Today, we’re bringing Hispanic Heritage month to a resounding close and celebrating Juan Felipe Herrera’s recent MacArthur Fellowship by revisiting my 2015 interview with the former U.S. Poet Laureate and two-time NEA Literature Fellow. In this podcast, Herrera reflects on his upbringing, his love for language, and how his mother’s storytelling shaped his own creative voice. He also shares how his poetry addresses displacement and global issues, using his book Senegal Taxi as an example of his willingness to explore stories from other parts of the world. Herrera talks about taking risks as a writer, and the importance of crossing borders, whether they be cultural, linguistic, or emotional.
Herrera also speaks about the universality of poetry and its ability to unite people through shared experiences. He describes his time as California’s Poet Laureate, where he launched community projects focused on inclusivity and uplifting diverse voices. Throughout the episode, Herrera offers insights into his creative process, including his playful use of language, his bilingual writing, and his commitment to making poetry accessible. This episode is a celebration of a poet who is always pushing the boundaries of form and subject while staying deeply connected to his cultural roots.