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Total Christmas

Hooray for Christmas!

First up we have this weeks version of A Christmas Carol. It’s an episode of Popular which was a late 90s show about teenagers starring a bunch of actors in their mid to late twenties.
It’s awful, but in a good way.  Or it’s great, but in a bad way.
Watch it here:

Then Bob Baker brings us Do You Hear What I Hear, and I never knew that across they pond they didn’t call a Till a Till.

Then it’s The Quiz. I scored a princely 9 out of 10, let me know how you got on.

After the Joke, Bob returns with Spread A Smile of Joy and he looks at getting involved in your local community. It’s a great way to spread so local good cheer.
Check out Bob’s podcast, Festive Foreigh Film Fans here:
https://4fpodcast.buzzsprout.com/

Then it’s time for Christmas All Over The World, and thanks to listener Jeanie Mulligan we look at a modern Irish tradition of The Late Late Toyshow. Most years it’s the most watched show in the whole of Ireland and it’s delightful.

This episode’s recommendation is the TV show Cougartown starring Courtney Cox. If you’ve never watched it you should give it a binge.

Get in touch:
Email: totalchristmas@gmail.com
Website: totalchristmaspodcast.com

Merry Christmas!

Listen to this episode of Total Christmas Podcast
Author: Jack
Title: Episode 116 – The Late Late Toyshow
Total Christmas

Total Christmas

Hello you beautiful people.
For many years I’ve thought Scrooge’s gift to the Cratchitt family of a huge turkey was ridiculous. How on earth would they cook it in time for their Christmas dinner?
Well greater minds than mine have looked into it and thanks to their brains and research we look at it the feasibility of such a large turkey.
Here’s a link to the full article:
https://infinitequestpodcast.com/extras/f/how-big-was-the-prize-turkey-in-a-christmas-carol

Keeping on the subject of Turkey’s, this episode’s Christmas Not So Classic is Ho Ho Ho (Who’d be a Turkey at Christmas) by Sir Elton John.
It’s not that good, but you can check it out here:

Then, in Do You Hear What I Hear, Bob Baker looks at the word Jelly as used to describe Santa’s belly.

Then it’s The Quiz, I scored a respectable 8. Let me know how you got on.

After the joke Bob returns with Spread A Smile of Joy and he looks at the practice of Jeep Ducking.
Check out Bob’s podcast, Festive Foreign Fans, here:
https://4fpodcast.buzzsprout.com/

In Christmas All Over The World we look at the lovely Mexican tradition of Las Posadas, where a procession of people re-enact Joseph and Mary’s attempts to find lodgings.  It’s fun for all the family.

This episode’s recommendation comes from listener Timothy Lewis and it’s called Words Unravelled, a podcast that looks at everything to do with words.
Have a listen, I think you’ll enjoy it:
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/words-unravelled-with-robwords-and-jess-zafarris/id1737751787

Get in touch:
Email: totalchristmas@gmail.com
Website: totalchristmaspodcast.com

Merry Christmas!

Listen to this episode of Total Christmas Podcast
Author: Jack
Title: Episode 115 – Christmas Turkey
Total Christmas

Total Christmas

Merry Christmas you beautiful people!

It’s a packed episode filled to the brim with Christmas joy.

We start the show with a version of A Christmas Carol from 1913 starring Seymour Hicks.  They’ve made some interesting choices.
You can watch it here:

The Bob Baker explains the difference between a yard and a garden in Do You Hear What I Hear.

This episodes joke comes from the lovely Pamel Wooten. We may have had it before but who cares?

Last week we looked at the Yorkshire Christmas Pie, and this week we look at another Yorkshire tradition.  Christmas cake with cheese.

It’s been two years since we’ve had The Worst Christmas Present Ever segment, so I’ve scoured the internet and found some for you.

Then Bob is back with Spread A Smile of Joy and there are many people who don’t celebrate Christmas, so why not share their holidays.
Check out Bob’s podcast, Festive Foreigh Film Fans, here:
https://4fpodcast.buzzsprout.com/

Then we have The Christmas Quiz.  I scored a respectable 7, see how you get on.

If you want to get in touch I’d love to hear from you.

Email: totalchristmas@gmail.com
Website: totalchristmaspodcast.com

Merry Christmas!

Listen to this episode of Total Christmas Podcast
Author: Jack
Title: Episode 114 – Christmas Cake with Cheese
Total Christmas

Total Christmas

Hello you beautiful people!
It’s another packed show and we start off by looking at a tradition from Yorkshire here in the UK.  The Yorkshire Christmas Pie was a multiple bird roast inside a pie.
Alas it’s not really a thing these days, but I give you a recipe so you can go and make your own.

Then Bob Baker our podcast barman looks at the word ‘Torch’ in Do You Hear What I Hear.

Next up it’s the quiz. I scored a respectable 8, see if you can do better.

A couple of years ago Benji Pearson asked me to help him design his Halloween costume of Jacob Marley, well this year he’s looking at being The Ghost of Christmas Present. We discuss what he looks like in What The Dickens.

Then Bob is back with Spread a Smile of Joy and he’s suggesting a lovely concept called Santa’s Kindness Ornament and Journal from Demdaco.
Here’s a link:
https://www.demdaco.com/santas-kindness-ornament-journal/

This episode’s version of A Christmas Carol is 1200 Ghosts.  It’s a YouTube mash up that takes clips from 400 versions of A Christmas Carol and puts them together to tell the story.  It’s definitely worth a watch:

Get in touch:
Email: totalchristmas@gmail.com
Website: totalchristmaspodcast.com

Merry Christmas!

Listen to this episode of Total Christmas Podcast
Author: Jack
Title: Episode 113 – The Ghost of Christmas Present
Total Christmas

Total Christmas

Hello you beautiful people.

It’s another episode with me, your lovely host.
We open the show with a Christmas Not So Classic. It’s called Christmas Isn’t Christmas and it’s from Bon Jovi.  It was only released last year but I hadn’t heard a thing about it.
Have a listen here:

Then Bob Baker is here to look at why us Brits called Bachelor Party a Stag Do, in Do You Hear What I Hear.

Then it’s The Quiz, and don’t panic, we’re back to doing it the good old way.  I scored a measily 6, but it’s not an easy one.

After that Bob returns with Spread A Smile of Joy, and why not literally spread a smile with a bit of humour in your daily interactions.

This episode’s version of A Christmas Carol is The Stingiest Man in Town starring Basil Rathbone and it’s okay I suppose.
You can watch it here:

This episode’s recommendation, thanks to Natalie Bickel, is to write a short story for the Touchpoint Press Christmas Anthology.
Want to learn a bit more, check out this link:
https://touchpointpress.com/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3opr-9j47rMWEl-HwtsyVqI4F7bmId7NKrWraNg17vGXv5geilFMfpkDw_aem_s30eDy6Ab1GM9kSHWqHihA

Get in touch.
Email:  totalchristmas@gmail.com
Website: totalchristmaspodcast.com

Merry Christmas.

Listen to this episode of Total Christmas Podcast
Author: Jack
Title: Episode 112 – The Stingiest Man In Town
Total Christmas

Total Christmas

Merry Christmas you beautiful people.

It’s a packed show and we start off with with our exciting new quiz Santa Banter.  I describe a situation and you have to work out the rhyme.  I bought it at the car boot sale and I’m testing it on you lucky people…  probably only this once.

Next up is Bob Baker with Do You Hear What I Hear and he’s look at ‘pants’.  Bob’s done the research and it’s pretty darn interesting.

Then we take a look at Cozy Little Christmas by Katy Perry. It was a question in last week’s quiz, and I thought I’d never heard of it, turns out I had and it’s not as obscure as I thought.  Plus the video is fun.
Have a watch here:

After that it’s this episode’s version of A Christmas Carol and it is not very good at all.  It’s called “Mrs Scrooge, A Christmas Poem” by Carol Ann Duffy, and it’s a modern take on the legend telling us what happened to Scrooge’s widow.
I read it so you don’t have to.

Then Bob is back with Spread A Smile Of Joy and it was suggested by yours truly.  Why not tidy up your local area with a bit of litter picking, you’ll feel great and your neighbours will be pleased as well.
Check out Bob’s pod here:
https://4fpodcast.buzzsprout.com/

Last week we looked at the history of Christmas trees, this week we’re looking at the history of one particular tree, perhaps the world’s most famous Christmas tree, the one at the Rockefeller centre.

Get in touch:
Email: totalchristmas@gmail.com
Website: totalchristmaspodcast.com

Merry Christmas!

Listen to this episode of Total Christmas Podcast
Author: Jack
Title: Episode 111 – Santa Banter: A New Christmas Quiz
Total Christmas

Total Christmas

Hello you beautiful people.

The show begins with a short history of the Christmas tree.  I know it’s been covered by other podcasts, but hopefully you’ll learn a few things you didn’t know.

Then Bob Baker, our self-appointed podcast barman, looks at the meaning of the word Fanny.  Yes, I know, but he’s doing it anyway.

Then we look at Christmas Tree Farm by Taylor Swift.  It’s a fantastic song, but alas it’s not made it into the pantheon of Christmas classics.

Next up Bob returns with Spread A Smile of Joy and it’s been suggested by yours truly.  Why not paint some stones up and leave them around your neighbourhood.
Check out Bob’s podcast, Festive Foreign Film Fans, here:
https://4fpodcast.buzzsprout.com/

Then it’s the quiz.  I scored 7, see if you can do better.

This episode’s recommendation is Off Menu with James Acaster and Ed Gamble.  I think you’ll enjoy it.
Here’s a link:
https://www.offmenupodcast.co.uk/

Get in touch.
Email: totalchristmas@gmail.com
Website: totalchristmaspodcast.com

Merry Christmas!

Listen to this episode of Total Christmas Podcast
Author: Jack
Title: Episode 110 – Christmas Trees
Total Christmas

Total Christmas

I recorded this episode in my pants….     nice.

First up it’s the quiz, I scored 8, see how you can do.

Next up it’s Spread a Smile of Joy with Bob Baker, our resident barman, why not spend some time with rescue animals.

Then we have another 4 songs that Bob claims are popular in the US, but no one seems to agree with him.
Here’s the 4 songs:
Season of a Lifetime – Plain White Ts
Man in the Santa Suit – Fountain of Wayne
Don’t Shoot Me Santa – The Killers
Christmas Eve/Sarajevo – Trans Siberian Orchestra:

Then Bob returns with Do You Hear What I Hear? and he’s having a chinwag about the term ‘Chinwag’.
Have a listen to Bob’s podcast:
https://4fpodcast.buzzsprout.com/

Then Adam Parker from The Merry Britsmas Podcast shares his story of how he found out the truth about Santa, or as he and I would say, Father Christmas.
Check out Merry Britsmas here:
https://merrybritsmas.podbean.com/

This episode’s version of A Christmas Carol is by Pipe Dreams Theatre and it’s an epic audio production.  They call it Three Ghosts and it’s very good despite the fact they have made some interesting changes to the story.
Check it out here:
https://www.pipedreamtheatre.com/three-ghosts-cast

Get in touch:
Email:  totalchristmas@gmail.com
Website:  totalchristmaspodcast.com

Merry Christmas!

Listen to this episode of Total Christmas Podcast
Author: Jack
Title: Episode 109 – A Quiz, A Carol, Christmas Songs and Pants
Total Christmas

Total Christmas

Merry Christmas!
First up we have this episode’s version of A Christmas Carol and it’s a short one by the Scottish Falseto Sock Puppet Theatre.
It’s very funny and worth a look:

Then it’s Do You Hear What I Hear and Bob Baker is looking at the term “quid”.

Next up is The Quiz, I scored 9.
Beat that.

Then Bob returns with Smile of Joy.
Listen to Bob’s podcast, Festive Foreign Film Fans, it’s great:
https://4fpodcast.buzzsprout.com

Bob has also sent me a bunch of Christmas songs that get airplay in the states, but had this British boy heard them?

Get in touch.
Email: totalchristmas@gmail.com
Website: totalchristmaspodcast.com

Merry Christmas.

Listen to this episode of Total Christmas Podcast
Author: Jack
Title: Episode 108 – American Christmas Songs
Total Christmas

Total Christmas

It’s another episode and you’re great.
First up we have the quiz, and Adam, the host of Merry Britsmas Podcast has a go. He scored 9, I only scored 7, see how you get on.
Check out Adam’s Podcast here:
merrybritsmas.podbean.com

Then Bob Baker is here with Do You Hear What I Hear and he discusses the word Sod.
Usually his research is top rate, but this time he makes a bit of an error.  We still love him though.

Then I have a Christmas Book Review.  It’s a short story called Job Warner’s Christmas and it’s by Alger Horatio.  It’s a delightful little story and I think you’ll like it.
Have a read here:
ulib.niu.edu/rarebooks/Alger/DigRepos/jobwarner.html

This episode’s Christmas All Over The World is the legend of The Devil’s Knell from Yorkshire, here in the UK.  It’s a great story.

Next up Bob Baker is back with Spread A Smile of Joy. A lot of people give to charity at Christmas, but maybe think about doing it throughout the year.
Check out Bob’s great podcast, Festive Foreign Film Fans, here:
4fpodcast.buzzsprout.com

This episode’s version of A Christmas Carol is another pupper one, this time all the puppets and props are made of cardboard.  It’s a charming affair so give it a look:

This episode’s recommendation is Librivox.  They have hundreds of free audiobooks that are all in the public domain.
Check it out:
Librivox.org

Get in touch…
Email:  totalchristmas@gmail.com
Website:  totalchristmaspodcast.com

Merry Christmas!

Listen to this episode of Total Christmas Podcast
Author: Jack
Title:

Episode 107 – Adam’s Christmas Quiz

Total Christmas

Total Christmas

Hello you beautiful people!

It’s episode 106 and we’re not messing around, we get straight into it with a Marionette Christmas Carol by Puppets by Arlee.  It is what it says it is, a Christmas Carol using marionettes.
It’s only 13 minutes long and you can watch it here:

Next up it’s Do You Hear What I Hear and Bob Baker looks into the word “Knackers”. What does it mean and where is it from?

Then it’s time for The Quiz.  I scored 8 out of 10, beat that.

After that Bob is back with Spread A Smile of Joy, and thanks to our listener Timothy Lewis, we have another way to spread a bit of joy.
Check out Bob’s podcast here:
https://4fpodcast.buzzsprout.com/

Then we have the final part of our interview with Adam Parker from Merry Britsmas and we talk some more about Christmas in the UK.  This time we chat about midnight mass, Britsh Christmas music, Santa and other stuff.
Have a listen to the brilliant Merry Britsmas here:
https://merrybritsmas.podbean.com/

Get in touch…
Email:  totalchristmas@gmail.com
Website: totalchristmaspodcast.com

Merry Christmas

Listen to this episode of Total Christmas Podcast
Author: Jack
Title: Episode 106 – A Marionette Christmas Carol
Total Christmas

Total Christmas

Merry Christmas you beautiful people.

It’s a brand new episode and wouldn’t you know it, I’ve had some emails, Hooray!

We start the show with Smile of Joy and Bob Baker gives us another idea for how we can spread a little happiness.

Then we have the Christmas Quiz.  I scored a massive 7 points, see if you can do any better.

Next up Bob is back with Do You Hear What I Hear? and he’s looking at what it means to use the word ‘banger’.
Check out Bob’s podcast Festive Foreign Film Fans here:
https://4fpodcast.buzzsprout.com/

After the Christmas Joke we have What The Dickens? and I take a look at that most beloved of all characters Tiny Tim.

Then it’s the second part of my interview with Adam Parker from the Merry Britsmas podcast.  We’re continuing our discussion about Christmas in the UK and this episode  we talk about Christmas TV and films.
Have a listen to Merry Britsmas here:
https://merrybritsmas.podbean.com/

This episode’s recommendation is the audiobook of the late Norm MacDonald’s autobiography.  It’s called Based on a True Story and is mainly untrue, but very funny.

Get in touch.
Email: totalchristmas@gmail.com
Website: totalchristmaspodcast.com

Merry Christmas!

Listen to this episode of Total Christmas Podcast
Author: Jack
Title: Episode 105 – More Christmas in the UK
Total Christmas

Total Christmas

Hello you beautiful people!

It’s a packed show and to begin our resident barman Bob Baker combined St Patrick’s Day and Christmas to discuss the British word ‘bloke’ in Do You Hear What I Hear.

Then it’s The Quiz,  I do pretty well this time, so see if you can beat me.

After the joke I discuss the version of A Christmas Carol that I saw at the theatre this year.  It was a youth production and they’d added a modern twist.

The it’s Spread A Smile Of Joy and Bob Baker talks about how you can make doing good deeds a family event.
Check out Bob’s pod, Festive Foreign Film Fans, here:
https://4fpodcast.buzzsprout.com/

Then as part of Christmas All Over The World I speak to Adam Parker the host of Merry Britsmas Podcast.  We had a very long chat and this is part one where we talk about Christmas Eve, opening presents and Christmas food.

This episode’s recommendation is of course Merry Britsmas.
Check it out:
https://merrybritsmas.podbean.com/

Get in touch:

Email:  totalchristmas@gmail.com
Website: totalchristmaspodcast.com

Merry Christmas!

Listen to this episode of Total Christmas Podcast
Author: Jack
Title: Episode 104 – A Very British Christmas
Total Christmas

Total Christmas

Welcome to the episode.
First up our podcast barman Bob Baker looks at the dichotomy of how is Brits use the word ‘chuffed’ in Do You Hear What I Hear.

This episode we look at the Ducktales episode Last Christmas from season 2 of the reboot in 2018.  It’s not really a version of a Christmas Carol but it does feature the 3 ghosts and let me tell you in no uncertain terms it is crap.

Then it’s the quiz.  I scored 8, let me know how you got on.

Then Bob returns with Spread A Smile Of Joy and this one was suggested to us from our Scandinavian American correspondent Benji Pearson.  It’s a good one.

After that it’s Christmas All Over The World and did you know that Saint Nicholas isn’t the only saint who goes around giving gifts at Christmas.  In Greece they have Saint Basil.  He’s no Santa, but it he gets the job done.

This episode’s recommendation was suggested last week by Bob Baker and I had a listen and really enjoyed it.  It’s from Story Corps and they have lots of people sharing uplifting stories of when strangers have done nice things.
Have a listen:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/in-the-comments/id250500859?i=1000559427740

If you want to get in touch, what’s stopping you?

Email:  totalchristmas@gmail.com
Website:  totalchristmaspodcast.com

Merry Christmas.

Listen to this episode of Total Christmas Podcast
Author: Jack
Title: Episode 103 – Ducktales Christmas Carol
Total Christmas

Total Christmas

I’m here, you’re here, let’s get started…

We begin with the joke, which is a first, usually it’s in the middle of the show, so don’t let it disorientate you, and we follow it up with The Quiz.

Then Bob is here with Do You Hear What I Hear and he’s looking at why us Brits say Lift instead of Elevator (aside from the fact it saves us 3 syllables).

Next up is the return of What The Dickens, and I talk about why Scrooge is called Scrooge and Marley is called Marley, and also is it possible for the streets of London to be both frosty and foggy.

Then it’s a look at A New York Christmas to Remember.  This was a televised Christmas carol church service in which Regis Philbin read out the nativity story accompanied by a load of puppets created by Jim Henson’s workshop.  They’re not muppets, but it’s quite spellbinding.
You can watch it here:

After that, Bob is back with Spread A Smile of Joy, and this time he’s recommending you have a listen to The Story Corps Podcast season 8 which shares a load of stories about people doing nice deeds.
Here’s a link:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/in-the-comments/id250500859?i=1000559427740

Also check out Bob’s podcast, Festive Foreign Film Fans:
https://4fpodcast.buzzsprout.com/

Then it’s Christmas All Over The World and we look at the why it’s a tradition to take a walk among the tombstones on Christmas Eve in Finland.

This episode’s recommendation is Petty Crimes podcast, and it’s lots of fun.
Why not have a listen:
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/petty-crimes/id1612693094

If you want to get in touch I’d love to hear from you.
Email: totalchristmas@gmail.com
Website: totalchristmaspodcast.com

Merry Christmas!

Listen to this episode of Total Christmas Podcast
Author: Jack
Title: Episode 102 – A New York Christmas To Remember
Total Christmas

Total Christmas

Hello You Beautiful People.
It’s another packed show and we start with the British tradition of taking a swim in the sea on Christmas day.  Rather you than me.

Then Bob Baker discusses the origins of the lovely curse word Bugger, in Do You Hear What I Hear.

Next up is the Quiz.  I scored 8, see if you can beat that.

Then Bob is back with another delightul idea of spreading joy to your fellow man.
Check out Bob’s podcast here:
https://4fpodcast.buzzsprout.com/

This episode’s version of A Christmas Carol is A Christmas Carol The Musical starring Kelsey Grammar.  I really enjoyed it and you can watch it here:

The recommendation is the miniseries Artful Dodger which looks at the life of the Artful Dodger about 15 years after the events of the novel Oliver Twist.
Me and the wife enjoyed it so maybe give it a look.

Email: totalchristmas@gmail.com
Website: totalchristmaspodcast.com

Merry Christmas!

Listen to this episode of Total Christmas Podcast
Author: Jack
Title: Episode 101 – A Christmas Carol The Musical
Total Christmas

Total Christmas

Hello you beautiful people.

It’s a brand new year and the show is back.
First up it’s the quiz and it’s not easy, I scored a pitiful 5 and a half, see how much better you can do.

Then Bob Baker brings us Do You Hear What I Hear and he discusses the great English tradition of “whinging”.

This episode’s version of A Christmas Carol was suggested by listener Rob Davison.  It’s an episode of Chucklevision called A Christmas Chuckle.  It’s a very loose take on the story, but it has its moments.
You can watch it here:

Next up listener Alfred Perales shares how he broke the news to his son that ther is no Santa Claus.

Then Bob Baker starts his brand new segment Spread A Smile Of Joy.  This is a wonderful idea and it’s all about spreading goodwill to those around you.

If you want to get in touch we’d love to hear from you.

Email: totalchristmas@gmail.com
Web: totalchristmaspodcast.com

Merry Christmas.

Listen to this episode of Total Christmas Podcast
Author: Jack
Title: Episode 100 – New Year, New Segment
Total Christmas

Total Christmas

It’s Christmas Eve or Christmas Eve Eve depending on where you live.  Or it was Christmas if you’re listening to it later.

We start with a lovely story from Jimmy ‘Buffalo’ Hall, telling about his parents’ first Christmas tree as a married couple.

Then it’s the quiz and to help with the answers we have Todd Killian from Christmas Clatter podcast.
Check out his pod here:
https://www.christmasclatter.com/

Then I recite from memory, How The Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr Seuss.

Next up we have a song from Adam Kennedy’s comedy album.
To hear the whole album check it out here:
https://adamkennedy.bandcamp.com/album/literally-shrunk-down-and-living-in-my-christmas-village

And then there’s nothing left but to wish you all a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS.

Get in touch:
Website:  totalchristmaspodcast.com
Email: totalchristmas@gmail.com

Listen to this episode of Total Christmas Podcast
Author: Jack
Title: Episode 99 – Merry Christmas
Total Christmas