Best Witness Docs & Atlas Obscura Podcasts (2025)

1
Leaning Tower of Niles (Classic) 9:36

2d ago9:36

9:36

Niles, Illinois is home to an exact replica of Italy’s leaning tower of Pisa - only it’s half the size of the original structure. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/leaning-tower-nilesBy SiriusXM Podcasts & Atlas Obscura

1
Retracing Historic Journeys with Elise Wortley 27:16

3d ago27:16

27:16

Adventurer Elise Wortley retraces the footsteps of historic female explorers – and she does it all with no modern gear, no shortcuts, and no guarantees that it is going to work out. Learn more about Elise’s trip to the Valley of the Assassins.By SiriusXM Podcasts & Atlas Obscura

1
The Kolache Triangle 14:17

4d ago14:17

14:17

Producer Alexa Lim travels in search of the Kolache Triangle. Along the way, she visits some of the state’s Czech communities, and hears how the kolache became the gem of the Texas roadside snack.By SiriusXM Podcasts & Atlas Obscura

1
Atlas Obscura Goes Off Assignment: 2:30 a.m. in McMurdo Station and 11:45 p.m. in Oulu 9:47

5d ago9:47

9:47

Two small stories about two cold nights in different parts of the world. 11:45 p.m. in Oulu was written by Anne Korkeakivi, and 2:30 a.m. in McMurdo Station was written by Elizabeth Endicott. Both essays were edited by Tusshara Nalakumar Srilatha and originally appeared in Off Assignment. Elizabeth Endicott is a writer based in Denver, and Anne Kor…

1
Dylan’s Mailbag: A Disturbing Listener Question 14:03

6d ago14:03

14:03

Dylan and producers Amanda and Johanna answer a listener question that leaves them deeply shaken, and slightly disturbed. Have a question for Dylan? Give us a call at 315-992-7902 and leave a message. You can also record a voice memo and email it to us at [email protected], or simply email your question.…

1
Gnomesville 12:29

9d ago12:29

12:29

Thousands of kitschy lawn gnomes have taken over an Australian roundabout. Read more in the Atlas here.By SiriusXM Podcasts & Atlas Obscura

1
The Manhattan Well with Lauren Willig 27:39

10d ago27:39

27:39

Today, if you venture into the basement of a certain clothing store in the Soho neighborhood of NYC, you’ll find an unusual sight: an old well. This well is tied to the first recorded murder trial in the United States – it’s a story of a 22-year-old woman, her suspicious suitor, and a legal team consisting of none other than Alexander Hamilton and …

1
The Alresford Spy Toilet 14:26

11d ago14:26

14:26

We head to a public bathroom in Alresford, England to hear how a toilet played a key role in flushing out an infamous Cold War espionage ring.By SiriusXM Podcasts & Atlas Obscura

1
Why Is Frank Lloyd Wright’s Only Skyscraper Sitting Empty? 11:33

12d ago11:33

11:33

The unusual-looking Price Tower, a 1-of-1 from starchitect Frank Lloyd Wright, has been the pride of Bartlesville, Oklahoma for more than 60 years. But the challenge of maintaining the skyscraper as a historic piece of art has made it difficult for the building’s owners to keep it open.By SiriusXM Podcasts & Atlas Obscura

1
Animal Takeover (Places Edition) 18:22

13d ago18:22

18:22

Producer Johanna Mayer and Places editor Diana Hubbell tell us about two parts of the world where animals have invaded – and taken over. Plus: Tell us about a place that has a bad reputation – but still, you love it. Call us at 315-992-7902 and leave a message with your name and your story. Or you can record a voice memo of any length and email it …

1
Lake Natron (Classic) 12:05

16d ago12:05

12:05

Lake Natron in Tanzania can leave welts and burns on human skin but is a bit of a paradise for another animal. Read more in the Atlas.By SiriusXM Podcasts & Atlas Obscura

1
What Makes a Pest? 23:24

17d ago23:24

23:24

Animal-human conflict expert Bethany Brookshire explains why we put cats before rats – and a lot of it has to do with where we’re encountering them. Read an interview with Bethany in our new column, AO Wants to Know. And check out her book Pests: How Humans Create AnimalBy SiriusXM Podcasts & Atlas Obscura

1
On the Hunt for Murder Hornets 14:57

18d ago14:57

14:57

We go on a hunt for what you might call an entomologist’s most wanted insect.By SiriusXM Podcasts & Atlas Obscura

1
The Black American West Museum 8:58

19d ago8:58

8:58

Paul Stewart’s childhood fascination with cowboys and the Wild West turned into a museum dedicated to preserving the stories of the American West’s early Black settlers.By SiriusXM Podcasts & Atlas Obscura

1
Listener Stories of Leaving Home 11:50

20d ago11:50

11:50

Listeners share stories of leaving home for the first time – from a first apartment in San Francisco, to running away with a member of a famous band, to searching for a piece of Australia in the United States. Plus: Have you ever visited a place with a bad reputation, and found that you actually really loved it? We want to hear about it! Give us a …

1
We Want to Know: What’s a Place You Love That Has Defied Its Bad Reputation? 1:37

22d ago1:37

1:37

We want to hear about a place you love that has defied its bad reputation. Maybe there’s a drab local mall that’s full of chain stores and overpriced frozen yogurt that strangely gives you a sense of comfort. Maybe you love eating at chain restaurants while traveling. Maybe all your high school friends dunk on your hometown, but it’s the place you …

1
Pyramid of Djoser 14:04

23d ago14:04

14:04

Travel to the world’s oldest intact pyramid in Egypt - and learn about the genius who also influenced the fields of architecture, astronomy, medicine. Read more in the Atlas here.By SiriusXM Podcasts & Atlas Obscura

1
A Glass Palace in the Arizona Desert 24:49

24d ago24:49

24:49

In September 1991, eight people moved into Biosphere 2, a nearly airtight glass and steel complex in the Arizona desert. The half-acre farm at its centre would supply all their food. Plants, algae and photosynthesizing microorganisms would supply all their oxygen. If things went according to plan, they would have everything they needed to survive i…

1
The Last Home Napoleon Would Know 14:01

25d ago14:01

14:01

In the middle of the South Atlantic Ocean, on the tiny island of Saint Helena, sits the Longwood House. It was the final home of Napoleon Bonaparte. And while there – amidst the serenity Saint Helena has to offer – the former emperor of France became a more reflective person.By SiriusXM Podcasts & Atlas Obscura

1
The Cave Below Minneapolis 12:42

26d ago12:42

12:42

An urban explorer ventured deep below downtown Minneapolis in search of Schieks Cave. He discovered more than he bargained for. Read more about Schieks Cave and Greg Brick.By SiriusXM Podcasts & Atlas Obscura

1
The 6-Day Race 14:54

27d ago14:54

14:54

For a brief window in the late 1800s, America’s favorite sport was walking in circles over and over and over. The biggest sporting events in the country were “6 Day Races” – days-long tests of endurance where competitive walkers competed to see who could log the most miles. Check out our guest Matthew Algeo’s book “Pedestrianism: When Watching Peop…

1
Times Square Hum (Classic) 11:57

29d ago11:57

11:57

Producer Johanna Mayer travels to Times Square in NYC, in search of particular sound that may sometimes go overlooked. READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-times-square-hum-new-york-new-yorkBy SiriusXM Podcasts & Atlas Obscura

1
President Heads (Classic) 11:24

1M ago11:24

11:24

What to do when you have 20-foot-tall busts of nearly every U.S. President and nowhere to put them? This episode was produced in partnership with Visit Williamsburg.By SiriusXM Podcasts & Atlas Obscura

1
Dreamland Resort 23:00

1M ago23:00

23:00

Dylan visits a patch of Nevada desert known at times as Paradise Ranch, Dreamland Resort, or as most people know it, Area 51. His goal? To try and find out where The X-Files end, and the truth begins. And he falls deeper down the rabbit hole when he meets a man who is a German immigrant, a programmer, and possibly the premier Area 51 expert in the …

1
Jeremy Bentham’s Auto-Icon 15:32

1M ago15:32

15:32

Jeremy Bentham began planning for his death at a young age. He wrote a will in 1769, at the age of 21. But how did this philosopher’s dead body wind up on display in a university student center?By SiriusXM Podcasts & Atlas Obscura

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Witness Docs & Atlas Obscura Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

1
The Atlas Obscura Podcast

SiriusXM and Atlas Obscura

1
Mob Queens

Jessica Bendinger & Michael Seligman

1
Leaning Tower of Niles (Classic) 9:36

1
Retracing Historic Journeys with Elise Wortley 27:16

1
The Kolache Triangle 14:17

1
Atlas Obscura Goes Off Assignment: 2:30 a.m. in McMurdo Station and 11:45 p.m. in Oulu 9:47

1
Dylan’s Mailbag: A Disturbing Listener Question 14:03

1
Gnomesville 12:29

1
The Manhattan Well with Lauren Willig 27:39

1
The Alresford Spy Toilet 14:26

1
Why Is Frank Lloyd Wright’s Only Skyscraper Sitting Empty? 11:33

1
Animal Takeover (Places Edition) 18:22

1
Lake Natron (Classic) 12:05

1
What Makes a Pest? 23:24

1
On the Hunt for Murder Hornets 14:57

1
The Black American West Museum 8:58

1
Listener Stories of Leaving Home 11:50

1
We Want to Know: What’s a Place You Love That Has Defied Its Bad Reputation? 1:37

1
Pyramid of Djoser 14:04

1
A Glass Palace in the Arizona Desert 24:49

1
The Last Home Napoleon Would Know 14:01

1
The Cave Below Minneapolis 12:42

1
The 6-Day Race 14:54

1
Times Square Hum (Classic) 11:57

1
President Heads (Classic) 11:24

1
Dreamland Resort 23:00

1
Jeremy Bentham’s Auto-Icon 15:32