Best Atlas Obscura Podcasts (2024)

1
Weed Week: Dope Lake 16:07

20m ago16:07

16:07

In 1976, an airplane carrying 6,000 pounds of smuggled weed crashed into a remote lake in Yosemite. A group of climbers had a heyday. Read John Long’s account of the crash, and check out Greg Nichols’ reporting on the same subject. Plus: Where is the weirdest place you’ve ever cast a vote? Give us a call at 315-992-7902 and tell us about your local…

1
Weed Week: Get Inside the CannaVan 16:07

41m ago16:07

16:07

Cannabis is now legal in more than half of U.S. states, but it remains federally illegal – which makes doing research on the plant extremely difficult. Today, we meet a clever group of scientists who found their way around these laws… by literally driving around them. Learn more about the CannaVan, and check out some of Rasha and Emma’s original re…

1
Spooky Week: The Gray Man (Classic) 12:17

2h ago12:17

12:17

A South Carolina ghost story is a harbinger of hurricanes and a window into history. Read more in the Atlas: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/south-carolina-hurricane-ghostBy Stitcher Studios & Atlas Obscura

1
Spooky Week: The Story of the Mad Gasser with Colin Dickey 23:04

2h ago23:04

23:04

In 1944, a strange spate of “gas attacks” in a small Midwestern town reveals what was really lurking in mid-century America. Read Colin Dickey’s article about the mad gasser, and check out his Monster of the Month series.By Stitcher Studios & Atlas Obscura

1
Spooky Week: Places That Give Us the Creeps 12:25

5h ago12:25

12:25

Listener stories about places that give off big creepy vibes – from an abandoned ice factory to a haunted university music building. If you want to hear more about Luz Fleming’s ghost story, there’s a whole episode about it called Bennington Ghost Stories on a podcast called Yard Tales.By Stitcher Studios & Atlas Obscura

1
Spooky Week: No More Scary Stories at Camp 17:26

7d ago17:26

17:26

To avoid traumatizing kids, many summer camps are banning scary stories. But can a little fun with fear be a good thing? Check out Roxanne Hoorn’s article about this fading tradition.By Stitcher Studios & Atlas Obscura

1
Spooky Week: Elmer McCurdy’s Nine Lives 17:20

2d ago17:20

17:20

In 1976, a television crew filming an episode of the show “The Six Million Dollar Man” descended on a rundown funhouse in Long Beach, California. While filming, they accidentally broke the arm off a wax dummy. Except...it wasn't a wax dummy. It was a real body. The body of a notorious train robber from the early 1900s, named Elmer McCurdy. Check ou…

1
The Smallest Mollusk Museum (Classic) 14:58

5d ago14:58

14:58

The Smallest Mollusk Museum in New York City is part of a fleet of tiny museums that might just have a big impact on the world.By Stitcher Studios & Atlas Obscura

1
Living on Mars 20:52

6d ago20:52

20:52

Kelly and Zach Weinersmith walk Dylan through the practicalities of making a home on the red planet. Check out their book A City on Mars everywhere books are sold.By Stitcher Studios & Atlas Obscura

1
The South's Hidden Confessional 10:32

7d ago10:32

10:32

Outside the French Quarter lies Hidden South, an antique shop like any other. And hidden amongst the oddities is a bathroom full of secrets.By Stitcher Studios & Atlas Obscura

1
Aftel Archive of Curious Scents 14:46

8d ago14:46

14:46

Producer Alexa Lim visits a collection of natural aromas in Berkeley, California. She gets a whiff of some of the world’s lesser known smells, and stumbles down the rabbit hole of the hidden world of scents.By Stitcher Studios & Atlas Obscura

1
Bessie Stringfield, Motorcycle Queen of Miami 13:12

9d ago13:12

13:12

In the 1930s and 1940s, a young Black woman named Bessie Stringfield decided she’d strike out on her own and hit the road – and ended up crisscrossing the United States eight times, and becoming the first Black woman to ride a motorcycle through each of the lower 48 states. If she ran out of money, she’d join a circus. If she couldn’t find a place …

1
The Divorce Colony (Classic) 16:06

14d ago16:06

16:06

For a brief period the small frontier city of Sioux Falls, South Dakota drew in socialites and celebrities who were desperate to end their marriages. For more stories from the Divorce Colony, check out April White's book:The Divorce Colony: How Women Revolutionized Marriage and Found Freedom on the American Frontier.…

1
The Hogs of Ossabaw Island 22:12

16d ago22:12

22:12

Reporter Diana Hubbell brings us to an island off the coast of Georgia, and tells Dylan the story of an eccentric heiress, a daring mission, and the fight for North America’s most unusual pig. Read Diana’s James Beard Award-winning article called “Saving the Hogs of Ossabaw Island.”By Stitcher Studios & Atlas Obscura

1
Skinny Houses 15:55

18d ago15:55

15:55

Producer Talon Stradley takes us on a tour of three skinny houses – each with a big story inside. Do these skinny houses have you curious about spite houses? Check out that episode here.By Stitcher Studios & Atlas Obscura

1
A Visit to the Reptile Super Show with Jacob Wysocki 14:59

17d ago14:59

14:59

Comedian, actor, and podcaster Jacob Wysocki takes Dylan on a tour of a very special expo: The Reptile Super Show! Listen to Jacob’s full experience at the Reptile Super Show (and his journey to other expos) here.By Stitcher Studios & Atlas Obscura

1
The Places We Loved and Lost 14:17

22d ago14:17

14:17

We’re bringing you stories about places that you can no longer visit – this time we have stories about a hometown hangout spot, a beloved amusement park, a mural building in Queens, and a disappearing natural wonder. Plus: We want to know about places that give you the creeps. Places that get under your skin and give you that eerie feeling. Give us…

1
The Stanley Hotel (Classic) 18:03

22d ago18:03

18:03

We go inside a place that some paranormal investigators call the most active haunted location in the world. Before it was known as the inspiration for Stephen King...the Stanley Hotel had a reputation -- and ghosts -- of its own. Find more information about the Stanley Hotel and its events online. This episode was produced with Visit Colorado. From…

1
Phone Booth on a Roof (Classic) 10:49

21d ago10:49

10:49

The City Hall in Lincoln, Illinois has an unusual architectural appendage with a curious history. Read more about it here.By Stitcher Studios & Atlas Obscura

1
The Most (and Least) Accessible Travel Destinations with Cory Lee 23:09

20d ago23:09

23:09

Traveling as a wheelchair user comes with some unique accessibility challenges, but Cory Lee has managed to visit 48 countries and all 7 continents. Cory is a travel blogger who shares his stories and tips for disabled travelers. He shares some of the most (and least) accessible destinations, hurdles he has encountered, and a few of his favorite me…

1
Spruce Pine, Global Chokepoints, and the Future of Manufacturing 14:54

27d ago14:54

14:54

The small mountain town of Spruce Pine provides nearly all of the ultra-pure quartz used to make the world’s semiconductors. When Hurricane Helene nearly wiped out the mines, it provided a stark wake-up call. Journalist Ed Conway joins Dylan to discuss what we can learn from this near-miss. Check out more of Ed Conway’s reporting and subscribe to h…

1
Screeching Like Seagulls 12:15

28d ago12:15

12:15

A group of seagull lovers in Belgium wants you to sympathize with these birds… by sounding just like them.By Stitcher Studios & Atlas Obscura

1
Spacing Out in South Korea 15:20

29d ago15:20

15:20

After experiencing burn out, South Korean artist WoopsYang decides to take a rest and create an environment for others to space out… by having a competition.By Stitcher Studios & Atlas Obscura

1
It's Spooky Season! We want to hear your stories 1:45

1M ago1:45

1:45

We want to know about places that give you the creeps. Places that get under your skin, give you that eerie feeling. And why? Give us a call at 315-992-7902 and leave a message telling us your name and story. Just so you know, our mailbox will cut you off after two minutes so please call back in if you get disconnected. You can also record a voice …

1
Mini Golfing in Myrtle Beach (Classic) 14:27

1M ago14:27

14:27

In Myrtle Beach, mini-golf is not so mini. They’re hosting the Mini-Golf Masters, where titans of the tiny game will compete to see who rises to the top. This episode was produced in partnership with Visit Myrtle Beach. Whether you’re a golfer or just looking to relax, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, is 60 miles where you belong. Learn more at VisitM…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Atlas Obscura Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

51
The Atlas Obscura Podcast

Stitcher Studios & Atlas Obscura

1
Weed Week: Dope Lake 16:07

1
Weed Week: Get Inside the CannaVan 16:07

1
Spooky Week: The Gray Man (Classic) 12:17

1
Spooky Week: The Story of the Mad Gasser with Colin Dickey 23:04

1
Spooky Week: Places That Give Us the Creeps 12:25

1
Spooky Week: No More Scary Stories at Camp 17:26

1
Spooky Week: Elmer McCurdy’s Nine Lives 17:20

1
The Smallest Mollusk Museum (Classic) 14:58

1
Living on Mars 20:52

1
The South's Hidden Confessional 10:32

1
Aftel Archive of Curious Scents 14:46

1
Bessie Stringfield, Motorcycle Queen of Miami 13:12

1
The Divorce Colony (Classic) 16:06

1
The Hogs of Ossabaw Island 22:12

1
Skinny Houses 15:55

1
A Visit to the Reptile Super Show with Jacob Wysocki 14:59

1
The Places We Loved and Lost 14:17

1
The Stanley Hotel (Classic) 18:03

1
Phone Booth on a Roof (Classic) 10:49

1
The Most (and Least) Accessible Travel Destinations with Cory Lee 23:09

1
Spruce Pine, Global Chokepoints, and the Future of Manufacturing 14:54

1
Screeching Like Seagulls 12:15

1
Spacing Out in South Korea 15:20

1
It's Spooky Season! We want to hear your stories 1:45

1
Mini Golfing in Myrtle Beach (Classic) 14:27

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