Tea. Toast. & Trivia.

Faust - A Conversation with Eglund

A Conversation with Eglund Welcome to Tea, Toast & Trivia. I’m Rebecca Budd, and I’m so glad you’re here. I look forward to sharing this moment with you. Today’s conversation marks the beginning of a new journey for us. One that reaches across generations, languages, and lived experience. We are beginning a series titled Faust: Unravelling the Great Enigma, and I can think of no better person to open this exploration with than our guest, Eglund, joining us from Germany. For Eglund, Faust is not simply a great literary work encountered later in life. It is part of the cultural air he grew up breathing. Like every German schoolchild, he learned Faust in school. He recited passages in class. He absorbed its presence long before he could fully grasp its depth. But Faust did not remain a school text for him. The copy Eglund owns today once belonged to his mother, a quiet, tangible inheritance. And it was only years later, as an adult, that he truly understood what Faust was asking of him. Not as an examination subject, not as a cultural obligation, but as a living work, one that speaks differently at different stages of life. That, to me, is one of Faust’s great truths. This is not a work we “finish.” It is a work we return to. In this first conversation, Eglund shares what it means to grow up with Faust, to carry it unconsciously for years, and then to meet it again, awake, questioning, and deeply aware of how urgently it speaks to our modern moment. We talk about inheritance, memory, education, and the strange way certain books wait patiently until we are ready to hear them. This podcast is not about mastery. It is about companionship. We are entering Faust slowly, thoughtfully, and together, allowing it to ask its questions without rushing toward answers. If you are new to Faust, you are welcome here. If you have carried it quietly for years, you are welcome too. Let us begin. Rebecca Music by Epidemic Sound Whisper of the Pines by Howard Harper-Barnes https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/8b2cd55e-c124-37a8-87a0-d1df75911e12/

Dave Astor On Books Keep Us Centered

S8 E2: Dave Astor On Books Keep Us Centered In a world that moves quickly, speaks loudly, and rarely pauses for reflection, books continue to offer something quietly radical: steadiness. They slow us down. They ask us to listen. They remind us that complexity has always existed and that human beings have long turned to stories, ideas, and language to make sense of it all. Today on Tea, Toast & Trivia, I’m delighted to welcome back Dave Astor for a thoughtful conversation about how books help keep us centred in uncertain times. This is not a discussion about reading lists or literary trends, but about reading as companionship, as a way of orienting ourselves when the world feels fragmented, overwhelming, or simply too fast. Together, we explore why books still matter, how reading creates inner stillness, and what happens when we give ourselves permission to step away from the noise and return to the page. It’s a conversation about humour, empathy, attention, and the deep human need for stories that help us live with greater clarity and care. So pour yourself a cup of tea, settle into a comfortable chair, and join us. This is a gentle reminder that even in a complex world, there are places we can return to, and books are often among the most faithful. Rebecca Music by Epidemic Sound “No River Wide Enough” by Airae https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/25d1f5fb-ac34-3626-981a-a57d2740a1eb/

Turning the Page: Welcoming 2026 with Tea, Toast & Trivia

S8: E1: Turning the Page: Welcoming 2026 with Tea, Toast & Trivia There is something quietly ceremonial about the first episode of a new year. It feels less like a launch and more like opening a door, pausing on the threshold before stepping forward. As 2026 begins, I wanted to start Tea, Toast & Trivia not with urgency or prediction, but with reflection. This opening episode, “Turning the Page: A New Beginning for 2026,” is an invitation to slow down and consider where we’ve been, what we carry with us, and how we choose to move forward. Each of us lives a story that is constantly unfolding. Some chapters are marked by celebration, others by transition, loss, or quiet reorientation. Over the past year, I’ve experienced those shifts firsthand, moments that reminded me that while we cannot return to earlier pages, we can carry their wisdom into what comes next. This episode reflects on that truth. It is shaped by memory, by gratitude, and by a deep belief in what Meister Eckhart called “the magic of beginnings.” Not the kind of beginning reserved for youth or grand reinvention, but the kind that appears whenever we are willing to pause, listen, and imagine anew. At its heart, this podcast remains what it has always been: a place for quiet conversations in a noisy world. A space where reflection matters, listening is honoured, and a simple cup of tea can open the door to something meaningful. I’m so glad you’re here at the beginning of this new chapter. Whether you’ve been listening since the early seasons or you’re just joining me now, thank you for being part of this shared journey. Listen to the episode and if it speaks to you, I hope you’ll linger with the words, with your own thoughts, and with the pages you’re turning in your life. May the year ahead be filled with moments well-lived, stories well-loved, and beginnings trusted. Until next time, Rebecca Music by Epidemic Sound “Smell of Morning Coffee” by Franz Gordon https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/c56a59ac-d55b-44c2-b40e-083f23daae8a/

Christmas Tea with Jane Austen

S7 E11: Christmas Tea with Jane Austin Unwrapping the Gifts There is something timeless about sharing tea at Christmas. It is a ritual of warmth and conversation. This year, I invite you to join me for A Christmas Tea with Jane Austen, a special Tea, Toast & Trivia episode that celebrates the enduring gifts Jane left to us: wit, companionship, and resilience. My own journey with Jane began in Bath, where her world comes alive in the graceful curves of the Crescent and the lively spirit of the Assembly Rooms. It found its quiet conclusion in Winchester Cathedral, where she rests beneath a simple stone that belies her extraordinary legacy. Between those two places, Bath’s laughter and Winchester’s peace, I began to understand how deeply Jane’s voice continues to echo across time. In this Christmas reflection, I explore how Jane’s humour sparkles like gold, how her characters offer companionship like frankincense, and how her courage shines through life’s trials like myrrh. Together, these three gifts remind us that love, friendship, and laughter remain, as ever, the true riches of our lives. So brew a pot of tea, find a quiet corner, and join me for a Christmas tea with Jane Austen, a woman whose words continue to illuminate the human heart. From my family to yours — may your Christmas be bright, and your New Year gentle! Rebecca Music by Epidemic Sound Christmas On My Mind (Instrumental Version) by About Ivy https://www.epidemicsound.com/mu... Angels We Have Heard on High (Instrumental Version) by Jordin Sparks https://www.epidemicsound.com/mu... Silent Night (Instrumental Version) by Jordin Sparks https://www.epidemicsound.com/mu... Acknowledgment With heartfelt thanks to the many wonderful participants of the Jane Austen Festival 2023 in Bath, England (https://janeausten.co.uk/pages/f...) , whose enthusiasm and creativity bring the Regency world to life each September. The photographs shared here were taken during my visit and are presented in celebration of Jane Austen’s enduring legacy. This series is offered purely in appreciation of literature, history, and the community that continues to honour her spirit.

The Night Before Christmas

S7 E10: The Night Before Christmas Welcome to Tea Toast & Trivia. Thank you for listening in to a Christmas Eve reflection on the poem that changed how we see Christmas. Christmas Eve brings us once more to words that have shaped the wonder of generations. Tonight, we return to Clement Clarke Moore’s beloved poem, a story that reminds us that imagination, generosity, and joy are timeless companions. Clement Clarke Moore, born July 15, 1799, was a writer and American Professor of Oriental and Greek Literature, Divinity and Biblical Learning at the General Theological Seminary of the Protestant Episcopal Church in New York City. Clement Moore had strong ties to the seminary, for it was his generosity that led him to donate land — his private apple orchard — upon which the seminary was built. The Seminary remains on that same parcel of land, located at Ninth Avenue between 20th and 21st Streets, in an area known as Chelsea Square. Clement Moore accomplished a great deal in his lifetime. He was a writer and a poet, a professor and scholar. He served twice as President of Columbia College (now Columbia University) and as a board member of the New York Institution for the Blind. Clement Moore published several academic works, including A Compendious Lexicon of the Hebrew Language (Collins & Perkins, 1809). But it was his poem, A Visit from St. Nicholas, more commonly known as The Night Before Christmas, that captured the hearts of children young and old. With these poetic words he changed the way we see Christmas. A Visit from St. Nicholas was published anonymously in the Troy Sentinel in 1823. Clement Moore had second thoughts in 1837, when he eventually told everyone that he had penned the poem. Many believe that it is the most well-known and beloved poem written by an American poet.  We read it every Christmas, most often on Christmas Eve, and reflect on Christmases past when we were young and heard the familiar words read by our parents and grandparents. Santa and the tradition of Christmas gift-giving were transformed by this poem. There is a particular stillness that arrives with Christmas Eve, the hush before the dawn, the anticipation of joy renewed. As we listen to these familiar lines once more, we honour the enduring spirit of generosity and imagination that binds us together across generations. Until the next cup is poured, dear friends, Merry Christmas from Tea, Toast & Trivia. Rebecca Music by Epidemic Sound Christmas Snow by Mike Franklyn https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/f2e78ede-e8e3-3c38-a3d1-67254d5a4a28/