Desert Skies – "A Holiday Gift From Desert Skies To Say Thanks For a Wonderful 2025"

Host: Jared Carter
Date: December 17, 2025

Episode Overview

In this brief and heartfelt special episode, Jared Carter (creator, writer, and sole performer behind Desert Skies) pauses to thank listeners for their support and to announce a special holiday gift to the audience. This isn’t a typical narrative installment; rather, it’s a direct message of gratitude and a no-strings-attached invitation to access exclusive bonus content as a thank-you for helping "Desert Skies" reach a milestone of 2 million downloads.

Key Points & Insights

1. Gratitude for Listener Support

• Jared opens the episode by expressing deep appreciation for the show's fans, emphasizing how their support has propelled the podcast to a new milestone:
  • Quote: “First, I just want to say thank you for helping Desert Skies to hit 2 million downloads this month. It's just something I never could have imagined and I'm so thankful to you for listening and sharing, rating, reviewing—everything you've done to help the show.” (00:03)
  • He underscores the role of the community in the show's growth, making it clear that the listeners are integral to the journey.

2. Special Holiday Gift Announcement

• In the spirit of the season, Jared announces a free month of Club 86 membership at the Tarantula King tier as a gift to all listeners—available with no credit card or purchase required.
  • Quote: “As a thank you and a small token of my appreciation and a small gift for the holidays, I wanted to give you a free month of Club 86 membership at the Tarantula King tier.” (00:22)

What the Gift Includes:

• Full ad-free library of all Desert Skies episodes—ideal for holiday travel or binge-listening (00:34).
• Access to all commentaries where Jared offers behind-the-scenes insights and “wax poetic a bunch of nonsense regarding the making of the show” (00:42).
• Digital rewards for download:
  • “Mac’s Emergency Burrito Cookbook”
  • Exclusive wallpapers
    (00:47)
• Access to a holiday-themed minisode originally made for Club 86 the previous year—a short story set between seasons, now featured at the top of the Club 86 feed for easy access (00:54).

3. No Strings Attached

• Jared assures listeners that the gift comes entirely free and with no requirement for payment or credit card info:
  • Quote: “This really is a gift. You don't have to enter any credit card info, it's just simply one month of Club 86 completely on me.” (01:03)

4. How to Claim the Gift & Deadline

• Claiming instructions are straightforward:
  • Click the link labeled "claim my Club86 gift" in the show notes.
  • Or visit desertskiespodcast.com/gift (01:08).
• The offer is available only until December 31st, 2025 (01:15).

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On reaching a milestone:
  “It’s just something I never could have imagined and I'm so thankful to you for listening and sharing, rating, reviewing—everything you've done…” (00:06)

• On the holiday gift:
  “Just some things to help get you through the rest of this year.” (00:51)

• Sincere closing:
  “Safe Travels and Happy Holidays.” (01:18)

Important Timestamps

• 00:03: Jared thanks listeners for reaching 2 million downloads.
• 00:22: Announcement of the free month of Club 86 membership.
• 00:34: Details of gift contents—ad-free episodes, commentaries, digital rewards.
• 00:54: Mention of the holiday minisode.
• 01:03: Assurance that no credit card info is required.
• 01:08: Instructions for claiming the gift and mention of the deadline.
• 01:18: Warm holiday send-off.

Summary

This short but warm episode departs from the usual Desert Skies storytelling to offer personal thanks from Jared Carter to his listeners, celebrating a meaningful benchmark in the podcast’s journey. The generous, no-strings-attached Club 86 access and digital bonuses reflect Jared’s gratitude, delivered in a tone that is both genuine and celebratory—a thoughtful holiday gesture for the community that supports Desert Skies.