Podcasts about Father Christmas

#HolidayHorrors | Hundreds of people have reported encounters with what looks exactly like Santa Claus — and they weren't children dreaming on Christmas Eve. If the real Santa doesn't exist, what are these witnesses actually seeing... and why does it want to be seen?IN THIS EPISODE: Many of us are familiar with the flip side of Father Christmas – the darker entity who visits and kidnaps bad children, Krampus. But when it comes to true fear, even Krampus would run in terror at the sight of Iceland's Gryla, the Christmas Witch! With roots dating back to the 13th century, Gryla is not to be messed with! (Iceland's Christmas Witch) *** It was Christmastime, 1938, and 19-year-old Margaret Martin had just graduated from Wilkes-Barre Business College with honors and was eager to secure a secretarial job. Her eagerness would lead to her disappearance. (The Murder of Margaret Martin) *** Ask anyone over the age of twelve what they think about the existence of Santa Claus and you'll most assuredly get the same answer. But that has not stopped people of all ages reporting sightings of the jolly old elf, and some of the stories are downright creepy. (People Who Swear They've Seen the Real Santa Claus) *** Two murders committed in the same house during the holidays of 1928 appear to have resulted in the spirits of Christmas past haunting the place today. (The Hundley Murders)TIME STAMPS & CHAPTERS:00:00:00.000 = They Swear They Saw Santa00:01:22.035 = Show Open00:03:20.486 = The Hundley Murders00:18:08.033 = *** People Who Swear They've Seen the Real Santa Claus00:38:56.938 = *** Iceland's Christmas Witch00:45:55.352 = The Murder of Margaret Martin00:49:25.321 = Show CloseSOURCES AND ESSENTIAL WEB LINKS…“The Strange World of True Kris Kringle Sightings” by Brent Swancer for Mysterious Universe:https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p8kfyka“Iceland's Christmas Witch” by Alex Palmer for Smithsonian Magazine: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/57ntaeeu“The Murder of Margaret Martin” by Troy Taylor: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/7e6xxvph“The Hundley Murders” by Troy Taylor for his book “Bloody Illinois”: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/3yb3fd2p(Over time links seen above may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46=WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2024, Weird Darkness.Originally aired: December 08, 2021#WeirdDarkness #SantaSightings #ParanormalChristmas #ChristmasMysteries #SupernaturalEncounters #TricksterSpirits #UnexplainedPhenomena #GhostStories #ChristmasParanormal #TrueParanormalStorieshttps://weirddarkness.com/RealKrisKringleSightings

The secret is out! Jack Ward continues from his latest book collection of the Ward Father Christmas Letters a day after his own children find a copy for Early Ward Christmas. Find your own copy of the book under your tree from Amazon https://a.co/d/ebijJdG with illustrations from Madelyn Knight (his niece). Jack believes this collection of letters inspired by the same Father Christmas that graced Tolkien's nephews represent the most in-depth look at the North and has sub-tiled this tome "A Compendium of the North". Look for the upcoming audible full book on sale with John Bell in the titular character! Continuing this week's preview of Father Christmas' exploits in the Canadian North with 2002! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Chris DeMakes and Chris Fafalios dive into The Kinks' 1977 holiday classic “Father Christmas,” a song that manages to sound as punk as it does festive. It features sharp cultural commentary within the angry and funny lyrics, and despite its anti-holidays sentiment, it still brings about an undeniable uplifting feeling. Often called the godfathers of Britpop, The Kinks left a mark that still resonates, and “Father Christmas” stands as a perfect example of how a Christmas song can pack both attitude and spirit. Chris DeMakes A Podcast is brought to you by DistroKid, the ultimate partner for taking your music to the next level. Get 30% off your first YEAR with DistroKid by signing up at ⁠http://distrokid.com/vip/demakes For bonus episode of The After Party podcast, an extensive back catalog of past After Party episodes, early ad-free releases of new episodes of Chris DeMakes A Podcast, full video versions of episodes, and MUCH more, head to the Patreon at ⁠http://www.ChrisDeMakes.com Follow Chris DeMakes A Podcast on Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/chrisdemakesapodcast/⁠ Join the Chris DeMakes A Podcast community on Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/2643961642526928/⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chris joins Jeff to give an update on the Father Christmas fundraiser.

When a single drip of melted snow hits Father Christmas in the eye, it uncovers a shocking truth - the great 'Sleeps Until Christmas' clock has frozen on the wrong number! Suddenly, what seemed like a peaceful day in Lapland turns into a toy-making emergency, as every Elf is called back from skating on the frozen pond to save Christmas in time. Join Father Christmas, Whittle, and even the sleepy cuckoo as they race against time in the most unexpected winter adventure!

In this episode, I speak to Katie Chappell, a talented illustrator specialising in live event illustration and co-founder of The Good Ship Illustration. We discuss her early experiences with work and the first rejection thst left her reeling and questioning her path, and then her journey back to creativity, and her fascinating career path. Katie shares her innovative approach to handling rejection through a 'no thank yous' challenge, which not only desensitised her to rejection but also helped her create a pricing mindset that has transformed her business. We delve into those pricing strategies and how her mindset shifts have influenced her business decisions. Katie also talks about her community initiatives and the importance of being adaptable and willing to experiment in business. This is an insightful conversation on creativity, resilience, and the power of saying yes - AND no.  Find Katie on Instagram here  Find Katie's website here The woman Katie shouted out was Denise Duffield-Thomas.  Find her work here Don't forget to join me on Instagram here  ----------- This episode is supported by April & White, a brand built on a passion to fuel the imagination of children everywhere, not least with their beautiful bespoke letters from Father Christmas for your little ones. Sonia the founder approaches every product with an eye for beauty and detail to really keep the magic alive for your little believers, applying calligraphy by hand so that every letter and envelope is unique, personalised, and magical. Alongside her letters from Santa Sonia has a glorious selection of stocking fillers to make your kids' Christmas even more special, from beautifully boxed reindeer food to North Pole chocolate pennies and reindeer bells and even a magical memory journal to capture the sparkle and wonder of their Christmas. Order your letters from father Christmas by 5th December to be sure to receive them in time for the big day, and check out aprilandwhite.co.uk to shop now. Magic awaits. ----------- EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS  01:21 Meet Katie Chappell 02:44 Katie's Early Work Experiences 05:16 Navigating Career Challenges and Discovering Illustration 11:48 Building a Freelance Career and Overcoming Setbacks 24:29 The Impact of Rejection and Embracing Challenges 29:31 Embracing Rejection: The Numbers Game 30:00 Applying the Rejection Challenge to Real Life 30:54 Pricing Strategies for Women in Business 32:33 The Importance of Incremental Upgrades 33:39 Building a Strong Online Presence 36:04 Balancing Creativity and Business 40:20 The Value of Community and Collaboration 42:45 Navigating Social Media as a Creative 45:52 Learning Business Skills as a Creative 54:19 Final Thoughts and Advice  

Jack Ward continues from his latest book collection of the Ward Father Christmas Letters. Find your own copy of the book available at Amazon https://a.co/d/ebijJdG with illustrations from Madelyn Knight (his niece). Jack believes this collection of letters inspired by the same Father Christmas that graced Tolkien's nephews represent the most in-depth look at the North and has sub-tiled this tome "A Compendium of the North". Look for the upcoming audible full book on sale with John Bell in the titular character! Continuing this week's preview of Father Christmas' exploits in the Canadian North with 2001! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jack Ward continues from his latest book collection of the Ward Father Christmas Letters. Find your own copy of the book available at Amazon https://a.co/d/ebijJdG with illustrations from Madelyn Knight (his niece). Jack believes this collection of letters inspired by the same Father Christmas that graced Tolkien's nephews represent the most in-depth look at the North and has sub-tiled this tome "A Compendium of the North". Look for the upcoming audible full book on sale with John Bell in the titular character! Continuing this week's preview of Father Christmas' exploits in the Canadian North with 2001! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're in the company of Ben Miller, comedian, actor, writer and some time student of physics...here to tell us how Father Christmas can in fact deliver a gift to every child in just one night with his new book "The Night I Met Father Christmas".Someone who has had an early Christmas present already is Lucy Steeds, who this week was crowned the winner of the Waterstones Book of the Year. She reveals the process of how her debut book, "The Artist", has become so successful - and how he channels her synaesthesia. Grace Vella spent her childhood dreaming of becoming a professional footballer, she almost made it playing for Liverpool and Man City, but didn't quite make the grade, so made football her business instead and has founded the women's sports brand Miss Kick.All that, plus Hollie McRae, daughter of iconic rally driver Colin McCrae, tells us how she has become determined to keep rally driving in the family - and we have the shared Inheritance Tracks of Chris and Xand van Tulleken.Presenter: Adrian Chiles Producer: Ben Mitchell Assistant Producer: Catherine Powell Researcher: Jesse Edwards Editor: Glyn Tansley

Jack Ward opens up his latest book to share with the world two decades of Father Christmas Letters sent to his three sons, first Aedan, then Colm, and finally Rory from 1999 to 2018. These letters are lovingly compiled by Jack this Christmas and placed in a book available at Amazon https://a.co/d/ebijJdG for your perusal with illustrations from Madelyn Knight (his niece). Jack believes this collection of letters inspired by the same Father Christmas that graced Tolkien's nephews represent the most in-depth look at the North and has sub-tiled this tome "A Compendium of the North" for that reason. Whether it's hosting the World Efl Conference, fighting off Snow Goblyns and Polar Giants, or making friends with Winter Dwarves and finding a new home to erect the North Pole, these epic tales in epistolary will bring a smile to your heart, and a glow from the real spirit of Christmas. Beginning this week, Jack presents the first two letters from 1999 and 2000, a mere day before the birth of his second son! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jack Ward opens up his latest book to share with the world two decades of Father Christmas Letters sent to his three sons, first Aedan, then Colm, and finally Rory from 1999 to 2018. These letters are lovingly compiled by Jack this Christmas and placed in a book available at Amazon https://a.co/d/ebijJdG for your perusal with illustrations from Madelyn Knight (his niece). Jack believes this collection of letters inspired by the same Father Christmas that graced Tolkien's nephews represent the most in-depth look at the North and has sub-tiled this tome "A Compendium of the North" for that reason. Whether it's hosting the World Efl Conference, fighting off Snow Goblyns and Polar Giants, or making friends with Winter Dwarves and finding a new home to erect the North Pole, these epic tales in epistolary will bring a smile to your heart, and a glow from the real spirit of Christmas. Beginning this week, Jack presents the first two letters from 1999 and 2000, a mere day before the birth of his second son! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on The School Runway, Cara and Bronagh dive headfirst into the festive season — in matching personalised pyjamas, of course. Fresh from the Space NK Christmas event, the girls unwrap their beauty goody bags and chat through their favourite finds, from engraved perfume bottles and luxury candles to cult skincare and glowy makeup.There's also plenty of sparkle off the beauty counter, including velvet tailoring, Secret Santas, the importance of cuticle oil, and why Father Christmas is the only acceptable name. Plus, Cara takes us behind the scenes of her Dubai holiday — from KidZania chaos and desert BBQs to 4x4 dune drives.And yes, Cara used to work in a circus. With a snake. Called Rick.Whether you're after Christmas gifting ideas or just a cosy listen on the school run, this episode is pure festive joy.Highlights include:Space NK beauty haul and Christmas gifting ideasSkincare simplified: Inkey List's genius packagingCara's Dubai family holiday adventuresJoe Browns press trip and Afghan coat loveCircus pasts, fire breathing, and Love Island introsNew episodes every week — hit follow and leave a review if you're enjoying the show!Connect with The School Runway Podcast:Instagram: @schoolrunwaypodLeave us a voice note: https://sayhi.chat/oeks4Don't forget to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts & Spotify! x Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode I speak to Rosamund Dean, a journalist, author, and writer of the Substack 'Well, Well, Well.' Rosamund shares her journey from her early career as an entertainment journalist to navigating the overwhelm of the wellness industry following her breast cancer diagnosis and recovery. We discuss how her definition of success has changed, the pressures of motherhood, and the future-proofing of her body post-cancer. Rosamund also talks about her transition to freelance work, the joys and challenges of the Substack platform, and the importance of maintaining a healthful balance in life. Find Rosamund on Instagram here Read Rosamund's Substack here  Join the conversation with me on Instagram here  ------------ This episode is supported by April & White, a brand built on a passion to fuel the imagination of children everywhere, not least with their beautiful bespoke letters from Father Christmas for your little ones. Sonia the founder approaches every product with an eye for beauty and detail to really keep the magic alive for your little believers, applying calligraphy by hand so that every letter and envelope is unique, personalised, and magical. Alongside her letters from Santa Sonia has a glorious selection of stocking fillers to make your kids' Christmas even more special, from beautifully boxed reindeer food to North Pole chocolate pennies and reindeer bells and even a magical memory journal to capture the sparkle and wonder of their Christmas. Order your letters from father Christmas by 5th December to be sure to receive them in time for the big day, and check out aprilandwhite.co.uk to shop now. Magic awaits.  

📄 Sermon Summary: Grieving and Quenching the Spirit Speaker: Nick Theme: Grieving and Quenching the Holy Spirit (Part of the "Life in the Spirit" series) Key Scripture: Ephesians 4:30 – "And do not bring sorrow to God's Holy Spirit by the way you live." 1. The Principle of Responsibility The sermon opens by linking the great blessing of the Holy Spirit (discussed the previous week) with great responsibility (a modified Spider-Man quote). The danger is that Christians can focus solely on the positive aspects of God's blessing and forget their responsibility to live a life that pleases the Holy Spirit, not grieves him. 2. The Danger of Passivity Active Waiting: The concept of "waiting on God" is often misunderstood as passive inaction. The speaker contrasts this with the attitude of a "waiter" in a hotel (using a personal story from Nepal and an example of the ushing ministry in Zambia). An excellent waiter is active, alert, concerned, and anticipates the needs of the person they serve. Pleasure vs. Grief: Our relationship with God should be one of active engagement and should bring pleasure to God's heart, not grief. It's not about seeing how much we can "get away with" but about actively seeking to please Him—this is the true meaning of loving God. The absence of a genuine relationship brings God grief. 3. Sin is Dealt With, But Lack of Faith is a Struggle Christianity is Obsessed with Love, not Sin: Referencing a debate between Professor Richard Dawkins (atheist) and Ayaan Hirsi Ali (new Christian), the speaker affirms that while sin is real, Jesus has broken its power on the cross ("It is finished!"). The focus of Christianity should be on love, life, and hope, not dwelling on sin. Confession and Freedom: If we sin, the solution is to confess it, receive forgiveness, and walk away from it (like Jesus telling the woman, "Go and sin no more"). Sin is dealt with. The Greater Grief: Unwillingness and Unbelief: The harder issue that grieves the Spirit is our unwillingness to enter into all God has for us, our unbelief, and our failure to actively walk in the power of the finished work of the cross. 4. Five Areas That Bring God Pleasure (and their opposites cause grief): The sermon outlines five practical ways to actively seek a life that pleases God: Faith (Hebrews 11:6): Without faith, it is impossible to please God. We must continually believe God in what He is able to do, even when we have struggled with faith in the past. Unbelief grieves Him. Love (John 13:35): We must fight for unity and love one another, valuing others even more than ourselves. It is more important to love than to "win an argument." Division and disunity grieve the Holy Spirit. Obedience (1 Samuel 15): King Saul was rejected as king because he valued his own idea of a sacrifice over simple obedience to God's command. Obeying is better than sacrificing. Self-confidence and our own "theology" are not enough; we must be attentive to exactly what God wants. Thankfulness (1 Thessalonians 5:18): A grateful heart pleases God. It is a simple but powerful act that opens the door to our relationship with Him. An ungrateful heart grieves Him. Perseverance in Faith (Galatians 6:9; 1 Peter 1:6-7): The "well done, good and faithful servant" is spoken at the end of the journey, after we have walked through all the trials and challenges. Jesus's prayer for Peter was not for a new car, but that his "faith won't fail." Through perseverance, our faith is proven genuine and brings God much honor. Conclusion The core question for every Christian is: "Are we resting on the fact that we wear a Christian badge, or are we active in seeking a life that pleases God in the here and now and in the in-between?" 📝 Transcript of "Nick's Sermon" I'm just processing what Mike said, that it's sad the notices are finished because Nick's coming to speak. [laughter] Uh, yeah, buckle up. Um, we are on a, we're still on the "Life in the Spirit" series, and Jonathan spoke last week about the, uh, about being filled with the Spirit and being continually filled with the Spirit. And there was a great response and people came forward, and people were touched and blessed by the Holy Spirit. And so it falls to me this morning to pick up the subject of grieving and quenching the Spirit. And, uh, yeah, we've got to, we've got to take things from all angles, haven't we? And my, my main passage that I want us to look at this morning is in Ephesians chapter 4. When I say passage, it's a verse, actually. It's Ephesians chapter 4, verse 30. And it says this: "And do not bring sorrow to God's Holy Spirit by the way you live." "Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption." "Do not bring sorrow to God's Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption." And I want to slightly misquote Spider-Man by saying, "With great blessing comes great responsibility." It's essential that we are hungry for God's Spirit. It's essential, as Jonathan was saying last week, that we are continually asking him for more. And so much of what we expect is, is positive. We don't even think sometimes of the angle where God might be, might have a, have a view on how we, how we are living, or how we are thinking, or, or how we are dealing with him, because it's always blessing. The prophetic words are always, "I love you," says the Lord. Everything is so positive. And it's right, it's good that we get encouraged by things, but we have to remember the responsibility that comes on the other side of how we deal with the Holy Spirit of God. It's essential that we, we reach out to him for the times of refreshing that come from the presence of the Lord. Acts 3:20 it says, but just as we're eager to receive everything good from him, we must be eager to make sure that we don't live in a way that in any way offends him or grieves him or brings him displeasure. We don't want God to withdraw from us. Because the frightening thing is that we can continue in all that we do. You know, the way that we gather on a Sunday, and the way that we sing, and the way that we interact, and the way that we listen to the Word, we can do all of that without actually having the presence of the Spirit with us. And sometimes we, we might not even be aware if he's withdrawn himself. And so we have to be really alert and to wait on the Lord as the Word says. Now, what do you think of when it, when we talk about waiting on God? Sometimes it can be a quite a passive approach, and we sit back and we fold our arms, we say, "Well, I'm waiting for you, Lord. Waiting here. Waiting here for you. Let's see what you're going to do. Let's see what you've got." You know, and then we, we wait and we think, "Well, where is God? Where has he gone? You know, what, what's happening? Why doesn't there seem to be anything happening?" And we have this sort of passive approach to waiting. But there is another verb to wait: to be a waiter, if you like, like in a restaurant or in a hotel. We begin to see our relationship with God differently. When I was in Nepal, I stayed in a hotel, um, which was actually, it was quite cheap compared to hotels that you can stay in around the world. But what stood out in that place was the attitude and the approach of the people that worked there. Every time I stepped out of my room into the lobby, there was somebody that said, "Are you all right, sir? Can I help you with anything, sir? Is there anything I could do for you?" Any question that I had, they could answer. Apart from, um, why I was having curry for breakfast, they didn't answer that one, but they, they, [laughter] they were really there to serve me. They were like, there was, there was like a real genuine interest in my welfare, what did I want? And they were able to anticipate in advance what I wanted. In Zambia, um, there's a ministry of being an usher. You know, we have welcome people here at the door, and it's all very British, you know, we shake hands, we give a hug, "How are you doing?" whatever, and that's, and that's it, and then we go and we find our seat. But in Zambia, there's a real ushing ministry where people will actually attend to your every need, not just pastors and, and, and bigwigs, but, but everybody. I've been in situations where I've, I've had, I've had no idea that people have been aware, but I've, like I had a headache, and maybe I was showing it, maybe I was like grimacing or whatever, and somebody would turn up with, "Here's the paracetamol for you." And like, you know, there's just that, that awareness and that concern to, to be able to meet the needs that you have. And I think there's something in waiting on God that is that, that is very active, not, not passive, not sitting back with their arms folded waiting for him, but actually thinking, "What does he want from me? How does he want me to live? How does he want me to approach this situation? How does he want me to think here? How does he want me to act? How does he want me, what does he want my attitude to be? Lord, how can I bless you with my attitude, with my approach to life?" Being aware of him, considering what he wants, considering what he needs. Don't ever take him for granted. We're very British, aren't we? Where you think, oh, well, you know, we, we, we step back and we, and we become very, like I said earlier on, we become very passive and very, uh, non, non-engaged. But in actual fact, God wants us engaged with him and to live and to act and to speak and to deal with him and relate to him in a way that, that not only satisfies him so he can tick a box, but actually brings pleasure to him, rather than grief. And it affects the way we seek and respond to him every day. It's what it means to actually love God, to take care of how we live, not because we're afraid of him, not because we're afraid of punishment, but because of how much he's done for us, because of how much he has achieved in our lives. Not taking an attitude that says, "Well, I wonder how much I can get away with." You know, I think, um, it's uh, it's interesting, I'm not, not getting party political, but you know, it's interesting seeing the government sort of jumping through hoops saying, "How can we put up taxes without putting up taxes?" And, you know, "How can we, how can we say we're not going to put up income tax, but really we're going to put it up, you know, here?" And it's like, and then if we, if we spin it this way, everybody will believe us. And it's like, and it's that we can be like that with God. "How can we, how can we just get away with stuff? How can we, how can we, we, we live how we want to do, but still do it in a way that appears to be pleasing God?" Yeah, not "how can I get away with it?" but "how can I please him?" We have the opportunity to make God smile. We have the opportunity to bring pleasure to the heart of God. We talk about Christianity is not being a religion, but it's a relationship with God. A relationship is about interaction. A relationship is about bringing pleasure. A relationship is about smiling. A relationship is about laughing. A relationship is about interacting and talking and communicating and all of that. How much of that is a feature and a hallmark of our relationship with God, and how much of it is just going through the motions? And it's that relationship that brings pleasure to the heart of God, and it's that absence of that relationship that brings him grief. Because the reason that he did what he did, when you think of what Jesus went through, and how he suffered, and how he died, the reason that he went to that extent was because he loves us, and because he wants a relationship with us, and because he wants that fellowship with us, and because he wants that interaction, and because he wants to know us, not because he wants us to just sit back and try and keep our nose clean and, and hope to get to heaven at the end of it all. That's, that's a poor reflection of the quality of the relationship that God has called us to. And so the question that we ask when it comes to, uh, not grieving and not quenching the Holy Spirit is, "How can I actually make the most of my privileged relationship with him? How can I make the most of what God has made possible for me in my life?" And if we don't do that, then we can bring grief to the heart of God, and we can bring grief to the Holy Spirit. It's really important that we engage. Like we said before, in so many areas in life, there's no neutral ground. We have to actually ask ourselves, "How do we go as far as we possibly can in that relationship with him?" Because, as I've said before, a Christian life can go on perfectly well in form and function without the Holy Spirit, and without any sense of knowing what it takes to please him. He can withdraw from us and we might not even know. When we take time to ask the question, "Is God here?" You know, that, that picture of God as, as a dove, the Holy Spirit as a dove settling on his people, and how easy it is for a dove to flutter away and for us not to be aware. Last week, I saw a video on YouTube. I don't know if you follow this guy. Well, not follow him because he's not really a very positive person to follow, but there's a guy called Professor Richard Dawkins who's an atheist, who's a, like a really, uh, what's the word, like a militant atheist. He really, his atheism is his evangelism. He really wants to make sure that people don't believe in God. And uh, he had a friend or has a friend who was a colleague of his in his atheism, a lady called Ayaan Hirsi Ali, and she uh, has actually recently become a Christian. [congregation murmurs, someone says "Hallelujah"] And uh, and so the two of them are having a debate and a conversation on YouTube. It's really interesting if you look it up. And uh, and you know, and he was saying, "You know, surely you don't believe in Jesus rose from the dead." And uh, she was saying, "Well, I choose to believe that. Yes, I do believe that." And uh, and he was saying, "You know, the problem with Christianity is..." (He knows everything about everything. He's a professor.) "The problem with Christianity is, it's obsessed with sin." And she said, "Well, you might say that," she said, "but I prefer to see that it's obsessed with love." And as I thought about that, and I listened to, I thought, actually, it's not just like The Beatles, you know, "All you need is love." It's all very, it's all love, love, love, love is all you need. But what she's saying is that, yes, there, there's sin, but Jesus has done away with sin. Jesus has done away with its power, and he's opened the doors of heaven to all who will believe. And the Holy Spirit, who used to be hidden away in the temple behind a big curtain, now lives in the hearts of men and women. And so there's that opportunity that we have. And so when he says it's obsessed with sin, actually, no. Sin was there, sin was the barrier, sin was the, was the issue, sin was the thing that kept us from God, but now sin, the power of sin, is broken. Broken by the cross of Jesus. That's why Jesus, when he hung on the cross, in all that pain and all that agony, the last thing he said was to cry, "It is finished!" It's finished. Sin is finished. So, Christianity is not obsessed with sin. Christianity breaks the power of sin. Christianity opens the door to life. Christianity opens the possibility of life. And sometimes it's not Christianity or or Jesus that's obsessed with sin, it's Christians that are obsessed with sin. We are obsessed with, you know, I'm not saying sin is not important, but sin is dealt with. Sin can be put aside. In the, in the second, the second verse after the one I read, it says, "Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven 1you." What's he saying there? Is get rid of it. Just put it aside. Just don't live in that anymore. Why? Because we have the power to walk away from that because Jesus has declared, "It is finished!" And so there is no obsession with sin. There should be an obsession with love, with life, and with hope. And so the question is not, "Are we good enough for heaven?" I remember somebody, years and years and years ago, in one of the first services I was ever involved in, and one of the preachers was doing this interactive thing, and he was asking people, you know, "Are you, are you confident of your future, of your eternal future?" And one of these chaps called, uh, George, he said, "Well, I, I jolly well hope so." "I hope to, I hope to, I hope that everything will be all right in the end." He said, "You, you've missed it." He was very bold preacher. "You've missed the point. You've missed the point that God has given you that opportunity for life." And the question is, "How are we responding?" Our response to it, this is what gets back to our subject of grieving and quenching the Holy Spirit, our response to his grace, our response to his power, our response to his gospel and the open door that he's given us into his presence is the key to whether we bring pleasure to the heart of God or we bring grief. Our sin is not so much the issue. Grieving and quenching the Spirit is not so much about bad things that we do. We've got this whole list of, like the, gets dangerously close to Father Christmas, doesn't it? And the naughty and nice list. We've got a, a naughty list. "Well, you've got all of this stuff and all of these things against you, and uh, and these things have grieved the Holy Spirit." Well, in actual fact, it's not about the bad things that we do, but much more about the good things that we don't do and the opportunities for life that we don't step into. Because where there is sin, there is a solution. If we sin, we should confess our sin, and he's faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. That's the key. If you sin, confess it. Get rid of it. Put it aside. Put it away. And don't live in that anymore. Jesus said to the woman caught in adultery, "Go and sin no more." That was the, that was the prescription. It wasn't, "Now you need to go through this, and you need to go through these hoops and, and pay for this, pay this penalty," or whatever. He just said, "Go, and sin no more. According to the law, you should have been stoned, but now there's a new covenant in action. Go and sin no more. Be free." And so we confess our sins, knowing he's faithful and just to, to, to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. And so there's everything that can be done about sin. If there's sin in your life today, put it aside. Repent of it. Get it out. Walk away from it. The power is there for you to do that. That's the opportunity that we have. But the harder thing to deal with is our unwillingness to enter into all that God has for us. Remember, somebody bringing a prophetic word saying, God saying, "I can, I can deal with your sin, I have no problem with that. I can deal with that because the, the, the cross is there, but what I can't deal with is your unbelief. What I can't deal with is your unwillingness to trust me. What I can't deal with are the things that are now still in your hands to do. I've dealt with your sin. What about your faith? What about your life?" And it's our response to God that impacts his heart, that brings him pleasure or grief. That when we stand before him, will it be the list that he's got? I saw a funny meme the other day of somebody of the, these people sat looking miserable on the steps and they said, "We're just waiting for Jesus to go through our WhatsApp feed before he lets us in." [laughter] You know, we think, is, is it our WhatsApp feed that's going to condemn us? Is it our, is it our internet search history? Is it whatever? All of those things. All those things, if they are things that are wrong, deal with it. Deal with it by the power of the, of the, of the cross. But it's not primarily those things that God's interested in because he has dealt with sin. He hasn't brought us to a point where we need to bring one sacrifice after another in order to bring ourselves to righteousness. There is one sacrifice that stands for all, for all time, and now the, the new and living way has been opened up into his presence. So that's the, that's the thing. Now the question is, what are we going to do with that? The things we have to take care of. Number one: Faith. Hebrews 11:6 says, "Without faith, it's impossible to please God." Impossible. Think about that. Let that sink in. There is a difference between labeling ourselves as a Christian and living a life of faith. Without faith, it's impossible to please God. You can do all sorts of stuff to try and please God. You can, you can give wonderful offerings, you can pray wonderful prayers, you can, you can, you can help old people across the road. You can do anything, but without faith, it's impossible to please him. I've been amazed recently looking back over life. I don't know if, it's not like life flashing before me, I don't take it too seriously. But, you know, looking back over so many years, looking over the faithfulness of God. And we sing those songs, "All my life, you have been faithful. All my life, you have been so, so good." Used to sing when I was young, when I was very young, a young Christian, they used to sing that Ishmael song, "Father God, I wonder how I managed to exist without the knowledge of your parenthood." And I used to think, I don't know what that means, really. You know, it's like, yeah, because I, because I had no experience. Now, I can say, yeah, I do wonder how I managed to exist without the knowledge of your parenthood and your loving care. But seeing stuff, seeing the faithfulness of God doesn't equal faith. Even when we are faithless, God is faithful. And so sometimes seeing the faithfulness of God over so many years and so many miracles of kindness and love and grace and provision, brings me a little bit of regret because I know that I didn't have anything like the faith that he's worthy of. But he still did it. And I'm still worrying about things now that God proved to me that he could take care of 25 years ago. There are things like the, you know, he feeds the 5,000, and then the next day, they meet another crowd, and they say, "Where are we going to feed, where are we going to get the food to feed these people from?" It's like, it just goes from one thing to another. And I am aware that I, God has been so faithful to me over so many years, and yet some of the basic lessons of faith I still struggle with. And I'm sure you're in the same boat there as I expose myself here and, uh, my lack of faith. Because we struggle with faith. But it's faith that brings pleasure to the heart of God. Without faith, it's impossible to please God. Without faith that says, "Actually, I believe you, God." Not, "I believe you, but I understand the realities," or, "I believe you, God, but, you know, there's this and that problem to take into consideration." "I believe you, Lord. I believe you." Not necessarily for a particular outcome, because that, that sort of pins everything on. But we just believe God. Believe God in what he's able to do. Believe God that he will see us through. Believe God that we will not, we will not crash and burn. Believe God that he will do what he says he will do, and we will accomplish what he says he will accomplish. Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see, and that attitude pleases God. And the opposite grieves him. Unbelief grieves him. When we don't actually trust him, when we don't put out, when we don't try to put our faith and our, our confidence in him, then that grieves his heart and it grieves his Spirit. Secondly: Love. "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:35. "Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." It's so easy to bypass things that are actually so close to the Father's heart, to justify discord, hatred, and division in the name of Jesus. We feel if we're doctrinally correct, nothing else matters, does it? If we've, if we've got the absolute truth, then everybody else can just do one! Because we are God's soldiers, and we've got his, we've got his truth. And it doesn't really, and yet, meanwhile, God is saying, "Love one another." It's more important to love one another than to win an argument. That's really tough, because we love to win arguments. Believing we are God's favored ones. Everybody else is numpties, but we are God's favored ones. Just like his disciples. You know, these people, they're all pre- He said, "Well, if they're not, if they're not against us, then they're for us." Fight for love, fight for unity, value one another even more than we value ourselves. And you know what? That brings pleasure to the heart of God. Where there is unity, God commands a blessing. Where there is disunity, the opposite must be true. It grieves the heart of God. It pains his heart. He suffers with it because when his people are divided, when his people don't love one another, when his people don't care for one another, when his people don't value one another, when they don't see that he loves each and every one, the person that you are at odds with, he loves as much as he loves you, because he made, he made them in his image as much as he made you in his image. Love brings pleasure to the heart of God, and division and disunity grieves the Holy Spirit. Obedience. In 1 Samuel, King Saul was given the task of completely destroying the Amalekites. This is where our sort of ancient biblical history and modern day sort of cross over, and we think, "Oh, these, all these, uh, you know, battles and fights are fairly gruesome." But King Saul was given the task of completely destroying the Amalekites. He was told to destroy them and everything that they owned. All the cattle, the sheep, everything had to be gone. And so he said, "I'll do it," and he went. Except, they, he kept the best sheep, and he kept the best goats, and he kept the best cattle. And the Bible says they only destroyed that which didn't have any value, didn't have any worth. And when the prophet Samuel, who'd been told by the Lord what, what Saul had actually done, went to find him the next day, he was told that Saul was out building a monument to himself because of all that he'd achieved in the name of the Lord. And he'd, he'd destroyed the Amalekites. So he built this monument. And when Samuel turned up to challenge him, Saul had no idea that he, what was about to happen. And he went out, he said, "The Lord bless you, Samuel. We've carried out everything. We've done everything that the Lord commanded us to do. I've carried out the Lord's command." And then there's a some of the most devastating words in the Bible, I find it really challenging and convicting. Samuel said to him, "Then what is this bleating of sheep that I hear?" And Saul says, "Oh, oh, yeah, yeah. Well, we did keep the best of the animals, but we're going to offer them to the Lord as a sacrifice. Don't worry, everything's good." He's made up his own theology. Where God said, "Destroy everything, get rid of everything, I don't want everything, be obedient to me." He said, "Actually, well, I know what we'll do. We'll take some of them and we'll make you an offering. You'll like that." And then Samuel delivered this devastating judgment. He said to him, "To obey is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than the fat of rams. Because you have rejected the command of the Lord, he has rejected you as king." So self-confidence in ourselves is not enough. We have to be attentive to exactly what God wants of us if we're going to avoid grieving him. Saul was rejected as king because he didn't have an interest in being obedient to the heart of God. He only had an interest in doing his thing. And yet he dressed it all up. "We're going to make sacrifices. We've done the, we've done everything the Lord said." And we might have thought, "Yeah, good man." But the Holy Spirit was not pleased. Thankfulness. "Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:18. "And he who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me." Psalm 50:23. Some of them, these things are so simple, and yet so hard. A grateful heart pleases God. An ungrateful heart grieves the heart of God. Gratitude and compassion bring him pleasure. It's so easy to accept the grace of God and never think to say, "Thank you." Like the ten lepers that were all healed and only one of them went back to say, "Thank you." There is power in gratitude. Not only power in gratitude, but it, it opens the door to our relationship with God. That's the thing that makes him smile. That's the, that's the thing that he loves when we actually look at our lives, and instead of complaining, instead of moaning on about it, we actually say, "Actually, Lord, I thank you. I thank you for what the life you've given me. I thank you for the breath that I take. I thank you for the way that you've cared for me. I thank you, Lord, and I praise you." And that brings him pleasure. Perseverance in faith. "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest." Galatians 6:9. "Well done, good and faithful servant." Matthew 25:21. Much of our blessing in the future tracks back to our attitude here today, in what we and how we look at things. When God says, "Well done, good and faithful servant," at the end of all things, it is at the end of all things. It's after we've gone through everything. It's not that first time we run up to the front of the church with our arms in the air and tears running down our face, and we say, "I love you, Jesus," and he says, "Well done." He says, "Well done," after you've been through all the ups and downs, all the challenges, all the issues, all the stress, all the things that would try and attack your faith and undermine your faith, all the things that you've had to fight through and battle through. At the end of all that comes the "Well done, good and faithful servant." How are we going to respond? Jesus told Peter about all that he was going to suffer, and how he was going to die, and he was, uh, he didn't say he would save him from it. But one thing he said is, "I have prayed for you, Peter, that your faith won't fail." Faith is the one commodity we can take with us from this life. Nothing else will make that journey with us. "I have prayed for you, Peter, that your faith won't fail." What a prayer, what a powerful prayer for Jesus to, to be by the side of the Father saying, "I pray for Peter. I pray for MCF. I pray for those people that their faith will not fail." That we, that through our perseverance in faith, we will bring pleasure to the heart of God. One of the things that afflicts the church the world over, and we've come across it in Zambia, is a sort of a twisted sort of prosperity gospel. We know God wants to bless his people, but there's this sort of prosperity that says, you know, "If you've got, if you've got a car, if you've got a big house, if you eat meat every day, you know, you are truly blessed of God." And uh, and I remember one of the bold preachers there saying, you know, "When, when Jesus is praying for us, he's praying that our faith won't fail. He's not praying for a new Mercedes." He's not praying that you'll get everything that you've ever dreamed of. He's not Father Christmas, as I said earlier on. But he is praying that through it all, through everything that you walk through, your faith will not fail. 1 Peter 1:6-7: "So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold. Though your faith is far more precious than mere gold, so when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to2 the world." And so this life of bringing pleasure to the heart of God, not grieving, not, not, not stressing the Spirit, if you like, is, is all about how we live, about what we do with the wonderful gift that's been given to us, the opportunity that we have, the possibility to grow in faith, the possibility to be thankful, the possibility to persevere, the possibility to love one another against all the odds. All of those things are the things that when God looks on his people, they cause him to smile. Not just that people have ticked and said, "Yes, I believe in Jesus, so I'm going, I've got my ticket to heaven," but it's about how we live our life in the here and now and in the in-between. And so the question is, where do we stand today? Are we resting on the fact that we wear a Christian badge, or are we active in seeking a life that pleases God?

Send us a textIn today's episode we are featuring some Unexpected Books for the Holiday Season.  We have Christmas capers, ghost stories, and lots more...jingle, jingle!Featured Books:The Usual Santas: A Collection of SOHO Crime Christmas Capers by 18 SOHO crime authors (LH)Hercule Poirot's Christmas by Agatha Christie (LH)The Valancourt Book of Victorian Christmas Ghost Stories: Volume 3 (LH)Letters from Father Christmas by J.R.R. Tolkien (LH) A Redbird Christmas by Fannie Flagg (LP)The Deal of a Lifetime by Fredrik Backman (LP)The Santa Trial by Tess Thompson (LP)The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson (LP)The Dogs of Venice by Steven Rowley (LP)Books Mentioned in This Episode:Fried Green Tomatoes by Fanny FlaggThe Hobbit by J.R.R. TolkienLord of the Rings by J.R.R. TolkienBeartown by Fredrik BackmanMy Friends by Fredrik BackmanMan Called Ove by Fredrik BackmanAdditional Books That Go Along with Our Stack:One Day in December by Josie SilverSmall Things Like These by Claire KeeganLet It Glow by Marissa Meyer and Joanne LevyWays to contact us:Join us on Patreon for extra content: https://www.patreon.com/c/BookBumblePodcastFollow us on Instagram - @thebookbumbleFacebook:  Book BumbleOur website:  https://thebookbumble.buzzsprout.comEmail:  bookbumblepodcast@gmail.comSupport the showWe would love to have you rate and review us, subscribe, follow us on Insta, and join our Team Patreon! It won't be the same without you!

Evie Squires is the Founder of 'Mother of All Jobs'. She works with a wide range of clients, from purpose-driven start-ups to household names, connecting them with brilliant parents who are looking for flexible and fulfilling careers.Alongside Evie's agency and job board, she has built a community and created resources that empower parents to navigate work and family life with confidence. As a mum of two toddlers, Evie is passionate about reshaping the world of work so that parenthood is seen as a strength, not a setback. WARNING: From 33 minutes and 20 seconds to 33 minutes and 55 seconds I speak about Father Christmas, so beware of listening around little ones.In this episode we speak about:a bit about Evie and the work she does Evie's hobbies and her love of sportredundancy in early parenthood — and how common it isthe juggles of work and parenting and the WHY behind Evie's workthe significance of our EMOTIONAL CV* (see below)the invisible load we can hold as Mums and why flexible working — and more trusting of employees — can make such a differenceDads, paternity leave and the culture in some workplacesthe lack of integrity we can experience when applying for work — and a shocking reply I had, saying I was too old for the role (ha, bullet dodged!)Evie's free templates and jobs board (see links below)Themes: flexible working, redundancy, parenting, matrescence, recruitmentWe mention *Shahroo Izadi and Alex Lloyd Hunter, co-founder of The Dad Shift.To learn more about Evie see here on Instagram. And to find her website, click here.At the end, I read a poem by Karen McMillan.Did you enjoy this episode? If so, I would really appreciate it if you could please leave a review on the platform that you listen. For more insights and to contact me you can find me on Instagram, and/or on my website: www.lucywyldecoaching.com.

In this episode I speak to the inimitable Laura Belbin, better known as Knee Deep in Life on Instagram. Laura is an author, podcaster, and standup comedian who has used comedy to find light in the darkest of times. This conversation covers it all - from her early career experiences, her journey through therapy, dealing with childhood trauma, and how she discovered her true calling in comedy and completely reimagined and restarted her life. Laura shares the impact of her viral moments online, the challenges of being an influencer, and how she balances humor with raw honesty. This is an insightful and heartfelt story, full of self-reflection and moments of humour, moments of clarity, and moments of total openness. A must listen.  Find Laura on Instagram here  Join me on Instagram here  -------------- This episode is supported by April & White, a brand built on a passion to fuel the imagination of children everywhere, not least with their beautiful bespoke letters from Father Christmas for your little ones.  Sonia the founder approaches every product with an eye for beauty and detail to really keep the magic alive for your little believers, applying calligraphy by hand so that every letter and envelope is unique, personalised, and magical. Alongside her letters from Santa Sonia has a glorious selection of stocking fillers to make your kids' Christmas even more special, from beautifully boxed reindeer food to North Pole chocolate pennies and reindeer bells and even a magical memory journal to capture the sparkle and wonder of their Christmas. Order your letters from father Christmas by 5th December to be sure to receive them in time for the big day, and check out aprilandwhite.co.uk to shop now. Magic awaits. --------- EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS  01:24 Meet Laura Belbin: Knee Deep in Life 02:50 Laura's Early Life and Career Aspirations 04:34 Navigating Adulthood and Early Career 14:42 The Birth of Knee Deep in Life 18:35 Going Viral and Its Aftermath 19:30 Comedy as a Coping Mechanism 20:36 Therapy and Self-Discovery 38:39 Challenges of Content Creation 44:09 Authenticity and Online Presence 45:30 Handling Online Criticism 47:12 Personal Growth and Boundaries 49:58 Parenting and Personal Struggles 54:06 The Journey of Self-Discovery 58:58 Motherhood and Real-Life Challenges 01:03:21 The Importance of Compassion 01:06:48 Embracing Imperfection 01:23:26 Final Thoughts and Future Plans

In this episode I speak to Dani Pearce, founder of the globally successful footwear brand Merry People. We start with Dani's early memories of farm life in Australia, her journey through various jobs, and the idea she had that led to her launching her brand. Dani shares how she navigated her company's growth, including securing her first factory in China, selling at farmer's markets, and transitioning to e-commerce. We also delve deep into her personal life, discussing the impact of motherhood on her career, her husband becoming the primary caregiver for their kids, and the importance of maintaining kindness and authenticity as a leader. Tune in for a candid conversation about resilience, growth, and staying true to oneself in business. Find Merry People online here  Find Merry People on Instagram here  Join the conversation with me on Instagram here  ----------- This episode is supported by April & White, a brand built on a passion to fuel the imagination of children everywhere, not least with their beautiful bespoke letters from Father Christmas for your little ones. Sonia the founder approaches every product with an eye for beauty and detail to really keep the magic alive for your little believers, applying calligraphy by hand so that every letter and envelope is unique, personalised, and magical. Alongside her letters from Santa Sonia has a glorious selection of stocking fillers to make your kids' Christmas even more special, from beautifully boxed reindeer food to North Pole chocolate pennies and reindeer bells and even a magical memory journal to capture the sparkle and wonder of their Christmas. Order your letters from father Christmas by 5th December to be sure to receive them in time for the big day, and check out aprilandwhite.co.uk to shop now. Magic awaits.  --------- Episode Highlights 01:20 Meet Dani Pearce: Founder of Merry People 02:25 Danny's Early Life and Career Beginnings 09:47 The Birth of Merry People 28:32 Challenges and Early Struggles 32:27 Balancing Side Jobs and Business Growth 35:37 Yearly Growth and Digital Shift 37:30 Going Global: US and UK Expansion 43:43 Balancing Motherhood and Business 54:45 Future Plans and Retail Expansion 58:17 Leadership and Personal Growth 01:02:22 Final Thoughts and Advice  

We simply cannot not discuss the 88 million euro jewellery heist at France's most famous museum The Louvre in this week's episode. How could it happen? Some blame lax security, others blame funding cuts, some blame Macron of course, whilst our politics expert recons France just has too much treasure to look after it all. And France's government is hanging by a thread. Can it get a vital budget through parliament before Father Christmas comes?And we'll find out France's new civics test for residency and citizenship applicants is all about and find out about France's cycling boom and why there's a new move to keep bikes off the pavements.And we'll explore how to make the best impression if you're invited into a French home.Host Ben McPartland is joined by The Local France's Emma Pearson, Gen Mansfield and John Lichfield.READ MORE: OPINION: Louvre jewel theft shows the France is simply too richFrench government confirms civics and language test exemptions for over 65s Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Merry Christmas you beautiful people!We begin the show by looking at a Christmas Not So Classic. This one is from one of the biggest bands of all time, U2. They recorded a version of the British classic I Believe In Father Christmas, and it's okay.Here's a link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qD6QSJsASVMThen Bob Baker is looking for Christmas in Where Are You Christmas, and he finds it at Mount Rushmore (with thanks to Benji Pearson).Next up it's the quiz, and we have a little contoversy about some of my pronunciations in the last episode.Halloween is on the horizon and in previous years listener Benji Pearson has dressed as ghosts from A Christmas Carol. This year he's thinking of being the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come and he asks for my advice, of which I give him very little.Then Bob is back with Do You Hear What I Hear and he's looking at two weeks, or as us Brits would say 'A fortnight'.Check out Bob's podcast here:  https://4fpodcast.buzzsprout.com/This episode's version of A Christmas Carol is an episode of the western TV show Cimarron City. It's an interesting one, You can watch it here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soC3lLkqiiAGet in touch:Email: totalchristmas@gmail.comWeb: totalchristmaspodcast.comMerry Christmas!

This week, we lace up for a deep dive into one of Weird Al's most criminally underappreciated originals: “Don't Wear Those Shoes.” And joining us is none other than Zeb — yes, that Zeb. Everybody knows Zeb.We're talking petty breakups, questionable footwear, and how this little synthpop gem might just be riff-cousins with The Kinks' “Father Christmas.” (Seriously. The guitar hooks are suspiciously similar. We've got tabs. We've got takes.)Grab a beer, kick off those ugly shoes, and settle in for a conversation that's equal parts music geekery, Weird Al love, and friendly chaos. Because life's too short for bad footwear… and bad beer.Beer'd Al is still a member of the OddPods Media Network.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/beer-d-al-podcast--5439475/support.

It's here! The final day of Christmas in July 2025 and we're ending on the final movie of our trilogy. Let's hear those wedding bells.   Follow us on Twitter (or X), Instagram, BlueSky and Facebook @1kissmeans4ever. Email us at onekissmeansforever@gmail.com. Listen to Flint Pastures on Apple Music. Make sure to rate and review us! And support us on Ko-fi https://ko-fi.com/onekissmeansforevergmailcom0344

Merry Christmas you beautiful people!We start the show with this episode's version of A Christmas Carol. It's a made for TV movie starring Tom Arnold and it's an 'interesting' twist on the story. It's called Chasing Christmas and you can watch it here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yv7nL5nb2E0Next up our resident barman Bob Baker looks at how us Brits say Aeroplane, or Airplane, in Do You Hear What I Hear.Then I share a Christmas memory, about when my daughter Robin first understood about Father Christmas.After the Joke, Bob returns with Where Are You Christmas? and this time Christmas is in Las Vegas.Check out Bob's podcast here:  https://4fpodcast.buzzsprout.com/Then it's The Christmas Quiz and I scored 7, not my best, but let me know how you got on.Get in touch:Email: totalchristmas@gmail.comWeb: totalchristmaspodcast.comMerry Christmas!

We're back and it's time for part 2! Let's get engaged!   Follow us on Twitter (or X), Instagram, BlueSky and Facebook @1kissmeans4ever. Email us at onekissmeansforever@gmail.com. Listen to Flint Pastures on Apple Music. Make sure to rate and review us! And support us on Ko-fi https://ko-fi.com/onekissmeansforevergmailcom0344

It was "Christmas in June" at the little home on the prairie. Family drove from various areas of America to celebrate together, a few weeks ago. The temperature was in the 70s. Instead of snowflakes, an occasional mosquito buzzed by and a few June bugs. No snow fell, but rain dashed on the tent where children played and slept nearby. Father Christmas, or Santa Claus, did not even arrive in a boat or a sleigh. However, everyone enjoyed the festive Christmas foods and picnic style, since family is widely scattered and work schedules prevent getting together on December 25. We gather together during good old summertime.Family traditions and celebrations for holidays and every day are very important. It is a reminder of the good old days when extended families lived in close proximity and traditions were passed from generation to generation. Family means a sense of belonging and people you can count on to share their time and values and care about strengthening family ties. Yes, it was Christmas in June and not Christmas in July, as it had been in former years. Yet, there were the fireworks, the creative activities, the decorations and snow boots, the mama cat and her kittens, including little snowflake, were the joy of the grandchildren at play. The lighted Christmas tree at the top of the stairs has gifts under its branches all year long. What fun to open the surprise gifts and negotiate with one another. Laughter filled the Christmas tea room. There is always that solemn moment when we know there will be goodbyes in the morning, when family returns to their homes. We closed with singing Silent Night in harmony while Auntie Ruth gracefully used her hands as we tried to read the words in the sign language. And oh yes, Trina, we did not forget the wise men and the star as its light shone so bright in the dark night that lighted star reminded us all that wise men and women still seek Him. The reason for all seasons. "A house built with love becomes home. A house is built by human hands, a house is made of bricks, a home is built by human hearts. A home is made of love. Having some place to go is home. Having someone to love is family. Having both is a blessing. Happy is a home that is filled with love." Celebrate family all year long! Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea written by Dr. Luetta G. WernerPublished in the Marion Record July 9th, 1998Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

What's up, dudes? 'Twas the night before Half-Christmas, when all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there! Yes, he's the magical gift bringer that makes  children all over the world happy. Jeff Loftin from Lost Christmas is with me to talk all about the International Santa Claus Collection!International Resources, LLC was established 1991 in Northbrook, IL. The company designs, contract manufactures, markets, and sells collectibles primarily during the Christmas season, under the trademarked names of “Liberty Falls” and “International Santas.” The figurines are hand painted resin and reflect gift bringers from traditions all over the world.In 1822, from the talented mind of Prof. Clement Clark Moore, came one of the most popular poems ever created, “A Visit from Saint Nicholas”. And thus the legend of St. Nicholas, spanning more than 1,700 years through every country in Europe, continued to flourish in the United States. Starting with Nicholas, the Turkish patron saint of children, who gave away bags of gold coins stuffed into stockings and shoes, through Russia, Holland and into England, Nicholas has evolved from many different appearances and an equally large number of names.Gwiazdor and Ded Moroz? Check. Belsnickle and Father Christmas? Got ‘em. Pancho Navidad? I don't remember him from my time in South Texas! So hop on over to Dillard's, get on the nice list, and pick up the International Santas Claus Collection! Oh, and listen to this episode! Ho, ho, ho!Lost Christmas PodcastFB: @LostChristmasPodcastTwitter: @LostChristmasP1IG: @lostchristmaspodcastGive us a buzz! Send a text, dudes!Check us out on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Totally Rad Christmas Mall & Arcade, Teepublic.com, or TotallyRadChristmas.com! Later, dudes!

"Reunited and it feels so good!"  That's right, all three elves are back this week after most of the month of June spent apart! To celebrate the occasion, they sit down, travel to Boston, and discuss the "Frasier" revival's second Christmas episode (and, as it turns out, series finale!): Season 2, Episode 10's: "Father Christmas"! We can guarantee this is one fun, laugh-filled discussion because even a lesser episode of "Frasier" is still better than a lot of content out there!  So settle back, relax, enjoy, and get excited because this week marks the officially halfway point to Christmas 2025!  As always, thanks for your love and support, y'all!

What's up, dudes? Clue is one my family's favorite board games. I'm joined by my brother Danny to talk about the British game show version of it. Yes, there was an extended Christmas special and everything! We're talking Cluedo “Christmas Past, Christmas Present!”It's Christmas Day at Arlington Grange, and the lady of the manor, Mrs. Peacock, has invited a few close friends to share the turkey dinner.  Richard Forrest, former owner of the estate, has come calling dressed as Father Christmas and he brought his chauffeur Ken. His father was a judge, and all of the suspects appeared before him in court at one time or other. He also kept diaries with his own thoughts of who was guilty.Just like the movie, the guest brings gifts for each suspect, distributing deadly weapons. Each weapon insinuates their guilt in a court case. During a Christmas scavenger hunt quiz game, Ken the chauffeur is found dead! He was the real Forrest and wanted to blackmail Peacock so she would sell him back the manor. Consequently, Miss Scarlett, who just discovered her liver Col. Mustard was having an affair with her stepmother Peacock, realized the scheme. She killed the real Forrest with the weapon Peacock was given to remove the blackmailer and to throw suspicion onto her.Murder? Check. Christmas quiz? Got it. Father Christmas robes? Only if the murder victim can wear it! So grab your knife, hunt for clues, and play along to this episode on Cluedo “Christmas Past, Christmas Present!”Give us a buzz! Send a text, dudes!Check us out on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Totally Rad Christmas Mall & Arcade, Teepublic.com, or TotallyRadChristmas.com! Later, dudes!

John Bennett is joined by Guillem Balague, Julien Laurens and Mina Rzouki. After another memorable week in the Champions League, the team unpick all the big talking points. Do Barcelona need to tweak their style of play? And with a Classico on Sunday, could their season quickly unravel after the defeat in Milan? The team discuss Yann Sommer and Francesco Acerbi after Inter Milan reached their second final in three years – and cast an early eye ahead to the final after PSG knocked out Arsenal. Julien reveals he is already turning into Father Christmas as requests for tickets come his way – but is starting to feel nervous about the big match in Munich. With Paris FC winning promotion to Ligue 1, Julien explains why it will be a friendly – and very, very local - derby when they play PSG next season, and Mina discusses the super tight race for a Champions League spot in Italy. TIMECODES….. 0 mins: Intro, with John Bennett back in the chair after the show had no presenter last week. 2 mins: The team discuss Inter v Barca – a Champions League classic. But did Barca mess it up? 8 mins: Could Barcelona's season start to unravel after their defeat in Italy? 12 mins: Inter's collective effort and the brilliance of keeper Yann Sommer. 16 mins: The great story of Inter goalscorer Francesco Acerbi. 22 mins: The brilliance of PSG – and why they deserve to be in the final – despite what Mikel Arteta said. 26 mins: The team look ahead to the final in Munich on 29 May. 31 mins: Paris FC – promotion to the top flight and a friendly derby. 35 min: The race for Champions League places in Serie A.Thursday 8th May EUROPA LEAGUE: Bodo Glimt v Spurs – LIVE ON 5 LIVE - Alistair Bruce-Ball and Paul Robinson. EUROPA LEAGUE: Manchester United v Athletic Club - LIVE ON SPORTS EXTRA - Ian Dennis and Izzy Christiansen. Saturday 10th May WOMENS SUPER LEAGUE: Chelsea v Liverpool 1230 KO – LIVE ON SPORTS EXTRA - Eilidh Barbour and Tanya Oxtoby PREMIER LEAGUE: Southampton v Manchester City 1500 KO - LIVE ON 5 LIVE - Ian Dennis and Rob Green. PREMIER LEAGUE: Bournemouth v Aston Villa 1730 KO - LIVE ON 5 LIVE - Alistair Bruce-Ball and Francis Benali. Sunday 11th May PREMIER LEAGUE: Nottingham Forest v Leicester 1415 KO - LIVE ON 5 LIVE - Vicki Sparks and Clinton Morrison. PREMIER LEAGUE: Manchester United v West Ham 1415 KO – LIVE ON SPORTS EXTRA -Chris Coles and Michael Brown PREMIER LEAGUE: Spurs v Crystal Palace 1415 KO – LIVE ON BBC SPORT WEBSITE - Paul Scott and Daniel Gabbidon PREMIER LEAGUE: Liverpool v Arsenal 1630 KO - LIVE ON 5 LIVE - John Murray and Stephen Warnock.

What's up, dudes? It's a lost episode! It was originally recorded in 2024, but delayed due to lost and inferior audio. Yes, Ron and Jay from the Film Strip podcast are with me to dig into the low budget 1984 Santa slasher "Don't Open Till Christmas!"It's Christmas in London, and Scotland Yard is after a mysterious slayer of Santas. Somebody's killing people dressed like Santa Claus, and when Kate Brioski's father is murdered she heads to the police. Subsequently, Chief Inspector Harris and Detective Sergeant Powell investigate everyone from Kate's boyfriend to the enigmatic Giles. Meanwhile, Santas are burned roasting chestnuts, stabbed in the London Dungeon, and castrated. As the bodies pile up, it's revealed that Giles is not actually a reporter, but the traumatized brother of Harris. As a child, he witnessed the infidelity of his Father Christmas-clad father and the death of his mother. Now hating Christmas, he sought revenge. Spoilers: he eventually dies.Santa perverts? Check. ridiculous medieval weapon kills? Got 'em. Eyes that seem to smile behind a mask? Only from the killer! So grab your knife, leave your Santa suit behind, and defend yourself from this episode on "Don't Open Till Christmas!"Film Strip PodcastFB: @filmstrippodIG: @filmstrippodTwitter: @FilmStripPodGive us a buzz! Send a text, dudes!Check us out on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Totally Rad Christmas Mall & Arcade, Teepublic.com, or TotallyRadChristmas.com! Later, dudes!

On this episode of Submarine and A Roach, Nigeria's funniest podcast and Nigeria's #1 comedy podcast, hosts Tmt and Koj are joined by the multifaceted Oyinkan Dada for a lively conversation that traverses fitness, content creation, art, and cultural perceptions. The trio delves into the evolution of influencer culture on Instagram in 2025, highlighting the shift from consumerism to authentic storytelling. Oyinkan shares how her passion for art was ignited by her interest in African and Black history, leading to a discussion on the importance of genuine narratives in connecting with audiences.​Tmt poses a thought-provoking question about the imagery of God, sparking a conversation on cultural conditioning and personal beliefs. In celebration of Women's Month and International Women's Day, the hosts spotlight funny Nigerian women, acknowledging their contributions to the HaHa's on Obasanjo's internet. The episode concludes with an exploration of the enigmatic Ghanaian artist Okuntakinte, debating whether his controversial actions are a scam or a social experiment.​Tune in for an episode filled with insightful discussions, humor, and cultural reflections, available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and other streaming platforms.

Hello you beautiful people!We start the episode with a version of A Christmas Carol. This one is a Christmas special of the long running Canadian kids show The Buck Shot Show and it's called Buckanezer Scrooge.  It's an interesting one.Watch it here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1SgFBXrrVcThen Bob Baker is here with Do You Hear What I Hear. Do you know the difference between an Estate and a Station Wagon? You're about to find out.Check out Bob's pod, Festive Foreign Film Fans, here:https://4fpodcast.buzzsprout.com/After the joke it's the Quiz. I scored 7, see if you can beat that.Then Bob is back with Where Are You Christmas and it's another place we should all visit.This episode's Christmas Not So Classic is called Father Christmas by The Kinks. It never hit the charts, but it still pops up in the odd film every now and then.Have a look:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPPCPqDINEkThis episode's recommendation is Elimation, a podcast where a dad and his two grown sons discuss what films, songs and sitcoms are the best. I've been enjoying it.Check it out here:https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/elimination/id1523720572Get in touch.Email: totalchristmas@gmail.comWebsite: totalchristmaspodcast.comMerry Christmas!

This week's scripture: Psalm 19 1 Corinthians 12Like Narnia and the items Father Christmas gives to the children, God gives us gifts for the sake of others. 

Il Duce uses propaganda to become a folk hero - part saint, part Father Christmas. He bans journalists from mentioning his birthday or the fact he's a grandfather - to promote an image of eternal youth. Ernest Hemingway arrives in Switzerland to interview the Italian strongman, and sees right through him. Italy launches a genocidal campaign in Libya and gets away with it. And as the World Cup comes to the Fatherland, Benito Mussolini prepares to finally meet one Adolf Hitler… A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. Many thanks to Giulia Albanese, Joshua Arthurs, John Foot, Nicholas O'Shaughnessy, Lisa Pine, Helen Roche. This is Part 4 of 7. Get every episode of Real Dictators a week early with Noiser+. You'll also get ad-free listening, bonus material and early access to shows across the Noiser network. Click the Noiser+ banner to get started. Or, if you're on Spotify or Android, go to noiser.com/subscriptions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kiera invites listeners to consider what gift(s) they provide others — whether it's patients or team members, or in a more personal capacity. Episode resources: Subscribe to The Dental A-Team podcast Join Dental A-Team Consulting Leave us a review Transcript: Kiera Dent (00:01.422) Hello, Dental A Team listeners. This is Kiera and Merry Christmas. If you don't celebrate, well, happy December 25th. If you do celebrate, Merry Christmas. I love the holidays. I truly do. And this year, my husband and are celebrating with his family, which is so fun because we got married 13 years ago and I'm the second oldest of seven. And so my siblings were very young. I have one sister and she was born...   when I was 12 and another sister born when I was 15. so I really, when we got married, my husband's the youngest of five and I just really, really, really, really wanted to spend holidays with my siblings because they were so young when I got married. And so for the last 13 years, we have been with my parents and my family except for one year.   which was when my brother got married and we were with Jason's parents. And so super fun to be celebrating with his family today. I just hope you guys are with something, someone doing something fun, whether it's family or it's friends or it's by yourself, but that you are just taking this time to celebrate. I think holidays are especially beautiful. And in Christmas, I think Christmas is just a magical holiday in the sense that I feel like.   We give gifts to each other and we give of ourselves and also Christmas is like right before the end of the year and so you might be headed back to the practice to produce or you might be just completely done, but wherever you are today Merry Christmas, and I hope you have just fallen in love with two things number one is Being in the spirit of giving I think that that's something that's so important and parent mount for us that we are truly   giving. I think I've shared this on the podcast before, so some of you may have heard this. For those of you that are new, welcome. I went to a conference and our group's name was Live to Give. And I remember hearing the thing that the secret to living is giving. And so in this holiday season, I know it can feel bustly, I know it can feel crazy, but I think when we take a step back and we look at what is ultimately the season, it's the time where we all give gifts to people. give holiday parties and we give gifts to our team, we give gifts to each other.   Kiera Dent (02:15.23) We're looking for those perfect gifts, but the reality is, what is our gift that we're giving of ourselves day in and day out to our team and to our patients and to our communities and also to ourselves? And so maybe today you take some time to think about what is that gift? What is my gift that I bring to this world? And I know that that can feel awkward for some people, but I would really hope that I can encourage you to love yourself a little bit more. And what is something incredible that you bring to your team?   In some teams, what I have them do is I have everybody draw. Don't worry, they can write words if they desire. But I have them draw who they are and what they bring to the team. And then Brittany Stone, she took it a step further with a team where inside I have them draw. I remember one person drew a visionary. So it's an eye with a cast of a vision. Another person drew Gumby because they're very flexible. But whatever it is, you draw that. And then what we had our teams do is actually, Britt did this.   And she had people actually write what that person brings to the team outside of it. So for example, in a circle, you could put what you bring to the table. And then on the outside of the circle, your team tells you like what you bring to the table and how you benefit and like what your gift is to the team. And it's crazy because inside the circle, we often are so hard on ourselves and don't give ourselves credit of what we bring to the table. I understand that we're trying to be humble most of the time and not egotistical. But then when we have teams do this, how much they actually share of   what everybody's bringing to the table. And it's just such a lovely experience because people are able to see themselves in a different light. And I think that that's actually like, as you're reflecting today, you're spending time, you're opening presents, you're doing whatever. What is maybe the gift that you bring to this world or maybe the gift that you want to bring to this world next year? Maybe you want to bring more kindness. Maybe you want to bring more humility. Maybe you want to bring more patience. Maybe you want to bring more vision. Maybe you want to bring more fun.   Maybe you want to bring more energy. Maybe you want to bring more balance. Maybe you want to bring more gentleness. Maybe you want to bring more positivity. Whatever it is, what is your gift that you can bring to this world, to your team, to your family, to yourself? And then also, I would ask if you were writing a letter, Dear Santa, what would be something I would ask for three wishes? One, what is the wish that you would have for your team? Two, what is the wish that you would have for your practice?   Kiera Dent (04:37.494) and patience? And three, what is the wish that you want for yourself? I did this in our doctor think tank a little while ago. And it was so interesting. I asked him like, what do you want? What like what would you guys want? And the group was actually very quiet. And I realized we've forgotten to dream. We've forgotten how to ask for what we want. We've forgotten how to to be vocal about those things. And so maybe today, just look at that and see what would be my wish for my team.   And really like be intentional with this. What would be the wish for my practice? And then what's the wish that I have for myself? And then what I would think is how can you make those wishes come true? How can you bring and give gifts of yourself for your team? And that doesn't mean you have to do it. It means you can delegate. means you can use other people. But what would be some fun things for you? And maybe this year you want to give yourself the gift of health. So you're going to prioritize your health. Maybe you're going to give yourself the gift of a stronger relationship and you're going to   be done on every Thursday at five o'clock and go on a date with your spouse or your significant other. Maybe you're going to give yourself the gift of fun and you're going to plan one day a week or a month where it's just a fun day for you. Maybe you're going to give yourself the gift of a new hobby and you're going to go get into pickleball or something. But like really think about what would be a gift that you'd give yourself because I think that so often we're obsessed with giving to other people, which I agree with. And that's secret to life is giving.   but also let's not forget to give ourselves a gift as well. I think the greatest thing I did for myself in 2025 was giving myself the gift of health. I have been on a health journey. Some people look at me and you just might think, like we obviously have our super, like our preconceived notions. And I have had immense pain in my knee and my hip from years and years of traveling. I ran a marathon. I went from zero running in October to running a marathon in December. So I trained for about two and a half months.   I've had severe knee pain since then and then top like tackle that on with all the years of flying that I have of just being crunched up in seats. And I have had pretty severe knee and hip pain. And this year I just decided like, I want to be 99 years old and still active in spry and I'm hoping that my last six months of my life are going to be the ones where I phase out and maybe that's when my health deteriorates. But if that's what I want my vision to be, thank you to the book of die with zero, it gave me that perspective.   Kiera Dent (07:01.456) but I've thought about that so many times of, if that's what I want to do, what do I need to do today to be able to have that vision? And maybe when you're thinking about the gift, you want to give yourself paint the vision of who you are at 99 years old. And what does that life look like? Maybe that will also help you figure out what to give your team, what to give your practice and what to give yourself. Because this year in 2024, I committed and I hired a personal trainer and we went to the gym and it sounds so silly, but for me to be able to squat and not have knee pain.   which I have not been able to do squats, any type of lunges, squats, nothing for seven years. Like literally my quads, my hams, my calves were all atrophying. To be able to this year, me, my coaches, my PT, I have an incredible group of people around me. We were all celebrating at the fact that I can do a squat with no knee pain. And that has been seven years in the making. It was an added benefit because I was able to wake surf a lot better this summer too.   But just to feel strong and to feel like I'm taking care of my body so I can be this 99 year old woman who's not frail and feeble but is strong and has strong muscles. I have to do things daily now to be able to do that. I worked on my macros. I worked on protein intake. I worked on eating healthier. I worked on figuring out what the meals were. That was freaking hard and I hated every second of it. But to see how much healthier I am today versus where I was a year ago.   is a gift that I could never get back. I can't go back in time and live my life differently, but I can move forward and we can give ourselves those gifts now. So maybe even today, think about who do you want to be when you're 99 years old? Going into that hundred, I hope I live to like, I don't know, 103 sounds like a fun time. I love the number three, but just thinking about that, what can you do today? What are the gifts that we could give to other people? What are the gifts that we can give of ourselves? What are the gifts that we could give to ourselves?   as we're spending this time, I really love on Christmas to reflect, reflect on the things that have been amazing, reflect on my amazing, just life that I have to be in this season. It's crazy, but to just see the love that's around me, to see the incredible people around me, to see the family, the friends. And I know sometimes this time of year can be hard. I used to actually hate Christmas. My brother came home and I hated Christmas. I literally would not listen to anything Christmas.   Kiera Dent (09:24.626) went into it and I would just not participate in anything and my heart was so sad and I just felt cold. I felt closed off and what changed for me was I actually worked for a company called the United Way and we did sub for Santa and I remember seeing the spirit of Christmas come to fruition. I remember seeing so many people give of themselves to make magic happen for other people and I realized   That's what society is. That's what our communities are. We need to be more united rather than divided. We need to see how we can give hand ups, not hand outs. We need to see how we can just love people on a deeper level. And it was such like my heart went from ice cold to soft as putty the year that I was, I called myself Mrs. Claus. And I remember just seeing the magic of humanity. And so how can we within our practices, within our teams, within our communities,   give that magic of humanity to more people, give that spirit of love and service and gratitude because we don't realize our ripple effect. One person was able to serve so many different families and then those families were able to go on and perpetually serve other people. And I just think that the world needs more kindness and more care, that we need to give more kindness and more care to ourselves, that we need to see the beauty around us rather than all the negativity around us, that we can choose.   what pair of sunglasses, AKA filtered we put on to view this life. And I would hope that one, you'd give yourself a gift this year of something that's gonna help you when you're 99 or 100 to have the best life today for those future years. I would also ask you to give a gift to your team of this next year. What are you gonna give your team? And then are you gonna give your practice and your patients? And then also let's look to see how can we have more kindness, more love, more generosity as we go into 2025. You guys, this is such a magical time of year. feels like.   the magical clock, like Father Christmas or whatever it is, the magical clock of 2024 is ticking down. And how can we maximize and optimize these magical moments through the rest of the year? But also how can we prepare to invite and embrace this incredible 2025 that's about to be upon us? How can we learn from our 2024? For some offices, I know this was your hardest year. For Dental A Team it was truly my hardest year. It was the year that I grew the most.   Kiera Dent (11:44.164) It was the year that I was refined personally and professionally the most. was the year my team grew the most and not by size, but by grit and stamina and determination. so for you, what are the lessons we've learned from 2024? How can we like soak in these magical moments as we roll into 2025? And then how can we maximize and optimize 2025? If I can be a part of that journey with you, I'd love to be there. I'd love to celebrate you and I'd love to give you even more opportunities than you could have ever imagined.   But really, I just hope that today you relish in the joy of your life, of you being here, and then give yourself a magical gift. And let me know if you want to email me. I'd love to hear it as always. Hello@TheDentalATeam.com. But I hope you enjoy the time with your families. I hope you enjoy this magical season. I hope you remember that the secret to living is giving, and that's giving to others and giving ourselves the most incredible life we can because the ripple effect is magnificent. Like, it's just, it's so magnificent.   of what we as one person can do for this world. And I just challenge you to really, really maximize and optimize that this year. And as always, thanks for listening. I'll catch you next time. Merry Christmas. I'll catch you next time on the Dental A Team Podcast.

Well that was dull... Elizabeth takes the reins for reaction following a humbling point at home to Southampton. Fulham's unbeaten run in December had promised fans a calming and festive ride into the Christmas week but unfortunately, Father Christmas decided to deliver a nice big sack of coal. However, an uninspiring game does not faze our guests, Izzy Barker, Dan Cooke and Jack Kelly.  Despite the lack of goals, they find plenty to discuss from Sunday afternoon. They take a look back at Silva's surprising line-up that featured Josh King and Tom Cairney, review Muniz's disappointing attempt to revive his purple patch from last season and try to decipher exactly what to do with a looming injury crisis. In part two, they answer your listeners' questions and finally, to try to rescue any remnants of festive spirit, Elizabeth rounds off the podcast with a musical treat from resident DJ, Sam Witcher. -- SHOW-LINKS: If you enjoy Fulhamish, please consider contributing a small amount monthly to help pay our costs. As a bonus, you receive access to our exclusive Telegram group chats where you can chat with fellow FFC fans and Fulhamish listeners ➼ https://levellr.com/communities/fulhamish -- GUESTS: Elizabeth Barnard ➼ https://www.x.com/@ESBarnard_ Dan Cooke ➼ https://www.x.com/@DanSCooke97 Jack Kelly ➼ https://www.x.com/@JackellyFFC Isabelle Barker ➼ https://www.x.com/@IsabelleLatifa Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

587 - The Kinks - Father Christmas: Chris, Nick, and Andy break down 1977's "Father Christmas" by The Kinks. 

In the final episode of the year, Jonny and Richard talk live show tech problems, mean Christmas songs, Yoko Ono the cold start superbike, buying too many valve amp car stereos, low spec Skylines, Eleanor Mustangs, the car in the new Sade video, aeroplane seatbelt tightness, new members of the Wendens Ambo universe, clothes trapped outside the car, an algal Agila and old money Father Christmas. For early, ad-free episodes and extra content go to patreon.com/smithandsniff To buy merch and tickets to live podcast recordings go to smithandsniff.com Find out more about TECHRON https://bit.ly/4hGEJr2  Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Behind Door 22 we have a pair of movies from 2010 which both draw on the dark folklore of Father Christmas, with St Nicholas on the rampage in Sint from the Netherlands, while Finland resurrects an ancient Lapland Yuletide terrors in Rare Exports

'Elis and John Smash Up A Bus Stop'. 'The UK's Biggest Dog'. 'Elis and John's Big Supper'. Just a flavour of how unstoppable the content ideas train is today. There's no ‘out of office' here. Not even Keanu Reeves in Speed 3: Content Never Sleeps could stop this festive content locomotive.For alongside such a fertile ideas flow, Father Christmas has also come early, in the shape of Elis bearing gifts. The South Wales Santa leaves his traditional presents of yoghurt and a 4 month late gift for John. Meanwhile Producer Dave's going to *bear in mind* marathon advice from Eliud Kipchoge. But his dad is doing a good coaching job so he might ignore it. Plus there's an intriguing mad dad that whets the tastebuds for more details.To get in touch then why not drop elisandjohn@bbc.co.uk a line on email. And if going into 2025 you want to try out a hot new communication method then we've heard WhatsApp's all the rage. 07974 293 022 is the show number for that.

How has Lapland, the northernmost region of Finland, become a global hub for the Christmas economy? Known as the official home of Father Christmas, Lapland attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every year - generating significant revenue. We head to the most popular Christmas spot, Rovaneimi, to hear how a resort there benefits from this tourism. And the head of the tourist board, Sanna Kärkkäinen, tells us how records are about to be broken.Presented and produced by Izzy Greenfield Reporter: Erika Benke(Picture: Lapland at night, showing illuminated buildings. Credit: BBC/Erika Benke)

Find out how to say “Father Christmas” in Chinese with Transition singer Jesse Edbrooke and ShaoLan. Many Christmas traditions from the West have been accepted in China and it is fascinating to see how the language reflects that. ✨ BIG NEWS ✨ Our brand new Talk Chineasy App, is now live on the App Store! Free to download and perfect for building your speaking confidence from Day 1. portaly.cc/chineasy Visit our website for more info about the app.

Darkness Syndicate members get the ad-free version. https://weirddarkness.com/syndicateInfo on the next LIVE SCREAM event. https://weirddarkness.com/LiveScreamIN THIS EPISODE: Many of us are familiar with the flip side of Father Christmas – the darker entity who visits and kidnaps bad children, Krampus. But when it comes to true fear, even Krampus would run in terror at the sight of Iceland's Gryla, the Christmas Witch! With roots dating back to the 13th century, Gryla is not to be messed with! (Iceland's Christmas Witch) *** It was Christmastime, 1938, and 19-year-old Margaret Martin had just graduated from Wilkes-Barre Business College with honors and was eager to secure a secretarial job. Her eagerness would lead to her disappearance. (The Murder of Margaret Martin) *** Ask anyone over the age of twelve what they think about the existence of Santa Claus and you'll most assuredly get the same answer. But that has not stopped people of all ages reporting sightings of the jolly old elf, and some of the stories are downright creepy. (The Strange World of True Kris Kringle Sightings) *** Two murders committed in the same house during the holidays of 1928 appear to have resulted in the spirits of Christmas past haunting the place today. (The Hundley Murders) *** (Originally aired December 08, 2021)SOURCES AND ESSENTIAL WEB LINKS…“The Strange World of True Kris Kringle Sightings” by Brent Swancer for Mysterious Universe:https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p8kfyka“Iceland's Christmas Witch” by Alex Palmer for Smithsonian Magazine: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/57ntaeeu“The Murder of Margaret Martin” by Troy Taylor: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/7e6xxvph“The Hundley Murders” by Troy Taylor for his book “Bloody Illinois”: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/3yb3fd2pVisit our Sponsors & Friends: https://weirddarkness.com/sponsorsJoin the Weird Darkness Syndicate: https://weirddarkness.com/syndicateAdvertise in the Weird Darkness podcast or syndicated radio show: https://weirddarkness.com/advertise= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =Weird Darkness theme by Alibi Music Library. Background music provided by Alibi Music Library, EpidemicSound and/or StoryBlocks with paid license. Music from Shadows Symphony (https://tinyurl.com/yyrv987t), Midnight Syndicate (http://amzn.to/2BYCoXZ) Kevin MacLeod (https://tinyurl.com/y2v7fgbu), Tony Longworth (https://tinyurl.com/y2nhnbt7), and Nicolas Gasparini (https://tinyurl.com/lnqpfs8) is used with permission of the artists.= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =OTHER PODCASTS I HOST…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= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =(Over time links seen above may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = ="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2024, Weird Darkness.https://weirddarkness.com/real-kris-kringle-sightings/

In this episode, Joe and Elliott subtly suggest that wearing a provocative novelty t-shirt to a Christmas celebration is maybe not the best idea, but it's too late I guess. Also, The Lord of the Rings holds up, and should we talk about the healthcare CEO assassin?! SHOULD WE?! HAS ANYBODY TALKED ABOUT IT YET?! Music/SFX: If you like our sounds, sign up for ONE FREE MONTH on us at Epidemic Sound! Over 30,000 songs: http://share.epidemicsound.com/n96pc Follow The Valleyfolk across the digital globe: http://twitter.com/TheValleyfolk http://instagram.com/TheValleyfolk http://facebook.com/TheValleyfolk Follow the group on their personal socials: Joe Bereta: http://twitter.com/JoeBereta http://instagram.com/joebereta Elliott Morgan: http://twitter.com/elliottcmorgan http://instagram.com/elliottmorgan Steve Zaragoza: http://twitter.com/stevezaragoza http://instagram.com/stevezaragoza Kevin Plachy: https://twitter.com/pakkap_ https://www.instagram.com/pakkap #freeluigi

The magical spirit of Christmas is the perfect cover for a murder mystery. Mentioned in this episode: — "The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle" by Arthur Conan Doyle, collected in The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes — "The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding" by Agatha Christie, collected in The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding and a Selection of Entrées — "The Necklace of Pearls" by Dorothy L Sayers, collected in Silent Nights — Hercule Poirot's Christmas by Agatha Christie — Crime at Christmas by C.H.B. Kitchin — Portrait of a Murderer by Anne Meredith — An English Murder by Cyril Hare — Groaning Spinney by Gladys Mitchell — The Case of the Abominable Snowman by Nicholas Blake — Mystery in White by J. Jefferson Farjeon — “A Present from Santa Claus” by Julian Symons, collected in Murder on a Winter's Night — L'Assassinat du Père Noël Pierre Véry [English trans. The Murder of Father Christmas] — Murder After Christmas by Rupert Latimer — Murder for Christmas by Francis Duncan — “Who Killed Father Christmas?” by Patricia Moyes, collected in Who Killed Father Christmas? — “The Santa Claus Club” by Julian Symons, collected in Crimson Snow — The Santa Claus Murder by Mavis Doriel Hay — "‘Twixt the Cup and the Lip” by Julian Symons, collected in The Christmas Card Crime and Other Stories — "The Case of the Man with the Sack” by Margery Allingham, collected in Crimson Snow — The White Priory Murders by John Dickson Carr — "The Snapdragon and the C.I.D." by Margery Allingham, collected in Murder at Christmas — “The Case is Altered” by Margery Allingham, collected in Silent Nights — “Among Those Present was Santa Claus” by Vincent Cornier, collected in Who Killed Father Christmas? More Festive Shedunnit episodes: — Crime at Christmas — Let It Snow — A Christie for Christmas — The Murderless Christmas Mystery Support the podcast by joining the Shedunnit Book Club and get extra Shedunnit episodes every month plus access to the monthly reading discussions and community: shedunnitbookclub.com/join. NB: Links to Blackwell's are affiliate links, meaning that the podcast receives a small commission when you purchase a book there (the price remains the same for you). Blackwell's is a UK bookselling chain that ships internationally at no extra charge. To be the first to know about future developments with the podcast, sign up for the newsletter at shedunnitshow.com/newsletter. The podcast is on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram as @ShedunnitShow, and you can find it in all major podcast apps. Make sure you're subscribed so you don't miss the next episode. Click here to do that now in your app of choice. Find a full transcript of this episode at shedunnitshow.com/fatherchristmastranscript. Music by Audioblocks and Blue Dot Sessions. See shedunnitshow.com/musiccredits for more details. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We've covered La Befana, the Christmas witch, and we've covered Yule, the true origins of Christmas, but something we've skirted around is the jolly man himself. Father Christmas, Papa Noel, also known as Santa Claus. And before you skip this episode because you think you already know everything you need to know about this dude–Did you know this man might have killed a guy?? Full Disclosure: Alicia and Terra chose the topic of Saint Nicholas as a wholesome jolly end to season 6, but this episode turned out different than we thought. Still GOOD! It's really good! Learn all about why Saint Nicholas might live in Spain, why farmers in Asia Minor pray to Turkish Santa for rain, and how pagan (nude) you can get at the company Xmas party this year. Speaking of holidays and cold winter nights, why not warm the heart of someone you love by gifting them a year of the Witch, Yes! Patreon. Give the gift of unlimited access to over 125 extra episodes, deets on new episodes, an exclusive discord channel, early access, and more. This is the final episode of Season 6! Which means we're headed on our holiday break. But if you too need more Witch, Yes! to keep you warm on those cold winter nights, become a patron by clicking the link below. Hosted by Alicia Herder and Terra Keck. Produced by Marcel Pérez. Creative Directing by Mallory Jordan. Music by Kevin MacLeod. Official Witch, Yes! Discord! Witch, Yes! on Patreon! Check out our merch on Teepublic! Our Link Tree "Spellbound" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Support Witch, Yes! by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/witch-yes This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

Join us on a journey through centuries of tradition, mystery, and the darker side of the holiday season. Krampus, the horned and devilish counterpart to Santa Claus, has long been a figure of both fear and fascination. But what are the origins of this legendary Christmas creature? In this chapter, we will unwrap the layers of this complex folklore, tracing it back to its roots in European tradition and mythology.Let's explore Krampus's historical, cultural, and social significance, shedding light on how this icon has evolved over the years. We'll also study Krampus's modern resurgence in popular culture and how this sinister figure has been embraced by enthusiasts worldwide.Text Me (this is 3rd party & I cannot respond, but I see all messages)Support the showIf you have more information or a correction on something mentioned in this chapter, email us at luke@lukemordue.com. For more information on the show, to find all our social accounts and to ensure you are up to date on all we do, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.lukemordue.com/podcast

We have bright spots of joy to share today! From apparel to décor, books to beverages, and an extremely festive toilet, Meagan and Sarah share what's making us happy this holiday season. We're on break for the next four weeks while the team takes over the mic, so come ring out 2024 with us in silly, festive, more-than-mom fashion. Happy Holidays!HELPFUL LINKS:Sarah's Hanna Andersson OnesieLast week's episode was mentioned in this one: Holding On & Letting Go For The Holidays: Episode 494Meagan's podcast The Tea's Made on December 15 is with a blogger Well Read Tart who does mashups of books and food.Meagan's reading Christmas-specific-cozy-lit these days by Jenny Colgen.Cookbooks Sarah Mentioned (all are affiliate links):The Pioneer Woman A Year Of HolidaysBaking For The HolidaysThe Holiday Cookie BookThe Complete Autumn and Winter CookbookLetters from Father Christmas is a classic Meagan recommends and Sarah likes The Gift of the MagiSarah loves this Jacquie Lawson Advent CalendarCheck out our Playlist: Less Stressful, More Magical Holidays for more episodes on holidays and celebrations.Want to see the reindeer toilet, the advent candles, the Christmas tree brooch, and the Santa ball cap? Head over to our website, where we've included visuals for much of what we talked about in this episode!OTHER HELPFUL LINKS:Visit our websiteCheck out deals from our partnersFollow us on InstagramJoin our private listener group on Facebook (be sure to answer the membership questions!)Sign up for our newsletterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ben's working at the GP surgery where he bumps into Azra, who's concerned about Zainab. Azra thinks Zainab thinks should be putting in applications for university. Otherwise her gap year could end up being permanent. Zainab arrives and Azra seizes her opportunity to turn the conversation back to university, encouraging Ben to say he's enjoying his course. In fact she'll pay for Ben and Azra to discuss it over a hot chocolate. Zainab's not keen until Azra throws in a take-away later. Zainab explains to Ben that she's not sure she wants to go to university, but her mum shouldn't worry - she just needs a bit of time to work things out.Lynda notices that Mick's looking a bit below par. He explains that ticket sales for the Christmas Brunch at The Bull are very slow. He talked Jolene and Kenton into doing it, because he was really keen to be Father Christmas. But it's back-fired on him now. Meanwhile Jolene tells Kenton that she bumped into Helen in the shop. Apparently Jack's really excited about ‘Creepy Christmas'. When Kenton's incredulous that Helen actually think's it's on, Jolene confirms that Helen was hoping to buy some tickets. And there's some other parents who want to book too. Kenton wonders if Creepy Christmas has got legs after all. Later he tells Lynda and Mick that it's actually a really good idea. The Bull will do it as well as the Santa Brunch. Kenton's happy that Lynda and Mick are going to rehearse, but less so when Lynda wants to sort the financial terms first.

Chris and Rosie have been creating some new Christmas traditions at a Garden Centre and there's been some online chat about Santa V's Father Christmas. Rosie has started a new greeting and there is some important retro Gladiator updates! All of this plus an email from a listener about a very unusual spelling task! Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/sma. https://plus.acast.com/s/sma. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.