Welcome to a new edition of the Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino series. On this episode, we talk with Springfield, Missouri-based poet and teacher Loren Broaddus about his 2026 poetry collection, Wasn’t Any Maybe So: Poems from the Life of Newt Allen, and his lifelong love of baseball, teaching, and writing.
Newt Allen was a star second baseman for the legendary Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro Leagues. In this remarkable collection, Loren brings Allen's voice to life through poetry, exploring a world shaped by discrimination and Jim Crow while also capturing its vibrant culture, humanity, and rich experiences.
As Loren describes it, Newt Allen seemed to be tapping him on the shoulder for years, calling him to write not a history or biography, but a book of poems in his voice—a creative approach that gives Allen the freedom to tell his story in a deeply personal way.
We also explore Loren's journey as a writer and educator, his debut poetry collection, Joe DiMaggio Moves Like Liquid Light, published in 2019, and the everyday moments that have inspired his work over the years. From poems written on scrap paper and the backs of hall passes to the influence of his former Drury University English professor, Jo Van Arkel, Loren shares the experiences that shaped his creative life.
With academic backgrounds in history and education, Loren brings a distinctive perspective to baseball history, poetry, and the stories that connect generations.
If you're passionate about the Negro Leagues, Kansas City Monarchs history, baseball legends, American poetry, and the power of storytelling, this is an interview you won't want to miss.
MORE LOREN BROADDUS & HIS NEW BOOK
Website: https://www.lorenbroaddus.com/
Wasn’t Any Maybe So: Poems from the Life of Newt Allen:
https://406press.com/product/wasnt-any-maybe-so/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loren.broaddus/
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