x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

Strong Sense of Place | Travel Through Books

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 Strong Sense of Place podcast, we explore one destination and talk about what makes that place different from everywhere else. Then we recommend five books that took us to that place on the page. Every other week, we share The Library of Lost Time, a mini-pod that features two new books and our Distraction of

arts books

All Episodes

65:23

Ep 17 — Halloween: Costumed Revelry, Voices From...

Strong Sense of Place | Travel Through Books ·

2025/10/24

We’re currently visiting Wales with bookish friends for our Readers Weekend at Trevor Hall. But since Halloween is coming, we thought you might like to revisit our previous episode devoted to Spooky Season.In this episode from 2020, we talk about the origins of Halloween monsters and the tricky laws around selling a haunted house. And we recommend a bunch of books for Halloween, including some fun titles for people who want to get in the spirit but don’t like to be scared. Trick or

en

16:16

LoLT: What is Gothic? [re-post]

Strong Sense of Place | Travel Through Books ·

2025/10/17

We’re currently tucked up in a manor house in Wales with a slew of bookish friends for our Readers Weekend at Trevor Hall. Since it’s Spooky Season — aka, the best season of the year — we’re sharing our previous episode of The Library of Lost Time all about the Gothic.--- In this show, we’re excited about two books: The Murders at Fleat House by Lucinda Riley and Starter Villain by John Scalzi. Then Mel explains what she means when she says the magic word ‘Gothic.’ The Murders at Fleat House

en

72:49

Halloween: About 31% More Gothic than Normal

Strong Sense of Place | Travel Through Books ·

2025/10/10

In no particular order, here is an incomplete list of some awesome things about Spooky Season: bats, witches, vampires, scary ghost stories, sad ghost stories, funny ghost stories, werewolves, dogs in Halloween costumes, tiny candy bars, full-size candy bars, caramel corn, bobbing for apples, a chill in the air, staying up late to watch scary movies, dressing as your alter-ego, dressing as your hero, dressing as your monster, looking at other people’s costumes, shuffling around in crunchy leaves,

en

79:29

Manor House: The Fall of the House of… Almost...

Strong Sense of Place | Travel Through Books ·

2025/09/26

For most people, home represents comfort, safety, maybe family. It’s the place where you can be yourself — and where you keep all your stuff.For the wealthy, the right home can mean status, reputation, and legacy, especially in the UK. For hundreds of years, the traditional English manor was more than simply a big house staffed with servants. It was a grand home situated on farmland owned by the family. In addition to being a showpiece, it was a responsibility. The US equivalent is a Gilded Age

en

76:11

Baseball Diamond: Root, Root, Root for the Home Team

Strong Sense of Place | Travel Through Books ·

2025/09/12

There’s nothing else quite like a night at the ballpark, especially when the light and temperature hit just right. The air is soft, the crowd is genial. You’ve got a hot dog in one hand and an icy-cold drink in the other. Your only job? Sit there, take in the action, and occasionally join in a cheer or shout at the ump.Since the 1860s, baseball has been called ‘America’s pastime.’ During times of strife — the Civil War, the Great Depression, the World Wars — baseball provided escapism and a sense

en

69:08

Museums: A Gathering of Muses, A Clutch of Curators...

Strong Sense of Place | Travel Through Books ·

2025/08/29

Museums are where we put our best stuff. An item might belong in a museum if it’s rare, expensive, irreplaceable, or so ordinary and beloved it becomes extraordinary. A self-portrait by Vincent Van Gogh, a can of SPAM, a Romanian mud hut, a narwhal horn, a discarded red stiletto: They can all be found in a museum somewhere in the world.But exhibitions in museums are more than mere collections of striking items. Museums are vital institutions that take on the tasks of collecting, interpreting, and

en

74:24

National Parks: Go Outside and Touch Grass

Strong Sense of Place | Travel Through Books ·

2025/06/13

The National Park System (NPS) is a national treasure. US National Parks represent just about every type of feature and wildlife you can imagine. And it’s not just parks: The NPS includes national monuments, memorials, scenic trails, lakeshores, battlefields, recreation areas, and more.The concept of a national park is credited to George Catlin, a 19th-century lawyer, painter, and adventurer. His travels took him all over the burgeoning United States, where he met fifty native tribes. He also

en

71:08

Portugal: Storytelling, Surfing, and Ineffable Saudade

Strong Sense of Place | Travel Through Books ·

2025/05/30

Snuggled up next to Spain on the Iberian Peninsula and perched on the westernmost edge of Europe, Portugal has a long love affair with the sea. The Age of Discovery, launched in 15th-century Lisbon, carried Portuguese sailors to far-flung lands and brought sugarcane, tobacco, cotton, coffee, gold, spices, and chocolate back home.Today, the traditions of the colonies — and a Moorish invasion or two — are integrated into Portugal’s cuisine, music, architecture, and the azulejos that tell stories of

en

20:37

LoLT: The Twisty Tale of Salt Water Taffy and Two New...

Strong Sense of Place | Travel Through Books ·

2025/05/23

In this episode, we get excited about two new books: Aftertaste: A Novel by Daria Lavelle and Feeding Ghosts: A Graphic Memoir by Tessa Hulls. Then Mel delves into the story of New Jersey’s favorite beachy souvenir for National Taffy Day.Links Aftertaste: A Novel by Daria Lavelle Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson Butter Honey Pig Brea by Francesca Ekwuyasi Cinnamon and Gunpowder by Eli Brown Lush by Rochelle Dowden-Lord Feeding Ghosts: A Graphic Memoir by Tessa Hulls

en

11:03

SSoP Podcast Season 7: Announcing Our Fun-Filled...

Strong Sense of Place | Travel Through Books ·

2025/05/16

We’re delighted to announce that Season 7 of the Strong Sense of Place podcast kicks off on Friday, 30 May!We’ve put together an itinerary of thrilling destinations with a journey to every region of the globe. Pack your (virtual) bags for Europe, Asia, the Caribbean, and two exciting destinations in the United States. (Hint: There will be incredible vistas and majestic trees involved in our visit to America.) This time, we’re also celebrating two favorite holidays for maximum fun. Get ready to

en

15:20

LoLT: The American Writers Museum and Two New Books

Strong Sense of Place | Travel Through Books ·

2025/05/09

In this episode, we get excited about two new books: One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune and My Friends: A Novel by Fredrik Backman. Then Dave talks about the stellar winners of the 2025 Pen America Awards.Links One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune Read an excerpt from One Golden Summer Love is Like Peanuts by Betty Bates on Internet Archive Every Summer After by Carley Fortune My Friends: A Novel by Fredrik Backman Beartown: A Novel by Fredrik Backman A Man Called Ove by

en

17:44

LoLT: The Pen America Awards and Two New Books

Strong Sense of Place | Travel Through Books ·

2025/05/02

In this episode, we get excited about two new books: The Staircase in the Woods by Chuck Wendig and I See You’ve Called in Dead by John Kenney. Then Dave talks about the stellar winners of the 2025 Pen America Awards.Links The Staircase in the Woods by Chuck Wendig Invasive by Chuck Wendig I See You’ve Called in Dead by John Kenney Truth in Advertising by John Kenney Writer’s Digest interview with John Kenney The Boat Who Wouldn’t Float by Farley Mowat Pen America

en

15:51

LoLT: The Uncensored Library and Two New Books

Strong Sense of Place | Travel Through Books ·

2025/04/25

In this episode, we get excited about two new books: Exit Zero: Stories by Marie-Helene Bertino and The Pretender: A Novel by Jo Harkin. Then Mel talks about the remarkable digital library fighting global censorship.Links Exit Zero: Stories by Marie-Helene Bertino 2 A.M. at the Cat’s Pajamas by Marie-Helene Bertino — hear Mel talk about it on our Pennsylvania episode Beautyland by Marie-Helene Bertino — hear Mel talk about it on our Outer Space episode The Pretender: A Novel by Jo

en

12:40

LoLT: Putting Names to Nature and Two New Books

Strong Sense of Place | Travel Through Books ·

2025/04/18

In this episode, we get excited about two new books: Perspective(s): A Novel by Laurent Binet and The Impossible Thing by Belinda Bauer. Then Dave shares the app that’s decoding nature’s secrets in his favorite park.Links Perspective(s): A Novel by Laurent Binet The Impossible Thing by Belinda Bauer HHhH by Laurent Binet — hear Mel talk about it on our Prague podcast episode The Black House by Peter May — hear Mel talk about it on our Scotland episode Seek by iNaturalist: download the

en

26:31

Replay: A Mini-Episode With Answers to Questions from...

Strong Sense of Place | Travel Through Books ·

2025/04/11

We have a slew of new listeners — hello, new book friends! — so we’re sharing this episode from 2020 in which we answered questions about how we choose the books we read for the show, whether or not we really love everything we recommend, how we met, previous jobs, and other behind-the-scenes info. Hope you enjoy the peek into our lives and work!Sign up for our free Substack to connect with us and other lovely readers who are curious about the world. Transcript of this episode Do you enjoy our

en

12:41

LoLT: The Witches of Scotland Tartan and Two New Books

Strong Sense of Place | Travel Through Books ·

2025/04/04

In this episode, we get excited about two new books: When We Were Real by Daryl Gregory and The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones. Then Mel shares the meaningful story of the new Witches of Scotland tartan.Links When We Were Real by Daryl Gregory Daryl Gregory’s website Read an excerpt from When We Were Real Podcast: Mel talks about Spoonbenders in our Chicago episode Mel’s write-up of Spoonbenders Podcast: Mel talks about the P&T Knitwear bookshop The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by

en

11:04

LoLT: The Skellig Coast Dark Sky Festival and Two New...

Strong Sense of Place | Travel Through Books ·

2025/03/28

In this episode, we get excited about fun new books: The Expert of Subtle Revisions by Kirsten Menger-Anderson and On Air: The Triumph and Tumult of NPR by Steve Oney. Then Dave recommends a tranquil dark sky festival.Links The Expert of Subtle Revisions by Kirsten Menger-Anderson On Air: The Triumph and Tumult of NPR by Steve Oney The Kingdoms by Natasha Pulley Prague Spring by Simon Mawer Skellig Coast Dark Sky Festival Wikipedia on the amazing Skellig Michael Kerry International Dark-Sky

en

11:22

LoLT: The Joy of Lying on the Floor and Two New Books

Strong Sense of Place | Travel Through Books ·

2025/03/21

In this episode, we get excited about fun new books: The Paris Express by Emma Donoghue and The Antidote by Karen Russell. Then Mel explains why you should give yourself a time-out on the floor.Links The Paris Express by Emma Donoghue Video: Emma Donoghue at Politics and Prose bookstore The Antidote by Karen Russell The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders Why Lying on the Ground Feels So Good How to Do a Legs-up-the-Wall

en

13:18

LoLT: The ‘Order Up’ Word Game and Two New Books

Strong Sense of Place | Travel Through Books ·

2025/03/07

In this episode, we get excited about three new books: The Café with No Name by Robert Seethaler & Katy Derbyshire (translation) and The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami. Then Mel recommends starting the day with the new word game ‘Order Up.Links The Café with No Name by Robert Seethaler, Katy Derbyshire (translator) The Tobacconist by Robert Seethaler, Charlotte Collins (translator) The Field by Robert Seethaler, Charlotte Collins (translator) The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami The River Has Roots

en

12:29

LoLT: Tips for Memorable Travel and Two New Books

Strong Sense of Place | Travel Through Books ·

2025/02/28

In this episode, we get excited about two new books: How to Survive a Classic Crime Novel by Kate Jackson and The Bones Beneath My Skin by TJ Klune. Then Dave shares Kevin Kelly’s surprising tips for memorable travel.Links How to Survive a Classic Crime Novel by Kate Jackson Cross Examining Crime website Artist Joanna Lisowiec’s website Your Guide to Not Getting Murdered in a Quaint English Village by Maureen Johnson, Jay Cooper Wolf Hall Companion by Lauren MacKay The Bones Beneath My Skin

en

229 results

Similar Podcasts

Start The Breakthrough Full Audiobook Now, Thriller Fans!

thebookvoice.com

Get Hooked On The Life-Enhancing Full Audiobook Experience!

thebookvoice.com

西四五条

主播郑捕头

Podcast Patapoe

0d0a

On Mic Podcast

Jordan Rich