Nocturne
116 episodes - English - Latest episode: 11 days ago - ★★★★★ - 1.3K ratingsA storytelling show that explores the night, the landscape of the unseen, and how thoughts, feelings and behaviors transform in the dark
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Episodes
Balaclava
April 05, 2024 18:19 - 28 minutes - 65.7 MBAs winter fades into memory in the northern hemisphere, many breathe sighs of relief, looking forward to longer days and the warmth of the sun inviting time spent outside. But some are not so excited, hanging on to the wisps of winter with its long cold nights. Support Nocturne by donating at www.patreon.com/nocturnepodcast Balaclava Credits Nocturne is produced by Vanessa Lowe Music Nocturne theme music by Kent Sparling Additional music by Kyron (aka JC Mendizbal); Kid Otter; Kent Sparli...
Merlin Tuttle
March 02, 2024 20:15 - 37 minutes - 85.2 MBThis episode is about the only mammal that can fly, one that's reviled, but actually pretty darned gentle, unlike in the vampire stories that sprung up around it. But it's also about the dogged man who's been working on saving them for the last 65 years. Support Nocturne by donating at www.patreon.com/nocturnepodcast Merlin Tuttle Credits Nocturne is produced by Vanessa Lowe Music Nocturne theme music by Kent Sparling Find out more about Merlin Tuttle and Merlin Tuttle's Bat Conservation....
Nocturnalia
January 18, 2024 19:19 - 42 minutes - 97.9 MBThere's a lot to be sad, stressed and upset about in the world right now. It's important to give those things our focus and attention and action, but we also need to take the time to appreciate the world around us - the precious, beautiful, strange planet we call home. There are gifts to be discovered in the darkness. Support Nocturne by donating at www.patreon.com/nocturnepodcast Nocturnalia Credits Nocturne is produced by Vanessa Lowe Music Nocturne theme music by Kent Sparling Find mo...
Season of Night
December 21, 2023 16:21 - 30 minutes - 68.7 MBIt's the winter solstice in the Northern hemisphere - the longest night of the year. Come along as we gather with a group of strangers and walk through the glowing streets of the Mission District in San Francisco, carrying boomboxes and speakers, creating something unique and beautiful together. Support Nocturne by donating at www.patreon.com/nocturnepodcast Season of Night Credits Nocturne is produced by Vanessa Lowe. Music Nocturne theme music by Kent Sparling Find out more about Unsile...
East of Nowhere
November 30, 2023 22:54 - 33 minutes - 77 MBWhat leads a 21-year-old to leave the college of her dreams and travel clear across the country to live off grid, in the middle of a vast barren desert, surrounded by art made from trash? The answer is East Jesus. Support Nocturne by donating at www.patreon.com/nocturnepodcast East of Nowhere Credits Nocturne is produced by Vanessa Lowe. Music Nocturne theme music by Kent Sparling Additional music: Jeffrey foster // Kent Sparling // Kid Otter Find out more about East Jesus here. Episo...
The Light That Gives
October 18, 2023 20:03 - 28 minutes - 64.2 MBIn 2013, Ben Davis had the crazy idea to light up the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge for it's 75th birthday, and turn it into a nightly art installation. Ten years later, the Bay Lights went dark, but Davis' mission is brighter than ever. Support Nocturne by donating at www.patreon.com/nocturnepodcast The Light that Gives Credits Nocturne is produced by Vanessa Lowe. Music Nocturne theme music by Kent Sparling Additional music: Jeffrey foster Find out more about Illuminate here. Ep...
On the North Face
September 21, 2023 14:11 - 42 minutes - 96.1 MBThe U.S. Forest Service defines wilderness as having, "outstanding opportunities for solitude". When Adam Danielson summited Mount Shasta, he got more solitude than he would ever want. Support Nocturne by donating at www.patreon.com/nocturnepodcast On the North Face Credits Nocturne is produced by Vanessa Lowe. Music Nocturne theme music by Kent Sparling Additional music: Kent Sparling // Jeffrey foster // Kid Otter Episode art by Magdalena Metrycka Support Nocturne by donating at www...
The Nyctalops
July 18, 2023 19:37 - 34 minutes - 79 MBMany sighted people envision being blind as inhabiting an endless night, but the realities of blindness are often much richer and more varied. Andrew Leland offers glimpses from the Country of the Blind. Support Nocturne by donating at www.patreon.com/nocturnepodcast The Nyctalops Credits Nocturne is produced by Vanessa Lowe. Music Nocturne theme music by Kent Sparling Additional music: Kent Sparling // Jeffrey foster // Kid Otter Episode art by Magdalena Metrycka Support Nocturne by ...
Angel Shot
June 26, 2023 19:48 - 37 minutes - 85.6 MBWhether it’s to hear live music, to hang out, or to hook up, bars and clubs are a big part of nightlife for a lot of people. But going out to a bar is not without risk, particularly for women, LGBTQ+ and non-binary people. Support Nocturne by donating at www.patreon.com/nocturnepodcast Angel Shot Credits Nocturne is produced by Vanessa Lowe. Music Nocturne theme music by Kent Sparling Additional music: Kent Sparling // Myles Boisen // Kid Otter Episode art by Magdalena Metrycka Suppor...
Nightways
May 22, 2023 19:59 - 41 minutes - 93.9 MBUntil fairly recently, there was no distinct focus on the archeology of the night. Lacking a specific nighttime lens through which to view relics from the past, archeologists had been missing an opportunity to capture a whole complete portrait of ancient people’s lives. It was kind of like painting a picture and filling in only half the canvas. Support Nocturne by donating at www.patreon.com/nocturnepodcast Nightways Credits Nocturne is produced by Vanessa Lowe. Music Nocturne theme music...
Bonus Episode – Introducing the Podcast, Out There
May 09, 2023 20:56 - 25 minutes - 58.7 MBHey there - it's Vanessa. There will be a new episode of Nocturne in your feed next week, but in the meantime, I want to share a story from another podcast that I think you’ll really like. The show is called Out There, and it’s one of our fellow podcasts in the Hub & Spoke audio collective. On the surface, Out There is about the outdoors. But just like the other Hub & Spoke shows, it’s so much more than that. Their stories explore what it means to be human, and they use nature as a lens to h...
Bump in the Night
April 28, 2023 00:27 - 37 minutes - 85.3 MBAn unexplained sound at night is like an actor on a stage, or a mystical beast drawing power from the moon. Without all the other noise competing for attention, sound at night stands out, it travels farther, it bends and shimmers in unexpected ways. It can tantalize, mesmerize, terrify or downright destroy you in irritation. At the very least it can capture the imagination. An unexplained sound at night is like an actor on a stage, or a mystical beast drawing power from the moon. Without al...
In Shadow Places
March 24, 2023 20:05 - 31 minutes - 72.2 MBCristina Gil began her career as an architect in Colombia. As she worked and traveled, she started thinking about how lighting could be part of the solution to making cities safer and more inviting, specifically for women at night. An idea began to take form for a project, an initiative really – called The Night-Time Traveller. The mission of the Night-Time Traveller project would be to explore urban night design from a women’s perspective. Support Nocturne by donating at www.patreon.com/noc...
Hot for Teacher
February 24, 2023 20:12 - 31 minutes - 72.6 MBIn most major urban and suburban areas in the U.S., it’s easy to take for granted that the streets are for cars – that’s just the way it is almost all the time. That’s what we expect to see and experience, day and night. So, when you come across a road taken over by joyful people on bicycles, with cars stuck on the sidelines, it’s kind of a delightful spectacle. In fact, around where I live in the San Francisco Bay Area, that’s called a bike party. Support Nocturne by donating at www.patre...
Meals 4 Heels
January 18, 2023 20:14 - 27 minutes - 63.6 MBIn a world where the nutritional needs of sex workers is not given much consideration, Nikeisah Newton feeds strippers the most scrumptious, healthy things she can think of. And she delivers. Support Nocturne by donating at www.patreon.com/nocturnepodcast Meals 4 Heels Credits Nocturne is produced by Vanessa Lowe. Find out more about Meals 4 Heels . Music Nocturne theme music by Kent Sparling Additional music: Jeffrey Foster // Kid Otter Episode art by Magdalena Metrycka Support Noct...
Tree Time
December 20, 2022 20:16 - 36 minutes - 83.7 MBFrom tree surfing to sleeping in trees, Peter Jenkins has done it all. And he’s spent more than half his life teaching others how to do it, too. Support Nocturne by donating at www.patreon.com/nocturnepodcast Tree Time Credits Nocturne is produced by Vanessa Lowe. Find out more about Tree Climbers International Music Nocturne theme music by Kent Sparling Additional music: Kent Sparling // Jeffrey Foster // Kid Otter Episode art by Magdalena Metrycka Support Nocturne by donating at ww...
Fresh Out the Grease
November 18, 2022 20:18 - 33 minutes - 76.5 MBThere are some experiences that, while wonderful at any time, are amplified in their wonderfulness when they happen at night. This is one of them. Support Nocturne by donating at www.patreon.com/nocturnepodcast Colonial Donuts has a great Instagram feed @colonialdonuts. It has MUCH better pictures than the shots below 😉 Fresh Out the Grease Credits Nocturne is produced by Vanessa Lowe. Music Nocturne theme music by Kent Sparling Additional music: Kent Sparling // Jeffrey Foster // F...
Dream Doctor
October 18, 2022 02:34 - 23 minutes - 53.6 MBDreams are often thought of as windows into the unconscious mind. Charles Mcphee made a career of interpreting people's dreams on the radio as "The Dream Doctor". When Rachel discovered the show as a kid, it became a different kind of window - offering strange and surprising insight into the world of adults. Support Nocturne by donating at www.patreon.com/nocturnepodcast Dream Doctor Credits Nocturne is produced by Vanessa Lowe. This episode was produced with Rachel Yang. Music Nocturne ...
Manhunt on Bohemian Highway
September 21, 2022 15:35 - 49 minutes - 114 MBMonte Rio is a tiny peaceful Northern California town, nestled in a hilly forest of redwoods, beside a river. Who’s starting all the fires?
Dream Walk: The Gate
June 15, 2022 04:16 - 21 minutes - 49.8 MBLately, I've been thinking a lot about what it would feel like to take a long walk through a dark, dark night, without fear. So, I decided to take myself on a walk like that, with you. This night feels strange and different. The darkness and the glittering bits of light are not as they usually appear, how they usually feel.
Light Enough
May 22, 2022 18:55 - 27 minutes - 61.8 MBYou won't find the word "Tenebrisology" in the dictionary - yet. It means, "the study of natural darkness", and it was created by Jane Slade. Working in the lighting industry woke her up to the darkness we're all missing, and her mission to bring it back.
What Would You Do?
April 20, 2022 16:23 - 32 minutes - 75.4 MBI rarely talk about the fact that I pretty much always feel hyperaware, if not nervous, when I'm out alone at night. I'm embarrassed to admit that. But I'm not alone. Hannah Drake asked the question, "What would you do out at night if you weren't afraid?", and the answers were illuminating.
Into the Wave
March 17, 2022 16:10 - 33 minutes - 77.4 MBAmanda and her husband went out on a guided nighttime kayaking tour for their anniversary. What they'd hoped would be a relaxing, romantic excursion into nature turned into something else entirely.
Time Warp
February 18, 2022 01:20 - 27 minutes - 62 MBSome things can only really be experienced in a dark theater full of people. The Rocky Horror Picture Show, with its midnight shows spanning more than 45 years, is the longest running theatrically released film in history, but it's more than just a movie.
Happy Rumbles
January 19, 2022 18:56 - 30 minutes - 68.8 MBWhen you're at the Oakland Zoo at night you can see the glow of the city in the sky overhead. But down on the ground, in amongst the animals, it's an entirely different world.
Dogma
December 15, 2021 16:08 - 35 minutes - 80.3 MBPedram's dog, KitKat, is the most important thing in his life - their close emotional bond is a source of comfort and delight. But this bond also comes with constant fear, because they live in Iran where dogs are considered "untouchable", and the only truly safe place is in the dark shadows of the night.
Introducing Twenty Thousand Hertz
December 01, 2021 02:42 - 25 minutes - 57.3 MBHey there - it's Vanessa. I'm hard at work on a brand new episode of Nocturne to be released in a couple of weeks. But in the mean time, I wanted to let you know about another show that I think you'll really like. So, I decided to feature an episode here in the Nocturne feed. This story comes from Twenty Thousand Hertz, a lovingly crafted podcast that reveals the stories behind the world's most recognizable and interesting sounds. The episode is called Sonic Bubbles, and it's about how humans...
Erosion
November 10, 2021 21:57 - 41 minutes - 95.5 MBAstronomer James Lowenthal gave a TEDx talk in 2016 warning that with the availability of cheap LED lights, light pollution around the world was about to get much worse very quickly. Little did he know that there was a much bigger threat to the night sky right around the corner.
Elemental
October 13, 2021 17:40 - 29 minutes - 67 MBDvora has interacted with elemental spirits since she was a child. She's learned to set boundaries, so as not to be attacked or taken advantage of. Sometimes the elementals just want to talk, sometimes they need help, and sometimes they're the ones offering help.
3-2-1!
September 22, 2021 18:44 - 32 minutes - 74.4 MBDanny's first skydiving experience set him on course to do something that most people would never dream of doing, something that for most people would actually be seriously terrifying, and for good reason. This story is about something that is dangerous, illegal, and I don't recommend it, AT ALL. Nocturne is having a 30 day special offer on https://www.Patreon.com/nocturnepodcast ! Sign up to become a supporter at the $5 level or above and get all the existing benefits (including Night Ligh...
The Red Flower
August 17, 2021 18:24 - 27 minutes - 63.6 MBClustering around the warmth and power of a campfire, it feels like the edges of people get softened - we speak and listen to each other differently - there's a deepening that doesn't happen in many other settings. What use to be the norm, is now a special treat - gazing into the embers, listening to the mesmerizing crackle, and telling our own secrets and stories in the night.
Through the Fog
July 21, 2021 18:33 - 30 minutes - 70.5 MBThere are only 6000 tule elk left in the world, all of them found in California. Some of them roam along the coastal hills of Point Reyes National Seashore, an area that is also occupied by cattle and dairy ranches. To protect grazing land for cows, some of the elk are confined by high fences. But as drought worsens, and the elk are cut off from food and water, large numbers of them are dying. A band of activists have been trekking through the fog, in darkness, to try to help them. *The init...
Traveler
June 16, 2021 21:22 - 38 minutes - 88.1 MBKim felt an irresistible pull toward life on the road - the traveler's lifestyle, without schedules or responsibilities. Hopping freight trains and searching for places to sleep are now a thing of the past, but she still tries to hold on to the spirit of adventure and surprise she loved from that time.
The Same Stars
May 19, 2021 16:41 - 28 minutes - 64.7 MBGrace felt everything deeply from an early age. She was having panic attacks at 9 years old, and separation anxiety in middle school. The anxiety came to a head when she was 12, and nothing she tried helped in any meaningful way. Until one night she looked out her window.
A Whole Night for the Future
April 22, 2021 19:02 - 45 minutes - 104 MBTonight, as you're lying in bed, take a moment to think about the fact that in the night sky right above you, a massive river of birds is on an epic, death-defying journey of survival.
Notes in the Trees
March 17, 2021 16:26 - 28 minutes - 65.7 MBMost parents would never consider leaving their kids in the dark woods at night, and letting them find their way back. The Dutch do just that, and they call it Dropping, and the kids mostly have fun.
86 Days
February 17, 2021 22:09 - 49 minutes - 113 MBWhen Lia Ditton set out from San Francisco to row alone across the Pacific Ocean she was confident that she would make it to Hawaii. But when you leave land, all you really know is that you're going on an adventure.
Perimeter
January 13, 2021 17:14 - 26 minutes - 59.6 MBI've been thinking about fear, and movement, and exploration, and safety. I've been thinking about barriers, and perimeters - those we create and those that are imposed. Pushing yourself into fear on purpose gives some comfort that maybe you'll be able to navigate life when you really have no control, when your thrown into a darkness bigger and deeper than you would ever choose.
Rest for Them
December 17, 2020 00:05 - 29 minutes - 68.4 MBThe night represents a slowing, quiet contemplation, autonomy, dreams ... the dominion of rest. But Grind Culture tells us that our worth is in our productivity. The Nap Bishop is here to tell us, "No". Rest is not a privilege, it's a human right. Sleep deprivation is a social and racial justice issue. And, "Resting is actually going to allow you to wake up."
One Road Out
November 17, 2020 01:57 - 32 minutes - 73.8 MBAlec had spent countless summer days near Mammoth Pool Reservoir, in the Sierra National Forest. His memories were filled with fun and relaxation. As Alec and a friend arrived at the lake the first night of the Labor Day Weekend, there was little to indicate that this weekend would be any different than the trove of happy memories he had of this place.
Home
October 09, 2020 17:46 - 33 minutes - 38.2 MBThe challenges of being unhoused are almost too many to count. They take on a distinct flavor at night.
The Drop
September 08, 2020 17:04 - 27 minutes - 24.8 MBA walk through a park, an urban rooftop, a forest trail - all of these are one experience in broad daylight, and entirely another after nightfall. The river, Aare, in Switzerland transforms into another creature in the darkness.
The Last Dream
August 11, 2020 17:28 - 31 minutes - 28.6 MBWhen Sally lost her brother to suicide, a friend advised her to be open to the possibility that he would try to visit her from beyond. Despite her initial skepticism, what she experienced in the ensuing months changed her mind completely.
Can You Hear That?
July 14, 2020 16:53 - 35 minutes - 32.6 MBWhat if, out of nowhere, you started hearing a low-frequency rumble, like a truck idling right outside your home, in the middle of the night, every night for weeks and months on end -- and no one else could hear it?
Two Owls
June 09, 2020 20:06 - 32 minutes - 29.9 MBTo connect with an owl, even in a small way, is a rare gift. There is no animal more emblematic of the night. Elusive, mysterious and powerful: owls inspire both fear and awe.
Zebra
May 12, 2020 17:29 - 28 minutes - 25.9 MBWhile graffiti is seen by some as blight, and by others as art, the act of hiding in the shadows and stealthily scrawling your name on a wall is ultimately about being seen, rather than doing damage. This was definitely the case for a boy who went by the tag, "Zebra" in Philadelphia back in 1975.
Filling in the Blanks
April 14, 2020 14:28 - 30 minutes - 28.3 MBIn this high tech world, you're never without a camera, and can take a picture anywhere you go. But do these images convey the feelings of awe, excitement, wonder and fear you had while you were in those places? Adam Katseff discovered a way to do this by taking landscape photographs in the dark of night, revealing more by showing less.
Newt Brigade
March 10, 2020 17:07 - 38 minutes - 34.8 MBIf you look closely enough at this seemingly idyllic stretch of road, nestled between a lake and a steep hillside in Northern California, you'll notice it's not so idyllic — at least not for the newts and salamanders determined to cross to the other side.
Do the Thing
February 11, 2020 19:41 - 39 minutes - 36.4 MBThe black belt test at Studio Naga is a 48-hour ordeal with no sleep. By the second night, students are running on pure adrenaline when they arrive to an unknown location blindfolded in the dark. Then, it's time to fight.
Speak San Pedro
January 14, 2020 16:27 - 35 minutes - 32.5 MBThe night is a perfect canvas for the ancient magic of Peruvian shamanism. In the darkness, your mind opens, allowing spirits to find a place to land