The Atlas Obscura Podcast

Latest Episodes:

The Wave Organ (Classic) Nov 13, 2026

Show notes

Producer Luz Fleming takes his son to revisit a special childhood spot that just happens to be a San Fransisco gem hiding in plain sight ... in the middle of the bay!

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Will Ferguson and the Town that “Defies Logic” Nov 12, 2026

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Will Ferguson is an award-winning writer and novelist. He’s lived across the globe from South America to Japan, but his work is inspired by his home: Alberta, Canada. Today, he tells us about three places that have shaped his writing: a Japanese garden, a ghost town that transformed into a theater hub, and a 12-foot statue of a fur trader.

This month, we're talking with Canadian writers and artists who find inspiration in their home province of Alberta. This episode was produced in partnership with Travel Alberta. Explore Canada's Wild Side.

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This Pub is Named for the Real “Jekyll and Hyde” Nov 11, 2026

Show notes

Robert Louis Stevenson’s 1886 classic “Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde” tells the story of a (SPOILER ALERT!) respectable doctor by day who lives out a double life at night. Stevenson may have been inspired by a real 18th century Scotsman, William “Deacon” Brodie, who made cabinets by day – one of which purportedly ended up in the Stevenson family home – and ran a burglary ring in his free time.

For more:

Check out this Atlas article, “The Creepy Cabinet That Inspired Jekyll and Hyde”
As well as the BBC’s “The Real Jekyll and Hyde?” and The National’s “A Parcel of Rogues: The double life of Deacon William Brodie”
More on Robert Louis Stevenson’s penning of “Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde”
And go back to the source: “The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde” and the account of Deacon Brodie’s trial over on Project Gutenberg

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A Road Trip of Ancient California Nov 10, 2026

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Producer Glydel Go takes you on a road trip through ancient California, from a forest of fossilized trees, to a bristlecone pine older than the Rosetta Stone, to a pair of boulders with a mysterious smooth spot.

Our new book, America Obscura, is out now! Order it today: https://www.atlasobscura.com/hubs/america-obscura

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The LA Breakfast Club Nov 09, 2026

Show notes

Every Wednesday morning, a group of Angelinos come together to practice quirky traditions, sing signature songs, and celebrate initiations involving a wooden sawhorse and a plate of sunny side eggs. Welcome to the LA Breakfast Club, a social club that’s been around for more than 100 years.

The LA Breakfast Club is featured in our new book, America Obscura today: https://www.atlasobscura.com/hubs/america-obscura

You can also preorder: The Los Angeles Breakfast Club: A Century of Hollywood Hi-Jinks And Ham & Eggs

Specials thanks to Hadley Hall Meares, who was one of the contributors of our new book. And Don Snyder, who sings and plays the piano in this episode.

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Tell Us: Where Would You Travel Back In Time? Nov 07, 2026

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If time travel were possible, what time period would you visit and what place would you like to see?

Tell us your answer to the question above. Why do you wish to be there? What do you imagine it was like? Who, if anyone, would you have taken? How would you spend your time there? This can be anywhere in the world.

Give us a call at 315-992-7902 and leave a message telling us your name and story. Just so you know, our mailbox will cut you off after two minutes so please call in if you get disconnected.

Or you can also record a voice memo and email it to us at hello@atlasobscura.com

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Is the Supervolcano Beneath Yellowstone About to Explode? Nov 06, 2026

Show notes

All those hot springs, geysers, and greenery that make Yellowstone National Park famous are powered by an enormous volcano underneath it. And, according to the internet’s most excitable corners, it’s just itching to explode.

Today, we’re sharing an episode from Are We Doomed?, the NPR Network podcast about “the end of the world.” Host Ben Bradford explores the anxieties of our times and tries to understand what’s real and what’s imagined. In this case, the Yellowstone supervolcano — which is almost certainly not about to blow its top.

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Andrew Phung Is a Calgary Superfan Nov 05, 2026

Show notes

Andrew Phung is a comedian and actor best known for playing Kimchee on the TV show Kim's Convenience, and he's the creator and star of Run the Burbs. But for this conversation, what matters most is that Andrew is a superfan of Calgary, the medium-sized city in Alberta where he grew up. Andrew talks about living the “Canadian dream,” why he chose to set Run the Burbs in his hometown, and why Calgary is an underappreciated comedy city.

This episode was produced by Nora Ritchie.

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The Roadside Attraction That Paved the Way for Disneyworld Nov 04, 2026

Show notes

Weeki Wachee’s underwater shows, featuring swimmers in full mermaid drag, have dazzled crowds since 1947 – so long as a gator doesn’t make its way into the underwater theater. In this episode we hear about the history of this Old Florida roadside attraction, including how it paved the way for Disney World.

Weeki Wachee is featured in our new book, America Obscura. Preorder your copy today: https://www.atlasobscura.com/hubs/america-obscura

Some sounds in this episode were used courtesy of freesound user CCCanary.

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A Tale from the Crypt Nov 03, 2026

Show notes

In the late 19th century, the small rural community of Exeter, Rhode Island, found itself at the center of a chilling tale that blurred the lines between folklore and medical mystery. Tim Harford, host of the Cautionary Tales podcast, joins us in this episode to unravel it all. This is the story of Mercy Lena Brown, a young woman whose death brought upon a legend that would endure for centuries

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