Podcast Summary
Capital One Venture X Card & iHeart Radio Music Awards: The Capital One Venture X Card offers 2X miles on every purchase and premium travel benefits, while the iHeart Radio Music Awards feature performances by top artists
The Capital One Venture X Card offers unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, along with premium travel benefits like airport lounge access and a $300 annual travel credit. Meanwhile, the iHeart Radio Music Awards will feature performances by Beyonce, Justin Timberlake, Green Day, TLC, Jelly Roll, and Lainey Wilson, among others. In the world of Stuff You Should Know, the gang discussed the origins of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, debunking common misconceptions about its creation. Robert May, an employee of Montgomery Ward, wrote the story as a promotional tool for the department store, not as a comforting tale for his dying wife. This holiday season, enjoy the music awards and consider signing up for the Capital One Venture X Card for your travel needs.
The Power of Persistence in Creating a Successful Story: Despite initial rejections and obstacles, staying determined and believing in one's creation can lead to financial success and personal fulfillment.
Creativity and determination can lead to success, even when faced with obstacles. Robert May, a children's book writer, drew inspiration from his own experiences to create the story of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Despite initial reservations about the red nose, May persisted and eventually secured the copyright to the story. However, he was surprised to find that the company he worked for owned the rights to his creation, leaving him with no financial gain. Seven years after his wife's death and deep in debt, May bravely asked for the copyright to be reverted to him. To his surprise, the head of Montgomery Ward agreed. This unlikely turn of events allowed May to finally profit from the beloved Christmas story he had created. This tale serves as a reminder that standing up for oneself and holding onto one's creations can lead to rewarding outcomes.
The Original Rudolph's Uplifting Story: Despite initial rejection, Rudolph's unique trait became an asset, and a stranger's kindness saved a girl's beloved pet in a heartwarming Christmas tale.
The classic story of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer we know today has undergone significant changes from its original form. The original Rudolph was not one of Santa's reindeer, nor did he live at the North Pole. He was raised in a positive environment and was content with himself. The discovery of Rudolph happened by chance when Santa spotted him on a foggy Christmas night and enlisted his help to complete his deliveries. After Rudolph's assistance, Santa acknowledged his contribution but also mentioned that the journey would have been lost without him. The original Rudolph went on to live a successful life and even returned to work at Montgomery Ward. Another heartwarming Christmas story involves a young girl named Mia and her dog Marley. On Christmas Eve in 2012, Marley was stolen, leaving Mia devastated. However, a kind stranger noticed a man selling Marley in Union Square and bought the dog back for 220 dollars. The stranger took it a step further by taking Marley to the vet and getting him back to his rightful owner, making it a true Christmas miracle for Mia.
The Holiday Season's Magic: Reuniting Marley and Santa's Authentic Costs: During the holiday season, families reunite with their beloved pets, while the music industry celebrates awards and new releases. Creating an authentic Santa appearance involves significant investment, with high-quality suits, boots, gloves, and beards costing thousands of dollars.
The holiday season brought a miraculous reunion of a stolen King Charles Spaniel named Marley with his family, while the music industry celebrated awards and new releases. Another intriguing topic discussed was the role and expenses of portraying Santa Claus authentically, revealing the significant investment required to create an authentic and believable illusion. During the conversation, the hosts shared stories of their personal experiences with exceptional mall Santas from their childhood. One Santa, in particular, was remembered as the most realistic-looking Santa, with natural-looking facial hair and a genuine demeanor. The cost of creating an authentic Santa appearance is substantial, with a high-quality Santa suit costing around $2,000, leather boots at $800, and white leather gloves at $300. A good theatrical beard made of yak hair can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $12,000, or one could opt to grow and maintain their own beard. These anecdotes and insights provided a unique blend of heartwarming stories and interesting trivia, making for an engaging and entertaining conversation.
Being a Mall Santa: A Significant Investment and Health Risk: Mall Santas invest thousands in suits, face health risks from kids' germs, and require specialized training
Being a Santa Claus involves significant financial investment and potential health risks. According to a poll by the Kringle Group, 20% of mall Santas have five or six suits in their backup wardrobe, which can cost upwards of twenty thousand dollars. Moreover, they are frequently exposed to children's germs, with 75% getting sneezed on at least once and 44% being coughed on or sneezed on up to fifteen times a day. Despite this, parents rarely keep their children away if they're sick. Santa School, such as the Charles W. Howard School in Midland, Michigan, can provide training on Christmas history, sign language, and other relevant skills. However, the job comes with unique challenges and requires quick thinking, like explaining that only female reindeer have antlers during Christmas time.
Exploring Alternative Income Sources: Santa Claus and Rum: During the holiday season, one can earn a living by becoming Santa Claus or producing and selling traditional rum. Historically, rum played a significant role in the colonial economy and potentially funded the American Revolution. Hot toddies and hot buttered rum were popular warming beverages in the past.
There are various opportunities to earn a living, such as becoming a Santa Claus during the holiday season or producing and selling traditional rum. The discussion also highlighted the historical significance of Medford Rum in the colonial economy and its potential impact on funding the American Revolution. Additionally, the conversation introduced the concept of hot toddies and hot buttered rum, which were popular beverages in the past for their warming and relaxing properties. Hot buttered rum, specifically, was made by adding butter to hot rum, and it was a type of toddy. This tradition dates back to a time when insulation was limited, and people sought to warm themselves and possibly induce sleep with a comforting drink.
Authentic Hot Buttered Rum Ingredients: Make an authentic hot buttered rum with dark rum, unsalted butter, and raw sugar in hot water, avoiding spiced sweet batter for an authentic taste.
The original hot buttered rum, enjoyed by George Washington, is made with good quality dark rum and unsalted butter. The butter softens the rough edges of the rum and is an integral part of the drink, not just to lubricate the mustache. The use of spiced sweet batter is considered frivolous and may result in labeling one as a communist in certain parts of Maine. To make an authentic hot-buttered rum, use dark rum, unsalted butter, and raw sugar in hot water. The use of apple cider results in a different drink altogether. For the best experience, invest in a good quality dark rum, such as Demerara rums from Guyana. Hot butter rum is not an everyday drink, so consider splurging on a decent bottle for special occasions.
Creating a warm and festive hot-buttered rum or reliving traditions through podcasts: Customize your holiday season with traditional hot-buttered rum recipes or immerse yourself in intriguing podcast stories
Making a traditional hot-buttered rum involves heating a mug with hot water, adding sugar, rum, water, and butter, and topping it off with grated nutmeg. For a less dangerous and colonial method, heat water in a tea kettle and follow the same steps. The recipe can also be modified by making a larger batch of spice, butter, and sugar batter. The key is to adjust the recipe to your liking for a happy holiday season. Additionally, tune in to the iHeart Radio Music Awards to witness performances by Beyonce, Justin Timberlake, Green Day, TLC, Jelly Roll, Lainey Wilson, and Tate McCray. This holiday season, enjoy these traditions and make them your own. Meanwhile, in a different context, Hooker Game podcast uncovers a forgotten scandal in a small southern town involving a massage parlor and a web of ex-cons. The story comes to life through news clippings, revealing a dark side of the community. Listen to Hooker Game on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Lastly, to round out the Christmas episode, let's end with a classic Christmas story, such as "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry, or a story about magical shoes made overnight by clothing elves.
A woman's selfless act of love: During hardships, people demonstrate love by making sacrifices, like a woman selling her long hair to buy her husband a gift.
Even during difficult times, people go to great lengths to show their love and appreciation for those they care about. In the short story "Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption" by Stephen King, Della, a struggling woman, sacrifices her most prized possession, her long hair, to buy her husband Jim a Christmas gift. Despite their financial struggles, Della's selfless act demonstrates the importance of love and the lengths one will go to make someone else's life better. The story also highlights the power of appearance and how it can impact our self-worth and the perception of others. The setting of the story, with its vivid descriptions of the flat and Della's reflection in the mirror, creates a sense of desperation and determination. Ultimately, Della's sacrifice leads to a surprising and heartwarming outcome.
The Power of Love and Sacrifice: Love involves making sacrifices for the one you care about, and the thought and effort behind a gift can often mean more than its material value.
Love and sacrifice go hand in hand. In the story, Della demonstrates her love for Jim by selling her prized possession, her long hair, to buy him a gift. Her actions show that she is willing to make significant sacrifices to bring joy to Jim's life. The simplicity and value of the gift, a platinum fob chain, reflect Jim's quiet and valuable character. However, Della's appearance after cutting off her hair causes Jim initial shock and confusion, leading her to fear his disapproval. Ultimately, Jim comes to appreciate the thought and effort behind Della's gift, and their bond grows stronger. This story illustrates the power of love and sacrifice in relationships.
The value of a gift is in the thought and love behind it: The story of Jim and Della shows that the true value of a gift lies in the thought and love put into it, not its material worth.
The value of a gift lies not in its material worth, but in the thought and love behind it. The short story "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry illustrates this through the actions of a couple, Jim and Della, who each sell their most prized possessions to buy gifts for each other, only to find that the gifts are useless without the very things they sold. Despite this, they are filled with joy and love for each other. This story highlights the wisdom and selflessness of giving, making Jim and Della the "magi" of the modern world. The irony and depth of the story make it a timeless classic.
The unsolved Easy Street murders in Melbourne, Australia: Two women were brutally murdered in their home, leaving their community in shock, and despite extensive investigations, no one has been charged.
The Easy Street murders in Melbourne, Australia, which occurred 47 years ago, remain an unsolved double homicide that left the community in shock. Susan Bartlett and Suzanne Armstrong were brutally killed in their Collingwood home, with critical questions still unanswered. At the time of the crime, Suzanne's 16-month-old son was asleep in his cot, adding to the tragedy. Despite extensive investigations, no one has ever been charged in connection to the case. Listen to the podcast "Case File Presents" on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts for more information on this intriguing and unsettled mystery.
