
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... more
| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 232 | Founded | 6 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | BooksArts | |||

Sometimes, it really does feel like Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year. Give us the fairy lights, colored baubles, fresh smell of pine, whipped cream-topped hot chocolate, and cookies. ALL THE COOKIES, PLEASE.
One of the best things ab... more
In October 2025, we took over Trevor Hall — a Georgian manor house in Llangollen, Wales — with forty members of the Strong Sense of Place community. It was the best book club ever.
We took walks in the countryside, talked about (so many) books, enjo... more
We recently spent three weeks in North Wales, and TBH, we left a big part of our hearts in Cymru. From the mystical borderlands to the rugged coastline and the top of Snowdon, Wales is thick with friendly sheep, genial locals, alluringly dark folklor... more
We’re currently visiting Wales with bookish friends for our Readers Weekend at Trevor Hall. But since Halloween is coming, we thought you might like to revisit our previous episode devoted to Spooky Season.
In this episode from 2020, we talk about t... more
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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.
Could you make an episode about Amsterdam or The Netherlands?
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!
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.
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
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.
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Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.
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A unique exploration of global literature, focusing on destinations and the books that evoke a strong sense of place. Each episode features in-depth discussions of various locations, enriched by personal anecdotes from the hosts, Melissa and David. The format blends travel insights, cultural highlights, and engaging book recommendations to create an immersive experience for listeners who are passionate about both travel and literature. The podcast stands out with its balance of informative and entertaining content, making it a go-to resource for bibliophiles and travel enthusiasts alike.
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Strong Sense of Place launched 6 years ago and published 232 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.
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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
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