Podcast Summary: Stories Podcast — An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving

Host: Amanda Weldon (Starglow Media / Wondery)
Episode Date: November 26, 2025

Episode Overview

An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving is a charming, family-friendly adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s story. The episode follows the Bassett kids as they attempt to prepare Thanksgiving dinner on their own after their parents leave to help their beloved Nana, who’s suffered a minor injury. Amid kitchen chaos, comical mistakes, and plenty of sibling energy, the story delivers heartwarming insights about family, resilience, and the true spirit of the holiday.

Key Discussion Points & Story Breakdown

1. Introduction to the Bassett Family

• The Bassetts: Mom, Dad, six kids (ages 14-4: Tilly, Ben, Roxy, Rhodey, Saul, Sam), and their Nana.
• The household is lively, tight-knit, sometimes squabbly, but deeply loving.
  (03:30)
  “Don’t worry, I know that’s a lot of names. There won’t be a test later or anything. Just know that it’s a lot.” — Amanda Weldon

2. Thanksgiving Excitement and Unexpected Trouble

• The Bassetts eagerly anticipate Thanksgiving, especially Nana’s pies.
• Crisis: Nana slips on ice, needs a ride to the hospital for an X-Ray. Parents leave kids home, putting Tilly (14) in charge.
  (05:50)
  “Tilly’s in charge! …Behave and we’ll be home soon.” — Dad

3. The Kids at Home: Decisions and Delegation

• Siblings debate what to do: pillow forts vs. movies.
• Time passes; parents still away. Dad calls with simple dinner prep instructions for Tilly and Ben:
  (12:22)
  “You don’t have to cook. I need you to take the turkey out… peel the potatoes and carrots… Nana has all the pies with her, so dessert is covered.” — Dad

4. Taking Charge & Kitchen Adventures

• Tilly and Ben start prepping.
• Mom updates: Nana needs a cast and will be home late. Thanksgiving dinner postponed—but Tilly persuades them to let her try cooking.
• Dad gives step-by-step instructions over the phone; Tilly’s confidence grows.
  (17:30)
  “What if Ben and I just did it? I’m in high school now. I can cook a turkey.” — Tilly

5. Kitchen Chaos: Sibling Style

• The younger siblings want to help, and each gets a job.
• Roxy and Rhodey over-stuff the turkey with candy, Nutella, leftover cheese—anything they find tasty.
• Ben covers himself, and the kitchen, in potatoes due to a mixer mishap.
• Sol and Sam rip apart the dinner rolls, then get into a bread-throwing fight.
• Tilly improvises, cranking the oven temp and spicing carrots with chili powder and cumin.
  (22:42)
  “They’d added some of their favorite candy, half a jar of Nutella... Whoa. Wild.” — Narration (Amanda Weldon)

6. Disaster Strikes!

• Smoke alarm blares; turkey scorched on outside, raw inside. Siblings panic and run outside—some missing clothing.
• Parents return home right in the midst of the chaos.
  (27:10)
  “Just a smoking turkey. Nothing to worry about, but I’ll crack some windows.” — Dad

7. Post-Disaster Dinner

• Inside, the food is a total loss—spicy carrots, gritty potatoes, blackened bread, inedible turkey.

• Kids cry. Tilly apologizes, feeling responsible.
  (30:12)
  “I’m sorry… We should have followed your instructions, but we got a little carried away.” — Tilly

• Parents reassure the kids; they'd predicted trouble and brought store-prepared food and Nana’s pies.

• Everyone cleans up, goes to bed, and prepares to try again the next day.
  (32:00)
  “It’s okay. It was a lot to ask of you.” — Mom

8. A Thanksgiving to Remember — The Next Day

• The whole family cooks together, with proper supervision and teamwork.
• This time, everything comes out perfectly—delicious food, sweet memories.
• Lesson: Thanksgiving isn’t about the food; it’s about being together and helping each other.
  (34:15)
  “When they sat down to eat, it was the most delicious Thanksgiving any of them could remember.” — Narration

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• (03:57)
  “She was a world-class Nana, and they were all looking forward to seeing her the next day at Thanksgiving.” — Narration
• (16:10)
  “We’ll still be able to get it done, but we’re gonna need your help.” — Dad on the phone
• (22:15)
  “Tilly thought touching the inside of the turkey was gross, but her middle siblings… had no problem, so she gave them that job.” — Narration
• (25:00)
  “Figuring the turkey got a late start, she cranked the temperature up to 450 to really get it going.” — Narration
• (28:11)
  “Fire!” — Saul, upon hearing the smoke alarm, setting off a chain reaction of kid chaos
• (32:00)
  “Why don’t you and Ben go get the boxes in the back of the car?” — Dad’s solution to the failed meal
• (34:15)
  “When they sat down to eat, it was the most delicious Thanksgiving any of them could remember.” — Narration

Important Timestamps

| Time | Segment/Event | |----------|------------------------------------------------| | 03:30 | Introduction to the Bassett family | | 05:50 | Parents leave for hospital – Tilly in charge | | 12:22 | Dad calls with cooking instructions | | 17:30 | Tilly volunteers to cook Thanksgiving dinner | | 22:42 | Kitchen chaos with turkey and potatoes | | 27:10 | Fire alarm and family in the yard, parents return | | 30:12 | Tilly’s apology, parents’ reassurance | | 32:00 | Store-bought dinner arrives, kitchen clean up | | 34:15 | Next day: Perfect Thanksgiving meal together |

Takeaways

• The episode celebrates making mistakes, learning together, and the love that holds families together, even in chaos.
• It’s a reminder that holidays are about togetherness—not perfection.
• The playful, light-hearted tone and sibling hijinks make this a delightful listen for families and kids of all ages.

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