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abandoned: The All-American Ruins Podcast

Reawakening Ruins: Charles Ferri and the Hudson House & Distillery

Season 1, Ep. 21

Charles Ferri spent years searching for something, but it wasn’t until he stumbled upon an empty monastery overlooking the Hudson River that he realized he’d found it. Join Blake as he explores the story behind the accidental preservationist of the once-abandoned Christian Brothers Monastery & School in West Park, NY.


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  • Trailer (Season 3) | abandoned: The All-American Ruins Podcast

    03:25||Season 3
    Welcome to season 3 of the Ambie-nominated abandoned: The All-American Ruins Podcast. Join host Blake Pfeil as he guides listeners through immersive audio fantasies, recreating his experiences exploring abandoned spaces across the United States and around the world. Along the way, abandoned asks critical questions about American history, culture, community, economics, the environment, and collective mental health while encouraging folks to activate their imaginations as a tool for healing. New episodes every other Thursday starting January 2, 2025.Winner, Signal Award for Best Experimental Podcast, Best Indie Podcast, Best Writing of an Individual Episode; Runner-Up for Most Innovative Audio ExperienceNominee, UK Press Gazette Future of Media AwardsWinner, Best History Podcast @ Melbourne WebFest, Parapod Podcast Awards, and PopCon Podcast Awards(Note: For the best immersive experience, we strongly suggest you wear headphones 🎧 for every episode of abandoned: The All-American Ruins Podcast.)Learn more: http://www.allamericanruins.com
  • In Memoriam: What Would Julie Do? (A Season 2 Re-Release)

    26:37||Season 3
    On Saturday, August 31, 2024, All-American Ruins lost its biggest fan, and host Blake Pfeil lost his greatest urbex buddy: Julie Novak. In this special re-release of season 2, episode 4, “Julie is a Homo[wack],” join Blake for this audio memorial of a beloved community leader, queer mentor, and dear friend.(Note: For the best immersive experience, we strongly suggest you wear headphones 🎧 for every episode of abandoned: The All-American Ruins Podcast.)To read the transcript of this episode, click here: https://www.blakepfeil.com/aar-podcast.htmlTo read the blog version of this story, click here: https://allamericanruins.medium.com/chapter-41-what-would-julie-do-fd8082db524eTo learn more, visit: http://www.allamericanruins.comPlease contact advertising@airwavemedia.com if you would like to advertise with All-American Ruins.
  • Goodbye, I’m Shelley Duvall (Nevele Grande Hotel - Ellenville, NY)

    14:00||Season 2
    In this special bonus episode, Blake returns to the abandoned Nevele Grande Hotel where he says goodbye to one of his All-American Ruins muses, Shelley Duvall.To read the transcript of this episode, click here: https://www.blakepfeil.com/aar-podcast.htmlTo learn more, visit: http://www.allamericanruins.com
  • Sunset Town: A Memory Poem (George's Music - Orlando, FL)

    06:00||Season 2
    Sometimes, it’s not possible to get inside an abandoned space, but the ghosts that may still linger among the ruins of George’s Music in Orlando, FL activate Blake’s imagination just the same. Join him for this special bonus episode as he daydreams the insides of the abandoned music store, surrounded on all sides by the echoes of America’s Disney-stained future.(Note: For the best immersive experience, we strongly suggest you wear headphones 🎧 for every episode of abandoned: The All-American Ruins Podcast.)To read the transcript of this episode, click here: https://www.blakepfeil.com/aar-podcast.htmlTo read the original story this episode is based on, click here: https://medium.com/@allamericanruins/chapter-36-sunset-town-edb49cd412dbTo learn more, visit: http://www.allamericanruins.com
  • Loving with Abandon in America's Ruins: Louis and Fletcher

    25:59||Season 2
    Urban explorers Louis Inghilterra and Fletcher Petrucci met in the unlikeliest of places: an abandoned hospital in Denver, CO. Celebrate Pride 2024 with this bonus episode of abandoned: The All-American Ruins Podcast as host Blake Pfeil profiles Louis and Fletcher’s unique journey to finding queer companionship and love inside the ruins of America.This episode was featured in People Magazine.To read the transcript of this episode, click here: https://www.blakepfeil.com/aar-podcast.htmlTo learn more, visit: http://www.allamericanruins.com
  • A 10,000 Year-Old Story: All-American Ruins & Human Nature Odyssey

    32:46||Season 2
    Transmedia storyteller Alex Leff is the host of Human Nature Odyssey, a podcast that takes a unique look at humanity, civilization, and the fate of the world. In this bonus episode (which originally aired as a bonus episode for Human Nature Odyssey Patreon subscribers), join Alex as he interviews Blake where they discuss, what else? Abandoned spaces. Special thanks to Alex for letting us use this great audio.Learn more and subscribe to Human Nature Odyssey: https://www.podpage.com/human-nature-odyssey-1/Listen to more Human Nature Odyssey bonus content on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/humannatureodysseyPlease contact advertising@airwavemedia.com if you would like to advertise with All-American Ruins.
  • Gratitude Transmissions from The Book of Exeter

    11:43||Season 2
    Blake explores a passage about ruins from The Book of Exeter, the oldest known and largest collection of Old English literature. Join him as he revisits a poetic, 10th century urbex perspective while reflecting on his gratitude for the reception of season 2-- and listen in for some exciting news about what’s next for abandoned: The All-American Ruins Podcast.Catch All-American Ruins in the wild:“Exploring the Abandoned with Blake Pfeil” - Atlas Obscura: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/podcast-exploring-the-abandoned-blake-pfeil “Unabandoned with Podcaster Blake Pfeil of All-American Ruins” - American Hysteria: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7qKg3EzrbTGh8WfxuBB3K3?si=pT3F9JuSTcerWz1UgVYOqQ Lost Highways, Season 5: “American Gothic” - History Colorado: https://www.historycolorado.org/lost-highways/2024/02/21/american-gothic “All-American Ruins: PANIC! LIKE THE HOUSE IS ON FIRE” - On Air Fest Official Select: https://www.onairfest.com/official-selects/panic-like-the-house-is-on-fire-blake-pfeil “All-American Ruins: Isabel & the Allentown Mafia” - UK International Radio Drama Festival: https://radiodramafestival.org.uk/ All-American Ruins: Nominee, Best Indie Podcast - The Ambies (2024): https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/digital/ambies-2024-nominations-list-1235827600/ All-American Ruins at Podcast Movement Evolutions on 3/27/24: https://evolutions.podcastmovement.com/schedule/ “All-American Ruins: Isabel & the Allentown Mafia” - Prix Marulić International Festival of Radio Plays (Croatia): https://prix-marulic.hrt.hr/main-info/pre-selection-results-2024-11400955To read the transcript of this episode, click here: https://www.blakepfeil.com/aar-podcast.htmlTo learn more, visit: http://www.allamericanruins.com
  • 12. Sober (Neuweiler Brewery - Allentown, PA)

    14:42||Season 2, Ep. 12
    In the season 2 finale of abandoned: The All-American Ruins Podcast, join Blake as he reflects on his journey to sobriety while wandering the ruins of the Neuweiler Brewery, where he narrowly escapes a run-in with security.This episode features:Isabel WilderNik Magill(Note: For the best immersive experience, we strongly suggest you wear headphones 🎧 for every episode of abandoned: The All-American Ruins Podcast.)To read the transcript of this episode, click here: https://www.blakepfeil.com/aar-podcast.htmlTo read the original story this episode is based on, click here: https://medium.com/@allamericanruins/chapter-20-sober-f250f88d4a3bTo learn more, visit: http://www.allamericanruins.comPlease contact advertising@airwavemedia.com if you would like to advertise with All-American Ruins.
  • 11. Zombies (AFI Industries - Port Jervis, NY)

    15:04||Season 2, Ep. 11
    Overlooking the dusty trijunction of Port Jervis, NY sits the ruins of the AFI Packaging Plant. Join Blake on his triumphant return to the abandoned space in the middle of summer 2022 as he reflects on the pandemic and loneliness, against the backdrop of a zombie apocalypse fantasy.(Note: For the best immersive experience, we strongly suggest you wear headphones 🎧 for every episode of abandoned: The All-American Ruins Podcast.)To read the transcript of this episode, click here: https://www.blakepfeil.com/aar-podcast.htmlTo read the original story this episode is based on, click here: https://allamericanruins.medium.com/chapter-8-silent-hill-and-the-zombie-apocalypse-7c6dc84f3a7To learn more, visit: http://www.allamericanruins.comPlease contact advertising@airwavemedia.com if you would like to advertise with All-American Ruins.