Our favorite Santas read the famous poem, "A Visit from St. Nicholas."

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• Find pictures from Leslie’s time with Santas here.
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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:

• Jerusalem Santa
• Santa Shed
• Santa Ben
• Santa Jay
• Malcolm Guite (UK)
• Santa Lincoln
• Santa True
• Santa Robert (Norway)

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.

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.
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EPISODE NOTES:

This week is Thanksgiving in America, though if you listen to Niche to Meet You, it’s felt like Thanksgiving since August. And we’ve got one more helping of turkey for you. Call it a Nichegiving special. and it includes all the makings for a perfectly spent Thanksgiving:

- Turkeys, of course.

- Football

- Family.

This short episode combines a few moments that didn’t make the Wild Turkey Conservation miniseries because they happened after it was already done. You’ll hear from a three-time superbowl champion, a retired archaeologist, and my dad.

Happy niche giving to you and your family. We are so very thankful for you.

Mentioned in this episode:

DONATE TO THE SHOW

Find more information on donating (tax-deductibly!) at https://wedgwoodcircle.givingfuel.com/niche-to-meet-you

Coming December 6th (St. Nicholas Day) – a three-episode series about Santa and the folks who portray him.

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• Send feedback or tell us about your niche!
• Email us.
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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 disheartening. This, in addition to the loss many of us feel during the holidays as loved ones have passed on, means the next few weeks are going to be hard. Really hard.

Professional Santas can help.

This special holiday series of episodes explores the history of Santa, all the way back to Saint Nicholas to today. We'll also tell personal stories from real-life Santas, like Santa Shed, a Middle Tennessee Black Santa who wants to see representation and diversity in the community. Or Santa Donald, who works at the Tennessee School for the Blind and has adapted the character for the children he's watched grow up at the school for decades. Or even Jerusalem Santa, who does his work in the heart of the Holy City in a 700-year-old building. You’ll join Leslie at the International Santa Celebration and meetups, and experience the role wonder and awe plays in the midst of suffering. For these Santas, it’s more than just a hobby. It’s a way of living–and it’s changing the world.

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 by millions through a recent viral instagram reel and has been featured in the likes of The Guardian and the 1440 newsletter. 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 creator/host: Leslie Thompson (IG: @leslieeilerthompson)

Associate producer: Chris...

Meet dog agility hobbyist, Toast, along with her human companion, Amy.

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• 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!

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, excited dog whines, and how dog agility offers more than a hobby—it’s a sanctuary from the stresses of life. Alongside Toast, Amy builds a sense of community with other trainers, finds joy in small victories, and experiences the unexpected solace of focusing on her pup. This episode explores the beauty of hobbies that ground us, showing how even a casual run through a tunnel or the celebration of mastering a jump can bring much-needed respite and joy.

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 by millions through a recent viral instagram reel and has been featured in the likes of The Guardian and the 1440 newsletter. 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 creator/host: Leslie Thompson (IG: @leslieeilerthompson)

Associate producer: Chris Thiessen

Show theme composed by Abigail Flowers

Additional music provided by Blue Dot Sessions

Show artwork created by Rachel Hardacre

Mentioned in this episode:

DONATE TO THE SHOW

Find more information on donating (tax-deductibly!) at https://wedgwoodcircle.givingfuel.com/niche-to-meet-you

David Brooks likes early Taylor Swift and helps us listen better.

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EPISODE NOTES:

This is a really, truly, amazing special treat.

David Brooks is a big deal–has landed on NYT’s bestseller list like a billion times and is loved by the likes of Oprah. In October 2023, David released a book called How to Know a Person, which is all about LISTENING. Being curious. All the things we like here at Niche to Meet You.

David joined No Small Endeavor’s podcast to talk about the book, and this conversation between him and host Lee Camp could easily have been a Niche to Meet You episode about our mission—our ethos. And now, it is.

It’s relevant and important and we are so lucky to get to have this as part of our offerings. Thanks to the No Small Endeavor team for letting us run the episode here.

ABOUT NO SMALL ENDEAVOR:

What does it mean to live a good life? What is true happiness? What are the habits and practices that lead to human flourishing? No Small Endeavor examines these questions with host Lee C. Camp.

You'll hear from best-selling authors, philosophers, scientists, artists, psychologists, theologians and even the occasional politician—courageous, impassioned people taking seriously the question of how to live a good life. NO SMALL ENDEAVOR WEBSITE

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 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 creator/host: Leslie Thompson (IG: @leslieeilerthompson)

Associate producer: Chris Thiessen

Niche to Meet You theme composed by Abigail Flowers

Additional music provided by Blue Dot Sessions

Niche to Meet You...