Richard Blanco: podcast appearances and interviews

Richard Blanco is an American poet, public speaker, author, playwright, and civil engineer. He is notably recognized as the fifth poet to read at a United States presidential inauguration, having delivered the poem 'One Today' at Barack Obama's second inauguration. Blanco's participation was historic as he was the first immigrant, first Latino, first openly gay individual, and at the time the youngest person to serve as the U.S. inaugural poet. His contributions to literature have been acknowledged with numerous awards, including the National Humanities Medal awarded by President Biden from the National Endowment for the Humanities in 2022.

Blanco has published several books of poetry and memoirs. His works include 'Homeland of My Body: New and Selected Poems,' 'How to Love a Country,' 'City of a Hundred Fires,' which received the Agnes Starrett Poetry Prize, and 'Directions to The Beach of the Dead,' recipient of the Beyond Margins Award. Other notable titles are 'Looking for The Gulf Motel,' which earned the Paterson Poetry Prize and the Thom Gunn Award, as well as memoirs such as 'For All of Us, One Today: An Inaugural Poet's Journey' and 'The Prince of Los Cocuyos: A Miami Childhood.' The latter won the Lambda Literary Prize.

In addition to his writing, Blanco has collaborated with various artists, including Caldecott Medal winner Dav Pilkey on a children's book, and photographer Jacob Hessler on a limited edition poetry book. He has also worked with artist John Bailey on ekphrastic paintings and with Ramiro A. Fernandez on a photography book. Blanco has served as a professor at multiple institutions including Georgetown University, American University, Colby College, and Florida International University, where he currently teaches. His efforts aim to demystify poetry across all ages and settings, serving as the first Education Ambassador for the Academy of American Poets.