About this episode

David Whyte discusses the transformative power of poetry and personal experiences that shaped his understanding of it.

Acclaimed poet and philosopher David Whyte has come to believe a single line of poetry is enough to change your life. David grew up amongst the moors and fields of West Yorkshire, with an English father and an Irish mother who had a gift for lyricism and language. He started writing poems at just seven years old, but it wasn't until he was working as a guide in the Galapagos Islands that David truly understood what poetry was and what it could do for us. A near-death experience there prepared him for life as a poet by teaching him to pay attention to what lay right in front of him at any given time. For David, the power of poetry lies in its unmatched ability to meditate and focus on what's right in front of us, whether it's a mountain, a loved one, or our own reflection. First broadcast in 2025 Further information David's latest collection of poems and essays is Consolations II, published by Canongate. This episode of Conversations was produced by Meggie Morris, the Executive Producer was Carmel Rooney. It explores, poetry, poems, near death experiences, mothers, sons, family, Ireland, meditation, Zen, love, heartbreak, anxiety, time, happiness, the Galapagos Islands, family…

People in this episode

Hosts: Richard Fidler, Sarah Kanowski

Guest: David Whyte

Topics covered

• poetry
• near death experiences
• family
• meditation
• spirituality
• language

Keywords

• poetry
• meditation
• near death experience
• family
• spirituality
• language
• happiness
• grief

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: ABC Australia

Books & works: Consolations II

Places: Galapagos Islands, Ireland, England

More episodes of Conversations

• Louise Adler on why she questions everything · September 8, 2026 · 48 min
• Black ops and human shields—the secrets on board Flight 149 · September 6, 2026 · 52 min
• From the Nazis to the Stasi, how ordinary citizens live through extraordinary times · September 3, 2026 · 55 min
• Encore: The family secret which inspired 'The Teacher's Pet' · September 2, 2026 · 51 min
• Loving my dad, who has younger-onset Alzheimer's · September 1, 2026 · 46 min
• Encore: An infamous WWII prison and the soldiers who tried to escape · August 31, 2026 · 51 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Conversations podcast page.