The Holiday Specials We Love

Heal Squad

Welcome back, fellow Holiday fanatics, escapists, and nostalgics! It's Season 4 of the newly rebranded The Holiday Specials We Love Podcast! Join us on a walk down memory lane as the HSWL hosts break down all your favorite specials, shows, and movies, covering all aspects of Holidays past and present. Our two-part mission is one: to keep the spirit alive by preserving and promoting these great works. Part two of our mission is to lengthen the spirit of joy and giving that we have all come to know this time of year. At HSWL, we do tons of work and research to prep for our shows, too. You can help support us and our mission by subscribing and giving us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts. Comments? Suggestions? Text us at 351-251-2511 Tawk Shawtly!

  1. Easter Sunday SetUp Simulcast

    22H AGO

    Easter Sunday SetUp Simulcast

    Hey HSWL FANS! On this Holiday Specials We Love, we are simulcasting a Heal Squad Sunday Setup — Easter nostalgia, childhood memory, cultural debates, and a surprisingly deep dive into forgiveness (with a quick stop at Liberace’s ceiling… but we digress). We talk Easter growing up. The outfits. The patent leather shoes. The “don’t get dirty.” The long, quiet afternoon where nothing is open, nothing is on TV, and you’re just… stuck. Kev delivers the take: Catholics get Christmas. Greeks get Easter. We break down the differences. Baskets vs. candles. Bunnies vs. midnight services. Candy vs. lamb, music, and full-on celebration. What each version gets right — and what maybe doesn’t quite hit. We also get into the bigger question. What do you do when someone you know — or respect — turns out to have done something bad? Forgiveness. Boundaries. Case by case. Real talk. Then… Liberace. The house. The ceiling. The ego. The music. Because we digress AGAIN! We wrap with Easter traditions today — sunrise services, egg hunts, family dinners, and keeping a little fun in the mix no matter what stage of life you’re in. Big shout-out to super fan George for starting our social media pages back up! Please give us a follow on Facebook: The Holiday Specials We Love And Instagram: The Holiday Specials we Love Also- HUGE SHOUTOUT to Holden Rose Brewer for our AMAZING new outro music that he composed specially for us! Check him out at: https://www.holdenbrewerproductions.com/ As always, please give us a 5-star review on Apple. Text us your thoughts at 351 251 2511 Talk Shawtly

    1h 20m
  2. Heal Squad RGF Simulcast- Kev Talks St. Paddy's Day

    MAR 20

    Heal Squad RGF Simulcast- Kev Talks St. Paddy's Day

    Hey HSWL FANS! A little Bonus Kev time as we simulcast a little RGF St. Paddy's Day Edition! Kev takes us from holiday energy and Boston traditions into one of his wildest Kev-on-the-Scene stories yet.... He talks nostalgia (parades, opening day, people coming back to life) and then he goes deep on the Caribbean Festival in Boston, no spoilers here- you must tune in!!!. Underneath the insanity is something real: how people in power can treat others like they don’t matter, why trusting your instincts can save you, and how staying calm under pressure can make all the difference when things go sideways. As always, text your thoughts to 351-251-2511, and don’t forget to leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts. We'll Talk Shawtly!

    41 min
  3. Ribbon Candy and Revenge Oscars: An RGF Simulcast

    FEB 27

    Ribbon Candy and Revenge Oscars: An RGF Simulcast

    Hey The Holiday Specials We Love fans, we are simulcasting a little RGF from the Heal Squad — We go deep into Mary Poppins lore — Walt waiting for Julie Andrews, the Oscar revenge arc, and why sometimes patience (and instinct) beats studio executives. We detour through Chuck Barris buying a bar out of spite, the slow demise of the newspaper comics page, we talk reality TV ethics sparked by America's Next Top Model. We talk snowstorms, Netflix deep dives, kid influencers, and the fine line between tough love and cultural time travel. Then — as always — we land whereit matters most: candy. Bazooka vs. Double Bubble. Wintergreen supremacy. Canada Mints making a comeback. Jordan almonds as decorative betrayal. And a butterscotch sundae so transcendent it nearly required a moment of silence. Cherry Red Boy, the ribbon candy conversation continues. As always, text your thoughts (Bazooka or Double Bubble?) to 351-251-2511, and don’t forget to leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts. We'll Talk Shawtly!

    1h 10m
  4. Rich Candy Poor Candy an RGF Simulcast

    FEB 20

    Rich Candy Poor Candy an RGF Simulcast

    On this episode of The Holiday Specials We Love, we simulcast a little RGF from the Heal Squad! We go deep into the great chocolate divide: Hershey vs. Toblerone, plain bar vs. triangular prestige, and why sometimes the snap of a classic Hershey square still wins. We talk frozen York Peppermint Patties, Andes Mints as the rare “free chocolate” victory, and the movie theater trifecta — Snow Caps, Raisinets, Goobers — with a strong defense of sweet-and-salty as a time-honored cinematic tradition. We dip into Bomb Pops and ice cream truck economics, and the sudden cultural rise of pistachio chocolate. We digress to talk, ski ball, and ice cream novelties. We talk about energy vampires online and the art of not taking the bait. We reflect on acting class, unexpected encouragement, and what it feels like to try something new without knowing where it leads. And we touch on that late-winter stretch — the in-between season — when you’re waiting for spring, Opening Day, and the next wave of holiday momentum. As always, text your thoughts (Hershey or Toblerone?) to 351-251-2511, and don’t forget to leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts. Talk Shawtly!

    1h 11m
  5. Potluck Saturday Valentines Day Simulcast

    FEB 14

    Potluck Saturday Valentines Day Simulcast

    Hey HSWL FANS! Happy Valentine’s Potluck! It wouldn't be potluck with out our fave-Hot Buttered Popcorn dancers and why they should be the next Super Bowl halftime show. We go deep into all things Valentine's Day! We talk Roman festival chaos to St. Valentine legends to the greeting-card takeover (shoutout Esther Howland), plus standardized lace, ribbons, and UGH! Cupid….Love and light to the Cupid community. We talk Cadbury vs. Hershey (aka the chocolate Hatfields and McCoys), candy hearts, Spree vs Sweethearts, and the brutal truth about damage to your tooth enamel if you are over-served. And yes, we digress to discuss: doilies. What are they? Why do they exist? Why are they always dusty? If you’re under 80, we have questions. We talk elementary school Valentine trauma, carnations in high school, and we all agree: Valentine’s Day is basically the Day of Dread. As always, please give us a 5-star review on Apple. Text us your thoughts at 351-251-2511. We’ll Talk Shawtly

    28 min
  6. The Holiday Specials We Love: Candy, Mints, and the Five-Cent Decision

    JAN 30

    The Holiday Specials We Love: Candy, Mints, and the Five-Cent Decision

    Hey HSWL FANS! On this The Holiday Specials We Love, we are simulcasting a Heal Squad Regular Guy Friday with — candy history, childhood memory, Hollywood mess, and why certain things just don’t work the way they used to. We correct a major oversight and talk Life Savers. The rolls. The hole. Pep-o-mint, Wint-O-Green, butter rum. Checkout counters, impulse buys, and whether Life Savers have been quietly pushed down. Cherry opinions. Mint loyalty. The rich-kid Life Saver gift packs. Old gum, novelty candy, and flavors you remember forever — sometimes for the wrong reasons. Gumballs at the bottom. Screwballs vs. Cannonballs. Circus Fun. Push-Ups. Why half of childhood treats were about the prize, not the taste. We also talk sick kids, late nights, steam showers, middle-of-the-night cleanups, and the moment you know everything’s fine again — when a kid looks at you and says, “Get up.” We pivot to talk Hollywood. The Ryan Reynolds / Blake Lively / Justin Baldoni situation, power plays, public pile-ons, and why the old Hollywood rules don’t seem to apply anymore. Tiki bars. Bar-arcades. Neon lights. Why vibe matters. Why independence matters. As always, please give us a 5-star review on Apple. Text us your thoughts at 351 251 2511 Talk Shawtly

    1h 1m
  7. Merry Christmas Eve

    12/24/2025

    Merry Christmas Eve

    Hey HSWL FANS! Merry Christmas Eve Holiday Specials We Love Fans, coming to you from our phones and cars as we squeeze in the must-needed Christmas Eve chat. We talk the catering, colored lights, cookies, candies and a little Kardashians. Kev is on the seen with Elf Emily at the Mart reporting on the status of the decoration availability. We talk the much anticipated Cookies of the Past Podcast launch, why fried dough is better than any holiday extravagant dessert display and why it really is all A few shout outs- a few laughs and a bit of MPedness.This one is raw- no edits- so if there please be patient with any flubs. Merry Christmas Eve! As always, please give us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts. Text us your thoughts at 351 251 2511 and find us on Patreon. Talk Shawtly.

    33 min
  8. Merry Christmas Eve Eve

    12/23/2025

    Merry Christmas Eve Eve

    Hey HSWL FANS! Merry Christmas Eve Eve Holiday Specials We Love Fans, coming to you from our phones as we squeeze in one more holiday chat. We talk the true meaning of the season, give an update on the progress of getting Rankin/Bass their duly deserved Star on the Hollywood walk of fame, and talk and how holiday spirit shouldn’t end when December 25th does. We talk Boxing Day — what it actually is, why it needs better branding — and how Kwanzaa perfectly carries the season through the post-Christmas week. Why Church shouldn’t be from 6 to 8 and then AGAIN, the next day- and how choosing between that and hanging with Dad and friends will empower your kids. We talk Christmas Eve expectations, and why this time of year should be about joy, generosity, family, and kids in pajamas — not obligation or guilt. Keep pressing to make this day official – with “and so unto you” as your response! As always, please give us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts. Text us your thoughts at 351 251 2511 and find us on Patreon. Talk Shawtly.

    28 min
See All (71)

4.7
out of 5
135 Ratings

About

Welcome back, fellow Holiday fanatics, escapists, and nostalgics! It's Season 4 of the newly rebranded The Holiday Specials We Love Podcast! Join us on a walk down memory lane as the HSWL hosts break down all your favorite specials, shows, and movies, covering all aspects of Holidays past and present. Our two-part mission is one: to keep the spirit alive by preserving and promoting these great works. Part two of our mission is to lengthen the spirit of joy and giving that we have all come to know this time of year. At HSWL, we do tons of work and research to prep for our shows, too. You can help support us and our mission by subscribing and giving us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts. Comments? Suggestions? Text us at 351-251-2511 Tawk Shawtly!

Information

  • Creator
    Heal Squad
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    71
  • Copyright
    © Maria Menounos

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