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Artwork for Person Place Thing

Person Place Thing with Randy Cohen

Randy Cohen
New York City
Architecture
Jane Austen
Queens Public Library
Betty Friedan
Social Justice
Central Park
Immigration
Mercedes Sosa
New York
W.E.B. Du Bois
Theater
The Women's Revolution, How We Changed Your Life
National Organization For Women (NOW)
David Bowie
Aaron Copland
Shakespeare
Reba Gitner
Flor De Toloache
Brooklyn

In this new kind of interview show, Randy Cohen talks to guests about a person, a place, and a thing they find meaningful. The result: surprising stories from great talkers. Learn more at personplacething.org/

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes101Founded13 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BooksArtsComedyComedy Interviews

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Artwork for Person Place Thing

Latest Episodes

This social scientist and policy advisor finds hope in local resistance to data centers. "These are our neighbors saying we thought we had no power, but we know where AI sits in our lives, and we can say something about it." I'm still uneasy about my... more

"Eye surgery now is so marvelous," says this ophthalmologist. "I'm amazed." At age 97, he's one of the innovators who made it amazing, and he found time to go out for beers with Wernher von Braun and perform Shakespeare (not simultaneously). Produced... more

Gilbert Stuart's portrait of George Washington does not convey his actual appearance, says the Jewish Museum's director. "It's the way Washington wanted to present himself." The dubious task of the society painter, plus 3,500 years of Jewish life exp... more

They note that the leaders of the Irish rebellion of 1916 "wrote plays and poems and were well known in Irish literary circles." I'd be happy to have leaders who went to a play or read a poem. The curators of Risings: The Irish Literary Revival and t... more

Key Facts

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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Alondra Nelson
Social scientist and policy advisor
Institute for Advanced Study? (mentioned as guest; affiliation inferred from context, if not certain leave blank)
Episode: Alondra Nelson
Herbert Gould
Ophthalmologist
Independent medical professional
Episode: Herb Gould
James Snyder
Director of the Jewish Museum, guest on the episode
Jewish Museum, New York
Episode: James Snyder
Alan Klein
Co-curator of the exhibit Risings, The Irish Literary Revival and the Making of a Nation
Grolier Club
Episode: Sandy Neubauer and Alan Klein
Sandy Neubauer
Co-curator of the exhibit Risings, The Irish Literary Revival and the Making of a Nation
Grolier Club
Episode: Sandy Neubauer and Alan Klein
Peter Aigner
Historian with an interest in 18th century New York City
Historian, Gotham Center for New York City History
Episode: Peter Aigner, Ted Knudsen
Ted Knudsen
Historian with an interest in 18th century New York City
Historian, Gotham Center for New York City History
Episode: Peter Aigner, Ted Knudsen
Christopher Payne
Photographer known for architectural and infrastructure subjects
Episode: Christopher Payne
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln, portrayed by ChatGPT for the episode
ChatGPT AI voice
Episode: Fake Abe Lincoln

Host

Randy Cohen
Host guiding conversations about a person, place, and thing they find meaningful; long-running, dialog-driven interview style.

Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars from 52 ratings
  • There is no better

    Randy sticks to his own rules. PPT is the most clever way to open conversation that lead to fun, interesting and informative info.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sfoguy
    United States25 days ago
  • Thank

    Thank You Thankoo the lord I am very sorry to to you I know I don’t want you to to do that you know I have not respondeint d ooooI ought oils or not a little of them as the other nd I canoo

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JmGordon
    United States6 years ago
  • The Guy You Want at Your Table

    Not even Randy Cohen is as funny, clever and curious as Randy Cohen. ~ Winter Miller

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Playgoer2000
    United States8 years ago
  • excellent 😎🙌👍👍

    Love the show. I listen to podcasts constantly, and Randy clearly puts a lot of thought and work into this one. It's entertaining and intelligent. Great guests, and Randy is clever and gentlemanly. Def. worth checking out.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Naomi 🤖
    United States9 years ago
  • A great new approach to the traditional interview

    I really like Randy's show becuase it doesn't follow the model of prescriptive trivial anecdotes that inundate late-night television. Instead people on "Person Place Thing" attach meaning to three separate areas, and often I find personal meaning in the depths of these discussions while I'm engaged in the interesting material covered. I never knew that poetry was an Olympic event!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Picky Podcast Listener
    United States12 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners describe it as smart, funny, and deeply thoughtful.
Guests provide depth without prescriptive anecdotes.
A few comments highlight the show's ability to reveal meaningful human moments.
Some listeners appreciate the diverse range of guests and topics.
The show blends technical craft with intimate storytelling and surprising connections.
Overall, the show is praised for high-quality dialogue and memorable anecdotes.
Sponsorship suitability is aided by a thoughtful, culturally rich listener base.
Audience notes the host's curiosity and respect drive engaging conversations.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Alondra Nelson
Q: What does Kindred reveal about history's grip on the present?
Kindred shows that the past is not a distant backdrop but an active force shaping contemporary identities, traumas, and moral choices, urging readers to confront how history informs present social structures.
Alondra Nelson
Q: How does Du Bois's approach help us understand current debates around AI and work?
Du Bois's insistence on connecting race, labor, and political voice suggests that governance of AI must include broad social participation, protections for workers, and attention to how power is distributed globally, not just technologically but institutionally.
Fake Abe Lincoln
Q: There was also talk about the rumors around Bartlett's Quotations; what is your view on using quotes from such compilations?
Quotations can be useful shorthand, but true knowledge comes from engaging with the full works; using them without context risks misrepresentation, and that balance is essential for honest scholarship.
Fake Abe Lincoln
Q: You discussed reading Shakespeare aloud and sharing passions with James Hackett; how did performance influence your leadership and view of culture?
Reciting Shakespeare helped me connect with human complexity, recognizing ambition, guilt, and resilience as universal traits; performance shaped my understanding of leadership as both public duty and intimate human experience.
Fake Abe Lincoln
Q: You later asked Douglass to devise a plan to send Black scouts behind Confederate lines; why pursue that and what happened?
The idea reflected a willingness to take calculated risks for freedom and information, but the plan proved too difficult and risky; hindsight shows its flaws, though the underlying aim was to advance emancipation and justice.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Person Place Thing

What is Person Place Thing about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful interview series that centers on three meaningful anchors chosen by each guest: a person, a place, and a thing. Conversations weave personal narratives with craft-specific insights across a wide range of fields—from theater, architecture, and music to science, religion, and fashion—often anchored by the guest's lived experiences and how meaning is constructed through memory and objects. The host blends curiosity, humor, and respect for expertise, resulting in intimate, idea-driven conversations that illuminate how people shape their worlds. The show's unique three-thing framework invites listeners to discover unlikely connections and gain fresh perspectives on culture, creativity, and daily life.

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How many listeners does Person Place Thing get?

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How many subscribers and views does Person Place Thing have?

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Which podcasts are similar to Person Place Thing?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Person Place Thing:

1. The Political Scene | The New Yorker
2. Fresh Air
3. City Arts & Lectures
4. The New Yorker Radio Hour
5. Political Gabfest

How many episodes of Person Place Thing are there?

Person Place Thing launched 13 years ago and published 101 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Person Place Thing?

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Where can I see ratings and reviews for Person Place Thing?

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What guests have appeared on Person Place Thing?

Recent guests on Person Place Thing include:

1. Alondra Nelson
2. Herbert Gould
3. James Snyder
4. Alan Klein
5. Sandy Neubauer
6. Peter Aigner
7. Ted Knudsen
8. Christopher Payne

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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