the memory palace

Series produced by Nate DiMeo

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the memory palace is a series of short, surprising history stories from veteran producer, Nate DiMeo. Each episode tells the story of a forgotten moment or figure from the past or asks us to remember the reality behind history's more familiar facts and faces. New episodes posted every ten days or so here, on iTunes, and at thememorypalace.us

the memory palace is a podcast from public radio producer, Nate DiMeo. Each week or two, you get new, pointedly short, surprising stories about the past. Sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes hysterical, often an wonderful mix of both, each episode aims to be the best kind of day-changing, watercooler story. For history buffs, fact-fans, fans of This American Life, RadioLab, perhaps even, The Writer's Almanac.

Episodes vary between the short (under 6 minutes) to the very short (under 2). Perfect for newscast, Morning Edition, and ATC drop ins. Nate's happy to discuss tailoring length's to best meet programming needs and ramping up production as necessary. Contact him at nate@thememorypalace.us with any questions. Visit thememorypalace.us for archives and the like.

Nate DiMeo reports regularly for national broadcasts of ATC and Morning Edition. He's been an editor and producer at Marketplace, was one of the founding producers of NPR/WBUR's On Point and WRNI's late-and-not-particularly-lamented, One Union Station. He Live is Los Angeles.

Read an interview about the series at the Third Coast Festival website (http://www.thirdcoastfestival.org/behind_scenes_natedimeo.asp).

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the memory palace is a podcast from public radio producer, Nate DiMeo. Each week or two, you get new, pointedly short, surprising stories about the past. Sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes hysterical, often an wonderful mix of both, each episode aims to be the best kind of day-changing, watercooler story. For history buffs, fact-fans, fans of This American Life, RadioLab, perhaps even, The Writer's Almanac. Episodes vary between the short (under 6 minutes) to the very short (under 2). Perfect for newscast, Morning Edition, and ATC drop ins. Nate's happy to discuss tailoring length's to best meet programming needs and ramping up production as necessary. Contact him at nate@thememorypalace.us with any questions. Visit thememorypalace.us for archives and the like. Nate DiMeo... Show full description


107 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
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Fifty words written after learning the Arctic Bowhead whale can live up to two hundred years

Bought by Canadian Broadcasting Corporation


  • Added: Mar 23, 2016
  • Length: 01:27
  • Purchases: 1
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"Shore Leave" is about the US Coast Guard.

  • Added: Mar 23, 2016
  • Length: 10:06
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"Below, from Above" is about the Brooklyn Bridge.

  • Added: Mar 23, 2016
  • Length: 12:29
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"The Wheel" is about Robert Smalls.

  • Added: Mar 23, 2016
  • Length: 15:21
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"Overland" is about Captain George Fred Tilton.

Bought by PRX Remix


  • Added: Mar 23, 2016
  • Length: 10:50
  • Purchases: 1
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"Homesteading" is about moving to America and making it home.

Bought by Prairie Public and PRX Remix


  • Added: Mar 23, 2016
  • Length: 03:44
  • Purchases: 2
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"This Ungainly Fowl" is about Edgar Allan Poe.

  • Added: Aug 29, 2015
  • Length: 04:35
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"Dam!" is about the Hoover Dam.

  • Added: Aug 29, 2015
  • Length: 03:42
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"Dig Set Spike" is about POWs in World War II.

Bought by Spokane Public Radio and Prairie Public


  • Added: Aug 29, 2015
  • Length: 05:02
  • Purchases: 2
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"Plummeting Approval" is about Sam Patch.

Bought by Spokane Public Radio and KPIK-LP


  • Added: Aug 29, 2015
  • Length: 05:04
  • Purchases: 2
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"Secret Kitty" is about "Acoustic Kitty."

Bought by WCNY


  • Added: Aug 29, 2015
  • Length: 03:55
  • Purchases: 1
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"Presidente Walker" is about William Walker.

Bought by Spokane Public Radio


  • Added: Aug 29, 2015
  • Length: 05:40
  • Purchases: 1
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"High Above Lake Michigan" is about the Chicago World's Fair. Platinum Remaster Edition: http://www.prx.org/pieces/175004-high-above-lake-michigan...

Bought by KFAI Minneapolis and Prairie Public


  • Added: Aug 29, 2015
  • Length: 04:25
  • Purchases: 2
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"The Messrs. Craft" is about Ellen Craft.

Bought by Spokane Public Radio and PRX Remix


  • Added: Aug 29, 2015
  • Length: 05:58
  • Purchases: 2
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"The Brothers Booth" is about Edwin and John Wilkes Booth. Platinum Remaster Edition: http://www.prx.org/pieces/175003-the-brothers-booth-special-...

  • Added: Aug 29, 2015
  • Length: 05:16
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"These Words, Forever" is about the father of radio, Guglielmo Marconi.

Bought by WCNY, KHNS, and PRX Remix


  • Added: Aug 29, 2015
  • Length: 03:17
  • Purchases: 3
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"The Saddest President" is about the 14th President of the United States, Franklin Pierce.

Bought by WCNY and KPIK-LP


  • Added: Aug 04, 2015
  • Length: 03:10
  • Purchases: 2
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"You Know You're Sick" is about John R. Brinkley, a "doctor" who claimed to have the cure for a variety of ailments.

Bought by PRX Remix


  • Added: Mar 13, 2016
  • Length: 05:27
  • Purchases: 1
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A UFO hoax from 1951 featuring two barbers, their buddy, Buddy, the butcher, and a monkey.

Bought by New Hampshire Public Radio, KPIK-LP, New Hampshire Public Radio, WABE, PRX Remix and more


  • Added: Jul 20, 2015
  • Length: 08:47
  • Purchases: 6
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Six stories from the history of the elevator. It's uplifting. Get it? Uplifting? Because it's a story about elevators. Which lift things up.

Bought by KALW, WCAI / WNAN Cape & Islands, Mass., and PRX Remix


  • Added: Apr 25, 2013
  • Length: 10:47
  • Purchases: 3