Advertise on podcast: The Holiday Specials We Love

Hey HSWL FANS! On this Holiday Specials We Love, we are simulcasting a Pot Luck Saturday with Al Capone, Ed Sullivan, fake Jan Brady, a Lawrence Welk crush, and the days when apparently everybody got their own television variety show. We talk the rise of the variety show — Milton Berle becoming Mr. Television, six-year-old Rose Marie getting a gold ring from Al Capone, Ed Sullivan, and the legendary performers who somehow all found their way onto his stage. We talk The Carol Burnett Show, Tim Conway breaking Harvey Korman, Laugh-In, Sonny & Cher, Donny & Marie, Captain & Tennille, and The Brady Bunch Variety Hour. Vicki Lawrence. The Hudson Brothers. Pink Lady. One-season wonders. Stars who knew when it was time to walk away — and stars who maybe didn't. Plus, a few Kev on the Scene Classics that prove some forgotten television probably deserves to stay forgotten. And we ask the big question: How did the variety show go from ruling television to almost completely disappearing? As always, please give us a 5-star review on Apple. Text us your favorite variety show, forgotten TV memory, or Kev on the Scene Classic at 351-251-2511 Talk Shawtly

Hey HSWL FANS! On this Holiday Specials We Love, we are simulcasting a Pot Luck Saturday filled with hobby stores, forgotten toys, classic television, homemade Batman costumes, and a strong case for bringing back balloons and refreshments. We talk Hobby Lobby, Michaels, Jo-Ann Fabrics, and the hobby and craft stores we grew up wandering through. Model trains. Slot cars. Shrinky Dinks. Play-Doh. Paint-by-numbers that somehow never got finished. The stuff that kept us entertained long before screens took over. We talk homemade Adam West Batman costumes, Silver Spoons, Mr. Rogers, department stores we miss, and the toys we couldn't wait to get. Why introducing kids to some of the classics might be the best way to make sure they don't disappear. And then there are the balloons. The danish. The refreshment table. Why did we stop doing this? Maybe showing up with a little something—and making things feel a little more fun—is one tradition worth bringing back. As always, please give us a 5-star review on Apple. Text us your favorite hobby store, forgotten toy, or refreshment-table memory at 351 251 2511 Talk Shawtly

Hey HSWL FANS! On this Holiday Specials We Love, we are simulcasting a Sunday Set Up filled with back-to-school memories, changing times, and a look at how learning has evolved from encyclopedias to artificial intelligence. We talk back-to-school traditions, Sears catalogs, libraries, microfiche machines, hobby stores, and why there was something magical about shopping for school supplies... especially when it actually happened just before school started. We talk how technology has changed the way we learn, why AI may reshape education, and whether schools should be teaching us how to think rather than simply what to memorize. We get into Poor Dad, Rich Dad, integrity, building something of your own, and why helping others succeed will always take you farther than trying to get ahead at someone else's expense. We talk where we've been, where we're headed, and the kind of people we want to become along the way. As always, please give us a 5-star review on Apple. Text us your favorite back-to-school memories at 351 251 2511 Talk Shawtly

Hey HSWL FANS! On this Holiday Specials We Love, we are simulcasting a Pot Luck Saturday celebrating one of the greatest traditions of childhood—the annual back-to-school shopping trip. We talk Trapper Keepers, metal lunchboxes, thermoses, composition books, erasable pens, electric pencil sharpeners, school uniforms, layaway, and the rich kids who somehow always had the newest school supplies. We remember the all-important first-day "premiere" outfit and why shopping for school felt almost as exciting as Christmas. We also talk Sears, Bradley's, Caldor, Woolworth, Marshall's, lunchbox collectors, forgotten TV icons, and why the school supply aisle was one of the happiest places a kid could be. We talk the Halloween Season and ponder whether the 1970s and '80s really were the golden age of back-to-school shopping. As always, please give us a 5-star review on Apple. Text us your favorite back-to-school memories at 351 251 2511 Talk Shawtly

Hey HSWL FANS! On this Holiday Specials We Love, we are simulcasting a Pot Luck Saturday all about game shows, old Hollywood, and the television moments that somehow became part of our childhood DNA. We talk The Match Game, Family Feud, Hollywood Squares, The Gong Show, Let's Make a Deal, Press Your Luck, and Gene Rayburn's legendary microphone. Hosts, celebrities, unforgettable contestants, and why there was something magical about gathering around the TV to find out what was behind curtain number two. We also talk old Hollywood, stars who seemed to have everything but often weren't happy, entertainers who struggled when the spotlight moved on, and the fascinating idea of "unaided awareness"—those rare personalities that everyone somehow knows. And somewhere along the way, we may have accidentally created The Game Show Trivia Network. As always, please give us a 5-star review on Apple. Text us your favorite game show memories at 351 251 2511. Talk Shawtly

Hey HSWL FANS! On this Holiday Specials We Love, we are simulcasting a Heal Squad Sunday Setup — Easter nostalgia, childhood memory, cultural debates, and a surprisingly deep dive into forgiveness (with a quick stop at Liberace’s ceiling… but we digress). We talk Easter growing up. The outfits. The patent leather shoes. The “don’t get dirty.” The long, quiet afternoon where nothing is open, nothing is on TV, and you’re just… stuck. Kev delivers the take: Catholics get Christmas. Greeks get Easter. We break down the differences. Baskets vs. candles. Bunnies vs. midnight services. Candy vs. lamb, music, and full-on celebration. What each version gets right — and what maybe doesn’t quite hit. We also get into the bigger question. What do you do when someone you know — or respect — turns out to have done something bad? Forgiveness. Boundaries. Case by case. Real talk. Then… Liberace. The house. The ceiling. The ego. The music. Because we digress AGAIN! We wrap with Easter traditions today — sunrise services, egg hunts, family dinners, and keeping a little fun in the mix no matter what stage of life you’re in. Big shout-out to super fan George for starting our social media pages back up! Please give us a follow on Facebook: The Holiday Specials We Love And Instagram: The Holiday Specials we Love Also- HUGE SHOUTOUT to Holden Rose Brewer for our AMAZING new outro music that he composed specially for us! Check him out at: https://www.holdenbrewerproductions.com/ As always, please give us a 5-star review on Apple. Text us your thoughts at 351 251 2511 Talk Shawtly

Hey HSWL FANS! A little Bonus Kev time as we simulcast a little RGF St. Paddy's Day Edition! Kev takes us from holiday energy and Boston traditions into one of his wildest Kev-on-the-Scene stories yet.... He talks nostalgia (parades, opening day, people coming back to life) and then he goes deep on the Caribbean Festival in Boston, no spoilers here- you must tune in!!!. Underneath the insanity is something real: how people in power can treat others like they don’t matter, why trusting your instincts can save you, and how staying calm under pressure can make all the difference when things go sideways. As always, text your thoughts to 351-251-2511, and don’t forget to leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts. We'll Talk Shawtly!

Hey The Holiday Specials We Love fans, we are simulcasting a little RGF from the Heal Squad — We go deep into Mary Poppins lore — Walt waiting for Julie Andrews, the Oscar revenge arc, and why sometimes patience (and instinct) beats studio executives. We detour through Chuck Barris buying a bar out of spite, the slow demise of the newspaper comics page, we talk reality TV ethics sparked by America's Next Top Model. We talk snowstorms, Netflix deep dives, kid influencers, and the fine line between tough love and cultural time travel. Then — as always — we land whereit matters most: candy. Bazooka vs. Double Bubble. Wintergreen supremacy. Canada Mints making a comeback. Jordan almonds as decorative betrayal. And a butterscotch sundae so transcendent it nearly required a moment of silence. Cherry Red Boy, the ribbon candy conversation continues. As always, text your thoughts (Bazooka or Double Bubble?) to 351-251-2511, and don’t forget to leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts. We'll Talk Shawtly!

On this episode of The Holiday Specials We Love, we simulcast a little RGF from the Heal Squad! We go deep into the great chocolate divide: Hershey vs. Toblerone, plain bar vs. triangular prestige, and why sometimes the snap of a classic Hershey square still wins. We talk frozen York Peppermint Patties, Andes Mints as the rare “free chocolate” victory, and the movie theater trifecta — Snow Caps, Raisinets, Goobers — with a strong defense of sweet-and-salty as a time-honored cinematic tradition. We dip into Bomb Pops and ice cream truck economics, and the sudden cultural rise of pistachio chocolate. We digress to talk, ski ball, and ice cream novelties. We talk about energy vampires online and the art of not taking the bait. We reflect on acting class, unexpected encouragement, and what it feels like to try something new without knowing where it leads. And we touch on that late-winter stretch — the in-between season — when you’re waiting for spring, Opening Day, and the next wave of holiday momentum. As always, text your thoughts (Hershey or Toblerone?) to 351-251-2511, and don’t forget to leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts. Talk Shawtly!

Hey HSWL FANS! Happy Valentine’s Potluck! It wouldn't be potluck with out our fave-Hot Buttered Popcorn dancers and why they should be the next Super Bowl halftime show. We go deep into all things Valentine's Day! We talk Roman festival chaos to St. Valentine legends to the greeting-card takeover (shoutout Esther Howland), plus standardized lace, ribbons, and UGH! Cupid….Love and light to the Cupid community. We talk Cadbury vs. Hershey (aka the chocolate Hatfields and McCoys), candy hearts, Spree vs Sweethearts, and the brutal truth about damage to your tooth enamel if you are over-served. And yes, we digress to discuss: doilies. What are they? Why do they exist? Why are they always dusty? If you’re under 80, we have questions. We talk elementary school Valentine trauma, carnations in high school, and we all agree: Valentine’s Day is basically the Day of Dread. As always, please give us a 5-star review on Apple. Text us your thoughts at 351-251-2511. We’ll Talk Shawtly

Hey HSWL FANS! On this The Holiday Specials We Love, we are simulcasting a Heal Squad Regular Guy Friday with — candy history, childhood memory, Hollywood mess, and why certain things just don’t work the way they used to. We correct a major oversight and talk Life Savers. The rolls. The hole. Pep-o-mint, Wint-O-Green, butter rum. Checkout counters, impulse buys, and whether Life Savers have been quietly pushed down. Cherry opinions. Mint loyalty. The rich-kid Life Saver gift packs. Old gum, novelty candy, and flavors you remember forever — sometimes for the wrong reasons. Gumballs at the bottom. Screwballs vs. Cannonballs. Circus Fun. Push-Ups. Why half of childhood treats were about the prize, not the taste. We also talk sick kids, late nights, steam showers, middle-of-the-night cleanups, and the moment you know everything’s fine again — when a kid looks at you and says, “Get up.” We pivot to talk Hollywood. The Ryan Reynolds / Blake Lively / Justin Baldoni situation, power plays, public pile-ons, and why the old Hollywood rules don’t seem to apply anymore. Tiki bars. Bar-arcades. Neon lights. Why vibe matters. Why independence matters. As always, please give us a 5-star review on Apple. Text us your thoughts at 351 251 2511 Talk Shawtly

Hey HSWL FANS! Merry Christmas Eve Holiday Specials We Love Fans, coming to you from our phones and cars as we squeeze in the must-needed Christmas Eve chat. We talk the catering, colored lights, cookies, candies and a little Kardashians. Kev is on the seen with Elf Emily at the Mart reporting on the status of the decoration availability. We talk the much anticipated Cookies of the Past Podcast launch, why fried dough is better than any holiday extravagant dessert display and why it really is all A few shout outs- a few laughs and a bit of MPedness.This one is raw- no edits- so if there please be patient with any flubs. Merry Christmas Eve! As always, please give us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts. Text us your thoughts at 351 251 2511 and find us on Patreon. Talk Shawtly.

Hey HSWL FANS! Merry Christmas Eve Eve Holiday Specials We Love Fans, coming to you from our phones as we squeeze in one more holiday chat. We talk the true meaning of the season, give an update on the progress of getting Rankin/Bass their duly deserved Star on the Hollywood walk of fame, and talk and how holiday spirit shouldn’t end when December 25th does. We talk Boxing Day — what it actually is, why it needs better branding — and how Kwanzaa perfectly carries the season through the post-Christmas week. Why Church shouldn’t be from 6 to 8 and then AGAIN, the next day- and how choosing between that and hanging with Dad and friends will empower your kids. We talk Christmas Eve expectations, and why this time of year should be about joy, generosity, family, and kids in pajamas — not obligation or guilt. Keep pressing to make this day official – with “and so unto you” as your response! As always, please give us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts. Text us your thoughts at 351 251 2511 and find us on Patreon. Talk Shawtly.

Hey HSWL fans! This episode of Holiday Specials We Love we take on one of the more obscure — and mystical — Rankin/Bass specials: The Life & Adventures of Santa Claus from 1985. We talk the opening with immortals, spirits, and endless titles, and how it immediately signals that this one hits different. We talk candy-cane ratings -nine, plus an advent calendar or was it really a bag of circus peanuts? We talk reused puppets, Japanese animation, immortals, whimsy, wizardry and just WHY. We talk the Wizard of Oz connection with a little inside baseball into L. Frank Baum — including his Hollywood home and how far ahead of his time he really was. More inside baseball when we realize the actor who voiced young Santa went on to produce shows we all know and love. Let us know if you are amongst the cult members who watch this one on the regular-we- are not. As always, please give us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts, find us on Patreon and text us your thoughts at 351-251-2511. Talk Shawtly.

Hey HSWL FANS! Welcome to a very Special Christmas Sunday Sunday Set UpHoliday Specials We Love/ Heal Squad simulcast. We talk Christmas decorations, neighborhood light displays — the joy of driving around, tuning in, and appreciating the effort people put in just to make strangers smile. No competition, no spectacle — just holiday spirit doing what it does best. We talk seasonal standards. Holiday cookies should not be everyday cookies. Holiday popcorn tins should not be carried by the tin alone. Is Crumble Cookie overrated? Is a more peanut, less brittle campaign needed? We talk about missing people who are no longer here, and how the holidays can make that absence feel louder — especially during firsts. We talk remembering, honoring, and the belief that those we love never really leave us. They’re still with us, in small moments, signs, and memories that show up right on time. As always, please give us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts, text us your thoughts at 351-251-2511, and find us on Patreon-It’s Free Christmas Sunday is here.å Talk Shawtly