🎅🏽 Professional Santas | Part 1: Jolly Old St. Nicholas

The origins of the professional Santa. Email us with your favorite part of this episode or what it made you think about! TELL A FRIEND ABOUT US! Is there someone who should know about this project? Tell them. Seriously, just text them. Now! Find us on Instagram, or join our email list. Find pictures from Leslie’s time with Santas here. EPISODE NOTES: This first episode in the Professional Santa miniseries is about history: where Santa came from with historian Stephanie Fulbright, and when the culture of PORTRAYING him started with Santa Phil. We cover the viral poem that made him famous, the Macy’s Thanksgiving parade, and the Mount Rushmore of Professional Santas while hearing from actual Santa Portrayal Artists and Santa historians. SANTAS FEATURED IN THIS EPISODE: Jerusalem Santa Santa Shed Santa George Santa Ben Santa Phil Santa True ABOUT NICHE TO MEET YOU: Niche to Meet You is an investigative storytelling podcast about the little-known niche interests. Our work has been featured on Nashville Public Radio, has been seen by millions through a recent viral instagram reel, and has been featured in the likes of The Guardian and the 1440 newsletters. It's like if Mr. Rogers Neighborhood and Revisionist History teamed up for a Netflix special. We use miniseries and individual interviews to introduce listeners to folks involved with Warhammer 40,000, Rubik’s cube enthusiasts and competitors, armored combat champions, wild turkey conservationists, and more. LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SHOW HERE. SHOW CREDITS: Creator/Reporter/host: Leslie Thompson (IG: @leslieeilerthompson) Associate script producer: Chris Thiessen Mastering by Kevin Morris Show theme composed by Abigail Flowers with this holiday arrangement by Mike Hicks Show artwork created by Rachel Hardacre Additional music by Blue Dot Sessions and Jon McLaughlin Mentioned in this episode: DONATE TO THE SHOW Find more information on donating (tax-deductibly!) at https://wedgwoodcircle.givingfuel.com/niche-to-meet-you