The mission of the Quintessential Listening Poetry Online Radio and YouTube podcast (QLPORYT) is to provide a live platform for poets from all backgrounds and locations worldwide to showcase their poetry. This includes emerging, mid-level, and established poets. The podcast conducts conversational interviews with poets delving into the essence of poetry within the realms of the mind, heart, and soul. It also provides a platform for poets to showcase their craft, whether through traditional forms or spoken word poetry. If you would like to be a guest on QLPORYT, please contact the host, Dr. Michael Anthony Ingram (see below), at [email protected]. You can also visit the website at www.qlporyt.com to learn more about the podcast.

Dr. Michael Anthony Ingram is a retired university professor, social change activist, and spoken word artist. He taught Counselor Education and Supervision in the College of Education at Oregon State University in Corvallis, OR. He is the host and producer of the Quintessential Listening: Poetry Online Radio podcast (qlporyt.com). He is also the Founder and Executive Director of the DC Poetry Project, Inc., in Washington DC. He uses poetry to spread awareness about power, identity, and oppression issues. His international reputation as a spoken word artist and performance poet has earned him the nickname The Counseling Poet. This is based on his background in mental health. Dr. Ingram has traveled extensively, lecturing and conducting workshops on developing cultural competency and empathy skills through the use of poetry. He has also been nominated for a Pushcart Prize for his poetry. His second poetry collection, When Cherry Blossoms Fall on Black Skin is forthcoming. He resides in Washington, DC.