MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR. THAT’S US… OR IS IT? | TDA - E868

On the final show before the Christmas break, the team ease into festive mode while still covering a wide range of cultural, political and social conversations. The episode opens with a light but revealing discussion about lying, why people do it, when it feels justified, and how insecurity often sits at the centre of unnecessary exaggeration. From there, the room swaps personal stories, childhood scars and football injuries, reflecting on how identity shifts when the thing you love most is taken away.

The conversation then turns cultural, with a discussion around African inspired products and branding, followed by a powerful segment on Christmas narratives. The team unpack controversial claims around the origins of Christmas, debate Hebrew Israelite interpretations, and openly challenge rhetoric that alienates rather than educates. This leads into a sobering historical reflection on Christmas for enslaved Black Americans, highlighting how the festive season once functioned as both a brief moment of relief and a strategic window for escape, with Harriet Tubman’s story standing out as a reminder of resistance and courage.

Headlines cover a wide spectrum, including domestic violence allegations involving British aristocracy, Ukraine’s financial crisis, changes to US cannabis policy, concerns over hunger striking activists, digital ID security fears, and debates around sentencing in violent public attacks. The show also touches on celebrity news, public shaming, workplace ethics, and whether society is too quick or too selective when it comes to moral judgement.

The episode closes on a reflective note, with the hosts sharing their personal Christmas rituals, favourite films, and the importance of rest, family and intention setting before the new year.

A thoughtful, wide ranging episode that blends humour, history, accountability and reflection as TDA signs off for the festive break.