The Atlas Obscura Podcast

In the collection of the Lyme Regis Museum in England is a beautiful 19th century tabletop made of delicate, inset stones. The rub is that these stones are… (spoiler alert)... coprolite, or fossilized feces. Amanda and Johanna discuss the man who had this table made, an eccentric scientist named William Buckland, who was a key figure in the early history of paleontology.For more information about William Buckland’s table, see:https://www.lymeregismuseum.co.uk/related-article/bucklands-coprolite-table/https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/the-father-and-son-who-ate-every-animal-possible“The man who tried to eat everything on Earth” from the Royal Society https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-fcaKO_5skhttps://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/history/unusual-diet-18th-century-geologist-william-bucklandhttps://www.theparisreview.org/blog/2016/05/19/me-and-my-monkey/On the Kirkdale Cave: https://scarboroughmuseumsandgalleries.org.uk/object/kirkdale-cave/For more on Buckland’s son, Frank, see: “The Man Who Ate the Zoo” by Richard Girling Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Caroline Mazel-Carlton has visited over 1000 Atlas Obscura Places. But the project was about more than ticking off a list – she says it helped save her life. This episode contains discussion of suicidal thoughts. If you or someone you know is struggling, contact the Suicide Crisis Hotline by calling or texting 988. Explore the Atlas: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/all-places-in-the-atlas-on-one-mapLearn more about Caroline’s organization, the Wildflower Alliance: https://wildfloweralliance.org/  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jonathan Carey and Michelle Cassidy of the Atlas Places Team bring us two charming stories of some very special canines who have been (literally) preserved for the ages. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: Learn about Sergeant Stubby here and Owney here Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In July of 2024, Greg Eskridge was released from San Quentin Rehabilitation Center after 30 years in prison. We hear what it’s like to see the Bay Area with new eyes, and what places in his life have made him feel the most free. The Uncuffed podcast empowers people in prison to tell their own stories. Listen here: https://www.uncuffed.org/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On December 12, 1925, the first motel in America opened its doors. It had Spanish Mission style architecture, a red roof, and an orange tree outside each door. We trace the rise and fall (and second rise) of motels over the past century: the good, the bad, and yes, the seedy. Check out Megan McCrea’s timeline tracing the rise of the motel: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/12/insider/motels-history-road-trips-travel.html   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.