109. The Journey of a Poet

About this episode

Eleni Sikelianos discusses her unconventional journey to poetry and the various influences on her writing.

New MindfulU Podcast episode: The Journey of a Poet with poet, Naropa Summer Writing Program faculty, and Brown University professor Eleni Sikelianos. In this episode, Eleni shares the unconventional path that led her to a life of poetry—from hitchhiking around the world to synchronistic events that brought her to Naropa for an MFA. She reflects on how her writing has transformed over the years, the beauty and importance of ecopoetics, the practice of deep listening, her thoughts on AI, and the many unexpected places she draws inspiration from. Special Guest: Eleni Sikelianos. Support Mindful U at Naropa University

People in this episode

Guest: Eleni Sikelianos

Topics covered

• poetry
• ecopoetics
• deep listening
• AI
• inspiration

Keywords

• Naropa Summer Writing Program
• MFA
• hitchhiking
• synchronistic events

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: The Journey of a Poet

Places: Naropa

More episodes of Mindful U at Naropa University

• 113. The Science of Psychology: Mind, Perception, and Consciousness · April 23, 2026 · 50 min
• 112. The Art of Truly Listening: Spiritual Care for a World in Transition · February 17, 2026 · 55 min
• 111. The Power of the Body: A Look at Somatic Counseling and Dance/Movement Therapy · November 20, 2025 · 49 min
• 110. Art Therapy: Healing the Inner Landscape · July 22, 2025 · 1h 5m
• 108. The Path and Craft of Fiction Writing · May 1, 2025 · 53 min
• 107. A Look at Career & Life · March 3, 2025 · 45 min