Season 4 | Episode 7: The Stories in Our Silver with Hagerty USA

SummaryWhat does it really mean to care for the things we inherit? In this episode, Brittany and Melissa share a listener email about savoring summer, documenting the stories behind meaningful belongings, and making time to listen while loved ones are still here. During Porch Talk, they swap stories about habits inherited from their mothers, their most delightfully “old lady” tendencies, and the ordinary objects that hold extraordinary meaning.Then Melissa sits down with fifth-generation family members Dawn Hagerty and Dianna Leinen of Hagerty to explore the story behind one of the most trusted names in silver care. They share how their great-great-grandfather created Hagerty Silver Foam in 1895, how family traditions preserved the company’s history, and why caring for silver is really about caring for the memories connected to it.They also answer common silver-care questions, including how to distinguish sterling from silver plate, which products to use, how to store silver, and which cleaning methods can cause permanent damage. Plus, Melissa shares an organizing event and nostalgic new venture, Brittany introduces her newest Storykeeper resource, and the episode closes with a toast to the things that carry our stories.Highlights:Guests: Diana & Dawn from  HagertyUSA Follow Hagerty on Instagram: @hagertycare Find a retailer: Where to Buy Hagerty Products Brittany’s Birmingham Event Reconnection: Rahab’s Rope Beautiful Table Settings Bash in Vicksburg Melissa’s Bless It: Get Organized HQ Virtual 2026 (Get the All Access Pass for freebies and recordings) Brittany’s Bless It: Seasons of Story: A Storykeeper’s Guide to the Rituals of Home***Hagerty Silver Care Kit Giveaway:Email [email protected] with your name, address, and a short story explaining why you would love the kit or what silver means to you.TakeawaysSavor each season, document meaningful belongings and family stories, and make time to listen while loved ones are still here.Ordinary objects become precious through the stories, relationships, and memories attached to them.Family history survives when people gather, share stories, write them down, and intentionally pass them along.Hagerty began in 1895 when William Joseph Hagerty created a faster, easier way to polish the family silver.Sterling silver is generally marked “925,” while silver plate may still hold value because of its maker, craftsmanship, provenance, or sentimental history.Use the right silver-care products and tools: Hagerty Silver Foam is a helpful starting point, while tarnish-preventive polish and a soft horsehair brush can protect frequently used or intricate pieces.Avoid damaging cleaning methods and storage: skip baking soda, aluminum foil, vinegar, boiling water, toothbrushes, dishwashers, and plastic wrap; instead, store silver in breathable, tarnish-preventive bags or cloth and use heirlooms often so their stories continue.Contact The Sentimental Twist:Follow The Sentimental Twist on Instagram @thesentimentaltwistpodcast.Email: [email protected] the Co-Hosts:Brittany: @brittanyshepard and www.thesentimentaldecorator.com and YouTube.Melissa: @homewithatwist and www.homewithatwist.com and YouTube.Chapters00:05 Welcome to Season 4, Episode 7 of The Sentimental Twist!07:39 Reader Email: Slowing Down & Becoming a Storykeeper11:02 Porch Talk Speed Round: Quickfire Questions32:19 Guest Interview: Dawn & Diana Hagerty of Hagerty Silver USA33:21 Guest Interview: Dawn and Dianna from Hagerty USA33:21 The Legacy of Haggerty Silver01:19:56 Silver Care Set Giveaway from Hagerty!01:22:26 Bless It, I Had to Share It01:32:35 Toast to Sentiment: Something About an Heirloom