Summer Rewind: The Genesis of Christmasland

Summer Rewind: The Genesis of Christmasland

It’s summer break in Christmasland! We’re moving indoors where the AC keeps it cool enough to wear our cozy sweaters and drink our spiced eggnogs. That means fresh content will be behind the paywall until next season (premiering on Halloween). We invite you to join us there for bonus movies, advice segments and you don’t want to miss our Season Awards Show. We’ll hand out the top awards for Best in Season in each of our three categories. But have no fear, we’re not leaving the podcast well dry. We’ll be replaying some of our old podcast episodes (A Very Merry Podcast, FCB Radio Network [https://open.spotify.com/episode/5L47GnDVc7FDlSvyy1e98c]) - our ‘vintage shows,’ if you will - for our Summer Rewind series. We decided to start right at the start…which makes sense. Episode One of A Very Merry Podcast sounds a bit different from our current format, but it is a great introduction into the world of Christmasland - how we got here, why we started, and our favorite parts of the Hallmark/Christmasland universe. This episode originally aired on the FCB Radio Network [https://open.spotify.com/episode/5L47GnDVc7FDlSvyy1e98c] in December of 2020 and it was fun to go back and listen to us in the 2020 context. As you’ll remember, it was a tumultuous year, but we managed to stay on track and remain firmly in the Christmas spirit. Enjoy Summer Rewind: The Genesis of Christmasland (originally titled: ep.1 The Christmas Waltz) *Don’t forget to follow us on X [https://x.com/JTChristmasland] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/JourneyToChristmasland] YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@JourneytoChristmasland/shorts] and Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/jtchristmasland/] *Click here to upgrade your membership so you can continue to enjoy JTC all summer long. Your support will help us save the town’s favorite Christmas tree farm from the big-city developers who want to tear it down for a hotel. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit journeytochristmasland.substack.com/subscribe [https://journeytochristmasland.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

2 Hamiltons, 2 Kiras, One Season Finale...with Hallmark favorite Matt Hamilton

Season One of Journey to Christmasland is in the can! We were so blessed this year with a great schedule, a great platform (thank you, Substack [https://substack.com/profile/81309935-substack]!) and some pretty cool guests. We saved the best for last…one of our show favorites and the best part of the ‘Three Wise Men’ series on Hallmark [https://journeytochristmasland.substack.com/p/ep8-three-wisest-men-it-could-have?r=13f4xs], Matt Hamilton. Matt is an accomplished writer, producer and actor living in Vancouver (with his gorgeous girlfriend who has a familiar name). Hamilton’s resume is long and getting longer, but we here at JTC know him best as Mark Leclark, the saucy bro with all the Christmas lights and an unstoppable competitive drive. We asked Matt about the ups and downs of filming for Hallmark, some of his favorite co-stars and friends he’s made along the way, and we also put him to work answering some very important Christmas advice dilemmas. Plus: Christmasland Justice - Matt delivers the verdict on a Christmasland involving ‘As Gouda As It Gets’ (starring Matt’s good friend, Clayton James) [https://journeytochristmasland.substack.com/p/ep19-fondue-is-not-food-truck-food?r=13f4xs]and the legality of fondue as a cheese-making contest entry. We had so much fun all season and what a way to end our first full season, with one of our favorites. Many thanks to Matt for making time for us, and for his brilliant performances in the Christmasland universe we love so much. Bonus segment airs tomorrow (Saturday, June 27) exclusively on Substack. We’ll be dropping rewind episodes and bonus content all summer, so make sure you’re subscribed so you never miss a single laugh or cup of hot chocolate. If you’ve got a friend who might like our Christmas-all-year vibe, consider giving them the gift of this show. And if we don’t see you behind the paywall, we’ll see you in the fall for Season 2 of our never-ending journey to the sweetest place on earth - Christmasland! Follow the show on IG, X and FB - just search for Journey to Christmasland. [https://www.instagram.com/jtchristmasland/] Follow Matt on Instagram @hamiltonofficial [https://www.instagram.com/matthamilton_official/] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit journeytochristmasland.substack.com/subscribe [https://journeytochristmasland.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Ep.33 Summer Villa: Victor Webster and the Za Za Zou

It’s summertime in Christmasland! Kira and Amelia take a trip to France (the Christmasland version of France) for a summer of writing, restaurants and romance as they review Hallmark’s 2016 film, Summer Villa, starring Victor Webster and Hilary Burton Dean. A celebrity chef who is getting over a bad review and a romance novelist who can't seem to get her next book started meet accidentally at a French villa. Will Terry finally finish her overdue romance novel? Will Matthew save his frozen food line and his celebrity chef status? Is raspberry jam really a suitable flavor to pair with swordfish? Kira and Amelia answer all your questions and hand out episode awards: * Robert A. Baron Villain Award for the most dastardly villain the film could produce * Christmas Ham Award for the most over-the-top, entertaining performance * Christmas Tree Topper for best performance Drop your choices in the comments! Subscribe to all the things. Like and leave a review. That’s what any good Christmasland resident would do. X@JTChristmasland [https://x.com/JTChristmasland] IG@JTChristmasland [https://www.instagram.com/jtchristmasland/] #cheesychristmasmovies #christmas #hallmark #hallmarksummer #summervillamovie #victorwebster This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit journeytochristmasland.substack.com/subscribe [https://journeytochristmasland.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Ep.32 To Philly With Love: 231 Maple

Historian and author Tony Williams joins the show this week to review the (totally accurate) historical Hallmark love story, ‘To Philly With Love.’ “A teacher and an archivist decode Revolutionary War-era love letters, taking them on a thrilling journey through Philadelphia where they uncover history-and discover a love story of their own.” Will Emily and Nate decode their Revolutionary War love letters in time to save Emily’s home? Will Nate be able to impress his boss at the National Archives? Will the Ladies of Liberty ever stop being hunted by the Christmasland government? Kira and Amelia answer all your questions and hand out episode awards: * Robert A. Baron Villain Award for the most dastardly villain the film could produce * Christmas Ham Award for the most over-the-top, entertaining performance * Christmas Tree Topper for best performance Drop your choices in the comments! Subscribe to all the things. Like and leave a review. That’s what any good Christmasland resident would do. X@JTChristmasland [https://x.com/JTChristmasland] IG@JTChristmasland [https://www.instagram.com/jtchristmasland/] #cheesychristmasmovies #christmas #hallmark #tophillywithlove #americanhistory #americanrevolution Tony Williams is the author of Divided Over the Declaration: How an Enduring Debate Sustains the Vision of America [https://www.amazon.com/Divided-Over-Declaration-Enduring-Sustains/dp/B0G6M5GRD3/ref=sr_1_1?crid=28VVC43HF1U3S&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.iSBYqPMYmAjcOwFv0KhCBxPUkRQi3B48fgpu_taO46bXXP6ziby6HWGNBFcSFALinxSMUuOO4iPdTr_vj5utKeuRVo_arCht5_ivDxss_TE.zTnUfQeDhSWOcqS1WQd9EA-Ucggt_86fcgjvQDcF_uc&dib_tag=se&keywords=divided+over+the+declaration+tony+williams&qid=1781233079&sprefix=tony+williams+declaration%2Caps%2C257&sr=8-1] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit journeytochristmasland.substack.com/subscribe [https://journeytochristmasland.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Ep.31 Amelia and the little red-headed girl...and Susie Moore

Kira is out for family business this week, but we didn’t want to leave another week without content, so Amelia bravely stepped up to lead the show and invited JTC superfan Susie Moore on to talk all things Christmasland. *NOTE: Due to the nature of this week’s episode, Amelia was forced to use a different platform to record, so the sound and picture are a little different this week. We do what we can! Thanks for your patience. How did the JTC podcast change Susie’s life for the better? Does Susie have better and more talented friends than Kira and Amelia? And the most important question…what is Susie’s favorite Kristoffer Polaha movie? Respect the Polaha! Amelia gets all the answers for you, the faithful listeners. On a personal note, Kira extends her thanks and appreciation for all the kind condolences fans and friends have sent regarding the passing of her beloved mother-in-law. This week’s episode is dedicated to Faith Davis, a beautiful wife and mother and a faithful daughter of God. Rest in Peace. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit journeytochristmasland.substack.com/subscribe [https://journeytochristmasland.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]