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Christmas Past

Behind every Christmas tradition is a story, often a forgotten one. Every year as we put up a tree and pour the eggnog, we’re continuing generations-old narratives, while being mostly unaware of their starting chapters. Join Brian Earl to explore the fascinating stories behind the most wonderful time of the year. It's equal parts nerdy deep dive and warmhearted celebration. Think: NPR meets Clement Clarke Moore! Christmas Past is one of the longest running Christmas podcasts, now in its seventh season. Vanity Fair says: "With excellent production, engaging narration, and short, digestible running times, Christmas Past is perfect to put on while decorating your tree or preparing Christmas dinner." Brian's new book is out now from Lyons Press and Recorded books! Get your copy today, wherever books are sold. And remember...it makes a great gift!
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Now displaying: April, 2020
Apr 23, 2020

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

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Apr 15, 2020

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! 

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Apr 9, 2020

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. 

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Apr 8, 2020

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. 

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Apr 7, 2020

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

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Apr 6, 2020

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. 

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Music from this episode

"Jimmy Ching: Dragon King!" — Matt Oakley, via Free Music Archive

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Apr 5, 2020

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! 

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Apr 4, 2020

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

Apr 3, 2020

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. 

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Music in this episode

"Red City Theme" — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music Archive

Apr 2, 2020

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!

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Apr 1, 2020

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! 

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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! 

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