Best Postcard From The Past Podcasts (2025)

1
AF-1096: Early Whaling Days | Nantucket, Massachusetts | Postcards from the Past 4:38

1d 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…

1
SFD 301: Sent with Al and others 10:58

1d 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…

1
AF-1095: Inside the 1960 U.S. Census | Ancestral Findings Podcast 5:52

2d 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…

1
AF-1094: Inside the 1950 U.S. Census | Ancestral Findings Podcast 9:04

3d 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…

1
AF-1093: Inside the 1940 U.S. Census | Ancestral Findings Podcast 6:46

4d 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…

1
AF-1092: A Day on the Sidewalks of Greenwich Village | Postcards from the Past 5:57

7d 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…

1
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), starring Harrison Ford and Karen Allen 1:16:25

7d ago1:16:25

1:16:25

Remember when we all agreed that nazis are the bad guys? Good times. Hosts Sonia Mansfield and Margo D. are dorking out about 1981’s RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, starring Harrison Ford and Karen Allen. Also discussed: BELOW DECK DOWN UNDER (Bravo), LOVE HOTEL (Bravo), CONAN O’BRIEN MUST GO (HBO), and DUSTER (HBO). Dork out everywhere … Email at dorking…

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

8d 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…

1
SFD 300: Sent with Frank 10:14

8d 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

9d 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

10d 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

10d 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…

1
AF-1088: Why I Went Back to Paper for Genealogy—and Why You Might Want to Do the Same 6:25

11d ago6:25

6:25

There’s a certain charm to scrolling through digital records at midnight, coffee in hand, uncovering new ancestors with the click of a button. But once you’ve collected a few dozen census pages, probate files, and handwritten family notes, you might start to feel a little… buried. Tabs multiply, download folders fill up, and suddenly, you’re not su…

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The Four Seasons (The 1981 movie & 2025 Netflix series) 1:32:19

14d ago1:32:19

1:32:19

Hosts Sonia Mansfield and Margo D. dork out about 1981’s THE FOUR SEASONS and 2025’s THE FOUR SEASONS. That’s right, eight seasons! Also discussed: BELOW DECK DOWN UNDER (Bravo), A DEADLY AMERICAN MARRIAGE (Netflix), and ELSBETH (CBS). Dork out everywhere … Email at [email protected] Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Spreaker Spotify YouTube http:…

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SFD 299: Sent with Ed 10:08

15d ago10:08

10:08

Another Main Street window fun facts about Ed and his hard work on Main Street and the "body" of work he did for the Rivers of America in Disneyland. Plus a fun incoming greeting card. 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,…

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AF-1087: The Story Behind Mother’s Day: Where It Came From and What It Was Meant to Be 7:41

15d ago7:41

7:41

Mother’s Day. For most of us, it’s a Sunday in May marked by greeting cards, flowers, long-distance phone calls, and maybe a brunch reservation you made weeks ago to avoid the rush. It’s a sweet, sentimental holiday—a time to pause and show appreciation for the women who raised us, loved us, and often kept the whole family running quietly behind th…

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AF-1086: Frozen in Time: Last Eskimo Girl | Ancestral Findings Podcast 7:37

16d ago7:37

7:37

Few things capture the feeling of summer like a stop at Dairy Queen. Whether it’s a soft-serve cone after a ballgame or a burger on the way home from church, DQ has been stitched into the fabric of American family life for generations. But like so many beloved things from the mid-20th century, the Dairy Queen we grew up with has changed—and one of …

1
AF-1085: The La Choza Huts | Postcards from the Past 6:37

17d ago6:37

6:37

I’m holding a postcard today that feels different from most of the others in my collection. It doesn’t show a grand hotel, a busy beach, or a flashy tourist attraction. No, this one shows something quieter—two hand-built huts sitting in the dirt beneath a wide Texas sky. They’re simple. The one on the left looks to be made of thick mud with a thick…

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AF-1084: Inside the 1900 U.S. Census | Ancestral Findings Podcast 7:16

18d ago7:16

7:16

The 1900 U.S. Census marks the beginning of a new era. It was the first census of the 20th century—and it knew it. By 1900, America had changed dramatically. Cities were growing faster than ever. Immigrants from Italy, Poland, Russia, and other parts of Eastern Europe were arriving in record numbers. The American frontier was nearly closed. Familie…

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AF-1083: Navigating the 1890 Census Gap | Ancestral Findings Podcast 6:31

19d ago6:31

6:31

The 1890 census may be gone, but your ancestors aren’t. This worksheet aims to help you rebuild the missing years—one clue at a time. Whether your ancestors were settling in a new state, welcoming children, remarrying, or passing on, they left traces in other records. This worksheet gives you a place to follow those trails, ask the right questions,…

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AF-1082: Inside the 1890 Census | Ancestral Findings Podcast 9:06

20d ago9:06

9:06

The 1890 U.S. Census is one of the most heartbreaking gaps in American records. It leaves a missing chapter for family historians—twenty years between 1880 and 1900 when so much changed. Children grew up and left home, elders passed on, families relocated, and new generations were born. But the record meant to capture it all is mostly gone. The sto…

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MALICE (1993) starring Alec Baldwin, Nicole Kidman, and Bill Pullman 1:06:16

21d ago1:06:16

1:06:16

Hosts Sonia Mansfield and Margo D. have a god complex and dork out about 1993’s MALICE, starring Alec Baldwin, Nicole Kidman, and Bill Pullman. Also discussed: BELOW DECK DOWN UNDER (Bravo), THE FOUR SEASONS (Netflix), THE VALLEY (Bravo), and THE ORDER (2024). Dork out everywhere … Email at [email protected] Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Sprea…

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SFD 298: Sent with Chuck 10:37

22d ago10:37

10:37

It's always feels great to post my episode while inside Disneyland. Today I'll post this episode under Chuck's Main Street window. 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_…

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AF-1081: South Seas Plantation on Captiva Island: Postcards from the Past 4:51

23d ago4:51

4:51

I really love looking at and collecting postcards—especially vintage postcards. Here at Ancestral Findings, I’ve collected thousands and thousands of them over the years. People have sent me postcards from their hometowns, old pictures of places that meant something to them, and scenes from all across the country—and it’s been exciting to receive e…

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Episode 231: On Dexter Avenue 17:54

24d ago17:54

17:54

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. During mid-May, 2025, I'm doing a Midwestern book tour, with stops in Minneapolis, Cincinatti, Indianapolis, and Chicago. Find out more at www.thememorypalace.us/events. T…

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AF-1080: Mastering the 1880 Census for Family Historians | Ancestral Findings Podcast 7:13

25d ago7:13

7:13

The 1880 census is one of my favorite records—not just because of what it tells us, but because of what it helps us feel. This is the first census where we can see families take shape on paper. For the first time, we know how everyone in the household is related to each other. We can watch grandparents living with grown children, sons-in-law starti…

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AF-1079: Inside the 1880 Census | Ancestral Findings Podcast 9:27

26d ago9:27

9:27

When people talk about the U.S. Census, most think of it as just a headcount. But by 1880, the census had become something far more powerful. It wasn’t just about population totals or determining how many representatives each state should send to Congress—although that was still its constitutional purpose. The 1880 census was the most detailed snap…

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Joe Versus The Volcano, starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan 51:48

28d ago51:48

51:48

Hosts Sonia Mansfield, Margo D., and Adam Riske from F This Movie don’t get a second opinion on their brain cloud and dork out about 1990’s JOE VERSUS THE VOLCANO, starring Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan, Meg Ryan, and Meg Ryan. Dork out everywhere … Email at [email protected] Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Spreaker Spotify YouTube http://dorkingoutshow.c…

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SFD 297: Sent toward Las Vegas 11:02

29d ago11:02

11:02

On the road this week, usually I would look up if Walt had visited where I'm traveling. Looks like Walt never visited Las Vegas. Enjoy this look into the Disneyland resort ten years ago. How much has changed at the parks? Below are some of the regulars on Art Throw Down, Follow all of them on Instagram anyway for great art and postcards in your Ins…

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AF-1078: Tracing Formerly Enslaved Ancestors: A Companion to the 1870 Census 9:15

30d ago9:15

9:15

The 1870 U.S. Census is a milestone for many family historians. For those tracing African American ancestry, it often marks the very first time their ancestors appear in a public federal record by name. The names are handwritten clearly on the page—no longer separated, omitted, or counted as property. For the first time, individuals who were born i…

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AF-1077: Inside the 1870 Census | Ancestral Findings Podcast 8:58

1M ago8:58

8:58

The 1870 U.S. Census might be one of the most meaningful records ever created in the history of the country. For the first time, every person—Black, white, free-born, formerly enslaved, immigrant, farmer, child, war widow—was recorded by name on the main schedule. No longer confined to tally marks or separated into slave schedules, formerly enslave…

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AF-1076: Richard Mentor Johnson: A Controversial Hero 9:31

1M ago9:31

9:31

As we continue through our The Forgotten Seconds series—exploring the lives of vice presidents who never became president—we now turn to one of the most unusual figures ever to hold the office. Richard Mentor Johnson, a frontier-born politician from Kentucky, lived a life of contradictions. Celebrated as a hero of the War of 1812 and known for his …

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SFD 296: Sent for the 60th 10:12

1M ago10:12

10:12

To gear up for the 70th lets take a look at Disneyland during the 60th celebration. Some fun postcards and stats for fans of what Disneyland attendance looked like on a Thursday vs. Saturday. 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, lulu…

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AF-1075: The Sacrifices of Daniel D. Tompkins | Ancestral Findings Podcast 8:03

1M ago8:03

8:03

Daniel D. Tompkins was born on June 21, 1774, in the town of Scarsdale in Westchester County, New York. He came into a world still under British rule, just two years before the colonies would declare their independence. His family roots traced back to England, where the name Tompkins derived from a form of “Little Thomas’s son,” a patronymic surnam…

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Episode 230: Helen Hulick Takes the Stand 15:48

1M ago15:48

15:48

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. During mid-April, 2025, I'm doing a southern book tour, with stops in San Antonio, Houston, Gainesville, Montgomery, New Orleans, and Oxford. Find out more at www.thememor…

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AF-1074: Inside the 1860 Census | Ancestral Findings Podcast 9:04

1M ago9:04

9:04

The 1860 U.S. Census might be one of the most emotionally charged documents in early American history. On the surface, it looks similar to 1850—names, ages, occupations, birthplaces, property values. But just beneath that is a country on the brink of war. It was taken in a moment when the United States was technically still whole, but very much com…

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AF-1073: Inside the 1850 Census | Ancestral Findings Podcast 12:32

1M ago12:32

12:32

By the time the 1850 U.S. Census was taken, the United States was no longer a slow-growing collection of coastal settlements. It was a booming, restless, coast-to-coast land of contradictions. The population had reached over 23 million people. The western frontier had stretched all the way to California. Cities were growing fast, but most people st…

1
Top Secret (1984), starring Val Kilmer, Lucy Gutteridge & Omar Sharif 1:04:44

1M ago1:04:44

1:04:44

Hosts Sonia Mansfield and Margo D. know a little German and dork out about 1984’s TOP SECRET, starring Val Kilmer, Lucy Gutteridge, and Omar Sharif. Also discussed: BELOW DECK DOWN UNDER, the WHITE LOTUS finale, DYING FOR SEX on FX, and BAD INFLUENCE on Netflix. Dork out everywhere … Email at [email protected] Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Spr…

1
SFD 295: Sent with Shirt Flames 11:03

1M ago11:03

11:03

An episode so tasty you could eat it off a flip-flop. Disneyland, Food & Wine, and a spiky haired chef. Plus al lot of April. 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_f…

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AF-1072: Inside the 1840 Census | Ancestral Findings Podcast 8:45

1M ago8:45

8:45

The 1840 U.S. Census might be the most overlooked turning point in early American recordkeeping. On the surface, it still looks like the older ones—just one name listed, a page full of tick marks, and plenty of room for guesswork. But this was a census taken on the edge of transformation. The United States was about to change fast. Railroads were s…

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AF-1071: Inside the 1830 Census | Ancestral Findings Podcast 12:29

2M ago12:29

12:29

By 1830, the United States had reached a new kind of maturity. The Revolution was no longer in living memory for some—though a surprising number of veterans were still alive and tucked into households across the country. Andrew Jackson was president, the Erie Canal had transformed trade in the North, and the South was leaning heavily on slavery and…

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AF-1070: Inside the 1820 Census | Ancestral Findings Podcast 9:09

2M ago9:09

9:09

The 1820 U.S. Census rolled out during what historians often call the "Era of Good Feelings"—a peaceful name for a time that was anything but simple. The War of 1812 had ended just a few years earlier. James Monroe was president, and the country was pushing its borders westward at full speed. Tensions over slavery, expansion, and power were beginni…

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AF-1069: Inside the 1810 Census | Ancestral Findings Podcast 6:13

2M ago6:13

6:13

In 1810, the United States was only 34 years into its existence as a nation and was still figuring things out—including how to count its people. That year marked just the third official census, and while the goal was simple on paper—get a headcount of everyone in the country—the results were far from perfect. If you’ve ever looked through the 1810 …

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