The Strong Sense of Place Podcast Launches 20 January: Our First Four Episodes

The Strong Sense of Place Podcast Launches 20 January: Our First Four Episodes

Monday, 13 January, 2020

Our Strong Sense of Place podcast is launching on 20 January!

The big day is almost here, and we could not be more excited to share our podcast with you. We’re so thrilled, in fact, that we’re releasing four episodes in four days, starting Monday 20 January. Here’s a preview of what you can expect when you tune in.

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20 January - Prague: Castles and Cobblestones

tram pulling through an arch in prague
Photo courtesy of Aleksei Savin

In 2017, we moved from the United States to Prague, and it remains one of our favorite cities. It’s an energetic mix of storied history and modern cool, all set against the backdrop of fairy-tale architecture. The books we chose include a charming illustrated history, a literary novel of WWII, a collection of crime stories, and more. And we welcome a special guest! Travel writer Mark Baker drops some knowledge of the bookstores, spies, and ghosts of Prague.

Want a little Prague right now?

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21 January - Restaurants: Hot Stoves and Steamy Relationships

gray-haired chef with mustache in a bakery kitchen
Photo courtesy of Daniel Kalman

Between the heat of the kitchen and the camaraderie forged in the trenches of the dinner rush, restaurants are a hotbed for excellent stories. Every member of staff is a character worth considering, as are the customers who bring their own stories to the table. The books we recommend include a no-nonsense look at the restaurant business and novels that take us from a Red Lobster in Connecticut to restaurants in Los Angeles (Lebanese), Maryland (Chinese), and Oslo (an old-school European-style café).

Want a taste of restaurants right now?

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22 January - Japan: Family Honor and Super-Cute Stuff

cherry blossoms reflected in a canal
Photo courtesy of Sora Sagano

From samurai to sumo and calligraphy to cos-play, Japan is a fascinating mashup of hyper-modernity and traditional culture. Visitors to Japan can still sleep on futons, meditate with monks, drink matcha tea, and wonder at ancient theater, like noh and kabuki — while also riding on bullet trains and time-traveling to the future with the latest electronics. The books in this episode go deep into the culture with a nonfiction guide to all things geeky, two novels that examine WWII from different perspectives, a quirky contemporary novella, and a sweet coming-of-age story. We also talk to award-winning graphic novelist Tillie Walden about manga and her time visiting Japan.

Want a little Japan right now?

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23 January - Mexico: Folklore and Beachy Paradise

view of the blue ocean through a window
Photo courtesy of Devin H

With tropical coasts, lush interior jungles, ancient Mayan and Aztec ruins, and majestic colonial architecture, Mexico is an inspiring background for stories that explore the joy (and challenges) of family and the magic of everyday experiences. Our book choices represent that variety. We’ve got a detailed history of one of our favorite foods (tune in to see what it is!), a funny and sad YA coming-of-age novel, a straight-up beach read, and two family sagas that will make you laugh while also, maybe, tearing out your heart.

Want a little Mexico right now?

The countdown to podcast is on!

Top image courtesy of Csongor Schmutc.

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keep reading

The novel 'Goulash' reads like a memoir of an American expat's adventures in 1998 Prague. It was a dynamic time for the city, but some things stay the same: the pubs, the beer, and good, honest Czech food.
This Chinese dish is almost a character in the short story 'Have you eaten'? by Rob Hart. We devoured the story, then created this recipe: tender chicken, spicy sauces, and savory rice. It's dangerously delicious.
These tender pork meatballs are packed with umami — like gyoza without the noodle-wrapper. Dig into them while you read this lovely, poignant novel of love, friendship, and the power of words in Japan.
The pages of 'Like Water for Chocolate' burn with the various ways humans can love each other: passionately, platonically, painfully — and food is a full-fledged character in this lush, satisfying family saga.
Episode 01 of The Strong Sense of Place podcast — Prague: Cobblestones and Castles. Prague is the capital of the Czech Republic, world's best beer, and ghosts.
Thanks to the heat of the kitchen and friendship forged during the dinner rush, restaurants are a rich setting for tasty stories. In episode 2 of our new podcast, we take a big bite of books about restaurants.
In episode 3 of our new podcast, we go deep into Japanese culture with moving novels, an autobio graphic novel, and a look at all things geeky. Then we chat with graphic novelist Tillie Walden about her love of manga.
Mexico is an inspiring background for stories that explore the joy (and challenges) of family and the magic of everyday experiences. In this episode of our podcast, we hit the beach and explore ancient cultures.

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Strong Sense of Place is a website and podcast dedicated to literary travel and books we love. Reading good books increases empathy. Empathy is good for all of us and the amazing world we inhabit.

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Strong Sense of Place is a listener-supported podcast. If you like the work we do, you can help make it happen by joining our Patreon! That'll unlock bonus content for you, too — including Mel's secret book reviews and Dave's behind-the-scenes notes for the latest Two Truths and a Lie.

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