Merry Christmas — and welcome to a special holiday episode of Waterproof Records.

Whether you’re listening on Christmas Day, sneaking away from family chaos with earbuds in, or finding this episode weeks (or months) later — this one’s meant to feel like a personal Christmas mixtape made just for you.

In this special holiday episode, I share 10 Christmas songs that live a little outside the standard holiday playlist. Some are joyful. Some are nostalgic. Some are emotional gut-punches. And some might surprise you. This is less “department store Christmas” and more music that actually meant something to me.

We talk about:

Why alternative & 90s-leaning Christmas songs deserve more love

Building a Christmas mixtape with a Side A / Side B flow

The Smashing Pumpkins, Weezer, Jimmy Eat World, Low, Run-DMC, Chris Cornell, and more

Why certain songs hit harder as we get older

Christmas memories, belief systems, loss, hope, and finding meaning through music

This episode is about what music does to us during the holidays — the joy, the sadness, the reflection, and the kindness we wish lasted all year long.

So throw on your headphones, step out of the noise for a bit, and join me for Jacob’s Christmas Mixtape.

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