Best Postcard From The Past Podcasts (2025)

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AF-1113: The Pirate’s Den | Greenwich Village, New York City | Postcards from the Past 5:06

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5d ago5:06

5:06

I found this old postcard the other day, and something about it pulled me right in. It shows a dimly lit room, heavy with shadow and curiosity. There’s a man standing with a bird—maybe a parrot—perched on his arm. A woman leans against the back bar. You can just make out a bartender. There’s a large wooden chest in the corner, chains hanging from t…

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S3 Ep.13 - From Piazza San Marco: Designing Dreams in Precious Metal. A chat with Valeria Boncompagni 48:12

15m ago48:12

48:12

In this episode of Venice Talks, Monica Cesarato sits down with Valeria Boncompagni, the creative force behind one of Venice’s most intimate and soulful jewelry ateliers. Nestled under the arcades of Piazza San Marco, Valeria's workshop is a sanctuary of emotion, craftsmanship, and timeless beauty. A master of the ancient lost-wax casting technique…

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AF-1117: Coal Dust and Danger: Life as a Miner in the Family Tree | Ancestral Findings Podcast 7:48

1h ago7:48

7:48

Coal built the modern world. It powered trains, lit homes, fueled factories, and kept furnaces burning during the coldest winters. But that power came at a steep cost. For every train that ran and every hearth that glowed, miners were working deep underground, chipping away at rock, swallowing dust, and risking their lives with every shift. Mining …

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AF-1116: The Night Soil Man: Digging into the World of Human Waste 5:40

3d ago5:40

5:40

Before the comforts of indoor plumbing and municipal sewage systems, someone had to do the dirty work. And by dirty, we mean truly revolting. The Night Soil Man was the one tasked with removing human waste from privy pits, outhouses, and cesspools—usually under cover of darkness when the smell might be slightly less offensive and when the public ey…

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SFD 306: Sent with Wax 11:45

3d ago11:45

11:45

This week we go back to The Happiest Place on Earth and look at the map for a wax museum and Disneyland's Candle Shop. Also Check out the Photoniks where ever you get your podcasts or even YouTube! https://open.spotify.com/episode/2MLGoBhM29Sw7zYenG68xe?si=450ec098da1843a0 https://youtu.be/lZwMJYvQNUs?si=aTZHR_Jz-FN3hQmQ Below are some of the regul…

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AF-1115: Schuyler Colfax: Speaker, Scandal, and the Shadow of What Might Have Been 6:52

3d ago6:52

6:52

As we continue our journey through The Forgotten Seconds, we pause to examine the life of Schuyler Colfax—a name once associated with optimism, eloquence, and the future of the Republican Party. He was Vice President under Ulysses S. Grant, a former Speaker of the House, and one of the most prominent political figures of his time. But Colfax’s care…

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AF-1114: Hannibal Hamlin: Lincoln’s Overlooked Right Hand | Ancestral Findings Podcast 9:08

4d ago9:08

9:08

As we continue our series, The Forgotten Seconds, we take a closer look at those vice presidents who, despite standing one heartbeat away from the highest office, never became president themselves. Today’s spotlight is on Hannibal Hamlin, Abraham Lincoln’s first vice president—a name that once carried national significance but has since faded from …

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S3 Ep.12 - When Art Pollinates a City. A chat with Judi Harvest 57:12

5d ago57:12

57:12

In this captivating episode of Venice Talks, Monica sits down with internationally renowned artist Judi Harvest to explore the luminous, layered world she has built between Murano’s glass furnaces and Venice’s buzzing garden beehives. Judi shares how a brief trip to Venice decades ago became a lifelong journey — one that has shaped her art, her act…

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AF-1112: Showgirls and Spotlight: The Hollywood Cabaret on Broadway | Postcards from the Past 5:29

9d ago5:29

5:29

This one caught my eye for a completely different reason than most of the postcards I’ve written about. It’s not a quiet street scene or a charming old building—it’s people. A whole lineup of them. Dancers, performers, maybe a few singers too, all standing in formation in front of a dramatic backdrop. They’re dressed in full costume—fringe, sequins…

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AF-1111: The Little Church Around the Corner, New York City | Postcards from the Past 5:24

9d ago5:24

5:24

Some postcards you flip past quickly. Others make you stop. This one made me stop. It’s not flashy—there’s no massive landmark or postcard-perfect sunset. Just a simple church nestled among a few trees, with a neat little gatehouse and a quiet street. What caught my eye was the caption: The Little Church Around the Corner. That name alone makes you…

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SFD 305: Sent to and from Helen 12:11

12d ago12:11

12:11

Two 1972 postcards sent from and to different Helens. Sometime there can be strange coincidences when picking out Disneyland postcards for an episode. This week we start looking at the 70th anniversary book byt Don Hahn and Chriostpher Merritt. I only got 14 pages in until I stopped to do an episode. Below are some of the regulars on Art Throw Down…

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SFD 304: Sent on a 50th Postcard 10:17

18d ago10:17

10:17

Looking at Disneyland 20 years ago through 50th Anniversary postcards. Plus an incoming postcard that gets me thinking about Disney Parks Castles. Links below: Geeks Corner Audio Only Spotify Geeks Corner Below are some of the regulars on Art Throw Down, Follow all of them on Instagram anyway for great art and postcards in your Instagram feed: Hips…

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AF-1110: The Real History of Father’s Day: From 1910 to Today | Ancestral Findings Podcast 7:47

17d ago7:47

7:47

Every June, many of us pause to honor the fathers in our lives—the ones who taught us how to change a tire, tied our fishing lines, and maybe even showed us how to be brave in the quietest of ways. But for all the neckties and backyard barbecues, few people know the full story of how Father’s Day came to be. The holiday didn’t spring up as easily a…

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AF-1109: 1925 New York State Census: A Final Glimpse Between the Federal Counts 7:38

18d ago7:38

7:38

The 1925 New York State census holds a prominent place in the lineup of state enumerations. This is not only because it was the last one conducted by the state but also because of the historical moment it captured. Taken just five years before the 1930 federal census, the 1925 enumeration offers researchers a final glimpse of New York families as t…

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AF-1108: 1915 New York State Census | Ancestral Findings Podcast 6:53

19d ago6:53

6:53

By the time New York took its 1915 state census, the state was in the midst of dramatic social, political, and demographic shifts. The five years since the 1910 federal census had brought even more industrial growth, continued waves of immigration, and the rise of new housing, labor, and reform movements. Capturing all of this change in the middle …

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S3 Ep.11 - From the UK to the Canals of Venice building boats 49:00

19d ago49:00

49:00

In this evocative episode of Venice Talks, Monica speaks to Laura Pritchard, a British-born artisan who swapped the foggy landscapes of the UK for the light and tides of Venice. Today, Laura is one of the few women working as a maestra d’ascia, a traditional boatbuilder shaping the iconic vessels of the lagoon with age-old tools and timeless care. …

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A White Horse 14:30

20d ago14:30

14:30

.The Memory Palace is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX. This episode was originally released in 2016 in the days after the shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando. It is re-released every year on the anniversary of the incident. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choicesBy Nate DiMeo

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AF-1107: Exploring the 1905 New York State Census | Ancestral Findings Podcast 8:03

20d ago8:03

8:03

The 1905 New York State census is a cornerstone resource for anyone researching individuals or families who lived in New York at the beginning of the 20th century. Coming just five years after the 1900 federal census and five years before the 1910 federal count, this state census captures a critical snapshot of life during a dynamic and rapidly cha…

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AF-1106: 1892 New York Census Records: Filling the Gap Left by 1890 7:01

22d ago7:01

7:01

The 1892 New York census is an essential source for family history researchers working in the late 19th century. With the destruction of the 1890 U.S. federal census, the 1892 state count offers one of the only large-scale snapshots of life during that decade. For anyone tracing New York families through immigration, urbanization, or internal migra…

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SFD 303: Sent with New Ephemera 13:13

27d ago13:13

13:13

New ephemera now available at Disneyland. Check out the activities to get the 70th Anniversary tickets. Below are some of the regulars on Art Throw Down, Follow all of them on Instagram anyway for great art and postcards in your Instagram feed: Hipstadufus, luluvision, jlynch9923, greenmosspaper, georgemailsart, state_of_the_funyun, RussRomano2021…

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AF-1105: Pittsburgh's Golden Triangle and the Lost Point Bridge | Postcards from the Past 5:24

27d ago5:24

5:24

This postcard brought it all back. The steel-gray tones, the Point Bridge stretching across the Monongahela, and Pittsburgh’s unmistakable skyline—narrow, bold, and rising up from the meeting of three rivers. I remember the first time I ever drove through the Fort Pitt Tunnel. You’re surrounded by mountain, nothing but concrete—then suddenly, you b…

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AF-1104: Iowa’s 1925 State Census: A Genealogist’s Goldmine | Ancestral Findings Podcast 7:32

26d ago7:32

7:32

Among the many state censuses conducted across the United States, Iowa’s 1925 enumeration stands apart. Genealogists frequently cite it as one of the most detailed and valuable non-federal census records available. What sets it apart is not just the volume of information collected but the nature of that information—specifically, its emphasis on lin…

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S3 Ep.10 - The Last Dockyard Brotherhood: Stories from Venice’s Mutual Aid Society 52:03

27d ago52:03

52:03

In this episode of Venice Talks, we sit down with Cesare Peris, president of the historic Società di Mutuo Soccorso fra Carpentieri e Calafati, a unique Venetian institution rooted in solidarity, shipbuilding, and memory. 🔑 In this episode, we explore: The fascinating origins and mission of one of Venice’s oldest mutual aid societies Who the carpen…

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AF-1103: The Value of New York State Census Records for Genealogy 8:26

27d ago8:26

8:26

While most genealogists rely on the federal census as a foundational tool, those researching ancestors in New York State have a distinct advantage. In addition to appearing in the federal census every ten years, New Yorkers were also counted in a robust series of state censuses. These records, taken at regular intervals between federal censuses, of…

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AF-1102: Lost in Between: The Missing Pieces of the Census Puzzle | Ancestral Findings Podcast 7:13

29d ago7:13

7:13

If you’ve spent any time researching your family history, you’ve probably developed a familiar rhythm. You track your ancestors through the federal censuses, taken every ten years like clockwork. It’s a comforting structure: 1850, 1860, 1870… they show up like old friends, giving you names, ages, occupations, and places of birth. For many researche…

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AF-1101: 10 "Must-Do" Genealogy Projects for June 2025 | Ancestral Findings Podcast 6:33

1M ago6:33

6:33

In this episode, we’re talking about ten meaningful genealogy projects you can take on during June. This time of year brings a lot of opportunities—warmer weather, Father’s Day, family gatherings—and all of it pairs perfectly with digging deeper into your family history. Whether it’s researching summer traditions, hosting a vintage-style picnic, or…

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SFD 302: Sent with Albright 10:23

1M ago10:23

10:23

Looking for a man in finance? Milt is your guy, then on to group sales, PR, and beyond. I wonder what Disneyland would look like if he had worked until the 50th. Below are some of the regulars on Art Throw Down, Follow all of them on Instagram anyway for great art and postcards in your Instagram feed: Hipstadufus, luluvision, jlynch9923, greenmossp…

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AF-1100: The Dueling Oaks of New Orleans | Postcards from the Past 3:41

1M ago3:41

3:41

I pulled this one from the stack and couldn’t look away. Moss hangs low in the scene, soft and heavy like it’s weighed down by memory. A quiet glade in City Park, dappled in sunlight—until you notice the duel. Two men, swords drawn, captured mid-motion. The postcard tells us it’s the De Lissau–Le Bouisque duel of 1841. But that’s only the beginning…

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AF-1099: William Rufus DeVane King: The Shortest Tenure, the Deepest Roots 7:37

1M ago7:37

7:37

William Rufus DeVane King was born on April 7, 1786, in Sampson County, North Carolina. His ancestry reached back to some of the earliest European settlers in the Southern colonies. His father, William King, was of Irish descent, with ancestors believed to have emigrated from Ulster to the American colonies in the early 1700s. The King family settl…

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AF-1098: George Mifflin Dallas: The Unheralded Statesman from Philadelphia 7:24

1M ago7:24

7:24

George Mifflin Dallas, who served as the 11th Vice President of the United States from 1845 to 1849 under President James K. Polk, is one of the quieter figures in American history. Though the city of Dallas, Texas, may or may not be named after him, his influence was far greater in his own time than the legacy we associate with his name today. He …

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AF-1097: Memorial Day Stories Behind the Sacrifice 8:47

1M ago8:47

8:47

This time of year always stirs up reflection, and not just because summer is starting to peek around the corner. Memorial Day is here—a day that means different things to different people. For some, it’s a long weekend. For others, it’s deeply personal. But beyond the cookouts and parades, there’s a story to tell. A history worth remembering. A rem…

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SFD 301: Sent with Al and others 10:58

1M ago10:58

10:58

Big episode to start Season 4. Amazing accomplishments from these Main Street window honorees. Although not specific contributions to Disneyland, three are some amazing aspects of their work that live in the park today. Below are some of the regulars on Art Throw Down, Follow all of them on Instagram anyway for great art and postcards in your Insta…

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AF-1096: Early Whaling Days | Nantucket, Massachusetts | Postcards from the Past 4:38

1M ago4:38

4:38

I pulled this card from the stack and instantly felt the spray of seawater and the tension of a harpoon rope straining against the power of something far too large to control. This is no tourist snapshot. It’s a painting—an artist’s concept of a whaling scene, likely imagined from stories passed down, museum displays, or old journal entries. The me…

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AF-1095: Inside the 1960 U.S. Census | Ancestral Findings Podcast 5:52

1M ago5:52

5:52

The 1960 U.S. Census sits just over the horizon, scheduled to be released to the public on April 1, 2032. It’s a highly anticipated snapshot of American life during a time of rapid change: the rise of suburbia, the baby boom cresting, the Cold War in full effect, and the Civil Rights Movement gaining national attention. For genealogists, it promise…

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AF-1094: Inside the 1950 U.S. Census | Ancestral Findings Podcast 9:04

1M ago9:04

9:04

The 1950 U.S. Census is the most recent one released to the public, and it marks the end of an era and the beginning of another. Taken just five years after the end of World War II, it captures a nation in transition—from wartime sacrifice to peacetime prosperity. Suburbs were growing, baby carriages were rolling down sidewalks, and television sets…

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S3 Ep.9 - NoCDA – The Venetian Movement Against the Access Fee | Interview with Alessandro Tonin 45:20

1M ago45:20

45:20

Join us on Venice Talks as we dive deep into the story behind NoCDA (No Contributo D’Accesso a Venezia), the grassroots movement formed by Venetians standing against the controversial tourist access fee. In this episode, Monica interviews Alessandro Tonin, the creator of the NoCDA website and the visionary mind rallying locals to protect Venice’s a…

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AF-1093: Inside the 1940 U.S. Census | Ancestral Findings Podcast 6:46

1M ago6:46

6:46

The 1940 U.S. Census gives us a remarkably detailed portrait of America just before everything changed. In a few short years, the United States would enter World War II, and millions of lives would be transformed. But in 1940, Americans were still in recovery mode. The Great Depression had taken its toll, but new programs like the New Deal had star…

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AF-1092: A Day on the Sidewalks of Greenwich Village | Postcards from the Past 5:57

1M ago5:57

5:57

I pulled this one from the box the other day—a postcard that’s more than just a snapshot. It’s a whole afternoon, frozen in place. I’ve looked at it a dozen times now, and I keep finding new things. The light on the red brick, the ivy climbing the walls, the quiet blur of someone mid-stride. It’s not a staged photo. It feels lived in, like if I sto…

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AF-1091: Inside the 1930 U.S. Census | Ancestral Findings Podcast 7:51

2M ago7:51

7:51

The 1930 U.S. Census captures America in an unsettled moment. The Roaring Twenties were winding down, but the Great Depression was just beginning to take hold. It’s a census taken in the calm before the storm fully broke. A generation that had just emerged from the trauma of World War I and the 1918 flu pandemic found itself navigating economic boo…

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SFD 300: Sent with Frank 10:14

2M ago10:14

10:14

Episode 300, this week another Main Street window. Frank's contributions were different than most of what we have looked at so far. Disneyland is just one of his three windows as well as references in the park and at the studio. Amazing to be posting this from the park right after the kickoff for Disneyland's 70th anniversary. Below are some of the…

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AF-1090: Inside the 1920 U.S. Census | Ancestral Findings Podcast 7:31

2M ago7:31

7:31

We’ve now arrived at the 1920 U.S. Census—the first one taken after the end of World War I. This moment in history holds a lot beneath the surface. If your ancestors were alive during this time, they had just come through a pandemic (the 1918 flu), experienced wartime hardship, and were witnessing a country beginning to shift from rural traditions …

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Episode 232: Oh, Herbert Morrison 22:40

2M ago22:40

22:40

Order The Memory Palace book now, dear listener. On Bookshop.org, on Amazon.com, on Barnes & Noble, or directly from Random House. Or order the audiobook at places like Libro.fm. On June 13th, 2025, I'll do a special, one-night-only live show at the Tribeca Audio Festival in New York City, joined by two of the audiobook's readers: Carrie Coon and L…

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AF-1089: Inside the 1910 U.S. Census | Ancestral Findings Podcast 7:24

2M ago7:24

7:24

We’ve made it to the 1910 census, and I have to say, this one feels like a bit of a turning point. If you’ve been following along through each census with me, you’ve probably noticed how much the country has been changing—and how those changes show up in the records. The 1900 census gave us a lot, but the 1910 one steps things up in a way that’s ea…