the letters and things

In the episode, we talk about the presidents born under the sign of cancer: sons George W. Bush and John Q. Adams, the silent Calvin Coolidge and Gerald Ford. The most interesting thing about any of these presidents is first wife Betty Ford, who was ICONIC. And though Andrew Jackson wasn't a cancer, he still manages to make it into this episode somehow.

In this episode, we are fully in swing with boat girl summer. This time we cover two museum boats. the Cutty Sark and the HMS Warrior, and then two sunken boats, the Vasa and Mary Rose. Lessons are learned, namely make sure your gun ports are more than 1 meter above the water line.

In this episode, we continue boat girl summer with submersible stories. Despite being terrified of undersea, deep sea, submarines, submersibles we can't seem to get enough of talking about these guys.

In this episode, it's anchors aweigh as we launch Boat Girl Summer! In this Boat 101 episode, we discuss the syllabus for Boat Girl Summer with a rundown of the main categories of boats, which Samantha takes issue with before proposing an even more nonsensical categorisation method.

In this episode, we go through two of the three Gemini Presidents: JFK and George H. W. Bush, or as he is now known Shady Bush. Both rich east coast Ivy League white guys that didn't even have to try to be President. Both terms a shit show in their own right. Chaos reigns supreme with the Gemini guys.

In this episode, Samantha does a deep dive on Samantha Parkington, American Girl, which is why my Google history now has "samantha parkington's dead parents". It is the final Lynn letters, also an American girl, and I don't think anyone will be sad about it, just like Samantha Parkington's dead parents.

In this episode, we read the birthday cards of Grandma Mickey, one of which contained none other than stickers! We also discover that Sam hates adhesive. Manette is shook by this revelation.

In this episode, we cover the Taurus presidents. These guys aren't as bad as some of the others and one of them we even kind of like. We've got two James, two guys with an S in their middle name, and some eye stuff. In addition to four presidents, we have a teaser and world premier of the new hit song Celsius inspired by the energy drink Celsius.

In this episode, we celebrate US Mother's Day and Thai Royal Ploughing Ceremony Day with Grandma's Mother's Day cards. Confused? So are we! All the time! Happy Mother's Day to all the moms, Mothers, and mom-like figures, but only if you read the podcast episode descriptions. ; 0 ) This one's for you!

In this episode, we continue reading through the 1960s letters belonging to Lynn, who was a pre teen girl. Many questions arise like why JFK is on a Mexican stamp and what is a bushel basket? Lots of questions, zero answers, and at least one US President, though he's in Mexico? Unclear.

In this episode, we read some letters to Lynn, grandpas second eldest daughter (of three), but in reality all we really want to talk about is unincorporated territories of America, Teddy Roosevelt, and the Supreme Court case that I don't think the Founding Fathers would be too happy about.

In this episode, we go over the Aries presidents - Thomas Jefferson and John Tyler. One is considered the worst president in history and the other one of the greatest, but take it from us - they both really suck. In this episode we get a long list of wrongs both to humankind and to the nation.

In this episode, we continue reading through the pre-teen mail of aunt Lynn, the second daughter of dear old grandpa. An emerging theme is Lynn is a absent correspondent. A "valentine" promoting big pharma and some letters from Mexico. Relatively uneventful and wholesome and free of dead presidents.

In this episode, we exit the season of hate (March) and finally arrive at out favorite holiday - Easter! Dead Jesus, alive Jesus, eggs, chocolate, buttered popcorn flavored jellybeans, and ~ apparently ~ pink eye!

In this episode, we continue reading through the letter belonging to Lynn, who is a tween living in Palo Alto in the 60s. We get even more extreme tween energy in a letter from insane Linda, another from Margaret Frost who is doing the least, and then a slightly threatening epistle from Sue who is at her wits end.

In this episode we continue with presidential recounting by order of the zodiac. This time we have one sign, two fish: Pisces. We've got a couple of real stinkers: Andrew Jackson and Grover Cleveland. There's also "quote guy" James Madison and then the ubiquitous George Washington, who - HOT TAKE - isn't all he's been made out to be.

In this episode, we continue the letters belonging to Lynn as a youth. Some letters from sister Kathy One, living in Wisconsin, while Lynn was busy not writing people back and soaking up the California son. And we get another letter from our new favourite guest star, a pen pal from the UK!

In this episode, we begin going through the letters of aunt Lynn, grandpa's second daughter. Lynn was trying out living in California so there's the usual letters from het sister Kathy One and family back home, but a surprising letter from a pen pal in England!

In this episode, we round out Wuthering Heights month with more Valentine's Day cards. A snarky one from Kathy One, the offensive mouse card from Grandma to Grandpa, news of Geese that Grandpa would have loved to shoot from Auntie, and many more cards filled with celebrations of love (for the Greeting card industry).

In this episode, we discuss the Aquarius Presidents: the Williams (McKinley and Henry Harrison), Ron Reagan, Abe Lincoln, and FDR. In a shocking twist we discover that rich boy FDR is the least problematic president so far and that George Washington, beloved Pisces president may, in fact, be an Aquarius.

In this episode, we continue our reign of terror with Wuthering Heights and Valentine's Day cards. There's demonic human-faced hearts, an upsetting cherub spread-eagling a heart, and other diabolical Valentine's Day Hallmark moments. We laugh, we cry, we call the child protective services.

In this episode, we honour tortured love stories with several very torturous Valentine's Day cards. While the sentiments are admirable, the cards themselves leave much to be desired, as do the poems they contain.

In this episode, we contemplate Neptune, claim Neptune energy, and also blame Neptune. We also get a pre-mail letter warning of mail to come, some post cards from the Soo Locks, and some very exciting update on the Pinewood Derby. And a phantom letter from Jeff, a man of many girlfriends and few words.

In this episode we go from depressing to fun - starting from the passing of a family friend, to a card from a beautiful woman throwing away her life with a mediocre man (don't worry, she didn't end up settling). Then we move on to a delightful update from fun cousin Jenny and a few family portraits featuring impish Grandpa and his fashionable daughters, Kathy One and Lynn. The gangs all here today!

In this episode, we get letters from across the family. From Auntie talking about a toy horse, to Aunt Florence complaining per usual, to Anne Hill complaining as usual, ending in a childhood crush on Kirk Cameron, which is a twist none of us expected.

In this episode, we breakdown the four Capricorn US Presidents in honor of Capricorn season! Turns out the one thing that they all have in common is that they are terrible people!

In this episode, we read a bunch of anniversary cards, mostly from Grandpa to Grandma, which also come of the promise of future gifts, stocks, and the promise of more future gifts. Nothing says I Love You like two shares of American Telephone & Telegraph stock. Welcome to 2026, may it bring you socks and stocks.

In this episode, we celebrate our newly found appreciation of EDM Catholic Church and all the trimmings. We get one letter from dad-beat Dad Bud Kaisershot and a letter from an extinct hotel in the Bahamas. We also get two absolutely insane-looking gun-themed and homo erotic Christmas postcards from Elwood Llywelyn. Yes, that's his actual name!

In this episode, we give a very important disclaimer which is none of this is to be taken as fact, particularly if Samantha says it. And Manette relives the most epic yard sale, held and Mickey and Laury's house, where she had to kick not one, but two people.

In this episode, we get the profound wisdom that comes from trout fishing. Come for the fishing and stay for Samantha trying to say "rural".

This episode ended up being more Catholic than we anticipated and if you Google "British gardening lady boobs" and then "Iran-Contra affair" be prepared to be put on an internet watchlist.

In this episode, Sam has two Thanksgiving cards featuring turkeys because of course. Manette rehashes old family drama (over shells?). Both classic holiday traditions. If we've said it once we've said it a million times: we live on a stolen land. Kiss your turkey, give thanks to the things you are thankful for, and get into a fight with your mother. You've earned it!

In this episode, we read a letter from Grandma Mickey that was written in air! On American Airlines stationary! Back when they used to feed you on airplanes. Then we get into The Great Vegetable Debate of 2025. Sexual George Washington re-emerges on a postcard from Kathy One. And we get another airport - Miami this time!

In this episode, we get three short notes, but the stand out was the debauched marshmallow man card. And then a note passed between Auntie and a friend that is also debauched. And then what episode would be complete without USPS chat.

In this episode, Sam reads three cards from Auntie that bring up memories of chicken stealer Bogart, shirtless Uncle Bob, and a very special birth! Next we get a mysterious document about a mysterious death on the day of the dead. Most importantly, it is Native American Heritage Month - if we've said it once, we've said it a million times: we live on a stolen land!

In this episode, even with our extensive card experience, we are shocked by how bad this neon yellow cat card is. Grandpa's second daughter Lynn has a new job as a "floater." Another letter has us wondering - is Santa the father of Cookie Monster?

In this episode, we don't even get one letter deep before we start waxing lyrical about our patriotism for the land of the bold and the beautiful. Then we move on to one Christmas newsletter from one of the OTHER grandchildren of grandma and grandpa and Samantha has a Christmas letter, too, and we learn how she pronounces Myrrh, hehe. Go Birds!

In this episode, we really lean into the "and things" of it all. We go through Grandpa's junk mail, but then start to understand why Grandpa kept the junk mail. And, furthermore, we will also be keeping the junk mail. No further questions at this time.

In this episode, we read two short letters from granddaughter Jenny and Kathy One/Auntie. But more importantly, Daniel Day Lewis in Last of the Mohicans amiright?

In this episode, we discuss Sam's favorite method for decluttering, which involves either actual or implied fecal matter. And if you need help with declutter just have yourself some ambrosia salad mentioned in the first of Kathy One's letters, or any one of the recipe's from Mrs. Barringer's Dixie Cookery: https://archive.org/details/dixiecookeryorho00barr/page/n6/mode/1up?ref=ol

In this episode we have neither letters nor things, but energy, chaos, and facts as we discuss some of our top emerging topics from all of grandma and grandpa's letters and things from the past 99 episodes.

In this episode, we have our final instalment of the memoirs of Gertrude Ebling (1897-1992). Gertrude is living out the end of her life in optimism, we love to see it. We hope/know aunt Gertrude is overjoyed we took the time to share her memoirs. If you are reading this, it is your sign to write your own down (and then email them to us at [email protected]). Thank you in advance.

In this episode, we're zooming through the golden years of Gertrude Ebling's memoirs as she picks up the pace in the retelling of her life. If you are squeamish about eye stuff then buckle up because Gertrude has an eye transplant with a CADAVER EYE.

In this episode, we are nearing the home stretch with the memoirs of Gertrude Ebling (1897-1992). Big changes for Gertrude as she enters her retirement years, hitting her 60s in the 1960s. A big road trip, the loss of her beloved Herb, learning (unsuccessfully) how to balance her check book, and (hopefully more successfully) how to drive.

In this episode, we continue the memoirs of great grandaunt Gertrude Ebling 1897-1992, where we learn the family used molten lead to predict their futures??? And the had "cold fruit soup" which is ... a smoothie??? The past was wild. The present is also wild, though, you know?

In this episode, not going to lie, this is some sad stuff we have here. We continue to read through the memoirs of Gertrude Ebling (1897-1992) and like life itself, we get an unpredictable rollercoaster of mostly devastating events. This one isn't for the faint of heart so if you're feeling fragile, maybe give this one a miss.

In this episode, we continue with the memoirs of Gertrude Ebling, 1897-1992. We get the low down on Herb Ebling's siblings and their spouses, some bad marriages, sad endings, happy endings, and New Hope, PA. We still don't know what happened to Herb's mysterious missing sister Ida and, related, we don't know what happened to Walt Disney's frozen head.

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 records are still played the same way. Gertrude takes us through the furnishing of her and Herb's first apartment in great detail, which somehow reminds us of the sinking of the Titanic.

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 finally get a name mention of beloved Grandpa, Lawrence "Lawry" Zilisch. Please if anyone knows what the pea thing is get in touch immediately, we have so many questions.

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 Hansens, both painters. We meet Herb ('Erb) and his baseball team and notably the Doc Angel Coach who is serving looks with his pointy jacket.