Podcast Summary:

Podcast: 'Tis The Grinch Holiday Podcast
Episode: What To Listen To Next: The Cinnamon Bear a Holiday Adventure
Host: Chris Parnell (Wondery)
Date: December 23, 2025

Overview of the Episode

In this special recommendation episode, Chris Parnell from 'Tis The Grinch Holiday Podcast introduces listeners to a new family-friendly holiday audio adventure: The Cinnamon Bear: A Holiday Adventure. Crafted as a whimsical, star-studded series meant for kids and parents alike, the episode spotlights the first segment of this new podcast, highlighting its comedic charm, magical storytelling, and heartwarming holiday spirit. Listeners are taken through the initial setup of the Cinnamon Bear adventure, meeting the characters and being drawn into their quest to save a cherished family Christmas tradition.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Show Introduction & Recommendation

• Chris Parnell thanks listeners for supporting the Grinch podcast season and provides a personal recommendation for what to listen to next.
  • He enthusiastically describes The Cinnamon Bear, a holiday adventure “deliciously rich and rewarding for kids and parents” [00:00].
• Star-studded cast mentioned: Alan Cumming, John Goodman, Ryan Reynolds, Helen Hunt, Rachel Dratch, among others [00:23].

Notable quote:

“A little bit of humor mixed with a star-studded cast… and you’ve got a deliciously rich and rewarding holiday experience for kids and parents.”
— Chris Parnell [00:35]

2. Meet the Main Characters & Setup

• Narrator (Rocky Carroll): Sets a playful, meta tone by “introducing himself” and breaking the fourth wall.
  • Describes the story as “sort of about Christmas and something that you will like a lot” [01:22].
  • Introduces Judy (10) and Jimmy (8), two siblings finishing up their letters to Santa [02:21].
• Character interplay: Judy is earnest and hopeful, Jimmy is skeptical and funny.
  • Judy: “Dear Santa, you are the best exclamation point. ... But of course I know you’ll come because you’re you, period.” [02:21]
  • Jimmy: “I think I’m gonna skip it this year. Seems like a waste of paper and, you know, time.” [03:08]
  • Judy: “But it’s Santa. He’s waiting for your letter.” [03:14]

Notable moment:

Jimmy’s funny existential musing about growing up—“I’m at a weird time in my life.” [03:32]

3. Family Dynamics & The Lost Star

• Mother (Marcia Gay Harden) enters with the holiday decorations, light-heartedly chiding the siblings’ bickering.
  • The family realizes their treasured star that tops the tree is missing—a symbol of their tradition, handed down over generations [04:34].
  • Jimmy is sentimental: “The thought of Christmas without the sober star on top of the tree is just… well, it wouldn’t be Christmas.” [04:41]

Notable quote:

“Your great grandfather manages to get it here on a boat from Sweden. It gets handed down for three generations, and we just lose it like a set of car keys.”
— Mom [04:51]

4. Journey to the Attic & Discovery of Magic

• The kids go hunting for the missing star in the attic, finding quirky, magical objects—a telescope, an antique mirror, an odd teddy bear with a “gross plaid ribbon” (Cinnamon Bear), and a crazy quilt [06:12–07:14].

  • Humorous sibling banter, discovery of odd artifacts.

• Judy playfully suggests the teddy bear could be a dog toy, and the sibling rapport is lively and real [07:18].

5. The Cinnamon Bear Awakens

• First magical event: The Cinnamon Bear comes to life when the kids look through the telescope [08:07].
  • Judy: “I think I… I saw his head move.” [08:05]
  • Both kids become startled as the bear “growls”—in a comically unthreatening fashion.

Notable quote:

Cinnamon Bear: “That’s me being ferocious. Here I go again, Garoo. Um.” [08:52]
Jimmy: “I am scared, but because I'm talking to a teddy bear, not because of that pathetic growl. Are you kidding with that?” [08:45]

• Cinnamon Bear offers an impromptu theme song, adding humor and whimsy [09:28–10:22].

6. The Quest Begins: Introduction to Adventure and Maybeland

• Cinnamon Bear explains the family’s missing silver star was taken by the “Crazy Quilt Dragon” [11:09].
  • The kids realize their attic quilt was the dragon in disguise and has vanished [11:30].
• He encourages them to chase after the dragon, promising to help by shrinking them down—initiating the magical journey [11:48].
• Visual trick: Using the telescope “the other way around” to shrink the kids [13:06].

Notable quote:

Cinnamon Bear: “We’re only as big as we see.” [13:26]

7. Into Maybeland: Setting Up the Series Adventure

• The kids shrink and prepare to set off after the dragon via magical flight on an “airplane ornament.”
  • Cinnamon Bear: “That’s my own extra private airplane. And it flies beautifully. I once made a trans root beer oceanic flight in it.” [15:33]
• Meta, cliffhanger ending by the Narrator:
  • “Will that airplane ornament really fly our heroes into this Maybeland place?... Will they get their silver star back in time for Christmas?...” [15:51]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (by Timestamp)

• “A little bit of humor mixed with a star-studded cast… and you’ve got a deliciously rich and rewarding holiday experience for kids and parents.” — Chris Parnell [00:35]
• “I’m at a weird time in my life.” — Jimmy [03:32]
• “Your great grandfather... gets handed down for three generations, and we just lose it like a set of car keys.” — Mom [04:51]
• “That’s me being ferocious. Here I go again, Garoo. Um.” — Cinnamon Bear [08:52]
• “We’re only as big as we see.” — Cinnamon Bear [13:26]
• “That’s my own extra private airplane. And it flies beautifully. I once made a trans root beer oceanic flight in it.” — Cinnamon Bear [15:33]

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• Recommendation and Cast Overview: [00:00–01:14]
• Narrator Introduces the Story: [01:14–02:21]
• Judy and Jimmy’s Letter Writing: [02:21–03:32]
• Holiday Decorations and Missing Star: [04:06–05:10]
• Attic Exploration and Discovery: [06:12–07:14]
• Cinnamon Bear Comes to Life: [08:05–08:41]
• Theme Song & Magic Unveiled: [09:28–10:22]
• The Mystery of the Quilt Dragon: [11:09–12:12]
• The Magical Shrinking: [13:06–14:39]
• The Plan to Enter Maybeland: [15:00–15:45]
• Cliffhanger Ending by Narrator: [15:51–16:20]

Overall Tone and Takeaways

The excerpt delivers a whimsical, humorous, and slightly self-aware take on the classic holiday adventure. The dialogue is quick-witted, fondly irreverent (much like the Grinch podcast itself), and packed with charm—the perfect family listen for the holiday season. Characters banter with authentic sibling rivalry, the magical Cinnamon Bear brings festive fun, and the setup teases adventures with madcap magical creatures in a world where “maybe” anything can happen.

Listeners are left eager for the next installment, perfectly setting up The Cinnamon Bear: A Holiday Adventure as a worthy, immersive follow-up for families looking to stay in the holiday spirit.