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
33. Happy Father's Day, Dad!
In this episode, we read a Father's Day letter just in time for Father's Day and get some more sad news from the Queen of Doom and Gloom Anne Hill nee Nadolny…
- the letters and things
32. Stocks and socks and jade and ships
In this episode, we hear once again from the jade dealer in Los Angeles, as well as from a new person heretofore unknown with some mysterious pics. An old…
- the letters and things
31. Accidental cult leader and AI card poems
A letter from Anne Hill sparks another discussion of Aunt Florence's cult days and can AI outperform old greeting card poetry?
- the letters and things
30. Great Aunt Sex Cult
In this episode, we find out the origin of the nickname Great Aunt Sex Cult and we hear news of the death of the leader himself, Dr. Kelly. It is the early 70s…
- the letters and things
29. Grandpa's BDE handwriting
In this episode, a return of winter luging. Why so much winter luging?
- the letters and things
28. Some kind of luging game
In this episode, guess what? More letters! Including one from Auntie in a very bad card that has the unhinged energy of the early 80s, explaining why…
- the letters and things
27. He's just Ken.
In this episode, we try to distinguish between the two Lynns and hear from Auntie in Germany and her Ken doll.
- the letters and things
26. Another stack of miscellenea
In this episode, we read another random selection of letters and discuss American monuments we would like to see flags flying above on stamps and how Miss…
- the letters and things
25. Par Avion! Post from overseas.
In this episode, we read a selection of letters and postcards sent from far-flug locations and decades past.
- the letters and things
24. Greeting card pick n mix
In this episode, we discover the generational nature of Jade jewelry and Grandma Mickey's Jade addiction.
- the letters and things
23. Hallo! and Tschüss! from Auntie!
In this episode, we hear from Auntie who has relocated to Germany where she gets up at 4.30 IN THE MORNING and takes some travels around Europe. Grandma Mickey…
- the letters and things
22. Grandma Micky's 40th birthday card bonanza
In the episode, we read cards Grandma Micky had saved in a special weird envelope. Through the use of detective work, we realise they were for Grandma's 40th…
- the letters and things
21. Stocks and socks and avocado green cookware
In this episode, Sam forgets that Lyndon B Johnson was a president.
- the letters and things
20. Greeting card bonanza
In this episode, we read through a literal ton of cards and go through the fact that there are two Aunt Lynn's out there (heretofore Lynn One and Lynn Two)…
- the letters and things
19. Bad news in terrible handwriting
In this episode, we read two family letters, both penned in the month of October. One from sleep-forward Grandma Mickey to Grandpa Laury and another from the…
- the letters and things
18. U.S.S. Chester History Part II: Too Chester Too Furious
In this episode, we get wet and wild again with the CA-27 Heavy Cruiser USS Chester. We also venture deep sea with submarines, sea creatures and the early…
- the letters and things
17. A wholesome tale of a man and his trains
This week we read three letters from America's sweetheart David Mackey, who loves trains and has nothing but kind things to say about everyone.
- the letters and things
16. The love between a man and his boat
To celebrate love in its purest form we read the history of Grandpa Laury's greatest love: the USS Chester. Take a journey through the South Pacific during…
- the letters and things
15. Something about complexities of marriage...?
In this episode, we discover that banks have been on their overdraft bullsh*t all the way back in the 1960s and another letter that confirms that Laury is…
- the letters and things
14. It's never too late to send the world's longest update
In this episode, we read a letter to Grandma Eunice from a friend who is not our favorite person we've heard from and then another friend writes a long…
- the letters and things
13. Old (old old old) friends and some 9/11 baggage
In this episode, we read a rambling, zealous religious Christmas post-9/11 letter revealing our dogmatic ignorance and a letter blast from grandpa Laury's past.
- the letters and things
12. Short and sweet and full of pocket snacks
In this episode, we read two letters from Grandpa Laury's sister, Marge. The letters are from one sibling to another in the twilight of their lives, short…
- the letters and things
11. A pretty, dirty city
In this episode, we read a problematic letter from cousin Rosie and we hear again from doom and gloom Anne Nadolny/Hill who can't spell lasagne, a then exotic…
- the letters and things
10. The Innocents Abroad
In this episode, we get a letter from a cheeky friend traveling in Germany with a "European" joke and a solemn report from a doctor on the ground at a field…
- the letters and things
9. More Christmas politics with Peter
We hear again from a Christmas favorite, Peter. While we do not understand what Peter's political musing mean, we are happy to hear that he was reunited with a…
- the letters and things
8. Yule Tide Boastings
Thought Christmas newsletters were a new thing? We've got three family Christmas newsletters full of updates, re-caps, some showing off, and seven dwarfs. And…
- the letters and things
7. Grandpa's Wartime Story
In this episode, we hear a retelling of Grandpa's experience in the Navy during WWII in the South Pacific and Japan. This time, instead of a letter, we hear…
- the letters and things
6. It has been a long time since we pen chatted
In this episode, we get a wedding invite to the wedding of John and Jean causes untold chaos of confusion for Manette and Sam, Penny Withers writes with some…
- the letters and things
5. Eunice tries to send Auntie to the nunnery and beachy waves Jesus
In this episode we get the invite to the double wedding of Kathi One and Lynn, we get some cryptic wedding advice from Eunice to the soon-to-be-husbands, we…
- the letters and things
4. Brioni, the Albertinum, baby EIGHT, and stranger Raye
In this episode we have four short notes - Manette dispatches from Italy, the Sisters have great stationary, Ragna is expecting her EIGHTH child, and stranger…
- the letters and things
3. Grandpa's cadaver eye and Kathi One's new bedspread
In this episode, Grandma Mickey sends a letter to Grandpa who has mysteriously ended up across the country in a Veteran's Hospital, where he maybe received a…
- the letters and things
2. Mom's Doomsday Prophesies
In this episode, Sam and Manette hear, for the first time (but certainly not the last) from Kathy One. And a letter from Mom brings portents of earthquake doom…
- the letters and things
1. Jim and Joan and John and Jane
In this episode, Eunice's mom (Anne) writes with updates on Jim and Joan and John and Jane and Auntie receives a threatening letter from an angry mechanic in…