Podcasts about Christmas Eve

This week of Deck the Hallmark is presented by Racine Danish Kringles. Exclusive 10% off entire order -  www.kringles.com  // Promo Code:  HALLMARK25--We're back to unwrap this another new Hallmark holiday movie: The More the Merrier — where Christmas miracles, snowed-in romance, and a baby boom collide under one roof.ABOUT THE MORE THE MERRIERAlice, an emergency room doctor, volunteers to work Christmas Eve shifts at a rural hospital. During a snowy Christmas, Alice and Brian, a top-rated cardiologist, help deliver three baby booms, sparking a lasting bond.AIR DATE & NETWORK FOR THE MORE THE MERRIERNovember 28, 2025  | Hallmark ChannelCAST & CREW OF THE MORE THE MERRIERRachel Boston as Alice RogersBrendan Penny as Brian DavisBRAN'S THE MORE THE MERRIER SYNOPSISWe meet Alice, who picks up cookies before heading to the ER to volunteer. She's a nurse who volunteers every Christmas. While getting the cookies out of the back of her car, she slips and almost falls — but is saved by a hot doctor named Brian. He's a cardiologist.Brian's sister also works at the hospital and is very pregnant. Brian is shocked to learn that Alice is a doctor too — an OBGYN, in fact. He keeps trying to find out more about her, but she's a closed book. He does discover, however, that she has four job offers that would take her out of town in the new year… but no one else knows.Brian's sister goes into labor and gives birth right as the clock strikes midnight. A Christmas baby! She immediately gets to work trying to set up her brother and Alice.But honestly, that doesn't seem likely after Brian accidentally lets it slip that Alice is planning to leave the hospital in the new year.Meanwhile, another woman who brought her son in after he bonked his head ends up going into labor with twins. What a day.Alice and Brian start hanging out more during their downtime. Another pregnant woman tries to get to the hospital, but the roads are bad, so she stops at a bakery with its lights still on. Coincidentally, the people inside are the couple planning to adopt her baby. With help from a tow truck driver, they all make it to the hospital, and she gives birth.Everyone chips in to make sure all the patients and staff get a nice Christmas breakfast.Alice decides she's not taking any of the out-of-town jobs — she's sticking around. They celebrate by kissssingggggg. Watch the show on Youtube - www.deckthehallmark.com/youtubeInterested in advertising on the show? Email bran@deckthehallmark.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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

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

In this episode, how three young boys petitioned the Department of the Interior to open the gates to Yellowstone National Park each Christmas Eve, in anticipation of Santa's annual visit.  Find the  Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography Join the PARKography Facebook group to discuss this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parkography

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

MUSICApple Music released its year-end data, and 2025 was good to Kendrick Lamar. He and SZA had the top song of the year in the U.S., with "Luther". Morgan Wallen had a good year, too. We discuss the the Top 10:On the Global chart, the #1 song was "APT." by ROSE and Bruno Mars. "Luther" came in second. Even though Kendrick had a great year, he did NOT accomplish his main goal, which was to END DRAKE. He was Apple's most-streamed artist GLOBALLY in 2025. Willie Nelson is tired of the internet trying to kill him off . . . and he finally said so in the most Willie way possible. https://www.whiskeyriff.com/2025/12/01/willie-nelson-sounds-off-on-the-endless-amount-of-ai-slop-about-him-if-you-believe-those-death-stories-one-more-time/ Think you can dodge Wham! this holiday season? Think again. Whamageddon is the ultimate holiday survival game. The challenge? Make it till Christmas Eve without hearing Wham!'s “Last Christmas.” Sounds easy, right? Nope. This song is everywhere, from here on the radio to shops to the dentist's office. The rules are simple: if you hear the original 1984 version of the song, you're out and have to post your fail to #Whamageddon. But covers and remixes? Totally safe. The song is hard to escape … So, be careful out there. And good luck! https://www.aol.com/articles/think-beat-whamageddon-dodge-one-205519330.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly9zdGF0aWNzLnRlYW1zLmNkbi5vZmZpY2UubmV0Lw&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAE4LKFNU0obfYftLM3HS0I3IXT_4AMPdBHCN-dMHo1M-dws6Qq0VHTcF4fc2qyJdxXb02DCE_XrcWpU8FOGBgHrgBwDq-gfmY3loC0GtJOf9JCAIbMJrXuLpwLMz2lUYMDjtFC5REf3ACTxe5qsAYFGl2jfiv__btgFG-1mFXoNi TVThe Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting: The famous tree will be lit tonight during Christmas in Rockefeller Center, a two-hour special airing live from New York City on NBC and simulcast on Peacock. Reba McEntire is hosting the event, which includes performances by Marc Anthony, Halle Bailey, Michael Bublé, Kristin Chenoweth, Laufey, New Edition, Brad Paisley, Carly Pearce, Gwen Stefani, and the Radio City Rockettes. The tree will remain on display until mid-January 2026. "Full House" star Dave Coulier is going through another health battle. He beat Stage 3 Non-Hodgkin lymphoma seven months ago, and in October, doctors found TONGUE cancer during a routine scan. Dave shared the news on "Today" yesterday. Quote, "It turned out that I have P16 squamous carcinoma at the base of my tongue. I said to the doctors, 'Well, did this happen because of the lymphoma?' And they said, 'Totally unrelated.'" https://www.today.com/health/news/dave-coulier-tongue-cancer-rcna245598 "Stranger Things 5" had the second-biggest premiere of any Netflix original series. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/stranger-things-5-premiere-week-ratings-netflix-1236438569/ David Letterman will interview Michael B. Jordan, Mr. Beast, and Jason Bateman on the new season of "My Next Guest Needs No Introduction". https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/letterman-netflix-guests-michael-b-jordan-mrbeast-jason-bateman-1236439487/ MOVING ON INTO MOVIE NEWS: If you keep up with Quentin Tarantino, you probably already know his deep love for "Toy Story 3". So it'll come as no surprise to see it on his list of the Top 20 Movies of the 21st Century. Tarantino set only one rule for himself: Only one film per director. Chuck Norris, at 85 years old, is still focused on fitness and recently posted a workout update on Instagram. https://www.cinemablend.com/television/chuck-norris-at-85-workout-update-didnt-know-i-needed AND FINALLYHate her or love her, you can't deny that Kim Kardashian knows a thing or two about business. That's why she has her own MasterClass launching tomorrow. https://www.tmz.com/2025/12/02/kim-kardashian-masterclass-business-ten-kimmandments/There's a sneak peek online that includes what she calls her Ten Kimmandments to building your brand and business.AND THAT IS YOUR CRAP ON CELEBRITIES!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week of Deck the Hallmark is presented by Racine Danish Kringles. Exclusive 10% off entire order -  www.kringles.com  // Promo Code:  HALLMARK25Get 10% off your first month of Better Help // BetterHelp.com/hallmark--We're back with another Christmas movie breakdown — this time diving into The Snow Must Go On.ABOUT THE SNOW MUST GO ONIsaiah Heyward returns to Broadway after a decade, but faces challenges in finding a director. He saves a Christmas musical and discovers love, family, and friendship as the greatest holiday gifts. He reunites with his family and friends.AIR DATE & NETWORK FOR THE SNOW MUST GO ONNovember 28, 2025 | Hallmark ChannelCAST & CREW OF THE SNOW MUST GO ONCorey Cott as Isaiah HeywardHeather Hemmens as Lilly-AnneBRAN'S THE SNOW MUST GO ON SYNOPSISThe movie starts with a Rudolph musical. It's safe to say this is off-Broadway. Actor Isaiah Heyward wrote, directed, and stars in the one-man show that no one cared about. He put his heart and soul into it, working on it for over a year.His sister, Jess, and her daughter, Aurora, show up to cheer him on and invite him home for Christmas. He says he has a big Broadway audition tomorrow, so he can't come.Isaiah shows up for the audition and sees a poster for a musical he was in long ago. Now, he can't even get in the room to audition before the casting director leaves for the day. To make matters worse, he gets fired from his caroling gig for showing up late.With nothing else going on, he heads home to Hancock.His sister picks him up and immediately guilt-trips Isaiah for not being around for Aurora, who is struggling to adjust to her parents' divorce. To make it up to her, he offers to pick her up from school — and naturally ends up taking over as director of the Christmas musical when the old director quits.The school guidance counselor, Lilly-Anne, gets roped into being the staff supervisor.But it turns out Isaiah doesn't just have to direct — he has to finish writing the show, which happens to be about reindeer.It doesn't take long for Lilly-Anne to open up to him about her past. Isaiah discovers that one of the kids in the theater program is the daughter of the woman cast in the musical he wanted to audition for. He hatches a plan: he's going to cast himself as the lead to impress her.Aurora hears about his plan and volunteers to help make his vision come to life.Lilly-Anne helps Isaiah learn how to work with kids, including helping one student, Steven, conquer his fear of singing in public and audition for the musical. There's a lot of confusion over why Isaiah cast himself as the lead, but Aurora convinces everyone they're lucky to learn from a Broadway legend.He starts spending more time with Lilly-Anne outside of rehearsals — holding hands while looking at Christmas lights, watching a movie together, and shopping for a bad Charlie Brown-style Christmas tree.After showing off his stage lighting setup, Isaiah and Lilly-Anne share a kiss — but he's conflicted because he hasn't told her the truth about why he's the lead.To help the kids feel comfortable performing in front of an audience, they go Christmas caroling.The more Isaiah cares about the kids, the wiser he feels — but it's time for the final dress rehearsal. He finds out a producer will be in the audience, so he goes out there and crushes it. The producer finds him backstage and invites him to the city on Christmas Eve to audition. Isaiah is thrilled — it's what he's been waiting for. Unfortunately, Lilly-Anne overhears, is upset, and demands he tell the kids the truth, or she will. It does not go well.He goes to the audition but can't focus, constantly thinking about letting the kids down. He tells the producer he has to return to Hancock to see the lead — the kids' performance — and pleads with her to come with him.She shows up just in time to give a pep talk, and Isaiah arrives behind her to apologize to everyone.The show is a smash hit. He tells Lilly-Anne this is his favorite standing ovation. He confesses that he has a new dream — one with her — and decides he doesn't want to go back to Broadway. The snow machine starts, they kiss, and he quips, “The snow must go on.” Watch the show on Youtube - www.deckthehallmark.com/youtubeInterested in advertising on the show? Email bran@deckthehallmark.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The holidays are a time when memories, family traditions, festive decorations, and favorite dishes make this season feel special. As we step away from our typical daily lives and share moments with family and friends, we're reminded that connection extends beyond the visible world — and that those who have passed are also looking to reach us, often in unexpected ways. After a brief update on the exciting things happening inside the growing Psychic Club, this week's listener stories center around the many ways the spirit world interacts with us — especially during the holidays.  Nichole and familiar voice Dr. Scott Guerin, who most recently joined in Episode 263: The Awkward Side of Awakening, share heartwarming holiday stories, including:  When Katie F. receives a sign from her dad through a popular holiday song. How a visit from the “real Santa” startles Jessica one Christmas Eve. An encounter with a man at the post office leaves Katie C. wondering, “Was that an angel?” Who was turning the garland lights on in Jessica's house in Chicago? How a wrong-number call to Christine could have been her late father. These stories show us how — especially during the holidays — our loved ones reach out to us from beyond the veil. If you have a question or a true spiritual or supernatural story to share, call 1-800-880-1881 or email an audio clip to contact@apsychicsstory.com. To connect with Nichole, visit apsychicsstory.com to book a session or join the Psychic Club. You can also follow her on Instagram @apsychicsstory. You can connect with Dr. Scott through his website and social media channels here. If you'd like to further support the podcast, please subscribe to it and/or: FOLLOW @apsychicsstory on Instagram. BOOK a session with Nichole. SIGN-UP to the newsletter for updates. JOIN Patreon for exclusive, ad-free content. BECOME A MEMBER of the Psychic Club. Thanks to you, A Psychic's Story is a #1 spiritual and psychic podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider sharing it with someone who would benefit from hearing it or leaving a review wherever you get your podcasts. Your support helps others to discover A Psychic's Story and for us to continue to create meaningful content. This podcast is intended to inspire you on your personal journey to inner peace. The podcast host, co-hosts or guests are not psychologists or medical doctors and do not offer any professional health or medical advice. If you are suffering from any psychological or medical conditions, please seek help from a qualified health professional.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A selfish, cynical television executive is visited by three ghosts bearing lessons on Christmas Eve. On this week's episode… Join the crew as we discuss Bill Murray, Bobcat Goldthwait, and the classic 80's take on A Christmas Carol, Scrooged (1988).   Show Notes: Housekeeping (4:25) Back of the Box/Recommendations (10:52) Spoiler Warning/Full Review: (18:30) Rotten Tomatoes (59:05) Trivia (1:08:30) Cooter of the Week (1:14:00) What We've Been Watching (1:19:18) Hotline Scream (1:28:50)   Connect with us: Support us on Patreon Website Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube Shop

From middle school to high school to adult hood who knew losing babies would bring friends together. Today's guest is my friend from middle school and high school and her strength sharing her story on Facebook inspired me to share mine. Janelle Jones is a women's ministry leader at her church, singer, and has a testimony to share of overcoming loss, depression, and grief. She gave birth to her son in 2008 and a daughter in 2009 that she thought she was going to have to give up for adoption. Janelle heard from God to keep her baby girl and did not understand why until she lost her on Christmas Eve 2009. In today's episode, we go back to Janelle's decision to give her daughter up for adoption, losing her during the Holiday season, and how her friendships have stood the test of time. This episode is for you to listen to if you have ever lost a baby during the holiday season. Become a Sisters in Loss Birth Bereavement, and Postpartum Doula Here Living Water Doula Services Book Recommendations and Links Below You can shop my Amazon Store for the Book Recommendations You can follow Sisters in Loss on Social Join our Black Moms in Loss Online Weekly Grief Support Group Join the Sisters in Loss Online Community Sisters in Loss TV Youtube Channel Sisters in Loss Instagram Sisters in Loss Facebook Sisters in Loss Twitter You can follow Erica on Social Erica's Website Erica's Instagram Erica's Facebook Erica's Twitter

We kick off our holiday coverage this year with a minty fresh movie from the faraway year of 2024! This movie is the very definition of a slice of life, but does that translate to a fun time for the holidays? Listen and find out!

A familiar movie title with a whole new cast of characters!  While this Christmas Eve isn't necessarily filled with holiday cheer, there's plenty of slaying to go around in 2006's Black Christmas.***CONTENT WARNING: discussion sexual abuse/assault, r*pe, true crimeFollow us on Instagram at @thewhorrorspodcastEmail us at thewhorrorspodcast@gmail.comArtwork by Gabrielle Fatula (gabrielle@gabriellefatula.com)Music: Epic Industrial Music Trailer by SeverMusicProdStandard Music License Sources: Black Christmas 2006 Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Christmas_(2006_film)Black Christmas IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0454082/trivia/?ref_=tt_dyk_trv

A blizzard has erased the highways of Hokkaido, trapping a diverse group of travelers in a roadside station on Christmas Eve. There is a businessman with a deadline, a crying toddler, and a truck driver named Kenji hauling a perishable cargo of sunshine—mandarin oranges. As the power flickers and the vending machines die, the tension in the room rises. With the road closed and hunger setting in, Kenji looks at his sealed cargo and faces a choice: follow the rules of the logbook, or break the seal to feed the strangers stranded with him. If these moments of quiet connection and hope resonated with you, we're thrilled to tell you that the full collection, When the Bells Don't Ring by Danny Ballan, is now available on Amazon and everywhere books are sold. Get Danny's book When the Bells Stop Ringing for yourself or as a gift for your loved ones this Christmas. Buy the paperback from Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G34NWXDV Support Danny on Patreon: https://patreon.com/dannyballan

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgving! I return next week, but until then, enjoy a Flashback Episode all around the fun I had growing up as a kid celebrating Christmas Eve:Christmas Eve was the biggest holiday when I was growing up. I share stories from going to both grandparents houses, traditions, the food spread, hanging with my cousins and more!Music by Lesfm from PixabayCheck out the podcast and all the fun at www.thedailylifeoffrank.com--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Let's connect! Find all my social channels here: https://linktr.ee/thedailylifeoffrank

This week of Deck the Hallmark is presented by Racine Danish Kringles. Exclusive 10% off entire order -  www.kringles.com  // Promo Code:  HALLMARK25This episode is sponsored by Cozy Earth! Use promo code HALLMARK to get 40% off at cozyearth.com---We're joined by Brian to dive into another Hallmark Christmas release: We Met in December.ABOUT WE MET IN DECEMBERAnnie Lane and Dave Weeks meet in a holiday hotel, falling in love. They embark on separate quests to find each other, sharing wisdom and making significant life changes.AIR DATE & NETWORK FOR WE MET IN DECEMBERNovember 27, 2025 | Hallmark ChannelCAST & CREW OF WE MET IN DECEMBERAutumn Reeser as Annie LaneNiall Matter as Dave WeeksBRAN'S WE MET IN DECEMBER SYNOPSISWe meet Annie and Dave. They're about to say goodnight after having an amazing night together in the hotel lobby. They're talking like they'll be on the same plane in the morning, so they'll see each other again in just four hours.The next morning, he's nowhere to be found. She really has to leave for the airport. She knows his last name but not his room number, so she leaves her number on a sticky note with the lady at the front desk.Cut to Dave — his alarm was set for PM. He rushes to the airport without stopping by the front desk. Womp womp.They both start searching online for each other, but it's just impossible.We learn how they met in the first place: a bad storm delayed both of their flights, so they went to a nearby hotel. She bumped into Dave on the way in, the doors instantly flew open, and they spent the whole night talking.They know Chicago is home for both of them.Through conversations with their loved ones in the present day, we get flashbacks of the night before. We find out she's in fashion, and he's in finance and wants the perfect Christmas to honor his late father. They're different, but it works.She remembers some of the things he told her he was going to do on Christmas, including visiting his childhood home. She's explaining it to her friend, and her friend's like, “Oh, I know that house.” When they pull up, it's a new construction still being built. Dead end.He remembers her talking about this coffee shop, so he goes there. Another dead end — but he leaves his number.She posts her story on a missed-connections app and gets a hit — a guy named David asks to meet at that same coffee shop. A woman shows up saying she works for a guy named Dave. Unfortunately, wrong Dave. Hate to see it.They have another close encounter at a Christmas concert — she went to the early show, he went to the late show.He remembers that she invited him to a Christmas Eve service. He just has to find that church.But first — the Christmas tree lot. They both happen to be there at the same time but don't bump into each other.We get to see the goodnight scene again, but this time we see that he stopped the elevator from closing completely and came back to kiss her real good.They also bump into each other again at another Christmas pageant — he even sees her through the crowd but assumes he's hallucinating.She makes one last-ditch effort by asking a radio DJ to read a message on-air asking him to meet her in front of a Christmas tree — but he never shows.He discovers that his sister bought one of Annie's handmade dresses at the market. He runs down there, but it's closed. Still, he decides to give the church a shot — and wouldn't you know it? They find each other.They both say they've been looking for each other! He immediately gets her number and asks her out on a proper date. They celebrate finding each other with a kiss as the snow falls around them. Watch the show on Youtube - www.deckthehallmark.com/youtubeInterested in advertising on the show? Email bran@deckthehallmark.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Cathy and Todd discuss Die Hard, the 1988 action classic that redefined the genre, covering everything from its Christmas Eve plot and iconic Nakatomi Plaza setting to the film's surprisingly heartfelt themes of family, reconciliation, and love. They discuss why so many (including Cathy) consider it a Christmas movie, break down the characters and casting surprises, highlight the film's legacy and genre-shaping influence, and share the behind-the-scenes stories that made Bruce Willis's hero an unexpected cultural icon. From Hans Gruber's unforgettable villainy to the film's “Die Hard in a ____” effect across decades of action films, it's a nostalgic and big-hearted look at why this movie endures and why so many of us return to it every holiday season. Some Ways to Support Us Sign up for Cathy's Substack Order Restoring our Girls Join Team Zen Links shared in this episode: For the full show notes, visit zenpopparenting.com. This week's sponsor(s): Avid Co DuPage County Area Decorating, Painting, Remodeling by Avid Co includes kitchens, basements, bathrooms, flooring, tiling, fire and flood restoration. David Serrano- Certified Financial Planner- 815-370-3780 MenLiving – A virtual and in-person community of guys connecting deeply and living fully. No requirements, no creeds, no gurus, no judgements Todd Adams Life & Leadership Coaching for Guys Other Ways to Support Us Follow us on social media Instagram YouTube Facebook Buy and leave a review for Cathy’s Book Zen Parenting: Caring for Ourselves and Our Children in an Unpredictable World Find everything ZPR on our Resources Page Guys- Complete a MenLiving Connect profile

This week, I'm throwing away toxic gratitude and playing Would You Rather because we all need some fun in our lives. I contemplate knowing when vs knowing how I would die, someone seeing all of my photos or all of my texts, and so many other ponderings.    Key Takeaways:    [0:28] Throwing away toxic gratitude and playing would you rather  [3:17] See a little into the future or a lot?  [3:53] The ability to read minds or move things?  [4:25] Sing or dance to every song you hear?  [4:45] Jail or coma for 5 years?  [5:15] Chronically under or overdressed?  [5:35] Lose my sight or my memories? [5:55] Universal respect or unlimited power? [6:29] No internet or no air conditioning? [7:09] Never be able to go out in the day or night? [7:30] Personal maid or chef? [7:46] Lead star in a movie that bombs or extra in an Oscar winning one? [8:34] Only text in emoji or not text at all? [8:47] Same socks or same underwear for a week? [9:04] Sing off with Ariana Grande or Rihanna?  [9:25] Alone in a forest or a real haunted house? [9:52] Child every year for 20 years or no kids at all?  [10:24] Gassy on a first date or your wedding night?  [10:46] Hunt for your own meat or never eat meat again? [11:05] People spread lies about you or terrible truths?  [11:58] Best at something no one respects or average at something they do? [12:42] Travel the world for free for a year or have $50,000? [13:27] Mullet for a year or bald for 6 months? [13:51] Go back to the past to see dead people or the future to meet grandkids?  [14:05] Stay physically how you are forever or financially?  [14:32] No phone for a month or no bathing for a month?  [14:52] Change the outcome of the last election or decide the next election? [15:27] Lose the ability to read or lose the ability to speak? [15:58] Beautiful and stupid or unattractive and smart? [16:25] Always stuck in traffic but find the perfect parking spot or the opposite?  [16:57] Go on tour with Elton John or Cher? [17:20] Win the lottery and spend it in a day or triple your current salary forever? [17:52] Hear a comforting lie or an uncomfortable truth? [18:03] Someone sees all your photos or all your texts? [18:21] 4th of July with Taylor Swift or Christmas Eve with Mariah Carey? [19:13] Peaceful life in a small cabin or drama filled in a mansion? [19:35] Be invisible or fly? [19:50] Be the leader on Earth or start another colony on another planet? [20:11] Back to kindergarten with all my knowledge or know everything now? [22:04] Read minds or predict the future? [22:13] Be an unknown superhero or famous villain? [22:48] Have a third eye or a third ear? [23:13] Wake up naked in a forest 5 miles from home or in your underwear at work? [23:52] Be reincarnated as a fly or just stop existing when dead? [24:11] Close any open door or be unable to open any closed door? [24:32] Work alongside Dwight or Homer?  [24:55] Punished for a crime you didn't commit or credit stolen for a major accomplishment of yours? [25:20] Celine or Eminem perform the soundtrack to your life? [25:38] Bathe in dish water or wash dishes in bath water?  [25:50] Have your own theme park or zoo? [26:05] Know when or how you're going to die?  [26:21] Home with no electricity or home with no running water? [26:43] Tea with Queen Elizabeth or beer with Prince Harry? [27:08] Live the same day over for a year or take 3 years off your life? [27:39] Finding balance, gratitude, and what would you rather?     Connect with Barb:   Website   Facebook    Instagram   Be a guest on the podcast    YouTube   The Molly B Foundation  

Daniel V. Masciari is an award-winning filmmaker who unearths magic in seemingly mundane moments of the human experience. Daniel's passion for directing and editing runs through all his work, captivating critics with his first feature film, Stationed At Home. When it premiered internationally at the Glasgow Film Festival in March 2025, critics hailed it as "an alternative Christmas classic," with many echoing the sentiment that it "could well go down in the history of independent cinema." STATIONED AT HOME tells the story of a solitary taxi driver on the graveyard shift who, on a clear and frigid Christmas Eve in 1998 in a small, forgotten city, breathlessly awaits the sight of the International Space Station. As the hours count down, a parade of offbeat misfits derail his plans, propelling the story to its exhilarating climax. In this poetic, hilarious and often absurd tale, complete strangers discover unexpected unity and a newfound understanding of their place among the stars. "STATIONED AT HOME is made in the spirit of 70s and 80s independent films, with a raw and unfiltered approach that captures the essence of storytelling without compromise," said filmmaker Daniel V. Masciari. "It is a personal and unique embrace of creative freedom, resulting in a truly uplifting, one-of-a-kind cinematic experience."   Stationed at Home Rotten Tomato link: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/stationed_at_home   Want to watch: YouTube Meisterkhan Pod (Please Subscribe)

Christmas in England is a holiday defined by contrasts — sacred hymns drifting through ancient stone cathedrals while mischievous spirits lurk in old folktales; roaring hearth fires glowing against midnight frost while wassailers roam the village lanes singing for warmth and blessing; feasts that echo medieval banquet halls side-by-side with quiet, candlelit reflections on the Nativity. English Christmas is both solemn and lively, reverent and hearty, holy and haunted. And for millions of American families, its echoes pulse through recipes, carols, and customs handed down across generations. To understand Christmas in England is to understand the root system that fed much of the English-speaking world's celebration — including the United States, Canada, Australia, and beyond. Yet the English Christmas we know today was not shaped all at once. It evolved through Roman influence, medieval pageantry, Puritan suppression, Victorian reinvention, and twentieth-century nostalgia. Each era left traces in family traditions, many of which migrated wherever English-speaking people carried their memories. For genealogists, England's Christmas traditions offer a rare window into family identity. The style of worship, the foods served during the Twelve Days of Christmas, the songs sung on Christmas Eve, and the presence or absence of certain rituals can reveal an ancestor's place, class, denomination, or even the region they called home. Christmas in England is not a monolith — it is a mosaic built from centuries of theological debates, seasonal folklore, local customs, and literary imagination.This entry explores the origins, folklore, Biblical meaning, and genealogical insights of Christmas in England — a land where holly crowns pagans and Christians alike, where spirits are said to wander at Christmastime, and where a humble manger story birthed some of the world's most enduring holiday traditions. Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/christmas-traditions-in-england/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

In Beirut, the darkness doesn't fall gently; it seizes the city. On Christmas Eve, the power grid fails, leaving twelve-year-old Nour and her neighbors in a suffocating blackout. In a building where iron doors are usually triple-locked and neighbors rarely speak, the silence is heavy. But Nour remembers her grandmother's beeswax candles and makes a choice. Instead of huddling in her own apartment, she heads for the dark stairwell. This is a tale about what happens when the lights go out, and we are forced to become the light for one another. If these moments of quiet connection and hope resonated with you, we're thrilled to tell you that the full collection, When the Bells Don't Ring by Danny Ballan, is now available on Amazon and everywhere books are sold. Get Danny's book When the Bells Stop Ringing for yourself or as a gift for your loved ones this Christmas. Buy the paperback from Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G34NWXDV

Fluent Fiction - Danish: Finding Purpose Among Tivoli's Twinkling Christmas Lights Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/da/episode/2025-12-02-23-34-02-da Story Transcript:Da: Mikkel trak sjalet tættere omkring skuldrene, mens snefnuggene dalede ned i Tivoli.En: Mikkel pulled the shawl closer around his shoulders, while snowflakes descended in Tivoli.Da: Omkring ham strakte julemarkedet sig med sine farverige boder.En: Around him, the Christmas market stretched out with its colorful stalls.Da: Lyset glimtede i træerne, og duften af gløgg og æbleskiver svømmede i luften.En: The lights twinkled in the trees, and the scent of gløgg and æbleskiver filled the air.Da: Mikkel følte sig lille blandt de mange mennesker, der lo og delte øjeblikke af glæde.En: Mikkel felt small among the many people who laughed and shared moments of joy.Da: Katrine ved hans side strålede af livsglæde.En: Katrine at his side radiated with the joy of life.Da: "Mikkel, denne stand ser spændende ud," sagde hun og trak ham mod en boder fyldt med håndlavede gaver.En: "Mikkel, this stall looks exciting," she said, pulling him towards a booth filled with handmade gifts.Da: Mikkel sukkede og kiggede rundt.En: Mikkel sighed and looked around.Da: Han tænkte på sin niece, der ventede på juleaften.En: He thought of his niece, who was waiting for Christmas Eve.Da: Hun elskede eventyr, præcis som han gjorde som barn.En: She loved adventures, just as he did when he was a child.Da: "Hvad leder du efter?"En: "What are you looking for?"Da: spurgte Katrine blidt.En: asked Katrine gently.Da: Mikkel tøvede.En: Mikkel hesitated.Da: "Noget særligt.En: "Something special.Da: Men jeg ved ikke rigtigt, om jeg har råd til noget specielt," indrømmede han.En: But I don't really know if I can afford anything special," he admitted.Da: Hun klappede ham på skulderen.En: She patted him on the shoulder.Da: "Husk, det er tanken, der tæller."En: "Remember, it's the thought that counts."Da: De gik videre.En: They moved on.Da: Mellem boderne fandt Mikkel en gammel trælegetøjsmager.En: Among the stalls, Mikkel found an old wooden toy maker.Da: Håndværkene mindede ham om hans barndom.En: The crafts reminded him of his childhood.Da: Små trædukker, der mindede om hans bedstefars værksteder, hvor historier blev skabt gennem simple figurer.En: Small wooden dolls that reminded him of his grandfather's workshops, where stories were created through simple figures.Da: Hans hjerte svulmede op.En: His heart swelled.Da: "Den her," hviskede han og pegede på en lille træelefant.En: "This one," he whispered, pointing to a little wooden elephant.Da: Den trængte til en historie, præcis som de mange historier, han havde indrammet på sine lærreder hjemme.En: It needed a story, just like the many stories he had framed on his canvases at home.Da: Katrine smilede.En: Katrine smiled.Da: "Perfekt."En: "Perfect."Da: Det lille ord bar større betydning, end Mikkel kunne have forestillet sig.En: The small word carried more significance than Mikkel could have imagined.Da: Han følte sig lettet.En: He felt relieved.Da: Med elefanten i hænderne nærmede de sig kasseapparatet.En: With the elephant in hand, they approached the cash register.Da: Kostbare ting kunne ikke måle sig med noget så ærligt.En: Precious things couldn't compare to something so honest.Da: Med gaven omhyggeligt pakket begav de sig videre gennem Tivolis eventyrlige have.En: With the gift carefully wrapped, they moved on through Tivoli's enchanting garden.Da: Den kolde vinterluft blev opvarmet af deres smil og glæde.En: The cold winter air was warmed by their smiles and joy.Da: Mikkel følte en ny våge.En: Mikkel felt a new sense of purpose.Da: Han var værdifuld, præcis som han var.En: He was valuable, just as he was.Da: Turen til julemarkedet blev en påmindelse om det enkle, det sande.En: The trip to the Christmas market became a reminder of the simple, the true.Da: Alt hvad han behøvede for at genskabe sig selv, var allerede ved hans side.En: Everything he needed to recreate himself was already by his side.Da: Mikkel greb Katrines hånd og lovede sig selv aldrig at glemme det igen.En: Mikkel grabbed Katrine's hand and promised himself never to forget it again.Da: Sammen gik de, fyldt med varme og glæde, videre ind i den glitrende vinternat.En: Together, filled with warmth and joy, they walked further into the shimmering winter night. Vocabulary Words:shawl: sjaletdescend: daledestall: bodertwinkle: glimtedescent: duftensnowflake: snefnughesitate: tøvedebooth: standhandmade: håndlavedepat: klappedesignificance: betydningcash register: kasseapparatetenchanting: eventyrligeradiate: stråledeadventure: eventyrprecious: kostbarecraft: håndværkworkshop: værkstedervaluable: værdifuldcreate: skabtascend: nærmedecanvas: lærrederwrapped: pakketpromise: lovedeshimmering: glitrendepurpose: vågerecreate: genskabesignificant: sandtremind: påmindelsefigure: figurer

Hollywood actor Walton Goggins pops in to tell us what to expect in season 2 of Fallout, set to premiere on Amazon Prime on 17th December.The amazing Kate Winslet shares her directorial debut Goodbye June, which hits cinemas on 12th December and Netflix on Christmas Eve.Join Chris and the Class Behind The Glass every morning from 6.30am for laughs with the listeners and the greatest guests. Listen on your smart speaker, just say: "Play Virgin Radio." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join host Samuel Goldsmith for a festive special as he welcomes legendary chef Rick Stein to unwrap the magic of Christmas. In this heartwarming episode, Rick shares cherished family traditions from his Cotswolds childhood, reveals the inspiration behind his new book Rick Stein's Christmas, and offers a peek into his own holiday table, complete with roast goose, Christmas Eve fish, and the secrets to perfect gravy. Discover how Rick blends British and German traditions, navigates family memories both joyful and bittersweet, and brings his signature warmth to every festive feast. From Boxing Day leftovers to sparkling Shiraz, and even a few culinary confessions, this episode is packed with stories, laughter, and practical tips for your own celebrations. Pour yourself something festive, grab a mince pie, and settle in for a delicious conversation that captures the true spirit of Christmas with one of Britain's most beloved chefs.Rick Stein's passion for using good-quality local produce and his talent for creating delicious recipes in his books and restaurants have won him a host of awards, accolades and fans. As well as presenting a number of television series, he has published many best-selling cookery books, including French Odyssey, Coast to Coast, Far Eastern Odyssey, Rick Stein's Long Weekends and Rick Stein's India. Rick has always believed in showcasing local seafood and farm produce in his four restaurants in Padstow, Cornwall, where he also has a cookery school, food shops and a pub in the nearby village of St Merryn. In 2018 Rick was awarded an CBE for services to the economy. He divides his time between Padstow, London and Australia, where he also has two seafood restaurants by the sea in Mollymook, and Port Stephens NSW. Subscribers to the Good Food app via the App Store get the show ad-free, plus regular bonus content. Download the Good Food app to get started. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Many of us know and love this holiday poem for its first iconic line, which has inspired many Christmas Eve traditions. But do you know this history of it?

Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born Of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in the piercing cold. In that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee, O my God, to hear my prayer and grant my desires through the merits of Our Savior Jesus Christ, and of His blessed Mother.Amen*Pray the prayer 15 times daily from Novemeber 30 until Christmas Eve.Thank you for your support. God bless you.Support the show

Kee is BACK in the studio, sliding straight back into her natural role…overthinking your Christmas list so you don’t have to. Christmas used to be a vibe. Now it’s a spreadsheet - four school Kris Kringles, seventeen nieces and nephews, and a partner who swears “I don’t need anything” (but absolutely does). In this episode of Eat Sleep Repeat, Kee and Kelly serve up their 2025 Gift Guide - real-life ideas for real-life families that don’t involve panic-buying a sad scented candle at 4:45pm on Christmas Eve. KEE'S GIFT IDEASFjällräven Kånken Daycare BackpackEkobo Dinner SetSeed Craft KitYotoFair Go Trading Children’s Apron - Blue TurtleFair Go Trading Children’s Apron - Red ElephantRyobi 18V ONE+ Cordless Garden Vacuum And SweeperBed Threads La Sirène Table RunnerFood For Everyone Print KELLY'S GIFT IDEASMagnetic Transformer SetWalkie Talkies Rail Cube SetFat Brain Air ToobzRecord Player Kindle Brass Monkey Poorly Explained Movies GameCrocsPickleball Set Vibrating Foam RollerWine Chiller Stick KEE'S SMALL AUSSIE BIZ SHOUTOUTSStitched Up KitsSnowflake CeramicsSweater ClubSoon AfterHolme Beauty KELLY'S SMALL AUSSIE BIZ SHOUTOUTSAeon SkinArt By Alex Mason Jess UrlichesRecollection - Forever JournalNashie Rashie Brillo Beauty HOSTS & PRODUCERSKelly McCarren ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@kelly_mccarren⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beth Stanford Brown AUDIO PRODUCTIONMadeline Joannou - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mylk Media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Even the Founding Fathers had their doubts about the future of the country, but Benjamin Franklin chose to see its promise. We'll explain how one chair gave him the answer he was searching for.  Plus, Sharon talks with philosopher Alex Madva, co-author of ⁠Somebody Should Do Something⁠, about why so many of us feel powerless, but there's more common ground in America than we think. So what can we do about it? He'll tell us.  And the history of White House holiday traditions, from Adams to Eisenhower, complete with snow ball fights, Christmas trees with actual lit candles on them, and a terrifying Christmas Eve fire in the West Wing. If you'd like to submit a question for Sharon to answer, head to ⁠ThePreamble.com/podcast⁠ – we'd love to hear from you there. And be sure to read our weekly magazine at ⁠ThePreamble.com⁠ – it's free! Join the 350,000 people who still believe understanding is an act of hope. Credits: Host and Executive Producer: Sharon McMahon Supervising Producer: Melanie Buck Parks Audio Producer: Craig Thompson To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's Monday, December 1st, A.D. 2025. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes written by yours truly and heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  Filling in for Adam McManus I'm Ean Leppin. (Contact@eanvoiceit.com) Why are Christians in Nigeria Facing Such Violent Attacks? President Donald Trump recently brought the topic of Christian persecution up noting that Nigeria was quote a ‘Country of Particular Concern' for violating religious freedom.  This has led to questions over why so many Nigerian Christian communities have faced violent attacks and why the President of the United States would require attention to this issue. Persecution.org examined this question and has found that according to most western media outlets Climate Change is often used to portray the violent attacks over natural resources instead of religious motivation. For example, in 2023 a massacre occurred on Christmas Eve.  Over 140 people were killed in Nigeria Plateau state.  Vatican News ran an article that said, quote ‘the long-running conflict between nomadic herders and farmers'. Right after a massacre in June of this year in which 200 Christians in Nigeria's Benue state were killed.  The BBC ran an article on violence in central Nigeria that said quote ‘It is safe to assume that there are lots of victims on both sides, as any attack usually leads to revenge and then a cycle of violence' Why is that safe to assume? Justice G Danjuma, an evangelist for the Remnant Christian Network in Nigeria's Taraba State, does agree that disputes over resources play a role, just not nearly as big a role as many Media outlets would have you believe. Danjuma says quote ‘Overwhelmingly the attacks are driven by religious animosity.'  He also encouraged people to quote ‘Reject the climate change narrative pushed by Western Media' He and added that it is quote, ‘It is deeply offensive and misleading.  Why would climate change cause people to burn churches, kill pastors and massacre worshippers during Christmas or Palm Sunday services.' Nigeria is currently number 7 on the Open Doors World Watch List for countries where Christians face the most extreme persecution. Pray for the believers in Nigeria with the words of Psalm 35:1-3: "Contend, O Lord, with those who contend with me; Fight against those who fight against me!  Take hold of shield and buckler and rise for my help!  Draw spear and javelin against my pursuers!  Say to my soul, I am your salvation!" ADF Releases Report of Christian Victories in the Supreme Court The Alliance Defending Freedom or ADF released a report listing the victories of 2025 so far this year!  Among the victories in the US Supreme Court they reported were; A decision in June that pro-life states like South Carolina can now direct Medicaid funds away from abortion businesses like Planned Parenthood. And a landmark victory for children's health and science based medicine.  The Court upheld Tennessee law protecting minors from harmful and life-altering gender transition drugs and surgeries. A link to a full list of cases won and still awaiting decisions is in a link in our transcript. Conscience Protections for Medical Residents Act Introduced Lifenews.com reports that US Senator John Cornyn from Texas along with Senator James Lankford from Oklahoma and a group of their Senate GOP colleagues, introduced the Conscience Protections for Medical Residents Act, which would ensure medical students and residents are never pressured or coerced into abortion training that violates their moral or religious beliefs and established clear federal protections so residents are not forced to choose between their conscience and their careers. Senator Cornyn said quote, ‘The first rule of medicine is to do no harm, yet for many aspiring doctors, coerced abortion training not only contradicts that oath but also violates their moral and religious beliefs. By allowing medical residents to opt-in rather than opt-out of abortion training, this legislation would protect healthcare professionals convictions and give them the freedom to practice medicine without fear of retaliation.' Findings from Abortion Mill Undercover Investigation Released RightNow a not-for-profit organization committed to nominating and electing pro-life candidates along with educating and engaging pro-life Canadians on the political process, recently released the findings of an undercover investigation in which they went into abortion clinics across Canada to find out if it was possible to get a late-term abortion based solely on personal choice.  Alissa Golob, Co-Founder and Executive Director of RightNow says quote, ‘Canadians are often told that late-term abortions never happen in Canada and if they do, they are for extreme medical reasons.  Yet, I was told numerous times that attaining a late-term abortion in Canada is relatively easy, legal and that I did not need a reason, medical or otherwise, regarding myself or my pregnancy.' Other things exposed in this investigation were things like an abortion clinic counsellor defining late-term abortion in Canada as stillbirth, which calls into question the validity of current statistics around late-term abortions in Canada. And that taxpayer money in Canada has been used to fund travel and accommodations of Canadian women who are being sent to for-profit abortion clinics.   You can watch the YouTube video report in a link on our transcript at TheWorldview.com Close And that's The Worldview on this Monday December 1st, in the year of our Lord 2025. Follow us on X or subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com.  Plus, you can get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. Filling in for Adam McManus I'm Ean Leppin (Contact@eanvoiceit.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

Listeners… gather close and don't skip this announcement! A rare alignment has formed for fans of the Haunted UK Podcast and Haunted UK Fiction…but only until 11:59pm on Christmas Eve. From the shadows, a new tier has emerged… the APPARITION.For £1 per month, this limited-number tier grants you ad-free episodes, early access, and full entry to our haunted back catalogue.But when Christmas Eve ends, the APPARITION tier will disappear into the darkness… drifting away until it returns, mysteriously, in the New Year.But the spirits bring more gifts.Both our SPOOKED tier and our POSSESSED tier are now 50% off. Choose half off your first month, or half off an entire year.These chilling discounts will also fade at the Christmas Eve deadline. So, step forward, brave listener… claim these eerie offers before they slip into the void.And as always, thank you for supporting the show and may your festive season be truly haunted.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/haunted-uk-podcast--6759967/support.

My musings and mumblings...here's the outtake after the original!!! Thought I'd share it too!!!Listeners… gather close and don't skip this announcement! A rare alignment has formed for fans of the Haunted UK Podcast and Haunted UK Fiction…but only until 11:59pm on Christmas Eve. From the shadows, a new tier has emerged… the APPARITION.For £1 per month, this limited-number tier grants you ad-free episodes, early access, and full entry to our haunted back catalogue.But when Christmas Eve ends, the APPARITION tier will disappear into the darkness… drifting away until it returns, mysteriously, in the New Year. But the spirits bring more gifts.Both our SPOOKED tier and our POSSESSED tier are now 50% off. Choose half off your first month, or half off an entire year.These chilling discounts will also fade at the Christmas Eve deadline.So, step forward, brave listener… claim these eerie offers before they slip into the void.And as always, thank you for supporting the show and may your festive season be truly haunted.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/haunted-uk-podcast--6759967/support.

Send us a textSnow that bites, winds that snap, and a cabin lit by a single candle—yet the room still fills with carols and the smell of plum pudding. We journey across the Old West to uncover how pioneers forged the Christmas we recognize today, transforming scarcity into ritual and distance into community. From homestead kitchens humming weeks in advance to stockings hung by a hard‑won fire, we explore the customs that stitched a shaken nation back together after the Civil War and blossomed into a national holiday by 1870.We share first‑hand accounts that feel close to the skin: a family pushing through storms to reach a new life in Oregon Territory, neighbors snowshoeing through four feet of powder for a frontier feast, and Dodge City's Christmas Eve council where civic ambition briefly overshadowed goodwill. These vignettes reveal the texture of the season on the prairie—homemade ornaments from evergreens and ribbon, popcorn garlands, cookie‑dough keepsakes, and gifts carved, knitted, and stitched over months. Each detail reminds us that meaning grows where hands work and hearts wait.Midway, we read Robert W. Service's “The Christmas Tree,” a moving tale of a discarded fir that becomes a beacon for a child in pain. The poem echoes the frontier ethic: rescue what the world overlooks, turn it into light, and let hope do the rest. By the close, we reflect on hospitality and charity as the enduring core of the holiday—values that carried pioneers through savage winters and still kindle warmth in ours. If these stories deepen your own traditions, share the episode with someone you love, leave a quick review, and subscribe so you never miss the next journey west.Support the showIf you'd like to buy one or more of our fully illustrated dime novel publications, you can click the link I've included.

Christmas Eve is supposed to be a night full of warmth, family, laughter, and memories… but on December 24th, 2008, one Covina home became the site of one of California's most heartbreaking holiday tragedies.In this episode, Blacklabel, Geisha, and Azzilee walk you through the story of the Ortega family... a close-knit, generous, beloved family celebrating Christmas like millions of people do every yea and the man who turned their celebration into devastation.We break down: • Who Bruce Pardo really was • How months of planning led to the attack • The chaos inside the home as the shooting and fire unfolded • The survivors who fought through flames and gunfire • The manhunt across Southern California • Bruce Pardo's final moments • A detailed look at the victims, their lives, and their legacy • How the Covina community came together to heal • What this tragedy teaches us about family, love, and the fragility of lifeThis is a heavy episode,  but it's an important one.And it's a reminder to appreciate the people you love, especially during the holidays.Listen to Co-op Chronicles on:

Send us a textJingle Those Bells Yall its Christmas month!Today were talking about:Beneath the glow of fluorescent lights and holiday Muzak, P2 (2007) transforms a corporate parking garage into a cold, echoing labyrinth of obsession and dread.On Christmas Eve, a late-working professional finds herself hunted through stark concrete corridors by a security guard whose loneliness has curdled into something far more dangerous. The film unfolds with chilling intimacy — a claustrophobic portrait of desperation, captivity, and the thin line between holiday solitude and madness.It's brutal, tense, and strangely poetic in its emptiness — a winter tale where the only carols are echoed footsteps and the hum of fluorescent bulbs.

Radio was an invention involving many contributors and inventors. The pivotal moment, however, was on December 24, 1906 with the first long-distance public broadcast of a human voice on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1906 from Brant Rock, Mass. The first commercial radio station was KDKA in Pittsburgh, PA transmitting the US Presidential election results between Warren G Harding and James Cox on November 2, 1920. Radio become the center piece for news and entertainment soon after that. Radio shows became the theater of the mind. As television entered the market in the late 50s, radio evolved. Today radio has decentralized from stations to podcasts and content on demand. It is a medium that allows us to dream and create the stories in our imagination without being told what to see or dream. It is the power of the spoken word.  #BardsFM #TheaterOfTheMind #TheSpokenWord Bards Nation Health Store: www.bardsnationhealth.com EnviroKlenz Air Purification, promo code BARDS to save 10%:www.enviroklenz.com EMPShield protect your vehicles and home. Promo code BARDS: Click here MYPillow promo code: BARDS >> Go to https://www.mypillow.com/bards and use the promo code BARDS or... Call 1-800-975-2939.  White Oak Pastures Grassfed Meats, Get $20 off any order $150 or more. Promo Code BARDS: www.whiteoakpastures.com/BARDS BardsFM CAP, Celebrating 50 Million Downloads: https://ambitiousfaith.net Morning Intro Music Provided by Brian Kahanek: www.briankahanek.com Windblown Media 20% Discount with promo code BARDS: windblownmedia.com Founders Bible 20% discount code: BARDS >>> TheFoundersBible.com Mission Darkness Faraday Bags and RF Shielding. Promo code BARDS: Click here EMF Solutions to keep your home safe: https://www.emfsol.com/?aff=bards Treadlite Broadforks...best garden tool EVER. Promo code BARDS: TreadliteBroadforks.com No Knot Today Natural Skin Products: NoKnotToday.com Health, Nutrition and Detox Consulting: HealthIsLocal.com Destination Real Food Book on Amazon: click here Images In Bloom Soaps and Things: ImagesInBloom.com Angeline Design: AngelineDesign.com DONATE: Click here Mailing Address: Xpedition Cafe, LLC Attn. Scott Kesterson 591 E Central Ave, #740 Sutherlin, OR  97479

This is a "Shortcut" episode. It's a shortened version of this week's more detailed full episode, which is also available on our feed.Shirley Butler, a 21 year old woman, was found dead just metres from her home in Waverton on Christmas Day 1952.Detectives launched an intense hunt for answers and even staged a world first radio re enactment of her final tram ride, while the press hinted that police were holding back key details.Nearly six months later, a dramatic arrest made headlines, but the revelations that followed proved even more astonishing.You can subscribe to Forgotten Australia here on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.We're excited to announce the release of Sherele Moody's new podcast, She Matters. Click here to listen on Apple Podcasts, or find it wherever you get your podcasts.Join our Facebook Group here.Do you have information regarding any of the cases discussed on this podcast? Please report it on the Crime Stoppers website or by calling 1800 333 000.For Support: Lifeline on 13 11 1413 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732Blue Knot Helpline: 1300 657 380CREDITS:Host: Meshel LaurieGuest: Michael AdamsExecutive Producer/Editor: Matthew TankardGET IN TOUCH:https://www.australiantruecrimethepodcast.com/Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook Send us a question to have played on the show by recording a voice message here.Email the show at AusTrueCrimePodcast@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Shirley Butler, a 21 year old woman, was found dead just metres from her home in Waverton on Christmas Day 1952.Detectives launched an intense hunt for answers and even staged a world first radio re enactment of her final tram ride, while the press hinted that police were holding back key details. Nearly six months later, a dramatic arrest made headlines, but the revelations that followed proved even more astonishing.You can subscribe to Forgotten Australia here on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.We're excited to announce the release of Sherele Moody's new podcast, She Matters. Click here to listen on Apple Podcasts, or find it wherever you get your podcasts.Join our Facebook Group here.Do you have information regarding any of the cases discussed on this podcast? Please report it on the Crime Stoppers website or by calling 1800 333 000.For Support: Lifeline on 13 11 1413 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732Blue Knot Helpline: 1300 657 380CREDITS:Host: Meshel LaurieGuest: Michael AdamsExecutive Producer/Editor: Matthew TankardGET IN TOUCH:https://www.australiantruecrimethepodcast.com/Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook Send us a question to have played on the show by recording a voice message here.Email the show at AusTrueCrimePodcast@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

To understand the true identity of the baby born in David's City on that Christmas Eve so long ago, we must look to the book in which God himself speaks to us about his Son. In the opening three verses of John's Gospel, we find an ocean of truth held in a thimble-sized passage. There we learn three massive truths about the second person of the Trinity.

Ep #123  St. Andrew Christmas Novena   For Advent, join Annie and Stacy in praying the St. Andrew Christmas Novena 15 times a day from the Feast of St. Andrew (November 30) to Christmas Eve.  The novena starts about time marker 2:19   Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in the piercing cold. In that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee, O my God, to hear my prayer and grant my desires through the merits of Our Savior Jesus Christ, and of His blessed Mother. Amen.   How to Pray the St. Andrew Christmas Novena     Join us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/231017461535192   If you enjoy this podcast, please consider contributing to our Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/coffeeandcatholics or you can email us at coffeeandcatholics@gmail.com for direct donations and prayer requests.   Looking to learn how to reflect God's mercy in your parenting, let go of irritation and anger, become less reactive and more tenderhearted, and depend on God to lead you and help you bear “fruit that will last” (John 15:16)? Get more info on Lauren's Merciful Mama Retreat by emailing gatheringmannaformoms@gmail.com   Thank you to our lovely affiliate Blessed is She for their dedication to sisterhood in Christ. https://blessedisshe.net/?ref=COFFEECATHOLICS   We are big fans of Catholic Sprouts and all the wonderful things Nancy and the team are doing to spread the faith in families. GET 10% OFF WITH CODE: coffeeandcatholics10 https://shop.catholicsprouts.com/?ref=COFFEEANDCATHOLICS   Love TAN Books? We do too! Consider using our affiliate account for your next purchase. https://tanbooks.com?rfsn=7123077.dfb511   We're a proud partner of the SmartCatholics Podcast Network. Find new shows to love, meet like-minded Catholics, and join the community at smartcatholics.com.

Rewind. On Christmas Eve 2000, Susan Berman, a talented journalist, screenwriter, and author, sadly lost her life at her home on 1527 Benedict Canyon Drive in Beverly Hills. Susan, the cherished daughter of a mobster and a former dancer, was raised as part of mob royalty, celebrating birthdays with Elvis and Liberace. Her tragic passing deeply affected her friends, leaving us wondering—did Susan ever suspect her killer?Executive Producer Kristin OvernExecutive Producer and Host Sandy AdomaitisProducer Terry SampsonMusic by Ethan Stoller

Are you ready for Christmas? We ask each other about our readiness for lots of things: vacation, a new job, start of school; but that all pales in comparison to how we inquire of each other’s readiness for Christmas. We ask strangers if they are ready for Christmas! What are we asking about? Cooking and shopping, maybe travel plans, or parties to prepare. Church! Don’t forget that Christmas Eve service. With the time, money and energy we give to preparing, seems appropriate to ask, 'Does God think we are prepared?'

Ever wondered what is Advent beyond just lighting candles or opening little doors on a calendar? Advent is about arrival and anticipation—a sacred season that prepares our hearts to celebrate Christ's first coming while also anticipating His second coming.In this episode, we're exploring the rich history of Advent from the 5th-6th centuries and practical ways to make space for Christ in your family this season. Let's face it …the real crisis isn't a busy December—it's a Christ-less Christmas.In this episode:✅What is Advent and how you can celebrate as a family✅Why the first 2 weeks focus on reflection while the last 2 focus on celebration✅How to prepare room in your heart, schedule, and family for Jesus (not just more activities)✅Why hope in Jesus is confident expectation, not just wishful thinking✅Practical ways to anticipate Christ's coming like you'd prepare for honored house guests✅Beautiful traditions using Advent candles, scripture readings, and family devotionsReady to make Advent meaningful? Use the Advent resources below to help your family prepare room for Jesus!Recommended ResourcesChristmas Celebrations Bundle (SAVE $10 with code: DEC10 )Advent Tool Kit (SAVE $10 with code: DEC10 )Star of Bethtlehem ebookChristmas Celebrations ebookChristmas Around the World ebookJotham's JourneyO Come, O Come EmmanuelShow Notes:What Is Advent?Advent means arrival and anticipation. We're going to talk more about this in Tuesday's class, but I want to give you some background.Back in the 5th-6th centuries, the church celebrated Advent in a specific way. The first two weeks of Advent, the church would reflect on the Second Coming. Disciples would chasten their hearts, confess sins, and spend time hoping for the quick coming of the Lord. It was a time of reflection and fasting.The last two weeks of Advent would then transition to focus on the first coming—Christ in the manger. This was a time of feasting.Advent and Christmas are never held as a full re-enactment of the life of Christ but point to our place between the Resurrection and Second Coming.How Do You Walk Through Advent?I'm going to share ideas over the four weeks of Advent, but today I want to talk about making space for Christ.There's a book called "Make Space for Christ" by Susan Narjala, and the concept comes from that line in the Christmas carol: "Let every heart prepare Him room." But how do we actually do that?The Crisis of a Christ-Less ChristmasWe face a crisis of a Christ-less Christmas. We forget the guest of honor—Jesus. We get so wrapped up in gifts, we forget to unwrap the greatest gift of all.The antithesis of fearing God isn't offending Him or denying Him or omitting Him. It's forgetting God. Luke 3:4-6 talks about preparing the way of the Lord.Anticipation Is KeyThink about how you prepare for house guests. It takes time, right? So does preparing for or anticipating the feast of Christmas.You clean the house, you clean the bedrooms. You make sure your guests will be comfortable. You get rid of unnecessary items in the guest room. You declutter. In the same way, we need to confess sin and make room in our hearts.Psalm 27 says, "One thing I seek, to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life to meditate..." Sometimes you need to rearrange the room if necessary—get rid of toys, add water bottles, clean towels. Rethink, rearrange, and refocus so Christ has room in your family.We're anticipating the second coming of Christ as well. Growing up, we would read the Christmas story on Christmas Eve. Now I do Advent candles each week along with Advent Bible reading or Jotham's Journey.When you greet and treat guests with love, it's not because you have to. You get to. You want to.Is There Room for Jesus?Is there room in your heart for Jesus? Is there room in your schedule for Jesus? Is there room in your family for Jesus?We need to re-prioritize. We need to respond in AWE to God's amazing love. Matthew 6:33 says, "Seek first the kingdom of God."Hope: The First Candle in AdventIn America, we use the word "hope" to mean "wish." But in Jesus, hope means expecting Him—confident expectation. It's not just a wish that God is here or that Jesus saves. It's confident expectation.Think about the line from O Holy Night that you could use for copywork, dictation, or a short discussion about "thrill of hope":O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining It is the night of the dear Savior's birth! Long lay the world in sin and error pining Till he appear'd and the soul felt its worth. A thrill of hope the weary soul rejoices For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!We're still waiting for His coming again—the second coming. We're still weary from the world, from personal issues.Isaiah 40:31 talks about waiting on the Lord. Think about O Come Emmanuel—Israel hoped and waited 400 years. You can find more about this at howtohomeschoolmychild.com/o-come-o-come-emmanuel.Waiting on GodWe wait on God. I have a family devotion story about this. I'm still waiting on God to move in Steve's life.Kid-Friendly IdeasYou can make this kid-friendly using fabric or plastic figures. At Faith Passages, we actually acted it out with the kids.Ready to make Advent meaningful in your home? Download the free Advent resources and O Come Emmanuel study at HowToHomeschoolMyChild.com/o-come-o-come-emmanuel to help your family prepare room for Jesus. Learn practical ways to celebrate hope, peace, joy, and love while pointing your children to both Christ's first coming and His return!

A Day Is Coming – Part 1 MESSAGE SUMMARY: We are entering the season of Advent, which means “coming” or “arrival”. The Church begins this season of “arrival” or Advent as the time we recognize and celebrate the “arrival” of Jesus – both Jesus' “first coming” and His “second coming”. We celebrate Jesus' “first coming” on Christmas Eve. The season of Advent is, also, the beginning of the Church's “New Year”. Today, we begin our focus for Advent on Jesus “second coming” as promised by the Jesus in Luke 21:27-28: “And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”. Jesus realized that his first “arrival” on Earth was to sacrifice and to fulfil the Old Testament prophesies. Jesus knew, also, that His “first arrival” would provide a means that, through His sacrifice and Resurrection, could give all humans a personal relationship with God. However, Jesus knew that, after His sacrifice in His “first coming” into the World, that He would return to the World – Jesus' “second coming”. Jesus' “arrival”, in His “second coming”, is described, in the Bible text, that 1) Jesus is coming as the Son of Man – a term Jesus used to refer to Himself, from God's perspective; 2) Jesus is coming in a cloud; 3) Jesus' coming is preceded with certain signs in the Universe – all the “signs”, described in the Scripture, have already happened; and 4) the time of His coming being will be “soon” but “unknown”. As we are told in James 5:7-8, Jesus is coming again: “Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.". The Bible, clearly, teaches that Jesus is coming into the World again – the “second coming”. What do we need to do given the certainty of Jesus' “second coming”? In Luke 21:34-36, Jesus answers this important question regarding our preparation for His “second coming”: “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”. Be reminded that the “cares” and “anxieties” of our lives can trap us from being ready for Jesus' “second coming”.   TODAY'S PRAYER: Lord, Sabbath rest is truly an unbelievable gift! Thank you that there is nothing I can do to earn your love; it comes without any strings attached. As I close my eyes for these few minutes before you, all I can say is, thank you! In Jesus' name, amen.    Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 133). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, I AM RIGHTEOUS IN GOD'S EYES. God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV):  Mark 13:32; Luke 21:27-28; Matthew 16:27; Daniel 7:13-14; Luke 21:25; Luke 21:8-10; Matthew 24:14; Mark 13:8; 1 Thessalonians 5:2; Mark 13:32; John 14:3; Acts 1:9; 1 John 2:28;  1 Thessalonians 3:2; Hebrews 9:28; James 5:7-8; 2 Peter 3:10; Luke 21:34-36.  (Click the blue below to read the full Bible text for these scripture references in BOLD.). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE SEARCH: www.AWFTL.org/bible-search/ WEBSITE LINK TO DR. BEACH'S DAILY DEVOTIONAL – “Jesus Followers Have Eternal Life, Even Before their Earthly Death, Because Whoever “believes him {God} who sent me {Jesus}””: https://awordfromthelord.org/devotional/ A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

Luke 1:26-37 – Matthew 1:18-25 Holy Night – Part One Again and again in the Old Testament, God promises a broken and pained world that he will send a Messiah — that is, a Deliverer — to start to renew and restore all things. Genesis 3:15 Isaiah 9:1-7 Micah 5:1-4 Because the coming of the Messiah was a long time coming, it was easy for God's people to start to think of it as an impossibility. Most scholars agree that by the time we enter the period of the New Testament, nearly 400 years had passed since the last messianic promise had been given by God — and the Messiah still hadn't come. Two messages that broke the 400-year silence — the angels' messages to Mary (Luke 1:26-37) and Joseph (Matthew 1:18-25) Luke 1:26-37 – Matthew 1:18-25 I. The coming of the Messiah, Jesus, was never to be thought of as an impossibility, because all things had already been proven possible for God. Today marks the beginning of Advent: (1) the word “advent” means “coming,”   (2) the season of Advent, which leads up to Christmas Day and includes four Sundays, is a time to reflect on the coming of Jesus to begin to renew and restore a broken and pained world,  (3) it’s also a time to look ahead to when Jesus will come again to finish the renewing and restorative work he started at Christmas. God has indeed promised the Messiah, Jesus, will come again:  Matthew 24 & 25  John 1 & 2  1 Thessalonians & 2 Thessalonians  Revelation Because the second coming of Jesus has been a long time coming, it's easy for us to start to think of it as an impossibility. As we consider what Joseph & Mary may have been thinking, we may also be experiencing doubt, distraction, or discouragement such as: “Maybe the powers of the world hold too much power for Jesus to topple them. Maybe the powers beyond this world hold too much power. Maybe we've sinned too much, and we're undeserving. Maybe too much is needed by way of miracles to pull this off.” II. The second coming of Jesus is never to be thought of as an impossibility, because all things have already been proven possible for God. This is a time leading up to Christmas Day to remember the coming of Jesus. It's a time to remember how his coming brought about a great turning point for the world. The world had been hounded by hopelessness, shame, great sadness, and the coldness of self-concern and self-preservation, and his coming caused a great turning toward hope, peace, joy, and love. Each of the four Sundays in Advent speak to these four themes, respectively: hope, peace, joy, and love. We're going to speak to each in the four Sundays of Advent, and we're going to do so by exploring the angelic messages that were passed along either in the days leading to the holy night of Jesus's birth or on the holy night itself. We've already covered the first angelic message this morning, haven't we? “Nothing is impossible with God.” Which, of course, gives us hope — a confident expectation that nothing is impossible for God, because nothing ever has been. Hope November 30 Peace December 7 Joy December 14 Love December 21 You're probably familiar with the practice of the lighting of the Advent candles — four candles arranged in a circle (for Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love), with another larger candle in the middle (often referred to as “the Christ candle”). The lighting of the Hope candle takes place on the first Sunday of Advent, the lighting of the Peace candle on the second Sunday — and so on. The lighting of the Christ candle often takes place on Christmas Eve, but traditions vary. (Some wait until Epiphany in January.) Your church might already take part in this practice, but if your church has yet to do so, this series might be the perfect time to introduce it into the life of the congregation. If you decide to take part in the practice, you could explain the tradition and then during the conclusion of the sermon, you could light the first candle — the candle for Hope.

Last year, film critic Nick Digilio came onto the show to talk about the crime comedy "The Ref." This year, he returns to talk about a film that feels like a close cousin to that film, Harold Ramis' "The Ice Harvest," starring John Cusack, Billy Bob Thornton, Connie Nielsen and Oliver Platt. Like "The Ref," it is an underseen gem about criminals trying to get out of town on Christmas Eve, with too many obstacles--including family, cops and other criminals--getting in the way. What was it like to hang out with John Cusack when he lived in Chicago? Is this his best performance? How does this film fit into the rest of Harold Ramis work? All this, plus a look at Nick's book, "40 Years, 40 Films" where we dive into what makes a good film critic and what your Top 10 says about you. Finally, Nick's TV Christmas pick is "The Honeymooners" - Season 1, Episode 13 - "'Twas The Night Before Christmas," one of the coveted 39 episodes of the show that remains timeless and classic.  Buy Nick's book "40 years, 40 Films" here.

Thirty years ago, Eric watched his 40-year-old father walk out to meet a group of carolers and never came back. Now it's Christmas Eve, and Eric just turned 40 himself. | “Silent Night” by Scott Donnelly #MicroTerrorsFind more family-friendly frights and creepy games to play on our website at http://MicroTerrors.com!Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/microterrorsOther stories, novels, and more from author Scott Donnelly: https://amzn.to/3LymHaUOther narrations, podcasts, and audiobooks from voice artist Darren Marlar: https://WeirdDarkness.com= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =Weird Darkness©, 2025Micro Terrors: Scary Stories for Kids™, 2025#WeirdDarkness #ChristmasHorror #GhostStory #ScaryChristmas #HolidayHorror #CreepyChristmas #ParanormalStory #HauntedChristmas #ChristmasCurse #ScaryStories

Advent is more than a countdown to Christmas—it’s a season of spiritual preparation, reflection, and anticipation for the coming of Jesus. Isaiah 9:6 reminds us of the promise of a Savior, calling Him Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. By intentionally preparing our hearts and homes, we can embrace the joy, hope, and light of Christ, creating meaningful family traditions that honor His arrival and cultivate a posture of worship. Highlights Advent is derived from the Latin word for “coming” and lasts four weeks, focusing on Christ’s first and second comings. Attend special Advent services to reflect, pray, and celebrate the birth of Jesus. Use an Advent calendar to daily engage with Scripture, small treats, or family moments that highlight Christ’s arrival. Light an Advent wreath weekly to symbolize expectation, reflection, and Christ as the light of the world (John 8:12). Create visual reminders like Advent chains or prepare a manger to help children and families anticipate Christ’s birth. Share the story of Jesus with others each week, following the example of the shepherds in Luke 2:17-18. Advent encourages both personal reflection and communal celebration, fostering gratitude, faith, and joyful expectation. Gift Inspiration: Crosswalk's Holiday Gift Guide Looking for a meaningful way to celebrate the season? Check out our Holiday Gift Guide—from beautifully illustrated Bibles and devotionals to novels, greeting cards, and picture books, there’s something for everyone on your list. Wrap up stories for loved ones, tuck a book into your own nightstand, and join us in celebrating the wonder of giving this Christmas! Full Transcript Below: Preparing Our Hearts and Homes for Advent By Lynette Kittle Bible Reading: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace—Isaiah 9:6 Preparing a home for the arrival of a new baby is a busy time, full of choosing clothes, bedding, accessories, and more. It’s an exciting time of getting everything ready and waiting for the day to come. It’s a time when families and friends come together to help prepare and celebrate the coming birth. As well, during the Advent season, we can remember, prepare, and celebrate anew the coming of Jesus as a newborn baby into our world. Some Christians may ask, what is Advent? Even though I grew up as a pastor’s daughter, we didn’t really emphasize Advent; it was something celebrated in more liturgical churches like Catholic, Anglican, and Lutheran, so we didn’t really learn or practice the observance growing up. The word Advent is derived from the Latin word “coming” and is a time of anticipation, prayer, spiritual reflection, and preparation for the birth of Jesus on Christmas Day. Advent traditionally starts four weeks before Christmas, beginning on the Sunday closest to November 30 and ending on Christmas Eve. Yet, it’s a beautiful time of preparation, lasting four weeks, leading up to the celebration of Jesus’ first coming at Christmas in the birth of our Messiah, and also the anticipation of His second coming and return to earth, yet to occur. 6 Meaningful Ways to Prepare for and Celebrate Advent The following are six traditional ways to prepare our hearts to celebrate Advent. Attend special Advent services. Some churches and denominations offer Advent services leading up to Christmas, where attendees join together to prepare their hearts for Christ’s birth with Scripture reading, an Advent message, songs, and prayers. Follow an Advent Calendar. Leading up to Christmas day, as a family, go through an Advent calendar, which offers 24 or 25 doors to open, each holding a small surprise, toy, candy, or Bible verse inside to help us focus on, prepare, and celebrate each day of Advent. Opening each door helps to teach us about Christ’s coming, along with creating warm family moments and memories to last for years to come. Light an Advent Wreath. An Advent wreath is traditionally made out of evergreens, but can come in various forms, such as wooden or plastic, holding four candles to represent the four weeks leading up to Advent, lighting one candle each Sunday. Traditionally, because purple represents royalty, the candles are usually three purple and one pink candle. Lighting the wreath offers a time for expectation and reflection, where we can look forward to Christ’s coming and rejoice because Jesus is the light of the world. As John 8:12 records, “When Jesus spoke again to the people, He said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’” Create an Advent chain. As a visual countdown to Advent, young children may especially enjoy making an Advent chain, linking together colorful pieces of paper to represent each day leading up to Advent. Every day, remove a link until Christmas Day. Prepare a manger. Some families construct a small manger to represent preparing a place for the coming Christ, lining it each day with pieces of straw in preparation. As Luke 2:7 reminds us, “And she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped Him in cloths and placed Him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.” Share Jesus. Each week of Advent, tell someone about celebrating it and what it means to all of us. Like the shepherds told others about Jesus’ birth in Luke 2:17-18, tell those we know about His coming. “When they had seen Him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.” Intersecting Faith & Life: If you grew up Christian, but unaware of celebrating Advent, take some time to prayerfully consider if you and your family would like to participate this coming year in one or more of the traditions. Further Reading: 4 Advent Traditions to Carry on with Your Family Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Looking for scary Christmas horror stories to binge while you decorate the tree? This feature-length Christmas horror podcast special from Weekly Spooky packs 10 terrifying holiday horror tales into one nonstop marathon of killer Santas, haunted Christmas traditions, deadly blizzards, cursed letters, and creepy toy stores. Perfect for anyone who loves Christmas horror movies, ghost stories for Christmas, and spooky holiday podcasts.This is the first in our holiday horror binge, dropping every Saturday until New Year's, so you'll always have fresh Christmas horror audio to play while the snow falls and the lights flicker.Inside this Christmas horror compilation:I'll Be Home For Christmas — by Shane MigliavaccaSnowed into an isolated girls' boarding school during a brutal winter storm, homesick teens settle in for a cozy Christmas Eve—until a desperate knock at the door turns the night into a terrifying siege of blood, fear, and survival.Christmas Rage — by Rob FieldsAt Strickfield Towne Centre Mall, Christmas Eve explodes into violence when simmering grudges, holiday stress, and one very dangerous man in a Santa suit turn the season of giving into a slasher-fueled massacre.Welcome to Tiny Christmas, Iowa! — by Michelle AntisocialA burned-out city transplant takes a job in the “tiniest, most Christmasiest place in Iowa,” where it's always December, the decorations never come down, and the town's obsession with holiday cheer hides a truly sinister secret.The Santa Letters — by Morgan MooreInspired by the infamous Circleville letters, a quiet Ohio town is terrorized by anonymous “Santa” notes filled with accusations and threats—turning Christmas mail into a weapon and shattering the illusion of a peaceful holiday.Babes in Terrorland — by Morgan MooreA classic neighborhood toy store overflows with shoppers, kids, and glittering displays… but after closing time, the lights go out, the doors lock, and the aisles become a maze of fear where Christmas wishes twist into a claustrophobic nightmare.The Weather Outside is Frightful — by Shane MigliavaccaOn Christmas Eve 1973, a rookie cop and her jaded partner answer a call in the middle of a once-in-a-decade blizzard—only to discover something inhuman hunting in the snow, and a storm that may never let them escape.Satan Claus — by Keith TomlinA family's ugliest sins summon a monstrous, horned figure in a Santa hat from the winter woods. This isn't Saint Nick—it's something far older, delivering brutal justice to the truly naughty on Christmas night.Christmas Cranberries — by L. F. FalconerA cruel boy grows obsessed with an old-world Christmas legend, only to learn that some hungry holiday spirits are waiting for a chance to taste something fresh, red, and screaming—no matter how pretty the table looks.The Naughty List — by Keith TomlinA vicious twelve-year-old wakes up in an icy labyrinth with other “bad kids,” stalked by a towering Christmas beast and watched by eerie elves. This year, Santa's naughty list is real, and the punishment is permanent.Lady Frankenstein — by Rob FieldsIn the village of Strickfield, a descendant of Henry Frankenstein uses a conveniently fresh corpse and his ancestor's notes to build the perfect woman just before Christmas—only to unleash a vampiric creation into the holiday shopping crowds.If you crave Christmas horror stories, holiday ghost stories, and winter horror podcasts you can binge all season long, this Weekly Spooky Christmas compilation belongs on your playlist from now through New Year's.Press play, plug in the tree, and let the holiday fear begin.

Merle Haggard was what authorities liked to call a “repeat offender.” He was arrested for riding trains, for skipping school, for stealing cars, for robbing gas stations, and for attempting to knock over a restaurant – during the Christmas Eve rush. He was committed to juvenile halls, correctional facilities, and reform schools 17 times, and 17 times he escaped. When he was arrested for the final time, he was sent to do hard time at San Quentin. He turned 21 in prison. And it was in prison that he found the freedom he'd been running towards his whole life – freedom that was delivered from an unlikely source. For the full list of contributors, visit ⁠disgracelandpod.com⁠ This episode was originally published on July 25, 2023. To listen to Disgraceland ad free and get access to exclusive content and more, become a Disgraceland All Access member at ⁠disgracelandpod.com/membership⁠. Sign up for our newsletter and get the inside dirt on events, merch and other awesomeness - ⁠GET THE NEWSLETTER⁠ Follow Jake and DISGRACELAND: ⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠YouTube⁠ ⁠X⁠ (formerly Twitter)  ⁠Facebook Fan Group⁠ ⁠TikTok⁠ To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Barry Hearn joins Jake and Damian for a no-nonsense masterclass in ambition, resilience, and the mindset that turned a kid from a council estate into one of the most influential figures in global sport. The legendary Matchroom founder opens up about the work ethic shaped by his formidable mother, the chip on his shoulder that fuelled his rise, and the Christmas Eve moment in 1988 when he stood on the brink of bankruptcy, before one audacious deal changed everything.Across the conversation, Barry lays out his 10 Rules for Life: why “everything is a competition,” how sheer graft can make you look like a genius, why honesty is a superpower, and what it means to be “unbeatable” even when life dents you. He reflects on building empires in snooker, darts, and boxing, the importance of thinking poorly to stay sharp, and the role fire, fun, and relentless optimism have played in his seven decades of success.This is Barry Hearn in full force, funny, fierce, and fiercely honest, offering the timeless laws of success from a man who refuses to be beaten. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.