{"podcast":{"title":"Mailin’ It! - The Official USPS Podcast","slug":"mailin-it-the-official-usps-podcast-4327047","podcast_index_feed_id":4327047,"rss_url":"https://feeds.simplecast.com/bArttHdR","website_url":"https://about.usps.com/newsroom/","image_url":"https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/3cfa0ec2-3957-4ffa-92de-602ff6405a19/fcc04fbf-b404-492f-b4f6-84dfaddfc215/3000x3000/2021-8-24-mailinit.jpg?aid=rss_feed","author":"United States Postal Service","episode_count":92,"summary":"As the official podcast of the United States Postal Service, Mailin’ It! takes you inside a thoroughly American institution, exploring the rich history of the USPS, going behind-the scenes of its present innovations, and discussing its dynamic future with organization and industry leaders. Join our host for a fun look at your United States Postal Service.","last_synced_at":"2026-09-29T18:17:12.370238+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/mailin-it-the-official-usps-podcast-4327047"},"episode":{"title":"The Gold Rush, Railroads & the Mail: Connecting the Frontier","slug":"the-gold-rush-railroads-the-mail-connecting-the-frontier","published_at":"2026-08-11T15:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/mailin-it-the-official-usps-podcast-4327047/the-gold-rush-railroads-the-mail-connecting-the-frontier","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/mailin-it-the-official-usps-podcast-4327047","url":"https://about.usps.com/newsroom/","audio_url":"https://afp-920619-injected.calisto.simplecastaudio.com/f32cca5f-79ec-4392-8613-6b30c923629b/episodes/725341ee-6239-44b0-884f-0bdb4df18d56/audio/128/default.mp3?aid=rss_feed&awCollectionId=f32cca5f-79ec-4392-8613-6b30c923629b&awEpisodeId=725341ee-6239-44b0-884f-0bdb4df18d56&feed=bArttHdR","summary":"From gold rush boomtowns to transcontinental railroads, the U.S. Postal Service played a pivotal role in connecting a rapidly expanding nation. In this episode of Mailin' It, hosts Karla Kirby and Jeff Marino welcome USPS Historian Steve Kochersperger to explore the remarkable stories behind mail delivery during America's westward expansion. Discover how postal employees once disguised themselves as passengers to outsmart railroad companies, how the California Gold Rush transformed mail delivery and helped launch companies like Wells Fargo and American Express, and why the Pony Express became one of history's most misunderstood mail services. The conversation also uncovers the dramatic story of the \"Silk Train,\" the infamous Tunnel 13 mail robbery, and how those events helped shape modern federal forensic investigations and mail security. Along the way, the hosts also share a fascinating look at the unique Texarkana Post Office, where one building serves two states at once.","meta_description":"From gold rush boomtowns to transcontinental railroads, the U.S. Postal Service played a pivotal role in connecting a rapidly expanding nation. In this ep…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":1452,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/mailin-it-the-official-usps-podcast-4327047/episodes/the-gold-rush-railroads-the-mail-connecting-the-frontier/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/mailin-it-the-official-usps-podcast-4327047/the-gold-rush-railroads-the-mail-connecting-the-frontier.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}