Postcards connect people. And this show is, once again, about another connection. I connected with Orla Hegarty over the past couple of years because of this show and because of postcards. Orla is a dedicated postcard creator and writer, a mathematician, a traveler, and a postmaster for Canada Post in her town of St. Vincent’s, Newfoundland.

In this episode, Orla and I talk about postcards. And mushrooms (the edible kind, silly); Burning Man (where I suppose there are other kinds of mushrooms, too); The Salt Path; Punxsutawney Phil and Wiarton Willie; Newfoundland boil ups; Newfie tacos (I really gotta have one now that Orla told me about them); Feminism; stamps; Postcrossing, and the special cancellation Orla does from her post office.

Thats’s the thing about postcard connections. It’s a lot more than a piece of paper with a nice design and a note on the back. What I like about the connections is that I am on a journey of continuous learning — about people and cultures and faraway places. That’s what this episode delivers — it’s another opportunity to learn about the world from someone who communicates with great storytelling. Plus, name me another show where you can learn about Newfie tacos and Burning Man postcards in the same show. This might be the only one.

As with most conversations, there is just a jumping off point. Let’s start this episode of The Postcardist Podcast chatting about…

Determining if mushrooms are edible

Burning Man Post Office

The Salt Path 

Punxsutawney Phil and Wiarton Willie

Newfoundland Boil Up

Newfie Tacos

Goedel, Escher, Bach

Covid…can we produce a show now where we don’t talk about covid?

Feminism stamps

Invisible Women by Carolina Criado Perez

Postcrossing

Special cancellation for St. Vincent’s, Newfoundland

Marcophily (collection of cancellation stamps)

And that, my friends, is another episode of the show. Thanks so much to Orla Hegarty for the stories and for all the ideas we were able to cover…just because postcards connect people, and we end up finding out we have lots to share and lots to learn from each other.

If you haven’t sent away for a special cancellation from St. Vincent’s, Newfoundland, I would do that. Here’s an example:

And as you’ve heard me say, if you want to be on the show — or know someone you think I should talk to — please send me a note at postcardist@gmail.com or direct message me on Instagram.

Coming up soon, I’ll be chatting with Mary Martin about her new book, A Guide Book of Collectible Postcards, that just published yesterday. And I have Sylvanus Paul of LetterDoggy coming up…you won’t wanna miss that show; you’ll hear something I’m gonna guess you’ve never heard before. And I have several more shows in development.

Speaking of development, you heard this episode number…89…which means I’m 11 shows away from the magic number of 100. I’m putting together a retrospective for that episode…but I’d love to hear from you about what you’d like to hear. And I’m wondering if you’d be willing to do a little snippet of a recording for me. I’d love to create an audio collage that answers this question: How have postcards created connections for you? If you’re interested in recording a one-minute snippet for me, you can call this number and leave me a voicemail…it’s +1 (215) 501-7826. 

Okay…thanks for taking time out of your day to listen to the show. I know you’ll keep writing postcards….and I’ll look forwarding to seeing you back here new week with a new episode of The Postcardist Podcast.

I want to spend some time in your wheat field. You’re welcome to my roost. Finally alone.

On one level, Romance postcards from 1907 to 1913 seem innocent enough. On another level, they’re purposeful double entendres intended to convey risqué intent.

In this raucous and experimental episode, Serece Tascione and I review 14 cards from my vintage Romance postcard collection and Serece speculates about what the real message is on the postcards. Basically, I laugh for about 40 minutes.

WARNING: THIS SHOW IS FOR ADULT AUDIENCES AND DISCUSSES THE EXISTENCE OF SEX AND INCLUDES SEXUALLY SUGGESTIVE HUMOR . IT IS LABELED EXPLICIT FOR THAT REASON.

The images below are what we discuss on the show. A YouTube video will be coming soon.

Here’s a book about postcard history and the global phenomenon of Postcrossing writ large. On this episode of The Postcardist Podcast, author Masha Mokeeva and I talk about her book, Postcrossing: Book of Secret Knowledge. Masha walks us through the seven highly researched chapters of the book, including:

Postcrossing. About Postcrossing creator Paulo Magalhães, how Postcrossing works, what types of postcards are exchanged, and about the idea of Postcrossing in the world of ideas.

Text on the postcard. This includes a very entertaining story of Alexander Asarkan, a theater critic who made postcards himself in the Soviet era and made art out of it. Plus, what and how to write on a postcard; why the text is very important.

Stamps and mail-art. How stamps become part of the semantic field of a postcard. Which are valuable, and which are ordinary. About the fact that mail art is conceptual art, and not just decoration of postcards with stickers.

The postcards. How postcards appeared and why they were ahead of their time and became the prototype of social networks. How and why to collect postcard collections. How to store postcards. About postcard people (including an interview with me, The Postcardist!)

Postal history. The post offices in the modern world. How Postcrosser Elya worked in the Russian post office.

Postcrossers. Why people become Postcrossers. Interviews with Postcrossers. Postcrossing meetings.

The card store. A day in the life of Masha’s store, Amelie’s Cards. History of publishing and selling postcards worldwide. Interview with the owner of another store, where she says that the card is a source of inspiration and a sense of magic. Plus, Postcrossers’ life hacks, Postcrosser’s dictionary and 100 topics for the message on the postcard. 

Here’s a description of Postcrossing: Book of Secret Knowledge from Masha’s website. The book can be purchased for 480 rubles (approx. $6.50):

This is the world’s first postcrossing book!

Inspirational stories about your favorite hobby, walks into the postal past, practical advice and conversations with experts. And also a comic book about the girl Asya, whose life was forever changed by postcrossing (based on real events!).

Why does the postcard still attract people? What secrets and opportunities does it hold in itself?

The author of this book, Masha Mokeeva, got carried away with postcrossing several years ago and gave up journalism to open her own postcard shop. And that’s what came of it 🙂

Hardcover book in dust jacket, 288 pages, with comics and illustrations.

ISBN 978-5-7164-1000-8

 

Russian journalist and author Masha Mokeeva owns a very successful postcard shop in Moscow called Amelie Cards. In this episode, Masha and I talk about the origin of Masha’s postcard business, why postcards are so popular in Russia, the Russian collector Nikolai Tagrin, and the market for postcards in Russia. 

This is part one of a two-part series with Masha. On the next episode, we talk about Masha’s book, Postcrossing.

Mentioned in this episode:

Amelie Cards

Nikolai Tagrin — Russian Postcard Collector

Quint Buchholz — German artist

Amelie Podcast

Postcrossing: Book of Secret Knowledge

I’m joined this week by Anushka, who has created many postcard connections across the world with her energy in postcarding. We talk about postcard design, postcard connections, postcard swaps, and why I call her The Postcard Princess of Pune.

Artists. Business owners. Comedians. Dancers. Sisters.

Those are just a few descriptors for Leah and Grace, aka Tiny & Snail. That’s the name of their business and their nicknames. Tiny & Snail is a stationery company led by two creative sisters who have a compelling goal: Bringing magic back to mailboxes with cards that people want to keep.

There’s magic in the mail. That’s Tiny & Snail’s tagline. And there’s magic in this show. Get writing. And dancing.

Tiny & Snail website

Tiny & Snail on Instagram

I’m joined this week by Elise Barras of Elise Loves Letters. Elise tells us about postcard collecting, letter writing, and scrambling to the top of big climbs in the Peak District of England, only to find a Mr. Whippy ice cream vendor at the top. Plus, she tells us about The Ancient One and how to have a proper cup of Yorkshire tea. Sit back, sip your tea, and get ready for some real delight.

Topics referenced in this show:

Elise Loves Letters on IG

Cork postcards from Portugal

Peak District in England

Mr. Whippy ice cream

The Ancient One 

The Brontë sisters

Yorkshire pudding

Yorkshire tea

This show is an audio movie. It’s that rich with sights and sounds. And if you use your imagination, you’ll be transported to Mumbai, India. I talked with Bhumika Israni from there. Bhumika is a huge postcard enthusiast (find out what happened to her room), letter writer, and connector. And she’s a medical student who also collects stamps. 

This is a show to treasure. And come join us at the Department of Lost Letters.

References in this show:

Bhumika on Instagram

Yellow postcards in India

Paper Jewels of the Raj by Omar Khan

Dead Letter Office (what we like to call the Department of Lost Letters)