221. Top 5 Christmas Movies

We all made it to the end of 2025! This podcast did a lot to keep me sane this year. Chatting with Emily about these movies has meant a lot, and the fact that many of you stuck around for our hiatus...I can't say what it means to us. As we prep for the new year we're doing an old standard: a top 5 on our favorite Christmas movies. We share the ones that make us think of the holiday season, and one pick from Emily shocks Kristen! We also read several of your favorites that you submitted. We wish you all a safe and happy holiday and New Year! We'll be back on January 21st with all new episodes and ready to have the best 2026 ever. See you then. Be sure to follow us via social media at @ticklish_biz on X and @ticklishbiz everywhere else. Also like and subscribe to us on all podcast apps and, if you love us, leave us a review. Find Kristen and Emily's books wherever you buy books. Kristen's latest, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Popcorn Disabilities⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, is available to pre-order now before it releases on November 13th!     •    Love T shirts, pins, and other merch? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The merch shop is live⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!      •    ICMYI, the best way to support Ticklish Biz is to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠become a Patron⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠:     •    ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Emily's Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠    •    ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Kristen's Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ This episode was created thanks to our Patrons: Ali Moore Danny David Floyd Gates mcf Shawn Goodreau Richard Silver A Button Called Smalls Chris McKay Jacob Haller Peter Blitstein Debbie Lynne Peter Bryant Reyna Moya-James Linda Lindley Erin Bridget M. Hester Cat Cooper Daniel Tafoya David Baxter Diana Madden Harry Holland Lucy Soles Nick Weerts Patrick Seals Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Christmas movie we'd planned to discuss last year finally gets its due as we're talking about the Rankin-Bass classic Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. It's just us this week and you know what that means: expect the unexpected. We go down some paths with this episode, from talking about the LGBTQ community this has fostered, to its disability storyline, and whether it's eschewing capitalism or not. Did you know you can now watch our episodes in their entirety? ⁠⁠Watch this episode on our YouTube channel. ⁠⁠Be sure to subscribe over there to be reminded of upcoming episodes. Emily's essay on "Do They Know It's Christmas" is here. Be sure to follow us via social media at @ticklish_biz on X and @ticklishbiz everywhere else. Also like and subscribe to us on all podcast apps and, if you love us, leave us a review. Find Kristen and Emily's books wherever you buy books. Kristen's latest, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Popcorn Disabilities⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, is available to pre-order now before it releases on November 13th!     •    Love T shirts, pins, and other merch? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The merch shop is live⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!      •    ICMYI, the best way to support Ticklish Biz is to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠become a Patron⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠:     •    ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Emily's Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠    •    ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Kristen's Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ This episode was created thanks to our Patrons: Ali Moore Danny David Floyd Gates mcf Shawn Goodreau Richard Silver A Button Called Smalls Chris McKay Jacob Haller Peter Blitstein Debbie Lynne Peter Bryant Reyna Moya-James Linda Lindley Erin Bridget M. Hester Cat Cooper Daniel Tafoya David Baxter Diana Madden Harry Holland Lucy Soles Nick Weerts Patrick Seals Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

An episode literally four years in the making! Maybe even five. Who knows how long Kristen has been promising this episode but the day has finally arrived!  It was one of the most that ushered in the death knell for Old Hollywood biopics, and Carole Lombard biographer Robert Matzen joins Kristen and Emily to separate fact from fiction in Gable & Lombard! The trio talk about James Brolin playing Gable, the struggle of portraying Lombard accurately (and why Jill Clayburgh isn't the problem).  Be sure to drop your favorite Christmas movies into the comments and we'll read them on our last episode of 2025! Did you know you can now watch our episodes in their entirety? ⁠Watch this episode on our YouTube channel. ⁠Be sure to subscribe over there to be reminded of upcoming episodes. Be sure to follow us via social media at @ticklish_biz on X and @ticklishbiz everywhere else. Also like and subscribe to us on all podcast apps and, if you love us, leave us a review. Find Kristen and Emily's books wherever you buy books. Kristen's latest, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Popcorn Disabilities⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, is available to pre-order now before it releases on November 13th!     •    Love T shirts, pins, and other merch? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The merch shop is live⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!      •    ICMYI, the best way to support Ticklish Biz is to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠become a Patron⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠:     •    ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Emily's Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠    •    ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Kristen's Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ This episode was created thanks to our Patrons: Ali Moore Danny David Floyd Gates mcf Shawn Goodreau A Button Called Smalls Chris McKay Jacob Haller Peter Blitstein Peter Bryant Reyna Moya-James Bridget M. Hester Cat Cooper Daniel Tafoya David Baxter Diana Madden Harry Holland Jamie Carter Karen Yoder Lucy Soles Nick Weerts Patrick Seals Rosa Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Viva la resistance! We're closing the book on our Films of Resistance series as well celebrating the release of Kristen's latest book, Popcorn Disabilities, by talking about a movie looking at disabled activism.  The 1978 feature Coming Home attempted to tell an authentic story about the struggles disabled Vietnam War vets were experiencing. Along the way, it became a landmark for disabled representation in film. Guest Lawrence Carter Long joins us to talk about the movie's significance, Jon Voight's Oscar-winning performance, and more.  Did you know you can now watch our episodes in their entirety? Watch this episode starting Wednesday on our YouTube channel. Be sure to subscribe over there to be reminded of upcoming episodes. Be sure to follow us via social media at @ticklish_biz on X and @ticklishbiz everywhere else. Also like and subscribe to us on all podcast apps and, if you love us, leave us a review. Find Kristen and Emily's books wherever you buy books. Kristen's latest, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Popcorn Disabilities⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, is available to pre-order now before it releases on November 13th!     •    Love T shirts, pins, and other merch? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The merch shop is live⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!      •    ICMYI, the best way to support Ticklish Biz is to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠become a Patron⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠:     •    ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Emily's Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠    •    ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Kristen's Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ This episode was created thanks to our Patrons: Ali Moore Danny David Floyd Gates mcf Shawn Goodreau A Button Called Smalls Chris McKay Jacob Haller Peter Blitstein Peter Bryant Reyna Moya-James Bridget M. Hester Cat Cooper Daniel Tafoya David Baxter Diana Madden Harry Holland Jamie Carter Karen Yoder Lucy Soles Nick Weerts Patrick Seals Rosa Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Viva la resistance! Over the next four episodes we'll be looking at how Old Hollywood talks about politics, independence and democracy and we're looking at the end of the 1970s with this counterculture musical.  Hair shook up Broadway but how did it come off in the movies? Special guest Alex Steed joins Emily to discuss hippiedom and more. Be sure to follow us via social media at @ticklish_biz on X and @ticklishbiz everywhere else. Also like and subscribe to us on all podcast apps and, if you love us, leave us a review. Find Kristen and Emily's books wherever you buy books. Kristen's latest, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Popcorn Disabilities⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, is available to pre-order now before it releases on November 13th!     •    Love T shirts, pins, and other merch? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The merch shop is live⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!      •    ICMYI, the best way to support Ticklish Biz is to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠become a Patron⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠:     •    ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Emily's Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠    •    ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Kristen's Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ This episode was created thanks to our Patrons: Ali Moore Danny David Floyd Gates mcf Shawn Goodreau A Button Called Smalls Chris McKay Jacob Haller Peter Blitstein Peter Bryant Reyna Moya-James Bridget M. Hester Cat Cooper Daniel Tafoya David Baxter Diana Madden Harry Holland Jamie Carter Karen Yoder Lucy Soles Nick Weerts Patrick Seals Richard Silver Rosa Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Viva la resistance! Over the next four episodes we'll be looking at how Old Hollywood talks about politics, independence and democracy and we jump into the Cold War 1960s with this Stanley Kubrick satire.  Dr. Strangelove is the de facto movie about the Cold War, though it's presented alongside a spate of movies specifically in 1964 looking at nuclear fears. Film critic Jeff Ewing joins Kristen and Emily to discuss America's fascination with nuclear weapons, Kubrick hate, and whether there's ever enough Peter Sellers. Looking to read the JSTOR article Kristen keeps citing? You can do it here. Be sure to follow us via social media at @ticklish_biz on X and @ticklishbiz everywhere else. Also like and subscribe to us on all podcast apps and, if you love us, leave us a review. Find Kristen and Emily's books wherever you buy books. Kristen's latest, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Popcorn Disabilities⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, is available to pre-order now before it releases on November 13th!     •    Love T shirts, pins, and other merch? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The merch shop is live⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!      •    ICMYI, the best way to support Ticklish Biz is to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠become a Patron⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠:     •    ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Emily's Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠    •    ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Kristen's Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ This episode was created thanks to our Patrons: Ali Moore Danny David Floyd Gates mcf Shawn Goodreau A Button Called Smalls Chris McKay Jacob Haller Peter Blitstein Peter Bryant Reyna Moya-James Bridget M. Hester Cat Cooper Daniel Tafoya David Baxter Diana Madden Harry Holland Jamie Carter Karen Yoder Lucy Soles Nick Weerts Patrick Seals Richard Silver Rosa Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Viva la resistance! Over the next four episodes we'll be looking at how Old Hollywood talks about politics, independence and democracy starting with this George Cukor comedy.  Born Yesterday isn't a movie associated with any political group, but it celebrates the joys of being an informed person and our country's history of freedom. Plus, Judy Holliday is perfect and Bill Holden looks hot in glasses. Washington D.C. critic Nell Minow joins Kristen and Emily to talk about it all. Next Time: We're dropping the bomb with 1964's Dr. Strangelove. Be sure to follow us via social media at @ticklish_biz on X and @ticklishbiz everywhere else. Also like and subscribe to us on all podcast apps and, if you love us, leave us a review. Find Kristen and Emily's books wherever you buy books. Kristen's latest, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Popcorn Disabilities⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, is available to pre-order now before it releases on November 13th!     •    Love T shirts, pins, and other merch? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The merch shop is live⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!      •    ICMYI, the best way to support Ticklish Biz is to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠become a Patron⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠:     •    ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Emily's Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠    •    ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Kristen's Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ This episode was created thanks to our Patrons: Ali Moore Danny David Floyd Gates mcf Shawn Goodreau A Button Called Smalls Chris McKay Jacob Haller Peter Blitstein Peter Bryant Reyna Moya-James Bridget M. Hester Cat Cooper Daniel Tafoya David Baxter Diana Madden Harry Holland Jamie Carter Karen Yoder Lucy Soles Nick Weerts Patrick Seals Richard Silver Rosa Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Halloween season comes to a close with director Rodman Flender talking to us about Roger Corman's A Bucket of Blood. Flender actually worked with Corman and lays out what he was like. We also talk the beatnik movement on-screen! Be sure to follow us via social media at @ticklish_biz on X and @ticklishbiz everywhere else. Also like and subscribe to us on all podcast apps and, if you love us, leave us a review. Find Kristen and Emily's books wherever you buy books. Kristen's latest, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Popcorn Disabilities⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, is available to pre-order now before it releases on November 13th!     •    Love T shirts, pins, and other merch? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The merch shop is live⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!      •    ICMYI, the best way to support Ticklish Biz is to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠become a Patron⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠:     •    ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Emily's Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠    •    ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Kristen's Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ This episode was created thanks to our Patrons: Ali Moore Danny David Floyd Gates mcf Rachel Clark Shawn Goodreau A Button Called Smalls Chris McKay Jacob Haller Peter Blitstein Peter Bryant Reyna Moya-James Bridget M. Hester Cat Cooper Daniel Tafoya David Baxter Diana Madden Harry Holland Jamie Carter Karen Yoder Lucy Soles Nick Weerts Patrick Seals Richard Silver Rosa Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're kicking off spooky season with the OG vampire movie: 1922's Nosferatu. Author of Vampire Movies, Charles Bramesco, joins Kristen and Emily to break down the movie's unfortunate flaws, the benefits of stealing its source material, what the hell happened to F.W. Murnau's skull?  You can buy Charles's book Colors of Film: The Story of Cinema in 50 Palettes here. Have you signed up for our Patreon yet? You don't just get episodes 48 hours early but access to our three bonus series, video interviews, and access to chat classic movies with us via Discord! Sign up now via Patreon! Be sure to follow us via social media at @ticklish_biz on X and @ticklishbiz everywhere else. Also like and subscribe to us on all podcast apps and, if you love us, leave us a review. Find Kristen and Emily's books wherever you buy books. Kristen's latest, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Popcorn Disabilities⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, is available to pre-order now before it releases on November 13th!     •    Love T shirts, pins, and other merch? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The merch shop is live⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!      •    ICMYI, the best way to support Ticklish Biz is to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠become a Patron⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠:     •    ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Emily's Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠    •    ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Kristen's Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ This episode was created thanks to our Patrons: Ali Moore Danny David Floyd Gates mcf Rachel Clark Shawn Goodreau A Button Called Smalls Chris McKay Jacob Haller Peter Blitstein Peter Bryant Reyna Moya-James Bridget M. Hester Cat Cooper Daniel Tafoya David Baxter Diana Madden Harry Holland Jamie Carter Karen Yoder Lucy Soles Nick Weerts Patrick Seals Richard Silver Rosa Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our unintentional Musical Month in September ends by going classical, to the original OG of music: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart! Special guest Richard Kirkham joins Kristen and Emily to talk about this Milos Forman classic, the way this became an '80s classic, and who the hell is Tom Hulce? Be sure to follow us via social media at @ticklish_biz on X and @ticklishbiz everywhere else. Also like and subscribe to us on all podcast apps and, if you love us, leave us a review. Find Kristen and Emily's books wherever you buy books. Kristen's latest, ⁠⁠Popcorn Disabilities⁠⁠, is available to pre-order now before it releases on November 13th!     •    Love T shirts, pins, and other merch? ⁠⁠The merch shop is live⁠⁠!      •    ICMYI, the best way to support Ticklish Biz is to ⁠⁠become a Patron⁠⁠:     •    ⁠⁠Follow Emily's Instagram⁠⁠    •    ⁠⁠Follow Kristen's Instagram⁠⁠ This episode was created thanks to our Patrons: Ali Moore Danny David Floyd Gates mcf Rachel Clark Shawn Goodreau A Button Called Smalls Chris McKay Jacob Haller Peter Blitstein Peter Bryant Reyna Moya-James Bridget M. Hester Cat Cooper Daniel Tafoya David Baxter Diana Madden Harry Holland Jamie Carter Karen Yoder Lucy Soles Nick Weerts Patrick Seals Richard Silver Rosa Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices