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What happens when the spirit of Christmas meets the grit and growth of Charleston? We sit with Santa Smiley to explore how a city of parades, tree lightings, and school snow machines turns tradition into connection. From Hotel Bennett teas to James Island’s lights, we map the rituals that make the Lowcountry feel like home, then dig into the deeper current beneath the glitter: storytelling as the engine of community.

Santa opens up about service with local police and fire departments, delivering toys to families in need and supporting firefighters through tough seasons. He talks candidly about the city’s rapid growth, how a shorter window between Thanksgiving and Christmas changes planning, and why belief isn’t childish—it’s a daily choice to expect good and create it. We trade cookie recipes, laugh about the laboo boo toy craze, and make room for real life: the surprise tow-truck saga, the search for the perfect Santa chair, and post-season reset plans that include beaches, theme parks, and scuba diving he learned right in Mount Pleasant.

We also share what’s next: the North Charleston Pops Sounds of the Season on December 20, where families gather for carols, cookies, and that elusive perfect Santa throne. Throughout, the focus stays on what works—clear stories, warm partnerships, and small acts that compound into big community. If you’ve been craving a reason to light the porch early, bake the cookies anyway, or invite a neighbor you barely know, this conversation is your sign. Press play, believe boldly, and help us keep the magic alive across Charleston.

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Support the show

Title Sponsor: Charleston American Marketing Association

Presenting Sponsor: Charleston Media Solutions

Sponsor: ‪SCRA; South Carolina Research Authority

Cohosts: Stephanie Barrow, Mike Compton, Rachel Backal, Tom Keppeler

Produced and edited: RMBO Advertising

Photographer | Co-host: Kelli Morse

Art Director: Taylor Ion

Score by: The Strawberry Entrée; Jerry Feels Good, CURRYSAUCE, DBLCRWN, DJ DollaMenu
Studio Engineer: Brian Cleary and Mathew Chase

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