Tag: 4

Christmas Playlists 2025 on the Torg Stories Podcast

Spotify Christmas Playlist Waitresses Wham Ed Sheeran Elton John The Pogues NSYNC Drummer Boy Bieber Band Aid Ramones Paul McCartney

Welcome to the Torg Stories Podcast! On this episode, Anne and I each selected eight holiday Christmas songs to share. We’re going to play you a little sample, share some of what we like, know or learned about the song, and then play a bit more before moving on to the next song. Anne, I really enjoyed putting this list together. What was your process? What was it like to put this list together?

Christmas Playlists Discussion Above and Spotify Playlist Below

Before we get going sharing our lists, are you listening to much Christmas music?

  1. For Watauga HS women’s basketball practices, we play it leading up to practice and through our initial skill work.
  2. To and from driving back and forth to Boone.
  3. Lifting weights.
  4. Megan plays it a lot in the kitchen when she’s cooking and cleaning. She plays it while decorating the house and wrapping presents.

Bill and Anne’s Combined Spotify Christmas Playlists 

  1. Christmas Wrapping by The Waitresses 
  • Why? Tells a story about the start of a couple who see each other Christmas eve at the grocery store. 
  • Lyric: When what to my wondering eyes should appear, In the line is that guy I’ve been chasing all year. ‘Spending this one alone, ‘ he said. ‘Need a break, this year’s been crazy’. I said ‘Me too, but why are you. You mean you forgot cranberries too?’
  • Artist: Waitresses were a new wave post punk band from Akron, OH. Also sang “I know what Boys Like.” 
  • This song came out in 1981. 
  1. “Last Christmas” by Wham (Anne #1) 
  1. Fairytale of New York by The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl
  • Lyric: They’ve got cars big as bars, they’ve got rivers of gold. But the wind goes right through you, it’s no place for the old.
  • The song is an Irish folk-style ballad and was written as a duet, with the Pogues’ singer MacGowan taking the role of the male character and MacColl playing the female character. It was originally released as a single on November 23, 1987. 
  • In the UK, “Fairytale of New York” is the most-played Christmas song of the 21st century.
  • The Pogues are an English Celtic punk band founded in King’s Cross, London, in 1982, by Shane MacGowan, Spider Stacy and Jem Finer. Originally named Pogue Mahone—an anglicisation of the Irish phrase póg mo thóin, meaning “kiss my arse”—the band fused Irish traditional music with punk rock influences.
  • Kirsty MacColl was killed in Cozemuel when she was diving and pushed her son out of the way of an oncoming speedboat. 
  1.  “That Was the Worst Christmas Ever” by Sufjan Stevens (Anne # 2) 
  1. Merry Christmas by Ed Sheeran and Elton John 
  • Lyric: So just keep kissing me under the mistletoe. Pour out the wine, let’s toast and pray for December snow. I know there’s been pain this year, but it’s time to let it go. Next year, you never know. But for now, Merry Christmas
  • Sheeran revealed that John asked him to do a song with him the previous year after the success of “Step into Christmas”. He also recalled writing the chorus of the song the same day he was asked by John.
  • Sheeran a 34 year old from Halifax, West Yorkshire, England. 
  • Elton John, born Reginald Kenneth Dwight, in Pinner, England is 78. 
  1.  “Christmas Time is Here” by Vince Guaraldi Trio (Anne #3) 
  1. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays NSYNCH 
  • Lyric: (not a lyrically driven song – We’ve been waiting All year for this night And the snow is glistening on the trees outside. 
  • NSYNCH included Gary Coleman as an elf in the video, which Martin described as “a little tricky” to secure on board.[2] The classic sitcom Diff’rent Strokes is referenced when NSYNC ask “Whatchu talkin’ about, Gary?”, based on Coleman’s catchphrase; “Whatchu talkin’ about, Willis?”
  • NSYNCH, which had Justin Timberlake as a members, has a website where you can buy Home For Christmas merch including snow sweatpants, 25th anniversary stocking, and a t shirt. Click here. 
  • Timberlake from Memphis, TN.
  1. “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) by Darlene Love (Anne #4) 
  1. Drummer Boy by Justin Bieber and Busta Rhymes 
  • Lyric: Yo, at the table with the family, havin’ dinner. BlackBerry on our hip and then it gave a little flicker. Then I took a look to see before it activates the ringer. Came to realize my homie Bieber hit me on the Twitter
  • “Drummer Boy” was met with polarization and mystification from reviewers upon its release; critics called it a “a goofy modernized spin”, “confusing”, weird, and “as awkward as it sounds, but at least it’s different.”
  1. “Do They Know it’s Christmas” by Band Aid (Anne #5) 
  1. Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want to Fight Tonight) by The Ramones 
  • Lyric: Where is Santa? At his sleigh? Tell me why is it always this way? Where is Rudolph? Where is Blitzen, baby? Merry Christmas, merry merry merry Christmas
  • The Ramones[a] were an American punk rock band formed in the New York City neighborhood Forest Hills, Queens in 1974.
  • All members adopted pseudonyms ending with the surname Ramone, although none were biologically related; they were inspired by Paul McCartney, who would check into hotels under the alias Paul Ramon.
  1. “Wonderful CHristmas Time” by Paul McCartney (Anne #6)  
  1. “I Wish It Was Christmas Today,” the SNL version as performed by Tracey Morgan, Jimmy Fallon, Horatio Sands, and Chris Kattan 
  • I used to think this was written by Cheap Trick but they just covered it after Horatio Sands wrote it for SNL. 
  • Fallon said, “I’ve always had a keyboard from the ’80s in the office and had some pre-recorded drum beats and loops that you can play with different chords. So we were pretending ‘What if we were writing a really, a great pop song but dumb lyrics and that’s what we ended up doing. It was just a keyboard and that little guitar, and he (Horatio Sands) wrote all the lyrics.”
  • Click here for article in American Songwriter about the song. 
  1. “Happy Xmas (War is Over)” by PLastic Ono Band / John Lennon & Yoko Ono (Anne #7)  
  1. Father Christmas by The Kinks
  • The Kinks were an English rock band formed in London in 1962 by brothers Ray and Dave Davies, and Pete Quaife.
  • Guitarist Dave Davies commented on the song, “I love the humor of it, and the aggression and bitterness. I could see the faces of my parents when Christmas came around. They had to struggle to make ends meet. We kind of got what we needed, but there was something fake about the holiday.” In live performances, singer Ray Davies would dress up in full Father Christmas attire.
  • Father Christmas, give us some money. Don’t mess around with those silly toys. We’ll beat you up if you don’t hand it over. We want your bread so don’t make us annoyed. Give all the toys to the little rich boys
  1. “Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer” by Elmo and Patsy (Anne #8) 
  • Bill recommend’s the Reel Big Fish version. 

Honorable Mention: 

  • Hallelujah – Leonard Cohen, Muntra Musikanter 
  • Christmas in Hollis by Run-DMC
  • “Holiday Road” the Zac Brown Band version 

Discussion at the end:

  1. Did I bring any new songs to you?
  2. What is your favorite of the ones I shared?
  3. Listeners, what would you have on your list?

Thanks for checking out this episode of our Spotify Christmas Playlists!

Ted Lasso Final Episode, Season 3 Finale Podcast: So Long, Farewell

It’s the Ted Lasso Final Episode from Season 3 on the Torg Stories Podcast.

click above for audio / video podcast below

Generally, what am I looking for in a final episode or the end of a story?

  1. Questions were probably raised in my mind. I’d like to see them answered.
  2. Answering questions is related to resonance. I expect echoes or reflections of the start of the story.
  3. In first person writing, I offer students up the option to come to realizations and new understandings. To look back and to look ahead.
  4. Ending with meaningful images can be a part of that. Ted and Rebecca sitting in the empty stadium bleachers. Ending with Ted’s eyes as he stands on the pitch coaching his son.
  5. There’s pressure to take me on one last good ride and make me laugh, think, and/or cry. How will they leave it? Will there be any surprises?
  6. Looking for a statement about the themes and topics of the story.
  7. Hope to be moved intellectually or emotionally.
  8. Questions for Anne: what’s your history with final episodes? I can remember Seinfeld and Sopranos. I don’t know if I remember any others.

Going into the last episode of Ted Lasso, which I thought would be the last episode ever, what was I thinking about?

  1. I wondered what Coach Lasso would do. Would he go home? Would he end up with someone such as Rebecca or Sassy?
  2. Would Roy or Jamie end up with Keeley? I tended to think Jamie was a better fit for Keeley.
  3. How would the team do?

Let’s go through this final episode and then let’s check on how we think the episode did based on what we’ve laid out:

  1. We get the Soccer Saturday show which has worked well to summarize what’s going on. Richmond can win the league. Rupert has been accused of an inappropriate relationship. Something we’ve been seeing since the first episode is coming home to roost for Rupert.
  2. I think we get some misdirection in the opening scene. Rebecca is in the kitchen. Ted comes walking out into Rebecca’s kitchen. Ted, do you want to talk about it? Then we get Beard in a thong. How did you like that Anne?
  3. Trent has finished his book. The Lasso Way. Beard severe critic.
  4. Higgins, Keeley, and Higgins. Bring up Rupert is getting divorced. Guaranteed spot in the Champions League. Rebecca asks about selling the whole team. 2 billion. EMO: Rebecca selling whole club. New issue introduced I hadn’t considered.
  5. Team does a song and dance from the Sound of Music. So long, farewell. Goodbye.
  6. Jamie invites Keeley to go with him to Brazil for a Nike photoshoot. Roy invites Jamie for a beer. We’re getting something I wondered about. Where will these relationships go?
  7. Rebecca in the pub with her mom. Tish is the psychic. The fans bought Rebecca dinner. Really good joke by Mae about lying awake at night thinking about how easy they’ve had it.
  8. Ted sits in the bleachers alone. Rebecca shows up to talk about him leaving. Ted says very little during this talk. Rebecca makes an argument for him to stay. She says if he goes, she goes and will sell the team.
  9. Jamie and Roy show up at Keeley’s. They tell her to choose.
  10. Ted goes in to see Nate who is looking at the empty spot on the wall where the Believe sign used to be. Nate breaks down and tells Ted he is sorry. Ted says when he looks up there, he still sees it.
  11. In the office before the final match, they go over the leagues and advancing and being relegated. Roy asks to be a Diamond Dog. They mention the perfect film the Shawshank Redemption, which you have never seen, right?
  12. Higgins: The best we can do is keep asking for help and accepting it when we can. If you keep doing that, you will always be moving toward better.
  13. They show the team a montage of highlights. The whole team stands on the pitch crying.
  14. Dr. Sharon is watching. Dr. Jake really missing the mood: well, something happened.
  15. Halftime 0-2: Let you gentlemen know what an honor is has been to be your coach. Loved getting to know you. Front row seat to the men you have become. I’m gonna miss you all. Sports would be a lot less fun if you know what was going to happen. Goes to point at the wall… The sign isn’t there. Peace of mind knowing we did our best. Sam gets up and puts a piece of the sign in the middle. Jamie’s is in a book. Issac’s under his captain band. WHEN A TEAM DOES SOMETHING ON THEIR OWN. There it is. #4: Believe. There ain’t a whole lot of pleaces like AFC Richmond too.
  16. Wow: on a 16 game winning streak. Tartt scores at 51 minutes. Jamie tells Dani to take it. He gives it to Isaac. He kicked it through the net. Net gets replaced.
  17. Rupert strides onto the pitch. Crowd chants Wanker at Rupert. He loved the team.
  18. Ted learned what offsides was!
  19. Issac takes a penalty and kicks the ball through the net. I looked this up and it has happened before.
  20. They run the play where Tartt is a decoy. BBQ Sauce. Sam scores. Nate, you used my play! Collin gets to kiss his fella. Ted dances and does the running man which we got in the opening episode of season 1. Rebecca decided selling 49% of team to fans. Richmond came in second. Wicked – Kinky Boots.
  21. Rebecca says she wants to stay with her family.
  22. On the flight: To beard. Is this nuts? Beard is in love with Jane. You’re just following your heart. Whatever is about to happen, that’s a great start. I love you Willis. Beard gets off.
  23. A little girl comes running up to Rebecca at the airport. Rebecca meets the little girl. Her dad is the Amsterdam guy.
  24. Ted gets the snow globe.
  25. Trent’s book. Change the title.
  26. Roy is the manager.
  27. Nate is with Jade.
  28. Sam makes his national team.
  29. Picnic at Higgins house. Life goes on without Coach Ted Lasso.
  30. Mae and the bar fans buy some of the team.
  31. The Richmond Way becomes the name of the book.
  32. Roy goes into therapy.
  33. Ripped sign put back up.
  34. Beard’s wedding at Stonehenge.
  35. Roy lands in KC. Mercedes car home. Ted brings his luggage in the house.
  36. Coaching his kid. Be a goldfish. “Fight Test” playing.
  37. Cat Stevens, Father and Son.

Overall Observations / Questions:

  1. Rebecca and Ted are first bound by the pain of their divorces. Makes me think of friends I’ve had. And also the friends of going through something together.
  2. Between Ted’s take off from London and arrival at his home in Kansas City, is a montage that shows Roy getting introduced as manager of Richmond and Beard getting married. Ted is not at Beard’s wedding.
  3. The man from Amsterdam has unintentionally ended up with the owner of a Premiere League Team.

Where did the character start? How did they finish?

  1. Coach Ted Lasso: from full of pain from divorce, not dealing with his father’s death and marriage to heading home more mentally healthy and perhaps to reconcile his marriage.
  2. Rebecca: from trying to ruin Richmond to get back at her ex husband Rupert to thinking of the team and its fans as her family. She might end up with her own family too.
  3. Roy Kent
  4. Jamie Tartt
  5. Keeley Jones
  6. Nathan Shelley – unconfident self loathing ambition to peaceful acceptance of being a part of a team
  7. Sam Obisanya – from getting picked on by Jamie to being a leader of the team.
  8. Colin – from being closeted gay to, in the words of the show, getting to his his fella on the pitch.
  9. Rupert – a rich and powerful philanderer who owns two teams who experiences complete destruction and is ridiculed off the pitch of a team and fanbase he used to love.

Thanks for checking out this episode of the Torg Stories Podcast!

The Outer Banks, Duck Doughnuts, and Ted Lasso Season 3, Episode 9

Hi Everyone! Anne and I are recording this episode on the top floor of the Torg Family Vacation Rental in Duck North Carolina, a town in the Outer Banks. On this episode we’re going to use our powers of description to talk about the Outer Banks, a local favorite that made it big Duck Doughnuts, the talk that athletes should keep their mouths shut about politics, and more from Ted Lasso Season 3, Episode 9.

We’re in Duck, NC. The first Duck Doughnuts opened in 2007. Take a guess as to how many there are now? 126. Click here to read more about Duck Doughnuts.

My Duck Doughnuts rankings for the six I tried:

  1. Peanut Butter: like it comes off a fancy dessert menu. Peanut butter cookie dough or right out of the oven.
  2. Chocolate Explosion: dominant dark chocolate.
  3. Bacon- just like when my syrup, bacon, and pancake all run together. A little weird coming from a doughnut.
  4. French Toast.
  5. Straight Glaze.
  6. Coconut.
beach near Corolla, NC

Let’s talk about some of the other beaches we have been to as a way of getting into the beaches we’re seeing at the Outer Banks. My list:

  1. Cape Cod. Quite a bit of variety. Provincetown. Mayflower Beach near Dennis, MA. Chatham.
  2. Lots of variety on Maui too.
  3. Myrtle Beach. Folly Beach. Wrightsville Beach.
Cape Hatteras Lighthouse (tallest brick lighthouse in country)

Season 3, Episode 7 titled “The Strings that Bind Us”

  • This episode starts with all of the businesses in Richmond coming to life. Then we get short shots of all of the characters starting their day. Wonder why this was something we were given steadily throughout the episode?
  • Nate looking in the shop where Jade works.
  • Jack and Keeley. Sense and Sensibility first edition. People come on strong to Keeley.
  • Sam at his restaurant. Sam’s restaurant booked months in advance. He asked for a special table. The chef seems to be a great leader / coach. Sam’s father is coming from Nigeria. They were talking crap about Prime Minister, immigration stuff. Huge topic today.
  • Coaching staff introduces Total Football from the Netherlands.
  • Beard gives a good presentation. He worked in a funny line about Jamie. Reminds me of what I heard about Phil Jackson and Tex Winter. Might be where the idea to do a presentation like this came from.
  • LOL: Beard lists a line of greats including Gaga and Pinter.
  • Roy: you turn those frowns upside down because we’re f’ing doing it. Coach Ted: hush your butts.
  • Barbara takes some jabs at Keeley for dating Jack. She is a pretty funny character.
  • Ted and Beard continue to tap glasses and then tap the table. Maybe this: a sign of respect, a way to acknowledge the bartender, or a form of “cheers” to the group. It can also be a way to settle the drink, like beer, and make it easier to finish quickly. 
  • Ted invites the three bar guys to come to training.
  • Roy still yelling whistle. They commit to the little gags!
  • Jack says they are two consenting adults and she is get away with murder rich. Jack anounces to the office they are dating.
  • Lots of throwing up. Jamie’s not tired.
  • Rebecca tells Keeley about what happened meeting the boat guy. Rebecca introduces the phrase “love bombing.” Keeley says maybe we’re “love blind.” It’s an emotional version of color blindness where a person interprets red flags as giant green go flags. Jack gets the meal.
  • Nate’s sister’s birthday party. How do you tell if a girl likes you or is just being nice to you? Show him the map. So much pressure on one date.
  • Sam tweets a political statement.
  • Nate goes to ask her out. EMO moment! He doesn’t spit. He rushes out.
  • Total football: What does this situation need right now? Changing places. Dani and Issac pretty good switches. Jamie doesn’t switch with anyone.
  • The friend fans switch positions. The one guy says Paul has unwavering positivity.
  • Sam gets the “shut up and dribble.”
  • LOL: It’s like taking a hike with Robert Frost. It could go either way.
  • Keeley an office full of daisies. Ted connects them all with red string.
  • The crowd is starting to grow in the stands.
  • LOL: Will picks up the string with a tool.
  • Sam calls the political person a bigot.
  • Nate makes a box for Jade to ask her out. (is he doing his job now?) Jade waves at Nate. He trips and his box gets run over. He asks her out anyway.
  • Sam’s business is trashed.
  • Trent is writing his notes and he wonders what #4 is to play total football? #4 has not revealed itself yet. Ted says, “Sometimes you gotta leave space to let God walk into the room.”
  • EMO: Sam is going off to the team about his restaurant. And his dad calls out his name, “Samuel.” Sam’s dad: Anger will only weaken you. If you want to make them angry, forgive them. Big Whoop, says dad. Don’t fight back. Fight forward.
  • Richmond at Arsenal. Hornby’s team. Fever Pitch. 3-nil lead for Arsenal.
  • Halftime speech. Roy says he hates what Ted has done to him. He says the ZZ Top Cover Band would have been called Sharp Dressed Men. Blue Collar Comedy Tour. Says he has a Foxworthy. Makes the guys laugh. The right idea is just sitting behind a couple of wrong ones. Jamie tells them how to play.
  • Immediate goal for Richmond. Tartt in the role of conductor. The Lasso Way. total Football. Crimm says it’s going to work.
  • Nate waits for Jade. Jack knows the term love bomber. Sam and his dad go to the restaurant. Dad seems to know about Rebecca.
  • The team asked themselves what does this situation need and they are cleaning up the restaurant. Sam’s dad didn’t know the place was named after him?
  • Do we learn Simi and Sam are a couple? Ends with Sam and his dad cooking dinner.

I Took My Daughter to College Podcast

Welcome to the Torg Stories Podcast. On this episode, I’m going to talk through processing what it means to drop my daughter off at college. We’ll also update you all on how Dad is doing.

Click on audio player above to listen to the episode.

We got lots of feedback on the last episode: offers to help, people who have worked in healthcare, and then an outpouring from people who either worked with dad, had dad in class, or played for him.

Thanks for checking out the podcast!