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This is a total first for the Podcast Maniac blog. I'm writing an entire article about a single podcaster.
Although I include opinions about podcast hosts and actors in my usual posts, this is an entire article about one guy. Someone who I've met for all of 60 seconds. It feels slightly stalker-ish.
The truth is, I just have a lot of respect for the projects that Aaron Mahnke has launched, and I want to share it with others.
When I won a chance to meet Aaron at PodCon in Seattle a few weeks ago, I excitedly told friends and fellow podcast fans. I was surprised to discover that a lot of listeners didn't know Aaron's name, and had never listened to his mega-hit show, Lore.
So, in case you don't know who he is, or anything about the three podcasts he's currently hosting and producing, let me "introduce" you to him and tell you why I think he's a creator that you should be following.
[Related Post] PodCon 2 Review: The Fan Experience at PodCon
Aaron Mahnke's Podcasts
Aaron's shows can be categorized as history podcasts, but they aren't the typical facts-and-dates style shows that automatically come to mind. (I'll explain more about that below).
Here's a very brief introduction to the three podcasts he's currently making.
1. Lore
Aaron is best-known for his long-running and super popular podcast Lore. As in, "folklore".
In each episode of Lore, Aaron narrates the tale of a real person, event, creature, or object from history. But these are the kind of stories that are so old, and so incredible, that you'll find it difficult to believe them to be true.
If you're looking for a "scary campfire story" podcast, Lore fits the bill perfectly.
2. Cabinet of Curiosities
In July of 2018, Aaron launched this short-format podcast in partnership with HowStuffWorks.
Cabinet of Curiosities, which drops episodes twice each week, has hints of Lore in it, as the subject matter seems like things only Aaron could dig up.
Aaron describes this podcast as his personal collection of mysterious events, unusual objects, and people who defy expectations or societal norms. You could think of it as a more haunting and intriguing version of Ripley's Believe It or Not.
After listening to the first episode of Cabinet of Curiosities, I found myself furiously searching Google for more details.
Listen to Cabinet of Curiosities
3. Unobscured
In September, 2018, Aaron launched Unobscured. Season 1 is an in-depth look at the Salem witch trials. Each of the 12 episodes in the season build on one another to describe the legendary series of events that led up to the trials.
Aaron hosts Unobscured, but also includes interviews with historians who have a deep knowledge of the topic. It's a small change to his usual format, but one that is done seamlessly, and it helps to unravel this complex event in history.
What Makes Aaron Stand Out from Other Podcasters
To the uninitiated, Aaron Mahnke just sounds like a guy who is able to pump out a lot of podcasts. But there's a lot more to his success than quantity.
Aaron has made a name for himself because of the quality of his podcasts. Mostly because he's able to create vivid images and emotions with his method of storytelling.
His narrative style is slower and more deliberate than that of most history or audio drama podcasts. He focuses on tiny details that really allow your imagination to conceptualize the person, place, or thing that he's describing.
He lulls you into a state of comfort...and then he drops a weird, scary, or mysterious twist. And he does it with the same calm, soothing tone of voice.
If you're familiar with The Memory Palace, you already know this type of narration. Nate DiMeo, who produces and narrates that history podcast, has a similar style of storytelling. I consider Nate and Aaron to be two of the best storytellers in podcasting (if not the best).
More Than Just Podcasts
Prior to the success of Lore, Aaron published a handful of novels, each with a slightly creepy, mysterious premise like he's come to be known for.
Perhaps it's this experience with publishing that encouraged him to expand Lore beyond the confines of audio and podcasting.
Over the past few years, Aaron has written and published three Lore books, performed the show live on a tour of US cities, and in 2017 it was adapted for television as a show on Amazon.
Diehard fans of the podcast have judged the books and TV show harshly. Some say that the books are word-for-word transcripts of the podcast episodes, which they are already too familiar with and don't care to have in a printed format.
I don't know what Aaron's intentions were with these new mediums, but to me, they aren't meant as new content for those of us who already subscribe to Lore. They're meant to make the magic of Lore accessible to everyone else.
My husband doesn't listen to Lore, but he enjoys watching the Amazon show. And my dad, who doesn't listen to podcasts at all, but would find these stories to be intriguing, would never discover them if not for the books.
Some people may think that Aaron Mahnke wants to build a Lore empire, squeezing as much as he can out of the success of the podcast (I've actually read this in an online comment). I think he wants his stories to be enjoyed by all.
A Kind and Gracious Guy
As previously mentioned, I met Aaron for all of 60 seconds at PodCon. It was at a scheduled meet-and-greet, where about 30 event attendees got the chance to get an autograph and photo, or just say hi and shake Aaron's hand.
I was at the very end of the line at the meet-and-greet. Myself, and the other fans waiting to meet Aaron, were all sitting in chairs about 10 feet from him. While we waited, we got to watch him interact with each person at the meet-and-greet.
I was impressed with how kind Aaron was to each person that he met.
Some of them were aspiring podcasters themselves, and asked him questions about how to break into the biz. Others were simply fans who really wanted the chance to express their admiration and get a photo. Regardless of their reasons for being there, Aaron took time to speak to each one. He wasn't looking at his watch or checking with the event staff.
When it was my turn to meet him, I told Aaron that I was a big fan, and asked him to sign a copy of The World of Lore: Dreadful Places. I explained that I was going to give it away to reader of the blog, so he shouldn't sign it to me personally. He seemed to like that idea, and happily signed the book, "Thanks So Much!"
I also told him how much I was loving Unobscured. He seemed genuinely pleased to hear this, and told me that the show was a passion project for him; a real labor of love that he just had to make.
Short as it was, I was thrilled to have the experience to meet Aaron Mahnke. I got the sense that he has a real appreciation for his fans, and that he enjoyed the meet-and-greet.
Check Out Aaron's Podcasts & Tell Me What You Think
If this article was your first introduction to Aaron Mahnke and his podcasts, I hope that I've convinced you to go listen to one of his shows.
If you were already familiar with Aaron before reading this, let me know what you think about this profile on him. Leave a comment about which of his podcasts you listen to, and what you like about them.
As a long time listener to Lore, I wholeheartedly agree with your portrayal of Aaron Mahnke. He seems genuine in caring about his audience, not only with his stories but with his interactions on other media, Twitter to be specific. His approach is straightforward and he can weave a tale like few others. I love the quick pick-me-ups of Cabinet of Curiosities. They provide a break in the day when you just have a few minutes to spare. I look forward to the series of Unobscured. It’s a much bigger commitment but worth the time. I get the impression that Aaron really cares about his work but also about the medium. He brings the artform to a new level. Thanks for profiling him.
Hi Dan. Thanks for your thoughtful comment. I’m glad to hear that my impression of Aaron resonates with other fans of him/his work. I appreciate you sharing!