Niche to Meet You

Play, joy, and the women who kept a cultural tradition alive. GO FURTHER INTO THE NICHEVERSE:JOIN THE NICHE NOTES SUBSTACK: We'll be releasing more from this story over there, along with monthly Nicheletters with intel on what's going on in the Nicheverse.Have feedback or just want to say hi? Email us: [email protected] EPISODE NOTES: Double Dutch is jumping rope with two ropes instead of one. To really know Double Dutch, though, is to know a lineage of history, culture, and joy, carried by Black girls and women across generations. From Nashville to New York City, Niche to Meet You—the award-recognized documentary podcast featured by American Public Media and created by Leslie Eiler Thompson—gets in the ropes to understand how Double Dutch became a cultural practice rooted in joy, play, and community—and why the girls who built it were so often left out of the official story. The episode features voices like Dr. Kyra Gaunt, ethnomusicologist and author of The Games Black Girls Play, and the Fantastic Four—Dolores Brown, De'Shone Adams, Robin Oaks, and Adrian Adams—the groundbreaking Double Dutch team that won the 1980 national championship and toured Europe in the earliest days of hip-hop, only to be written out of its mythology. Leslie watches Double Dutch in action at Nashville’s 40+ Double Dutch club, and gets coached in NYC’s Washington Square Park by coach Shakira “Kira” Lee, whose pop-up sessions sponsored by the Washington Square Park Conservancy turn public parks into spaces of communal joy. Then, Pulitzer Prize–winning poet Gregory Pardlo reflects on watching girls jump Double Dutch as a child, and why writing about that joy still matters. This is a story about play, celebration, and joy. And about what happens when women step back into the ropes and remember who they were before the world asked them to grow up too fast. Links mentioned in the episode/further exploring:"Pick Up Your Feet" documentaryWashington Square Park Conservancy: We offer our gratitude to them for welcoming us to the event with coach Kira!Dr. Kyra Gaunt's TED talk about Double Dutch40+ Double Dutch Club ABOUT US: Niche to Meet You is an anthropological exploration of the hidden corners of everyday life, seen through subcultures and hobbies. Each episode blends reporting and curiosity to ask how people find belonging, community, and a sense of self in the things they love. Our work has been called "masterfully written" by Malcolm Gladwell, and reporting from the project has been featured on NPR’s Morning Edition and Nashville Public Radio. 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:  Creator/Reporter: Leslie Eiler Thompson Associate Script Editor: Chris Thiessen, with additional consulting by Katelynn McIlwain  Show theme by Abigail Flowers with this arrangement of the theme Produced & Arranged by Abigail Flowers, Chris Leidhecker, Kevin Gift Additional music by Blue Dot Sessions 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.

JOIN THE NICHE NOTES SUBSTACK On February 13th, Niche to Meet You explores Double Dutch jump roping. Double Dutch is jumping rope with two ropes instead of one. To really know Double Dutch, though, is to know a lineage of history, culture, and joy, carried by Black girls and women across generations. From Nashville to New York City, Niche to Meet You gets in the ropes to understand how Double Dutch became a cultural practice rooted in joy, play, and community—and why the girls who built it were so often left out of the official story. The episode features voices like Dr. Kyra Gaunt, ethnomusicologist and author of The Games Black Girls Play, and the Fantastic Four—Dolores Brown, De'Shone Adams, Robin Oaks, and Adrian Adams—the groundbreaking Double Dutch team that won the 1980 national championship and toured Europe in the earliest days of hip-hop, only to be written out of its mythology. Leslie watches Double Dutch in action at Nashville’s 40+ Double Dutch club, and gets coached in NYC’s Washington Square Park by coach Shakira “Kira” Lee, whose pop-up sessions turn public parks into spaces of communal joy. Then, Pulitzer Prize–winning poet Gregory Pardlo reflects on watching girls jump Double Dutch as a child, and why writing about that joy still matters. Make plans to listen on February 13! If you sign up for the Niche Notes substack you'll get an exclusive sneak peek a few days before the episode releases, along with updates about the project and additional reporting that wont end up on this feed. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.

A brand new Christmas vignette about one of our favorite characters in the Nicheverse. Thanks to the Nashville Banner for making it happen! Links I told you about:Join the Niche ListNPR's Morning Edition story The Full Santa 3-Part Series Have feedback or just want to say hi? Email me: [email protected] ABOUT US: 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. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The top 5 nic(h)est moments of all time AND a big ol update. Join the Niche List Have feedback or just want to say hi? Email us: [email protected] EPISODE NOTES: Hear an update on the future of the show, and listen to Leslie talk about the top 5 nichest moments of all time on the show. Moments taken from:Stick NationWild Turkey Conservation SeriesSanta Series ABOUT US: 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. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.