When Christmas Chaos Meets a Podcast Overdose
Who else but Tim and LeeAnna would drop a 17-episode podcast bombshell right after Christmas, when everyone’s still wading through leftover fruitcake and ham? Apparently, these two think it’s the perfect time to overload the world with chat about writing, chaos, and whatever else they can dream up. Welcome to Alchemy from Effigy Press, the show that claims to inspire weary writers, intrigue non-readers, and make holiday hangovers a little more bearable—assuming you like random chatter about 19th-century French carols, stagecoach mishaps, and John Batiste’s impromptu piano riffs.
The Unofficial Tim & LeeAnna Show (Please Don’t Cancel)
Tim, ever the ringleader, announces that the podcast is for “people who read fiction, write fiction, or do neither but want cocktail party ammo.” Way to aim broad, Tim. If that feels scattered, it’s because it is. He’s basically daring you to tune out—but oh, you won’t, because he’s hooking you with a deluge of episodes of post-Christmas mania. Meanwhile, LeeAnna stands by, injecting holiday cheer with a “Merry Christmas” and occasionally rolling her eyes (you can practically hear it) at Tim’s enthusiastic oversharing.
By the time Tim’s done explaining how Alchemy is going to change writers’ lives, you might forget that you’re still digesting a turkey sandwich. But hey, at least you’ll be well-informed when the next dinner guest asks about weird historical backstories for popular Christmas songs.
The Drunk Socialists of France: “Oh Holy Night” Backstory
Tim, the walking trivia dispenser, takes us on a meandering journey into the origins of Oh Holy Night. Written in 1847 by a French wine dealer-cum-poet who was maybe hammered, maybe just bored, the song was originally called Cantique de Noël. It was basically commissioned for a church’s stained-glass unveiling (because apparently, that’s a thing) and ended up being too rowdy for some priests’ liking. Who knew a “religious Marseillaise” would be so controversial?
Meanwhile, LeeAnna offers Victorian-era moralizing about table legs and wrathful theology, just in case you forgot how repressed the 19th century could be. And naturally, Tim segues into an American connection: the song hopped across the Atlantic, found a friend in John Sullivan Dwight, and earned a following among abolitionists—because what’s more Christmassy than a nod to the anti-slavery movement?
LeeAnna’s Reading of the Lyrics (Because She’s Been Singing Them Wrong)
In a bold display of self-deprecation, LeeAnna confesses she’s been singing lines incorrectly for years. But let’s be honest: does anyone get all the verses right at karaoke? At least she’s better off than the rest of us, who mumble after the first line until we reach “Fall on your knees.” She even draws attention to the explicitly abolitionist verse, remarking on how it might have been a tad too spicy for 1850s America. Good point, LeeAnna—some folks prefer their Christmas tunes sanitized.
Tim can’t contain his excitement over his favorite line—“the thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices.” He claims it’s basically a pep talk for writers, urging them to latch onto that jolt of inspiration. Cue the cynics rolling their eyes, but hey, cynics don’t write novels.
John Batiste Jams, Tim and LeeAnna Swoon
Tim wraps it all up by playing a snippet of John Batiste’s NPR performance, where the pianist riffs on Oh Holy Night in a bluesy style. You can almost see Tim’s eyes glimmer as he hopes you find it as magical as he does. LeeAnna, for her part, seems impressed too—though it’s unclear if she’s more dazzled by Batiste’s chord progressions or by Tim’s ability to stay on topic for more than 20 seconds.
Tim, always the teacher’s pet, hands out writer’s prompts. Because nothing says “wholesome Christmas special” like imagining stagecoach disasters or rewriting Oh Holy Night for a modern meltdown. His main message? If you’re a writer, get off the couch and craft something weird, because apparently the birth of a 19th-century French carol is the only motivation you need to transform your holiday-induced lethargy into literary brilliance.
Final Thought: Rejoice (or Roll Your Eyes) and Write Anyway
So there you have it. Alchemy from Effigy Press wants you to digest your holiday feast with a side of creative chaos. They talk about Oh Holy Night, they talk about stagecoaches, they gush about John Batiste—and they want you to write. Maybe they’re onto something.
The world is big, messy, and full of random holiday controversies, so why not channel that into your next 600 words? Who knows, you might even find the “thrill of hope” Tim keeps yammering about. If not, at least you can say you made an effort while Tim and LeeAnna keep riding their post-Christmas sugar high.
The Snark
Official podcast name: "Alchemy... from Effigy Press" (don't forget the ellipsis, folks)
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