The Atlas Obscura Podcast 1000 Places with Caroline Mazel-Carlton
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Jan 12, 2026 In this engaging conversation, Caroline Mazel-Carlton, a visitor and advocate with a remarkable journey of discovering over 1,000 Atlas Obscura places, shares how travel has been a lifeline during her struggles with suicidal thoughts. She recounts her early explorations starting with the eerie Lizzie Borden house and discusses how her family's adventurous spirit shaped her travels. Caroline connects her passion for unique sites to her work in suicide prevention, inspiring others through her compelling blend of storytelling and peer support.
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Romantic Weekend At Lizzie Borden's House
- Caroline booked a romantic weekend at the Lizzie Borden house turned B&B and enjoyed its Victorian oddities.
- She and her husband posed with a dummy of Andrew Borden's corpse in a memorable photo they considered for their save-the-date.
Family Trips Sparked Her Obscura Obsession
- Caroline's dad embraced unusual history and took her to graveyards and odd museums, shaping her curiosity.
- Early family trips included caving and a memorial for Floyd Collins, fostering her taste for the strange.
A Goal Can Change The Desire To Die
- Caroline reframed suicidal thoughts as a desire for transformation, not literal death.
- She used a goal—visit 1,000 Atlas Obscura places—to give herself reasons to keep living.
