Summary4 min read

The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily

Episode 1502: On My History of Kissing Everyone At Parties by Isabelle Correa
Host: Maggie Smith
Date: April 27, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode of The Slowdown, host Maggie Smith reflects on the joys and intimacy of sharing art—be it poetry, music, or film—among friends and family. She introduces and reads the poem “On My History of Kissing Everyone At Parties” by Isabelle Correa, exploring the poem’s playful, human connections while highlighting how shared artistic moments can deepen bonds and understanding between people.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Power of Sharing Art

Significance of Artistic Introduction
Maggie Smith opens with a reflection on the special meaning that comes when someone you care about introduces you to art that matters to them—be it giving a beloved book, recommending a song, or sharing a poem.
- “It's something really special when someone you care about introduces you to the art that matters to them... It's wonderful to find art on your own, but I think it's even more meaningful when you find it thanks to someone else and you can share it.” (01:36)
Family Connections Through Art
Smith shares personal anecdotes about sharing nostalgic movies and music with her children, emphasizing the two-way enrichment as her kids grow old enough to introduce her to their favorite art forms.
- She playfully recounts, “I couldn't wait for them to be old enough to watch the Goonies and Ferris Bueller's Day off so I could share that experience with them.” (02:11)
- Smith’s daughter introduces her to new artists and even vets horror movies for her:
  “She also knows the kind of horror I can handle and the kind I can't because I'll have nightmares.” (02:36)

Art as a Window Into Others

Art Reveals Intimacies and Connections
Smith underscores how the art shared by friends and family not only broadens our tastes, but also reveals what moves and inspires them:
- “It's always fascinating to see what moves the people you care about, what resonates with them and inspires them.” (02:42)

The Poem: "On My History of Kissing Everyone At Parties"

Introduction and Context
Maggie Smith introduces the featured poem, noting it was shared with her by friend and playwright Moisés Kaufman (notable for “The Laramie Project”). She was struck by not just the words but Kaufman's joy in reading them:
- “Moises read this poem to me recently and it moved me so much. The words themselves and his face lighting up and the warmth in his voice as he was taking so much pleasure from each line.” (02:55)
Full Poem Recitation:
Smith then reads “On My History of Kissing Everyone At Parties.”
(03:10–04:15)

“In my defense, they told me I was pretty or listened to me talk, or shared a secret or were named James or Kate or Miguel, or had a mother they miss but gave up on, or they reached for my hand with guitar hands or garden hands or God hands, or danced with their hands on their knees in exhaustion because they are serious about pleasure and how much they love this song or pointed to the moon not delivering a line or a speech but a drawn out four letter word fuck or damn stop or look and I looked.”

Notable Quotes & Moments

On the Significance of Sharing Art

“I love when friends share songs and poems with me too, not only because it introduces me to new work, but because it helps me get to know them better.”
— Maggie Smith (02:26)
Poem’s Playfulness and Humanity
The poem itself, read in full by Smith, distills the fleeting, sweet, sometimes impulsive connections made in party settings, with each line laced with humor and tenderness:

“In my defense, they told me I was pretty or listened to me talk, or shared a secret or were named James or Kate or Miguel...”
On the Joy of Shared Discovery

“It's always fascinating to see what moves the people you care about, what resonates with them and inspires them.”
— Maggie Smith (02:42)

Timestamps for Key Segments

01:35–02:42 — Maggie Smith reflects on the meaning of sharing art with friends and family.
02:43–02:54 — Introduction to Moisés Kaufman and the poem’s personal recommendation.
03:10–04:15 — Full recitation of “On My History of Kissing Everyone At Parties” by Isabelle Correa.

Episode Tone & Style

Maggie Smith’s voice throughout is warm, reflective, and inviting, echoing the gentle and attentive ethos of The Slowdown. Her personal anecdotes provide authenticity, and her deep appreciation for the connective power of poetry is evident.

Final Reflection

This episode invites listeners to consider the profound intimacy in the arts we share and receive, suggesting that poetry—and by extension, all forms of art—can be both a gift and a mirror in our most important relationships. The featured poem, delivered with affection, captures the poignancy and playfulness of human connection at its most spontaneous.

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Transcript5 lines

[00:01]
A
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[00:26]
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[00:32]
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[01:08]
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[01:35]
B
I'm Maggie Smith, and this is the Slow down. It's something really special when someone you care about introduces you to the art that matters to them. When a friend recommends a book to you or gives you a copy as a gift. When a coworker tells you about a movie they loved or an exhibition they recently saw at a museum. When your partner or your child shares a new song or a record with you and you get to listen to it together and hear them hum or sing along. It's wonderful to find art on your own, but I think it's even more meaningful when you find it thanks to someone else and you can share it. I love introducing my kids to the music, movies, and books that mean a lot to me. I couldn't wait for them to be old enough to watch the Goonies and Ferris Bueller's Day off so I could share that experience with them. I've been sharing my favorite children's books and records with them since they were babies, too. Now they're old enough to introduce me to the art that moves them. My daughter introduced me to Bad Bunny and the Marias. She shares my love of horror movies and now she sometimes watches them first and tells me if I should see them or skip them. She also knows the kind of horror I can handle and the kind I can't because I'll have nightmares. I love when friends share songs and poems with me too, not only because it introduces me to new work, but because it helps me get to know them better. It's always fascinating to see what moves the people you care about, what resonates with them and inspires them. Today's poem was introduced to me by a friend of mine, the playwright and director Moises Kaufman. If you've seen or read the Laramie Project or Gross the Three Trials of Oscar Wilde, you know his work. Moises read this poem to me recently and it moved me so much. The words themselves and his face lighting up and the warmth in his voice as he was taking so much pleasure from each line On My History of Kissing Everyone at Parties by Isabel Correa in my defense, they told me I was pretty or listened to me talk, or shared a secret or were named James or Kate or Miguel, or had a mother they miss but gave up on, or they reached for my hand with guitar hands or garden hands or God hands, or danced with their hands on their knees in exhaustion because they are serious about pleasure and how much they love this song or pointed to the moon not delivering a line or a speech but a drawn out four letter word fuck or damn stop or look and I looked. The Slowdown is the production of American Public Media in partnership with the Poetry Foundation. To get a poem delivered to you daily, go to slowdownshow.org and sign up for our newsletter. Find us on Instagram, LodownShow and Bluesky. Slowdownshow.org. Hey, it's Maggie. We're asking you, our community of listeners, to help us select poems to share on the show and when you send in your own selection, we'll send you a special Slowdown postcard and sticker as a thank you. Go to slowdownshow.org community or find us on social media to learn more.