Series: the memory palace

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


30 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
episode 36 (Six Scenes from the life of William James Sidis, Wonderful Boy)
Series: the memory palace
From Nate DiMeo
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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 KUT, The Story, and Public Radio Remix


  • Added: Jan 12, 2011
  • Length: 00:14:22
  • Purchases: 3
episode 32 (gigantic)
Series: the memory palace
From Nate DiMeo
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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 KUT, KXOT Public Radio, and Public Radio Remix


  • Added: Jul 06, 2010
  • Length: 00:06:54
  • Purchases: 3
episode 31 (looking up)
Series: the memory palace
From Nate DiMeo
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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 KUT and Public Radio Remix


  • Added: Jun 17, 2010
  • Length: 00:04:29
  • Purchases: 2
episode 30 (nee weinberg)
Series: the memory palace
From Nate DiMeo
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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 KCRW, KUT, Public Radio Remix, WILL, and KUOW


  • Added: May 12, 2010
  • Length: 00:08:48
  • Purchases: 5
episode 28 (babysitting)
Series: the memory palace
From Nate DiMeo
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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 eve...

Bought by WFPL News, KUT, Public Radio Remix, WILL, and KUOW


  • Added: Apr 02, 2010
  • Length: 00:04:53
  • Purchases: 5
episode 27 (the sisters fox)
Series: the memory palace
From Nate DiMeo
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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 KFAI, Third Coast Festival/Re:sound, KUT, Public Radio Remix, and KUOW


  • Added: Mar 16, 2010
  • Length: 00:09:41
  • Purchases: 5
episode 26 (citius, altius, fortius, horrendius)
Series: the memory palace
From Nate DiMeo
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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 Public Radio Remix, KFAI, KUT, and WILL


  • Added: Feb 25, 2010
  • Length: 00:06:56
  • Purchases: 4
(I have not yet begun to rot)
Series: the memory palace
From Nate DiMeo
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In which we hear the story of Revolutionary War hero, John Paul Jones, and the Civil War hero who found his coffin, 100 years after it had been los...

Bought by KUOW, Public Radio Remix, KFAI, KUT, KUOW and more


  • Added: Feb 01, 2010
  • Length: 00:07:05
  • Purchases: 6
you know you're sick
Series: the memory palace
From Nate DiMeo
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in which we hear the outrageous story Dr. John R. Brinkley, perhaps the greatest and, simultaneously, worst radio pitch man of all time. Made mill...

Bought by Public Radio Remix and KUT


  • Added: Jan 28, 2010
  • Length: 00:05:25
  • Purchases: 2
(the moon in the sun)
Series: the memory palace
From Nate DiMeo
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in which we learn of a series of articles that appeared in the New York Sun in 1835 that purported to tell a true account of recent discoveries of ...

Bought by Public Radio Remix, KUT, and KUOW


  • Added: Jan 19, 2010
  • Length: 00:05:23
  • Purchases: 3
episode 23 (400 words for 79th street)
Series: the memory palace
From Nate DiMeo
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in which we hear the incredible (and incredibly sad) tale of Minik Wallace, an inuit boy who, at the age of seven, was taken to Manhattan to be stu...

Bought by KCRW, Public Radio Remix, KUT, KFAI, WILL and more


  • Added: Dec 11, 2009
  • Length: 00:05:53
  • Purchases: 6
a gas gas gas
Series: the memory palace
From Nate DiMeo
Piece image
in which we hear about the Mad Gasser of Mattoon. In the 1940's, someone--or something--was prowling around Mattoon, Illinois spraying knock out g...

Bought by Public Radio Remix, KUT, and KUOW


  • Added: Oct 29, 2009
  • Length: 00:05:45
  • Purchases: 3
dam!
Series: the memory palace
From Nate DiMeo
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in which we hear about a beautiful and sort of ridiculous monument at the Hoover Dam that goes to astronomical lengths to commemorate the makers of...

Bought by Public Radio Remix, KUT, and WILL


  • Added: Sep 30, 2009
  • Length: 00:03:42
  • Purchases: 3
dig set spike
Series: the memory palace
From Nate DiMeo
Piece image
in which we hear the tale of an incredible escape by German P.O.W.'s from a camp in Arizona at the height of WWII. They had it all planned out: di...

Bought by Public Radio Remix, KUT, and KUOW


  • Added: Aug 28, 2009
  • Length: 00:05:01
  • Purchases: 3
plummeting approval
Series: the memory palace
From Nate DiMeo
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in which we hear the story of Sam Patch who went from working in the mills of early 19th century Rhode Island and New Jersey to become America's fi...

Bought by KRUA, Public Radio Remix, KUT, KFAI, WILL and more


  • Added: Aug 14, 2009
  • Length: 00:05:02
  • Purchases: 7
secret kitty
Series: the memory palace
From Nate DiMeo
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in which the CIA enlists a kitty cat as a listening device in its fight against the Soviets. The plan fails. It really, really fails.

Bought by Vocalo.org, Public Radio Remix, KUT, KFAI, and KUOW


  • Added: Jul 28, 2009
  • Length: 00:03:43
  • Purchases: 5
presidente walker
Series: the memory palace
From Nate DiMeo
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in which we hear the story of William Walker a man who went from graduating college at 14 years old in Nashville to the Presidency of Nicaragua. A...

Bought by Public Radio Remix, KUT, and KUOW


  • Added: Jul 19, 2009
  • Length: 00:05:39
  • Purchases: 3
the messrs. craft
Series: the memory palace
From Nate DiMeo
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in which we hear the incredible tale of Ellen and William Craft's escape from slavery in 1848. This one's got it all: cross-dressing, high-drama, ...

Bought by Public Radio Remix, Third Coast Festival/Re:sound, KUT, and KUOW


  • Added: Jun 30, 2009
  • Length: 00:05:59
  • Purchases: 4
high above lake michigan
Series: the memory palace
From Nate DiMeo
Piece image
in which we hear the tale of the first Ferris Wheel and how it went from a thrill-ride and marvel that out shone the Eiffel Tower to the humble Fe...

Bought by Vocalo.org, KFAI, Public Radio Remix, KUT, KUOW and more


  • Added: Jun 16, 2009
  • Length: 00:04:25
  • Purchases: 6
the saddest president
Series: the memory palace
From Nate DiMeo
Piece image
in which we hear the tale of Franklin Pierce. One of our worst Presidents, but, hands down, the saddest guy to ever hold the office.

Bought by KFAI, KCUR, Public Radio Remix, KFAI, and KUT


  • Added: Jun 11, 2009
  • Length: 00:03:21
  • Purchases: 5

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