Community, belonging, and solving puzzles (really fast).
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EPISODE NOTES:
While some of us casually work on puzzles over days (or weeks) with family during holidays, some others of us complete puzzles in mere minutes. These folks are called Puzzle People.
In this 2-part series, you’ll meet a Guinness Book of World Record Holder (Tammy McLeod), professional puzzlers (Sarah Schuler), influencers (Karen Kavett), competitors, and even join Leslie as she tries to complete a puzzle as quickly as possible…kind of.
But this isn’t just a story about solving puzzles—it’s about how a global crisis sparked new traditions, deepened human connection, and turned an isolating time into a foundation for community and belonging. In this episode, part 1, Niche to Meet You marks 5 years of COVID through the lens of competitive speed puzzling. In a world that often feels fragmented, puzzling remains a reminder that we’re always finding ways to come together—piece by piece.
Thank you to Springbok Puzzles for sponsoring this story. We are so grateful for your support!
ABOUT NICHE TO MEET YOU:
Niche to Meet You is an investigative storytelling podcast about the little-known niche interests. Our work has been featured on Nashville Public Radio and has been seen in the likes of The Guardian and the 1440 newsletter. Our stories introduce listeners to folks involved with things like Warhammer 40,000, Rubik’s cube enthusiasts and competitors, armored combat champions, professional Santas and Mrs. Clauses, and more. It's like if Mr. Rogers Neighborhood and Revisionist History teamed up for a Netflix special.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SHOW HERE.
SHOW CREDITS:
Senior creator/host: Leslie Thompson
Associate Script Editor: Chris Thiessen
Show theme composed by Abigail Flowers with this arrangement Produced & Arranged by Abigail Flowers, Chris Leidhecker, Kevin Gift
Episode mastering by Kevin Morris
Show artwork created by Rachel Hardacre
The Happiness Lab comes to Niche to Meet You.
EPISODE NOTES:
Let's go on a field trip to The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos. Laurie is a cognitive scientist at Yale and her course titled "Psychology and the Good Life" became the most popular course in Yale's history.
In our episode called “On the road” we learned about the idea of third spaces, and how they’re often where someone’s hobby or niche is found. One of the sources I had in mind while I was writing this episode was a 2000 book called Bowling Alone by Robert Putnam, which outlines the "third space" concept. Robert is a political scientist and his book gives us context for the current loneliness epidemic in which we find ourselves now, nearly thirty years later.
Recently, I discovered an episode of The Happiness Lab that features a hopeful conversation with Robert that felt really relevant for the Nicheverse. Dr. Santos agreed to let us air it! She joins us for the top of the episode, and she even brings her own niche interests with her.
ABOUT NICHE TO MEET YOU:
Niche to Meet You is an investigative storytelling podcast about the little-known niche interests. Our work has been featured on Nashville Public Radio and has been seen in the likes of The Guardian and the 1440 newsletter. Our stories introduce listeners to folks involved with things like Warhammer 40,000, Rubik’s cube enthusiasts and competitors, armored combat champions, professional Santas and Mrs. Clauses, and more. It's like if Mr. Rogers Neighborhood and Revisionist History teamed up for a Netflix special.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SHOW HERE.
SHOW CREDITS:
Senior creator/host: Leslie Thompson (IG: @leslieeilerthompson)
Associate Script Editor: Chris Thiessen
Show theme composed by Abigail Flowers
Show artwork created by Rachel Hardacre
Our favorite Santas read the famous poem, "A Visit from St. Nicholas."
EPISODE NOTES:
In this final offering of 2024, we give you the gift of several beloved voices from our Santa miniseries reading us the poem that started it all, A Visit from St. Nicholas (otherwise known as'Twas the Night Before Christmas) on its 201st anniversary. If you haven't listened to the miniseries yet, now is the time!
Special thanks to WPLN Nashville Public Radio, for premiering this piece on your station!
VOICES FEATURED IN THIS EPISODE:
ABOUT NICHE TO MEET YOU:
Niche to Meet You is an investigative storytelling podcast about the little-known niche interests. Our work has been featured on Nashville Public Radio, has been seen by millions through a recent viral instagram reel, and has been featured in the likes of The Guardian and the 1440 newsletters. It's like if Mr. Rogers Neighborhood and Revisionist History teamed up for a Netflix special. We use miniseries and individual interviews to introduce listeners to folks involved with Warhammer 40,000, Rubik’s cube enthusiasts and competitors, armored combat champions, wild turkey conservationists, and more.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SHOW HERE.
EPISODE CREDITS:
Host/Editor: Leslie Thompson (IG: @leslieeilerthompson)
Mastering by Kevin Morris
Music from Epidemic Sound
Show artwork created by Rachel Hardacre
The origins of the professional Santa.
EPISODE NOTES:
This first episode in the Professional Santa miniseries is about history: where Santa came from with historian Stephanie Fulbright, and when the culture of PORTRAYING him started with Santa Phil. We cover the viral poem that made him famous, the Macy’s Thanksgiving parade, and the Mount Rushmore of Professional Santas while hearing from actual Santa Portrayal Artists and Santa historians.
SANTAS FEATURED IN THIS EPISODE:
ABOUT NICHE TO MEET YOU:
Niche to Meet You is an investigative storytelling podcast about the little-known niche interests. Our work has been featured on Nashville Public Radio, has been seen by millions through a recent viral instagram reel, and has been featured in the likes of The Guardian and the 1440 newsletters. It's like if Mr. Rogers Neighborhood and Revisionist History teamed up for a Netflix special. We use miniseries and individual interviews to introduce listeners to folks involved with Warhammer 40,000, Rubik’s cube enthusiasts and competitors, armored combat champions, wild turkey conservationists, and more.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SHOW HERE.
SHOW CREDITS:
Creator/Reporter/host: Leslie Thompson (IG: @leslieeilerthompson)
Associate script producer: Chris Thiessen
Mastering by Kevin Morris
Show theme composed by Abigail Flowers with this holiday arrangement by Mike Hicks
Show artwork created by Rachel Hardacre
Additional music by Blue Dot Sessions and Jon McLaughlin
Meet the Santas behind the beard.
EPISODE NOTES:
In the second episode of our Professional Santa miniseries we meet the folks who portray Santa and learn what it takes to do the job. From meetups and conferences to spending thousands on uniform, these Santas take their jobs seriously. We talk to Shed and George, Black santas wth a mission to see representation in the niche, and meet Jerusalem’s only certified Santa Issa. Then, we shadow a Santa Donald on a gig to a school serving children with low vision.
SANTAS FEATURED IN THIS EPISODE:
ABOUT NICHE TO MEET YOU:
Niche to Meet You is an investigative storytelling podcast about the little-known niche interests. Our work has been featured on Nashville Public Radio, has been seen by millions through a recent viral instagram reel, and has been featured in the likes of The Guardian and the 1440 newsletters. It's like if Mr. Rogers Neighborhood and Revisionist History teamed up for a Netflix special. We use miniseries and individual interviews to introduce listeners to folks involved with Warhammer 40,000, Rubik’s cube enthusiasts and competitors, armored combat champions, wild turkey conservationists, and more.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SHOW HERE.
SHOW CREDITS:
Creator/Reporter/host: Leslie Thompson (IG: @leslieeilerthompson)
Associate script producer: Chris Thiessen
Mastering by Kevin Morris
Show theme composed by Abigail Flowers with this holiday arrangement by Mike Hicks
Show artwork created by Rachel Hardacre
Additional music by Blue Dot Sessions and Jon McLaughlin