During any holiday season as the twinkling lights begin to appear on every street corner, there’s no better time to fill your commute, cooking sessions, or cozy evenings with the sounds of Christmas cheer.
If you’re drawn to heartwarming stories that capture the magic of the season, or want to hear some deep dives into holiday traditions from around the world, or simply want a dose of festive music and merriment to get you through your gift wrapping, the podcast world has transformed into a winter wonderland of seasonal content.
From limited series that drop each December like clockwork to year-round shows that save their most special episodes for this time of year, here are some of the top Christmas podcasts that will have you feeling holly jolly in no time.
A Christmas Carol
The Merry Beggars offer their own take on an Audio Advent Calendar featuring Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol! Follow along with Ebenezer Scrooge on his path toward Christmas through brief 10-minute installments released each day during Advent.
12 Days Pod
A festive podcast centered on seasonal films, presented by two hosts in a relationship who have conflicting views on what constitutes a “standard holiday experience,” and share plenty of laughter along the way.
George Bailey Was Never Born
George Bailey Was Never Born offers an in-depth examination of It’s a Wonderful Life, exploring America’s enduring connection to this beloved film and its relevance today. Created by Kurt Engfehr and Ray Nowosielski, this 10-episode series from iHeartMedia and Double Asterisk features a familiar angel narrator who guides listeners between the film’s universe and our own reality, one where George Bailey was never born.
Season’s Eatings podcast
Ever curious about the origins of beloved holiday dishes? Host and certified baker Glen Warren explores the fascinating history behind festive foods like figgy pudding and German stollen in Season’s Eatings: The History of Your Favourite Christmas Foods.
Christmas Past
Every Christmas tradition has a story worth uncovering. Host Brian Earl examines the forgotten origins behind beloved holiday customs in Christmas Past, blending thoughtful research with festive celebration. Now in its tenth season, Vanity Fair calls it “perfect to put on while decorating your tree or preparing Christmas dinner.”
Christmas 365
Dylan Lyles and Matt Kelly are longtime friends and devoted Christmas enthusiasts. Though they met through their shared love of horror, the duo are passionate about all things Christmas. Listen as they welcome various guests to dive deep into beloved holiday specials, films, music, albums, and festive atmosphere.
Totally Rad Christmas!
This show celebrates the most exciting time of year during the coolest decade in history! The hosts discuss everything related to Christmas in the ’80s, covering toys, films, specials, music, books, games, comics, decorations, food, fashion, and trends, if it was popular during the holiday season in the ’80s, they explore it!
Christmas Podding
Christmas Podding is the ultimate guide to all things festive, hosted by Australian radio personalities Liam Renton and Vanessa Gibson. These self-proclaimed “Festive Besties” bonded over their love of Love Actually nearly two decades ago and have been celebrating Christmas year-round ever since. They cover holiday food, films, music, traditions, decorations, and more, delivering tips, tricks, and plenty of laughs.
Bah Humbug: A Christmas Movie Podcast with Helen O’Hara
For those who live and breathe Christmas, Bah Humbug examines the latest festive films alongside classic seasonal favorites, from Kurt Russell in The Christmas Chronicles 2 to Dolly Parton in Christmas On The Square and Kristen Stewart in Happiest Season. Hosted by Helen O’Hara with rotating film experts and guests, the show takes an affectionate look at the coziest, snowiest, and most festive movies around.
Christmas Stories
This festive podcast from Focus on the Family helps listeners celebrate the holiday season through uplifting stories, lighthearted conversation, and family-friendly activity suggestions. Host John Fuller and guests guide families in exploring the deeper significance of Christmas in each episode of this binge-worthy series.
The Cinnamon Bear
Start a new family tradition with The Cinnamon Bear, a classic radio show from 1937. Follow siblings Judy and Jimmy through the magical land of Maybeland as they search for their missing Christmas tree star, aided by the Cinnamon Bear and encountering memorable characters like the Crazy Quilt Dragon, the Wintergreen Witch, Fe Fo the Giant, and Santa Claus along the way.
Christmas Countdown
Hosted by actor Eric Petersen and TV producer Danny Jordan, Christmas Countdown is the #1 ranked Christmas podcast globally. Each episode features personal stories, festive games, and holiday news, followed by themed countdowns covering everything from Christmas movies and songs to traditions and helpful tips.
Advent Calendar House
This podcast honors television holiday specials, with a primary focus on Christmas episodes. Listeners can revisit 12 classic and lesser-known seasonal shows each December and July.
Santa Maybe, a Criminal
When Santa lands in jail, amateur podcaster Richie Buck launches an investigation to prove his innocence. This festive true-crime satire features disgruntled elves, an Easter Bunny with IBS, and guest appearances from popular true crime podcasters. Santa Maybe, a Criminal asks the ultimate holiday question: Is Santa actually guilty?
The Lost Christmas Podcast
This podcast explores the characters, narratives, customs, cuisine, and all aspects of the Christmas season across the globe. Every episode concludes with an excerpt from The Lost Years of Santa Claus book, which reveals untold tales filling in the gaps of Santa Claus mythology and providing answers about his true story.
Christmas Creeps
Christmas Creeps delivers holiday mayhem throughout the entire year. Hosts Joseph Wade, Johnny-5, and Mr. Bradford release bimonthly episodes dissecting festive films and television programs while searching for the authentic spirit of Christmas.
It’s a Wonderful Lie
It’s a Wonderful Lie is a comedy podcast that uncovers the hilarious reality behind those overly cheerful holiday newsletters. The show imagines the messy truth hiding beneath the perfect updates from friends and family, perfect for anyone who’s ever rolled their eyes at a Christmas brag letter.
Christmas Movies Actually
Film critic Collin Souter and sheep expert Kerry Finegan explore every type of Christmas movie imaginable, from classics and horror to Hallmark films, obscurities, and unconventional holiday stories. They cover the great, the terrible, and the bizarre all year long.
Do you know of another Christmas podcast that you think should be on this list? Let me know
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