PlayOne remarkable destination. Five books we love.
One lifetime is too short to visit everywhere and meet everyone. That‘s why we love books with a strong sense of place — they let us travel the world in our imagination. In each episode of our podcast, we explore one destination and talk about what makes that place different from everywhere else on earth. Then we recommend five books that took us to that place on the page. We‘re on a trip around the globe, one great read at a time. Please join us!
Created by David Humphreys and Melissa Joulwan.
Heard Strong Sense of Place on Realm yet? Join me: https://realmfm.page.link/2E7pY4wAkq7KAo7YA
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ep 0: Introducing Strong Sense of Place!
In this mini-episode, we introduce ourselves and talk about what the phrase 'strong sense of place' means to us. We'll also discuss why we started this show, our no-spoiler guarantee, and why we think you'll like this podcast. Starting January 20th, ...
Ep 01 — Prague: Castles and Cobblestones
Prague is the capital of the Czech Republic, home of the world's best beer, stunning architecture, and oh, yeah: ancient secrets. In this episode, we've got two books that transported us directly into communist territory during the Cold War, crime st...
Ep 02 — Restaurants: Hot Stoves and Steamy Relationships
In a restaurant kitchen, the chef is the ultimate authority, a figure that can inspire fear, rebelliousness, and a cult of personality. But it's not only the kitchen boss that makes restaurants a hotbed for excellent stories. In this episode, the boo...
Ep 03 — Japan: Family Honor and Super-Cute Stuff
Rooted in tradition and family, the culture of Japan provides rich fodder for stories that grab hold of you and won’t let go. In this episode, we take a deep dive into WWII-era Japan with a family saga and a nonfiction manga comic — both populated by...
Ep 04 — Mexico: Folklore and Beachy Paradise
Mexico is an inspired background for stories that explore the joy (and challenges) of family and the magic of everyday experiences. In this episode, we discuss two wildly different family sagas. One is set during the Mexican Revolution and infused wi...
Ep 05 — Scotland: Wraiths, Rebels, and Royalty
A rebellious national spirit, a predilection for ghost stories, an affinity for smart plaids, and an appreciation of a wee dram o' whisky — Scotland is all this and so much more. In this episode, we discuss books that swept us away to Scotland: an Ed...
Ep 06 — The Sea: Tales of Poets and Pirates
The sea is a metaphor for everything that's important to us: for adventure and creativity and love. It's fascinated humans since the beginning of time, inspiring poets, historians, and novelists, as well as adventurers, conquerors, and pirates. In th...
Ep 07 — Morocco: Couscous, Camels, and the Kasbah
Morocco can seem like something conjured from a dream. The twisty alleys of its old-town medinas hold secrets around every corner. Its markets are infused with the aroma of spices and the lilting melodies of musicians, with jewel-colored leather and ...
Ep 08 — Russia: Revolution, Hope, and Vodka
Russia is the largest country in the world. And its culture is dominated by larger-than-life historical figures, giants of literature, and sweeping landscapes. Both intentionally and inadvertently, Russia has had a massive impact on the rest of the w...
Ep 09 — Chicago: Baseball, Hot Dogs, Industry, and Infamy
Today, we armchair travel to the Windy City for a deep-dive into what makes Chicago different from every other city in America. We break the rules a little bit and discuss six books we love that explore Chicago's culture, food, and history of rabble-...
Ep 10 — Sweden: So Happy, So Murdery
As of April 2020, Sweden is the seventh-happiest country in the world. And it's no wonder! Its residents enjoy one of the highest standards of living on the planet with low unemployment, one of the world's longest life expectancies (80.6 for men; 84....
A Message from Self-Isolation in Prague
We're usually all about curiosity and fun facts and armchair travel and great books on our podcast. But in this mini-episode, we take a few minutes to talk about the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and give you a brief update on how things are in ...
Ep 11 — Cuba: Castro, Conga, Cars, and Cigars
Cuba is the largest island in the Caribbean, with sparkling beaches, lush jungles, and mountainous forests populated by animals found nowhere else on earth. It's a beautiful place with a tough history: colonization, liberation, independence, revoluti...
Ep 12 — The Circus: Found Family and Daring Feats
Feats of derring-do! Amazing acrobats! Clowns both ridiculous and poignant! Majestic animals from around the world! For centuries, the circus has transported audiences to an enthralling in-between place: a version of our world where gravity seems to ...
A Special Mini-Episode About Our Audience Survey
There is no Strong Sense of Place without you, and now we're curious about what's on your mind. Where shall we go next? What can we do better? We've put together a short survey so you can tell us just what you think. Bonus! If you provide your email ...
A Special Mini-Episode: Survey Results and What We’re Reading Right Now
In this mini-episode, we share some of the results from our end-of-Season-1 audience survey, preview some of the changes we're making to the show, and announce the first four destinations for Season 2. We also discuss a few of the books we've read la...
A Special Mini-Episode: Questions from Our Audience
In this mini-episode, we answer a variety of questions, including how we choose the books for our show, whether or not we really love everything we recommend, how we met, previous jobs, and other behind-the-scenes info. As always, you can follow us a...
Ep 13 — Paris: It's Always a Good Idea
When you daydream about Paris, whatever sparkling, romantic images you conjure are probably not too far off the mark. It is, after all, know as the City of Lights and the City of Love. The Eiffel Tower can be seen from almost everywhere and is a cons...
Ep 14 — Alaska: Fresh-Caught Salmon, Cake Mix, and So Many Bears
Alaska is the 49th and largest state in the union. It was derided as Seward's Folly when the US Secretary of State bought the territory from Russia in 1867. But the joke was on critics: Decades later, both gold and oil were discovered in Alaska's pri...
Ep 15 — The Library: Endless Books, Reading Nooks, and Lots of Possibility
The library is a sacred and celebratory place, filled with objects, yes — but inside those objects are imagination and possibility, heartbreak and triumph, silliness and seriousness and the whole range of human emotion and the entire history of scien...
Ep 16 — New Zealand: Kiwis, Majestic Scenery, and Māori Mythology
Head south to Australia and take a sharp turn east to arrive in New Zealand. It's a landscape both magical and majestic, surrounded by the turquoise waters of the Tasman Sea and southwestern Pacific. New Zealand is a fairly new country: the first peo...
Ep 17 — Halloween: Costumed Revelry, Voices From Beyond, and YAY, Candy!
It's no surprise that most Halloween stories delve into the dark corners and shadows of life. That premise is in the very name of the holiday. Originally known as All Hallows' Eve, it's celebrated just before All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day — two ...
Ep 18 — Iran: Revolution, Poetry, Storytelling, and Spices
Iran (formerly known as Persia) is the second-largest country in the Middle East, and its culture reaches back through the millennia. About 2500 years ago, the Persian Empire stretched from Greece to India, and its impact is still felt in the world t...
Ep 19 — Nigeria: Jollof Rice, Nigerian Pidgin, and So Much Hustle
Located on the west coast of Africa, Nigeria is the seventh most populous country in the world — and one in six Africans is Nigerian. Its megacity Lagos is the hub of commerce for the country, and it's also known for its epic nightlife, bustling stre...
Ep 20 — Peru: Andes Adventures, Fusion Food, and Piles of Gold
Peru is South America's geographical triple-threat with beach-front desert fronting the Pacific, the Andes mountains (the second-highest range in the world), and dense Amazon rainforest. It's also astonishingly beautiful with craggy peaks, lush green...
Ep 21 — Trains: Better than Planes and Cars. Fight Me.
In the 200 years since trains first started clattering on the rails, they dramatically changed industry and commerce — and inspired technological innovations that changed the world. But we like them because they're romantic and comfortable, allow us ...
A Mini-Episode to Wish You Holiday Cheer and a Happy New Year
In this mini-episode of our show, we talk about holiday traditions from around the world that we've added to our own celebrations... Our favorite Christmas cookies! The world's friendliest nutcracker collection! The Icelandic book party called Jólabó...
Ep 22 — Vietnam: Divided by War, Bonded by Family
Vietnam has mostly been defined by its tumultuous history of border scuffles, invasions, and colonialism — which does this beautiful, graceful, colorful southeast Asian country a disservice. Respect for tradition jostles up against a forward-facing a...
One year anniversary mini-episode!
It's our Podiversary! Podcastiversary? Podcastersary? Let's just call it our 1-year Podcast Anniversary. In this mini-episode, we look back at our first two seasons, share a few interesting stats, and give you a sneak preview of what's coming in Seas...
Ep 23 - Pennsylvania: Political Player, Potato Chip Maker
Every four years when presidential elections roll around, Pennsylvania is a big deal: It's a swing state with 20 electoral votes. But it's been a power player in politics since the beginning. During the Gilded Age of the 19th century, captains of in...
Ep 24 - Ireland: It's Not Good, It's Grand
Divided in two by political and religious differences, the isle of Ireland comprises two fabulously green entities: Northern Ireland (part of the UK) and the Republic of Ireland (a sovereign country). Lucky for us, delicious food, compelling stories,...
A Special Mini-Episode About Our 2021 Audience Survey
On our show, we usually get curious about a destination somewhere in the world and take you with us on a virtual trip. In this mini-episode, we're getting curious about YOU. You're invited to participate in our audience survey to let us know what's w...
Our 2021 'Ask Us Anything' Episode
In our recent survey, we invited our audience to ask us anything, and we got 153 excellent questions in response. The queries ran the gamut from 'what's the best thing about living in Prague?' to 'how did you meet?' and 'how do you choose the books f...
Ep 25 — Hollywood: Gumption, Glamour, Heartbreak, and Hubris
Hollywood is a land of sunshine dreams, glamorous red carpets, and the magic that happens when a great story lands in the right creative hands. It's also a place where brutal business decisions make and break careers — and where the bottom line can s...
SSoP Podcast Mini-Episode — What happened to Season 3?
In this mini-episode, we explain why our podcasts have been MIA and when you can expect new episodes. Spoiler: It shouldn't be too long now! The best way to stay informed about an updated schedule and other news is our free weekly newsletter — sign u...
SSoP Podcast Mini-Episode — Dave's Emergency Surgery
Astute listeners will by now have noticed that our podcast cast has been MIA since May. In this special episode, we tell you why. Trigger warning: illness, cancer, hospital, emotional anguish. If this were a novel, this story would be a terrifying th...
Ep 26 — Costa Rica: Cloud Forests, Coffee, and Capuchin Monkeys
Located in Central America — and with coasts on both the Pacific and the Caribbean — Costa Rica just might be the quintessential tropical country. It packs a lot of awesome inside its borders with white-sand beaches, verdant rain forests, active volc...
Ep 27 — Newsroom: From Clacking Typewriters to Viral Video
The word newsroom can conjure images of jaded reporters tapping away at typewriters and harried producers coddling the on-air talent just before showtime. But here in the 21st century, the newsroom is everywhere with citizen journalists and their pes...
Ep 28 — Arctic: Otherwordly Beauty That Might Kill You
The Arctic is the northernmost region on Earth. It includes the Arctic Ocean and northern parts of Russia, the state of Alaska, Canada, Greenland, and the northern tips of Norway, Sweden, and Finland. Teeming with wildlife, the land and sea blend wit...
Ep 29 — Afghanistan: Poppies, Tribalism, and the Taliban
Located in Central Asia with Iran to the west and Pakistan to the east, Afghanistan sits at the crossroads of Asia and the Middle East. That's made it a hot spot for invaders from all directions for millennia. Afghanistan's terrain is rugged — and i...
Ep 30 — Egypt: Ancient Antiquities, Fiery Djinn, and the Lure of the Nile
Egypt was one of the world's first civilizations, with a history that reaches back 5000 years through the sands of time. It's where writing and two-dimensional drawing and paper began. The god Amun-Ra personified the sun shining down on the deserts —...
Ep 31 — The Forest: Meet a Witch, Climb a Tree
For longer than memory, those deep, dark forests have been a symbolic, powerful setting for stories. The wildwoods of fairy tales are where we meet Hansel and Gretel, Little Red Riding Hood, Snow White, and Rumpelstiltskin. The Hundred Acre Wood is w...
Ep 32 — Greece: Gyros, Heroes, Philosophy, and Phyllo
Comprised of more than 2000 islands on the southern end of the Balkan Peninsula, Greece is bounded by bluer-than-blue water. Ionian Sea! Aegean Sea! Mediterranean Sea! Go anywhere in the country, and you're never more than 85 miles/137km from the oce...
SSoP Podcast Mini-Episode — Season 4: Announcing 12 Amazing Destinations
Season 4 of the Strong Sense of Place podcast starts 25 April! We've put together an itinerary of 12 destinations with stops on every continent. It's a tour around the world that will take us behind the scenes of fascinating cultures, dramatic histor...
LoLT: Dali Dinner Party & New Books
In this episode, we get excited about two new book releases: 'The Sea of Tranquility' by Emily St. John Mandel and 'The Candy House' by Jennifer Egan. Then we discuss the delightful distraction of Salvador Dali's amazing mustache and his epic dinner ...
LoLT: Edward Gorey’s Eerily Cute Art & New Books
In this episode, we get excited about two new book releases: 'The Patron Saint of Second Chances' by Christine Simon and 'Portrait of a Thief' by Grace D. Li. Then we discuss the gleefully macabre writing and art of Edward Gorey. BOOKSThe Patron Sain...
LoLT: The Enduring Art of Handpainted Signs & New Books
In this episode, we get excited about two new book releases: 'True Biz' by Sara Nović and 'Hotel Magnifique' by Emily J. Taylor. Then we discuss the fantastic artists devoted to preserving and enhancing the 150-year-old tradition of handpainted signs...
Iceland: Warrior Poets, Emo Horses, and Maybe (Probably) Elves
With all those dramatic volcanoes and glaciers, Iceland has become known as the Land of Fire and Ice. But we like to think of it as the Land of Legends and Poetry, a place to go adventuring with your extrovert pals, then curl up with a great book an...
LoLT: Whimsical Acorn People & New Books
In this episode, we get excited about two new book releases: 'Woman, Eating' by Claire Kohda and 'How to Tell a Story: The Essential Guide to Memorable Storytelling from the Moth.' Then we are thoroughly charmed by artist David Bird's whimsical figur...
LoLT: ’INterSECTS’ Exhibit at the New York Public Library & New Books
In this episode, we get excited about two new book releases: Siren Queen by Nghi Vo and Every Good Boy Does Fine: A Love Story in Music Lessons" by Jeremy Denk. Then we talk about an exhibit at the New York Public Library featuring art from a new gra...
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