Celebrate Poe

Send us a textWelcome back to celebrate creativity - Episode 425 - From Stratford to London. Today, we're going on a very special Elizabethan journey, not into one of Shakespeare's plays, but into the writer's very own life - a life that was surprisingly simple. Who was the man who created all these amazing characters and stories? Where did he come from? And then we will look at his writings from using a fascinating form of communication.But first I want to tell you - very briefly - how I became interested in Shakespeare in a big way!One day - more years ago than I care to think - I got a telephone call to interpret for the recently built American Shakespeare Center - at that time the world's only exact replica of Shakespeare's original indoor theater, the Blackfriars.  This theater was built in my hometown of Staunton, Virginia, nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Now   I had spent hundreds of hours doing rather tedious interpreting for the Deaf in the area, but this was the first time I had a chance to do something that was truly creative - and the pay was very good too. Well to make a long story short, I have interpreted all of Shakespeare's plays over the years in various cities and can now say that I have interpreted more Shakespearean plays into American Sign Language than any other person on the planet. And I am now working on an online course to teach other individuals the basics of interpreting a Shakespearean play.Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Creativity.

Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate Creativity - Episode 424 - Things to Come -If you are listening to this podcast episode, that means I have a few more minutes on my podcasting hosting time - just enough for this episode. I am taking some time off from recording to concentrate on writing episodes that are more Direct, interesting, and just generally a better experience. One of the subjects that I know I will be delving into is Shakespeare because that was my major in graduate school - and covering his works on a direct level that gives you confidence that you understand what can sometimes be confusing material. Of course I also want to emphasize creativity and approaching Shakespeare, as well as how Shakespeare's works or precursor to AI. Of course any examination of creativity includes a closer look at AI - especially in education - and I will be spending a great deal of time reading and delving into the subject matter.Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Creativity.

Send us a textWelcome to celebrate creativity - pisode 423 - Poe the SwimmerI am going to be taking some time off from this podcast - I think I have had almost 30 episodes in the past month - and devote the time to just doing podcasts and doing them right - with the sound effects and some really fascinating subjects.  As of today this podcast has had almost 23,000 downloads in nearly 100 countries and territories.  Now for today - well, this episode is largely made up of content from an earlier podcast episode of celebrate Poe - and the information makes up the most downloaded episode by far in the series.  When I started celebrate poe - now celebrate creativity - I expected maybe a handful of downloads at the most - but am amazed at how many people are interested in Edgar Alan Poe, his works, and his times - and now other areas of creativity.Today's podcast is about Poe's swimming across the James River when he was just fifteen - some say sixteen - years old.  We don't have a great deal of documentation regarding that accomplishment, but the few sentences that were written regarding Poe's accomplishment at the time show us a physical side of the writer - and even his character - that we very often overlook.   You know, when you do a podcast the subject stays on your mind, but you have to be careful - at least I do - that you don't start talking about a subject in conversation that nobody else is interested in.  I know I could talk about Poe all day, but I could just see - ok, I have experienced it - people tactfully changing the subject because I am the only person who is interested in some little seemingly insignificant detail about Poe.  But I have never been with a group that is not fascinated - in some way - by Poe's long distance swimming accomplishments.  I mean, how many people can say they have swum 6 or 7 miles without stopping - all against the tide.Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Creativity.

Send us a textWelcome to celebrate creativity episode 422 - Dickens and london, part twoSure, Charles Dickens was a master at portraying the poor population of London, often with a mix of stark realism, deep pathos, and sometimes even a touch of grotesque caricature to highlight their plight. He didn't just describe their outward appearance; he delved into their living conditions, their desperation, and their often-fragile hopes.Ah, here is the ghost of Mr. Dickens himself. Would you be so good as to read from some of your text examples that illustrate how you described the poor:Certainly Mr. Bartley.I must admit that I frequently linked the poverty of the people to the wretchedness of their surroundings, emphasizing the inescapable nature of their condition.Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Creativity.

Send us a textWelcome to celebrate Poe  episode 417 - Why Dickens Still Matters, Part OneThis first quote is from a George Gissing in 1898 - he famously said -I suppose that for at least five and 20 years of his life, there was not an English speaking household in the world where his name was not as familiar as that of any personal acquaintance, and where an illusion to characters of his creating could fail to be understood.And that creative person was none other than Charles Dickens. So I felt that a a brief look into Charles Dickens might be a good place to start in an examination of major 19th century writers.Therefore I gave the following prompt to Gemini:I am doing a podcast about using AI, as well as writers from the 19th century - such as Edgar Allan Poe, Walt Whitman, and Emily Dickinson. But one author that I have failed to include is Charles Dickens. Could you write me an introduction of why Charles Dickens is important, especially to the concept of creativity.Why Charles Dickens Still Matters (Especially for Creativity)Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Creativity.

Send us a textThis is the third and final installment - for now - of my online conversation with Gemini concerning Charles Dickens the man.Gemini began with Let's zoom in on the very essence of our podcast's title: creativity, specifically in the context of Dickens's own development. How did this extraordinary mind first show signs of his unparalleled creative genius, and how did that creativity evolve and deepen throughout his prolific career?To understand Dickens's creativity, we have to look beyond just his finished novels and consider the crucible of his early life and experiences.Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Creativity.

Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate Creativity Episode 419 Why Does Dickens Matter,  Part 2We begin this podcast episode with a few more excerpt by Dickens that showcase his masterful description of the common person.1. The Hard-Working, Overwhelmed Clerk (from A Christmas Carol)Here's Bob Cratchit, Scrooge's clerk, illustrates the quiet dignity and hardship of the working poor:"The clerk's fire was so very much smaller that it looked like one coal; but he couldn't replenish it, for Scrooge kept the coal-box in his own room; and if the clerk came in with the shovel, the master predicted that it would be necessary for them to part. Wherefore the clerk put on his white comforter, and tried to warm himself at the candle; in which effort, not being a man of strong imagination, he failed.But he was a happy family-man, Bob Cratchit, and a good one; and though he earned but fifteen ‘bob' a week, and a hard struggle it was to keep his five children (for Tiny Tim was a fifth) on that, yet he was content, and had a smile for every one of them."What it shows: Empathy for the Daily Struggle: Dickens immediately draws sympathy for Bob through the stark contrast of his meager fire with Scrooge's control over the coal. This highlights the power imbalance and the quiet suffering of the employee.Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Creativity.

Send us a textWelcome to celebrate Poe  episode 417 - Why Dickens Still Matters, Part OneThis first quote is from a George Gissing in 1898 - he famously said -I suppose that for at least five and 20 years of his life, there was not an English speaking household in the world where his name was not as familiar as that of any personal acquaintance, and where an illusion to characters of his creating could fail to be understood.And that creative person was none other than Charles Dickens. So I felt that a a brief look into Charles Dickens might be a good place to start in an examination of major 19th century writers.Therefore I gave the following prompt to Gemini:I am doing a podcast about using AI, as well as writers from the 19th century - such as Edgar Allan Poe, Walt Whitman, and Emily Dickinson. But one author that I have failed to include is Charles Dickens. Could you write me an introduction of why Charles Dickens is important, especially to the concept of creativity.Why Charles Dickens Still Matters (Especially for Creativity)Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Creativity.

Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate Creativity - Episode 417 - Creativity for DummiesIn this episode, I want to go out of my way to keep things basic - to delve into the elements of human creativity.I asked Gemini - could you use clear and basic language to explain what creativity is using simple and basic language.Sure - Think of creativity not as some magical dust that automatically happens, but as a recipe. You need a few key ingredients to make it work.Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Creativity.

Send us a textWelcome to celebrate creativity formally celebrate pro - Episode 416 Why Use Gemini - In this podcast, one of the areas I want to emphasize is writing an effective prompt, and the information that can be gained from it. Now I had used Google Bard, Chat GPT, perplexity.ai, and Gemini (which I found out was originally Google bard and has become my favorite of the major AIs out there currently) and I wanted to ask Gemini which bot I should suggest for users of this podcast.I wanted some rather specific information, so some people might consider the prompt to be rather long - it's not that long, but I wanted it to cover the subject and explain what I wanted.Now I wrote to Gemini the following:I do a podcast where I plan to get into historical and literary research using AI - the podcast was previously called celebratepoe and has had 399 episodes in 100 countries and territories. But now I want to open it up to more subjects and have changed the name to celebrate creativity. Anyway, one topic that I inevitably will have to deal with is the choice of AI bot - I have personally used ChatGPT a great deal, as well as perplexity and Gemini (I have also used Google bard and I'm not sure about the relationship to Gemini.). I know ChatGPT is the favorite of numerous individuals, but I am concerned about the way that they seem to draw you in by subscribing to their service. And I have found ChatGPT to make major, major, major hallucinations - far more on the same topic than any other AI bought that I have used. I know that all this is largely a personal preference, but I currently use Gemini and have found it sleek and ultimately more accurate. So I'm going to recommend that people listening to my podcast use Gemini. Could you give me some information about Gemini - what it does, it's benefits, and why a new user should utilize it from your standpoint.Notice that by prompt I didn't mean a few words. Now this probably could've been done better in a sentence, but sometimes I tend to be worthy when I'm not sure about something.  Note that I mentioned that I had had several hundred episodes and celebrate Poe, and a bit about my background regarding several Ai bots. - so it would know I'm not just starting out doing podcasts.  I had a feeling that of course Gemini would naturally recommend Gemini - but I wanted to find out some reasons that another person might make that decision.Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Creativity.

Send us a textWelcome to celebrate creativity - episode 415 - childhood creativity, part  two  Well, let's start off with a brief look at How Adults Can Cultivate More Flow in Their Lives:Identify Your "Flow Activities": What are the tasks or hobbies where you already feel this sense of deep absorption? It could be anything from cooking, playing a sport, writing, painting, problem-solving at work, or even a meticulous cleaning project.Set Clear, Achievable Goals: Before starting, define what you want to accomplish. Break larger tasks into smaller, manageable steps.Match Challenge to Skill: If a task feels too easy, find ways to make it more challenging (e.g., set a time limit, try a new technique). If it's too hard, break it down or acquire new skills first.Eliminate Distractions: Create a dedicated space, turn off notifications, silence your phone. Protect your focus fiercely.Dedicate Uninterrupted Time: Flow takes time to enter (often 10-15 minutes of focused attention). Block out significant chunks of time for your chosen activity.Embrace the Process: Shift your mindset from solely focusing on the outcome to appreciating the journey and the act of creation or problem-solving itself.Practice Mindfulness: Training your mind to be present and focused, through practices like meditation, can make it easier to enter a flow state in other activities.Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Creativity.

Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate Creativity, Episode 414 - Childhood Creativity, Part 1First I'd like to say that I have a new cover art for this podcast series. It is of course the title, celebrate creativity, and an AI graphic rendition from some basic text prompt of a child whose face is full of wonderment and creativity. And I think his expression perfectly captures the wonderment of a child engrossed in creativeness and invention.  And I also gave an AI graphics program some texts and it generated the two graphics for the cover art for the following episodes - actually the program generated far more than two graphics - the big problem was choosing the best ones.I typed to Gemini - For this podcast episode I will simply give you a subject and and do a podcast episode based on your comments. I probably will be asking questions based on that output but it should be an interesting thought experiment And Gemini said: Great! I'm ready. Please give me the title of your podcast episode, and I'll generate some content for you. I'm curious to see where this goes! At that point I realized I hadn't even given Gemini the topic or subject.And I replied Sure - I didn't even give you the topic! Sorry for that mistake. The title and subject is childhood creativityThank you for experiencing Celebrate Creativity.

Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate Creativity - This is Episode 413 - AI for a Heat StrokeNow I know that up til now - I have basically been giving you fanciful examples of what might go into a prompt for some imaginary purposes - Edgar Poe applying for a job at a pet rental company or Edgar Poe 6th and Emily Dickinson 6th writing a book - that was DEFINITELY role playing with imaginary characters - I don't know of any reliable source that said Poe had any children - not so sure about Emily Dickinson, but I doubt it - guess I need to check with Gemini. Anyway, today I would like to deal with an all too real story that illustrates the use of a prompt in a real-life, health situation - no imaginary characters.I am accustomed to being outside - used to be a Marathon runner, but yesterday I was walking the distance from the local McDonald's. (about a half a mile) to my apartment. When I got home, I was covered with sweat and was having what appears to be a heat stroke. I was not experienced at all with this kind of thing, and my other half suggested that I simply ask my AI about the situation.  It might be a good idea before and if I go to a doctor to find out any immediate suggestions. Note the prompt that I gave Gemini. I admit that it is a bit wordy, but I wanted to give all the details because like any prompt the more information you give it, the better answer it can give you.  And I apologize, if the prompt seems a bit crude, but I wanted to show the importance of being honest with an AI if you expect an appropriate answer.  Besides this is a medical situation.So I started with:Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Creativity.

Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate Creativity - Episode 412 - Talking to Your ComputerI guess you could say, in some areas, I can be sort of an overachiever. All the research papers that I had to do for undergraduate school thesis - amounted to almost 1000 pages - and my thesis for my masters degree was over 200 pages - and I had to revise it thee times - and each of my podcasts is at least 10 pages (I always like to have a planned script) and as you probably know I have had over 400 episodes - so that would easily be over 4000 pages - no wonder that a few weeks ago I started feeling my fingertips tangling from overuse. Naturally I went to an AI and explained my situation. It told me to immediately go to my doctor and explain the situation because any problem with nerve endings in the fingers can become very serious.In the meantime, I made an appointment and the first time I could get one was two weeks from then. I called a few days later to verify the appointment and they had no record of me calling - that was when I realized I needed to take matters into my own tingling hands!  But I still got an appointment for the following week.Anyway I started using Voice Control on the Macintosh computer to do my typing - or at least try to - I have not said anything about it earlier, because I didn't want to be one of those people who says I'm doing such and such when they give it up in a day or two - it was obvious that it was going to take some time to learn to use voice control comfortably - in other words, I want to be able to use it as fast or faster then I could type. And while I have not reached that point yet with all actions, there are certainly areas where I can use my voice and do things faster by saying them, and save that wear and tear on my fingers.Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Creativity.

Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate Creativity episode 411 - poe and EmilyIn this episode, I want to take another look at an AI prompt that is basically an example of role-playing - see if you can follow the ebb and flow of the concepts. I do a podcast where I am introducing some AI principles - such as the purpose of a prompt.  In this rather outlandish example, I want to do a faux prompt or example prompt to a publisher regarding Edgar Allan poe's most popular work during his lifetime The Conchologist's First Book and that is a fact.First, could you sum up the book in 200 words - and by the way - for purposes of this podcast episode, I am going to try and use my voice as George, and a voice with a southern accent to represent an artificial intelligence version of Edgar Poe-  hopefully that will give you a chance to know which party is speaking - It's interesting that you consider The Conchologist's First Book to be my most popular work during his lifetime. While it was indeed published under my name, it was largely a compilation and adaptation of Thomas Brown's work and was intended as a textbook. I admit that I most likely took on the project for financial reasons. My more enduring popular successes during my lifetime were my short stories and poems like "The Raven."Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Creativity.

Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate Creativity - Episode 408  - Rent a Black Cat!Hopefully this will be a really fun episode of Celebrate Creativity.  I want to illustrate what constitutes an effective prompt in the most entertaining way, - probably your prompt will be for business, literary, and other educational purposes - but here I am using the imaginary situation of Edgar Allan Poe applying to a company that rents pets. I never really asked the AI to answer using Poe's style - which I could have and probably should have - but it went ahead and answered as Poe might have.  And note how the AI picked up on the use of Poe's language and easily participated in the online role - I would like to thank technology educator Dave Birsss for the idea of writing to apply for a job with an imaginary pet store, although I don't know if he was thinking about Edgar Allan Poe!My prompt was:Starting with episode 400 of my podcast about Edgar Allan Poe and other 19th century writers, I am broadening the emphasis of my podcast to include such areas as creativity and AI. Of course one of the things that I want to try and get across is what AI can do through an effective prompt. Would you imagine that you are Edgar Allan Poe and have come to the realization that you need a new job? You are applying to a company that rents black cats. Would you write a letter to the company of why you would be a good person for that position in their company? Note that I am explaining my situation -Unfortunately, I did explain the STYLE that I want Mr. Poe to answer the letter, but the AI seemed to automatically know to answer as Poe might have using his style by literally comparing the thousands of examples of Poe's writings that it has access to, and answers using those examples - a task that would be humanly impossible. In a real world situation, it would be preferable for you to come out and explain the style that you want Mr. Poe - or whoever you are communicating with - to use.   But note that without really prompting, the AI picks up on the style of Poe and replies to each situation cleverly and appropriately - without missing a beat. It would take me forever to even approach such a task - and I have read a lot of Poe.  But back to AI Poe's answer - Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Creativity.

Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate Creativity - Episode 409 - Living with the Beast, Part TwoWe begin this episode with a discussion of generative AI - Now Generative AI models are trained on vast datasets of existing content (e.g., millions of images, billions of words of text, hours of music).During this training, they learn the underlying patterns, structures, and relationships within that data. They essentially build an internal "understanding" of what makes a particular type of content what it is. For instance, a text-based generative AI learns grammar, syntax, common phrases, and even nuanced writing styles. An image-based one learns shapes, colors, textures, and how objects are typically composed.This learning process often involves complex neural networks, which are inspired by the structure of the human brain.Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Creativity.

Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate Creativity - This is episode 408 - Living with the Beast,  Part One I'm gonna start with a prompt I gave Gemini that is really a bad example of a prompt because it is just so blooming short - it doesn't really say much.  But, in my opinion, the AI did a very good job with its response.My rather simple prompt was “Can AI truly be creative?”And Gemini replied - The answer depends on how we define creativity.Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Creativity.

Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate Creativity - Episode 407 - Redefining HumanityLet me start out by saying that I was using Gemini as a source for a podcast episode, and completely unexpectedly it gave me an audio clip called “redefining humanity - why AI can't replace consciousness.” It is really quite good, and you can hear it at the end of this episode. But I had no idea how it got there, so I did what I thought was the obvious thing and asked Gemini:I do a podcast called celebrate creativity - I was doing an episode using some text from Gemini - by far my favorite AI bot - and at the end of the session it gave me a fascinating audio clip that it called Redefining humanity - why AI can't replicate consciousness - the audio clip is about five minutes obviously way too short for my podcast episodes - I like for them to be between 25 minutes and 30 minutes. So I was thinking of having some content dealing with the same subject before the audio clip. And I must admit I am somewhat confused at why the audio clip showed up, but I am not complaining because it is very good. First could you explain why that audio clip showed up?And Gemini's reply was quite articulate - and makes up the majority of this episode.  Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Creativity.

Send us a textWelcome to Episode 406 of Celebrate Creativity - the personal side of genealogy - I continued my discussion with Gemini AI regarding genealogy with the following question -How would you suggest that a listener interested in his or her ancestors begin a journey in genealogy?That's an excellent question, and here's how I'd suggest a listener begin their journey into genealogy, presented as if I were speaking directly to them:Yes, I believe that learning about your family is not only important from a personal standpoint but it gives relatives a chance to talk about their past, and the realization that someone cares about their life and what they have experienced. And Gemini saidYou're right, delving into the "why" of genealogy is just as crucial as the "how"! It's where the heart of the journey lies. Let's expand on the profound personal impact of genealogy, providing ample material for a powerful second episode, focusing on the human connection and the stories behind the names.Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Creativity.

Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate Creativity -  episode 405  - The Practical Newside of Genealogy.I recently spoke with my cousin - a brilliant lady who is really into genealogy - this lady could go on for hours talking about the family ancestors - and that conversation with her gave me the idea of having a podcast episode or two about the world of genealogy. So, I began typing the following into Gemini, not realizing where it would lead - and to be honest, I think I am very satisfied with the results. I typed - and this is not exactly the best of prompts - but it did lead to good results. And by the end of next weeks continuation to today's podcast script, I was genuinely moved.Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Creativity.

Send us a textWelcome to celebrate creativity - episode 404 - an insider pushing for integrity  This episode will delve into the profound and often surprising role of the Catholic faith in the life and work of Stephen Colbert. I want to explore how his deeply personal spiritual journey, marked by both profound loss and a powerful conversion experience, has shaped his worldview, influenced his unique  brand of satire, and positioned him as an unexpected but significant voice in contemporary discussions about faith and how we decide to govern ourselves.Stephen Colbert is definitely a widely recognized person - he is a sharp-witted satirist, and a late night host with a quick mind and an even quicker wit.But far less known is the less discussed, but arguably equally central aspect of his identity - his deep and abiding catholic faith.  This is not just some nominal affiliation, but a foundational element that informs his very being.Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Creativity.

Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate Creativity - Episode 403 - Judicial Suits - this is the first of several  episodes composed of a winding conversation that starts with information regarding judicial suits, what I thought was a hallucination on the part of Gemini, Donald Trump's lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal, and ending with a look at Stephen Colbert.Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Creativity.

Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate creativity - Episode 402 - The Future of History - My hope is that listeners get more out of their AI interactions - and I certainly will be helping you along the way.  I also plan nothing less than for "Celebrate Creativity" to become a vibrant, intergenerational hub for exploring the enduring power of human imagination, supported by the exciting possibilities of modern technology.You might  "Use an AI bot (such as ChatGPT, Gemini, or Perplexity), and ask it to compare and contrast the poetic styles of Edgar Allan Poe and Walt Whitman. Specifically, ask it to discuss their use of meter, imagery, and themes of nature/death. After you get the AI's response, read one poem by each author (e.g., Poe's 'Annabel Lee' and Whitman's 'O Captain! My Captain!'). Do you agree with the AI's analysis? Where does it align, and where does your own reading diverge?  Of course you can obviously do a lot more, but we get into that later.I'm just throwing out these ideas, and showing you what can be done - which is very important - not necessarily asking that you do these activities right now - but we certainly will get into that and a lot more later.Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Creativity.

Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate Creativity - previously celebrate poe - this is episode 401 - From Poe to AI, Part Two - In this podcast episode, I wanna be getting away from Poe for now and delving more into AI. And now when I talk about AI or AI bots, just think about websites that use AI can you can ask a question - more about that later.Now, opening a play on Broadway certainly is a demanding undertaking.  And I want to start today's podcast by briefly mentioning two people who helped open plays on Broadway in their 90s. First, Adrienne Kennedy of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, born in 1931, is an American playwright known for her unique and surreal theatrical style. She grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, and later attended Ohio State University, where she earned a B.A. in education in 1952. Her plays frequently center Black women and delve into the impact of racism and societal pressures. In 2022, at the age of 91, Adrienne Kennedy made her Broadway debut as a playwright with Ohio State Murders. This play, written decades earlier, draws on Kennedy's own experiences as a student at Ohio State University in the late 1940s and early 1950s, highlighting the systemic racism she encountered.  And John Harold Kander - born in 1927 - along with his partner lyricist Fred Ebb.) wrote the scores for 15 musicals, including Cabaret (1966) and Chicago (1975.), He and Ebb also wrote the standard "New York, New York" (officially known as "Theme from New York, New York"). When he was 94 he wrote the music for a Broadway musical version of New York New York - a play that received 11 Tony nominations and four wins.Now I want to continue from last week and jump back to the subject of doing historical research with AI.  And for the rest of this episode, I am largely going over comments from Gemini.Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Creativity.

Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate Creativity - formerly Celebrate Poe.  This is episode 400 - From Poe to AI, Part One -  and I am especially excited at the new possibilities that this new direction allows. Let me explain:A few days ago, I wrote a short note to my podcast host, buzz sprout, not really knowing what to expect - I wrote - I do a podcast called Celebrate Poe that has had 398 episodes, in 100 countries and territories. For episode 400, I would like to announce that the name of the podcast is being changed to Celebrate Creativity - that would give me more room to deal with other writers and creative people of the 19th century, such as Frederick Douglass, Walt Whitman, and Emily Dickinson, as well as dealing with subjects as the use of AI and literary and historical research. My question is - can you change the name of an existing podcast - for example, from Celebrate Poe to Celebrate Creativity. BTW - if you can, at the beginning of each episode, I would say welcome to Celebrate Creativity (formerly Celebrate Poe). George BartleySecretly, I was very concerned that such a change in name would not be possible, because of all the connections that are involved in distributing a podcast but apparently buzzsprout or somebody else had already thought of that. And I was delighted to receive the following reply from my podcast host within a few minutes:Hey George!I'm happy to help you change your podcast name! That is really impressive to reach the 400 episode mark!!! I think that is a great idea to rebrand and open up new topics. When you release episode 400, you could change the name when that episode is released, and it will update on the directories!Start by going to Settings > Podcast Settings, then you can change your name in the Podcast Title field. Please let us know if you have any questions during the rebrand and please let us know when you publish #400 so we can celebrate with you!Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.

Send us a textHello - this is George Bartley - just wanted to let you know that starting with Episode 400, the name of this podcast will be changed from Celebrate Poe to Celebrate Creativity - this way, this podcast can really delve more into 19th century writers, as well as human creativity, and the use of AI in literary and historical research - a lot more fun than it might appear at first!   So don't miss episode 400 of Celebrate Poe - oh, I mean - Celebrate Creativity.But as for now - Welcome to Celebrate Poe - episode 399 - The Controversial CoverThis episode is about the cover of the first edition of Walt Whitman's leaves of Grass - with one of the most controversial covers of its time - largely because of what it did not have. There was no picture on the front page of he book, just ornate an engraving of the title - leaves of grass. The book is a collection of 12 poems, and nothing like it had ever been published before. Let's talk to Mr. Whitman about that first edition.Mr. Whitman, I want to talk with you about the first edition of leaves of grass - in fact more to the point, it's original cover. First, mr. Whitman, could you simply explain what the cover and frontspace looked like?Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.

Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe - This is episode 398 - Leaves of Music, Part TwoWell heIlo, WaltGreetings, George.Now In the previous episode, I began a conversation with Mr. Walter Whitman specifically about opera.Well Mr. - I mean Walt - What would you say was the role of music in general in your works?Music in general was a central metaphor in my life and work, both as a metaphysical mindset and as a practical reality. I was blessed with an extraordinary ear for inner rhythms which I then In articulated in radically free, rolling, thrusting verses which revitalized the entire world of poetic language. That same ear led me to to a strong appreciation of classical music. My musical journey was a largely self-taught quest in which I relied on both my innate musicality and my experience as a music journalist to formulate aesthetic principles that would carry over into my poetWell. ultimately, what would you say about the importance of exposure to differing forms of music to the United States?“George,I say no land or people or circumstances ever existed so needing a race of singers and poems differing from all others,” I wrote in “A Backward Glance o'er Travel'd Roads.” Yet, it was only by exposure to European opera and art song that I began to really discover and appreciate tI universality of classical music's language. That exposure came during the 1840′s and 1850′s when I served as a member of New York City's working press, reviewing musical performances at Casthee Garden, Palmo's Opera House,  the Astor Place Theater, and the Academy of Music. After enjoying a year of press seats for the Brooklyn Eagle, I admitted that foreign music was exercising an elevating influence on American taste. From the late 1840′s onward My critical posture gradually shifted from a stance of tolerance to one of sophisticated pleasure and finally to one of total passion for classical music, especially for opera.Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.

Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe - Episode 397- Leaves of Music - Part OneBefore getting into Whitman's literary output in earnest, I would like to have at least two episodes about Walt Whitman, and what is often seen as a controversial and sometimes even unfamiliar art form - Opera. First I'd like to begin, with a recent incident that has stayed in my mind since it occurred. A kind friend - who I will call John - offered to take my other half and myself to an opera. We know that he was an opera buff, and we're very eager to see what we thought was a local production of the marriage of Figaro.Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.

Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe for episode 396 Finding a Home, Part Two.This will be the final episode before the Fourth of July - a day when we celebrate the birth of this country and hopefully are especially mindful of democracy and it's foundations.  So out of necessity, this episode will be a few minutes longer to a deal with such areas ranging from at Edgar Allan Poe bohemian lifestyle, as well as another look at Whitman's first book of poetry, and some of his thoughts regarding democracy.Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.

Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe - episode 395 - Finding a Home, Part OneWelcome back Walt. That's hard for me to get used to. I'd rather call you Mr. Whitman out of respect, but if you prefer the familiar Walt understand.Thank you George. Remember that even my family even changed my name from Walter to Walt.Then the name Walt it is. First let me ask about your writing - what style do you say you used?Ah George, I would like to think that my writing is direct and even conversational. I consider my writing to be successful if I have addressed readers as if they are close friends, often using the first person and speaking with bold, unapologetic intimacy.I have noted that your language stresses democratic ideals and is very inclusive.Yes, George. I must admit that I saw myself as the voice of democracy, embracing all people and experiences. I attempted to construct language thatis inclusive, non-discriminatory, and celebrates diversity - to express my writing with a sense of openness and acceptance, inviting all listeners to feel part of the conversation.Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.

Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe - where - and who knows - maybe next month is also about Walt Whitman. This is episode 394 - Simplicity. In the past few episodes, this podcast has dealt with some very complex issues such as slavery, but in this episode I would like to talk with Mr. Whitman about something that was central to his upbringing, and that quality was simplicity.Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.

Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate Whitman.  My name is George Bartley. This is episode 393 - Schoolteaching YearsWhen we left Walt in the previous episode, it seemed that his future career seemed set in the newspaper and printing trades - he saw the ability to print text that brought about images and emotions in the minds of other people to be almost magical. This was finally a vocation that he wanted to pursue.Unfortunately, two of New York City's worst fires destroyed the major printing and business centers of the city.  And New York, formerly a place of growth, suffered a dismal financial climate.Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.

Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate Whitman.  My name is George Bartley, and this episode  392 I Sing The Body ElectricIn the previous episode, Celebrate Whitman dealt with the artist's three months in New Orleans.  I had planned to talk with Mr. Whitman about his perceptions of the slave markets there, but it turned our to be more than enough for an episode all itself.  So in this episode, I would like to talk with the ghost of Mr. Whitman about some of the writer's complex feelings about slavery.But first - a little bit about slavery in New Orleans in the state of Louisiana.  Now slavery was introduced in Louisiana by French colonists in 1706. And Louisiana was to experience slavery under several colonial powers, including the French, Spanish, and briefly by the French again, before becoming part of the United States in 1803.Greetings, Mr. Bartley.Hello, Mr. Whitman.In this episode, I want to talk about some of your observations regarding slavery in Louisiana.Ah yes, Mr. Bartley - I had never experienced so much slavery around me until my three months in Louisiana.  And I must admit that the proliferation of slavery all around me had a profound impact on my views and future writings about slavery. I witnessed slave auctions firsthand and kept an advertisement for one as a "reminder" and "warning" for decades after.  The large presence of enslaved people and the realities of slavery focused my attention on the themes of slavery and freedom in a way that my previous environment in New York had not. Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.

Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate Whitman - My name is George Bartley, and this is episode 391 Sojourn in the South.Greetings, Hello, Mr. Whitman.As a Youth, you worked in the printing industry in New York at the Eagle - a connection that lasted throughout 1847.  But, as I understand it, you made an extremely memorable shift.  Could you tell us about it in your own words?Certainly,  - Now remember - I was the hard-working editor of a publication by the name of the Eagle and “for two yeas had one of the pleasantest sits of my life — a good owner, good pay, and easy work and hours - the workday ended about three every afternoon.. The troubles in the Democratic party broke forth about those times - :And what time was that?Ah, between 1848 and 1849.  And I split off with the Radicals wing, which led to rows with the boss and 'the party' and I lost my place. Being now out of a job, I was rather desolute and went to the theatre.  It happened that I met a man at the theatre by the name of McClure.  He planned to establish a newspaper called the Crescent in New Orleans.  By the way, it is said that we met between acts one night in the lobby of the old Broadway Theatre near Pearl Street in New York.  Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.

Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate poe  - Episode 390 - The Quaker PreacherToday I want to talk about Elias Hicks - a fascinating person who greatly influenced Walt Whitman.Greetings, Mr. Bartley.Hello, Mr. Whitman.   Now today I want to talk about Elias Hicks.Ah, Mr. Bartley - you mean the Quaker preacher.r  Yes, Mr. Whitman - the one and the same.Yes, I find the subject of Elias Hicks to be a most fascinating one.  And you know that I greatly enjoy learning about the ancestry of various individuals who were important to my life.  Yes, Mr. Whitman - it seems that family history was an integral part of one's identity for individuals living during your lifetime.Exactly, Mr. Bartley, in the case of Elias Hicks, his family was descended from Robert Hicks, who, in 1622 at 42 years of age, arrived on the ship Fortune in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.

Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe - My name is George Bartley, and this is episode 389 - What Did Whitman Read?Ghost sound   Hello, Mr. Whitman.Greetings, George.Mr. Whitman - I mean Walt - we have been talking about your youth.  And I understand that you were largely self-taught in many respects.  It seems that you greatly enjoyed reading Shakespeare and the King James Version of the Bible.I certainly was impressed by Mr. Shakespeare's works during my youth - as well as later in life - and basked in the beauty of his words.Yes, from what I understand, your view of Shakespeare's works evolved - if that is the right word - during your life.  Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.

Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe - My name is George Bartley, and this is episode 388 - Celebrating WhitmanEdgar Allan Poe and Walt Whitman are, arguably, the greatest writers of the 19th century. So last year, I decided to start a new podcast about Walt Whitman called celebrate whitman, as well as continuing celebrate Poe. Here is a 30 second promo for that new "Celebrate Whitman" podcast:"From the creator of the acclaimed "Celebrate Poe" podcast comes a new audio journey into the life and revolutionary works of Walt Whitman. "Celebrate Whitman" immerses you in the bold, optimistic vision of America's quintessential poet. Discover Whitman's cosmic perspective and how he captured the spirit of democracy through his groundbreaking free verse. Join us as we explore "Leaves of Grass" and Whitman's enduring impact on literature and culture.  Official premiere for Celebrate Whitman is July 4, 2024.”Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.

Send us a textWelcome to celebrate Poe - episode 387 - what did Whitman sound like part two - in the previous episode, my big concern was coming up with a voice for the imaginary ghost of Walt Whitman that sounded definitely distinct from my natural voice as George, as well as embodying the communication styles of Walt Whitman.  And by the end of this episode, I hope you Will agree that I came up for a valid voice to represent the writer.Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.

Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe - Episode 386 - What Did Whitman Sound Like, 1In previous years, I have always done episodes about Walt Whitman simply by talking about his life. I did not use the format of me talking in the first person, and asking questions from Walt Whitman because I simply didn't know where to start regarding the topic of what did Walt Whitman sound like.  There is a controversial recording of what may have been Whitman's voice, but it is a very poor quality and isn't much help at all.So I decided to use perplexity AI in finding out information about Walt Whitman's voice - what he may have sounded like and how I could get the spirit of that across and a podcast. So I started with this prompt - and note that - and this is something I will say over and over again - you need to give a lot of information in your prompt to an AI bot even if it doesn't seem necessary to get a good response. This is my prompt regarding getting the qualities for Walt Whitman's voice, and I apologize for the length. - but you really need to try and be thorough.I do a podcast called celebrate Poe about the life and works of Edgar Allan Poe. It has had almost 400 episodes and downloads in more than 100 countries and territories. The format is that I interview the imaginary ghost of Edgar Allan Poe regarding his works and life. Of course I use my voice as the interviewer, and a Southern Voice as Edgar Poe. I used to be a historical re-enactor as Poe, and use a deep southern drawl - one that most authorities believe that Edgar Poe would've used, being from Richmond and not influenced by such sources as television, movies, and the Internet. And I am from Staunton Virginia, so a southern draw is not hard for me. Now fo pride month - june - and maybe longer - I am playing the part of an interviewer while interviewing the the imaginary ghost of Walt Whitman - using my natural voice and Walt Whitman responding in the first person. My question is do you have any advice on coming up with a voice to represent Walt Whitman for the podcast? Of course this is purely for audio, so I can contort my face all kinds of positions - but what qualities should I go for in coming up with a Voice for Walt WhitmanThank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.

Send us a textThey took each other's hands. Each gave way to the impulse of his manly love, rarer, alas! but as tender and true as the love of woman, and they drew nearer and kissed each other.These words are from what is generally agreed to be America's first gay novel.  Stick with this podcast as we delve into the 1870 novel Joseph and His Friend, and this is Episode 385 - America's First Gay Novel.Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.

Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe - Episode 384 Drake the Rake.After devoting an episode to Fitz Green Halleck, I thought I would devote an episode to - well, I don't think lover is exactly the right word - but the person who was an extremely close friend of Fitz Green Halleck.And we have the ghost of Joseph Rodham Drake right here.Ghost soundHello I am Mr. Bartley. And you may call me George. Hello, Mr. Drake - may I call you Joseph?Certainly.Joseph, could you tell me a little bit about your life?Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.

Send us a textNo name in the poetical world is more firmly established than that of Fitz-Green Halleck. (Ghost of Poe voice)Edgar Allan Poe wrote these words about Fitz green Halik for Graham's Magazine in 1843. This episode will take a look at Halleck as inspiration for some of America's first homoerotic works. My name is George Bartley, and this is Episode Episode 383 - to clasp thy hand in mine revisited. This is the first of a series of podcast episodes for Pride months dealing with some of the individuals in Poe's literary circle - some of the I people who were responsible for some of the earliest homoerotic literature in the United States.If you have been listening to past episodes of Celebrate Poe, you probably know by now that I really like memory aids - especially when introducing a new subject or individual.  Probably the most important name to remember  is Fitz-Greene Halleck.   At first, I wasn't sure if the name was pronounced HALeck or HAYeck - but think of the computer Hal in 2001 - A Space Odyssey - Hal - who has the famous line “I'm sorry Dave. I'm afraid I can't do that.” Think Hal - for Halleck.  And if I say HAYLeck instead of HALeck - which I probably will do - just chalk it up to me pronouncing the word wrong - it should be HALeck.Fitz-Greene HALeck was born in 1790 - almost 20 years before Poe - in Guillford, Connecticut.  Haleck and Guilford had an interesting relationship -  it is said that the town never fully accepted Fitz Greene, and even though Halleck moved back to Guilford for the last two decades of his life, it appears that he never really felt at ease in his own hometown.   Now when Fitz-Greene was two years old, two drunken soldiers were passing by his father's front door. The soldiers thdought it would be funny to discharge their rifles loaded only with powder right next to the side of the infant's head.  They thought it would be funny to watch the infant scream. As a result, little Fitz-Greene had severe hearing problems in his left ear for the rest of his life - often appearing isolate in his relationships with other people because he just wasn't able to hear what they said.Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.

Send us a textWelcome to celebrate Poe this is episode 382 - Poe's Pit and Pendulum.Ghost soundGlad you're there Mr. Poe.  You know in the previous episode we discussed the Raven. I would like to take a similar look at what I personally feel is one of your Best stories - the pit and the pendulum - although the black cat, the mask of the red death, the fall of the house of usher, and especially the telltale heart have to be up there with it in terms of popularity todayI found that most interesting, Mr. BartleyWell let's start out by simply asking what kind of literature would you call the pit and the pendulum?My work The Pit and the Pendulum is a quintessential example of Gothic literature, employing several key elements of the genre to evoke fear, suspense, and psychological torment. The story takes place in a dark, oppressive dungeon during the Spanish Inquisition, a setting that is emblematic of Gothic literature. The dungeon is described as mysterious, claustrophobic, and perilous, with features like the yawning pit and the descending pendulum designed to instill dread. This setting creates an atmosphere of gloom and doom, heightening the reader's sense of unease.Please continue Mr. Poe.The narrative revolves around the protagonist's imminent death, with each torture device symbolizing different aspects of mortality. The pit represents an abyss of unknown horrors, while the pendulum symbolizes time's inexorable march toward death. These elements underscore Gothic literature's preoccupation with mortality, decay, and existential dread.Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.

Send us a textWelcome to celebrate Poe - episode 381 - Edgar Poe Explains the Raven.Sorry if I gave you the wrong idea in the previous episode, but in this episode I want to delve more into Poe's most famous work.GHOST SOUNDHello Mr. PoeGreetings Mr. BartleyVery welcome to see you today Mr. Poe.  I was just saying that I wanted to deal into your most famous work in today's podcast episode.Oh Mr. Bartley that would have to be the Raven. We certainly talked about the poem in the previous episode, but I welcome another chance to deal to the work.Maybe a good place to start Mr. Poe would be just for you to explain the importance of the ravenAh Mr. Bartley, The Raven can best be described As a profound meditation on human suffering and mortality. The poem explores how grief can consume an individual's rationality and sense of self. The poem's haunting refrain, "Nevermore," encapsulates not just the narrator's despair but also the universal finality of loss that all must confront. Through vivid imagery, Gothic symbolism, and psychological depth, I attempted to create an enduring work that resonates with readers' own experiences of sorrow and longing.Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.

Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe - This is episode 380 (getting on up there) called More Supernatural Elements.Mr. Bartley: I have the Ghost of Mr. Poe here, and would like to dive right into Mr. Poe' s  basic belief about his character's struggles.Mr. Poe: Ah, Mr. Bartley - permit to emphasize that it was important to frequently examine the duality of human nature—the conflict between rationality and irrationality or good and evil—through my characters' subconscious struggles:  for example, In William Wilson, the protagonist is tormented by a doppelgänger who represents his conscience. This internal conflict aligns with Gothic themes of moral ambiguity and self-destruction.  The duality in my works echoes earlier Gothic explorations of divided selves (e.g., Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde) but with greater emphasis on psychological complexity.Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.

Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe - This is episode 379 - Supernatural ElementsWell How are you, Mr. Poe - and waiting to begin our conversationVery tolerable, Mr. Bartley -and most eager to share our thoughts.Mr Poe - It seems that you often employ eerie and decaying settings to create an atmosphere of dread and suspense.  For example, in The Fall of the House of Usher, the crumbling mansion mirrors the psychological decay of its inhabitants. The house itself becomes a character, embodying themes of isolation and impending doom.  Your settings often include elements like dungeons, vaults, and desolate landscapes, which are staples of Gothic literature.Ah, yes, Mr. Bartley - I attempted to delve deeply into the human psyche, focusing on madness, guilt, and obsession. Stories such as The Tell-Tale Heart and The Black Cat feature unreliable narrators whose deteriorating mental states drive the narrative. These characters' inner turmoil aligns with Gothic themes of psychological horror and moral ambiguity.  And I would like to think that my use of first-person narration intensifies the sense of unease by immersing readers in the disturbed thoughts of my protagonists.Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.

Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe. Episode 378 -  Chilled Into StoneWell, in the previous episode Mr.Poe and I were engaged in a vigorous - don't know if that is the right word for it - a vigorous discussion about what many consider to the his best story - The Fall of the House of Usher - although to be honest, I prefer The Tell Tale Heart or possibly The Cask of Amontillado - but I better say that before Mr. Poe arrives.Greetings, Mr. BartleyOh, Hello, Mr. Poe, I didn't realize you were there.Ah, Mr. Bartley - you are certainly entitled to your opinion - such as it is.Ah, Mr Poe, I don't know what to say - don't want to offend the literary master.Ah, Mr. Bartley - sometimes the best thing to say is nothing.Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.

Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe - Episode 377 - The House is a Vampire!My name is George Bartley, and for the rest of this series, I want to really look into a house that might not make it into Better Homes and Gardens - but is often classified as Edgar Allan Poe's greatest work.  The story is definitely Gothic in tone, complicated from a psychological standpoint, and a great example of how Poe dealt with vampiric characters and themes.Madeline and Roderick Usher are both vampiric-like characters that seem to take the life out of each other.  And even the house in which they live - with its eye-like windows - can be seen as a vampiric character.Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.

Send us a textMr. Bartley - plain fontMr. Poe - italics fontWelcome to Celebrate Poe - Episode 376 - A Crawling ShapeIn this episode, I would like to slightly change the subject to early Gothic novels such as The Castle of Otrano - literature that most scholars believed influenced Edgar Poe's works.Ah, Mr. Bartley - I know that some scholars have said that I must have been familiar with the The Castle of Otranto from 1764, which many have said was the first Gothic novel,and influenced such individuals as Ann Radcliffe and Mary Shelley, whose works I greatly admired and even referenced. My own Gothic tales, such as The Fall of the House of Usher, share thematic and stylistic elements with Walpole's work, including haunted settings, supernatural events, and psychological terror.Ah yes, Mr. Poe - what about E.T.A. Hoffman?Ah, Mr. Bartley, Mr. Hoffman definitely influenced my works - due to hisuse of first-person narratives and exploration of madness, align with techniques pioneered in Otranto.  And I must point out how Otranto's Gothic tropes - —haunted castles, doomed aristocrats, and supernatural Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.

Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe - Episode 375 - TormentedI have the ghost of Mr. Poe here - and I would like to ask Mr. Poe a very basic question that many readers of your work have - Mr. Poe - why did you use so much gruesome imagery in your works - imagery that would be difficult for many readers in the mid19th century to handle.Ah, Mr. Bartley, my use of gruesome imagery often served as a metaphor for societal or existential concerns. For example, stories such as "The Masque of the Red Death" critique human arrogance in the face of mortality, while "The Fall of the House of Usher" symbolizes decay—both personal and societal. My works frequently challenge sentimental literature by presenting death not as a redemptive force but as an inevitable and horrifying reality.Yes, Mr. Poe - I am finding out everyday that your works are incredibly complex.Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.