I met my friend Paul Juhasz a few years ago through the Woody Guthrie Poets group. He served three years as the group’s curator, repeatedly surprising me by choosing to include my work, arguing with me when I would claim that I’m not a poet.
Paul is also an English professor in Oklahoma City and a traveler. Being social media friends, I noticed he’d vanish at the beginning of summer on what I correctly assumed were epic treks. This year, though, for over three weeks, he posted mind-blowing photos he was taking all over the wilds of the western U.S.
In the hustle of Woody Poets weekend two weeks ago, I nabbed him for a second and told him I wanted to hear about his travels when I returned to Oklahoma in two weeks.
This Sunday, I happily returned to Oklahoma City for an afternoon in the Wheeler District (no relation), a Truman Show-esque new development with a bustling outpost of Clarity Coffee, to visit with Paul. Over coffee, we talked about his trips, which originated from a dark place (CW: We talk about suicide and there’s some gallows humor.), and how they impact his mental headspace and his work as a poet.
You can buy Paul’s books on bookshop.org, which works with indie bookshops instead of that guy with the rockets.
Also, I have to note that I’m incredibly loud while Paul is very soft-spoken. I apologize if I hurt your ears. Maybe it’s time to buy a mic.
Buy Paul a coffee! If you contribute via Buy Me a Coffee and note that it’s from this episode, I’ll pass the cash on to Paul.
