Every hobby has a story.

• Email us about the best little-known niche you've ever heard about.
• Find us on Instagram, or join our niche list.

This project celebrates little-known “leisure activities,” interests, conferences, gatherings, and meetups that you may or may not be familiar with (but, after you hear our guests’ stories, you will be).

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, has been seen by millions through a recent viral instagram reel, and has been featured in the likes of The Guardian and the 1440 newsletters. 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, wild turkey conservationists, and more.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SHOW HERE.

SHOW CREDITS:

Creator/Reporter/host: Leslie Thompson (IG: @leslieeilerthompson)

Associate script producer: Chris Thiessen

Show theme composed by Abigail Flowers

Show artwork created by Rachel Hardacre

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Mentioned in this episode:

DONATE TO THE SHOW

Find more information on donating (tax-deductibly!) at https://wedgwoodcircle.givingfuel.com/niche-to-meet-you

Introducing Warhammer 40,000. We even make the case that Warhammer 40,000 is the perfect hobby, and we’ll support the claim by talking to the people who play it and even the people who made it.

The Niche to Meet You podcast profiles hobbies and niche subcultures where misfits are finding home through mini-series and individual interviews. Learn more about the show, read a transcript, and give feedback at Nichetomeetyou.show/40k

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

Mini-series topic consultants: Robert Taylor, Marcus Fulbright

Show theme composed by Abigail Flowers

Meet my new friend, Warhammer 40,000: the sci-fi tabletop war game.

This is part 1 of 4 in the Niche to Meet You mini-series about Warhammer 40,000. The Niche to Meet You podcast profiles hobbies and niche subcultures where misfits are finding home through mini-series and individual interviews.

• Learn more about the show, read a transcript, and give feedback at Nichetomeetyou.show/40k
• Support the work by sharing it with a friend and buying us a pizza

EPISODE NOTES:

In this first episode of Niche to Meet You’s debut mini-series, we introduce the immersive universe of Warhammer 40,000—a tabletop war game game turned multimedia empire. We even make the case that Warhammer 40,000 is the perfect hobby because it offers craftsmanship, skill development, social connections, and thought engagement.

From its humble 1970s origins, this hobby has evolved into a unique blend of science fiction, fantasy, and dystopian elements. Through this 4-part series, we’ll unravel the threads of Warhammer 40,000, examining its roots with insights from Rick Priestley, the game's original creator, as well as Andy Chambers, his apprentice and successor. In the next episode, we'll delve into the lives of players and enthusiasts who breathe life into this thriving subculture, and discover how this pastime transforms into a powerful hobby with the 4 elements of what makes a hobby, well, a hobby.

SHOW/EPISODE CREDITS:

Senior producer/host: Leslie Thompson (IG: @leslieeilerthompson, leslieethompson.com)

Associate producer: Chris Thiessen

Mini-series topic consultants: Robert Taylor, Marcus Fulbright

Episode mastered by Kevin Morris

Show theme composed by Abigail Flowers

Show artwork by Rachel Hardacre