the memory palace

Nate DiMeo

the memory palace

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Our Editor's Take

The podcast the memory palace tells stories that may delight, shock, and amaze. Each episode invites listeners into the world of storytelling. The podcast stimulates the listener's imagination and stirs emotion. It broadens their understanding of the tales that created today's world.

Host and creator Nate DiMeo began the podcast as a radio program in 2008. People loved the memory palace. In 2016, it earned a nomination for a Peabody Award. Later, The New Yorker featured the podcast. Nate turned history into art, and cultural critics appreciated his efforts. He earned the position of Artist in Residence at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2016.

In brief episodes of the memory palace, Nate charms listeners with surprising and emotional narratives. He shares the story of one of President Kennedy's dreams, for example. JFK dreamed of sending three men of different ethnicities on an expedition to the moon. He thought doing so might eradicate prejudice in the United States. A podcast episode titled "Natural Habitat" discusses William Hunter Harkness. This 1930s explorer died while searching for panda bears. After his 1936 death, his wife, Ruth, brought the first panda to the US.

In "A Brief Eulogy for a Radio Station," Nate laments the decline of commercial radio stations. Instead of sharing the takeover of a media company, the story of a young girl emerges. With her fingertips on the radio dials, she turns it on even though she isn't allowed to do so. The music transports her to other places—New York, Los Angeles—and the world she might encounter as she grows up.

Nate recites classic texts like The Great Gatsby in the summer reading series. The podcast also features delightful music, including tracks like "Earring" by Julia Wolf and Occam II for violin. The playlists complement each facet of every story, creating a mesmerizing listening experience. Listeners will have to find out for themselves if they agree. Chances are, the memory palace may iimmerse them in its stories after a single listen.

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Episode 216: Awake

Episode 216: Awake

The Memory Palace is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX.MusicA synth stab from As if it Would Have a Universal and Memorable Ending by Shane Carruth's score to his film, Upstream Color, a movie I love deeply. Smoke Gets in Your Eyes by the PlattersThe Girl Who was Frightened of Ashtrays by Charlie MegiraSambolero by Luiz Bonfa. Water by So PercussionDivertimiento Fur Tenorsaxophon Und Kleines Ensemble (Part 4) from Carl Oesterhelt and Johannes Ender.Ball by Duval TimothyPiece 3 by the great Warren Ellis.Chora tua Tristeza from Lalo SchiffrinGrowing Up from Ben Sollee's score to Maidentrip(Vibraphone, Marimbaphone, Malletted Wood, Two Synthesizers) and (Two Bells) by Josiah SteinbrickMain et lee from Michel Portal

Episodes

Episode 216: Awake

Episode 216: Awake

The Memory Palace is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX.MusicA synth stab from As if it Would Have a Universal and Memorable Ending by Shane Carruth's score to his film, Upstream Color, a movie I love deeply. Smoke Gets in Your Eyes by the PlattersThe Girl Who was Frightened of Ashtrays by Charlie MegiraSambolero by Luiz Bonfa. Water by So PercussionDivertimiento Fur Tenorsaxophon Und Kleines Ensemble (Part 4) from Carl Oesterhelt and Johannes Ender.Ball by Duval TimothyPiece 3 by the great Warren Ellis.Chora tua Tristeza from Lalo SchiffrinGrowing Up from Ben Sollee's score to Maidentrip(Vibraphone, Marimbaphone, Malletted Wood, Two Synthesizers) and (Two Bells) by Josiah SteinbrickMain et lee from Michel Portal

Episode 215: An Eighth Wonder

Episode 215: An Eighth Wonder

The Memory Palace is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX.MusicMomento Ritmico and Papete aru by Piero UmilianiOpus 13 from Sven Libaek's score to The SetFrench Doll by Larry Ashmore and David FrancisThe wonderful Sewentuwa by Hailu MerigaWave I by Elor SaxlGreen by Hiroshi YoshimuraNotesI originally learned about the Elephantine Colossus years ago in David McCullough's Brooklyn... and How it Got That Way, which still holds up.

Episode 214: Newsboy

Episode 214: Newsboy

The Memory Palace is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX.MusicUn geant dans la mer and Triste soiree III from the score to Marie et les naufrages by the genius, Sebastian Tellier. Love is Blue by Jackie Mittoo and the Soul Vendors.Rocky Passage by Jeremiah Chiu and Marta Sofia HonerMorris Visits Dr. Pratt from John Barry's score to The Wrong BoxAdios Muchachos from Andre PoppMoonlight in Vermont from the great Dorothy Ashby. Midnight Moon by The Portland Cello ProjectDance PM by Hiroshi YoshimuraAnd we hear Blind Andy Jenkins' "Floyd Collins in Sand Cave" followed by Vernon Dalhart doing the same song under the name, "The Death of Floyd Collins." We also hear Jimmy Osbourne do Andy's, "The Death of Little Kathy Fiscus."NotesI have a note in my years-long running list of possible story ideas that says, "event songs," but I could never remember why. Then I was reading Charles Hirschberg and Mark Zwonitzer's, Will You Miss me When I'm Gone?: The Carter Family & Their Legacy in American Music and was reminded of Andy's story (that book is great).I also recommend the always-useful, Country Music USA, by Bill C. Malone for more on Andy and his era as well as Creating Country Music: Fabricating Authenticity by Richard A. Peterson.If you want more about poor Floyd Collins, you could turn to Robert K. Murray and Roger W. Bruckner's, Trapped!: The Story of Floyd Collins.

Episode 213: The Light and the Spirits

Episode 213: The Light and the Spirits

The Memory Palace is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX.MusicAbisme by Shida ShahadiEllen’s Image from Lalo Schiffiren’s genius score to The FoxCirculation by H. TakahasiLiquid Spear Waltz from Michael Andrews’ score to Donnie DarkoA8 from a terrific record called NuNu by Clever AustinNotesI found a lot of insight in a terrific book called Extraordinary Beliefs by Peter Lamont. In it, there’s a smart historical, psychological exploration of why spiritualism was able to flourish despite all sorts of evidence opposing it.

Episode 212: David Mills

Episode 212: David Mills

The Memory Palace is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX. Music Una Bravata from Carlo Rustichelli’s score to Amici Miei.Sunshine on Fish Skin by Girls in Airports.The Vienna Glass Armonica Duo performs Mozart’s Adagio for Glass Harmonium.The Fellowship by John Shabason Notes The best read on Mills is a 2022 article by Nate Hopper in The New Yorker about the challenges of keeping time on the internet.

Episode 211: Cutting and Ned

Episode 211: Cutting and Ned

The Memory Palace is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX. Music Je ne pas si c’est tout le monde - Theme Comedie from Vincent Delerm’s score to the film of the same, long name.Forbin’s Hi Fi from Michel Colombier’s score to Colossus: The Forbin ProjectBoo’s Lullaby by Maria Chiara Agriro and Jamie LeemingHelle (Ballade) from the great Phillipe Sarde score to that picture.L’Espagne pour memoire from Michel Portal’s score to Un et a la garoupeThe Rain Never Stops on Venus by Michael WollneyJe t’ai meme pas dit by Vincent Delerm.From a Dream by OregonA version of Narcisus for Clarinet and Electronics as played by Thea Musgrave. Notes Good sources if you want to know more are Peter Manseau’s book about spirit photography and the spiritualist age (Cutting intersects interestingly with that crea), The Apparitionists, as well as this article by Jerry Ryan about the history of aquariums in Boston.

Smoky and Bill, a Holiday Card

Smoky and Bill, a Holiday Card

The Memory Palace is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX. This is a special holiday bonus episode, a sequel to Episode 210. You’ll want to listen to that one first. Music The Parisienne by the Henri Crolla EnsembleViolette… by Philippe SardeGift by Makasuta TakagiThe Sammy Herman Sextet plays The Bells of St. Mary’s

Episode 210: Smoky and Bill

Episode 210: Smoky and Bill

The Memory Palace is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX. Music I Believe in the Night by Keith KenniffImprovisations sur les folies d’Espagne (extraits) from Marin Marais and Jordi SavallFinally by LambertVoltige by Marin LizotteViolin Solo no. 1 by Peter BroderickFratres fur violin und klavier by Avro Part as played by Ursula Schloch and Marcel WormsDungen by Henrik Lindstom Notes There are plenty of places to go to read about Smoky and Bill but why would want to go anywhere else than his book, Yorkie Doodle Dandy?

Episode 120: The Prairie Chicken in Wisconsin: Highlights of a Study of Counts, Behavior, Turnover, Movement, and Habitat

Episode 120: The Prairie Chicken in Wisconsin: Highlights of a Study of Counts, Behavior, Turnover, Movement, and Habitat

The Memory Palace is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX. Music We move between three different pieces from Camille Saint-Saens': Suite, Op. 90: II Menuet, and two from Carnival of the Animals:Aviary and the Cuckoo in the Heart of the Woods.We hit Juneau from Danny Bensi and Sander Jurriaans' score to Wildlike.And The Waltz from their score to 5 to 7.And there's a total gem from George Mukabi called Dila Ni Dila in there too. Notes Do yourself a favor and read Frances Hamerstrom's autobiography, My Double Life: Memoirs of a Naturalist.Do your kids a favor and Jeannine Atkins take on Frances in her book Girls Who Looked Under Rocks.And then watch Frances teach David Letterman how to cook a snake.

Episode 209: Wake

Episode 209: Wake

The Memory Palace is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX. Music Dave Pajo/Aerial M does Plastic Energy ManPatricia Rossborough played To a Wild RoseMal Waldron plays Warm CantoWe hear Muff Gets a Share from Joel P. West’s score to Band of RobbersWe hear another song I absolutely love, Turned Out I Was Everyone, by SasamiWe finish on Popcorn and Life from Ben Sollee’s lovely score to Maidentrip.

Episode 208: In the Gallery

Episode 208: In the Gallery

The Memory Palace is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX. Music The Theory by Clem LeekHiddensee by CaeysThe Clock Tower by Hampshire and Foat Notes If you want to know more about Gardner, I’d suggest Witness to an Era: the Life and Photographs of Alexander Gardner, by Mark Katz.On Brady, Matthew Brady: Portraits of a Nation, by Robert Wilson.I’d also suggest reading the New York Times’ review of the exhibit. It’s pretty stunning.

Episode 207: The Six Triple Eight

Episode 207: The Six Triple Eight

The Memory Palace is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX. Music Inception by radio.string.quintet.viennaJulie With by Group ListeningNice Breeze Isn’t It? by friend of the show, Simon RackhamWet by Taylor DeupreeTimes Like This II by Jean Kopperud and Stephen GoslingBroad Channel by Bing and RuthCradle (with Akira) by ghost and tapeLithosphere by Caoimhin O Raghellagh and by Caoimhin O Raghelagh and Thomas Bartlett Notes You can find the website I mentioned here; it’s a one-stop shop, really, for information on the 6888t. .

Episode 206: The Thundering Herd, The Vanishing American

Episode 206: The Thundering Herd, The Vanishing American

The Memory Palace is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX. Music Halcyon and Photosynteses and Embryo by H. TakehashiIntro by Library TapesThe Florist Wears Knee Breeches by M. Sage Notes I found Andrew Isenberg's book, The Destruction of the Bison, An Environmental History, completely fascinating.If you want to do a deep dive on Madison Grant, I'd recommend Defending the Master Race: Conservation, Eugenics, and the Legacy of Madison Grant by John Peter Spiro.If you want to do a deep dive on the Catalina Buffalo, this site is a fun place to start.

Episode 79: Artist in Landscape

Episode 79: Artist in Landscape

This show is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX. This episode was originally released in November, 2015. Music * Under the credits is Harlaamstrat 74 off of John Dankworth’s Modesty Blaise score. * They first meet to a piece called Brouillard (version 1) from Georges Delaure’s extraordinary score to Jules et Jim. (A second version comes in later when J.J. Audubon is living the high life in England). * We also hear Waltz by Mother Falcon. * I go back to the Marcelo Zarvos/Please Give well when the Scotsman arrives at their store. Note: it’s the go-to soundtrack for “People Arriving at One’s Store With A Life Changing Proposition” here at the Memory Palace. Also: go watch Please Give. * The little piano piece is from Nathan Johnson’s score to The Day I Saw Your Heart. * Lucy and John titter like plovers to Andrew Cyrille’s dope, skittering drums on Nuba 1. * The especially sad bit, right before the end is Dream 3 (in the Midst of my Life), from Max Richter’s giant, From Sleep album. * A couple times, including the ending, we hear “the Lark Ascending” from Ralph Vaughn Willliams. It is beautiful. You should buy it. Notes As per usual, I read a lot about the Audubons and the Bakewells. I relied most upon the charming and smart, On the Road with John James Audubon by Mary Durant, and Carolyn DeLatte’s lovely, thoughtful book, Lucy Audubon: a Biography. * Just a quick note: there’s a very enjoyable PBS/American Masters/Nature documentary about Audubon. It’s a fun and informative watch. But, I’ll say, you come out of that thinking that things were fundamentally swell between Lucy and John in a way that I’m not entirely sure is supported by the facts. Or jibes with, you know, human nature.

Episode 90: A White Horse

Episode 90: A White Horse

The Memory Palace is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX. Radiotopia is a collective of independently owned and operated podcasts that’s a part of PRX, a not-for-profit public media company. If you’d like to directly support this show and independent media, you can make a donation at Radiotopia.fm/donate. This episode was originally released in 2016 in the days after the shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando. It is re-released every year on the anniversary of the incident. A note on notes: We’d much rather you just went into each episode of The Memory Palace cold. And just let the story take you where it well. So, we don’t suggest looking into the show notes first. Notes and Reading: * Most of the specific history of the White Horse was learned from "Sanctuary: the Inside Story of the Nation's Second Oldest Gay Bar" by David Olson, reprinted in its entirety on the White Horse's website. * "Gayola: Police Professionalization and the Politics of San Francisco's Gay Bars, 1950-1968," by Christopher Agee. * June Thomas' series on the past, present, and future of the gay bar from Slate a few years back. * Various articles written on the occasion of the White Horse's 80th anniversary, including this one from SFGATE.Com * Michael Bronski's A Queer History of the United States. * Radically Gay, a collection of Harry Hay's writing. * Incidentally, I watched this interview with Harry Hay from 1996 about gay life in SF in the 30's multiple times because it's amazing. Music * We start with Water in Your Hands by Tommy Guerrero. * Hit Anne Muller's Walzer fur Robert a couple of times. * Gaussian Curve does Talk to the Church. * We get a loop of Updraught from Zoe Keating. * We finish on Transient Life in Twilight by James Blackshaw

Episode 205: Alice Ramsay

Episode 205: Alice Ramsay

The Memory Palace is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX. Music Pollen and Photosynteses by H. TakehashiEdiacaran Moonrise by Barry Walker, Jr.To the Cellar from Krzysztof Komeda’s wonderful score to The Fearless Vampire Killers.Blue Sutura from Piero Piccioni’s score to Il medico della mutua. 3-Sized PF and Let’s Go Crazy!, both by Takahiro KidoEmerald Ash by Golden BrownMerry-Go-Round by Domenique DumontAquel Senor by the mighty, Frankie ReyesTesko Me Ja Zaboravit Tebe by Banko Mataja Notes You can read the article by Katherin Parkin here.

Episode 204: Wolves

Episode 204: Wolves

The Memory Palace is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX. Music In My Heaven All Faucets Have Fountains by yes/andA snippet of Runaway from Olafur Arnauld’s score to Gimme ShelterSpectral Canon from Conlon Nancarrow from James TenneyThe Hourglass by Ben Crosland.

episode 76: Mary Walker Would Wear what she Wanted

episode 76: Mary Walker Would Wear what she Wanted

This episode was originally released in 2015. Proceeds from this episode are being donated to the Transgender Law Center. Music *Under the credits is Harlaamstrat 74 off of John Dankworth’s Modesty Blaise score. *The piece opens with Rainfall, by David Darling and Michael Jones. *Her brief love story is scored by Nathan Johnson’s Penelope’s Theme from his score to The Brothers Bloom. *When she lands her first gig, we start Garde a Vue, and roll into Le Roi de coeur, from Chantal Martineau. * The vibraphone piece is “Opening” by Nathaniel Bartlett. * The recurring violin piece is called Geometria del Universo by the one-named Colleen. * It ends on Romain’s First Love, again by Georges Delarue, from his fantastic score to Promise at Dawn. Notes * I read a lot about Mary, but by far the most useful and most thorough works I came upon were: Sharon M. Harris’ Dr. Mary Walker: An American Radical and A Woman of Honor: Dr. Mary E. Walker and the Civil War, in which author Mercedes Graf does a great job walking the reader through Walker’s unpublished memoir. The Memory Palace is a proud member of Radiotopia, a collective of independently owned and operated podcasts.

Episode 67: Every Night Ever

Episode 67: Every Night Ever

This episode was originally released in summer of 2015. Music * Under the credits is Harlaamstrat 74 off of John Dankworth’s Modesty Blaise score. * Then, we have the most obvious crickets/summer night song ever: the fantastic, perpetually delightful Green Arrow from Yo La Tengo’s I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One, which has soundtracked many crickety summer nights for me over the years. * The cops roll in to a loop of the very beginning of the epic Ptah, the El Daoud, the title track to Alice Coltrane’s album from 1970. * Then we have a mix of two improvisations from Charles Cohen’s “Brother I Prove You Wrong”: Cloud Hands and The Boy and the Snake Dance. * There’s a brief dip into Dorian, by Fang Island. * The jaunty accordion, typewriter thing is Biking is Better on Wintergatan’s eponymous album. Notes I researched this one primarily through old newspapers. The easiest place to find a number of them is to read the excellent site, The Museum of Hoaxes’ page on this event. Also: if you’re in the Atlanta area and ever want to have yourself a day, you can see the actual monkey. It’s preserved in a jar at the Georgia Bureau of Investigations museum in Decatur Georgia. The Memory Palace is a proud member of Radiotopia, a collective of independently owned and operated podcasts.

Episode 148: Safe Passage

Episode 148: Safe Passage

This episode was originally released in September of 2019. Music We start with the Opening of Craig Armstrong’s score to Far From the Madding Crowd.Glass Houses no. 13 from Ann Southam.Earring from Julia Wolf.Occam II for Violin from Eliane Radigue.Rearranging Furniture from Gabriel Yared’s score to By the Sea.A bit of Movement II from Martynov, “Come in!” by Vladimir Martynov. Notes Plenty written about the Willie D.. I found Roger Branfill-Cook’s Torpedo: the Most Revolutionary Weapon in Naval History to be particularly useful.I also enjoyed stumbling upon this day-by-day breakdown of F.D.R.’s Presidency.