The Atlas Obscura Podcast

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Kelly's Picks: The Integratron Oct 01, 2026

Show notes

All week, host Kelly McEvers surfaces some of her favorite episodes from the archive. Here's today's story:

In August 1953, airstrip operator George van Tassel claimed he was woken up in the middle of the night by an intelligent lifeform from outer space named Solganda. George says Solganda told him to build an energy rejuvenation machine – so that’s exactly what he spent the rest of his life doing…

For more information on visiting the Integratron check out their website. Plus, take a look at some photos from one of George van Tassel’s UFO conventions.

If you want to learn more, George tells his version of the “encounter with Solganda” in a 1964 interview.

PLUS: Do you have a favorite episode we should bring back to the top of the feed? Tell us what it was and why you picked it.

Give us a call at 315-992-7902 and leave a message telling us your name and story. Our mailbox will cut you off after three minutes so please call in if you get disconnected. Or you can record a voice memo and email it to us at hello@atlasobscura.com

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Kelly's Picks: Alone on the Alaskan Frontier Sep 30, 2026

Show notes

All week, host Kelly McEvers surfaces some of her favorite episodes from the archive. Here's today's story:

What drives a person to live in isolation? Meet Sue Aikens, who thrives in the icy expanse of the Arctic. She shares stories of survival, self-discovery, and the wild encounters that continue to shape her life. Her memoir, "North of Ordinary," was just published.

PLUS: Do you have a favorite episode we should bring back to the top of the feed? Tell us what it was and why you picked it.

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Kelly's Picks: The Last Baldwin House Sep 29, 2026

Show notes

All week, host Kelly McEvers surfaces some of her favorite episodes from the archive. Here's today's story:

James Baldwin’s former home in the South of France is a site that many visit hoping to feel the essence of the great African-American writer. But should it be?

PLUS: Do you have a favorite episode we should bring back to the top of the feed? Tell us what it was and why you picked it.

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Kelly's Picks: The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam Sep 28, 2026

Show notes

All week, host Kelly McEvers surfaces some of her favorite episodes from the archive. Here's today's story:

One of the many objects that went down with the ship during the sinking of the Titanic was a beautiful, jewel-encrusted edition of a poetry book called the “Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam.” The Rubaiyat was probably the most famous work of poetry in the English-speaking world at that time…which was somewhat unusual, as the book was written by a Persian mathematician 800 years before.

For more information about Omar Khayyam and the Rubaiyat, check out the books “Persian Presence in Victorian Poetry” by Taher-Kermani Reza, “The Wine of Wisdom: The Life, Poetry and Philosophy of Omar Khayyam” by Mehdi Aminrazavi, and the BBC documentary “The Genius of Omar Khayyam.”

PLUS: Do you have a favorite episode we should bring back to the top of the feed? Tell us what it was and why you picked it.

Give us a call at 315-992-7902 and leave a message telling us your name and story. Our mailbox will cut you off after three minutes so please call in if you get disconnected. Or you can record a voice memo and email it to us at hello@atlasobscura.com

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Is Alton, Illinois America's Most Haunted Small Town? Sep 26, 2026

Show notes

Alton, Illinois has been called the most haunted small town in America. It’s a place where practically every building has its own ghost story, from an old penitentiary, an eroding island, and even an old 1920s resort. And bubbling underneath all this lore is the fascinating history of a town shaped by the wild and unpredictable waters of the Mississippi River. We’ll explore some places with their own ghostly lore …and we’ll learn how these stories (and the people who like to tell them) are helping to keep the town’s history alive. Visit EnjoyIllinois.com for more information on booking a hair-raising trip to America’s most haunted small town.

More links:

Check out our guest Troy Taylor’s book “Haunted Alton” (He also leads ghost tours, hosts his own podcast, and runs the American Oddities Museum in Alton)
For more on the history of penitentiaries in America, revisit our episode on Eastern State Penitentiary
…and queue up this episode too for more on the history of duels on Bloody Island!
For additional information on the places we discussed today check out the Routes & Rivers guides to Alton Prison, Bloody Island (also called Sunflower Island and Smallpox Island) and the McPike Mansion.

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It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (Classic) Sep 25, 2026

Show notes

From opera singers to strange noises emitting from air conditioners, listeners share stories about their unusual neighbors.

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Love Thy Neighbor (Classic) Sep 24, 2026

Show notes

We share stories about our neighbors – from an unusual pet in Maryland, to an out-of-place front yard in Brooklyn, to a beekeeper with a secret.

Plus: We want to hear YOUR neighbor stories! Tell us about your neighbors’ yards, their house decor, their habits – and what you like about them. Give us a call at 315-992-7902 and leave a message telling us your name and favorite story about your neighbors. Or you can record a voice memo and email it to us at hello@atlasobscura.com

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The Seed Huntress Sep 23, 2026

Show notes

Dive into the invisible world of seeds, Sefra Alexandra, the self-titled “Seed Huntress.” She tells us about her global mission to preserve our planet's diverse seeds and protect our future food security by uncovering the stories of culinary and cultural significance rooted in these tiny powerhouses.

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The Mothman! Sep 22, 2026

Show notes

Today we venture (with flashlights on) into the TNT area, a vast abandoned munitions factory in Point Pleasant, West Virginia – where, in the 1960s, people started reporting sightings of a strange, winged creature with red glowing eyes. The creature became known as “the Mothman,” and these sightings generated a legend that has since inspired books, movies, an annual culture, and a thriving Mothman subculture in Point Pleasant. This episode is brought to you in partnership with West Virginia Tourism.

For more information on the annual Mothman festival: https://www.mothmanfestival.com/

Trying to see the Mothman yourself? Our guest today Sherri Brake has you covered: https://www.hauntedhistory.net/mothman-haunted-history-walk-of-point-pleasant.html

In the mood for scary stories and places? We’ve got a list for you: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/guide-to-halloween-travel

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White Squirrels of Olney Sep 21, 2026

Show notes

Olney, Illinois is your quintessential Midwestern small town. It’s in the middle of farm country - a place you might drive right past. But people do stop, and they come for one thing: squirrels. But for how long?

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