The Host Dispatch: A Literary Podcast

In Conversation with Poet mónica teresa ortiz

In this episode, Host editors Annar and Claire welcome their first guest to the podcast: mónica teresa ortiz. mónica is the author of Muted Blood and was the first recipient of the Host Publications Chapbook Prize for her book autobiography of a semiromantic anarchist. Her work is revolutionary and heartfelt, and mónica is a generous and wise soul. We recommend checking out some of the books she mentions in this episode: 

The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable by Nassim Nicholas Taleb

The Marvelous Arithmetics of Distance by Audre Lorde

Open Veins of Latin America and We Say No by Eduardo Galeano

The works of Alma Guillermoprieto

Postcolonial Love Poem by Natalie Diaz

More Poetry for Quarantimes

Host editors Claire Bowman and Annar Veröld continue their discussion of poets whose work they've turned to during the pandemic while in quarantine. They discuss the work of poets Benjamin Fondane, and Haryette Mullen. 

Introducing: The Host 88 Collection

In this minisode, Claire and Annar discuss the history of Host Publications, and its origins as a publisher of literature in translation from around the world. This summer, Host is reintroducing their rich back catalogue as the newly dubbed "Host 88 Collection" with works from respected international authors such as Nicanor Parra, Pablo Neruda, Hai Zi, Astrid Cabral, Conceição Evaristo, and many more.   

Science Fiction for Dystopian Times

Host Editors Claire and Annar discuss current events, including the Black Lives Matter marches that have taken place across the nation against the backdrop of a global pandemic. They take a look at our current moment through the lens of science fiction, focusing on two sci-fi writers who are women of color. The books discussed in this episode are The Memory Police by Yoko Ozawa, Bloodchild by Octavia Butler, and her Xenogenesis trilogy.

Poetry for Quarantimes

Host editors Claire Bowman and Annar Veröld discuss their experience of quarantine, and share some poetry they've turned to during the pandemic, including poems by Mary Ruefle and Dulce María Loynaz.