Hope is Kindled
A podcast devoted to the way stories shape us, sharpen us, and sometimes… save us.
Hope is Kindled is a literary podcast that explores classic and powerful works of literature through the lens of self-discovery, moral reflection, and enduring hope. Each episode delves into a single book, essay, or story, examining its themes, characters, and psychological depth, and connects it to timeless questions about the human condition.
What makes the podcast unique is its blend of literary criticism and warmth. It uses biographical, psychological, and historical criticism, along with personal reflection and cultural commentary—including references to Doctor Who, The Muppets, and classic film.
Please let us know what you think of our episodes, if you have any ideas for future episodes or to share your experiences looking searching for hope in the literary world.
Hope is Kindled
A Christmas Carol
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
Tonight on Hope is Kindled, we step into the snow-dusted streets of Victorian London and revisit one of the most enduring stories ever told: A Christmas Carol. Through Dickens’ words, and the many ways this story has echoed through popular culture, we explore why Ebenezer Scrooge’s journey still speaks to us today.
This episode blends literary insight, cultural reflection, and heartfelt analysis as we look at kindness, accountability, redemption, and the quiet hope that lives inside second chances. From timeless passages on the page to beloved adaptations across generations, we ask why this story never stops mattering, and what it still asks of us.
We must now and forevermore remember, if the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come stands near us tonight, it is not to condemn, but to invite us, to soften what has grown hard, to heal what has been divided, and to remember that even small acts of goodness can change the shape of what lies ahead.
This episode is dedicated to my friend Mike, who always believed in me and helped me to believe in myself.
