I’ve always been fascinated by niche communities: the look, the gear, all of it. In college I hung around a few and tried to learn their language — from rock climbers to model UN kids.
I still do this, dipping my toes in the communities of whatever I’m excited about — but these days it’s mainly online. For all its flaws, I think the internet is at its best when it’s connecting hobbyists. No matter where you live, if you want to get super into, say, keyboards, there’s a THRIVING community just waiting for you.
That example is not hypothetical. Did you know that there are people out there (right now!) who are obsessed with mechanical keyboards? Don’t tell them, but I’m currently writing on a membrane keyboard — the kind with a little rubber dome under each key. Not a lot of clicking and clacking going on over here. 😢
I don’t say this lightly, but Close All Tabsfrom KQED is my new favorite podcast. And their episode on the mechanical keyboard community was so good I sent it to my tech-y brother before I even finished listening. These enthusiasts (who sometimes go by “keebheads”) found each other when companies stopped selling mechanical keyboards in the 90s, going to great lengths to perfect their custom hardware.
I can just imagine these masterful DIYers judging me for my basic, NPR-issued setup, and I’m honestly here for it. I know it’s weird, but I find the elitism of a niche hobbyist kinda endearing. Like aw, you put your whole heart into that thing! (Of course there’s a limit, my boring keyboard has feelings, too.)
Even if I'm not ready to drop big bucks on a keyboard that "clacks," "pops," or "thocks" (yet), I loved how this episode shows off our ability to build community around just about anything.
Whatever your thing is, I hope you’re deliciously snobby about it.
❤️ Julia C.
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The week’s best episodes
…to share with your board game buddy or snobbiest friend.
🎲 Planet Money is making a board game. They need your help.
Planet Money: Let’s make our own board game. How hard could it be?
Also Planet Money: …Oh no.
The team is still giving it a go, partnering up with the game Exploding Kittens. They begin their journey in this episode — and you can play the prototype game here!
🎾 Y’all… Brené Brown is a hoot
I thought I had a handle on Brené Brown, the speaker and author who studies vulnerability. But there’s something about the Wild Card deck of questions that makes room for so much new depth. She and Rachel Martin were cracking up while talking about faith and legacy, and I was laughing out loud too.
🌍 War zone journalists and the first draft of history
One of the best things about Throughline is the way they use sound — and in this episode you’ll hear audio from Vietnam, Iraq, Gaza, and from the reporters who’ve covered conflicts there. The work they’re doing is high stakes and extremely challenging. NPR’s Anas Baba says, “you are documenting suffering and, at the same time, you are experiencing it yourself.”
➕ Does watching TV feel like homework for critics? Pop Culture Happy Hour hosts Glen Weldon and Aisha Harris have answers to this question plus a few more, in this bonus mailbag episode. To get access to this bonus episode from — plus sponsor-free listening — sign up for NPR+.
One to Watch
President Trump’s tariffs are having a big impact on the price of goods… and Big Mouth Billy Bass is not immune. Consider This from NPR, folks. 💛
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