The Atlas Obscura Podcast Tell Us: What Rules Have You Broken?
Mar 21, 2026
Listeners share mishaps from temples to police encounters when local rules clash with home habits. The episode highlights footwear, clothing, pointing and other cultural faux pas. Calls for short voice memos recounting where it happened, what went wrong, and how each situation was resolved.
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Research Local Customs Before You Go
- Do research local customs before visiting to avoid accidental rule-breaking.
- Kelly McEvers lists examples like leaving shoes on indoors, immodest temple clothing, and rude gestures to show common pitfalls.
Travel Missteps From Shoes To A Breast Pump
- I forgot to remove my shoes and wore immodest clothing in a temple, and once pointed at someone, which was rude in that culture.
- Kelly McEvers also recounts being interrogated for carrying a breast pump case mistaken for camera gear.
Tell The Full Story If You Get In Trouble
- If you accidentally break rules while traveling, tell the story: where you were, what happened, why you got in trouble, and how you got out.
- Atlas Obscura asks listeners to call or send a voice memo with these exact details to share experiences.