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What if the most transformative thing you can do for your writing craft and author business is to face what you fear? How can you can find gold in your Shadow in the year ahead? In this episode, I share chapters from Writing the Shadow: Turn Your Inner Darkness Into Words. In the intro, curated book boxes from Bridgerton's Julia Quinn; Google's agentic shopping, and powering Apple's Siri; ChatGPT Ads; and Claude CoWork. Balancing Certainty and Uncertainty [MoonShots with Tony Robbins]; and three trends for authors with me and Orna Ross [Self-Publishing with ALLi Podcast]; plus, Bones of the Deep, Business for Authors, and Indie Author Lab. This show is supported by my Patrons. Join my Community at Patreon.com/thecreativepenn  Joanna Penn writes non-fiction for authors and is an award-winning, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of thrillers, dark fantasy, and memoir as J.F. Penn. She's also an award-winning podcaster, creative entrepreneur, and international professional speaker. What is the Shadow? The ‘creative wound' and the Shadow in writing The Shadow in traditional publishing The Shadow in self-publishing or being an indie author The Shadow in work The Shadow in money You can find Writing the Shadow in all formats on all stores, as well as special edition, workbook and bundles at www.TheCreativePenn.com/shadowbook Writing the Shadow: Turn Your Inner Darkness Into Words The following chapters are excerpted from Writing the Shadow: Turn Your Inner Darkness Into Words by Joanna Penn. Introduction. What is the Shadow? “How can I be substantial if I do not cast a shadow? I must have a dark side also if I am to be whole.” —C.G. Jung, Modern Man in Search of a Soul We all have a Shadow side and it is the work of a lifetime to recognise what lies within and spin that base material into gold. Think of it as a seedling in a little pot that you're given when you're young. It's a bit misshapen and weird, not something you would display in your living room, so you place it in a dark corner of the basement. You don't look at it for years. You almost forget about it. Then one day you notice tendrils of something wild poking up through the floorboards. They're ugly and don't fit with your Scandi-minimalist interior design. You chop the tendrils away and pour weedkiller on what's left, trying to hide the fact that they were ever there. But the creeping stems keep coming. At some point, you know you have to go down there and face the wild thing your seedling has become. When you eventually pluck up enough courage to go down into the basement, you discover that the plant has wound its roots deep into the foundations of your home. Its vines weave in and out of the cracks in the walls, and it has beautiful flowers and strange fruit. It holds your world together. Perhaps you don't need to destroy the wild tendrils. Perhaps you can let them wind up into the light and allow their rich beauty to weave through your home. It will change the look you have so carefully cultivated, but maybe that's just what the place needs. The Shadow in psychology Carl Gustav Jung was a Swiss psychologist and the founder of analytical psychology. He described the Shadow as an unconscious aspect of the human personality, those parts of us that don't match up to what is expected of us by family and society, or to our own ideals. The Shadow is not necessarily evil or illegal or immoral, although of course it can be. It's also not necessarily caused by trauma, abuse, or any other severely damaging event, although again, it can be. It depends on the individual. What is in your Shadow is based on your life and your experiences, as well as your culture and society, so it will be different for everyone. Psychologist Connie Zweig, in The Inner Work of Age, explains, “The Shadow is that part of us that lies beneath or behind the light of awareness. It contains our rejected, unacceptable traits and feelings. It contains our hidden gifts and talents that have remained unexpressed or unlived. As Jung put it, the essence of the Shadow is pure gold.” To further illustrate the concept, Robert Bly, in A Little Book on the Human Shadow,uses the following metaphor: “When we are young, we carry behind us an invisible bag, into which we stuff any feelings, thoughts, or behaviours that bring disapproval or loss of love—anger, tears, neediness, laziness. By the time we go to school, our bags are already a mile long. In high school, our peer groups pressure us to stuff the bags with even more—individuality, sexuality, spontaneity, different opinions. We spend our life until we're twenty deciding which parts of ourselves to put into the bag and we spend the rest of our lives trying to get them out again.” As authors, we can use what's in the ‘bag' to enrich our writing — but only if we can access it. My intention with this book is to help you venture into your Shadow and bring some of what's hidden into the light and into your words. I'll reveal aspects of my Shadow in these pages but ultimately, this book is about you. Your Shadow is unique. There may be elements we share, but much will be different. Each chapter has questions for you to consider that may help you explore at least the edges of your Shadow, but it's not easy. As Jung said, “One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious. The latter procedure, however, is disagreeable and therefore not popular.” But take heart, Creative. You don't need courage when things are easy. You need it when you know what you face will be difficult, but you do it anyway. We are authors. We know how to do hard things. We turn ideas into books. We manifest thoughts into ink on paper. We change lives with our writing. First, our own, then other people's. It's worth the effort to delve into Shadow, so I hope you will join me on the journey. The creative wound and the Shadow in writing “Whatever pain you can't get rid of, make it your creative offering.” —Susan Cain, Bittersweet  The more we long for something, the more extreme our desire, the more likely it is to have a Shadow side. For those of us who love books, the author life may well be a long-held dream and thus, it is filled with Shadow. Books have long been objects of desire, power, and authority. They hold a mythic status in our lives. We escaped into stories as children; we studied books at school and college; we read them now for escape and entertainment, education and inspiration. We collect beautiful books to put on our shelves. We go to them for solace and answers to the deepest questions of life. Writers are similarly held in high esteem. They shape culture, win literary prizes, give important speeches, and are quoted in the mainstream media. Their books are on the shelves in libraries and bookstores. Writers are revered, held up as rare, talented creatures made separate from us by their brilliance and insight. For bibliophile children, books were everything and to write one was a cherished dream. To become an author? Well, that would mean we might be someone special, someone worthy. Perhaps when you were young, you thought the dream of being a writer was possible — then you told someone about it. That's probably when you heard the first criticism of such a ridiculous idea, the first laughter, the first dismissal. So you abandoned the dream, pushed the idea of being a writer into the Shadow, and got on with your life. Or if it wasn't then, it came later, when you actually put pen to paper and someone — a parent, teacher, partner, or friend, perhaps even a literary agent or publisher, someone whose opinion you valued — told you it was worthless. Here are some things you might have heard: Writing is a hobby. Get a real job. You're not good enough. You don't have any writing talent. You don't have enough education. You don't know what you're doing. Your writing is derivative / unoriginal / boring / useless / doesn't make sense. The genre you write in is dead / worthless / unacceptable / morally wrong / frivolous / useless.  Who do you think you are? No one would want to read what you write. You can't even use proper grammar, so how could you write a whole book? You're wasting your time. You'll never make it as a writer. You shouldn't write those things (or even think about those things). Why don't you write something nice? Insert other derogatory comment here! Mark Pierce describes the effect of this experience in his book The Creative Wound, which “occurs when an event, or someone's actions or words, pierce you, causing a kind of rift in your soul. A comment—even offhand and unintentional—is enough to cause one.” He goes on to say that such words can inflict “damage to the core of who we are as creators. It is an attack on our artistic identity, resulting in us believing that whatever we make is somehow tainted or invalid, because shame has convinced us there is something intrinsically tainted or invalid about ourselves.” As adults, we might brush off such wounds, belittling them as unimportant in the grand scheme of things. We might even find ourselves saying the same words to other people. After all, it's easier to criticise than to create. But if you picture your younger self, bright eyed as you lose yourself in your favourite book, perhaps you might catch a glimpse of what you longed for before your dreams were dashed on the rocks of other people's reality. As Mark Pierce goes on to say, “A Creative Wound has the power to delay our pursuits—sometimes for years—and it can even derail our lives completely… Anything that makes us feel ashamed of ourselves or our work can render us incapable of the self-expression we yearn for.” This is certainly what happened to me, and it took decades to unwind. Your creative wounds will differ to mine but perhaps my experience will help you explore your own. To be clear, your Shadow may not reside in elements of horror as mine do, but hopefully you can use my example to consider where your creative wounds might lie. “You shouldn't write things like that.” It happened at secondary school around 1986 or 1987, so I would have been around eleven or twelve years old. English was one of my favourite subjects and the room we had our lessons in looked out onto a vibrant garden. I loved going to that class because it was all about books, and they were always my favourite things. One day, we were asked to write a story. I can't remember the specifics of what the teacher asked us to write, but I fictionalised a recurring nightmare. I stood in a dark room. On one side, my mum and my brother, Rod, were tied up next to a cauldron of boiling oil, ready to be thrown in. On the other side, my dad and my little sister, Lucy, were threatened with decapitation by men with machetes. I had to choose who would die. I always woke up, my heart pounding, before I had to choose. Looking back now, it clearly represented an internal conflict about having to pick sides between the two halves of my family. Not an unexpected issue from a child of divorce. Perhaps these days, I might have been sent to the school counsellor, but it was the eighties and I don't think we even had such a thing. Even so, the meaning of the story isn't the point. It was the reaction to it that left scars. “You shouldn't write things like that,” my teacher said, and I still remember her look of disappointment, even disgust. Certainly judgment. She said my writing was too dark. It wasn't a proper story. It wasn't appropriate for the class. As if horrible things never happened in stories — or in life. As if literature could not include dark tales. As if the only acceptable writing was the kind she approved of. We were taught The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie that year, which says a lot about the type of writing considered appropriate. Or perhaps the issue stemmed from the school motto, “So hateth she derknesse,” from Chaucer's The Legend of Good Women: “For fear of night, so she hates the darkness.” I had won a scholarship to a private girls' school, and their mission was to turn us all into proper young ladies. Horror was never on the curriculum. Perhaps if my teacher had encouraged me to write my darkness back then, my nightmares would have dissolved on the page. Perhaps if we had studied Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, or H.P. Lovecraft stories, or Bram Stoker's Dracula, I could have embraced the darker side of literature earlier in my life. My need to push darker thoughts into my Shadow was compounded by my (wonderful) mum's best intentions. We were brought up on the principles of The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale and she tried to shield me and my brother from anything harmful or horrible. We weren't allowed to watch TV much, and even the British school drama Grange Hill was deemed inappropriate. So much of what I've achieved is because my mum instilled in me a “can do” attitude that anything is possible. I'm so grateful to her for that. (I love you, Mum!) But all that happy positivity, my desire to please her, to be a good girl, to make my teachers proud, and to be acceptable to society, meant that I pushed my darker thoughts into Shadow. They were inappropriate. They were taboo. They must be repressed, kept secret, and I must be outwardly happy and positive at all times. You cannot hold back the darkness “The night is dark and full of terrors.” —George R.R. Martin, A Storm of Swords It turned out that horror was on the curriculum, much of it in the form of educational films we watched during lessons. In English Literature, we watched Romeo drink poison and Juliet stab herself in Zeffirelli's Romeo and Juliet. In Religious Studies, we watched Jesus beaten, tortured, and crucified in The Greatest Story Ever Told, and learned of the variety of gruesome ways that Christian saints were martyred. In Classical Civilisation, we watched gladiators slaughter each other in Spartacus. In Sex Education at the peak of the AIDS crisis in the mid-'80s, we were told of the many ways we could get infected and die. In History, we studied the Holocaust with images of skeletal bodies thrown into mass graves, medical experiments on humans, and grainy videos of marching soldiers giving the Nazi salute. One of my first overseas school field trips was to the World War I battlegrounds of Flanders Fields in Belgium, where we studied the inhuman conditions of the trenches, walked through mass graves, and read war poetry by candlelight. As John McCrae wrote: We are the Dead. Short days agoWe lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,Loved and were loved, and now we lie, In Flanders fields. Did the teachers not realise how deeply a sensitive teenager might feel the darkness of that place? Or have I always been unusual in that places of blood echo deep inside me? And the horrors kept coming. We lived in Bristol, England back then and I learned at school how the city had been part of the slave trade, its wealth built on the backs of people stolen from their homes, sold, and worked to death in the colonies. I had been at school for a year in Malawi, Africa and imagined the Black people I knew drowning, being beaten, and dying on those ships. In my teenage years, the news was filled with ethnic cleansing, mass rape, and massacres during the Balkan wars, and images of bodies hacked apart during the Rwandan genocide. Evil committed by humans against other humans was not a historical aberration. I'm lucky and I certainly acknowledge my privilege. Nothing terrible or horrifying has happened to me — but bad things certainly happen to others. I wasn't bullied or abused. I wasn't raped or beaten or tortured. But you don't have to go through things to be afraid of them, and for your imagination to conjure the possibility of them. My mum doesn't read my fiction now as it gives her nightmares (Sorry, Mum!). I know she worries that somehow she's responsible for my darkness, but I've had a safe and (mostly) happy life, for which I'm truly grateful. But the world is not an entirely safe and happy place, and for a sensitive child with a vivid imagination, the world is dark and scary. It can be brutal and violent, and bad things happen, even to good people. No parent can shield their child from the reality of the world. They can only help them do their best to live in it, develop resilience, and find ways to deal with whatever comes. Story has always been a way that humans have used to learn how to live and deal with difficult times. The best authors, the ones that readers adore and can't get enough of, write their darkness into story to channel their experience, and help others who fear the same. In an interview on writing the Shadow on The Creative Penn Podcast, Michaelbrent Collings shared how he incorporated a personally devastating experience into his writing:  “My wife and I lost a child years back, and that became the root of one of my most terrifying books, Apparition. It's not terrifying because it's the greatest book of all time, but just the concept that there's this thing out there… like a demon, and it consumes the blood and fear of the children, and then it withdraws and consumes the madness of the parents… I wrote that in large measure as a way of working through what I was experiencing.” I've learned much from Michaelbrent. I've read many of his (excellent) books and he's been on my podcast multiple times talking about his depression and mental health issues, as well as difficulties in his author career. Writing darkness is not in Michaelbrent's Shadow and only he can say what lies there for him. But from his example, and from that of other authors, I too learned how to write my Shadow into my books. Twenty-three years after that English lesson, in November 2009, I did NaNoWriMo, National Novel Writing Month, and wrote five thousand words of what eventually became Stone of Fire, my first novel. In the initial chapter, I burned a nun alive on the ghats of Varanasi on the banks of the Ganges River. I had watched the bodies burn by night on pyres from a boat bobbing in the current a few years before, and the image was still crystal clear in my mind. The only way to deal with how it made me feel about death was to write about it — and since then, I've never stopped writing. Returning to the nightmare from my school days, I've never had to choose between the two halves of my family, but the threat of losing them remains a theme in my fiction. In my ARKANE thriller series, Morgan Sierra will do anything to save her sister and her niece. Their safety drives her to continue to fight against evil. Our deepest fears emerge in our writing, and that's the safest place for them. I wish I'd been taught how to turn my nightmares into words back at school, but at least now I've learned to write my Shadow onto the page. I wish the same for you. The Shadow in traditional publishing If becoming an author is your dream, then publishing a book is deeply entwined with that. But as Mark Pierce says in The Creative Wound, “We feel pain the most where it matters the most… Desire highlights whatever we consider to be truly significant.” There is a lot of desire around publishing for those of us who love books! It can give you: Validation that your writing is good enough Status and credibility Acceptance by an industry held in esteem  The potential of financial reward and critical acclaim Support from a team of professionals who know how to make fantastic books A sense of belonging to an elite community Pride in achieving a long-held goal, resulting in a confidence boost and self-esteem Although not guaranteed, traditional publishing can give you all these things and more, but as with everything, there is a potential Shadow side. Denying it risks the potential of being disillusioned, disappointed, and even damaged. But remember, forewarned is forearmed, as the saying goes. Preparation can help you avoid potential issues and help you feel less alone if you encounter them. The myth of success… and the reality of experience There is a pervasive myth of success in the traditional publishing industry, perpetuated by media reporting on brand name and breakout authors, those few outliers whose experience is almost impossible to replicate. Because of such examples, many new traditionally published authors think that their first book will hit the top of the bestseller charts or win an award, as well as make them a million dollars — or at least a big chunk of cash. They will be able to leave their job, write in a beautiful house overlooking the ocean, and swan around the world attending conferences, while writing more bestselling books. It will be a charmed life. But that is not the reality. Perhaps it never was. Even so, the life of a traditionally published author represents a mythic career with the truth hidden behind a veil of obscurity. In April 2023, The Bookseller in the UK reported that “more than half of authors (54%) responding to a survey on their experiences of publishing their debut book have said the process negatively affected their mental health. Though views were mixed, just 22%… described a positive experience overall… Among the majority who said they had a negative experience of debut publication, anxiety, stress, depression and ‘lowered' self-esteem were cited, with lack of support, guidance or clear and professional communication from their publisher among the factors that contributed.” Many authors who have negative experiences around publishing will push them into the Shadow with denial or self-blame, preferring to keep the dream alive. They won't talk about things in public as this may negatively affect their careers, but private discussions are often held in the corners of writing conferences or social media groups online. Some of the issues are as follows: Repeated rejection by agents and publishers may lead to the author thinking they are not good enough as a writer, which can lead to feeling unworthy as a person. If an author gets a deal, the amount of advance and the name and status of the publisher compared to others create a hierarchy that impacts self-esteem. A deal for a book may be much lower than an author might have been expecting, with low or no advance, and the resulting experience with the publisher beneath expectations. The launch process may be disappointing, and the book may appear without fanfare, with few sales and no bestseller chart position. In The Bookseller report, one author described her launch day as “a total wasteland… You have expectations about what publication day will be like, but in reality, nothing really happens.” The book may receive negative reviews by critics or readers or more publicly on social media, which can make an author feel attacked. The book might not sell as well as expected, and the author may feel like it's their fault. Commercial success can sometimes feel tied to self-worth and an author can't help but compare their sales to others, with resulting embarrassment or shame. The communication from the publisher may be less than expected. One author in The Bookseller report said, “I was shocked by the lack of clarity and shared information and the cynicism that underlies the superficial charm of this industry.” There is often more of a focus on debut authors in publishing houses, so those who have been writing and publishing in the midlist for years can feel ignored and undervalued. In The Bookseller report, 48 percent of authors reported “their publisher supported them for less than a year,” with one saying, “I got no support and felt like a commodity, like the team had moved on completely to the next book.” If an author is not successful enough, the next deal may be lower than the last, less effort is made with marketing, and they may be let go. In The Bookseller report, “six authors—debut and otherwise—cited being dropped by their publisher, some with no explanation.” Even if everything goes well and an author is considered successful by others, they may experience imposter syndrome, feeling like a fraud when speaking at conferences or doing book signings. And the list goes on … All these things can lead to feelings of shame, inadequacy, and embarrassment; loss of status in the eyes of peers; and a sense of failure if a publishing career is not successful enough. The author feels like it's their fault, like they weren't good enough — although, of course, the reality is that the conditions were not right at the time. A failure of a book is not a failure of the person, but it can certainly feel like it! When you acknowledge the Shadow, it loses its power Despite all the potential negatives of traditional publishing, if you know what could happen, you can mitigate them. You can prepare yourself for various scenarios and protect yourself from potential fall-out. It's clear from The Bookseller report that too many authors have unrealistic expectations of the industry. But publishers are businesses, not charities. It's not their job to make you feel good as an author. It's their job to sell books and pay you. The best thing they can do is to continue to be a viable business so they can keep putting books on the shelves and keep paying authors, staff, and company shareholders. When you license your creative work to a publisher, you're giving up control of your intellectual property in exchange for money and status. Bring your fears and issues out of the Shadow, acknowledge them, and deal with them early, so they do not get pushed down and re-emerge later in blame and bitterness. Educate yourself on the business of publishing. Be clear on what you want to achieve with any deal. Empower yourself as an author, take responsibility for your career, and you will have a much better experience. The Shadow in self-publishing or being an indie author Self-publishing, or being an independent (indie) author, can be a fantastic, pro-active choice for getting your book into the world. Holding your first book in your hand and saying “I made this” is pretty exciting, and even after more than forty books, I still get excited about seeing ideas in my head turn into a physical product in the world. Self-publishing can give an author: Creative control over what to write, editorial and cover design choices, when and how often to publish, and how to market Empowerment over your author career and the ability to make choices that impact success without asking for permission Ownership and control of intellectual property assets, resulting in increased opportunity around licensing and new markets Independence and the potential for recurring income for the long term Autonomy and flexibility around timelines, publishing options, and the ability to easily pivot into new genres and business models Validation based on positive reader reviews and money earned Personal growth and learning through the acquisition of new skills, resulting in a boost in confidence and self-esteem A sense of belonging to an active and vibrant community of indie authors around the world Being an indie author can give you all this and more, but once again, there is a Shadow side and preparation can help you navigate potential issues. The myth of success… and the reality of experience As with traditional publishing, the indie author world has perpetuated a myth of success in the example of the breakout indie author like E.L. James with Fifty Shades of Grey, Hugh Howey with Wool, or Andy Weir with The Martian. The emphasis on financial success is also fuelled online by authors who share screenshots showing six-figure months or seven-figure years, without sharing marketing costs and other outgoings, or the amount of time spent on the business. Yes, these can inspire some, but it can also make others feel inadequate and potentially lead to bad choices about how to publish and market based on comparison. The indie author world is full of just as much ego and a desire for status and money as traditional publishing. This is not a surprise! Most authors, regardless of publishing choices, are a mix of massive ego and chronic self-doubt. We are human, so the same issues will re-occur. A different publishing method doesn't cure all ills. Some of the issues are as follows: You learn everything you need to know about writing and editing, only to find that you need to learn a whole new set of skills in order to self-publish and market your book. This can take a lot of time and effort you did not expect, and things change all the time so you have to keep learning. Being in control of every aspect of the publishing process, from writing to cover design to marketing, can be overwhelming, leading to indecision, perfectionism, stress, and even burnout as you try to do all the things. You try to find people to help, but building your team is a challenge, and working with others has its own difficulties. People say negative things about self-publishing that may arouse feelings of embarrassment or shame. These might be little niggles, but they needle you, nonetheless. You wonder whether you made the right choice. You struggle with self-doubt and if you go to an event with traditional published authors, you compare yourself to them and feel like an imposter. Are you good enough to be an author if a traditional publisher hasn't chosen you? Is it just vanity to self-publish? Are your books unworthy? Even though you worked with a professional editor, you still get one-star reviews and you hate criticism from readers. You wonder whether you're wasting your time. You might be ripped off by an author services company who promise the world, only to leave you with a pile of printed books in your garage and no way to sell them. When you finally publish your book, it languishes at the bottom of the charts while other authors hit the top of the list over and over, raking in the cash while you are left out of pocket. You don't admit to over-spending on marketing as it makes you ashamed. You resist book marketing and make critical comments about writers who embrace it. You believe that quality rises to the top and if a book is good enough, people will buy it anyway. This can lead to disappointment and disillusionment when you launch your book and it doesn't sell many copies because nobody knows about it. You try to do what everyone advises, but you still can't make decent money as an author. You're jealous of other authors' success and put it down to them ‘selling out' or writing things you can't or ‘using AI' or ‘using a ghostwriter' or having a specific business model you consider impossible to replicate. And the list goes on… When you acknowledge the Shadow, it loses its power Being in control of your books and your author career is a double-edged sword. Traditionally published authors can criticise their publishers or agents or the marketing team or the bookstores or the media, but indie authors have to take responsibility for it all. Sure, we can blame ‘the algorithms' or social media platforms, or criticise other authors for having more experience or more money to invest in marketing, or attribute their success to writing in a more popular genre — but we also know there are always people who do well regardless of the challenges. Once more, we're back to acknowledging and integrating the Shadow side of our choices. We are flawed humans. There will always be good times and bad, and difficulties to offset the high points. This too shall pass, as the old saying goes. I know that being an indie author has plenty of Shadow. I've been doing this since 2008 and despite the hard times, I'm still here. I'm still writing. I'm still publishing. This life is not for everyone, but it's my choice. You must make yours. The Shadow in work You work hard. You make a living. Nothing wrong with that attitude, right? It's what we're taught from an early age and, like so much of life, it's not a problem until it goes to extremes. Not achieving what you want to? Work harder. Can't get ahead? Work harder. Not making a good enough living? Work harder. People who don't work hard are lazy. They don't deserve handouts or benefits. People who don't work hard aren't useful, so they are not valued members of our culture and community. But what about the old or the sick, the mentally ill, or those with disabilities? What about children? What about the unemployed? The under-employed? What about those who are — or will be — displaced by technology, those called “the useless class” by historian Yuval Noah Harari in his book Homo Deus? What if we become one of these in the future? Who am I if I cannot work? The Shadow side of my attitude to work became clear when I caught COVID in the summer of 2021. I was the sickest I'd ever been. I spent two weeks in bed unable to even think properly, and six weeks after that, I was barely able to work more than an hour a day before lying in the dark and waiting for my energy to return. I was limited in what I could do for another six months after that. At times, I wondered if I would ever get better. Jonathan kept urging me to be patient and rest. But I don't know how to rest. I know how to work and how to sleep. I can do ‘active rest,' which usually involves walking a long way or traveling somewhere interesting, but those require a stronger mind and body than I had during those months. It struck me that even if I recovered from the virus, I had glimpsed my future self. One day, I will be weak in body and mind. If I'm lucky, that will be many years away and hopefully for a short time before I die — but it will happen. I am an animal. I will die. My body and mind will pass on and I will be no more. Before then I will be weak. Before then, I will be useless. Before then, I will be a burden. I will not be able to work… But who am I if I cannot work? What is the point of me? I can't answer these questions right now, because although I recognise them as part of my Shadow, I've not progressed far enough to have dealt with them entirely. My months of COVID gave me some much-needed empathy for those who cannot work, even if they want to. We need to reframe what work is as a society, and value humans for different things, especially as technology changes what work even means. That starts with each of us. “Illness, affliction of body and soul, can be life-altering. It has the potential to reveal the most fundamental conflict of the human condition: the tension between our infinite, glorious dreams and desires and our limited, vulnerable, decaying physicality.” —Connie Zweig, The Inner Work of Age: Shifting from Role to Soul The Shadow in money In the Greek myth, King Midas was a wealthy ruler who loved gold above all else. His palace was adorned with golden sculptures and furniture, and he took immense pleasure in his riches. Yet, despite his vast wealth, he yearned for more. After doing a favour for Dionysus, the god of wine and revelry, Midas was granted a single wish. Intoxicated by greed, he wished that everything he touched would turn to gold — and it was so. At first, it was a lot of fun. Midas turned everything else in his palace to gold, even the trees and stones of his estate. After a morning of turning things to gold, he fancied a spot of lunch. But when he tried to eat, the food and drink turned to gold in his mouth. He became thirsty and hungry — and increasingly desperate. As he sat in despair on his golden throne, his beloved young daughter ran to comfort him. For a moment, he forgot his wish — and as she wrapped her arms around him and kissed his cheek, she turned into a golden statue, frozen in precious metal. King Midas cried out to the gods to forgive him, to reverse the wish. He renounced his greed and gave away all his wealth, and his daughter was returned to life. The moral of the story: Wealth and greed are bad. In Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol, Ebenezer Scrooge is described as a “squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous, old sinner.” He's wealthy but does not share, considering Christmas spending to be frivolous and giving to charity to be worthless. He's saved by a confrontation with his lonely future and becomes a generous man and benefactor of the poor. Wealth is good if you share it with others. The gospel of Matthew, chapter 25: 14-30, tells the parable of the bags of gold, in which a rich man goes on a journey and entrusts his servants with varying amounts of gold. On his return, the servants who multiplied the gold through their efforts and investments are rewarded, while the one who merely returned the gold with no interest is punished: “For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.” Making money is good, making more money is even better. If you can't make any money, you don't deserve to have any. Within the same gospel, in Matthew 19:24, Jesus encounters a wealthy man and tells him to sell all his possessions and give the money to the poor, which the man is unable to do. Jesus says, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” Wealth is bad. Give it all away and you'll go to heaven. With all these contradictory messages, no wonder we're so conflicted about money! How do you think and feel about money? While money is mostly tied to our work, it's far more than just a transactional object for most people. It's loaded with complex symbolism and judgment handed down by family, religion, and culture. You are likely to find elements of Shadow by examining your attitudes around money. Consider which of the following statements resonate with you or write your own. Money stresses me out. I don't want to talk about it or think about it. Some people hoard money, so there is inequality. Rich people are bad and we should take away their wealth and give it to the poor.  I can never make enough money to pay the bills, or to give my family what I want to provide. Money doesn't grow on trees.  It's wasteful to spend money as you might need it later, so I'm frugal and don't spend money unless absolutely necessary. It is better and more ethical to be poor than to be rich. I want more money. I read books and watch TV shows about rich people because I want to live like that. Sometimes I spend too much on things for a glimpse of what that might be like.  I buy lottery tickets and dream of winning all that money.  I'm jealous of people who have money. I want more of it and I resent those who have it. I'm no good with money. I don't like to look at my bank statement or credit card statement. I live off my overdraft and I'm in debt. I will never earn enough to get out of debt and start saving, so I don't think too much about it. I don't know enough about money. Talking about it makes me feel stupid, so I just ignore it. People like me aren't educated about money.  I need to make more money. If I can make lots of money, then people will look up to me. If I make lots of money, I will be secure, nothing can touch me, I will be safe.  I never want to be poor. I would be ashamed to be poor. I will never go on benefits. My net worth is my self worth. Money is good. We have the best standard of living in history because of the increase in wealth over time. Even the richest kings of the past didn't have what many middle-class people have today in terms of access to food, water, technology, healthcare, education, and more. The richest people give the most money to the poor through taxation and charity, as well as through building companies that employ people and invent new things. The very richest give away much of their fortunes. They provide far more benefit to the world than the poor.  I love money. Money loves me. Money comes easily and quickly to me. I attract money in multiple streams of income. It flows to me in so many ways. I spend money. I invest money. I give money. I'm happy and grateful for all that I receive. The Shadow around money for authors in particular Many writers and other creatives have issues around money and wealth. How often have you heard the following, and which do you agree with? You can't make money with your writing. You'll be a poor author in a garret, a starving artist.  You can't write ‘good quality' books and make money. If you make money writing, you're a hack, you're selling out. You are less worthy than someone who writes only for the Muse. Your books are commercial, not artistic. If you spend money on marketing, then your books are clearly not good enough to sell on their own. My agent / publisher / accountant / partner deals with the money side. I like to focus on the creative side of things. My money story Note: This is not financial or investment advice. Please talk to a professional about your situation. I've had money issues over the years — haven't we all! But I have been through a (long) process to bring money out of my Shadow and into the light. There will always be more to discover, but hopefully my money story will help you, or at least give you an opportunity to reflect. Like most people, I didn't grow up with a lot of money. My parents started out as teachers, but later my mum — who I lived with, along with my brother — became a change management consultant, moving to the USA and earning a lot more. I'm grateful that she moved into business because her example changed the way I saw money and provided some valuable lessons. (1) You can change your circumstances by learning more and then applying that to leverage opportunity into a new job or career Mum taught English at a school in Bristol when we moved back from Malawi, Africa, in the mid '80s but I remember how stressful it was for her, and how little money she made. She wanted a better future for us all, so she took a year out to do a master's degree in management. In the same way, when I wanted to change careers and leave consulting to become an author, I spent time and money learning about the writing craft and the business of publishing. I still invest a considerable chunk on continuous learning, as this industry changes all the time. (2) You might have to downsize in order to leap forward The year my mum did her degree, we lived in the attic of another family's house; we ate a lot of one-pot casserole and our treat was having a Yorkie bar on the walk back from the museum. We wore hand-me-down clothes, and I remember one day at school when another girl said I was wearing her dress. I denied it, of course, but there in back of the dress was her name tag. I still remember her name and I can still feel that flush of shame and embarrassment. I was determined to never feel like that again. But what I didn't realize at the time was that I was also learning the power of downsizing. Mum got her degree and then a new job in management in Bristol. She bought a house, and we settled for a few years. I had lots of different jobs as a teenager. My favourite was working in the delicatessen because we got a free lunch made from delicious produce. After I finished A-levels, I went to the University of Oxford, and my mum and brother moved to the USA for further opportunities. I've downsized multiple times over the years, taking a step back in order to take a step forward. The biggest was in 2010 when I decided to leave consulting. Jonathan and I sold our three-bedroom house and investments in Brisbane, Australia, and rented a one-bedroom flat in London, so we could be debt-free and live on less while I built up a new career. It was a decade before we bought another house. (3) Comparison can be deadly: there will always be people with more money than you Oxford was an education in many ways and relevant to this chapter is how much I didn't know about things people with money took for granted. I learned about formal hall and wine pairings, and how to make a perfect gin and tonic. I ate smoked salmon for the first time. I learned how to fit in with people who had a lot more money than I did, and I definitely wanted to have money of my own to play with. (4) Income is not wealth You can earn lots but have nothing to show for it after years of working. I learned this in my first few years of IT consulting after university. I earned a great salary and then went contracting, earning even more money at a daily rate. I had a wonderful time. I traveled, ate and drank and generally made merry, but I always had to go back to the day job when the money ran out. I couldn't work out how I could ever stop this cycle. Then I read Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki, a book I still recommend, especially if you're from a family that values academic over financial education. I learned how to escape the rat race by building and/or accumulating assets that pay even when you're not working. It was a revelation! The ‘poor dad' in the book is a university professor. He knows so much about so many things, but he ends up poor as he did not educate himself about money. The ‘rich dad' has little formal education, but he knows about money and wealth because he learned about it, as we can do at any stage in our lives. (5) Not all investments suit every person, so find the right one for you Once I discovered the world of investing, I read all the books and did courses and in-person events. I joined communities and I up-skilled big time. Of course, I made mistakes and learned lots along the way. I tried property investing and renovated a couple of houses for rental (with more practical partners and skilled contractors). But while I could see that property investing might work for some people, I did not care enough about the details to make it work for me, and it was certainly not passive income. I tried other things. My first husband was a boat skipper and scuba diving instructor, so we started a charter. With the variable costs of fuel, the vagaries of New Zealand weather — and our divorce — it didn't last long! From all these experiments, I learned I wanted to run a business, but it needed to be online and not based on a physical location, physical premises, or other people. That was 2006, around the time that blogging started taking off and it became possible to make a living online. I could see the potential and a year later, the iPhone and the Amazon Kindle launched, which became the basis of my business as an author. (6) Boring, automatic saving and investing works best Between 2007 and 2011, I contracted in Australia, where they have compulsory superannuation contributions, meaning you have to save and invest a percentage of your salary or self-employed income. I'd never done that before, because I didn't understand it. I'd ploughed all my excess income into property or the business instead. But in Australia I didn't notice the money going out because it was automatic. I chose a particular fund and it auto-invested every month. The pot grew pretty fast since I didn't touch it, and years later, it's still growing. I discovered the power of compound interest and time in the market, both of which are super boring. This type of investing is not a get rich quick scheme. It's a slow process of automatically putting money into boring investments and doing that month in, month out, year in, year out, automatically for decades while you get on with your life. I still do this. I earn money as an author entrepreneur and I put a percentage of that into boring investments automatically every month. I also have a small amount which is for fun and higher risk investments, but mostly I'm a conservative, risk-averse investor planning ahead for the future. This is not financial advice, so I'm not giving any specifics. I have a list of recommended money books at www.TheCreativePenn.com/moneybooks if you want to learn more. Learning from the Shadow When I look back, my Shadow side around money eventually drove me to learn more and resulted in a better outcome (so far!). I was ashamed of being poor when I had to wear hand-me-down clothes at school. That drove a fear of not having any money, which partially explains my workaholism. I was embarrassed at Oxford because I didn't know how to behave in certain settings, and I wanted to be like the rich people I saw there. I spent too much money in my early years as a consultant because I wanted to experience a “rich” life and didn't understand saving and investing would lead to better things in the future. I invested too much in the wrong things because I didn't know myself well enough and I was trying to get rich quick so I could leave my job and ‘be happy.' But eventually, I discovered that I could grow my net worth with boring, long-term investments while doing a job I loved as an author entrepreneur. My only regret is that I didn't discover this earlier and put a percentage of my income into investments as soon as I started work. It took several decades to get started, but at least I did (eventually) start. My money story isn't over yet, and I keep learning new things, but hopefully my experience will help you reflect on your own and avoid the issue if it's still in Shadow. These chapters are excerpted from Writing the Shadow: Turn Your Inner Darkness Into Words by Joanna Penn  The post Writing The Shadow: The Creative Wound, Publishing, And Money, With Joanna Penn first appeared on The Creative Penn.

Want to see Sam Tripoli live? Grab tickets at http://SamTripoli.com: San Luis Obispo: Headlining the SLO Brewery 1/16/26 Check out Sam Tripoli's new comic book "Chaos Twins!" 2nd issue is about to drop! Visit www.chaostwins.com to support Sam's family-friendly project! Check out Sam Tripoli's 3rd Crowd Work Special "Barbecued: Live From Kansas City" Sept 20th on Youtube.com/SamTripoliComedy Watch Sam's comedy special here: www.youtube.com/samtripoli Please check out Sam Tripoli's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/samtripoli Please check out Midnight Mike's Internet: The OBDM Podcast Website: https://ourbigdumbmouth.com/ Twitter: https://x.com/obdmpod cia's role in rap music  -@Juliandoreypodcast dickens changes the way we think about poverty  -@tomfitzgerald._  women's discontents in the age of empathy -@liam.out.loud secrets behind kennedy assassination - @james5149 the unlikely hero of Kennedy's desperate escape -@bostonhistorycompany what really goes on in the darkrooms -@didyoucatchthistv surviving the ocean with unparalleled endurance -@ninjasarebutterflies churches fear the huguenots radical power -@ninjasarebutterflies  mosquitos in a deadly bid for control -@fed_up__californian charity money laundering schemes -@moneyplixmediaco tragedy in tuscany a dark family secret unfolds -@ninjasarebutterflies real life zombies -@igorkryan counting citizens & crossing borders -@michellemaxwell mark twain visits nikola tesla lab again -@thecodytucker the stars point to an unseen savior -@jesse.s.bean what lies beneath is hidden in plain sight aka erika kirk is an mk ultra sex kitten -@jtfollowsjc demonic symbolism in call of duty -@jumperspodcast  survival hacks -@gentlemenof333 dark secrets behind disney princesses -@k45554ndr4_ cutting edge sound mystery vinyl -@thebandhala  hiroshima american propaganda -@holistichealthnut33 the search begins beyond paradise -@nonumcaelum truth behind in & out burger -@minafultravels brad pitt of india -@futurenowshow ape quick w it -@totally80sroom cartoon stroke  -@keithedwards you will always be the vacuum cleaner -@josh_uglyasf rip pam -@plutopiaworld if wholesome was a poem -@wise.wild.wealthy flee from lust -@trust_god7  fingerprints aren't as original as we've been told -@yuvaltheterrible Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matthew 1:18-25 In "Spirited", we learn that Ebenezer Scrooge has regrets still in the afterlife. He still feels like he has to earn God's love. We will look at that soul crisis up against Joseph having to change his understanding of God's righteousness.

Now that the Christmas season is here, I couldn't help but be reminded of one of my favorite stories of all time - Charles Dickens' Masterpiece, "A Christmas Carol." We all know it - the timeless classic where the old miser Ebenezer Scrooge is forced to confront his past and present misdeeds, as well as the frightening reality of what his future may hold if he doesn't change his stringy and cold hearted ways. You may be wondering, what does "A Christmas Carol" have to do with Harry and Meghan Markle? A lot, actually. Let's Discuss.   Love the show? Leave a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts/Spotify and share this episode!   WATCH all my episodes - Go to my YouTube Channel and subscribe -https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2FsXn-xhr4mYIAK0569BBw   I have a channel membership over there if you'd like to support me! Simply click on the "join" button underneath my YT videos - thanks. Can't join but want to leave a tIp? Help keep me caffeinated and fill my tip jar here - https://buymeacoffee.com/jenniferc    Other stuff    I've been a licensed esthetician and a makeup artist for over two decades - Want to see a list of all of my favorite beauty product recommendations? Everything I love, use, and wear all the time - CLICK HERE - https://shopmy.us/jenniferc/shelves   BUY MY ONLINE SKINCARE GUIDES HERE-  https://jenniferchristopherson.com     In Christ, Xo Jennifer    Disclaimer- This video/podcast episode is under Fair Use: Section 107 of the Copyright Act provides the statutory framework for determining whether something is a fair use and identifies certain types of uses—such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research—as examples of activities that may qualify as fair use. All rights and credit go directly to its rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended. All Opinions are my own and within my right to express under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution          

Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol is more than a holiday classic—it's a mirror. Through the transformation of Ebenezer Scrooge, we're reminded that change doesn't require perfection, only honesty, courage, and a willingness to see ourselves clearly. In this episode, I reflect on how Ebenezer's awakening—his reckoning with the past, his awareness of the present, and his responsibility for the future—can be our story as we step into a new year. Growth begins when we stop running from discomfort and start listening to what it's trying to teach us.

Project Audion presents a special Christmas audio drama recorded before a live audience at the Grapevine (TX) Public Library on December 14, 2025 as part of "Christmas On The Air." This half hour recreates a "A Christmas Carol" as it was traditionally heard on on the radio networks in the days before television. For nearly two decades spread across across the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s, actor Lionel Barrymore definitively portrayed Ebenezer Scrooge  for eager American radio listeners. We recreated his 1949 production with a full cast, right down to Tiny Tim, plus music and live sound effects. It's the voices of Christmas past, here as your Christmas present. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt . . . for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” — Matthew 2:14 Not everyone loves Christmas. Maybe you've heard about Ebenezer Scrooge in the Charles Dickens novel A Christmas Carol, or about the Grinch in Dr. Seuss's story How the Grinch Stole Christmas! Both of these fictional characters eventually change and join in to celebrate Christmas—but, tragically, the real-life King Herod in our Bible reading  for today did not. Herod's cruelty and suspicion led him to respond with murderous hatred when he heard about Jesus' being born as “king of the Jews” (Matthew 2:2-3).Herod's cruelty may make us shudder, but the human heart is naturally prone to fight against God's gift of his Son for our salvation. Christmas confronts us with our need for a new king, one who dethrones our priorities and requires us to make space for God's plan in our lives. Christmas can be attractive as long as our focus is on tinsel and nostalgia. But when the coming of Christ demands that we turn our desires and goals over to God in repentance, our natural impulse is to fight back.Our anger and hostility over God's gift of Jesus bring heartache and tears. But God has a way of protecting his witness to us. Jesus escaped Herod's murderous grasp. But in the process Herod drove the Son of God away and could not hear the good news. His actions are a warning to us when we are prone to like the idea of Christmas but to resist its truth. Holy God, soften our hearts so that we may receive your grace and goodness in Jesus. Amen.

Project Audion presents a special Christmas audio drama recorded before a live audience at the Grapevine (TX) Public Library on December 14, 2025 as part of "Christmas On The Air." This half hour recreates a "A Christmas Carol" as it was traditionally heard on on the radio networks in the days before television. For nearly two decades spread across across the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s, actor Lionel Barrymore definitively portrayed Ebenezer Scrooge  for eager American radio listeners. We recreated his 1949 production with a full cast, right down to Tiny Tim, plus music and live sound effects. It's the voices of Christmas past, here as your Christmas present. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Every Christmas season, A Christmas Carol returns to our screens and pages as a story of generosity, redemption, and hope. But beneath the familiar narrative, Charles Dickens was also making a powerful argument—one that challenges how society views the poor, children, and human worth itself.In today's Christmas episode of Faith & Finance, we sat down with Jerry Bowyer, our resident economist and president of Bowyer Research, to explore the deeper economic and theological message Dickens embedded in this classic tale.The Meaning Behind “Surplus Population”One of the most disturbing lines in A Christmas Carol comes from Ebenezer Scrooge, who suggests that the poor might be better off dying to reduce the “surplus population.”Jerry explained that this phrase wasn't casual or poetic—it was loaded with meaning in Dickens' day. It reflected the influence of Thomas Malthus, an economist whose ideas shaped early 19th-century thinking. Malthus believed population growth would always outpace food and resources, making widespread poverty inevitable. His conclusion? Society should discourage the poor from having children.Dickens deliberately places this language in the mouth of his villain. Scrooge isn't just cruel—he's the embodiment of a philosophy that treats people as economic problems rather than human beings made in God's image.Jerry noted that Dickens was, in effect, writing A Christmas Carol as a rebuttal to Malthus.By the time Dickens wrote the story, Britain was entering what economists now call the Great Takeoff—a period of unprecedented growth in productivity, trade, and human flourishing. Malthus had predicted catastrophe just before abundance exploded.Dickens highlights this abundance through scenes overflowing with food, trade goods, and celebration. The message is clear: people don't merely consume resources—they create them.Scarcity, Trauma, and Scrooge's PastDickens doesn't excuse Scrooge's cruelty, but he does explain it. Through the Ghost of Christmas Past, we see a lonely boy shaped by hunger, cold, and deprivation.Jerry pointed out that Scrooge's scarcity mindset is rooted in trauma. His fear of lack leads him to believe that God—if He exists at all—is stingy. That fear shapes his economics, his relationships, and his resistance to generosity.The turning point comes when Scrooge encounters the Ghost of Christmas Present. When told the spirit has over 1,800 brothers—each representing a Christmas—Scrooge responds, “What a large family to provide for.”It's another glimpse of his scarcity thinking. And it draws sharp rebuke.Jerry emphasized that Dickens is confronting the idea that more people mean less provision. In contrast, Scripture reveals a God who is generous, creative, and abundant—and who commands humanity to fill the earth, not fear it.No One Is DisposableBy the end of the story, Scrooge is transformed. He becomes generous, relational, and deeply concerned for others—especially children like Tiny Tim.Jerry observed that in a Malthusian worldview, Tiny Tim is expendable. But Dickens—and the gospel—say otherwise. There are no surplus people.Even Jesus Himself, Jerry noted, would have been classified as “surplus population” by such a system—born poor, dependent, and unwanted by the powerful.The language may have changed, but the ideas persist. Whenever society treats children as burdens, the poor as problems, or human life as expendable in the name of efficiency or sustainability, we are hearing echoes of Scrooge before his redemption.Dickens reminds us that economics is always moral—and theology always shapes how we view people.Watching With New EyesAs Jerry put it, A Christmas Carol isn't just a holiday story. It's a challenge to scarcity, fear, and dehumanization—and an invitation to generosity rooted in trust.As families watch this story together, it becomes a powerful opportunity to talk with our children about God's abundance, human dignity, and what it truly means to love our neighbor.Because the real miracle of Christmas isn't simply changed behavior—it's a changed heart.On Today's Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:I have a substantial amount of savings sitting in the bank and want to protect it from inflation. I live primarily on Social Security, have no debt or investments, and need to keep some funds available for emergencies. What's a wise way to invest the rest?Resources Mentioned:Faithful Steward: FaithFi's Quarterly Magazine (Become a FaithFi Partner)The Life of Our Lord: Written for His Children During the Years 1846 to 1849 by Charles DickensA Christmas Carol by Charles DickensThe Sound Mind Investing Handbook: A Step-by-Step Guide to Managing Your Money From a Biblical Perspective by Austin Pryor with Mark BillerThe Maker Versus the Takers: What Jesus Really Said About Social Justice and Economics by Jerry BowyerWisdom Over Wealth: 12 Lessons from Ecclesiastes on MoneyLook At The Sparrows: A 21-Day Devotional on Financial Fear and AnxietyRich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich FoolFind a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA)FaithFi App Remember, you can call in to ask your questions every workday at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. You can also visit FaithFi.com to connect with our online community and partner with us as we help more people live as faithful stewards of God's resources. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A Christmas Carol — Stave Five: The End of Itby Charles DickensOn Christmas morning, we reach the final chapter of A Christmas Carol, as Ebenezer Scrooge awakens to a new life — transformed by generosity, humility, and joy.This beloved conclusion reminds us that it is never too late to change, to love others well, and to keep Christmas in our hearts all year long.Thank you for listening to Classic Christmas Stories, for sharing these episodes, and for supporting the podcast throughout the season. If these stories have become part of your Christmas tradition, please subscribe or follow so you'll be sure to join us again next year for another season of timeless holiday storytelling.Merry Christmas.Send us a textSupport the showHelp keep the stories interruption free! https://buymeacoffee.com/jasonreadsclassics Merch Store Chamber of Classics Amazon Links Cozy Blankets: https://amzn.to/42EuiP2 Christmas Mugs: https://amzn.to/3WENatG All stories in this podcast are public domain works, read by Jason Hovde. No copyrighted material is used. Media & Interview Inquiries: truthtrekking@gmail.com...

Which ghost is the first to visit Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol? Play. Share. Listen with journalist & author, Megan Alexander. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

fWotD Episode 3156: A Christmas Carol Welcome to featured Wiki of the Day, your daily dose of knowledge from Wikipedia's finest articles.The featured article for Thursday, 25 December 2025, is A Christmas Carol.A Christmas Carol. In Prose. Being a Ghost Story of Christmas, commonly known as A Christmas Carol, is a novella by Charles Dickens, first published in London by Chapman & Hall in 1843 and illustrated by John Leech. It recounts the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, an elderly miser who is visited by the ghost of his former business partner Jacob Marley and the spirits of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come. In the process, Scrooge is transformed into a kinder, gentler man.Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol during a period when the British were exploring and re-evaluating past Christmas traditions, including carols, and newer customs such as cards and Christmas trees. He was influenced by the experiences of his own youth and by the Christmas stories of other authors, including Washington Irving and Douglas Jerrold. Dickens had written three Christmas stories prior to the novella, and was inspired following a visit to the Field Lane Ragged School, one of several establishments for London's street children. The treatment of the poor and the ability of a selfish man to redeem himself by transforming into a more sympathetic character are the key themes of the story. There is discussion among academics as to whether this is a fully secular story or a Christian allegory.Published on 19 December, the first edition sold out by Christmas Eve; by the end of 1844 thirteen editions had been released. Most critics reviewed the novella favourably. The story was illicitly copied in January 1844; Dickens took legal action against the publishers, who went bankrupt, further reducing Dickens's small profits from the publication. He subsequently wrote four other Christmas stories. In 1849 he began public readings of the story, which proved so successful he undertook 127 further performances until 1870, the year of his death. A Christmas Carol has never been out of print and has been translated into several languages; the story has been adapted many times for film, stage, opera and other media.A Christmas Carol captured the zeitgeist of the early Victorian revival of the Christmas holiday. Dickens acknowledged the influence of the modern Western observance of Christmas and later inspired several aspects of Christmas, including family gatherings, seasonal food and drink, dancing, games and a festive generosity of spirit.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 00:13 UTC on Thursday, 25 December 2025.For the full current version of the article, see A Christmas Carol on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Bluesky at @wikioftheday.com.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm generative Salli.

In this Christmas episode of the Catholic Coaching Podcast, Matt and Erin unpack the hidden Christian message woven into these beloved classics. Through a mindset-coaching lens, they explore how these stories reveal conversion, repentance, gratitude, and redemption—even though they're not explicitly religious films.Using the idea of metanoia (a deep interior shift of heart and mind), they break down: • George Bailey's journey from bitterness and sacrifice to gratitude                 and joy • Ebenezer Scrooge's conversion through memory, compassion, and                 foresight • How entitlement, resentment, and scarcity blind us to what's                 already good • Why gratitude is the gateway to freedom and renewal • How these stories model Ignatian reflection and discernmentMatt and Erin also show how every great story echoes the Greatest Story Ever Told—the story of redemption written on every human heart.This episode will help you: • Understand why these movies resonate so deeply • Learn how to “watch with spiritual eyes” • Apply the same reflective tools to your own life through journaling                 and prayerWhether you're watching on Christmas Eve, during the Octave of Christmas, or any time of year, this conversation invites you to rediscover the hope, joy, and conversion that Christmas offers—right now.

In this special Christmas-themed episode of the Leadership Blueprints podcast, host BJ Kraemer draws on some of his favorite classic Christmas films to explore the art and science of leading oneself and others. Ebenezer Scrooge sparks a conversation around awareness and change, while Kevin McAllister offers a surprising lens on ownership and responsibility. A nod to It's a Wonderful Life serves as a quiet reminder of the power of relationships. The episode also explores what it means to help others grow into the roles they're called to step into, and concludes with Clark Griswold as a timely reflection on how unchecked vision can impact those around us. Join BJ for another episode filled with valuable leadership insights! Happy Holidays! Key Points From This Episode:The leadership lesson from Ebenezer Scrooge: transformation after self-awareness.How Kevin McAllister shows that ownership drives creativity.It's a Wonderful Life: “No man is a failure who has friends.”Leadership is about cultivating potential by giving people the opportunity to grow into who the role requires them to become.The lesson from Clark Griswald: vision without awareness can exhaust everyone around you. Quotes:“Transformation is possible, but like I've talked about before, only after self-awareness.” — BJ Kraemer “When people truly own outcomes, they rise faster than we expect.” — BJ Kraemer “[George Bailey] teaches us that the most meaningful impact is often invisible when you're living through it.” — BJ Kraemer “Good intentions don't excuse poor awareness.” — BJ Kraemer “I talk a lot about the first step in leadership is leading yourself first, and the first step in leading yourself first is getting clear on who you are, who you aren't, what your strengths are, what they're not. And I think the lesson we can all take away from Scrooge McDuck is results without humanity create financial success, but no relationship success and no legacy.” — BJ Kraemer Links Mentioned in Today's Episode:Mickey's Christmas Carol (Disney+)A Christmas CarolHome AloneHome Alone 2It's a Wonderful Life (Apple TV)The Santa Clause (Disney+)National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (Netflix)Leadership Blueprints PodcastMCFAMCFA CareersBJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

Couch Potato Theater: THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL (1992) Watch: Fandom Podcast Network YouTube Channel Link: https://www.youtube.com/@FandomPodcastNetwork Listen: Couch Potato Theater Audio Podcast Link: https://fpnet.podbean.com/category/couch-potato-theater Welcome to Couch Potato Theater, where we celebrate our favorite movies on the Fandom Podcast Network! On this episode we celebrate one of the most beloved Christmas movies, THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL (1992) The Muppet Christmas Carol is a 1992 American Christmas musical film produced and directed by Brian Henson (in his feature directorial debut). It is the fourth theatrical film featuring the Muppets. Adapted from the 1843 novella A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens with a screenplay written by Jerry Juhl, the film takes artistic license to suit the aesthetic of the Muppets, but follows Dickens' original story closely. It is the first Muppet film where a human is the main protagonist. The film stars Michael Caine as Ebenezer Scrooge alongside Muppet performers Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire, Jerry Nelson, and Frank Oz. It is the first Muppet film to be produced following the deaths of creator Jim Henson and performer Richard Hunt; the film is dedicated to both. Fandom Podcast Network Contact Information - - Fandom Podcast Network YouTube Channel:  https://www.youtube.com/c/FandomPodcastNetwork - Master feed for all FPNet Audio Podcasts: http://fpnet.podbean.com/ - Couch Potato Theater Audio Podcast Master Feed: https://fpnet.podbean.com/category/couch-potato-theater - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Fandompodcastnetwork - Email: fandompodcastnetwork@gmail.com - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fandompodcastnetwork/ - X: @fanpodnetwork / https://twitter.com/fanpodnetwork -Bluesky: @fanpodnetwork / https://bsky.app/profile/fanpodnetwork.bsky.social Host & Guest Contact Info: - Kevin Reitzel on X, Instagram, Threads, Discord & Letterboxd: @spartan_phoenix / Bluesky: @spartanphoenix - Kyle Wagner on X: @AKyleW / Instagram & Threads: @Akylefandom / @akyleW on Discord / @Ksport16: Letterboxd / Bluesky: @akylew Guests: #CouchPotatoTheater #CPT #FandomPodcastNetwork #FPNet #FPN #TheMuppetChristmasCarol #TheMuppetChristmasCarol1992 #TheMuppetChristmasCarolMovie #TheMuppets #BrianHenson #JimHenson #RichardHunt #MichaelCaine #EbenezerScrooge #DaveGoelz #SteveWhitmire #JerryNelson #FrankOz #KermitTheFrog #MrsPiggy #Gonzo #FozzyTheBear #AChristmasCarol #CharlesDickens #JerryJuhl #KevinReitzel #KyleWagner #AlexAutrey #LaceeAderhold  

Project Audion presents a special Christmas audio drama recorded before a live audience at the Grapevine (TX) Public Library on December 14, 2025 as part of "Christmas On The Air."   This half hour recreates a "A Christmas Carol" as it was traditionally heard on on the radio networks in the days before television. For nearly two decades spread across across the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s, actor Lionel Barrymore definitively portrayed Ebenezer Scrooge  for eager American radio listeners. We recreated his 1949 production with a full cast, right down to Tiny Tim, plus music and live sound effects. It's the voices of Christmas past, here as your Christmas present.    Kim Titus Mitch Carr   Reg Platt Susan  Platt Brian Hoffman Gary Layton Sheela Bailey A. J. Glendenning Pierce Morgan Chase Morgan Produced and directed by Larry Groebe

Gary Neal Johnson is retiring from his nearly 25-year run as Ebenezer Scrooge in the Kansas City Repertory Theatre's production of “A Christmas Carol.” He Joined KCUR's Up To Date for an installment of our series “5 Questions,” and to discuss hanging up his hat after acting in the play for 40 years.

Star Trek has found its new Bones and Sulu, yet we have to wait a while before we actually see them. The video game industry lost a true legend, and we salute everything Vince Zampella brought us. Marvel goes back to what it knows for Doomsday, and Macauly decides what is and isn't a Christmas Movie. Plus we may have to wait a little longer for 007's video game return.

Merry Christmas from Consistently Eccentric!To celebrate the big day we are discussing the life of John Elwes, a Georgian man with unimaginable wealth, who chose to spend as little of it as possible. While his eccentricities led him to become Dickens' inspiration for Scrooge, we make the argument that this is an unfair characterisation, as while he would not spend a penny on himself (or his long-suffering servants) if he could help it, John was more than happy to give away vast sums of money to help friends, acquaintances, or any random person who came to ask for help...... and isn't giving the true spirit of the season?Guest Host: Pamela Loetterle Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Send us a textFew stories have entered the cultural bloodstream like A Christmas Carol. First published in December 1843, it was an instant success—selling out its first edition within days and never going out of print since.At its heart, A Christmas Carol is a gospel narrative. Ebenezer Scrooge begins as a man enslaved by greed, isolated by pride, and blind to the grace of others. He is like the rich fool of Luke 12, hoarding wealth while at the same time starving his own soul. But through the visitation of three spirits, representing past memories, Judgment, and Mercy, he is transformed. His journey is not just psychological—it is spiritual. It is the journey of repentance in story form.Culturally, Dickens, through this story, reshaped our idea of Christmas itself. Before A Christmas Carol, the holiday was fading in England—seen by many as old-fashioned, even unnecessary. Dickens revived it with this book.But probably more important is the fact that he gave us the language of generosity and gave unction to the conviction that Christmas is a time for compassion. In doing so, he did more than entertain—he evangelized a whole culture. He preached a gospel of joy to a society that had all but forgotten it. For us friends, this episode is not just a beloved tale—it's a spiritual truth. Revealing that no heart is too hard for God's grace to reach. That no soul is too lost for redemption. And that Christmas, at its core, is not about sentiment—it is about salvation. Happy Christmas.Support the showTo listen to my monthly church history podcast, subscribe at; https://thehistoryofthechristianchurch.buzzsprout.com For an ad-free version of my podcasts plus the opportunity to enjoy hours of exclusive content and two bonus episodes a month whilst also helping keep the Bible Project Daily Podcast free for listeners everywhere support me at;|PatreonSupport me to continue making great content for listeners everywhere.https://thebibleproject.buzzsprout.com

I love A Christmas Carol and the story of Ebenezer Scrooge because it's my story, and perhaps it's yours as well -- the story of redemption from our sins and reclamation from the errors of our past.

Christmas wouldn't be complete without the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, and today we're enjoying a very special version. We're featuring Darren Marlar's audiobook of A Christmas Carol. Whether you've heard this story a hundred times or are hearing it for the first time, Darren's narration brings every character to life, from the rattling chains of Jacob Marley to the infectious joy of Tiny Tim. Let's head back to 1843 and see if a heart of stone can truly be changed.If you have a story you'd like to contribute to the series, you can visit https://submissions.soundconceptmedia.com/You can support the show by becoming a paid subscriber on Substack: https://auditoryanthology.substack.comBy becoming a paid subscriber you can listen to every episode completely ad-free!Curator: Keith Conrad linktr.ee/keithrconradNarrator: Darren Marlar https://darrenmarlar.com/Other shows hosted by Darren:Weird Darkness: https://weirddarkness.com/Paranormality Magazine: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/paranormalitymagMicro Terrors: Scary Stories for Kids: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/microterrorsRetro Radio – Old Time Radio In The Dark: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/retroradioChurch of the Undead: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/churchoftheundead Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We invite you to begin this holiday season with some child-like wonder through the magic of Christmas stories. We will not only look at the birth accounts of the Savior, but at the whole of our story; from even before Genesis through to Revelation. And we will do so spring boarding off the famous story written in 1843 by Charles Dickens called, A Christmas Carol. A Christmas Carol begins with a death and forces the main character, Ebenezer Scrooge, to evaluate his life. As a part of this journey, Scrooge is given an odd gift; he's able to explore his past, present, and future. He's able to remember what happened to him as a child and how it shaped him. Then he gets to see his present with a view of who he has become; a crotchety old man who cares about little else than making a profit. Along the way, however, it seems that this crotchety old man wants to be something more, do something more, but what? How? Finally, Scrooge gets the opportunity to see what his future will be should he continue down his current life path. When he wakes up from this dream, he is convinced; he must change. He chooses to be different. You might even say, he repents and becomes a new creation, one who celebrates the joy of Christmas by taking care of others. In a similar fashion, we will look at the thread of the Christ story, and our story, by looking all the way back to Christmas Past, before the foundations of the world. Then, we will look to Christmas Present, exploring where the choices of His creation led the God of creation. Then, should we choose to believe in this magical and wonder-filled story of Christmas, we can then peak into our Christmas future, a future secured by what God has done for us. There, we will see what this God of love and grace has in store for us all.   May the telling and reimagining of this story, the Christmas story, bring much needed light into every corner of our world today. I look forward to the journey, and to spending Christmas…together!

Send us a textOne of the most infamous characters in all of literature is, without a doubt, Ebenezer Scrooge. From A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. In it he paints a picture of a man who is the very definition of mean-spirited.  But the beauty of that story is the ending. It concludes with a radical transformation. The skinflint becomes a gentle, kind soul.But here is the question that prompts us in the real world: Is that actually possible? Can a greedy, stingy person really be transformed into a generous one? Or is that just a nice Christmas story, almost a fairy tale we tell ourselves at Christmas? Today, I want to take you to a desperate moment in the Old Testament—tucked away in 1 Samuel Chapter 30—that answers that question. It shows us not just what generosity looks like, but the intense pressure cooker required to produce it….Support the showTo listen to my monthly church history podcast, subscribe at; https://thehistoryofthechristianchurch.buzzsprout.com For an ad-free version of my podcasts plus the opportunity to enjoy hours of exclusive content and two bonus episodes a month whilst also helping keep the Bible Project Daily Podcast free for listeners everywhere support me at;|PatreonSupport me to continue making great content for listeners everywhere.https://thebibleproject.buzzsprout.com

Just as the Israelites wasted 20 years because they would not repent and follow the Lord and therefore heaped more consequence on themselves, we sometimes wait to repent and God brings more consequence to draw us back to Himself. God's deliverance always comes when we call on Him, and it is important that we remember His help. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/640/29?v=20251111

Continuing our new series “Christmas at the Movies” with Pastor Kuulei, we look at the life of Ebenezer Scrooge in the story “A Christmas Carol”, we're encouraged by his ultimate change of heart and transformation from a cold, hard-hearted, stingy man to one of joy, kindness, and generosity.  What areas in our own lives need an overhaul…  physically, spiritually, or emotionally, so we can walk in JOY and FREEDOM?Key Scriptures:Proverbs 5:22, 11:17, 20:7, Ephesians 5:5, 4:31-32,  John 14:6, 8:12, Psalm 119:160, 136:1,  2 Timothy 2:13, 1 Peter 2:18, 2 Peter 3:8-9, Revelation 3:20, James 2:15-16, Isaiah 58:10, Ezekiel 36:26

The episode that started it all!Ebenezer Scrooge is a man who values money over people. On Christmas Eve, he is visited by the ghost of his former partner, Jacob Marley, and then by three spirits who show him scenes from his past, present, and possible future.

(01:15) In vier jaar is het personeelsbestand van Defensie met bijna 20 procent gegroeid. Vooral het aantal reservisten zit in de lift. Hoe verhouden de huidige reservisten zich tot hun historische voorgangers? Te gast is Tijmen Dokter, militair historicus en zelf reservist.  (13:57) Het is misschien wel de bekendste gierigaard uit de literatuurgeschiedenis: de rijke Ebenezer Scrooge uit A Christmas Carol van Dickens, voor het eerst verschenen op 19 december 1843. Te gast is Daný van Dam, universitair docent Engelse literatuur aan de universiteit Leiden.  (24:02) Deze week is de column van Micha Wertheim.  (28:00) Zuidoost-Europa correspondent Frank Elbers over zijn nieuwe boek ‘Proletariaat aan de bal. Voetbal Achter het voormalige IJzeren Gordijn'.  (41:22) Nadia Bouras recenseert twee boeken en tentoonstelling:  ‘Perfecte slachtoffers' - Mohammed el-Kurd (vert. Hanna Vandercammen)  ‘Een moderne geschiedenis van de Arabische wereld' - Roel Meijer  ‘Mokum, de biografie van Joods Amsterdam' - tentoonstelling in de Nieuwe Kerk Amsterdam  (54:00) Uit een scheepswrak in de Waddenzee bij Texel haalden amateurduikers een 17de-eeuwse jurk bovenwater. De oranje gouden jurk was nog bijna volledig intact. Die vondst werd gedaan in het zogeheten Palmhoutwrak, een uitzonderlijk goed bewaard gebleven schip. Deze unieke ontdekking gaf het schip politieke aandacht dat heeft geleid tot meer geld voor opgravingen en onderzoek. Maritiem archeoloog Nicole Schouten en documentairemaker Arnold van Bruggen zijn te gast. (01:07:00) Op een dag hoorde Olga Majeau over een sprookjesachtig kasteel dat had toebehoord aan haar Hongaarse voorouders. Een kasteel boven op een berg, met twee torens en een toegangspoort. En in dat kasteel bevond zich de grootste schat: een immense Renaissance-collectie met werk van kunstenaars die in wereldmusea hangen: Correggio, Bernini, Tiepolo, Rafaël, Brueghel…    Het kasteel is inmiddels een hotel, maar de kunstcollectie is verdwenen. Waarom is het kasteel niet meer in de familie? En wat is er met de kunstcollectie gebeurd? Valt er nog iets van terug te vinden?  Olga's zoektocht naar antwoorden blijkt al snel een heus true crime verhaal over internationaal kunstrecht, over duistere belangen, en over de perfide trekjes van de kunsthandel.         Luister naar Zeg Paus, waar is m'n kunst? gemaakt door Olga Majeau en Stef Visjager voor AVROTROS en NPO Luister, en werd mede mogelijk gemaakt door het NPO-fonds. Alle zes afleveringen zijn ook te horen bij ons in OVT. Voor meer informatie, foto's van kunst en kasteel en uitgebreide credits: https://www.avrotros.nl/zegpaus/ (https://www.avrotros.nl/zegpaus/)      Meer info:  https://www.vpro.nl/ovt/artikelen/ovt-21-december-2025  (https://www.vpro.nl/ovt/artikelen/ovt-21-december-2025 %20)   (https://www.vpro.nl/ovt/artikelen/ovt-21-december-2025 %20)

Just as the Israelites wasted 20 years because they would not repent and follow the Lord and therefore heaped more consequence on themselves, we sometimes wait to repent and God brings more consequence to draw us back to Himself.  God's deliverance always comes when we call on Him, and it is important that we remember His help.

Connect with God — on Abide, a Christian meditation app that provides a biblically grounded place to experience peace and progress in your relationship with Christ. Use this biblical meditation, narrated by Johnathon Eltrevoog, to center yourself on the truth in God's word. Learn from the classic story of Ebenezer Scrooge. Meditate on Luke 1:46-55. Allow the music & nature sounds, deep breathing, prayer, and scripture help you connect with God in a new way. For a 30 day free trial of our premium ad-free content, your trusted friend for meditation is right here: https://abide.com/peace Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

December 19, 1843. Readers are introduced to grumpy miser Ebenezer Scrooge with the publication of Charles Dickens' most famous festive tale. This episode originally aired in 2024. Support the show! Join Into History for ad-free listening and more. History Daily is a co-production of Airship and Noiser. Go to HistoryDaily.com for more history, daily.

Was Dickens a real life Ebenezer Scrooge? Well, listen in and find out. It's always a little disappointing when we discover that our literary heroes weren't as heroic as we hoped. So how do we process that with the King of Christmas himself?Actors:Charles Dickens--James Lucas"An Arbor Day Carol" cast:Voice 1: Doll PiccottoVoice 2: James LucasScrooge: James LucasBob Cratchit: Doll PiccottoTree Boy: Doll Piccotto

Every enduring Christmas story has a villain woven in somewhere - whether that's King Herod in the nativity or Ebenezer Scrooge, the Grinch of Hans Gruber in Die Hard. Whether the audience is rooting for huge redemption arc or waiting for the bad guy to take a nosedive off the Nakatomi Plaza, there's something about a festive story that uniquely lends itself to a good villain. This week Jules and Madeleine delve into what makes a good Christmas villain; where do they come from? (The answer is surprisingly far back!) And how do you create your own? On the slab this week - A Christmas Carol, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, The Winter Smith and many more.   Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Charles Dickens was a famous English writer who lived in the 1800s. One of his most beloved stories is A Christmas Carol, the tale of Ebenezer Scrooge, a grumpy man who learns the true meaning of kindness. Dickens wrote the story to show how important generosity and compassion are, especially toward people who are struggling. Try Cocomelon Sing & Play for Free on your smart TV Volley App

We invite you to begin this holiday season with some child-like wonder through the magic of Christmas stories. We will not only look at the birth accounts of the Savior, but at the whole of our story; from even before Genesis through to Revelation. And we will do so spring boarding off the famous story written in 1843 by Charles Dickens called, A Christmas Carol. A Christmas Carol begins with a death and forces the main character, Ebenezer Scrooge, to evaluate his life. As a part of this journey, Scrooge is given an odd gift; he's able to explore his past, present, and future. He's able to remember what happened to him as a child and how it shaped him. Then he gets to see his present with a view of who he has become; a crotchety old man who cares about little else than making a profit. Along the way, however, it seems that this crotchety old man wants to be something more, do something more, but what? How? Finally, Scrooge gets the opportunity to see what his future will be should he continue down his current life path. When he wakes up from this dream, he is convinced; he must change. He chooses to be different. You might even say, he repents and becomes a new creation, one who celebrates the joy of Christmas by taking care of others. In a similar fashion, we will look at the thread of the Christ story, and our story, by looking all the way back to Christmas Past, before the foundations of the world. Then, we will look to Christmas Present, exploring where the choices of His creation led the God of creation. Then, should we choose to believe in this magical and wonder-filled story of Christmas, we can then peak into our Christmas future, a future secured by what God has done for us. There, we will see what this God of love and grace has in store for us all.   May the telling and reimagining of this story, the Christmas story, bring much needed light into every corner of our world today. I look forward to the journey, and to spending Christmas…together!

Nesta aventura cheia de mistério, magia e esperança, você vai conhecer Ebenezer Scrooge, um homem rico, mas com o coração congelado. Ele não gosta de festas, não gosta de música, não gosta de gente e pior de tudo: não gosta do Natal.Mas tudo muda quando, na véspera da grande noite, Scrooge recebe visitas muito inesperadas. Aperte o play e venha sentir a magia do Natal!Ensinamentos para crianças: generosidade, afeto, empatia e a coragem de mudar.Faixa etária recomendada: A partir de 7 anos.Baseado na obra de: Charles DickensAdaptada e narrada por: Carol CamanhoApoie o podcast e entre para o Reino aqui:https://eraumavezumpodcast.com.br/clube90E ouça histórias exclusivas, versões de histórias mais calmas e relaxantes, perfeitas para hora de dormir, histórias para meditar, acesso antecipado de até 6 meses de algumas histórias que entrarão no podcast e muito mais! Além de apoiar o podcast preferido do seu filho(a). :)Confira mais histórias infantis no nosso site: Era Uma Vez Um Podcast – Histórias Infantis Em Áudio e compartilhe com outras mães, ou pais, ou tias, avós, madrinhas, babás, professoras... fale sobre esse podcast e espalhe a sementinha da imaginação fértil!Mande-me uma mensagem, sugestão ou até uma história enviando um email para contato@eraumavezumpodcast.com.br que vou adorar ler!E já apertou o botão de "Seguir" no podcast no seu player favorito?! Então siga e não perca mais nenhuma história! ;) É de graça!!E nos siga no Instagram: @‌eraumavezumpodcastBeijos e até a próxima história!Trilha sonora:Track: "Midnight Potion", Mystery MachineMusic provided by https://slipstreammusic.comFree Download/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/M0mhzfTrack: "A Kiss For Candy"Music provided by https://Slip.streamFree Download/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/YqS6DB

This episode explores the leadership transformation of Ebenezer Scrooge and turns it into practical steps leaders can use right away. It blends storytelling with actionable holiday themed lessons that help any leader reset, reflect, and recharge for the new year.Host: Paul FalavolitoConnect with me on your favorite platform: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, Substack, BlueSky, Threads, LinkTree, YouTubeView my website for free leadership resources and exclusive merchandise: www.paulfalavolito.comBooks by Paul FalavolitoThe 7 Minute Leadership Handbook: bit.ly/48J8zFGThe Leadership Academy: https://bit.ly/4lnT1PfThe 7 Minute Leadership Survival Guide: https://bit.ly/4ij0g8yThe Leader's Book of Secrets: http://bit.ly/4oeGzCI

What message does The Ghost of Christmas Present bring Ebenezer Scrooge from beyond the grave? Charles Dickens, today on The Classic Tales Podcast.   Welcome to this VINTAGE episode of The Classic Tales Podcast. Thank you for listening.     Did you know Charles Dickens wrote several Christmas Stories similar in length to A Christmas Carol? With the Audiobook Library Card, you can download The Christmas Stories of Charles Dickens and get not only the entire reading of A Christmas Carol, but also The Chimes, A Cricket on the Hearth, The Goblins and the Gravedigger, and The Life of Our Lord. Sign up during our holiday promotion, and lock in your low price of $6.99 a month, and enjoy all the Classic Tales you want all year round.   Go to audiobooklibrarycard.com or follow the link in the show notes.     And now, A Christmas Carol, Part 3 of 4, by Charles Dickens       Follow this link to get The Audiobook Library Card for $9.99/month       Follow this link to subscribe to our YouTube Channel:       Follow this link to subscribe to the Arsène Lupin Podcast:     Follow this link to follow us on Instagram:     Follow this link to follow us on Facebook:

"Humbug" - Ebenezer ScroogeZack is joined once again by Erik, Johnny, and Kaeldrannas to talk about possibly the best rendition of Charles Dickens's "A Christmas Carol"? - that's right, we're reviewing the 1992 holiday classic, "The MUPPET Christmas Carol" - starring Michael Cain as Ebenezer Scrooge! (Edited by Zack Derby) The Podcasters will Assemble again... If you would like to be featured on an upcoming episode head over to: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://probablywork.com/podcasters-assemble/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠You can also join the discussion in our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Discord server⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buy Our Merch!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Network InfoThis podcast is a production of the We Can Make This Work (Probably) Network. Follow us below to keep up with this show and discover our many other podcasts! The place for those with questionable taste!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠| ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠| ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: @probablywork⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ www.probablywork.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ProbablyWorkPod@gmail.com⁠

In this episode of “Half Hour”, we take a deeper dive into the 2025 Off-Broadway production of A Christmas Carol at Perelman Performing Arts Center, adapted by Jack Thorne and staged by Matthew Warchus and Thomas Caruso. Drawing on our experience with the 2019 Broadway run, we break down how the story, structure, and use of traditional Christmas carols land in this new in-the-round configuration. We examine the production's immersive environment, Rob Howell's scenic design, and the way the playing space reshapes audience engagement with Ebenezer Scrooge's journey. Performances by Michael Cerveris, Julia Knitel, Crystal Lucas-Perry, and Nancy Opel are closely reviewed, along with standout scene work that underscores the company's ensemble approach. We also consider where this version of A Christmas Carol might go after its Off-Broadway run at PAC NYC, and how it fits into the growing landscape of immersive and family-focused holiday revivals.  Follow and connect with all things @HalfHourPodcast on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Share your thoughts on this production in the comments on Spotify, and let us know what you would like us to cover next. If you enjoy these post-show conversations, follow Half Hour and leave a rating and review so more theater lovers can find the podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Send us a textWhat if the truest thing about you isn't your worst chapter? We connect two unforgettable turnarounds—Ebenezer Scrooge's haunting night and Saul's blinding encounter on the Damascus road—to explore how real redemption begins, grows, and reshapes a life. Dickens aimed his story at a society numb to poverty; the Gospels ground Christmas in Emmanuel, God with us, stepping into history to rescue, not just inspire. Put together, they ask a piercing question: do we still label people by who they were, or do we dare to believe who they can become?We walk through Acts 9 with fresh eyes: Saul's certainty shattered by light, Ananias' fear met by God's future tense, and the moment a feared enemy is called “Brother.” Scales fall, baptism seals a new start, and a mission to the Gentiles begins. Alongside that, we revisit Scrooge's arc—not to retell the tale, but to name our habit of remembering a person's failures long after grace has done its work. If God refuses to keep us in old categories, why do we?This conversation turns Christmas from cozy backdrop to decisive invitation. Emmanuel is not a slogan; it is God choosing proximity over indifference. We talk about living as redeemed people in practical ways: dropping stale labels, practicing quiet generosity, extending mercy before certainty, and aligning daily habits with a new identity. If a persecutor can become an apostle and a miser can become a neighbor, then your story is not stuck. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs hope, and leave a review telling us one label you're ready to release today.

Hello All, We had to pivot into what was supposed to be Movie #3 this month due to a technical issue with the Jack Frost recordings. (It may or may not be next week's episode, but we'll have to dig into things a bit more before we know if it's usuable.) But, today, it's The Naughty List of Mr. Scrooge! From IMDB: Former college friends reunite 10 years after a tragedy during a production of A Christmas Carol. Gathering at a winter chalet, they are stalked and killed one by one by someone dressed as a terrifying Ebenezer Scrooge. It's currently playing Tubi, Pluto, and Roku, and for rent at the usual streaming outlets. ENJOY! Love and Rockets, Corey and Joseph ------------------ If you'd like to show your support for members of WGA, SAG, IATSE, as well as other workers in the entertainment industry, please take a look at the link below and maybe make a donation: Entertainment Community Fund https://entertainmentcommunity.org/support-our-work ------------------ As always, and maybe even more than ever, here are some mental health resources for North America: United States  https://www.mentalhealth.gov/get-help/immediate-help https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ The Suicide Hotline phone number has been changed. Now, just text or call 988. Canada https://www.ccmhs-ccsms.ca/mental-health-resources-1 1 (833) 456-4566 Even though we don't say it in this episode, more NOW than ever before: PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE take care of yourselves and those around you. Be mindful of your surroundings. Karate in the Garage Linkages 

We invite you to begin this holiday season with some child-like wonder through the magic of Christmas stories.  We will not only look at the birth accounts of the Savior, but at the whole of our story; from even before Genesis through to Revelation.  And we will do so spring boarding off the famous story written in 1843 by Charles Dickens called, A Christmas Carol. A Christmas Carol begins with a death and forces the main character, Ebenezer Scrooge, to evaluate his life.  As a part of this journey, Scrooge is given an odd gift; he's able to explore his past, present, and future.  He's able to remember what happened to him as a child and how it shaped him.  Then he gets to see his present with a view of who he has become; a crotchety old man who cares about little else than making a profit.  Along the way, however, it seems that this crotchety old man wants to be something more, do something more, but what? How? Finally, Scrooge gets the opportunity to see what his future will be should he continue down his current life path.  When he wakes up from this dream, he is convinced; he must change.  He chooses to be different.  You might even say, he repents and becomes a new creation, one who celebrates the joy of Christmas by taking care of others. In a similar fashion, we will look at the thread of the Christ story, and our story, by looking all the way back to Christmas Past, before the foundations of the world.  Then, we will look to Christmas Present, exploring where the choices of His creation led the God of creation.  Then, should we choose to believe in this magical and wonder-filled story of Christmas, we can then peak into our Christmas future, a future secured by what God has done for us.  There, we will see what this God of love and grace has in store for us all.   May the telling and reimagining of this story, the Christmas story, bring much needed light into every corner of our world today. I look forward to the journey, and to spending Christmas…together!

Hi, I'm John Sorensen, President of Evangelism Explosion International, and you're listening to Share Life Today. "The cold within him froze his features, nipped his pointed nose, shriveled his cheek, stiffened his gait..." Those are the words Charles Dickens used to describe his well-known character, Ebenezer Scrooge. Scrooge was known for despising all things about Christmas, especially helping the poor and the needy. He would shout, "Bah, humbug!" at anything kind and good. When we hear about people like him, you know it's easy for us to say, "Well, I'm not like that, so I guess I'm a pretty good person!" Compared to Scrooge...yes, you may be! But compared to the standard God has set in Matthew 5 where He says, "Be perfect, as your Heavenly Father is perfect"...well, you know we all fall short of that. The truth is, all of us have sinned. But there is good news! Jesus came and took the punishment for us. And for all those who believe in Him, God substitutes Christ's perfect life for our sin-filled one. To hear more, visit sharelife.today.

What message does The Ghost of Christmas Past bring Ebenezer Scrooge from beyond the grave? Charles Dickens, today on The Classic Tales Podcast.   Welcome to this VINTAGE episode of The Classic Tales Podcast. Thank you for listening.     Did you know Charles Dickens wrote several Christmas Stories similar in length to A Christmas Carol? With the Audiobook Library Card, you can download The Christmas Stories of Charles Dickens and get not only the entire reading of A Christmas Carol, but also The Chimes, A Cricket on the Hearth, The Goblins and the Gravedigger, and The Life of Our Lord. Sign up during our holiday promotion, and lock in your low price of $6.99 a month, and enjoy all the Classic Tales you want all year round.   Go to audiobooklibrarycard.com or follow the link in the show notes.   I'm performing as Ebenezer Scrooge at Payson Community Theatre's production of Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol right now. Fun fact – Austin Bateman, the actor in the show who plays Young Scrooge, is a fan of the podcast. He's done a great job interpreting how a younger BJ Harrison would sound as Scrooge. My son Seven picked up on what he was doing and complimented him on it. It's a great show. If you're in the area, there are three more performances.   Today's VINTAGE episode was recorded in 2018, when my son was Scrooge in high school. I thought it was time to revisit the story. There's a reason it's a classic!     And now, A Christmas Carol, Part 2 of 4, by Charles Dickens       Follow this link to get The Audiobook Library Card for $6.99/month       Follow this link to subscribe to our YouTube Channel:       Follow this link to subscribe to the Arsène Lupin Podcast:     Follow this link to follow us on Instagram:     Follow this link to follow us on Facebook:  

This week we have a look at the 1951 film SCROOGE.  This is Episode #473! Scrooge (released as A Christmas Carol in the United States) is a 1951 British Christmas fantasy drama film and an adaptation of Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol (1843). It stars Alastair Sim as Ebenezer Scrooge, and was produced and directed by Brian Desmond Hurst, with a screenplay by Noel Langley. It also features Michael Hordern, Kathleen Harrison, George Cole, Hermione Baddeley, Mervyn Johns, Clifford Mollison, Jack Warner, Ernest Thesiger and Patrick Macnee. Peter Bull narrates portions of Charles Dickens's words at the beginning and end of the film, and appears on-screen as a businessman.Upon its initial release, the movie was largely ignored by critics, and reactions from those that did watch it were varied. Nevertheless, the movie attracted a strong following on television, and subsequent reviews have been significantly more positive, with many critics considering it one of the best adaptions of the novel, with general praise for the performances, particularly Sim's portrayal of Scrooge.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/castle-of-horror-podcast--4268760/support.

Send us a textThis holiday story gets new gears. We sit down with the Riverside Community Players team bringing a steampunk A Christmas Carol to life—complete with in‑the‑round staging, layered costumes, and a cast that looks and sounds like Riverside. From the first “God bless us” to the final curtain, the conversation uncovers how a first-time director balances reverence for Dickens with the courage to reimagine the world he wrote.We talk through Sage's path back to the stage, the decision to lean into steampunk aesthetics, and the practical realities of building a show where minimal sets and 360-degree sightlines demand bold blocking and clean storytelling. Kit Wilson shares his approach to Ebenezer Scrooge—mining classic performances without echoing them, researching 1843 London to ground the character's arc, and finding the moment where regret turns into change. We also spotlight Tiny Tim, played by Jasper, whose enthusiasm and resilience bring rare authenticity to a role that carries the play's soul.Behind the scenes, the creative engine hums: meticulous costume design that fuses Victorian texture with industrial flair; prop choices that do the heavy lifting when scenery stays lean; and a rising scenic designer crafting a modular world that moves as fast as the story. An assistant director with movement training helps the ensemble build truthful relationships, so every corner of the house sees intentions as clearly as words. Expanding the cast unlocks fresh voices and sharper narration, while a commitment to diversity ensures the stage reflects the Inland Empire community it serves.If you love theater that honors tradition and still surprises, this one's for you. Hit play, get inspired, then grab your tickets to A Christmas Carol at Riverside Community Players. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs a spark of holiday spirit, and leave a quick review to help more listeners find the show.December 5-14 Riverside Community Players: 4026 14th St. Riverside, CA 92501Box Office: 951-686-4030www.riversidecommunityplayers.com Find STTS:Steps To The Stage (@stepstothestage) | InstagramFacebookSteps To The Stage (buzzsprout.com)Steps To The Stage - YouTubePlease follow on your favorite podcast platform and we appreciate 5 Star ratings and positive reviews!

What message does Jacob Marley bring Ebenezer Scrooge from beyond the grave? Charles Dickens, today on The Classic Tales Podcast.   Welcome to this VINTAGE episode of The Classic Tales Podcast. Thank you for listening.     Did you know Charles Dickens wrote several Christmas Stories similar in length to A Christmas Carol? With the Audiobook Library Card, you can download The Christmas Stories of Charles Dickens and get not only the entire reading of A Christmas Carol, but also The Chimes, A Cricket on the Hearth, The Goblins and the Gravedigger, and The Life of Our Lord. Sign up during our holiday promotion, and lock in your low price of $6.99 a month, and enjoy all the Classic Tales you want all year round.   Go to audiobooklibrarycard.com or follow the link in the show notes.   I'm performing as Ebenezer Scrooge at Payson Community Theatre's production of Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol right now. Fun fact – Austin Bateman, the actor in the show who plays Young Scrooge, is a fan of the podcast. He's done a great job interpreting how a younger BJ Harrison would sound as Scrooge. My son Seven picked up on what he was doing and complimented him on it. It's a great show. If you're in the area, there are three more performances.   Today's VINTAGE episode was recorded in 2018, when my son was Scrooge in high school. I thought it was time to revisit the story. There's a reason it's a classic!     And now, A Christmas Carol, Part 1 of 4, by Charles Dickens       Follow this link to get The Audiobook Library Card for $6.99/month       Follow this link to subscribe to our YouTube Channel:       Follow this link to subscribe to the Arsène Lupin Podcast:     Follow this link to follow us on Instagram:     Follow this link to follow us on Facebook:

What simple delights are in store in a visit to the wooden clog maker who lives in the forest? André Theuriet, today on The Classic Tales Podcast.   Welcome to The Classic Tales Podcast. Thank you for listening.   Well, it's Black Friday, and for a limited time, you can get a subscription for the Audiobook Library Card for only $6.99, instead of the typical ridiculously low price of $9.99. This is your chance to lock in a monthly subscription at the lower price, saving $3 a month. Unlimited downloading and streaming of the Classic Tales Library can be yours for even less!  Go to audiobooklibrarycard.com or follow the link in the show notes.  As a side note, I'm going to be playing Ebenezer Scrooge in Payson Community Theatre's production of Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol. To celebrate, our VINTAGE episodes for December will be the original text of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, which I recorded in 2018, when my son Seven was playing Scrooge in High School. I guess we've come full circle.  Today's story appeared in a collection of Christmas stories by French and Spanish writers, translated by Antoinette Ogden. It's a sweet story with some beautiful imagery. By the way, a sabotier is a maker of wooden shoes, or clogs. Enjoy!   And now, Christmas in the Forest, by André Theuriet   Follow this link to get The Audiobook Library Card for a special price of $6.99/month       Follow this link to subscribe to our YouTube Channel:       Follow this link to subscribe to the Arsène Lupin Podcast:     Follow this link to follow us on Instagram:     Follow this link to follow us on Facebook: