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The Atlas Obscura Podcast

Exploring the Abandoned with Blake Pfeil (Holiday Classic)

The Atlas Obscura Podcast

SiriusXM Podcasts & Atlas Obscura

Society & Culture, Places & Travel

4.61.6K Ratings

🗓️ 26 December 2024

⏱️ 24 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Dylan sits down with guest Blake Pfeil about what inspired him to begin exploring abandoned spots, what those spaces have taught him about escapism, sobriety and the sometimes blurry line between real and unreal that he finds there. MORE: Blake is an artist and adventurer. He’s also the creator and host of the podcast “Abandoned: All-American Ruins.” Check it out here.

Transcript

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0:00.0

Hmm, okay, so I really barely know where we are.

0:07.0

Do you know what we are?

0:09.0

Actually, like I really barely know where we are.

0:12.0

So this, as far as I understand it, was like a cement factory, essentially.

0:24.1

There's a very special kind of hangout.

0:28.3

And it's something I've only managed to do with a handful of people.

0:33.3

But it's an incredible way to get to know somebody.

0:36.4

Go explore some abandoned crumbling ruin.

0:40.3

Go poke around some hulking factory or psychiatric institution left to rot.

0:47.0

Or visit a fenced-off cement factory.

0:50.8

It is pretty much guaranteed bonding.

0:53.5

You guys against the world, you know,

0:55.7

that just creates a sense of camaraderie. Careful. Blake is standing on like a corrugated door

1:03.6

that's like half over the precipice. It feels questionable. That is me and Blake File.

1:12.8

And that is exactly how we got to know each other.

1:16.0

On a hot day last summer, we met up to go and clamor around this old cement factory.

1:22.1

The place was just gigantic.

1:23.5

It was really imposing giant buildings, towering equipment, eight or nine stories tall.

1:29.7

I want to do like music recordings in here.

1:32.2

Yeah, yeah, these huge echoey.

1:36.0

Ah!

1:37.8

You know?

...

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