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Artwork for Strong Sense of Place

Strong Sense of Place | Travel Through Books

Melissa & Dave
Wales
World War II
New York City
India
Christmas
Halloween
Brooklyn
Brazil
Food
Literature
Olga Dies Dreaming
Table For Two
Laserwriter II
Panama
France
Norway
Thanksgiving
Seattle
Portugal
Home For the Holidays

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. We‘re on a ... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes236Founded7 years ago
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Artwork for Strong Sense of Place

Latest Episodes

Australia has a well-deserved reputation for being larger than life. It’s the only country in the world that covers an entire continent, and it’s home to hundreds of thousands of native animals and plants. (We’re looking at you, platypuses and koalas... more

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Nestled between the North and Baltic Seas, just north of Germany, Denmark is one (excellent) place made up of lots of places: more than 400 islands, Greenland, the Jutland Peninsula (which, BTW, is so much fun to say: sounds like YOOT-lan), and the F... more

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We’re delighted to announce that Season 8 of the Strong Sense of Place podcast kicks off on Friday, 28 August!

We’ve put together an itinerary of 10 fascinating destinations with a journey to every region of the globe. Pack your bags (metaphorically... more

YouTube

This is a special episode of Strong Sense of Place in which we announce that we’re doing it again — we’re taking a group of readers back to Trevor Hall.

In October 2025, we took over Trevor Hall — a Georgian manor house in Llangollen, Wales — with f... more

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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

Steve Bissette
Cartoonist, illustrator, and writer known for his work on the Saga of the Swamp Thing
Episode: Ep 17 — Halloween: Costumed Revelry, Voices From Beyond, and YAY, Candy! [ repost from 2020 ]
Kate Jackson
Author specializing in crime novels and classic crime fiction.
Episode: LoLT: Tips for Memorable Travel and Two New Books
TJ Klune
American author known for his whimsical and cozy fantasy novels.
Episode: LoLT: Tips for Memorable Travel and Two New Books
Kevin Kelly
Pioneer in technology writing and founder of Wired magazine, known for his travel tips.
Episode: LoLT: Tips for Memorable Travel and Two New Books
Amy Nicholson
Film critic and co-host of Unspooled
New York Times
Episode: LoLT: Grammy-Nominated Audiobook and Two Great Books
Adrian Tinniswood
Professor at the University of Buckingham, author of books on social history and architecture
University of Buckingham
Episode: LoLT: Tips for Reading Long Novels and Two Great Books
Adam Ross
Author known for his novel Mr. Peanut, which received notable acclaim
Episode: LoLT: Tips for Reading Long Novels and Two Great Books
Evan Rail
Travel writer and author of The Absinthe Forger
Episode: LoLT: An Absinthe Caper and Two New Books
Morgan Richter
Author of The Divide
Episode: LoLT: Morgan Richter Recommends Batman and Two New Books

Hosts

Melissa Joulwan
Co-host of the show, frequently discusses books and places with a warm, collaborative dynamic; affiliated with Strong Sense of Place | Travel Through Books
David Humphreys
Co-host known for thoughtful travel-focused book discussions and a collaborative banter style; affiliated with Strong Sense of Place | Travel Through Books

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 752 ratings
  • Love the book suggestions!

    I only sometimes listen to the facts at the first part of the episode, but I love to hear their enthusiasm for books and I love to hear how widely they read.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    SarahOnTheBrink
    United Statesa year ago
  • The best podcast ever!

    Could you make an episode about Amsterdam or The Netherlands?

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    donyamasud
    Swedena year ago
  • A dangerous show (in the best way!)

    This show is dangerous both for my TBR and my travel bucket list. Every episode leaves me with new books I’m dying to read and countries that I had never considered traveling to before but now desperately want to visit. I especially appreciate the wide variety of genres they explore - there really is something for everyone. Excellent content, great banter between Mel and Dave, and truly a fun experience. Their website and newsletters are top-notch as well!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Elsie Browncow
    United States2 years ago
  • Really Terrific Podcast

    This is a really terrific podcast—what a great idea! So far all of the books I’ve read that were recommended by Mel & Dave have delivered that strong-sense-of-place that I love. A great listen with solid recommendations.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    sarahelize
    United States2 years ago
  • A favorite pod

    Long time follower, supporter of the pod and the Great library of lost time !!! Have a copy of Strange Beasts by Susan J Morris , I’m part of the group of folks who support the imprint Inky Phoenix which published the book. So glad you mentioned it! Really liked the other recommendations as well! It’s bad enough that the pod SSOP increases my TBR astronomically now this!!! Struggling this month for reads, have been putting down so many things that just don’t work in the current world and US clim... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Susancara
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Fans appreciate deep, well-researched content across diverse destinations and genres, expanding their TBR and travel ideas.
Audiences value the cozy, library-like vibe and practical extras (notes, recipes, and deeper dives) that accompany episodes.
Many listeners say the show inspires travel planning and broader cultural curiosity.
Listeners praise the hosts' infectious enthusiasm and seamless banter that make book and travel recommendations feel like a conversation with friends.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#117
United States/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#216
Canada/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#212
Australia/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#99
Philippines/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#114
India/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#139
New Zealand/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Ep 17 — Halloween: Costumed Revelry, Voices From Beyond, and YAY, Candy! [ repost from 2020 ]
Q: Can you recommend any good books or movies for the season?
Steve recommends classics, like the Universal Frankenstein films, for a safe yet nostalgic scare, as well as some graphic novels.
Replay: A Mini-Episode With Answers to Questions from Our Audience
Q: Where have you lived?
David has moved 13 times by age 13 and has lived in several cities including New York, San Francisco, and now Prague.
Replay: A Mini-Episode With Answers to Questions from Our Audience
Q: Did you read multiple books at once?
David tends to read both fiction and nonfiction simultaneously, while Mel prefers to have one book going on Kindle and one audiobook.
Replay: A Mini-Episode With Answers to Questions from Our Audience
Q: How do you decide which books to read?
They search for a variety of genres and often start with finding a native author from the location they are discussing.
Replay: A Mini-Episode With Answers to Questions from Our Audience
Q: How many books do you read for an episode?
It depends on how the reading goes; sometimes three winners are chosen, while other times they continue reading more.

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 Strong Sense of Place

What is Strong Sense of Place about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show blends travel, place-based storytelling, and book recommendations to take listeners around the world in imagination. Each episode explores a destination in depth and uncovers what makes it unique, followed by five real book picks that illuminate that place on the page. A biweekly short-form segment, The Library of Lost Time, adds two fresh book suggestions and a light distraction. The hosts' warm banter, thorough research, and love of libraries, food, and culture create a cozy yet informative listening experience that's great for armchair travelers and bibliophiles alike. Noteworthy is the clear emphasis on place-driven reading, a welcoming vibe, and well-curated crossovers between travel lore, history, and literary gems.

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How many listeners does Strong Sense of Place get?

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Which podcasts are similar to Strong Sense of Place?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Strong Sense of Place:

1. What Should I Read Next?
2. From the Front Porch
3. Sarah's Bookshelves Live
4. Well-Read
5. The Currently Reading Podcast

How many episodes of Strong Sense of Place are there?

Strong Sense of Place launched 7 years ago and published 236 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 Strong Sense of Place?

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What guests have appeared on Strong Sense of Place?

Recent guests on Strong Sense of Place include:

1. Steve Bissette
2. Kate Jackson
3. TJ Klune
4. Kevin Kelly
5. Amy Nicholson
6. Adrian Tinniswood
7. Adam Ross
8. Evan Rail

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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