I am obsessed with Christmas – that's not much of a secret. So when I was getting into podcasts a few summers ago one of my first searches was for “Christmas” (naturally). At the time, there was only a handful to be found, but over the past few years, the Christmas podcast scene has boomed! There are podcasts related to anything Christmas you could possibly imagine – movies, music, history, traditions, tv specials, foods, books, and everything in between.
If you’re looking for some Christmas cheer around the holidays (or if you’re like me and you want Christmas year-round!), look no further than your favorite podcast app! As mentioned, there are now so many options to choose from that it could easily get overwhelming to decide where to start. But have no fear! I don’t call myself a Christmas enthusiast for nothin’! I’ve listened to many! And while I don’t think I can say I’ve ever found one I didn’t like, there are definitely a few that really stand out! So, grab a cup of cocoa and feast your ears on the Christmas magic these guys have to offer!
Can’t Wait For Christmas
This is the first Christmas podcast I discovered a handful of summers ago. At the time, there were about thirty-something episodes available and I binged through them like a kid tearing through their presents on Christmas morning!
Tim Babb is a comedian and he takes the light-heartedness of Christmas to the next level! There is no shortage of cheer here! A new episode drops on the 25th of each month (Fun Fact: In the world of the Christmas Crazies, we call this day Rudolph Day!) and covers topics all over the Christmas spectrum including things like: What's a noel?, Why do we kiss under the mistletoe?, Elf on the Shelf (The Nickelback of Christmas), everything Disney & Muppet related, Is Die Hard a Christmas movie? (Spoiler Alert! It is.), Santa Claus Conquers the Martians, and so much more!
Tim hosts the show solo, but often is joined by his family members, other podcasters, the Ghost of Bing Crosby, and a bunch of other friends who sound suspiciously like some characters you probably know! I have no doubt that you will be laughing all the way through these episodes!
Listen to Can't Wait For Christmas here!
Christmas Past
Are you a fan of NPR? If so, this podcast would be right up your alley! Brian Earl dives deep into the history and traditions of Christmas past and shares his well-researched findings in short 10-20 minute segments throughout the holiday season.
In 2020, Christmas Past switched up the format and started releasing episodes year-round! During many of these episodes, Brian reads old Christmas stories – most of which I have never heard of before! The tales themselves are fun and interesting, but Brian’s incredibly soothing voice adds an extra layer of enjoyment. That may sound weird, but trust me! Give him a listen and let me know if the combination of content and his voice are not all of the comfort and joy you could ever hope for in a Christmas podcast!
Listen to Christmas Past here!
In addition to the podcast is the Christmas Past Facebook group! This online community is a year-round Christmas celebration! Something I look forward to each year is the annual Christmas in July Cookie Swap! Each person who signs up is assigned a person to send home-baked cookies to! This year (2020) I received delicious chocolate chip/M&M and sugar cookies from a sweet woman from Chicago and I had the honor of sending the goodies I baked to Brian himself!
If you are someone who wants to talk about Christmas and indulge in the merriness of the season year-round, but your friends and family think you’re a lunatic for hyping the holidays in April, then please join us over on Facebook!
Deck The Hallmark
Do you love, like, or just downright despise Hallmark Christmas movies? No matter which category you fall under, you will enjoy the Deck The Hallmark podcast! Bran, Panda, & [Grumpy] Dan has reviewed every new Hallmark Christmas movie since 2018, and are very candid with their feelings about each one. In each episode they cover 4 segments – Hot Take, All the Feels, Wait, What?, & What the Hallmark? – throughout which they hilariously praise and/or roast the flick.
These guys made a name for themselves quickly! Within the first few months of the podcast launch, they caught the attention of Good Morning America and have since made multiple appearances on the show. And despite their often brutally honest criticisms, they’ve even been guests on Hallmark Channel’s own Home & Family show!
At this point, it seems like the Hallmark stars are begging to be guests on the pod! They have interviewed many of the biggest Hallmark names, such as Kristoffer Polaha, Nikki DeLoach, Ashley Williams, Andrew Walker, Michael Rady, Jen Lilley, Tyler Hynes, Cameron Mathison, Paul Greene, and so many more! Aside from the actors, they’ve also had other special guests like Executive VP of programming for Hallmark, Michelle Vicary, writer & film critic, Alonso Duralde, journalist & podcaster, Justin Kirkland, writer, director, & producer, Ron Oliver, the fabulous ladies of the Bubbly Sesh Podcast, and so many more you guys! Some of these guests have even played along in reviewing and poking fun at the movies!
After their 2018 Christmas Season was a hit, they decided to give the people what they wanted and, much to Dan’s disappointment, started reviewing not just Christmas movies, but ALL Hallmark movie premieres year-round!
Listen to Deck the Hallmark here!
Bramble Jam
But that just wasn’t enough for them (or the fans!)! The Guys took Michael Strahan’s comment, “I have a feeling you could talk about anything and we'd all be entertained,” to heart and launched their very own Podcast Network – Bramble Jam Podcast Network! As of August 2020, they have 12 shows in the network! Some of them are Hallmark related, one is hosted by a Hallmark star, and all of them are worthy of a listen! These guys don’t seem to take a day off!
And if that just isn’t enough for you, you could also become a Bramble Jam Plus member! The membership has a lot of cool perks, but the star on top of the tree is definitely being a member of the Super Secret Facebook Group. I’m not going to give too much away about this (like I said, it’s a secret!), but I will let you in on one little thing: you stir it once, shake it twice, & clap three times (if you know, you know) 😉
Whew! Ok, that was a lot! To be fair, I did warn you that I’m a bit passionate about all things Christmas! I hope this helps you along on your Christmas Podcasting experience! If you’re craving even more Christmas, here are some other favorite options that will surely bring some cheer into your day!
The Christmas Podcast Network