One lifetime is too short to visit everywhere and meet everyone. That‘s why we love books with a strong sense of place — they let us travel the world in our imagination. In each episode of our Strong Sense of Place podcast, we explore one destination and talk about what makes that place different from everywhere else. Then we recommend five books that took us to that place on the page. We‘re on a trip around the globe, one great read at a time. Please join us!
Chart trend
Position in the Books chart (US), last 90 days.
#1#95#189AugSep
#14
all-time peak
33
days in the top 50 since Nov 2024
Latest episodes
Showing 20 · updated from the feed
Australia: Just Smile and Give Me a Vegemite Sandwich
#47 trending · Arts
Australia has a well-deserved reputation for being larger than life. It’s the only country in the world that covers an entire continent, and it’s home to hundreds of thou
Sep 11 1 h 09 min
Denmark: Gettin' Hygge With It
Nestled between the North and Baltic Seas, just north of Germany, Denmark is one (excellent) place made up of lots of places: more than 400 islands, Greenland, the Jutlan
Aug 28 1 h 16 min
SSoP Podcast Season 8: Announcing Our Exciting Destinations
We’re delighted to announce that Season 8 of the Strong Sense of Place podcast kicks off on Friday, 28 August!
We’ve put together an itinerary of 10 fascinating destinat
Aug 14 9 min
Join Us for a Bookish Weekend at a Manor House in Wales
This is a special episode of Strong Sense of Place in which we announce that we’re doing it again — we’re taking a group of readers back to Trevor Hall.
In October 2025,
Mar 13 25 min
Christmas: May Your Heart Be Light
Sometimes, it really does feel like Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year. Give us the fairy lights, colored baubles, fresh smell of pine, whipped cream-topped
Dec 19 2025 1 h 16 min
That Time We Rented a Manor House in Wales
In October 2025, we took over Trevor Hall — a Georgian manor house in Llangollen, Wales — with forty members of the Strong Sense of Place community. It was the best book
Dec 12 2025 1 h 02 min
Wales: Castle Ruins, Moody Skies, and Stories by the Fire
We recently spent three weeks in North Wales, and TBH, we left a big part of our hearts in Cymru. From the mystical borderlands to the rugged coastline and the top of Sno
Dec 5 2025 1 h 19 min
Ep 17 — Halloween: Costumed Revelry, Voices From Beyond, and YAY, Candy! [ repost from 2020 ]
We’re currently visiting Wales with bookish friends for our Readers Weekend at Trevor Hall. But since Halloween is coming, we thought you might like to revisit our previo
Oct 24 2025 1 h 05 min
LoLT: What is Gothic? [re-post]
We’re currently tucked up in a manor house in Wales with a slew of bookish friends for our Readers Weekend at Trevor Hall. Since it’s Spooky Season — aka, the best season
Oct 17 2025 16 min
Halloween: About 31% More Gothic than Normal
In no particular order, here is an incomplete list of some awesome things about Spooky Season: bats, witches, vampires, scary ghost stories, sad ghost stories, funny ghos
Oct 10 2025 1 h 12 min
Manor House: The Fall of the House of… Almost Everyone, Really
For most people, home represents comfort, safety, maybe family. It’s the place where you can be yourself — and where you keep all your stuff.
For the wealthy, the right
Sep 26 2025 1 h 19 min
Baseball Diamond: Root, Root, Root for the Home Team
There’s nothing else quite like a night at the ballpark, especially when the light and temperature hit just right. The air is soft, the crowd is genial. You’ve got a hot
Sep 12 2025 1 h 16 min
Museums: A Gathering of Muses, A Clutch of Curators [re-post]
Museums are where we put our best stuff. An item might belong in a museum if it’s rare, expensive, irreplaceable, or so ordinary and beloved it becomes extraordinary. A s
Aug 29 2025 1 h 09 min
National Parks: Go Outside and Touch Grass
The National Park System (NPS) is a national treasure. US National Parks represent just about every type of feature and wildlife you can imagine. And it’s not just parks:
Jun 13 2025 1 h 14 min
Portugal: Storytelling, Surfing, and Ineffable Saudade
Snuggled up next to Spain on the Iberian Peninsula and perched on the westernmost edge of Europe, Portugal has a long love affair with the sea. The Age of Discovery, laun
May 30 2025 1 h 11 min
LoLT: The Twisty Tale of Salt Water Taffy and Two New Books
In this episode, we get excited about two new books: Aftertaste: A Novel by Daria Lavelle and Feeding Ghosts: A Graphic Memoir by Tessa Hulls. Then Mel delves into the st
May 23 2025 20 min
SSoP Podcast Season 7: Announcing Our Fun-Filled Destinations
We’re delighted to announce that Season 7 of the Strong Sense of Place podcast kicks off on Friday, 30 May!
We’ve put together an itinerary of thrilling destinations wit
May 16 2025 11 min
LoLT: The American Writers Museum and Two New Books
In this episode, we get excited about two new books: One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune and My Friends: A Novel by Fredrik Backman. Then Dave talks about the stellar win
May 9 2025 15 min
LoLT: The Pen America Awards and Two New Books
In this episode, we get excited about two new books: The Staircase in the Woods by Chuck Wendig and I See You’ve Called in Dead by John Kenney. Then Dave talks about the
May 2 2025 17 min
LoLT: The Uncensored Library and Two New Books
In this episode, we get excited about two new books: Exit Zero: Stories by Marie-Helene Bertino and The Pretender: A Novel by Jo Harkin. Then Mel talks about the remarkab
Apr 25 2025 15 min
Chart positions
Where Strong Sense of Place | Travel Through Books ranks today in each Apple Podcasts chart (US, Sep 13, 2026).
A curated, balanced selection of Apple Podcasts reviews.
This show is dangerous both for my TBR and my travel bucket list. Every episode leaves me with new books I’m dying to read and countries that I had never considered traveling to before but now desperately want to visit. I especially appreciate the wide variety of genres they explore - there really is something for everyone. Excellent content, great banter between Mel and Dave, and truly a fun experience. Their website and newsletters are top-notch as well!
Elsie Browncow · Feb 2025
This is a really terrific podcast—what a great idea! So far all of the books I’ve read that were recommended by Mel & Dave have delivered that strong-sense-of-place that I love. A great listen with solid recommendations.
sarahelize · Dec 2024
This podcast is a perfect balance of fun and informative. Some of my favorite books I have read in the last few years were ones I learned about on Strong Sense of Place. On the show, Mel and Dave share a new location to travel to through 5 book recommendations. But they also include so much history and information about each location, and their enthusiasm for each place is infectious. Every other week, they post a shorter podcast, called the Library of Lost Time. This always include two book recommendations and a quirky distraction of the week. Reading the show notes is at delight.
Will Sarah · Oct 2024
Strong Sense of Place is my go-to podcast for planning both my next reads and my next travel destinations. Dave and Melissa bring so much love and enthusiasm to curating information, fun facts, and literary gems. Listening to the podcast feels like sitting in a cozy room by the fireplace with the most charming and delightful of friends, who are brimming with excitement for the books and experiences they want to share. Love the podcast, and thanks!
LarryLyndon1726 · Sep 2024
We strive to present a balanced view by showing a diverse range of reviews from Apple Podcasts.
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Here you find the Apple Podcasts chart positions of Strong Sense of Place | Travel Through Books, its latest episodes to listen to directly, and reviews from listeners. Rankings are updated daily for the United States.
