Global Reveals Festive Christmas Podcast Schedule for 2025 | Full Line-Up
As the holiday season approaches, Global has officially revealed its Christmas podcast line-up for 2025, offering listeners a diverse mix of festive specials, reflective conversations, comedy highlights and limited-run series designed to accompany audiences throughout December and into the New Year.
Available exclusively via Global Player, the festive schedule brings together some of Global’s most popular podcast brands alongside timely seasonal content, catering to audiences seeking everything from comfort listening and laughter to thoughtful analysis and cultural commentary.
A Festive Podcast Line-Up Designed for the Holiday Season
Global’s Christmas podcast strategy this year focuses on variety and accessibility, ensuring there is something for every mood during the festive period. The schedule spans from early December through the first days of January, blending:
Short-form wellness content
Seasonal editions of flagship news podcasts
Comedy countdowns and pop culture recaps
End-of-year reflections and audience-led discussions
All content is available on demand, allowing listeners to tune in around busy holiday routines.
You’re Wrong About ADHD Launches Festive Audio Advent Series
The Christmas podcast schedule officially began on 1 December with a special seasonal spin-off of You’re Wrong About ADHD titled:
You’re Wrong About ADHD: Your 12-Day Countdown to a Calmer Christmas
Running through 23 December, the series is designed as a festive audio advent calendar, offering practical and emotional support for people navigating Christmas while living with ADHD.
What listeners can expect:
Twelve short episodes, released across December
Episodes lasting two to five minutes, ideal for busy days
Guidance on managing:
Holiday expectations
Disrupted routines
Sensory overload
Emotional pressure during festive gatherings
The series positions itself as a calm, reassuring companion during one of the most intense times of the year, reflecting a broader industry trend towards wellbeing-focused podcast content during the holidays.
James O’Brien Daily Returns with Seasonal Programming
From 22 December through 2 January, James O’Brien Daily returns with a festive twist, giving audiences the opportunity to revisit one of the show’s most popular formats: Mastery Hour.
Hosted by James O’Brien, the seasonal episodes allow listeners to take control of the conversation by selecting discussion topics, creating a more interactive and reflective listening experience during the holiday break.
Why Mastery Hour resonates:
Audience-driven agenda
In-depth discussion of topical and timeless issues
A slower, more reflective pace suited to the festive period
The return of James O’Brien Daily during Christmas highlights Global’s commitment to maintaining news-led conversation, even during traditionally lighter listening weeks.
Christiane Amanpour and Jamie Rubin Reflect on the Biggest Stories of 2025
On 23 December, Global releases a Christmas special episode of:
Christiane Amanpour Presents: The Ex Files
Hosted by Christiane Amanpour and political analyst Jamie Rubin, the festive edition looks back on the most significant global news stories of 2025.
Key themes of the Christmas special include:
Contextualising major international events
Examining political shifts and global tensions
Reflecting on how global narratives shaped public discourse
Rather than breaking news, the episode focuses on analysis and perspective, offering listeners a moment of reflection at the close of a fast-moving year.
Comedy Takes Centre Stage on Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve brings a lighter tone to the Global Player line-up with a festive run from comedy podcast:
Shouldn’t Laugh But with Laura Smyth and Carmen Butcher – 12 Laughs of Christmas
The seasonal special revisits twelve of the most viral, awkward and outrageous moments from the past year, drawing from pop culture, celebrity mishaps and internet-breaking clips.
Highlights include:
Headline-grabbing celebrity moments
Cringe-worthy viral videos
Unfiltered comedic reactions
Across twelve laugh-out-loud episodes, the comedy duo aim to inject humour and levity into the festive build-up, offering an escape from heavy news cycles.
Full Disclosure Returns with Archive Interviews
James O’Brien appears again in Global’s festive schedule with Full Disclosure, returning on 26 December and 2 January.
The episodes feature two carefully selected interviews from the archive, originally recorded in 2020, including conversations with:
Dawn French
Daniel Radcliffe
The festive re-releases allow newer audiences to discover long-form interviews, while existing listeners revisit thoughtful conversations during a quieter listening period.
We Can Be Weirdos Celebrates the End of the Year
Fans of the unusual and unexplained are also catered for, with We Can Be Weirdos releasing end-of-year specials on 27 December and 3 January.
Hosted by Dan Schreiber, the episodes include:
A listener Q&A
Reflections on the year’s strangest stories
A look ahead to unusual New Year’s resolutions from around the world
The specials continue the podcast’s tradition of embracing curiosity and eccentricity, making it a natural fit for festive listening.
Crime Podcasts Join the Festive Line-Up
Crime fans are not left out of Global’s Christmas programming, with The Crime Agents releasing seasonal specials on 23 December and 30 December.
Titled 12 Crimes of Christmas, the episodes see hosts Andy Hughes and Neil Basu:
Review the year’s biggest crime stories
Analyse major investigations from 2025
Turn the tables on each other in an extended Q&A
The festive crime specials balance serious journalism with conversational insight, offering a reflective look at the year in crime.
A Balanced Mix of News, Comedy and Culture
Global’s 2025 Christmas podcast line-up demonstrates a clear strategy: meet listeners wherever they are emotionally during the holidays.
Across Global Player, audiences can choose from:
Calm, supportive content
In-depth news analysis
Comedy and pop culture escapism
Reflective year-end conversations
By staggering releases across December and early January, Global ensures continued engagement throughout the festive season.
Why Global’s Christmas Podcast Strategy Matters
Podcast listening traditionally spikes during holiday downtime, and Global’s schedule reflects an understanding of changing listener habits.
Key strengths of the line-up include:
Short-form content for busy days
On-demand flexibility
Familiar voices with seasonal twists
Cross-genre appeal
The result is a comprehensive festive audio offering, positioning Global Player as a central destination for holiday listening.
Where to Listen
All shows in Global’s Christmas podcast schedule are available now and throughout the festive period on Global Player.
