It's All Poetry

Oh hello, to all you "Piling Poets," "Scoffing Scops," and "Wide-Eyed Versifiers." We're continuing this season's theme of 'Mentor'tainers as Nicole sits down with poet, novelist, playwright, and her own college writing professor of twenty years, Jim Peterson, to discuss the word poet.

They explore the word's many meanings, from its plainest root to its modern reputation for genius, sensitivity, and gatekeeping. Together, they discuss: whether poets choose their poems or the poems choose them, why free will might be a myth, and what furniture makers and tennis players have in common with sonnets.

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Oh hello, to all you "Penciling Poets," "Lithoing Lexophiles," and "Verbalizing Vocababulists." We're continuing this season's theme of 'Mentor'tainers as Nicole sits down with the creator of the Comprehensive Copywriting Academy and longtime mentor, Nicki Krawczyk, to discuss the word copy.

They explore the word's many meanings, from its older roots in reproduction and news to its modern role in marketing and persuasion. Together, they trace how the word evolved across centuries, why it still causes confusion, and how it connects to ideas like abundance, power, and creative strategy.

So, let's order some hors d'oeuvres...

Oh, hello to all you "Planting Poets," "Laboring Linguists," and "Weeding Word Nerds," and welcome to Episode 60 of It's All Poetry. This week's episode is an absolute treat as Nicole is joined once again by Notion teacher, digital gardener, and, of course, mentor, Podge Thomas. The two sit down for a wonderfully thought-provoking conversation about the word garden.

Together, Nicole and Podge dig into the surprising history of gardens, the connection between tending plants and tending ideas, and why reclaiming curiosity is one of the most meaningful acts of resistance.

So get ready to...

Oh, hello to all you Packaged Poets, Localized Linguists, and Encapsulating Etymologists! And welcome back to Season 5 of It's All Poetry! We're so glad to have you here and greatly appreciate you joining us. This season is all about mentors, and to start things off, we have a captivating conversation about container.

Nicole sits down with creativity advisor, director of cross-disciplinary programs in higher education, and mentor Catherine LaSota. They trace container all the way back through its etymology and discover a bit of tension between “holding and stretching,” “support and restraint,” and “protection and control.” They also discuss...

Oh, hello to all you Picketing Poets, Lie-In Linguists, and Walkout Word Nerds.

In this week's episode, Nicole is joined by Alexa Speed, an old friend, former colleague, and the creator behind Cut Off The Spigot.

Nicole and Alexa dive into the unexpected and surprisingly recent history of the word boycott. A word born in rural Ireland that became a global tool for resistance.

So grab your picket signs, fill your water bottles with "billionaires' tears," and remember that here, we have "No Kings" as we define boycott.

*Also just a...

Oh, hello to all you Punctilious Poets, Long-Standing Linguists, and Venerable Vocab-ulites. In this week's episode, Nicole is joined by the founder of Kindred and Kin, Juliette Joseph, to discuss the word ritual.

Together, Nicole and Juliette trace its meaning from the present-day little rituals that help keep us sane back to the ancient rituals that were meant to keep the Earth spinning.

So, let's forget the daily routine, pour a nice warm bath (Lego optional), and press that proverbial reset button. And remember: healing yourself is a non-negotiable... as we define ritual.

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Oh, hello to all you Partnered Poets, Like-Minded Linguists, and Gregarious Grammatists. In this week's episode, Nicole sits down with writer, facilitator, and mother Sara El-Sayeh to discuss the word belonging.

As Nicole and Sara trace the roots of the word, they uncover surprising connections between longing, community, and the human need to be woven into something larger than ourselves.

So take a break from the chaos, cook a random meal with a friend, and keep an eye out for wandering cats... as we define belonging.

Further Research

Oh, hello to all you psychic poets, legendary linguists, and veiled verbalists. In this week's episode Nicole sits down with tarot reader, creativity coach, and writer Cecily Sailer to discuss the word mystic.

Together they trace the word from Greek initiation rites and Christian mystics to modern tarot and awe inspiring moments.

So let's order up some Connecticut Pizza, sit down to solve this mysterious puzzle, and keep an eye out for owls.... as we define mystic.

Further Research

Oh, hello to all you pioneering poets, luxurious linguists, and visionary verb-ivores. In this week's episode Nicole sits down with painter and artist, Tara Leaver to discuss the fascinating word art.

Together, they wander through etymology, creativity, discipline, abstraction, suffering, collaboration, and the tension between structure and freedom.

So get ready to taste all the flavors, take a deep dive in the ocean, and pick up where nature ends... as we define art.

Further Research

Oh, hello to you Potent Poets, Luring Linguists, and Vigorous Verbivores. In this episode, Nicole sits down with the founder of Cultural Cartography, Leila Rao, to discuss power.

From its centuries-old household roots to the unseen ways it shapes our relationships, our workplaces, and how we view ourselves.

So cancel that “power lunch,” pass out the coffee, and let’s defy gravity as we define power.

Further Research

Oh, hello to all you Prepping Poets, Line-Running Linguists, and Seasoning Semanticists. In this week’s episode, we welcome back the writer, artist, and the always wonderful Cody Cook-Parrott.

Nicole and Cody sit down to discuss the word practice. From its roots in alchemy, travel, and transformation to the modern mindset of grind, punishment, and proficiency.

So grab your coziest quilt, snuggle up with your favorite Gemini, be present in the process, and remember… practice is already perfect.

Further Research

Oh, hello to all you Pining Poets, Longing Linguists, and Wistful Word Nerds. In this week’s episode, Nicole sits down with artist-researcher and psychotherapist Adrienne Sloan to discuss the word nostalgia.

In searching for its meaning and origin, they go from dinosaurs and extinct sounds to perfume and a “contagious” wartime sickness.

So, get your “animal brains” ready, listen closely for “whispers,” and remember: it’s okay to get a little homesick as we define... nostalgia.

Further Research

Oh, hello to all you Progressive Poets, Eccentric Elegists, and Bohemian Balladeers. In this week’s episode on “Radical,” Nicole has a thought-provoking conversation with the founder of Coalition Snow and Zawadisha, Jen Gurecki.

They discuss the meaning of “radical,” how it became associated with extremism, and why reclaiming it is so important in today’s political and cultural landscape.

So, let’s all snack on some black licorice, feed our imaginary owls, and embrace our eccentricities… as we use our outside voices inside and define “Radical.”

Further Research

Oh, hello to all you Polished Poets, Exquisite Etymologists, and "Gaudy Gifts who love to gab" and welcome to It's All Poetry. In this Episode, Nicole is joined by the splendid silversmith and jewelry maker Erika Rose to discuss and define the word jewel.

Nicole and Erika explore the meaning of jewel as a word shaped over centuries, and as a practice shaped day by day at the jewelry bench.

So, adorn yourselves in turquoise, grab your ring pop and candy necklace, and remember to "shine on you crazy diamonds"... as we hammer out the...

Oh, hello to all you Planet-Friendly Poets, Renewable Rhapsodists, and Symbiotic Scribes. In this week’s “energy-efficient” episode, Nicole talks with content strategist, storyteller, and co-founder of the sustainability marketing agency Right On!, Kim Grob.

Together they unpack the complicated and sometimes controversial word sustainability. From overused buzzword to something quietly pushed to the back burner in today’s era of “greenhushing,” they discuss how great storytelling and getting specific can bring some much needed energy back to the "S" word.

So pop in a piece of your favorite chewing gum, tend to your tenets, and let’s al...

Oh, hello to all you Perceiving Poets, Lucid Linguaphiles, and Observing Epeolatrists (that’s a deep cut). In this episode of IAP, Nicole looks inward with the help of astrologer, writer, and somatic practitioner Verena Borell.

Together, they explore childhood wonder, spiritual hierarchies, the body’s wisdom, and the idea that awareness often unfolds like a spiral.

So give your nervous system a break, say yes to a “Full-Body Yes Life,” and prepare for a soft return… to yourself, as we define conscious.

Further Research

Oh, hello to all you playful poets, language lovers, and verbivores. In the second episode of season four, Nicole is joined by the founder of Nourish, Michaela Ayers. Michaela is a facilitator, interdisciplinary artist, creative caregiver, and our new favorite Nebraskan.

Join Nicole and Michaela as they go from coloring outside the lines to feeding social revolution through creative acts of defiance. They search for etymological roots in ancient goddesses and look to change our reality by simply imagining an alternative.

Now, raise your hand if you're an artist, build yourself an...

Oh, Hello to all you polished poets, reword nerds, and lexomancers. We are back! And in our "first draft" episode of season 4, Nicole is joined by the founder of Framing Devices, Emily Doucet. Emily is a writer, a researcher, and editor. Which makes her perfect for this weeks deep dive.

Emily and Nicole trace the word "edit" through publishing houses, cutting room floors, and genetic laboratories. They also discuss how it can be used for curation, cultural gatekeeping, and collaboration.

So break out the White-Out and red pens, be prepared to "kill your darlings", and...

Nicole is joined by Dr. Kate Henry, productivity coach and author of Tend To It, for a thoughtful conversation about gardens, grief, and living with intention.

In This Episode, You’ll Discover…

How chronic illness reshaped Kate’s relationship with productivity

The difference between tending something and trying to control it

Why care doesn’t always need an outcome to be meaningful

How small, private rituals can sustain a creative life

Further Research

In this episode, Nicole sits down with the founder of Slow and Steady Studio, Amanda Laird. The two explore steadiness as something alive, wobbly, and deeply human. From burnout and business growth to nervous systems and bent knees, this conversation redefines what it means to stay steady when everything feels like it’s shifting.

In This Episode, You’ll Discover...

Why steadiness often looks more like wobbling than standing still

How burnout can become a doorway to a deeper kind of stability

What riding a bike, surfing, and running a business all...

In this episode, somatic astrologer Britt Broekhaus and Nicole peer into why being seen is so often terrifying, how invisibility can feel like a refuge, and what the rhythms of the sun and moon can teach us about the seen and unseen.

In This Episode, You’ll Discover...

Why visibility is inherently risky

How astrology reframes visibility as cyclical rather than constant

The surprising connection between radiant energy and being perceived

Why invisibility can be protective, nourishing, and necessary

Further Research

In this episode, Nicole and grief companion Uma Girish unpack grief as a loss of connection, a physical experience, and an invitation to live more meaningfully.

In This Episode, You’ll Discover…

Further Research

Explore Uma Girish’s work as a grief companion...

Two-Spirit Shoshone and Hoopa doula, writer, and public health storyteller Madison Murphy Barney joins Nicole to explore entanglement as intimacy, responsibility, ancestry, and hope. And why none of us were ever meant to do this alone.

In This Episode, You’ll Discover…

How codependency and connection aren’t the same thing

What quantum physics reveals about collective responsibility

Why caring for your small corner of the world actually matters

How ancestors, children, and mushrooms are all part of the same web

Further Research

Subscribe to M’s Su...

What if the word productive isn’t just about getting things done — but a reflection of centuries of moral judgment, capitalist pressure, and deeply internalized self-worth stories? (I mean, duh).

In this beautifully honest and thoughtful conversation, Nicole is joined by executive function coach Dr. Taylor Allbright to untangle the heavy (and often conflicting) layers of what productivity means — especially for high-achieving folks with ADHD, creatives, perfectionists, and anyone tired of tying their value to their output.

Taylor and Nicole explore how the meaning of “productive” has evolved from fruitful fields to frazzled calendars and offer a ge...

“Wealth” often sounds like a number. But what if it’s actually a feeling? In this cozy conversation, financial therapist Rachel Duncan shares her personal and professional journey redefining wealth as stability, safety, and values-driven living.

Tune in to learn…

Resources & Li...

Is scale about climbing higher, shedding layers, or finding balance? Nicole sits down with writer and longtime collaborator Sarah Kuiken to explore this multitasking word that spans fish, ladders, piano keys, and marketing funnels. Expect laughter, etymology, and the occasional side quest into AI, gratitude, and why scaling your joy might just be the truest form of growth.

In This Episode, You’ll Discover...

- The three ancient roots of “scale” — and what they reveal about modern ambition

- Why “growth for growth’s sake” rarely feels good, and what to do instead

- The une...

What makes something truly magical? The ritual? The mystery? Or simply the act of believing something more is possible? In this episode, Nicole sits down with (Sarah Dittmore and Kaitlyn Gulock), co-hosts of The Empress and the Fool, to explore the word “magic" —from its earliest roots in science and spirit, to the quiet everyday moments that shimmer with potential.

In This Episode, You’ll Discover...

- how childhood wonder teaches us our first lessons in belief and imagination

- why the unknown can be both terrifying and deeply empowering

- the su...

What if attention isn’t a currency to be spent, but a gift to be given? Feminist creator Amelia Hruby invites us to reimagine the way we relate to focus, presence, and the constant pull of the digital world. Together we explore what it means to reclaim your attention from the systems designed to monetize it, and how giving attention (rather than paying it) can become a radical act of care.

In this episode, you’ll discover…

Why flipping from paying attention into giving attention changes how your day feels (and who’s in charge of it)<...

What if I told you that “money” was once the name of a goddess? That’s right—long before debit cards and two-day shipping, the Romans worshipped Juno Monetta, the goddess whose temple literally minted coins. Today, financial coach Katie Scott joins Nicole to unearth how ancient warnings, modern shame, and personal money stories shape the way we think about value.

In This Episode, You’ll Discover…

The Roman goddess hidden in the word “money” and why she still haunts our bank accounts

Why even accountants struggle to manage money—and what that means for the rest...

How did a word rooted in plunder and violence become a symbol of creativity, courage, and rebellion? In this swashbuckling episode, Nicole is joined by educator and strategic mischief-maker Rachel Ropeik to explore the word pirate — from its violent etymological roots to its reclaimed modern spirit.

Together, they unpack the surprising history behind pirate codes, the difference between stealing and venturing, and what it really means to be a pirate with a heart in today’s world.

In this episode, you’ll discover…

What if dancing again could heal something you thought was unchangeable? In this episode, Jess Grippo joins Nicole to talk about dance as more than choreography. It’s expression. It’s story. It’s healing. Together, they explore how movement changes across a lifetime, what dance reveals about our inner world, and why it’s never too late (or too awkward) to start dancing again.

Tune in to discover:

Today I’m joined by the incredible Christina Jones—brand photographer, creative coach, and (fun fact) the first guest I’ve ever met in real life! Christina did my most recent brand shoot, and let me tell you… it was an unexpectedly emotional experience. There’s something deeply vulnerable about being the focus of the lens, and Christina held that space so beautifully.

In this episode, we unpack the word focus—in parenting, photography, business, and life—and how it can mean everything from presence to pressure to play. Plus, we get delightfully off-topic in the best way: Jenga, ba...

In this episode, Nicole welcomes back her very first repeat guest (🥳), Cleoniki Kesidis, copywriter extraordinaire and fellow funnel-skeptic. The two dig into the uncomfortable origins and metaphors behind the word funnel, asking why such a common marketing term so often feels…well, kinda icky.

What starts as a conversation about email sequences and sales paths becomes a beautifully winding journey into ethical marketing, customer autonomy, and a whole lot of metaphors.

Let’s talk about the words we use in the marketing systems we build.

In th...

What does it really mean to write? Is it an act or a process? And can AI truly replicate it? In this episode, writer, editor, and book coach Katie Wolf joins Nicole to break down the layers of the word write—from its ancient roots to the modern fear of simply getting started.

Katie shares her personal journey with writing, how self-doubt held her back for years, and the unexpected ways she overcame it. The two also discuss AI (of course) and the psychological tug-of-war between writing in private and sharing our work publicly.

Hi, welcome to season three of It's All Poetry.

My name is Nicole Cloutier, your host and resident word nerd... and for someone who her whole life has been told how quiet and shy she was and thought she would never ever start a podcast, this is a pretty exciting milestone.

So as we enter season three, I find myself re-reflecting on what this podcast actually is, why I'm doing it, why we're all here, what we're creating.

I did a lot of journaling...

Have you ever wondered if you even had an intuition? Or if it was buried under years and years of people-pleasing, shoulds, etc? That’s how I felt …. before this conversation. But not after.

Lauren Levine—a movement teacher, psychic medium, and someone whose intuition practically glows—opened my eyes to what intuition really is: a skill.

In this episode, we unpack what it means to connect with that quiet knowing inside of us, how to tell the difference between intuition and fear, and why your messy, beautiful life experiences might actually be sharpening your ability...

What does “design” truly mean, and how does it shape more than just our screens? Sarah Jutras, founder of Huzzah Studio and creator of the "Freelance for Life" Substack, joins Nicole to take a deep dive into the expansive world of design—from user experience and app development to designing a fulfilling freelance life. With a journey rooted in childhood crafts and inspired by mentors and Italian art, Sarah reveals her unique philosophy of design as both a creative process and a plan for living with purpose.

In This Episode, You’ll Discover…

When Cody Cook-Parrott joined me to explore the word "landscape," I thought we'd talk about pretty views and garden design. Instead, we discovered poetry hiding in 1800s dictionary definitions, learned that landscape is secretly related to friendship (what?), and somehow ended up having a fascinating conversation about compost. As one does.

In this episode you'll discover...

So how is trust like a basket of grapes? Guess you have to listen to find out. :)

In this episode, Nicole sits down with Taylor LeCours, a fellow copywriter and brand strategist, to explore the word "trust" - diving deep into its meanings, etymology, and implications for both business and personal relationships. You’ll also get some impromptu (and very valuable!) copywriting lessons!

In this episode you'll learn:

"We all have it. We all have problems with it. We all want it. And we all also are really terrified of the ways in which we want it."

In this episode, Nicole Cloutier sits down with Shivani Mehta Bhatia, founder of Tulsi Strategies and host of the Intimate Practice podcast to talk about the word "intimacy."

Tune in to learn…