens, and I only wish you peace and love in the coming days. 💕💕
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MarianaDalePerfect lunch listenMuch needed moments of peace, beauty and inspiration in my day.
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WandaWA daily capsule to promote well-beingEach episode is so beautifully introduced, the first time I listened I thought Tracy’s intro was the poem. I’m grateful to have the gems of these poems to enrich my life.
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Oliver quidPerfectedIt’s a wonderful podcast.
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ChillDPLove the daily words!Tracey is an American success story straight out of Fairfield! Go Falcons!!
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GwenivariSo GoodFive. Minutes. Beauty. Goodness. Truth. Five. Minutes. Beauty. Goodness. Truth. Repeat...
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dorothy's ddufhterAwesomeness Comfort CourageousI am so grateful for your work product and positive purpose in this life thank you!
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TLD 2ComfortNeeded to hear the calm readings of others experiences in life and find hope and awareness for humanity today.
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SweetPotato*78EverythingThis podcast is simply everything. I love starting my day in the peace and ease of Tracy’s generous, honest, and wise commentary followed by the wide and deep poetry she shares. I return later in the afternoon - a long day lived with young children and home-keeping and good work only half-complete - and the words echo and hold me again. The Slow Down transcends and is a source that truly helps me re-ground, re-center, and re-member myself. I’m so grateful to have found it and so highly recommend.
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Origami GirlA calm moment in my dayThere’s no substitute for a good guide. Tracy’s set up of each piece gives me a path by which to access a poem, with freedom to enjoy it for myself rather than trying to interpret a meaning. What a perfect vessel this is for delivering a poem each day.
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FeaoifheagLovely podcastTracy K. Smith has the most wonderfully soothing voice. Her personalized intros are gift to the world as well. Not to mention the poetry, of course.
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JJRROMISweet!!A little sweetness in a time of so much hate. So welcome!
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peninsula poetPerfectWonderful poems, lovely voice, superb introductions.
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monstrzWonderfulThe introductions are practically poems in themselves. The cadence of her voice is perfect for the readings, introductions insightful, and curation unimpeachable.
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coolpenPoetry the way I want to consume itI used to love poetry but fell out of reading it. I already go to so many theatre events that attending more poetry events isn’t tenable. But hearing poetry read aloud is the best and that’s exactly what Tracy K Smith does so well in each day’s Slowdown episode. Thank you for letting us into your mind a bit and sharing these poems with us.
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