A Cozy Christmas Podcast

Happy Christmas week! Today I finish reading Old Christmas by Washington Irving. In the story our narrator enjoys a fun Christmas Day at Bracebridge Hall and participates in a lot of the older traditions.  Christmas is just a few days away! I hope you're ready for it!   Ways to support the show: Rate and review: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-cozy-christmas-podcast/id1523423375   Buy me a...

In today's episode, my daughter Grace comes back to talk about her favorite Christmas traditions and memories. We also talk about some recent romantic Christmas movies I've seen lately. Then, for our cozy story, I read Chapter 3 of "Old Christmas" by Washington Irving. In the chapter today, our narrator arrives at Bracebridge Hall on Christmas Eve, and continues to observe the old traditions.  If...

There is a bit of a festive spirit around the Cozy Christmas Lodge today... we are celebrating 150 episodes! I want to thank you all for your support and participation in what has become one of the most creatively satisfying experiences of my life.  So today we start off by looking to the future of Christmas Celebrations, and see what kind of Christmas songs and stories A.I. can make up. While it...

Today I have the first part of a longer story called Old Christmas by Washington Irving. Published in 1815, it explores some of the roots of our Christmas traditions as the main character visits a friend at Bracebridge Hall during Christmas to experience an old fashioned Christmas! It's a story that explores nostalgia and tradition, and is a lot of fun to read!   So settle in by the fire, grab som...

Do these cookies taste funny to you? It must mean we are talking about cozy mysteries on The Cozy Christmas Podcast! Today cozy mystery writer Jessica Thompson returns to the show to talk with me about a new Christmas-themed short story collection coming out called  "A Cookie of a Scoundrel". We talk a bit about her series, The Caterer's Guide to Crime, along with some of our favorite Christmas fo...

Forget Downton Abbey - We're heading to Sugar Plum Manor! In today's episode I talk to author Roseanna M. White. She has a new Christmas romance set in the Edwardian-Era England! "Christmas at Sugar Plum Manor" draws inspiration from t he Nutcracker and  weaves a magical tale of love and friendship at Christmastime. This is also the book we're reading in our Cozy Christmas bookclub.  In my fun and...

Happy Thanksgiving! In today's episode my guest is Ken Smith from the North Pole News Dispatch - one of my favorite Christmas podcasts! Fans of good food, good friends, and good music will enjoy the first part of our discussion where we chat about everything from Thanksgiving recipes and traditions and then talk about Burl Ives and his classic song "Holly Jolly Christmas". Then we turn to a more s...

It's time for another Double-Trouble Holiday, one guaranteed to leave you hungry... In this episode of the Cozy Christmas Podcast , I begin with a few reflections on this past year and share some personal thanksgiving thoughts. Then Author Tyler Mitchell returns to chat about his heartwarming Christmas children's book,  Double Trouble and the Upside Christmas Tree , and some of the new adventures...

Today I interview author John Theo, author of the short story "Christmas in Bedford Falls" which was read in our last episode! Now, John stops by to chat about his story and the movie "It's a Wonderful Life", his article about the history of Santa Claus and St. Nicholas, his books, and more! Find John and his books online at: https://www.johntheo.com/ Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 01:20 It's a Won...

Have you ever wondered what happened to some of the characters in Bedford Falls after the events of "It's a Wonderful Life"? My guest today is author John Theo, and he wondered the same thing and has written a piece of fan fiction exploring that very thing. Get ready for a wonderful new cozy story, and then stay tuned for Friday, as I have John Theo back on the podcast as a guest and we talk about...

In today's episode, author Kevin Moore returns to read us a story from his recent collection entitled "Christmas Stories, Vol. 2". The story is called "The Rag Tag Sleigh Flyers", and it's a heartwarming story set at the North Pole. Henry the Elf is in trouble. It's almost Christmas and Santa's reindeer are not able to fly! What could the problem be, and will they figure out a solution before Chri...

Today I sit down with author Kevin Moore who has published two volumes of Christmas stories. First we talk about the joy that Christmas can bring, even during difficult times (which has been the unofficial theme of my podcast this year!). Then we dig into his book and talk about some of the short stories in it. Then we dive deep into the joy of Christmas and talk about our favorite Christmas thing...

Hello everyone! Today's episode was intended for Halloween, then it was intended for Christmas Podcast Day, then it was intended for yesterday... But it's here now, so better late than never, right?! In today's episode I talk about another delicious recipe I tried - Pumpkin Cinnamon Roll Muffins. I highly recommend! Then for our story I read the odd but charming story "Little Roger's Night in the...

In today's episode, I share another fun recipe suitable for fall, talk a little bit about the Cozy Christmas Book Club, then I read Robert McCormick's article that was written for Charles Dickens' magazine Household Words in December of 1850. Dickens himself probably wrote the introduction and conclusion of the article, but McCormick reflects on his experiences of celebrating Christmas in Anarctic...

Happy October everyone! In today's episode I share how I am getting ready for the fall weather - it mostly involves apple crisp! I'd love to hear from you and some of your favorite recipes to make during the fall and Christmas season! I hope your plans for fall come together better than the main character in today's story by O. Henry. In "The Cop and the Anthem", we follow Soapy, a homeless man li...

Let's face it - sometimes, Christmas can be hard. But does that mean we have to lose the joy of Christmas forever? My guest today is Alexandra Walker - and she has just written a fantastic book called "Reclaiming Christmas" in which she explores her story of how Christmas was a difficult time for her, and the steps she took to reclaim the joy of Christmas. Healing is possible, and I think that her...

Happy September! Now that the Ber months are upon, the holiday games are afoot...  Join me today as I read Sherlock Holmes' one and only Christmas story, The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle. I'll also share some thoughts about Holmes and the story, give some podcast updates, and more!    Ways to support the show: Rate and review: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-cozy-christmas-podcast/id152...

Happy Leon Day! (A day late - sorry about that...)  Today I share a couple of Christmas book recommendations, and read you a cozy Christmas story called Christmas in the Alley by Olive Thorne Miller. Ann is a poor old washer woman with a heart of gold. Her husband is curmudgeon who just wants his tea and pipe. Like many people during the early 1900s they are living in extreme poverty. In spite of...

Happy June everyone! In today's episode I share a few quick life updates on why I've been gone so long, and then we get right into the Christmas goodness. In today's episode I explore a little bit of my Norwegian heritage by talking about some of my favorite Christmas coffee, some treats and cookies you might get at a Norwegian Christmas Party, and then we settle down by the Christmas fire and I r...

In today's episode I read a shorter short story by humorist Robert Benchley entitled "Christmas Afternoon (Done in the Manner, if not the Spirit, of Dickens)". It's a funny little vignette describing a chaotic Christmas Afternoon in the style of Charles Dickens. I hope you enjoy the story today! Cozy Christmas Bookclub: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1035399187415872   What kind of traditions do...

Welcome to the start of Season 5! Today I kick off the new season by reading Christmas traditions and memories from one of my listeners who lives in Australia. I really enjoyed what Shelly sent me, so I thought this would be a great thing to share with all of you. She talks about her families traditions, Christmas foods, how they maintain the spirit of Christmas even though the sun is scorching th...

Merry Christmas! This is my Christmas episode, out a few days late I know - but Christmas is a season, not just a day, right?  Today I wrap up season 4 and Christmas 2023 with the kindness guru himself - Robert Peterpaul, host of the Art of Kindness Podcast, returns to talk about Christmas, the importance of showing kindness (love over fear for the win!) - and we digress into one of the most inter...

It's Christmas Eve! The best day of the year. To help you celebrate, here is the final parts to our story this month, "Christmas at Thompson Hall" by Anthony Trollope. I rearranged my publication schedule a little bit and decided to combine the last two parts into one episode. I've had a lot of episodes come out this week, and didn't want to clog up your podcast feed TOO much. If you're interested...

In today's episode I interview Katie Wilbert. She is the screenwriter of the new Christmas movie "A Vineyard Christmas". According to imdb: "Heather, host of 'Read Between the Vines', is determined to create the perfect Christmas episode by featuring a unique winery from her hometown. The only thing standing in her way? Rudy, the attractive, stubborn owner of the winery." In our interview, we talk...

Christmas is practically here! To help you get in the mood, we're going to continue out story today, Christmas at Thompson Hall, by Anthony Trollope.  Will Mrs. Brown be able to get out of the mess she finds herself in? Will Mr. Brown ever stop complaining about being sick? Will they get to Thompson Hall in time for Christmas? Take a listen today and see what happens next! Part 3 will be out on De...