Season 6 of the Strong Sense of Place podcast starts 24 May! We’ve put together an itinerary of 12 thrilling destinations with a journey to every region of the globe. Pack your (virtual) bags for Europe, Asia, the Middle East, South America, and two great cities on opposite coasts of the United States. This time, we’re also heading to space (and two other super-fun themes). Get ready to explore customs, history, scenery, food, art, and more — all you need is your curiosity, an open heart, and...

In this episode, we get excited about two books: Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent by Judi Dench & Brendan O’Hea and The Demon of Unrest: A Saga of Hubris, Heartbreak, and Heroism at the Dawn of the Civil War by Erik Larson. Then Dave recommends a website to find new-to-you music. Links Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent by Judi Dench & Brendan O’Hea The Demon of Unrest: A Saga of Hubris, Heartbreak, and Heroism at the Dawn of the Civil War by Erik Larson The Devil in...

In this episode, we get excited about two books: Honor the Dead by Amy Tector and Sociopath: A Memoir by Patric Gagne. Then, our special guest author, Amy Tector, shares how she starts her day with poems.  Links Honor the Dead: Dominion Archives Mystery #3 by Amy Tector by Amy Tector Sociopath: A Memoir by Patric Gagne  Honor the Dead: Dominion Archives Mystery #3 by Amy Tector by Amy Tector Sociopath: A Memoir by Patric Gagne Amy Tector’s website Amy Tector on Substack: Méli-Mélo The Foulest...

In this episode, we get excited about two books: ‘Cold People’ by Tom Rob Smith and ‘Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life’ by Dacher Keltner. Then Mel shares the delicious history of Berlin’s currywurst. Links Cold People by Tom Rob Smith Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life by Dacher Keltner Currywurst History Currywurst Recipe Top 20 Hangover Foods Herta Heuwer Memorial Plaque Herta Heuwer Google Doodle Transcript...

In this episode, we get excited about two books: How to Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin and Table for Two: Fictions by Amor Towles. Then Mel explains how much she’s loving the new Brontë Parsonage podcast.  Links How to Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin Table for Two: Fictions by Amor Towles Rules of Civility by Amor Towles A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles Podcast: Russia: Revolution, Hope, and Vodka Video: A Gentleman in Moscow...

In this episode, we’re excited two new books: The Extinction of Irena Rey by Jennifer Croft and Why We Remember: The Science of Memory and How It Shapes Us by Charan Ranganath. Then Dave shares his thrilling experience at Guys and Dolls in London. This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/StrongSense and get on your way to being your best self. Links The Extinction of Irena Rey by Jennifer Croft Flights by Olga Tokarczuk Excerpt of The...

In this episode, we get excited about two books: The Morningside by Téa Obreht and James by Percival Everett. Then Mel tells us about an unforgettable Sri Lankan meal at Rambutan. This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/StrongSense and get on your way to being your best self. Links The Morningside by Téa Obreht The Tiger’s Wife by Téa Obreht Téa Obreht on How She Found The Morningside Excerpt of The Morningside by Téa Obreht James by Percival...

This is a replay of an episode featuring Dinner Party by Sarah Gilmartin and You Could Make This Place Beautiful by Maggie Smith. Then Dave tells the tale of remarkable women involved in London’s criminal underworld. This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/StrongSense and get on your way to being your best self. LINKS Dinner Party by Sarah Gilmartin You Could Make This Place Beautiful by Maggie Smith Maggie Smith’s website and Twitter Legal...

In this episode, we’re excited about two new books: Piglet by Lottie Hazell and Local: A Search for Nearby Nature and Wildness by Alastair Humphreys. Then Dave tells us about the awesome Stanfords bookshop. This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/StrongSense and get on your way to being your best self. Links Piglet by Lottie Hazell — audiobook Piglet by Lottie Hazell — print Local: A Search for Nearby Nature and Wildness by Alastair...

In this episode, we’re excited about two books: Lives of the Monster Dogs by Kirsten Bakis and Transient and Strange by Nell Greenfieldboyce. Then Mel talks about how she’s delving into Shakespeare. This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/StrongSense and get on your way to being your best self. Links Lives of the Monster Dogs by Kirsten Bakis King Nyx by Kirsten Bakis Transient and Strange: Notes on the Science of Life by Nell...

In this episode, we’re excited about new books on our TBRs: The Kamogawa Food Detectives by Hisashi Kashiwai and Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange. Then Mel talks about cooking chicken soup from around the world. This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/StrongSense and get on your way to being your best self. Links The Kamogawa Food Detectives by Hisashi Kashiwai & Jesse Kirkwood (translator) Wandering Stars by by Tommy Orange There, There by...

In this episode, we’re excited about new books: Strawberry Fields by Patrick D. Joyce and The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden. Dave shares some events worth traveling to in 2024. This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/StrongSense and get on your way to being your best self. Links Strawberry Fields by Patrick D. Joyce Back in the USSR by Patrick D. Joyce Patrick Joyce’s website The Wall by Peter Sís Prague Spring by Simon...

In this episode, we’re excited about new books on our TBRs: Everyone on This Train is a Suspect by Benjamin Stevenson and Fall Through by Nate Powell. Then Dave shares a lovely poem by Matthew Olzmann. This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/StrongSense and get on your way to being your best self. Links Everyone on This Train is a Suspect by Benjamin Stevenson Benjamin Stevenson’s website Fall Through by Nate Powell Nate Powell’s...

In this episode, we’re excited about two new books: Broughtupsy by Christina Cooke and The Curse of Pietro Houdini by Derek B. Miller. Then Mel celebrates the birthday and work of author Judith Viorst. This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/StrongSense and get on your way to being your best self. Links Broughtupsy by Christina Cooke The Curse of Pietro Houdini by Derek B. Miller Podcast: Jamaica: Let’s Get Together and Feel All...

In this episode, we’re excited about new books: Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett and Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar. Then Mel shares her excitement about a webcam in the Namib Desert. Links Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar video: Namibia Desert live stream 360° view of the desert surrounding the watering hole 10 Interesting Namib Desert Facts 11 Things to do in the Namib...

In this episode, we’re excited about new books: The Fury by Alex Michaelides and Maude Horton’s Glorious Revenge by Lizzie Pook. Then Dave recommends the delightful Planet Word Museum in Washington, DC. Links The Fury by Alex Michaelides Maude Horton’s Glorious Revenge by Lizzie Pook Planet World website video: Welcome to Planet Word video: Introducing Planet Word video: CBS Sunday Morning: A visit to D.C.’s Planet Word This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online...

In this episode, we’re excited about new books: The Djinn Waits a Hundred Years by Shubnum Khan and Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree. Then Mel shares the podcasts that have captured her imagination. Links The Djinn Waits a Hundred Years by Shubnum Khan Spooky & Sublime: 43 Gothic Novels with a Strong Sense of Place Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree The Well podcast Doug Jones on The Well: Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 Ethan Peck on The...

In this episode, we’re excited about two new books: The Lost Van Gogh by Jonathan Santlofer and North Woods by Daniel Mason. Then Dave shares the heartbreaking story of the hack on the British Library. Links The Lost Van Gogh by Jonathan Santlofer The Last Mona Lisa_ by Jonathan Santlofer Jonathan Santlofer’s website Gabriel Allon series by Daniel Silva The Last Painting of Sara de Vos by Dominic Smith Podcast: Museums: A Gathering of Muses, A Clutch of Curators The Seville Communion by...

In this episode, we get excited about two books: Empty Theater by Jac Jemc and Yellowfaceby R.F. Kuang. Then we discuss great reading resolutions for a bookish 2024. Links Empty Theater by Jac Jemc Yellowface by R.F. Kuang The reading resolutions we discussed in our show came from our fantastic (friendly, empathetic, imaginative) supporters on Patreon. Do you enjoy our show? Want access to fun bonus content? Please support our work on Patreon. Every little bit helps us keep the show going...

In this episode, we get excited about two great books: One Woman Show by Christine Coulson and To Shape a Dragon’s Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose. Then Dave recites a delightful poem from British poet Brian Bilston. Links One Woman Show by Christine Coulson Video: Christine Coulson at Hudson River Museum Metropolitan Stories by Christine Coulson Podcast: Museums: A Gathering of Muses, A Clutch of Curators To Shape a Dragon’s Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose Brian Bilston’s...

In this episode, we get excited about two books: This Is Christmas, Song by Song by Annie Zaleski and The Bathysphere Book by Brad Fox. Then Mel gets daydreamy about the deliciousness of fresh toast. Links Whamageddon 2023 Video: Blame it on Christmas by Shea Diamond Video: It Snowed by Meaghan Smith Video: Think of Christmas by Anne-Marie This Is Christmas, Song by Song: The Stories Behind 100 Holiday Hits by Annie Zaleski Duran Duran’s Rio by Annie Zaleski Lady Gaga: Applause by Annie...

In this episode, we get excited about three books: ‘The Christmas Party’ by Georgette Heyer, ‘The Christmas Murder Game’ by Alexandra Benedict, and ‘The Writer’s Journey’ by Travis Elborough. Then Dave shares a fantastic resource for finding the best books of the year.  The Christmas Party by Georgette Heyer The Christmas Murder Game by Alexandra Benedict The Writer’s Journey: In the Footsteps of the Literary Greats by Travis Elborough Our History of the 20th Century by Travis Elborough A...

In this episode, we get excited about two books: The Matzah Ball by Jean Meltzer and The Vulnerables by Sigrid Nunez. Then Dave recommends three great tabletop games to play with your favorite people. Links The Matzah Ball by Jean Meltzer Jean Meltzer’s website The Matzo Ball website What It’s Like to Attend a Jewish Singles Dance on Christmas Eve The Vulnerables by Sigrid Nunez Sigrid Nunez’s website Suspects: Claire Harper Takes the Stage Video: Suspects Review - with Zee...

We know you don’t all celebrate the American holiday of Thanksgiving, but it’s never a bad idea to express gratitude and devote a day to being cozy. In that spirit, we’ve made a little gift for you to show our appreciation. Watching the movie ‘Home for the Holidays’ is an annual Thanksgiving tradition in our house. The film is based on a brilliant short story by Chris Radant that is, sadly, out of print. Both the story and the film tell the tale of a family Thanksgiving in all of its...