Catch our latest episodes
In this special episode of Words on a Wire, join host Daniel Chacon as he brings you an extraordinary collaboration with the renowned Spanish podcast Todo Empieza con Una Palabra. Recorded in Madrid, this episode features a rich, bilingual discussion with students and faculty from the University of Texas, El Paso, and the Escuela de Escritores. Hear diverse perspectives on the craft of writing, and experience the vibrant synergy between writers from different cultures.
On this special episode of Words on a Wire, host Daniel Chacón invites writers from the Macondo community, a writing workshop founded by Sandra Cisneros. Guests include writers Carla Trujillo, Miguel Angel Ramirez, and Erasmo Guerra.
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Patos Salvajes is the radio program of the students of the M.F.A. in Bilingual Creative Writing at the University of Texas at El Paso. Today we will have a very special encounter with two wonderful local poets. Nancy Lorenza Green is an indispensable voice on the border, her culture of origin combines the Mexican maternal branch with the Afro-American paternal root, an absolutely bilingual writer who is also an amazing musician. She defines herself as Afro-Chicana and all borders converge in her. Toni Beatriz Fuentes, meanwhile, is a poet of native Apache roots and, as she herself says, a Mexican soul, an expression of this sensibility that recognizes no borders.
Join us for an insightful conversation with Professor Williford as he shares his expertise on the writing process, overcoming obstacles, finding inspiration, and honing your craft.
Technically, Literate
In this episode of Words on a Wire, host Daniel Chacón invites poet and novelist Kate Gale into the Poets’ Cove to discuss her new book, Under a Neon Sun (Three Rooms Press, 2024). Kate Gale is the publisher, co-Founder, and managing editor of Red Hen Press and the editor of the Los Angeles Review. She teaches poetry at Chapman University.
The Poets' Cove
On this episode of Words on a Wire, host Daniel Chacón invites writer and activist Tony Diaz into the Poets’ Cove to discuss his latest book, The Tip of the Pyramid: Cultivating Community Cultural Capital (University of New Orleans Press, 2022).
The Poets' Cove
In this special episode of Words on a Wire, host Tim Z. Hernandez and show producer Will Rose speak to Words on a Wire’s other host, Daniel Chacón, about his new book, The Last Philosopher in Texas: Fictions and Superstitions (Arte Público Press, 2024). The conversation also covers Daniel’s career and successes since the publication of his first book, Chicano Chicanary, almost 25 years ago.
The 3rd Story
Host Daniel Chacón invites author Alejandro Morales into the Poets’ Cove to discuss his new novel, The Place of the White Heron (Tia Chucha Press, 2023).
Poets' Cove
Host Daniel Chacón invites author Emma Pérez into the Poets’ Cove to discuss Emma’s latest novel, Testimony of a Shifter (ARTE PÚBLICO PRESS , 2023). Emma Pérez is a former UTEP professor and is currently a professor at the University of Arizona.
The 3rd Story
Host Daniel Chacón invites author Emma Pérez into the Poets’ Cove to discuss Emma’s latest novel, Testimony of a Shifter (ARTE PÚBLICO PRESS , 2023). Emma Pérez is a former UTEP professor and is currently a professor at the University of Arizona.
Poets' Cove
Poets' Cove
Hosts Leah O’Daniel and Patricia Locke speak with two Online MFA students about their published work, how to find literary magazines, and the art of handling rejection.
Technically Literate
On this episode of Words on a Wire, host Daniel Chacón invites author Yasmín Ramírez into the Poets’ Cove. They discuss Yasmín’s memoir ¡Ándale, Prieta! (Lee and Low Books 2023), which secured a silver medal at the International Latino Book Awards. She also received Honorable Mention for the 2023 Américas Award for Children’s and Young Adult Literature and earned a spot on the 2023 Top Ten List of the In the Margins YA Non Fiction Book Awards for the same work.
Poets' Cove
Host Tim Z. Hernandez speaks with Rumi Sevilla Hernandez on this episode of the 3rd Story.
Rumi is a fourth generation Latinx with roots in California, Texas, and Mexico. She’s currently a student in the multi-media journalism program at the University of Texas El Paso. She has utilitized her artistic talents to create original videos, audio, music, and designs for flyers, art shows, and book covers. She lives in El Paso, Texas, and enjoys reading, coffee, and traveling.
The 3rd Story
Patos Salvajes es el nuevo espacio radiofónico de los estudiantes del M.F.A. en Escritura Creativa Bilingüe en la Universidad de Texas en El Paso. Nuestro tercer episodio continúa explorando la escena artística de la frontera en El Paso-Juárez con la presencia de un artista polivalente e interesado en resignificar el espacio y sus símbolos; Manuel Urueta. Se trata de una cálida charla sobre cómo, junto a su colectivo Xingaderas, Manuel ha explorado las “máscaras de la frontera” mediante la plástica, el cine y el espacio comunitario.
Patos Salvajes
Host Daniel Chacón speaks with one of the country’s most respected poets, John Hoppenthaler, the author of four books of poetry, including his latest, Night Wing over Metropolitan Area (University of Chicago Press 2023).
The Poets' Cove
In this very first episode of Technically Literate, a podcast produced by students from UTEP’s online MFA program, hosts Leah O’Daniel and Thomas Salas discuss how writers can navigate the age of AI and technology disruption with special guest Daniel Chacón.
The Poets' Cove
On this week’s episode of the 3rd Story on Words on a Wire, host Tim Z. Hernandez speaks with Bri Borunda.
The 3rd Story
Host Daniel Chacón invites poet and writer Leticia Del Toro into the Poets’ Cove to discuss her new poetry chapbook All We Are Told Not to Touch (Finishing line Press 2023).
The Poets' Cove
Host Daniel Chacón has a conversation with Felicia Cocotzin Ruiz, a curandera (or traditional healer). They discuss her book Earth Medicines: Ancestral Wisdom, Healing Recipes, and Wellness Rituals from a Curandera.
The Poets' Cove
Host Daniel Chacon invites author Alma Garcia, an El Paso native, into the Poets’ Cove to discuss her new novel, All That Rises (University of Arizona Press 2023).
The 3rd Story
Host Daniel Chacon invites author Alma Garcia, an El Paso native, into the Poets’ Cove to discuss her new novel, All That Rises (University of Arizona Press 2023).
The Poets' Cove
Host Tim Z. Hernandez speaks with influential performance artist Paul S. Flores. They discuss a number of topics covering his career, single fatherhood, and his debut book of poems, We Still Be: Poems and Performances.
The 3rd Story
Host Tim Z. Hernandez speaks with David Taylor on this episode of Words on a Wire’s The 3rd Story.
David Taylor is a native of Columbus, Ohio, who now calls El Paso home. He is an embroidery artist who works mostly with denim and exclusively vintage textiles. He believes that every stitch of clothing has a story to tell, and considers himself a steward of these stories.
The Third Story
Patos Salvajes es el nuevo espacio radiofónico de los estudiantes del M.F.A. en Escritura Creativa Bilingüe en la Universidad de Texas en El Paso. Nuestro segundo episodio consiste en una charla muy personal con la reconocida escritora argentina Mariana Enríquez, invitada por el departamento de Creative Writing de UTEP. Platicamos sobre los vínculos entre la política contemporánea y el género del terror, la interconexión entre música y literatura, y los procesos creativos de la autora.
Patos Salvajes #2
Patos Salvajes es el nuevo espacio radiofónico de los estudiantes del M.F.A. en Escritura Creativa Bilingüe en la Universidad de Texas en El Paso. Nuestra primera emisión es una conversación con los músicos mexicanos Milo Tamez y Jerónimo Naranjo, quienes fueron parte del ensamble Texas/México de Nameless Sound, con base en Houston, Texas, que intervinieron The Hill, escultura de James Magee, en octubre de 2023. Una charla guiada por el entramado de los procesos creativos y la relación entre la música y la literatura.
Patos Salvajes #1
Host Daniel Chacón invites novelist and short story writer Sylvia Aguilar Zéleny into the Poets’ Cove to discuss her latest book, Trash (Deep Vellum, 2023).
Poets' Cove #22
Host Tim Z. Hernandez speaks with award-winning film and television director Carlos Avila in this episode of Words on a Wire.
The 3rd Story
Daniel invites Carlos Fidel Espinoza back into the Poets’ Cove to discuss his darkly humorous debut novel, The Sacred History of Braulio Cantero (Flowersong Press, 2023).
Poets' Cove #21
Host Tim Z. Hernandez speaks with former Border Patrol agent and UTRGV Professor Robert “Mike” Magee.
The two discuss an ongoing collaborative project founded by Magee in 2018, using Tim’s book, “All They Will Call You” to teach empathy and compassion to future Border Patrol agents.
Poets' Cove #20
Host Tim Z. Hernandez speaks with former Border Patrol agent and UTRGV Professor Robert “Mike” Magee.
The two discuss an ongoing collaborative project founded by Magee in 2018, using Tim’s book, “All They Will Call You” to teach empathy and compassion to future Border Patrol agents.
The 3rd Story
Host Daniel Chacón invites author, poet, and professor Inmaculada Lara Bonilla, Ph.D., into the Poets’ Cove to discuss her new book of poems, decir bóveda.
Inmaculada is an author and Associate Professor of Latin American and Latinx Literature and Cultural Studies at Hostos Community College, CUNY, where she also serves as the Director of the Latin American Writers Institute and as Chief Editor of the Hostos Review/ Revista Hostosiana.
Poets' Cove #19
On this episode, host Daniel Chacón speaks with acclaimed author Cristina García. They discuss Cristina’s new book, Vanishing Maps (Knopf, 2023), a follow-up to her best-selling novel, Dreaming in Cuban.
Poets' Cove #18
Host Daniel Chacón speaks with native Nicaraguan poet and UC Davis lecturer León Salvatierra about his collection of poetry, To the North/Al norte (University of Nevada Press 2022). Poet Javier O. Huerta, who translated To the North/Al norte into English, also joins the conversation.
Poets' Cove #17
Host Daniel Chacón speaks with poet Gabriel Dozal about his new collection of poetry, The Border Simulator (One World/Random House 2023). Poet Natasha Tiniacos, who translated The Border Simulator into Spanish, also joins the show to discuss the ground-breaking new book.
Poets' Cove #16
In a special episode recorded in the heart of Madrid, Spain, Host Daniel Chacón speaks with author and world traveler, Santiago Vaquera-Vásquez. They discuss a wide range of topics, including travel, artificial intelligence, and tacos in Poland.
Poets' Cove #15
Host Daniel Chacón speaks with author M. Evelina Galang about her incredible new collection of stories, When the Hibiscus Falls (Coffee House Press, 2023).
Poets' Cove #14
Host Daniel Chacón speaks with poet Brian Turner about his forthcoming three-part poetry series from Alice James Books: The Wild Delight of Wild Things, The Goodbye World Poem, and The Dead Peasant’s Handbook.
Poets' Cove #13
Where to Listen
Featured Episode
June 4, 2022
In this episode Daniel talks with international best selling fiction writer Mariana Enriquez. From Buenos Aires, Argentina, she writes what might best be described as literary horror stories, which are translated into multiple languages. She often takes us into dark and horrible spaces and situations, but she does it with a skillful narrative voice and compassion for her characters. They talk about her writing process, the difference between writing short stories and writing a novel, and the effect of psychogeography on how she travels and generates story ideas. They mostly speak of her collection of stories entitled, in English, The Dangers of Smoking in Bed, or Los peligros de fumar en la cama.
MARIANA ENRÍQUEZ
The Best of Words on a Wire
Ana Castillo
Daniel Chacón speaks with celebrated poet, essayist, editor, activist, novelist, and translator Ana Castillo, about her most recent poetry book, My Book of the Dead (University of New Mexico, Press, 2021).
Joy Harjo
A special episode of Words on a Wire where host Daniel Chacon interviews US Poet Laureate, Joy Harjo. Harjo is an internationally renowned performer and writer of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. She is serving her second term as the 23rd Poet Laureate of the United States.
Tracy K. Smith
Daniel talks with Pulitzer Prize-winning poet, Tracy K. Smith. She has written her first memoir, Ordinary Light, and she talks about why she waited many years to write about the death of her mother. She also explains why the memoir allowed her to explore the subject of race and to reflect on how her parents lived and coped in the segregated South.
Benjamin Alire Saenz
Benjamin Alire Sáenz visits us in Studio B to discuss his recent work. Dr. Sáenz taught as a professor in UTEP’s Creative Writing department for over twenty-three years before retiring to dedicate his time entirely to writing and there was so much to discuss, Dr. Sáenz is being featured in a special two-part edition of Words on a Wire.
Edward Hirsch
Edward Hirsch speaks with Words on a Wire about his latest book, A Poet’s Glossary, which is not so much a book of definitions as it is an exploration of the history of the terms and how those terms interrelate to each other. Hirsch explains why it took 15 years to compile the information for this book, and why he believes it can still be more expansive (it’s already over 700 pages long). We’ll learn about the terms “Duende,” “Flarf,” and “Spam Poetry.”
Juan Felipe Herrera
Juan Felipe Herrera previously served as the Poet Laureate of the United States. Before that he was Poet Laureate of California. And before that he was a Fresno poet who was inspiring the dreams and imaginations of thousands of children, their parents, and fellow poets. Herrera joins us again on WORDS ON A WIRE to talk about his Laureateship and how his life has changed (and how it hasn’t) since he was appointed Poet Laureate of the U.S. in 2015.
Words on a Wire and eRadical Books are based out of the El Paso, Texas / Ciudad Juárez, Mexico region, but proudly serve the greater literary community, across all borders.