Strong Sense of Place
Melissa & Dave
One remarkable destination. Five books we love.
- 1 hour 14 minutesNational Parks: Go Outside and Touch Grass
The National Park System (NPS) is a national treasure. US National Parks represent just about every type of feature and wildlife you can imagine. And it’s not just parks: The NPS includes national monuments, memorials, scenic trails, lakeshores, battlefields, recreation areas, and more.
The concept of a national park is credited to George Catlin, a 19th-century lawyer, painter, and adventurer. His travels took him all over the burgeoning United States, where he met fifty native tribes. He also worried about the loss of wildlife, wilderness, and indigenous people as America expanded westward into the frontier. His solution? A ‘nation’s park’ — land protected by the government for future generations.
That vision became reality in 1872, when Yellowstone, in what’s now Wyoming, became the first national park established by Congress. Now there are 63 National Parks across the US and its territories, from Acadia in Maine to Yosemite in California, Denali in Alaska to Dry Tortugas in Florida, and so many more in between.
In this episode, we explore the almost overwhelming awesomeness of the NPS and take a virtual tour of some of the coolest experiences you can have in nature. We learn about the history of hippos and the Everglades, meet the most dangerous animal in the Grand Canyon, and learn the best place to eat popovers in Maine. Then we recommend five books that took us on big adventures in national parks, including a historical novel in Oklahoma, an adventure story in the Pacific Northwest, a murder mystery in Michigan, a memoir in Arizona, and a Bigfoot tale in Washington.
- Shelterwood by Lisa Wingate
- Wild: A Journey from Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed
- A Superior Death by Nevada Barr
- A Walk in the Park: The True Story of a Spectacular Misadventure in the Grand Canyon by Kevin Fedarko
- Devolution: A Firsthand Account of the Rainier Sasquatch Massacre by Max Brooks
For more on the books we recommend, plus the other cool stuff we talk about, visit show notes.
Sign up for our free Substack to connect with us and other lovely readers who are curious about the world.
Transcript of National Parks: Go Outside and Touch Grass
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Parts of the Strong Sense of Place podcast are produced in udio. Some effects are provided by soundly.
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13 June 2025, 9:20 am - 1 hour 11 minutesPortugal: Storytelling, Surfing, and Ineffable Saudade
Snuggled up next to Spain on the Iberian Peninsula and perched on the westernmost edge of Europe, Portugal has a long love affair with the sea. The Age of Discovery, launched in 15th-century Lisbon, carried Portuguese sailors to far-flung lands and brought sugarcane, tobacco, cotton, coffee, gold, spices, and chocolate back home.
Today, the traditions of the colonies — and a Moorish invasion or two — are integrated into Portugal’s cuisine, music, architecture, and the azulejos that tell stories of Portuguese life in colorful ceramic tiles.
Portugal has treasures to offer every kind of traveler: the fortified wine of Madeira and the port of the Douro Valley, ancient Roman ruins and crenelated medieval castles, lush hilltop gardens and one-of-a-kind beaches, savory fried snacks and perfectly-sweet pastries — and bookish delights including a baroque library, a literary hotel, and a church-turned-bookshop.
In this episode, we hit the high seas with Portuguese explorers, take a virtual visit to the world’s oldest operating bookstore, and learn the multifaceted story of the Portuguese poet Pessoa. Then we recommend great books that took us there on the page, including a punch-you-in-the-feelings thriller, a charming history of Lisbon, a different kind of WWII story, a swashbuckling adventure starring a language-loving ape, and a memoir-cookbook hybrid that reads like the best kind of travel guide.
- Two Nights in Lisbon_ by Chris Pavone
- Queen of the Sea: A History of Lisbon by Barry Hatton
- Estoril by Dejan Tiago-Stankovic
- The Night in Lisbon by Erich Maria Remarque
- The Murderer’s Ape by Jakob Wegelius, Peter Graves (translator)
- My Lisbon: A Cookbook from Portugal’s City of Light_ by Nuno Mendes
For more on the books we recommend, plus the other cool stuff we talk about, visit show notes.
Sign up for our free Substack to connect with us and other lovely readers who are curious about the world.
Transcript of Portugal: Storytelling, Surfing, and Ineffable Saudade
Do you enjoy our show? Do you want access to awesome bonus content? Please support our work on Patreon! Strong Sense of Place is an audience-funded endeavor, and we need your support to continue making this show. Get all the info you need right here. Thank you!
Parts of the Strong Sense of Place podcast are produced in udio. Some effects are provided by soundly.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
30 May 2025, 9:20 am - 20 minutes 37 secondsLoLT: The Twisty Tale of Salt Water Taffy and Two New Books
In this episode, we get excited about two new books: Aftertaste: A Novel by Daria Lavelle and Feeding Ghosts: A Graphic Memoir by Tessa Hulls. Then Mel delves into the story of New Jersey’s favorite beachy souvenir for National Taffy Day.
Links
- Aftertaste: A Novel by Daria Lavelle
- Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson
- Butter Honey Pig Brea by Francesca Ekwuyasi
- Cinnamon and Gunpowder by Eli Brown
- Lush by Rochelle Dowden-Lord
- Feeding Ghosts: A Graphic Memoir by Tessa Hulls
- Podcast: Mel recommends Piglet by Lottie Hazell
- The History of Fralinger’s Salt Water Taffy
- Inside the Epic Quest for a More Perfect Taffy
- A Mathematical History of Taffy Pullers by Jean-Luc Thiffeault
- Cape May Magazine: Fralinger’s Salt Water Taffy
- Buy Fralinger’s Original Salt Water Taffy
- Tasty’s recipe for salt water taffy
- Peanut Butter Salt Water Taffy from Food52
- Video: How Shriver’s Salt Water Taffy Is Made Using A 200-Year-Old Technique
The Library of Lost Time is a Strong Sense of Place Production! https://strongsenseofplace.com
Join our FREE Substack to get our (awesome) newsletter and join in chats with other people who love books and travel.
Do you enjoy our show? Do you want to make friends with other (lovely) listeners? Please support our work on Patreon. Every little bit helps us keep the show going and makes us feel warm and fuzzy inside - https://www.patreon.com/strongsenseofplace
As always, you can find us at:
Parts of the Strong Sense of Place podcast are produced in udio! Some effects are provided by soundly.
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23 May 2025, 9:20 am - 11 minutes 3 secondsSSoP Podcast Season 7: Announcing Our Fun-Filled Destinations
We’re delighted to announce that Season 7 of the Strong Sense of Place podcast kicks off on Friday, 30 May!
We’ve put together an itinerary of thrilling destinations with a journey to every region of the globe. Pack your (virtual) bags for Europe, Asia, the Caribbean, and two exciting destinations in the United States. (Hint: There will be incredible vistas and majestic trees involved in our visit to America.) This time, we’re also celebrating two favorite holidays for maximum fun.
Get ready to immerse yourself in the food, sights, sounds, and scenery of far-flung destinations around the world. Be sure to pack your curiosity in your carry-on and leave room for lots of books!
Click right here to see stunning photos of our Season 7 destinations.
Join our FREE Substack to get our (awesome) newsletter and join in chats with other people who love books and travel.
Do you enjoy our show? Do you want to make friends with other (lovely) listeners? Please support our work on Patreon. Every little bit helps us keep the show going and makes us feel warm and fuzzy inside - https://www.patreon.com/strongsenseofplace
As always, you can find us at:
Parts of the Strong Sense of Place podcast are produced in udio! Some effects are provided by soundly.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
16 May 2025, 9:20 am - 15 minutes 20 secondsLoLT: The American Writers Museum and Two New Books
In this episode, we get excited about two new books: One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune and My Friends: A Novel by Fredrik Backman. Then Dave talks about the stellar winners of the 2025 Pen America Awards.
Links
- One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune
- Read an excerpt from One Golden Summer
- Love is Like Peanuts by Betty Bates on Internet Archive
- Every Summer After by Carley Fortune
- My Friends: A Novel by Fredrik Backman
- Beartown: A Novel by Fredrik Backman
- A Man Called Ove by Frederik Backman
- Anxious People by Frederik Backman
- American Writers Museum
- Level Up: Writers & Gamers exhibit
- Online Exhibits at the American Writers Museum
- Get Lit Happy Hours and the Grown Up Book Fair on 13 May.
The Library of Lost Time is a Strong Sense of Place Production! https://strongsenseofplace.com
Join our FREE Substack to get our (awesome) newsletter and join in chats with other people who love books and travel.
Do you enjoy our show? Do you want to make friends with other (lovely) listeners? Please support our work on Patreon. Every little bit helps us keep the show going and makes us feel warm and fuzzy inside - https://www.patreon.com/strongsenseofplace
As always, you can find us at:
Parts of the Strong Sense of Place podcast are produced in udio! Some effects are provided by soundly.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
9 May 2025, 9:20 am - 17 minutes 44 secondsLoLT: The Pen America Awards and Two New Books
In this episode, we get excited about two new books: The Staircase in the Woods by Chuck Wendig and I See You’ve Called in Dead by John Kenney. Then Dave talks about the stellar winners of the 2025 Pen America Awards.
Links
- The Staircase in the Woods by Chuck Wendig
- Invasive by Chuck Wendig
- I See You’ve Called in Dead by John Kenney
- Truth in Advertising by John Kenney
- Writer’s Digest interview with John Kenney
- The Boat Who Wouldn’t Float by Farley Mowat
- Pen America website and Instagram
- Pen International website
- Pen American Literary Awards Finalists
- Dead in Long Beach, California by Venita Blackburn
- With My Back to the World: Poems by Victoria Chang
- On Freedom by Timothy Snyder
The Library of Lost Time is a Strong Sense of Place Production! https://strongsenseofplace.com
Join our FREE Substack to get our (awesome) newsletter and join in chats with other people who love books and travel.
Do you enjoy our show? Do you want to make friends with other (lovely) listeners? Please support our work on Patreon. Every little bit helps us keep the show going and makes us feel warm and fuzzy inside - https://www.patreon.com/strongsenseofplace
As always, you can find us at:
Parts of the Strong Sense of Place podcast are produced in udio! Some effects are provided by soundly.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2 May 2025, 9:20 am - 15 minutes 51 secondsLoLT: The Uncensored Library and Two New Books
In this episode, we get excited about two new books: Exit Zero: Stories by Marie-Helene Bertino and The Pretender: A Novel by Jo Harkin. Then Mel talks about the remarkable digital library fighting global censorship.
Links
- Exit Zero: Stories by Marie-Helene Bertino
- 2 A.M. at the Cat’s Pajamas by Marie-Helene Bertino — hear Mel talk about it on our Pennsylvania episode
- Beautyland by Marie-Helene Bertino — hear Mel talk about it on our Outer Space episode
- The Pretender: A Novel by Jo Harkin
- Tell Me An Ending by Jo Harkin
- The Uncensored Library
- The Uncensored Library on the Minecraft website
- BBC: Minecraft ‘Loophole’ Library of Banned Journalism
- Peabody Awards on The Uncensored Library
The Library of Lost Time is a Strong Sense of Place Production! https://strongsenseofplace.com
Join our FREE Substack to get our (awesome) newsletter and join in chats with other people who love books and travel.
Do you enjoy our show? Do you want to make friends with other (lovely) listeners? Please support our work on Patreon. Every little bit helps us keep the show going and makes us feel warm and fuzzy inside - https://www.patreon.com/strongsenseofplace
As always, you can find us at:
Parts of the Strong Sense of Place podcast are produced in udio! Some effects are provided by soundly.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
25 April 2025, 9:20 am - 12 minutes 40 secondsLoLT: Putting Names to Nature and Two New Books
In this episode, we get excited about two new books: Perspective(s): A Novel by Laurent Binet and The Impossible Thing by Belinda Bauer. Then Dave shares the app that’s decoding nature’s secrets in his favorite park.
Links
- Perspective(s): A Novel by Laurent Binet
- The Impossible Thing by Belinda Bauer
- HHhH by Laurent Binet — hear Mel talk about it on our Prague podcast episode
- The Black House by Peter May — hear Mel talk about it on our Scotland episode
- Seek by iNaturalist: download the app for Apple or Google, watch a demo video, get the user’s guide
The Library of Lost Time is a Strong Sense of Place Production! https://strongsenseofplace.com
Join our FREE Substack to get our (awesome) newsletter and join in chats with other people who love books and travel.
Do you enjoy our show? Do you want to make friends with other (lovely) listeners? Please support our work on Patreon. Every little bit helps us keep the show going and makes us feel warm and fuzzy inside - https://www.patreon.com/strongsenseofplace
As always, you can find us at:
Parts of the Strong Sense of Place podcast are produced in udio! Some effects are provided by soundly.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
18 April 2025, 9:20 am - 26 minutes 31 secondsReplay: A Mini-Episode With Answers to Questions from Our Audience
We have a slew of new listeners — hello, new book friends! — so we’re sharing this episode from 2020 in which we answered questions about how we choose the books we read for the show, whether or not we really love everything we recommend, how we met, previous jobs, and other behind-the-scenes info. Hope you enjoy the peek into our lives and work!
Sign up for our free Substack to connect with us and other lovely readers who are curious about the world.
Do you enjoy our show? Do you want access to awesome bonus content? Please support our work on Patreon! Strong Sense of Place is an audience-funded endeavor, and we need your support to continue making this show. Get all the info you need right here. Thank you!
Parts of the Strong Sense of Place podcast are produced in udio. Some effects are provided by soundly.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
11 April 2025, 9:20 am - 12 minutes 41 secondsLoLT: The Witches of Scotland Tartan and Two New Books
In this episode, we get excited about two new books: When We Were Real by Daryl Gregory and The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones. Then Mel shares the meaningful story of the new Witches of Scotland tartan.
Links
- When We Were Real by Daryl Gregory
- Daryl Gregory’s website
- Read an excerpt from When We Were Real
- Podcast: Mel talks about Spoonbenders in our Chicago episode
- Mel’s write-up of Spoonbenders
- Podcast: Mel talks about the P&T Knitwear bookshop
- The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones
- The Witches of Scotland website, Instagram, and TikTok
- The book: How to Kill a Witch: The Patriarchy’s Guide to Silencing Women
- The podcast: Witches of Scotland Tartan Episode
- Smithsonian magazine on the campaign and tartan
- Nicola Sturgeon Issues Apology for ‘Historical Injustice’ of Witch Hunts.
The Library of Lost Time is a Strong Sense of Place Production! https://strongsenseofplace.com
Join our FREE Substack to get our (awesome) newsletter and join in chats with other people who love books and travel.
Do you enjoy our show? Do you want to make friends with other (lovely) listeners? Please support our work on Patreon. Every little bit helps us keep the show going and makes us feel warm and fuzzy inside - https://www.patreon.com/strongsenseofplace
As always, you can find us at:
Parts of the Strong Sense of Place podcast are produced in udio! Some effects are provided by soundly.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
4 April 2025, 9:20 am - 11 minutes 4 secondsLoLT: The Skellig Coast Dark Sky Festival and Two New Books
In this episode, we get excited about fun new books: The Expert of Subtle Revisions by Kirsten Menger-Anderson and On Air: The Triumph and Tumult of NPR by Steve Oney. Then Dave recommends a tranquil dark sky festival.
Links
- The Expert of Subtle Revisions by Kirsten Menger-Anderson
- On Air: The Triumph and Tumult of NPR by Steve Oney
- The Kingdoms by Natasha Pulley
- Prague Spring by Simon Mawer
- Skellig Coast Dark Sky Festival
- Wikipedia on the amazing Skellig Michael
- Kerry International Dark-Sky Reserve
- Kerry Dark Sky Tourism
- 2025 Dark Sky Festivals and Star Parties
- DarkSky International
The Library of Lost Time is a Strong Sense of Place Production! https://strongsenseofplace.com
Join our FREE Substack to get our (awesome) newsletter and join in chats with other people who love books and travel.
Do you enjoy our show? Do you want to make friends with other (lovely) listeners? Please support our work on Patreon. Every little bit helps us keep the show going and makes us feel warm and fuzzy inside - https://www.patreon.com/strongsenseofplace
As always, you can find us at:
Parts of the Strong Sense of Place podcast are produced in udio! Some effects are provided by soundly.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
28 March 2025, 10:20 am - More Episodes? Get the App