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Family Lore

Audacy

All families tell stories about themselves. Those stories are passed down, and like an intergenerational game of telephone, the details sometimes change from fact to fiction. But have you ever wondered how much of the lore is actually true?

Family Lore is a weekly narrative podcast that celebrates and investigates ancestral mystique. Each episode begins with a guest sharing a fascinating family legend, followed by a historical deep-dive to uncover the truth and meaning behind the tale.

Whether it’s a grandfather who flew before the Wright Brothers, a great-aunt who invented the margarita, or a great-uncle who killed a Texas ranching scion, each story offers an intimate glimpse into the familial fables that captivate us.

Family Lore is an Audacy original podcast.

For more compelling stories of American history, listen to Cement City and Hope, Through History (with Jon Meacham and The HISTORY® Channel), available in this feed.

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  • 20 episodes
  • Avg 37 min
  • English

Episodes 20

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  • S4 · E15
    July 15 · 29 min

    Natural History

    A Bronx woman with a difficult upbringing decides to figure out where she came from. Her journey leads her to a grandfather whose work is admired by millions.

  • S4 · E14
    July 8 · 39 min

    Alina In Exile

    Alina Fernandez was a small child when the Cuban Revolution spilled onto the streets of Havana. The Revolution's leader, Fidel Castro, would appear on television, giving speeches that would often run for hours. Then, when the speeches were over and the television was turned off, Fidel Castro would appear in her living room.

  • S4 · E13
    July 1 · 36 min

    The King's Life Guard

    A man who grew up with little to no information about his family history encounters a 380-year-old tale about war and royalty. And with the help of a British researcher, new information is discovered.

  • S4 · E12
    June 24 · 30 min

    Remaking The World

    David Belden was born into the upper echelons of Moral Re-Armament, a spiritual movement that hoped to save the world. It wasn't until later in his life that David realized he was in a cult.

  • S4 · E11
    June 17 · 36 min

    Father Figure

    Acclaimed magazine writer Tom Junod investigates the history of his father, his family, and himself. In the process of writing his memoir - In The Days Of My Youth I Was Told What It Means To Be A Man - he discovers an explanatory secret.

  • S4 · E10
    June 10 · 38 min

    Ann, The Witch

    A family discovers an ancestor who was convicted at the Salem Witch Trials. And they take umbrage with the fact that she was never pardoned.

  • S4 · E9
    June 3 · 32 min

    The Pirate Connection

    While connecting the dots between her family and the infamous New Orleans pirates, Jean and Pierre Laffite, a self-taught genealogist discovers a family secret. The founder of the Laffite Society has his own secret connection to the pirates.

  • S4 · E8
    May 27 · 35 min

    Portrait of a Lady

    The granddaughter of a prolific Jewish art collector who fled Europe during World War II embarks on a quest to recover the looted art.

  • S4 · E7
    May 20 · 31 min

    Chasing Diamonds

    A Dutch retiree never knew what his father experienced in Nazi-occupied Amsterdam. But when he finds his father's journal, he discovers some unfinished business.

  • S4 · E6
    May 13 · 35 min

    The Power of Family Stories

    Author Bruce Feiler discusses the fascinating links between family stories and the elusive concept of happiness.

  • S4 · E5
    May 6 · 36 min

    The Real Rosie

    During World War II, posters featuring a brash and beautiful woman inspired others to take up factory jobs and support America's war effort. "Rosie The Riveter" would become a symbol of American gumption. But was Rosie a real person?

  • S4 · E4
    April 29 · 45 min

    A Texas Feud

    A love triangle between ranching families in the Texas Panhandle has fatal consequences. Over a 100 years later, the killer's great-niece revives the story.

  • S4 · E2
    April 15 · 40 min

    If Mosquito Hawks Can Fly

    A Louisiana man born into slavery designs an airship with hopes to take flight. Those plans are interrupted, but maybe not forever.

  • S4 · E1
    April 8 · 28 min

    The Unsinkable Margarita Sames

    The margarita is arguably the most famous cocktail in the world. But have you ever stopped to wonder who was the first to make it?

  • April 7 · 2 min

    Introducing Family Lore

    All families tell stories about themselves. Those stories are passed down, and like an intergenerational game of telephone, the details sometimes change from fact to fiction. But have you ever wondered how much of the lore is actually true? Welcome to Season 1 of Family Lore, a weekly narrative podcast that celebrates and investigates the tales we hear at home.

  • S3 · E10
    Nov 6, 2024 · 56 min

    Cement City: Episode 10 | A Thousand Pairs of Untied Shoes

    Jeanne Marie and Erin are closing in on a year in Donora. At Twinkle Bright Night they face existential questions: Will the new mayor save council? Is the community college going to come? What’s gonna happen to this town, anyway? But first things first: will Jeanne Marie and Erin ever leave?

  • S3 · E9
    Nov 6, 2024 · 1 hr

    Cement City: Episode 9 | No Indictments

    It’s the general election! Yancey vs. Ed! The future of Donora is on the line, and ballot tampering and election denialism are in the air.

Showing 1–20 of 20 episodes