Episodes

Happy November, Christmas Fanatics! We are officially in the Christmas season (Finally!), so if you haven't decorated yet or started your shopping, you better get on it! To celebrate the holiday season finally being upon us, Julia, Thom, and Anthony kick off two straight months of "Christmas Classics" with a return to the world of Rankin/Bass by covering 1974's The Year Without a Santa Claus! Will the hosts hold this annual staple in a higher regard than they have other Rankin/Bass productions, or will even the memorable and iconic Miser Brothers be unable to save this special? In addition, this episode also features two big announcements: the launch of The Christmas Podcast Network and the start of another giveaway contest! So grab a cup of hot chocolate, settle into a cozy armchair beside your Christmas tree, and enjoy, because this is definitely a show you do not want to miss! 

This very special episode is 1/2 of a Christmas crossover partnership with our friends at Christmas Past. In this episode, the elves are visited by Dr. Tara Aveilhe to discuss the history of Christmas ghost stories and the inspiration behind Charles Dickens' iconic novella, A Christmas Carol. Be sure to check out the very special episode of Christmas Past and hear Julia and Anthony talk about the Geroge C Scott film adaptation of A Christmas Carol.

 

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween, Christmas fanatics! Spooky month draws to a close this week, as the elves discuss Season 3, Episode 8 of the television show, Supernatural, entitled "A Very Supernatural Christmas"! Joining their conversation is special guest Joanna Wilson, of ChristmasTVHistory.com amongst many other things. Much like the Winchesters' classic 1967 Chevy Impala takes them to many unexpected places, talking about the brothers' hunt for an "Anti-Claus" this week steers the discussion to down many different, lively avenues as well - from The X-Files to Fruitcake to The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy to Rankin/Bass' different versions of Santa Claus. Also revealed this week are the foreign Christmas traditions that the elves would like to see make their way over to America. So settle in with your favorite holiday beverage, relax, and enjoy this episode; it's definitely one you do not want to miss! Also, get excited, because next week we kick off two straight months of Christmas Classics! 

This week, the elves are back talking about the 1984 cult classic, Gremlins. Set at Christmas time, is this movie a Christmas movie or does it fall short? Get some intense Gremlins history, learn about it's connection to other 80's films, and find a hidden Christmas movie alum hidden in the film.

In additon,we continue our countdown to Christmas, discuss where the ghosts of Christmas past and future would take us, and start chatting about Christmas music. Light up the fireplace, put on some cozy socks, and let us take you to happy holiday place.

This week, Julia, Thom, and Anthony discuss the iconic, 1982 cartoon "The Snowman", based on Raymond Briggs' children's book of the same name. While beloved by many, especially in the UK where it is to Christmas what classic holiday specials like Charlie Brown and Rankin/Bass are to those Stateside, how will it hold up when it comes under scrutiny from the elves? Is it even a Christmas movie? In additon, this episode featues a discussion about the trailer for Kurt Russell's new, Netflix original movie, "The Christmas Chronicles", and the return of the "Question of the Week"! So make yourself a cup of hot cocoa, sit back, relax, and enjoy! 

It's October which means it's time for our annual Spooky Month here at Tis the Podcast. This week, the elves cover 1974's cult classic "Black Christmas". During the episode, they discuss the horror genre, movies they loved, ones they didn't, tropes found in horror films, and the impact of this film on the future of cinema. Turn out the lights, set the alarm, and sit back for another dose of Christmas cheer.

Happy October, Christmas Fanatics! And welcome to the start of "Spooky Season"! To kick things off this week, Julia, Thom, and Anthony cover ABC Family's 1996 original movie, "Christmas Every Day" which has one foot in spooky month, and one foot in literary month, as it is loosely based on William Dean Howells' 1892 short story of the same name. So settle in, let that cool autumn breeze wash over you, and enjoy as you listen to our discussion about this holiday-themed groundhog day that would be a dream come true to most of us!

This week, Tim Babb of "Can't Wait For Christmas" podcast joins Julia, Thom, and Anthony to discuss the 1983 Disney classic, Mickey's Christmas Carol! Amid all of the laughs and behind-the-scenes trivia in this episode, there's a lot of love for this film to go around amongst all of the hosts, but is it enough to shake up the top of our Christmas Canon List? Throw open the windows and let in that Fall breeze (we're officially there!), settle in with a cup of hot chocolate, and enjoy! 

Literary Month continues this week as Julia, Thom, and Anthony discuss the 2016 movie, The Christmas Project, based on Matthew Buckley's books Chickens in the Headlights and Bullies in the Headlights. Is this movie anything more than a weak attempt at trying to replicate what A Christmas Story did in 1983 in a much more juvenile fashion, or is there actually merit to this 80's set story about "elving"? Settle in with a steaming cup of hot chocolate and find out, and get excited because we are officially less than 100 days until Christmas!

Literary month continues this episode, as the elves board another train - though sadly, this one isn't taking them to the North Pole or to Hogwarts; this week, Julia, Thom, and Anthony discuss the 2017 film The Christmas Train, based on the David Baldacci book of the same name. How does the movie compare to the novel? Where does it rank next to other Hallmark movies we've covered thus far, and against Christmas with the Kranks/Skipping Christmas? Sit back and relax with a cup of hot cocoa and find out! You're sure to enjoy this episode because, after all, "there's just something about a train"! 

This week, the elves kick off Tis the Podcast's inaugural Literary Month with 2004's Christmas with the Kranks, based on the 2001 John Grisham best-seller, Skipping Christmas. We discuss several Christmas themes, including the idea of skipping Christmas altogether (spoiler alert: all the elves think this is a terrible idea). Grab your favorite Yuletide drink, turn the A/C way up, and ring in the Ber months with your favorite elves.

Happy One Year, everybody! Can you believe Tis the Podcast is already a year old? Julia, Thom, and Anthony sure can't! Instead of talking one specific movie this week, the elves take time to reflect on the year gone by, discussing what movies they were too hard and easy on, talking Rankin/Bass and the Grinch, and briefly reviving the Christmas in Hollis debate; they also reveal their own personal Top 10 and Bottom 5 lists! On top of this, they reveal some of their favorite memories and episodes, and share some favroite listener moments as well. So settle in with a cup of hot cocoa, blast that air conditioning (and be grateful we're quickly approaching Fall so you won't have to for much longer!), and allow a dose of Tis the Podcast nostalgia to grow your hearts three sizes and fill you up with some Christmas cheer! Enjoy!  

Join Julia, Thom, and Anthony as they discuss the very Hallmark-esque, infamous, Netflix Original Christmas movie, "A Christmas Prince". Also in this episode, in honor of Tis the Podcast's upcoming one-year anniversary, Anthony bestows his co-hosts with an anniversary gift (which you can view on our Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Reddit pages) courtesy of Rosie Baker. So settle back with a cup of hot chocolate and enjoy!  (And if you like Rosie Baker's artwork, you can view more/commission her to do a piece for yourself by searching DownrightBiscuit on Etsy, Rosie Josie Bee Art on Facebook, and Rosiejosiebiscuit on Instagram!) 

 

We're back this week with the 2017 cartoon, All I Want for Christmas is You. The elves discuss their thoughts on Mariah Carey, her wildly successful Christmas song, the book based on it, and her movie based on the book. Sit back, grab some hot cocoa, and enjoy!

It's been a long time coming, but Julia, Thom, and Anthony are finally catching the train from Platform 9 3/4 and heading to Hogwarts to celebrate Christmas and discuss the holiday moments from the "Harry Potter" movies and books! After a month of underwhelming Hallmark films, the three hosts are enthusiastic and excited to geek out together about what is, unanimously, their favorite book series of all time.  The elves talked for hours while recording this show, and though they managed to cut it down to a manageable 1:18:21 in length, the full, unedited episode – which runs 1:48 (a full half-an-hour longer!) – is even better. So if you're a Potterhead, and want more discussion about the Harry Potter films and books that aren't necessarily focused on the Christmas aspects, we highly recommend checking out the extended episode. It includes more general discussion and behind the scenes information about the franchise, more gushing over J.K. Rowling, many more quotes and favorite scenes, and, typical Tis the Podcast banter amongst our cohosts, who also reveal which Hogwarts house they and their spouses would be in. Because the elves love the unedited version so much – in addition to their fans, who’ve shown a lot of excited interest in this episode – we’ve put the full show up on Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/tisthepodcast) for you to download for just $1.00 if you’re interested. Trust us when we say, it’s worth it!