Podcast Summary: The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily

Episode 1462: Perspective, Coyoacán by Corey Van Landingham
Host: Maggie Smith
Date: February 23, 2026

Episode Overview

In this reflective episode, host Maggie Smith uses poetry as a lens to meditate on the life and legacy of Frida Kahlo—her pain, resilience, and artistry. Through an introduction to Kahlo’s biography, Smith sets the stage for an ekphrastic poem by Corey Van Landingham, “Perspective, Coyoacán,” guiding listeners to consider the intersection of self-portraiture, identity, and survival. The episode fosters connection to art, empathy, and the hope that poetry can bring.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Frida Kahlo’s Life and Artistry

• Setting the Scene: Maggie Smith introduces Frida Kahlo, not only as a renowned artist but as a remarkable person who “lived with illness and injury for most of her life.” (01:00)
  • Highlights Kahlo’s childhood illness: “Frida contracted polio when she was six years old, and even after she recovered, she walked with a limp.” (01:14)
  • Context of her accident: “When she was 18, an injury from a bus and streetcar collision fractured Frida's spine and pelvis. She wore a full body cast for three months and endured dozens of operations.” (01:26)
• Origins of Self-Portraiture: During her recovery, encouraged by her parents, Frida began painting from her bed—a practice that contributed to the emotional intensity and introspective nature of her work.
  • “They had a special easel made for her so she could paint while lying in bed.” (01:40)
• Themes in Kahlo’s Art: Smith points to the recurring motif of pain in Kahlo’s paintings, mentioning works like Without Hope, The Broken Column, and The Wounded Deer, which reflect both her physical and emotional suffering.
• La Casa Azul: “La Casa Azul is now a museum in Coyoacán where admirers of her work can go and see it for themselves. I'd love to visit it someday.” (02:02)

Ekphrastic Poetry & Introduction to the Poem

• Ekphrasis Defined: Smith introduces the concept as a poem inspired by a piece of art, aligning the practice of painting with the writing of poetry—creating bridges between mediums and introspection.
  • Noting how Frida’s reflection about painting herself transcends to any act of self-representation: “It strikes me now, reading that line of hers, that while she's talking about painting herself, it can also refer to writing about oneself.” (02:14)

Featured Poem: “Perspective, Coyoacán” by Corey Van Landingham

• Epigraph & Connection: The poem opens with a direct quote from Frida Kahlo:
  • “I paint myself because I am often alone and I am the subject I know best.” (02:20)
• Poetic Imagery & Themes:
  • The poem imagines Frida as “cathedral large,” stepping out of “frame, out of time, the bed,” suggesting liberation from pain and confinement.
  • Vivid language describes Frida moving through the landscape of Coyoacán—“past the bent waste jacarandas, November bloomless, barred windows, shuttered doors…”—blending the physical and emotional environment.
  • The streetcar accident is evoked metaphorically: “And the streetcar at first full speed its rails trace the border she paints, passes through her almost.”
  • The poem concludes with an image of assertion and agency: “She is turning her back to all of that…the poor furiato…her room like a lung. No look, she is turning toward.” (03:15)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Frida’s Artistic Motivation:
  • “I paint myself because I am often alone and I am the subject I know best.” – Frida Kahlo (quoted as epigraph, 02:20)
• Maggie Smith on Self-Reflection in Writing and Art:
  • “It strikes me now, reading that line of hers, that while she's talking about painting herself, it can also refer to writing about oneself.” (02:14)
• On Frida’s Recovery and Family Support:
  • “They had a special easel made for her so she could paint while lying in bed.” (01:40)
• Closing Poetic Insight:
  • “No look, she is turning toward.” – Corey Van Landingham, closing line (03:20)

Important Timestamps

• 00:59 – Maggie Smith begins the main episode and introduces Frida Kahlo.
• 01:26 – Details about Kahlo’s accident and its impact.
• 02:02 – Information about La Casa Azul and its current status as a museum.
• 02:14 – Transition to the poem and ekphrastic poetry.
• 02:20 – The poem “Perspective, Coyoacán” is read, beginning with the Frida Kahlo epigraph.
• 03:20 – The poem closes on a note of transformation and resilience.

Tone & Language

Maggie Smith’s tone is empathetic, contemplative, and reverent—balancing factual storytelling with poetic insight. She draws parallels between the act of self-painting and self-writing, gently inviting listeners into quiet reflection. The poem itself is vivid, impressionistic, and grounded in sensory detail, echoing the visual impact of Kahlo’s art.

Takeaway

This episode exemplifies The Slowdown’s mission of connecting listeners to art’s power to foster empathy, wonder, and hope. Through Maggie Smith’s meditative narration and Corey Van Landingham’s evocative poem, listeners are urged to reflect not just on Kahlo’s pain, but also on the creative courage to turn toward life.