35 episodes

***Officially the UK's #1 favourite Christmas podcast*** The Calm Christmas Podcast is a cosy listen during the darkest season of the year. Bestselling wellbeing author Beth Kempton shares soothing wintery words from her favourite poets and writers, tips for a stress-free holiday season and advice for taking care of ourselves at this time of year. Join Beth at her kitchen table deep in the English countryside to explore ideas for a natural and sustainable Christmas, look into the origins of some of our most-loved traditions, and see how winter is endured and celebrated around the world. With new episodes every week throughout November and December, the Calm Christmas podcast is less of a countdown to Christmas than a travelling together through winter… So mark your diary and allow Beth to inspire you to let go of perfection and create a meaningful, nourishing celebration this year. There are logs on the fire, tea in the pot and gingerbread fresh out of the oven. Pull up a chair and relax. It is Christmas, after all.

The Calm Christmas Podcast with Beth Kempton Beth Kempton

    • Education
    • 4.9 • 203 Ratings

***Officially the UK's #1 favourite Christmas podcast*** The Calm Christmas Podcast is a cosy listen during the darkest season of the year. Bestselling wellbeing author Beth Kempton shares soothing wintery words from her favourite poets and writers, tips for a stress-free holiday season and advice for taking care of ourselves at this time of year. Join Beth at her kitchen table deep in the English countryside to explore ideas for a natural and sustainable Christmas, look into the origins of some of our most-loved traditions, and see how winter is endured and celebrated around the world. With new episodes every week throughout November and December, the Calm Christmas podcast is less of a countdown to Christmas than a travelling together through winter… So mark your diary and allow Beth to inspire you to let go of perfection and create a meaningful, nourishing celebration this year. There are logs on the fire, tea in the pot and gingerbread fresh out of the oven. Pull up a chair and relax. It is Christmas, after all.

    S3 Ep11 FAREWELL WINTER A special episode for the turn of the season

    S3 Ep11 FAREWELL WINTER A special episode for the turn of the season

    The UK’s #1 favourite Christmas podcast is back for a one-off special to mark the turning of the season and the gift of a leap day as winter gives way to spring. This bonus episode ‘FAREWELL WINTER’ includes:
    -       A beautiful ritual for bidding farewell to winter
    -       An insight into the tradition of ‘leap day’
    -       Ideas for celebrating the arrival of spring
    -       A peek into Japanese microseasons
    -       Some gorgeous words capturing the feeling of the season turning
    -       Our wellbeing and nature corners
    -       A peek into my brand new book KOKORO (which is out on April 4)
    -       An inspiring writing prompt and more
    With inspiration from Mary Webb, Masaoka Shiki, Alan Watts, Lin Yutang, Madoka Mayuzumi, Tadashi Terashima, Yosa Buson and Christina Georgia Rossetti.

    Why not take a walk this week, and have a listen while looking out for signs of spring where you are? (And for those of you in the southern hemisphere, may it be an invitation for you to notice signs of autumn).
    Beth Xx
    Handy links:
    ·      My new book KOKORO: Japanese wisdom for a life well lived (Piatkus) (or free international shipping when you order via Blackwells here)
    ·      Get FREE access to my new seasonal writing sanctuary Spring Light when you pre-order  KOKORO from any retailer (Here’s the link for Blackwells who are offering free international shipping). Once you have ordered it in any format from any retailer, go to bethkempton.com/kokoro and pop your receipt details in the short form there. 
    ·      My haiku essay: The Life-Changing Magic of Writing Haiku: finding beauty and solace in a heartbeat sized poem 
    For all show notes including book and article reference links please click here.

    • 48 min
    S3 Ep10 WINTERSONG: Gratitude + dreaming

    S3 Ep10 WINTERSONG: Gratitude + dreaming

    Here we are completing another circle around the sun. We have clambered across the fabric of another year, stitched together adventures, stories, and memories, darned some holes as neatly as we could, knotted threads of new colour into our lives, and we are now here at the edge looking back across all we have woven in the past twelve months. 
    This is a wonderful time to focus on gratitude, to reflect on the year gone by, choose what to leave behind in this year, do some gentle dreaming for the year ahead and cross the threshold of the year together, with hope, dreams and a steaming cup of tea.
    This episode includes: 
    Tips for dreaming and scheming for the year aheadAn exclusive excerpt from my new book Kokoro: Japanese wisdom for a life well lived (out April 2024)New Year traditions from around the world (from lovely listeners!)A craft project for gratitudeOur nature cornerA writing promptSome lovely words to ease you into the new yearPLUS A lovely giveaway (enter on my Instagram @bethkempton)·      With inspiration from: @SimpleThingsMag, Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Emily Thomas and James Weston Lewis, Lindsey Harrad @livemoreplantfully, Brenda Wells, Emily Silva @soulsadventures, Max Ehrmann
    Handy links:
    ·      Sky View app
    ·      StarWalk 2 app
    ·      Thompson-Morgan gardening newsletter
    ·      My Book Proposal Masterclass course (next class runs live from Jan 29)

    ·      The Way of the Fearless Writer: Ancient Eastern wisdom for a flourishing writing life  by Beth Kempton (Piatkus) – just 99p on Kindle on Amazon UK throughout January

    This week’s giveaway
    ·      Chance to win a lovely journal and a personalized signed copy of my book Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year over on @bethkempton on Instagram

    Click here for all show notes including featured books.

    Wishing you a very happy new year, friend.
    Beth Xx

    • 35 min
    S3 Ep9 SILENT NIGHT: Relishing 'the Hush'

    S3 Ep9 SILENT NIGHT: Relishing 'the Hush'

    These are the days in between. The liminal space that hovers beyond the festivities and the before the arrival of a fresh New Year. I call this time 'the Hush', when the world slows and some kind of portal opens up. This episode is all about making the most of this precious time and it includes:
    Ideas for different ways to spend these days in betweenA beautiful winter visualisation to help you open to whatever might be calling youA full moon bathing ritualA comforting recipeOur nature cornerSome get ahead tips for NEXT Christmas (you’ll be glad of them, I promise)PLUS A self-care giveaway (enter on my Instagram @bethkempton)With inspiration from: @gill.meller @slowhomepod @BrookeMcAlary, Elizabeth Jenner, Dakota Hills and Sierra Brashear @superbeamix.
    Handy links:
    ·      Full moon calendar 
    ·      Last chance to join my Winter Writing Sanctuary (FREE) Starts December 28!
    This week’s giveaway
    ·      Chance to win some lovely self-care goodies and a personalized signed copy of my book Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year over on @bethkempton on Instagram  
    Ingredients for Gill Meller's Homity Potatoes recipe:
    (Serves 4 or more) You will need:
    8 baking potatoes
    1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
    15g (5 ½ oz) butter
    2 leeks, sliced into rounds
    2 onions, halved and sliced
    1 tablespoon wholegrain mustard
    100g (3 ½ oz) mature cheddar, finely grated
    Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

    Featured in this episode:
    ·      Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year by Beth Kempton (Piatkus)
    ·      What to look for in Winter by Elizabeth Jenner (Ladybird)
    ·      Moon Bath: Bathing rituals and recipes for relaxation and vitality by Dakota Hills and Sierra Brashear
    ·      Outside: Recipes for a wilder way of eating by Gill Meller
    ·      Care: The radical art of taking time by Brooke McAlary
    Enjoy!
    Beth Xx

    You can find all the show notes here: https://bethkempton.com/ccpodcast-shownotes/ 

    • 36 min
    S3 Ep8 CHRISTMAS TIME IS HERE: And breathe… you’ve got this

    S3 Ep8 CHRISTMAS TIME IS HERE: And breathe… you’ve got this

    It’s nearly Christmas Eve. Can you feel the magic hovering? If ever there was a time to take a deep breath and let go of all that has not been done to embrace what is here, that time is now. Pull up a chair and relax, my friend. It is Christmas, after all. This very Christmassy episode will ease you into Christmas, reminding you what really matters and encouraging you to let things be perfectly imperfect.

    This episode includes: 
    A little story from the Arctic CircleA letter from Father ChristmasA moment of reflectionA wintery writing prompt A quick craft idea to give you a fun thing to do on Christmas dayChristmas traditions from around the world (from lovely listeners!)Our nature cornerThose last few get ahead tipsMy Christmas message for youWith inspiration from: Matsuo Basho, Laurie Lee, Johnny Coppin, @NadiykaGerbish, Yaroslav Hrytsak, Dot May Dunn, Elizabeth Jenner, Malcolm Bird, Alan Dart, Kenneth Grahame, JRR Tolkien, Bailey Tolkien and Father Christmas.
     Handy links:
    KakslauttenenSweet Salty Spicy Party Nuts recipeEscape to a cosy world of words in my Winter Writing Sanctuary (FREE) December 28-January 6Ingredients for Roasted Nuts recipe shared in this episode:
    Your choice of nuts (such as pecans, walnuts, brazil nuts, cashews and almonds, and macademias) Any extra flavours you might like such as pumpkin or sunflower seeds and fresh rosemaryMaple syrupButter (optional)Featured in this episode:
    The Matsuo Basho haiku poem in this episode can be found in Basho: The Complete Haikutranslated by Jane Reichhold (Kodansha) p.658Letters from Father Christmasby JRR Tolkien, edited by Baillie TolkienCider with Rosie by Laurie Lee - excerpt shared can be found in A Country Christmas edited by Johnny Coppin (The Windrush Press) p.47A Ukranian Christmas, by Nadiyka Gerbish and Yaroslav Hrytsak. (Sphere) p.11 and p.15Christmas Around the Village Greenby Dot May Dunn (Orion, p.46)What to look for in Winter by Elizabeth Jenner (Ladybird)The Christmas Handbook by Malcolm Bird and Alan DartThe Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame (as featured in Favorite Poems for Christmas: A Child’s Collection (Bushel & Peck Books) p.8You can find all the show notes here: https://bethkempton.com/ccpodcast-shownotes/ 

    • 30 min
    S3 Ep7 IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER: Pausing, honouring, remembering

    S3 Ep7 IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER: Pausing, honouring, remembering

    This week's episode is dedicated to those we love and miss, to encourage us all – me included – to take all the time we need to feel all the things we are going to feel in the days ahead. I hope you find this episode to be a comfort.  
    Of course I am not going to tell you how to be or what to do as you face Christmas without a loved one, or face it carrying any other sense of grief. What I am going to do is share some ideas for pausing, honouring and remembering our loved ones, along with some gentle advice from people who work with bereaved families, and some beautiful poems and readings which I hope will offer us some comfort.
    In March this year my lovely mum was diagnosed with terminal cancer out of the blue, and died in a hospice three weeks later. I was by her side for nearly all of that time. It was devastating in its brevity and impact, but it was also just about enough time for us to leave nothing unsaid. We talked about Christmas, and she gave me some ideas for this season of the podcast, particularly for this episode. When I think about that now, I am floored by her bravery and selflessness, and the way that in having those conversations, she has managed to give us a Christmas gift this year too. I hope this episode will give you an opportunity to pause, honour and remember those you love and miss, and find some joy and light in this darkest of seasons.
    This episode includes: 
    Gentle ideas for pausing, honouring and remembering those we love and missA beautiful ritual for connecting with the memory and light of a loved one (you might want to bring a candle, some matches, a notebook and a pen)How the Five Stories of Christmas can help us feel close to our loved onesPermission not to have a ‘happy Christmas’Some gorgeous poems and readingsA writing prompt to help you get your feelings down on paperA lovely craft ideaChristmas traditions from around the world (from lovely listeners!)Our nature corner, welcoming the Winter SolsticeGet ahead tips before Christmas is upon usAnd a blessing for youPLUS A self-care giveaway (enter on my Instagram @bethkempton)With inspiration from:
    @donnaashworthwords @optionb @andygrammer @stoswaldsuk @joannemallon Bertolt Brecht, Sarah Crossnan, Dana Gioia, @sheep1sh Neil Astley, Pamela Robertson-Pearce, Phillis Levin, @thehungryyear Kevin Young, Ashley Muller, @glass_walls_life Austie M Baird, Cherie Arnitt, @warsanshiree @williamsieghart, Robert Frost, @lydiamillen @lia_leendertz @rebeccacampbell_author @katecbowler, John O’Donohue
    Leave a note remembering your loved one on the self-care giveaway post on my Instagram @bethkempton here. https://instagram.com/bethkempton
    You can find all the show notes including to all featured books here.

    Handy links:
    ·      The Life-Changing Magic of Writing Haiku (free essay on my Substack) 
    ·      St Oswald’s Hospice donation link (where Brenda works) 
    ·      Escape to a cosy world of words in my Winter Writing Sanctuary (FREE) December 28-January 6 
     This week’s giveaway
    ·      Chance to win some lovely self-care goodies and a personalized signed copy of my book Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year over on @bethkempton on Instagram

    Beth Xx

    • 57 min
    S3 Ep6 MISTLETOE & WINE: Festive feasting

    S3 Ep6 MISTLETOE & WINE: Festive feasting

    This delicious episode is all about festive feasting – from the main event to all those gatherings and feedings in between. I adore cookbooks and share a lot in this episode, along with some other food-related delights. I hope it gets you flicking through your own recipe books and planning for some special time around the table this year.
    This episode includes:
    -       Snippets from some of my favourite Christmassy cookbooks
    -       Tips for reducing the stress of Christmas cooking, and being mindful of costs
    -       A story about the day it all changed in our household
    -       Some ideas for laying your Christmas table
    -       Christmas (food-related) traditions from around the world 
    -       Two super simple recipes
    -       Get ahead tips before Christmas arrives
    -       PLUS a lovely giveaway (enter at @bethkempton on Instagram)


    With inspiration from:
    @auriolb @dianahenryfood @lisanieschlag @larswentrup @sam__dixon @gizzierskine @nigelslater @nigellalawson @jamieoliver @dethample, Delia Smith @housebeautifuluk @housebeautiful


    Handy links:
    ·      Help yourself to the Christmas Meal Planner in my FREE Calm Christmas Planner here 
    ·      House Beautiful cracker making tutorial 
    ·      Click here to book your FREE place on my Winter Writing Sanctuary 
    ·      Up to 50% off all my writing and personal development courses in my winter sale here


    This week’s giveaway
    ·      Chance to win a copy of Winter Wellness by Rachel de Thample and a personalized signed copy of my book Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year over on @bethkempton on Instagram 

    Full shownotes here.
    Beth Xx

    • 58 min

Customer Reviews

4.9 out of 5
203 Ratings

203 Ratings

baseballballet ,

Beautiful podcast 🥰

I am new to this podcast and just finished all of S3. This podcast is precisely what I needed. It’s been a tough 6 months since losing my beloved father and now I’m taking care of my mother. Beth’s voice is like a balm for the soul. So glad I found it.

impati ,

Beautiful & helpful podcast for the holiday season

I’ve listened to this podcast during the holiday season after reading Beth’s book “Calm Christmas & A Happy New Year”, a lovely book if you’re interested. Beth offers poems, writings (some of her own & other authors), ideas, recipes, etc all in her gentle voice. This year was especially helpful as my Dad died in November & Beth had an episode dedicated to the sadness that can be felt during the holidays for a variety of reasons. I will listen every holiday season she offers this podcast (and maybe even re-listen too)!

ndjones2002 ,

Inspiring and gentle

A truly lovely antidote to hustle and bustle. Inspiring and gentle during a season that seems to produce the opposite. Thank you Beth Kempton and team!

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