The Atlas Obscura Podcast My Life in Three Places: Kelly McEvers
Jan 14, 2026
Kelly McEvers shares how her early adventures ignited her wanderlust, starting with a memorable flight and a solar eclipse in Berkeley. She reflects on deep connections made in Cambodia, particularly with a former child soldier, emphasizing the importance of listening. Her post-9/11 experience in Saudi Arabia reveals cultural challenges while donning an abaya. Finally, breathtaking hikes to Madain Saleh and the 'edge of the world' showcase the dramatic beauty of her travels, leaving listeners with vivid imagery and personal insights.
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Small Town Sparked A Big Restlessness
- Growing up without travel made Kelly yearn to leave and explore the wider world.
- That limited early world became the motivating force behind her career as a foreign correspondent.
First Flight, First Eclipse
- Kelly McEvers remembers seeing a partial solar eclipse during her first flight to Berkeley at age eight.
- That moment opened her eyes to a world beyond her small Illinois hometown and sparked lifelong curiosity.
Crab Shack Lessons In Cambodia
- In Cambodia Kelly lived in Phnom Penh, befriended a former Khmer Rouge child soldier, and returned often to a crab shack in Kep.
- Sitting at that table taught her to listen and made her reporting about others, not herself.