177 episodes
Strong Sense of Place Realm
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- Arts
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4.9 • 462 Ratings
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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 the Week. We‘re on a trip around the globe, one great read at a time. Please join us!
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New York City: NO! SLEEP! TILL BROOKLYN!
Is New York City the world capital of… everything? It’s sure putting up a good effort.
We could talk about how the New York Stock Exchange started under a tree (!) on Wall Street and how NYC is now the financial capital of the world. Billionaires, millionaires, blah blah blah.
Let’s talk about what really matters.
Like… the best pizza and bagels in the world, the Met and the New York Public Library, art deco skyscrapers and bodega cats, Carnegie Hall, Broadway, Rockefeller Center, and that one place on the corner in Brooklyn with the best Polish pastries.
There’s the immediately identifiable New York accent and the 800 or so languages spoken by New Yorkers from all around the world. The City That Never Sleeps is the ultimate melting pot; we’re all better for it.
New Yorkers are a unique breed who’ve changed the personality of the city over and over again. Dutch and British settlers named the place, immigrants made it cosmopolitan, the elite of the Gilded Age filled it with skyscrapers, and barriers were busted by the artists of the Harlem Renaissance. And let’s not forget the unnamed good samaritan on the subway who will warn you that the next station is closed so you need to transfer.
In this episode, we grab an imaginary coffee to go in a ‘We Are Happy to Serve You’ cup and explore the ultimate bookish day in New York City. In Two Truths and a Lie, we meet the musicians of the Phantom of the Opera on Broadway and visit a Brooklyn store where you can buy a can of chutzpah. Then we recommend six great books that took us to New York City on the page, including two graphic novels, a love letter to ’90s Manhattan, a frothy family saga, historical fiction with a challenging heroine, and a collection of short stories from a master of fiction.
Manhattan Beach by Jennifer Egan
LaserWriter II by Tamara Shopsin
Olga Dies Dreaming by Xóchitl González
Hello, NY by Julia Rothman
Roaming by Jillian and Mariko Tamaki
Table for Two: Fictions by Amor Towles
For more on the books we recommend, plus the other cool stuff we talk about, visit show notes.
Sign up for our free Substack to connect with us and other smart, friendly people who love travel and books.
Transcript of New York City: NO! SLEEP! TILL BROOKLYN!
Do you enjoy our show? Do you want access to awesome bonus content? Please support our work on Patreon! Strong Sense of Place is an audience-funded endeavor, and we need your support to continue making this show. Get all the info you need right here. Thank you!
Parts of the Strong Sense of Place podcast are produced in udio. Some effects are provided by soundly.
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LoLT: A Neat Trick For Managing Your Library and Two New Books
In this episode, we get excited about two books: The Main Character by Jaclyn Goldis and The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley. Then Dave shares a very cool phone trick for tracking your books.
Links
The Main Character by Jaclyn Goldis
Video: Jaclyn Goldis on the Chris Voss Podcast
The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley
Video: Kaliane Bradley’s first TV interview on Good Morning America
Video: How to Convert Image to Text in iPhone & Android
Transcript of this episode.
The Library of Lost Time is a Strong Sense of Place Production! https://strongsenseofplace.com
Join our FREE Substack to get our (awesome) newsletter and join in chats with other people who love books and travel.
Do you enjoy our show? Want access to fun bonus content? Please support our work on Patreon. Every little bit helps us keep the show going and makes us feel warm and fuzzy inside - https://www.patreon.com/strongsenseofplace
As always, you can find us at:
Our site
Instagram
Substack
Patreon
Parts of the Strong Sense of Place podcast are produced in udio! Some effects are provided by soundly.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
France: Mostly Here for the Butter
According to people in the know, there are two Frances: Paris and the rest of the (alluring, picturesque) country. In this episode, we’re celebrating the châteaux, coastlines, cathedrals, cuisine, mountains, and museums that give France its unique je ne sais quoi.
It’s hard to argue with the notion that France offers the best of everything. From scenery and snacks to iconic art, world-changing history, and culture-shaping fashion, it’s practically ground zero for the good things in life. The light is golden. The wine is luscious. The cheese is heavenly, and the scenery is so beautiful, it makes the heart yearn.
You can take a road trip or a bike ride among the purple rivers of lavender fields in Provence or the gilt-and-green vineyards in Burgundy. Loll in the sun and splash in the sea along the Riviera — or tour a château where nobles ruled and romanced 500 years ago. Wander the streets and cafés that inspired Vincent Van Gogh, then relax under a shade tree with a perfect baguette and the world’s best butter.
In this episode, we take a virtual road trip around France, explore the Bayeux Tapestry, and get curious about an obscure (and deeply romantic) French law. Then we recommend five great books that took us to France on the page.
Clara Reads Proust by Stéphane Carlier, translated by Polly Mackintosh
Joan by Katherine J. Chen
Murder on the Île Sordou by M.L. Longworth
A Woman of No Importance by Sonia Purnell
Fresh Water for Flowers by Valérie Perrin, translated by Hildegarde Serle
For more on the books we recommend, plus the other cool stuff we talk about, visit our show notes.
Sign up for our free Substack to connect with us and other smart, friendly people who love travel and books.
Transcript of France: Mostly Here for the Butter
Do you enjoy our show? Do you want access to awesome bonus content? Please support our work on Patreon! Strong Sense of Place is an audience-funded endeavor, and we need your support to continue making this show. Get all the info you need right here. Thank you!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Our Top 10 Books from the First Five Seasons of Strong Sense of Place
Since we launched Strong Sense of Place in 2020, we’ve produced five seasons — 56 episodes — of the show. We’ve also shared our affection for books through 101 episodes of The Library of Lost Time podcast — and we’ve introduced you to 500 books we love.
Thanks to you, we’ve had over one million downloads (!) and, the best part of all, we feel like we’re part of a massive book club filled with the best people. Thank you for that!
In this mini-episode, we each looked back through our book recommendations to find our top 10 titles from the first five seasons of the show. Maybe you’ll find your new favorites, too!
Find all the book titles and the corresponding podcast episodes on our blog.
Transcript of this episode.
The Library of Lost Time is a Strong Sense of Place Production! https://strongsenseofplace.com
Do you enjoy our show? Want access to fun bonus content? Please support our work on Patreon. Every little bit helps us keep the show going and makes us feel warm and fuzzy inside - https://www.patreon.com/strongsenseofplace
As always, you can find us at:
Our site
Our FREE Substack
Instagram
Patreon
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
The 2024 ‘Ask Us Anything’ Episode: In Which We Answer Audience Questions
We recently invited our audience to ask us anything, and we got excellent questions in return. The queries ran the gamut from ‘What literary theme park would you design?’ to ‘How do you hope people relate to your show?’ and ‘Are you still thinking about developing tours of bookshops in Europe?’
In this mini-episode, we answer those questions and more — including what we do if we find a great book after a show has aired, what the inside of our podcast recording booth looks like, and whether or not Dave is really 6’5". And, due to popular demand, we deliver an update on our cat Smudge.
Links
We answered other popular questions in previous editions of ‘Ask Us Anything,’ including how we met, whether or not we really love everything we recommend, previous jobs, and more.
2020 Ask Us Anything
2021 Ask Us Anything
Transcript of this episode.
Do you enjoy our show? Want access to fun bonus content? Please support our work on Patreon. Every little bit helps us keep the show going and makes us feel warm and fuzzy inside - https://www.patreon.com/strongsenseofplace
As always, you can find us at:
Our site
Instagram
Patreon
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
SSoP Podcast Season 6: Announcing 12 Fascinating Destinations
Season 6 of the Strong Sense of Place podcast starts 24 May!
We’ve put together an itinerary of 12 thrilling destinations with a journey to every region of the globe. Pack your (virtual) bags for Europe, Asia, the Middle East, South America, and two great cities on opposite coasts of the United States. This time, we’re also heading to space (and two other super-fun themes). Get ready to explore customs, history, scenery, food, art, and more — all you need is your curiosity, an open heart, and a favorite spot to read.
Click right here to see stunning photos of our Season 6 destinations.
Transcript of this episode.
The Library of Lost Time is a Strong Sense of Place Production! https://strongsenseofplace.com
Do you enjoy our show? Want access to fun bonus content? Please support our work on Patreon. Every little bit helps us keep the show going and makes us feel warm and fuzzy inside - https://www.patreon.com/strongsenseofplace
As always, you can find us at:
Our site
Instagram
Patreon
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Customer Reviews
Podcast Excellence!
This podcast is a must-listen for anyone who loves to read about places and cultures other than their own. Melissa and Dave review and recommend books in all genres that take readers all over the globe, spotlighting one location in each episode. I enjoy this show so much! I’ve discovered many great books that would not have been on my reading radar if not for Mel and Dave. Their friendly, delightful banter, combined with interesting information and excellent sound quality, result in the very best armchair travel! This is a life-enhancing podcast. They go along with me on my morning walks and I always come home smiling! Then of course adding more book titles to my TBR. Thank you so much to these two lovely humans for sharing their curiosity about the world with all of us.
A favorite pod
Longtime listener, avid fan! Season 6 starts today!! France is destination! Had a glass of wine from the south of France, forgot my new book journal, took notes, happily realized I have Mel’s last pick, Fresh Water for Flowers on my shelves! All books sounded great. Joan of Arc has been a triggering figure for me since I was very young, and had read about her and was mortified at how the Dauphin did nothing to save her. My parents did not monitor what I read at all and if anything fed me literature that I probably was too young for… I digress, that being said, I’m curious about Dave’s pick “Joan”, a novelization of the story. So happy to be adding to my TBR and learning so much from them as well. I’ll never get to travel to everywhere, but this way you get to be there in great books!
Pure Joy
I love this podcast! They make me smile. They make me curious. They inspire me to be adventurous. They spark new interests. There is never a dull moment. (I always trust Mel’s assessment on the foods she talks about because her Well Fed series has some of my very favorite foods) Bonus: every single book that I have purchased based on their discussion has been a pleasure. THANK YOU for your impeccable work.