***Please note the silence in today’s episode is intentional to accommodate a series of journalling questions!***Happy new year friends! The final episode of each season of this podcast is always a bittersweet moment. Christmas is behind us, we are deep in winter now, and a new year is upon us, with all its promise and possibility. I hope today’s episode eases you in thoughtfully, and leaves you hopeful about the year ahead. It includes:* My favourite poem to read as a new year begins* Twelve potent journalling questions (with silent writing time in between each one)* Some thoughts on things to plant at this time of year* An invitation to head outdoors, whatever the weather* A special recipe from Great British Bake Off Finalist Christiaan de Vries* A few ways to stay connected in the year ahead, if you’d like thatWith inspiration from Max Ehrmann, Susan Coolidge and Christiaan de Vries. You can listen on iTunes, Spotify or here on Substack.Thank you so much for journeying through the festive season with me this year. What a joy it has been. I hope you have enjoyed this 'winterlude’ as much as I have. Don’t forget to subscribe so you get notified when The Calm Christmas Podcast is back next November. Until then, I hope to see you on my other Substack @Beth Kempton. ✨Wishing you a light-filled 2026✨Beth XxLovely things for you* ❤️ Our final giveaway on Instagram @bethkempton (The prize includes a personalised signed copy of my book The Way of the Fearless Writer, a Made of Stars journal by Meera Lee Patel, a goals journal from Mal Paper, a Midori sticky note pad to capture your ideas for the new year, and a complimentary place on my online class Do What You Love: the life-changing e-course. * ❤️ MOON+SHADOW - a beautiful one-day virtual winter writing retreat taking place on Sunday January 11, 2026. This is FREE to all members of my private writing community SoulCircle. If you aren’t a member yet you can join here (choose Monthly to try it out or Annual to get a lovely discount). If you are already a member you don’t need to do anything. I’ll be sending out more details soon.* ❤️ Join me for a gorgeous live seven-week deep dive writing and Substack immersion INK+FLAME, which begins on January 26. You can get 30% off if you register here by January 12.* ❤️ You can get a huge 30% off ALL my writing and personal development classes (or 50% off bundles of inspiring classes to guide you through the year) in my gratitude sale (on here until Monday January 12, 2026).Other links* Desiderata by Max Ehrmann* New Every Morning by Susan CoolidgeIngredients for Christiaan De Vries’ Fluffy Pancakes* Your usual pancake ingredients (here’s BBC Good Food’s Easy Pancake Recipe)* Raisins* A bit of rum* Butter* Icing sugarImage: Holly Bobbins This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit calmchristmas.substack.com

Friends, I hope you had a lovely, peaceful holiday, or indeed, whatever kind of Christmas you had hoped for, and if you didn’t, well it’s done now, and you enjoy a quiet few days ahead and then a shiny new year.I always feel mixed emotions at this particular time of year, sad that Christmas is over, relieved that all the work of Christmas is done, and hopeful that everyone enjoyed as best they could, given the circumstances, and also secretly delighted about this sacred pause that I call ‘The Hush’ and love so very much.For many years now, I have sensed something very special about these precious days between Christmas and New Year. It’s as if some kind of portal opens up. January will be here before we know it, but until then, let’s stretch these days as wide open as we can and meander for a while, giving our minds and hearts a chance to assimilate and process all that’s happened over the past 12 months and plant some seeds for the year ahead.This moment is that fleeting pause when time bends and magic hovers between the book ends of the season. We must and we should are abandoned in favour of ‘Shall we...?’ and ‘We could...’ Spontaneity and softness become the order of the day. This is a precious time to breathe deeply, savour moments with loved ones or alone. Feel the world slowing for just a while. It’s a time for reflection and releasing, meandering and dreaming, and today’s episode is all about that. It includes:* The special magic of this time I call ‘the Hush’* An amazing story of manifestation, which began on this podcast* An invitation to speak your dreams aloud* A beautiful wintery visualisation* A potent question to guide you beneath the surface of things* Lots of love for deer* How to make a vision board* A delicious soup recipe from Mark Diacono * Some goodies for you* A gentle could-do list for the week aheadWith inspiration from Ryokan Taigu, Calexico, Blackdown Shepherd Huts, Fog Chaser, Laura Pashby, Shaun Davey, the Natural History Museum, BBC Wildlife Magazine, Mark Diacono and Kate Trenchard. You can listen on iTunes/Spotify or here on Substack.Wishing you peace and joy for these in-between days,Beth XxLovely things for you* The Winter Writing Sanctuary FREE seven-day gentle writing class, starts Monday December 29 (join here)* Moon + Shadow one-day virtual writing retreat on January 11 (join from anywhere, FREE to all paid subscribers/members of my SoulCircle private writing community. If you are not a member yet you can join here).Books mentioned* Chasing Fog by Laura Pashby Other links* Hear the Bells by Calexico* Blackdown Shepherd Huts* A Peek Inside the (Tiny) Hut that Words Built (essay by me)* The Deer’s Cry by Shaun Davey* A Simple Carol by Matt Evans Fog Chaser (60 minute version)* Reindeer at the Natural History Museum* BBC Wildlife Magazine on the difference between deer and reindeerIngredients for Mark Diacono’s Cauliflower and Sage Soup* Two teaspoons of coriander seeds* Two teaspoons of cumin seeds* One tablespoon of butter* One tablespoon of olive oil, and more for the sage* Two onions finely chopped* Two garlic cloves finely chopped* One medium to large cauliflower chopped into three centimetre or one inch cubes* 1.2 litres or two pints of hot water* 12 sage leaves,* Curry powder to serve* Sea salt and freshly ground white pepper This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit calmchristmas.substack.com

There is a moment of silence that occurs every year somewhere between the dawn of Christmas Eve and the setting of the sun on Christmas Day itself. A moment we all have experienced at least once in our lives, maybe more than once. It can silence a great city like London or New York, and it can bring stillness to our hearts, whoever and wherever we may be. That moment of silence is unlike any other. It offers the promise of new beginnings, of the clean slate of New Year, and it incorporates the breathless expectancy of Christmas Night itself, when a familiar figure enters our lives and changes them briefly. - The Winter Solstice by John MatthewsWelcome to Christmas Eve Eve and to Season Five, Episode Seven, Driving Home for Christmas. To me that feeling of expectation on the cusp of Christmas is about the feeling of time folding in on itself as all past Christmases and hopes for future Christmases collapse into a single moment on the cusp of Christmas itself and anything - even magical things - seem possible. This cosy episode includes:* Christmas Eve traditions from listeners around the world* A special memory of the Budapest Christmas Market* Thoughts about gathering* Taking a moment for gratitude* Giving ourselves grace* A delicious mocktail recipe* The simplest Christmas craft project* A special Christmas story* Our final get ahead tips* A Christmas message for youWith inspiration from John Matthews, Clement Clarke Moo1515115re, Chris Rea, Fiok, the team at Pentire in Cornwall, Sara Starling and Kings College Cambridge.You can listen on iTunes/Spotify or here on Substack. I would like to dedicate this episode to Chris Rea, whose classic Driving Home for Christmas inspired the title, and who sadly died yesterday, December 22, aged 74. I’ll be back on December 27th with Episode 8, The Deer’s Cry: Welcoming the Hush. Until then, may you have whatever kind of Christmas you want and need this year.Beth XxLovely things for you* Winter Writing Sanctuary (join for FREE here, runs Dec 29-Jan 4 online)* Giveaway with a prize worth over £700 on my Instagram @bethkemptonHere are some Calm Christmas Podcast listener recommendations you might enjoy:* Cosy reads for the dark season* The only Christmas movie list you’ll ever need* The Ultimate Gift Guide for Writers (including some last-minute ideas!)Books mentioned* The Winter Solstice by John Matthews* The Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore* Christmas, The Bubbling Toad and the Gift by Sara Starling Other links* Driving Home for Christmas by Chris Rea* Fiok stationery shop, Budapest* How to make a Christmas tree from music manuscript paper* Snowflake templates on marthastewart.com* Pentire botanics* Carols from King’s / A Festival of Nine Lessons and CarolsIngredients for mocktailsPentire Seaward Eastern Fizz* 50ml / 2 oz Pentire Seaward* 25ml / 1 oz fresh lime juice* 20ml 0.75 oz agave syrup* 3 cucumber slices, muddled* 3 mint leaves* soda waterA Winter Wonder (easiest Christmas cocktail ever)* Your favourite gin or non-alcholic botanical equivalent* Your favourite tonic water* Ice* Slice of clementine* Sprig of rosemaryImage: Holly Bobbins This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit calmchristmas.substack.com

Winter can be a difficult time for any of us grieving, or experiencing feelings of sadness or loneliness. And yet there is always beauty to be found in amongst it all. This week’s episode, Midwinter Light: Holding joy and sadness in December, is about allowing ourselves all the feelings, and encouraging us to take some quiet time to think about those we love and miss as the world rushes all around us. So many of you have shared how you have been through difficult things this year. For some of you, I know that all you want this year is one more Christmas with a loved one. I want you to know that you are not alone in your experience of things being hard in this season, and I hope that together, we can honour the sadness and also look for the light.This is the week of the Winter Solstice, when the darkness begins to shift into light. We can lean into the darkest dark, or we can welcome the promise of that light. I find that we tend to hold both the dark and the light at this time of year, because memories come flooding back as Christmas moves in, and some of those are beautiful and some of those are painful.We might sense deep gratitude for those who are here and a bone deep ache for those who are not. We might, at the same time, be aware of all of our blessings and all of our longings. The thing is, we don’t need to resist any of it. The Winter Solstice is an ancient ritual event in the human calendar that invites us to simply sit with it, all the sadness and the joy, the darkness and the light. I hope Episode 6 is a balm for your soul.This episode includes:* Thoughtful words to comfort you when things feel hard* Some reflections on the symbolism of the Winter Solstice* Some love for sweet robins* Delicious, nourishing recipes for you and for your furry friends* Get ahead tips and an invitation to seek out shooting starsWith inspiration from Donna Ashworth, Machine Soul Collective, EC Krupp, Carolyn MacVicar Edwards, Charles Baudelaire, Elena Brower, Kim Krans, Charles Bertram Johnson, Fog Chaser, Hannah Langdon, Amber Guinness, Royal Museums Greenwich, Songbird Survival and the RSPCA.You can listen on iTunes/Spotify or here on Substack. I hope you absolutely love it.Wishing you many blessings in this final full week before Christmas.Beth XxLOVELY THINGS FOR YOU* This week’s giveaway @bethkempton on Instagram - You could win copies of The Country Commonplace Book by Miranda Mills, Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year by Beth Kempton, Hold Nothing by Elena Brower and The Gifts of Winter by Stephanie Fitzgerald plus a place on my gentle writing course Words Heal). Enter here.* Register for my Winter Writing Sanctuary here (it’s FREE!)* Gratitude sale on all my courses extended over Christmas - get support to do what you love at dowhatyouloveforlife.com (30% off courses, 50% off bundles!)BOOKS MENTIONED* Joy Chose You by Donna Ashworth * The Return of the Light by Carolyn MacVicar Edwards* Les Fleurs du Mal by Charles Baudelaire* Hold Nothing by Elena Brower * Christmas with the Princes by Hannah Langdon* Winter in Tuscany by Amber Guinness OTHER LINKS MENTIONED* Midwinter Light by Machine Soul Collective featuring Alexander Tennant* Research by EC Krupp quoted in The Winter Solstice by John Matthews* The Wild Unknown Alchemy Deck by Kim Krans* Snow by Charles Bertram Johnson on poets.org* A Simple Carol by Fog Chaser * National Robin Day* Songbird Survival’s tips for helping robins in winter* Merlin ID app* Winter by Walter de la Mare on poets.org* Ursids Meteor Shower (via Royal Museums Greenwich)* DIY Christmas Treats Recipes for dogs, cats, rabbits and guinea pigs via the RSPCAINGREDIENTS for Baked Fennel with Chilli and Parmesan (from Winter in Tuscany by Amber Guinness)You will need:* 2-3 fennel bulbs* 1 garlic clove, finely crushed or chopped* ½ teaspoon of chilli flakes* Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper* Olive oil* 1 tablespoon unsalted butter* A hunk of parmesanINGREDIENTS for DIY Christmas Treats for Dogs (from the RSPCA)You will need:* 1 cup whole wheat flour* Half a cup of creamy peanut butter (but make sure it doesn’t contain xylitol)* Quarter of a cup of mashed banana* Quarter of a cup of vegetable stockBlessing for those we love and miss, by Beth KemptonMay you have whatever kind of Christmas you want and need this year.May your loved one be present in your mind, in your heart,In whatever way you want them to be.May anything unsaid be as if it had been said.May anything that needs forgiving be forgiven.May anything that is complicated fall away.So you are left with the flickering light of an everlasting connection, which reaches back through time, across space, between hearts.May the depth of your loss be evidence for the vastness of your love.May it help you see into the heart of being,And remind you to celebrate wonder,and to stay aware that there is an imprint of your loved one on everything you do, if you invite it.May you honour those who have helped you through the darknessand recognise your own contributionto the world as the healer you are becoming.May you show compassion to yourself,and to others who are suffering,whether or not you know their names.May you continue to be interestedIn both the remarkable and unremarkablewhich make this life,and see beauty in the ordinaryevery single day.May you have whatever kind of Christmas you want and need this year. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit calmchristmas.substack.com

One of the most gorgeous carols in the world reminds us of how bleak midwinter can be, and yet how there is beauty and even comfort in it. This episode is all about taking care of ourselves in the dark season, finding ways to stay warm, inspired, healthy and connected. It includes lots of love for trees, and hedgehogs, and suggestions for wellbeing in winter from listeners and experts alike. This episode includes:* The single easiest step to radical self-care this winter* What to put into a Winter’s Evening Care Package* Ways to keep warm without spending a fortune* The tradition of Christmas trees including research and insights from Canada’s Christmas Tree Lab* The feeling of climbing a tree* How to contribute to the UK’s Ancient Tree Inventory* A fresh way of thinking about sleep* Some love for hedgehogs* A wonderful Citrus Miso recipe from Rachel de Thample* Nature observation advice from Tristan Gooley* A thoughtful writing prompt* Dates for your diary* Get ahead tipsWith inspiration from Christina Rossetti, Enya, Bernd Brunner, The Christmas Tree Lab, Henrik Dahle, The Woodland Trust, Dr Stephanie Fitzgerald, Hedgehog Street, the British Hedgehog Preservation Society, Rachel de Thample, @fogchaser and Tristan Gooley.Listen on iTunes | Spotify | SubstackMay this be a treat for you as the darkness moves in,Beth XxPS I’d love to hear about all the ways you take care of yourself in winter. Feel free to share in the comments!Lovely things for you* Free registration for my Winter Writing Sanctuary here* Lovely bundle of wintery goodies in this week’s giveaway on Instagram here* Cosy Reads for the Dark Season (podcast listener recommendations)* The Ultimate Gift Guide for Writers (affiliate link free, includes lots of free or close-to-free gift ideas)Books* Inventing the Christmas Tree by Bernd Brunner (translated by Benjamin A Smith)* Art of Climbing Trees by Henrik Dahle* The Hidden Seasons by Tristan Gooley* Winter Wellness by Rachel de Thample* The Gifts of Winter by Dr Stephanie Fitzgerald* Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year by Beth Kempton (99p on Kindle here or £3.99 on Audible here until Dec 23)Other links* In the Bleak Midwinter by Christina Rossetti, sung by the choir of Kings’ College Cambridge* And Winter Came album by Enya (includes song of the same name)* Christmas Tree Lab (here on Instagram)* The Ancient Tree Inventory (run by the Woodland Trust)* My Book Proposal Masterclass* Hedgehog Street* British Hedgehog Preservation Society* Carols by Candelight at St Martin in the Fields* A Simple Carol by Matt Evans Fog Chaser (journalling music)Ingredients for Rachel de Thample’s Citrus MisoTo make one bowl you will need:* 250ml shojin dashi, which you can buy or make using a recipe in Rachel’s book, Winter Wellness* 1 clementine or ½ orange* 1 tbsp miso* 2cm thumb of root ginger* 1 small garlic clove* 1 spring onion, ¼ leek or a handful of three-cornered leek* A dash of tamari or soy sauce to taste* 1 tsp seaweed flakes to servePhoto: Holly Bobbins This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit calmchristmas.substack.com

In our winter writing episode this week we are exploring the poetry of solitude and the solace of poetry. I hope you will listen somewhere quiet this week, notebook in hand, and love every moment of it.Episode 4 ‘On This Winter’s Night’ includes:* Some beautiful wintery poems* A writing invitation inspired by the moon* Some wonderful wintery words and their meanings* The tradition of Christmas cards* How to make a zine* A delicious gingerbread recipe* Some Christmas joy from English railway stations and the London Underground* This week’s Get Ahead TipsWith inspiration from Robert Frost, Lady A, David Whyte, Yosa Buson, Yuki Sawa, Edith Marcombe Shiffert, Paul Anthony Jones, Dianne Casey, the Academy of American Poets, Robert Hillyer, Matt Evans Fog Chaser, Kerri ní Dochartaigh, Mary Searle Chatterjee, the University of Birmingham Time for Letters project, John Julius Norwich, Charles Dickens, 42nd Street, Kate Trenchard, Helen Garcia, Barter Books, Morden Station, the London Underground, the staff of Axminster and Salisbury Stations and Alix Klingenberg.You can listen on Substack, Spotify or iTunes.I hope this episode offers moment of tranquility in a busy December,Beth XxLovely things for you* Alternative Advent Calendar on Instagram @bethkempton (free)* Winter Writing Sanctuary live writing class running December 29-Jan 4 online (free)* This week’s giveaway on Instagram @bethkempton (free)* SoulCircle (my private writing community on Substack) Books* A Winter Dictionary by Paul Anthony Jones* Haiku Master Buson translated by Yuki Sawa and Edith Markham Schiffert* Cacophony of Bone by Kerri ní Dochartaigh * The Ultimate Christmas Cracker by John Julius Norwich* Quietly Wild by Alix Klingenberg * Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year by Beth Kempton (hardback | audiobook just £3.99 in December | Kindle ebook just 99p until December 23)Other links (no affiliate links)* Good Hours by Robert Frost on poets.org* White Pine Press * Academy of American Poets * Winter Nocturne by Robert Hillyer on poets.org * A Simple Carol by Matt Evans @fogchaser * Christmas Cards and the Construction of Social Relations in Britain Today by Mary Searle-Chatterjee in Unwrapping Christmas edited by Daniel Miller p.176 * A Time for Letters project run by the University of Birmingham * How to make a zine via 42nd Street * Barter Books in Alnwick * Daily uplifting quotes on London Underground’s Morden Station on Instagram @MordenStation Ingredients for Kate’s gingerbread* 100 g butter* 3 tbs of golden syrup* 100 g dark muscovado sugar* half a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda* one tablespoon of ginger* one teaspoon of cinnamon* half a teaspoon of cloves* half a teaspoon of nutmeg* 225 g plain flourImage: Holly Bobbins This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit calmchristmas.substack.com

All we really need to make our homes cosy in winter, and to make any seasonal gathering special, is a little bit of care and attention, some light, some kindness, perhaps a twinkling tree or a scattering of greenery, and maybe a pretty tablecloth. But it doesn’t have to be fancy, and it definitely doesn’t have to be perfect or all matching. Episode 3: Holly, Ivy & Evergreen is all about simplifying, beautifying and cosifying our homes for the winter, making them welcoming for us and for others. It includes:* Birth month herbs (Which one are you, I wonder?)* The symbolism and uses of some of our favourite evergreens* Christmas dinner table musings* Tips for simplifying, beautifying and cosifying your home this holiday season* Decorating traditions from listeners around the world* Talk of advent candles* How to make a winter flower garland with Bex Partridge * A simply delicious recipe from Jess Elliot Dennison* A thoughtful journalling invitation* Get ahead tips and dates for your diary this weekWith inspiration from @homesandgardensofficial @shegrowsveg @countrylivinguk @danuforest @laura_weir @annes.universe @botanical_tales @rossandrossgifts @jess_elliot_dennison @fogchaser @sarahravenperchhill @danninichollsmusicYou can listen on Substack, Spotify or iTunes.Happy cosifying, friends!Beth XxGOOD THINGS FOR YOUThis week’s festive book giveaway is @bethkempton with a prize including:* How to Winter by Kari Leibowitz* The Joy of Wintering by Erin Niimi Longhurst* Joy Chose You by Donna Ashworth* Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year by Beth Kempton* A complimentary place on one of my writing courses, Excavate Your LifeAlso:* You can join the Winter Writing Sanctuary for FREE at dowhatyouloveforlife.com (runs Dec 29 – Jan 4)* You can get my book Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year for just £3.99 on Audible here (read by me) or just 99p on Kindle here (from Dec 1 - Dec 23)* You can get up to 50% off all my courses in my annual gratitude sale, on now at dowhatyouloveforlife.com including live writing and Substack immersion Ink + Flame, live writing + career development immersion Life+Time and the Book Proposal Masterclass.* You can join my beautiful private writing community SoulCircle at bethkempton.substack.com/subscribe (choose Monthly to try it out or Annual to get a lovely discount)BOOKS (no affiliate links)* The Magical Year by Danu Forest* Cosy by Laura Weir* Midweek Recipes by Jess Elliot DennisonOTHER LINKS (no affiliate links)* O Tannenbaum (O Christmas Tree) sung by Andrea Bocelli* Lola Houghton on birth month herbs in Homes & Gardens Magazine* Seed crackers from Shegrowsveg.com* Country Living Christmas Magazine* Buttermilk window pictures by Anne S Olson @annes.universe* The River sung by Danni Nicholls cowritten by Beth Kempton and Danni Nicholls * Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign for Making Moves by Danni NichollsINGREDIENTS for Jess Elliot Dennison’s Dill Scrambled Eggs on Toast with Lemon and Feta.(Serves 2)* 2 slices sourdough bread* 3 tbsp cold-pressed rapeseed or olive oil* 1 large handful dill (approx 15g)* 4 free-range eggs* Sea salt flakes* 50g feta cheese* 1 small lemon This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit calmchristmas.substack.com

In the old days, Christmas was much more about gathering and feasting after a long year than about gifts given and received, but in modern life Christmas shopping has become something of a frenzied affair for many, starting with the Black Friday sales and running all the way up to last minute panic buying on Christmas Eve. Not only is this stressful before Christmas, it make January harder when the credit card bill arrives.This week’s episode of the Calm Christmas Podcast - Season 5 Episode 2: The Christmas Present - is an invitation to consider how best to allocate not only money, but also your time and attention this year. It includes:* Reflections on how Christmas gifting has changed over the years* A few ideas unusual homemade items and children’s book gifts* A little bit of festive shopping humour ;-)* Cosy talk about the rain, and respect for honey bees* A mermaid adventure* Some lovely wrapping-related Christmas crafting ideas* The world’s simplest recipe for edible chocolate bark (makes a lovely homemade present)* Get ahead tips and dates for your diary this weekNote: In our ‘Get Ahead Tips’ section I mention a descendant of Charles Dickens performing A Christmas Carol as a one-man show. I made an error, saying that Gerald Dickens is the author’s Great Grandson when in fact he is his Great Great Grandson. Apologies for that!With inspiration from Clement Clarke Moore, @robbiewilliams @moneysavingexp @rhodri Judith Flanders, Maya Angelou, @freyanorth @auriolb Jill Barklem, CS Lewis, Ruth Simmons, @carolinarabei.illustration Josie George @porridgebrain @tomfletcher @sara.starling.voiceover Sir Peter Thornton, @leyla.kazim @mermaidexplorer @erinniimi Alan Connor, @kunze Laura Fleiter, @skyemcalpine @sibster @unicef @dickensshows @fogchaserYou can listen on Substack, Spotify or iTunes. You can also find more (specific!) mindful gift ideas in my book Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year, as well as in the following earlier podcast episodes:Series 4 Episode 2: Give Love This YearSeries 3 Episode 3: We Three Kings: For the Love of Mindful GiftingSeries 2 Episode 4: Love: Gratitude and GiftingSeries 1 Episode 6: Mindful GiftingPS You can also listen to the podcast on Spotify or iTunes.I hope you love it, and that it helps bring a little more calm to your holiday preparations this year.Beth XxLINKS TO LOVELY THINGSHead to @bethkempton on Instagram for the chance to win some lovely festive books in our second giveaway of the season!Register for the Winter Writing Sanctuary at dowhatyouloveforlife.com for free (runs Dec 29-Jan 4 Cosy Reads for the Dark Season (round up of Calm Christmas Podcast listeners’ winter reading recommendations) The Alternative Advent Calendar (free, daily from Dec 1) on Instagram @bethkemptonUp to 50% off writing and personal development courses in my annual gratitude sale now on at dowhatyouloveforlife.comRESOURCES AND OTHER LINKSMoneySavingExpert.comKarenGrayCoach.com (mermaid adventures!) / Karen KJ Gray (@mermaidexplorer on Instagram)Gerald Dickens (Charles Dickens’ Great Great Grandson) performing A Christmas Carol as a one-man showA Simple Carol by Matt Evans on Youtube / Substack @FogChaserBOOKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODECalm Christmas and a Happy New Year by Beth KemptonA Very British Christmas by Rhodri Marsden Christmas gift research by Russell Belk referenced in A Very British Christmas Christmas: A History by Judith Flanders Wabi Sabi: Japanese wisdom for a perfectly imperfect life by Beth Kempton Kokoro: Japanese wisdom for a life well lived by Beth Kempton Celebrations: Rituals of Peace and Prayer by Maya Angelou Christmas at Flora’s House by Freya North Chloe by Freya North An Anthology of Christmas by Auriol Bishop Winter Story by Jill Barklem The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe by CS Lewis Christmas Lights by Ruth Simmons and Carolina Rabei Letters from Wonderland by Josie George The Christmasaurus by Tom Fletcher The Night Before Christmas by Clement Clark Moore The Bubbling Toad by Sara Starling (and in person at Vogrie Country Park)The Later Years by Peter Thornton Pathways to Purposeful Living by Leyla KazimThe Joy of Wintering by Erin Niimi Longhurst 188 Words for Rain by Alan Connor Advent by Kirsten Niehoff and Laura Fleiter The Christmas Companion by Skye McAlpine Charming Woodland Crafts by Sybia Torres Padilla INGREDIENTS for chocolate bark (this is a very loose ‘recipe’…)One large bar of good quality cooking chocolate or eating chocolate (such as Cadbury’s Dairy Milk) – you can choose to go with one of milk / dark / plain or melt 2-3 different bars in different bowls and then swirl them togetherSome toppings of your choice (such as a handful of pistachios, crushed walnuts, candied orange peel, crushed candy canes or popping candy – just look at commercially available chocolate bars for inspiration!)If you would like to flavour the chocolate you could add a few drops of something like peppermint extract This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit calmchristmas.substack.com

The UK’s #1 favourite Christmas podcast is back for a fifth season of cosiness and calm, hosted by bestselling British author Beth Kempton. Here in Episode ‘Do You Hear What I Hear?’ we begin the new season of the Calm Christmas Podcast in Scotland, with the beautiful words of baker Flora Shedden, owner of Aran Bakery, which perfectly capture what us 'Keepers of Christmas' sense and love about this time of year - the contrast between the cold outdoors and the cosy inside, the warmth we try to bring to our homes, to our communities, the details we notice when we pause long enough to look and listen to what is happening in nature and so on.We will share a hot cuppa and conversations about ease, joy, endings and new beginnings, and much more including:·      Gentle planning·      All about Advent Calendars·      A little bit of poetry·      A lot of love for birds·      A round up of podcast listeners’ favourite Christmas music recommendations·      Our old favourites – Nature, Wellbeing and Traditions Corners·      A viral Christmas poem written for you·      A warming soup recipe courtesy of Flora Shedden·      Get ahead tips·      Some lovely goodies for youWith inspiration from @florashedden @aranbakery Jane Struthers, Christopher Winn, Bing Crosby, The Harry Simeone Chorale, Guinness World Records, @alixklingenberg @fogchaser @angelaferrarofanning @jenchillingsworth @rspca_officialEnjoy!Beth XxLINKS TO LOVELY THINGS· Head to @bethkempton on Instagram for the chance to win our first festive book giveaway of the season, with prizes for you and a friend!· The Alternative Advent Calendar (free, daily from Dec 1) on Instagram @bethkempton· Register for the Winter Writing Sanctuary at dowhatyouloveforlife.com for free (runs Dec 29-Jan 4)  https://dowhatyouloveforlife.com/product/winter-writing-sanctuary-2025/· The Greatest Christmas Music Selection Ever at calmchristmas.substack.com BOOKS, WEBSITES ETC MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE· Winter in the Highlands by Flora Shedden· Winter Story by Jill Barklem (with gratitude to the person on Substack Notes who reminded me that the cosy version of my life is very much like a Brambly Hedge mouse)· The Book of Christmas by Jane Struthers· The Book of Christmas by Christopher Winn· Quietly Wild by Alix Klingenberg· Advent Calendar record on Guinness World Records· The Holiday (film)· The Snowman (film)· Do You Hear What I Hear? (music) – Harry Simeone Chorale version | Bing Crosby version· A Simple Carol by Matt Evans @FogChaser (music)· Merlin ID app by Cornell Lab for iPhone | for Android· RSCPA advice for feeding wild birds https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/wildlife/birds/feeding Ingredients for Flora Shedden’s Roasted Squash and Apple Soup recipe (from Winter in the Highlands by Flora Shedden, published by Quadrille)Note: For the method you can listen to the podcast or find it in Flora’s book Winter in the Highlands (Quadrille) p.16Serves 4-6 butternut squash (about 900g / 2lb), peeled and deseeded, then cut into 1 cm (1/2 inch) slices2 eating (dessert) apples (about 250g/9oz), cored and cut into 1 cm (1/2 inch) slices1 large onion (about 250g/9ox), cut into wedges4 garlic cloves, peeled bu left whole45g (1 ½ oz) fresh root ginger, peeled and roughly chopped45g (1 ½ fl oz/3 tablespoons) apple cider vinegar10g (1/2 oz) sage leaves1kg (2lb 4 oz) chicken (or vegetable) stockOlive oil, for cookingSea salt and freshly ground black pepperYoghurt, to serveFor the crispy breadcrumb topping50g (2oz/1 cup) fresh breadcrumbs50g (2oz/generous ½ cup) pumpkin seeds10g (1/2 oz) sage leaves, the smaller the better, but if large tear in halfOlive oil, for frying  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit calmchristmas.substack.com

Welcome back friends! This is the trailer for Season 5 of The Calm Christmas Podcast, the UK’s favourite festive podcast hosted by me, author Beth Kempton. Have a listen to this cosy introduction to ‘Season 5: Winterlude’ to discover all the goodness I have in store for you before Episode 1 ‘Do You Hear What I Hear?’ is released on Thursday November 13.The Calm Christmas Podcast is a hymn to the passage of time in our lives as we acknowledge the closing of the cycle of another year. It is a place for honouring all we have been blessed with and all that we have lost. It is a reminder to tune in to what we really care about, and an invitation to pause in the chaos of the season to notice the departure of autumn and the arrival of the darkest time of the year.Our ancient longing for connection, warmth joy and magic is the song of winter – we hear it in the howling of the wind and the creaking of the trees, in the traditional carols and jaunty pop songs, in the laughter that rings out as we pop a cracker, in the memories that spill out with the baubles, in the single voice filling the cathedral with the sounds of Once in Royal David’s City.This podcast will honour it all, and I hope it will be a good companion throughout the coming season.Season Five ‘Winterlude’ will carry us from early November through to January 1, offering a weekly calling back towards slowness and calm. There will be seasonal stories and recipes, memories and journalling invitations, craft ideas, get ahead tips, wintery words and the sharing of traditions from listeners all around the world. Most of all, there will be companionship, as we, the Keepers of Christmas, settle in each week for a moment of pause and a little bit of festive magic. As the darkness begins to inhale the light, may our gathering be a lantern to guide us through the season and into the new year. Beth XxPS Be sure to subscribe to calmchristmas.substack.com where you will find all of the podcast archives, free wintry essays into your inbox and some lovely festive goodies (including my FREE printable Calm Christmas planner) waiting for you. Find me on Instagram @bethkempton or on Substack @bethkempton RECOMMENDATIONS + REFERENCES:-> FREE registration for the Winter Writing Sanctuary at https://dowhatyouloveforlife.com-> Winterlude by Bob Dylan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BM-1X4SjkU4-> FogChaser on Susbtack https://fogchaser.substack.com/-> Subscribe to the Calm Christmas Podcast on iTunes or at https://calmchristmas.substack.com From @BethKempton This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit calmchristmas.substack.com

✨ Friends, we are here at the threshold of the year, with our final episode of Season 4 of the Calm Christmas Podcast. What an absolute joy it has been to travel through the winter with you again this year. Thank you. I hope this episode sends you into the new year with hope and anticipation for many good things ahead.Episode 9 includes:* ✨Space for dreaming, and peeking through doorways* ✨An invitation to begin the new year with a deep breath, open heart and fresh eyes* ✨Talk of Twelfth Night* ✨Moonpennies, brimstone butterflies and the Wolf Moon of January* ✨The simplest of simple comforting recipes* ✨A series of questions for contemplating legacyWith inspiration from Laura Pashby (Small Stories with Laura Pashby), the Tavistock Local History Association, Down Like Silver, The Simple Things Magazine, Bex Partridge, Lia Leendertz (Lia’s Living Almanac), Emily Silva, Joey Hulin and Alfred, Lord Tennyson.I hope to see you for Season 5 in November 2025. In the meantime, you might enjoy my year-round private writing membership SoulCircle for weekly inspiration throughout the year. You can find out more about it here, and join here (choose ‘Monthly’ to try it out or ‘Annual’ to get two months free.If you have enjoyed Season 4 of the Calm Christmas Podcast, I would be so grateful if you could leave a rating/review on Apple Podcasts here or Spotify here. And be sure to subscribe so you get notified when the podcast is back.With so much love for the year ahead,Beth XxDo what you love in 2025. Last chance for my annual gratitude sale!Up to 50% off all my classes in my annual gratitude sale, on here now but ending very soon.Links* A brief history of Twelfth Night by the Tavistock Local History Association * First Light by Down Like Silver* My Substack essay ‘I did an oracle card reading for us, for the year ahead. This is what it said.’ * The Simple Things Magazine January 2021* Bex Partridge @botanical_tales on Instagram* Link to join my private writing community SoulCircle (choose Monthly to try it out or Annual to get two months free * To be notified about details of my upcoming free mini class Write for Love Write for Money, all about the nuts and bolts of Substack, be sure to subscribe to my Substack at bethkempton.substack.com.* Free Calm Christmas Planner (by me!)Referenced books + recommendations* Chasing Fog by Laura Pashby (Simon & Schuster) p.217 * The Almanac 2018 by Lia Leendertz (Gaia) p.2 * Sunrise Gratitude by Emily Silva (Rock Point) p.7 * Kokoro: Japanese wisdom for a life well lived by Beth Kempton (Piatkus) p.185 * Ring Out Wild Bells by Alfred, Lord Tennyson on the Scottish Poetry Library website Ingredients for this week’s recipe* Jacket potatoes* Butter* Sea salt + pepper* Fresh garlic or garlic powderGiveawayThe prize (for you and a friend to enjoy together) includes:- Two personalised, signed copies of my book Wabi Sabi - Two copies of The Meditation Yearbook by Joey Hulin - Two annual memberships to my private writing community SoulCircle To enter head over to my Instagram @bethkempton. Good luck! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit calmchristmas.substack.com

✨ This quiet time between the bookends of the festive season – a time I call the Hush - is a beautiful opportunity to slow down and reflect. January will be here before we know it, after all. So, instead of rushing towards it, let’s meander for a while, giving our minds and hearts a chance to assimilate and process all that’s happened over the past twelve months.Episode 8 includes:* ✨An oracle card for the Hush* ✨A beautiful journalling prompt inspired by the Celtic ‘Omen Days’* ✨Talk of firelight* ✨A wonderful recipe for a Christmas sandwich with sprout slaw* ✨Traditions and stories from listeners all over the world* ✨Some thoughts on New Year’s EveWith inspiration from Denise Linn, Charles Darwin, National Geographic, Felix Bernard, Richard Bernhard Smith, Michael Buble, Jessie J, Kerri ní Dochartaigh, Lisette Cheresson, Andrea Rice, Ruth Allen, Charles Lamb, Nikita Gill and Lauren McDermott.Don’t forget, if you feel like seeking solace in words this winter, don’t miss my Winter Writing Sanctuary which begins TOMORROW (Saturday December 28) and runs until January 5. If you haven’t signed up yet, you can register for FREE here.Wishing you peace and calm during the Hush,Beth XxPS You can also listen on Apple or Spotify.Winter Writing Sanctuary sign up - starts tomorrow!- Register here for free (runs Dec 28-Jan 5 online)Do something different in 2025- Up to 50% off all my writing and personal development classes in my annual gratitude sale, on now here.Links* Darwin’s trip around the world on NationalGeographic.org * Winter Wonderland by Felix Bernard and Richard Bernhard Smith. I do love the Michael Buble version and the Jessie J version is fun * The Omen Days: On witnessing the world by Kerri ni Dochartaigh on Substack * For a host of reflection questions, see the end of my free Calm Christmas PlannerReferenced books + recommendations* The Sacred Forest Oracle by Denise Linn (Hay House) * The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert (Bloomsbury) * The Yoga Almanac by Lisette Cheresson and Andrea Rice (New Harbinger) p.245 * Weathering by Ruth Allen (Ebury) p.131 * New Year’s Eve by Charles Lamb * Keep Calm at Christmas (Ebury) * On The First Frost of Winter by Nikita Gill in Cosy Poems edited by Gaby Morgan * Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year by Beth Kempton (Piatkus)Ingredients needed for Lauren McDermott’s ‘Christmas sandwich with sprout slaw’ recipe* Crusty bread* Some raw sprouts* Olive oil* White wine vinegar* ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard* Salt + pepper* Cranberry sauce* Stuffing* Roast turkey* Sliced pigs in blankets* Emmental cheese* Butter* Pot of gravyWatch Lauren making it here.Images: Holly Bobbins / Unsplash This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit calmchristmas.substack.com

✨As Christmas Eve approaches, let’s pause a moment, sense the hovering magic, and rest in the beauty of the world. This episode is, essentially, me sending you a Christmas wish. I hope you love it, and I wish you whatever kind of Christmas you want and need this year.Episode 7 includes:* ✨The most famous Christmas poem ever written* ✨A glimpse of the ocean from a wild corner of Cornwall* ✨Talk of snowflakes and dreams of snow* ✨Ice fires and memories of years gone by* ✨Christmas Eve traditions from listeners all over the worldWith inspiration from Clement Clarke Moore, Jule Styne, Sammy Cahn, Moya Cannon, Professor Brian Cox, Suzie Dent, Nancy Campbell, Richard Skrein, Dot May Dunn, Sketchbook of Washington Irving and St Nicholas himself.Don’t forget, if you feel like seeking solace in words this winter, don’t miss my Winter Writing Sanctuary which begins on Saturday December 28 and runs until January 5. If you haven’t signed up yet, you can register for FREE here.Sending Christmas blessings your way,Beth Xx08PS You can also listen on Apple or Spotify. And in case you missed it, you might enjoy my wintery essay ‘For the Love of Tiny Things: A short note about small joys, and a little festive puzzle for you.’Winter Writing Sanctuary sign up- Register here for free (runs Dec 28-Jan 5 online)Inspiration sale!- Up to 50% off ALL my classes in my annual gratitude sale, on now here. Ending very soon!Links* A Visit from St Nicholas by Clement Clarke Moore * Let it Snow by Jule Styne and Sammy Cahn made famous again in the nineties by Boyz II Men featuring Brian McKnight * What can snowflakes tell us about our universe? with Prof Brian Cox on the BBC* Free Calm Christmas Planner (by me!)Referenced books + recommendations* Snow Day by Moya Cannon in Keats Lives by Moya Cannon (Carcanet Press) * Roots of Happiness by Suzie Dent (Puffin) p.12* Fifty Words for Snow by Nancy Campbell (Elliot & Thompson) p.207* Fifty Things to do in Snow by Richard Skrein (Pavilion) p.126* Christmas Around the Village Green by Dot May Dunn (Orion) p.1* Old Christmas, from the Sketchbook of Washington Irving p.72* Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year by Beth Kempton (Piatkus)Images: Holly Bobbins / Unsplash This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit calmchristmas.substack.com

✨ This is the episode where sadness is honoured, our loved ones are remembered, and we allow all the feelings, however they might arise. May it be a comfort to you in the dark season.Episode 6 includes:* The comfort of poetry* Thoughtful ideas for dealing with sadness in the dark season* A candlelight meditation* Lovely robins* London’s last lamplighters* Commonplace books* Beautiful ideas for honouring and remembering loved ones, from listeners around the world* Get ahead tipsWith inspiration from David Whyte, Danni Nicholls, Nina MacLaughlin, the London lamplighters, Day Schildkret, Songbird Survival, John O’Donohue, Patricia Fargnoli and my mother’s recipe book.Don’t forget, if you feel like seeking solace in words this winter, don’t miss my Winter Writing Sanctuary which runs from Dec 28-Jan 5. If you haven’t signed up yet, you can register for FREE here.Take good care of your heart,Beth XxPS You can also listen on Apple or Spotify.This week’s giveawayTo enter this week’s special giveaway, you are invited to leave the name of someone you love and miss, or simply a heart to acknowledge them, in the comments of the giveaway post on my Instagram. We did this last year and it became the most beautiful tribute.The winner gets all this for themselves:* A personalised, signed first edition of my book Kokoro: Japanese wisdom for a life well lived* Bath House patchouli & black pepper candle* Winter Solstice by Nina Maclaughlin* Festive Spirit - Candlestick Press Poem Card* A complimentary place on my short writing course Words HealTo enter, go to @bethkempton on Instagram.Glazed Ham recipe* You can find Delia Smith’s Glazed Ham recipe online here What you need to make a commonplace book* Any kind of notebook* Ephemera and bits and pieces gathered from your life* A stick of glue or tapeWinter Writing Sanctuary sign up- Register here for free (runs Dec 28-Jan 5 online)Inspiration sale!- Up to 50% off all my classes in my annual gratitude sale, on now here.Links* Ancient Embers by Danni Nicholls * Under the Neem Plum Tree by Danni Nicholls * London’s last lamplighters via the BBC* Burn Something Today by Nina Maclaughlin in The Paris Review * Songbird Survival * Free Calm Christmas Planner (by me!)* Poets.org * The Poetry Society 15151* The Poetry Foundation * For the Love of Tiny Things essay by me on SubstackReferenced books + recommendations* Winter Grief by David Whyte - The version shared on the podcast was from David’s Substack here. The original appeared in The Bell and the Blackbird by David Whyte (Many Rivers Press) * Kokoro: Japanese wisdom for a life well lived by Beth Kempton (Piatkus) * Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year by Beth Kempton (Piatkus)* Winter Solstice by Nina MacLaughlin (Black Sparrow Press) * Hello, Goodbye by Day Schildkret (Simon Element) * Echoes of Memory by John O’Donohue (Transworld Ireland) * Winter Grace by Patricia Fargnoli in Poetry of Presence edited by Phyllis Cole-Dai and Ruby R Wilson (Grayson)Images: Holly Bobbins/Unsplash This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit calmchristmas.substack.com

✨Friends, we are just a couple of weeks out from Christmas now. The festive feels are all around… This episode is all about seeking delight and tiny flickers of magic in amongst the ordinariness of our daily lives. It’s about the kindness of strangers, and all the ways we can bring magic into our own worlds, and those of others.Episode 5 includes:* ✨Magical memories* ✨Being inspired by children to seek out magic* ✨Stargazing* ✨A lovely craft project – make some citrus candles!* ✨A super easy recipe for brandy-soaked satsumas* ✨Get ahead tipsWith inspiration from Claire Keegan, Leroy Anderson, Ella Fitzgerald, The Spice Girls, Boney James, Royal Museums Greenwich, Kari Leibowitz, Kinsey Gidick, The Simple Things Magazine, Lia Leendertz (Lia’s Living Almanac), Clover Stroud, Storm Dunlop, Wil Tirion, Alex Palmer, The Poetry Pharmacy, Paul Anthony Jones, my youngest daughter and my Greek aunt.And if you fancy whipping up a little wintery magic in the pages of your notebook this year, don’t miss my Winter Writing Sanctuary which runs from Dec 28-Jan 5. If you haven’t signed up yet, you can register for FREE here.Stay cosy,Beth XxPS You can also listen on Apple or Spotify.This week’s giveawayThe winner gets all this for themselves:❄️ A prescription for a ‘Sense of Belonging’ from The Poetry Pharmacy❄️ A Winter Dictionary by Paul Anthony Jones❄️ A personalised, signed copy of my book The Way of the Fearless Writer❄️ Christmas Lights (Candlestick Press poem card)❄️ A complimentary ANNUAL membership to my beautiful private writing community SoulStack (find out more at bethkempton.substack.com)Enter at @bethkempton on InstagramIngredients for Brand-soaked Satsumas* Brandy (how much depends on you). Could also work with rum!* Some small citrus like satsumas, mandarins, tangerines or clementines* Sugar of your choice* Christmassy spices like ginger, cinnamon, cloves, bay leaves – just use what you haveWhat you need to make citrus candles* Oranges or clementines* Olive oil* A knife* A glass container to put your candle in* MatchesWinter Writing Sanctuary sign up- Register here for free (runs Dec 28-Jan 5 online)Inspiration sale!- Up to 50% off all my classes in my annual gratitude sale, on now here.Links* Sleigh Ride by Leroy Anderson (Ella Fitzgerald version | Spice Girls version | Boney James version) * BBC story about Oswald Laurence’s voice telling us to ‘Mind the Gap’ * Star Walk 2 app (iPhone | Android)* Sky View Lite app (iPhone | Android)* Royal Museums Greenwich on the Cold Moon * Kari Leibowitz on how to winter in The Guardian* Why no one does Christmas better than the Finns by Kinsey Gidick (mentioning "pikkujoulut" or "little Christmas" parties) * The Simple Things Magazine* Save The Children donation link for Christmas Jumper Day* Free Calm Christmas Planner (by me!)Referenced books + recommendations* The opening passage of this episode is from the Epilogue of my book Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year by Beth Kempton (Piatkus)* Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan (Black Cat)* 2024 Night Sky Almanac by Storm Dunlop and Wil Tirion (Collins) * A Year in Story and Song by Lia Leendertz (Gaia) * Giant on the Skyline by Clover Stroud (Doubleday) p.258 * A Winter Dictionary by Paul Anthony Jones (Elliott & Thompson) * The Atlas of Christmas by Alex Palmer (Running Press) Please share this podcast episode with anyone who might enjoy it! Thank you so much. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit calmchristmas.substack.com

Friends, December is upon us, which means meterological winter has arrived here in the northern hemisphere. This episode, Season 4 Episode 4 ‘Christmas Lights’, is all about words, because winter is my favourite time of year for writing. It’s so cosy to light a candle, read some poetry, get out your notebook and write, and I hope this episode inspires you to do just that. It’s a beautiful way to bring some calm to the chaos of the holiday season.This episode includes:❄️Reasons why writing is a good idea (as if you needed a reason!)❄️Three simple ways to get the words flowing❄️A beautiful candlelight meditation❄️An invitation to get outside to seek creative inspiration❄️ My youngest daughter’s Chocolate Orange Wreath Cake recipe❄️Get ahead tips to help you arrive for the holidays feeling calm and preparedI hope this podcast will be a lantern guiding you through the darkness of winter, and your words are a companion along the way.Beth XxPS You can also tune in on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.Lovely things for you* Winter Writing Sanctuary registration here (FREE, runs Dec 28-Jan 5)* Calm Christmas Planner – download yours for free here* A new festive giveaway at Instagram @bethkempton* Up to 50% off ALL my life-changing courses in my giant gratitude sale hereLinks* Christmas Lights by Coldplay* Save The Children Christmas Jumper Day donation link* The Christmas Train essay * The Life Changing Magic of Writing Haiku essay* Link to join my private writing community SoulCircle (choose Monthly to try it out or Annual to get two months free)Referenced books + recommendations* Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year by Beth Kempton (Piatkus)* Winter Solstice by Nina Maclaughlin (Black Sparrow Press)* The Light in the Dark by Horatio Clare (Elliott & Thompson)* Midnight at the Christmas Bookshop by Jennie Colgan* The Poetry of Impermanence, Mindfulness and Joy edited by John Brehm (Wisdom)* Kokoro: Japanese wisdom for a life well lived by Beth Kempton (Piatkus)Ingredients for the recipe sharedFor the cake* Three eggs* The weight of three eggs in self-raising flour, caster sugar, unsalted butter, then remove about three tablespoons of the flour, and replace it with the same weight in cocoa powderFor the icing* 200g unsalted butter* 320g icing sugar* 80g cocoa powder* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract* A 100g bar of cooking chocolate, melted gently over a bain marie* Sprinkles – we like blue and white* A Terry’s Chocolate Orange or an orange chocolate bar, ideally with segment shapes This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit calmchristmas.substack.com

Happy Thanksgiving if you are celebrating, and may it be a day of counting our blessings, for all of us, wherever we live and wherever we are from. This episode - Season 4 Episode 3, Home for the Holidays - goes out with so much gratitude for your presence in my world, for listening to the podcast and sharing your own experiences of the festive season - many of which have been woven into this season of the podcast! Today's episode is all about making our homes festive and cosy with lighting inside and out, sparkle, evergreens, textures, scents and love.This cosy episode includes:- Lots of ideas for making your home welcoming and cosy- Some wonderful decorating traditions from listeners around the world- A recipe for Cheesy Garlic Hedgehog Bread- A lovely citrus star garland crafty project- Tips to help you get ahead for the festive season, and more!I hope this podcast will be a lantern guiding you through the darkness of winter and into a happy new year.Beth XxLovely things for you:* Winter Writing Sanctuary registration here (FREE, runs Dec 28-Jan 5)* Calm Christmas Planner – download yours for free here * A new festive giveaway at Instagram @bethkempton* Up to 50% off ALL my life-changing courses in my giant gratitude sale hereLinks* Madison Square Park Conservancy* Christmas at Sea by Robert Louis Stevenson * Evidence of a Christmas spirit network in the brain - Research by the University of Copenhagen published in the British Medical Journal* (There’s No Place Like) Home for the Holidays by Perry Como* The Calm Christmas Podcast Season 2 Episode 5: Nest* The Calm Christmas Podcast Season 3 Episode 4: Deck the Halls* Selvedge Winter Fair* National Trust* St Martin in the Fields advent carol serviceReferenced books + recommendations* Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year by Beth Kempton (Piatkus)* Rest and Calm by Paula Hines* The Get-Ahead Christmas Cook by Jane Lovett (Headline Home)* Christmas is Coming by Auriol Bishop (Headline Home)Ingredients for the recipe shared (Jane Lovett’s Cheesy Garlic Hedgehog Bread)· 175 g of butter, with extra for greasing· 3 large garlic cloves, finely chopped· a handful of parsley, chopped· 200 g taleggio cheese· one round white loaf of rustic country style bread, like a cob or boule· some sea salt flakesWhat you need for the craft project (Auriol Bishop’s Citrus star garland)· some citrus fruit (clementine, satsuma, orange etc)· cookie cutters in Christmas shapes· a knitting needle or a skewer· scissors· string or twine This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit calmchristmas.substack.com

This week’s episode is called Give Love This Year, gratitude and gifting, and I'm sending it out to you from my kitchen table, which is currently covered in wrapping paper, ribbon, my fabric stash, the good scissors, the silver pens, stickers, tape, stamps and ink. Let me get you a cuppa. We're going to be here for a while.This episode is full of probing questions that will help you come up with unusual, thoughtful gifts for your loved ones, as well as ideas for wrapping mindfully.It also includes:- Some fascinating facts about the history of gift giving, including a brilliant idea for topsy turvy gift giving from Roman times - An invitation to seek out winter sunshine and other gifts from nature- Gorgeous recipes for Rachel de Thample’s Rise & Shine Tisane and Gemma Ogston’s immunity protection dressing- A lovely craft project which can also help us deal with overwhelm- Thoughts on dealing with loneliness- Help with coming up with inspired gift ideas for your loved ones including some beautiful gifting ideas from listeners around the world (You can find my FREE Ultimate Gift Guide for Writers here and download my free printable planner to keep track of your gift lists here)- Our usual get ahead dates and key dates for the week aheadTell me: What is the one thing you most want to experience for yourself this winter? What will you gift yourself this year?Beth XxPS If you enjoyed this episode, please do tell your friends about it!Lovely things for you* Head to @bethkempton on Instagram for the chance to win The Soul of Gift Wrapping by Megumi Lorna Inouye and a personalised, signed copy of my book Calm Christmas along with a complementary place on my flagship course Do What You Love.* Join the Winter Writing Sanctuary for free HERE. https://dowhatyouloveforlife.com/product/winter-writing-sanctuary-live-oct2026/* Get my brand new Ultimate Gift Guide for Writers here (it’s free)* Download a printable Calm Christmas Planner here (also free).* Give someone (or yourself) the life-changing gift of a trajectory-shifting online course with up to 50% off all my courses (which can be given as gift vouchers!) at dowhatyouloveforlife.comIngredients for Rachel de Thample’s Rise & Shine Tisane* Half a lemon* Half a teaspoon of fennel seeds* One or two bay leaves, fresh or dried* 250 ml of freshly boiled waterIngredients for Gemma Ogston‘s immunity-protection dressing* 180 ml olive oil* 120 ml apple cider vinegar* 60 ml of water* Three tablespoons of runny honey* Three garlic cloves chopped* 5cm fresh ginger, peeled and chopped* Quarter of a teaspoon of ground turmericFor the Snow Globe* A clean jam jar* Waterproof glue, like the glue in a hot glue gun* Eco glitter* A small figure* Glycerine* Some waterReferences + recommendations* Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year by Beth Kempton* The Soul of Gift Wrapping by Megumi Lorna Inouye* Winter Wellness by Rachel de Thample* The Yogic Kitchen by Jody Vassallo* Japan The Vegetarian Cookbook by Nancy Singleton Hachisu* The Healing Cookbook by Gemma Ogston* Deliciously Ella Quick & Easy by Ella Mills* Everyday Super Food by Jamie Oliver* The Self-Care Year by Alison Davies (Quadrille)Charities that can support you if you are feeling lonely* Mind* The Silver Line* Samaritans* ShoutPrevious Calm Christmas episodes on gifting for even more ideas* Season 1 Episode 6 Mindful Gifting* Season 2 Episode 4 Love* Season 3 Episode 3 We Three KingsOther links:* Give Love This Year by Fitz and the Tantrums* Why do we give gifts at Christmas? Andrew Hann, English Heritage* Mixbook (for printing photo books)Photos: Holly Bobbins This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit calmchristmas.substack.com

Here in Episode 1 Hear the Bells, we begin this new season of the Calm Christmas Podcast by the sea, listening to the sound of the waves and contemplating what it really means to rest. We will share a hot cuppa and conversations about longing and joy, and much more including:·      A new Light Corner·      Our old favourites – Nature and Wellbeing Corners·      A lovely hot drink recipe·      Traditions from around the world·      Get ahead tips·      Some lovely goodies for youWith inspiration from @KerriniDochartaigh @botanical_tales @nigelslater @francescaamber @rspca_official @bbc @leigh.standley @mudnbloom and Sam Kamkanamge.Enjoy!Beth XxLovely things·Head to @bethkempton on Instagram for the chance to win our first festive book giveaway of the season!· Join the Winter Writing Sanctuary for free HERE.· Download a printable Calm Christmas Planner for free HERE. What you need for the Mud & Bloom leaf lanterns:- Autumn leaves- Jam jars- PVA glue- A paint brush- Cotton thread in autumnal colours- Tea lights Hot apple recipe ingredients:- Apple juice (we use clear but cloudy would be fine)- The peel of a satsuma or clementine, artfully twisty if you have that skill-  A cinnamon stick-  A little bit of ginger- Other spices like cloves or star anise, if you like them- Some honey or sugar References:·      Cacophony of Bone by Kerri ni Dochartaigh (Canongate)·      Kokoro: Japanese wisdom for a life well lived by Beth Kempton (Piatkus)·      The Christmas Chronicles by Nigel Slater (Fourth Estate)·      Joy. Boats. Time. On longing, choices and the tyranny of ‘just’ essay on Substack·      Shakti mat (no affiliation)·      How you can help garden wildlife this winter (BBC Newsround)·      Leigh Standley’s spell pot·      Autumn Leaf Lanterns how-to (Mud + Bloom)·      Hear the Bells by Calexico video·      Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year by Beth Kempton (Piatkus)·      Sen Wellness This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit calmchristmas.substack.com

Welcome back friends! This is the trailer for the new season of Calm Christmas, the UK’s favourite festive podcast. Today I have a simple yet profound question for you to ponder in the week ahead, before Episode 1 ‘Hear the Bells’ is released on November 14.Winter is wilder than autumn. The darkness sets in long with the cold and the wet. We want to make fire light candles, huddle up, gather to eat, count our blessings. Our ancient longing for connection, warmth, joy and magic is the song of winter. We hear it in the howling of the wind and the creaking of the trees in the traditional carols and jaunty pop songs, in the laughter that rings out as we don a Christmas hat, in the memories that we turn as we unbox the decorations and hang them once again on the tree. May this podcast help us tune into the nourishing parts, minimize the exhausting parts, acknowledge the darkness and seek out the light.Season Four will carry us from early November through to January 1, offering a weekly calling back towards slowness and calm. There will be seasonal stories and recipes, memories and journalling invitations, craft ideas, get ahead tips, wintery words and the sharing of traditions from listeners all around the world. Most of all, there will be companionship, as we, the Keepers of Christmas, settle in each week for a moment of pause and a little bit of festive magic. As the darkness begins to inhale the light, may our gathering be a lantern to guide us through the season and into the new year. Beth XxPS Be sure to subscribe to calmchristmas.substack.com where you will find all of the podcast archives, free wintry essays into your inbox and some lovely festive goodies (including my FREE printable Calm Christmas planner) waiting for you.Find me on Instagram @bethkempton or on Substack @bethkempton This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit calmchristmas.substack.com

The UK’s #1 favourite Christmas podcast is back for a one-off special to mark the turning of the season and the gift of a leap day as winter gives way to spring. This bonus episode ‘FAREWELL WINTER’ includes:-       A beautiful ritual for bidding farewell to winter-       An insight into the tradition of ‘leap day’-       Ideas for celebrating the arrival of spring-       A peek into Japanese microseasons-       Some gorgeous words capturing the feeling of the season turning-       Our wellbeing and nature corners-       A peek into my brand new book KOKORO (which is out on April 4)-       An inspiring writing prompt and moreWith inspiration from Mary Webb, Masaoka Shiki, Alan Watts, Lin Yutang, Madoka Mayuzumi, Tadashi Terashima, Yosa Buson and Christina Georgia Rossetti.Why not take a walk this week, and have a listen while looking out for signs of spring where you are? (And for those of you in the southern hemisphere, may it be an invitation for you to notice signs of autumn).Beth XxHandy links:·      My new book KOKORO: Japanese wisdom for a life well lived (Piatkus) (or free international shipping when you order via Blackwells here)·      Get FREE access to my new seasonal writing sanctuary Spring Light when you pre-order  KOKORO from any retailer (Here’s the link for Blackwells who are offering free international shipping). Once you have ordered it in any format from any retailer, go to bethkempton.com/kokoro and pop your receipt details in the short form there. ·      My haiku essay: The Life-Changing Magic of Writing Haiku: finding beauty and solace in a heartbeat sized poem For all show notes including book and article reference links please click here. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit calmchristmas.substack.com

Here we are completing another circle around the sun. We have clambered across the fabric of another year, stitched together adventures, stories, and memories, darned some holes as neatly as we could, knotted threads of new colour into our lives, and we are now here at the edge looking back across all we have woven in the past twelve months. This is a wonderful time to focus on gratitude, to reflect on the year gone by, choose what to leave behind in this year, do some gentle dreaming for the year ahead and cross the threshold of the year together, with hope, dreams and a steaming cup of tea.This episode includes: Tips for dreaming and scheming for the year aheadAn exclusive excerpt from my new book Kokoro: Japanese wisdom for a life well lived (out April 2024)New Year traditions from around the world (from lovely listeners!)A craft project for gratitudeOur nature cornerA writing promptSome lovely words to ease you into the new yearPLUS A lovely giveaway (enter on my Instagram @bethkempton)·      With inspiration from: @SimpleThingsMag, Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Emily Thomas and James Weston Lewis, Lindsey Harrad @livemoreplantfully, Brenda Wells, Emily Silva @soulsadventures, Max EhrmannHandy links:·      Sky View app·      StarWalk 2 app·      Thompson-Morgan gardening newsletter·      My Book Proposal Masterclass course (next class runs live from Jan 29)·      The Way of the Fearless Writer: Ancient Eastern wisdom for a flourishing writing life  by Beth Kempton (Piatkus) – just 99p on Kindle on Amazon UK throughout JanuaryThis week’s giveaway·      Chance to win a lovely journal and a personalized signed copy of my book Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year over on @bethkempton on Instagram Click here for all show notes including featured books.Wishing you a very happy new year, friend.Beth Xx This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit calmchristmas.substack.com

These are the days in between. The liminal space that hovers beyond the festivities and the before the arrival of a fresh New Year. I call this time 'the Hush', when the world slows and some kind of portal opens up. This episode is all about making the most of this precious time and it includes:Ideas for different ways to spend these days in betweenA beautiful winter visualisation to help you open to whatever might be calling youA full moon bathing ritualA comforting recipeOur nature cornerSome get ahead tips for NEXT Christmas (you’ll be glad of them, I promise)PLUS A self-care giveaway (enter on my Instagram @bethkempton)With inspiration from: @gill.meller @slowhomepod @BrookeMcAlary, Elizabeth Jenner, Dakota Hills and Sierra Brashear @superbeamix.Handy links:·      Full moon calendar ·      Last chance to join my Winter Writing Sanctuary (FREE) Starts December 28!This week’s giveaway·      Chance to win some lovely self-care goodies and a personalized signed copy of my book Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year over on @bethkempton on Instagram  Ingredients for Gill Meller's Homity Potatoes recipe:(Serves 4 or more) You will need:8 baking potatoes1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil15g (5 ½ oz) butter2 leeks, sliced into rounds2 onions, halved and sliced1 tablespoon wholegrain mustard100g (3 ½ oz) mature cheddar, finely gratedSea salt and freshly ground black pepperFeatured in this episode:·      Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year by Beth Kempton (Piatkus)·      What to look for in Winter by Elizabeth Jenner (Ladybird)·      Moon Bath: Bathing rituals and recipes for relaxation and vitality by Dakota Hills and Sierra Brashear·      Outside: Recipes for a wilder way of eating by Gill Meller·      Care: The radical art of taking time by Brooke McAlaryEnjoy!Beth XxYou can find all the show notes here: https://bethkempton.com/ccpodcast-shownotes/  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit calmchristmas.substack.com

It’s nearly Christmas Eve. Can you feel the magic hovering? If ever there was a time to take a deep breath and let go of all that has not been done to embrace what is here, that time is now. Pull up a chair and relax, my friend. It is Christmas, after all. This very Christmassy episode will ease you into Christmas, reminding you what really matters and encouraging you to let things be perfectly imperfect.This episode includes: A little story from the Arctic CircleA letter from Father ChristmasA moment of reflectionA wintery writing prompt A quick craft idea to give you a fun thing to do on Christmas dayChristmas traditions from around the world (from lovely listeners!)Our nature cornerThose last few get ahead tipsMy Christmas message for youWith inspiration from: Matsuo Basho, Laurie Lee, Johnny Coppin, @NadiykaGerbish, Yaroslav Hrytsak, Dot May Dunn, Elizabeth Jenner, Malcolm Bird, Alan Dart, Kenneth Grahame, JRR Tolkien, Bailey Tolkien and Father Christmas. Handy links:KakslauttenenSweet Salty Spicy Party Nuts recipeEscape to a cosy world of words in my Winter Writing Sanctuary (FREE) December 28-January 6Ingredients for Roasted Nuts recipe shared in this episode:Your choice of nuts (such as pecans, walnuts, brazil nuts, cashews and almonds, and macademias) Any extra flavours you might like such as pumpkin or sunflower seeds and fresh rosemaryMaple syrupButter (optional)Featured in this episode:The Matsuo Basho haiku poem in this episode can be found in Basho: The Complete Haikutranslated by Jane Reichhold (Kodansha) p.658Letters from Father Christmasby JRR Tolkien, edited by Baillie TolkienCider with Rosie by Laurie Lee - excerpt shared can be found in A Country Christmas edited by Johnny Coppin (The Windrush Press) p.47A Ukranian Christmas, by Nadiyka Gerbish and Yaroslav Hrytsak. (Sphere) p.11 and p.15Christmas Around the Village Greenby Dot May Dunn (Orion, p.46)What to look for in Winter by Elizabeth Jenner (Ladybird)The Christmas Handbook by Malcolm Bird and Alan DartThe Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame (as featured in Favorite Poems for Christmas: A Child’s Collection (Bushel & Peck Books) p.8You can find all the show notes here: https://bethkempton.com/ccpodcast-shownotes/  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit calmchristmas.substack.com

This week's episode is dedicated to those we love and miss, to encourage us all – me included – to take all the time we need to feel all the things we are going to feel in the days ahead. I hope you find this episode to be a comfort.  Of course I am not going to tell you how to be or what to do as you face Christmas without a loved one, or face it carrying any other sense of grief. What I am going to do is share some ideas for pausing, honouring and remembering our loved ones, along with some gentle advice from people who work with bereaved families, and some beautiful poems and readings which I hope will offer us some comfort.In March this year my lovely mum was diagnosed with terminal cancer out of the blue, and died in a hospice three weeks later. I was by her side for nearly all of that time. It was devastating in its brevity and impact, but it was also just about enough time for us to leave nothing unsaid. We talked about Christmas, and she gave me some ideas for this season of the podcast, particularly for this episode. When I think about that now, I am floored by her bravery and selflessness, and the way that in having those conversations, she has managed to give us a Christmas gift this year too. I hope this episode will give you an opportunity to pause, honour and remember those you love and miss, and find some joy and light in this darkest of seasons.This episode includes: Gentle ideas for pausing, honouring and remembering those we love and missA beautiful ritual for connecting with the memory and light of a loved one (you might want to bring a candle, some matches, a notebook and a pen)How the Five Stories of Christmas can help us feel close to our loved onesPermission not to have a ‘happy Christmas’Some gorgeous poems and readingsA writing prompt to help you get your feelings down on paperA lovely craft ideaChristmas traditions from around the world (from lovely listeners!)Our nature corner, welcoming the Winter SolsticeGet ahead tips before Christmas is upon usAnd a blessing for youPLUS A self-care giveaway (enter on my Instagram @bethkempton)With inspiration from:@donnaashworthwords @optionb @andygrammer @stoswaldsuk @joannemallon Bertolt Brecht, Sarah Crossnan, Dana Gioia, @sheep1sh Neil Astley, Pamela Robertson-Pearce, Phillis Levin, @thehungryyear Kevin Young, Ashley Muller, @glass_walls_life Austie M Baird, Cherie Arnitt, @warsanshiree @williamsieghart, Robert Frost, @lydiamillen @lia_leendertz @rebeccacampbell_author @katecbowler, John O’DonohueLeave a note remembering your loved one on the self-care giveaway post on my Instagram @bethkempton here. https://instagram.com/bethkemptonYou can find all the show notes including to all featured books here.Handy links:·      The Life-Changing Magic of Writing Haiku (free essay on my Substack) ·      St Oswald’s Hospice donation link (where Brenda works) ·      Escape to a cosy world of words in my Winter Writing Sanctuary (FREE) December 28-January 6  This week’s giveaway·      Chance to win some lovely self-care goodies and a personalized signed copy of my book Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year over on @bethkempton on Instagram Beth Xx This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit calmchristmas.substack.com

This delicious episode is all about festive feasting – from the main event to all those gatherings and feedings in between. I adore cookbooks and share a lot in this episode, along with some other food-related delights. I hope it gets you flicking through your own recipe books and planning for some special time around the table this year.This episode includes:-       Snippets from some of my favourite Christmassy cookbooks-       Tips for reducing the stress of Christmas cooking, and being mindful of costs-       A story about the day it all changed in our household-       Some ideas for laying your Christmas table-       Christmas (food-related) traditions from around the world -       Two super simple recipes-       Get ahead tips before Christmas arrives-       PLUS a lovely giveaway (enter at @bethkempton on Instagram)With inspiration from:@auriolb @dianahenryfood @lisanieschlag @larswentrup @sam__dixon @gizzierskine @nigelslater @nigellalawson @jamieoliver @dethample, Delia Smith @housebeautifuluk @housebeautifulHandy links:·      Help yourself to the Christmas Meal Planner in my FREE Calm Christmas Planner here ·      House Beautiful cracker making tutorial ·      Click here to book your FREE place on my Winter Writing Sanctuary ·      Up to 50% off all my writing and personal development courses in my winter sale hereThis week’s giveaway·      Chance to win a copy of Winter Wellness by Rachel de Thample and a personalized signed copy of my book Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year over on @bethkempton on Instagram Full shownotes here.Beth Xx This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit calmchristmas.substack.com

There is a particular kind of joy in the simple act of curling up in an armchair with a book on a winter's day, or going to a café with nothing to do but take in the next chapter, or going to bed early and sitting up against soft pillows to read by lamplight. Words can be a real comfort in the darkest of seasons - both those we read and those we write. I hope this episode inspires you to pull down a favourite book off the shelf and have a read, or perhaps treat yourself to some poetry, or a new story, or a self-help book that is going to carry you through the winter. I also hope it is going to inspire you to get out your notebook and write some of your own words, as the fire crackles and the tree lights flicker.This episode includes:Wintery words to inspire youLots of cosy reading recommendations Inspiration for writing as a tool for wellbeingNature cornerChristmas traditions from around the world (from lovely listeners!)Get ahead tips as Christmas edges closerPLUS A lovely cosy giveaway (enter on my Instagram @bethkempton)With inspiration from Peter Hennessy, Josephine Greywoode, Alexandra Harris, Jane McMorland Hunter @alittlecitygarden, Tom Hennen, Phyllis Cole-Dai, Ruby R Wilson, Horatio Clare @horatiowrites, Nancy Campbell, Kevin Parr, @MattBakerOfficial, @FrancescaBeauman, Ono no Komachi, @SandrineBailly, Kim Simonsen, Randi Ward, Chris McCabe @mccabio1977, Freddie Jones, Andrew McRae, Robert Bridges, @Mark_Nepo, Elizabeth Jenner, @NationalTrust, Greg Loades @hull_urban_gardener, Shawn Bythell @bookshopwigtown, @cheftimanderson @hollyringland @therosiewalsh @mattzhaig, Muriel Barbery, Jenny Colgan @jennycolganwriter @jennycolganbooks, Joanne Harris @joannechocolat.PS See the full show notes here for recipe ingredients and other links. Lovely things for you:·      Read my how to write a haiku essay and subscribe for free at https://bethkempton.substack.com·      CLICK HERE to download the free Calm Christmas Planner ·      CLICK HERE to register for my Winter Writing Sanctuary (Dec 28-Jan 6), also free this year ·      Get up to 50% off ALL my writing courses in my winter gratitude sale at https://dowhatyouloveforlife.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit calmchristmas.substack.com

Did you know it is scientifically proven that decorating for Christmas can actually make you happier? Oh yes my friends, it is in the interests of our health that we get those fairy lights up... With the weather getting chillier outside, it is the perfect time to start thinking about how to make our homes festive and cosy, and a sanctuary of wellbeing and rest for the winter. This episode includes:Lots of ideas for decorating in a way that engages all the senses, and brings nature indoors.Wellbeing tips for inviting in restNature cornerA beautiful writing prompt for connecting with the moonA fun and super easy crafting project to tryChristmas traditions from around the world (from lovely listeners!)Recipes for hot drinks to bring joy, and nourishGet ahead tips before December arrivesPLUS A lovely cosy giveaway (enter on my Instagram @bethkempton)With inspiration from Christopher Yokel, @realsimplemagazine, Lucy Hunter @theflowerhunter, Bex Partridge of @botanical_tales, Grace Alexander of @graceaexanderflowers, @piajanebijkerk, Ark Redwood, Lisa Hood, Lisa Hood @lahoodyoga, Lizzie Kamenetzky @deliciouslizzie, @marinawrightwellness, Anja Dunk, @StEvalCandles and @royalmuseumsgreenwich.PS See the full show notes here for recipe ingredients and other links.Lovely free things for you:·      CLICK HERE to download my free simple guide to making a wreath x·      CLICK HERE to download the free Calm Christmas Planner ·      CLICK HERE to register for my Winter Writing Sanctuary (Dec 28-Jan 6), also free this year Featured in this episode:·      Cold by Christopher Yokel in Winter Poems: New and Selected by Christopher Yokel (self-published) p.9·      The Flower Hunter: Creating a floral love story inspired by the landscape by Lucy Hunter (Ryland Peters Small) p.197·      The Everyday Alchemist’s Festive Season Reimagined by Pia Jane Bijkerk (self-published) p.32·      The Art of Mindful Gardening: Sowing the Seeds of Meditation by Ark Redwood (Leaping Hare Press) p.113·      Moon Yoga by Lisa Hood (Godsfield) p.63·      Winter Cabin Cooking by Lizzie Kamanetzky (Ryland, Peters & Small) p.7 and p.166·      Advent: Festive German Bakes to Celebrate the Coming of Christmas by Anja Dunk (Quadrille) p.4 and p.199·      Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year: A little book of fe This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit calmchristmas.substack.com

Today is all about mindful gifting. Listen to this before Black Friday hits! It’s almost impossible to think about Christmas without thinking about presents, and I know it’s still early, but starting to think about mindful gifting now can save us stress, save us money, help us give things that will genuinely bring joy, and give us time to enjoy the process of dreaming up ideas, making or buying, wrapping them and delivering them in good time.This episode includes:Why being more mindful about gifting at Christmas can be good for our mental health as well as our walletsWhat kind of conversations to have now to make gifting easier and more joyfulWhat we are doing in my house to spend less but bring more joyMy three gifting guideposts (they will save you wasting your precious money on presents that people don’t actually want)The joy of advent calendarsNature cornerChristmas traditions from around the world (from lovely listeners!)A great recipe from Mark Diacono that makes a fab gift + my own homemade granola recipe (back by popular demand!)A fab giveaway worth £700 (enter on my Instagram @bethkempton)With inspiration from:@ ArounnaKhounnoraj @countrylivinguk @noor_unnahar @emilysilva @Mark Diacono @editbyemily (Emily Dawe)Lovely things for you:·      The FREE Calm Christmas Planner (a little book of festive printables which includes my unusual but highly effective approach to budgeting, plus tons of mindful gift ideas)·      My Winter Writing Sanctuary 10-day FREE online writing class Beth XxPS See the full show notes here for recipe ingredients etc. If you are worried about money call the National Debtline in the UK on 0808 808 4000 or seek out a similar organisation in your country.Featured in this episode:Winter Celebrations by Arounna Khounnoraj (Quadrille) Country Living Country Christmas by Francine Lawrence (Editor) (Ebury) [List of Everything I Want by Noor Unnahar in New Names for Lost Things by Noor Unnahar (Andrews McMeel) Sunrise Gratitude by Emily Silva (Rock Point) Paper Christmas by Emily Dawe (Search Press) Spice: A cook’s companion by Mark Diacono (Quadrille) Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year: A Little Book of Festive Joy by Beth Kempton (Piatkus)  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit calmchristmas.substack.com

The modern world calls us on us to be visible, to be sociable, to be ‘out there’ and tell everyone about it, not to mention to fill our days rushing from one thing to the next to keep up with everything society makes us feel we should be doing, nevermind the pressure from advertisers to create the perfect Christmas, and the knowledge that we are soon to be bombarded by visions of other people’s perfect Christmases online in the coming months, and it is a lot. This year I want to entertain the idea of giving ourselves permission to be less visible if we want to, less sociable if we want to, more ‘in here’ than ‘out there’ when that feels good, and to slow right down, and to do less, in a way which feels like more, without feeling guilty about it.That’s why, before we dive into all the chaos of the festive season, and all the joyful themes coming up on the podcast, like gift giving, festive feasting, gathering and more, I wanted to take the time to do a whole episode on nourishing ourselves – mind, body and soul. This includes asking for, and receiving, what we need at this time of year, even if that isn’t what society wants us to want, because it does not fit the commercial agenda, or the plans of our loudest friends, or anyone’s expectations. Welcome to The Calm Christmas Podcast. I am Beth Kempton and this is Episode 2: Candlelight Carol, which is all about radical winter wellbeing.This episode includes:·      Why retreating is a good idea ·      Practical ways to nourish yourself in winter·      Our regular nature corner·      Christmas traditions from around the world (including several shared by listeners!)·      A lovely simple crafting project that might even become a Christmas gift for someone·      Two lovely recipes (hello nourishment!)·      Get ahead tips and more!With inspiration from @brie.doyle, @tracee_stanley, @davidjwhyte, @silverpebble2 (Emma Mitchell), @bonniesmithwhitehouse, @deliciouslyella, @ellamills__, @nancyhachisu, Fiona Danks, Jo Schofield, Elizabeth Jenner, and Emily Thomas. Lovely things for you:·      GIVEAWAY - ! This week I am giving away a very special gift for YOU AND A FRIEND! It includes some beautiful solid skincare from my friends at SBTRCT along with a personalized, signed copy of my book Calm Christmas for EACH of you. Hop over to Instagram @bethkempton to enter. If you are listening to this after the giveaway deadline, don’t worry. I am going to be doing various lovely giveaways each week up to Christmas so there will be something waiting there for you!·      CALM CHRISTMAS PLANNER – Download yours for free here (if link is broken go to dowhatyouloveforlife.com)I hope this podcast will help you locate Christmas as an anchor in the stormy seas of winter in this world right now.Take good care,Beth(@bethkempton on Instagram / bethkempton.substack.com / dowhatyouloveforlife.com)All show notes with book and article references etc and ingredients for recipes can be found here. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit calmchristmas.substack.com

Come on in out of the wind, my friend. I am so glad you found this old cottage, hidden away as it is in a small village in the South West of England. Come on through to the kitchen, pull up a chair. There are gingerbread stars fresh out of the oven and steaming tea in the pot. How have you been, my friend? I am so glad you are here and I’ve got so much to share with you.What a joy it is to welcome you to a third season of The Calm Christmas Podcast, timed just as autumn turns to leave and in its shadow offers us a glimpse of winter. Here on the podcast we trace the turning of the seasons in nature and in our minds and hearts, we seek out ways to be more mindful about the approaching holidays, and I offer inspiration and tips for using this time to rest and restore after another full year. This third season is all about seeking slow.This episode includes:·      The importance of slowing down for making the most of the holidays and for taking care of ourselves·      Tips for slowing down·      Allotment chit chat and our regular nature corner·      Christmas traditions from around the world (including several shared by listeners!)·      An autumnal crafting project·      Two lovely autumnal recipes·      Get ahead tips and more!Lovely things for you:·      GIVEAWAY - To be in with the chance of winning a copy of Rosie Steer’s gorgeous new book Slow Seasons and a personalised, signed copy of Calm Christmas by me, Beth Kempton, enter on Instagram @bethkempton (deadline 4pm UK time on Sunday 12 November)·      CALM CHRISTMAS PLANNER – Download yours for free here (if link is broken go to dowhatyouloveforlife.com)I hope this podcast will help you locate Christmas as an anchor in the stormy seas of winter in this world right now.For more details of my book Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year go to bethkempton.com/christmas or buy a copy from Amazon or any good bookshop. Or why not get the audiobook and listen to one chapter a week up to and through the holiday season? Take good care, Beth (@bethkempton on Instagram / bethkempton.substack.com / dowhatyouloveforlife.com)Featured in this episode:·      Reading from Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year: A little book of festive joy by Beth Kempton (Piatkus)p.15 / US edition here (Scribner)  ·      Research about the health benefits of bananas hereIngredients for recipes shared can be found here. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit calmchristmas.substack.com

Friends, it's nearly time! The Calm Christmas Podcast is back for a new season. Our theme for this year is 'Seeking slow this winter'. The new season will begin on November 8, and then new episodes will drop every weekend until the new year. Over the past few years Christmas has become, for many, overcommercialised, and a time of stress and exhaustion. The Calm Christmas Podcast is about turning away from that kind of holiday season, and instead finding joy and spreading cheer without sacrificing our wellbeing.My name is Beth Kempton – author, mama, Christmas lover and host of this, The Calm Christmas Podcast, which I send out weekly in November and December, from my kitchen table in a small thatched cottage in Devon, in the South West of England. This season is all about slowing down, and I hope it’s just what you need this year.This has been the hardest year of my life. It has also, in many ways, been one of the most precious. It is on the back of those shadows and that light that I bring you Season 3 of The Calm Christmas Podcast, and I hope it will be a lantern leading you through the darkness of late autumn and winter, into a fresh new year. Each week I offer ideas for inviting in the kind of Christmas you want and need this year, inspiration for getting outdoors and noticing what is happening in nature, holiday traditions from around the world including many shared by you lovely listeners, crafting ideas, journaling prompts, rituals, moonwatching, stargazing, recipes, book recommendations, ideas for making your home festive and cosy, mindful gifts that won’t cost you a fortune, and perhaps most importantly, a moment of quiet in the rush of the season, to breathe, and plan how to make the most of this time with those you love, to honour those you miss, and treasure what matters to you most.I hope you will make space for The Calm Christmas Podcast this year. Subscribe now, mark your calendar for November 8 and join me back here for Episode 1: Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, which is all about seeking slow this season.And please, tell your friends. Let’s make this Christmas – and this whole time of year – different and special, or whatever you want and need it to be. *********************************************The Calm Christmas Podcast has been recommended by Vanity Fair,  Ideal Home Magazine, The Times, Radio Times, The Handbook, Great British Podcasts and more. I hope you love it!Beth Xx (@bethkempton on Instagram) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit calmchristmas.substack.com

Christmas is coming. Can you feel it in the air? I can, and I love that feeling. And it’s why I am here with you again, for a special edition of the Calm Christmas Podcast.  Rather than a whole series this year, to honour my own need for proper rest this winter I have created you a bumper special episode, to help you settle in to a cosy winter. This one is longer than usual at almost an hour, so get yourself a hot cuppa, or pull on your boots and head out for a lovely long walk as you listen. This episode includes the most important question to ask yourself right now, a host of journaling prompts, our nature corner, recipes, wellbeing ideas and tips for getting ahead for Christmas.With inspiration from Nigel Slater, John D Burns, Edward Step, Melissa Harrison, Clare Foster, Andrew Montgomery, Lia Leendertz, Jody Vassallo, Mark Diacono, Keratin Niehoff, Laura Fleiter, James Martin, Paul Hollywood and BBC Good Food.I hope this podcast will help you locate Christmas as an anchor in the stormy seas of winter in this world right now.GIVEAWAY: To be in with the chance of winning a copy of Spice by Mark Diacono and a personalised, signed copy of Calm Christmas by Beth Kempton, enter on Instagram @bethkempton (deadline midnight UK time on Friday December 2) Take good care, Beth Featured in this episode:- Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year by Beth Kempton (Piatkus) - The Christmas Chronicles by Nigel Slater (4th Estate) - Wild Winter by John D Burns (Vertebrate Publishing) -  Edward Step in Nature Rambles: An Introduction to Country-lore, 1930, in Winter: An anthology for the changing seasons edited by Melissa Harrison (Elliott & Thompson)- Winter Gardens by Clare Foster and Andrew Montgomery (Montgomery Press) - The Almanac 2022 by Lia Leendertz (Gaia) - The Yogic Kitchen by Jody Vassalo (HQ) - Spice: A cook’s companion by Mark Diacono (Quadrille) -  Advent by Kerstin Niehoff and Laura Fleiter (Murdoch) - The Fearless Writer Podcast - James Martin’s homemade mincemeat recipe / Paul Hollywood’s mince pie recipe Ingredients for recipes shared are available here. Transcript available here. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit calmchristmas.substack.com

Welcome to The Hush – that precious, liminal space between Christmas and New Year. In today’s episode, the final one of this series, we explore the idea of ‘less doing, more dreaming’. These are the days in-between. This is a precious time to breathe deeply, savour moments with loved ones or alone and feel the world slowing just for a moment. It's a time for reflection and releasing, meandering, and dreaming. This episode includes a very special visualisation to help you open up to what might be calling you, along with some prompts to explore in your journal ahead of the new year. With inspiration from Susan Coolidge. I hope you love this final episode, and that it ushers you gently into the new year, with a heart full of hope. Beth XxPS Don’t miss my free poetry challenge #tinywinterpoem coming to my Instagram feed @bethkempton in January!Featured in this episode: New Every Morning by Susan Coolidge in The Poetry Pharmacy, edited by William Sieghart Download a FREE copy of my Perfectly Imperfect 2022 Digital Planner here and start visualising what might be next for you.   This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit calmchristmas.substack.com

So here we are in Christmas week! This week I am sharing a few quiet words and a couple of festive recipes (for you and for the birds) to bring a sprinkling of calm as the festivities peak. With inspiration from Julia Baird, Emma Mitchell, and Maya Angelou. Wishing you whatever kind of Christmas you want and need this year.Beth XxPhosphorescence by Julia Baird p.286  (William Collins)Making Winter by Emma Mitchell  (LOM Art)Untitled by Maya Angelou in Celebrations: Rituals of peace and prayer by Maya Angelou  (Virago)Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year: A Little Book of Festive Joy by Beth Kempton (Piatkus)Ingredients for featured recipes:(1)   For the birdsYou will need:250g block of lard250g wild berries like rosehips or hawthorn, or dried fruit like dried cranberries or sultana, wild bird seed, and porridge oats (250g in total, in any combination of berries, seeds and oats)A saucepan of boiling waterA heatproof bowl to make a bain-marieYoghurt pots, fibre plant pots or coconut halvesGarden twine(2) For you2 litres still or sparkling cider or apple juice 2 large or 3 small apples, washed, cored and sliced but not peeled3 oranges or 8 tangerines (washed and sliced but not peeled),1 lemon (zest and juice only)1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon ground allspice, 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg, 1 teaspoon ground ginger, 8 cloves, 6 short cinnamon sticks6 tablespoons brown sugar This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit calmchristmas.substack.com

Ease yourself through the holiday preparations with this gentle episode all about rest, including a host of ideas for taking care of yourself as winter moves in. With inspiration from Liza Dalby (@lizadalby), Jilly Shipway, Shiva Rea (@shivarea108), Lucy Brazier (@brazier.lucy), Claudia Hammond (@claudie_hammond_), Gareth Owen, Katherine May (@katherinemay_) and Sonoko Sakai (@sonokosakai).Featured in this episode:East Wind Melts the Ice by Liza Dalby (Chatto & Windus)Tending the Heart Fire by Shiva Rea (Sounds True) Yoga Through the Year by Jilly Shipway  (Llewelyn)River Cottage Christmas by Lucy Brazier (Bloomsbury)The Art of Rest by Claudia Hammond  (Canongate)Wabi Sabi: Japanese wisdom for a perfectly imperfect life by Beth Kempton (Piatkus) Winter Days by Gareth Owen in The Oxford Book of Christmas Poems edited by Michael Harrison (Oxford University Press) Wintering by Katherine May Japanese Home Cooking by Sonoko Sakai (Shambala)Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year: A Little Book of Festive Joy by Beth Kempton (Piatkus)Jennifer Piercy’s Melatonin Magic yoga nidra meditation is here on Insight Timer.  You can download a FREE copy of The Perfectly Imperfect 2022 Digital Planner here, to help you reflect on the year and look ahead to 2022. Ingredients for the featured recipe (makes 4 servings)•   3.5 cups or 830ml dashi stock - there are wonderful recipes for making your own dashi in the book, but you can also buy it as stock from places like the Japan Centre.•   3 tablespoons of white or red miso•   2 oz (57g) mushrooms of your choice, stems removed and sliced 1/4 inch or 6mm thick•   4oz (113g) soft or medium-firm tofu, cut into 1/4 inch (6mm) dice•   1 teaspoon yuzu or lemon peel, pith removedYou can buy dashi stock from Japanese supermarkets and stores such as japancentre.com. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit calmchristmas.substack.com

A lovely, relaxing episode to ease you into a place of restfulness this winter, including a beautiful meditation, some gorgeous winter poetry, and some tips for finding calm in the chaos. With inspiration from Hakuin, Brian Patton, Roger McGough, Mark Strand, the Royal Horticultural Society (@the_rhs), Joey Hulin (@joeyhulin_writer), Isobel Carlson, Donna Hay (@donna.hay), and Country Living (@countrylivinguk).Featured in this episode: Untitled poem by Hakuin from Three Zen Masters by John Stevens (Kodansha)Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year: A Little Book of Festive Joy by Beth Kempton (Piatkus)First Snow in the Street by Brian Patton in 100 Best Christmas Poems for Children, edited by Roger McGough  (SPCK Publishing)Lines for Winter by Mark Strand in Poem for the Day Two edited by Retta Bowen, Nick Temple, Stephanie Wienrich and Nicholas Albery (Chatto & Windus) Your Spiritual Almanac by Joey Hulin  (Laurence King)RHS Gardening Through the Year by Ian Spence (DK) The Seaside Year by Isobel Carlson (Summersdale)Country Living Christmas (magazine) Christmas Feasts and Treats by Donna Hay  (Harper Collins)Ingredients for the featured recipe (Rocky Road)Makes six1kg of dark chocolate (chopped)2 tablespoons vegetable oil130g sweetened dried cranberries 200g marshmallows250g Turkish Delight pieces50g of coconut flakes 140g of shelled unsalted pistachios, chopped This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit calmchristmas.substack.com

This episode is all about nesting – getting your home and heart ready for the winter, with natural Christmas decorations, and ideas for mindful crafting. With inspiration from Laurie Lee, Ariella Chezar (@ariellachezardesign), Lucy Hunter @lucytheflowerhunter, Truman Capote, Lizzie Kamenetzky, Cleo Wade @cleowade, The Royal Horticultural Society (@the_rhs), and my mum!Featured in this episode:A Village Christmas and Other Notes on the English Year by Laurie Lee (Penguin Classics)Seasonal Flower Arranging by Ariella Chezar  (Ten Speed Press)The Flower Hunter by Lucy Hunter (Ryland, Peters & Small)Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year: A Little Book of Festive Joy by Beth Kempton (Piatkus)A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote in The Penguin Book of Christmas Stories edited by Jessica Harrison Winter Cabin Cooking by Lizzie Kamenetzky (Ryland, Peters & Small)Heart Talk by Cleo Wade (Atria)Slow Down and Grow Something by Byron Smith and Tess Robinson (Murdoch)Download my free guide to creating a wreath HERE  and ideas for other natural decorations HERE. To be in with a chance of winning a signed copy of The Flower Hunter by Lucy Hunter and a signed copy of my book Calm Christmas, head over to Instagram @bethkempton. The deadline for entries is 4pm UK time on Friday December 3, 2021. Ingredients list for featured recipes:Salt dough-       1 cup of plain flour-       Half a cup of table salt-       Half a cup of water French onion soupServes 4-       25g unsalted butter-       3 tablespoons olive oil-       1kg large onions, very thinly sliced-       250ml dry white wine-       1 litre rich beef stock - or you could replace with vegetable stock for a vegetarian version-       Freshly grated nutmeg-       A small handful of fresh thyme sprigs-       2 fresh bay leaves-       75ml good quality Madeira-       1 day old baguette or other crusty bread, cut into slices-       1 garlic clove-       150g Comte cheese, grated (or you could use a vegetarian cheese)-       Sea salt and ground black pepper This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit calmchristmas.substack.com

It’s time to dive into Christmas gifting, with a host of ideas for mindful, meaningful gifts and some innovative ways to wrap your presents to surprise and delight. We have inspiration from JRR Tolkien, Michelle Mackintosh, Hollie McNish, Laura Pashby, Laura Fleiter and Kerstin Niehoff, and some lovely festive projects to try. Let this episode inspire you to give more love while spending less money and creating less waste this year.Featured in this episode:Letters from Father Christmas by JRR Tolkien edited by Baillie TolkienSustainable Gifting by Michelle MackintoshBehind the Scenes in Nobody Told Me by Hollie McNishCalm Christmas and a Happy New Year: A Little Book of Festive Joy by Beth KemptonLittle Stories of Your Life by Laura PashbyAdvent by Laura Fleiter and Kerstin NiehoffIngredients list for featured recipe (Serves 1)2 bananas1 apple½ teaspoon ground cinnamon2 tablespoons milk1 tablespoon quick-cooking oats2 teaspoons almond butter3 pitted dates2 spiced spekuloos biscuits, like Lotus biscuits1 tsp dried cranberries This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit calmchristmas.substack.com

Today’s episode is inspired by festive food, but not in an obvious way. We explore what fermentation can teach us about Christmas, learn how to make hoshigaki (dried persimmons) and spelt digestives, and explore the tradition of Stir Up Sunday. This episode is packed with tips for nourishing yourself with food and herbal remedies this winter, along with some gorgeous wintery words from some of our finest writers. With inspiration from Yoshihiro Imai, Nigel Slater, Lucy Brazier, Good Housekeeping Magazine, Danna Faulds, Rebecca Sullivan, Lisa Nieschlag, Lars Wentrup, Gizzi Erskine, Diana Henry, Ella Mills, Rukmini Iyer, and Elizabeth David.Ingredients list for featured recipe (makes 16 biscuits):120 grams of cold unsalted butter, cubed120 grams of wholemeal spelt flour with a bit extra to dust120 grams of medium oatmeal or 60 grams of puffed quinoa 60 grams of soft brown sugar or 40 grams if you want a less sweet biscuit6g saltone teaspoon of baking powdera few drops of milk Featured in this episode:Monk: Light and shadow on the Philosopher’s Path by Yoshihiro Imai Greenfeast (Autumn/Winter) by Nigel Slater The Christmas Chronicles by Nigel SlaterNew York Christmas: Recipes and Stories by Lisa Nieschlag and Lars Wentrup Nigella Christmas by Nigella Lawson Gizzi’s Seasons Eatings by Gizzi Erskine From the Oven to the Table by Diana HenryQuick & Easy by Ella Mills The Green Roasting Tin by Rukmini Iyer Elizabeth David’s Christmas by Elizabeth David River Cottage Christmas by Lucy Brazier This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit calmchristmas.substack.com

From watching starling murmurations to cooking up a vat of hot soup, from long wintery walks and forest bathing to practicing calming breathing exercises, this episode is full of ideas for gentle ways to slow down, inhale the season and exhale the stress. And with a host of get ahead tips to make sure your holiday preparations all come together in good time, you’ll feel more ready than ever for the approaching winter. With inspiration from Nick Acheson, Melissa Harrison, Charles Dickens, Jilly Shipway and Ali Roff Farrar.Beth XxFeatured in this episode:·      Essay by Nick Acheson in Winter: An anthology for the changing seasons edited by Melissa Harrison ·      Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year: A Little Book of Festive Joy by Beth Kempton·      Bleak House by Charles Dickens ·      Yoga Through the Year by Jilly Shipway·      The Wellfulness Project by Ali Roff Farrar  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit calmchristmas.substack.com

I have loved Christmas since I was a child. The hopes of snow and flying reindeer, that special Christmassy feeling in the air. I still sense that as a grown up, but the festive season seems to come with a lot more pressure these days. This year, instead of trying to create the perfect Instagrammable Christmas, what if we just relaxed and focused on what really matters? Welcome to Season Two of the Calm Christmas podcast with bestselling self-help author Beth Kempton. This series is all about making the season special for less – less stress, less expense, less pressure… Episode 1 is on the theme of PREPARE and includes:A cosy introduction to The Calm Christmas PodcastPondering the question of what Christmas means to you – and to meSome beautiful wintery words from some of my favourite writers and poetsJournaling prompts for reflecting on your Christmas experiencesPlus our weekly nature corner, recipes, wellbeing ideas and tips for getting ahead for ChristmasI hope this podcast will help you locate Christmas as an anchor in the stormy seas of winter in this world right now. For more details of my book Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year go to bethkempton.com/christmas Take good care, Beth (@bethkempton on Instagram)Featured in this episode:·      Good Hours by Robert Frost, in A Mind of Winter edited by Robert Atwan·      We Can be Film Stars, Just for One Day by Sue Townsend in On Christmas: A seasonal anthology by Gyles Brandreth·      Of Calcutta, Christmas and New Year by Suhel Seth in On Christmas: A seasonal anthology by Gyles Brandreth ·      Introduction by Judith Flanders in Poems for Christmas·      Christmas: A biography by Judith Flanders ·      The Almanac: A seasonal guide to 2022  by Lia Leendertz ·      Royal Horticultural Society’s Gardening Through The Year by Ian Spence·      East Wind Melts the Ice by Liza Dalby ·      Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year by Beth Kempton  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit calmchristmas.substack.com

Welcome to Series 2 of the podcast! This quick intro tells you what goodness I have in store for you over the coming weeks, with new episodes every Wednesday throughout November and December. Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss any of them! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit calmchristmas.substack.com

Welcome to 2021! Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and breathe it in. The freshness of the new year, in all its potential and possibility.Episode 12 includes:Why new year's resolutions are a waste of time, and why it's time for a New Year's RevolutionThree gentle yet powerful principles for entering the new year in an intentional yet stress-free wayA special Christmas wish for youDownload the transcript hereThe books mentioned in this podcast were: Desiderata of Happiness by Max Ehrmann / Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year by Beth Kempton / Freedom Seeker: Live more. Worry less. Do what you love. by Beth Kempton This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit calmchristmas.substack.com

These are the days in between. The liminal space that hovers beyond the festivities and before the fresh New Year. I call this time 'The Hush' and this episode is all about savouring it.Episode 11 includes:Ideas for making the most of this time between Christmas and New YearA couple of reflection questions as we round out the yearSome inspiring poetry to carry us into the new yearThe books mentioned in this podcast were: The Everyday Alchemist’s Festive Season Reimagined by Pia Jane Bijkerk / Freedom: Medicine words for your brave revolution by Jaiya John / Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year by Beth Kempton / The Old Magic of Christmas by Linda RaedischGet a free 2021 digital planner with any purchase of Calm Christmas - all details HERE. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit calmchristmas.substack.com

We're here. It's Christmas Eve. The year is almost over and the magic of Christmas is still hovering. This short but atmospheric episode will help you connect to this very special moment in the year, and focus on what really matters.Episode 10 includes:Some beautiful words about Christmas including my favourite seasonal poem by Maya AngelouA few of my own memories of Christmas Eves past, and hopes for this oneA special Christmas wish for youDownload the transcript hereThe books mentioned in this podcast were: Christmas and Other Notes on the English Year by Laurie Lee / The Book of Christmas by Jane Struthers / Celebrations: Rituals of peace and prayer by Maya Angelou / Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year  by Beth Kempton This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit calmchristmas.substack.com

2020 has been challenging in so many ways, and many of us will experience heavy emotions this holiday season, at the culmination of the year. If you are looking towards the festive season with a sense of dread, knowing that it will be extra difficult this year, this episode is for you. I hope it is a friend at this time. Episode 9 includes:Comforting words for difficult timesSome inspiring ideas for taking care of yourself as you feel what you are feelingHonouring of the Winter SolsticeThis week’s ‘Get ahead tips’Download the transcript here.The books mentioned in this podcast were: Rhythms and Roads by Victoria Erickson / Secrets and Stars by Alex Klingenberg / The Peace of Wild Things by Wendell Berry / The Magical Year by Danu Forest / Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year by Beth KemptonOther resources mentioned:OptionB.org / Option B by Sheryl Sandberg / The Grief Podcast > This is called Griefcast, apologies for the error! / Mind.org.uk / Samaritans.org / Words Heal: Writing in times of crisis (online course) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit calmchristmas.substack.com

Do you love Christmas food but want to enjoy it without the stress this year? If so, tune into this week’s mouthwatering episode for tips on stress-free festive food preparation, snippets from some of my favourite cookbooks, and a couple of recipes I love to make at home.Episode 8 includes:Top tips for stress-free festive food preparationDelicious words from some wonderful festive cookbooksRecipes for chocolate peppermint sticks and spiced mulled cider or apple juiceThis week’s ‘Get ahead tips’The books mentioned in this podcast were:The Christmas Chronicles by Nigel Slater Elizabeth David's Christmas edited by Jill NormanNew York Christmas: Recipes and Stories by Lisa Nieschlag and Lars WentrupDelia Smith's Christmas by Delia SmithJamie's Christmas by Jamie OliverNigella's Christmas  by Nigella LawsonGizzi's Seasons Eatings by Gizzi ErskineSarah Raven's Complete Christmas: Food and Flowers by Sarah RavenWinter Cabin Cooking by Lizzie KamenetskyThe Borough Market Cookbook by Ed SmithIrish Country Women's Association Book of ChristmasBeeton's Book of Household Management by Isabella BeetonThe Wartime Christmas Cookbook by Megan RogersChocolates, Sweets and Candies by Sarah AinleyA Year by the Sea: Thoughts of an Unfinished Woman by Joan AndersonAlso, you can find chef Steven Lamb on Instagram @lambpostsThe transcript for this episode is here.For more details of my book Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year and some free goodies with purchase, go to bethkempton.com/ChristmasTake good care, Beth  (@bethkempton on Instagram) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit calmchristmas.substack.com

To gather or not to gather, that is the question this year. Gathering is a huge part of Christmas for many of us, but the impact of the pandemic means that without doubt this Christmas will be different. This episode is full of ideas for making it special, whoever you end up spending it with.Episode 7 includes:Tips for avoiding stress if you are gathering with others this yearTips for making Christmas special if you aren't gathering with others this yearA challenge to inspire connection with others this weekThe origins of the Christmas cardThis week’s ‘Get ahead tips’Download the transcript here.The readings in this episode were from Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year: A Little Book of Festive Joy and Wabi Sabi: Japanese wisdom for a perfectly imperfect life, both by Beth KemptonFor more details of my book Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year and some free goodies with purchase, go to bethkempton.com/ChristmasTake good care, Beth  (@bethkempton on Instagram) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit calmchristmas.substack.com

Had enough of the pressure, expense and waste of excess Christmas presents? Tune into this week's episode for tips on mindful gifting, and ideas for saving money and reducing wrapping waste this holiday season. Episode 6 includes:My three guideposts for mindful giftingA fun exercise to help you prioritise your gift spending this yearIdeas for gifts for children that are good for the wallet and the planetTop tips for saving money and reducing waste when wrapping giftsThis week’s ‘Get ahead tips’Download the transcript here.Also, here is a lovely example of furoshiki wrapping and here is Mari Kondo's versionFor more details of my book Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year and some free goodies with purchase, go to bethkempton.com/ChristmasTake good care, Beth  (@bethkempton on Instagram) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit calmchristmas.substack.com

Lose yourself in a flurry of wintery words from some of my favourite writers across food writing, nature writing, fiction, creativity, poetry and more. These are words to soothe the soul. There's also a special seasonal writing exercise for you, and we look into the tradition of the Christmas pudding.Episode 5 includes:The benefits of reading inspiring words, and writing your own, in the dark seasonSnippets of some wonderful writing from words that make you notice more to words that celebrate the human spiritA writing prompt for you to tryExploring the origins of the Christmas puddingThis week’s ‘Get ahead tips’Download the transcript here.Resources mentioned in this episode:The Almanac 2021 by Lia Leendertz A Year of Good Eating: The Kitchen Diaries III by Nigel SlaterJRR Tolkien’s Letters from Father Christmas edited by Baillie TolkienThe Complete Cold Mountain: Poems of the legendary hermit Hanshan, translated by Kazuaki Tanahashi and Peter LevittOne Day in December by Josie SilverThe Artist's Way by Julia CameronDrinking From the River of Light by Mark NepoDivine Beauty by John O’DonohueThe Light in the Dark by Horatio ClareThe Wild Remedy by Emma MitchellMaking Winter by Emma MitchellWild Embers by Nikita GillRhythms and Roads by Victoria EricksonFor more details of my book Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year and some free goodies with purchase, go to bethkempton.com/ChristmasTake good care, Beth  (@bethkempton on Instagram) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit calmchristmas.substack.com

Explore what a slow Christmas might look like, with top tips and some lovely creative ideas, and discover the origins of the Christmas tree!Episode 4 includes:The benefits of slowing down and simplifyingTop tips for a slow Christmas this yearSimple crafting and natural decoration ideasExploring the origins of the Christmas treeThis week’s ‘Get ahead tips’Resources mentioned in this episode: Inventing the Christmas Tree by Bernd Brunner / The Winter Writing Sanctuary/ Kokedama how-to video from the Royal Horticultural SocietyFor more details of my book Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year and some free goodies with purchase, go to bethkempton.com/ChristmasTake good care, Beth  (@bethkempton on Instagram) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit calmchristmas.substack.com

Take good care of yourself, and discover comfort and joy this winter. Episode 3 includes:Mindfulness in the darkest seasonLooking to other countries and cultures for ideas on staying warm in cold weatherFinding comfort and joy in winterThis week’s ‘Get ahead tips’Resources mentioned: Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year by Beth Kempton / bbc.co.uk / worldnomads.com / Gardening Through The Year by Ian Spence / The Book of Hygge by Louisa Thomsen Brits / The Winter Writing Sanctuary  / The Book of Joy by Archbishop Desmond Tutu & The Dalai Lama.For more details of my book Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year and some free goodies with purchase, go to bethkempton.com/ChristmasTake good care, Beth  (@bethkempton on Instagram) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit calmchristmas.substack.com

Be inspired to make magic and memories this holiday season. This episode is all about enjoying the glorious autumnal season we are still in, while making some early plans for Christmas.Episode 2 includes:Embracing the autumn while preparing for winter (including some fun activities to try in all weathers)Pondering how Christmas might be different this year, and how we can make the most of thatMemories of Christmases abroadThe one question you need to answer in order to create magic and memories this year This week’s ‘Get ahead tips’Resources mentioned: The Magical Year by Danu Forest / Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year by Beth Kempton / Christmas: A Biography by Judith Flanders / The Wild Weather Book by Fiona Danks & Jo Schofield / Silence by Erling Kagge / Morning by Allan JenkinsFor more details of my book Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year go to bethkempton.com/ChristmasTake good care, Beth  (@bethkempton on Instagram) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit calmchristmas.substack.com

Christmas can be a very special time, but it can also be a very stressful time. And given everything that has been going on, who knows what will unfold this holiday season? What if, for once, we just relaxed, and gave ourselves permission to focus on what really matters? Welcome to the brand new Calm Christmas podcast with bestselling self-help author Beth Kempton. “Just like my book of the same name, I hope the Calm Christmas podcast inspires connection, belonging, self- care, nourishment and joy, and a little bit of festive magic.” – Beth Episode 1 includes: A cosy introduction to The Calm Christmas PodcastAn important question for you to ponder (because asking it now could transform your experience of Christmas this year)This week’s ‘Get ahead tips’Details of some treats for you2020 has been a challenging year in so many ways, shaking up so much of what we thought we could rely on. But in a world where we never really know what is coming next Christmas is one of the few constants we can trust in. I hope this podcast will help you locate Christmas as an anchor in the stormy seas of winter in this world right now.Take good care,Beth (@bethkempton on Instagram) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit calmchristmas.substack.com