Echoes From the Attic

About Echoes From the Attic

Echoes From the Attic is a podcast that uncovers the stories inside old objects, forgotten places, and once-futuristic dreams. Host Jennie Fennelle follows nostalgic trails to explore the history and mystery of what's left behind.

Publisher

Jennie Fennelle

Category

society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

14 Jun 2025

Latest episode

19 Jan 2026

Latest episodes

5 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   19 Jan 2026

   Episode 5: Every House Has a Story - A Conversation With Doug Decker

   Most of us know our houses by their quirks: a creaky stair, an oddly placed window, or the way the light moves through a room. But many houses have hosted other lives before ours. In this episode of Echoes From the Attic, I talk with Portland public historian Doug Decker (https://www.AlamedaHistory.org) about how to research and document the history of your home. We explore where to begin when you’re curious about your house’s past, the architectural and personal clues that often surprise people most, and how scattered facts gradually become a meaningful story. Doug shares insights from decades of researching houses and neighborhoods across Oregon, including why windows matter, how people-centered records bring houses to life, and what changes when you start to see neighborhoods as collections of interconnected house stories. He highlights the emotional connection people develop with their homes as they learn about the lives that have unfolded within them. If you’ve ever wondered who lived in your house before you, or why it looks the way it does, this episode offers thoughtful perspective and practical steps you can take to start uncovering details. Be sure to check out Doug's blog, https://www.AlamedaHistory.org (https://www.AlamedaHistory.org), and his historical property consulting site, https://www.deckerhistorical.com (https://www.deckerhistorical.com). All music licensed and provided by Sound of Picture, https://www.soundofpicture.com (https://www.soundofpicture.com).

2. 

   26 Dec 2025

   Episode 4: Meet Me at the Mall

   Once upon a Saturday, every teen in the U.S. knew exactly where to go. A place to see and be seen, meet new people, stumble into unexpected adventure…and sometimes, stir up some trouble. In this episode, I have a conversation with Matthew Newton, author of the book, Shopping Mall, which explores the emotional and cultural significance of malls in shaping teenage identities--especially in the 80s and 90s. He reflects on the nostalgia associated with malls, their role as social spaces, and the effects of technology on discovery and connections in contemporary society. The discussion highlights the loss of community and the challenges that today’s youth face in finding similar spaces for social interaction. Matthew Newton is a writer, editor, and arts worker from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His work has appeared in aperture, Artforum, The Paris Review, Oxford American, CityLab, and Guernica. His debut nonfiction book, Shopping Mall, was published in 2017 as part of Bloomsbury's Object Lessons series. Learn more about his work at www.matthewnewton.us (https://www.matthewnewton.us). The tracks “Transit Center,” “Streetbeat Heat,” “No Talking On The Dancefloor,” “Lip Gloss,” and “Breezin” are all licensed for use by Podington Bear, soundofpicture.com (https://soundofpicture.com). Shopping mall sound effects from Pixabay: Dragon-Studio and Freesound_community.

3. 

   27 Jul 2025

   Episode 3: World's Fairs & Utopian Dreams for the Future

   In this episode, we're joined by two experts to explore the fantastical worlds built by the World's Fairs and Expos. They promised us futuristic dreamscapes, gave us inventions we still use today, and sometimes even sold us wild fantasies that never quite came true. Dr. Lisa Schrenk is Professor of Architectural History at the University of Arizona and co-founder of the Global Institute for the Study of International Expositions (www.isie-global.org). She's the author of the books Building a Century of Progress: The Architecture of Chicago's 1933-34 World's Fair, and The Oak Park Studio of Frank Lloyd Wright. Charles Pappas is senior writer for Exhibitor Magazine and the author of the books Nobody Sits Like the French, as well as Flying Cars, Zombie Dogs, and Robot Overlords: HowWorld's Fairs and Trade Expos Changed the World. He also co-authored Expo 2020 Dubai: The Definitive Edition. To stay up to date on the ISIE free online public lecture series, join the mailing list at http://www.isie-global.org.

4. 

   1 Jul 2025

   Episode 2: The Reckless Joy of Dangerous Toys

   Before safety standards and warning labels, there was Flubber. And Jarts. And glass-blowing kits--for children. In this episode of Echoes From the Attic, we climb into a 1970s attic and open a toy chest packed with sharp edges, open flames, and questionable judgment...America’s most dangerously delightful toys. “Airliner” track licensed for use by Podington Bear, soundofpicture.com.

5. 

   14 Jun 2025

   Episode 1: The Mystique of Estate Sales

   In this debut episode of Echoes From the Attic we explore what makes estate sales so compelling—part treasure hunt, part time capsule, part unintentional autobiography—and the strange, sentimental, and sometimes eerie things people leave behind.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 26 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

52

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

0

Contact Echoes From the Attic

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.