Saturday, July 3rd
Podcasts
For those who are unfamiliar with a podcast, it is an audio file that has been uploaded on the internet and it is listened to on a computer or mobile device. It is a combination of iPod and broadcast.
On mobile devices and computers, you can listen to podcasts at Apple Podcast
Google Podcast, Stitcher, and Spotify. With your mobile device, you will need to download the app.
I started to listen to Christmas podcasts in 2016. I found the
Merry Little Podcast, hosted by Jeff Westover and listened to them while doing work around the house. The podcasts cover topics like Christmas history and culture.
The following year, as I was looking to see if there were any more Christmas podcasts available, I came across
Christmas Past. This podcast is hosted by Brian Earl. Traditions, back stories and literature are discussed. I always saved these for my drive home. Brian Earl has a wonderful soothing voice that helped me deal with the traffic.
That same year, I added the
Advent Calendar House to the mix. This podcast has a number of podcasts on Christmas TV shows and movies that come out in December and July. The podcast host, Mike Westfall, discusses in detail each part of the show and movie with another guest.
For the last few Septembers, as I have gotten ready for the House and Holiday Cleaning Plan here at Magical Holiday Home, I have looked to see if there are new Christmas podcasts. 2018 did not disappoint. I added two new podcasts to my list.
Can’t Wait for Christmas was the first one. Although this podcast has been around since 2015, it was new to me and the host, Tim Babb, has added much needed Christmas comedy to my day. I tend to listen to this podcast while running errands. It makes me laugh and I go into the stores in a good mood. (Which, come to think of it, means I spend more money too.
)
The second one was
Tinsel Tunes hosted by New Zealander, Duane Bailey. Duane does an awesome job of doing a deep dive into Christmas songs. He looks at the song’s history and the variations of the Christmas tune. I’ve learned a lot about the songs and found some new favorites as a result of listening.
In 2019 I was introduced to
Christmas Clatter, a podcast that touches on various aspects of Christmas. Todd Killian, the host, has done some podcasts where he and a guest recast the roles in a Christmas movie. There are also a few Merry Melee episodes. These are debates between three guests with a few questions asked by Todd. Todd also has interviewed some of the podcasters that I’ve mentioned.
Sleigh Bells and Mistletoe Christmas also came out in 2019. This cheery podcast, hosted by news reporters, Rikki Meece and Mary Richards, is full of Christmas news and interviews with interesting people from all walks of life.
Last summer, I found two more podcasts.
Season’s Eatings is hosted by Glen Warren. He gives us a history on Christmas foods from around the world. If you want to know more about Figgy Pudding, Sugar Plums, and Wassail, then this is the place for you.
A Cozy Christmas is hosted by Art. The idea behind this podcast is to slow down, relax with a favorite drink and feel cozy as you listen to the conversations and some little known Christmas stories. The stories and conversation style interviews keep me interested enough that my gardening and house work seem to go by faster when I'm listening to this podcast.
Is there a podcast player that you use but wasn’t mentioned above? What podcasts do you enjoy?