poets and depression

Jacob Kolasch

Hi. I'm Jacob. I'm a poet and I have treatment-resistant depression. I recently started exploring how my depression affects my poetry and I decided to start talking about it. I'll also be talking to poets about how their mental health influences their art. At it's core, this podcast is about mental health and the relationship it has with art and writing. read less

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Episode 8. The Plumber on Unclogging the Drain in My Kitchen Sink.

Episode 8. The Plumber on Unclogging the Drain in My Kitchen Sink.

In Episode 8 of poets&depression I talk about how mental illness feels grimy, gross, and sticky. How we can feel lost and isolated with mental illness. How mental illness pulls us into a slump and sometimes we can't get out. Not alone. Not right away.

Episodes

Episode 8. The Plumber on Unclogging the Drain in My Kitchen Sink.

Episode 8. The Plumber on Unclogging the Drain in My Kitchen Sink.

In Episode 8 of poets&depression I talk about how mental illness feels grimy, gross, and sticky. How we can feel lost and isolated with mental illness. How mental illness pulls us into a slump and sometimes we can't get out. Not alone. Not right away.

Episode 7. Taking Space.

Episode 7. Taking Space.

In this episode of poets&depression, I talk about the lies that we tell when say "I'm fine" or "I'm just tired." I also read my poem "Taking Space" and talk through it and how we lie to others and ourselves. And that it's okay to take space for yourself. Because it has to be okay.

Episode 6. This Is Not the Vinyl I Had in Mind.

Episode 6. This Is Not the Vinyl I Had in Mind.

In this episode of poets&depression, I talk about how mental illness (and my depression in particular) can feel like a broken record. I also talk about where I am mentally right now, which is not a good place. Like a broken record, we can't get past the skipping part unless someone actually physically moves the needle for us.

Episode 5. It Keeps You in the Basement.

Episode 5. It Keeps You in the Basement.

In Episode 5, I talk about managing depression and what life without depression looks like. Mental illness lies to us all the time about life is like. Managing our mental health does not make us less creative people. It makes us more creative.

Special No. 1. Pulling the Thread. What Rules?

Special No. 1. Pulling the Thread. What Rules?

In this first special, I talk about one of the first things that almost always gets mentioned when talking about writing. That is rules. Here is my view and my experience of working with "Show, Don't Tell" and "Write What You Know." And why I don't think rules should matter, especially when you are first starting out.

Episode 4. The Water Cycle.

Episode 4. The Water Cycle.

Up first in episode 4 of poets&depression is some general housekeeping. I talk about plans, schedule, etc. And then I move right into reading my poem "The Water Cycle" and talk about what it means to be unbroken in relation to mental illness.

Episode 3. I Will Always Offer My Hand.

Episode 3. I Will Always Offer My Hand.

***TRIGGER WARNING: Mention of Suicide.*** In episode 3 of poets&depression I talk about being saved, needing saving, and helping people that need help but may not being willing or able to ask for help. I read my poem "I Will Always Offer My Hand" and talk about what the poem means to me and who the "I" in the poem really is.

Episode 2. Lemon.

Episode 2. Lemon.

In the second episode of poets&depression, I talk about my poem "Lemon." Where depression won in the first episode, I win in this one.

Episode 1. Sugar Rush.

Episode 1. Sugar Rush.

In the inagural episode of poets&depression, I read my poem "Sugar Rush," a poem about how depression pulls the things that we enjoy away from us. This is a poem about depression winning.