Strong Sense of Place | Travel Through Books

If we say ‘Mongolia,’ and you imagine an eagle hunter on horseback silhouetted against an endless blue sky and vast open plains, you are not wrong. Ditto for thinking of Chingiss Khan, frigid winters, and resilient nomads in gers (yurts). While those perceptions are valid, Mongolia may have some surprises for you. The sun shines 250 days a year, and summer days are luxuriously long and warm. Yes,...

In this episode, we get excited about two books: A Season for That by Steve Hoffman and The God of the Woods by Liz Moore. Then Mel explains why she’s so excited to get the new episode of the ‘Pack One Bag’ podcast every week.  Links A Season for That by Steve Hoffman Steve Hoffman’s website and an interview with the Star Tribune Still blog by Mary Jo Hoffman and an interview with Yoga Journal Sti...

As you read these words and listen to our podcast, we’re all riding on a ball about 8000 miles (13,000 km) across. Our rotating disco ball in space is dancing around the sun at about 67,000 mph (107,000 km/h). Our sun is about 93 million miles (150 million km away), shooting us with subatomic particles. Probably not maliciously, but who knows? The sun might be a trickster. It’s also filling our so...

In this episode, we get excited about two books: A Super Upsetting Cookbook about Sandwiches by Tyler Kord and Good Material by Dolly Alderton. Then Dave shares three great stories about India from his podcast research. Links A Super Upsetting Cookbook about Sandwiches by Tyler Kord Turkey and the Wolf: Flavor Trippin in New Orleans by Mason Hereford Deadly Sin crime series by Lawrence Sanders Goo...

India seems committed to being over-the-top in the best way possible. It’s colorful, noisy, crowded, vast, deeply historic, spiritual, vibrantly modern, multi-lingual, and stunningly beautiful.  Want to get loud? India is the place for you! Sure, its population of 1.4 billion people might overwhelm you with the sheer crush of humanity, but its cities have an undeniable energy once you’re acclimate...

In this episode, we get excited about two books: Assassins Anonymous by Rob Hart and Hip-Hop is History by Quest Love. Then Mel delves into the immersive storytelling, cosplay, and fantastic settings of LARPing. Assassins Anonymous by Rob Hart Rob Hart’s Substack Hip-Hop is History by Quest Love Video: Quest Love on CBS Mornings Chaos League website Photos from a previous Sahara Expedition First-h...

Is New York City the world capital of… everything? It’s sure putting up a good effort. We could talk about how the New York Stock Exchange started under a tree (!) on Wall Street and how NYC is now the financial capital of the world. Billionaires, millionaires, blah blah blah.  Let’s talk about what really matters. Like… the best pizza and bagels in the world, the Met and the New York Public Libra...

In this episode, we get excited about two books: The Main Character by Jaclyn Goldis and The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley. Then Dave shares a very cool phone trick for tracking your books. Links The Main Character by Jaclyn Goldis Video: Jaclyn Goldis on the Chris Voss Podcast The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley Video: Kaliane Bradley’s first TV interview on Good Morning America Video: ...

According to people in the know, there are two Frances: Paris and the rest of the (alluring, picturesque) country. In this episode, we’re celebrating the châteaux, coastlines, cathedrals, cuisine, mountains, and museums that give France its unique je ne sais quoi. It’s hard to argue with the notion that France offers the best of everything. From scenery and snacks to iconic art, world-changing his...

Since we launched Strong Sense of Place in 2020, we’ve produced five seasons — 56 episodes — of the show. We’ve also shared our affection for books through 101 episodes of The Library of Lost Time podcast — and we’ve introduced you to 500 books we love. Thanks to you, we’ve had over one million downloads (!) and, the best part of all, we feel like we’re part of a massive book club filled with the...

We recently invited our audience to ask us anything, and we got excellent questions in return. The queries ran the gamut from ‘What literary theme park would you design?’ to ‘How do you hope people relate to your show?’ and ‘Are you still thinking about developing tours of bookshops in Europe?’ In this mini-episode, we answer those questions and more — including what we do if we find a great book...

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 cu...

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,...

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 Socio...

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...

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...

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...

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 Ob...

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 Gilmarti...

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 Pigl...

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...

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 Hisa...

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 Pa...

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 Benjam...

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 P...