The Atlas Obscura Podcast

Discover the inspiring journey of Chef Hamissi Mamba, a Burundian refugee who transforms his passion for cooking into a community-centered restaurant in Detroit. The vibrant space of Baobab Fare celebrates East African cuisine, blending rich cultural elements with local flavors. Explore the significance of the baobab tree as a symbol of resilience and community. Hear how Hamissi and Nadia Mamba navigate their past while creating opportunities for mothers and children, enriching both their heritage and the culinary landscape.

A couple years ago, Josh Foer, the co-founder of Atlas Obscura, took us to a remote patch of land in the Arizona desert, where he built (and later rebuilt) a museum in honor of the company’s former CEO, David Plotz. And just a few weeks ago, this patch of land appeared on a reality TV show. In a strange collision, Dylan talks with one of the stars of TLC’s Sister Wives about her own experience at the Plotz Plot.  Learn more about Wow in the World family tours. 

Dylan and producers Amanda and Johanna take your questions. Have a question for Dylan? Give us a call at 315-992-7902 and leave a message. You can also record a voice memo and email it to us at Hello@AtlasObscura.com, or simply send your question via email. 

The pools at Cuatro Ciénegas Basin are a portal into the ancient past – and they may soon disappear. 

Discover the enchanting world of Australian lyrebirds as they mimic human songs from the 1920s. Researchers unravel the mystery behind their extraordinary abilities, blending folklore with genuine scientific inquiry. This exploration highlights the intersection of nature and music while addressing the importance of early colon cancer detection. Dive into the captivating mimicry of superb lyrebirds and uncover why these feathered performers remain a subject of fascination among scientists and bird enthusiasts alike.

We get up close and nosey about a peculiar exhibit in Copenhagen that reveals a lot about what artists and society considered beautiful throughout the years | READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/nasothek-nose-collection

Host, reporter, and podcaster Sam Sanders talks with Dylan about the places that have shaped his life – from when he was a kid in a small town in Texas secretively listening to Stevie Wonder in the bathroom, to running along the Charles River, to exploring Joshua Tree National Park with Zora Neale Hurston (kind of).Check out Sam’s podcasts Vibe Check and the The Sam Sanders Show.

On May 7, 1902, a man named Ludger Sylbaris was thrown in jail – and it saved his life.     

Every year, a number of snowy owls (aka Arctic owls) find their way to an unlikely haven: Boston Logan International Airport. Owl expert Norman Smith has been leading the way to study these birds and figure out why they love to land at one of the busiest airports in the country.

Today we’re bringing  you an episode from our friends at the Women Who Travel podcast. Women make up just 7% of truckers in the United States—a number that shows no sign of increasing, even while the industry suffers from a huge shortage of workers. We hear from trucker Desiree Wood, whose job has taken her to 48 states, about the freedom of life on the road, the dangers that herself and women colleagues face, and the joys that come with the occasional return trip home.Listen to and follow Women Who Travel from Condé Nast Traveler here: swap.fm/l/cnt-wwt-YUyg6t