Niche to Meet You
Niche to Meet You is anthropological exploration into the hidden corners of life through the lens of its subcultures and hobbies. Each episode blends journalism and curiosity to reveal how people find belonging and community—and themselves—in the things they love. From professional Santas to wild-turkey conservationists to speed puzzlers, host Leslie Eiler Thompson uncovers what our obsessions say about who we are and what connects us.
Episodes
Join us at the local Waffle House to talk about making old things beautiful again.
LINKS:
- Join the Niche List (our monthly newsletter…er, Nicheletter)
- Have feedback or just want to say hi? Email us: hello@nichetomeetyou.show
EPISODE NOTES:
Join us in a Waffle House booth as we meet Rick Blankenship, a masterful vintage car radio restorer. As we savored the Southern charm of the setting, Rick shared about his work o...
We're bringing turkeys back. Two parts this time. This is the first part.
LINKS:
- Join the Niche List (our monthly newsletter…er, Nicheletter)
- Have feedback or just want to say hi? Email us: hello@nichetomeetyou.show
While Leslie works on the next Niche, we are bringing back a niche that many of you haven't heard yet. And it's about Wild Turkeys and the folks who conserve them. STICK WITH US!!!!!! ITS REALLY SURPRI...
We're bringing turkeys back. Two parts this time. This is the second part.
LINKS:
- Join the Niche List (our monthly newsletter…er, Nicheletter)
- Have feedback or just want to say hi? Email us: hello@nichetomeetyou.show
While Leslie works on the next Niche, we are bringing back a niche that many of you haven't heard yet. And it's about Wild Turkeys and the folks who conserve them.
In the conclusion of our Wild Turkey ...
Our summer radio special, in partnership with American Public Media
LINKS:
- Join the Niche List (our monthly newsletter…er, Nicheletter)
- Have feedback or just want to say hi? Email us: hello@nichetomeetyou.show
EPISODE NOTES:
We got invited to produce an hourlong radio special for American Public Media, and wanted to share it with you. It’s taken from some of our early episodes, so if you’ve joined Niche Nation ...
Niche to Meet You takes to the high seas in search of the unconquerable.
LINKS:
- Join the Niche List (our monthly newsletter…er, Nicheletter)
- Find photos of Leslie’s time at the Barkley on the show page
- Have feedback or just want to say hi? Email us: hello@nichetomeetyou.show
EPISODE NOTES:
Somewhere deep in the Tennessee woods, there’s a race with no finish line — at least not one most people will ever reach. Th...
Celebrate Earth Day, the niche way.
LINKS:
- Join the Niche List (our monthly newsletter…er, Nicheletter)
- Become a part of the United Nicheons, the Niche to Meet You Patreon
- BUY MERCH!!!!!
- Have feedback or just want to say hi? Email us: hello@nichetomeetyou.show
EPIS...
History, science, and Leslie tries to beat a national champ.
LINKS:
- Join the Niche List (our monthly newsletter…er, Nicheletter) and BE SURPRISED when we announce something HUGE in a few days.
- Have feedback or just want to say hi? Email us: hello@nichetomeetyou.show
- Get your own flippable Springbok puzzle. You can get 10% off your order with code: NICHEPUZZLE10. Shop for puzzles HERE.
Community, belonging, and solving puzzles (really fast).
LINKS:
- Join the Niche List (our monthly newsletter…er, Nicheletter) and get a special announcement on April 6th
- Have feedback or just want to say hi? Email us: hello@nichetomeetyou.show
- Want to get into puzzling (you should!)? Start with Springbok, where you can get 10% off your order with code: NICHEPUZZLE10. Shop for puzzles HERE.
- The 2023 Op-ed by Danté Stewa...
Our favorite Santas read the famous poem, "A Visit from St. Nicholas."
- Email us! Who are you? What's your niche? What do you like about this show?
- Find pictures from Leslie’s time with Santas here.
- Looking to give a tax-deductible gift? Consider giving to this project. More information here.
- TELL A FRIEND ABOUT US! Is there someone who should know about this project? Tell them. Seriously, just text them. Now!
- Find us on Ins...
The origins of the professional Santa.
- Email us with your favorite part of this episode or what it made you think about!
- TELL A FRIEND ABOUT US! Is there someone who should know about this project? Tell them. Seriously, just text them. Now!
- Find us on Instagram, or join our email list.
- Find pictures from Leslie’s time with Santas here.
Thanks to our show sponsor, 1440 Daily News Digest. Click here to join the...
Meet the Santas behind the beard.
- Email us with your favorite part of this episode or what it made you think about!
- TELL A FRIEND ABOUT US! Is there someone who should know about this project? Tell them. Seriously, just text them. Now!
- Find us on Instagram, or join our email list.
- Find pictures from Leslie’s time with Santas here.
EPISODE NOTES:
In the second episode of our Professional Santa miniseries we me...
Why Santa matters.
- Email us with your favorite part of this episode or what it made you think about!
- TELL A FRIEND ABOUT US! Is there someone who should know about this project? Tell them. Seriously, just text them. Now!
- Find us on Instagram, or join our email list.
- Find pictures from Leslie’s time with Santas here.
Thanks to our show sponsor, 1440 Daily News Digest. Click here to join the 4 million folks get...
Some moments that didn’t make the Wild Turkey Conservation miniseries.
- The full episode of The Bulletin with Matt and Mary releases on Friday the 29th. You will find it here.
- TELL A FRIEND ABOUT US! Is there someone who should know about this project? Tell them. Seriously, just text them. Now!
- Send feedback or tell us about your niche!
- Email us.
- Find us on Instagram, or join our email list.
EPISODE NOTES:
Thi...
Coming December 6th (St. Nicholas Day) – a three-episode series about Santa and the folks who portray him. Listen to the full series here.
- join our email list, The Niche List!
- Email us.
EPISODE NOTES:
Christmas is about more than just presents and decorations—it's about the spirit of giving, love, and bringing joy to others. Many of us anticipate this post-election Holiday season to be tense, perhaps even dish...
Meet dog agility hobbyist, Toast, along with her human companion, Amy.
- Join the Niche List (our monthly newsletter…er, Nicheletter)
- Become a part of the United Nicheons, the Niche to Meet You Patreon
- Have feedback or just want to say hi? Email us: hello@nichetomeetyou.show
EPISODE NOTES:
This Niche vignette visits Toast and her companion Amy as they practice dog agility in their front yard. You’ll hear puppy kisses...
Introducing the Wild Turkey Conservation niche. And y’all, it is definitely wild.
GO DEEPER WITH NICHE TO MEET YOU (WEBSITE):
- TELL A FRIEND ABOUT US! Is there someone who should know about this project? Tell them. Seriously, just text them. Now!
Want more ...
Meet the Wild Turkey people.
- Join the Niche List (our monthly newsletter…er, Nicheletter)
- Become a part of the United Nicheons, the Niche to Meet You Patreon
- BUY MERCH!!!!!
- Have feedback or just want to say hi? Email us: hello@nichetomeetyou.show
...
Where Wild Turkey Conservation REALLY got its start.
- Join the Niche List (our monthly newsletter…er, Nicheletter)
- Become a part of the United Nicheons, the Niche to Meet You Patreon
- BUY MERCH!!!!!
- Have feedback or just want to say hi? Email us: hello@nichetomeetyou.show
Wild Turkey Conservation matters, and here’s why.
- Join the Niche List (our monthly newsletter…er, Nicheletter)
- Become a part of the United Nicheons, the Niche to Meet You Patreon
- BUY MERCH!!!!!
- Have feedback or just want to say hi? Email us: hello@nichetomeetyou.show
Coming August 16th: a 4-part miniseries about the Wild Turkey Conservation niche. It’s an important story about belonging, community, mending seemingly irreparable gaps and changing the world.
Learn more about the show, read a transcript, and give feedback at Nichetomeetyou.show/wild-turkey
Support the work by sharing it with a friend and buying us a pizza.
SHOW CREDITS:
Senior producer/host: Leslie Thompson (IG: @leslieei...
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