Podcasts about Christmas Eve

Special Audio Presentation“Empty Boxes” is a special presentation of The Lutheran Hour®. Hosted by Lutheran Hour Speaker Rev. Dr. Michael Ziegler, this original story invites listeners on a chilly car-ride home after a candlelight Christmas Eve service that becomes a turning point for a teenage boy—an enlightening moment he will return to for years to come. A single question: what are you thinking about? A nostalgic man reflects back when he realized why, not just Christmastime, but all of life, is such a let-down—glimmering wrapping, nothing on the inside. Ecclesiastes calls it meaningless or “vanities of vanities.” How does one put a word to something that isn't there? But then, maybe what we're searching for can't fit in a box?

This week is presented by "Dial It Back", available now on Prime Video. This episode is sponsored by Cozy Earth! Use promo code HALLMARK to get 40% off at cozyearth.com--Brian is back to review a brand-new holiday movie that fans have been buzzing about: Christmas Above the Clouds. Featuring the return of an Erin Krakow and Tyler Hynes pairing, this movie is a little Christmas magic at 30,000 feet.ABOUT CHRISTMAS ABOVE THE CLOUDSWorkaholic CEO Ella Neezer tries to skip Christmas by boarding a flight to Australia. But her plan takes an unexpected turn when she is visited by three quirky spirits representing her past, present, and future — and she finds herself face-to-face with her ex-fiancé Jake. As Ella navigates these encounters, she's forced to confront the choices that prioritized success over connection, ultimately rediscovering love, compassion, and the true meaning of Christmas.AIR DATE & NETWORK FOR CHRISTMAS ABOVE THE CLOUDSNovember 8, 2025 | Hallmark ChannelCAST & CREW OF CHRISTMAS ABOVE THE CLOUDSErin Krakow as Ella NeezerTyler Hynes as JakeDirected by Peter BensonBRAN'S CHRISTMAS ABOVE THE CLOUDS SYNOPSISMeet Ella Neezer — a certified holiday grump. She runs a fancy-pants travel company and all of her employees hate her. It's Christmas Eve, but she could not care less. The new ad campaign isn't good enough and she wants improvements by the 26th. “I'm not saying you have to work on Christmas… it just has to be better by then.” Very chill.Ella and her assistant Bobbi head to the airport to catch a flight to Australia so Ella can skip Christmas entirely — even though Bobbi has a son, Tim, that she'd clearly rather be home with. On the way, Ella's sister calls trying to convince her to come home for Christmas. Absolutely not. Ella looks at a photo of her mentor, Marlene Jacobson, and for a second it looks like Marlene is moving. Weird, but let's brush that off.At the airport, Ella bumps into her ex-boyfriend Jake — the one she broke up with six years ago today. Even worse? He's seated right next to her on the plane.The plane takes off and suddenly things get spooky. Lights flicker. Window shades go up and down. And then — Marlene Jacobson appears on the seat-back screen to haunt her. She announces that Ella will be visited by three spirits. Buckle up, bucko.Ella falls asleep and is woken by the Ghost of Christmas Past, who is obviously a flight attendant. She shoves Ella out of the plane (casual) and Ella lands in her own childhood. She sees herself and her sister stuck at boarding school over Christmas. Then she jumps to college, where she meets young Jake, the cute librarian who gives her his scarf. They were happy once! Next, she sees an old company Christmas party — back when her employees liked her — and she and Jake are very in love. We get a memory montage: years together. He even proposes at Christmas. But as her career ramps up under Marlene, Ella gets busier, misses more time, and eventually the relationship breaks. She watches herself end it, placing the ring down. Finally, she sees herself snapping at Bobbi last year when Bobbi needed to rush home to her sick son. It hurts.Ella wakes back up on the plane and apologizes to Jake for all the Christmases she worked through. She could have done better.Then comes the Ghost of Christmas Present, who takes her to a bar where her employees are having their own mini Christmas party — and talking about how much they dislike her. Ouch. They visit Ella's sister's house, where her sister wishes Ella could just share in the joy. Ella sticks around long enough to remember how fun Christmas used to be. They visit Jake's charity, which is thriving. There's a woman clearly into him. Ella is jealous. They stop by his old friends' annual “Dive Bar Christmas” — the tradition Ella used to love. She misses those days. Then they visit Bobbi's house — Tim is sick with asthma, and the family resents Ella… until Tim says he's thankful for Miss Neezer because the job helps afford his medicine. Ella is crushed.Back to the plane she goes. Bobbi's asleep, so Ella goes to talk to Jake instead.Finally, the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come arrives. Ella sees her employees talking like someone is gone — but who? At her sister's house, everyone is dressed in black. Jake shows up with flowers. Someone has died. Eventually, Ella realizes Jake gave up on love. Then she sees Bobbi's home. Tim's chair is empty. And then — she sees her own grave. She's devastated, begging for a chance to change.Suddenly — she's back on the plane. The flight has landed in Utah due to engine trouble. Coincidentally, her sister lives in Utah. It's Christmas morning (technically 1 AM).Ella snaps into action. She tells Bobbi she's getting a promotion, double salary, the best health insurance imaginable, and a first-class flight home to be with Tim. Bobbi is stunned.Ella and Jake go to breakfast. Ella tells him she doesn't want to go through life alone — especially not without him. She apologizes — sincerely. They slow dance. He dips her. They kiss BIG ONES.They surprise her sister. Ella apologizes for not being the sister she should have been. They spend Christmas together. Jake tells Ella he loves her. She tells him she's always loved him — some might say it was always you. They kiss again.Bobbi FaceTimes. Tim says, “God bless us, everyone.”The end.

Grinch is back and jollier than NEVER! Whoville's sassiest late-night talk show host returns for season 3 with more sharp-tongued monologues about everything nipping at his nose this holiday season, his signature brand of merry mischief, and a fete of festive banter, determined to charm a sleigh-full of A-list guests into admitting that Christmas might just be ho-ho-horribly overrated.This season, Grinch unveils his boldest scam yet: "Grinch-a-palooza," an over-the-top extravaganza timed to outshine Whoville's beloved tree lighting ceremony. But when his trusted producer Cindy-Lou Who sides with the town's holiday tradition instead of helping him plan the perfect palooza, the ultimate festive face-off begins. Grinch vs. Cindy—whose Christmas Eve bash will reign supreme? The battle for holiday supremacy is officially ON. Listen to ‘Tis the Grinch Holiday Podcast: Wondery.fm/GrinchSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This is the story of a brave and hard working veteran who had to overcome sorrow, pain and life's hard knocks since he was four years old. Yet he was determined to find a way to a path of balance and clarity in life. Rob mentioned that by the time he was a teen, he felt that he'd rather die overseas than stay living with his father and stepmother. Rob served his country for seven years. After attempting to take his life and being assaulted by a senior officer, he decided that it was time to retire. Insomnia was chronic and conventional treatments weren't helping with Rob's mental health issues  Rob decided to head to Asia and more or less loose himself in the culture, nature and face his demons. He explains, "Instead of waiting, I set out on a journey that changed everything.I lived with tribes in the jungles of the Philippines, spent three months as the disciple of a Hindu monk in the Himalayas, trained under a Shaolin master in China, and later joined a troop of spear fishermen in Boracay who hunted in the deep daily to feed their community during the pandemic.The lessons I gathered became the foundation of my book "Unfiltered Wisdom," a raw look at resilience, self-discovery, and mental health from the inside out." His book, "Unfiltered Wisdom," is the result of re-examining himself, his pain, sorrow, sickness and anger. Rob's first contact with me was this email:"I lost my mother when I was four years old on Christmas Eve in 1987 so I didn't really have much of a relationship with her throughout my life because she was gone.However, my father remarried, and I had a stepmother. We had a very complicated relationship, but she did really help my dad get himself back in order and gave us a way better life than my siblings before he had so I'm definitely grateful for her efforts and sacrifice in that regard.I'm interested in talking about my mom but again I don't really know too much about my real mother other than stories that I was told. My stepmother was the only mother that I knew and I'm comfortable to talk about her, but our relationship was very mixed with a lot of love, but I also experienced quite a bit of abuse so I have mixed emotions about it. It might make a good content to expose and talk about the idea of men having a mother wound.This typically drives them to be adverse to committed relationships and to be overly promiscuous because they don't want the risk of being vulnerable with a woman due to their unhealed mother issues.TURN YOURSELF AROUND FROM BEING A VICTIM AND A PLACE OF WOUNDS AND TURNING IT INTO WISDOM, DEVELOPMENT, HOPE AND PEACE AND ACTUALLY BE WHO YOU WANT TO BE."Rob shared so much with me including his journey throughout Asia, he shared "I lived with tribes in the jungles of the Philippines, spent three months as the disciple of a Hindu monk in the Himalayas, trained under a Shaolin master in China, and later joined a troop of spear fishermen in Boracay who hunted in the deep daily to feed their community during the pandemic."The lessons I gathered became the foundation of my book Unfiltered Wisdom, a raw look at resilience, self-discovery, and mental health from the inside out.https://unfiltered-wisdom.com/the-book/ I admire Rob tremendously for all the work her's done to bring himself inner peace. It's an important lesson, that sometimes following conventional protocol for healing isn't beneficial to all. It's clear that bravery and desperation help us face our illnesses/issues but honesty is the most important thing-being honest with yourself and allow others to help.Social Media Links / Website:            •           Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/robert.greene.799034            •           Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/un_filtered_wisdom/            •           LinkedIn:https://id.linkedin.com/in/unfilteredwisdom            •           Website:www.unfiltered-wisdom.com "Should Have Listened To My Mother" is an ongoing conversation about mothers/female role models and the roles they play in our lives. Jackie's guests are open and honest and answer the question, are you who you are today because of, or in spite of, your mother and so much more. You'll be amazed at what the responses are.Gina Kunadian wrote this 5 Star review on Apple Podcast:SHLTMM TESTIMONIAL GINA KUNADIAN JUNE 18, 2024“A Heartfelt and Insightful Exploration of Maternal Love”Jackie Tantillo's “Should Have Listened To My Mother” Podcast is a treasure and it's clear why it's a 2023 People's Choice Podcast Award Nominee. This show delves into the profound impact mother and maternal role models have on our lives through personal stories and reflections.Each episode offers a chance to learn how different individuals have been shaped by their mothers' actions and words. Jackie skillfully guides these conversations, revealing why guests with similar backgrounds have forged different paths.This podcast is a collection of timeless stories that highlight the powerful role of maternal figures in our society. Whether your mother influenced you positively or you thrived despite challenges, this show resonates deeply.I highly recommend “Should Have Listened To My Mother” Podcast for its insightful, heartfelt and enriching content.Gina Kunadian"Should Have Listened To My Mother" would not be possible without the generosity, sincerity and insight from my guests. In 2018/2019, in getting ready to launch my podcast, so many were willing to give their time and share their personal stories of their relationship with their mother, for better or worse and what they learned from that maternal relationship. Some of my guests include Nationally and Internationally recognized authors, Journalists, Columbia University Professors, Health Practitioners, Scientists, Artists, Attorneys, Baritone Singer, Pulitzer Prize Winning Journalist, Activists, Freighter Sea Captain, Film Production Manager, Professor of Writing Montclair State University, Attorney and family advocate @CUNY Law; NYC First Responder/NYC Firefighter, Child and Adult Special Needs Activist, Property Manager, Chefs, Self Help Advocates, therapists and so many more talented and insightful women and men.Jackie has worked in the broadcasting industry for over four decades. She has interviewed many fascinating people including musicians, celebrities, authors, activists, entrepreneurs, politicians and more.A big thank you goes to Ricky Soto, NYC based Graphic Designer, who created the logo for "Should Have Listened To My Mother".Check out the SHLTMM Podcast website for more background information: https://www.jackietantillo.com/Or more demos of what's to come at https://soundcloud.com/jackie-tantilloLink to website and show notes: https://shltmm.simplecast.com/Or Find SHLTMM Website here: https://shltmm.simplecast.com/Listen wherever you find podcasts: https://www.facebook.com/ShouldHaveListenedToMyMotherhttps://www.facebook.com/jackietantilloInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/shouldhavelistenedtomymother/https://www.instagram.com/jackietantillo7/LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackie-tantillo/YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@ShouldHaveListenedToMyMother

Grinch is back and jollier than NEVER! Whoville's sassiest late-night talk show host returns for season 3 with more sharp-tongued monologues about everything nipping at his nose this holiday season, his signature brand of merry mischief, and a fete of festive banter, determined to charm a sleigh-full of A-list guests into admitting that Christmas might just be ho-ho-horribly overrated.This season, Grinch unveils his boldest scam yet: "Grinch-a-palooza," an over-the-top extravaganza timed to outshine Whoville's beloved tree lighting ceremony. But when his trusted producer Cindy-Lou Who sides with the town's holiday tradition instead of helping him plan the perfect palooza, the ultimate festive face-off begins. Grinch vs. Cindy—whose Christmas Eve bash will reign supreme? The battle for holiday supremacy is officially ON. Listen to ‘Tis the Grinch Holiday Podcast: Wondery.fm/GrinchSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Grinch is back and jollier than NEVER! Whoville's sassiest late-night talk show host returns for season 3 with more sharp-tongued monologues about everything nipping at his nose this holiday season, his signature brand of merry mischief, and a fete of festive banter, determined to charm a sleigh-full of A-list guests into admitting that Christmas might just be ho-ho-horribly overrated.This season, Grinch unveils his boldest scam yet: "Grinch-a-palooza," an over-the-top extravaganza timed to outshine Whoville's beloved tree lighting ceremony. But when his trusted producer Cindy-Lou Who sides with the town's holiday tradition instead of helping him plan the perfect palooza, the ultimate festive face-off begins. Grinch vs. Cindy—whose Christmas Eve bash will reign supreme? The battle for holiday supremacy is officially ON. Listen to ‘Tis the Grinch Holiday Podcast: Wondery.fm/GrinchSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Grinch is back and jollier than NEVER! Whoville's sassiest late-night talk show host returns for season 3 with more sharp-tongued monologues about everything nipping at his nose this holiday season, his signature brand of merry mischief, and a fete of festive banter, determined to charm a sleigh-full of A-list guests into admitting that Christmas might just be ho-ho-horribly overrated.This season, Grinch unveils his boldest scam yet: "Grinch-a-palooza," an over-the-top extravaganza timed to outshine Whoville's beloved tree lighting ceremony. But when his trusted producer Cindy-Lou Who sides with the town's holiday tradition instead of helping him plan the perfect palooza, the ultimate festive face-off begins. Grinch vs. Cindy—whose Christmas Eve bash will reign supreme? The battle for holiday supremacy is officially ON. Listen to ‘Tis the Grinch Holiday Podcast: Wondery.fm/GrinchSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week is presented by "Dial It Back", available now on Prime Video. ---Ryan is back for another UPtv Christmas movie. This week, we're diving into a brand-new UPtv royal holiday romance: A Royal Christmas Manor. ABOUT A ROYAL CHRISTMAS MANORPrince Alexander of Fredonia escapes to a cozy inn hoping to experience a traditional American Christmas. Katie, who runs the inn, falls for him, completely unaware of his true royal identity.AIR DATE & NETWORK FOR: A ROYAL CHRISTMAS MANORNovember 9 2025 | UPtvCAST & CREW OF: A ROYAL CHRISTMAS MANORKirk Barker as Prince AlexanderBrianna Cohen as KatieBRAN'S A ROYAL CHRISTMAS MANOR SYNOPSISThe movie kicks off with Katie saying goodbye to her parents as they head off to spend Christmas with their grandchild. She's a little bummed about spending the holiday alone, but it is what it is.Cut to Prince Alexander of Fredonia. The tabloids are pressuring him to settle down because he's “getting old,” and he needs a break from all the royal expectations.Katie, meanwhile, is running her family's inn while her parents are gone and is hoping to prove she's ready to take it over for good.Alexander decides he wants to spend the Christmas season somewhere quiet — and what better place than a U.S. town also called Fredonia that actually gets snow? His parents reluctantly agree to let him go with his best friend, Jackson. They end up booking the last available room at Katie's inn.When they arrive, Alexander is instantly smitten — not just with the charm of the inn, but with Katie herself, especially since she has no idea he's a prince. She treats him like a totally normal guy.Cell reception is spotty, so Alex can't call home, and his parents start worrying. Meanwhile, Katie takes him snowshoeing and sparks begin to fly.There's also another guest, Mr. Norton, who seems like he's supposed to be quirky but just comes across as kind of creepy. Alex is committed to making Katie fall for him, not the prince version of him, so he volunteers to assemble a bookshelf even though he has never built anything in his life. She also invites him to gather firewood with her the next day. Love is definitely brewing.Then a bad snowstorm hits, which keeps the inn's cook, Gretchen, from making it in. Katie has to handle the kitchen, but… she's not great. Luckily, Alexander secretly loves to cook. A guy named William shows up, and Alex briefly assumes William and Katie are a thing, but they are very much not, which is a relief.Katie and Alex go down to the basement to look for a box of decorations. He finds some mistletoe, and yes — that's when the smooching happens.The storm makes it impossible for Alex to get to the airport on Christmas Eve. His parents, now very concerned, decide to come find him. Before Alex can confess who he really is, his parents show up and spill the royal beans.Shockingly, Katie handles it pretty well! Everyone ends up spending Christmas Eve together. Katie opens the gift her mom left for her — a key to the inn. It's officially hers. She celebrates by kissing Alex some more.Finally, they go to visit his royal home.THE END! Watch the show on Youtube - www.deckthehallmark.com/youtubeInterested in advertising on the show? Email bran@deckthehallmark.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Grinch is back and jollier than NEVER! Whoville's sassiest late-night talk show host returns for season 3 with more sharp-tongued monologues about everything nipping at his nose this holiday season, his signature brand of merry mischief, and a fete of festive banter, determined to charm a sleigh-full of A-list guests into admitting that Christmas might just be ho-ho-horribly overrated. This season, Grinch unveils his boldest scam yet: "Grinch-a-palooza," an over-the-top extravaganza timed to outshine Whoville's beloved tree lighting ceremony. But when his trusted producer Cindy-Lou Who sides with the town's holiday tradition instead of helping him plan the perfect palooza, the ultimate festive face-off begins. Grinch vs. Cindy—whose Christmas Eve bash will reign supreme? The battle for holiday supremacy is officially ON. Listen to ‘Tis the Grinch Holiday Podcast: Behind the Velvet Rope: Wondery.fm/GR_BTVR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Grinch is back and jollier than NEVER! Whoville's sassiest late-night talk show host returns for season 3 with more sharp-tongued monologues about everything nipping at his nose this holiday season, his signature brand of merry mischief, and a fete of festive banter, determined to charm a sleigh-full of A-list guests into admitting that Christmas might just be ho-ho-horribly overrated.This season, Grinch unveils his boldest scam yet: "Grinch-a-palooza," an over-the-top extravaganza timed to outshine Whoville's beloved tree lighting ceremony. But when his trusted producer Cindy-Lou Who sides with the town's holiday tradition instead of helping him plan the perfect palooza, the ultimate festive face-off begins. Grinch vs. Cindy—whose Christmas Eve bash will reign supreme? The battle for holiday supremacy is officially ON. Listen to ‘Tis the Grinch Holiday Podcast: Wondery.fm/GrinchSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Grinch is back and jollier than NEVER! Whoville's sassiest late-night talk show host returns for season 3 with more sharp-tongued monologues about everything nipping at his nose this holiday season, his signature brand of merry mischief, and a fete of festive banter, determined to charm a sleigh-full of A-list guests into admitting that Christmas might just be ho-ho-horribly overrated.This season, Grinch unveils his boldest scam yet: "Grinch-a-palooza," an over-the-top extravaganza timed to outshine Whoville's beloved tree lighting ceremony. But when his trusted producer Cindy-Lou Who sides with the town's holiday tradition instead of helping him plan the perfect palooza, the ultimate festive face-off begins. Grinch vs. Cindy—whose Christmas Eve bash will reign supreme? The battle for holiday supremacy is officially ON. Listen to ‘Tis the Grinch Holiday Podcast: Wondery.fm/GrinchSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Grinch is back and jollier than NEVER! Whoville's sassiest late-night talk show host returns for season 3 with more sharp-tongued monologues about everything nipping at his nose this holiday season, his signature brand of merry mischief, and a fete of festive banter, determined to charm a sleigh-full of A-list guests into admitting that Christmas might just be ho-ho-horribly overrated.This season, Grinch unveils his boldest scam yet: "Grinch-a-palooza," an over-the-top extravaganza timed to outshine Whoville's beloved tree lighting ceremony. But when his trusted producer Cindy-Lou Who sides with the town's holiday tradition instead of helping him plan the perfect palooza, the ultimate festive face-off begins. Grinch vs. Cindy—whose Christmas Eve bash will reign supreme? The battle for holiday supremacy is officially ON. Listen to ‘Tis the Grinch Holiday Podcast: Wondery.fm/GrinchSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Grinch is back and jollier than NEVER! Whoville's sassiest late-night talk show host returns for season 3 with more sharp-tongued monologues about everything nipping at his nose this holiday season, his signature brand of merry mischief, and a fete of festive banter, determined to charm a sleigh-full of A-list guests into admitting that Christmas might just be ho-ho-horribly overrated.This season, Grinch unveils his boldest scam yet: "Grinch-a-palooza," an over-the-top extravaganza timed to outshine Whoville's beloved tree lighting ceremony. But when his trusted producer Cindy-Lou Who sides with the town's holiday tradition instead of helping him plan the perfect palooza, the ultimate festive face-off begins. Grinch vs. Cindy—whose Christmas Eve bash will reign supreme? The battle for holiday supremacy is officially ON. Listen to ‘Tis the Grinch Holiday Podcast: Wondery.fm/GrinchSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Grinch is back and jollier than NEVER! Whoville's sassiest late-night talk show host returns for season 3 with more sharp-tongued monologues about everything nipping at his nose this holiday season, his signature brand of merry mischief, and a fete of festive banter, determined to charm a sleigh-full of A-list guests into admitting that Christmas might just be ho-ho-horribly overrated.This season, Grinch unveils his boldest scam yet: "Grinch-a-palooza," an over-the-top extravaganza timed to outshine Whoville's beloved tree lighting ceremony. But when his trusted producer Cindy-Lou Who sides with the town's holiday tradition instead of helping him plan the perfect palooza, the ultimate festive face-off begins. Grinch vs. Cindy—whose Christmas Eve bash will reign supreme? The battle for holiday supremacy is officially ON. Listen to ‘Tis the Grinch Holiday Podcast: Wondery.fm/GrinchSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Grinch is back and jollier than NEVER! Whoville's sassiest late-night talk show host returns for season 3 with more sharp-tongued monologues about everything nipping at his nose this holiday season, his signature brand of merry mischief, and a fete of festive banter, determined to charm a sleigh-full of A-list guests into admitting that Christmas might just be ho-ho-horribly overrated.This season, Grinch unveils his boldest scam yet: "Grinch-a-palooza," an over-the-top extravaganza timed to outshine Whoville's beloved tree lighting ceremony. But when his trusted producer Cindy-Lou Who sides with the town's holiday tradition instead of helping him plan the perfect palooza, the ultimate festive face-off begins. Grinch vs. Cindy—whose Christmas Eve bash will reign supreme? The battle for holiday supremacy is officially ON. Listen to ‘Tis the Grinch Holiday Podcast: Wondery.fm/GrinchSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Grinch is back and jollier than NEVER! Whoville's sassiest late-night talk show host returns for season 3 with more sharp-tongued monologues about everything nipping at his nose this holiday season, his signature brand of merry mischief, and a fete of festive banter, determined to charm a sleigh-full of A-list guests into admitting that Christmas might just be ho-ho-horribly overrated.This season, Grinch unveils his boldest scam yet: "Grinch-a-palooza," an over-the-top extravaganza timed to outshine Whoville's beloved tree lighting ceremony. But when his trusted producer Cindy-Lou Who sides with the town's holiday tradition instead of helping him plan the perfect palooza, the ultimate festive face-off begins. Grinch vs. Cindy—whose Christmas Eve bash will reign supreme? The battle for holiday supremacy is officially ON. Listen to ‘Tis the Grinch Holiday Podcast: Wondery.fm/GrinchSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Joseph Holmes—film critic, culture writer, and contributing film critic on my newsletter—joins the show to talk about his debut feature film Jim vs. the Future, releasing November 11, 2025 on digital and DVD.  An ordinary guy, a Christmas Eve breakup, and time-traveling kidnappers from competing futures all fighting to force one decision that will save their timeline…and erase the rest. Think Primer meets It's a Wonderful Life—with theology, multiverse genocide, and a guy who's tired of being a doormat.Note: This video version of this podcast includes the trailer to Jim vs. the Future. You can watch the video version on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ET4JMYZu1ICHAPTERS:(0:00 – Introduction)(1:09 – Jim vs. the Future Plot (No Spoilers))(2:45 – From Desperation to Debut Feature)(5:27 – TRAILER)(8:06 – Christianity in a Multiverse Movie)(10:40 – Why Hollywood Loves the Multiverse (And What It Reveals))(14:50 – Christian Imagination vs. Worldview)(22:30 – Romance, Men, and the “Doormat” Trap)(27:35 – The Shift: Faith Films Go Male-Coded)(30:50 – Horror + Faith = 2025's Big Winners)(34:46 – Wrap & Release Info)JOSEPH HOLMES LINKS:

Grinch is back and jollier than NEVER! Whoville's sassiest late-night talk show host returns for season 3 with more sharp-tongued monologues about everything nipping at his nose this holiday season, his signature brand of merry mischief, and a fete of festive banter, determined to charm a sleigh-full of A-list guests into admitting that Christmas might just be ho-ho-horribly overrated.This season, Grinch unveils his boldest scam yet: "Grinch-a-palooza," an over-the-top extravaganza timed to outshine Whoville's beloved tree lighting ceremony. But when his trusted producer Cindy-Lou Who sides with the town's holiday tradition instead of helping him plan the perfect palooza, the ultimate festive face-off begins. Grinch vs. Cindy—whose Christmas Eve bash will reign supreme? The battle for holiday supremacy is officially ON. Listen to ‘Tis the Grinch Holiday Podcast: Wondery.fm/GrinchSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Grinch is back and jollier than NEVER! Whoville's sassiest late-night talk show host returns for season 3 with more sharp-tongued monologues about everything nipping at his nose this holiday season, his signature brand of merry mischief, and a fete of festive banter, determined to charm a sleigh-full of A-list guests into admitting that Christmas might just be ho-ho-horribly overrated.This season, Grinch unveils his boldest scam yet: "Grinch-a-palooza," an over-the-top extravaganza timed to outshine Whoville's beloved tree lighting ceremony. But when his trusted producer Cindy-Lou Who sides with the town's holiday tradition instead of helping him plan the perfect palooza, the ultimate festive face-off begins. Grinch vs. Cindy—whose Christmas Eve bash will reign supreme? The battle for holiday supremacy is officially ON. Listen to ‘Tis the Grinch Holiday Podcast: Wondery.fm/GrinchSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Grinch is back and jollier than NEVER! Whoville's sassiest late-night talk show host returns for season 3 with more sharp-tongued monologues about everything nipping at his nose this holiday season, his signature brand of merry mischief, and a fete of festive banter, determined to charm a sleigh-full of A-list guests into admitting that Christmas might just be ho-ho-horribly overrated.This season, Grinch unveils his boldest scam yet: "Grinch-a-palooza," an over-the-top extravaganza timed to outshine Whoville's beloved tree lighting ceremony. But when his trusted producer Cindy-Lou Who sides with the town's holiday tradition instead of helping him plan the perfect palooza, the ultimate festive face-off begins. Grinch vs. Cindy—whose Christmas Eve bash will reign supreme? The battle for holiday supremacy is officially ON. Listen to ‘Tis the Grinch Holiday Podcast: Wondery.fm/GrinchSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Grinch is back and jollier than NEVER! Whoville's sassiest late-night talk show host returns for season 3 with more sharp-tongued monologues about everything nipping at his nose this holiday season, his signature brand of merry mischief, and a fete of festive banter, determined to charm a sleigh-full of A-list guests into admitting that Christmas might just be ho-ho-horribly overrated.This season, Grinch unveils his boldest scam yet: "Grinch-a-palooza," an over-the-top extravaganza timed to outshine Whoville's beloved tree lighting ceremony. But when his trusted producer Cindy-Lou Who sides with the town's holiday tradition instead of helping him plan the perfect palooza, the ultimate festive face-off begins. Grinch vs. Cindy—whose Christmas Eve bash will reign supreme? The battle for holiday supremacy is officially ON. Listen to ‘Tis the Grinch Holiday Podcast: Wondery.fm/GrinchSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Grinch is back and jollier than NEVER! Whoville's sassiest late-night talk show host returns for season 3 with more sharp-tongued monologues about everything nipping at his nose this holiday season, his signature brand of merry mischief, and a fete of festive banter, determined to charm a sleigh-full of A-list guests into admitting that Christmas might just be ho-ho-horribly overrated.This season, Grinch unveils his boldest scam yet: "Grinch-a-palooza," an over-the-top extravaganza timed to outshine Whoville's beloved tree lighting ceremony. But when his trusted producer Cindy-Lou Who sides with the town's holiday tradition instead of helping him plan the perfect palooza, the ultimate festive face-off begins. Grinch vs. Cindy—whose Christmas Eve bash will reign supreme? The battle for holiday supremacy is officially ON. Listen to ‘Tis the Grinch Holiday Podcast: Wondery.fm/GrinchSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Grinch is back and jollier than NEVER! Whoville's sassiest late-night talk show host returns for season 3 with more sharp-tongued monologues about everything nipping at his nose this holiday season, his signature brand of merry mischief, and a fete of festive banter, determined to charm a sleigh-full of A-list guests into admitting that Christmas might just be ho-ho-horribly overrated.This season, Grinch unveils his boldest scam yet: "Grinch-a-palooza," an over-the-top extravaganza timed to outshine Whoville's beloved tree lighting ceremony. But when his trusted producer Cindy-Lou Who sides with the town's holiday tradition instead of helping him plan the perfect palooza, the ultimate festive face-off begins. Grinch vs. Cindy—whose Christmas Eve bash will reign supreme? The battle for holiday supremacy is officially ON. Listen to ‘Tis the Grinch Holiday Podcast: Wondery.fm/GrinchSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Grinch is back and jollier than NEVER! Whoville's sassiest late-night talk show host returns for season 3 with more sharp-tongued monologues about everything nipping at his nose this holiday season, his signature brand of merry mischief, and a fete of festive banter, determined to charm a sleigh-full of A-list guests into admitting that Christmas might just be ho-ho-horribly overrated.This season, Grinch unveils his boldest scam yet: "Grinch-a-palooza," an over-the-top extravaganza timed to outshine Whoville's beloved tree lighting ceremony. But when his trusted producer Cindy-Lou Who sides with the town's holiday tradition instead of helping him plan the perfect palooza, the ultimate festive face-off begins. Grinch vs. Cindy—whose Christmas Eve bash will reign supreme? The battle for holiday supremacy is officially ON. Listen to ‘Tis the Grinch Holiday Podcast: Wondery.fm/GrinchSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We keep the holly jolly feeling going hard when we discuss the progressive rock masterpiece "Christmas Eve & Other Stories" by Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Follow us on IG Buy a Shirt or Coffee Mug Join our Facebook Group Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alonso & Jacks are here to help us preview the Netflix (and Disney+) movies that we will be covering this year! Those movies are...A Merry Little Ex-MasPremiere Date: November 12Starring: Alicia Silverstone, Oliver Hudson, Jameela Jamil, Pierson Fode, Melissa Joan HartSynopsis: Recently divorced Kate hopes for one last perfect family Christmas before selling her home, but her plans go awry when her ex-husband arrives with his younger and very successful new girlfriend.A Very Jonas Christmas Movie (Disney+)Premiere Date: November 14Starring: Kevin Jonas, Joe Jonas, Nick JonasSynopsis: After the Jonas Brothers finish their London tour, all they want is to get home for Christmas. But missed connections and mounting setbacks test their bond. Each brother faces personal challenges — Kevin longs to branch out, Joe reconnects with someone from his past, and Nick feels the pressure of leadership. As they struggle to make it home, they rediscover the Christmas spirit and the importance of family. The film features new original songs and surprise celebrity cameos.Champagne ProblemsPremiere Date: November 19Starring: Minka Kelly, Tom Wozniczka, Thibault de MontalembertSynopsis: A business executive travels to France to acquire a prestigious champagne brand before Christmas, but her plans are derailed when she falls for a charming Parisian — only to learn he's the founder's son.Jingle Bell HeistPremiere Date: November 26Starring: Olivia Holt, Connor Swindells, Lucy Punch, Peter Serafinowicz, Poppy DraytonSynopsis: Small-time thieves Sophia and Nick set their sights on robbing a famous London department store on Christmas Eve. Forced to partner up, their growing feelings and hidden secrets threaten both the heist and their future.My Secret SantaPremiere Date: December 3Starring: Alexandra Breckenridge, Ryan Eggold, Tia MowrySynopsis: A single mom disguises herself as a man to land a job as the resort's seasonal Santa. Romance with the hotel manager complicates her double life and puts everything at risk. Watch the show on Youtube - www.deckthehallmark.com/youtubeInterested in advertising on the show? Email bran@deckthehallmark.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

5. Lunar Orbit Insertion and the Disappointment of the Moon's Surface. Bob Zimmerman discusses how on Christmas Eve, Apollo 8 approached the moon. The critical moment was Lunar Orbit Injection (LOI), requiring the firing of the Service Propulsion System (SPS) engine. This burn had to occur while the craft was behind the moon, resulting in a dramatic Loss of Signal (LOS) for Earth. Susan Borman particularly dreaded this moment because the SPS engine, which had no redundancy, was their only way into and out of lunar orbit. NASA believed firing the engine would clear any potentially problematic bubbles in the fuel lines, adding another risk. Once in orbit, the astronauts were visually disappointed, with Frank Borman describing the moon's surface as looking like a "skull" or a lifeless sandbox. Their direct observation settled the debate among scientists, confirming that the moon's craters were the result of impacts, not volcanic activity. 1962

7. The Iconic Earthrise Photo and the Genesis Reading Broadcast. Bob Zimmerman discusses how while orbiting the moon, the crew captured the now-iconic "Earthrise" photographs. A dispute over who took the famous color picture was resolved by transcript analysis: Frank Borman quickly took a black-and-white image, and Bill Anders subsequently captured the celebrated color image after scrambling to change the film. For their Christmas Eve television broadcast, Frank Borman sought guidance for a message that would match the "majesty and the significance" of the moment, as NASA's public relations chief refused to dictate the content. Borman's friend, Joe Leighton, struggled to find suitable, non-sectarian text. Leighton's wife suggested starting at the beginning of the Old Testament. Leighton realized the opening verses of Genesis were perfect, as they were fundamental to the world's major religions and fit the theme of beginning a new era of exploration. Anders, Lovell, and Borman read the verses, surprising the world, concluding with Borman wishing "God bless all of you, all of you on the good Earth." 1790 GREEENWICH

Top Stories for November 8th Publish Date: November 8th From the BG AD Group Studio Welcome to the Gwinnett Daily Post Podcast. Today is Saturday, November 8th and Happy Birthday to Margaret Mitchell I’m Peyton Spurlock and here are your top stories presented by Gwinnett KIA Mall of Georgia. Lawrenceville's Hooper-Renwick Themed Library earns Redevelopment Project of the Year honors Rick Case Bikes for Kids Accepting Bicycle Donations Gwinnett Tech boards earn statewide honors for exemplary leadership and governance All of this and more is coming up on the Gwinnett Daily Post podcast, and if you are looking for community news, we encourage you to listen daily and subscribe! Break 1: Kia Mall of Georgia STORY 1: Lawrenceville's Hooper-Renwick Themed Library earns Redevelopment Project of the Year honors The Hooper-Renwick Themed Library in Lawrenceville just snagged the title of Medium Redevelopment Project of the Year at the Metro Atlanta Redevelopment Summit—and honestly, it’s well-deserved. This isn’t just a library. It’s a reimagining of the historic Hooper-Renwick School, once the only public school for Black students in Gwinnett County. Now, it’s a space that blends the past and present—a library, a museum, a place for storytelling and connection. The project preserves the school’s legacy while creating a vibrant community hub. STORY 2: Rick Case Bikes for Kids Accepting Bicycle Donations Got an old bike collecting dust? Rick Case Bikes for Kids is back, and they’re asking the community to help spread some holiday magic. Through Dec. 20, Rick Case dealerships are accepting gently used bicycles to give to kids who might not otherwise have one. For 44 years, this program has delivered over 122,000 bikes to children through groups like Boys & Girls Clubs, Habitat for Humanity, and local schools. “A first bike is unforgettable,” says Rita Case, CEO of Rick Case Automotive Group. “For many of these kids, it’s their first taste of freedom.” Drop-offs are easy—locations in Duluth and Roswell are open daily. STORY 3: Gwinnett Tech boards earn statewide honors for exemplary leadership and governance Gwinnett Technical College is having a moment—two big milestones worth celebrating. First, the Gwinnett Tech Foundation Board of Trustees was named a 2025 Role Model Board, a pretty big deal in the world of technical education. Why? Because it’s only given to boards that go above and beyond in leadership, advocacy, and making a real difference. And then there’s this: for the 16th year in a row, every single member of the Gwinnett Tech Board of Directors earned certification. Sixteen years! That’s dedication. “These achievements show just how committed our boards are to student success and workforce development,” said Dr. Glen Cannon, Gwinnett Tech’s president. We have opportunities for sponsors to get great engagement on these shows. Call 770.874.3200 for more info. We’ll be right back Break 2: Ingles Markets STORY 4: Stolen trailer leads Gwinnett police to cache of guns and drugs in Doraville home What started as a stolen trailer report in Norcross turned into something much bigger—a stash of guns and drugs uncovered in Doraville, according to Gwinnett County police. It began on Oct. 30, when officers used Flock license plate readers to track the stolen trailer to a vehicle tied to Matthew Davis. A visit to Davis’s home revealed the trailer, now sporting a swapped license plate. But that wasn’t all. A search warrant led officers to more than 30 firearms, fentanyl, meth, and prescription drugs inside the house. No charges yet, but detectives are asking for tips. STORY 5: Mall of Georgia preparing for the holidays and visits with Santa Santa’s back at the Mall of Georgia, and he’s ready for his close-up! You can catch him at the Simon Photo Experience all the way through Christmas Eve. Pro tip: hours vary, so snag a reservation if you can. But Santa’s not just sticking to photos—he’s making the rounds. On Nov. 15, he’ll join the Grinch and Papa Elf for the Tree Lighting Ceremony (7 p.m.), complete with live reindeer, face painting, and *The Polar Express*. Got a furry friend? Pet photos with Santa are happening Nov. 23, 6:30–8:30 p.m. And for families with special needs, there’s a quieter event Dec. 7, 8:30–10 a.m. STORY 6: FIRST LOOK: COhatch Lawrenceville set to open Monday COhatch is bringing its coworking magic to Lawrenceville, opening Monday, Nov. 10, at 190 S. Clayton St. This isn’t your typical office—it’s 30 private offices, four meeting rooms, event space, and even a patio for when you need a little fresh air (or just an excuse to work outside). The vibe? Community-focused. Think high-speed internet, shared kitchens, and spaces designed to connect people from all walks of life. “We want to create inspiring spaces right in the heart of neighborhoods,” says COhatch CEO Matt Davis. STORY 7: Gwinnett Stripers Launch 'Hooked on Books' Reading Program The Gwinnett Stripers are stepping up to the plate with *Hooked on Books*—their first-ever free reading program for elementary students in Gwinnett County. Here’s the deal: read four books, “round the bases,” and score two free tickets to a 2026 Stripers game. Teachers and staff? You’re in on the free tickets, too. Schools can join in two ways: - **Campus Assembly:** Chopper the Groundhog and friends bring the hype with a 30-minute pep rally (if you’re within 15 miles of Coolray Field). - **Virtual Option:** A fun video and all the details sent straight to you. The program runs Jan. 12–March 16, with an April 1 deadline. Details at GoStripers.com. We’ll have closing comments after this Break 4: Ingles Markets Signoff – Thanks again for hanging out with us on today’s Gwinnett Daily Post Podcast. If you enjoy these shows, we encourage you to check out our other offerings, like the Cherokee Tribune Ledger podcast, the Marietta Daily Journal, or the Community Podcast for Rockdale Newton and Morgan Counties. Read more about all our stories and get other great content at www.gwinnettdailypost.com Did you know over 50% of Americans listen to podcasts weekly? Giving you important news about our community and telling great stories are what we do. Make sure you join us for our next episode and be sure to share this podcast on social media with your friends and family. Add us to your Alexa Flash Briefing or your Google Home Briefing and be sure to like, follow, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Produced by the BG Podcast Network Show Sponsors: www.ingles-markets.com www.kiamallofga.com NewsPodcast, CurrentEvents, TopHeadlines, BreakingNews, PodcastDiscussion, PodcastNews, InDepthAnalysis, NewsAnalysis, PodcastTrending, WorldNews, LocalNews, GlobalNews, PodcastInsights, NewsBrief, PodcastUpdate, NewsRoundup, WeeklyNews, DailyNews, PodcastInterviews, HotTopics, PodcastOpinions, InvestigativeJournalism, BehindTheHeadlines, PodcastMedia, NewsStories, PodcastReports, JournalismMatters, PodcastPerspectives, NewsCommentary, PodcastListeners, NewsPodcastCommunity, NewsSource, PodcastCuration, WorldAffairs, PodcastUpdates, AudioNews, PodcastJournalism, EmergingStories, NewsFlash, PodcastConversations See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Capricorn Season has fully arrived, and this holiday week is quieter on the surface — but the energy underneath it is deeply intentional. We open with both the Sun and Moon in Capricorn, then shift into Aquarius and finally into a dreamy Pisces Moon just in time for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.Venus changes signs, traditions get re-evaluated, and the emotional tone softens as we move from grounded structure into intuitive flow. What looks calm may actually be a reset moment you'll feel more than you'll see.If you want the full timing — written scopes, Moon Gateway notes, and your personal 2026 outlook — they're all waiting for you at SchedulingFate.com.GET YOUR PERSONALIZED RECORDED READING @SCHEDULINGFATE.COM✅ Book a recorded or Zoom reading here: https://www.schedulingfate.com/book-online❤️ Get your personalized reports here: https://www.schedulingfate.com/category/all-products

Brian is back, and this time he's bringing along a very special guest — comedian and writer Jen Kirkman! Together, they dive into one of Hallmark's most ambitious Christmas movies yet, A Newport Christmas. For more Jen, head to jenkirkman.comABOUT A NEWPORT CHRISTMASElla, a charitable and spirited socialite from Newport in 1905 who dreams of using her wealth to start a foundation to help others in town, goes for a nighttime sail in her schooner to clear her head when she learns her father intends for her to become engaged to a man she's never met at the upcoming Christmas Eve ball. Upon seeing a comet shoot across the sky, she suddenly finds herself transported to 2025 Newport and meets Nick, a local historian. As Ella adjusts to her new surroundings and the two grow close, the legacy she built in her time and the course of Newport's history risk being erased the longer she stays in the present.AIR DATE & NETWORK FOR A NEWPORT CHRISTMASNovember 2, 2025 | Hallmark ChannelCAST & CREW OF A NEWPORT CHRISTMASGinna Claire Mason as Ella Stewart GraftonWes Brown as Nick McMannyBRAN'S A NEWPORT CHRISTMAS SYNOPSISThe movie kicks off in 1905 in Rhode Island. Ella is a fun-loving socialite who cares deeply for people who are down on their luck. She dreams of starting a charity, but her father isn't having it. He insists she focus on getting engaged instead. Upset, she rushes off in her boat.Cut to present day in Newport. Nick is leading a historical tour when he hears that the Coast Guard needs help with a rescue. Being an ex–Coast Guard officer, he takes a boat out to assist. Suddenly, Ella appears in his boat — she's been transported from 1905 to 2025!They're both shocked, but Nick sails them back to shore. Ella threatens to turn him in to the authorities, but she's clearly confused — this is not the Newport she knows. When she introduces herself, Nick is thrown off. He asks what year she thinks it is. When she answers “1905,” he's like, “Uh oh.” He assumes she's just an overly committed cosplayer. Then she spots an inflatable snowman and faints.When she comes to, she heads back outside and is horrified to see that women wear pants. She walks to what she believes is her home — but there are strangers living there. “WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN MY HOUSE?!” she yells. The family explains the history of her estate and how she's actually a famous historical figure. Ella is stunned. She decides she has to get back home — and what better way than by boat?But when Nick inspects the boat, he's shocked: none of his modern equipment is there, the carvings are different, and the name on the boat has changed. It's clearly her boat.To prove who she is, Ella shows them a secret hiding spot containing her belongings — including a diary no one knew existed. They finally believe her and agree to let her stay at a local bed and breakfast. One guy, Francis, theorizes, “What if the present and the past are happening simultaneously? I believe her. 1905 Ella hasn't started The Giving House yet, so clearly she must make it back.”Nick tells Ella that he thinks she's time-traveled. Ella mentions that before meeting him, she saw a comet — maybe that's connected.Nick takes her to see the town's Christmas tree lighting, and she's absolutely blown away. But when she spots a monument dedicated to The Giving House, she's shaken. As she reads it, Nick gets word that Ella is beginning to disappear from old portraits — and right before their eyes, the text on the monument starts to fade. They realize they need to get her back to 1905 before she vanishes completely.Nick researches the comet and learns there's a “Christmas Comet” that appears every 20 years. Ella confesses that when she saw the comet in 1905, she wished for a different life. The good news? The comet is coming again — in just five days. The bad news? That gives Ella and Nick more time to fall for each other, which they definitely do.As they stroll through town, Ella notices a man who looks vaguely familiar. She later learns he's the man her father bought the boat from. Nick's like, “Wait — that's the same guy I bought the boat from.”They track him down, and he introduces himself as Rex. Ella is stunned — that's the man she's supposed to marry. Rex admits that her father sent him out to rescue her after she ran away… but something went wrong, and he was transported to 2005 instead.Rex explains that when he arrived, he found a letter leaving the boat to him, with instructions to eventually sell it to Nick. He doesn't know who wrote the letter, but he figured out the Christmas Comet is the key to returning home. The twist? He's not sure he wants to go back.Ella's torn. She knows she's destined to marry Rex, but her heart belongs to Nick. Rex confides that he's built a life in the present — and even fallen for another woman. Ella admits she kind of wants to stay, too.Nick tells her she has to return — it's her story, her legacy. She pleads, “Why can't we be together?!” They share a kiss, but Nick pulls away. “We can't do this,” he says.It's the night of the big Christmas ball. Ella and Nick dance and confess their feelings. Then, right as Rex walks in with his fiancée, the Christmas tree begins to disappear — reality is collapsing. They rush to the boat. Nick gives Ella an ornament to remember him by, and they share one last hug and a soft forehead kiss before she sets sail.As she spots the comet streaking across the sky, Ella cries, “Why did you let me fall in love — but please, take me home!”It works. She's back in 1905. She bursts into the Christmas ball and tells her father she refuses to marry the man he chose. He insists, “But he's come all this way!” When Rex is introduced… it's Nick.Back in 2025, her portrait has returned. Nick explains in voiceover that as Ella was sailing off, he realized if Rex wasn't going to go back, he could. Knowing Rex had no family, he took his place — no questions asked.They kiss, and above them, the Christmas Comet twinkles once more. Watch the show on Youtube - www.deckthehallmark.com/youtubeInterested in advertising on the show? Email bran@deckthehallmark.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Every holiday season, Trans-Siberian Orchestra electrifies audiences with a symphony of rock, lights, and storytelling unlike anything else on earth. Nine-time Emmy winner David Sams sits down with Al Pitrelli—TSO's lead guitarist, musical director, and founding member—to reveal the heart, history, and humanity behind one of America's most cherished Christmas traditions. From the early days of analog tape and late nights in the studio to selling out arenas across the country, Al shares how The Ghosts of Christmas Eve continues to evolve while keeping Paul O'Neill's vision alive. Hear how TSO balances nostalgia with innovation, what fans can expect from this year's breathtaking production, and why this music connects generations every winter. Whether you're a lifelong fan or discovering TSO for the first time, this inspiring conversation captures the artistry, emotion, and sheer power of the band that defines the sound of the season. ✨ Experience the magic live—find a show near you and get tickets at TSOTickets.com.

In this episode of the Wounds of the Faithful Podcast, host Diana Winkler interviews Pastor Mark Sowersby, who shares his powerful testimony of overcoming childhood abuse and finding forgiveness and healing through faith. Mark recounts his early life filled with abuse, meeting Jesus at 16, and wrestling with his identity as a victim. Through the love of his church community and personal determination, he not only found freedom but also pursued education and ministry. He also speaks about reconnecting with his birth father and how the loss of his mother catalyzed the launch of his ministry, 'Forgiving the Nightmare'. The episode serves as an inspiring account of transformation, resilience, and the power of unconditional God's love. 00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message 00:47 Welcome to the Podcast 01:25 Introducing Pastor Mark Sowersby 01:40 Technical Difficulties and Apologies 02:17 Pastor Mark's Testimony 05:49 Childhood and Abuse 07:10 Finding Faith and Forgiveness 18:06 Weight Loss Journey and Healing 23:08 Dyslexia and Education Struggles 24:42 Writing a Book and Ministry 28:14 Reading the Bible: Audio vs. Written 28:27 A Life-Changing Christmas Story 29:20 Overcoming Illiteracy with Help 30:14 A Love Story Blossoms 30:56 College Journey and Divine Guidance 32:49 Answering the Call to Ministry 33:13 Struggles with Self-Worth 35:15 Finding Confidence in God 35:56 Weight Loss and Self-Love 40:01 Victim to Victor: A Personal Transformation 45:00 Reuniting with Birth Father 48:20 Launching Forgiving the Nightmare Ministry 54:40 Final Thoughts and Prayer   website: www.forgivingthenightmare.com email: mark@forgivingthenightmare.com    Bio:  Reverend Mark Sowersby has been married to his wonderful wife Jennifer for 17 years and is the father of four children. Mark has been an ordained minister with Assembly of God for over 25 years and is currently the Pastor of Christian Assembly of Schuyler in beautiful upstate New York. Pastor Mark holds a BA in theology from Zion Bible College/Northpoint Bible College. In 2019 Pastor Mark went through a time of great healing. He began speaking about the experiences of his past and God's grace and the transformational work of forgiveness in his life. He now speaks about his story through his ministry, Forgiving The Nightmare. When he isn't serving his congregation and his community through ministry, teaching, and support, you can find him on all the trails and lakes in Upstate New York, spending time with his family.   Website: https://dswministries.org Subscribe to the podcast: https://dswministries.org/subscribe-to-podcast/ Social media links: Join our Private Wounds of the Faithful FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1603903730020136 Twitter: https://twitter.com/DswMinistries YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxgIpWVQCmjqog0PMK4khDw/playlists Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dswministries/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DSW-Ministries-230135337033879 Keep in touch with me! Email subscribe to get my handpicked list of the best resources for abuse survivors! https://thoughtful-composer-4268.ck.page #abuse #trauma Affiliate links: Our Sponsor: 753 Academy: https://www.753academy.com/ Can't travel to The Holy Land right now? The next best thing is Walking The Bible Lands! Get a free video sample of the Bible lands here! https://www.walkingthebiblelands.com/a/18410/hN8u6LQP An easy way to help my ministry: https://dswministries.org/product/buy-me-a-cup-of-tea/ A donation link: https://dswministries.org/donate/ Transcript: [00:00:00] Special thanks to 7 5 3 Academy for sponsoring this episode. No matter where you are in your fitness and health journey, they've got you covered. They specialize in helping you exceed your health and fitness goals, whether that is losing body fat, gaining muscle, or nutritional coaching to match your fitness levels. They do it all with a written guarantee for results so you don't waste time and money on a program that doesn't exceed your goals. There are martial arts programs. Specialize in anti-bullying programs for kids to combat proven Filipino martial arts. They take a holistic, fun, and innovative approach that simply works. Sign up for your free class now. It's 7 5 3 academy.com. Find the link in the show notes. Welcome to the Wounds of the Faithful Podcast, brought to you by DSW Ministries. Your host is singer songwriter, speaker and domestic violence advocate, [00:01:00] Diana Winkler. She is passionate about helping survivors in the church heal from domestic violence and abuse and trauma. This podcast is not a substitute for professional counseling or qualified medical help. Now here is Diana. Welcome back. You made it well. I have a great guest for you today. I told you about him last week. Pastor Mark Sowersby and he has knocked this interview out of the park, and we had an amazing time. We did not have an amazing time with the Zoom platform. I could not hear him, but he could hear me, and it was a half an hour of back and forth trying to get it to work. So I wound up having to record this episode on our phones with the earbuds. So I don't normally do [00:02:00] that. I usually have my $300 studio microphone. So if it doesn't sound as good, I apologize. But this content is so great that I think you'll forgive me, but I'll try to do some, post-production, to make it sound better. So without further ado. Here is Pastor Mark. Yeah. Nice. Nice to meet you. Yes, nice to meet you also. And I saw your wife there too, so, and I think you saw my husband's beard anyway. Yes. And my wife is the strength and the brains of this operation around us. I'm blessed. I'm a blessed man there. Amen. Thank you. Yes. So we got the, um, the technical, uh, demons outta the way. Well, I appreciate that. We tried two computers and my Apple phone. And I have to tell you, I am a novice at computers at best, so Yeah, me too. So we're kindred spirits for sure. Amen. Amen. And I read your testimony about your [00:03:00] website and your faith and your podcast and everything. What a beautiful testimony you have. Oh, thank you so much. So you, you're in Arizona, is that correct? Yes. Wow. Wow. Well, I have to tell you of one of my bucket lists because I'm a northeast guy. I'm a New England, New York. We have snow. It's freezing. They're saying we could have a possible blizzard tomorrow. Uh, I love that. Go to the Grand Canyon. That's my, on my bucket list. My, my family. Hear me speak about that all the time. I've never seen it. But I long to, let me tell you, it's more breathtaking than you can imagine. The pictures don't do it justice. I've been there many, many times, of course. And yes, you should come as soon as you're allowed to travel. I would be over here. Yeah. There's so much more to see. We long to go. We really want to see it. You know, if somebody said, you really see the significance when you look at that great canyon and you see how [00:04:00] small you are, it humbles you and reminds you of what a great big God we serve. So, you know, we just, uh, amen. Thank you for hearing my story and my testimony, and it's an honor to be here with you and celebrate the victories that we have in Christ. Amen, brother. We're gonna get to know you a bit here for my listeners. So why don't you tell the, listeners a little bit about yourself. My name is Mark Sowerby. I'm a husband, a father, a friend. I'm a sports fan. I eat too much. I talk too much, but I'm a pastor and a servant of Jesus Christ. I was looking at all your pictures and stuff, and I saw your progression of your weight loss. That is so amazing. Thank you. Thank you. And my weight loss journey is really just a symptom. Or result of the greater healing that's taken place in my life. Uh, I'm very proud of it. It's something [00:05:00] I have to work hard for and be very disciplined in. So yes, there's a work towards it, but really it's the sub to the main plot. The main plot is what Jesus did in my heart to help me forgive and help me heal the abuses and the pains. And as that began to fill my life, this weight loss journey with the discipline and that burning good habits and exercising, and I'm up to running, uh, six miles a day on the treadmill. So, wow. Six miles. Yeah. So well, remember, we're not in Arizona heat, so it's not hot, well, I have a treadmill. That's usually what I exercise on. I have an exercise room, I don't run unless somebody's chasing me or the laxative has started working. Those are good reasons to run. so let's start at the beginning. So what was your childhood like? Well, unfortunately I have a story of brokenness, pain, and sorrow. I was born from an affair. Uh, so my [00:06:00] father never really had a relationship with him. I am assuming that as soon as he, uh, got the news, he, he left. So I was raised by my mom. I have two siblings that my mom had from a prior marriage. So the three of us kind of lived together at my grandmother's house, and that's what I knew. That was what life was. I was seven years old. A young man came into our family, and that young man eventually married my mom 20 years, her younger, and when he came into our home, he brought abuse and pain. He brought death and destruction. He brought lies and poison. And as any abuser, those abusers have touched many people. And as not only did he abuse my mom in a and. With just vulgarness and pain, but he also abused me and with sexual abuse and physical abuse and emotional abuse. And it was just a very difficult time in my life. So from seven to 14, that's kind of the world I knew. Not only did he abuse my body, not only did he steal from [00:07:00] me, my dignity, my value. Not only did he try to control me, but he also sold me for other men to abuse me. Mm-hmm. Other men to take my body. He stabbed me and beat me and burnt me. And at 16, I was invited to church, I ran into a youth group. And, uh, there's a whole story in that. But let me tell you, I ran into youth group and I ran into Jesus. Jesus was Amen loving. Amen. Jesus's loving arms. He wrapped him around me and started me on the journey, journey of forgiveness. And it's been a journey up. I just turned 50. We just lost my mom earlier this year. Wow. They say a flu. Some say COVID, but we lost her earlier this year and it was really kind of a season for me to walk through some even deeper, deeper healing. We have a lot in common. 'cause I just lost my brother this week. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry for your loss. Yeah. So we both have losses today. Yes. Yes. I'm so [00:08:00] sorry for your loss. You as well. Thank you. Your mother was a believer? She was at the end of her life. As we say, the 11th hour of Thief on the cross remember me. Mm-hmm. My mom did have one of those kind of conversions. Unfortunately, she never, the last few years of her life, she came to understand Jesus, but she never forgave herself or forgave. Her pain. She lived with the regrets and the shames and the guilt of her pains. She knew the love of Christ, and I believe that when she closed her eyes on this earth, she opened her eyes there because of what Christ did for her. But she carried this burden of shame and guilt and hurt. But I forgave her, not because I'm special, not because I'm better. I forgave her because Christ forgave me. And in that journey of learning with to forgive people say to me, how could you forgive such a great thing? I just forgave what was in front of me. That's it. Step by step, precept by precept. That's how I forgave. I [00:09:00] couldn't think about the whole journey all at it was too hard. What's in front of you? Well, we'll definitely get into, your process of forgiveness. Would it be okay to, circle back to your stepfather coming into your life? Now it sounded like it was a very violent to way he treated you. Did he do any grooming of you to start the abuse or was it violent right away? I believe there was grooming, again, being so young and, uh, being so, uh, naive. I probably didn't recognize it, but I'm sure there was grooming you know, there was this natural longing. From a child without a father to find a father figure. Mm-hmm. Um, being so young, not understanding the process of that, and any person that would gimme attention, I would run to them to try to find somebody who would govern me or lead me or [00:10:00] guide me or accept me. So I'm sure there was some manipulation in that, as I became more groomed or broken or became more pliable, if you would, because of my young immaturity. He began to have more of his way on it, just so you know. And I always refer to him as my mother's husband. Never as my stepfather? Yes. Oh, I'm sorry. Yeah. Oh, no, you didn't offend. No, I have forgiven him. I think in forgiveness, it's okay to have, uh, some boundaries. Sure. I think that, to have some healthy boundaries, I've forgiven him. I've put him in the hands of God, and I pray the grace of God will meet him and his pain and his sorrow, and only God can reach him. Uh, but again, there's some healthy boundaries around my life and my families. So what was your relationship with God when you were going through all this abuse? We grew up in a very religious home. I was a New England Protestant, so most of New England are [00:11:00] Irish Catholic, Italian Catholic, Polish Catholic, French Catholic. But I was the rare Protestant. And I remember saying to my grandfather one day, I asked him, I said I, well, let me back up and say, I always knew what I wasn't. I knew I wasn't a Catholic, but I didn't know what I was. So, grandpa used to tell us we weren't Catholic. He announced that pretty clearly. But one day I asked him, I said, then if we're not Catholic, what religion are we? And all he said was, go ask your mother. So, you know, we didn't really grow up in any kind of. Formal faith-based community, uh, you know, sometimes went to Christmas Eve service, you know, those kind of what we call Sea Easter and Christmas. The CE. The CE crowd. That's right. But it really wasn't, a church was not a part of my life. We knew God was there, be good and you go to heaven, be nice to people, you go to heaven. But there really wasn't a faith-based situation. I'll be honest with you, uh, the [00:12:00] only religion I got, or the only faith I got was the one album that was played in our home. It's not a Christian album, it was Jesus Christ Superstar. I'm a kid of the seventies. Yes, I'm very familiar with that. Yeah. And but God's name is so powerful now as a Bible college graduate, as a pastor, I could see all the holes of the theology in that and how it was really written, dragged down the gospel. They say Jesus Christ, and as a child, that name is so powerful. So, I mean, I didn't know anything. So here I was, I, I remember seven years old with a big headset on sitting in front of the speakers and listening to Jesus Christ Superstar. And, and now I realize what a mockery it was. But then just the name has power. Yeah, there was no resurrection in that movie. No, no, no. You know, when you have Mary Magdalene sing to, to him and say, you're just a man, [00:13:00] only a man. I mean, it's such a mockery. But again, at eight years old, 10 years old, I thank God that all truth belongs to God. Amen. And his name is so, amen, powerful. Amen. That every knee shall bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. And as that name, Jesus was smoking, it pierced my darkness. Now, I didn't know about crying out. I didn't know about prayer, but God was preparing me for such a time. And at 16 the lifeguard at the apartment complex invited me to church. She was a pretty girl, and I didn't wanna say no. Uh, she invited she invited me and picked me up with her boyfriend. Oops. We went, yeah, we went to church that night and there began my journey into meeting Christ, knowing his mercy and grace into my faith walk and it's been a journey ever since. So is that when you, met the Lord for real [00:14:00] and got saved? Exactly, I was 16 years old. It was the early part of the summer and I went to that youth group and everybody told me that. To throw away my rock and roll music and to cut my hair and take my earring out. And everybody wanted to hug me and I didn't wanna be hugged by anybody. It's an evangelical Pentecostal church. And I was like, I don't, yeah. But come to find out, the youth pastor lived in the same apartment complex I did. I had a ride to church anytime it was open. So, later on that summer, mid-August, I remember a man inviting me, a young man from the youth group. It was raining. He was giving me a ride home. We got into his car and he asked me right there, uh, mark, do you wanna ask Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Savior? And we prayed right there the sinner's prayer. And I recognized the grace of God and the mercy of God and the Spirit of God. And at 16 years old, I asked Jesus Christ to be my Lord. And I thank him that he was calling me at such a time. So, and then I [00:15:00] had to grow up. Wow. And then I had to grow. I was still 16 with a messed up background and, still was spilling life all over myself. But that church loved me. They hugged me and kicked me in the can at the same time. Now were you out of your mom's house? Away from your abuser? Well. When the abuse first became, and I don't wanna say public, but when it became outside of the family when I meant the first person I confessed it to or, or shared it with, was my uncle. And I think that people have to remember my abuse happened from 19 7 7 to 1984. And the awareness and the advocacy that's out there today wasn't there then. And things like this happen behind closed doors. And I think culturally, not everybody, but culturally in most families said, we keep that stuff behind closed doors. We don't share it. We handle it as families. I told my uncle at [00:16:00] 14 years old. He was the first person I confessed to, and I ended up living with my uncle for about a year. He became my defender. So from about 14 to about 15 and a half, I lived with my uncle, and about 15 and a half I moved back with my mom. And yes, her husband was still there. But he, uh, he was very sickly at this time. So, he wasn't able to hurt me physically anymore. And I was strong enough to not allow anybody to hurt me anymore. So Now you said the word confess. Well, you didn't do anything wrong. Thank you. I, yeah, I just meant, I told. You shared your story, your abuse, uh, your victimization. So yeah. You don't have to apologize for anything. Amen. Thank you. That's right. It was probably a poor choice of words. I was just reading. I announced to my uncle, or I, I shared out, I took it out. I took it outta that simple family unit that I would tell my mom, [00:17:00] my mom having so much hurt and pain in her life, didn't know how to handle that. And just would say, well, he promises not to do it again. And he promised not to do it. And of course, so in a lot of ways I felt like my mom was a victim. And, and. Even though I've had to learn to forgive my mom because of what she allowed to happen, but in some ways, not that I justify it, but I've begun to understand it. Because she was abused by her first husband who broke her heart because, uh, just pain who had many affairs on her, and she was so broken down, so hurting and she did not understand love. I think she, um, interpreted love in a very, uh, trying to think of the word here you know, an enabling way. My mom was more of an enabler and I think she interpreted her love in enabling. So she enabled people. I mean, it sounds like [00:18:00] codependency. Was that the word you're looking for? Yes. Okay. Yeah. Thanks. So you struggled with your weight for years. Was that a symptom of your. Abuse your childhood? I, I think it was, you know, I'm, I'm not a psychologist or, a social worker. I'm a preacher, but you know, I think what I was trying to find in food was comfort, friendship. It always accepted me, uh, it comforted me when I was having a bad day and it rewarded me when I was having a good one. But like any drug, if you would, it lies to you. And it says, Hey, is everything will be okay. Just have a little bit more, have a little bit more, and, it just is. So for me, food became my drug of choice. Mm-hmm. Uh, it became where I found comfort, found peace, found acceptance. I punished myself with it. Boy, I'm no good. I'm going to eat ice cream. Oh, I'm having a great day. I'm gonna eat [00:19:00] ice cream. So, you know, it was one of those things. Uh, what I tell people is that I wish I could say to you that, that God has taken away all the hurt, all the pain, all the sorrow. It's still there in my life. It's still a familiar. Familiar pain that continues to call to me. But what God did is he became bigger. He became bigger than the pain. He became bigger than the shame. He became bigger than the hurt. So is it still there? Sure. And the flesh wants to run to it. And the psyche wants to run to it because I know it, it's comfortable. I, I know my role there. I, I understand what my protection and my manipulation that I can find there. But God became bigger. God became bigger. You know, I was telling a friend today, and I climbed a mountain after I lost about 50 pounds. I climbed a mountain. And it was about a half a mile long. And to me it was Everest. It was the biggest mountain in the world. And it took me hours [00:20:00] to go up and I had blisters on my feet and bruises on my toe. I was very proud that I climbed it. But after I lost about a hundred pounds, I climbed the biggest mountain in the state of New York called Mount Marcy. And what was the difference between those two mountains? One was bigger and I think that's the same thing. What happened to me is that even though that sometimes the enemy wants to try to bring me back to those familiar pains, those familiar insecurities, those familiar foes, God became bigger. His word, his spirit his love all became bigger. And I have to hold onto that and I have to claim, not claim it, but I have to run into it. You know, I have to run into that every day. So. Oh, you would love the mountains here. We have so many mountains to climb. So yeah. If you come to Phoenix, then we'll have to go hiking together. Yes. I wanna see that Grand Canyon. I wanna come to Phoenix. I am a New Englander, but it's cold [00:21:00] all the time here. But I hear that you guys leave for the summer and go back in the winter. We leave for the winter to warm places because it's so hot in Phoenix in the summer. Yeah. We're not snowbirds. We are here all year. Now we get to 110 every year. That's, that's normal. It gets to 120 here every summer. But this year it was 55 days of 110 degrees. Wow. Which, um, that killed all my plants and, uh, two of my trees, so Wow. Yeah, it's 70 degrees outside now, but in the summertime it's brutal. Wow. Don't come in the summer. Come in the winter. Okay. I, um, I did get to do a mission chip for Juarez, Mexico, which is obviously south of you guys and a little east, but at the same time, I got a touch of hot weather and I have done a lot of missions trips to Central America and the Caribbean, but they do have a different climate because of the sea and the water. So it's not that dry heat. [00:22:00] It's, definitely that, more moist, heat. Yeah, I think you'll do fine. Like I said, I looked forward to it. We were just in Israel in, November November, 2019, and it was 85 degrees. In Jerusalem and I roasted, I had such a hard time because the elevation was different and the humidity from the from the sea. Yeah. I don't know if you've been to Israel, I have not. Another, another bucket list, yeah yes, definitely recommend that for sure. Thank you. My wife and I, we love to travel. You know, we, we have four children, so right now our kids are in the ages of 15 to seven, so we are right in the midst of it. You know, we're, we're mom and dad, taxi and, and we homeschool. So my wife is going a hundred miles an hour all the time. Pastor wife. Homeschool mom and she's taking care of [00:23:00] me. So, I mean, this is, God bless her. If there's a hero in this story, it's my wife. Your wife's a homeschooler. Um, you had said in your story that you had dyslexia growing up. What was that like? Well, you know, I think that I still have it. Uh, God hasn't, hasn't healed me from it. So what happens is, is I tell people when the way I was raised, I survived my childhood. I wasn't raised, you know, I didn't have parents that, that looked out for me. I didn't have somebody who wanted to govern my experiences or, or was an advocate for me. So I, I really just kind of survived my childhood and one of the casualties of that. Was my education. Uh, it was the early seventies, so I think there was a lot going on with sight reading and some different kind of philosophies of teaching. So here I was in a broken home with a learning disability. I [00:24:00] was being bullied at school because the way I felt about myself and, you know, so yeah, reading has always been a chore for me. It still is a chore today. But again, the lord, he helps and he, he brings me through and he gave me a brilliant wife. Uh, she is a, a teacher by education. And my children love to read. My son will walk into walls. He reads books this thick. I mean, and I remember holding him the moment he was born, praying, Lord, give him just a heart for reading. And he does. I mean, my son 15 says, dad, can we go to the library? Love the library. Oh, he, yeah, we're friends with the librarian. Uh, if they need somebody to help him out, move books and they call him. But yes, reading has always been a chore and I, believe it or not, I'm in the midst of writing a book. Oh, I was just gonna ask that if you had a book out or not. We are just started to speak to a publisher, it's self-publishing company. Uh, so we're definitely in [00:25:00] conversations. We have written, just kind of let it pour out of me. It's been there for 50 years, so just kind of. And, uh, now we've kind of put it in front of people who really know what they're doing. I tell everybody, I wrote it my ways, I handed it to my wife and she interpreted it and made it legible. And, uh, we have some local friends who have done some basic editing, so they're kind of editing for us, and now we're sending it to the publisher who knows how to edit in a professional way. So, so, you know, the Lord told me years ago that this testimony would be written down. I remember I chuckled when he told me that because I said, Lord, I can barely read or write. And I remember saying to the Lord, Lord, if you want this written down, what am I gonna call it? He said, you'll call it Forgiving the Nightmare. So that's why the name of the ministry, the name of the book, the name of the website is called Forgiving the Nightmare. I think everybody uh, regardless of [00:26:00] how one came, you know, yours and I came in by probably hands of other people's, but sometimes nightmares come in by all different ways. Loss, regrets pains, hurts. And we all have to kind of say, Lord, how do we go through that? And I know as Christians, we want it instant, you know, we wanna stand on the word, we wanna claim it, we wanna save. Lord, give it to me. But I think sometimes we have to, uh, go through the process. I think of Jacob and how he wrestled with God, or he wrestled with the angel and they wrestled all night long. And, and God, the angel touched his hip and then he said, what do you want? And Jacob said, I want a new. And he became Israel, the promise. Mm-hmm. So he left deceiver, as you know, and he became Israel promise. And I think sometimes in that journey of forgiveness as much as Christians and people, we want it and we want it so true and so earnestly, [00:27:00] but sometimes we have to wrestle. We have to wrestle with the past. We have to wrestle with ourselves, we have to wrestle with the fears, and wrestling doesn't make us bad, doesn't make us sinners, doesn't mean God has left us. I think God's working with us, the process as a pastor, I've seen so many people who are unwilling to go through the process. And they get stuck. They get stuck in the cycle, in the the hurts and the pains of life. Just kind of build up on them. And I know God wants to set 'em free, but again, it, you have to learn to die to self crucify the old man, you know, tame the tongue. And it's hard. It's hard, especially when everything in the, especially when everything in the world tells you you're okay to have that. It's okay for you to hate. It's okay for you to be angry. It's okay for you to, when God says, for us to let him go first, let Him lead us. And God is, if we forgive those who trespass against us, he'll be faithful and just to forgive us. [00:28:00] And that scripture boy haunted me for a long time because I said, Lord, I'm not ready to begin. I'm sorry I'm preaching. No, you're awesome. I'm enjoying this. Um, I'm curious how you read your Bible. Do you use an audio bible or do you, um, do use an actual written Bible? Well, I do read Bible. I like the ESV, I like the NIV, I like those verses. I do read it. I do listen to audio at times. What happened was, is about 20, I was in my early twenties and a woman at church asked me to read the Christmas story out of Luke in front of the youth group. Now, when I say youth group, we had about a hundred youth in our youth group, maybe even 150. It was a large youth group and she was the kind of woman who would not take no for an answer. You know, the church lady? Yeah. I think every church has one of those. Yeah. And you know, I tried to give her every excuse in the [00:29:00] book, I lost my glasses. I was too embarrassed to say that I couldn't read. So I got up in front of the youth group and I read out of Luke chapter two and I. Stumbled over my words and I read slowly and I read broken up. And people were very kind to me that day. The youth pastor and the youth group, they were not cruel. And after service, that woman came back to me and said that she homeschooled her children and she would like to homeschool me if I'd want to. Now I was, I was a grownup. I was 23 and I went back to her house and there I sat with her 6-year-old, five-year old as she was teaching her 5-year-old, 6-year-old how to read. She was also teaching me phonics. I never learned phonics. I tell everybody, when I learned TION and Sean and not ion, it changed my life. Unbeknownst to me that church lady had an older daughter [00:30:00] and that older daughter watched me. Watch me struggle over my words, watch me go to the house and sit with her five-year-old sister and learn ae IOU and learn the rules of bowels and phonics. Well, years later, that older daughter would become my wife. Oh. Oh. So, yep. So, you know, she told me that she fell in love with me and she watched me there. And so that, that's a little bit of our love story. But yeah, she watched me from afar and, and now today we have four kids together and she still helps me read. So I do read. I a much stronger reader than I ever was. Uh mm-hmm. So I, I can read a much better than I could then. Well, I certainly can see looking back that you had so many people in your corner to that God sent to help you, and what a blessing. Now, did you go to college? I did. I [00:31:00] graduated from what's now called North Point Bible College. At the time, it was called Zion Bible College. It was in Barrington, Rhode Island. It was a very focused school for ministry only. Uh, so I did go there. I didn't wanna go there. I'm a New Englander. I knew about the school. It was in my backyard. I wanted to go to Southeastern to Florida. I wanted to go to pennsylvania and go to Valley Forge. Uh, those doors were not open to me. I remember saying, the Lord, I'm done. Lord, I've tried. Everybody's rejecting me because of my education. And he said, go to Zion. I went in and I met with the Dean of students. In that meeting, the dean of students said to me, mark, do you have a call? I said, yes, I believe I do have a call. He got up from his desk and he went to a big picture window, a woman who was walking in front of his picture window, and he tapped onto the window and he called this woman in. As she came [00:32:00] into his office, he introduced me to a woman named Jan Kruger. He let me know that Jan was led by God to go to school, to go to Zion the week earlier than me to start a learning center. And Jan and I became our first student in the learning center and we worked hard. The first year, most of my, classes were uncredited 'cause I had to learn how to be a student. I didn't know what a syllabi was. I didn't know how to take tests. Uh, we sat in that learning center. I cried, I complained. She was a mom. She hugged me sometimes and she told me to. To suck it up sometimes. And, uh, that was the best advice I could get. So yeah, i'm a proud graduate of Zion Bible College, and I'm ordained with the Assembly of God. So when did you get called into the ministry? Well, pretty much after, it was about my 17th year, 16 years old, I got saved and 17 years old, I was [00:33:00] at a Youth convention, and I pretty much felt like the Lord called me then. Now, I ran from that call for a long time because of my insecurities, my fears, my inabilities. See, when I walked into the room, I always felt like I was junk. Like I was dirt. Like I could offer nobody, nothing. And I was, no, you know, I, that's how I felt about myself. So who would let me be that pastor? What do I have to offer? I could barely read. Look what happened to me. So. For many years I wrestled with it and about 24, 25 years old, I had a brand new truck, little S 10 pickup truck. They called it Bernie because it was purple. I was listening to Petra, remember a Petra? I love Petra. And I was, I was listening to Petra from the seventies not the nineties. Petra and I remember I was listening to Petra and the Holy Spirit filled with the cab of that car and that truck I had to [00:34:00] pull over. I was on old post road. I'll never forget tears coming down my face. The Holy Spirit spoke to my heart and said, mark, choose this day whom you'll serve. I've called you and I will equip you. And I said, God, I want you. That's when the journey of. Colleges, and I wish I could tell you it was all roses and cherries after that. It wasn't, you know, there's still a lot of growing up and a lot of overcoming, and a lot of dying to self. And, and there still is. But yeah, that's how I got called and I went to that school and they loved me. They were honest to me. You sound like you had a lot , in coming with Moses with his speech impediment. He was, exiled to be a goat and a sheep herder. They're not gonna listen to me, Lord. You know? Did you feel like that? Oh, sure. I sure did. Like I said, I, for most of my life, I felt like what can I offer? So what I did is I put a facade on myself or I, I lived up to the role that I [00:35:00] thought people wanted from me, or a role to, to find acceptance or protection. So, if I had to be the clown, I was the clown. If I had to be the fool, I was the fool. If I had to be the weak, I was the weak because I felt those things about me. Recently in this weight loss journey and this giving, God has given me confidence. And I say that with much humility because I know it's not my confidence, it's confidence in him. But I've never had confidence before. I feel like a carpenter with a new tool. I feel like, you know, a businessman with a new suit that I've never had confidence before. Now again, it's not confidence in what I have. Because I'm still weak, but it's a confidence going, my Abba father makes a way for me. My Abba father heals me and, and goes before me. So it's, it's a kind of a new season for me to be confident and say, you know what? I can live a healthy life. People ask me why I lost the weight. [00:36:00] And I remember I was reading the scripture, and you're probably familiar with it, is when the Pharisee comes to the Lord or it says to him, Lord, how does one enter the kingdom of heaven? And the Lord says, well, what is written? He says, Lord, love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your mind, with all your strength, and with all your spirit, and love your neighbor as yourself. I've read that a million times. I've preached on it. I've studied it. One day I was reading it, he said, Lord, I know you love me, mark, but you don't love your neighbor, and you don't love yourself, so you can't love your neighbor. And I realized because I didn't love myself, I wasn't taking care of myself. I love my children. I love my wife. I wanna take care of 'em. They don't need me. I wife can, but I want to. I wanna do things for, I wanna take care of 'em. I wanna help 'em be better and stronger and smarter and wiser, and love the Lord. And I realized I didn't love myself. So the weight loss journey, forgiving the nightmare, forgiving my mom, forgiving the abusers, forgiving those [00:37:00] who betrayed me as a child, helped me begin to love myself again. No visions of grander. I'm still a just a normal guy saved by grace. Uh, I still put my big foot in my mouth, my wife can come in and tell you all the stories, but, uh, but you know, I started to love myself and. It sounds like, you found your self worth in the Lord Jesus because Jesus sees you as his child. You are a child of God, and that's where your worth is. So it sounds like your healing journey brought you to that place. Yeah. It's not self-confidence like the world says it is. It's how God sees you. You're precious and you're loved. Amen. And you're valuable. He died for you. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. You're gonna get me going now. Hallelujah. Hallelujah, hallelujah. I want others to [00:38:00] experience this. You know, I, my whole ministry, I've been surrounded by hurting people and hurting churches. I've worked with people that have had major traumas in their life. Not that I ever sought it. I can't. I think the Lord just led me to it. And as I've worked with people, people say that I've been able to bring comfort. I'm easy to talk to. I thought, well, okay, Lord. And I want people to find that freedom that I have. I understand being shackled to pain in the past. I understand allowing those things to form the way you think about and believe about yourself, and never truly being set free. Waking up with that numbing feeling of brokenness all the time. All the time, just constantly. But God truly set me free. He set me free. And because he set me free, I'm nobody special. And being a pastor, I see so many people that have a [00:39:00] form of this and they don't. They haven't gone through it. So they're still living with a confession in Christ, but still the hurts of the past. Blame them. I don't, I'm not putting fingers, I'm not taking the log out on my own eye before I take the twig from their eye. But I'm saying the freedom that God has for his people. Uh, and again, do we still stumble? Yeah. Do we still need refining? Sure. Are we still the clay? And he's still the potter of court, but there's a freedom that we find as a pastor. I've just met so many people who will say, pastor, I'm killed. I'm delivered. And you realize it's, it's only an inch deep. It's, you know, as soon as they get tested, as soon as they get, get bothered, it just spills out. It pulls out of them in, in a defense or in, in a rejection or in a way they, they have a self view of the world or of themselves. Now God's consent is free. God can set [00:40:00] us free. So, what's the difference between being a victim and being victorious? Hallelujah. Well, in my humble opinion, a victim is somebody who always sees themselves broken, sees themselves in a way that, that that allows them to stay in their victimhood. For a long time, my victimhood became my identity. I remember one day when the Lord brought me to the altar and he said those words to me. He said, mark, I want you to give this up. And I literally said, in an audible voice, Lord, if I'm not a victim, then what am I? Because all I knew was the, the role of being a victim. Oh, my victimhood was good. I could manipulate with it. I could win every argument with it. Oh, when I was 16 years old, my mom, who was a single mom with not much money she bought me a car. I had a phone in my room. I had cable on my own [00:41:00] tv. She made me breakfast in bed. Why she owed that to me. Why? Because I was a victim. And I got to see how I could win every argument at school. I could put my head down and I could lift up my head and go, well, who here else was molested? I was, and no one would say anything. And the Lord rebuked me at that and said, said, yeah, that's what victims do. At least that's what I did. He said, I wanna make you victorious. And I remember him saying, me saying to the Lord, if I'm not a victim, what am I? And he said, you're victorious in me. I had to learn what it meant to be victorious. Amen. I had to learn to let that facade go. Let that personality go, let that old man die and let the new man of Christ rise up inside him. That is awesome. I just love that. I've never heard anybody describe it like that. Now, I prefer the, word survivor instead of victim. But I think you took [00:42:00] it up another notch. We are, victorious in the Lord. Well, my victimhood, you know, as much as I was a victim, but I used it for my own gain. Mm-hmm. Which made me just as not guilty of what happened to me, but made me not a healthy place. It put me in a Right. But it's all I knew, you know, I could manipulate, I could win the argument. Right. I was the guy. Who else here was stabbed and burnt and abused? I could show you my scars where they stabbed me. I could show you the burn marks. I was prostituted for other men to abuse me. Boy, you know, I could really win the, the argument. But that was wrong. Yeah, it was wrong. It was wrong to put that on my mother, it's wrong to put that on my family. It was wrong to put that on others. And the Lord had to rebuke me and, uh, wow. And he did, because he loves, he rebukes the ones he loves, so he rebuked you. I just so appreciate your raw [00:43:00] and honest, telling of your story. Because, you've heard stories where they just put the fluff or they put the stuff that's gonna, bring up the ratings or whatever. But you really, kept it real. And I think you're a great pastor because people see that you're a real person. You're not some fake up there that can't relate to your congregation's problems, do you feel that way? Oh, definitely. You know, my congregation, as you know, like we talked earlier, I wrestle with dyslexia and every once in a while I'll stumble over a word while I'm reading the Bible and in front of my congregation. And, and that really bothered me for a long time. My Lord, I'm a pastor. How can I not read this and now. When I stumble over a word, my congregation yells it up to me. So I'll be on the platform. And you know what? They'll see me stumbling and you know, they'll yell it up to me and it's just a term of endearment. [00:44:00] It's not been one of rejection or shame, and I say, you know what? I'm doing that just to make sure you're in the Bible. That's what I tell 'em. But I'll be reading the scripture and, and my dyslexia kick in, or, or the word will be all scrambled. And, and they're the kind voices. Oh, pastor, that's, that means this. And, and it's kind of a nice direction. I tell people the church I pastor is a real church with real people serving a real God. Wow. So, wow. Fancy fluff. Church don't come to us because, you know, we're real and we cry together, we do life together. We step on each other's toes. We don't always agree, but we always love God. That is so awesome. Pastor of Christian is Alia Scott. That's right. I didn't announce your church name. I wanted to ask you to tell another story about. You said that you met your birth father at one point. What happened during that reunion Union? [00:45:00] Well, I was 45 years old and I wanted to reach, I wanted to know, I tell people my birth father and I met at the right place in life. I think if I would've met him younger, I would've still been angry. Rejected Kyle, but I was 45. I was the father of four. I've made my own mistakes, my own problems. I learned to mature a little bit. To be really frank, my father's wife passed on, so he was more ready to meet me. So his wife that he had the affair on to si me, if you would, she passed. So he was more open to meet me and uh, I just didn't meet him, but the whole family met him together. We met in a restaurant, we met in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and the family came in and the kids instantly. Started to call him grandpa. I thought, I don't know if I'm okay with that. And he never rejected it. So the last few years of [00:46:00] life, we just lost him. I, I had him for about four years. It wasn't warm and fuzzy, daddy and son, but it was something, we had a relationship. We'd talk about sports, we'd talk about life. He was a snowbird from Massachusetts to Florida and he just kind of let me know. So I'm very thankful for the four years I had. Again, it wasn't, Hey buddy, I'm proud of you kind of moment, but I got to find out a little bit about. Who my dad was and who some of my relatives are on my father's side. I got to learn about some of the health conditions of, of my father. And you know, he said he was pretty, he made it to 84. He liked to drink and he liked ladies, I like Jesus, I like one lady, Wow. That's an incredible story. I tell people it was the right time. Again, if I would've met him at 25, I would've been angry. I would've said, you know, why did you abandon me? 45 was a good time because. You know what, by that [00:47:00] time I, I stepped in enough life of my own to, to not, to be slow to judge, oh, God does have the perfect timing. I haven't spoken much about my story at all on here, but my husband and I talk about, boy, I wish that we had met, long time ago, you know, and skipped all the pain because we were both victims of abuse from our previous spouses. I'm sorry. And, um, but we thought about it and we thought we were different people. If we met at that time, I don't think I would've been interested in you and you wouldn't have been interested in me. And, I think that God brought us together this time of our life. No, we've been married 11 years. Congratulations. Thank you. So, God brought us together at our time of life because that was the perfect time and Sure. We're best friends. We never even have had a real fight. We didn't disagree, of course, but now you should write a book [00:48:00] about that. Okay. I mean, we disagree and, um, get on each other's nerves, but the Lord has just, you're normal. Just blessed us. Yeah, we're definitely normal. Um, especially during pandemic. It's like you learn about your spouse when you're stuck with them 24 7. Right? That's true. That's true. Yeah, we had to make some adjustments. Amen. And, um, we still love each other, and that it's great when you're talking about times of life, you know, for such a time as this, and I think for me, the Lord spoke to me years ago about forgiving the nightmare ministry. He actually spoke to me when I was in college about this. I didn't know it was gonna, uh, blossom or what it was gonna look like, but he spoke to me years ago about writing it down and it was always inside me. And I kept, my wife knew about it. We would always think, how's the, what's the Lord gonna do with this? Is it distant inside me to guide me through life? Is it more for others? Is it, Lord, how's it, how's it [00:49:00] gonna? Blossom if you would manifest. And we lost my mom and I have to tell you that, not immediately, but pretty quick. After losing my mom, I felt like this ministry could just launch. And it has launched. God has brought, brought a web designer into our life. He's brought some, um, producers into our life to help me tell the story. We're talking with a, an editor and a publisher. All this has happened fairly quickly. And I think, Lord, why now? And I think, to be honest with you, and this is just my opinion, I, I don't know if I have chapter and verse to back this up, but my mom was so embarrassed. She was so full of shame because of my upbringing every time for the last 20 years of my life, every time me and my mom were alone together, she would just apologize. And I don't just mean say, sorry. She would grovel and I would say, mom, I forgive you. I forgive you, [00:50:00] Marky. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. And if my mom knew that I was speaking to podcasts or writing a book, she would've been so, so embarrassed. So she may, it would've just troubled her so much. So I think outta the grace of God, and again, don't have chapter and verse, but I think upon her passing released me to be able to share this story, to be able to bring others into it, to just think God was being merciful to my mom on her journey. And again, it was almost pretty instant after her, uh, her own passing that I remember being on the treadmill one morning and the Lord just kind of. Just impressing upon me by giving the nightmare. Remember those words? I spoke to you. This is where it's gonna take place. And since then, we've made a couple videos, uh, we've launched a website. I'm talking to wonderful people like yourself and just trying to get the [00:51:00] story out of forgiving the Nightmare and trying to say to people whatever that nightmare was. Was it physical and sexual abuse like mine? Was it a tragedy in your life? Is it regrets? Is it fears? Is it the loss of a child or a loved one? Whatever that pain is that your nightmare. I want you to know that God can help you forgive it and overcome it and break the shackles so we don't have to be the man or the person. The hurt tried to make us. We no longer have to be Jacob. We can become Israel. Your mom would be so proud of you. And I think that, thank you. If, the Lord's probably told her, you know, the good things that have come out of a terrible situation, she said she had, you said she had some shame. Oh. I think if she was looking down at you now that, that shame would be gone. [00:52:00] That shame is no longer there. Look how God's using my son, my, my wonderful son to spread the gospel and to help people. And so Well, thank you. I'm so thankful for you, brother. Thank you for saying those words, sister. It's very kind of you. I used to say to my mom, even up to her last days, I would say, mom, who's your favorite? And she would say, I love you all, all the same. And I'd say, mom, stop lying to my siblings. I'm the youngest of three. My older brother and my older sister never made me feel like a step or a half brother. Uh, we just kind of always lived in the same house. We got real family problems and just life, but they've never left, never met me, felt, never let me feel like I was less than even to today. So I'm very thankful. My oldest sister, who is, a second mom to me, my oldest sister, she is my second mom and I'm thankful for her. So. Wow. Well, we [00:53:00] just had just a great time tonight. When your book comes out, please contact me. I would love to have you on the show again, to promote your book because obviously you, your story is so powerful and we wanna get it out to as many people as we can. So, tell the folks how to connect with you. Well, the best way to connect with me is@forgivingthenightmare.com. Forgiving the nightmare.com. Forgiving the nightmare.com is the best way to connect with me. If you go there, you'll find a email, it's called mark@forgivingthenightmare.com. That comes directly to me, right on my phone. So that's the best way to connect with me. Also you can go to our Facebook page called, forgiving the Nightmare. For giving Nightmare Facebook page. I try to put up pictures and little devotions there and stories there. So that's the two. Best way through Facebook, after Giving the Nightmare, after giving the Nightmare do [00:54:00] com, those are the best ways to connect with me. And I hope to get so Arizona someday. You have an open invitation. Wow. I'll be a tour guide for you. I know that Arizona like the back of my hand. Wow. Wow. Now my children could hear you in the background, so they're gonna be pretty excited about that invitation. There's so much stuff for, for their Edge group as well. So, we will hook you guys up. So thanks for being patient with the tech stuff and I'm glad we pushed through and didn't let the devil get the victory tonight. We found a way to get you on here. That's right. May I pray for you as we close. Oh yes, please. Thank you. Father God, we just come to you tonight and we thank you again for your son, Jesus Christ. Lord, we thank you for the sacrifice that he gave to us upon the cross, Lord. And we pay the price we could not pray, Lord. And we thank you for the gift of life [00:55:00] and life more abundant. Lord, we thank you for the promises. It says in this life there will be many troubles, but fear not because you are with us always. And Lord, tonight I pray for my sister. Father, I thank you that you're using her Lord. To spread the gospel to share, hope to be a light and a dark place. But Father, now, I pray that you come beside her father as she's shared that she's lost her brother this week, Lord. And I pray you comfort her. Lord, you said you had to go so the comforter could come. I pray, the comfort of the Holy Spirit will come beside my sister and be with her and her family as they grieve their loved one, their family member, their friend, Lord. So Lord I pray peace upon my sister. I pray Lord that you use her, continue to bless her. I thank you for the testimony of her and her husband, 11 years that you've brought together for such a time as this. I pray, Lord God, that they grow closer to you so they can grow closer to each other. And Lord, we thank you tonight [00:56:00] that Lord, we're no longer Jacob. You've made us Israel Father, no longer do we have to be shaped by our past, but now we can hold on to the promises. Lord, no longer does, we have to be shackled by somebody else's abuse, and we can be set free by your word. So, Lord, I pray that you fill us. You lead us, and may we be the light and may we be the salt, and may we lift up your name. We pray for a unity across our nation. We pray for a healing across our land, and we pray, Lord, for a revival of your salvation to come to our our country again, in Jesus name, amen. Thank you so much, brother. God bless, sister. Thank you. Take care yourself. Bye now. Bye. Thank you for listening to the Wounds of the Faithful Podcast. If this episode has been helpful to you, please hit the subscribe button and tell a friend. You could connect with us at [00:57:00] DSW Ministries dot org where you'll find our blog, along with our Facebook, Twitter, and our YouTube channel links. Hope to see you next week.

This episode is sponsored by Cozy Earth! Use promo code HALLMARK to get 40% off at cozyearth.com---Brian is back this week to dive into the latest holiday release: Christmas on Duty.ABOUT CHRISTMAS ON DUTYFormer rivals Blair and Josh must work Christmas duty together. When a snowstorm threatens holiday deliveries to the base, they're forced to cooperate and save the season.AIR DATE & NETWORK FOR CHRISTMAS ON DUTYNovember 1, 2025 | Hallmark ChannelCAST & CREW OF CHRISTMAS ON DUTYJanel Parrish as Blair BirchParker Young as JoshBRAN'S CHRISTMAS ON DUTY SYNOPSISThe movie kicks off with some fun animation — which, by the way, is apparently why we only get 24 movies this year.We meet Blaire Birch, who's ready to compete against Josh Cannon. During the competition, there's plenty of playful banter, but at the end, Blaire drops a bomb: she's taking Josh's spot in the infantry. He's very offended. Turns out, their dads were rivals too.Six years later, it's almost Christmas break. Blaire's only taking two days off — she's all about that work life. After a training session, she spends time with her dad, a Sergeant, who's hoping for a more traditional Christmas this year since Blaire's mom has passed.They go to the Marine Christmas festival party, and Blaire is shocked to see Josh Cannon there! He's now a company commander. The two immediately start arguing and, naturally, decide to compete again — right then and there. In their rush outside, they knock over the party cake. Their commanding officer is not amused and assigns them to Christmas duty — meaning they'll be spending 24 hours straight together.Meanwhile, a huge snowstorm is threatening to delay the children's Christmas gifts, though they're still expected to arrive by Christmas Eve.When Blaire and Josh show up for their Christmas duty, Josh has brought his own decorations — including an inflatable Santa. But when they find out the toy delivery has been canceled due to the storm, they agree to team up to save Christmas! Their plan: figure out what all the kids want, take a five-ton truck that can handle the roads, and track down the gifts themselves.As they travel, they start to open up. Blaire shares about the loss of her mom, and the walls start to come down.At their first stop, they discover the employee forgot to pull all the gifts. At the next, the owner's accidentally locked out — so Josh climbs through an air duct to grab a skateboard. (Mission: accomplished.)More driving, more heart-to-hearts. But then they're delayed by a Christmas Eve parade. Obviously, they take the chance to hop out, enjoy the show, and share a slow dance.Later, they stop for gas and run into Ezra from Finding Mr. Christmas. He offers to help them find gas if they help him with some Christmas party thing. It's… weird, but yay for Ezra, I guess.On the way back, their truck breaks down, leading to an argument just when things were finally going well. Ugh! Luckily, Josh's sister is a truck expert and walks him through the fix.They get back on the road and return — but late. Mission failed. The boss blames Josh and threatens to discharge them, but Blaire takes the blame instead. Josh feels terrible and goes to the boss to come clean, saying it was both their fault. The boss agrees to let it go — if they deliver the rest of the gifts dressed as Santa and Mrs. Claus.When Josh shows up to get Blaire (with his dad in tow), their dads start arguing — but nothing a snowball fight can't fix.They deliver the rest of the gifts, share a kiss (or three), and celebrate Christmas together with their families. Watch the show on Youtube - www.deckthehallmark.com/youtubeInterested in advertising on the show? Email bran@deckthehallmark.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Some nights, memory lies. It edits what really happened — swaps faces, softens edges, turns a shadow into Santa. But what if those changes aren't mistakes… what if they're protection? Tonight, we explore the thin border where childhood wonder, digital curiosity, and the afterlife all blur together. A Christmas Eve sighting that was never what it seemed. A ghost that answers through a phone screen. A friend who returns after surgery… to say goodbye. Three moments, decades apart, all asking the same question: how much can we trust what we remember — and what if the truth is far stranger than the story? Because sometimes the glowing light in the hallway isn't a man in red.  Sometimes a “spirit app” knows a name it shouldn't.  And sometimes, death doesn't stop a promise—it just keeps it from the other side. These are the stories that pull the veil tight, the ones that leave you wondering if belief is comfort or evidence. From the cold quiet of Idaho nights to the hum of a Canadian basement, every whisper and shadow leads back to one question: do ghosts haunt us… or by what we can't bear to forget? Love real ghost stories? Don't just listen—join us on YouTube and be part of the largest community of real paranormal encounters anywhere. Subscribe now and never miss a chilling new story:

As the end of the year approaches, it's tempting to push for maximum productivity, rush through holiday celebrations, and then collapse in a heap on Christmas Eve and call it done.But I want to challenge that. In this week's episode, I'm talking about the power of celebration, why your team party isn't just a party, but a culture-building strategy disguised as fun.I share stories from my own salons, where what started as a Christmas party evolved into something far more meaningful, a night of reflection, recognition, and connection. You'll hear why celebrating your people is one of the smartest leadership moves you can make, and how simple, intentional gestures can anchor your team culture for the year ahead.So before you dive into 2026 planning, hit pause, listen in, and get inspired to make this year's celebration something your team will never forget and set your salon up for the year ahead.IN THIS EPISODE:[01:07] Why the end of the year matters for reflection and gratitude[02:00] The evolution of my salon's Christmas parties[03:13] Turning parties into powerful culture-building moments[04:42] The importance of team culture and belonging[06:13] Creating in-house awards and recognising achievement[07:52] Praise, purpose, and progress, what people crave at work[08:25] Building culture through moments, not KPIs[10:18] A framework for planning your end-of-year celebration[11:17] Creative salon award ideas to strengthen connectionWant MORE to help you GROW?

Over 3,000 stones rise from the fields of Carnac. They stand silent, waiting, like the trees of Fangorn Forest, patient and alive beneath their stillness. In this episode of Quest & Chorus, we walk among ancient alignments, uncover old legends, and listen to what endures. Featuring music from The Irish Lassies, Dublin Gulch, and Brobdingnagian Bards. This is Quest & Chorus #310 0:27 - The Irish Lassies "Hammer Up Whisky Down" from Immigration Stories 5:20 - WELCOME TO QUEST & CHORUS Welcome to Quest & Chorus, where ancient stones still speak and songs remember what trees never forget. I'm your bard, Marc Gunn, also host of the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast, and typically host of this show as Folk Songs & Stories, but today, we call it Quest & Chorus. Quest & Chorus is a 6-part podcast series. I fuse Celtic and folk music, science fiction and fantasy, and travel into a podcast with a quest. In each episode, you will get a clue to unlock a secret reward. And at the end of the season, you will combine all of those clues to unlock an even bigger amazing reward. And today we walk not into a forest—but into a field that feels like one. The Alignments of Carnac stretch across the land like rows of rooted giants. They are silent. But not still. And if you listen… they speak in echoes. Today we talk of nature, of memory, and also of what I learned about food waste. WHAT I LEARNED ABOUT MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR FOOD Freezing fruit Composting Planting Pickling vs fermenting Soups Granola You don't have to do it in one day. It's taking me several years. And it doesn't have to be perfect. You just have to be open to learning. Check out Sustainable Jungle and One5C. They have a lot of real, practical and non-judgemental tips on how to be more eco-friendly with your food and your life. If you're new to the show, please follow us. You can do that at PubSong.com. UPCOMING SHOWS NOV 8: IrishFest Atlanta, Roswell, GA with Inara NOV 14-16: CONjuration, Duluth, GA NOV 22: Georgia Renaissance Festival Fall Fling, Fairburn, GA DEC 6: Georgia Renaissance Festival Fall Fling, Fairburn, GA DEC 7: Nerdy Wonderland at The Lost Druid, Avondale Estates, GA @ 12 - 5 PM. 15:37 - Dublin Gulch "Sarah Daly/The Copper King's Daughter" from Tap 'Er Light Please leave a comment on the podcast show notes at pubsong.com or wherever you listen. Email pictures of where you're listening to follow@celtfather . I'll send you a free gift and you can learn more about how to follow this podcast. 19:59 - NEWS Celtic Christmas Music releases the first official episode of the season. Looking for volunteers to work the Nerdy Wonderland table and promote the event. It takes place Dec 7. New Band with Inara–May Bloom. Planning to release an Album Pin and Single A big thanks to my… GUNN RUNNERS ON PATREON If you enjoy this podcast or you love listening to my music, please follow my Celtfather Patreon page. You can sign up for free and get updates on what's new and you can get an ad-free edition of this podcast before public listeners. But you get so much more when you become a Patron of the Arts. Patreon is one of the ways modern musicians and podcasters make a living. For just $5 per month, you'll get exclusive, unreleased songs, podcasts, video concerts, bootleg concerts, and so much more. Email follow@celtfather to get more details! TODAY'S SHOW IS BROUGHT TO BY CELTIC INVASION VACATIONS Every year, I take a small group of people on a relaxing adventure to one of the Celtic nations. We don't see everything. Instead we stay in one area. We get to know the region through its culture, history, and legends. You can join me with an auditory and visual adventure through podcasts, blogs, videos, and photos. Sign to the Celtic Invasion Vacations mailing list at CelticInvasion.com. In 2017, I led a Celtic Invasion of Brittany. You can read about our search for the Holy Grail in France. In the meantime, it's time for the… QUEST & CHORUS of ALIGNMENTS OF CARNAC Over 3,000 standing stones stretch in careful lines through the fields of Carnac. No one knows exactly why they're here. Were they a celestial map? Some say they mark burial grounds. But walking by them, I didn't feel like I was in a graveyard. I felt like I was among the elders. It reminded me of Fangorn Forest, home of the Ents. In The Lord of the Rings, Fangorn is a place where time moves slowly. Trees remember battles that men have forgotten. Carnac is a lot like that. The stones are not dead. They're just waiting. I can't help but wonder who placed them here, so careful and deliberate. The stones of Carnac weren't raised by elves or Ents, but by real people. Neolithic builders, thousands of years before written history. Here's what we know about them. HISTORY OF THE ALIGNMENTS OF CARNAC The Alignments of Carnac in Brittany, France, are one of the most remarkable prehistoric monuments in Europe. They consist of long rows of standing stones (menhirs) and other megalithic features that stretch across the landscape. Archaeological studies show that many of the stones date from between about 4,800 and 3,500 BC — some recent research suggests parts were erected as early as 4,600 BC. The site is not a single line but a complex of alignments: four major groups (for example, Ménec, Kermario, Kerlescan, Petit Ménec) that lie in the commune of Carnac and its surroundings. Originally, these stones were erected by Neolithic peoples who lived in what we now call Brittany. Their purpose remains a subject of debate: some propose they were ritual or ceremonial, others suggest funerary meaning, or perhaps linked to astronomical patterns or seasonal calendars. Over the millennia, many stones were removed, toppled, or reused in local buildings, especially in historic times. The word "alignments" refers to the visible rows of standing stones that still remain. Today, the Alignments of Carnac are protected as important heritage sites. Research continues to refine their dating and function, and the monuments remain a remarkable testimony to the ambition and organisation of prehistoric communities. References: Musee de Prehistoire:The Carnac Alignments Göteborgs universite: Menhirs of Carnac Alignments of Carnac Wikipedia Carnac Tourism: The World Famous Standing Stones Internet Sacred Text Archive: Menhirs and Dolmens LEGENDS & MYTHS OF CARNAC There are actual legends connected to the Carnac stones. One of the most widely told involves Saint Cornély. According to Breton tradition, Cornély was being pursued by soldiers. He and his oxen fled, and the stones of Carnac are said to be the soldiers turned to stone as a result of divine intervention. Another version says the stones were dancing at midnight on Christmas Eve, and people who saw them would be crushed beneath as the stones marched to the sea. While these legends don't claim to explain the actual Neolithic origins of the stones, they illustrate how later generations understood and imagined the dramatic rows of stones in their landscape. MY THOUGHTS on CARNAC Your walk through Carnac: Describe how it feels to be watched by stone that might remember more than you do. PLUS Environmental reflection: These monuments lasted thousands of years. What are we building that will last that long? "Heart of Fangorn" as a prayer for the planet: This song speaks for trees, for roots, for voices we ignore in our haste. In Fangorn, the Ents stand watch over the woods. At Carnac, the menhirs stand silent on the moor. If they could speak, what would their witness be? The Ents of Fangorn resist change; the stones of Carnac endure it. When do you find yourself standing still while everything else moves? 27:48 - Brobdingnagian Bards "Heart of Fangorn" from Memories of Middle Earth Get the "They Come In Pints" album pin to own Memories of Middle Earth and enter the forest Listen to the song recorded live at Dragon Con 2024 in a Bootleg Concert from our Podcast. You can also hear the song on a past Bards podcast episode that was recorded right before we flew off on the second Brobdingnagian Tour of Ireland in 2008. HEART OF FANGORN Lyrics and music Marc Gunn Long before men tread Middle-Earth, Before the dwarves and elves gave birth, There sprouted a race for the trees' defense In the heart of Fangorn, there live the Ents. Ha-room… Ha-da-ra-room. Ha-room… Ha-da-ra-room. Patient farmers they tend the woods. Gaurdians of stems and of roots. They hear the arbors' laments and wails From falling axes and tearful trails. Ha-room… Ha-da-ra-room. Ha-room… Ha-da-ra-room. For Living Creatures all roam the land, But hasty judgements make careless hands. One thoughtless word from a thoughtless king A thousand creatures die beneath the trees. Ha-room… Ha-da-ra-room. Ha-room… Ha-da-ra-room. The rivers will flow though their course may change. The birds are born and will fly away. Men will come and men will go, But the Ents remain through the melting snow. Ha-room… Ha-da-ra-room. Ha-room… Ha-da-ra-room. Mark it down. Because the stones are not silent. They're just slow to speak. This is the final episode named Quest & Chorus. For that matter, it's also the final episode of Folk Songs & Stories, at least by those names. I ran a poll on Patreon to see what name people liked the most. The most popular name was Pub Songs & Stories. So we're moving back to that name. That said, Quest & Chorus is not gone forever. This is just the beginning. I really liked this special feature and so in some episodes in the future, I hope to include a quest and chorus for you. I also realized that the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast, my award-winning flagship program, is a great show. But over the past decade, the podcast has become more and more dominated by instrumental Celtic music. Which is fantastic. I love a great set of tunes as much as the songs. But I feel like the singers and the songwriters lost out a bit. I started playing music because I wanted to be a songwriter. I love all styles of music. I love learning how to write songs. Writing Celtic and folk songs are one of the reasons I continue to create music. So another thing I will be doing with a section of the podcast is to continue to promote the singers, songs, and songwriters that I find whether on the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast or wherever. A great example is the interview that I'm sharing next time on the podcast. I interviewed Mikey Mason about his songwriting techniques. The things that inspire him to write a new song and share it each and every week for several years now. I'm trying to write more songs myself, and I will continue to share them over on Patreon but hopefully every month I will have a new song that I can share in this podcast as well. Additional References: Listen to History of Celtic Brittany on the Celtfather Travel Podcast Postcard: Fortresse Largoet + 2022 Podcast Planning & Strategies Pub Songs Podcast #162: Carnac Celtic Concert Celtfather: Secret History of the Celts Revealed CIV 2017: Arrived in Paris 31:10 - CREDITS Thanks for listening to Pub Songs & Stories. This episode was edited by Marc Gunn & Mitchell Petersen. You can follow and listen to the show on my Patreon or wherever you find podcasts. Sign up to my mailing list to learn more about songs featured in this podcast and discover where I'm performing. Clean energy isn't just good for the planet, it's good for your wallet. Solar and wind are now the cheapest power sources in history. But too many politicians would rather protect billionaires than help working families save on their bills. Real change starts when we stop allowing the ultra-rich to write our energy policy and run our government. Let's choose affordable, renewable power. Clean energy means lower costs, more freedom, and a planet that can actually breathe. Join the Quest and Sing Along at www.pubsong.com! #pubstories  

David Fleming speaks with Al Pitrelli once again about the 2025 tour for Trans-Siberian Orchestra - The Ghosts of Christmas Eve. This is also the 25th anniversary Beethoven's Last Night, so a bit here as well. We'll also touch briefly on Savatage, the group from which TSO sprang. They (finally) started touring again!

Kerri Steele's husband Will ran 13 miles each day, went home to help get his young children ready for the day afterwards, and then put in a full day of work. Needless to say, it was a total shock to Kerri and Will when he was diagnosed with a rare form of  cancer that was determined to be terminal upon his diagnosis in February of 2010, and which led to his passing on Christmas Eve of 2012. Kerri will talk about Will, and about the difficult years ahead for her and their children who were 2,4, and 6 when their father got sick. 

Two-time Emmy and three-time NAACP Image Award-winning television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Booker T. Washington.

Two-time Emmy and three-time NAACP Image Award-winning television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Booker T. Washington.

We've all read this passage at Christmas Eve services. It's a dark, enigmatic passage—and then the promise of God-with-us breaks through. Alex, Jim, and Sam discuss Isaiah 9.

At Scott Peterson's 2004 trial, one expert witness sealed his fate. Dr. Terry D'Vor told jurors that baby Connor's fetal measurements proved Laci Peterson died on or before Christmas Eve 2002—the same day Scott went fishing. Jurors called his testimony “the nail in the coffin.” Now, in 2024, D'Vor has recanted. After reviewing modern NIH and WHO fetal-growth studies, he signed an affidavit admitting the old 1990s charts he used were scientifically obsolete. The updated data show Connor's gestational age was consistent with a January death, not December 24. That's when Scott Peterson was already under 24-hour police surveillance. Meaning: he couldn't have done it. This episode dissects the science that collapsed and the law that lets outdated forensics destroy lives. We'll explain California's Penal Code § 1473 (b)(2), written for exactly this scenario—when an expert's own recantation proves the state's theory was wrong. If modern science shows Laci and Connor died while Scott was being followed by cops, what's left of the prosecution's timeline? #ScottPeterson #LaciPeterson #LAInnocenceProject #HiddenKillers #TrueCrime #TonyBrueski #WrongfulConviction #ForensicScience #JusticeForLaci #CrimePodcast Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video?  Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod

At Scott Peterson's 2004 trial, one expert witness sealed his fate. Dr. Terry D'Vor told jurors that baby Connor's fetal measurements proved Laci Peterson died on or before Christmas Eve 2002—the same day Scott went fishing. Jurors called his testimony “the nail in the coffin.” Now, in 2024, D'Vor has recanted. After reviewing modern NIH and WHO fetal-growth studies, he signed an affidavit admitting the old 1990s charts he used were scientifically obsolete. The updated data show Connor's gestational age was consistent with a January death, not December 24. That's when Scott Peterson was already under 24-hour police surveillance. Meaning: he couldn't have done it. This episode dissects the science that collapsed and the law that lets outdated forensics destroy lives. We'll explain California's Penal Code § 1473 (b)(2), written for exactly this scenario—when an expert's own recantation proves the state's theory was wrong. If modern science shows Laci and Connor died while Scott was being followed by cops, what's left of the prosecution's timeline? #ScottPeterson #LaciPeterson #LAInnocenceProject #HiddenKillers #TrueCrime #TonyBrueski #WrongfulConviction #ForensicScience #JusticeForLaci #CrimePodcast Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video?  Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod

Two-time Emmy and three-time NAACP Image Award-winning television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Booker T. Washington.

At Scott Peterson's 2004 trial, one expert witness sealed his fate. Dr. Terry D'Vor told jurors that baby Connor's fetal measurements proved Laci Peterson died on or before Christmas Eve 2002—the same day Scott went fishing. Jurors called his testimony “the nail in the coffin.” Now, in 2024, D'Vor has recanted. After reviewing modern NIH and WHO fetal-growth studies, he signed an affidavit admitting the old 1990s charts he used were scientifically obsolete. The updated data show Connor's gestational age was consistent with a January death, not December 24. That's when Scott Peterson was already under 24-hour police surveillance. Meaning: he couldn't have done it. This episode dissects the science that collapsed and the law that lets outdated forensics destroy lives. We'll explain California's Penal Code § 1473 (b)(2), written for exactly this scenario—when an expert's own recantation proves the state's theory was wrong. If modern science shows Laci and Connor died while Scott was being followed by cops, what's left of the prosecution's timeline? #ScottPeterson #LaciPeterson #LAInnocenceProject #HiddenKillers #TrueCrime #TonyBrueski #WrongfulConviction #ForensicScience #JusticeForLaci #CrimePodcast Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video?  Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod

Hi, it's Natalie here. This episode is an emotional and important one. I'm joined by Tim Royal, a television director known for his work on Coronation Street, Emmerdale, and EastEnders, who reached out to me to share the story behind his short film "It's the Hope That Kills You."If you've been listening for a while, you'll know that male factor infertility was part of my own fertility story. And this month on the podcast, we're shining the spotlight on male infertility and men's experiences, which often go unheard. Tim's story speaks to that silence and the emotional toll that fertility treatment can have on men.What we talk about:How Tim felt marginalised and overlooked throughout the IVF processThe emotional weight of never being called by name or offered therapyThe pressure of “sample day” and why language matters in the clinicThe cumulative trauma of repeated failed transfers and insensitive staff questionsA powerful idea: colour-coded patient folders to avoid retraumatising questionsThe stark contrast between treatment at St Mary's Hospital and CARE FertilityTim's experience of debilitating anxiety and his journey to seek therapyThe importance of recognising and challenging intrusive thoughtsHow IVF reshaped his relationships, identity, and day-to-day mental healthTim's reflection on IVF as a team effort, and how he supported his wifeThe impact of working on scripts about fertility while living through treatmentChoosing to use film as a tool for honesty, empathy, and social changeHow hope can both carry and crush us during infertilityThe moment everything changed: a final transfer, a fertility stone, and holding on to the “1 percent”About the filmIt's the Hope That Kills You is a 13-minute short film written and directed by Tim, based on his and his wife's seven-year fertility journey. It is raw, authentic, and quietly devastating, capturing the micro-aggressions, emotional weight, and relationship strain of infertility.Tim self-funded the film and created it to spark conversations and help others feel seen. It's especially powerful for those trying to support loved ones but unsure how.The film will be available to watch for free on YouTube on 30 November.It has a Christmas element and was inspired by their 11th and final transfer, which took place on Christmas Eve.You can follow the film's Instagram page for updates: @itsthehopethatkillsyoufilmSupport for Men and Mental HealthAs Tim shares, his anxiety became life-altering and the lack of support for men in the fertility space made it worse. If you're navigating something similar, please know there is help available.Organisations and initiatives that support men:ExamenLab – Sperm DNA Fragmentation TestingFertility for MenThe Male Fertility Coach testhim - Male Fertility SupportThe Male Fertility PodcastFertility Matters at WorkFertility Action – Regular support groups and workplace advocacyDon't forget to ask your clinic about advanced sperm DNA testing. Many men are told their semen analysis is “normal,” but tests like those offered by ExamenLab go deeper by detecting hidden DNA fragmentation that can impact conception,...

As moms we take on a lot over the holiday season, whether that be Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's etc. So what can we do now that will make the holiday season lighter and more enjoyable.  As a natural planner I have found that this is in direct parallel to how I enjoy the holiday season.  The more tasks and to-do items that I can get off my list before Thanksgiving and Christmas the less anxious and stressed I feel and the more I am actually able to focus on the Christmas Eve service or enjoy time with family over Thanksgiving.  Today we will be talking about ten things you can do right now to make the holiday season a bit lighter, less busy, and more peaceful.  Now before you turn off the episode imagining it's just another laundry list of to-do items, take a deep breath and know that this is just a suggested list and all or any of these tasks do not need to get done right here and now.  I invite you to grab a warm beverage, take a deep breath, walk through this list, and think about one thing you could do now to make the season lighter.   Reminder: We have some fun things coming up this fall.  Use code: FALLREFRESH10 to get 10% off a coaching call with me.  (https://byrdmichelle.thrivecart.com/unstuck-personal-coaching-60min/) If you are listening to this episode and need some help carving out time, working through a transition, or trying to balance work and life.  I would love to help you:  You can leave a message on the website www.byrdmichelle.com  You can grab the free Productivity Planner that I use with all my clients, on my website www.byrdmichelle.com  You can book a 20 min Discovery Call with me totally free and we can talk though what you need (https://calendly.com/byrd-michelle/bonus-one-time-un-stuck-time-management-coachin-clone) As always if you have any questions or want to just say hi you can reach me at contact@byrdmichelle.com. I pray this blesses you! Michelle

For more than twenty years, the name Scott Peterson has been synonymous with guilt. A husband who smiled on camera, a pregnant wife who vanished on Christmas Eve, and a nation that decided — almost instantly — that he was the killer. But now, the Los Angeles Innocence Project has filed a 2,600-page petition that could force the courts — and the public — to look again. Their filing doesn't claim Scott Peterson is innocent. It asks a harder question: What if the story we all accepted isn't the whole truth? Inside the petition are four explosive claims:

For more than twenty years, the name Scott Peterson has been synonymous with guilt. A husband who smiled on camera, a pregnant wife who vanished on Christmas Eve, and a nation that decided — almost instantly — that he was the killer. But now, the Los Angeles Innocence Project has filed a 2,600-page petition that could force the courts — and the public — to look again. Their filing doesn't claim Scott Peterson is innocent. It asks a harder question: What if the story we all accepted isn't the whole truth? Inside the petition are four explosive claims: