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787
December 23, 2022

Baby's First Christmas

People experiencing Christmas in brand new ways, giving the holiday even more meaning.

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  • Transcript

Aviva DeKornfeld / This American Life

Playlist

A This American Life Christmas Playlist

"A whole galaxy of alternative holiday music that I didn’t know existed – songs that I’d want to listen to anyway, even if it wasn’t this time of year."
Prologue

Prologue

Ira introduces us to Santa Allen. A man who is NOT the real Santa Claus but who will – for the first time ever – be sitting in a chair, dressed as Santa, asking little children what they want for Christmas this year.  He’s nervous. (4 minutes)

Act One

Does Santa Believe in Himself?

Producer Aviva DeKornfeld accompanies Santa Allen to his first “chair gig” to see whether all of his hopes, or all of his fears, or a little of both, will be realized. (16 minutes)

By

Aviva DeKornfeld
Act Two

Jews for Jesus, for Just One Day 

Alex Edelman grew up in an Orthodox Jewish household in Boston. But one year, unexpectedly, his family decided to celebrate Christmas – for what he says are very Jewish reasons. (15 minutes)

By Alex Edelman and Ira Glass
Act Three

Buffalo Girls Can’tcha Come Out Tonight 

Our former colleague Neil Drumming has never seen “It’s a Wonderful Life” – which makes no sense given that he’s seen almost every other movie there is. Executive Editor Emanuele Berry takes it upon herself to change Neil’s life forever, or not at all, by showing him the film for the first time. (10 minutes)

By Emanuele Berry
Act Four

Single Bells 

Scaachi Koul is commemorating a Christmas first of her own – and ON her own – this year.

By Scaachi Koul; Produced by Diane Wu

Song:

“The First Noel (Attaboy House Party Remix)” by Bing Crosby 

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A locksmith tells the story of an act of kindness he committed, hoping for a small reward. That, and other stories of kindness in New York City.

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This American Life is produced in collaboration with WBEZ Chicago and delivered to stations by PRX The Public Radio Exchange.

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