Podcast appearances and mentions of Atlas Obscura

What if Dracula wasn't inspired by Vlad the Impaler at all, but by an ancient Irish vampire king buried upside-down under a thorn tree? Uncover the disturbing true stories, from Elizabeth Báthory's blood baths to premature burials during plague outbreaks, to ancient demons that stalked babies in their cribs—discover the dark tapestry of true stories, medical mysteries, and folklore that created the world's most famous vampire.Join the DARKNESS SYNDICATE for the ad-free version: https://weirddarkness.com/syndicateTake the WEIRD DARKNESS LISTENER SURVEY and help mold the future of the podcast: https://weirddarkness.com/surveyIN THIS EPISODE: Everyone knows about Dracula. Most everyone has seen at least one film starring the undead blood-sucker, or has read the novel by Bram Stoker. But only the real fans of Dracula know about the real people and true stories that inspired Bram Stoker to create the character.SOURCES AND REFERENCES FROM THE EPISODE…BOOK: “Transylvania Superstitions” by Emily Gerard: https://amzn.to/3vsAqrsBOOK: “Carmilla” by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu: https://amzn.to/3cw291IHistory.com, Ranker.com, AtlasObscura.com, InternationalHero.co.uk, HowStuffWorks.com, Universtiy of Iowa's Victorian Wiki, Google Books, HistoryIreland.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/mnrpdm36,https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/eeypjjz3, https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/4et6ysvs,https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/5bcstakc, https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/53vbu5dr, https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/bhd6f7yv,https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/y36n7y9v, https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2nc96tjx, https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2848x4mkWeird Darkness theme by Alibi Music Library.= = = = =(Over time links seen above may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)= = = = ="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46= = = = =WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2024, Weird Darkness.= = = = =Originally aired: March 16, 2021EPISODE PAGE at WeirdDarkness.com (includes list of sources): https://weirddarkness.com/BeforeDraculaABOUT WEIRD DARKNESS: Weird Darkness is a true crime and paranormal podcast narrated by professional award-winning voice actor, Darren Marlar. Seven days per week, Weird Darkness focuses on all thing strange and macabre such as haunted locations, unsolved mysteries, true ghost stories, supernatural manifestations, urban legends, unsolved or cold case murders, conspiracy theories, and more. On Thursdays, this scary stories podcast features horror fiction along with the occasional creepypasta. Weird Darkness has been named one of the “Best 20 Storytellers in Podcasting” by Podcast Business Journal. Listeners have described the show as a cross between “Coast to Coast” with Art Bell, “The Twilight Zone” with Rod Serling, “Unsolved Mysteries” with Robert Stack, and “In Search Of” with Leonard Nimoy.DISCLAIMER: Ads heard during the podcast that are not in my voice are placed by third party agencies outside of my control and should not imply an endorsement by Weird Darkness or myself. *** Stories and content in Weird Darkness can be disturbing for some listeners and intended for mature audiences only. Parental discretion is strongly advised.#DraculaOrigins #VampireHistory #TrueCrimeHorror #WeirdDarkness #GothicHorror

Construction of the Virginia headquarters of the U.S. Department of Defense began on September 11th, 1941 - spookily, the same date it was attacked by al-Qaeda six decades later.  The massive five-sided building, a potent symbol of America's military strength, became known as the Pentagon. Featuring 4 million square feet of office space, the building was designed by George Bergstrom under the supervision of Leslie R. Groves, who was later chosen to head the Manhattan Project and build the atomic bomb. In this episode, Arion, Rebecca, and Olly explain why the building's racially segregated bathrooms were installed, but never used; reveal why, for a while, a ‘Pentagon project' became a by-word for a white elephant; and consider whether a hot dog stand in the complex foxed the Soviets…  Further Reading: • ‘10 Things You Probably Didn't Know About the Pentagon' (U.S. Department of Defense, 2019): https://www.defense.gov/News/Feature-Stories/story/Article/1650913/10-things-you-probably-didnt-know-about-the-pentagon/ • ‘Pentagon Hot Dog Stand – Arlington, Virginia' (Atlas Obscura, 2017): https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/pentagon-hot-dog-stand • ‘FOX Business reveals 'stunning' new details about Pentagon's construction' (FOX Business, 2022): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tK6gIsMAgc This episode first aired in 2023 Love the show? Support us!  Join 

Send us a textIt's open season on topics, and Janey's starting us off with a bunch of facts about the Medieval Times dinner theater that nobody asked for! (Very seriously, if any knights listen to our podcast, please call us.) Enjoy!Sources: “The Untold Truth of Medieval Times" by Adam Swierk for Mashed.  “How Medieval Times Survives in the Digital Age” by Christopher Reynolds for Toronto Star.  “A 30-Year Career Writing and Directing for the Medieval Times” by Eric Grundhauser for Atlas Obscura.  “How Medieval Times Became the Largest Breeder of Pure Spanish Horses in America” by Francesca Mari for TexasMonthly.  Medieval Times on how they care for their Horses History of the Medieval Times/ knight training Support the showCheck out our books (and support local bookstores!) on our Bookshop.org affiliate account!Starting your own podcast with your very cool best friend? Try hosting on Buzzsprout (and get a $20 Amazon gift card!)Want more??Visit our website!Join our Patreon!Shop the merch at TeePublic!If you liked these stories, let us know on our various socials!InstagramTiktokGoodreadsAnd email us at sortofthestory@gmail.com

Here at Atlas Obscura, we're big on collections. From rare jerseys to popular ‘90s plush toys, our staff shares the things we collect – and what they mean to us. Plus: We want to hear about YOUR collections. What do you collect, and what does the collection mean to you? Or, maybe you have a story about someone who you know who has an outrageous collection. Give us a call at 315-992-7902 and leave a message telling us your name and story. Or better yet, you can record a voice memo and email it to us at hello@atlasobscura.com

This week on The Broski Report, Fearless Leader Brittany Broski discusses some of her favorite animated movies, pre-caps her trip to the UK and Ireland, and explores Irish Folklore.  The OFFICIAL Songs of The Week Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3ULrcEqO2JafGZPeonyuje?si=061c5c0dd4664f01 

A backpacker on the Inca Trail encounters a fellow hiker who is inexplicably carrying two bags. This essay was written by Maggie Downs and edited by Aube Rey Lescure, and originally appeared in Off Assignment. Plus: Off Assignment is offering a travel writing course, called Rethinking Travel Writing. It begins September 6, and you can use code ATLAS20 for 20% off: https://www.offassignment.com/rethinking-travel-writing

Listen AD FREE: Support our podcast at patreaon: http://patreon.com/TheCruxTrueSurvivalPodcast Email us! thecruxsurvival@gmail.com Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thecruxpodcast/ Get schooled by Julie in outdoor wilderness medicine! https://www.headwatersfieldmedicine.com/ Join Julie Henningsen and Kaycee McIntosh on The Crux True Survival Story Podcast as they delve into the extraordinary tale of Emma Gatewood, the first woman to solo hike the 2,168-mile Appalachian Trail in 1955. At 67 years old and with minimal gear, Grandma Gatewood's journey defied modern hiking conventions and highlighted her resilience stemming from decades of domestic abuse and personal adversity. Discover her remarkable determination and how her story has inspired generations of hikers and contributed to the trail's preservation. 00:00 Introduction to the Crux True Survival Story Podcast 00:31 Meet Grandma Gatewood: The Unstoppable Grandmother 02:15 Emma Gatewood's Early Life and Challenges 06:10 The Appalachian Trail: A New Adventure 06:35 Grandma Gatewood's First Attempt and Lessons Learned 08:05 The Successful Journey Begins 09:09 Challenges and Resourcefulness on the Trail 17:41 Media Attention and Recognition 22:47 Emma Gatewood's Legacy and Impact 31:24 Conclusion and Reflections References: Montgomery, Ben. Grandma Gatewood's Walk: The Inspiring Story of the Woman Who Saved the Appalachian Trail. Chicago Review Press, 2014. Primary biographical source with access to Emma's personal journals, family interviews, and historical documents Appalachian Mountain Club Library & Archives. Emma Gatewood Collection. Contains photographs and trail log entries from her hikes Appalachian Trail Conservancy Archives. Emma Gatewood materials. Historical trail documentation and correspondence Sports Illustrated. Articles on Emma Gatewood's 1955 thru-hike. Contains direct quotes: "I thought it would be a nice lark. It wasn't" and "This is no trail. This is a nightmare" National Geographic Magazine. August 1949 issue. The original article about Earl Shaffer that inspired Emma's hike The Baltimore Sun. 1955. Coverage of the "jovial little grandmother" who conquered the Appalachian Trail Congressional Record. June 1956. U.S. Representative Thomas A. Jenkins of Ohio's entry about Gatewood's accomplishments The Today Show with Dave Garroway. 1955. Featured guest appearance after completing her hike Welcome Travelers. 1955. Quiz show appearance where she won $200 Appalachian Trail Conservancy. "Emma Gatewood." Official trail history documentation. https://www.appalachiantrail.org/ Appalachian Trail Museum. Pine Grove Furnace State Park, Pennsylvania. Houses Emma's Converse sneakers and other artifacts Appalachian Mountain Club. "Grandma Gatewood: The First Woman to Solo Hike the Entire Appalachian Trail." March 2025. https://www.outdoors.org/resources/amc-outdoors/history/grandma-gatewood-the-first-woman-to-solo-hike-the-entire-appalachian-trail/ Blue Ridge Country Magazine. "Emma Gatewood's Walk." April 29, 2025. https://blueridgecountry.com/newsstand/magazine/emma-gatewood%E2%80%99s-walk/ Adventure Journal. "Emma Gatewood Survived Domestic Abuse to Become an Appalachian Trail Legend." https://www.adventure-journal.com/2020/05/emma-gatewood-survived-domestic-abuse-to-become-an-appalachian-trail-legend/ Atlas Obscura. "The First Woman to Thru-Hike the Appalachian Trail Alone Did It as a 'Lark'." June 9, 2021. https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/appalachian-trail-emma-gatewood Five Rivers MetroParks. "Grandma Gatewood, One of Ohio's Most Famous Hikers." March 22, 2024. https://www.metroparks.org/grandma-gatewood-one-of-ohios-most-famous-hikers/ Appalachian Trail Histories. "Emma Gatewood." https://appalachiantrailhistory.org/exhibits/show/hikers/gatewood Buckeye Trail Association. Emma Gatewood materials and trail documentation. Information about her role as founding member and trail builder "Trail Magic: The Grandma Gatewood Story." Emmy-nominated documentary. Features family interviews and historical recreation Ohio Valley Memory Gardens. Burial records and grave marker documentation. Final resting place with marker reading "Emma R. Gatewood – Grandma"

Atlas Obscura's resident food and death reporter Sam O'Brien takes us to Smithfield, Virginia, where we meet a 120-year-old ham, and the people who love it. All week, we're featuring the stories behind a few of our favorite things – from ancient hams to mummified fingers. Want to tell us about your own favorite unusual object? Give us a call at 315-992-7902 and leave a message, record a voice memo and email it to us at hello@atlasobscura.com. We may air your story on a future episode!

Lindsay and Madison discuss Eclipse Monsters, as well as why you should have your friends help you fight off night snakes, that wolves can bring about the end of the world, and how to crash a party and lose your head all at the same time. Information pulled from the following sources 2025 AZ Animals article by Patrick MacFarland 2024 Atlas Obscura article by Robert Lamb 2023 Historic Mysteries article by Lauren Dillon 2021 The Gorkha Times post 2020 Medium article by Brandon 2020 Mythology Source article by Mike Greenberg, PhD Ancient Egypt Online article Britannica article by Melissa Petruzzello Britannica Captivating History article Wikipedia (1) (2) (3) (4) Send us your listener questions to bit.ly/AskYOC. Become a member on Buy Me A Coffee for as little as $1/month to support the show.  Get your groceries and essentials delivered in as fast as 1 hour via Instacart. Free delivery on your first 3 orders. Min $10 per order. Terms apply. You can write to us at: Ye Olde Crime Podcast, PO Box 341, Wyoming, MN 55092. Leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, Podchaser, Spotify, Podcast Addict, Audible, or Goodpods! Don't forget to follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Threads, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Atlas ObscuraExplorer's Guide to Inventing the World The team behind the bestselling Atlas Obscura presents a kids' illustrated STEM-oriented explorationof the world's most interesting technologies, inventions, and scientific discoveries. Following up on the New York Times bestselling Atlas Obscura Explorer's Guide for the World's Most Adventurous Kid, this book is a globe-spanning history of invention like no other. This illustrated and STEM-oriented exploration of the planet's 50 most interesting inventions and scientific discoveries sends middle-grade readers on an unforgettable trip around the planet and across time. Each spread focuses on a world-changing technology and how it led to or influenced the tech or discovery on the next page.Starting with the very first invention, fire, readers will spelunk the Wonderwerk Cave in South Africa for evidence of humankind's earliest control of flames, then learn how fire is necessary to create another essential tech: glass, including the modern-day glass bridge in Zhangjiajie, China, that offers a crystal-clear (and terrifying!) view of the chasm 1,300 feet below. As you gaze at comets through telescopes, create unbreakable codes, zap space garbage with lasers, and break supersonic records in the world's fastest car, gorgeously illustrated scenes will transport readers across continents and centuries into a world of wonder and discovery.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/arroe-collins-unplugged-totally-uncut--994165/support.

In episode 431 of the "Smashing Security" podcast, a self-proclaimed crypto-influencer calling himself CP3O thought he had found a shortcut to riches — by racking up millions in unpaid cloud bills.Meanwhile, we look at the growing threat of EDR-killer tools that can quietly switch off your endpoint protection before an attack even begins.And for something a little different, we peek into the Internet Archive's dystopian Wayforward Machine and take a detour to Mary Shelley's resting place in Bournemouth.All this and more is discussed in the latest edition of the "Smashing Security" podcast by cybersecurity veterans Graham Cluley, joined this week by special guest Allan "Ransomware Sommelier" Liska.Episode links:Crypto Influencer Sentenced to Prison for Multi-Million Dollar “Cryptojacking” Scheme - US Department of Justice.Ransomware crews don't care about your endpoint security – they've already killed it - The Register.Way Forward Machine - The Internet Archive.Mary Shelley's grave - Atlas Obscura.Smashing Security merchandise (t-shirts, mugs, stickers and stuff)Sponsored by:Proton Drive - Protect your files with end-to-end encryption in Switzerland's secure cloud — only on Proton Drive.SUPPORT THE SHOW:Tell your friends and colleagues about “Smashing Security”, and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser.Become a supporter via Patreon or Apple Podcasts for ad-free episodes and our early-release feed!FOLLOW US:Follow us on Bluesky or Mastodon, or on the Smashing Security subreddit, and visit our website for more episodes.THANKS:Theme tune: "Vinyl Memories" by Mikael Manvelyan.Assorted sound effects: AudioBlocks.ENJOYED THE SHOW?Make sure to check out our sister podcast, "The AI Fix". Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lindsay and Madison discuss the 1897 Aurora UFO Crash, as well as why you shouldn't drink contaminated well water, that crazy things can happen at 6 am, and how to not be a dick in a cemetery. Information pulled from the following sources 2024 Atlas Obscura article by Eric Grundhauser 2024 Fort Worth Texas article by Michael H. Price 2024 Medium article by Ryan Sprague 2024 Texas Hill Country article by Max McNabb 2023 Burials and Beyond blog post by Kate Cherrell 2021 Now Magazine article by Angel Morris 2016 Kera News article by Christopher Connelly 2014 Chron Houston Chronicle article by John Boyd Aurora Legend Find a Grave Mufon (Mutual UFO Network) publication by John F. Schuessler Tui Snider blog post Wikipedia Send us your listener questions to bit.ly/AskYOC. Become a member on Buy Me A Coffee for as little as $1/month to support the show.  Get your groceries and essentials delivered in as fast as 1 hour via Instacart. Free delivery on your first 3 orders. Min $10 per order. Terms apply. You can write to us at: Ye Olde Crime Podcast, PO Box 341, Wyoming, MN 55092. Leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, Podchaser, Spotify, Podcast Addict, Audible, or Goodpods! Don't forget to follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Threads, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Send us a textDylan Thuras, cofounder and creative director of Atlas Obscura, and Jennifer Swanson, an award-winning children's author of more than forty-five nonfiction and fiction books, called in for an entertaining chat about their new book The Atlas Obscura Explorer's Guide to Inventing the World.

The Atlas ObscuraExplorer's Guide to Inventing the World The team behind the bestselling Atlas Obscura presents a kids' illustrated STEM-oriented explorationof the world's most interesting technologies, inventions, and scientific discoveries. Following up on the New York Times bestselling Atlas Obscura Explorer's Guide for the World's Most Adventurous Kid, this book is a globe-spanning history of invention like no other. This illustrated and STEM-oriented exploration of the planet's 50 most interesting inventions and scientific discoveries sends middle-grade readers on an unforgettable trip around the planet and across time. Each spread focuses on a world-changing technology and how it led to or influenced the tech or discovery on the next page.Starting with the very first invention, fire, readers will spelunk the Wonderwerk Cave in South Africa for evidence of humankind's earliest control of flames, then learn how fire is necessary to create another essential tech: glass, including the modern-day glass bridge in Zhangjiajie, China, that offers a crystal-clear (and terrifying!) view of the chasm 1,300 feet below. As you gaze at comets through telescopes, create unbreakable codes, zap space garbage with lasers, and break supersonic records in the world's fastest car, gorgeously illustrated scenes will transport readers across continents and centuries into a world of wonder and discovery.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/arroe-collins-like-it-s-live--4113802/support.

This week, we desperately cling to the end of summer with some of our favorite guests, including Lewis Black, Mo Wagner, Rose Matafeo, and some never-before-heard segements with Atlas Obscura! Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Jennifer Swanson is the author of 50 nonfiction books for kids. In this, our second interview, we celebrate her brand new book, The Atlas Obscura Explorer's Guide to Inventing the World (Workman Kids, 2025), co-written with Dylan Thuras, illustrated by Ruby Fresson and published by Workman Kids. We speak about her recent books and have an illuminating discussion about whether nonfiction and fiction are really dichotomous and worlds apart. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Jennifer Swanson is the author of 50 nonfiction books for kids. In this, our second interview, we celebrate her brand new book, The Atlas Obscura Explorer's Guide to Inventing the World (Workman Kids, 2025), co-written with Dylan Thuras, illustrated by Ruby Fresson and published by Workman Kids. We speak about her recent books and have an illuminating discussion about whether nonfiction and fiction are really dichotomous and worlds apart. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hans Holzer, one of the paranormal parents and the first ghost hunter to publish his works without the shame of ridicule and/or speculation is looked at by Nick and Josh in this episode. Why should we, as paranormal investigators, look into these investigations with minimal equipment and resources? Listen to this week's Stories in the Cemetery episode to see why and discover a new outlook into your favorite paranormal TV shows. Music “Renegade by Beatnik.Stories in the Cemetery Logo provided by April McGirr Designs.Please comment on this episode through Spotify or subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts!Visit our sponsor Magnanimous Beard Products at www.yourbearsuperstore.com and use code “GHOST” to receive $5 off your order!To choose an adventure with Stories in the Cemetery in Charleston, South Carolina, visit www.storiesinthecemetery.com and book your date today.To attend a Paranormal Scavenger Hunt with co host, Joshua Amen, visit www.amenparanormalresearch.com to get your tickets.Tees and Stories in the Cemetery merchandise can be found at http://tee.pub/lic/SITCThe 2025 Paranormal Investigator's Almanac and Paranormal Investigation Workbook can be found on Amazon.References Used to create this episode:ReferencesAZ Quotes. (n.d.). Top 5 Quotes by Hans Holzer. AZ Quotes. Retrieved July, 2025, from https://www.azquotes.com/author/58409-Hans_HolzerCastillo, M., & Barnes, J. (n.d.). The Sixth Dimension and God's Helmet - PMC. Retrieved April 28, 2025, from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7966009/Cho, W. (2022, January 10). CBS Sued Over Portrayal of Torture Device on ‘Evil'. The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 28, 2025, from https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/cbs-evil-lawsuit-1235072696/Duranti, K. (2023, October 23). How the Woman in White Legend Varies Across Cultures. HubPages. Retrieved May 27, 2025, from https://discover.hubpages.com/religion-philosophy/The-Woman-in-White-A-LegendGrimes, W. (2009, April 29). Hans Holzer, Ghost Hunter, Dies at 89. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/30/books/30holzer.htmlHolzer, A. (2012, March 7). Hans Holzer, The Man Behind the Ghosts. HuffPost. Retrieved July 23, 2025, from https://www.huffpost.com/entry/hans-holzer-the-man-behin_b_1326837Holzer, H. (1997). Ghosts: True Encounters with the World Beyond. Running Press. https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/ghosts-true-encounters-with-the-world-beyond_hans-holzer/294993/#edition=2325849&idiq=8237773I'm Done (Season 1, Episode 3) [TV series episode]. (2022). In W. Ehbrecht (Executive Producer), 28 Days Haunted.LaLoggia, F. (Director). (1988). The Lady in White [Film]. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095484/?ref_=fn_all_ttl_1Rodriguez McRobbie, L. (2016, November 7). The Controversial Device That Might Make You Feel the Presence of a Higher Power. Atlas Obscura. Retrieved April 28, 2025, from https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/the-controversial-device-that-might-make-you-feel-the-presence-of-a-higher-powerShive Neural Stimulation System. (n.d.). God Helmet. The God Helmet. Retrieved April, 2025, from https://www.god-helmet.com/wp/god-helmet/index.htmUnknown, U. (Director). (2019). Borderlands (Season 2, Episode 3) [TV series episode]. In Hellier. IMDB.Witch's Almanac. (2024). Hans Holzer. Witch's Almanac. Retrieved July, 2025, from https://thewitchesalmanac.com/pages/hans-holzer?srsltid=AfmBOoocaUdyrZI50jClvxcHacLTE7Q6xEXugyB_jL9-r0wNpGRH-MVl

A conversation with the authors of the latest title in the Atlas Obscura book series... ''The Explorer's Guide to Inventing the World'' is guaranteed to spark your kids' curiosity and imagination (at 14:24) --- Time to get into the school spirit... While football season doesn't kick off for another week yet, other fall interscholastic sports are already underway (at 24:33) --- A collection of quick and easy family recipes for back-to-school season from Kyra's Kitchen (at 48:51)

Exclusive Deals For Reading With Your Kids Listeners! Visit www.zivo.life and use the promo code READ to get 30% off The Better Microalgae – your ultimate daily nutrient boost! Visit www.BigForkBrands.com and use the promo code READ to get 20% off the most delicious pork snacks ever. Visit www.CozyEarth.com and use the promo code READ to get an incredible 41% off their ultra cozy and comfy bedding. In this episode, Jed welcomes two acclaimed authors: Abigail Hing Wen, discussing her brand new middle grade novel The Vale, and Jennifer Swanson, co-author of the fascinating nonfiction book Atlas Obscura Explorers Guide to Inventing the World. Abigail Hing Wen dives into the inspiration and creative process behind The Vale, a story about a family of inventors who create an AI-generated virtual fantasy world. Abigail shares how her background in artificial intelligence influenced the book, and how The Vale explores both the wonders and dangers of technology. Listeners will love hearing about the main character, Brand, who must balance his time between the captivating world of The Vale and the challenges of real-life relationships. Abigail also talks about adapting her stories into different mediums, including a short film and an upcoming Roblox game, and offers advice for aspiring writers hoping to see their books on the big screen. Next, Jennifer Swanson introduces Atlas Obscura Explorers Guide to Inventing the World, a visually stunning journey through the history of inventions. Jennifer explains how the book connects inventions across time, from fire to artificial intelligence, and encourages kids to think creatively and critically. She shares fun facts about some of the world's most surprising inventions and discusses how families can use the book to spark conversations and inspire young inventors. Whether you're a parent, educator, or young reader, this episode is packed with insights on AI, storytelling, and the power of curiosity. Don't miss this engaging conversation about The Vale, Atlas Obscura, and the limitless possibilities of imagination and invention! PREORDERING THE VALE BEFORE SEPTEMBER 16, 2025 Submit receipts here to receive a free Vale sticker sheet Drop by Chinatown Ice Cream Factory in Manhattan for a free trial sized scoop with receipt Barnes and Noble (USA, enter city to find the nearest store) Linden Tree, Los Altos, CA Book Passage, Ferry Building, SF, CA Books Inc, multiple stores (SF, Palo Alto, Mountain View) Keplers, Menlo Park, CA Mrs. Dalloways, Berkeley, CA Hicklebees, San Jose, CA Vroman's Bookstore, Pasadena, CA Ripped Bodice, Culver City, CA Annabelle's Book Club, Studio City, CA The Novel Neighbor, St. Louis, MO Main Street Books, St Charles, MO Brookline Booksmith, Brookline, MA  Beacon Hill Books & Cafe, Boston, MA City of Asylum Books, Pittsburg, PA Loyalty Books, Washington, DC Politics and Prose, Washington, DC Anderson's, Naperville, IL Unabridged Books, Chicago, IL 

Louise Story, CEO of Atlas Obscura and veteran of The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times, joins me to talk about steering a beloved travel brand into its next chapter. We discuss her decision to wind down the in-house experiences business, why brand partnerships — especially with tourism bureaus — are now the company's core revenue stream, and how she plans to turn Atlas Obscura's community into the foundation for a robust travel-planning app. Louise also shares how her product background shapes her approach and why building direct audience relationships is critical in an era of search decline and AI disruption.

Lindsay and Madison discuss Danse Macabre, as well as the proper order to dance to one's grave, that music about death can be super spicy, and how awesome rocks are. Information pulled from the following sources 2024 Cape Charles Mirror article by Wayne Creed 2023 New Advent article 2017 Atlas Obscura article by Bethany Corriveau Gotschall 2017 Cambridge Scholars publication by Sophie Oosterwijk and Stefanie Knoll 2017 CBC article by Andrea Warner 2008 Journal of the British Archaeological Association article by Sophie Oosterwijk Britannica article Oxford International Song Festival article by Camille Saint-Saens University of Glasgow Special Collections Department article Wikipedia (1) YouTube video of “Danse Macabre, Opus 40” Send us your listener questions to bit.ly/AskYOC. Become a member on Buy Me A Coffee for as little as $1/month to support the show.  Get your groceries and essentials delivered in as fast as 1 hour via Instacart. Free delivery on your first 3 orders. Min $10 per order. Terms apply. You can write to us at: Ye Olde Crime Podcast, PO Box 341, Wyoming, MN 55092. Leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, Podchaser, Spotify, Podcast Addict, Audible, or Goodpods! Don't forget to follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Threads, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

WE HAD SOME AUDIO ISSUES WE ARE SO SORRY. In this episode, Payton explores the quaint rural town of Hellam Township, Pennsylvania which is rumored to be the home of the 7 Gates of Hell. Links: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/murderwithmyhusband NEW MERCH LINK: https://mwmhshop.com Discount Codes: https://mailchi.mp/c6f48670aeac/oh-no-media-discount-codes Twitch: twitch.tv/throatypie Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/intothedarkpod/ Discount Codes: https://mailchi.mp/c6f48670aeac/oh-no-media-discount-codes Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUbh-B5Or9CT8Hutw1wfYqQ Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/into-the-dark/id1662304327 Listen on spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/36SDVKB2MEWpFGVs9kRgQ7 Case Sources: Beyond the Seventh Gate: Exploring Toad Road, the Seven Gates of Hell, and Other Strangeness in York, Lancaster, and Adams Counties by Timothy Renner Pennsylvania: Your Travel Guide to Pennsylvania's Local Legends and Best Kept Secrets by Matt Lake 93.3 WMMR Rocks! - https://wmmr.com/2023/05/31/where-you-can-find-the-seven-gates-of-hell-in-pennsylvania/ York Daily Record - https://www.ydr.com/story/news/history/blogs/york-town-square/2017/10/22/seven-gates-of-hell-intriguing-tale-of-horror/787664001/ https://www.newspapers.com/image/555750283/?match=1&terms=seven%20gates%20to%20hell  WJBR - https://wjbr.com/2023/05/31/the-seven-gates-of-hell-in-york-county-pennsylvania/   Roadtrippers - https://maps.roadtrippers.com/us/york--pa/attractions/seven-gates-of-hell Facts Chronology - https://factschology.com/mmm-podcast-articles/gates-hell-hellam-pennsylvania  FHE Health - https://fherehab.com/learning/treat-mental-health-centuries The Evening Sun - https://www.newspapers.com/image/995944566/?match=1&terms=seven%20gates%20to%20hell  https://www.newspapers.com/image/522414034/?match=1&terms=seven%20gates%20to%20hell  Atlas Obscura - https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/hellam-township Ashford & St. Peter's Hospitals - https://www.ashfordstpeters.nhs.uk/19th-century-mental-health  Music Credits “Lost Place Atmospheres 001” by Sascha Ende “Lost Place Atmospheres 004” by Sascha Ende Other Music and SFX From Epidemic Sound and Storyblocks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Lindsay and Madison discuss Wild West outlaw George “Big Nose” Parrott, as well as why you shouldn't go after trains, that killing important people isn't the smartest move, and how to end up as fashion accessories against your will. Information pulled from the following sources 2024 Cowboy State Daily article by Andrew Rossi 2024 Only in Wyoming article by Kim Magaraci 2023 Efram Sera-Shriar, PhD blog post 2023 Legends of America article by Kathy Alexander 2023 Teal Spring Sheridan, Wyoming post by cvannoy 2021 Sweetwater Now article 2020 John Brassard Jr. blog post 2020 Notes from the Frontier article 2018 All That's Interesting article by Andrew Milne 2017 Amusing Planet article by Kaushik Patowary 2017 Atlas Obscura article by Eric Grundhauser 2014 Wyoming History article by Lori Van Pelt 1881 The Democratic Leader article 1880 The Democratic Leader article (1) Find a Grave Weird History Facts Wikipedia Send us your listener questions to bit.ly/AskYOC. Become a member on Buy Me A Coffee for as little as $1/month to support the show.  Get your groceries and essentials delivered in as fast as 1 hour via Instacart. Free delivery on your first 3 orders. Min $10 per order. Terms apply. You can write to us at: Ye Olde Crime Podcast, PO Box 341, Wyoming, MN 55092. Leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, Podchaser, Spotify, Podcast Addict, Audible, or Goodpods! Don't forget to follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Threads, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, we're sharing an episode from our new podcast documentary series, Charlie's Place. Beloved, notorious, defiant, folk hero – these are just a few ways to describe Charlie Fitzgerald, the entrepreneur who owned an integrated nightclub during Jim Crow in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. What happened in Myrtle Beach at Charlie's would come to define a community and generations to come. This is the almost forgotten history of Charlie's Place.Charlie's Place is a production of Atlas Obscura and Rococo Punch in partnership with Pushkin Industries and presented by Visit Myrtle Beach. 

This week John Wyatt Greenlee, Colin Colbourn, and Alan Malfavon flyover to talk about James Gunn's Superman, the need for heroes in everyday lives, and casting the rest of the DCU.About our guests:Alan Malfavon is Assistant Professor of History at California State University San Marcos.  His first book, Men of the Leeward Port: Veracruz's Afro-Descendants in the Making of Mexico, under contract with the University of Alabama Press, focuses on the understudied Afro-Mexican population of Veracruz and its hinterland of Sotavento (Leeward) and uses it to reframe the historical and historiographical transition between the colonial and national period. It argues how Afro-Mexicans facilitated, complicated, and participated in multiple socio-political processes that reshaped Veracruz and its borderlands. Colin Colbourn holds a Ph.D in U.S. History from the University of Southern Mississippi. His expertise includes mass communication and assisting in research efforts for unresolved casualties from past conflicts. Since 2007 he has published articles on Marine Corps history in Leatherneck: Magazine of the Marines, and was Associate Editor for the West Point History of Warfare. John Wyatt Greenlee is a medievalist and a cartographic historian, as well as a historian of roads and pathways and pilgrimage. But he is best well known for his work on the role of eels in pre-modern England from the tenth through the seventeenth centuries. He is heavily engaged in outreach and public engagement to make the eel history more widely known, and to raise awareness for the role of eels as an endangered species. His work with eels and eel history has been profiled in TIME, The Guardian, Atlas Obscura, Hakai Magazine, and The New Yorker  (click here for a full list of earned media) 

This is such a special episode because, for the first time ever, I'm interviewing an author about their book, because it's one of my favorite books! Gingko Season by Naomi Xu Elegant is a story about a young woman, Penelope Lin, who is moving through the world after her first big heartbreak and discovering herself while on the cusp between young adulthood and adulthood. The depiction of this time of life is just one of the things I loved about this book, and I was thrilled to be able to discuss it with Naomi!Naomi Xu Elegant is a freelance journalist and the author of the novel Gingko Season. She lives in New York. Naomi's writing has appeared in Monocle, Fortune, Atlas Obscura, Nikkei Asia, The Drift, and elsewhere. She is co-editor of Gully, an independent literary magazine, and she writes a monthly Substack called Luanqibazao.I would love for you to read Gingko Season, check out this review from the New York Times!Our drink this week is a Lychee Martini, which is featured in the book. As I found out during our discussion, including these martinis was an Easter egg for Naomi's mom, because they're her favorite cocktail. I asked if she'd be willing to share the recipe with us as a special addition to the episode, and she did! She said the secret is to blend whole lychees and lychee juice together, then strain the mixture through a sieve to get that lovely, milky color.Lychee Martini Recipe2 oz. vodka2 oz. lychee juiceShake in a cocktail shaker over ice.Serve neat in a cocktail glass.Garnish with a whole lychee (optional)Naomi's mom's tip: Blend whole lychees with lychee juice (both canned), then strain through a sieve to get your juice. The blended fruit gives it that lovely, clouded look.You can also add a bit of citrus or a dash of dry vermouth—lychee martinis are meant for everyone!In This EpisodeGarden State FilmFriday I'm In Love - Phoebe Bridgers CoverNapoleon FilmFoot Binding HistoryMiddlemarch by George EliotIn Search of Lost Time by Marcel ProustKazou IshiguroSally RooneyElena FerranteA Feather on the Breath of God by Sigrid NunezThe Sympathizer by Viet Thanh NguyenThe Candy House by Jennifer EganNaomi's Substack

Early polar explorers faced long nights and dangerous expeditions. To entertain themselves, they wrote and published niche newspapers and periodicals. Atlas Obscura's community editor Allegra Rosenberg reads an essay exploring this unique polar tradition. Read her full essay here.  

Lindsay and Madison discuss the Isle of Demons, as well as the wild history of cartography, that you shouldn't trust your womanizing cousin, and how to be a badass bitch. Information pulled from the following sources 2025 Paranormal Daily News article by Richard Clements 2023 Atlas Obscura article by Shoshi Parks 2023 CBC article by Ainsley Hawthorn 2023 Mysteries of Canada article by Hammerson Peters 2022 Library of Congress blog post by Cynthia Smith 2015 Ancient Origins article by Mr Reese 2015 Daily Mail article by Victoria Woollaston 2015 Southern Highland News article by David Ellis Eskify article by Elliot Wikipedia (1) (2) Send us your listener questions to bit.ly/AskYOC. Become a member on Buy Me A Coffee for as little as $1/month to support the show.  Get your groceries and essentials delivered in as fast as 1 hour via Instacart. Free delivery on your first 3 orders. Min $10 per order. Terms apply. You can write to us at: Ye Olde Crime Podcast, PO Box 341, Wyoming, MN 55092. Leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, Podchaser, Spotify, Podcast Addict, Audible, or Goodpods! Don't forget to follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Threads, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A few weeks ago, the Atlas Obscura staff told us where they would spend their last days before the apocalypse. Now we're sharing your stories – from a childhood home in a small town in Illinois, to a trip in Eastern Europe, to a pizzeria in Brooklyn and a cave in Utah. Plus: We want to hear your stories about your neighbors! Tell us about your neighbors' front yards, back yards, house decor – and what you like about them. Is there a neighbor in your block who goes all the way every holiday to have the best decorations? Or maybe there's someone who has a wacky display year round? Maybe someone has an incredible garden, or some homemade art sculptures. Did they inspire you? Give us a call at 315-992-7902 and leave a message telling us your name and story. Or you can record a voice memo and email it to us at hello@atlasobscura.com

The God Helmet; a controversial experiment that stimulates the brain to create visionary stimuli. Listen in as Josh and Nick banter about the semantics and possible results of this very odd experiment. Could/Should this be used in ghost hunting?Music “Renegade" by Beatnik.Stories in the Cemetery Logo provided by April McGirr Designs.Please comment on this episode through Spotify or subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts!Visit our sponsor Magnanimous Beard Products at www.yourbearsuperstore.com and use code “GHOST” to receive $5 off your order!To choose an adventure with Stories in the Cemetery in Charleston, South Carolina, visit www.storiesinthecemetery.com and book your date today.To attend a Paranormal Scavenger Hunt with co host, Joshua Amen, visit www.amenparanormalresearch.com to get your tickets.Tees and Stories in the Cemetery merchandise can be found at http://tee.pub/lic/SITCThe 2025 Paranormal Investigator's Almanac and Paranormal Investigation Workbook can be found on Amazon.References Used to create this episode:ReferencesCastillo, M., & Barnes, J. (n.d.). The Sixth Dimension and God's Helmet - PMC. Retrieved April 28, 2025, from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7966009/Cho, W. (2022, January 10). CBS Sued Over Portrayal of Torture Device on ‘Evil'. The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 28, 2025, from https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/cbs-evil-lawsuit-1235072696/I'm Done (Season 1, Episode 3) [TV series episode]. (2022). In W. Ehbrecht (Executive Producer), 28 Days Haunted.Rodriguez McRobbie, L. (2016, November 7). The Controversial Device That Might Make You Feel the Presence of a Higher Power. Atlas Obscura. Retrieved April 28, 2025, from https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/the-controversial-device-that-might-make-you-feel-the-presence-of-a-higher-powerShive Neural Stimulation System. (n.d.). God Helmet. The God Helmet. Retrieved April, 2025, from https://www.god-helmet.com/wp/god-helmet/index.htmUnknown, U. (Director). (2019). Borderlands (Season 2, Episode 3) [TV series episode]. In Hellier. IMDB.

Follow Atlas Obscura co-founder Dylan Thuras on a quest to discover South America's hidden wonders. From the Last Incan Bridge and the Machu Picchu of the North to the Everlasting Lightning Storm and a statue of a squid fighting a whale the size of the statue of liberty (yes, you read that right), this is an epic ride through Colombia, Venezuela, Bolivia and Peru's weirdest and wildest wonders. The stuff glittering in the shadows that you may never have heard of before, but you'll be desperate to see after. But it's more than that too. When we think of wonders of the world we think of The Grand Canyon, the Great Pyramids. These are undeniably awe-inspiring, but they're obvious. Everyone goes there, and all too often the experience and the destination suffer as result. Atlas Obscura's mission is to open our eyes to the wonders all around us, the bizarre, hilarious, incredible things that inspire our curiosity and make our jaws drop at the amazing world we share. Wonder is a state of mind, they say, not a place; and the more we look for it, the more it becomes a part of who we are. This is a quest to discover South America's hidden wonders, but we may just discover something hidden in ourselves too. “The problem of failing to recognise the magic in the world lies not with the world, but with us; and it is our job to turn ourselves into vessels of recognising that magic.”  - Dylan Thuras, co-founder Atlas Obscura  Highlights include: ·    Visit the Last Incan Bridge, an 120-foot long woven grass suspension bridge, straight out of Indiana Jones, which has been re-built every year for more than five centuries. ·    Stand at the base of Gocta Falls, the most incredible waterfall you've never heard of – twice the size of the Empire State Building. ·    See Venezuela's Everlasting Lightning Storm, the most electric place on the planet. ·    Meet the Colombian village who travel by home-made zip-line across the jungle. ·    Find out about the inspiration for Atlas Obscura, how it went from a childhood love of weird Midwestern roadside attractions to a global phenomenon and New York Times bestseller. ·    Hear about such crazy historical inventions as the cat piano, the vomiting statue and a language created entirely out of music ·    Learn how by changing our mindset we can escape the wonder deficit of the modern world and live more meaningful and extraordinary lives Atlas Obscura tells extraordinary stories about hidden places, incredible history, scientific marvels, and gastronomical wonders. ⁠www.atlasobscura.com⁠ / @atlasobscura  Dylan's book, ‘Atlas Obscura: An Explorer's Guide to the World's Hidden Wonders', is a No. 1 bestseller on Amazon and in the New York Times: ⁠https://www.atlasobscura.com/unique-gifts/atlas-obscura-book⁠ This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/ARMCHAIR and get on your way to being your best self. Armchair Explorer⁠ is produced by ⁠Armchair Productions⁠. Aaron Millar presented the show and did the audio editing and sound design. Our theme music is by the artist ⁠Sweet Chap⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Naomi Xu Elegant's debut novel, Gingko Season (W. W. Norton: 2025), stars Penelope Lin, a young Chinese woman living in New York in the faraway year of 2018. With difficult parents and a bad break-up, she works for a museum's exhibition on bound feet, with a gaggle of other, somewhat clueless friends. But a meeting with Hoang, a researcher at a cancer lab, forces Penelope to rethink what she wants with her life. Naomi joins me today to talk about her book, her choice of characters, how she wanted to approach tropes like the meet-cute—and why 2018 now feels like ancient history, even to young-ish millennials. Naomi Xu Elegant is a writer and journalist living in New York City. Her work has appeared in Monocle, Fortune, Atlas Obscura, and elsewhere. You can find more reviews, excerpts, interviews, and essays at The Asian Review of Books. Follow on Twitter at @BookReviewsAsia. Nicholas Gordon is an editor for a global magazine, and a reviewer for the Asian Review of Books. He can be found on Twitter at@nickrigordon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Naomi Xu Elegant's debut novel, Gingko Season (W. W. Norton: 2025), stars Penelope Lin, a young Chinese woman living in New York in the faraway year of 2018. With difficult parents and a bad break-up, she works for a museum's exhibition on bound feet, with a gaggle of other, somewhat clueless friends. But a meeting with Hoang, a researcher at a cancer lab, forces Penelope to rethink what she wants with her life. Naomi joins me today to talk about her book, her choice of characters, how she wanted to approach tropes like the meet-cute—and why 2018 now feels like ancient history, even to young-ish millennials. Naomi Xu Elegant is a writer and journalist living in New York City. Her work has appeared in Monocle, Fortune, Atlas Obscura, and elsewhere. You can find more reviews, excerpts, interviews, and essays at The Asian Review of Books. Follow on Twitter at @BookReviewsAsia. Nicholas Gordon is an editor for a global magazine, and a reviewer for the Asian Review of Books. He can be found on Twitter at@nickrigordon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/literature

Naomi Xu Elegant's debut novel, Gingko Season (W. W. Norton: 2025), stars Penelope Lin, a young Chinese woman living in New York in the faraway year of 2018. With difficult parents and a bad break-up, she works for a museum's exhibition on bound feet, with a gaggle of other, somewhat clueless friends. But a meeting with Hoang, a researcher at a cancer lab, forces Penelope to rethink what she wants with her life. Naomi joins me today to talk about her book, her choice of characters, how she wanted to approach tropes like the meet-cute—and why 2018 now feels like ancient history, even to young-ish millennials. Naomi Xu Elegant is a writer and journalist living in New York City. Her work has appeared in Monocle, Fortune, Atlas Obscura, and elsewhere. You can find more reviews, excerpts, interviews, and essays at The Asian Review of Books. Follow on Twitter at @BookReviewsAsia. Nicholas Gordon is an editor for a global magazine, and a reviewer for the Asian Review of Books. He can be found on Twitter at@nickrigordon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/asian-review

Atlas Obscura began as a website and global community to catalog and celebrate the world's unusual and obscure places, stories and foods. Since 2009, it has expanded to include six books, group adventures around the world, a Youtube Series and a podcast! Today, we have the immense pleasure of speaking with Dylan Thuras, co-founder of Atlas Obscura to talk all things weird and wonderful. Atlas Obscura Podcast: Listen Here Danielle's AO Profile Listen to Watch Her Cook on Apple and Spotify! Follow us on Instagram For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials at: Instagram: @nationalparkafterdark Twitter/X: @npadpodcast TikTok: @nationalparkafterdark Support the show by becoming an Outsider and receive ad free listening, bonus content and more on Patreon or Apple Podcasts. Want to see our faces? Catch full episodes on our YouTube Page! Thank you to the week's partners! Naked Wines:  To get 6 bottles of wine for $39.99, head to NakedWines.com/NPAD and use code NPAD for both the code AND PASSWORD. Hello Fresh: Use our link to get up to 10 FREE meals and a free item for life. Trova Trip: Use promo code NPAD at checkout to save $50 on your next adventure. Host URL Traveler URL Rocket Money: Use our link to get started saving.

When the East India Company surrendered Fort William (in modern-day Kolkata) to the Nawab of Bengal on 20th June, 1756, dozens of British captives were imprisoned in a cell measuring only 18ft long and 14ft wide, with just two tiny windows - ‘the Black Hole of Calcutta'. Among the prisoners was John Zephaniah Holwell, whose pamphlet describing the terrors of the airless room caused a sensation back in Britain and became a cause célèbre in the idealization of imperialism in India. Holwell claimed 123 men lost their lives in the cell, although it is now thought the number of deaths was exaggerated. In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly uncover Holwell's mixed feelings around colonialism; consider how ‘the black hole of Calcutta' became an enduring term of phrase; and reveal what connected Kolkata with Olly's home village in Hertfordshire… Further Reading: • ‘A Genuine Narrative of the Deplorable Deaths of the English Gentlemen, and Others, who Were Suffocated in the Black-Hole in Fort-William, at Calcutta, in the Kingdom of Bengal, in the Night Succeeding the 20th Day of June, 1756, in a Letter to a Friend - By John Zephaniah Holwell' (A. Millar, 1758): https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/A_Genuine_Narrative_of_the_Deplorable_De/xGg0Cg9WVNcC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Holwell+%2B+Calcutta&printsec=frontcover • ‘The Black Hole of Calcutta – Kolkata, India' (Atlas Obscura): https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-black-hole-of-calcutta • ‘The Story of The Black Hole Of Calcutta - Britain's Secret Homes' (ITV Daytime, 2016): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbjFxITtXwU This episode first aired in 2021 Love the show? Support us!  Join 

The staff here at Atlas Obscura answered an unsettling question for this episode: Where would you spend the last day before the apocalypse? Some interesting truths come out. Plus, we want to hear from you. Tell us where YOU would spend your last day before the hypothetical apocalypse. What connection do you have with this place? Why would you spend it there? What would you do if you had the whole place to yourself? Give us a call at 315-992-7902 and leave a message telling us your name and story. Or record a voice memo and email it to us at hello@atlasobscura.com

Today, we're sharing an episode from our friends at the Sporkful. Dan Pashman goes on a tour of Los Angeles, with an Atlas Obscura guide in hand. In search of an elusive slice of coconut cake, Dan begins at the airport, takes a detour to an underground tunnel system, and pays a visit to a very unusual store: Time Travel Mart.

Помните дядю Билиуса из «Гарри Поттера», который увидел Грима и на следующий день умер? Он не был одинок в своем страхе перед черными псами. Многие века жители Британских островов верили, что в холмах водятся ужасные огромные собаки. Atlas Obscura рассказывает о Ку Ши, шотландской вариации Грима, и связанных с ним преданиях. Текстовая версия: https://newochem.io/smert-pes/ По материалам Atlas ObscuraАвтор: Эмма Цеслик Озвучил: Александр ТарасовПереводила: Елизавета ЯковлеваРедактировала: Валерия Зитева

Earlier this month, the Atlas Obscura staff shared the places we gained during the pandemic. Now, we hear your stories – from a university that is an unlikely home for a certain critter, to a private community, to an arboretum and a chance encounter.Plus: We want to hear from you for our next compilation episode! Pride month is coming, and we want to hear your stories about the places that celebrate LGBTQ+ history, and what they mean to you. Give us a call at 315-992-7902 and leave a message telling us your name and story. Or record a voice memo and email it to us at hello@atlasobscura.com.

It's been five years since the pandemic shutdown. So often, conversations about that time revolve around places we've lost. But for this episode, Atlas Obscura staffers share the places they gained during the pandemic. Plus: We want to hear from you. Tell us about the places that you gained or discovered during the pandemic. How did you discover this place? Why is it important to you? What's it like visiting that place now vs. then? Give us a call at 315-992-7902 and leave a message telling us your name and story. Or record a voice memo and email it to us at hello@atlasobscura.com. 

Two small stories about two cold nights in different parts of the world. 11:45 p.m. in Oulu was written by Anne Korkeakivi, and 2:30 a.m. in McMurdo Station was written by Elizabeth Endicott. Both essays were edited by Tusshara Nalakumar Srilatha and originally appeared in Off Assignment. Elizabeth Endicott is a writer based in Denver, and Anne Korkeakivi is the author of the novels Shining Sea and An Unexpected Guest.

Today, more than 1 billion people around the world celebrate Earth Day—but decades before this global movement began, one woman laid the foundation. When aerial pesticide programs drenched the Northeast in chemicals like DDT, devastating ecosystems and killing thousands of wildlife species, marine biologist and writer Rachel Carson sounded the alarm. Her groundbreaking book, Silent Spring, ignited a nationwide reckoning with the hidden environmental costs of modern life. Listen to Watch Her Cook on Apple and Spotify! Follow us on Instagram  Resources:  The Sea Around Us, by Rachel Carson (1951). Silent Spring, by Rachel Carson (1962). “The Story of Silent Spring,” by the National Resources Defense Council (2015). “The Right Way to Remember Rachel Carson,” by Jill Lepore (The New Yorker, 2018). “The Personal Attacks on Rachel Carson as a Woman Scientist” by Mark Stoll (Environment & Society Portal, 2020). “Rachel Carson Memorial,” (Atlas Obscura, 2023). For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials at: Instagram: @nationalparkafterdark TikTok: @nationalparkafterdark Support the show by becoming an Outsider and receive ad free listening, bonus content and more on Patreon or Apple Podcasts. Want to see our faces? Catch full episodes on our YouTube Page! Thank you to the week's partners! Harvest Hosts: For 20% off your order, head to HarvestHosts.com and use code NPAD. Lume Deodorant: Control Body Odor ANYWHERE with @lumedeodorant and get 15% off with promo code NPAD at LumeDeodorant.com! #lumepod IQBAR: Text PARK to 64000 to get 20% off all IQBAR products and free shipping.

They appear in lace and corsets, drifting from the fog… but why do so many ghosts wear Victorian mourning clothes?Darkness Syndicate members get the ad-free version of #WeirdDarkness: https://weirddarkness.com/syndicateIN THIS EPISODE: Victorian-era ghosts… they seem to haunt not only our imaginations, but also our Halloween wardrobes. Why were people in the mid-to-late 1800s so obsessed with the supernatural? And why are we so fascinated by Victorian ghost stories still today? (What's The Deal With Victorian Ghosts?) *** The story of Queen Esther is chilling – full of an Iroquois warrior woman's quest for vengeance, brutal warfare, haunting legends, ghostly wails, and a curse that many believe still has power even today. (The Curse of Queen Esther) *** No one can remember exactly when the ghost story began, but records show it dates back to at least 1926. The tale centers around the Administration Offices of Rockford School District 205 on South Madison Street, formerly Rockford High School. Built in 1885, the school gained a spooky reputation due to eerie events reported in its underground tunnels. After a tragic accident in the school's swimming pool claimed the life of a student named Gosta Anderson, strange sightings and sounds fueled the legend of his restless spirit, haunting the very site where he died. (Gosta's Ghost) *** Plumas County, California, holds a chilling mystery that dates back to 1978. On a winter night with a half-moon, five friends left a basketball game at California State University, Chico, and drove away, never to be seen again. Their car was found abandoned on a remote mountain road, leading to a series of eerie discoveries, unanswered questions, and clues that still baffle investigators today. (The 5 Boys Who Never Came Back)CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…00:00.00.000 = Disclaimer, and short story “Lost Hearts” by M.R. James00:24:47.662 = Show Open (Coming Up In This Episode)00:27:30.530 = What's The Deal With Victorian Ghosts?00:37:29.237 = The Curse of Queen Esther00:47:34.032 = The Five Boys Who Never Came Back01:08:28.167 = Gosta's Ghost01:15:12.327 = Show Close, Verse, and Final ThoughtSOURCES AND RESOURCES FROM THE EPISODE…Free Audiobook: “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens, narrated by Darren Marlar: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/AChristmasCarolNarration: “The Signalman” by Charles Dickens, narrated by Darren Marlar: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/TheSignalman“What's The Deal With Victorian Ghosts?” source = Dan Nosowitz at Atlas Obscura: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p94894t“Lost Hearts” by M.R. James (public domain)“The Curse of Queen Esther” source = Creative History Stories: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/3bn9kwe8“Gosta's Ghost” written by Kathi Kresol for Haunted Rockford: https://www.hauntedrockford.com/gostas-ghost/“The 5 Boys Who Never Came Back” written by Cynthia Gorney in 1978 for the Washington Post:https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p8hkyef=====(Over time links seen above may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)= = = = ="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46= = = = =WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2025, Weird Darkness.=====Originally aired: May 17, 2024EPISODE PAGE at WeirdDarkness.com (includes list of sources): https://weirddarkness.com/VictorianGhosts

The story of how strawberries went from small forage item to one of the world’s most popular fruits – though they're technically not a true fruit – involves lots of crossbreeding experimentation, as you might expect, but also a bit of spy craft. Research: “A Transatlantic Tango: The Story of the Strawberry. Royal Horticultural Society. https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/grow-your-own/features/history-of-the-strawberry#:~:text=It%20is%20hard%20to%20believe,back%20on%20fortifications%20near%20Concepci%C3%B3n. Allen, Mike. “The 18th-Century Spy Who Gave Us Big Strawberries.” Atlas Obscura. Nov. 16, 2017. https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/big-strawberries-spy-chile-france Barnes, Monica. “Frezier, Amédée François (1682-1773).” American Museum of Natural History. January 2008. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/280567727_Frezier_Amedee_Francois_1682-1773 Darrow, George M. “The Strawberry: History, Breeding and Physiology.” New York. Holt, Rinehart and Winston. 1966. Accessed online: https://archive.org/details/strawberryhistor00darr/mode/1up The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. "strawberry". Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 Jun. 2023, https://www.britannica.com/plant/strawberry Folta, K.M., Barbey, C.R. “The strawberry genome: a complicated past and promising future.” Hortic Res 6, 97 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41438-019-0181-z Grubinger, Vern. “History of the Strawberry.” University of Vermont. June 2012. https://www.uvm.edu/vtvegandberry/factsheets/strawberryhistory.html Hancock, J.F. “Strawberries.” Oxford University Press. 2000. Petruzzello, Melissa. "list of plants in the family Rosaceae". Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Mar. 2024, https://www.britannica.com/topic/list-of-plants-in-the-family-Rosaceae-2001612 Sevilla, Elisa, and Ana Sevilla. “STRAWBERRY.” New World Objects of Knowledge: A Cabinet of Curiosities, edited by Mark Thurner and Juan Pimentel, University of London Press, 2021, pp. 207–12. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctv1vbd275.34 “Strawberry Facts.” University of Florida Gulf Coast Research and Education Center. https://gcrec.ifas.ufl.edu/fruit-crops/strawberries/strawberry-facts/ Sytsma, Kenneth J.. "Rosaceae". Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Feb. 2025, https://www.britannica.com/plant/Rosaceae See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two small stories about early morning, otherworldly encounters with animals. 7 a.m. in Kelso was written by Emma Jones, and 10:30 a.m. in Choteau, Montana was written by Annika Berry. Both essays were edited by Aube Rey Lescure and originally appeared in Off Assignment.Plus: Order the audiobook of Atlas Obscura: An Explorer's Guide to the World's Hidden Wonders today!

A Black American living in Korea writes a letter to a restaurant worker, reckoning with race and the meaning of home. This essay was edited by Aube Rey Lescure and originally appeared in Off Assignment. Kat Lewis' debut novel, GOOD PEOPLE, is forthcoming from Simon & Schuster in 2026.

All Home Care Matters and our host, Lance A. Slatton were honored to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of AlzAuthors with the founding members and more.   About Marianne Sciucco:   Marianne Sciucco is a founder of AlzAuthors and the author of Blue Hydrangeas, an Alzheimer's love story. She's also co-producer and host of their podcast Untangling Alzheimer's and Dementia.   About Deb Bunt:   Deb took early retirement from her role in the youth offending service in London and moved to Suffolk seven years ago. As well as acquiring four grandchildren since she's been in Suffolk, she has also built an enduring friendship with Peter. This friendship Peter has given Deb a new lens through which to view her life.   Peter has enabled Deb to fulfil one of her life's ambitions – to be a published writer – and she now spends her time with Peter raising awareness of the condition or cycling insane distances around the county. Without question, Peter has enriched Deb's life.   About Tanya Ward Goodman:   Tanya Ward Goodman is the author of the award winning memoir, “Leaving Tinkertown.” Her essays and articles about travel, art, and the challenges and rewards of caregiving have appeared in numerous publications including The Washington Post, Orange County Register, Luxe, Premium Magazine, Atlas Obscura, and Variable West.   About Vicki Tapia:   Trained as an educator, Vicki Tapia has a proclivity for caring, spending over 30 years working as a Lactation Consultant teaching mothers and babies the art of breastfeeding.   When both her parents were diagnosed with dementia (Alzheimer's and Parkinson's-related) within a few months of each other, she took on the role of caregiver. As a coping mechanism, Vicki kept a journal detailing the many challenges her family faced along the way. Over time, her diary became a roadmap of sorts, morphing into the award-winning memoir Somebody Stole My Iron: A Family Memoir of Dementia.   About Dorothy Horne: Dorothy Horne is an author, speaker, and a former award-winning blogger for the Longview News-Journal. She was honored to be named a “Star Over Longview” in 2016. Dorothy is a member of AlzAuthors, “a global community of authors writing about Alzheimer's and dementia from personal experience to light the way for others." She has served on the board of the East Texas Alzheimer's Alliance and facilitated several Alzheimer's support groups. Dorothy is a retired first grade teacher. One of her greatest delights is being "Dot-Dot" to her four grandsons. She lives in East Texas and enjoys photography and traveling.   About Susan Landeis:   Susan is a member of the AlzAuthors management team and Board of Directors. She became a featured author on the AlzAuthors website in 2020, and team member later the same year. Her roles include Graphic Designer, Curator of Custom Caregiver Collections, and LinkedIn Manager.    Susan is the author of her memoir, In Search of Rainbows: A daughter's story of loss, hope, and redemption and she also penned Optimal Caregiving: A guide for managing senior health and well-being.   About Jean Lee:   Jean Lee wrote lesson plans for 22 years as an elementary school teacher. She had no aspirations to write a book, however when both parents were diagnosed on the same day with Alzheimer's, her journey as their caregiver poured out on paper through Alzheimer's Daughter. After the sadness of her parents decline, life brought her comfort and healing through the formation of AlzAuthors.com, cofounded with Marianne Sciucco and Vicki Tapia. What started as a one-month collaboration has now taken on a thriving life of its own for a decade.   About Carol Bradley Bursack:   Carol Bradley Bursack was a caregiver for an older neighbor and seven aging family members, all of whom are represented by first-person vignettes in Minding Our Elders: Caregivers Share Their Personal Stories. However, Carol wanted to do more than tell her own stories. She wanted to give other caregivers a chance to do the same.   About Christy Byrne Yates:   Christy is an expert in navigating the challenges and opportunities in life including living in the “Sandwich Generation” — that time period of raising children while also caring for an aging loved one. Her book, “Building a Legacy of Love: Thriving in the Sandwich Generation” recounts her journey and learning as a working mother of two who also managed the care of her parents, both of whom had some form of dementia. She incorporates meditation, mindfulness and other evidence based mind/body practices into her work to support growth, resilience, and a pathway to living life fully.

The Isles of Scilly were part of one of the longest wars in human history, but the main reason for the length of the very mild conflict was lagging paperwork. Research: “335-year-old War Ends for Scilly Isles.” Star Tribune. April 18, 1986. https://www.newspapers.com/image/188704902/?match=1 “The breakdown of 1641-2.” UK Parliament. https://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/evolutionofparliament/parliamentaryauthority/civilwar/overview/the-breakdown/ Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Isles of Scilly". Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Dec. 2024, https://www.britannica.com/place/Isles-of-Scilly-islands-England-United-Kingdom Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Bishops’ Wars". Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Jun. 2019, https://www.britannica.com/event/Bishops-Wars Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Long Parliament". Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Jun. 2019, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Long-Parliament Daniel Lysons, Samuel Lysons, 'The Scilly Islands', in Magna Britannia: Volume 3, Cornwall( London, 1814), British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/magna-britannia/vol3/pp330-337 Davids, R.L. and A.D.K. Hawkyard. “SEYMOUR, Sir Thomas II.” The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1509-155. 1982. Accessed online: https://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1509-1558/member/seymour-sir-thomas-ii-1509-49 “Dutch Proclaim End of War Against Britain's Scilly Isles.” New York Times. April 18, 1986. https://www.nytimes.com/1986/04/18/world/dutch-proclaim-end-of-war-against-britain-s-scilly-isles.html “The Execution of Charles I.” Historic Royal Places. https://www.hrp.org.uk/banqueting-house/history-and-stories/the-execution-of-charles-i/ “History of the Duchy.” Duchy of Cornwall. https://duchyofcornwall.org/history-of-the-duchy.html “The History of the Islands.” The Islands’ Partnership. https://www.visitislesofscilly.com/experience/things-to-do/history-and-heritage/the-history-of-the-islands “Holidays in the Isles of Scilly.” Manchester Evening News. Jan. 24, 1984. https://www.newspapers.com/image/927198725/?match=1&terms=isles%20of%20scilly “Isles of Scilly.” Duchy of Cornwall. https://duchyofcornwall.org/newton-park-estate.html#:~:text=A%20group%20of%20over%20200,residential%20buildings%20on%20the%20islands. Johnson, Ben. “The 335 Year War – The Isles of Scilly vs the Netherlands.” Historic UK. March 11, 2015. https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofEngland/The-335-Year-War-the-Longest-War-in-History/ Ohlmeyer, Jane H.. "English Civil Wars". Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 Dec. 2024, https://www.britannica.com/event/English-Civil-Wars “Roy Duncan 1948 – 2014.” Council of the Isles of Scilly. Aug. 25, 2014. “Prehistoric communities off the coast of Britain embraced rising seas- what this means for today's island nations.” Bangor University. November 5, 2020. https://www.bangor.ac.uk/news/archive/prehistoric-communities-off-the-coast-of-britain-embraced-rising-seas-what-this-means-for-today-s-island-nations-44529#:~:text=By%2012%2C000%20years%20ago%2C%20the,smaller%2C%20engulfed%20by%20rising%20seas. Lysons, Daniel and Samuel Lysons, 'The Scilly Islands', in Magna Britannia: Volume 3, Cornwall( London, 1814), British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/magna-britannia/vol3/pp330-337 Penhallurick, R.D. “Ancient and Early Medieval Coins from Cornwall & Scilly.” ROYAL NUMISMATIC SOCIETY SPECIAL PUBLICATION NO. 45. London. 2010. https://www.academia.edu/355282/Ancient_and_Early_Medieval_Coins_from_Cornwall_and_Scilly Sawyer, Katherine, PhD. “Scilly’s Hidden History.” Isles of Scilly. https://www.visitislesofscilly.com/home/blog/scillys-hidden-history#:~:text=Scilly%20was%20first%20visited%20by,as%20a%20lack%20of%20predators. Young-Brown, Fiona. “The World’s Longest War Only Ended in 1986.” Atlas Obscura. Jan. 19, 2016. https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/the-worlds-longest-war-only-ended-in-1985 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.