Shows / the letters and things
the letters and things
A treasure trove of old letters tells the story of an American family through multiple generations, with a memorable cast of characters commenting on everything from the mundane of daily life to monumental, sometimes forgotten, moments in history.
Episodes
- the letters and things
93. [Memoirs] four babies all the same age and 100 Dalmatian puppies
In this episode, Gertrude Ebling's memoirs (1897-1992) continue. Herb returns from WWI and he and Gertrude get married. Though times have changed, we learn…
- the letters and things
92. [Memoirs] eliminate it
In this episode, we continue the memoirs of great, great aunt Gertrude Ebling (1897-1992), who is entering her war girlfriend era. Herb is off to WWI, and we…
- the letters and things
91. [Memoirs] doc, angel, coach
In this episode, we continue with the memoirs of great, great aunt Gertrude Ebling, 1897-1992. We are confronted with the confusion of not one but TWO Armin…
- the letters and things
90. [Memoirs] being a cowgirl is an identity, not a sport
In this episode, we continue with the memoirs of great, great Aunt Gertrude (1897 -1992). We know we are in the year 1910 because Samantha knows based on…
- the letters and things
89. [Memoirs] she ate, left no pets
In this episode, we continue the memoirs and find out that THE Pabst family, yes like the beer, were neighbours of Gertrude. We also meet Milda, the bestie…
- the letters and things
88. [Memoirs] mom traum
In this episode, we have the first installment of the memoirs of Gertrude Ebling, Grandfather Lawry Zilisch's aunt (sister of his mother Anne…
- the letters and things
87. dark thoughts on pretty stationary
In this episode, we hear from Grandma "Mickey" Zilisch's mother writes with tea about deadbeat dad Bud - finally karma catches up with him. And a surprise in…
- the letters and things
86. Freiberg in the snow
In this episode, it is summer so of course our minds turn to millionaires and water vessels and hubris and the delightful pop of carbon fibre strands breaking…
- the letters and things
85. Founding Fathers Day
In this episode, we pay tribute to Grandpa by reading Father's Day cards from both daughters Kathy and from his wife, Mickey (aka Grandma). We also recognise…
- the letters and things
84. greeting card Nostradamus
Nostradamus wrote his prophesies in over 900 poems which is roughly the average number of poems you can find in a 1970s birthday greeting card. In this…
- the letters and things
83. by the numbers
In this episode, we analyze grandma Mickey's numerology profile -a very 90s gift from her daughter. Can the numbers accurately describe Grandma? Can the…
- the letters and things
82. the all staff email of yesteryear
In this episode, we hear about Kathy One's first weeks of college - classes, teachers, new friends, and a neat intercom system. Then we get two memorandums…
- the letters and things
81. the founding father you never knew
In this episode, we revisit the Mama Mia Gasolina remix we never knew we needed, followed by an Obituary for great grandfather Dr. Zilisch, first husband of…
- the letters and things
80. Mama mia gasolina the remix
Inside you there are two wolves: one likes the smell of sharpies and one gagged. In this episode, we read two letters from Grandma Mickey who is still leaving…
- the letters and things
79. unsafe ladders and the people who use them
In this episode, grandma Mickey is all business even though its a Wednesday NIGHT. But no thinly veiled innuendos, she doesn't have time for the apricot…
- the letters and things
78. idealists causing chaos
In this episode we have: idealism! realism! pregnancy scares! toxic masculinity! idealism! psychoanalysis! dentists! Wisconsin! Ibsen!
- the letters and things
77. avoid oral instructions
In this episode, we read a letter penned by deadbeat dad Bud from the Miller Brewing Company and then Eunice's snappy reply - did she ever send it? We then…
- the letters and things
76. 33 thousand chickens
In this episode we read two letters from grandma Mickey, one of which contains an article about 33 thousand chickens and the other a letter to a therapist that…
- the letters and things
75. [The Advertiser] based on a true story!
In this episode, we reveal the findings of our (mostly Sam's) research into the life and times of Dud Etter and discover that this story we've been reading for…
- the letters and things
74. [The Advertiser] the end?
In this episode, we read the 13th and final instalment of 'The Advertiser'. The creeping suspicion that this story isn't fiction starts to look more and more…
- the letters and things
73. [The Advertiser] the penultimate
In this episode, we reach the final stretch of this manuscript and while we are ready to end, the story seems like it is not. Wellness check on Samantha, who…
- the letters and things
72. [The Advertiser] I had to briskly touch his bulge
In the episode, the mouth breathers of the Advertiser continue to spend a lot of time in the male-stock room, wheezing and printing and blowing a lot of hot…
- the letters and things
71. [The Advertiser] Boy Scout Dick shows up
In this episode we - yet again - are continuing the story of Dud and all the people of The Advertiser. As per usual, nothing happens, but in a lot of words and…
- the letters and things
70. [The Advertiser] so mad we Googled and mathed
In this episode, the Secret Service flooding into town, they are in the cheese store, they are taking over Monroe, Wisconsin, I don't know who the heck is…
- the letters and things
69. [The Advertiser] John, Jack, Meg, Peg
In this episode the, The British are back with their nonsensical nicknames. And we continue to the never ending story of Dud and all our frenemies in Monroe…
- the letters and things
68. [The Advertiser] live to be cursed another day
In this episode, we continue the story of Dud, the secret service, and the Advertiser. We find out that Bill is hot and call into question who the narrator is…
- the letters and things
67. [The Advertiser] the worst kept secret service
In this episode, we find ourselves STILL in February 22, 1966, the longest day on record since records began. The Secret Service rolls into town - finally -…
- the letters and things
66. [The Advertiser] February 22, 1966 a day that lives in infamy
I swear to the sweet baby Jesus that it is STILL February 22 - the birthday of great American Father and Pisces Crier George Washington - in this tedious…
- the letters and things
65. [The Advertiser] the private anguish of snakes in Hawai'i
In the episode, we relive one HALF DAY of the life of Dud, the most tedious person to exist in fiction. We also learn that George Washington was a Pisces and…
- the letters and things
64. [The Advertiser] Galena, Illinois and the Pluym Cafe, local hood hangout
In this episode, we rejoin idiot Dud in his caper to get the Secret Service to investigate a man asking about a printing press. If you think this makes no…
- the letters and things
63. [The Advertiser] Dud falls for the charm of secret agent Mike Johnson
In this episode, we resume in part 2 of what is sure to be many, many parts of the story of Dud, who meets the handsome Secret Service agent played by Mike…
- the letters and things
62. [The Advertiser] a Facebook Marketplace transcript
In this episode, we start what will be a series where we read through some long 'thing'. We have yet to discover what this thing may be, but - regardless -…
- the letters and things
61. Hallmark Christmas Movie Special
In this episode, we read an assortment of Holiday cards, including an anniversary holiday card from Eunice to Lawry - on their Dec 26th anniversary! And the…
- the letters and things
60. A Very Chester Hanukkahmas
In this episode, we read some correspondence straight from the USS Chester CA27 at the end of WWII. Join along as Japan surrenders. And a surprise holiday…
- the letters and things
59. trigger warning: big bummer
In this episode, we happen to get two really sad letters containing information about illness. In the middle of this sadness we talk about the existential…
- the letters and things
58. play stressed, work stressed
In this episode, Grandma is in Wisconsin and Grandpa is in Ohio and there is much to do with the four children, the budget, and also - very important -…
- the letters and things
57. gratitude for the USPS
In this episode, we hear from Kathy One whose commentary on tuitions costs sends us spiraling RE: inflation. The cost of stamps though? Without reproach. Hug…
- the letters and things
56. a quickie from Mickey
In this episode, we have a letter from Mickey to Laury, who is at Camp Roberts with his pinup magazines. And another letter from some guy that uses the word…
- the letters and things
55. If that was the worst thing the British did
In this episode, we discover that Peter stands at the pearly gates of Heaven and judges people's outfits. He is the bouncer for Heaven. You don't need to know…
- the letters and things
54. pop off, Grandpa!
In this episode we get a doozy of a letter from Anne Hill who is complaining about her husband John (Jack) (don't even get us started about why Jack is the…
- the letters and things
53. pressure, shame, and gossip
In this episode, we meet cat Amanda in a biblical Christmas card from Sam and Kathy One. A subdued letter from Anne Hill still manages to contain a generous…
- the letters and things
52. kept, but not curated
In this episode, Auntie reaches next level Auntie with an astrology-based card, entering her next Era. And we read through a NINE page letter from Lynn about…
- the letters and things
51. Love Language: Large Greeting Cards
In this episode, we learn a lot about Grandpa through the many enormous greeting cards that he sent Grandma over their marriage and how we would like to be…
- the letters and things
50. Greetings from the Hotel Rogers!
In this episode, we read a letter from deadbeat dad Bud to Eunice with custody arrangements. Another letter contains the scandalous news that Rose wore SLACKS…
- the letters and things
49. Amity Rod & Gun Club Clubhouse
In the episode, a letter includes a photo of a child gun club. And another epistle, delivered in a Thomas Kinkade card. Calling it now, Thomas Kinkade is…
- the letters and things
48. two Benadryl special edition
In this edition, some major grievances are aired by grandma (Eunice), in the direction of grandpa (Laury) who is in the hospital across the country for …
- the letters and things
47. you hug warm
A searing investigation of the American Greeting card industry by Sam and Manette. Join us as we dive into the dark underbelly of Hallmark's rumspringa years.
- the letters and things
46. the human animal
We, still in the Caribbean, continue to talk at the echoing wall and read through a huge stack of greeting cards that feature a sad elephant, hand stuff, and…
- the letters and things
45. The resurrection, Jesus' first coming ... in August
In this episode we read through Easter cards from 1979, which was a terrible year for Easter card designs and potentially a prediction of bad things to come…
- the letters and things
44. To Love to Live Laugh Love
The greeting card industry continues to have many things to apologize for as we read through many 1970s and 1980s greeting cards - bad vibes, illustrations…
- the letters and things
43. We came, we saw, we prognosticated.
In this episode, we discuss the potential of Trump as a performance artist. We also read a letter from Anne Hill to her daughter with news of comings and…
- the letters and things
42. Is hoarding genetic?
In this episode, we discuss if hoarding is nature versus nurture and why you should never throe anything away, ever. The two letters in this episode are dark…
- the letters and things
41. Don't look a gift hieroglyph in the mouth
In this episode, we hear from Grandpa - a man at the center of this podcast, but rarely heard from. He is in the hospital in Massachussets where he did not get…
- the letters and things
40. Quotable Canine Quips
In this episode, we read through one of the stupidest cards ever to grace the greeting card world (the we have seen, so far). Sam later tells Manette, offline…
- the letters and things
39. In remembrance of Jane Hill
In this episode, poor long-suffering Jane Hill finally succumbs to whatever thing she was suffering with. Sam also does the loudest page russle that ever…
- the letters and things
38. Find out what happens when people stop being polite and start getting real.
In this episode, we hear from a distant cousin. Or maybe a first cousin, but he's in Wisconsin so geographically distant, at least. And some spicy letter-edge…
- the letters and things
37. Letters at 97
In this episode, letters from across the age spectrum - from young Lynn writing to her father about school and moving in with him in California to a 97 year…
- the letters and things
36. Sexual George Washington
In this episode, we have a couple of letters from our favorite year, 1969, but unfortunately have some sad sad news about Jane, who isn't so well. Gramma…
- the letters and things
35. Dearest Darling, Dearest Heart
In this episode, we have two letters from Mickey and learn she is a chaotic, stream-of-consciousness writer with a proclivity for m dashes with impeccable…
- the letters and things
34. Beerocrat
In this episode, we have a letter from the fashion capital of Hong Kong and another from Bud, a Miller Brewing Company employee and father.