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For our season finale episode, we're talking our top 5 favorite and top 5 least favorite Christmas songs! See how we rank popular hymns and festive favorites in this lighthearted and hilarious season 6 finale!
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Cecilia's Draft Picks -
Least Favorite:
1.⁠ ⁠I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas -    • Gayla Peevey - I Want a Hippopotamus for C... 
2.⁠ ⁠Rocking Around the Christmas Tree -    • Brenda Lee - Rockin' Around The Christmas ... 
3.⁠ ⁠I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Clause -    • I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus - Jackson 5 
4.⁠ ⁠Jingle Bell Rock -    • Bobby Helms - Jingle Bell Rock (Official V... 
5.⁠ ⁠All I Want for Christmas is You -    • Mariah Carey - All I Want For Christmas Is... 

Most Favorite:
1.⁠ ⁠Jesus Christ the Apple Tree -    • Jesus Christ The Apple Tree 
2.⁠ ⁠I Wonder As I Wander -    • I Wonder As I Wander (Album Version) 
3.⁠ ⁠God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen -    • God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen 
4.⁠ ⁠White Christmas -    • White Christmas (Official Video) 
5.⁠ ⁠Sleigh Ride -    • "Sleigh Ride" by Leroy Anderson . Played h... 

Tara's Draft Picks -
Least Favorite:
1. Fairytale of New York -    • The Pogues - Fairytale Of New York (Lyrics... 
2. Santa Baby -    • Eartha Kitt - Santa Baby (Official Music V... 
3. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays -    • Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays - N Sync (... 
4. Little Drummer Boy -    • The Little Drummer Boy (1965 Version) 
5. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen -    • God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen 

Most Favorite:
1. In the Bleak Midwinter -    • In the bleak mid-winter (Holst, arr. Wilbe... 
2. Rivers of Light -    • Rivers of Light 
3. The Snow -    • The Snow _ Edward William Elgar 
4. It Came Upon A Midnight Clear -    • It Came Upon A Midnight Clear (Album Version) 
5. White Christmas -    • White Christmas (Official Video)  

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Today we're welcoming back our friend Julia Janowski! Julia was a guest on Season 1, and her life has taken many twists and turns over the past few years. We're chatting about what she's learned about trusting in God, and how The Artist's Way is helping her find clarity in her journey.

Learn more about Julia at her website.

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Here's the links referenced in today's episode -
The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron -
https://www.amazon.com/Artists-Way-Di...
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What we're listening to -
Tara: O Come O Come Emmanuel by Matthew Culloton
   • O Come, O Come, Emmanuel by Matthew Cullot... 

Cecilia: Totus Tuus by Henryk Górecki
   • Górecki: Totus Tuus, Op. 60 (Album Version) 

Julia: The Nutcracker Suite by Duke Ellington
   • Duke Ellingon - Overture 

Jingle All the Way by Bela Fleck and the Flecktones
   • Béla Fleck and the Flecktones - Jingle Bells  

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Have you ever heard of The Huron Carol? This traditional Christmas hymn was written by a saint, and its unassuming lyrics have a lot to teach us about evangelization.
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Here's the links referenced in today's episode -
The Huron Carol -
   • The Huron Carol (Arr. R. Anderson) 
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What we're listening to -
Tara: Ain't That-a Rockin' by Stacey V. Gibbs
   • USC Thornton Chamber Singers: "Ain't That ... 

Cecilia: O Come, O Come Emmanuel by The Piano Guys
   • O Come, O Come, Emmanuel | Cinematic Chris...  

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With American Thanksgiving just around the corner, today we're taking a moment to reflect on gratitude. One of the most important tools for growing in contentment, peace and joy, we're chatting about why gratitude is so crucial to incorporate into our lives, and some practical tips for living it out - even when life feels crazy and stressful!
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What we're listening to -
Tara: Lux Aurumque by Eric Whitacre
   • Whitacre: Lux Aurumque 

Cecilia: I've Got Plenty to be Thankful For by Bing Crosby
   • I've Got Plenty To Be Thankful For  

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Loneliness is endemic in our times, and can especially affect musicians around the holidays. Today we're chatting about how to combat the holiday loneliness, whether you're working, or spending time with family this Christmas season.
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What we're listening to - 
Tara: Lux Aeterna, by Håkan Glänte
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AahIeUza8as

Cecilia: The Nutcracker Suite, by Tchaikovsky
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4wBG8BWbYg

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It's the most wonderful time of the year - unless you're a working musician, drowning in your hectic schedule. Today we're chatting about how to get on top of this crazy time of year, with mental, physical, and spiritual preparation.
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What we're listening to -
Tara: Jerusalem, by Michael McGlynn
   • Jerusalem 

Cecilia: Disney's Sleeping Beauty Soundtrack
   • Sleeping Beauty Disney Soundtrack  

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Today we're chatting about the newest Doctor of the Church - St. John Henry Newman. Known for his prolific writings, did you know he was also a musician? We're sharing some fascinating snippets of John Henry Newman's musical life, taken from his personal letters and sermons.
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Here's the links referenced in today's episode -
JHN's sermon on music & the Mind of God - https://hearthandfield.com/seven-notes-and-the-mind-of-god-john-henry-newman-1843/
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What we're listening to - 
Tara: See, Darkness Covers the Earth, by Stefan Klaverdal
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1Kf3ew9eJM

Cecilia: George Gershwin

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This is part 2 of our mini-series on the All Hallows Triduum - the feasts of All Saints & All Souls! Today we're chatting all about the importance of these commemorations, some ideas of ways to celebrate them, and a bit about their music.
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Here's the music referenced in today's episode -
All Saints & All Souls Playlist - *coming soon!*
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What we're listening to -
Tara: Chili Con Carne, by The Real Group

Cecilia: Finch in the Pantry, by The Arcadian Wild

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Today, we're chatting all things Halloween! Though it's become somewhat controversial in Catholic circles in recent years, we're sharing the reasons why we believe it's so important to continue commemorating this important day in the Hallowtide Triduum. We're also chatting a bit about scary music - it's history, uses, and interesting stories about it's influence!
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Here's the music referenced in today's episode -
Dies Irae Chant -    • Dies Irae - Gregorian Chant (with lyrics a... 

A Brief History of the Dies Irae -    • A Musical History Of Death: 'Exit Music' b... 

Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D Minor -    • Toccata and Fugue in D Minor (Best Version... 

Schubert's Erlkönig (if you don't speak German, turn on closed captioning!) -    • Franz Schubert: Erlkönig 
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What we're listening to -
Tara: Happy Days Theme -    • Happy Days (Theme from ''Happy Days'') 

Cecilia: An Autumn Gone By - https://spotify.link/s8uieFLoCXb

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After an unexpectedly long hiatus- WE'RE BACK! We're thrilled to be returning to the podcast for Season 6. In this episode, we're catching up on what's happened since we last recorded, the reason for the untimely end of Season 5, and chatting about what to expect in this coming season!

What we're listening to;
Cecilia - Where Is My Husband!, by RAYE
Tara - O Magnum Mysterium, by Guy Forbes