ABOUT
Leslie Thompson
Leslie tells stories that thrive on the weird, the wonderful, and the wildly specific. Sometimes they’re about people who dress up as Santa Claus for a living. Sometimes they’re about ultramarathoners who willingly sign up for a race that no one is meant to finish. And sometimes they’re about theology, politics, and the strange ways those two things intersect.
Her work has been featured on NPR, BBC, WPLN, Nashville Public Radio and This Is Nashville, The Guardian, the 1440 Newsletter, and beyond.
A producer and journalist, Leslie is the creator and host of Niche to Meet You, a narrative documentary podcast that explores fascinating niche subcultures and the anthropology being made inside them. Reporting ranges from wild turkey conservation to Warhammer 40,000 to dog agility and beyond. The show has been called “masterfully written” by Malcolm Gladwell, and was chosen by Apple Podcasts as a “New & Noteworthy” pick. The work has also been featured on American Public Media, BBC’s World Business Report, WPLN, Nashville Public Radio, and This is Nashville. Leslie writes more frequently on her Niche Notes substack, mining reporting for smaller stories and themes that don’t end up on the podcast.
Leslie also produces The Russell Moore Show for Christianity Today, where faith, culture, and politics collide in thoughtful, often surprising conversations. Before joining Russell as producer, Leslie was an associate producer for Christianity Today’s The Bulletin, working alongside Mike Cosper and Clarissa Moll. She’s also produced and edited Music & Meaning with Charlie Peacock, the No Small Endeavor podcast, and AncoraTN’s Someone Like Me, a podcast sharing the firsthand stories of human trafficking survivors in Tennessee.
Inspiration strikes Leslie in the English-Ivy covered hills just outside of Nashville, Tennessee. In 2020, she and her husband went to Alaska to witness the greatness of the 48th Iditarod dog sled race…but that’s another story for another time.
Connect with Leslie via email
Portfolio Highlights:
BBC World Business Report: The Cost of Warhammer 40,000 (listen at 24:24 at the link)
NPR All Things Considered: Knitting enthusiasts from around the country recently met for yarn fest
NPR Morning Edition: U.S. Santas becoming more diverse as families look to see themselves in Christmas
NPR All Things Considered: Jigsaw puzzling is a growing competitive activity — with a national tournament
NPR Morning Edition: Double Dutch is having a moment
WPLN, Nashville Public radio: How the Barkley Marathons make ritual and myth in the East Tennessee woods
WPLN, Nashville Public Radio: Finding joy in a classic car’s restored radio
Christianity Today article: Talking Turkey
