Mattie On The Homefront

Snowfall Studio
  • 4.2 (35)
  • History
  • Updated Weekly

Mattie on the Homefront is a podcast about a father and a son discovering their family. After finding wartime letters from my great-grandmother to my grandfather, I get to read them aloud to my dad, bringing together four generations of our family, week-by-week, in an almost daily look at life in the Twin Cities during WWII.

  1. 2d ago

    Wes and Florence's Sinful Lives - [Jan 9, 1943]

    In our longest ever letter (but not episode!), we have a bombshell of a revelation about Mattie's son Wes, and his wife Florence. Mattie is way in her feelings, and leaning on her faith to get through. Ken is NOT leaning on Edgar Guest's poems, so he's got plenty of energy left to be Mattie's sounding board about a homesick Bud, and the answer to who is the new president of the Ladies Aid. Content Advisory: this episode contains discussion of domestic violence. –––– Characters This Week: Wes (eldest son)Florence (daughter-in-law)Mrs. Colona (Wes & Florence's neighbor)Giertsen's (best friends)Mrs. Nelson (volunteer friend)Bud (stepson)Mrs. Hance (friend)–––– Website: moth.family Contact us: mattieonthehomefront@gmail.com Get notified about new episodes –––– Mattie On The Homefront is produced by Hans Buetow. It is hosted by Hans Buetow and Steve Buetow. The theme music is by Matt Buetow. The graphic design is by Amy Kirkpatrick.

    Wes and Florence's Sinful Lives - [Jan 9, 1943]

  2. Sep 9

    My It Seems Strange To Be Writing 1943 - [Jan 3, 1943]

    It's a whole new season, and a whole new year! 1943 is starting off with a Western Union telegram from Ken. Plus some poetry, radio specials, and our first of many, many cutouts from the newspaper. A talkative Wes (who knew!??!?) is lonely in California, but Mattie doesn't have that problem, what with all the entertaining she's doing. Also entertaining is Herman Straka, a local boy making good with those funky tunes. Also making good is Mattie with her affection for Virginia. Did we learn more about Virginia while we were away? We did! Plus, this week we get an update on world affairs, and local goings on. This episode is dedicated to Bob Hoyt. –––– Characters This Week: Wes (son)Florence (daughter-in-law)Cousin Ella (cousin)Margaret (cousin-once-removed)Virginia (Ken's girl)Elizabeth Rickard (neighbor kid)Rudy (Matt's youngest)Gennrich's (friends)John and Helen Mickelsen (Matt's brother and sister-in-law)Herman Straka (Ken's school chum)Uncle Art (older brother)Gram (mother)Aunt Ella (older sister)Chuck Giertsen (Ken's bestie)–––– Cover Photo: "Sleighing they go–just like mother and dad. For these Macalester students, Herman Straka (left), and Charlotte Robertson, rationing is no hardship." - St. Paul Pioneer Press, Dec 27, 1942 –––– Website: moth.family Contact us: mattieonthehomefront@gmail.com Get notified about new episodes –––– Mattie On The Homefront is produced by Hans Buetow. It is hosted by Hans Buetow and Steve Buetow. The theme music is by Matt Buetow. The graphic design is by Amy Kirkpatrick.

    My It Seems Strange To Be Writing 1943 - [Jan 3, 1943]

  3. Aug 6

    Proud of Her Tree, Missing Her Boys - Christmas - [Dec 27, 1942]

    It's time for a magical Christmas! Family! Parties! Presents! Tom and Jerry's! We are joined today by cousins Stefan and Jenna to hear all about the haul, including Ken's gift from the Army. Mattie is proud of her tree, but frustrated with her daughter-in-law. She manages to snag a double waffle iron, which we know will turn her into Grandma Waffles, and she does some mangling (explanation included). Carl, The Old Man, catches up with Ken in Canada, and Wes arrives in California. Plus, a matrimonial update on the vertebrally injured neighbor, Elizabeth Rickard. –––– Characters This Week: Wes (son)Florence (daughter-in-law)Carl (ex-husband)Gram (mother)Uncle Herb (brother)Gennrich's (friends)Virginia (Ken's fiancée)Rudy (step-daughter)Joe (step-son)Vivian (step-daughter)Bud (step-son)Elizabeth Rickard (neighbor)–––– Website: moth.family Contact us: mattieonthehomefront@gmail.com Get notified about new episodes –––– Mattie On The Homefront is produced by Hans Buetow. It is hosted by Hans Buetow and Steve Buetow. The theme music is by Matt Buetow. The graphic design is by Amy Kirkpatrick.

    Proud of Her Tree, Missing Her Boys - Christmas - [Dec 27, 1942]

  4. Jul 29

    Betwixt and Between - Wes and the Weather - [Dec 21, 1942]

    The weather is all over the place, making it tough to get around. But even so, it seems like everyone is traveling. Holiday trains are packed. And Wes leaves for California. With another family. In winter. Days before Christmas. With the changes in temps, the ice and sleet and snow are alternating, making everything a challenge - including a nasty surprise for the neighbor bride-to-be. –––– Characters This Week: Wes (son)Florence (daughter-in-law)Georgine (friend)Aunt Ella (older sister)Gram (mother)Virginia (Ken's fiancée)Rudy (step-daughter)Uncle Herb (younger brother)Walter (youngest brother)Cousin Ella (?)Vivian (step-daughter)Bud (step-son)Elizabeth Rickard (neighbor)–––– Cover photo: Christmas Cards by Ken –––– Website: moth.family Contact us: mattieonthehomefront@gmail.com Get notified about new episodes –––– Mattie On The Homefront is produced by Hans Buetow. It is hosted by Hans Buetow and Steve Buetow. The theme music is by Matt Buetow. The graphic design is by Amy Kirkpatrick.

    Betwixt and Between - Wes and the Weather - [Dec 21, 1942]

  5. Jul 25

    The Threat of German Bombs - [Dec 14, 1942]

    Mattie's in a Christmas play. She's a shepherd! And that's just one of many things she has going on. We are joined by Jesse Buetow, Hans' brother and Steve's son, as we hear Mattie turn her letters into her daily diary. She has car trouble, cold trouble, and mom trouble, but she gets it all handled. There's a visit from a cousin. And another cousin. In a dramatic turn, Wes announces, to Mattie's consternation, that he wants to leave for California, and Mattie sells her hat, literally off her head. Plus, there's a huge air raid drill, and we discuss the rationality of Minnesotans being afraid of being bombed during the war. –––– Characters This Week: Gennrich's (Friends)Margaret (?)Margaret's mother (?)Cousin Ella (niece)Aunt Ella (older sister)Gwen (niece)George (nephew-in-law)Paul Unke (nephew)Wes (son)Flo (daughter-in-law)Bud (stepson)Mrs. Hanson (church friend)Virginia (step daughter-in-law)Wally (step son-in-law)–––– Cover photo: Mattie's cross –––– Website: moth.family Contact us: mattieonthehomefront@gmail.com Get notified about new episodes –––– Mattie On The Homefront is produced by Hans Buetow. It is hosted by Hans Buetow and Steve Buetow. The theme music is by Matt Buetow. The graphic design is by Amy Kirkpatrick.

    The Threat of German Bombs - [Dec 14, 1942]

  6. Jul 15

    The Old People's Friend - Marie Christiana Mickelsen - [Dec 7, 1942]

    Grandma Mick has died. We knew it was coming, but it's still tough. Matt, who has a birthday, takes a day off of work during a busy time to grieve his mom, and Mattie helps with funeral arrangements, despite her own mother feeling left out and letting her know. On top of all that, or maybe because of that, Mattie feels like her siblings aren't doing enough to help. In good news, Chuck's letter finally made it to Ken. Also, we take some time to understand the finances of waging a war, and to learn about the manufacturing plant where Wes works. –––– Characters This Week: Grandma Mick - Marie (Matt's mom)Gram - Julia (mom)Aunt Ella (older sister)Uncle Art (older brother)John Mickelsen (Matt's older brother)Gennrich's (friends)–––– Cover photo:  –––– Website: moth.family Contact us: mattieonthehomefront@gmail.com Get notified about new episodes –––– Mattie On The Homefront is produced by Hans Buetow. It is hosted by Hans Buetow and Steve Buetow. The theme music is by Matt Buetow. The graphic design is by Amy Kirkpatrick.

    The Old People's Friend - Marie Christiana Mickelsen - [Dec 7, 1942]

  7. Jul 8

    Two Moms - Marie and Julia - [Dec 1, 1942]

    It was a difficult and beautiful weekend for Mattie - dominated by her mom, Julia, demanding attention, and Matt's mom, Marie, dying. Navigating both women, and her feelings, lets us into her inner world as a sandwich generation daughter and mom - worried, caregiving, and trying to be present with both the generations above and behind her. Plus, Aldo Stenberg, Mattie's older sister's husband, is at it again. He's making trouble for his younger brother, and trying to figure out how to keep money away from his stepmother - neither of which sit well with Mattie. And Bud is hanging out of airplanes. Literally. –––– Characters This Week: Gram (mom)Grandma Mick (Matt's mom)Aldo Stenberg (brother-in-law)Alvin Stenberg (brother-in-law's younger brother)Aunt Ella (older sister)Aunt Ida (mom's sister)Lobdell's (friends)Uncle Berndt (Matt's uncle)Aunt Martha (Matt's aunt)Helen Langeland (sister-in-law)John Mickelsen (Matt's older brother)Bud (stepson)–––– Cover photo: Julia Zibell (Mattie's mom) –––– Website: moth.family Contact us: mattieonthehomefront@gmail.com Get notified about new episodes –––– Mattie On The Homefront is produced by Hans Buetow. It is hosted by Hans Buetow and Steve Buetow. The theme music is by Matt Buetow. The graphic design is by Amy Kirkpatrick.

    Two Moms - Marie and Julia - [Dec 1, 1942]

  8. Jun 30

    Brace Up, Gents - Thanksgiving - [Nov 28, 1942]

    It's Thanksgiving!! It's dark! It's cold! It's lonely! And it's time to talk about food. With a rousing poem, and recommendations from the time, we explore the culinary delights of the season. Lee's Broiler! The West Twins! It's a tour of the Twin Cities restaurant scene. Mattie is feeling the absence of the Boys during the Holiday, but she's cooking a goose anyways. We get to learn about how Matt's job works as a railway postal clerk, and debate the difference between east and south (the cardinal directions) and which is which. Plus, Monkey Wards! –––– Characters This Week: Bud (stepson)Gram (mom)Wes (son)Flo (daughter-in-law)Gennrich's (friends)–––– Links: Thanksgiving, 1942, by Christopher La Farge (The New Yorker)I Recommend [good places to go, eat, play and shop] by Roland L. HillMenu from Lee's BroilerThe West TwinsMail By Rail training video –––– Website: moth.family Contact us: mattieonthehomefront@gmail.com Get notified about new episodes –––– Mattie On The Homefront is produced by Hans Buetow. It is hosted by Hans Buetow and Steve Buetow. The theme music is by Matt Buetow. The graphic design is by Amy Kirkpatrick.

    Brace Up, Gents - Thanksgiving - [Nov 28, 1942]
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Trailer

4.2
out of 5
35 Ratings

About

Mattie on the Homefront is a podcast about a father and a son discovering their family. After finding wartime letters from my great-grandmother to my grandfather, I get to read them aloud to my dad, bringing together four generations of our family, week-by-week, in an almost daily look at life in the Twin Cities during WWII.

Information

  • Creator
    Snowfall Studio
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    22
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Snowfall Studio, LLC
  • Show Website
    Mattie On The Homefront