Episodes

One Waitress, One Microphone, a Whole Lot of Regret, and a Story That Became a Family Legend. This true Family Tree, Food Story begins with a simple radio interview that soon spirals into a chaotic comedy of errors. Here, your Co-Host Sylvia Lovely recounts a college indiscretion that involved a local Moorhead restaurant and a disastrous on-air performance that threatened a financial loss and derailment of her boyfriend's career (and possibly their relationship forever!). What started as a seemi...

How Our Hunt For The BEST Cake Keeps Us on The Road! 🥕 What if a single bite could change your life? In this Family Tree, Food & Stories episode, you’re invited to join Nancy and Bob on a 36-year quest to rediscover the flavor that made their wedding day even more sweet. A delicious and magical carrot cake from a special bakery in Fairfield, Connecticut, their quest to recreate that perfect bite has taken them from New York to Florida, California to Canada, and beyond. Their quest has done mor...

How a Glass of Wine and a Cold Night in a Bar Became One of This Mom’s Favorite Story. This Family Tree Food & Stories episode is a delightful blend of humor and fun reflection as Sylvia recounts an unforgettable night in Duluth, Minnesota. What starts as a simple mother-son bonding watching the “big game” at a local bar turns into an unexpected tale of personal embarrassment and triumph. With a mix of wit and warmth, Sylvia shares how even the most humiliating moments can become one of those st...

What Might be Cooking at President Trump's Inaugural Ball? Lessons from presidential plates past and present. 🎙️In this episode of Family Tree, Food & Stories, co-hosts Nancy May and Sylvia Lovely dish up a banquet of stories and foods that have graced inaugural balls throughout U.S. history. From George Washington’s solitary dining to Lincoln's midnight chaos, this episode reveals how these menus reflect presidential personalities, American culture, and even our own family mealtime tastes. You'...

How a pre-colonoscopy walk turned into a wild surprise and a mysterious roast thief! 📌In this next episode of Family Tree Food & Stories - What do you get when you mix a colonoscopy prep, an overexcited Goldendoodle, and a "found"three-pound beef roast in the middle of a walking trail? It's a story that’s almost too wild to believe! In this episode, Co-Host Sylvia Lovely recounts a chaotic journey to wrestle a juicy roast from her dog’s jaws—all while enduring the delightful side effects of her ...

Could There be Gold in that Pork Roast and Doom in the Chicken? New Year's Foods to eat for an extra plateful of good luck. Welcome to 2025! In this special New Year’s edition of Family Tree Food & Stories , Nancy May and Sylvia Lovely kick off the year with some quirky traditions.🎉 Did you know eating chicken 🐔 on New Year’s could potentially give you a bowl of bad luck ? Or that a sauerkraut shred might be the key to riches? In this episode of F amily Tree Food & Stories , we're spilling the ...

How to Eat Your Christmas Tree and Create a Deliciously Unusual Holiday Tradition 🎄 What do you do with a leftover Christmas tree? Toss it? Compost it? Nope—how about eating it ? Yes, you heard that right! In this Family Tree, Food & Stories episode , we’re setting the table with a new way to turn your bedazzled Christmas tree into a gourmet treat. From sweet pine syrups to pine needle tea, baking with your tree's bark (and a treat you can bite), and even pine-infused ice cream, Nancy May, co-ho...

From Stinky Food Stuck in a Tree to Finger Licking Christmas Traditions in Japan: This holiday episode will have you asking for a second helping. 🎄✨What’s the story behind the quirky German Christmas pickle? And why do families in Japan celebrate the holidays by licking their fingers? Join co-hosts Nancy May and Sylvia Sylvia Lovely as they dive into the heart (and stomach) of Christmas and family food traditions in this holiday episode of Family Tree, Food & Stories. In this show, they share ev...

What happens when a small-town girl becomes a college Freshman with ambitions? This episode is one every parent, and Freshman will learn from! In this episode of Family Tree Food and Stories, join co-host Sylvia Lovely as she recounts a pivotal moment in her life that intertwines ambition, family expectations, and an unforgettable dining experience. Raised in a humble background where college wasn't even on the radar, Sylvia's sudden declaration to pursue higher education led her to Moorhead St...

What's the best way to make pasta? It's all in the drying. 🍷🍝What do an old kitchen table, a cozy wood-burning fireplace, and a lucky (and we mean lucky) pig have in common? They’re all part of this next episode of Family Tree, Food & Stories, where Nancy May and show guest Bobby Hedglin-Taylor , a man of many hats, dive into some rich country Italian family-food stories rooted in the heart of Pennsylvania. Nancy and Bobby share some preview moments from his forthcoming book “Escape to R aviol...

What happens when a fake waitress, a wannabe on-air actress, tries to save the day? 🤦‍♂️ In this episode, you'll want to join Sylvia Lovely, co-host of Family Tree Food and Stories , for a show filled with unexpected twists and turns. When Sylvia's boyfriend Bernie, a radio host 📻 in Moorhead, Kentucky, finds himself without a guest for his show, Sylvia steps up with a daring plan intertwined with a bit of creative freedom. 💡 What happens next is a rollercoaster of emotions and on-air surprises....

Surprising Ways to Give More Thanks and Create a Better Thanksgiving Together. Join co-hosts Nancy May and Sylvia Lovely in this next episode of Family Tree, Food & Stories, which focuses on Thanksgiving secrets, traditions, history, and more. Ever wonder why presidents pardon turkeys? Or why cranberry sauce sparks family feuds? This Family Tree Food & Stories episode reveals the quirky history and hidden stories behind America's favorite feast day. You'll learn the details behind: The real stor...

The people who make a restaurant a family. A Chef, a Friend, and a Legacy of Kindness. This episode is a bit of a departure from our regular show for an excellent reason. Sylvia, Co-Host of Family Tree, Food & Stories, and her husband, Bernie Lovely, the owners of Restaurant Azure and Patio in Lexington, Kentucky, recently woke to a phone call telling them of the sudden and unexpected passing of their Sous Chef, Austin Poplewell "Popcorn." Known for his gentle spirit and culinary creativity, P...

From Adam and Eve's First Bit to Tailgating, Hot Dog Pie, and More: Pull your chair up to the table and listen in to this next episode. What do hot dogs, tailgating, and a centuries-old food tradition have in common? More than you might think! In this episode of Family Tree Food & Stories , Nancy May and Sylvia Lovely, your co-hosts, take you on an unexpected journey through the quirky, funny, and interesting ways food has brought us together.... even from the day of Adam and Eve! Now, there's ...

Ghosts that belly up to the bar and join you at the table. What might happen next? Why do so many ghost stories start at the dinner table? In this special Halloween edition, Nancy May , co-host of Family Tree Food & Stories , joins forces with her and Sylvia’s friend and fellow podcaster, Leo York (AKA James) , from The 13th Floor, to investigate the haunted pasts of America’s most iconic restaurants. From offering meat pies to appease mischievous spirits to ghostly figures that still roam Bost...

Recipes From My 90-Year-Old Mom, and so Much More! With our special guest, Freda Meriwether. In this episode of the Family Tree, Food & Stories podcast, Co-Host Sylvia Lovely reconnects with her good friend, Freda Merriwethe r, who shares captivating and colorful food tales of her 90-year-old mother, Gloria Polly Medea Rice . The conversation spans Gloria's rich reputation as a 'character' in her community and her renowned recipes, particularly some that required a mad dash to grab it first in t...

Are there such things as lucky foods? Have you ever wondered why your mom always tossed salt over her shoulder, whether it spilled or not? Or why did your grandmother say NEVER to cut spaghetti noodles? In this episode of Family Tree Food & Stories , co-hosts Nancy May and Sylvia Lovely pull the kitchen curtain back on some of the weird and most interesting food superstitions that still sneak into our family gatherings today. 🍀🍔 From the mysterious practice of keeping stinky fish scales in your ...

Favorite Final Food and that Important Story What unexpected request could transform a bittersweet farewell into a heartwarming celebration of life? Tune in to discover a touching tale that reveals the powerful bond between family, a daughter, a stranger, love, and the foods that bring us back home. Episode Summary: In our inaugural episode of Family Tree, Food & Stories , co-host Nancy May recounts a deeply moving experience during her father Stuart's final days. Amidst heartfelt conversations ...

What Do Hot Dogs and Adam & Eve Have in Common? More Than You Think!” In this debut episode of Family Tree Food and Stories , co-hosts Nancy May and Sylvia Lovely kick off the show with surprising food traditions and stories that connect us with family and friends. How do hot dogs, candy corn, Adam and Eve, and the Civil War be linked? The answers might surprise you as Nancy and Sylvia reveal the unexpected ties between these foods and our shared family histories, with a blend of humor, nostalg...