Merry Christmas — and welcome to a special holiday episode of Waterproof Records.

Whether you’re listening on Christmas Day, sneaking away from family chaos with earbuds in, or finding this episode weeks (or months) later — this one’s meant to feel like a personal Christmas mixtape made just for you.

In this special holiday episode, I share 10 Christmas songs that live a little outside the standard holiday playlist. Some are joyful. Some are nostalgic. Some are emotional gut-punches. And some might surprise you. This is less “department store Christmas” and more music that actually meant something to me.

We talk about:

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  Why alternative & 90s-leaning Christmas songs deserve more love

  
  


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  Building a Christmas mixtape with a Side A / Side B flow

  
  


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  The Smashing Pumpkins, Weezer, Jimmy Eat World, Low, Run-DMC, Chris Cornell, and more

  
  


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  Why certain songs hit harder as we get older

  
  


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  Christmas memories, belief systems, loss, hope, and finding meaning through music

  
  

This episode is about what music does to us during the holidays — the joy, the sadness, the reflection, and the kindness we wish lasted all year long.

So throw on your headphones, step out of the noise for a bit, and join me for Jacob’s Christmas Mixtape.

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