Love Sweetie Podcast

The Love Sweetie Podcast is a unique historical project that features real letters from Kathryn Frances Demaree Graham a.k.a. "Sweetie" that were written during her lifetime.  These authentic letters are narrated and commented on by the hosts of the show (who give context on what is being discussed).  

This episode features three pieces of correspondence from February 1950, and in the third part, we learn that Sweetie has bought a television set for the first time.  She describes its purchase, how it was set up, and what kind of content was available for the family to wat...

The Love Sweetie Podcast is a unique historical project that features real letters from Kathryn Frances Demaree Graham a.k.a. "Sweetie" that were written during her lifetime.  These authentic letters are narrated and commented on by the hosts of the show (who give context on what is being discussed).  

This episode features one big letter that Sweetie wrote in February 1950, where she provides information about her family's experience of Christmas 1949, as well as some updates about her house and her plans on gardening in the spring.  We also learn that Lew's brother, Joseph Graham, is appearing on...

The Love Sweetie Podcast is a unique historical project that features real letters from Kathryn Frances Demaree Graham a.k.a. "Sweetie" that were written during her lifetime.  These authentic letters are narrated and commented on by the hosts of the show (who give context on what is being discussed).  

This episode features four letters - the first from Sweetie's father, Chester Demaree, M.D. in early January 1950 and the last three from Sweetie herself, writing to her family for the first time in 1950.  In Chester's letter, we learn about a trip he took with a patient fro...

The Love Sweetie Podcast is a unique historical project that features real letters from Kathryn Frances Demaree Graham a.k.a. "Sweetie" that were written during her lifetime.  These authentic letters are narrated and commented on by the hosts of the show (who give context on what is being discussed).  

This episode features two letters written by Sweetie's father, Chester Demaree, M.D., and they are the last two letters from 1949 in the collection.  In these two letters, we learn of some events that occurred in Lacona, Iowa, including a fire on his farm just south of tow...

The Love Sweetie Podcast is a unique historical project that features real letters from Kathryn Frances Demaree Graham a.k.a. "Sweetie" that were written during her lifetime.  These authentic letters are narrated and commented on by the hosts of the show (who give context on what is being discussed).  

This episode features five pieces of correspondence from December 1949.  We learn that Sweetie's mother Laura is feeling better, and Sweetie discusses her plans for Christmas that year with her family.  She is invited to a New Year's Eve Party with Lew for those serving at NAS Willow Grov...

This is a smaller video in which Jamie and I recorded our discussion of the tragic event that occurred this past week at Utah Valley University.  It is on the subject of the Assassination of Charlie James Kirk.  We could not ignore this event.  We had to discuss it - it is a sad, sad moment in American history.

Let us all focus on love, and not hate.  Violence is never the answer.  Condolences to Charlie's family and friends.

For more information, please go to www.lovesweetiepodcast.com. This podcast is also available on YouTube - ple...

The Love Sweetie Podcast is a unique historical project that features real letters from Kathryn Frances Demaree Graham a.k.a. "Sweetie" that were written during her lifetime.  These authentic letters are narrated and commented on by the hosts of the show (who give context on what is being discussed).  

This episode features three letters from late November 1949 and early December 1949.  The first letter is the biggest, and Sweetie describes her home life on County Line Rd in Hatboro, Pennsylvania, as her family prepares for the upcoming Christmas season.  Her son, Lewis, is at this point four year...

The Love Sweetie Podcast is a unique historical project that features real letters from Kathryn Frances Demaree Graham a.k.a. "Sweetie" that were written during her lifetime.  These authentic letters are narrated and commented on by the hosts of the show (who give context on what is being discussed).  

This episode features two big letters, both from November 1949.  The first letter is from Sweetie's father, Chester Demaree, M.D., who is writing from Lacona, Iowa about his fall gardening, his activities as the town doctor, and the studying he is doing with regards to engineering.  In the...

The Love Sweetie Podcast is a unique historical project that features real letters from Kathryn Frances Demaree Graham a.k.a. "Sweetie" that were written during her lifetime.  These authentic letters are narrated and commented on by the hosts of the show (who give context on what is being discussed).  

This episode features four pieces of correspondence that Sweetie wrote in October 1949, and she describes to her family what it is like living at her new house at County Line Rd in Hatboro, PA (on the Bucks County side).  We learn more about the sale of the Gra...

The Love Sweetie Podcast is a unique historical project that features real letters from Kathryn Frances Demaree Graham a.k.a. "Sweetie" that were written during her lifetime.  These authentic letters are narrated and commented on by the hosts of the show (who give context on what is being discussed).  

This episode features one long letter that Sweetie wrote in October 1949, and she describes to her family what it was like moving into her new house at County Line Rd in Hatboro, PA (on the Bucks County side).  In this, we get some updates about her family gen...

The Love Sweetie Podcast is a unique historical project that features real letters from Kathryn Frances Demaree Graham a.k.a. "Sweetie" that were written during her lifetime.  These authentic letters are narrated and commented on by the hosts of the show (who give context on what is being discussed).  

This episode features eight documents from late August and early September 1949, including letters and postcards.  During this time period, Sweetie is trying to finish moving into her new house near Naval Air Station (NAS) Willow Grove in Pennsylvania, but the truck that has the majority of her thi...

The Love Sweetie Podcast is a unique historical project that features real letters from Kathryn Frances Demaree Graham a.k.a. "Sweetie" that were written during her lifetime.  These authentic letters are narrated and commented on by the hosts of the show (who give context on what is being discussed).  

This episode features eight documents, including letters and postcards.  In these communications, we learn that Sweetie and Lew are still trying purchase a house near Naval Air Station (NAS) Willow Grove in August 1949.  They are getting some financial assistance ($800) from her parents and her sister, Jeanne, but ther...

The Love Sweetie Podcast is a unique historical project that features real letters from Kathryn Frances Demaree Graham a.k.a. "Sweetie" that were written during her lifetime.  These authentic letters are narrated and commented on by the hosts of the show (who give context on what is being discussed).  

This episode features four documents, including letters and postcards.  In these communications, we learn that Sweetie and Lew are trying purchase a house near Naval Air Station (NAS) Willow Grove in late summer 1949, but there are many questions that they have, including if they can afford it (if...

The Love Sweetie Podcast is a unique historical project that features real letters from Kathryn Frances Demaree Graham a.k.a. "Sweetie" that were written during her lifetime.  These authentic letters are narrated and commented on by the hosts of the show (who give context on what is being discussed).  

This episode features seven documents, including letters and postcards.  In these documents, after Lew goes on a few more trips on the oil tanker to Venezuela as part of the US Merchant Marines, we learn that Sweetie, Lew, and Lewis have finally reunited as a family in Pen...

The Love Sweetie Podcast is a unique historical project that features real letters from Kathryn Frances Demaree Graham a.k.a. "Sweetie" that were written during her lifetime.  These authentic letters are narrated and commented on by the hosts of the show (who give context on what is being discussed).  

This is the third of three episodes which feature letters from Sweetie's husband, Lew.  This episode picks up the story with Lew in the U.S. Merchant Marine as oil tanker he is on (the SS Atlantic Transporter) goes on various trips to fill up with oil in...

The Love Sweetie Podcast is a unique historical project that features real letters from Kathryn Frances Demaree Graham a.k.a. "Sweetie" that were written during her lifetime.  These authentic letters are narrated and commented on by the hosts of the show (who give context on what is being discussed).  

The Love Sweetie Podcast is a unique historical project that features real letters from Kathryn Frances Demaree Graham a.k.a. "Sweetie" that were written during her lifetime.  These authentic letters are narrated and commented on by the hosts of the show (who give context on what is...

The Love Sweetie Podcast is a unique historical project that features real letters from Kathryn Frances Demaree Graham a.k.a. "Sweetie" that were written during her lifetime.  These authentic letters are narrated and commented on by the hosts of the show (who give context on what is being discussed).  

This is the first of three episodes which feature letters exclusively from Sweetie's husband, Lew.  In the previous episode, Sweetie and Lew returned to her home town of Lacona, Iowa in the fall of 1948.  However, Lew was not destined to be a farmer, and by the end of t...

The Love Sweetie Podcast is a unique historical project that features real letters from Kathryn Frances Demaree Graham a.k.a. "Sweetie" that were written during her lifetime.  These authentic letters are narrated and commented on by the hosts of the show (who give context on what is being discussed).  

This episode features ten documents, including letters and postcards, which are the only remaining pieces of correspondence in the collection that provide details on Sweetie's life in the summer and fall of 1948.  In these documents, we learn that Sweetie, Lew, and Lewis left Pennsylvania in July 1948 and mov...

The Love Sweetie Podcast is a unique historical project that features real letters from Kathryn Frances Demaree Graham a.k.a. "Sweetie" that were written during her lifetime.  These authentic letters are narrated and commented on by the hosts of the show (who give context on what is being discussed).  

This episode features five documents from Sweetie in the spring and early summer of 1948.  Unfortunately, February 1948 begins with Sweetie's son, Lewis, becoming sick and being hospitalized for pneumonia.  Then, we fast forward to letters from March and May of 1948, in which we learn that Sweetie, Lew, and Lewi...

The Love Sweetie Podcast is a unique historical project that features real letters from Kathryn Frances Demaree Graham a.k.a. "Sweetie" that were written during her lifetime.  These authentic letters are narrated and commented on by the hosts of the show (who give context on what is being discussed).  

This episode features Sweetie's first two letters from January 1948.  Sweetie recaps Christmas 1947 in Pennsylvania, and notes that her sister-in-law, Elizabeth, has gotten engaged to a man named Bob Brown.  We receive updates about the Demaree family, and, in the second letter, Sweetie describes what her daily life is l...

The Love Sweetie Podcast is a unique historical project that features real letters from Kathryn Frances Demaree Graham a.k.a. "Sweetie" that were written during her lifetime.  These authentic letters are narrated and commented on by the hosts of the show (who give context on what is being discussed).  The letters have been transcribed based on the original documents - as such, incorrect spellings, typos (especially as Sweetie writes the majority of her letters using a typewriter), and punctuation and other formatting (the use of caps lock for certain words) are authentic to the documents as they were or...

The Love Sweetie Podcast is a unique historical project that features real letters from Kathryn Frances Demaree Graham a.k.a. "Sweetie" that were written during her lifetime.  These authentic letters are narrated and commented on by the hosts of the show (who give context on what is being discussed).  The letters, as displayed on the screen, have been transcribed based on the original documents - as such, incorrect spellings, typos (especially as Sweetie writes the majority of her letters using a typewriter), and punctuation and other formatting (the use of caps lock for certain words) are authentic to th...

The Love Sweetie Podcast is a unique historical project that features real letters from Kathryn Frances Demaree Graham a.k.a. "Sweetie" that were written during her lifetime.  These authentic letters are narrated and commented on by the hosts of the show (who give context on what is being discussed).  The letters, as displayed on the screen, have been transcribed based on the original documents - as such, incorrect spellings, typos (especially as Sweetie writes the majority of her letters using a typewriter), and punctuation and other formatting (the use of caps lock for certain words) are authentic to th...

The Love Sweetie Podcast is a unique historical project that features real letters from Kathryn Frances Demaree Graham a.k.a. "Sweetie" that were written during her lifetime.  These authentic letters are narrated and commented on by the hosts of the show (who give context on what is being discussed).  The letters, as displayed on the screen, have been transcribed based on the original documents - as such, incorrect spellings, typos (especially as Sweetie writes the majority of her letters using a typewriter), and punctuation and other formatting (the use of caps lock for certain words) are authentic to th...

The Love Sweetie Podcast is a unique historical project that features real letters from Kathryn Frances Demaree Graham a.k.a. "Sweetie" that were written during her lifetime.  These authentic letters are narrated and commented on by the hosts of the show (who give context on what is being discussed).  The letters, as displayed on the screen, have been transcribed based on the original documents - as such, incorrect spellings, typos (especially as Sweetie writes the majority of her letters using a typewriter), and punctuation and other formatting (the use of caps lock for certain words) are authentic to th...

The Love Sweetie Podcast is a unique historical project that features real letters from Kathryn Frances Demaree Graham a.k.a. "Sweetie" that were written during her lifetime.  These authentic letters are narrated and commented on by the hosts of the show (who give context on what is being discussed).  The Love Sweetie Podcast is currently in its second season - this is episode 53.

This episode features two letters - one from February 1947 and the other from April 1947.  In both letters, Sweetie describes her home life in Norwood, Pennsylvania.  There is some information regarding medicine at this time...

This video shows some of the highlights of Jamie and myself attending the Evolutions by Podcast Movement 2025 conference in Chicago, IL that occurred March 31, 2025 - April 3, 2025!  This was the first podcast conference that Jamie and I have attended, and we wanted to review our experience attending that event, but also provide some notes on what we saw in Chicago, Illinois (including the Chicago Institute of Art) and Union Station in Chicago.  We also describe going on an architectural boat tour of the city and enjoying coffee at the Starbucks Reserve Roastery in Chicago!

The conference also featured th...

The Love Sweetie Podcast is a unique historical project that features real letters from Kathryn Frances Demaree Graham a.k.a. "Sweetie" that were written during her lifetime.  These authentic letters are narrated and commented on by the hosts of the show (who give context on what is being discussed).  The Love Sweetie Podcast is currently in its second season - this is episode 52.

This episode features two letters from January 1947.  In both letters, Sweetie describes what Christmas in 1946 was like, and provides updates with regards to her life at home in Norwood, Pennsylvania at that time.

The Love Sweetie Podcast is a unique historical project that features real letters from Kathryn Frances Demaree Graham a.k.a. "Sweetie" that were written during her lifetime.  These authentic letters are narrated and commented on by the hosts of the show (who give context on what is being discussed).  The Love Sweetie Podcast is currently in its second season - this is episode 51.

This episode features two letters from December 1946.  In the first letter, Sweetie details some of the gifts she received for her birthday in the previous month and mentions Thanksgiving 1946.  In the second letter, we h...

The Love Sweetie Podcast is a unique historical project that features real letters from Kathryn Frances Demaree Graham a.k.a. "Sweetie" that were written during her lifetime.  These authentic letters are narrated and commented on by the hosts of the show (who give context on what is being discussed).  The Love Sweetie Podcast is currently in its second season - this is episode 50.

This episode features two letters from November 1946.  The first, small letter, provides a brief update, and the second letter details Sweetie and her family's road trip as they return to the Philadelphia area fro...

This is Episode 49 of the Love Sweetie Podcast.  This episode features four letters from late summer 1946.  In this episode, Sweetie details life in her new house on Love Lane in Norwood, Pennsylvania.  She goes into some details about her son, Lewis, who is almost a year old, and answers questions that family have about whether or not she will be able to visit them in Iowa in the fall.  Sweetie also notes that she's made some friends in her neighborhood (which she has found difficult to do in Pennsylvania until this point), and finally, Lew and Sweetie purchase their firs...

This is Episode 48 of the Love Sweetie Podcast.  This episode features four letters from summer 1946.  In this episode, it's revealed that Sweetie finally has found a house for herself, Lew, and Lewis in southeast Pennsylvania on a street named "Love Lane."  Sweetie describes what it was like to move into their new home, hoping that their experience there will be good.  However, her son, Lewis, is sick at times, and she is in desperate need of a sewing machine.  Meanwhile, in Lacona, Iowa, Sweetie's father, Chester Demaree, M.D., provides updates on his work at the farm he purchased in ea...

This is Episode 47 of the Love Sweetie Podcast.  This episode features four letters that were written by Sweetie in April and May 1946.  Some of the content of these letters is Sweetie reflecting on the recent family tragedy, but much of the letters show her focus on wanting to find a new home for herself, her husband, Lew, and her son, Lewis.  Unfortunately, the housing market in early 1946 is extremely difficult, as so many other families are attempting to do the same.  Sweetie gets to a certain point in these letters in which it appears she is looking for a majo...

This is Episode 46 of the Love Sweetie Podcast.  This episode features three letters that were written by Sweetie in the second half of April 1946.  Some of the content of these letters is Sweetie reflecting on the recent family tragedy - that her older brother, Bob, passed away (this content was reviewed directly in the previous letters that were the subject of Episode 45).  However, there are also major parts of these letters in which Sweetie is planning on finding a place of her own in southeast Pennsylvania where she can live with her husband, Lew, and her son, Lewis.  Sweetie desp...

This is Episode 45 of the Love Sweetie Podcast.  Please note that this episode deals with letters recounting the loss of a loved one.  The Demaree family experienced a tragic loss in early April 1946.  There are three letters in this episode, all from Sweetie to either her parents, or her sister, Jeanne, in Iowa, or both.  

My heart goes out to all those who are grieving the loss of close friends or family.  As indicated in the special introduction of this episode, it is my privilege and my honor, as Sweetie's granddaughter, to share Sweetie's heart with you.
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This is Episode 44 of the Love Sweetie Podcast!  This episode is the Season Two premiere of the podcast, and features nine documents from January - March 1946.  Six of the documents are from Sweetie, herself (most of which were written in Lacona, Iowa), two of the letters are from her husband, Lew (who is writing from Pennsylvania), and one letter is from Sweetie's sister-in-law, Florence (who is writing to Sweetie from Kansas).  

Season One had ended with the remaining letters from 1945 and Sweetie giving birth to her son, Lewis, in Des Moines, in September.  Now we fast forward to 1...

This is episode 43 of the Love Sweetie Podcast!  This episode is the Season One finale of the podcast, and features four letters from late summer and early fall 1945.  Three of the four letters are from Sweetie's husband, Lew Graham, and the other letter is the last letter that survives from the end of 1945 from Sweetie herself.  At this point in the story, Lew is hoping to get back to Iowa to be with Sweetie - he hopes to arrive before she gives birth to their first child. 

Note - Season Two of the Love Sweetie Podcast will begi...

This is a special bonus episode in which Alison and Jamie discuss the history of the Office of Price Administration (OPA) which oversaw price ceilings for consumer goods and the rationing system during World War II.  The top leadership of this federal government agency are reviewed, as well as the complex logistics that retailers were expected to follow to ensure the success of the rationing system in particular.  Finally, historical documentation is shown indicating how coffee was seriously rationed during this time period, and the logistics of that operation both from the retailers and the consumers perspective.

Fo...

This is episode 42 of the Love Sweetie Podcast!  This episode features three letters from July 1945, two from Sweetie, and the third from her father, Chester Demaree, M.D.  Sweetie is staying with her parents during her pregnancy in Lacona, Iowa, and describes her day-to-day activities. She writes to her sister, Jeanne, regarding how much she appreciates her during this time.  Dr. Demaree writes to Jeanne from Lacona, Iowa as well, providing medical advice about burn treatments (as Jeanne is an RN in Des Moines), and then reflects on the Pacific Theater during World War II.

Additionally, during thi...

This is episode 41 of the Love Sweetie Podcast!  This episode features three letters from summer 1945, and the first letter is from Sweetie's husband, Lew, who is writing from England as he is stationed there as part of his service in the United States Navy during World War II.  The other two letters are from Sweetie in Lacona, Iowa.  She is staying with her parents during her pregnancy, and describes the day-to-day activities of what is occurring at home that summer and how she feels.  She becomes increasingly self-conscious of her appearance as her due date approaches, and starts to beco...