Introducing the pilot season of the Atavist Magazine Podcast—now you can listen to our gripping, engrossing, cinematic stories as read by our authors. First up, Atavist Magazine editor Evan Ratliff hosts as writer Adam Higginbotham reads “A Thousand Pounds of Dynamite,” an amazing true story about one of history’s most bizarre extortion plots. (So remarkable, in fact, it was optioned by Bradley Cooper, Todd Phillips, and Warner Brothers to be turned in to a film.) 

From its inception, The Atavist Magazine has combined the best of traditional journalism with the most innovative approaches to digital-first publishing. We’re always thinking of new ways to tell stories, so when we heard that SoundCloud enabled RSS feeds that make it easy to distribute audio across platforms, we jumped at the chance to take it out for a spin. Plus, we’ve got two talented podcasters on staff: Evan, who also co-hosts the Longform Podcast, and our producer Megan Detrie, who works on The Heart, a popular podcast about sex and intimacy. As always, everything you see is built on the Atavist platform, a home for storytelling—and now for podcasting as well. 

We know our readers are hungry for stories, and we know they’re busy. This podcast is a way for us to meet them where they are. We’ll tell you a story while you’re driving home, folding laundry, walking your dog, or drifting off to sleep. After all, what’s more intimate and satisfying than a smart voice in your ear. Take us with you, and listen.