Niche to Meet You
Niche to Meet You

Niche to Meet You

Leslie Eiler Thompson

Overview
Episodes

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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.

Recent Episodes

🎅🏾🎅🏻🎅🏽🎅🏾 'Twas the *Niche* Before Christmas
DEC 23, 2025
🎅🏾🎅🏻🎅🏽🎅🏾 'Twas the *Niche* Before Christmas
From 2024 (but relevant always)...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! EPISODE NOTES: In 2024, we first released this piece, a 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! It's relevant every year, and it will henceforth be our annual Niche tradition (maybe next year we'll include new voices??) VOICES FEATURED IN THIS EPISODE:Jerusalem SantaSanta ShedSanta BenSanta JayMalcolm Guite (UK)Santa LincolnSanta TrueSanta Robert (Norway) ABOUT 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. Our work has been featured on NPR's Morning Edition, 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.EPISODE CREDITS:  Host/Creator: Leslie Thompson (IG: @leslieeilerthompson) Mastering by Kevin Morris Intro music by Mike Hicks, Music under the poem from Epidemic Sound Show artwork created by Rachel Hardacre See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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6 MIN
🚖📻 Vintage Car Radio Restoration
SEP 26, 2025
🚖📻 Vintage Car Radio Restoration
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: [email protected] 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 of restoring vintage radios to their original glory while integrating modern features like Bluetooth, offering a blend of nostalgia and convenience. Through our conversation, we learned about Rick's journey from being a drummer in a band to becoming an award-winning restorer, highlighting the artistry and dedication required in his craft. We explored the significance of classic car radios as symbols of self-expression and identity, as well as the challenges and joys of preserving automotive history. 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 Episode mastering by Kevin Morris Show artwork created by Rachel Hardacre See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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20 MIN
🦃 Wild Turkeys, Part 1 [re-air]
SEP 5, 2025
🦃 Wild Turkeys, Part 1 [re-air]
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: [email protected] 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 SURPRISING! It's not just about hunting (though yes, we do have to talk about that...), it's about so much more. Once on the brink of extinction, wild turkeys are now one of America’s greatest conservation success stories. But keeping their numbers strong isn’t just about the bird—it’s about people from every corner of politics, hunters and conservationists, just everyday people working to preserve habitats and traditions. In this episode, we explore the remarkable comeback of the wild turkey and what it says about our relationship to the natural world...and each other. ABOUT THE SHOW: 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 by millions through a recent viral instagram reel. 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, professional Santas and Mrs. Clauses, and more.  LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SHOW HERE. SHOW CREDITS:  Senior producer/host: Leslie Thompson (IG: @leslieeilerthompson, leslieethompson.com) Associate producer: Chris Thiessen  Show theme composed by Abigail Flowers Seasonal show theme arranged by Zach & Maggie White Additional music provided by Blue Dot Sessions Show artwork created by Rachel Hardacre Audio mastered by Kevin Morris  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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50 MIN