Niche to Meet You

By Leslie Eiler Thompson

You know that weirdly specific thing your friend’s obsessed with? Like speed jigsaw puzzling. Or dressing up as Santa. Or raising wild turkeys. This show is about those people.

Each episode, host Les... more

4.5

7272 ratings

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FAQs about Niche to Meet You:

How many episodes does Niche to Meet You have?

The podcast currently has 28 episodes available.

Niche to Meet You episodes:

November 01, 2024🐶 Dog Agility: Small wins & big joy with Toast & Amy
Meet dog agility hobbyist, Toast, along with her human companion, Amy.
Join the Niche List (our monthly newsletter…er, Nicheletter)
Become a part of the United Nicheons, the Niche to Meet You Patreon
Have feedback or just want to say hi? Email us: [email protected]

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
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
...more
15min
October 04, 2024✈️ Planes and 🫶🏻early Taylor Swift: David Brooks helps us listen to each other (with Lee C. Camp)
David Brooks likes early Taylor Swift and helps us listen better.
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!
Support the work by sharing it with a friend and buying us a pizza

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 Show artwork created by Rachel Hardacre
...more
57min
September 13, 2024✍🏻 Every Hobby Has a Story
This is the story of Niche to Meet You.
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!
Support the work by sharing it with a friend and buying us a pizza

EPISODE NOTES:
Welcome to Niche to Meet You. With our recent placement on Apple’s New & Noteworthy home page section and charting in the top 200 of the Society & Culture category (what in the world?! Welcome, if that’s how you found us!)...we thought it was worth regrouping and telling you about the show, featuring clips from stories we’ve told or will tell in the future.
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 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
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
...more
11min
August 16, 2024🦃 Wild Turkey Conservation | 1: This is Wild Turkey Conservation
Introducing the Wild Turkey Conservation niche. And y’all, it is definitely wild.

GO DEEPER WITH NICHE TO MEET YOU (WEBSITE):
TELL A FRIEND ABOUT US! Is there someone who should know about this project? Tell them. Seriously, just text them. Now!

Thanks to our show sponsor, 1440 Daily News Digest. Click here to join the 4 million folks getting great news in their inbox every day (like, Leslie)!
Want more about Wild Turkeys?
Read Brent Rogers’ book, Yelp & Gobble, Inc.
Read Tom Kelly’s book, Tenth Legion

EPISODE NOTES:
In this first episode of the 4 part mini-series about Wild Turkey Conservation we learn about the weird, wonderful Wild Turkey and the effort to conserve it. It’s an important story about mending seemingly irreparable gaps and changing the world. And it’s going to take us to surprising places.
Learn more about the miniseries and give feedback HERE.
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.
...more
20min
August 16, 2024🦃 Wild Turkey Conservation | 2: The ones who do it
Meet the Wild Turkey people.
Join the Niche List (our monthly newsletter…er, Nicheletter)
Become a part of the United Nicheons, the Niche to Meet You Patreon
BUY MERCH!!!!!
Have feedback or just want to say hi? Email us: [email protected]

Thanks to our show sponsor, 1440 Daily News Digest. Click here to join the 4 million folks getting great news in their inbox every day (like, Leslie)!

EPISODE NOTES:
This is episode 2 in the 4 part mini-series about Wild Turkey Conservation, where we meet the people who have worked to save this historic creature. They’re deeply endearing and they might even catch you off-guard. You’ll hear from turkey callers, call makers, celebrities in Turkey world, and even celebrities OUTSIDE of Turkey world (Matt Light, former Patriots offensive lineman).
Then you’ll join Leslie in the woods to find a turkey herself before ultimately calling in an expert and viral turkey caller, Billy.
Learn more about the National Wild Turkey Federation

Learn more about the miniseries and give feedback HERE.
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.
...more
31min
August 16, 2024🦃 Wild Turkey Conservation | 3: The ones who made it
Where Wild Turkey Conservation REALLY got its start.
Join the Niche List (our monthly newsletter…er, Nicheletter)
Become a part of the United Nicheons, the Niche to Meet You Patreon
BUY MERCH!!!!!
Have feedback or just want to say hi? Email us: [email protected]

Thanks to our show sponsor, 1440 Daily News Digest. Click here to join the 4 million folks getting great news in their inbox every day (like, Leslie)!

EPISODE NOTES:
At this point in a Niche to Meet You miniseries–episode 3–we pull back the curtain even more on our niche subject, and we talk to the ones who are at the origins of it. We could have talked more about the movement in the mid 1900s that led to the founding of the NWTF, but our interviews revealed a longer–and older–story. We have to go back to the very beginning, to the traditions of the earliest conservationists, whose practices we borrow today. We welcome Mary Weakee, retired archeologist and turkey feather blanket expert, to explore the origins and significance of the bird for this country and the Indigenous people who loved it first.
Read more about Mary HERE
Watch Mary talk about the feather blankets HERE

Learn more about the miniseries and give feedback HERE.
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.
...more
24min
August 16, 2024🦃 Wild Turkey Conservation | 4: Why it matters
Wild Turkey Conservation matters, and here’s why.
Join the Niche List (our monthly newsletter…er, Nicheletter)
Become a part of the United Nicheons, the Niche to Meet You Patreon
BUY MERCH!!!!!
Have feedback or just want to say hi? Email us: [email protected]

Thanks to our show sponsor, 1440 Daily News Digest. Click here to join the 4 million folks getting great news in their inbox every day (like, Leslie)!

EPISODE NOTES:
Make no mistake, the Wild Turkey Conservation story matters for all of us, and in this final episode of the miniseries, we’ll tell you why. The Wild Turkey Conservation story is ultimately about mending gaps. Listening to others. Caring about others. We start with Wilderness icon Aldo Leopold and trace the trends of modern conservation efforts to his unique career in New Mexico, and connect this to the Wild Turkey Conservation movement in the 1950s and beyond. And then, we talk about Jaws, Barbara Kingsolver, and politics. Kind of.
Learn more about Aldo Leopold HERE
Learn more about the miniseries and give feedback HERE.
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
Quotation voiceovers by Brent Rogers and Carolyn German
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
...more
30min
July 19, 2024 🦃 Niche to Meet You, Wild Turkey Conservation [SERIES TRAILER]
Coming August 16th: a 4-part miniseries about the Wild Turkey Conservation niche. It’s an important story about belonging, community, mending seemingly irreparable gaps and changing the world.
Learn more about the show, read a transcript, and give feedback at Nichetomeetyou.show/wild-turkey
Support the work by sharing it with a friend and buying us a pizza.
SHOW CREDITS:
Senior producer/host: Leslie Thompson (IG: @leslieeilerthompson, leslieethompson.com)
Associate producer: Chris Thiessen
Show theme composed by Abigail Flowers
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.
...more
5min
May 24, 2024🍳Regional Cooking, 🗡️Armored MMA Combat, & 🧊 Rubik's Cubing: Niches on the Road ✈️🚂🚗
Three wildly different niches that all find their purpose in being on the road.
LINKS:
Join the Niche List (our monthly newsletter…er, Nicheletter)
Become a part of the United Nicheons, the Niche to Meet You Patreon
BUY MERCH!!!!!
Have feedback or just want to say hi? Email us: [email protected]

Thanks to our show sponsor, 1440 Daily News Digest. Click here to join the 4 million folks getting great news in their inbox every day (like, Leslie)!

EPISODE NOTES:
We all have our "third spaces," those social surroundings that aren't our homes or workplaces. These are the places where we feel a sense of belonging, comfort, and community—like cafés, bookstores, or even the local bar where everybody knows your name. But what happens when all three of your spaces are transient? When your work and home are constantly shifting, where do you find your third spaces, and what kinds of hobbies thrive in such a lifestyle?
In this episode, we explore the hobbies and niche subcultures that find their purpose in, or are affected by being on the road. From the stories of touring musicians Zach and Maggie White (who bring the flavors and experiences of their travels into their kitchen through regional cooking), to Spencer Waddell (a vagabond longswordsman and armored MMA combat fighter whose life revolves around historical reenactments and sword fighting), and from Shook (middle school speed cuber) to Jon Schneck (Relient K guitarist and creator of Cubiversity), we hear the unique dynamics of being on the road and being part of a niche subculture.

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 producer/host: Leslie Thompson (IG: @leslieeilerthompson, leslieethompson.com)
Associate producer: Chris Thiessen
Episode mastered by Kevin Morris
Show theme composed by Abigail Flowers
Show artwork 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.
...more
29min
March 22, 2024📻 Vintage Car Radio Restoration: Waffle House, Overalls, and Artistry
Join us at Waffle House to talk about making old things beautiful again.
LINKS:
Join the Niche List (our monthly newsletter…er, Nicheletter)
Become a part of the United Nicheons, the Niche to Meet You Patreon
BUY MERCH!!!!!
Have feedback or just want to say hi? Email us: [email protected]

Thanks to our show sponsor, 1440 Daily News Digest. Click here to join the 4 million folks getting great news in their inbox every day (like, Leslie)!

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. Visiting a local Swap Meet with Rick provided a firsthand look at his work and the deep connections people have with their cars, reinforcing the appeal of the craft. Visit Rick's website HERE, and check out his YouTube channel HERE.

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 producer/host: Leslie Thompson (IG: @leslieeilerthompson, leslieethompson.com)
Associate producer: Chris Thiessen
Episode mastered by Kevin Morris
Show theme composed by Abigail Flowers
Show artwork 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.
...more
19min

FAQs about Niche to Meet You:

How many episodes does Niche to Meet You have?

The podcast currently has 28 episodes available.

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