
About this episode
This episode explores themes of memorization, persistence, and meaning making through the lens of a poem about turtles.
This is not just about turtles, it's about memorization, persistence and meaning making. Also, here's the poem Turtle, by Kay Ryan Who would be a turtle who could help it? A barely mobile hard roll, a four-oared helmet, she can ill afford the chances she must take in rowing toward the grasses that she eats. Her track is graceless, like dragging a packing-case places, and almost any slope defeats her modest hopes. Even being practical, she's often stuck up to the axle on her way to something edible. With everything optimal, she skirts the ditch which would convert her shell into a serving dish. She lives below luck-level, never imagining some lottery will change her load of pottery to wings. Her only levity is patience, the sport of truly chastened things.
People in this episode
Host: Ryan Millar
Topics covered
- memorization
- persistence
- meaning making
- poetry
- turtles
Keywords
- turtles
- memorization
- persistence
- Kay Ryan
- poetry
Mentioned in this episode
Books & works: Turtle
More episodes of Remote Pep Talks with Ryan Millar
- Eight Buffalo · June 8, 2026 · 16 min
- Space Race Quest · January 22, 2026 · 11 min
- Setting Sail · August 27, 2025 · 10 min
- Imposter Syndrome (Reissue) · July 27, 2025 · 18 min
- Three Things · November 18, 2024 · 8 min
- Finish that thing (Iets bijzonder) · September 26, 2024 · 17 min
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Remote Pep Talks with Ryan Millar podcast page.