Last Podcast On The Left – Relaxed Fit: Christmas Roundup – My Favorite Things
Date: December 25, 2025
Hosts: Marcus Parks, Ben Kissel, Henry Zebrowski, Guest Ed Larson
Overview
This special relaxed-fit Christmas episode is a smorgasbord of the hosts' "favorite things": historical tales, darkly funny animal attacks, Christmas tradition deep-dives, and a classic UFO story, all tailored with the Last Podcast crew’s signature irreverence and banter. Each host brings a story or two centered around Christmas, darkness, and the bizarre – from the somber connection between "White Christmas" and the fall of Saigon, to a deadly tiger escape at the San Francisco Zoo, to the real-life legend behind "Good King Wenceslas," and finally, a poetic retelling of the Kecksburg UFO incident.
Key Segments & Discussion Points
1. Introduction and Christmas Vibes
[01:33 – 05:07]
- The episode kicks off with a comedic Christmas song about Mrs. Claus and the trio’s typical goofy introductions.
- The hosts reference the rare occasion of carrying Christmas themes through the entire month.
- Henry: Reflects on newfound openness to holiday joy (since his father passed), and his less-cynical take for this episode.
"I'm opening myself more to holiday expression...I feel really good. This is the first time I've taken a not-so-cynical direction at a Christmas tale today.” – Henry [04:11]
2. "White Christmas" and the Fall of Saigon
[05:07 – 21:10] (Marcus’s favorite – music + historical context)
The Historical Deep Dive:
- Marcus recounts how Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" was used as a secret evacuation signal during the fall of Saigon in April 1975.
- Background: U.S. embassy staff and Vietnamese collaborators waited for a radio code (“the temperature in Saigon is 105 degrees and rising”) followed by "White Christmas" to trigger Operation Frequent Wind, the last desperate helicopter evacuation.
- Discussion on the chaos and mismanagement that led to many being left behind, panic at the embassy, and the psychological weight of the hauntingly out-of-place song during the operation.
"The DJ on Armed Forces Radio would play the signaling song, which was 'White Christmas'...playing a Christmas song in April would let everyone know something’s out of the ordinary." – Marcus [14:32]
The Song’s Dark Origin:
- "White Christmas" was written by Irving Berlin about the death of his three-week-old son on Christmas Day in 1928, which is why it has a melancholy tone.
- Juxtaposed with other Berlin songs like “Puttin’ on the Ritz.”
“That is why it's such a melancholy tune, especially when you compare it to Irving Berlin's other songs like ‘Puttin’ on the Ritz’ and ‘God Bless America.’” – Marcus [17:31]
Notable Moments:
- Jokes about inept officials, pop culture, and the horror movie aspect of “White Christmas” looping over helicopter evacuations.
"'You could have played other Christmas songs. Be so terrifying.' – Ben [16:11]
'That's Bing Crosby, right?' – Henry [16:17]"
References:
- Documentary recommendation: “Last Days of Vietnam” [20:38]
- Themes: American denial, bureaucratic failure, and the power of music in times of crisis.
3. Christmas at the Zoo: The Tale of Tatiana the Tiger
[24:50 – 55:02] (Ed’s favorite: animal mayhem and true crime)
The San Francisco Zoo Attack (Dec 25, 2007):
Background:
- Tatiana, a Siberian tiger, escapes her enclosure, kills a teenager (Carlos Sousa Jr.), and seriously injures the Dalawal brothers.
- The backstory: Tatiana had attacked a trainer a year earlier, raising questions about zoo safety and human error.
The Attack:
- The Dalawal brothers and Sousa, intoxicated and taunting the tigers, triggered Tatiana's wrath.
- Faulty enclosure (12.5 ft wall, below the AZA standard of 16 ft) enabled Tatiana’s escape.
- Initial disbelief from zoo employees/security (believing the survivors were just drugged) delayed rescue.
"They're screaming about how a tiger escaped and killed their friend. The manager…did not believe.” – Ben [40:24]
The Deadly Encounter:
- Tatiana stalks and kills Sousa, then pursues the brothers to a locked café, batting at their legs.
- Police hesitation, ultimately shooting Tatiana after failed attempts to lure her away.
“She charged the police officers, and Officer Oshida was all like, oh, shida, I gotta kill this tiger...” – Ben [48:52]
Aftermath & Blame:
- Zoo found liable (unsafe enclosure), survivors received large settlements despite their provocation.
- Further discussion on zoo negligence: more animal deaths, poor conditions, and misused funds.
- Epilogue: Tony the tiger died lonely, one surviving brother died of overdose, and conditions at San Francisco Zoo remained troubled.
“Tony the tiger never recovered from the loss of Tatiana and died sad and alone in 2010.” – Ben [54:20]
Notable Quotes:
-
“In my research, I saw in 1997, the zoo was awarded $48 million for animal upgrades. But they used most of the money to upgrade the customer facilities and not the animal facilities.” – Ben [52:41]
-
“Just remember, you always win if you’re bad.” – Henry [55:17]
Memorable Banter:
Open laughter at grim fate, dark jokes about zoo management, and the iced-over grim narrative.
4. "Good King Wenceslas" – From Pagan Song to Christmas Carol
[56:55 – 72:39] (Marcus’s second favorite: history of Christmas songs)
- History: The 1853 carol’s melody is from a 13th-century springtime song. Lyrics tell of a real Czech prince, Wenceslas, “protector of widows and orphans,” whose story is full of charity...and murder.
Highlights:
- Real Wenceslas was not a king but a duke.
- He was a Christian reformer, hated by pagan nobles, murdered by his brother Boleslaus (Boleslaus the Cruel), and canonized as a saint.
- Jokes about medieval politics, saints, and the hypocrisy of “charity by force.”
- The tradition of reusing old folk melodies for new Christmas lyrics.
“Good King Wenceslas does not sound good. So he changed it to Good King Wenceslas.” – Marcus [61:34]
“He tells the servant, hey, let’s go feed that guy…and the servant says, I’m cold, and Wenceslas says, just follow in my footsteps for they will be warm. And they were.” – Marcus [71:42]
Notable Quotes:
- "He was also against the death penalty, which was extremely uncommon, if not totally unheard of for a ruler in 10th century Europe.” – Marcus [64:08]
- “How does a king Wenceslas like his pizza? How? Deep and crisp and even.” – Marcus’ (groan-worthy) street joke [72:39]
5. The Kecksburg UFO Incident – A Christmas Poem
[73:12 – 81:02] (Henry’s favorite: UFO story)
- Henry brings a poetic retelling of the Kecksburg, Pennsylvania “Christmas UFO” crash (December 9, 1965).
- Residents witness a fiery object; government cordons off the area; rumors swirl of cover-up and alien tech.
- Henry reads an original, satirical “Night Before Christmas”-style poem from the imagined perspective of local firefighter James Romanski who saw the “acorn-shaped” UFO.
“TWAS 9 December, and all over the land of Kecksburg, Pennsylvania, there were many a witness at hand…a bronze acorn shaped craft surrounded my military gear…” – Henry (poem, [74:54])
- The episode captures the dry mundanity mingled with government secrecy that defines classic UFO tales.
- This local legend is now the centerpiece of Kecksburg’s annual UFO festival.
Memorable Quotes & Signature Moments
(Timestamps approximate)
- “This is how work goes.” – Marcus, joking about the ancient roots of holiday songs [58:29]
- “Just shut up, kids. Stop giving us free ideas, all right? They’re animals.” – Henry, on zoo children [25:24]
- “Tatiana wasn’t a crazed, senseless killer. She was a killer with purpose.” – Ben [46:49]
- “That’s the story. And he saw it loaded up onto a tractor and then it was driven away. And for some reason none of that could ever be corroborated.” – Henry [80:47]
Natural Flow and Host Chemistry
- Hosts riff and improvise, blending actual research and historic details with personal anecdotes, off-color jokes, and pop culture interjections.
- Regular asides, minor derails, and audience 'winks' maintain the show's irreverent, macabre yet warm vibe.
- Each segment closes with either dark humor or a quirky reflection on its historical or moral lesson.
Timeline/Highlights
| Segment | Topic | Start
|-----------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|------
| [01:33] | Show open, Christmas banter, host intros |
| [05:07] | “White Christmas” as Saigon evacuation signal, song’s origin |
| [24:50] | Tatiana the tiger – San Francisco Zoo Christmas mauling |
| [56:55] | "Good King Wenceslas" – real history, carol analysis |
| [73:12] | Kecksburg UFO incident – Henry’s Christmas poem |
| [81:09] | Wrap-up, holiday wishes, plugs, tour dates, banter |
Takeaway for Listeners
If you missed this episode, you’ll leave knowing:
- The somber legacy behind “White Christmas” and its surreal wartime use.
- How Christmas at the zoo turned into a tragic horror story—and the dangers of neglecting animal enclosures (and antagonizing tigers!).
- The wild real (and often violent) history behind a beloved Christmas carol.
- How a small town’s brush with the unexplained became local legend.
- Plus: The crew never misses a chance for dark comedy, history nerd asides, and making the macabre fun.
Final Note:
The episode wraps with holiday wishes, a reminder to learn from others’ mistakes (don’t tempt fate at the zoo, don’t forget the dark side of Christmas cheer), and the LPOTL team’s trademark “Hail Satan” sign-off.