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The Atlas Obscura Podcast

Author: SiriusXM and Atlas Obscura

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An audio guide to the world’s strange, incredible, and wondrous places. Co-founder Dylan Thuras and a neighborhood of Atlas Obscura reporters explore a new wonder every day, Monday through Thursday. In under 15 minutes, they’ll take you to an incredible place, and along the way, you’ll meet some fascinating people and hear their stories. Our theme and end credit music is composed by Sam Tyndall.
951 Episodes
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A small bit of news, and a request. To ask Dylan your question, send an email or voice memo to hello@atlasobscura.com. Or, give us a call at 315-992-7902 and leave a message.
A map in the archives of the Oregon Historical Society Research Library in Portland, OR may be the key to finding buried treasure that has yet to be found. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/buried-treasure-portland-oregon
Today, we’re sharing an episode from our friends at Terrestrials, a Radiolab spinoff show for families that explores strangeness on Earth. In this episode, host Lulu Miller visits some of our planet’s most magical tree stumps – which are anything but dead.   Plus: Cast your vote in Radiolab’s quasi-moon naming contest! Voting is open until January 1.
Writer and friend of the show Colin Dickey tries to destroy Dylan’s holiday cheer with arguments about why Christmas is actually full of monsters from around the world. (Just a note for parents listening with little ones, Dylan and Colin talk frankly about Santa and his surrounding lore.)  Check out Colin’s Atlas Obscura column, Eerie Feeling. 
Art We Love to Hate

Art We Love to Hate

2024-12-1716:431

Places editors Michelle Cassidy and Diana Hubbell take us on a tour of two mildly disturbing yet lovable works of art.  Plus: If you have a piece of public art that you love to hate – or if you’ve created a work of public art that’s caused a stir – we want to hear from you. Give us a call at 315-992-7902 and leave a message telling us your name and story. You can also record a voice memo and email it to us at hello@atlasobscura.com.
Dylans answers a slew of questions from staff and listeners.Plus: Do you have a question for Dylan? Send us an email or voice memo to hello@atlasobscura.com. Dylan may answer your question in an upcoming episode!
Our first international trips can be hugely influential. We want to hear your stories about leaving your home country for the first time. Where did you go?  How did you prepare? What memories do you have from the trip? Maybe you loved it… or maybe you hated it! Either way, we want to hear about it. And if you are about to take your first trip this coming year, we want to know how you’re feeling leading up to it. Give us a call at 315-992-7902 and leave us a message, or better yet, record a voice memo and email it to us at hello@atlasobscura.com
Larry Spring’s Museum of Common Sense Physics in Fort Bragg, California begs the question: What do you do with a science museum where the science preserved inside is a kind of folk art?READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/larry-spring-school-common-sense-physics
The Witch’s Gear

The Witch’s Gear

2024-12-1225:471

As the winter solstice and Yule are upon us, we are celebrating these Pagan holidays by talking about the iconic image of the witch, with Pam Grossman -- friend of the show, curator, writer and host of the podcast The Witch Wave.
Palace of Depression

Palace of Depression

2024-12-1112:322

How one man made someone else's trash into his own treasure ... and how it became a storied part of a New Jersey town. 
Every year, hundreds of boats circle the waterways of the eastern United States on The Great Loop. But Mike Straub took a different approach, riding over 6,000 miles alone on a JetSki.Check out Mike’s YouTube channel and his book, Y WAIT: Experience America's Great Loop.
Hello, Stranger

Hello, Stranger

2024-12-0914:431

Listeners share stories of memorable encounters with strangers – for better or for worse.Plus: We want to hear your stories about your first international trip. Give us a call at 315-992-7902 and leave us a message telling us about the first time you traveled abroad. Or better yet, record a voice memo and email it to us at hello@atlasobscura.com.
This week, we’re presenting Sound Influence: The Art and Soul of Puerto Rico. Rising singer-songwriter Andrea Cruz shares how she fell in love with folk music as a young girl in Aibonito. We hear about how the plants, birds and animals of Puerto Rico have shaped the fabric of her work, and the profound ways in which her art connects her to the island she calls home. Hollywood film director Miguel Arteta recalls his colorful childhood in Río Piedras, shares the Puerto Rican role model who inspired him to pursue a creative career, and teases his upcoming project, which is set on the island of birth.Subscribe to Sound Influence: The Art and Soul of Puerto Rico wherever you get your podcasts.
This week, we’re presenting Sound Influence: The Art and Soul of Puerto Rico.   Oscar-nominated screenwriter and playwright José Rivera shares with us his rich memories, both old and new, of his time in Puerto Rico: of spiders, thunderstorms and a deep sense of community in his childhood town of Espino. We hear about the joy of watching one of his plays performed in Santurce alongside the family members who inspired it, and how the island has been a constant source of inspiration that has enriched so much of his work.  Subscribe to Sound Influence: The Art and Soul of Puerto Rico wherever you get your podcasts. 
Many people moved to Granbury, Texas for the peace and quiet. Then, a noisy neighbor moved in – and strange things began happening in town.  Read Andrew’s original reporting about the bitcoin mine and Granbury, Texas. 
The Ether Dome

The Ether Dome

2024-12-0320:551

The Ether Dome in Boston was once filled with the screams of patients undergoing painful surgeries. In 1846, everything changed with the first successful use of anesthesia, transforming medicine forever. Dylan explores the room where pain-free surgery began. The Ether Dome is part of the Innovation Trail, which highlights four centuries of world-changing breakthroughs from Boston.  
Little Caughnawaga

Little Caughnawaga

2024-12-0216:001

Mohawk ironworkers built many of New York City’s iconic skyscrapers. But simultaneously, they were also building a lesser known neighborhood of their own in downtown Brooklyn – one that would become home to hundreds of Mohawk families.    Learn more about Reaghan Tarbell’s documentary, Little Caughnawaga: To Brooklyn and Back. 
This week and next, we’re presenting Sound Influence: The Art and Soul of Puerto Rico. The Río Piedras-based comedy band Los Rivera Destino talk about their musical childhoods, how making a music video in Bayamón changed their lives and careers forever, and the extremely unlikely place that has become their source of inspiration. Award-winning author Jaquira Díaz shares how salsa, bacalaítos and coquís defined her time growing up in the east coast towns of Humacoa and Fajardo. We also hear the wild story her grandmother told about aliens in El Yunque, and Jaquira describes the incredible sense of adventure she feels every time she explores the island.Subscribe to Sound Influence: The Art and Soul of Puerto Rico wherever you get your podcasts.
Today and tomorrow, we’re presenting Sound Influence: The Art and Soul of Puerto Rico.  Legendary actress, singer, dancer and EGOT winner Rita Moreno shares memories of sugar cane, coquís and parrandas during her idyllic childhood in Humacao and Juncos. We hear about her recent trips back with Lin-Manuel Miranda, and how she almost turned down West Side Story because of her loyalty to the island. Dub star innovator Pachy García (aka Pachyman) opens up about growing up in Guaynabo’s vibrant reggae scene, the integral role Puerto Rico plays in his music now that he lives in Los Angeles, and the “unmistakable breeze” that greets him every time he comes back home to the island.Subscribe to Sound Influence: The Art and Soul of Puerto Rico wherever you get your podcasts.
Riding with Dilla

Riding with Dilla

2024-11-2716:311

Producer Gabby Gladney sees her South Side Chicago neighborhood in a new light thanks to Mahogany Bus Tours, a local company sharing hidden histories around the city.Read a profile of Dilla, and check out his TikTok.
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Comments (30)

Jejj

WOW, I didn't realize Rita Moreno is about to turn 93 next month, she sounds as vibrant as ever!

Nov 29th
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Jejj

🌲

Oct 9th
Reply

Jejj

🎃🔮🕷️🕸️

Oct 6th
Reply

Pætrïck Lėő Dåvīd

mackenzie BC has the world's largest Tree Crusher. look it up. road is paved. lots of vacancies. bring your fishing rod.

Sep 27th
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Jejj

Love this concept, but all the submissions sound like the audio is off, which was sadly distracting from the content. 🙁

Sep 19th
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Jejj

I've loved this series, and today's essays transported me to two entirely different places. I'm always astounded by how satisfying the art of vicarious travel can be when there just isn't a way to be there yourself. 🧠✈️

Aug 28th
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Jejj

The world is amazing, so much to discover. I'd never heard of Centralia before today!

Aug 19th
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Jejj

How wholesome, free potatoes for all!

Aug 12th
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Pætrïck Lėő Dåvīd

excellent episode. we'll worth waking up to. Northern BC here. No one wants to come see the world's largest tree crusher built in Longview Texas and trucked up here in 1966 and now sitting as municipal lawn furniture. I see an Atlas Obscura episode in this one. we got some Magenta Kush up here too.

Apr 11th
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Pætrïck Lėő Dåvīd

very moving episode. I am not sad the rain and snow showed up where I am 55n 124w because we need to keep the fires to a minimum.

Apr 9th
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Lori C.

interesting to hear these findings. I've listened to a fair number of other podcasts, not mentioning these theories about Dyatlov (these make sense to me, at least).

Nov 26th
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MaPepa

"she ans her husband" not "her and her husband"...

Oct 9th
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Maria Cangi

It wouldn't have taken a lot of research to find out how to correctly pronounce the name of the building the episode is about. I'm Italian and the mispronunciation annoyed me so much I had to stop listening. You can do better!

Aug 30th
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Goeden Dale

So Kool and relaxxing

Jun 14th
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Ken Kavanaugh

holy shit until Bob started talking I thought live clowns inhabited the motel

Mar 25th
Reply

MaPepa

is this taken from Radio Ambulante's report? https://radioambulante.org/audio/los-gigantes-del-lago-hipopotamos-colombia

Nov 3rd
Reply

ncooty

So the email address is hullo@atlasobscura.com?

Oct 21st
Reply

ncooty

@10:46 & 11:06: Cavalry, not Calvary.

Oct 21st
Reply

MaPepa

"normal" people"... as well-intentioned as this comment may have been, normalcy is a concept full of assumptions, more so when thinking creating a space such as Libre is even possible for the "average Joe".

Sep 23rd
Reply

Steve Murray

Really like Atlas Obscura. Enjoy most episodes. What I don't like is Yohana Mayer narration. The text is good but the drop voice and rappyness at the end of every sentence. When she speaks with someone during an interview , her voice is pleasing and without the rasp and fall off. I will continue listening but not her broadcasts.

Sep 6th
Reply