Postcardist artwork

Postcardist

145 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 1 year ago - ★★★★★ - 60 ratings

Postcards connect people. Join postcard collector Frank Roche as he talks to guests around the world, including leading postcard designers, writers, dealers, and connoisseurs. The Postcardist spans the gamut from vintage to modern postcards. This conversational show was created for everyone from budding deltiologists to leading postcard collectors.

Society & Culture Leisure Hobbies postcard postcards collections deltiology passiveaggressive romance
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Episodes

The Finale

February 23, 2023 18:37 - 41 minutes - 37.6 MB

There is no real ending. It's just the place where you stop the story. Frank Hebert   The Postcardist Podcast: February 2, 2018 to February 23, 2023 This is where we stop the story.

Melissa Reed Has 12,000 Postcards to Send

February 22, 2023 18:18 - 1 hour - 69.1 MB

I talked with Melissa Reed about postcards, letter writing, and how she has accumulated 12,000 postcards at her house in Italy. And she wants to send them to people.

Albert the Basset Hound and Postcard Design Inspiration with Magda from Travel Trinkets Canada

December 07, 2022 20:08 - 45 minutes - 41.7 MB

Maggie and I talk about her prolific set of postcard designs at Travel Trinkets Canada. We, of course, also talk about Albert Pickle the 3rd, her very handsome Basset Hound, who is featured in a recent collection. You can find Travel Trinkets Canada on Etsy by clicking here. And you can find Magda's work on Instagram here. And as a bonus, you can see what I was saying about Albert dancing to the beat of his own drum by clicking here.

Jamo Collects Pokemon Cards and Postcards

December 01, 2022 16:28 - 35 minutes - 32.5 MB

The Seinfeld Episode

November 06, 2022 16:19 - 52 minutes - 48.7 MB

This is a show about nothing. But I spend 53 minutes talking about it.

Postcard Designer and Artist Nina Lakusta

October 26, 2022 22:48 - 55 minutes - 51.1 MB

What's the worst postcard you ever got? And can you top the story Nina tells about hers? In this episode I'm joined by Nina Lakusta, the proprietor of the postcard and ephemera store LakuStash. We talk about her postcard designs, driving lessons, illustration, and yes, the world's worst postcard. You can find Nina on Instagram at LakuStash, and on Etsy at, where else, LakuStash.

Accidentally Wes Anderson: The Postcards

October 18, 2022 00:33 - 59 minutes - 55.1 MB

I ordered two sets of Accidentally Wes Anderson: The Postcards in July. And then I kept looking at looking at the AWA Instagram site, anticipating the U.S. release of those cards on October 11. Yes, I knew the date. This was exciting stuff. Guess what? As soon as I saw the postcards I knew I needed two more sets because I used this hashtag when I sent the first ones: #onetosendonetokeep. Yep, for every one I sent I knew I had to keep one. They're that cool. Other people are doing the same...

Kenneth J. Weiss of the Midrust Postcard Project

October 05, 2022 16:04 - 1 hour - 58.5 MB

Every postcard has a story. That's what writer and historian Kenneth J. Weiss says about his postcard collection. In this episode, Ken tells us about his Midrust Postcard Project and tells stories about several cards he has. And we talk about baseball cards. You can find Ken's writing and work at KennethJWeiss.com. And on Instagram at kennethjweiss.

World Postcard Day 2022...and Tomatoes

September 28, 2022 16:23 - 24 minutes - 22.4 MB

In which I talk about World Postcard Day 2022; question why I have so many blank postcards; and an idea I have about being Johnny Tomatoseed.

Ale the Philatelist

September 20, 2022 13:16 - 54 minutes - 50.5 MB

Stamps. And postcards. And connections. Thats's what Ale the Philatelist and I talked about on this show. Ale collects stamps. You'll have to hear her story about building an art installation using blue stamps she sourced from people she connected with around the world. She also collects postcards. And makes friends. This is a show about community. And about how postcards (and stamps) connect people. You can find Ale on Instagram at Ale the Philatelist.

Santa Fe Sticker Fest with Marti Mills and Sylvanus Paul

September 10, 2022 23:49 - 56 minutes - 52.2 MB

The work that Marti Mills and Sylvanus Paul are doing with Santa Fe Sticker Fest is really interesting. And there's a postcard link. Do you add stickers to your postcards? After this thought-provoking show, you will. You can find Santa Fe Sticker Fest on Instagram here. And you can find the website here. If you submit stickers, don't forget to add your return address. You'll hear back from them with a cool postcard. Marti's sticker designs can be found on Redbubble. And her shirt and merch...

Ana Writes about Postcards and Letters: A Show with Ana Padovani of Cartas y Postales

July 04, 2022 16:55 - 24 minutes - 22.8 MB

What are the odds anyone is going to read an email 50 years from that you wrote about a trip you took this year? But what if you wrote details in letters and postcards? The odds go up considerably. Ana Padovani, the writer of Cartas y Postales is doing just that: looking at a series of letters and postcards from 50 years ago. And she's making the story come to life on her blog. In this show, we talk about that series, Ana's writing, and the price of postage in Argentina. Oh, and there's an...

Atelier Jean d'Eaux Postcard Mystery

March 24, 2022 18:12 - 57 minutes - 52.5 MB

When a set of postcards started arriving at my house over the course of a week from Atelier Jean d'Eaux, I knew I was in for a mystery. The artist gained notice initially for sending sets of cards cut from record albums to chefs in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. That set off a series of articles by a food writer in Milwaukee to suss out why the cards were sent. Now I have a set. And I set out to discern what they mean. I'm joined in this episode by journalist and novelist, Ana Clara Padovani, who he...

My Postcard Teacher

February 21, 2022 10:00 - 40 minutes - 37.3 MB

What can we learn from postcards? In this episode, I grabbed 10 random postcards from my incoming stack and decided to see what I could learn if I looked at them closely and was curious enough to discover more.  Documentation of this show, including photos of the postcards I discuss and a full transcript, can be found at ThePostcardist.com website.

Stephanie Nadeau's Grade 4 Postcard Project at Labrador Straits Academy

February 09, 2022 16:15 - 33 minutes - 31.3 MB

Imagine your Grade 4 social studies teacher comes into class one day with a question: What if we tried to get postcards from all over the world? And then she did. That's what teacher Stephanie Nadeau did at her Labrador Straits Academy in L'Anse au Loup, which is on the southern tip of Labrador, Canada. Ms. Nadeau, as he students call her, set out a social media post in November 2021 that got it going. In this episode, I chat with Stephanie about how the project started, what additional ...

Imbolc Postcards with Orla Hegarty

February 01, 2022 08:00 - 1 hour - 62.1 MB

Orla created Imbolc postcards and is setting them out to catch Brigid's magic dew on the night of January 31 -- Imbolc Eve. Lucky are we who might benefit from a bit of this fairy dust in the form of a postcard. In this episode of The Postcardist Podcast, Orla Hegarty and I talk about Imbolc; making postcards to honor the holiday; cognitive awe as we look out over the ocean; the mesmerizing qualities of humpback whales Orla sees from her living room window; giant potatoes and Irish immigra...

The Care and Feeding of Houseplants (and Postcard Connections)

January 19, 2022 18:58 - 14 minutes - 14 MB

How often do you like to get mail? Or send mail?  Links to show notes at ThePostcardist.com

Postcards in Black-and-White

January 12, 2022 16:41 - 16 minutes - 15 MB

A show about why color postcards are predominant and sell more than black-and-white postcards. Some people have strong opinions about this topic. Show transcript and visuals available on thepostcardist.com

Mangled Mail: A Look at Postcard Mishandling and Damage

January 05, 2022 15:03 - 40 minutes - 37.8 MB

Getting a postcard in my mailbox that's not mangled is remarkable.  Postcards get damaged in the mail. A lot. In fact, it's a surprise when I get a card that's unmarred. I've noticed the same reaction with others in the postcard community, who write with delight about receiving the rare undamaged card with words like, "This looks like it was hand delivered." Sadly, undamaged postcards are few and far between. Which led me to The Great Postcard Quality Project and this look at mangled mail....

Basset Hounds, Aurora Borealis, and Coffee: Talking About Postcard Design Inspiration with Magda Wojcicka of Travel Trinkets Canada

December 29, 2021 15:24 - 59 minutes - 54.7 MB

Artists gather inspiration from many places. When you're a prolific postcard designer like Magda Wojcicka of Travel Trinkets Canada, that inspiration can come from playtime with her adorable Basset Hound puppy, Albert; from seeing the Aurora Borealis in the night sky in her town of Calgary; and by having coffee with her best friend who just walked 5km in -40C and had ice-frosted eyelashes. In this episode, we talk about those inspirations, and much more. This is the last episode for 2021, ...

Postmarks and Scuff Marks and More Remarks

November 19, 2021 17:06 - 43 minutes - 40.4 MB

In which I talk about a cancellation that drove me crazy; and ask why so many postcards I send and receive have scuff marks; and then I ask for some audience partici......PATION.

Liz Maguire from Flea Market Love Letters

November 11, 2021 11:05 - 45 minutes - 42 MB

Have you ever read a vintage love letter and wondered about the story? Liz Maguire certainly did. And from her first acquisition as a teenager of a set of vintage love letters from a flea market, Liz converted her love of letter writing and history into curation of a huge collection at Flea Market Love Letters. In addition to the collection and transcription of her collection, Liz also uses letter writing to raise funds for charities. In this show, Liz tells us about her collection that in...

Rachel Wentworth and Her Little Free Mailbox

November 03, 2021 16:55 - 49 minutes - 45.7 MB

There are positive ripples that can get sent into the universe -- and that's what Rachel Wentworth, the steward of the Little Free Mailbox, is doing as she sets out stamped postcards and letters for passersby to take for free. Here's her story about opening the Little Free Mailbox on World Postcard Day and how it's gone so far. This one brings a lot of joy to our postcard community; and it once again shows us that postcards connect people. You can find the Little Free Mailbox on Instagram....

Searching for Bigfoot and Painting Postcards with Jamo

October 09, 2021 22:03 - 32 minutes - 30.4 MB

Jamo and I talked about Bigfoot. We went outside and looked for Bigfoot clues. Talked about Bigfoot sightings. And then Jamo created watercolor postcards of Biggie. The World's Largest Bigfoot Postcard Collection just got bigger. So did my pride. Get photos and more of the story on The Postcardist

Postcards from South Africa with Nicole Banister aka Nikki Banz

September 19, 2021 16:29 - 1 hour - 61.5 MB

This week I'm joined by the dynamic and multitalented writer, world traveler, and media sensation Nicole Banister, who many know as Nikki Banz. She joined me from her home in Cape Town, South Africa, and we had a far-ranging talk about postcards and long-time penpals and many, many, other topics. You can find Nicole at these places (and watch for her documentary -- I have a sense when she has ideas she makes them come true) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theycallmebanz/ NIKKI BANZ ...

Postcards and Music Connect People Featuring Teresa Edmunds

September 12, 2021 16:36 - 1 hour - 63.3 MB

"I was thinking about how you say postcards connect people. So does music." -- Teresa Edmunds In this episode I'm joined by Teresa Edmunds. We talk about music. About postcard playlists and mixtapes. And how we can use music as a universal language as we write postcards. Go to thepostcardist.com for links and photos from the show.

Postales y Cartas con Ana Clara Padovani

July 05, 2021 18:24 - 1 hour - 64 MB

Ana Clara Padovani (IG: postalesycartas) joined me from Argentina for a chat from about postcards, pen pals, books, music...and football. This show is a classic case of "postcards connect people." Listen to find out how we connected.

Postcard Connections with Dr. Justin Kreuter

June 23, 2021 14:18 - 51 minutes - 47.1 MB

I'm joined by Dr. Justin Kreuter, who's known around Mayo Clinic as the Bow Tie Bandit of Blood. His day job includes: Program director for the transfusion medicine fellowship Medical director of the blood donor center Associate medical director of the histocompatibility laboratory Laboratory director at Federal Medical Center — Rochester Alumnus of the Harvard Macy Institute's program for educators in health professions He's also and avid postcard and letter writer. Artist. Music...

Postcard Potpourri

May 08, 2021 22:21 - 37 minutes - 34.3 MB

In which I talk about postcards (and many other things) for 36 minutes, 26 seconds, and 121 milliseconds. Plus there's some music as an intro and outro. 

Man on the Moon

May 07, 2021 18:53 - 37 minutes - 34.4 MB

In which I talk about Johnny Astro, growing up on the same street where Ray Bradbury grew up, and why I collect space postcards.

Postcard Experimental Design

May 06, 2021 18:40 - 25 minutes - 24 MB

In which I talk about polymer physics, design of experiments, rheology, digital calipers, coefficient of friction, bending deflection, stiffness...and so many postcards get marred in the mail. 

Postcards and Postage Stamps

May 05, 2021 19:27 - 30 minutes - 28.1 MB

How many stamps do you put on a postcard? Another in the National Postcard Week 2021 series.

Pens & Pencils for Postcards

May 04, 2021 15:33 - 30 minutes - 28.3 MB

National Postcard Week 2021

May 03, 2021 17:31 - 31 minutes - 29.3 MB

It's National Postcard Week this week. I talk about it.     

A Postcard By Any Other Name

April 22, 2021 01:03 - 14 minutes - 13.9 MB

I chatted with postcard collector extraordinaire Mark Routh of Mark's Postcard Chat about what defines a postcard -- and how we make a distinction between a postcard and a piece of art. I think you'll be surprised at the answer. 

Desperately Seeking Postcards

April 15, 2021 21:16 - 33 minutes - 30.6 MB

I went on a trip across nine states and 20 hours of driving. I stopped along the way. I was Desperately Seeking Postcards. This is a show I recorded along the way. 

A Portrait of the Postcard Artist as a Young Woman -- A Conversation with Nicole Carnes

April 08, 2021 00:15 - 1 hour - 70.3 MB

Artist Nicole Carnes joins me on this episode where we discuss a wide range of topics: from her art, her inspirations (Vincent Van Gogh and Toulouse Lautrec), her ambidexterity, and what pictures she visualizes when she gets art inspiration. You can find Nic on Instagram @rockabillynic. Nic's Etsy store: Fiber and Wooly Arts Midnight in Paris Loving Vincent Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience

How to Create and Curate a Postcard Collection with Mark Routh

April 01, 2021 18:13 - 1 hour - 81.5 MB

Mark Routh joins me this time to talk about curating his world-class Covid postcard (and associated mail and stamp) collection. He gives pointers to budding postcard collectors on how to start and where to focus to build a collection.  You can find Mark's work many places, including as a long-time author at Picture Postcard Monthly and at his blog -- Mark's Postcard Chat

Make a Wish, Adventure in Place, and Sugar & Kiki's Snail Mail Bingo

March 24, 2021 18:21 - 33 minutes - 30.8 MB

I was joined again by Kate Wiggins of Sugar & Kiki, who you heard on Episode 101 talking about her Adventure in Place Snail Mail Bingo idea. You heard Kate talk about donating a portion of the profits of the Spring Break Adventure Pack to the Make a Wish Foundation.  In this episode, Kate joins me as co-host to interview Sue Salter, who is the President and CEO of Make a Wish for South Dakota and Montana. Want to hear stories that will uplift you? Here you go. Play along; write postcards; ...

Episode 102.5 : Follow Up Questions about Magda's Lost Postcard

March 16, 2021 12:42 - 9 minutes - 9.18 MB

I forgot to ask Magda a few questions about her postcard that took four years and 11 days to get to her. Here's the answer.

Magda Got a Postcard That Was Lost in the Mail for Four Years and 11 Days

March 15, 2021 13:30 - 1 hour - 59.5 MB

Madalena Wojcicka of Travel Trinkets Canada left me a message that started with a bit of amazement. She got a postcard at her home in Calgary, Alberta, Canada that had been sent from Spain four years and 11 days earlier. It's a real mystery. The other part of the mystery is how we covered that topic, talked about the World's Largest Fishing Lure, Muffler Men statues, postcard design, and walking around the earth -- all while my cat Benjamin was yowling in the background. Here are some lin...

Kate Wiggins of Sugar & Kiki on International Women's Day, Adventure in Place Snail Mail Bingo, Dolly Parton, and The Avett Brothers

March 08, 2021 19:17 - 29 minutes - 27.6 MB

Kate Wiggins of sugarandkiki.com has a great idea: Adventure in Place Snail Mail Bingo. We talk about her concept -- and the opportunity to help with the Make a Wish Foundation.  

We Made It to Episode 100!

March 03, 2021 17:53 - 24 minutes - 23.1 MB

Well, The Postcardist made it to an important podcasting milestone -- Episode 100. Here it is.

Episode 99.5 -- Everything is Going to Be All Right

February 04, 2021 18:56 - 9 minutes - 9.09 MB

This bonus episode is a follow up to yesterday's show, and uses the title of a poem by the Irish poet Derek Mahon. I worked my way out of my postcard writing rut. Here's a little more behind the scenes for those of you who asked.

In a Postcard Rut

February 03, 2021 15:48 - 26 minutes - 24.5 MB

I'm in a postcard writing rut. This show is about that. 

Two Prolific Postcrossers, Sue Boggs and Jennifer Gilman

January 09, 2021 16:36 - 59 minutes - 54.4 MB

The journey of a thousand postcards begins with a single entry on Postcrossing. Or something like that. I'm joined by two prolific Postcrossers for this show -- Sue Boggs and Jennifer Gilman. They're both with the San Diego Postcrossing FB Group -- and send thousands of postcards. You can find Sue on Postcrossing as @suegathman; and Jen is on Postcrossing as @jenniferkg. Topics covered in this show: San Diego Postcrossers Christopher Arndt Postcards Half Price Books Quantity Postcards ...

Mermaid Tales with Betsy Kirichenko

December 09, 2020 13:23 - 55 minutes - 50.7 MB

Our story starts with a headstrong young girl and her collection of found objects. That's the story of Ariel in The Little Mermaid -- and it's also the story of how Betsy Kirichenko started with her fascination with mermaids and how that led to her collection of mermaid postcards.  Mermaids and Mailboxes on Instagram

Samantha Cook teaches me New Zealand slang (and we talk about postcard, too)

November 24, 2020 19:16 - 1 hour - 83.3 MB

When you connect with people through postcards, you never know where that will lead. I didn't know it would lead to me learning new slang terms from New Zealand at three o'clock in the morning. But that's what happened with my guest, Samantha Cook, who is also known by her IG handle Princess in a Teapot. We also talked about postcards and Postcrossing and the price of sending mail. And fudge. 

Samantha Cook teaches me New Zealand slang (and we talk about postcards, too)

November 24, 2020 19:16 - 1 hour - 83.3 MB

When you connect with people through postcards, you never know where that will lead. I didn't know it would lead to me learning new slang terms from New Zealand at three o'clock in the morning. But that's what happened with my guest, Samantha Cook, who is also known by her IG handle Princess in a Teapot. We also talked about postcards and Postcrossing and the price of sending mail. And fudge. 

Postcard Creator and Master Storyteller Ed Popcheff

November 08, 2020 15:22 - 52 minutes - 48.4 MB

I chatted with Ed Pocheff from his home in Speedway, Indiana -- home of the Indianapolis 500. Ed designs postcards and really knows how to tell a story. You can find him as @edpopcheff on Instagram.

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