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

August 21, 2025 53 mins

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.

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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.

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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.

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July 31, 2025 33 mins

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.

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July 24, 2025 36 mins

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.

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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 comets and we learn about the handsomest man Gertrude ever knew - Don Anderson. Not for the first time does ABBA come up in a discussion of what came first - fascism or rave music? Or Kelly Clarkson?

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July 9, 2025 45 mins

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, who is iconic. Milda has a penchant for mischief and stands on business, all with a bow atop her perfectly curled hair.

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July 3, 2025 54 mins

In this episode, we have the first installment of the memoirs of Gertrude Ebling, Grandfather Lawry Zilisch's aunt (sister of his mother Anne Schilling/Zilisch/McNulty). Making Gertrude the great aunt of Manette and Sam. And, as Grandpa Lawry would have said, boy oh boy, is it something else! If you think you have mom traum just wait until you hear about pet dinner!

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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 form of a funeral Jesus card brings delight and joy (ironically), devolving into a real time internet search for Authentic Italian Prayer Cards.

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June 19, 2025 33 mins

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. We get a letter - a first! - from the mother of deadbeat dad Bud. And another from Auntie in Germany, who has found a love of skiing.

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June 12, 2025 38 mins

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 fatherly contributions of the Dads of America, the founding fathers, though if we're being honest, mainly the most sexual of the founding fathers, George Washington. May you live each day as though you are father George, crossing the Delaware.

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June 5, 2025 44 mins

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 episode, we continue to celebrate Micky/Eunice/Grandma and her birthday. She's 96 this year! Happy Birthday to the best grandma a girl could ever want.

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May 29, 2025 47 mins

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 universe know the unknowable? We find out.

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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 from eveyone's favorite ship the USS Chester CA-27 Heavy Cruiser. One funny and one devastating. FILGO!

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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 Anne of the Terrible Handwriting. We also hear from Kathy One, who continues to prove why she's everyone's favorite correspondent.

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May 8, 2025 29 mins

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 out all the hot gossip for face to face. The don’t put it in an email culture of letter writing times.

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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 harvest is upon us. And Kathy One steals work stationary and uses company time to write a letter thin on gossip.

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April 24, 2025 32 mins

In this episode we have: idealism! realism! pregnancy scares! toxic masculinity! idealism! psychoanalysis! dentists! Wisconsin! Ibsen!

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April 17, 2025 29 mins

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 also read another Eunice letter, written on Friday night to grandpa wink wink nudge nudge.

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April 10, 2025 46 mins

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 she later denied she had. Never trust a Gemini.

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