Episodes

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 ...

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 a ...

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 Boston’s...

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 Merriwether, 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 ...

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, nostalgia...