Podcasts about christmassy

What's The Most Christmassy Event? | Christ For YouText: Matthew 2:13-18 | Holy Innocents 2025Why would the Church make you hear about Herod's slaughter right in the middle of Christmas? Why put blood on the floor while the lights are still up and the hymns are still sweet? What if this “least Christmassy” text actually tells you what Christmas really is?Christmas does not happen in a safe world. It happens in this one. God moved in. The Son of God entered enemy territory in real flesh and blood, and the world greeted Him with a sword. And Herod is not just an “out there” problem. He exposes the crown we try to keep on our own heads.But this sermon does not leave you in the darkness. Jesus came to take the world's hatred into His own body, to atone for your sin, and to break death's teeth. Herod doesn't get to keep those children. The devil doesn't get to keep what he takes. The grave doesn't get the final word. As this year closes and a new one begins, you do not know what evils you will see, but you do know who reigns, and you do know where your future is.Subscribe & Share:Apple Podcasts: Christ For YouSpotify: Christ For YouPortuguês: Cristo Para VocêWebsite: ZionWG.orgContact: PastorRojas@ZionWG.org

Lost At Christmas: Part 2 A vulnerable confrontation with an old crush. Based on a post by Tx Tall Tales, in 2 parts. Listen to the Podcast at My First time. Christmas What had started out with the potential for so much disappointment, my first Christmas away from home, was actually quite wonderful. The family embraced me and treated me as one of their own. Dinner was scrumptious, a Christmas ham, with the full complement of side dishes. After dinner we chatted, drank a little too much spiked eggnog, and told stories of the last few years. I sat close to Sheri when I could, beside her at the dinner table, and next to her on the couch while we had our eggnog. I tried to engage her in some quiet conversation of our own, but the setting was all wrong for that, and I eventually abandoned those attempts. It was nice enough just to be near her. Tommy's step-father Dave, insisted I call Santiago, even though I knew the price would be outrageous, and I did. I gave my family my Christmas wishes, and told them how much I missed them and was looking forward to seeing them in a couple of days. Everyone in the room took a minute to say hello and share season's greetings. I had to spend a few minutes trying to get my Mom to stop crying at the far end, before we finally were able to hang-up. The small ones had to go to bed relatively early, and so we all got to open one gift the night before, as was their tradition. I gave Tommy his gift, and his mother opened the family gift and everyone acted pleased. In turn, they had bought me a present which I opened. It was two books for the trip, and they had a card for me. Inside was $50. I was completely in shock. "Dear Steve, Your short visit was a wonderful Christmas gift to us all. Thanks so much for choosing to spend this Christmas with us. Here's some mad money for the trip home. We all love you. Dave, June, Robert, Sheri, John and Jean" I was deeply touched by the gesture. I went over and gave Tommy's Mom a big hug, thanking her for the card and books. The kids jumped up with presents of their own, and I got two new drawings for my dorm room, as well as some mystery invention from John, which was supposed to be a spy tool to stop people from breaking into my room. I thanked them profusely, and they were put to bed shortly after. Dave, Tommy and I discussed the logistics of my morning bus ride back to Charleston. It left at 7:30 am, but was only about 15 minutes away, so we figured on getting a 7:00am start. We relaxed around the fire, ruminating on the poor souls who had the job of driving that bus all day Christmas day. There was a guitar in the corner, Greg's. I was surprised he hadn't taken it with him. I went over and grabbed it, and finding it miserably out of tune, I tuned it up. "Play something Christmassy", Tommy's Mom asked, and so I played a couple of tunes. I'm a fair guitarist; I was studying guitar at the Eastman School of Music since it was convenient, and ROTC was picking up the tab, and had improved quite a bit from the days of our first band. I got rave reviews from my small audience, and took requests for a while, before we broke it up. The parents still had some work to do for the kids, and Tommy and I wanted to hit the hay early, in order to catch that 7:30 bus. More hugs and kisses all around, with a firm handshake for Dave, and I retired to my room to finish my packing. I got ready for bed, dressed in boxers and a t-shirt, laid out my clothes for the morning, and completed my packing. I had one last thing I wanted to do before hitting the sack, so I went back into the bathroom, and knocked on the opposite door into Sheri's room. I heard a muffled "Come in" or something to that effect, and opened the door to find Sheri sitting up in bed, brushing her long blonde hair. She was dressed in a nearly see-through pale green nightie that took my breath away. "Hi." I felt incredibly awkward, like I was 16 all over again. She looked up at me, giving me a quizzically upraised eyebrow. "I had a gift for you, but I felt kind of silly giving it to you out there. I hope you don't mind that I waited until now." I handed her a small leather pouch. She took it, laying her brush to the side, and opened it, pulling out a small cross. She stretched out the cord, and looked at me in surprise. "But this is your mountain cross! You always wear this!" She said, looking at me with a strange look I couldn't quite fathom. The cross was one I had found mountain climbing several years earlier. I had been in a small accident. I'd fallen into a glacier fed stream on a mountain trip, while collecting firewood in a storm. I'd almost frozen before I'd made it back to the cabin. Literally. I thought I was going to die. I was staggering the last 20 feet to the building, in a daze, when a friend returning from the outhouse ran into me, and dragged me inside to warm up. The next morning I found a small ivory cross on a rotted leather lanyard at almost the very place I had climbed out of the stream, and I had worn it for years since then. Sheri knew the story. I had told her the whole thing one evening when I had been giving her driving lessons. I don't know what had motivated me to give it to her, but I had had this urge, and I've always been a pretty impetuous person. "I just want you to have it." I explained. She patted the bed beside her for me to sit down then she handed me the cross to put around her neck and turned her back to me. I passed my hands over the head, letting the cross dangle in the valley between her breasts, and she reached back and pulled her hair up and out of the way, so I could latch the necklace on her. When I was done she turned to me, and fingering the cross she thanked me. "I got the strangest call today." She told me. "Strange how?" I asked. "Kathryn called me. We haven't talked probably in over a year, but she called me out of the blue, and we talked about nothing but you for over an hour." She said with a teasing smile. I could feel my face burning from the blush. We were real quiet for a bit. Then she spoke up softly, not looking at me at all, just looking down at her hands. "Do you remember the skating party where you asked me to skate, like 5 times?" "Do I ever! My hand was so sweaty I was embarrassed to hold yours, but didn't know how to dry it off, and I wasn't good enough a skater to make a real dance out of it." I laughed. "I thought you liked me, and were going to ask me out, but you never did. Why not?" She asked. The memory was embarrassing, and I thought about it a bit before confessing. "I had skated with Kathryn earlier in the evening, and she asked me who I liked. I told her I would answer by the end of the evening. Later, just when I was trying to get the nerve up to skate with you again, and ask you to sit by me on the Pensacola bus trip, Jack found me and told me that I had better ask Kathryn to skate. She was waiting for me to tell her something. Well, I did ask her to skate, and she reminded me of our previous conversation. I admitted that I really liked two people, you and her. Then she asked me if I minded if she 'monopolized' me for a while. I went along. You know the rest. One out-of-town bus trip; one back-row of the movie; and me completely screwing everything up." She listened without showing too much surprise. "But how come you never tried anything after that?" "God! How could I? You knew everything that had happened. Don't you remember the time I stopped by when Net was over here spending the night. Every time I passed you guys, you seemed to be laughing at me. And then when you passed me in the hall and whispered, "Oooh, I Love You," teasing me with what I'd said to Kathryn before completely blowing her off, I was just devastated. I hadn't screwed up just the one chance, but you as well." Sheri had the grace to blush from embarrassment at that. "I really didn't know much of what was going on. Kathryn just told me to go up to you and say that. I'm sorry." "Not half as sorry as I was." I told her. "You had to know how much I liked you. I was always trying to be around you and do things with you." "I didn't know how much of that was just being Tommy's sister, or what. I kept waiting for you to try something, anything, but you never did." She looked at me intensely almost with anguish. I was 16 all over again. I was still embarrassed over my ineptness around women. I had screwed things up with Kathryn. I had screwed up with Teri. And I had screwed up with Sheri. Since then I'd had more than my share of success with the young women I'd known, but all of a sudden, it was like I was a clumsy, scared virgin all over again. Sheri looked at me for a long while, then finally sighed and looked away, picking up her brush and going back to brushing her hair. "Some things will never change, I guess," she muttered, ignoring me. I started to get up, to go to my room, knowing this was neither the time, nor the place to try to start something with Sheri, but I just couldn't leave things as they were. I reached out and took the brush from her, which she relinquished slowly. I then took her by the shoulders and turned her away from me, so I could brush her hair. I brushed her hair in silence for a bit, before speaking. "For at least a year after leaving here, I would dream about you all the time. You were the girl of my fantasies. We wrote so well for a while, and I kept all your letters, reading them over and over again, looking for hidden meaning in the words, wondering if I'd ever get a chance to be with you. I still have those letters." I confessed. Several long seconds later Sheri reached down to the bottom drawer of her chest, next to the bed and opened it. She reached under her sweaters, and pulled out a pile of letters held together with a rubber-band. I recognized my writing. She turned to look at me, and her eyes glistened. I dropped the brush, leaned over and nervously kissed her, hoping beyond hope she wouldn't throw me out of her room with a ruckus. Instead she turned, and returned my kiss with a depth and passion I could only have prayed for. When we broke apart, we just looked at each other. Suddenly I couldn't help but giggle. "What?" She asked, almost crossly. "Do you remember how you thought you'd get pregnant from French kissing?" I recalled. She blushed again. "I can't believe you still remember that, you beast. How did you find that out anyway?" "Kathryn told me on the bus trip. I think she was trying to make you seem naive to me, sort of solidify her hold on me." I told her. "That Bitch! She always denied it, but I couldn't think of anyone else who knew." We laughed a bit, and gradually fell back into kissing each other. At the next break in our kissing, Sheri nailed me again. "Tommy said you did it with Angela. Was she your first?" "No. I never did do it with her. And Colleen was my first." I admitted. "Colleen? From yearbook?" "Yeah. But not until a year later. She went to Mosley with me, and we hooked up at a party. It was weird and nothing much happened of it. Three weeks later I was headed to Chile." I told her. She just shook her head at me. "Since it's time for true confessions, who was your first?" I asked teasing. "Rich? Mike?" "Oh God, no!" she laughed. "Then who?" She never answered, just turned a bright red. "Come on, fair's fair. I told you." I urged her relentlessly. She mumbled something I couldn't make out. "I can't hear you, who was it?" I teased again. She looked up, almost fiercely. "Nobody, all right?" I was stunned, and the ensuing silence seemed endless. "You're kidding me." I finally said, hardly believing. Her answer was so soft I almost missed it. "At one time I thought you'd be my first." This time when we kissed, I allowed my hands to wander, throwing caution to the wind. I cupped her perfect young breast in my hand, letting my thumb brush across her nipple, getting it hard. We were both gasping when we broke apart. "Steve?" "Yes?" "Go close your door, and turn off your light, then turn off the light in the bathroom," she said softly. I did, and she had turned down the light in her room. She was lying in the bed, the covers folded down neatly, waiting for me. She was still in her nightie. I stood beside the bed and made my commitment. I removed my shirt, and then my shorts, sporting a huge hard-on, which she stared at in wonder. I climbed into her bed completely naked. She had been laying sideways, leaning on her elbow, but as I entered the bed, she rolled onto her back, lying down, waiting for me. She was achingly beautiful in the dim light, and I was afraid I was going to come on the spot if she even touched me. I leaned over her and kissed her, but this time the kiss never stopped. I lost my soul in that kiss. I lost all track of time and presence. Our mouths stayed connected as we explored and played with our tongues, and my hands embarked on their exploration of the wonders of her body. My hands touched her all over, before finally settling in the warm crease between her legs. She had panties on, and as my fingers rubbed up and down her hidden folds, I found a small wet spot, maybe the size of a dime slowly spreading. Once I was aggressively rubbing her, sliding the material up and down, half-an inch into her by this time, the wetness enveloped the entire area. I slid my hand less than a foot up her body, and let my finger tips creep under the band of her panties. My hand slid down, the soft down of her hair like a magical lure, the gentle pressure of her panties against the back of my hand trapping me. Our kiss finally broke, and from an inch away we looked into each other's eyes as I slowly slid my middle finger between those forbidden lips, and into her. The aroma of her need assaulted me, and the quiet squish of her wetness against my finger was the ultimate aphrodisiac. I was engulfed with desire. I started to crawl over her, placing my knee between hers when she stopped me. "Wait." Then she raised her hips, and scrunched down, raised her knees, moments later passing me a small, but incredibly erotic piece of plain, white material. I was beyond reason, and I climbed between her legs. She spread them for me, seeming as eager as I. I grabbed my throbbing rod in hand, and by feel, rubbed the head up and down her moistness, adding pressure bit by bit, until I felt it settle in at the mouth of her pussy. She gave a small gasp, as the head slid in just a bit, not quite in her yet, but knowing that I was one small push from being inside. "Be gentle," she said, and I could see a hint of nervousness and fear in her eyes. I leaned over and kissed her softly, and while our lips touched, I pushed, sinking into her. At least for a bit. About halfway in I hit a barrier. I was confused at first. I pulled back and pushed again, a little harder, thinking I was sticking, and she grunted a little as if in pain. It finally sunk in. I had been with plenty of women, and several who had claimed to be virgins, but none with their cherry intact. I wasn't sure what to do. I probed again, and this time elicited a small 'ow'. What was I to do? I lay on top of her, my cock buried four inches deep in the girls of my dreams, and I was at a complete loss. Sheri shifted a bit under me, wrapped her legs around mine, and pulled me close. She whispered into my ear. "Take me." It was the sexiest thing I'd ever heard. Nervously I pulled back until I was just at the opening and I drove down hard, feeling just a pinch before my pelvis was grinding into hers. I was completely inside her. I got up on my elbows and looked down at her. I could see a single wet trail that glistened from the side of her eye to her ear. "Are you ok?" I asked her, holding myself still, deep inside of her. "Wonderful," she said softly, tilting her chin up slightly for a kiss. I accepted the offer, and kissed her gently, while I experimented with moving my cock within her incredibly tight sheath. I felt I was only moments from coming, but I couldn't resist moving my hips just a bit, exploring the feeling of being inside her. I leaned down and whispered in her ear. "I always wanted you. You knew it. I knew it. But I was afraid. I was afraid of the ribbing from your brother. Afraid of being exposed for knowing nothing about what to do with a girl. Afraid of ruining our friendship. Afraid of striking out, and you telling all the other girls, and my being the laughingstock. Afraid of so many stupid things. I was an idiot." "You weren't afraid of Kathryn," she answered softly. "She initiated it all. She pushed forward, asking to monopolize me, holding my hand. I probably never would have made the move. If I could change one thing, it would be that skating party. I should have saved that last moonlight skate for you, and asked you out. I should have told Kathryn that you were the one girl I was interested in. Who knows how things might have worked out? Plus, it wasn't as big a deal. If things didn't work out, oh well. But if I ruined things with you, it would have killed all my dreams." She was hot beneath me, her skin almost burning to my touch, I was finally moving inside of her, but I quickly had to stop, again on the verge of coming, and embarrassed at my short trigger. "Make love to me Steve," she said breathlessly. I gave a few more strokes and had to stop again. "Don't stop," she pleaded. "I'm sorry, I'm so excited I'm on the verge of coming now. If I move I won't be able to stop," I finally confessed. "Do it. Pump me, take me, come deep inside me," she answered. Those words were too much, and with a gasp I drove my cock in hard, and exploded inside her. I pulled back and slammed into her a dozen times or so, making the bed creak alarmingly as I emptied myself inside her virgin moistness. As my heart hammer away in my chest, and my breathing gasped, she gave me a small joyous laugh. "Wow, I guess you were close!" Then she gave a big hug before she pushed me off of her. She climbed over me, her hand pressed between her legs and scrambled into the bathroom, waddling inelegantly but still incredibly arousing to me. I heard her tinkle, and then return to the bed with a facecloth with which she wiped my semi-hard cock clean. Then she climbed into bed, her head on my shoulder and talked. She recounted almost ever time that we'd been together alone, all the adventures we'd had, the summer we'd learned to play tennis together, and what she'd thought might happen. We laughed a little at my ineptness and her caution as well. Then I felt her hand creep down between my legs. "Do you think we could try that again?" she asked me hesitantly. "I'm dying to, but I was afraid I might have hurt you." I laughed my foolish insecure laugh. "So hurt me," she teased, giving a tug on my cock. This time I held out a little better. I climbed between her legs again, and made love to her, still gently, still nervous. But before long I was feeling that familiar rhythm of need, and my strokes became longer and more insistent. I had to have her. I had to take her. I had to fill her deeply, completely. I sat up in the bed, discarding the covers, and raised her legs, pushing them back, and screwing her powerfully, shaking her body, crashing into her with a burning need. She was still wearing her nightie, but it had ridden up above her belly button, just a couple of inches below her breasts. I stopped my motion and whispered to her, "Rise up on your elbows." She looked at me oddly but did, raising her head a few inches off the pillow. I leaned over and lifted her nightie up above her breast, allowing me to see the objects of my desire and fantasies. "God, I've pictured those in my mind for four years, and yet never came close to imagining how perfect and beautiful they are." I said, more to myself than to her. I resumed my fucking, for that was what I was doing now, fucking her. Fucking her hard. She had her bottom lip captured between her teeth, and now she was holding her nightie in her hands, almost to her chin, allowing me an uninterrupted view of her oh-so-perfect tits. The visuals were all too much and pushed me over the edge once again. The beautiful face, the long hair arrayed across the pillow, the full breasts, bouncing a counter-beat to my pounding, her flat stomach, hollowed, and the light fur of her hair parted to allow my pole to penetrate her again and again. With a moan I came for her again, collapsing beside her, sated, and in complete serenity and joy. "I guess you really do like me," she laughed, cuddling up to my side. Then she was asking me about my afternoon meeting with Kathryn. "What did she tell you?" I asked, a little nervous. "No, you tell me what happened. I don't trust her," she insisted. I told her the whole story, including the ending. In full short-but-sweet detail. "I knew it!" She laughed. "She said you tried to come on to her, and made her grab you there, but she turned you down." "If that's how she wants to tell it that's fine by me. I owe her one; let her have it however she wants." I said "When you went to the movies, what really happened there?" she asked, with her one-track mind. I wasn't sure what her preoccupation was but I finally told her the whole scene, everything I'd done, every liberty I'd taken. At the end I waited in judgment. "She's such a liar. She said you tried to reach inside her pants but she stopped you." "Hardly, I could smell her on my fingers for day afterwards." I laughed. Sheri was lost in thought pressed up against me. My hands were idling rubbing her back, the material of her nightie soft and silky against my fingertips. "I guess there's only one thing she's done with you that we haven't done," Sheri started, and then she slid under the covers and a moment later I felt the warm wetness of her mouth enveloping me. I could see the covers moving as she used her mouth to pleasure me, taking only a few moments to make me hard, and then sucking me like there was no tomorrow. Which, in a way I guess there wasn't. I wanted to see her, so I pulled the covers back and looked down at her. She continued a few more strokes, then shifted and faced me a little more, finally lifting her eyes to watch me, watching her, suck my cock. A few more deep strokes and she pulled off with a smile. "I can see that's one thing you like," she said with a grin. "Like is an understatement." I laughed. She gave me a couple more sucks, and then she straddled me, and rose up to take me inside of her again. I wanted her so bad I could almost scream. She got me positioned right, and then slowly lowered herself the full length of my staff with one long, smooth stroke. Then, settled on my hips, my turgid meat buried in her achingly tight recess, she lifted the bottom of her nightie and pulled it up and over her head. I'd been to several strip shows before that, but never in my life had I seen anything so beautiful or so erotic. I could feel my pulse in my cock, throbbing inside her. She opened her eyes wide, and looked down between her legs. "Wow, I could feel that. At least one part of you really likes to see the girls," she laughed, holding her breasts cupped in her hands, and jiggling them for me. "You are the most beautiful thing I've ever seen." I told her. "Right, and now I guess you're going to tell me you love me, just like Kathryn." She said it with a hint of bitterness I didn't understand. "The difference is back then it was the hormones of a 16 year old talking. You on the other hand, I've loved for three years. And you know it." I said, and only as I spoke the words did I realize to my very soul, just how true it was. Sheri didn't answer. She leaned forward and rocked back and forth on my hard cock, enjoying the feeling of controlling the penetration, the pace, the timing. She paced herself to my breathing and excitement. When I started to get really excited she'd slow down and hold me, letting me ease back from the edge. When I was strong and ready, she'd ride me hard. She let my hands explore her as she did the work, and I touched her everywhere I could reach, just wallowing in the sensations. I pulled her down within reach, and tasted her nipples, playing with those perfect globes. The feel of her breasts, that impossible soft pale skin under my lips, making way to the crinkled, tougher skin, peaking to a little nub seemingly designed for me to tease and taste. Finally, after what seemed an eternity of sensual, erotic play, she laid down on me, her breasts pressed against my chest, her mouth on my neck, while she slowly rocked her hips, fucking herself gently on my rod. "Come for me Steve," she said, almost as a command. I reached down and took her full, soft ass cheeks in my hands, grasping them tight, and I held her up a bit off of me, so I could us my hips to drive in and out of her channel more completely. I was able to get a good long stroke established, and I could feel the cool air brushing against my wet shaft each time I pulled outward. We had made love for what seemed ages before she issued that first command for me to come. Now she issued another one. "Tell me again." I couldn't hold back any longer, and didn't want to. I was fucking the prettiest girl I'd ever known; The first girl that I had really badly wanted; The sweet little virgin that I had fantasized about for so long; Whose pretty face had been the image I'd been picturing as I filled enough old gym socks with cum to fill a stadium. "I love you, Sheri. I've loved you as long as I've known you." And with that I pulled her down hard on my cock, coming inside my dream girl again, and absorbing the feeling, knowing I was leaving within hours, not knowing when I'd see her again. "I love you, Steve," she said, I could feel her tears rolling down the side of my face. I looked up to see the sky lightening with the coming dawn, and thought to myself, "That's another one you've got up on Kathryn." I disentangled myself from her limbs and kissed her. "I have to go. Tommy's going to be looking for me any minute." Somehow we had spent the entire night reminiscing, sharing and making love. It was so difficult, but I tore myself from her arms, tucked her in bed, and kissed her goodnight. "Get a couple of hours of sleep; I'll be able to sleep on the bus." I told her. She was still wearing the cross I'd given her. She held it now. "Thanks for the Christmas present." She said with a small sad smile. I kissed her again, and retreated to the bathroom for a quick shower and shave. Back in my room, I dressed, and found a present waiting for me on my suitcase. A 8 by 10 picture of Sheri, as beautiful as I'd ever seen her, with a small inscription on the back. "Merry Christmas. Don't forget about me. Love, Sheri" I had just finished putting it away when Tommy knocked on my door, dragging me out to breakfast, and then off to the bus. The rest of that trip was uneventful; I made it home OK, picked up some presents in Panama, saw some old friends, and made it back to college in one piece. But I'll always recall that first Christmas away from home, and the greatest Christmas present I ever received. Not my first erector set, or the 114 piece Lincoln Log tube. Not my first really Cool bicycle, a purple spider bike with banana seat, big handle bars and a three speed shifter on the bar. Not my first electric guitar, a Fender, and amp, which I think my parents had some second thoughts about. No, Sheri's was the nicest gift I ever received, and probably ever will receive, for Christmas. "Thanks" just doesn't seem to say enough. Based on a post by Tx Tall Tales, in 2 parts, for Literotica

Lost At Christmas: Part 2 A vulnerable confrontation with an old crush. Based on a post by Tx Tall Tales, in 2 parts. Listen to the Podcast at My First time. Christmas What had started out with the potential for so much disappointment, my first Christmas away from home, was actually quite wonderful. The family embraced me and treated me as one of their own. Dinner was scrumptious, a Christmas ham, with the full complement of side dishes. After dinner we chatted, drank a little too much spiked eggnog, and told stories of the last few years. I sat close to Sheri when I could, beside her at the dinner table, and next to her on the couch while we had our eggnog. I tried to engage her in some quiet conversation of our own, but the setting was all wrong for that, and I eventually abandoned those attempts. It was nice enough just to be near her. Tommy's step-father Dave, insisted I call Santiago, even though I knew the price would be outrageous, and I did. I gave my family my Christmas wishes, and told them how much I missed them and was looking forward to seeing them in a couple of days. Everyone in the room took a minute to say hello and share season's greetings. I had to spend a few minutes trying to get my Mom to stop crying at the far end, before we finally were able to hang-up. The small ones had to go to bed relatively early, and so we all got to open one gift the night before, as was their tradition. I gave Tommy his gift, and his mother opened the family gift and everyone acted pleased. In turn, they had bought me a present which I opened. It was two books for the trip, and they had a card for me. Inside was $50. I was completely in shock. "Dear Steve, Your short visit was a wonderful Christmas gift to us all. Thanks so much for choosing to spend this Christmas with us. Here's some mad money for the trip home. We all love you. Dave, June, Robert, Sheri, John and Jean" I was deeply touched by the gesture. I went over and gave Tommy's Mom a big hug, thanking her for the card and books. The kids jumped up with presents of their own, and I got two new drawings for my dorm room, as well as some mystery invention from John, which was supposed to be a spy tool to stop people from breaking into my room. I thanked them profusely, and they were put to bed shortly after. Dave, Tommy and I discussed the logistics of my morning bus ride back to Charleston. It left at 7:30 am, but was only about 15 minutes away, so we figured on getting a 7:00am start. We relaxed around the fire, ruminating on the poor souls who had the job of driving that bus all day Christmas day. There was a guitar in the corner, Greg's. I was surprised he hadn't taken it with him. I went over and grabbed it, and finding it miserably out of tune, I tuned it up. "Play something Christmassy", Tommy's Mom asked, and so I played a couple of tunes. I'm a fair guitarist; I was studying guitar at the Eastman School of Music since it was convenient, and ROTC was picking up the tab, and had improved quite a bit from the days of our first band. I got rave reviews from my small audience, and took requests for a while, before we broke it up. The parents still had some work to do for the kids, and Tommy and I wanted to hit the hay early, in order to catch that 7:30 bus. More hugs and kisses all around, with a firm handshake for Dave, and I retired to my room to finish my packing. I got ready for bed, dressed in boxers and a t-shirt, laid out my clothes for the morning, and completed my packing. I had one last thing I wanted to do before hitting the sack, so I went back into the bathroom, and knocked on the opposite door into Sheri's room. I heard a muffled "Come in" or something to that effect, and opened the door to find Sheri sitting up in bed, brushing her long blonde hair. She was dressed in a nearly see-through pale green nightie that took my breath away. "Hi." I felt incredibly awkward, like I was 16 all over again. She looked up at me, giving me a quizzically upraised eyebrow. "I had a gift for you, but I felt kind of silly giving it to you out there. I hope you don't mind that I waited until now." I handed her a small leather pouch. She took it, laying her brush to the side, and opened it, pulling out a small cross. She stretched out the cord, and looked at me in surprise. "But this is your mountain cross! You always wear this!" She said, looking at me with a strange look I couldn't quite fathom. The cross was one I had found mountain climbing several years earlier. I had been in a small accident. I'd fallen into a glacier fed stream on a mountain trip, while collecting firewood in a storm. I'd almost frozen before I'd made it back to the cabin. Literally. I thought I was going to die. I was staggering the last 20 feet to the building, in a daze, when a friend returning from the outhouse ran into me, and dragged me inside to warm up. The next morning I found a small ivory cross on a rotted leather lanyard at almost the very place I had climbed out of the stream, and I had worn it for years since then. Sheri knew the story. I had told her the whole thing one evening when I had been giving her driving lessons. I don't know what had motivated me to give it to her, but I had had this urge, and I've always been a pretty impetuous person. "I just want you to have it." I explained. She patted the bed beside her for me to sit down then she handed me the cross to put around her neck and turned her back to me. I passed my hands over the head, letting the cross dangle in the valley between her breasts, and she reached back and pulled her hair up and out of the way, so I could latch the necklace on her. When I was done she turned to me, and fingering the cross she thanked me. "I got the strangest call today." She told me. "Strange how?" I asked. "Kathryn called me. We haven't talked probably in over a year, but she called me out of the blue, and we talked about nothing but you for over an hour." She said with a teasing smile. I could feel my face burning from the blush. We were real quiet for a bit. Then she spoke up softly, not looking at me at all, just looking down at her hands. "Do you remember the skating party where you asked me to skate, like 5 times?" "Do I ever! My hand was so sweaty I was embarrassed to hold yours, but didn't know how to dry it off, and I wasn't good enough a skater to make a real dance out of it." I laughed. "I thought you liked me, and were going to ask me out, but you never did. Why not?" She asked. The memory was embarrassing, and I thought about it a bit before confessing. "I had skated with Kathryn earlier in the evening, and she asked me who I liked. I told her I would answer by the end of the evening. Later, just when I was trying to get the nerve up to skate with you again, and ask you to sit by me on the Pensacola bus trip, Jack found me and told me that I had better ask Kathryn to skate. She was waiting for me to tell her something. Well, I did ask her to skate, and she reminded me of our previous conversation. I admitted that I really liked two people, you and her. Then she asked me if I minded if she 'monopolized' me for a while. I went along. You know the rest. One out-of-town bus trip; one back-row of the movie; and me completely screwing everything up." She listened without showing too much surprise. "But how come you never tried anything after that?" "God! How could I? You knew everything that had happened. Don't you remember the time I stopped by when Net was over here spending the night. Every time I passed you guys, you seemed to be laughing at me. And then when you passed me in the hall and whispered, "Oooh, I Love You," teasing me with what I'd said to Kathryn before completely blowing her off, I was just devastated. I hadn't screwed up just the one chance, but you as well." Sheri had the grace to blush from embarrassment at that. "I really didn't know much of what was going on. Kathryn just told me to go up to you and say that. I'm sorry." "Not half as sorry as I was." I told her. "You had to know how much I liked you. I was always trying to be around you and do things with you." "I didn't know how much of that was just being Tommy's sister, or what. I kept waiting for you to try something, anything, but you never did." She looked at me intensely almost with anguish. I was 16 all over again. I was still embarrassed over my ineptness around women. I had screwed things up with Kathryn. I had screwed up with Teri. And I had screwed up with Sheri. Since then I'd had more than my share of success with the young women I'd known, but all of a sudden, it was like I was a clumsy, scared virgin all over again. Sheri looked at me for a long while, then finally sighed and looked away, picking up her brush and going back to brushing her hair. "Some things will never change, I guess," she muttered, ignoring me. I started to get up, to go to my room, knowing this was neither the time, nor the place to try to start something with Sheri, but I just couldn't leave things as they were. I reached out and took the brush from her, which she relinquished slowly. I then took her by the shoulders and turned her away from me, so I could brush her hair. I brushed her hair in silence for a bit, before speaking. "For at least a year after leaving here, I would dream about you all the time. You were the girl of my fantasies. We wrote so well for a while, and I kept all your letters, reading them over and over again, looking for hidden meaning in the words, wondering if I'd ever get a chance to be with you. I still have those letters." I confessed. Several long seconds later Sheri reached down to the bottom drawer of her chest, next to the bed and opened it. She reached under her sweaters, and pulled out a pile of letters held together with a rubber-band. I recognized my writing. She turned to look at me, and her eyes glistened. I dropped the brush, leaned over and nervously kissed her, hoping beyond hope she wouldn't throw me out of her room with a ruckus. Instead she turned, and returned my kiss with a depth and passion I could only have prayed for. When we broke apart, we just looked at each other. Suddenly I couldn't help but giggle. "What?" She asked, almost crossly. "Do you remember how you thought you'd get pregnant from French kissing?" I recalled. She blushed again. "I can't believe you still remember that, you beast. How did you find that out anyway?" "Kathryn told me on the bus trip. I think she was trying to make you seem naive to me, sort of solidify her hold on me." I told her. "That Bitch! She always denied it, but I couldn't think of anyone else who knew." We laughed a bit, and gradually fell back into kissing each other. At the next break in our kissing, Sheri nailed me again. "Tommy said you did it with Angela. Was she your first?" "No. I never did do it with her. And Colleen was my first." I admitted. "Colleen? From yearbook?" "Yeah. But not until a year later. She went to Mosley with me, and we hooked up at a party. It was weird and nothing much happened of it. Three weeks later I was headed to Chile." I told her. She just shook her head at me. "Since it's time for true confessions, who was your first?" I asked teasing. "Rich? Mike?" "Oh God, no!" she laughed. "Then who?" She never answered, just turned a bright red. "Come on, fair's fair. I told you." I urged her relentlessly. She mumbled something I couldn't make out. "I can't hear you, who was it?" I teased again. She looked up, almost fiercely. "Nobody, all right?" I was stunned, and the ensuing silence seemed endless. "You're kidding me." I finally said, hardly believing. Her answer was so soft I almost missed it. "At one time I thought you'd be my first." This time when we kissed, I allowed my hands to wander, throwing caution to the wind. I cupped her perfect young breast in my hand, letting my thumb brush across her nipple, getting it hard. We were both gasping when we broke apart. "Steve?" "Yes?" "Go close your door, and turn off your light, then turn off the light in the bathroom," she said softly. I did, and she had turned down the light in her room. She was lying in the bed, the covers folded down neatly, waiting for me. She was still in her nightie. I stood beside the bed and made my commitment. I removed my shirt, and then my shorts, sporting a huge hard-on, which she stared at in wonder. I climbed into her bed completely naked. She had been laying sideways, leaning on her elbow, but as I entered the bed, she rolled onto her back, lying down, waiting for me. She was achingly beautiful in the dim light, and I was afraid I was going to come on the spot if she even touched me. I leaned over her and kissed her, but this time the kiss never stopped. I lost my soul in that kiss. I lost all track of time and presence. Our mouths stayed connected as we explored and played with our tongues, and my hands embarked on their exploration of the wonders of her body. My hands touched her all over, before finally settling in the warm crease between her legs. She had panties on, and as my fingers rubbed up and down her hidden folds, I found a small wet spot, maybe the size of a dime slowly spreading. Once I was aggressively rubbing her, sliding the material up and down, half-an inch into her by this time, the wetness enveloped the entire area. I slid my hand less than a foot up her body, and let my finger tips creep under the band of her panties. My hand slid down, the soft down of her hair like a magical lure, the gentle pressure of her panties against the back of my hand trapping me. Our kiss finally broke, and from an inch away we looked into each other's eyes as I slowly slid my middle finger between those forbidden lips, and into her. The aroma of her need assaulted me, and the quiet squish of her wetness against my finger was the ultimate aphrodisiac. I was engulfed with desire. I started to crawl over her, placing my knee between hers when she stopped me. "Wait." Then she raised her hips, and scrunched down, raised her knees, moments later passing me a small, but incredibly erotic piece of plain, white material. I was beyond reason, and I climbed between her legs. She spread them for me, seeming as eager as I. I grabbed my throbbing rod in hand, and by feel, rubbed the head up and down her moistness, adding pressure bit by bit, until I felt it settle in at the mouth of her pussy. She gave a small gasp, as the head slid in just a bit, not quite in her yet, but knowing that I was one small push from being inside. "Be gentle," she said, and I could see a hint of nervousness and fear in her eyes. I leaned over and kissed her softly, and while our lips touched, I pushed, sinking into her. At least for a bit. About halfway in I hit a barrier. I was confused at first. I pulled back and pushed again, a little harder, thinking I was sticking, and she grunted a little as if in pain. It finally sunk in. I had been with plenty of women, and several who had claimed to be virgins, but none with their cherry intact. I wasn't sure what to do. I probed again, and this time elicited a small 'ow'. What was I to do? I lay on top of her, my cock buried four inches deep in the girls of my dreams, and I was at a complete loss. Sheri shifted a bit under me, wrapped her legs around mine, and pulled me close. She whispered into my ear. "Take me." It was the sexiest thing I'd ever heard. Nervously I pulled back until I was just at the opening and I drove down hard, feeling just a pinch before my pelvis was grinding into hers. I was completely inside her. I got up on my elbows and looked down at her. I could see a single wet trail that glistened from the side of her eye to her ear. "Are you ok?" I asked her, holding myself still, deep inside of her. "Wonderful," she said softly, tilting her chin up slightly for a kiss. I accepted the offer, and kissed her gently, while I experimented with moving my cock within her incredibly tight sheath. I felt I was only moments from coming, but I couldn't resist moving my hips just a bit, exploring the feeling of being inside her. I leaned down and whispered in her ear. "I always wanted you. You knew it. I knew it. But I was afraid. I was afraid of the ribbing from your brother. Afraid of being exposed for knowing nothing about what to do with a girl. Afraid of ruining our friendship. Afraid of striking out, and you telling all the other girls, and my being the laughingstock. Afraid of so many stupid things. I was an idiot." "You weren't afraid of Kathryn," she answered softly. "She initiated it all. She pushed forward, asking to monopolize me, holding my hand. I probably never would have made the move. If I could change one thing, it would be that skating party. I should have saved that last moonlight skate for you, and asked you out. I should have told Kathryn that you were the one girl I was interested in. Who knows how things might have worked out? Plus, it wasn't as big a deal. If things didn't work out, oh well. But if I ruined things with you, it would have killed all my dreams." She was hot beneath me, her skin almost burning to my touch, I was finally moving inside of her, but I quickly had to stop, again on the verge of coming, and embarrassed at my short trigger. "Make love to me Steve," she said breathlessly. I gave a few more strokes and had to stop again. "Don't stop," she pleaded. "I'm sorry, I'm so excited I'm on the verge of coming now. If I move I won't be able to stop," I finally confessed. "Do it. Pump me, take me, come deep inside me," she answered. Those words were too much, and with a gasp I drove my cock in hard, and exploded inside her. I pulled back and slammed into her a dozen times or so, making the bed creak alarmingly as I emptied myself inside her virgin moistness. As my heart hammer away in my chest, and my breathing gasped, she gave me a small joyous laugh. "Wow, I guess you were close!" Then she gave a big hug before she pushed me off of her. She climbed over me, her hand pressed between her legs and scrambled into the bathroom, waddling inelegantly but still incredibly arousing to me. I heard her tinkle, and then return to the bed with a facecloth with which she wiped my semi-hard cock clean. Then she climbed into bed, her head on my shoulder and talked. She recounted almost ever time that we'd been together alone, all the adventures we'd had, the summer we'd learned to play tennis together, and what she'd thought might happen. We laughed a little at my ineptness and her caution as well. Then I felt her hand creep down between my legs. "Do you think we could try that again?" she asked me hesitantly. "I'm dying to, but I was afraid I might have hurt you." I laughed my foolish insecure laugh. "So hurt me," she teased, giving a tug on my cock. This time I held out a little better. I climbed between her legs again, and made love to her, still gently, still nervous. But before long I was feeling that familiar rhythm of need, and my strokes became longer and more insistent. I had to have her. I had to take her. I had to fill her deeply, completely. I sat up in the bed, discarding the covers, and raised her legs, pushing them back, and screwing her powerfully, shaking her body, crashing into her with a burning need. She was still wearing her nightie, but it had ridden up above her belly button, just a couple of inches below her breasts. I stopped my motion and whispered to her, "Rise up on your elbows." She looked at me oddly but did, raising her head a few inches off the pillow. I leaned over and lifted her nightie up above her breast, allowing me to see the objects of my desire and fantasies. "God, I've pictured those in my mind for four years, and yet never came close to imagining how perfect and beautiful they are." I said, more to myself than to her. I resumed my fucking, for that was what I was doing now, fucking her. Fucking her hard. She had her bottom lip captured between her teeth, and now she was holding her nightie in her hands, almost to her chin, allowing me an uninterrupted view of her oh-so-perfect tits. The visuals were all too much and pushed me over the edge once again. The beautiful face, the long hair arrayed across the pillow, the full breasts, bouncing a counter-beat to my pounding, her flat stomach, hollowed, and the light fur of her hair parted to allow my pole to penetrate her again and again. With a moan I came for her again, collapsing beside her, sated, and in complete serenity and joy. "I guess you really do like me," she laughed, cuddling up to my side. Then she was asking me about my afternoon meeting with Kathryn. "What did she tell you?" I asked, a little nervous. "No, you tell me what happened. I don't trust her," she insisted. I told her the whole story, including the ending. In full short-but-sweet detail. "I knew it!" She laughed. "She said you tried to come on to her, and made her grab you there, but she turned you down." "If that's how she wants to tell it that's fine by me. I owe her one; let her have it however she wants." I said "When you went to the movies, what really happened there?" she asked, with her one-track mind. I wasn't sure what her preoccupation was but I finally told her the whole scene, everything I'd done, every liberty I'd taken. At the end I waited in judgment. "She's such a liar. She said you tried to reach inside her pants but she stopped you." "Hardly, I could smell her on my fingers for day afterwards." I laughed. Sheri was lost in thought pressed up against me. My hands were idling rubbing her back, the material of her nightie soft and silky against my fingertips. "I guess there's only one thing she's done with you that we haven't done," Sheri started, and then she slid under the covers and a moment later I felt the warm wetness of her mouth enveloping me. I could see the covers moving as she used her mouth to pleasure me, taking only a few moments to make me hard, and then sucking me like there was no tomorrow. Which, in a way I guess there wasn't. I wanted to see her, so I pulled the covers back and looked down at her. She continued a few more strokes, then shifted and faced me a little more, finally lifting her eyes to watch me, watching her, suck my cock. A few more deep strokes and she pulled off with a smile. "I can see that's one thing you like," she said with a grin. "Like is an understatement." I laughed. She gave me a couple more sucks, and then she straddled me, and rose up to take me inside of her again. I wanted her so bad I could almost scream. She got me positioned right, and then slowly lowered herself the full length of my staff with one long, smooth stroke. Then, settled on my hips, my turgid meat buried in her achingly tight recess, she lifted the bottom of her nightie and pulled it up and over her head. I'd been to several strip shows before that, but never in my life had I seen anything so beautiful or so erotic. I could feel my pulse in my cock, throbbing inside her. She opened her eyes wide, and looked down between her legs. "Wow, I could feel that. At least one part of you really likes to see the girls," she laughed, holding her breasts cupped in her hands, and jiggling them for me. "You are the most beautiful thing I've ever seen." I told her. "Right, and now I guess you're going to tell me you love me, just like Kathryn." She said it with a hint of bitterness I didn't understand. "The difference is back then it was the hormones of a 16 year old talking. You on the other hand, I've loved for three years. And you know it." I said, and only as I spoke the words did I realize to my very soul, just how true it was. Sheri didn't answer. She leaned forward and rocked back and forth on my hard cock, enjoying the feeling of controlling the penetration, the pace, the timing. She paced herself to my breathing and excitement. When I started to get really excited she'd slow down and hold me, letting me ease back from the edge. When I was strong and ready, she'd ride me hard. She let my hands explore her as she did the work, and I touched her everywhere I could reach, just wallowing in the sensations. I pulled her down within reach, and tasted her nipples, playing with those perfect globes. The feel of her breasts, that impossible soft pale skin under my lips, making way to the crinkled, tougher skin, peaking to a little nub seemingly designed for me to tease and taste. Finally, after what seemed an eternity of sensual, erotic play, she laid down on me, her breasts pressed against my chest, her mouth on my neck, while she slowly rocked her hips, fucking herself gently on my rod. "Come for me Steve," she said, almost as a command. I reached down and took her full, soft ass cheeks in my hands, grasping them tight, and I held her up a bit off of me, so I could us my hips to drive in and out of her channel more completely. I was able to get a good long stroke established, and I could feel the cool air brushing against my wet shaft each time I pulled outward. We had made love for what seemed ages before she issued that first command for me to come. Now she issued another one. "Tell me again." I couldn't hold back any longer, and didn't want to. I was fucking the prettiest girl I'd ever known; The first girl that I had really badly wanted; The sweet little virgin that I had fantasized about for so long; Whose pretty face had been the image I'd been picturing as I filled enough old gym socks with cum to fill a stadium. "I love you, Sheri. I've loved you as long as I've known you." And with that I pulled her down hard on my cock, coming inside my dream girl again, and absorbing the feeling, knowing I was leaving within hours, not knowing when I'd see her again. "I love you, Steve," she said, I could feel her tears rolling down the side of my face. I looked up to see the sky lightening with the coming dawn, and thought to myself, "That's another one you've got up on Kathryn." I disentangled myself from her limbs and kissed her. "I have to go. Tommy's going to be looking for me any minute." Somehow we had spent the entire night reminiscing, sharing and making love. It was so difficult, but I tore myself from her arms, tucked her in bed, and kissed her goodnight. "Get a couple of hours of sleep; I'll be able to sleep on the bus." I told her. She was still wearing the cross I'd given her. She held it now. "Thanks for the Christmas present." She said with a small sad smile. I kissed her again, and retreated to the bathroom for a quick shower and shave. Back in my room, I dressed, and found a present waiting for me on my suitcase. A 8 by 10 picture of Sheri, as beautiful as I'd ever seen her, with a small inscription on the back. "Merry Christmas. Don't forget about me. Love, Sheri" I had just finished putting it away when Tommy knocked on my door, dragging me out to breakfast, and then off to the bus. The rest of that trip was uneventful; I made it home OK, picked up some presents in Panama, saw some old friends, and made it back to college in one piece. But I'll always recall that first Christmas away from home, and the greatest Christmas present I ever received. Not my first erector set, or the 114 piece Lincoln Log tube. Not my first really Cool bicycle, a purple spider bike with banana seat, big handle bars and a three speed shifter on the bar. Not my first electric guitar, a Fender, and amp, which I think my parents had some second thoughts about. No, Sheri's was the nicest gift I ever received, and probably ever will receive, for Christmas. "Thanks" just doesn't seem to say enough. Based on a post by Tx Tall Tales, in 2 parts, for Literotica

Send me a Text Message!In this episode, Mike and Angie record their first official Christmas Day episode — not to perform holiday cheer, but to honor what's actually real. They reflect on their years of tradition, deconstruction, growth, and how this Christmas season looks and feels unlike any before. This isn't a checklist Christmas… it's a raw and honest reflection on how to stop forcing the feeling, and let peace come naturally.Key TakeawaysThis Year, There's No Forcing the Feeling Instead of trying to manufacture holiday spirit, Mike and Angie chose to honor the stillness that showed up.Tradition Isn't the Problem — Forced Obligation Is Releasing what's not inspired allows space for what is.Gift Guilt, Present Anxiety, and the Pressure to Perform This episode explores the subtle stress so many people carry during the holidays — and how to release it.Love Languages, Childhood Trauma, and Holiday Expectations Why we often create pressure for others without knowing it — and how to break the cycle.Let the Season Be What It Is Whether you're jolly or neutral, festive or flat — there's nothing wrong with how you feel.Notable Quotes“Tradition is simply peer pressure from dead people.”“Are you inspired to do something, or are you doing it out of obligation?”“I always tried to force myself to feel Christmassy… and this year, there was no force.”“This Christmas season has all been about allowing the season to be what it is and allowing us to be what we are within the season.”“There's nothing wrong with tradition. We're not knocking it — we're just saying it should come from inspiration, not expectation.”Call to Action

Did Dickens ruin Christmas? He was certainly a pioneer in exploiting its commercial potential. A Christmas Carol sold 6,000 copies in five days when it was published on 19 December 1843, and Dickens went on to write four more lucrative Christmas books in the 1840s. But in many ways, this ‘ghost story of Christmas' couldn't be less Christmassy. The plot displays Dickens's typical obsession with extracting maximum sentimentality from the pain and death of his characters, and the narrative voice veers unnervingly from preachy to creepy in its voyeuristic obsessions with physical excess. The book also offers a stiff social critique of the 1834 Poor Law and a satire on Malthusian ideas of population control. In this long extract from ‘Novel Approaches', part of our Close Readings podcast, Colin Burrow and Clare Bucknell join Tom to consider why Dickens's dark tale has remained a Christmas staple. This is an extract from the episode. To listen in full, and to all our other Close Readings series, sign up: Directly in Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://lrb.me/applecrna⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ In other podcast apps: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://lrb.me/closereadingsna⁠⁠ AUDIO GIFTS Close Readings and audiobooks: https://lrb.me/audiogifts

Did Dickens ruin Christmas? He was certainly a pioneer in exploiting its commercial potential. A Christmas Carol sold 6,000 copies in five days when it was published on 19 December 1843, and Dickens went on to write four more lucrative Christmas books in the 1840s. But in many ways, this ‘ghost story of Christmas' couldn't be less Christmassy. The plot displays Dickens's typical obsession with extracting maximum sentimentality from the pain and death of his characters, and the narrative voice veers unnervingly from preachy to creepy in its voyeuristic obsessions with physical excess. The book also offers a stiff social critique of the 1834 Poor Law and a satire on Malthusian ideas of population control. In this bonus episode from ‘Novel Approaches', part of our Close Readings podcast, Colin Burrow and Clare Bucknell join Tom to consider why Dickens's dark tale has remained a Christmas staple. Non-subscribers will only hear an extract from this episode. To listen in full, and to all our other Close Readings series, sign up: Directly in Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://lrb.me/applecrna⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ In other podcast apps: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://lrb.me/closereadingsna⁠⁠ AUDIO GIFTS Close Readings and audiobooks: https://lrb.me/audiogifts

Welcome to the DSTE Christmas Spectacular!! There's no Joe or Jono this week so Sam takes over hosting duties and is joined by JT and Ste to talk all things games, TV, and film + books this week. We have a Christmassy catch up before JT's new section Joe-Schmo Rage Baiting'! We also take a quick look at the new Street Fighter film trailer, the 2026 reboot directed by Kitao Sakurai and starring Noah Centineo as Ken and Andrew Koji as Ryu. Ste gives his obligatory World of Tanks update, the enduring armoured warfare MMO, and talks with JT about playing The Outer Worlds 2. This much-anticipated sci-fi RPG sequel from Obsidian Entertainment just launched this October, taking players to the new star system of Arcadia. JT played the new Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 game as we discuss the blatant rinse and repeat nature of COD (yet it's still fun) and the campaign (or lack of) vs. online gameplay. The pod has an in depth discussion around how games are priced and marketed around free game models with season pass/DLC. We then drop into Sam's Steam Deck Corner, where he's revisiting Trials Evolution, the 2012 physics-based racer from RedLynx. Next, we open Ste's Book Club to discuss Frank Herbert's 1965 sci-fi epic Dune and a Haruki Murakami marathon covering the melancholic Norwegian Wood (1987), the metaphysical Kafka on the Shore (2002), and the dystopian epic 1Q84 (2009). JT sits us down to tell us all about The Chair Company, the new HBO comedy-thriller from Tim Robinson about a man who uncovers a corporate conspiracy after his chair collapses during a presentation. We also test our Duolingo language skills by watching foreign TV shows: Schlag Den Star, the long-running German celebrity competition; Deutschland 83, the stylish 2015 Cold War spy thriller; and One Cut of the Dead, the ingenious 2017 Japanese meta-zombie film by Shin'ichirō Ueda. Sam covers The Beast In Me, the new Netflix psychological thriller starring Claire Danes and Matthew Rhys, and we chat about the massive Netflix vs. Paramount bids for Warner Bros. Discovery, as the streaming giants fight over the future of HBO and the DC Universe. The feature film this week that is unquestionable a Christmas Film - Jingle All The Way, the 1996 holiday classic starring Arnold Schwarzenegger on a desperate quest for a Turbo-Man action figure. Get in touch with us: X - https://x.com/DSTEPodcast Email - dontspoiltheending@gmail.com Intro 00:00:00 - Christmas talk 00:03:05 - Joe-Schmo rage baiting + 2025 Comic book films 00:09:22 - Street Fighter film Video Games 00:13:49 - World of Tanks 00:14:25 - The Outer Worlds 2 00:15:42 - Call of Duty Black Ops 7 00:18:55 - Control Resonant + Alan Wake 00:21:38 - Free game model/DLC/season pass discussion 00:27:46 - Sam's Steam Deck Corner - Trials Evolution Books 00:30:34 - Ste's Book Club - Dune + Haruki Murakami / Norwegian Wood + Kafka on the Shore + 1Q84 TV 00:35:53 - The Chair Company 00:40:49 - Duolino chat 00:41:30 - Schlag Den Star (Beat the Star) 00:43:03 - Deutschland 83 00:48:45 - The Beast in Me 00:55:43 - Netflix Monopolisation Films 00:59:07 - One Cut of the Dead Feature Review 01:02:39 - Jingle All The Way

During the original run of Doctor Who, there were nine stories whose broadcast spanned Christmas Day. But which of them is the most Christmassy? Presented by J.R. Southall, with Jon Arnold, Matt Barber and Steve Hatcher

In this episode of Lose the Plot, Carla and Emily spiral over Window Shopping by Tessa Bailey - the festive workplace romance that boldly asks: what if retail was unhinged, HR was a suggestion, and Christmas miracles looked suspiciously like a corny rich man losing control?We're unpacking the department store tension, wildly questionable workplace boundaries, and a heroine who enters a CEO's life and immediately rearranges his window displays and potentially his gastrointestinal system (don't ask)!

Carrie and Joel are back for part 2 of their Christmassy chat!This time, we hear about the birth of their daughter Mabel, the challenges of sleep deprivation, and balancing work and family life in the theatre industry. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Put the wrapping paper down, turn off Home Alone and stop stressing about a glorified Sunday roast… the true meaning of Christmas has finally been revealed to us, and would you believe it, it's Elis and John! Yes, everything in this festive period has been leading up to Elis and John's Christmas Cracker, and boy does it deliver on festive cheer. Because what's more Christmassy than a debate about TVs in hotel rooms, or a 45-year-old man getting lost in pictures of the 1950s footballer Tom Finney, (aka The Preston Plumber)?Unwrapping this podcast with your ears will also reveal a not-so-secret secret Santa, some yuletide Mad Daddery, and a chat with a very busy Mother Christmas. But festive cheer is not the only thing on today's agenda because we're also celebrating 500 episodes of the BBC era! Elis and John relive some moments from their very first show and the ghosts of Christmas Past Simon Mayo and Mark Kermode stop by to play a Made Up Game and chat Christmas flicks. Thanks for all your tip-top correspondence this year, and may 2026 bring even better emails and WhatsApps about oils, guffs and inappropriate school trips. Send everything into elisandjohn@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp 07974 293 022.

The Cosmic Pizza Podcast brings you Episode 103: Christmas 2025 Style This episode we discuss a Christmassy fact, the reveal our plans for Christmas. But what makes a great Christmas? Do we have any new traditions? Dan and Shawn regale us with their new purchase of the Lego Enterprise D and the gang try to […] The post Cosmic Pizza Podcast Episode 103 – Christmas 2025 Style appeared first on The ESO Network.

In Part 3 of this special mini series, Sara and Anna share rules 5 and 6 from their list of ten. These are the kind of relationship truths that land, then quietly stick with you for days. They begin with a quick catch-up about choppy paddleboarding conditions, warm weather that does not feel remotely Christmassy, and the fact that Christmas is fast approaching, whether either of them feels ready or not. Then they dive into the next two golden rules to help you strengthen your relationship in 2026. Rule 5: Appreciate loudly, criticise softly Sara and Anna unpack why most of us are quicker to criticise than to appreciate, and how easy it is to fall into “you always” and “you never” language, especially around everyday stress and household routines. They explore: Why we tend to gloss over the good because of our natural negativity bias How appreciation often stays inside our heads, even when we feel it The impact of receiving messages that are only logistics, not affection Why criticism delivered as an attack almost always leads to defensiveness How to start gently by naming what you have noticed and getting curious about what is going on underneath They also offer a simple challenge you can do right now: pause the episode and send your partner a message of appreciation about something small they did in the last 24 hours. Rule 6: Don't let the ego win, apologise even when it's hard This rule becomes a heartfelt conversation about vulnerability, emotional safety, and what it takes to repair after a moment you are not proud of. They explore: Why apologising can feel physically uncomfortable, especially if you never saw it modelled growing up How a genuine apology creates safety, and often invites your partner to own their part too The difference between being wrong and taking responsibility for your actions The biggest apology mistake is using the word “but” Why over-apologising can drain the power from the words, especially when it becomes people pleasing They also share a practical tip: slow it down, make eye contact, and say “I am sorry”, not a rushed, automatic “sorry”. Reflection prompts What is one thing your partner did recently that you appreciated, but did not say out loud? Where does your ego tend to show up most in your relationship? If you needed to repair today, what would a clean apology sound like, with no “but”? Next in the series: Part 4 will cover rules 7 and 8, as you keep moving through the full set of 10 tips for a stronger 2026 together. There is always a way to take one small step back towards connection, even if you start on your own. FREE Connection Guide >> Download Today Till Next Time Stay Connected Sara Liddle — www.inflori.co.uk Anna Stratis — www.coachdocanna.com

We're feeling very Christmassy this episode! We're featuring our #gifted trip to Silverstone's Lap of Lights, talking about some of our Christmas traditions (and how we're including our dogs and chickens this year), deciding on our favourite Christmas films, talking about books (as usual) and more..!

Despite it being strongly against Mr Whitehall's wishes, this is a quite Christmas-heavy episode. 'Tis the season after all. Get ready for tinsel, mince pies, ice skating and sage advice for the time of year. You can email your questions, thoughts or problems to TheWitteringWhitehalls@gmail.comOr, perhaps you'd like to send a WhatsApp message or Voice note? Why not?! Send them in to +447712147236This episode contains explicit language and adult themes that may not be suitable for all listeners.

Bonus Pod - Christmas Ask Me Anything - It's Christmas so as a special treat for you all, Santa has arranged that this month's pay-walled Ask Me Anything is free to all, even the poorest of children (as long as they have a device to listen to podcasts on) because it is the season. Richard answers every question he has been set, no matter how inappropriate and unChristmassy! Find out his favourite terrorist atrocity, whether he was born out of wedlock, if he would ever vote Tory, if he would eat a dinosaur egg and what gift he would have brought the baby Jesus (at last a Christmassy one!). And much more.Remember you can hear all the AMA podcasts and get loads more benefits by becoming a badger at http://gofasterstripe.com/badges (you need to pay at least £8 a month for the bonus podcasts, but there's loads of benefits at £5 a month). And you can get your question on a future ep and get a beautiful badge (and access to the podcast your question is on even if you're NOT a badger) by emailing Rich at arichardherringa@gmail.com). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dominic is joined again by the inimitable Dr. Lydia Craig where they dive into Dickens' third Christmas Book, with readings from the award-winning actress Penelope RawlinsThe Cricket On The Hearth - published 180 years ago this year - explodes into life from the very start and hardly pauses for breath until the very end. Its unrelenting pace sweeps its characters along whether they be human, animal, insect or household object … Centred around that fabled victorian fireside. Where dreams and visions appear happy in the glowing light but depressed in the shadows, there sits John Peerybingle with his pipe. His occupation as a carrier brings one of the many Christmassy elements to the book, in his daily round of delivering parcels out in the raw Winter weather. His wife Dot - as in the brightest little star that ever shone - is a young, energetic woman, who races about their home.Another Christmassy element in this story is the occupation of Toy-making. Enter Caleb Plummer and his blind daughter Bertha who make Dolls for the nasty, crab-faced Tackleton.And tearing in and out is the excited dog, Boxer seen as a spec in the distance one moment, then suddenly up close with his wet nose pressed into your face …Last but not least, is the magical Cricket ...HAPPY CHRISTMAS !!!Intro Music and Additional SFX provided under license by Epidemic Sound Support the showIf you'd like to make a donation to support the costs of producing this series you can buy 'coffees' right here https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dominicgerrardThank you so much!Host: Dominic GerrardSeries Artwork: Léna GibertOriginal Music: Dominic GerrardThank you for listening!

We're joined today by a special guest, Chris Juby, a worship song writer who has been on a personal journey of discovering the purpose and power of lament.As we approach Christmas, this may not seem like a very Christmassy topic! But Christmas doesn't magically make difficult times easy, and it can be a challenging period of the year for many people.Join Joy, Bob and Chris as they talk about the Biblical practice of lament - what it is, what it isn't, and how it can be used to draw near to God in difficult times.

Not an entirely festive edition, but we throw in a few Christmassy-tunez for you alogn with a hint at next week's show where we take a look-back at 2025. Have an incredible Christmas and New Year - Steve & Lou x   This time.   Jethro Tull – My Sunday Feeling Marillion – Lonely This Christmas Thank You Scientist – Plague Accommodations Hats Off Gentlemen, It's Adequate – Inside The Atom Carol Of The Bells – Neal Morse Kino – Loser's Day Parade Les Penning & Rob Reed – I Believe In Father Christmas Viper Soup Complex – The Well In The Labyrinth Liquid Tension Experiment – Ya Mon Ayreon – Computer Eyes Amplifier – Kaleidoscope Sons Of Apollo – Goodbye Divinity Whom Gods Destroy – The Decision John Petrucci – The Way Things Fall Dream Theater – Stream Of Consciousness (Live) Sherinian/Phillips – Alpha Burst (Live) Big Big Train – Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas The Prog World Orchestra – Frankenstein vs Santa IQ – The Dark Christmas Suite Dave Bainbridge – Hill Of The Angels (excerpt)

Happy radio lads! Don't mind if I do.Such a Christmassy show this week, featuring Santa Laws (Stuart Laws), and, of course, Matthew's 12 Listeners of Thickmas song! Plus, a special festive (300-feet tall) guest joins us for the podcast.Thanks for downloading the podcast – remember, you can be an Early Worm and catch the show live on Radio X every Sunday 8am – 11am.Get in touch on sunday@radiox.co.uk@EdGambleComedy@matthewcrosby@ThisStuartLaws @stuartlawscomedy

When the Old Testament prophets speak of the kingdom of the coming Messiah, they point to his throne established and upheld with justice and with righteousness. This week we come to the end of our advent series in the book of Malachi. The end of Malachi is the sentencing phase of a courtroom drama; it's about the final judgment of sin and the promise of restoration for those who repent. The final judgment of sin may not sound very Christmassy, but the arrival of the Christ child is the breaking of the dawn, the coming of light into the darkness. As Malachi puts it, "the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings." Feel free to read Malachi 3:13-4:6, and we will celebrate together on Sunday the joy that justice brings. ------------------------------------------- Connect with us on Social Media ⁠Website⁠ | ⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠Threads⁠ | ⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠Vimeo⁠------------------------------------------- Download our App⁠Apple App Store⁠ | ⁠Google Play Store⁠

Welcome back to another minisode of Doctor Who holiday specials but instead of getting all Christmassy-wismassy I'll be talking about Jodie Whittaker's 13th Doctor and her New Year's episodes. Also known as the Festive Specials. How did these episodes compare to the Christmas episodes of past? Will they hold up to Christmas episodes of the future? You'll just have to join me in the present in my bubble to find out.   Thanks for listening and Keep Streaming!   Find, follow, support the pod → https://linktr.ee/mystreamingbubble     Don't forget about Twin It to Win It → https://linktr.ee/twinittowinitpod 

Panto, short for pantomime, has become a staple of British Christmas celebrations but surprisingly its origins are neither British or Christmassy. It has its roots in the ancient Roman festival of Saturnalia, which was celebrated in December and involved dressing up as the opposite gender, swapping roles, and having a lot of fun. The word ‘pantomime' comes from the Latin ‘pantomimus', which means ‘actor who plays every role'. The Romans also had a tradition of performing plays called mummia, which were based on stories from Egypt. How did panto come to Britain? What are some of the earliest examples of panto in Britain? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: ⁠What were the Most Shocking Moments of the Turner Prize?⁠ ⁠What's really in vegan meat substitutes?⁠ ⁠Which are the dirtiest parts of our bodies?⁠ A podcast written and realised by Amber Minogue. First Broadcast: 14/12/2023 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pete, Stan and Graham chat the great win against Boro, how brilliant the Big Rob's are, and Brian Tinnion's comments on the squad at the recent Senior Reds lunch. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's one of his most beloved tales, but was written in a hurry and under duress. On this holiday episode of Dialogue, Marcia Franklin talks with Boise writer Samantha Silva about "A Christmas Carol," penned by Charles Dickens in 1843. In her debut novel, "Mr. Dickens and His Carol," Silva melds fact with fiction to imagine how Dickens came up with the plot for his now-classic story. Of Silva's work, Pulitzer Prize-winner and Boise resident Anthony Doerr says, "It's as foggy and haunted and redemptive as the original; it's all heart, and I read it in a couple of ebullient, Christmassy gulps." Silva talks with Franklin about what drew her to Dickens, how she researched her book, why she thinks "A Christmas Carol" crystallizes Dickens' ethos, and why the story is still relevant. A graduate of Boise State University and the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, Silva is a screenwriter who has sold projects to Paramount, Universal, New Line Cinema, and TNT. A film version of her short story, "The Big Burn," won the One Potato Short Screenplay Competition at the 2017 Sun Valley Film Festival and will be released in 2018. Silva will also be writing another novel.

Well, it's that time of year again when Andy and Aaron discuss Christmassy things. Tune in to hear them each discuss their favourite Christmas tradition, Christmas movie, and Christmas movie. The podly duo draw out from their choices various theological and cultural insights about the meaning and application of Christmas in today's world. And as ever, they also have a good bit of fun along the way. Enjoy! Get your Pod of the Gaps mug here: https://bit.ly/potgmug We're a listener funded podcast ... if you support Pod of the Gaps with a small tip or donation, you can watch this episode as a video. Find out more here: http://patreon.com/wkop/

Today, we're we're setting off on a sparkling, twinkly Christmas story packed with festive fun, cozy surprises, and a few jingle-bell twists. Cece and her family think they're heading out on a normal holiday trip—but when things don't go quite to plan, they discover a Christmas unlike anything they've ever known. So grab your most Christmassy treat, and get ready for a story filled with festive surprises and Christmas magic.

Today's festive offering is box fresh after only being recorded on Monday 15th December at Brighton Komedia!And joining Hannah and Taylor for the official DWSC Christmas do is the hilarious comedian, Dane Buckley, who kicked us off with a taste of his thug life past when Pat from Woolworths proved to be an ally in many ways, even if she did want justice to be served.The gang then get involved with a Christmassy story which may involve a bit more admin than a murder spree would, but someone's got to post the cards.Finally, we hear from a member of the audience whose cheesy tale will have you reaching for the Ched- don't.The next full episode of DWSC will drop on Wednesday 7th January (Tuesday 6th on Patreon, see below), but Hannah and Taylor will pop a little Yuletide message under the tree on 24th December with some exciting info about what's to come in 2026!Tickets for the DWSC 2026 UK tour are now on sale - dwsctour26 | Instagram | LinktreeDon't forget DWSC now drops TWICE weekly! Episodes will be on general release every Wednesday AND Friday.BUT you can get both shows in one hit, by going to our Patreon where you can sign up for early access and get both episodes every Tuesday.As well as this, you'll get ad free eps, invites to watch our live zoom records, video of all our studio eps, bespoke shout outs and MORE! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the BBC Introducing in Oxfordshire and Berkshire podcast, Dave reveals South Arcade and V.I.C as our Oxfordshire & Berkshire Acts of the Year, plus he catches up with Jamie Hyatt from bedd and gets festive with Christmassy tunes!Here's this week's track list: • Remorae - in the bleak midwinter Dream Phone - sh*te xmas Martha and the Fairy - Wait For December Jenny Mahler - Follow the Star Ailsa Scott - More than Me Rebecca Poole - Home For Christmas (feat. Denny Ilett) Anna Log - Yule Log Circle - Nova Radast Stala South Arcade - Drive Myself Home Andy Lavery - Ghosts of Christmas Past Claws Montaigne - The Night Before Christmas V.I.C - Wasteman Selina and the Howlin Dogs - Bluesy Kind of Christmas Maddie Ashman - Carol of the Bells bedd - Count the Days Rhirhi - Here For Christmas Moogieman - Saint Wenceslas Willie J Healey - Merry Christmas Nathan Major - Christmas Time Joe Carnall Jnr - Back Home For Christmas (feat. Ed Cosens) Peaness - Sad Season Sebastian Reynolds - One Year To Go The Boudleaux Bryants - Christmas in Prison • If you're making music in Oxfordshire and Berkshire, send us your tunes with the BBC Introducing Uploader: https://www.bbc.co.uk/introducing/uploader

We're shaking it up with today's 12 Days of Christmas episode! Sean (our resident horror expert) is back to discuss a low-budget 1980s slasher called The Dorm That Dripped Blood. We chose it because it's purportedly set during the holidays, but... well, it's about as Christmassy as a thing that isn't very Christmassy.

For a lot of people, this time of year is all about cosying up indoors, but out in the garden there's still so much fun to be had from making natural wreaths and decorating with evergreens, to feeding the birds, sewing onions, and even bringing in a little magic indoors with some festive foliage. Join Frances for Christmassy folklore and the little seasonal rituals and cheerful jobs that make festive gardening feel special. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You've guessed it, Joe's on his way to Brighton station to catch a train, so he uses the time to call David and record a pod. So prepare yourself for an enchanted Christmassy walk with some winter stories, a random act of festive generosity, chat about being grateful, Robert Smith's favourite comedians and David talks Joe through his Synex addiction, again. Plus, some crunch crunching through imaginary snow. FOR ALL THINGS CHATABIX'Y FOLLOW/SUBSCRIBE/CONTACT: YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@chatabixpodcast⁠⁠⁠ Insta: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/chatabixpodcast/⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@chatabix⁠⁠⁠ Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/chatabix⁠⁠⁠ Merch: ⁠⁠⁠https://chatabixshop.com/⁠⁠⁠ Contact us: ⁠⁠⁠chatabix@yahoo.com⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Few filmmakers love Christmas as much as writer/director Shane Black; the holiday features heavily in many of the films that made him one of the highest paid screenwriters in Hollywood, from Lethal Weapon to The Last Boy Scout to the Long Kiss Goodnight. As our gift to you this yuletide season, we are covering two of the films he directed--Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and The Nice Guys--both of which were, despite being great, coal-in-the-stocking disappointments at the box office. So break out the eggnog, roast some chestnuts, and kick back with a twofer of buddy comedy/hard-boiled detective noir/Christmassy goodness with your pals at Tentpole Trauma!

All right, friends! We're answering all things Christmas in this episode. A few years back, I did a Christmas series you guys loved, but it felt like a good time to do a follow up.We talk gifts, keeping Jesus the focus, what to do about Santa Claus, and favorite traditions—all in one jam-packed Christmassy show! Mentions:Me First! Gameshow BuzzersAwana Advent DevotionalEpisode 45: Let's Talk Christmas Part 1Episode 46: Let's Talk Christmas Part 2Episode 47: Let's Talk Christmas Part 3Episode 48: Let's Talk Christmas Part 4Sponsor Info:⁠⁠⁠⁠Voetberg Music Academy⁠⁠⁠⁠Voetberg Music Academy provides online, at home, shareable lessons so that your kids can pursue their musical passions without stress or hassle.Use Code: MISFORMAMA20 For 20% Off Of Each Month That You're Enrolled!⁠⁠King's Ridge Elderberries⁠⁠⁠King's Ridge, works hard to grow and harvest high quality fresh frozen elderberries and elderberry products from their family to yours. When you buy from the King's Ridge you are supporting small American business and sustainable agriculture.Use Code: MAMA10 For 10% Off Of Your OrderBible References:Matthew 2:11Psalm 110:1John 3:16Luke 2Genesis 3:151 John 4:191 Peter 4:8Ephesians 4:15John 16:13Mark 10:45James 1:19-20Links:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Gentleness Challenge⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Penny Reward System⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Paint & Prose⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠M Is for Mama⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Penny Reward System⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

This week the boys unpack Pierre's recent stag do, Glenn's pheromone dreams, baffling business names and Christmas correspondence!Email or Dm us your correspondence to thebudpod@gmail.com or @budpodofficial on Instagram.KOJISubscribe to our YouTube channel here, for access to full video versions of BudPod -Glenn is on tour across the UK! For tickets go to https://www.glennmoorecomedy.com/ Stream Glenn's tour show 'Will You Still Need Me, Will You Still Feed Me, Glenn I'm Sixty Moore' on Sky Comedy and Now TV from Sunday 21st of December.Pierre is on tour in 2026! Tickets available now at https://www.pierrenovellie.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Meg and Laine were both into this novella in spite of the relatively high amount of trauma. Christmas lovers take note, the title is about as Christmassy as this book gets.

It's a Christmassy episode this week, with Chelsea and James swapping the best tips on how to do holiday travel at less busy and expensive times. Plus, an update on the 'Is Chesney Hawkes a Google Reviewer?' question, a very painful holiday nightmare, and James has a confession to make about the listener postcards…Download SAILY in your app store and use our code PASSPORTS at checkout to get an exclusive 15% off your first purchase! For further details go to https://saily.com/passportsplease Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1. Intro & Guest WelcomeHosts welcome listeners and introduce Jon PardiMention upcoming live event: The Christmas Show at Hard Rock (Dec. 19)Light, energetic tone to set the mood 2. Life Update: The House BuildQuick check-in on Jon's home construction progressLiving in a “construction zone” (dumpsters, porta potties, finishing details)Humor around transitioning from heavy machinery to “little stuff” 3. The Christmas Show ConceptHow The Christmas Show came togetherInspiration: “Jon Pardi Elvis Show” vibeBig band sound with hornsMixing Christmas songs with major hits (for non-Christmas-music fans)Covers, holiday spirit, and fun without being “too Christmassy”4. Christmas & Family LifeHow kids change your perspective on ChristmasDaughters' favorite songs (Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph, etc.)Holiday traditions (or surviving the chaos as a tradition)Fake tree vs. real tree debateGift-giving, Santa, and last-minute Amazon shopping 5. Road Life & Amazon HumorOrdering gifts from the roadFunny observations about Amazon deliveriesU-Hauls, beat-up cars, and mystery driversLighthearted banter and relatable moments 6. Hanging with Kid RockJon's longtime friendship with Kid RockHow their hangouts have evolved over 10 yearsEarly days: chaos, late nights, music business lessonsNow: dinners, catching up, and calmer vibesStill having “full rock star mode” when needed 7. Wrap-Up & Show ReminderFinal thoughts from JonPraise and appreciation from the hostsReminder: The Christmas Show at Hard Rock on December 19Holiday well-wishes and sign-offSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What actually makes a Christmas story Christmassy? Is it snow, carols, and Santa… or something deeper?In this special Christmas episode of Nerd of Godcast, the panel dives into what gives Christmas movies and stories their lasting power. From beloved classics to controversial picks like Die Hard and Batman Returns, we explore why stories set during Christmas often center on redemption, hope, sacrifice, reconciliation, and light breaking through darkness.Along the way, we play festive games, laugh a lot, and unpack why these themes resonate so deeply this time of year. Ultimately, the conversation points back to the original Christmas story and why it continues to inspire us today.If you love Christmas movies, pop culture debates, thoughtful faith conversations, and nerdy fun, this episode is for you.Whether you're team Home Alone, team Die Hard, or just here for the Christmas vibes, this episode invites you to rediscover why Christmas stories still matter.

This week, we announce our 14-day challange in the new year for you to kick-start your 2026 and improve your English. Is also opens an early Christmas present from Mitch on the podcast and they compare the differences and similarities of Christmas time in the UK and Germany, before Mitch tells a couple of Christmas-themed jokes... Merry Christmas! Interactive Transcript Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership Transcript Intro Isi: [0:23] Good morning! Mitch: [0:25] Merry Christmas! Isi: [0:27] It's not Christmas yet. - It's not Christmas yet. T'was the night before Christmas. Isi: [0:32] It's also not the night before Christmas. Mitch: [0:35] But, this is the Easy English Christmas Special. Isi: [0:41] Oh, it sounds like Gavin and Stacey Christmas special, but not as exciting. Mitch: [0:47] And we have a couple of Christmassy features, including me gifting Isi her first early Christmas gift. Isi: [0:55] Yes? Mitch: [0:56] From Santa Mitch. Isi: [0:58] Oh, not real Santa. He's not yet around the house, is he? Oh, I'm excited. Why? Mitch: [1:07] Because you've been a very good person this year and the elves told me. Isi: [1:13] To give you an early one. Okay. Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership

It wouldn't be Christmas in the Hideout without low-budget pressies, beakers of eggnog, poultry-centric anecdotes, someone saying ‘Saaaaaaaaale', and a surprise appearance by a most Christmassy guest.   Recorded October 28th, 2025.   Access additional content and support the show - join The Hideout Society. Keep up with Oliver Clark: https://linktr.ee/theoliverclark    Follow @fromthehideout: Instagram Facebook TikTok Spread the word #FromTheHideout   Credits Pete Smith | Tony Martin | Djovan Caro Music by Mitch McTaggart Produced by Alex Amster and Djovan Caro   Copyright 2025 Thank You For Your Time

The huns are feeling CHRISTMASSY and we get straight into our spooky weekend in Stoke Fleming, Devon. The huns have EVIDENCE of a table moving by itself... We cannot explain this. On another note, we stayed in Privet Drive. Fuming. Go check out the evidence over on Patreon huns!!! We also discuss Keira Knightleys car crash interview, our poss trip to Salem next Halloween and the Tarot censoring us. Story 1 Big S has a tale called 'Candlelight Ghost Tour'... why does that sculpture look like me?  credit: u/lets-split-up (check out their spooky tales!)  Story 2  Hannah has a story from the Halloween London show... based in? Shrieksville, California. Don't go up the stairs!!!  Story 3  Suzie reads a story called The Ruby Pretender (also from the Halloween show!!!). Spooky Ipswich seaside haunting...  COW COW COW COW! CREEP OF THE WEEK! This week's story is from Dragana who is a descendant from witches. Stunning. Ty hun in Ontario!  We finally finish with an Oracle Card for YOU.  ENJOY HUNS we love ya xoxox JOIN OUR PATREON! EXTRA bonus episodes AND a monthly ghost hunt for just £4.50!  Or £6 for AD-FREE EPS and weekly AGONY HUNS! We'll solve your problems huns!  Sign up here: www.patreon.com/GhostHuns Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever scanned the radio looking for some music that fits your specific mood at that moment? Well, that's the daily quandary for show host John Avery. Thus, the creation of “Raiding The Crates on DC Radio,” a weekly two-hour ride through John's wildly diverse music taste and genre-hopping music collection. Be prepared to hear shows ranging from southern soul and blues to house music. Hear songs by artists from Frank Sinatra to Frank Ocean; from Sarah Vaughn to Fantasia; from Al Green to The B-52s. John is all over the place, but never too far from his first love: MUSIC. If you're the least bit adventurous, make it a point to join him weekly for “Raiding The Crates”.

Christmas in Italy is magical - for the sights, sounds and most of all the community spirit. Join us as we take a trip around Italy's most Christmassy towns - from Rome's glittering Christmas lights to snow-dusted Alpine villages, sharing insider tips on local traditions, and how to plan your perfect Italian holiday itinerary!Discover our new Christmas in the Dolomites Tour: untolditalytours.comRead the full episode show notes here > untolditaly.com/303NEW! - the Untold Italy app - access our entire podcast history ad free and searchable - DOWNLOAD FOR iOS  •  DOWNLOAD FOR ANDROIDThe app is FREE to download and check out our Milan guide and general travel content. Upgrade to PREMIUM  for a one time fee to access Rome, Florence, Venice, Sorrento, Cinque Terre, Amalfi Coast, Capri, Ischia, Tuscany, Lake Como, Lake Garda, Veneto, Lombardy, Campania, Lazio, Puglia, Abruzzo, Calabria, Umbria, Molise, Sardinia with much more to comeSupport the showSubscribe to our mailing list and get our FREE Italy trip planning toolkit - subscribe hereNeed help with your trip? Check out our Trip Planning ServicesJoin us on tour. Browse our Trip scheduleFollowSubstackInstagram • Facebook • YouTube Editorial InformationThe Untold Italy travel podcast is an independent production. Podcast Editing, Audio Production and Website Development by Mark Hatter. Production Assistance and Content Writing by the other Katie Clarke 

Royal fans grumble over the King's 2025 Christmas card, complaining that a photo taken in the spring “doesn't feel Christmassy.” Meanwhile, supporters are delighted to learn they can send cards to the Royal Family — and often receive one in return. William and Harry may both attend the 2026 World Cup in the United States as the next transatlantic royal showdown brews. William joins Kate's cold-water swimming routine, admitting he “does a lot of yelling” during plunges. Visitors to Windsor Great Park face a frustrating new detour around the Waleses' home. And officials explain why renaming streets linked to Prince Andrew is far more complex than it sounds — even as his old St Andrews golf course gets a clean rebrand.Hear our new show "Crown and Controversy: Prince Andrew" here.Check out "Palace Intrigue Presents: King WIlliam" here.

Bracket Case returns for the third time, and on this occasion our panelists whittle down a list of the best Christmas movies to determine which one is the most Christmassy of them all! Annette Wierstra and Kathy Campbell with Shelly Brisbin, Erika Ensign, Jason Snell, Monty Ashley and Micki Maynard.

Bracket Case returns for the third time, and on this occasion our panelists whittle down a list of the best Christmas movies to determine which one is the most Christmassy of them all! Annette Wierstra and Kathy Campbell with Shelly Brisbin, Erika Ensign, Jason Snell, Monty Ashley and Micki Maynard.

Let your little ones drift off quickly and peacefully to the gentle crackle of a cozy Christmas fireplace, paired with a soft “Silent Night” lullaby. Warm, soothing, and perfect for a Christmassy bedtime. Use this sleep aid to help babies and toddlers fall asleep and stay sleeping, as well as improving quality of sleep, cognitive development and emotional wellbeing. ⭐️ Upgrade to Koala Sleep Sounds Plus Today

 Ever found yourself lingering at a sports bar just to dodge a household chore? In this laugh-out-loud episode of The JB and Sandy Show, Sandy confesses: “I ain't going home any time soon. You know what that means. Tricia is on a mission right now to clean the garage and I don't want to do that.”

It's that time of the year again! Time for the guys to round up three Christmas-themed films none of them have seen before, watch them, and criticize them based on overall quality as well as how “Christmassy” they are. WATCH: https://youtu.be/agI8GFUGqzE Follow Cinereelists: Facebook – Twitter – Instagram – TikTok Follow James: Letterboxd – BlueSky Follow Zach: Letterboxd – Twitter Follow Kyle: Letterboxd Support the show on Patreon. Subscribe: iTunes / RSS Have a film suggestion you think we've never seen and want us to discuss on the show? Send your pick to heyguys@cinereelists.com and one of us WILL watch...