274 episodes

From public radio producer, Nate DiMeo, comes The Memory Palace, a finalist for the 2016 Peabody Award and one of iTunes Best Podcast of 2015. Short, surprising stories of the past, sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes hysterical, often a little bit of both.

"The most potent pieces of audio being produced today." - The AvClub

thememorypalace.us

The Memory Palace is a proud member of Radiotopia, from PRX, a curated network of extraordinary, story-driven shows. Learn more at radiotopia.fm

the memory palace Radiotopia

    • History
    • 4.8 • 6.7K Ratings

Listen on Apple Podcasts
Requires subscription and macOS 11.4 or higher

From public radio producer, Nate DiMeo, comes The Memory Palace, a finalist for the 2016 Peabody Award and one of iTunes Best Podcast of 2015. Short, surprising stories of the past, sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes hysterical, often a little bit of both.

"The most potent pieces of audio being produced today." - The AvClub

thememorypalace.us

The Memory Palace is a proud member of Radiotopia, from PRX, a curated network of extraordinary, story-driven shows. Learn more at radiotopia.fm

Listen on Apple Podcasts
Requires subscription and macOS 11.4 or higher

    Episode 214: Newsboy

    Episode 214: Newsboy

    The Memory Palace is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX.Music
    Un geant dans la mer and Triste soiree III from the score to Marie et les naufrages by the genius, Sebastian Tellier. 
    Love is Blue by Jackie Mittoo and the Soul Vendors.
    Rocky Passage by Jeremiah Chiu and Marta Sofia Honer
    Morris Visits Dr. Pratt from John Barry's score to The Wrong Box
    Adios Muchachos from Andre Popp
    Moonlight in Vermont from the great Dorothy Ashby. 
    Midnight Moon by The Portland Cello Project
    Dance PM by Hiroshi Yoshimura
    And we hear Blind Andy Jenkins' "Floyd Collins in Sand Cave" followed by Vernon Dalhart doing the same song under the name, "The Death of Floyd Collins." We also hear Jimmy Osbourne do Andy's, "The Death of Little Kathy Fiscus."
    Notes
    I have a note in my years-long running list of possible story ideas that says, "event songs," but I could never remember why. Then I was reading Charles Hirschberg and Mark Zwonitzer's, Will You Miss me When I'm Gone?: The Carter Family & Their Legacy in American Music and was reminded of Andy's story (that book is great).
    I also recommend the always-useful, Country Music USA, by Bill C. Malone for more on Andy and his era as well as Creating Country Music: Fabricating Authenticity by Richard A. Peterson.
    If you want more about poor Floyd Collins, you could turn to Robert K. Murray and Roger W. Bruckner's, Trapped!: The Story of Floyd Collins.

    • 17 min
    Episode 213: The Light and the Spirits

    Episode 213: The Light and the Spirits

    The Memory Palace is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX.Music
    Abisme by Shida Shahadi
    Ellen’s Image from Lalo Schiffiren’s genius score to The Fox
    Circulation by H. Takahasi
    Liquid Spear Waltz from Michael Andrews’ score to Donnie Darko
    A8 from a terrific record called NuNu by Clever Austin
    NotesI found a lot of insight in a terrific book called Extraordinary Beliefs by Peter Lamont. In it, there’s a smart historical, psychological exploration of why spiritualism was able to flourish despite all sorts of evidence opposing it. 

    • 12 min
    Episode 212: David Mills

    Episode 212: David Mills

    The Memory Palace is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX.

    Music


    Una Bravata from Carlo Rustichelli’s score to Amici Miei.
    Sunshine on Fish Skin by Girls in Airports.
    The Vienna Glass Armonica Duo performs Mozart’s Adagio for Glass Harmonium.
    The Fellowship by John Shabason


    Notes


    The best read on Mills is a 2022 article by Nate Hopper in The New Yorker about the challenges of keeping time on the internet.

    • 12 min
    Episode 211: Cutting and Ned

    Episode 211: Cutting and Ned

    The Memory Palace is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX.

    Music


    Je ne pas si c’est tout le monde - Theme Comedie from Vincent Delerm’s score to the film of the same, long name.
    Forbin’s Hi Fi from Michel Colombier’s score to Colossus: The Forbin Project
    Boo’s Lullaby by Maria Chiara Agriro and Jamie Leeming
    Helle (Ballade) from the great Phillipe Sarde score to that picture.
    L’Espagne pour memoire from Michel Portal’s score to Un et a la garoupe
    The Rain Never Stops on Venus by Michael Wollney
    Je t’ai meme pas dit by Vincent Delerm.
    From a Dream by Oregon
    A version of Narcisus for Clarinet and Electronics as played by Thea Musgrave.


    Notes


    Good sources if you want to know more are Peter Manseau’s book about spirit photography and the spiritualist age (Cutting intersects interestingly with that crea), The Apparitionists, as well as this article by Jerry Ryan about the history of aquariums in Boston.

    • 17 min
    Smoky and Bill, a Holiday Card

    Smoky and Bill, a Holiday Card

    The Memory Palace is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX.

    This is a special holiday bonus episode, a sequel to Episode 210. You’ll want to listen to that one first.

    Music


    The Parisienne by the Henri Crolla Ensemble
    Violette… by Philippe Sarde
    Gift by Makasuta Takagi
    The Sammy Herman Sextet plays The Bells of St. Mary’s

    • 8 min
    Episode 210: Smoky and Bill

    Episode 210: Smoky and Bill

    The Memory Palace is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX.

    Music


    I Believe in the Night by Keith Kenniff
    Improvisations sur les folies d’Espagne (extraits) from Marin Marais and Jordi Savall
    Finally by Lambert
    Voltige by Marin Lizotte
    Violin Solo no. 1 by Peter Broderick
    Fratres fur violin und klavier by Avro Part as played by Ursula Schloch and Marcel Worms
    Dungen by Henrik Lindstom


    Notes


    There are plenty of places to go to read about Smoky and Bill but why would want to go anywhere else than his book, Yorkie Doodle Dandy?

    • 18 min

Customer Reviews

4.8 out of 5
6.7K Ratings

6.7K Ratings

Mr. Music Head ,

Probably my all-time favorite podcast

Nate tells wonderful small, quiet stories, and he does it beautifully. One of the few podcasts I will never speed up, and will listen straight through. I always am happy to see a new episode in my feed.

rosallea ,

Delightful.

Masterful , rich, storytelling, reminding us to appreciate how we effect one another and the world and the colorful history behind what we may deem ordinary. Thank you for bringing so many to light and adding wonder.

Drunkle Titus ,

Perfect

For my money this is the best podcast that has been or will ever be.

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