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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Six Scenes in the Life of William J. Sidis, Wonderful Boy
From: Nate DiMeo
Series: the memory palace
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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
Soldier Frum
From: Nate DiMeo
Series: the memory palace
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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
Gigantic
From: Nate DiMeo
Series: the memory palace
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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
Looking Up
From: Nate DiMeo
Series: the memory palace
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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
Nee Weinberg
From: Nate DiMeo
Series: the memory palace
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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
Babysitting
From: Nate DiMeo
Series: the memory palace
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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
The Sisters Fox
From: Nate DiMeo
Series: the memory palace
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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
Citius, Altius, Fortius, Horrendius
From: Nate DiMeo
Series: the memory palace
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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
International Brotherhood of Mothers
From: Nate DiMeo
Series: the memory palace
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"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
Ben Franklin Death Ray
From: Nate DiMeo
Series: the memory palace
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"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
Li’l Nipper
From: Nate DiMeo
Series: the memory palace
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"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
Oh My!
From: Nate DiMeo
Series: the memory palace
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"Oh My!" is about urban planner Robert Moses.

  • Added: Aug 04, 2015
  • Length: 01:27
Itty Bitty Bombs
From: Nate DiMeo
Series: the memory palace
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"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

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