Thank God It's Toby Highlights

Kathryn Glendon is a Certified Professional Coach who is dynamic and forward-thinking.

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She holds a Master's degree in Public Health and has over 15 years of experience in community health promotion and prevention with a focus on total wellness, Specializing in Planning - Policy Development - Media Relations - Community Mobilization - Program design and implementation and management. Kate assists communities, groups, and individuals to increase their quality of life.

Highlights from Toby's Friday afternoon show on Shout Radio. Featuring chat with top showbiz guests.

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Kaylee Golding is a DJ and an award-winning presenter, who can currently be heard on KISS Fresh 1 pm - 4 pm every Saturday and Sunday and weekdays 2-7 pm on HITs Radio Pride.

In 2021 she won E4's talent search and is currently part of the E4 Academy. 

Kaylee also has a weekly show every Monday from 1 pm - 3 pm on Reprezent Radio and a bi-weekly show on No Signal Radio from 3 pm. 

She is originally from Birmingham but is now living in East London. Hence why she follows the slogan "Your favourite Gyal From Brum". As part of the LGBTQ+ community, she felt it was important to represent that side of her so in 2020 she launched her podcast On Your Gaydar. Representing who you are is at the heart of all of Kaylee's work.

Throughout her career, she has interviewed a huge number of artists including Aitch, Pia Mia, Sean Paul, Pa Saileu, Krept & Konan, and Lady Leshur, to name a few! In addition to this Kaylee has won multiple awards for her presentation, including Best Specialist 2018 & 2019, and best interview Gold and Silver 2019 at the Student Radio awards. She has also been nominated for Best Presenter at the UK Entertainment Awards 2021. 

As a DJ, Kaylee has done guest mixes on a vast variety of stations including; Capital XTRA, BBC 1XTRA and more. She has also played at multiple festivals including Birmingham Pride. 

Highlights from Toby's Friday afternoon show on Shout Radio. Featuring chat with top showbiz guests.

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Karolyn Grimes is an actress best known for her role as Zuzu Bailey in the classic 1946 Frank Capra film It's a Wonderful Life. She also played Debby Brougham in the 1947 film The Bishop's Wife.

Grimes' film debut came when she was 6 months old. She first attracted attention playing Fred MacMurray's daughter in 1945's Pardon My Past.[4] Her most famous role came as ZuZu in It's a Wonderful Life in 1946. The following year she appeared in six pictures, most notably as the daughter of David Niven and Loretta Young in The Bishop's Wife.

In all Grimes starred in 16 motion pictures as a child actor, but it is as ZuZu that she is best remembered. She was honoured as a famous Missourian with a star on the Missouri Walk of Fame in Marshfield, Missouri. She also received the city's highest honour, the Edwin P. Hubble Medal of Initiative in 2007 at the annual Marshfield Cherry Blossom Festival.

Highlights from Toby's Friday afternoon show on Shout Radio. Featuring chat with top showbiz guests.

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Author, historian, and vintage book collector Pamela McColl tours America in 2022 speaking on the poem’s vibrant legacy at dozens of museums, bookstores, and libraries.  McColl presents the poem’s story in a new book, Twas The Night – The Art and History of the Classic Christmas Poem.

The author calls the masterpiece of juvenile fiction the most often read, recited, reprinted, and collected work in the library of English literature and considers the 200th milestone of this warm-hearted poem cause for celebration.

“In compiling the material for Twas The Night – The Art and History of the Classic Christmas Poem I accessed art collections and combed through archives across America. I made fascinating discoveries including locating the only known to exist photograph of the poet Clement Clarke Moore ( New York 1779-1863) and of the home where the lines were crafted for Christmas Eve 1822.” McColl

“Charles Dickens and Washington Irving may have created Christmas dinner, but it was Moore “The Poet of Christmas Eve” who gave us Santa Claus with all the trimmings.” McColl

“For the very first time, the poem’s own story is presented. It’s a luscious, entertaining tome that took ten years to create. Bravo, author and editor, Pamela McColl! ” David Paul Kirkpatrick, American film producer and writer, former President Paramount Pictures, President Production Walt Disney Pictures, Touchstone Pictures.

“A delightful and informative exploration of “A Visit From St. Nicholas” for the holiday season.” Kirkus Reviews.

“Whether a library is focused on art, history, popular culture, or Christmas, Twas the Night: The Art and History of the Classic Christmas Poem represents an outstanding work of literature and a compelling read the entire family can enjoy.” Diane Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review.

Five Star Rating Amanda Ellison, Indie Reader: “All readers could ever wish to learn--in pictures and prose--about the world’s definitive festive verse. - Pamela McColl's Twas The Night: The Art and History of the Classic Christmas Poem, is packed full of vintage illustrations and lesser-known historical details that make the book a bundle of perennial joy, for believers and non-believers alike.”

In 2012, McColl created a firestorm from Colbert to Barbara Walters over her smoke-free edition of the poem: Twas The Night Before Christmas edited by Santa Claus for the Benefit of Children of the 21st. Century.

Highlights from Toby's Friday afternoon show on Shout Radio. Featuring chat with top showbiz guests.

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Rising UK singer-songwriter The Gleeman gets ready for the festive season with wistful new single ‘I Love Christmastime’, releasing it one month before the big day.

Having hit the scene with his debut EP ‘The Gunslinger’ earlier this year, The Gleeman is set to round off his 2022 with ‘I Love Christmastime’, a song sure to stir up memories of childhood glee every 25th December. In the spirit of singers such as Don McLean, Robin Gibb and Billy Joel, The Gleeman’s voice takes you back to an era gone by, and with mentions of reindeer, Santa and the North Pole all name-checked to ring in the season, the festive excitement is almost palpable.

‘There is nothing as heart-warming as witnessing the wonder on a child’s face at Christmas – we all connect with that feeling. Leaving out mince pies & carrots, struggling to sleep through excitement, listening for the faintest sound of sleigh bells. “I Love Christmastime” takes us all back to that childhood innocence and reminds us of the joys of Christmas, no matter our age.’ – The Gleeman

The Gleeman grew up in the small West Cornish town of Helston, a short drive west of Falmouth, where his early passion for music saw him move through the ranks from the recorder to guitar to the school choir, and cornet in the local brass band. He was influenced by his love of piano men such as Billy Joel and Elton John, but was more a child of ‘80s pop, from Adam & the Ants to Frankie Goes To Hollywood, and via Queen on to the ‘90s bastions of Britpop.

The Gleeman is set to release his debut album ‘Something to Say’ in 2023. The album follows on from its debut EP ‘The Gunslinger’, released in 2022, and a string of singles such as ‘Armistice Day’ and ‘Hanging Around (The Ballad of Aaron & Amy Pt 3)’. Produced by Will Hicks (who has worked with likes of Ed Sheeran, One Direction and James Blunt), the album touches on themes of mental health, life milestones and loss balanced with uplifting and quirky storytelling. There will be a run of live performances from The Gleeman preceding ‘Something to Say’, be sure to keep an eye on this significant new performer.

Highlights from Toby's Friday afternoon show on Shout Radio. Featuring chat with top showbiz guests.

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It’s the most magical time of the year – but is the pressure to work at Christmas fueling a surge of burnout among workers in the UK?

Research by Slack highlights that the majority (79%) of UK bosses say they will encourage their employees to switch off during the holiday season, but despite this instruction - a third (33%) of employees say they will be online and available to work during the holiday season - even when they have allocated time off.

In fact, nearly 2 in 5 (35%) UK workers admit they will check in on work emails and calls on Christmas Eve this year, even though it falls on a Saturday. What’s more, nearly 1 in 5 (19%) plan to check their work messages on Boxing Day, and 1 in 10 (10%) will even do so on Christmas Day!

The data indicates that employees are struggling to disconnect because of their own drive, according to 3 in 5 (56%) of those who say they are available to work (despite the time off). In fact, half (50%) of employees—compared to 45% of their bosses—worry that the pressure to be constantly available for work will lead to burnout.

Technology could be the answer to managing the balance of expectations that many employees feel around working across the Christmas period. 70% of all office workers believe having a good digital infrastructure makes it easier to show managers, co-workers and customers that they’re on holiday, as over 3 in 5 (61%) agree it makes it easier to balance work and private life. Over half of workers (58%) plan to switch their notifications off for the entire Christmas period.

Highlights from Toby's Friday afternoon show on Shout Radio. Featuring chat with top showbiz guests.

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Since 2016, Brian Earl has been telling the fascinating stories behind our favourite holiday's traditions through the podcast, Christmas Past. Inspired by public radio-style storytelling, Christmas Past provides a lens through which readers can view Christmas as festive, cheerful, strange, and above all, endlessly fascinating. Think: NPR meets Clement Clarke Moore.

Now entering its seventh season, Christmas Past has earned a worldwide audience, 1.5 million downloads, and hundreds of five-star reviews. It is the all-time highest-rated and most popular podcast about Christmas.

Each short episode of the podcast tells the story behind a Christmas tradition, with the help of a leading expert. Christmas Past has featured historians, CEOs, linguists, botanists, curators, dancers, chefs, postal inspectors, and professional Santa Clauses, to name a few.

Episodes also include Christmas memories recorded and submitted by listeners. Christmas Past aims to surprise and delight the listener into a merrier Christmas by telling an engaging story, revealing surprising histories, and recreating the feeling of reminiscing at a family gathering — all in the time it takes to wrap a few gifts.

Brian has either been interviewed, or the podcast has received mention, in Vanity Fair, Modern Woman/USA Today, The Financial Times, Best Life, Bustle, Huffington Post, Pop Sugar, and many other local and national media outlets

Highlights from Toby's Friday afternoon show on Shout Radio. Featuring chat with top showbiz guests.

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Author D.V. Lang has written and published some fun, motivational, and educational children’s books. They’re available on Amazon, Goodreads, and many other popular sites where books are sold. Her first book, I Didn’t Think I Could is a wonderful motivational book that gives kids irrefutable proof that they possess grit and that they’re capable of achieving. Her second book, Saying Hello Around The World. Is a fun, easy, and educational book that teaches kids the friendly greeting of hello in a variety of languages. The books are designed for kids ages 0-7, but she has heard from many adults that they’ve thoroughly enjoyed and learned themselves while reading the books for younger kids who could not read them for themselves yet.

Highlights from Toby's Friday afternoon show on Shout Radio. Featuring chat with top showbiz guests.

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Is cash a Christmas cop-out?

57% said that the increase in inflation had impacted their Christmas gifting

A third (32%) plan on giving their kids money this Christmas – with cash reigning king (49%)

55% of kids prefer cash, though would happily accept bank transfers (25%) and gaming currencies such as Robux, V-Bucks, and Minecoins

Christmas will be costly this year, with inflation driving up prices across the board. Not only will our dinners and decorations be impacted, but more than half (57%) have said it has impacted their gift-giving plans.

This comes as a third (32%) say they plan on giving their kids money this Christmas, with cash reigning king as 49% look to put notes and coins in cards for the big day, according to research by NatWest Rooster Money.

Physical pounds and pennies are also preferred by kids (55%), though bank transfers (25%) and subscriptions (16%) are also viable options – more so than traditional cheques (13%) and gift cards (12%), which seem to be on the way out.

Meanwhile, recognising money is ever-evolving, almost one in ten (8%) parents have said they will gift crypto, while 13% plan on giving their child specific gaming currency – with kids favouring Robux (13%) V-Bucks (10%) and Minecoins (5%). Which begs the question, if this trend continues do parents need to be educating themselves on how this works?

While parents still prefer to give physical presents (40%) – choosing how they are personal (47%) and can feel more ‘special’ (56%) – cash in a card or money in a virtual wallet can be an important learning tool at a time where we all need to think about our personal finances.

YoungMoney Blogger and personal finance expert, Iona Bain, recognises parents want to give their children key life skills around money, and now in 2022, this means embracing both physical and digital financial tools.

Highlights from Toby's Friday afternoon show on Shout Radio. Featuring chat with top showbiz guests.

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“Envisioned as an imaginary B-side to Bruce Springsteen’s cover of ‘Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town,’ the song is an upbeat rocker that carries a bittersweet sadness,” says Flagpole in its premiere coverage of “Ain’t Goin’ Home This Christmastime” by Sloan Brothers. Click here to listen or follow the link above.

“It’s about reaching an age where you no longer go home for Christmas because there’s nobody left to visit,” says Sloan Simpson, the sole constant member of Sloan Brothers, about the song. A lot of Bruce Springsteen’s music deals with family and I have many associations with my own family and his music.

“I have become interested in expressing pain in my lyrics but setting them to an unexpected arrangement: a rocker like this song, a dance track, or even just adding vocal harmony to a self-deprecating line. There are plenty of artists setting sad lyrics to sad music. I want to shake that up where I can.”

One of the friends joining Simpson on “Ain’t Goin’ Home This Christmastime” is guitarist Richard Mikulka, the son of Velvet Underground drummer, Moe Tucker.

“I’ve wanted Richard to play on something and was waiting for a song to come along that was a fit,” Simpson says. “When I realized this song was an E Street Band tribute, I knew I needed a Telecaster in the mix and Richard has the coolest Telecaster in town, gifted to him by Lou Reed in the mid-90s.”

In addition to “Ain’t Goin’ Home This Christmastime,” the full-length debut album System Update by Sloan Brothers is out now.

Highlights from Toby's Friday afternoon show on Shout Radio. Featuring chat with top showbiz guests.

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