ABOUT
Leslie Thompson
Leslie tells stories.
Generally, she tells the kind of 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 can be found on NPR’s Morning Edition and This Is Nashville, The Guardian, the 1440 Newsletter, Christianity Today, and beyond.
A producer and journalist, Leslie is the creator and host of Niche to Meet You, a podcast that explores fascinating subcultures—think medieval armored combat, vintage car radio restoration, and the high-stakes world of competitive speed puzzling. The show was chosen by Apple Podcasts as a “New & Noteworthy” pick, and was featured in the top 200 of all Society & Culture podcasts. The work has been featured on NPR and This is Nashville, and a clip from the show has been seen by millions in a viral instagram reel. Leslie’s reporting has taken her from wild turkey conservation to Warhammer 40,000 to dog agility and beyond. If there’s a story about passion, obsession, or the things people dedicate their lives to—no matter how niche—she’s probably already on it.
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.
