the memory palace

Series produced by Nate DiMeo

Series image

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).

Hide full description

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
A Gas Gas Gas
From: Nate DiMeo
Series: the memory palace
Piece image
In which we hear about the Mad Gasser of Mattoon. In the 1940's, someone--or something--was prowling around Mattoon, Illinois spraying knock out g...

Bought by Spokane Public Radio, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, New Hampshire Public Radio, WABE, The Story and more


  • Added: Oct 29, 2009
  • Length: 05:45
  • Purchases: 11
400 Words for 79th Street
From: Nate DiMeo
Series: the memory palace
Piece image
In which we hear the incredible (and incredibly sad) tale of Minik Wallace, an inuit boy who, at the age of seven, was taken to Manhattan to be stu...

Bought by WABE, Louisville Public Media, KCRW, PRX Remix, KUT and more


  • Added: Dec 11, 2009
  • Length: 05:53
  • Purchases: 8
The Moon in the Sun
From: Nate DiMeo
Series: the memory palace
Piece image
In which we learn of a series of articles that appeared in the New York Sun in 1835 that purported to tell a true account of recent discoveries of ...

Bought by Spokane Public Radio, WABE, Louisville Public Media, PRX Remix, KUT and more


  • Added: Jan 19, 2010
  • Length: 05:23
  • Purchases: 6
I Have Not Yet Begun to Rot
From: Nate DiMeo
Series: the memory palace
Piece image
In which we hear the story of Revolutionary War hero, John Paul Jones, and the Civil War hero who found his coffin, 100 years after it had been los...

Bought by WTJU, Prairie Public, Radio Catskill, KUFM - Montana Public Radio, XRAY.fm and more


  • Added: Feb 01, 2010
  • Length: 07:05
  • Purchases: 16
Horrible Deaths
From: Nate DiMeo
Series: the memory palace
Piece image
The phrase "horrible deaths" has appeared 705 times on the pages of the New York Times.

Bought by PRX Remix


  • Added: Aug 04, 2015
  • Length: 04:41
  • Purchases: 1
Lost Pigeons
From: Nate DiMeo
Series: the memory palace
Piece image
"Lost Pigeons" is about American passenger pigeons.

Bought by PRX Remix


  • Added: Aug 04, 2015
  • Length: 02:54
  • Purchases: 1
High Societies
From: Nate DiMeo
Series: the memory palace
Piece image
"High Societies" is three stories of psychedelic consequences.

Bought by PRX Remix


  • Added: Aug 04, 2015
  • Length: 03:14
  • Purchases: 1
Itty Bitty Bombs
From: Nate DiMeo
Series: the memory palace
Piece image
"Itty Bitty Bombs" is about bat bombs. Platinum Remaster Edition: http://www.prx.org/pieces/175005-itty-bitty-bombs-special-platinum-edition

  • Added: Aug 04, 2015
  • Length: 02:54
Oh My!
From: Nate DiMeo
Series: the memory palace
Piece image
"Oh My!" is about urban planner Robert Moses.

  • Added: Aug 04, 2015
  • Length: 01:27
Li’l Nipper
From: Nate DiMeo
Series: the memory palace
Piece image
"Li'l Nipper" is about the dangerous job of nippers, boys who worked in coal mines.

Bought by WABE


  • Added: Aug 04, 2015
  • Length: 02:11
  • Purchases: 1
Ben Franklin Death Ray
From: Nate DiMeo
Series: the memory palace
Piece image
"Ben Franklin Death Ray" is about the British' fear of Ben Franklin.

Bought by KZYX and New Hampshire Public Radio


  • Added: Aug 04, 2015
  • Length: 02:21
  • Purchases: 2
International Brotherhood of Mothers
From: Nate DiMeo
Series: the memory palace
Piece image
"International Brotherhood of Mothers" is about Anna Jarvis, the founder of Mother's Day.

Bought by Prairie Public, Prairie Public, PRX Remix, and WABE


  • Added: Aug 04, 2015
  • Length: 04:17
  • Purchases: 4
Citius, Altius, Fortius, Horrendius
From: Nate DiMeo
Series: the memory palace
Piece image
In which we here the outrageous story of the third olympic marathon--the first event of the 1904 St. Louis Olympics.

Bought by WABE, KUT, The Story, PRX Remix, KFAI Minneapolis and more


  • Added: Feb 25, 2010
  • Length: 06:56
  • Purchases: 7
The Sisters Fox
From: Nate DiMeo
Series: the memory palace
Piece image
In which we hear the story of the Fox sisters: two American kids growing up in the heartland (or upstate New York) who, at the ripe old ages of 11 ...

Bought by KPIK-LP, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, WXAV 88.3FM Chicago, New Hampshire Public Radio, The Story and more


  • Added: Mar 16, 2010
  • Length: 09:41
  • Purchases: 12
Babysitting
From: Nate DiMeo
Series: the memory palace
Piece image
In which we hear the story of Don Hornig. A 25 year old scientist asked to babysit the A-Bomb during the night before the Trinity test changed ever...

Bought by Spokane Public Radio, KPIK-LP, WABE, Louisville Public Media, KUT and more


  • Added: Apr 02, 2010
  • Length: 04:53
  • Purchases: 8
Nee Weinberg
From: Nate DiMeo
Series: the memory palace
Piece image
In which we hear about a great American imposter: the serial pretender, Stanley Clifford Weyman. An average guy from Brooklyn determined to live a...

Bought by XRAY.fm, WABE, KCRW, KUT, PRX Remix and more


  • Added: May 12, 2010
  • Length: 08:48
  • Purchases: 7
Looking Up
From: Nate DiMeo
Series: the memory palace
Piece image
In which people party like it's 1999 back in 1910. A postcard from the roof of the Waldorf-Astoria 90 years ago. The place to be as Halley's Comet ...

Bought by Spokane Public Radio, WABE, Louisville Public Media, KUT, and PRX Remix


  • Added: Jun 17, 2010
  • Length: 04:29
  • Purchases: 5
Gigantic
From: Nate DiMeo
Series: the memory palace
Piece image
in which we hear the fascinating (and sad) story of the first elephant brought to America. And the man who loved her.

Bought by New Hampshire Public Radio, WABE, KUOW, KUT, KXOT Public Radio and more


  • Added: Jul 06, 2010
  • Length: 06:54
  • Purchases: 6
Soldier Frum
From: Nate DiMeo
Series: the memory palace
Piece image
in which we hear the story of John Frum, the man, the myth, the whole religion: people of the South Pacific island nation of Vanuatu create a "carg...

Bought by KZYX


  • Added: Mar 24, 2016
  • Length: 07:43
  • Purchases: 1
Six Scenes in the Life of William J. Sidis, Wonderful Boy
From: Nate DiMeo
Series: the memory palace
Piece image
in which we hear the incredible story of William James Sidis, famous boy prodigy. Taught himself Latin at 3, graduated Harvard at 16, collector of ...

Bought by WCAI / WNAN Cape & Islands, Mass., KUT, The Story, and PRX Remix


  • Added: Jan 12, 2011
  • Length: 14:22
  • Purchases: 4

Playlists That Feature This Series: