Christmas Past

We're continuing our Ber Months bonus series for those of us getting an early start on the Christmas season. Brian is reading the 1918 YA novel, Campfire Girls in the Allegheny Mountains (or: A Christmas Success Against Odds). Last time we left the girls, they were on a train ride, and hostess Marion was disturbed by a mysterious letter. Let's see what happens next! Music in this episode “Relaxing Piano Music” — Kevin MacLeod, via Incompetech "Night Light" — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music Archive Keep in touch christmaspastpodcast@gmail.com Facebook page Facebook group Twitter Instagram

Welcome back. We're continuing where we left off from the 1918 YA novel, "Campfire Girls in the Allegheny Mountains (or: A Christmas Success Against Odds). It's a fitting kickoff to the Ber Months Bonus episodes of 2020. Stay subscribed as I continue bringing a few chapters in each installment every few days until the story is complete.  Music in this episode “Relaxing Piano Music” — Kevin MacLeod, via Incompetech "Turning" — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music Archive Keep in touch christmaspastpodcast@gmail.com Facebook page Facebook group Twitter Instagram

For many of us, the start of the 'Ber Months' marks the beginning of the holiday season. So today, on Ber Months Eve, I'm launching a new Story Time miniseries. Because COVID will make Christmas of 2020 a Christmas against the odds, I thought it would be fitting to read the 1918 YA Novel, Campfire Girls in the Allegheny Mountains (or: A Christmas Against Odds).  I'll read one or two chapters in each installment until the story is complete. Happy Ber Months, sugarplums!  Music in this episode “Relaxing Piano Music” — Kevin MacLeod, via Incompetech "Turning" — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music Archive Keep in touch christmaspastpodcast@gmail.com Facebook page Facebook group Twitter Instagram

Happy Leon Day, everyone! We're at the exact halfway point to Christmas. Christmas in July is just days away, and so is the start of the 2nd Annual Christmas Past summer cookie swap. I hope you're feeling as festive as I am! Leon Day is the unofficial start of the Christmas crafting season, so I asked crafter Juliette Williams to join me to discuss the magic of a handcrafted Christmas. For more info Leon Day's backstory, check out my episode from 2019. Mentioned in this episode Juliette Pecaut Designs store on Etsy Christmas pudding tree ornament knitting pattern 2nd Annual Christmas Past summer cookie swap Music in this episode "Christmas Village" — Aaron Kenny, via YouTube Audio Library "Falling Snow" — Aakash Gandhi, via YouTube Audio Library "I Saw Three Ships" — Audionautix, via YouTube Audio Library "Cottonwoods" — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music Archive "Turning" — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music Archive Keep in touch christmaspa

I'm back with another installment of story time. Here's a great one for the whole family: "Lill's Travels in Santa Claus Land," a story from 1878. And though she isn't mentioned by name, it's one of the first times that a Mrs Santa Claus shows up in print!  Enjoy the story, and stay safe! Music in this episode “Relaxing Piano Music” — Kevin MacLeod, via Incompetech "Checkmate" — Nathan Moore, via YouTube Audio Library Keep in touch christmaspastpodcast@gmail.com Facebook page Facebook group Twitter Instagram

Welcome to another game where you need to spot the lie! This time, I'm joined by Todd from Christmas Clatter, Carrie from Christmas Book Review, and Chris from Yuletide TV.  Oh, and after more than 100 episodes, this is the last time you'll hear me sign off from "sunny San Mateo, California." Christmas Past is moving to new headquarters, so stay subscribed to hear where. (Spoiler: it's not the North Pole.)  Stay safe and healthy, everyone! Mentioned in this episode Craig Kringle's Twitter feed Mrs Claus by Tiffany Alvord and Tiffany Houghton   Music in this episode “Silk and Silver” — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music Archive Keep in touch christmaspastpodcast@gmail.com Facebook page Facebook group Twitter Instagram

It's another installment of Christmas in Quarantine! I hope you're staying safe and healthy and keeping your spirits up. Today's episode is another edition of story time. This one's on the sad side, but it is a classic story from Dostoevsky. Enjoy!  Music in this episode “A Little Powder” — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music Archive “Relaxing Piano Music” — Kevin MacLeod, via Incompetech Keep in touch christmaspastpodcast@gmail.com Facebook page Facebook group Twitter Instagram

It's another installment of Christmas in Quarantine! Today we're getting bookish with Carrie Mercer, host of Christmas Book Review. Join us for a literary celebration of the season, and discover some new stories to add to your reading list.  And listen for details, because Carrie is giving away a copy of Jon Clinch's new novel, Marley!  Music in this episode "Harp Lullaby" — Sound Phenomenon, via SoundCloud Books mentioned in this episode Meg and Jo by Virginia Kantra Marley's Ghost by Mark Osmun Marley by Jon Clinch Red and Lulu by Matt Tavares The Christmas Tugboat by Adele Ursone and George Matteson The Afterlife of Holly Chase by Cynthia Hand

It's Christmas Past's 100th episode! Join me and some special guests for a look back at how Christmas Past came to be and where it's going. Thank you so much for being part of the Christmas Past family and coming along for the ride!  Music in this episode "Turning" — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music Archive "Night Light" — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music Archive "Stille Nacht" — Don Maue, shared directly by the artist "It Came Upon the Midnight Clear" — Don Maue, shared directly by the artist “Deck the Halls B” — Kevin MacLeod, via Incompetech Keep in touch christmaspastpodcast@gmail.com Facebook page Facebook group Twitter Instagram

Christmas in Quarantine: Day 22. Today's installment is the second half of yesterday's classic Christmas story. It's Miss Mant.'s 1832 "Christmas, A Happy Time: A Tale, Calculated for the Amusement and Instruction of Young Persons." Christmas Past's 100th episode is coming soon. I'd love for you to be on it. Record a voice memo into your phone -- anything at all you'd like to share with the Christmas Past family -- and send it to christmaspastpodcast@gmail.com.  Stay subscribed for daily episodes.  Music in this episode "Solar Gain" — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music Archive “Relaxing Piano Music” — Kevin MacLeod, via Incompetech Keep in touch christmaspastpodcast@gmail.com Facebook page Facebook group Twitter Instagram

Christmas in Quarantine: Day 21. Today's installment is the start of another classic Christmas story. It's Miss Mant.'s 1832 "Christmas, A Happy Time: A Tale, Calculated for the Amusement and Instruction of Young Persons." Christmas Past's 100th episode is coming soon. I'd love for you to be on it. Record a voice memo into your phone -- anything at all you'd like to share with the Christmas Past family -- and send it to christmaspastpodcast@gmail.com.  Stay subscribed for daily episodes.  Music in this episode "Noe Noe" — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music Archive “Relaxing Piano Music” — Kevin MacLeod, via Incompetech Keep in touch christmaspastpodcast@gmail.com Facebook page Facebook group Twitter Instagram

Christmas in Quarantine: Day 20. Today's installment is another game of separating fact from fiction. It's two truths and a lie! Join me, along with Julia from Tis the Podcast, Duane from Tinsel Tunes, and Craig from Weird Christmas as we trade some festive fibs. Play along with us! Christmas Past's 100th episode is coming soon. I'd love for you to be on it. Record a voice memo into your phone -- anything at all you'd like to share with the Christmas Past family -- and send it to christmaspastpodcast@gmail.com.  Stay subscribed for daily episodes.  Music in this episode "Warm Feeling" — Borrtex, via Free Music Archive Keep in touch christmaspastpodcast@gmail.com Facebook page Facebook group Twitter Instagram

Christmas in Quarantine: Day 19. Today's installment is another moonwalk down memory lane to the world of 1980s Christmas cartoon specials. It's 1985's He-Man & She-Ra: A Christmas Special...which is arguably neither special nor Christmassy. It's all in the eye of the beholder. So join me and my fellow beholders, Mike Westfall from Advent Calendar House and Tim Babb from Can't Wait for Christmas.  Links from this episode Advent Calendar House Can't Wait for Christmas He-Man & She-Ra: A Christmas Special Music from this episode "Jimmy Ching: Dragon King!" — Matt Oakley, via Free Music Archive Keep in touch christmaspastpodcast@gmail.com Facebook page Facebook group Twitter Instagram

Christmas in Quarantine: Day 18. Today's installment is another story, this time a contemporary one. Our friend Sarah Tipper has given us another story from her collection, Tales to Take You to Christmas.  Stay subscribed for daily episodes!  Music in this episode "Cottonwoods" — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music Archive “Relaxing Piano Music” — Kevin MacLeod, via Incompetech Keep in touch christmaspastpodcast@gmail.com Facebook page Facebook group Twitter Instagram  

Christmas in Quarantine: Day 17. Today's installment is another trip back to the golden age of radio. On December 25, 1938, the world heard for the first time Norman Corwin's radio play told in rhyming verse: The Plot to Overthrow Christmas. It's another Christmas classic just waiting to be rediscovered by a modern audience.  Hope you enjoy! And stay subscribed for daily episodes.  Music in this episode “Golden Hour” — Podington Bear, via Free Music Archive

Christmas in Quarantine: Day 16: Today, we're heading back to the 80s, when all you needed for a cartoon Christmas special was a bestselling toy and a flimsy storyline. Deck the Halls with Wacky Walls tells the story of a group of Wacky Wall Walkers who come to earth from a distant planet to discover the true meaning of Christmas. I'm joined by Chris and Kris from Christmas Time in the City and Mike from Snow in Southtown for this very 80s episode.  Links from this episode Deck the Halls with Wacky Walls on YouTube Snow in Southtown podcast Christmas Time in the City podcast Music in this episode "Red City Theme" — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music Archive

Christmas in Quarantine: Day 15. We pick up where we left off yesterday, with the second half of Charles Dickens's story. Stay subscribed for new episode EVERY DAY! Music in this episode "LaBranche" — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music Archive “Relaxing Piano Music” — Kevin MacLeod, via Incompetech

Christmas in Quarantine: Day 14. Today's installment is another classic Christmas story, by special request. This story from Charles Dickens's appears in The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club. It's "The Story of the Goblins Who Stole a Sexton." I'm breaking it up into two parts: part 1 today; part 2 tomorrow.  Stay safe and healthy, and stay subscribed for a new episode EVERY DAY!  Music in this episode "Up Up and Over" — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music Archive “Relaxing Piano Music” — Kevin MacLeod, via Incompetech Spread some Christmas cheer by helping more people discover the show! It's as easy as telling a friend about it or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. If you leave a review, I'll send you a sticker to say thanks! 

Christmas in Quarantine: Day 13. Today's installment is a devious twist on Christmas trivia. We're playing a game of Two Truths and a Lie. Join me and Todd Killian from Christmas Clatter, and Gerry Davila from the forthcoming podcast, Totally Rad Christmas, as we challenge each other to separate fact from fiction! Christmas in Quarantine is Christmas Past's impromptu miniseries of indeterminate length. Stay subscribed for one new episode each day until things settle down on the COVID-19 crisis.  Music in this episode "Skyway" — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music Archive  

Christmas in Quarantine: Day 12. Today's installment is an interview with author Jon Clinch. His 2019 novel, Marley is a prequel to A Christmas Carol and the untold story of Scrooge's mysterious business partner. It's a moody, noirish return to the world of Dickens in a story of double dealings, false identities, debauchery, and even worse! I recently caught up with Jon Clinch from his home in Vermont.  Stay subscribed for daily episodes.  Music in this episode "Snowflake" — Borrtex, via Free Music Archive   If you leave a review for the show on Apple Podcasts, I'll send you a sticker to say thanks!