ABC Podcasts
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Sam tries to save Christmas
Sam tries to save Christmas
Sam tries to save Christmas
Tuesday 30th July 2024
Sam Elkin's journey through family drama and self-discovery during Christmas. A heartfelt tale of love, acceptance, and finding joy in unexpected places.
26 minutes
Honest
Supportive
Engaging
Compassionate
Non-judgmental
About this podcast
Author:
ABC Podcasts
Overview:
Categories:
Sobriety Success Stories
Relationships & Community
Empowering Recovery Journeys
Family Recovery from Addiction
Comedic Journeys
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Episodes:
126 (View all)
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Get the buttons here!Sam Elkin's Quest for a Merry Christmas
Episode Overview
- Navigating complicated family dynamics during holidays.
- The impact of childhood experiences on adult perceptions of Christmas.
- Challenges and emotional toll of gender transition within a family context.
- Finding acceptance and support within the queer community.
- Creating new family traditions that bring joy and connection.
Are you going to get a penis stitched on?
Sam Elkin's story is one that many can relate to, especially those who find the holiday season more stressful than joyful. Growing up in a family that never quite embraced Christmas, Sam's early attempts to get into the festive spirit were met with cicadas instead of sleigh bells. As a child of divorce, Christmases became even more complicated, filled with different family dramas and awkward dynamics.
But Sam's story isn't just about the past; it's also about his journey to find a sense of belonging and peace during the holidays. In this episode of 'Days Like These — True Stories,' reporter Hanna Rees dons a Santa hat to explore whether Christmas can be salvaged for Sam. It's 2016, and Sam is newly in love with Gemma. He decides to take her home to Western Australia for Christmas, hoping that this year will be different.
The trip is filled with a mix of optimism and dread, as Sam faces the familiar tensions and dysfunctions of his family. The episode takes listeners through the highs and lows of this holiday visit, from arriving to find that the family had already eaten Christmas lunch without them, to Sam's decision to never return for another family Christmas.
Alongside this, Sam grapples with the significant life change of transitioning his gender, adding another layer of complexity to his family interactions. But it's not all doom and gloom. The episode also highlights Sam's experience at a queer Christmas breakfast in Melbourne and his first Christmas with Gemma's Italian family, where he finds warmth, acceptance, and a lot of lasagna.
Through these contrasting experiences, Sam realises that family isn't just about blood relations; it's about finding people who accept and support you for who you are. This episode is a poignant reminder that while the holidays can be tough, they can also offer moments of connection and joy in the most unexpected places. If you've ever felt out of place during the festive season, Sam's story might just resonate with you.