Keepsake Chronicles — Legacy & Storytelling

J.D. Murgolo | Story House Studio
  • 5.0 (3)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Keepsake Chronicles is a storytelling podcast that explores the profound connection between the objects we keep and the lives we lead. Hosted by J.D. Murgolo, we go beyond the surface of antiques to uncover the oral histories and ancestral threads woven into the items we hold onto. Through personal narratives and intimate interviews, we dive into the human-centered stories of grief, love, and legacy hidden within every memento. Whether it’s a well-worn dictionary or a vintage steamer trunk, we believe that preserving family memories through the things we carry is a sacred act of stewardship. Join us as we prove that sometimes, a keepsake isn't just a thing, it's a whole life in your hand.

  1. Kendall's Rock

    2D AGO

    Kendall's Rock

    What happens to the weight of a story when it’s held in the palm of your hand? Sometimes, the most profound anchors of a life aren’t the grand monuments, but the small, weathered pieces of the earth we choose to keep. Today, we sit with a single, smooth white rock, a quiet reminder of love during illness, to explore a philosophy of meaningful objects. This meditation is for anyone seeking to understand the emotional resonance of the things we leave behind. We look at why certain keepsakes become the foundation of our family legacy and how a simple stone can carry the history of a caregiving journey. The Thread of This Conversation: The transition from an "object" to a "vessel" of memoryFinding presence and stability during a season of illnessWhy meaningful storytelling starts with the small and the tangibleA philosophy of stewardship for the things we carryConnect with our storyteller HEREJoin the conversation HERE --- If this episode sparked a memory, a question about the craft, or a story you’d rather speak than type, come sit at our table. You can leave a voice note for the studio at: https://www.speakpipe.com/FragileMoments

    26 min
  2. Amy's Frame

    APR 17

    Amy's Frame

    How do we hold onto a story when the memory of it begins to fade? There is a quiet weight to caregiving and dementia that often goes unspoken. Today, we sit with three simple objects, a framed wedding photo, a handwritten letter, and a poem—to ask what survives when the details are lost. This is a meditation on emotional truth and legacy. It’s an invitation to anyone navigating Alzheimer's or seeking to preserve a family history that feels increasingly fragile. We explore the role of objects in memory preservation and why the "long goodbye" requires a different kind of presence. The Thread of This Conversation: The dignity of emotional truth over perfect recallHow objects act as anchors for memory lossStewardship and the "long-view" of caregivingCrafting a family legacy that honors what remainsConnect with our storyteller HEREJoin the conversation HERE --- If this episode sparked a memory, a question about the craft, or a story you’d rather speak than type, come sit at our table. You can leave a voice note for the studio at: https://www.speakpipe.com/FragileMoments

    33 min
  3. Rachael's Desk

    APR 3

    Rachael's Desk

    When journalist and author Rachael Wright inherited her grandmother’s dark blue desk, she didn’t just receive a piece of furniture — she inherited a place where family history could continue. Her grandmother, a Rosie the Riveter born in the 1920s, was a steady presence during Racheal’s childhood. She carried both strength and the quiet regret of a family legacy she never fully uncovered before Alzheimer’s began to fade her memory. In this episode of Keepsake Chronicles, we trace Racheal’s journey back to her Scottish roots and explore the "quiet responsibility" of carrying stories forward. We look at how certain objects don't just preserve the past — they invite us to continue it. Inside the episode: The weight of inherited stories and the "deadline" of memory loss.Tracing ancestry and finding the place where your story began.How writing at an ancestral desk changes the craft of storytelling.Connect with our storyteller HEREJoin the conversation HERE --- If this episode sparked a memory, a question about the craft, or a story you’d rather speak than type, come sit at our table. You can leave a voice note for the studio or explore our resources for creators at: https://www.speakpipe.com/FragileMoments

    26 min
  4. Dan's KuKui Nuts

    MAR 20

    Dan's KuKui Nuts

    How do we decide which parts of our past to keep? We explore the legacy of Hawaiian kukui nut leis and the quiet power of objects in shaping our identity. What happens when the objects we carry no longer match the person we’ve become? In this episode, we sit with Dan as he navigates the tension between two very different chapters of his life, marked by a wedding necklace and a military hat. It is a conversation about the weight of responsibility and the courage it takes to choose which stories to carry forward. We dive into the cultural significance of the Hawaiian kukui nut, a symbol of enlightenment, protection, and peace. Traditionally, a kukui lei was a source of light for ancient voyagers; here, it serves as a metaphor for the internal light we need when navigating our own transitions. This is a story about growth, the complexity of identity, and how a simple Hawaiian kukui nut lei can hold the gravity of a life-changing choice. Join us for an unhurried reflection on how we steward our memories without letting them anchor us to the past. Connect with our storyteller HEREJoin the conversation HERE --- If this episode sparked a memory, a question about the craft, or a story you’d rather speak than type, come sit at our table. You can leave a voice note for the studio or explore our resources for creators at: https://www.speakpipe.com/FragileMoments I listen to every note personally during my Friday stewardship hours. No pressure to be polished, just be human.

    39 min
  5. Dr. Vasu's Purple Box

    MAR 6

    Dr. Vasu's Purple Box

    How do small objects hold a lifelong inheritance? We explore the power of family rituals and how childhood memories can become a profound source of emotional healing. A purple box filled with fake gems might look like a simple toy to an outsider, but for many of us, these are the vessels that hold a lifelong inheritance. In the Season 3 premiere of Keepsake Chronicles, we explore how family rituals and the small, repeated acts of our youth shape the people we eventually become. In This Episode: The Power of Small Rituals: How repetitive acts of care create a sense of safety.Heirlooms vs. Legacies: Why the "fake" gems often hold the most "real" value.Healing Through Memory: Using our past to anchor our present.Connect with our storyteller HEREJoin the conversation HERE --- If this episode sparked a memory, a question about the craft, or a story you’d rather speak than type, come sit at our table. You can leave a voice note for the studio or explore our resources for creators at: https://www.speakpipe.com/FragileMoments

    31 min
  6. Keepsake Chronicles — Season 3

    SEASON 3 TRAILER

    Keepsake Chronicles — Season 3

    Some stories live inside objects. Keepsake Chronicles returns this March with a new season exploring memory, meaning, and the things we choose to carry with us. Season 3 features intimate conversations about keepsakes, the objects that hold love, grief, identity, and inheritance, and the quiet ways they remind us who we’ve been and who we’re becoming. These stories move slowly, honoring the emotional weight of what we hold onto. Produced by Not Today Media. New episodes begin this March.

    1 min
  7. Annette's Dictionary

    09/12/2025

    Annette's Dictionary

    In our closing episode of Season Two, we’re joined by Annette Gendler, writer, teacher, and author of How to Write Compelling Stories from Family History. Annette shares the story of her father’s Latin-German dictionary, a well-worn heirloom that has outlived generations and continues to carry meaning far beyond the words on its pages. This conversation invites us to think about the role of language in family memory, how everyday objects become vessels of history, and why writing about heirlooms can open doors into stories we didn’t know how to tell. Annette also speaks about her workshops, where she guides others in finding and shaping their own family narratives, often beginning with a single cherished object. As we close out this season of Keepsake Chronicles, Annette’s story reminds us that keepsakes are more than artifacts. They are starting points, invitations to write, to remember, and to connect the threads of the past with the lives we’re living now. Resources & Links Connect with Annette: annettegendler.comLearn more about our community: fragilemoments.org/communitySubmit your own keepsake story: nottodaymedia.com/keepsakeSay hello on ⁠Instagram.⁠

    38 min
  8. Pat's Steamer Trunk

    08/22/2025

    Pat's Steamer Trunk

    In this episode of Keepsake Chronicles, we sit quietly with Pat Richley-Erickson, genealogist, storyteller, and the gentle voice behind Dear Myrtle. Pat has spent years transforming family heirlooms from mere objects into doorways — creating custom mini-journals that carry the handwritten stories of the ancestors who once treasured each piece. Her steamer trunk isn't just storage; it's a love letter to the future. Each drawer holds carefully preserved family history, and each object rests beside Pat's own words, ensuring that when her descendants one day choose their heirlooms, they'll also inherit the stories that make those objects sacred. We talk about the quiet art of pairing memory with matter, why some stories refuse to be forgotten, and how heirlooms can become bridges between the hearts of the living and the love of the gone. This is a conversation about the weight of memory, the lightness of love, and the profound responsibility we carry when we become the keepers of other people's treasures. Links & Mentions * Pat’s work: Dear Myrtle on Substack * Learn more about our community: fragilemoments.org/community * Submit your own keepsake story: nottodaymedia.com/keepsake * Leave a comment about the episode HERE * Say hello on ⁠Instagram.⁠ * We also make ⁠What's Your Story?⁠ and ⁠Come Back To Earth.⁠ Get full access to Keepsake Chronicles at keepsakechronicles.substack.com/subscribe

    38 min
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About

Keepsake Chronicles is a storytelling podcast that explores the profound connection between the objects we keep and the lives we lead. Hosted by J.D. Murgolo, we go beyond the surface of antiques to uncover the oral histories and ancestral threads woven into the items we hold onto. Through personal narratives and intimate interviews, we dive into the human-centered stories of grief, love, and legacy hidden within every memento. Whether it’s a well-worn dictionary or a vintage steamer trunk, we believe that preserving family memories through the things we carry is a sacred act of stewardship. Join us as we prove that sometimes, a keepsake isn't just a thing, it's a whole life in your hand.

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