I love Christmas — the music, the food, the movies, the time with family and friends, the magical month-long lead-up to Christmas Day filled with chocolate truffles and holiday favourites.
Still, there are only so many times you can watch Elf before you start to yearn for something a little different. For me, discovering Christmas podcasts was a game-changer. Even better than a new Christmas song or movie, this was a whole new Christmas medium. And the best part about the Christmas podcast is that you get to share in the passionate holiday spirit of real, everyday people. I’ve listened to a bunch of Christmas podcasts while getting into a festive mood this year. Here are five of my favourites:
Season’s Eatings
Around the 25th of each month, Glen Warren drops a new episode of Season’s Eatings, where he serves up the history of a classic Christmas dish. The Newfoundland-born baker started this podcast in May 2020, and he’s stuck to his monthly schedule ever since — sometimes adding “Side Dish” episodes on the 10th of the month too. If you’re looking for fun historical facts or recipe inspiration for this year’s Christmas dinner, Season’s Eatings has you covered.
Standout episode: “Season’s Eatings — Canadian Foods” (Dec. 25, 2021)
In a year-round Christmas podcast, it’s perhaps no surprise that some of the most memorable episodes are the Dec. 25 specials. For his 2021 special, Warren spotlights some of his favourite Canadian desserts often served during the holidays, like butter tarts and Nanaimo bars. Full of Christmas cheer and Canadian charm, this episode also features musical performances by two Newfoundland bands.
Christmas Countdown
If you love Christmas chatter, Christmas Countdown is the show for you. In their twice-weekly episodes during the last three months of the year, American actor Eric Petersen and TV producer Danny Jordan talk all things Christmas, often featuring festive guests in their conversations. Each episode also includes a top-five or top-10 list of Christmas-themed content. While these countdowns sometimes don’t start until an hour into the podcast, the hosts have the film and TV expertise to keep you entertained the whole way through.
Standout episode: “Top 5 Ways to Get into the Holiday Spirit” (Dec. 7, 2023)
Last December, Petersen and Jordan hosted Hallmark actor Paul Campbell as a special guest on their episode about getting into the Christmas spirit. Whether you struggle to get invested in the holidays or you listen to carols all year long, this episode contains some funny, smart and genuinely heartfelt suggestions for having a holiday season that feels meaningful to you.
Christmas Past
The longest-running podcast of the bunch, Christmas Past has been making episodes since 2016, with new ones arriving every few days during the holiday season. In each episode, host Brian Earl recounts the history of a different Christmas tradition, all thoroughly researched and straightforwardly presented. A California-based writer and designer, Earl has inspired many other Christmas podcasters and made guest appearances on their shows; in many ways, he feels like the heart of the Christmas podcast community. And the episodes are short and sweet — sometimes not even 10 minutes long — making it the perfect show for quick car rides, dog walks around the block or bedtime listening.
Standout episode: “Backstory: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” (Dec. 5, 2016)
From Christmas Past’s first season, this episode shines a light on the man behind the red-nosed reindeer we all know and love. Robert May, who wrote the first Rudolph story in 1939, drew inspiration from his own life for the underdog tale that many revisit every Christmas. It’s an educational and uplifting listen, but be warned: you may get the song stuck in your head.
Tinsel Tunes
If you’re curious about the origins of your favourite Christmas carols, I’d highly recommend checking out Tinsel Tunes. Co-hosts Duane Bailey, based in New Zealand, and Scott Newman, based in Denver, chat about a different Christmas song (or set of songs) each episode, sharing musical recordings along the way. Whether they’re ranking the five worst Christmas songs ever, exploring the crossover between Christmas music and country music or diving into the history of a classic Christmas carol, this podcast has something for any fan of festive music.
Standout episode: Choose your favourite Christmas carol or song!
My personal episode pick is “39 — Once in Royal David’s City,” because it discusses my favourite Christmas carol of all time. Instead of recommending a particular episode, I suggest that you scroll through the list of past shows and look for a song you love. The Tinsel Tunes hosts will play snippets from classic performances, as well as unexpected renditions, while also chatting about the lyrics, the history and other musical lore.
A Cozy Christmas podcast
As host Art Kilmer reminds us in the very first episode of A Cozy Christmas Podcast in 2020, the holiday season can be fraught. A lot of time and energy goes into creating a memorable experience for your loved ones, and yet a perfect Christmas is never a guarantee. Kilmer, who also hosts The Bookshelf Odyssey Podcast, draws on stories, interviews, recipes and more to help listeners escape holiday stress and focus on holiday magic. The podcast is grounded in Kilmer’s love for his family, his affinity for books (especially those by Charles Dickens) and his desire to make Christmas cozy and stress-free for all involved. His daughter Gracie makes an excellent occasional guest.
Standout episode: “Christmas Storms and Sunshine: A Victorian Holiday Story by Elizabeth Gaskell” (Oct. 12, 2023)
As a fan of Victorian writers, I might be biased here, but Kilmer does a great job telling this classic tale of Christmas kindness. Elizabeth Gaskell’s story details two feuding families coming together to help a sick child, and it contains a dose of Victorian realism alongside the warmth of the holiday season. The episode mimics the feeling of gathering around a warm fireplace to hear a story, which may be the ultimate form of Christmas coziness.
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Amarah Hasham-Steele is a former Broadview intern and a master of philosophy student at Trinity College Dublin.
This story first appeared in Broadview’s December 2024 issue with the title “Hark! It’s Christmas Podcast Time”
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