Grab your cocoa (or should we say cuppa?), because the Christmas Cousins are going international! This week, Cousin Chad welcomes back our favorite English cousin, Craig the Christmas Guy 365, for a festive cultural exchange that’s part Downton Abbey, part Home Alone 2: Lost in Translation.

First up: Halloween in the UK. Why do some Brits think it’s a bit too spooky—or too American? We dive into how the holiday differs across the pond, and why it still raises an eyebrow or two.

Then it’s on to Craig’s must-do Christmas checklist—the traditions, treats, and twinkling moments that make his season complete. What’s he most looking forward to this year? And what new festivities are on his radar?

Finally, Craig flips the script: what does he want to see Cousin Seth try, taste, or tackle next on his Christmas journey? From mince pies to mistletoe mishaps, nothing’s off the table (or the pudding).

It’s a very special week on The Christmas Cousins Podcast, as we continue our crossover with our friends from The Christmas-Aficionado for the Hallmark Happy Hour!

Cousin Chad is joined by the always-jolly Joe the Christmas Aficionado, the festive legend Cousin Lee, and a super special guest — Brian from Deck the Hallmark! Together, they’ll unwrap the much-anticipated new holiday movie “Merry Christmas, Ted Cooper” and pair it with the perfect seasonal beer. 🍺🎅

But wait… where’s Cousin Seth? 🤔 Rumors are swirling. Is he home with a mysterious yuletide illness? Nursing a grudge against Brian from Deck the Hallmark? Or simply too jealous of Joe’s perfectly coiffed Christmas hair? We may never know!

Either way, it’s bound to be a holly-jolly good time — with laughter, festive banter, and maybe even a “Seth on the Lam” segment or two. Tune in and celebrate the chaos, Christmas-style! 🎁

Ever wonder how those magical Christmas stores that stay open all year actually survive — or who’s shopping there in July? In this episode, the Christmas Cousins take a deep dive into the fascinating, slightly bonkers world of year-round Christmas shops...and maybe an epic Cousin Seth story!

From the iconic Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland in Frankenmuth, Michigan — the world’s largest Christmas store — to small, family-run ornament shops in seaside towns, we unwrap the history, the economics, and the unshakable holiday spirit that keeps these festive places alive long after the lights come down.

Cousin Seth asks the hard-hitting questions (“Do they play Christmas music… all year?”), while Cousin Chad explores what drives people to keep the magic going 365 days a year. Expect laughs, wonder, and maybe even a newfound respect for the brave souls who live in a permanent winter wonderland.

The Christmas Cousins are back — and this time, it’s a full-on crossover event!

Welcome to Hallmark Happy Hour, another collaboration with Joe the Christmas Aficionado, streaming live on his YouTube channel and later available right here on the podcast.

We’re kicking off Hallmark’s 2025 Countdown to Christmas season in royal style with "A Royal Montana Christmas" — and pairing it with a beer that perfectly matches the movie’s mood, charm, and Christmas spirit...or lack thereof?

Joining Cousin Chad and Cousin Seth for this festive roundtable are Joe, King Of All Superfans, Lee (@Steelcitychristmas) and Casey from @HeartofReviews, and her partner — plus a healthy dose of tangents, laughter, and a few hijack attempts from Seth (because what’s a Christmas Cousins episode without that?).

Expect spirited debate, a little too much cheer, and maybe — just maybe — a few actual movie insights. Grab a drink and join us for this fun, chaotic, and oh-so-merry kickoff to the season! 

The Christmas Cousins are officially kicking off the Countdown to Christmas season — and yes, it’s only October, but you know how we roll. In this festive catch-up episode, we dive into Hallmark Channel’s opening weekend lineup, swap early-season impressions, and see just how ready Cousin Seth really is to sleigh his way into the holidays.

We also tackle one of the most important questions of the year: what kind of Christmas tree will Seth choose for Year Three? Will he return to his real-tree roots, stick with artificial convenience, or surprise us all? Of course, there are many tangents along the way...

It’s cozy, chaotic, and full of laughs — the perfect warm-up to another merry and slightly misguided holiday season with your favorite cousins.

The Christmas Cousins are back — but this time, we’re swapping snowflakes for cobwebs! Returning guest Kerry Frances (actress, writer, director, singer and future Hollywood legend — you’ve seen her in Knives Out and more) joins us to dive into Hallmark’s biggest Halloween event yet, Haul Out the Halloween.

We break down everything from the casting and chemistry to the pumpkin-filled plot, the cozy-but-spooky vibes, and of course — Cousin Seth’s signature take. Is Hallmark ready to take over Halloween like it did Christmas? We’ve got theories, candy corn, and a lot of laughs.

It’s a little haunted, a lot heartfelt, and 100% Cousin-approved. 🎃

The Favorite Christmas Ever series rolls on — and this time, we’re joined by none other than Brian Herald, one of the beloved cohosts of Deck the Hallmark!

We get cozy and nostalgic as Brian takes us back to his most magical Christmas memories, the traditions that made him fall in love with the season, and the cozy chaos that makes the holidays so unforgettable (there's also a classic Cousin Seth story mixed in that is a must listen).

It’s warm, witty, and full of that classic Cousins cheer — the kind of episode that makes you want to grab some cocoa, light the tree, and pretend you’re part of the Herald household for the holidays.

Welcome back Christmas Cousins!

In this episode, we sit down with the one and only Brian Earl, the legendary host of Christmas Past and author "Of Christmases Long, Long Ago".

We unwrap Brian’s own Christmas origin story — how he fell in love with the season, why he finds it endlessly fascinating, and how he turned his passion into one of the most beloved holiday podcasts around. We also dive into his brand-new book, swap stories about the psychology behind Christmas obsession (we may or may not be the case study), and find out what’s next for Christmas Past.

It’s festive, it’s funny, it’s a sleigh ride through nostalgia and nerdy holiday joy — Christmas Cousins style!

A must-listen for Christmas enthusiasts, nostalgia lovers, and anyone who believes the spirit of the season never fades!

Move over, Homer. Cousin Seth embarks on his very own epic journey: the long-feared, long-awaited Pumpkin Spice Overnight Oats Challenge. Like Ulysses facing sirens and cyclops, Seth battles spoonfuls of Trader Joe’s pumpkin oats — not one, not two, but three consecutive servings.!!!

Will he conquer his culinary nemesis and return victorious to his own modern-day Ithaca (a Chicago townhouse...err, mega-mansion)? Or will pumpkin spice finally vanquish him once and for all?

Join the Cousins for an odyssey of fall flavors, heroism, and questionable breakfast choices.

The Cousins (plus the legendary Lee, the King of All Superfans and the inimitable Joe @christmas_aficionado) head back to the Hallmark archives to pluck out a forgotten autumn “classic” — Growing the Big One (2010).

Why this movie? No one knows. Did it give us cozy fall vibes or just confuse us like a corn maze after dark? Did they really “grow the big one”? Only one way to find out. It’s a hayride of surprises, snark, and superfan-level insights as we kick off fall, Cousins-style.