Visiting Mumsie
My mom, Laurie, joins me this week to discuss some of our favorite things: sports, music, movies and food!

Go, Apolo!
We talk about Apolo Anton Ohno's recent over-all victory at the U.S. National Short Track Speedskating Championship and the upcoming short track World Cup to be held in Salt Lake City in February at the Utah Olympic Oval. To learn more about Apolo's victory and the World Cup, visit The Ohno Zone.

A Wonderful Gift
We recap the success of Josh Groban's "Noel." As a "thank you" gift to his fans for the support, Josh is making a live version of his cover of Paul Simon's "America" available for download at JoshGroban.com until the end of the year. Get it while you can!

Paolo Nutini Opens for Led Zeppelin
We talk about Paolo Nutini opening for Led Zeppelin at their reunion show. Read this article for more info about the show and a bit about Paolo's new album: "Paolo Nutini: Backing Zeppelin was Amazing."

New Albums in the Works
Three of our favorites, the Goo Goo Dolls, Amos Lee and Paolo Nutini, are in the process -- or soon will be in the process -- of creating new albums, which we're greatly looking forward to hearing!

Movies & Music
We mention three movies we've seen and enjoyed recently: "P.S. I love You," "Bee Movie" and "August Rush." Both "P.S. I Love You" and "August Rush" have fantastic soundtracks; the former includes "Rewind," by Paolo Nutini and "Same Mistake," by James Blunt, along with many more songs by other great artists.

Christmas, Texas-style
Living in South Texas offers us the opportunity to barbeque year 'round, we explain, as we talk about our Christmas festivities, which included good company, good music and lots of yummy food. Laurie provided the potato salad and charro beans; Joanna baked the chocolate chip cookies, using the famous Neiman Marcus recipe; and Michael grilled the jalapeno poppers.

More Randomness
We also talk about Ingrid Michaelson's music and some of Joanna's favorite podcasts (Links to those can be found on the sidebar), as well as other random subjects.

Music Credits
"Prince Charming," by Jim's Big Ego

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Labels: amos lee, apolo anton ohno, Goo Goo Dolls, Ingrid Michaelson, James Blunt, josh groban, paolo nutini, recipes

(Note: Please excuse the wonky sound quality at the beginning of the show. Technical difficulties have struck again.)

Yay for W00t!
Meriam-Webster's Word of the Year for 2007 is "w00t," I report.

Give a Little Bit
I mention four worthy causes to consider when giving charitable donations: Treats for Troops, Cell Phones for Soldiers, Heifer International and Oxfam Unwrapped.

Three charities I failed to mention, but which could greatly benefit from support: The Hunger Site, Free Rice and The iVillage Forest.

Santa's Little Helper
I talk about attending "The Santaland Diaries," a play based upon an essay written by David Sedaris, who first rose to prominence after a 1992 reading of the essay on NPR's "Morning Edition." His original reading of the essay can be heard here. (Read more about it at my personal blog, eclectica.)

Hear That? It's the Sound of Records Breaking!
I'm happy to say that Josh Groban's "Noel" has held the #1 position on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart for four consecutive weeks, breaking a record previously held by Elvis Presley's 1957 "Elvis' Christmas Album." At this point, "Noel" is the besst-selling album of 2007 in the U.S. Congratulations to Josh!

Live performances of songs from "Noel":
"O, Come All Ye Faithful"
"It Came Upon a Midnight Clear" - Includes short interview
"I'll Be Home for Christmas" - Includes short interview (and Josh's "Chipmunks" impression!)
"The Christmas Song" - Includes short interview

Music Credits
"County Road Christmastime," by Craig Cardiff
"A Pirate Christmas," by Tom Smith

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Labels: josh groban

Feliz Navidad!
This week I present the second annual Random Fandom Christmas audio card. I've filled it with lots of music, poetry and stories for your listening pleasure. I hope your holiday season is filled with friends, family, good music and lots of yummy food!

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays,
Joanna

The Greatest Gift
Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, "The greatest gift is a portion of thyself," with which I absolutely agree; and so it's with much appreciation and gratitude that I thank:
My dad, David, for reading "The Night Before Christmas," by Clement Clark Moore
My brother, Michael, for reading "Ring Out, Wild Bells," by Alfred, Lord Tennyson
My mom, Laurie, for reading "Gift of the Magi," by O. Henry
My brother, Ben, for reading the introduction to "Is There a Santa Claus?" from "The New York Sun"
and Anthony, for reading the editorial response from "Is There a Santa Claus?" and for the awesome version of "We Wish You A Merry Christmas"

You are all amazing! Thank you!

The poem I quoted is "Mistletoe," by Walter de la Mare.

Music Credits
*"Lulee's Dance/Joy to the World/We Wish You a Merry Christmas," by Tommy Harden
"Writing to Santa," by Dropkick
*"Caroling, Caroling Medley," by Tennessee Ernie Ford
*"Jingle Bells," by Carlos Slivskin / Sabrina Gasparetto
"Santa Will Find You," by Mindy Smith
*"O, Holy Night," by Chris Goddard
"What Child is This?" by Allison Crowe
*"God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen Medley," by Tennessee Ernie Ford
*"Wood of the Cradle," by Francis Patrick O'Brien 
*"Tomorrows," by Michael Allen Harrison
"Santa Claus is Freaking Me Out," by Lord Weatherby
*"Bring a Torch, Jeanette Isabella," by Tommy Harden
*"Christmas in London," by Krista Detor
*"Kimer I Klokker," by Helene Blum
"Midnight Clear," by Jimmie Bratcher
*"Little Drummer Boy," by Simon Bernard-Smith
"Strings and Ribbons," by The Details

*via IODA PromoNet

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Fun With Palindromes
Being the word nerd that I am, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to play with palindromes in the title of this show.

New Music: Alicia Keys, Brett Dennen & Sarah McLachlan
I give my first impressions of three albums I recently added to my music collection, "As I Am," by Alicia Keys; "So Much More," by Brett Dennen; and "Wintersong," by Sarah McLachlan. I also mention Cat Jahnke's new Christmas album, "O, Night Divine" and the fact that a couple songs from the album can be heard at her MySpace page.

Santa's Got a Gun
I recommend the Killers' new song, "Don't Shoot Me, Santa," to everyone who is tired of the same old Christmas songs and carols.

"Narnia" Comes to Life Once Again
The release of the trailer for "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian" has prompted me to begin to reread the book upon which the movie is based.

Tiger + Boy + Lifeboat = "Life of Pi"
I give a few thoughts about "Life of Pi," a book I just finished reading.

Music Credits
"Sonnets," by Fishing for Comets
"Everybody Lovees Christmas," by Patricia Bourne (via IODA PromoNet)

Contact Me
Email: joannaATrandomfandompodcast.com (Replace AT with @)

Subscribe to Random Fandom
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Labels: Alicia Keys, books, Brett Dennen, C. S. Lewis, Cat Jahnke, Narnia, Sarah Mclachlan, The Killers