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Strong Sense of Place | Travel Through Books

Melissa & Dave
Planet Word
Maude Horton's Glorious Revenge
The Fury
British Library
Cooking
The Three Dahlias
Thanksgiving
Christmas Music
The Djinn Waits 100 Years
Legends & Lattes
Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia Of Faeries
Christmas
One Woman Show
King Ludwig II Of Bavaria
Empress Elizabeth Of Austria
Broughtupsy
Christina Cooke
The Curse Of Pietro Houdini
Judith Viorst
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

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

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Artwork for Strong Sense of Place

Latest Episodes

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

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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

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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

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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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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 discussing books and culture with a focus on creating a strong sense of place through literature.
David Humphreys
Co-host discussing diverse cultural experiences and books that connect readers to places around the world.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 736 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 States2 months ago
  • The best podcast ever!

    Could you make an episode about Amsterdam or The Netherlands?

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    donyamasud
    Sweden3 months 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 States10 months 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 Statesa year 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 Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

The banter between the hosts is frequently mentioned as enjoyable and relatable, making the experience feel like a conversation with friends.
Many listeners express excitement over the book choices shared, often leading to increased interest in exploring various genres and authors.
Listeners appreciate the engaging format that combines travel and literature, often highlighting how the recommendations enhance their reading lists and travel plans.
Some comments point to the podcast's ability to inspire curiosity about new places and cultures, effectively broadening listeners' literary horizons.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#61
United States/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#174
United States/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#56
Canada/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#167
Canada/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#68
Australia/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#180
Australia/Arts

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?

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.

Where can I find podcast stats for Strong Sense of Place?

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How many listeners does Strong Sense of Place get?

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How many subscribers and views does Strong Sense of Place have?

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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. Well-Read
3. From the Front Porch
4. Sarah's Bookshelves Live
5. Currently Reading

How many episodes of Strong Sense of Place are there?

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.

How do I contact Strong Sense of Place?

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Where can I see ratings and reviews for 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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