The Karen & Ellen Letters

In 2005, I received a stack of found, hand-written letters between two (stupid?) young women and their (long-suffering?) landlord. That gift would send me on a fifteen-year search for the truth. It was a comedic investigation that demanded some pretty complex interrogation: Who owns a story? How honest is our nostalgia? What does it mean to be a difficult woman? How do we engage in sexism and patriarchal gender roles? And, of course, does gas smell like avocados? And are allegations made by alligators?

Podcast Preview: Dear Mark

The Karen & Ellen Letters are found correspondance between two teenage girls and their landlord, over a three year period, from the 1980s. This podcast is the reading of those letters and a re-telling of the host's journey to validate their authenticity.The Karen & Ellen Letters arrive on March 2 at www.karenandellen.com.This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/3588207/advertisement

02-07
09:00

Episode One | Lists 1 & 2

Karen moves into her new apartment with a list of deductions she's ready to make from her rent. Ellen writes Mark about her hopes and dreams for her new home.This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/3588207/advertisement

03-02
11:48

Episode One: The Aftershow (w/ Tamie McGranahan, Sue Tortolani)

Long-time friends of Josh and fans of the letters, Tamie & Sue, stop by to talk about their introductions to the letters.Plus: Tamie reads some of her own landlord correspondence; and Sue's cat weighs in.

03-02
59:37

Episode Two | Bad Spirits

Ellen arrives and has some troubles with bad spirits. The girls struggle with math. The stove may or may not be broken. And a tragic death impacts negotiations.This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/3588207/advertisement

03-02
11:30

Episode Two: The Aftershow (w/ Kwame and Miss Free)

Hosts of the Blaze Entertainment Podcast, and Karen & Ellen virgins, Kwame and Miss Free join me to talk about episode three. We debate who would make the worse roommate and find the origin of "alternative facts."

03-02
26:26

Episode Three | Free Firewood

Ellen struggles with inequity. A heat wave strikes Karen's bedroom. And a man named Hal ruins everything.www.karenandellen.comThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/3588207/advertisement

03-07
09:12

Episode Three: The Aftershow (Chris Braaten & Chris Green)

Hosts of the More Gooder Than and Gravity Beard podcasts, Chris Braaten & Chris Green, join me to talk about episode 3. We try to figure out why Ellen wants firewood so much. And Braaten brings his stories and expert opinion as a landlord.

03-07
01:05:43

Episode Four | I Think This Is Serious

Karen decides Mark owes her thousands of dollars. Ellen sees something on TV that disturbs her. And Mark finally asks for help.This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/3588207/advertisement

03-14
17:44

Episode Four: The Aftershow (w/ Rebecca Emmons, Liz Vonau)

Friends (and friends of the show) Liz and Rebecca join me as we try (really) hard to find a way to honor International Women's Day with Karen & Ellen. We also answer some Facebook questions and attempt to unpack that Roger Rabbit letter. Plus: A Karen & Ellen drinking game ends as expected.

03-14
51:01

The Karen & Ellen Letters Q&A

3 hours ago, I decided I should do a Q&A. The GravityBeard host wanted to facilitate it. The only time that worked for both of us was right now. Chris and Josh sit down, entirely unprepared, to go over some listener questions. Mild spoilers ahead. Also: Mild political discourse.

03-15
41:38

Episode Five | Happy Anniversary

#MailDay comes early this week! Karen & Ellen celebrate their year anniversary with Mark. Ellen talks astrology. And Mark’s Uncle Albert weighs in.This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/3588207/advertisement

03-19
11:48

Episode Five: The Aftershow (w/ Jason Leroy, Blake Love)

WARNING: This aftershow features a lot of explicit language and inappropriate humor.Josh is still drunk from the last Aftershow. Jason shocks us all with an unsavory joke; and then doubles down. We draw a dark conclusion as to why Ellen disappeared after 1990. We try to figure out which drugs the girls were on. And then compare Karen & Ellen to our favorite Real Housewives.

03-19
01:06:25

Episode Six | The Camel's Back

Karen needs a new vacuum. Ellen begins a long and grueling search. Mark does Karen a favor. And allegations are made.This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/3588207/advertisement

03-27
12:04

Episode Six: The Aftershow (w/ Varmints! Hosts: Donna Hume & Paul Csomo)

In this very special morning edition of the Aftershow, the hosts of Josh's favorite podcast join him for what Donna calls, 'Day Drinking With Josh.' We breakdown Karen's impact on the English lexicon, the girls' mixed metaphors, and landlord letters of recommendation.

03-27
56:42

Episode Seven | George Bush

Ellen takes an active role in the election. Uncle Albert takes a scholarly approach to trying to understand Karen’s and Ellen’s malapropisms. Someone makes a big announcement. And The Karen & Ellen Letters go international.This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/3588207/advertisement

03-28
17:04

Episode Seven: The Aftershow (w/ Amanda & Lucy from Wine & Crime)

This week we instate 2 words of the day, and consequently get very drunk. Amanda has a wine pairing specifically for our protagonists. Ellen outsmarts all of us. And we expound upon a dark theory regarding Ellen’s whereabouts. Plus: A lost letter that didn’t make it into the original episode (because: mistakes were made)!

03-28
01:09:07

Episode Eight | Christmas Tree Farm

The train goes off the tracks.This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/3588207/advertisement

04-03
27:35

Episode Eight: The Aftershow (w/ Tamie McGranahan, Sue Tortolani)

Tamie & Sue (and their pets) return to help unpack this doozy of an episode. We discuss our favorite listener conspiracy theories. Hilarity ensues when 3 secular people try to figure out Ellen's interpretation of Karen's interpretation of Catholocism. And the entire commentary seems to be continually haunted by the spirit of Mary Christ.

04-04
01:14:59

Episode Nine | In My Legal Opinion

Josh makes several bad decisions after hearing from Karen. Karen's legal representative weighs in. Karen, Ellen, and Rob need jobs. And the fate of the cat painting is uncovered.This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/3588207/advertisement

04-17
20:55

Episode Ten: The Aftershow (w/ Twisted Philly & In Sight)

Deana from the Twisted Philly podcast, and Ali and Charlie from In Sight, join me to discuss Karen and Ellen's strange relationship with Mark, whether socio-economics play a role in stupidity, and Ali's and Charlie's long history with the letters.

04-27
01:05:45

Me

Super late to this podcast, but absolutely loved the unraveling of this story. Listening to the maturation of Josh was rewarding too.

12-16 Reply

Ava Podgorski

loving it so far but REALLY hoping the sound quality improves. cannot hear half of what host says ...

05-25 Reply

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