Niche to Meet You

How knitters are saving the world....and an update!

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The final episode in the Niche to Meet You exploration into Double Dutch: An interview with the niche's original celebrities.

Follow along with Leslie's niche endeavors over on Substack.

Since February, the Niche to Meet You podcast has been living in the world of Double Dutch, first came the flagship episode as a celebration of Black History Month (with the whole classic Niche sound designed treatment), then the release of poet Gregory Pardlo’s interview and recitation of his poem “Double Dutch,” then with my collaborator Chris Thiessen’s essay on nuances within Double Dutch’s engagement with Hip Hop.

So, first things first: If you haven’t listened to the main Double Dutch episode yet, go do that—set aside about 36 minutes.

But if you have listened, you’ll remember that in 1980 four girls from the Lower East Side of Manhattan win the World Championships. The Fantastic Four. This is an interview with them, had on MLK day this year.

Have feedback or just want to say hi? Email us: [email protected]

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.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A bonus Double Dutch story: Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Gregory Pardlo reads his poem, Double Dutch, in full. BEWARE: listen to the full Double Dutch episode (posted 2/13) before listening to this! There are spoilers!!!!!

LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW WITH GREGORY ON THE NICHE NOTES SUBSTACK (paid subscribers). 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]

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.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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" documentary
• Washington 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 Dutch
• 40+ 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 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 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 List
• NPR'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.

A special announcement: Niche to Meet You has made it to National Public Radio

Links I told you about:

• Morning Edition (You'll see the story in the lineup)
• 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 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.

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 Nation
• Wild Turkey Conservation Series
• Santa 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.

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.