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The Atlas Obscura Podcast

SiriusXM and Atlas Obscura
Atlas Obscura
New York City
Maine
California
World War I
World War II
Star Trek
Los Angeles
Forestiere Underground Gardens
London Mail Rail
Ghosts
Turkey
Fasnacht
Travel Stories
Eastern Hellbender
New York
Mexico City
Motel
Bunce Island
Damanhur

An audio guide to the world’s strange, incredible, and wondrous places. Co-founder Dylan Thuras and a neighborhood of Atlas Obscura reporters explore a new wonder every day, Monday through Thursday. In under 15 minutes, they’ll take you to an incredible place, and along the way, you’ll meet some fascinating people and hear their stories. Our theme and end credit music is composed by Sam Tyndall.

PublishesDailyEpisodes1361Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CulturePlaces & Travel

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Artwork for The Atlas Obscura Podcast

Latest Episodes

Dylan tries his hand at playing a “glass armonica,” a musical instrument invented by Benjamin Franklin. Its high-pitched, eerie sounds were rumored to cure all kinds of illnesses – or even, sometimes, cause them.

This episode is part of our ongoing ... more

A tidy little story from Pocatello, Idaho, home to the Museum of Clean

READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: www.atlasobscura.com/places/museum-of-clean

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection a... more

Lionel Messi left Argentina and became a soccer superstar playing in Spain. But when he came back home to play for the Argentina National Team, he had a tough time. NPR reporter and The Last Cup podcast host Jasmine Garsd talks about Messi’s return t... more

At the Mapparium® globe in Boston, visitors can step inside a giant, three-story stained glass globe…and get a glimpse of the bigger picture.

This episode is part of our ongoing coverage of the soccer world championship. In each episode, we take you... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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People also subscribe to these shows.

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Recent Guests

Christopher Richardson
Former city parks commissioner
City of Vancouver
Episode: Beyond the Game: Vancouver’s Dude Chilling Park
Dustin Bromley
Drummer in a punk band, local organizer of petition
Local community
Episode: Beyond the Game: Vancouver’s Dude Chilling Park
Michael Dennis
Artist behind the reclining figure (The Dude)
Artist
Episode: Beyond the Game: Vancouver’s Dude Chilling Park
Victor Bristensky
Individual who installed the initial sign in Guelph Park
Community member
Episode: Beyond the Game: Vancouver’s Dude Chilling Park
Don Rutledge
inventor who repurposed a payphone into a Joke's Phone
Washington, DC
Episode: Weekend Road Trip: The Jokes Phone
Chris Klein
Historian
Episode: The Rainmaker (Classic)
Jack DeGroote
Keeper and guide of the Kindred Spirit Mailbox
Episode: The Kindred Spirit Mailbox
Bob Ramirez
President of the Gabrielino-Tongva Springs Foundation
Gabrielino-Tongva Springs Foundation
Episode: Beyond the Game: LA's Kuruvungna Sacred Springs
Angie Burns
Gabrielino-Tongva community organizer
Gabrielino-Tongva Springs Foundation
Episode: Beyond the Game: LA's Kuruvungna Sacred Springs

Hosts

Dylan Thuras
Host of Atlas Obscura podcast, co-founder of Atlas Obscura
Kelly McEvers
Host of Atlas Obscura podcast, Atlas Obscura

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 2.8k ratings
  • WAY too short

    It's just not worth the effort of listening. These podcasts are way too short in duration. This isn't even a taste the amount of info givren is so meager! Not worth my time.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    manayunk wall
    United Statesa month ago
  • Great!

    This is an excellent podcast. I would like some more European content though!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    the tech nerd 77789
    Ireland2 months ago
  • Fiesta bean cake episode

    So disappointed in this episode. Not up to AO standards at all. A cake recipe reviewed by a total non-baker who has little knowledge and none of the right tools to make this cake. And when it didn’t work out, the recipe writer is condemned? Nah….

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    SMASUE
    United States2 months ago
  • Vocal fry

    Love the topics and stories on this show but some of the hosts have vocal fry that makes it hard to listen to.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    FrankieB92
    United States2 months ago
  • Ads ads ads on top of vocal frye

    I really enjoy the topics and most hosts.

    But

    Sooo many ads for such a short podcast. And the vocal fry and valley girl inflection with Johanna Mayer and few others is too much to listen to. I find myself focusing on catching the forward button for the constant ads, and trying to ignore the assault on my ears.

    Unfortunately I give up about 25% of the time

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    one among millions
    United States3 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise the show's bite-sized, wonder-filled stories and wide range of topics.
A portion note vocal fry and ads as distractions in a few episodes.
Some listeners wish for more international content and fewer ads.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

AO Mailbag: Five Friends, Three Nights, One Bathroom
Q: What is the best book you've read where the setting or the place is a main character?
The hosts discuss Moby-Dick and The Secret History as prime examples where the setting and atmosphere drive the narrative, with detailed descriptions that transport the reader and shape characters' experiences.
The Atomic Clock (Classic)
Q: So there is an official definition of a second. Can you lay it on me? What is it?
The second is defined by the cesium-133 atom in its ground state, where one unpaired nuclear spin state transitions to another, and the energy difference corresponds to a microwave photon oscillating exactly 9,192,631,770 times per second, which provides a stable and universal standard.
Walking the Johnny Appleseed Trail with Isaac Fitzgerald
Q: What is it and where is the Johnny Appleseed Trail supposed to start and end?
The trail starts in Leamingster, Massachusetts, near where John Chapman was born, and ends in Athol, Massachusetts, though the exact paths vary and some interpretations align it with nearby roads and streets.
AO Mailbag: Who Gets to DJ on a Long Road Trip?
Q: What should someone do if their friend insists on playing their own music for a long cross-country trip?
Aim for a compromise: propose a mutual listening plan, rotate DJ duties, or set a shared project like listening to a classic album together, so the trip remains enjoyable for both sides.
AO Mailbag: Who Gets to DJ on a Long Road Trip?
Q: What are your go-to souvenirs that won't stress people out, and how can you avoid gift-giving anxiety?
Choose small, consumable gifts or widely usable items like local jams, honey, coffee, or soap that are easy to enjoy and don't add clutter, and keep expectations low with simple, universally useful items.

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 The Atlas Obscura Podcast

What is The Atlas Obscura Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The program showcases short, story-driven explorations of unusual places, people, and historical events around the world, blending firsthand interviews with archival material and evocative descriptions. Episodes commonly thread curiosity with cultural, scientific, or historical context, featuring intimate portraits of creators, researchers, and local experts who illuminate how fascinating sites and artifacts came to be. A standout trait is the diverse roster of guests and subjects—from scientists and authors to museum directors and local historians—delivering accessible narratives in under 15 minutes that encourage wonder and travel-minded learning.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Atlas Obscura Podcast?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Atlas Obscura Podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Atlas Obscura Podcast and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Atlas Obscura Podcast get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The Atlas Obscura Podcast, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

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How many subscribers and views does The Atlas Obscura Podcast have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Atlas Obscura Podcast has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Atlas Obscura Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Atlas Obscura Podcast:

1. Sidedoor
2. 99% Invisible
3. Radiolab
4. the memory palace
5. Cautionary Tales with Tim Harford

How many episodes of The Atlas Obscura Podcast are there?

The Atlas Obscura Podcast launched 5 years ago and published 1361 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 The Atlas Obscura Podcast?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Atlas Obscura Podcast?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Atlas Obscura Podcast from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Atlas Obscura Podcast?

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What guests have appeared on The Atlas Obscura Podcast?

Recent guests on The Atlas Obscura Podcast include:

1. Christopher Richardson
2. Dustin Bromley
3. Michael Dennis
4. Victor Bristensky
5. Don Rutledge
6. Chris Klein
7. Jack DeGroote
8. Bob Ramirez

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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