The Calm Christmas Podcast with Beth Kempton

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: 

·      With inspiration from: @SimpleThingsMag, Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Emily Thomas and James Weston Lewis, Lindsey Harrad @livemoreplantfully, Brenda Wells, Emily Silva @soulsadventures, Max Ehrmann

Handy links:

·      Sky View app

·      StarWalk 2 app

·      Thompson-Morgan gardening newsletter

·      My Book Proposal Masterclasscourse (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 UKthroughout January

This week’s giveaway

·      Chance to win a lovely journal and a personalized signed copy of my book Calm Christmas and a Happy New Yearover on @bethkempton on Instagram

Click herefor all show notes including featured books.

Wishing you a very happy new year, friend.
Beth Xx

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:

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 Yearover on @bethkempton on Instagram  

Ingredients for Gill Meller's Homity Potatoes recipe:

(Serves 4 or more) You will need:

8 baking potatoes

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

15g (5 ½ oz) butter

2 leeks, sliced into rounds

2 onions, halved and sliced

1 tablespoon wholegrain mustard

100g (3 ½ oz) mature cheddar, finely grated

Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Featured in this episode:

·      Calm Christmas and a Happy New Yearby 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 McAlary

Enjoy!
Beth Xx

You can find all the show notes here: https://bethkempton.com/ccpodcast-shownotes/ 

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: 

With 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:

Ingredients for Roasted Nuts recipe shared in this episode:

Featured in this episode:

You can find all the show notes here: https://bethkempton.com/ccpodcast-shownotes/ 

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: 

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’Donohue

Leave a note remembering your loved one on the self-care giveaway post on my Instagram @bethkempton here. https://instagram.com/bethkempton

You can find all the show notes including to all featured bookshere.

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 Yearover on @bethkempton on Instagram

Beth Xx

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 @housebeautiful

Handy 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 here

This week’s giveaway

·      Chance to win a copy of Winter Wellnessby Rachel de Thample and a personalized signed copy of my book Calm Christmas and a Happy New Yearover on @bethkempton on Instagram 

Full shownotes here.
Beth Xx

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:

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

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:

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:

·      Coldby 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 landscapeby Lucy Hunter (Ryland Peters Small) p.197

·      The Everyday Alchemist’s Festive Season Reimaginedby Pia Jane Bijkerk (self-published) p.32

·      The Art of Mindful Gardening: Sowing the Seeds of Meditationby Ark Redwood (Leaping Hare Press) p.113

·      Moon Yoga by Lisa Hood (Godsfield) p.63

·      Winter Cabin Cookingby 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

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:

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 Sanctuary10-day FREE online writing class 

Beth Xx

PS 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:

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.

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 joyby Beth Kempton (Piatkus)p.15 / US edition here (Scribner)  

·      Research about the health benefits of bananas here

Ingredients for recipes shared can be found here.

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)

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 Gardensby 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) 

-  Adventby 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.

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 Xx

PS Don’t miss my free poetry challenge #tinywinterpoem coming to my Instagram feed @bethkempton in January!

Featured in this episode: 

Download a FREE copy of my Perfectly Imperfect 2022 Digital Planner here and start visualising what might be next for you.  

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 Xx

Ingredients for featured recipes:

(1)   For the birds

(2) For you

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:

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 removed

You can buy dashi stock from Japanese supermarkets and stores such as japancentre.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:

Ingredients for the featured recipe (Rocky Road)

Makes six

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:

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 soup

Serves 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

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:

Ingredients list for featured recipe (Serves 1)

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.

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 Xx

Featured 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 

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 Christmaspodcast 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:

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

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 anthologyby Gyles Brandreth

·      Of Calcutta, Christmas and New Year by Suhel Seth in On Christmas: A seasonal anthology by Gyles Brandreth 

·      Introduction by Judith Flanders inPoems for Christmas

·      Christmas: A biographyby Judith Flanders 

·      The Almanac: A seasonal guide to 2022  by Lia Leendertz 

·      Royal Horticultural Society’sGardening Through The Year by Ian Spence

·      East Wind Melts the Ice by Liza Dalby 

·      Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year by Beth Kempton 

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!

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:

Download the transcript here

The 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

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:

The 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 Raedisch

Get a free 2021 digital planner with any purchase of Calm Christmas - all details HERE.

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:

Download the transcript here

The 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

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:

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 Kempton

Other 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)

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:

The books mentioned in this podcast were:
The Christmas Chronicles by Nigel Slater
Elizabeth David's Christmas edited by Jill Norman
New York Christmas: Recipes and Stories by Lisa Nieschlag and Lars Wentrup
Delia Smith's Christmas by Delia Smith
Jamie's Christmas by Jamie Oliver
Nigella's Christmas  by Nigella Lawson
Gizzi's Seasons Eatings by Gizzi Erskine
Sarah Raven's Complete Christmas: Food and Flowersby Sarah Raven
Winter Cabin Cooking by Lizzie Kamenetsky
The Borough Market Cookbook by Ed Smith
Irish Country Women's Association Book of Christmas
Beeton's Book of Household Managementby Isabella Beeton
The Wartime Christmas Cookbookby Megan Rogers
Chocolates, Sweets and Candies by Sarah Ainley
A Year by the Sea: Thoughts of an Unfinished Woman by Joan Anderson

Also, you can find chef Steven Lamb on Instagram @lambposts

The 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/Christmas

Take good care,
 Beth 
 (@bethkempton on Instagram)

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:

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 Kempton

For more details of my book Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year and some free goodies with purchase, go to bethkempton.com/Christmas

Take good care,
 Beth 
 (@bethkempton on Instagram)

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:

Download the transcript here.

Also, here is a lovely example of furoshiki wrapping and here is Mari Kondo's version

For more details of my book Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year and some free goodies with purchase, go to bethkempton.com/Christmas

Take good care,
 Beth 
 (@bethkempton on Instagram)

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:

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 Slater
JRR Tolkien’s Letters from Father Christmas edited by Baillie Tolkien
The Complete Cold Mountain: Poems of the legendary hermit Hanshan, translated by Kazuaki Tanahashi and Peter Levitt
One Day in December by Josie Silver
The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron
Drinking From the River of Light by Mark Nepo
Divine Beauty by John O’Donohue
The Light in the Dark by Horatio Clare
The Wild Remedy by Emma Mitchell
Making Winter by Emma Mitchell
Wild Embers by Nikita Gill
Rhythms and Roads by Victoria Erickson

For more details of my book Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year and some free goodies with purchase, go to bethkempton.com/Christmas

Take good care,
 Beth 
 (@bethkempton on Instagram)

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:

Resources mentioned in this episode: Inventing the Christmas Tree by Bernd Brunner / The Winter Writing Sanctuary/ Kokedama how-to video from the Royal Horticultural Society

For more details of my book Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year and some free goodies with purchase, go to bethkempton.com/Christmas

Take good care,
 Beth 
 (@bethkempton on Instagram)

Take good care of yourself, and discover comfort and joy this winter. 

Episode 3 includes:

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/Christmas

Take good care,
 Beth 
 (@bethkempton on Instagram)

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 Christmaspodcast 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:

2020 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)

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:

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 / Morningby Allan Jenkins

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)