a holiday must
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“It was Christmastime 2021, and I was looking for something festive to listen to while starting my daily routine. Oddly enough, at least to me, I found few Christmas-themed podcasts that weren’t either one-off episodes of other shows or the fascinating yet brief Christmas Past (which I adore but Brian’s festive morsels only sharpen my holiday appetite).
I stumbled upon Christmas Countdown about 70 entries down the results and was happy to observe that the runtime was in the vicinity of an hour and change, so I threw it on with no expectation, and found myself quickly wrapped up in the banter. (Side note: wife and I had just finished watching and enjoying Kevin Can F Himself just before this, and I was geeking out in the shower, excited to inform her later that the Patriots-loving schmuck from that [brilliant] show is, like me, a Yuletide junkie)
While that first season didn’t have much of the production sizzle that season two has (thanks, Emilio!), it was clear that the show was a labor of love, where two good friends could celebrate being Christmas Nerds. If people listened, all the better. As each episode went on it was clear something cool was happening.
Cue this November: I’m hopping on a bus ride home, and with the central Illinois weather dipping into the thirties with that patented “Frozen Nostril” feeling Eric mentioned, I figured I should check on the Countdown show I enjoyed from last year, and it was super cool to hear that they’ve been sponsored a bit, added a fun producer, and gained a real following among an online community.
You guys deserve it.
The real meat of this podcast is not the countdowns, despite the name. It’s the 45-60+ minutes where Eric and Danny are jumping from subject to subject, anecdote to anecdote, laughing at themselves and each other, but all with the giddy joy of the “did we just become best friends?!?” scene from Stepbrothers or the occasionally candid, emotional moments that let us, the listener, into their worlds and hearts via a medium where that endeavor is often extremely challenging.
It’s been great to listen to you each recount memories and savor the nostalgia of your own Christmases in the past, sharing the little things that make the holiday what it is: Christmas is not merely decorations and presents, it’s a glowing-hot coal of emotional stimulus that once each year we strive to embrace, remembering the pure joys of childhood, the voices of people who may now be gone, the scents and songs and sensations that aren’t so easily recalled as we grow old,
Eric and Danny live that passion to the hilt for a couple months of the year, and thankfully set up microphones so we could take part.
I’m beyond rambling now, so I’ll conclude with this:
1. Go Bears; Aaron Rodgers is the great football Satan of the modern age and he’s only going so hard embracing this Bears-owning thing so as to draw attention away from the fact that his legacy will be that of a playoff choke artist and annual disappointment.
2. I’m going to mail you guys a copy of my book, “Cody & the Christmas Tree,” which I wrote after the death of my grandmother who was a holiday keystone of our family. I hope you’ll enjoy it. Many of your listeners have mentioned how this time of year can accentuate the absences of those so special to us, and that means a great deal to me that you don’t shy away from that heartbreaking aspect of being a grownup at Christmastime.
3. On your Smells countdown episode, I was disappointed to hear neither of you mention the scent of Christmas lights. Next year when you’re opening up your light totes, grab a handful of them and bring ‘em right to your nose. They have a VERY distinct smell! Instant Christmas for me. Then plug them in and do it again - there’s a strange subtle bit of burning dust or electric hum that gives it another layer. Intoxicating!
Anyways, thanks for this wonderful show, wishing you and yours all the best, Merry Christmas, Christmas Countdown!
- Andy in Illinois”
rabbithats via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
12/14/22
More reviews of Christmas Countdown
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“I know I may be a bit biased, but this is one of the most fun and festive podcasts I’ve listened to (and hosted) in a LONG time.”
MrDannyJordan via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
10/19/21
“I recommended your podcast to my mom and then she binged them faster than I did! The top ten lists have been so much fun that we’re making our own lists to share while I’m home for the holidays. Thanks for all of the laughs! Merry Christmas from Michelle in Nova Scotia, eh!”
MichelleCortens via Apple Podcasts ·
Canada ·
12/06/21
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“I am a cross country runner in Tennessee, and finding motivation to run when it is 80 degrees in September can be challenging, but finding this podcast has given me the motivation I need to run with a smile on my face (which probably makes me seem crazy to my neighbors). I love listening to this...”Read full review »
AdaB267 via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
10/05/22
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