The Untapped New York Podcast
The Untapped New York Podcast is an award-winning podcast about New York City’s secrets, like how does a water tower work? Why does steam come out of the ground? Do alligators live in the subway? We impart our knowledge, interview experts, and in many cases, literally go behind the scenes. The Untapped New York Podcast was the 2025 GANYC Apple Award winner for Outstanding Achievement in NYC Radio Program or Podcast. Hosted by Michelle Young, founder, and Justin Rivers, Chief Experience Officer, at Untapped New York.
The Untapped New York Podcast
New York's Lost Opera Houses
New York City's lost opera houses are having their fifteen minutes of fame, thanks to the HBO show, The Gilded Age, which brought their dramatic histories to life in the most recent season. We dug into these former opera houses in our new extended episode which weaves in clips from The Gilded Age. We'll cover some of the earliest of opera houses (some of which where were Italian!), the Astor Place Opera house which inspired one of the deadliest riots in the city's history, the Academy of Music, the first Metropolitan Opera house, and our backstage tour of the current Met Opera. You can follow along with this podcast episode using the visuals in our accompanying article on Untapped New York.
The Untapped New York Podcast is produced by Michelle Young and co-hosted by Justin Rivers. Music by Kittens Ablaze ("Hotel Room"). All clips from The Gilded Age courtesy HBO. Opera music is La Traviata by Verdi, from PremiumBeat performed by the Human Symphony Orchestra. New York City skyline in icon by Bernadette Moke, the Downtown Doodler.
If you love to go behind the scenes and into NYC's' most hidden and secret places, you should jump onto some of our most exciting tours like the Gilded Age Mansions of Fifth Avenue, the Secrets of Grand Central, or our Underground Subway Tour. And if you're a real hard core New Yorker, join our Untapped New York Insiders program for access to the most off limits places with curated behind-the-scenes events on a weekly basis. 20% off yearly membership at
If you love to go behind the scenes and into NYC's' most hidden and secret places, you should jump onto some of our most exciting tours like the Gilded Age Mansions of Fifth Avenue, the Secrets of Grand Central, or our Underground Subway Tour. And if you're a real hard core New Yorker, join our Untapped New York Insiders program for access to the most off limits places with curated behind-the-scenes events on a weekly basis. 20% off yearly membership at