Podcast Summary: "Wizards of Whoville! with David Henrie"

Podcast: 'Tis The Grinch Holiday Podcast
Host: The Grinch (James Austin Johnson), Wondery
Guest: David Henrie
Episode: 7 (Season 3)
Date: December 10, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode brings back Whoville’s sassiest curmudgeon, The Grinch, for a chaotically festive late-night-style chat heavy on mischief, rants, and reluctant holiday spirit. The highlight is an interview with David Henrie (best known as Justin Russo from Disney’s Wizards of Waverly Place and its reboot, Wizards Beyond Waverly Place). The show careens through rants about holiday tourism, absurd toy reviews, family and loneliness, and the joys/terrors of Christmas traditions—all laced with The Grinch’s barbed humor and surprisingly poignant moments.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Grinch’s Mount Crumpit Woes and Tourism Rant (02:32–06:41)

• The Grinch gripes about his once-private Mount Crumpit becoming a tourist destination, thanks to Whoville’s historical society.
  • Quote: "My precious... Out of the way... High up in the sky, Mount Crumpet Oasis has become a... tourist destination. Yuck." (03:24 - The Grinch)
• He complains about hikers, bathroom requests, selfie sticks, and a plaque that insults him.
• Cindy Lou Who informs The Grinch that rock climber Alex Honnold is scaling Mount Crumpit. In response, The Grinch prepares to pelt climbers with cans of soup for self-defense.
  • Memorable Moment: Soup attack sfx and banter about pelting climbers. (06:18)

Hottest Holiday Toys Satire (06:41–10:34)

• Grinch launches into a satirical rundown of “must-have” (often dangerous or deranged) holiday toys:
  • "Bag of Bees"—literally just bees in a bag.
    • Quote: “Kids will be saying oh yes when they unleash this bag of chaos in the form of 200 honeybees.” (07:54 - Grinch)
  • Junior Nuclear Power Plant Kit—nixed by Cindy Lou for obvious reasons.
  • "Poke a Man"—an extendable poking finger inspired by Pokémon, used to poke Max the dog.
  • Cindy Lou introduces “Tickle Me Grinch,” a hilariously on-the-nose toy disturbingly modeled on The Grinch’s persona, infuriating him:
    • Quote: “My belly's filled with Christmas joy. No! Shut it down. Blow this whole thing up. This is an infringement... This is a disastrophe.” (10:18 - Grinch)

Interview: David Henrie on Family, Wizards Beyond, and Christmas (12:25–22:22)

Wizards Magic in Whoville

• The Grinch asks if Henrie’s magic could “mute all the Christmas noise in Whoville.”
  • David dodges, insisting he doesn’t want to use magic to hurt people. (13:15–13:36)
  • Quote: “Why are we going to use magic to hurt people, Mr. Grinch?” (13:18 - David Henrie)

Henrie Discusses Christmas Traditions

• David shares his family’s matching pajamas ritual and talks about the true beauty of the holiday: togetherness, love, and moving past loneliness.
  • Quote: “One of the most beautiful parts about Christmas is being together with your family and sharing love and letting go of loneliness.” (14:04 - David Henrie)

Wizards, the Reboot, and Found Family

• "Wizards Beyond Waverly Place" aims to blend nostalgia with new themes for today's kids, focused on found family versus blood family.

  • Quote: “This notion that family has to be blood. That’s an antiquated thought... This new show... is all about found family.” (15:57 - David Henrie)
  • The Grinch resists, emphasizing the joy of solo activities but admits Max and Cindy Lou are his accidental family.

• Selena Gomez is confirmed as Henrie’s “Cindy Lou” in real life and in creative partnership. They’ve modernized their show with more serialized and dramatic elements.

  • Quote: “She is so sweet... we were just joking about what our characters would be up to present day.” (17:09 - David Henrie)

Comedy Pitch Segment

• The Grinch pitches an escalatingly absurd, dark version of Wizards directed by Scorsese, with De Niro and mob themes.
  • Quote: “He shoots like a five-hour dramatic retelling of Wizards... It’s a oner. Kids love those.” (18:00 - Grinch)

Family, Prime Rib, and The Grinch’s Growing Heart

• Discussion about David’s children, especially his son James being born on Christmas Day and the family’s “James Prime Rib” tradition.
  • Quote: “The magic of Christmas sprinkled with a little boy’s birthday.” (19:53 - David Henrie)
• Grinch emotionally admits his heart is “growing”—with silly, physical comedy (demands for Henrie to "shake him").
  • Memorable Moment: Heart swelling and comedy CPR. (20:10–20:28)

"Box of Joy" and Charity

• David describes his work with Box of Joy, bringing gifts to children in need, sharing a moving story of a boy giving his last gift to his sister.
  • Quote: “The first thing he did... he ran and found his sister. And he gave it right to his sister because she didn’t get one. And the joy of seeing his sister open up that box... It was beautiful.” (21:39 - David Henrie)
• Grinch’s heart swells yet again.

Wrapping Up

• The Grinch closes the interview with gratitude and characteristic self-pity, reflecting on the journey of the episode.
  • Quote: “I’ve had dual cardiac events, and I will forever associate that with you.” (22:07 - Grinch)

Grinch vs Cindy Lou: Grinch-a-palooza Updates, Fashion Fiasco (22:27–26:42)

• A narrative segment updates listeners on the “Grinch-a-palooza” vs Whoville tree-lighting rivalry plot.
• Grinch tries on a series of increasingly outlandish holiday outfits with Whoville’s flamboyant stylist Janet Jeannette.
  • Red/white skin-tight bodysuit, sunburned festival look, and finally an elaborate tuxedo with bells, candy cane lapels, a toy train, and a “real monkey” in a transparent top hat.
  • Memorable Moment: “You look like a spaghetti and meatball dinner crammed into an uninflated balloon.” (24:51 - Grinch)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “My precious... High up in the sky, Mount Crumpit Oasis has become a... tourist destination. Yuck.” (03:24 - Grinch)
• “Kids will be saying oh yes when they unleash this bag of chaos in the form of 200 honeybees.” (07:54 - Grinch)
• “My belly's filled with Christmas joy. No! Shut it down. Blow this whole thing up. This is an infringement... This is a disastrophe.” (10:18 - Grinch, on “Tickle Me Grinch”)
• “The thing about loneliness, Grinch, is it doesn't make the sadness go away.” (14:08 - David Henrie)
• “Family doesn't have to be blood... you can find the family you were always intended to have.” (16:09 - David Henrie)
• “Would you say Selena is the Cindy Lou Who to your Grinch?” “Yes, she's definitely my Cindy Lou Who.” (17:07 - Grinch & David Henrie)
• “My heart's growing, dude.” (20:10 - Grinch)
• *[Heart swelling, demanding David shake him to reset heartbeat] (20:13, 21:55 - recurring gag)
• “That tuxedo's got candy-cane lapels and a real monkey in a clear top hat.” (25:45 - Janet Jeannette/Grinch)

Timestamps for Main Segments

• Tourism & Grinch Rant: 02:32–06:41
• Absurd Holiday Toy Showcase: 06:41–10:34
• David Henrie Interview: 12:25–22:22
  • Wizards Magic Chat: 12:25–13:36
  • Christmas Traditions: 13:48–14:33
  • Found Family: 14:59–16:09
  • Show Revamp & Selena Gomez: 17:09–18:24
  • David’s Kids/Traditions: 18:50–20:10
  • Box of Joy Charity: 20:47–21:48
• Grinch-a-palooza Fashion Montage: 23:03–26:42

Tone & Style

The tone is quick-fire, satirical, and meta—filled with snark, rampant wordplay, and heartfelt sincerity emerging from unexpected places. The Grinch’s world-weary, anti-holiday perspective is counterbalanced by Cindy Lou and David Henrie’s warmth, culminating in comic barbs about loneliness, the holidays, and family, but always circling back to the inevitable—Grinch’s heart growing a little more each time.

Summary in a Nutshell:
A very Grinchy, absurdist, and surprisingly sweet holiday episode spotlighting David Henrie’s journey from Disney wizard to family man and charitable giver, all while The Grinch tries (with little success) to maintain his misery amidst mounting friendship and holiday joy.