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).

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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
What They Saw
From: Nate DiMeo
Series: the memory palace
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Musings on the life of a civil war aeronaut, whose memories of the war were different than any other combatant.

Bought by Spokane Public Radio, KZYX, WABE, New Hampshire Public Radio, Louisville Public Media and more


  • Added: Jun 06, 2012
  • Length: 05:26
  • Purchases: 7
Far Below Lake Michigan
From: Nate DiMeo
Series: the memory palace
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Eight hundred people die as a boat sinks in the Chicago River that capsizes under the weight of the lifeboats mandated after the sinking of Titanic.

Bought by Spokane Public Radio


  • Added: Mar 24, 2016
  • Length: 01:17
  • Purchases: 1
Distance
From: Nate DiMeo
Series: the memory palace
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The incredible story of how the death of his wife inspired painter S.F.B. Morse to invent the telegraph.

Bought by Spokane Public Radio, KALW, Troy Public Radio, WABE, KFAI Minneapolis and more


  • Added: Jun 06, 2012
  • Length: 03:11
  • Purchases: 11
Heard, Once
From: Nate DiMeo
Series: the memory palace
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In which we ponder life before the advent of recorded sound and here the story of 19th Century Opera star, Jenny Lind's unlikely American tour.

Bought by KALW, New Hampshire Public Radio, KUT, Louisville Public Media, The Story and more


  • Added: Aug 08, 2012
  • Length: 08:04
  • Purchases: 6
Picture a Box
From: Nate DiMeo
Series: the memory palace
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In which we hear the incredible story of Henry "Box" Brown who escaped slavery by mailing himself to freedome.

Bought by Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, KFAI Minneapolis, Louisville Public Media, American Voices, WCAI / WNAN Cape & Islands, Mass. and more


  • Added: Jan 18, 2013
  • Length: 12:19
  • Purchases: 7
Dreamland
From: Nate DiMeo
Series: the memory palace
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In which we hear about Dreamland, the amazing Coney Island amusement park that burned down in 1911.

Bought by Spokane Public Radio and Canadian Broadcasting Corporation


  • Added: Mar 23, 2016
  • Length: 04:26
  • Purchases: 2
Giants in Those Days
From: Nate DiMeo
Series: the memory palace
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In which we hear the story behind the Cardiff Giant, one of the greatest hoaxes in American History

Bought by KPIK-LP, WCAI / WNAN Cape & Islands, Mass., Louisville Public Media, New Hampshire Public Radio, KALW and more


  • Added: Mar 11, 2013
  • Length: 10:20
  • Purchases: 8
Six Stories
From: Nate DiMeo
Series: the memory palace
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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
Every Night Ever
From: Nate DiMeo
Series: the memory palace
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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
You Know You’re Sick
From: Nate DiMeo
Series: the memory palace
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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
The Saddest President
From: Nate DiMeo
Series: the memory palace
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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
These Words, Forever
From: Nate DiMeo
Series: the memory palace
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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
The Brothers Booth
From: Nate DiMeo
Series: the memory palace
Piece image
"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
The Messrs. Craft
From: Nate DiMeo
Series: the memory palace
Piece image
"The Messrs. Craft" is about Ellen Craft.

Bought by Spokane Public Radio and PRX Remix


  • Added: Aug 29, 2015
  • Length: 05:58
  • Purchases: 2
High Above Lake Michigan
From: Nate DiMeo
Series: the memory palace
Piece image
"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
Presidente Walker
From: Nate DiMeo
Series: the memory palace
Piece image
"Presidente Walker" is about William Walker.

Bought by Spokane Public Radio


  • Added: Aug 29, 2015
  • Length: 05:40
  • Purchases: 1
Secret Kitty
From: Nate DiMeo
Series: the memory palace
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"Secret Kitty" is about "Acoustic Kitty."

Bought by WCNY


  • Added: Aug 29, 2015
  • Length: 03:55
  • Purchases: 1
Plummeting Approval
From: Nate DiMeo
Series: the memory palace
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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
Dig Set Spike
From: Nate DiMeo
Series: the memory palace
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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
Dam!
From: Nate DiMeo
Series: the memory palace
Piece image
"Dam!" is about the Hoover Dam.

  • Added: Aug 29, 2015
  • Length: 03:42

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