the memory palace Radiotopia
-
- History
-
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
-
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. -
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. -
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. -
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 -
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? -
Episode 120: The Prairie Chicken in Wisconsin: Highlights of a Study of Counts, Behavior, Turnover, Movement, and Habitat
The Memory Palace is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX.
Music
We move between three different pieces from Camille Saint-Saens': Suite, Op. 90: II Menuet, and two from Carnival of the Animals:Aviary and the Cuckoo in the Heart of the Woods.
We hit Juneau from Danny Bensi and Sander Jurriaans' score to Wildlike.
And The Waltz from their score to 5 to 7.
And there's a total gem from George Mukabi called Dila Ni Dila in there too.
Notes
Do yourself a favor and read Frances Hamerstrom's autobiography, My Double Life: Memoirs of a Naturalist.
Do your kids a favor and Jeannine Atkins take on Frances in her book Girls Who Looked Under Rocks.
And then watch Frances teach David Letterman how to cook a snake.
Customer Reviews
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.
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.
Perfect
For my money this is the best podcast that has been or will ever be.