Niche to meet you, Santa.
A 3-part podcast miniseries about being Santa Claus.
SERIES TRAILER:
LISTEN TO THE FULL SERIES HERE:
Professional Santas.
Christmas Performers.
Santa Portrayal Artists.
These are synonyms of the same thing: being Santa.
And the Santa niche is a completely existential endeavor.
Whether you think Santa is real or not (spoiler alert: HE IS!), it’s undeniable that his presence is core to the modern-day human experience.
Santas come in all shapes and sizes, colors and creeds. And they do their work from the heart; but it’s not without sacrifice. They attend schools and meetups, spend thousands of dollars a year on attire…some even work for 200 or more days a year. At the end of a season, these Santas are exhausted physically and emotionally—one recalls weeping on his couch after the very last gig on Christmas Eve.
But they do it all because it matters. It matters that they bring joy to kids from 1 to 92. They’re a reflection of the world around them—a representation of something bigger. We need Santa, and this special 3-part miniseries explores why.
In addition to covering the history of the Santa Portrayal Artist niche, we'll also tell personal stories from real-life Santas. Like Santa Shed, a Black Santa who wants to see representation and diversity in the community. Or Santa Donald, who works at a School for the Blind and has adapted the character for the children he's watched grow up at the school for decades. Or even Jerusalem Santa, who does his work in the heart of the Holy City in a 700-year-old building. Renowned poet Malcolm Guite—who portrays Father Christmas in his English village—even makes an appearance for a special look into the need for Santa.
You’ll even join Leslie at the International Santa Celebration and meetups, and experience the role wonder and awe plays in the midst of suffering. For these Santas, it’s more than just a hobby. It’s a way of living–and it’s changing the world.
Looking for the 2023 Standalone episode? Find it HERE.
EPISODES
BEHIND THE SCENES
ABOUT THE SHOW:
Niche to Meet You is an investigative storytelling podcast about the little-known niche interests where folks are making meaning and fighting loneliness and isolation.
Created by Leslie Thompson, Niche to Meet You what happens when Mr. Rogers meets This American Life for a drink to talk about the latest Revisionist History episode. Our show has been selected by Apple editorial as a New & Noteworthy podcast, and we’ve been seen on on NPR, The Guardian, 1440 Newsletter. You might’ve seen a clip from our Wild Turkey miniseries when it went viral on Instagram (6 million views and counting!).
We’ve covered Warhammer 40,000 and Wild Turkey Conservation through 4-part miniseries, and through individual episodes we’ve introduced listeners to Vintage car radio restoration, Medieval armored combat, Dog agility, Rubik’s Speed Cubing, and Santa and Mrs. Claus portrayal artistry.
Our infectious and sincere curiosity takes listeners into the world of each subculture, humanizing those involved and gleaning meaning for us on the outside. We feature important and relevant topics with a subtle touch, and tell hospitable stories that allow listeners to learn more while challenging their own assumptions.
Welcome in, it’ll be so...Niche to Meet You.