It’s Snowing in Zurich! - Christmas Cards From The Shop

Summary

Podcast Summary: For Love and Chocolate Episode: It’s Snowing in Zurich! - Christmas Cards From The Shop
Release Date: December 11, 2024
Hosts: Tommy and Tara Gallop
Produced by: Tara Gallop, Tommy Gallop, Adam Haagen

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Introduction

In the festive episode titled "It’s Snowing in Zurich! - Christmas Cards From The Shop," hosts Tommy and Tara Gallop blend the themes of love and chocolate with holiday cheer. This episode uniquely combines heartfelt conversations with musical interludes, celebrating enduring love stories and the magic of the season.

Merging of Christmas and Hanukkah

The episode kicks off with a playful discussion about the convergence of Christmas and Hanukkah for the year. Tara humorously questions, “How many nights of gifts does that mean I get?” at [00:55], to which Santa Claus (a playful alter ego of Tara) responds with a whimsical math joke, highlighting the blend of traditions.

Celebrating Relationships and Memories

Tommy reflects on the journey of the podcast over two seasons, emphasizing the joy of sharing love stories:
“The journey of the For Lovin Chocolate that we've taken now for two whole seasons... is just that experience of spending time with them and hearing their stories unfold” [01:24]. Tara concurs, noting how the podcast has been a beautiful gift for both hosts and listeners alike [02:02].

Incorporating Music into Stories

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to music, serving as a medium to enhance the storytelling experience. The hosts introduce classic songs that evoke memories and emotions tied to love. Tara mentions, “One of the fun things this season was that we kind of went back through the public domain and found so many great songs by some of our favorite artists” [07:01], highlighting their curated selection of timeless melodies.

Listener Mailbag and Dedicated Songs

The episode features songs tailored to listeners' stories and questions. For instance, a song was crafted in response to Gloria’s mailbag question about joining a "scary" family [18:02]. Tara explains, “Sometimes the songs we selected were so perfect to our romantic couple's story that we actually decided to just drop the songs in the middle of their interview” [21:00], demonstrating how music intertwines with personal narratives on the show.

Highlighted Story: Eli and Janet Cantor

A standout moment includes dedicating a song to Eli and Janet Cantor’s sweet love story. The song lyrics beautifully encapsulate their relationship, enhancing the emotional resonance of their tale [21:38]. Tara remarks, “That was such a great episode. We were so lucky to get their beautiful love story” [25:51], underscoring the episode's heartfelt nature.

Special Musical Contributions

The episode also showcases contributions from the hosts themselves. Mrs. Truffles (Tara) surprises everyone with her singing prowess, adding a personal touch to the musical segment [26:08]. This unexpected performance adds depth and charm, reinforcing the podcast’s intimate atmosphere.

Fan-Made Signature Song

A particularly touching moment occurs when the hosts receive a fan-written song titled "Alicia." Tara expresses their gratitude:
“We were so moved to receive your song. It just... makes us so happy to feel the love” [29:07]. This song becomes the signature tune for the podcast, symbolizing the strong connection between the hosts and their listeners.

Season Finale and Holiday Wishes

As the episode wraps up, Tommy and Tara reflect on the season's successes and invite listeners to visit their Beverly Hills chocolate shop during the holidays. Tara invites, “Please come see us in the shop over Christmas. It's so much fun, and we would love to have you” [32:00]. The hosts extend heartfelt holiday wishes, hoping everyone enjoys the season with loved ones and looks forward to more sweet stories in the new year [32:26].

Notable Quotes

• Tara Gallop [00:55]: “How many nights of gifts does that mean I get?”
• Santa Claus [01:07]: “I think it's 17 nights of gifts. Pretty sure.”
• Tommy Gallop [01:24]: “...the experience of spending time with them and hearing their stories unfold...”
• Tara Gallop [07:01]: “We went back through the public domain and found so many great songs by some of our favorite artists.”
• Tara Gallop [18:16]: “Yes, sometimes the songs were answers to mailbag questions.”
• Tommy Gallop [21:38]: “You made me love you...”
• Tara Gallop [29:07]: “We were so moved to receive your song. It just... makes us so happy to feel the love.”

Conclusion

"It’s Snowing in Zurich! - Christmas Cards From The Shop" is a heartwarming episode that blends love, music, and holiday spirit. Through engaging conversations, dedicated songs, and personal anecdotes, Tommy and Tara Gallop create a festive atmosphere that celebrates enduring love and the joy of the season. Whether you're a long-time listener or new to the podcast, this episode offers a delightful mix of stories and melodies that capture the essence of "For Love and Chocolate."

Transcript

[Tommy]

Oh. Mr. And Mrs. Truffles have a gift to unwrap a card full of magic In a holiday wrap with cheer each note and the festive drop It's Christmas cards from the shop.

[Santa Claus]

Hello, Mrs. Truffles.

[Tara]

Well, hello there, Santa Claus.

[Santa Claus]

How are you today?

[Tara]

I'm very good.

[Santa Claus]

Yeah.

[Tara]

How are you?

[Santa Claus]

I'm doing great. Thank you so much for asking.

[Tara]

Yeah. It's so nice to have you here with us on the podcast.

[Santa Claus]

Oh, I'm Santa Claus.

[Tommy]

Okay. Yes.

[Santa Claus]

Thank you. Thank you.

[Tara]

Yeah. Well, Mr. Truffles, I don't know if you're aware of this or not, but Christmas and Hanukkah are coming together this year.

[Santa Claus]

Yeah, I am aware of that.

[Tara]

And so how many nights of gifts does that mean I get?

[Santa Claus]

I think you get eight, plus the four. Carry the two. I think it's 17 nights of gifts. Pretty sure.

[Tara]

I'm very excited about that. You've been a very good girl, so why wouldn't you?

[Santa Claus]

Right?

[Tara]

You've been very good, too.

[Santa Claus]

Thank you. I try.

[Tara]

What is on your Christmas list this year?

[Santa Claus]

Well, you know, that's so interesting. This journey of the For Lovin Chocolate that we've taken now for two whole seasons, that's been the gift for me and I think for you, because it's not only allowed us to spend so much ooey gooey time together, but the couples that we brought in, some that, you know, I've known half my life and that you've known for some time and others new friends. It's just that experience of spending time with them and hearing their stories unfold and watching the light in their eyes and the smiles on their faces, and.

[Tara]

It has been a beautiful gift.

[Santa Claus]

Yeah.

[Tara]

This has been the most fun. You know, it's so great that so many people have taken this journey with us. Well, Mr. Truffles, I know for my Christmas wish list, I just wish for another year that could be as full of fun and adventure and love as this year. And music. You know, we had so much fun with the music this year.

[Tommy]

We did.

[Santa Claus]

It was such a nice little surprise, wasn't it?

[Tara]

It was Michael and Maggie.

[Tommy]

Yeah.

[Tara]

Who first brought the musical element. That was our show, Orchids on Mars. And I think that maybe it might be a fun way to spend our time today is just listening to all of our pretty songs.

[Santa Claus]

A musical walk down memory lane.

[Tara]

Yeah.

[Santa Claus]

I like it.

[Tommy]

Why do I do just as you say? Why must I just give you your way? Why do I sigh? Why don't I try to forget? It must have been that something lovers call fate Kept me saying I have to wait I saw them all Just couldn't fall till we met it had to be you it had to be you I wandered around and finally found the somebody who could make me be true and make me be blue and even be glad Just to be sad Thinking of you Some others I've seen Might never be mean Might never be Never be cross or try to be boss but they wouldn't do for nobody else gave me a thrill with all your faults I love you still it had to be you Wonderful you It had to be you for nobody else gave me a thrill with all your faults I love you still it had to be you Wonderful for you it had to be you.

[Tara]

What a beautiful song, Mr. Truffles.

[Santa Claus]

Yeah.

[Tara]

That was the title song of our first episode this season. It had to be you. And you dedicated that to your mom and dad.

[Santa Claus]

That's right. That's the first song they danced to, wasn't it?

[Tara]

Yeah. They fell in love to that song.

[Santa Claus]

Isn't it so beautiful how music can conjure up all these memories and all these warm feelings?

[Tara]

Frank Sinatra had just put out the album, and it was kind of a big deal. One of the fun things this season was that we kind of went back through the public domain and found so many great songs by some of our favorite artists.

[Santa Claus]

Just classics.

[Tara]

Yeah. Bobby Darin and Cole Porter, Dean Martin, Peggy Lee, Patsy Cline. Frank Sinatra, of course.

[Santa Claus]

Oh, yeah. I mean, who doesn't love the chairman of the board?

[Tommy]

My story is much too sad to be told but practically everything leaves me totally cold.

[Santa Claus]

The only exception I know.

[Tommy]

Is the case When I'm out on a quiet spree Fighting vainly the old unwilling Then I suddenly turn and see your fabulous face I get no kick from champagne Mere alcohol doesn't thrill me at all so tell me why should it be true that I get a kick out of you?

[Santa Claus]

Some dig the perfume from Spain I'm.

[Tommy]

Sure that if I took even one sniff it would bore me Terrifically, too Yet I get a kick out of you I get a kick Every time I see you standing there before me I get a kick though it's clear to see you Obviously you don't agree Adore me I get no kick in.

[Santa Claus]

A plan.

[Tommy]

Fly into a hive with some gal in the sky Is my idea of nothing to do Yet I get a kick you give me a boo I get a kick out of you when the little blue bird who has never said a word Starts to sing Spring, spring when the Little blue bell at the bottom of the dell starts to ring ding ding when the little blue clerk in the middle of his work starts a tune to the moon up above it is nature, that's all Simply telling us to fall in love and that's why birds do it, bees do it Even educated fleas do it let's do it, let's fall in love. In Spain the best upper sets do it Lithuanians and let's do it, let's do it, let's fall in love. The Dutch in old Amsterdam do it not to mention the fins Folks in Siam do it. Think of Siamese twins Some Argentines without means to it People say in Boston even beans do it let's do it, let's fall in love. The chimpanzees in the zoo do it. Some courageous kangaroos do it. Let's do it, let's fall in love I'm sure Giraffes on the slide do it. Heavy hippopotami do it. Let's do it, let's fall in love. Sloths who hang down from the twigs do it. Though the effort is great Sweet guinea pigs do it. Buy a couple and wait the world admits bears in pits do it. Even Pekingese is in the Ritz do it. Let's do it, let's fall in love. When you're smiling when you're smiling the whole world smiles with you when you're laughing, laughing when you're laughing the sun comes shining through. But when you're crying you bring on the rain. So stop that crying, be happy again. Keep on smiling. Cause when you smile, smiling the whole world smiles with you when you're smiling oh, when you're smiling the whole world smiles with you when you're laughing oh babe when you're laughing the sun wanna come shining through. But when you're crying you bring on the rain. So stop that sighing. Come on, be happy again. Keep on smiling. Cause when you're smiling, baby the whole world. Oh the shark, babe has such teeth, dear and it shows them pearly white. Just a jackknife has old McHeath, babe and he keeps it out of sight. You know when that shark bites with his teeth, babe Scarlet billows start to spread Fancy gloves o Wears old McKeith, babe so there's never, never a trace of red. Now on that sidewalk, Ooh Sunday morning lies a body just doozing life and someone sneakin round the corner. Could that someone be Mac the Knife? There's a tugboat down by the river don't you know where a Cement bag just drooping on down oh, that cement is just. It's just for the wait, dear Five will get you ten Old Mackie is back in town now did you hear about Louis Miller? He disappeared, babe after drawing out all his hard earned cash. And now McKeith spans just like a sailor. Could it be our boy's done something rash now? Jenny Tyler Ho, ho, yeah suki tawdry o Ms. Lanya and old Loser Brown oh, the light forms on the right paper now that Mackie is back in town I said Jenny Diver Whoa, Suki Tawdry look out to Miss Little Nya and oh, Lucy Brown yes, the life forms on the right base now that Mackie back in time look out, old Mackie is back.

[Tara]

Oh, yeah. That was a lot of fun. Fun. That song was actually an answer to a mailbag question, right? Yes, it was from a young lady named Gloria who was considering becoming part of a family that was a little on the scary side.

[Santa Claus]

Yeah, she got some signs that maybe were making her a little nervous.

[Tara]

Yeah, we gave her good advice.

[Santa Claus]

I think so.

[Tara]

Yes, sometimes the songs were answers to mailbag questions.

[Santa Claus]

And sometimes our listeners would ask us Mr. And Mrs. Truffles to help them get out of the doghouse.

[Tommy]

Who sorry now? Who's sorry now? Whose heart is aching for breaking each foul who's sad and blue? Who's crying too? Just like I cried over you.

[Santa Claus]

Right.

[Tommy]

To the end Just like a friend I tried to warn you somehow but you had your way now you must pay I'm glad that you're sorry now how right to the end Just like a friend I tried to warn you somehow but you, you had your way now you must pay I'm glad that you're sorry now.

[Santa Claus]

Yeah, well, you know, we never heard back from him. I'm. I'm not sure if our song works.

[Tara]

Yeah, well, you can't win them all, Mr. Truffles.

[Tommy]

You can't.

[Tara]

Maybe he really didn't deserve a second chance. Or maybe it was more like a hundredth chance that she wasn't willing to give him. But sometimes the songs we selected were so perfect to our romantic couple's story that we actually decided to just drop the songs in the middle of their interview.

[Santa Claus]

Yeah, that's right.

[Tara]

As with this song and Eli and Janet Cantor. The cutest story so sweet. And the most perfect song for them.

[Tommy]

You do something to me Something that simply mystify Tell me why should it be? You have the power to hypnotize me Hypnotize me Let me live Neath your spell do do that voodoo that you do so well for you do something to me that nobody else let me live Neath your spell do do that voodoo that you do so well for you do something to me that nobody else could do? Nobody else can do that nobody else could do. You made me love you. I didn't want to do it, didn't want to do it? You made me want you and all the time you knew it I guess you always knew it? You made me happy sometimes you made me glad? But there were times, my darling, you made me feel so bad you made me sigh for. I didn't want to tell you, did not want to tell you. I want some love that's true, yes, I do indeed I do. You know I do. Give me, give me, give me what I cry for. You know you got the brand of kisses that I die for. You know you made me love you. You, you made me sigh for. I didn't want to tell you, didn't want to tell you. I want some love that's true, yes, I do indeed I do. You know I do. Ok. Give me, give me, give me what I cry for. You know you got the brand of kisses that I die for? You know you made me love you.

[Tara]

Mmm. Oh, Mr. Troubles. That one was so perfect. That one. We dropped into the interview of Maria and human mahboobi. The Beauty and the bellow love worth waiting for. That was such a great episode. We were so lucky to get their beautiful love story.

[Santa Claus]

We really were. And, you know, after a number of episodes, Mrs. Truffles, well, she conjured up the courage to actually do a little singing herself. So, I mean, I knew I married Jessica Rabbit, but I didn't know that she was going to throw any earth a kit in there, so.

[Tara]

Well, thank you for letting me get in on the fun.

[Santa Claus]

Mrs. Truffle singing Deb.

[Tommy]

Another bright, another June, another sunny honeymoon.

[Tara]

Another season, another reason for making work. Be a lot of shoes, a lot of rice. The groom is nervous. He answers twice.

[Tommy]

It's really killing that he's so willing to make whoopee. He's washing dishes.

[Santa Claus]

And baby clothes.

[Tara]

He's so amazing, ambitious.

[Tommy]

He even says, but don't forget, folks.

[Tara]

That's what you get, folks.

[Tommy]

F making.

[Santa Claus]

Oh, Mrs. Truffles, I'm telling you, you never stop surprising me. That was so brave and so great.

[Tara]

Well, you know what was also a really wonderful surprise? It was the end of our first season when we received this song.

[Santa Claus]

Oh, my goodness.

[Tara]

That one of our biggest fans Wrote just for the show.

[Santa Claus]

Yeah. And it kind of became just our signature song, didn't it?

[Tara]

It kind of is.

[Santa Claus]

Yeah.

[Tara]

I think we'll finish off with that.

[Santa Claus]

Yeah. Alicia, Alicia, Alicia. I can't even tell you how moved Mrs. Truffles and I were to receive your song. It just. It makes us so happy to feel the love. And now we want to share it back with you.

[Tommy]

In the heart of Beverly Hills, where love sweet melodies chive. Mr. And Mrs. Truffles tell tales that intertwine. Intertwine. From Swiss chocolate dreams to love's enduring embrace. That podcast unfolds in a harmonious space. Oh, yeah. Ooh, wait for it. Mmm. Okay. Wait for it. Wait for it.

[Santa Claus]

Mmm.

[Tommy]

Slept in chocolate. A sweet rendezvous with tales of love and laughter ensue. With Tommy and Tara as our charming hosts that savor each moment with a champagne truffle toast.

[Santa Claus]

Oh, my.

[Tara]

Well, that was a lovely musical walk to memory.

[Santa Claus]

I feel like it challenges maybe even the Beatles library. It's formidable, that library of music that we created.

[Tara]

Mrs. Truffles, thank you for bringing our shows to life with your beautiful singing voice this year.

[Santa Claus]

Mr. Truffles, thank you for giving me the opportunity to do so.

[Tara]

Mrs. Truffles, it has been such an amazing time to spend with you, and this will be our last show of season two. We're about to get real busy in the chocolate shop for the next couple.

[Santa Claus]

Weeks, and we absolutely would love to see all of you come to our shop. Maybe not all at once, but come.

[Tara]

No, no. Come all at once.

[Tommy]

All at once.

[Santa Claus]

Please come see us in the shop over Christmas. It's so much fun, and we would love to have you.

[Tara]

Yes, please come visit us in the shop. You'll get to see Mr. Truffles in a Santa Claus hat. And if you mention that it might be snowing in Zurich, there could be a little something extra special for you in your mocha. Yeah. A little something extra special in your mocha.

[Santa Claus]

Yeah. Anyway, we just hope everyone has the best holiday with friends and family and loved ones. And you have the happiest, happiest Christmas, the best Hamuka.

[Tara]

However, you celebrate and have an amazing new year.

[Santa Claus]

Yeah. So for now, that's all we got. But until next time, say goodbye, Mrs. Truffles. She can't do it, everyone.

[Tara]

Goodbye, Mrs. Truffles. Goodbye, Mrs. Truffbles.

[Santa Claus]

This show is brought to you by Beverly Hills Toy Chocolates of Switzerland, home of the world's first and finest champagne truffles. Join us next time for more adventures in everlasting love.