The Atlas Obscura Podcast
SiriusXM and Atlas Obscura
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jul 19, 2024 • 13min
Discovery Hut (Classic)
Atlas Obscura's Gemma Tarlach shares what it's like to step inside a relic from the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration, and to find traces of a famous lost party of explorers.READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/discovery-hut
Jul 18, 2024 • 22min
Hunting for Meteorites with Steve Arnold
Veteran meteorite hunter Steve Arnold discusses the exciting pursuit of hunting meteorites, recounting his experiences from the TV show Meteorite Men. The podcast explores the challenges, competition, and financial rewards of meteorite hunting, highlighting the significance of prompt study for scientific research.
Jul 17, 2024 • 17min
This 80s Icon Has A Shrine In A Berlin Hostel
Iconic 80s figure David Hasselhoff has a shrine in a Berlin hostel. Discover the unexpected connection between Hasselhoff and Germany through artifacts. Explore the rise of Hasselhoff as a singer and symbol of German reunification.
Jul 16, 2024 • 18min
My Life in Three Places: Dylan Thuras
Join explorer and co-founder, Dylan Thuras, as he shares how the Corn Palace, House on the Rock, and Gold Medal Flour have shaped his life. From childhood road trips to transformative experiences in Budapest, explore the impact of unique destinations on his passion for discovery.
Jul 15, 2024 • 15min
Mother Jones and the Battle of Blair Mountain
How a woman in her 70s inspired some of the biggest labor uprisings in American history.
Jul 12, 2024 • 10min
Pigeon Towers of Iran (Classic)
This elaborate architecture throughout Iran served a very unique purpose - gathering pigeon guano. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/pigeon-towers-iran
Jul 11, 2024 • 23min
Getting Lost with Susan Orlean
Travel writer Susan Orlean is an admitted terrible tourist. But she’s an expert at getting lost – with a purpose. Today, she takes us to some of the places that have shaped her life. And she talks about throwing out the guidebook – opening herself up to these experiences – and the art of getting lost.
Jul 10, 2024 • 21min
A Walk Through Sandwich History with Barry Enderwick
Barry Enderwick has made and tasted more than 1000 sandwiches from across history. Today, he and Dylan make – and eat three sandwiches that each tell us something about history, culture, and ourselves. Pre-order Barry’s book, Sandwiches of History: The Cookbook, today! We also have a new book coming Pre-order a copy of Wild Life today!
Jul 9, 2024 • 15min
The Mysterious Origins of Virginia’s Swimming Ponies
For one day every July, the Assateague Channel on Virginia’s marshy eastern shore is filled with the bobbing heads of swimming ponies. These feral horses are celebrities in the area, but nobody actually knows exactly how they got there. Atlas Obscura senior editor Gemma Tarlach tells us the story and wrote about it here.
Jul 8, 2024 • 18min
How Caribou Gave Us a Peek at Life 9,000 Years Ago
Discover how researchers used sonar technology to uncover a 9,000-year-old caribou hunting site under Lake Huron. Learn about the challenges faced in underwater archaeology and how AI caribou helped uncover prehistoric structures. Dive into a virtual reality simulation of the ancient landscape and explore unique attractions in Missouri.
