the memory palace

Radiotopia

4.9 (405)
History
Updated fortnightly

the memory palace

5 days ago

Episode 66: White Heat/White Lights

Order The Memory Palace book now, dear listener. On Bookshop.org, on Amazon.com, on Barnes & Noble, or directly from Random House. Or order the audiobook at places like Libro.fm. The Memory Palace is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX. Radiotopia is a collective of independently owned and operated podcasts that’s a part of PRX, a not-for-profit public media company. If you’d like to directly support this show, you can make a donation at Radiotopia.fm/donate. This episode was originally produced in July of 2015. Music * Under the credits is Harlaamstrat 74 off of John Dankworth's Modesty Blaise score. * The opening loop is from Mr. Knight from Coltrane Plays the Blues, which you should own. * The violin piece is Occam II for Violin, a piece by Silvia Tarozzi, played by Pauline Oliveros. * Next up is Mikuro's Blues from the mighty David S. Ware' mighty Go See the World. * The amazing orchestral pieces is Triumph by Miguel Atwood-Ferguson and Carlos Nino from Fill the Heart- Shaped Cup * Finally, there's 13 Ghosts II by Nine Inch Nails from Ghosts I-IV Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
2 Jul

Rush, Hall, Bartlett, and Thornton

This is a special episode commissioned by Aspen Ideas: Health and originally performed at the 2026 festival in Aspen, Colorado. Order The Memory Palace book now, dear listener. On Bookshop.org, on Amazon.com, on Barnes & Noble, or directly from Random House. Or order the audiobook at places like Libro.fm. The Memory Palace is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX. Radiotopia is a collective of independently owned and operated podcasts that’s a part of PRX, a not-for-profit public media company. If you’d like to directly support this show, you can make a donation at Radiotopia.fm/donate. Music The Barr Brothers play Static Orphans Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
12 Jun

A White Horse

This episode was originally released in 2016 in the days after the shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando. It is re-released every year on the anniversary of the incident. Order The Memory Palace book now, dear listener. On Bookshop.org, on Amazon.com, on Barnes & Noble, or directly from Random House. Or order the audiobook at places like Libro.fm. The Memory Palace is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX. Radiotopia is a collective of independently owned and operated podcasts that’s a part of PRX, a not-for-profit public media company. If you’d like to directly support this show, you can make a donation at Radiotopia.fm/donate. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
10 Jun

Episode 245: The Self-Believer, or Hasting by Musket and Sextant

Order The Memory Palace book now, dear listener. On Bookshop.org, on Amazon.com, on Barnes & Noble, or directly from Random House. Or order the audiobook at places like Libro.fm. The Memory Palace is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX. Radiotopia is a collective of independently owned and operated podcasts that’s a part of PRX, a not-for-profit public media company. If you’d like to directly support this show, you can make a donation at Radiotopia.fm/donate. Music The Barr Brothers play Static Orphans Resavoir plays Facets We hear Le mort de l'enfant from Hikaru Hayashi's score to The Naked Island. South Seas by David Pike Trust in Me from Sould Flutes Flowering Jasmine from Gidon Kremer Tesko Mi Je Zabrovit Tebe from Branko Mataja. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
23 May

Episode 244: Pathways

Order The Memory Palace book now, dear listener. On Bookshop.org, on Amazon.com, on Barnes & Noble, or directly from Random House. Or order the audiobook at places like Libro.fm. The Memory Palace is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX. Radiotopia is a collective of independently owned and operated podcasts that’s a part of PRX, a not-for-profit public media company. If you’d like to directly support this show, you can make a donation at Radiotopia.fm/donate. Music Two (Duvet and Correspondences) from Laurie Torres' gorgeous album, Après coup.Notes I implore you to get lost in the interactive map at livingnewdeal.org. And then go out in the woods. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
1 May

Episode 243: The Brothers Switzer

Order The Memory Palace book now, dear listener. On Bookshop.org, on Amazon.com, on Barnes & Noble, or directly from Random House. Or order the audiobook at places like Libro.fm. The Memory Palace is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX. Radiotopia is a collective of independently owned and operated podcasts that’s a part of PRX, a not-for-profit public media company. If you’d like to directly support this show, you can make a donation at Radiotopia.fm/donate. Music The Skydiver from the great Lalo Schiffrin's score to the quite poor, The Mask of Sheba. Charlie Megira plays The Girl Who was Frightened of Ashtrays Ellen's Image from the great Lalo Schiffrin's score to the quite excellent, The Fox. What if... from Keegan Dewitt's score to the quite charming, Heart Beats Loud. Notes There was a very good article in Cabinet Magazine by Christopher Turner about the Switzer Brothers that includes excerpts from an unpublished autobiography from Bob. I also really enjoyed this one from Liz Stinson about the science and art of Day Glo. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
10 Apr

A Story and a Song (A Memory Palace/Song Exploder Crossover Event)

Order The Memory Palace book now, dear listener. On Bookshop.org, on Amazon.com, on Barnes & Noble, or directly from Random House. Or order the audiobook at places like Libro.fm. The Memory Palace is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX. Radiotopia is a collective of independently owned and operated podcasts that’s a part of PRX, a not-for-profit public media company. If you’d like to directly support this show, you can make a donation at Radiotopia.fm/donate. You can hear Rollercoaster and more of Hrishi's music at Hrishikesh.co. Pre-order his new album wherever you do that sort of thing! Music Halcyon and Photosynteses and Embryo by H. Takehashi Intro by Library Tapes The Florist Wears Knee Breeches by M. Sage Notes I found Andrew Isenberg's book, The Destruction of the Bison, An Environmental History, completely fascinating. If you want to do a deep dive on Madison Grant, I'd recommend Defending the Master Race: Conservation, Eugenics, and the Legacy of Madison Grant by John Peter Spiro. If you want to do a deep dive on the Catalina Buffalo, this site is a fun place to start. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
22 Mar

Episode 242: The Handwriter

Order The Memory Palace book now, dear listener. On Bookshop.org, on Amazon.com, on Barnes & Noble, or directly from Random House. Or order the audiobook at places like Libro.fm. The Memory Palace is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX. Radiotopia is a collective of independently owned and operated podcasts that’s a part of PRX, a not-for-profit public media company. If you’d like to directly support this show, you can make a donation at Radiotopia.fm/donate. Music Drywall from Johann Johannson's score to Sicario. Castle Song by Green-House Tea by Resevoir La Valse du Progres by Delphine Dora Arrival by Domenique Dumont Sarah in Bath from Kryzystof Komeda's score to Fearless Vampire Killers Thread of Light by Golden Retriever In Some Spirit World by Geotic Notes This one was pulled together with tiny threads of information, much provided by the NCRA's website itself. You can find links to three fascinating (really!) studies on the brains of transcribers here, here, & here. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

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Personal Journals

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Nate DiMeo

Host

4.9

out of 5

405 Ratings

Five stars

04/08/2025

fetlyna

You have the best voice and the most interesting tales. A delightful and quirky listen. Thank you for your work
Such a shame

05/09/2025

peanutseller

Once a great podcast but now feels like a constant advertisement for the book of the same name as podcast, which is a shame and sadly seems to be how a lot of podcasts are headed…. See our live show …. Buy our book… be a paid up member and here before the podcast here’s 3 minutes of adverts
Fully recommend

25/11/2024

Mollie Riach

Nate offers a much needed human voice and glimpse into those that came before us. I love that you go in blind to each episode took me a bit to get used to but fully embraced it now x
Still the very best of them all

19/06/2023

Nojohokolo

No doubt in a landscape crowded with noise this show cuts through with heart and surprise