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 6, 2024 • 59sec
We Want to Hear Your Unusual Road Trip Stories
Listeners are invited to share their unusual road trip stories, whether it's a unique destination, a strange memory, or a surprising place. The host eagerly awaits submissions with contact details provided.
Jul 5, 2024 • 15min
House the Giants Built (Classic)
Discover the intriguing life of Anna Swan, a woman of extraordinary height, and her specially built house in Seville, Ohio. From her humble beginnings in Nova Scotia to her unique living arrangements, learn about her encounter with P.T. Barnum and her grand wedding in London. Explore the sanctuary she created with oversized furniture and special features like stilts for playing the piano.
Jul 4, 2024 • 28min
Double Header for the Fourth
Learn about a Revolutionary patriot, an enslaved woman who sued her owner, and Navajo code talkers who developed an unbreakable code during WWII, all in unlikely locations like a Colonial home museum and a Burger King in Arizona.
Jul 3, 2024 • 13min
The Big Duck
Explore the unique history of a duck-shaped architectural landmark, inspired by a coffee pot building, that became a symbol of duck farming and influenced buildings globally. Learn about the rise of duck farming, the success of a duck stand, and the community's efforts to preserve the iconic Big Duck house in Long Island.
Jul 2, 2024 • 16min
New York City’s Black Oyster King
Thomas Downing, who arguably invented fine dining in New York City, had a secret going on underneath the floor of his popular oyster house. Writer Briona Lamback tells us the story. If you want to read the full article, check out the link here. And if you’re looking for an oyster experience, Briona recommends Brooklyn-based The Real Mother Shucker, the city’s only oyster cart.
Jul 1, 2024 • 15min
The Gilbert Baker Mural
Gilbert Baker’s pride flag design is now a worldwide symbol for LGBT freedom and liberation. Now, his former stomping grounds remember his efforts with a beautiful mural. But there’s more to this pride-filled house than meets the eye. SEE the mural for yourself here and learn more about the artist here.
Jun 28, 2024 • 14min
Jadeite Cabbage (Classic)
This tiny stone cabbage has a big backstory stretching from the rich, treasure-laden halls of Beijing’s Forbidden City...through a harrowing wartime escape...to its prized place at the National palace museum in Taipei, Taiwan.READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/jade-cabbage
Jun 27, 2024 • 29min
Roop Kund
Author Doug Preston brings us back into the world of his latest book, The Lost Tomb, with a story of a remote lake in the Himalayas where hundreds of human skeletons were discovered – puzzling scientists and researchers for years.
Jun 26, 2024 • 15min
The Glove Museum
Explore the history of glove making and the meticulously recreated 19th century Glove Museum in New York. Learn about the immigrant influence on glove industry growth and decline. Follow the journey of a child who found success in making gloves at a young age. Discover the passion of Canadian glove maker Daniel and his museum showcasing vintage gloves.
Jun 25, 2024 • 16min
Grizzly Adams: America’s Mythic Mountain Man
In the 1850s, one anonymous Massachusetts shoemaker became a national celebrity – all by exhibiting his “family” of captured grizzly bears.
