“Saving face would not rescue my mother.”Read more of Jiayang’s writing for The New Yorker here: <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/contributors/jiayang-fan">https://www.newyorker.com/contributors/jiayang-fan</a>.This episode is made possible thanks to the generous support of the <a href="http://patreon.com/familyghosts">Kindred Spirits</a>, our community of supporters on Patreon. For just $5 per month, Kindred Spirits hear our episodes ad-free, and get access to bonus content that’s not available anywhere else. If you have the means, please consider joining them, at <a href="http://patreon.com/familyghosts">http://patreon.com/familyghosts</a>. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adchoices">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a>

42:  The Namesake - Part 1

Every house is haunted. In each episode of Family Ghosts, we investigate the true story behind a mysterious figure whose legend has followed a family for generations. Grandmothers who were secretly jewel smugglers, uncles who led double lives, siblings who vanished without a trace, and other ghostly characters who cast shadows over our lives in ways that might not be immediately obvious. We are all formed in part by our familial collections of secrets, intrigues, and myths. By engaging with each others’ legends, perhaps we can see each others’ realities more clearly. Hosted by Moth Grand Slam winner Sam Dingman, whose stories have been featured on NPR, Risk!, TBTL,  and The Moth Radio Hour.