A Peek Inside the Memory Palace
Insights from storytelling genius and podcast founder Nate DiMeo
I’ve been a podcast listener for many years. There are podcasts which have a temporary existence (after a few episodes I realize that they’re not the best match for my interests) while several others have found a permanent slot in my daily listening rotation.
The Moth, This American Life, 99% Invisible, Radio Diaries, Ear Hustle, Unfictional, The Kitchen Sisters, Tape, FoST, and Longform are some that have become long-time audio companions, friends I trust to expand and to challenge my perceptions. There’s one other podcast that has earned a permanent place on this esteemed audio list.
From very the first episode, The Memory Palace had me so hooked.
The Memory Palace was created by Nate DiMeo in 2008. Nate’s no stranger to audio, having spent a decade plus working in public radio and appearing on shows such as All Things Considered, Morning Edition, and Marketplace.
The Memory Palace is not so unusual in one sense, as it presents historical vignettes about people, places and past events. Its uniqueness derives from DiMeo’s ability to pull a single thread from a complex tapestry of facts and feelings, then create a cool, bespoke narrative. Like a wandering medieval minstrel, Nate takes his audience on a magical exposition of the past, condensing hours of exposition into mere minutes.
As much as I enjoy the well-polished episodes he produces, it was a treat to hear this behind-the-scenes conversation with Radiolab’s Robert Krulwich on storytelling and life. It’s a journey that talks about pivotal moments early in his career, alongside his passion for, and approach to, crafting stories that can touch people.
“…the lesson that it showed me, was that audio storytelling on the radio had the power to reach into your life and could change your day…”
…applies to telling your story on stage too…
“…the most profound thing about journalism is finding the real person in there, and being able to draw them out, and to find a type of truth that goes beyond mere facts…”
…as your work on your own story, are you revealing a truth beyond the facts…
Read about Nate DiMeo in this beautiful article by Sarah Larson in The New Yorker, as well as this insightful piece by Joshua Barone in the New York Times.
Whether you’re a professional storyteller or aspire to gain a greater mastery of the art, DiMeo’s journey from nearly clueless to being a consummate creator will change your perspective on telling stories in the digital age, no matter what platform you’re using.
I hope that you enjoyed this post. If so, please share your wisdom and insights below. And don’t forget to subscribe. You can also find me on LinkedIn and Twitter, or even drop me a line with any thoughts or questions you may have about storytelling.