For 10 years, Smithsonian’s “Sidedoor” has taken listeners beyond the exhibits and galleries of the Smithsonian museums, uncovering stories they might not encounter during a typical visit.
The podcast is celebrating that milestone with a new season that began Wednesday, with episodes ranging from a baby elephant at the National Zoo, to the Declaration of Independence, aviation and salsa music.
“Sidedoor” is the Smithsonian’s flagship podcast, telling stories of history, science, art and culture while taking listeners behind the scenes and sharing “the magic of the collections beyond Washington DC,” host Lizzie Peabody said.
The podcast began in October 2016. A decade later, Peabody said simply keeping a show going for that long is an accomplishment.
“I think it is a real feat for an organization to keep a show going that long,” she said. “Podcasts come and go, but this one is going strong.”
For Peabody, part of what makes the job special is the opportunity to talk with Smithsonian experts about subjects they care deeply about, then turn those conversations into stories for a general audience. She described it as "the coolest job ever."
The 13th season began with the story of Linh Mai, the baby Asian elephant born at the National Zoo in February.
Another episode will follow what happened to the Declaration of Independence after it was signed, a period of the document’s history that Peabody said people often don’t think about.
And listeners don't have to stop with the new episodes. Peabody said the podcast has an extensive back catalog, with hundreds of episodes covering a wide variety of subjects.
Those stories, she said, offer the kind of access that visitors to the National Mall might never get.
“There’s just a lot to discover,” Peabody said.
You can listen to "Sidedoor" on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How is Smithsonian’s ‘Sidedoor’ podcast celebrating 10 years?
