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On December 2, 2013, Hashtag Atrium took over the Regent College atrium to record this special episode in front of a live audience. It comes to your ears (mostly) unedited. Merry Christmas!
On this episode: Carolers, Enoch Daniel, Special guests Alex and Molly Fogleman, Christmas-themed Good, True and Beautiful with Dave Redfern, and Mrs. Sandi Smoker (James’s mom!).
This episode’s question: If you were a Christmas elf in Santa’s workshop, what would be your responsibility and why?
Your Interactive Guide to the Episode
Here’s a picture of our wonderful carolers that James took (left to right: Seth, Kevin, Maria, Sarah, Caroline, Abigail, and Kim).
Many other radio shows/podcasts do live shows. If you’re interested in seeing (much more impressive) examples, here’s one of Matt’s favorites.
The Regent College atrium in all its Christmas splendor.
Note to the listener: James does not particularly like basketball. Such a tragedy.
“In the beginning” is a reference to Genesis 1:1 and John 1:1.
Housekeeping
Back in Season 2, Episode 2, we promised (and have yet to deliver – but will!) a transcript of the full Polar Christian Studies conversation to a person who left a comment here, on the blog. The winner: Luci Shaw award winning author, Caroline Crawford! (Go to the show notes of that episode to see her comment.)
Many thanks to Frankie Ellis for fixing the lights!
The Hodgepodge
Our wonderful special guests: Alex and Molly Fogleman.
The version of Hark the Herald Angels that they did was the arrangement by Drew Holcomb and The Neighbors.
Where Matt first heard Alex and Molly.
If you are wondering how people could hate Christmas, go ahead, just google “I hate Christmas” and marvel.
Alex went on the record as saying “I’m fine with Christmas music.”
Favorite Christmas traditions:
- Molly: Christmas at grandmother’s house with a Chik-Fil-A platter in Charleston, South Carolina.
- Alex: Sitting at the kids table at family get togethers.
- James: The Christmas tree and the smell of pine permeating the house. Don’t want the tree, but want the smell? Here you go.
- Matt: Waking up early on Christmas morning and watching Muppet Christmas Carol.
Alex and Molly’s last song: Sleeping at Last’s Snow (lyrics here).
The Good, the True and the Beautiful
We had a special guest co-host for this segment: Dave Redfern, the winner of A Girl Named Zippy.
The choices:
- Dave: “The greatest Christmas film of all time, It’s A Wonderful Life.” Hashtag Atrium is officially joining Paramount in the fight against a sequel (use #georgebaileydoesntneedasequel to join the movement).
- James: Christmas lights (listen to the podcast for the amazing link).
- Matt: Decorated neighborhoods (like this one) AND negotiating the present opening time for Christmas morning. Apparently other people care about this too.
Here’s the Vatican’s best films list that Dave mentioned (yes, It’s A Wonderful Life is on there under “Values”).
Enoch Daniel
Enoch is from New Delhi.
He’s only been playing piano for 12 years.
The piece he played: Sing We Now of Christmas.
The Random Guest
The Random Guest (to our great surprise and resulting in podcast magic) was Sandi Smoker, James’s mother.
This episode’s question: If you were a Christmas elf in Santa’s workshop, what would be your responsibility and why?
Sandi’s answer: She would be the encouragement elf, making sure everyone was doing okay and providing prayer support. (This prompted Matt to inquire about the North Pole’s religious affiliation.)
James’s answer: James would be working Master Control of Santa’s Workshop, any place where he can be pulling the levers and pressing the buttons.
Matt’s answer: How Matt envisions himself working in the workshop. James suggested Matt would be more like this.
You can answer the question yourself on our Facebook page or here in the comments below.
The carolers started to dissolve with too much Christmas cheer when they were demanding figgy pudding, but we love them for it.
Hashtag Atrium 