logo
episode-header-image
Dec 2024
9m 2s

Episode 508 || Yes, Virginia

The Bookshelf Thomasville
About this episode

This week on From the Front Porch, Annie’s dad, Chris Butterworth, reads the New York Sun reporter Francis P. Church’s timeless response to eight-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon’s question: “Is there a Santa Claus?” Read the letter from 1897 and learn about its history here.

From the Front Porch is a weekly podcast production of The Bookshelf, an independent bookstore in South Georgia. You can follow The Bookshelf’s daily happenings on Instagram, Tiktok, and Facebook, and all the books from today’s episode can be purchased online through our store website, www.bookshelfthomasville.com

A full transcript of today’s episode can be found here.

Special thanks to Dylan and his team at Studio D Podcast Production for sound and editing and for our theme music, which sets the perfect warm and friendly tone for our Thursday conversations. 

If you liked what you heard in today’s episode, tell us by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. You can also support us on Patreon, where you can access bonus content, monthly live Porch Visits with Annie, our monthly live Patreon Book Club with Bookshelf staffers, Conquer a Classic episodes with Hunter, and more. Just go to patreon.com/fromthefrontporch.

We’re so grateful for you, and we look forward to meeting back here next week.

Our Executive Producers are...Jennifer Bannerton, Stephanie Dean, Linda Lee Drozt, Ashley Ferrell, Susan Hulings, Wendi Jenkins, Martha, Nicole Marsee, Gene Queens, Cammy Tidwell, and Amanda Whigham.

Up next
Jul 3
Episode 536 || Best Books of the Year (So Far) with Hunter Mclendon
This week on From the Front Porch, Annie and Hunter discuss the best books of 2025 (so far)! To purchase the books mentioned in this episode, stop by The Bookshelf in Thomasville, visit our website (search episode 536) or download and shop on The Bookshelf’s official app: Annie's ... Show More
1h 4m
Jun 26
Episode 535 || What Would Susie Read
This week on From the Front Porch, Annie is chatting with her mom, Susie, about books for readers with PG-13 tastes. You get 10% off the Susie-approved reads mentioned in this episode when you use code SHOPMOMSELECTS at checkout online and in-store! To purchase the books mentione ... Show More
47m 28s
Jun 19
Episode 534 || Off the Shelf with Annie and Ashley: Summer 2025
This week on From the Front Porch, it's an episode of Off the Shelf with Annie & Ashley, formerly known as Kids' Table! It's the same banter and book talk you love with a fresh new name. Annie is joined by friend, cousin, and former colleague, Ashley Sherlock, to chat about what ... Show More
54m 29s
Recommended Episodes
Dec 2024
S22: NoSleep Podcast Holiday Hiatus 2024 #1
The NoSleep Podcast is taking a Christmas break but that doesn't mean there aren't some Christmas specials to enjoy! "Christmas Santa" written by Jill Benson (Story starts around 00:05:30) Produced & scored by: David Cummings Cast: Narrator - Peter Lewis, Police Officer - Erin Li ... Show More
2h 4m
Nov 2024
NoSleep Podcast Halloween 2024 Hiatus 02
With the Halloween season over for another year, the NoSleep Podcast team is taking a couple of weeks off. But remain fearful, we have tales from our Sleepless Sanctuary Premium episodes to keep the horror rolling into November. "Never Be Hungry Again" written by Fiona McKenna (S ... Show More
1h 22m
Jan 2025
S22: NoSleep Podcast Holiday Hiatus 2024 #2
The NoSleep Podcast wraps up our holiday break with stories about losing your mind! "Regarding the Diagnosis and Treatment of Changeling Disorder (Marquardt's Disease)" written by Larry Allen Tyler (Story starts around 00:04:30) Produced & scored by: David Cummings Cast: Narrator ... Show More
1h 12m
Jan 2025
S22 Ep7: NoSleep Podcast S22E07
It's Episode 07 of Season 22. The voices are calling with tales of strange strangers. "In the Dark There Is a Hand" written by Michael Paul Kozlowsky (Story starts around 00:03:30) Produced by: Phil Michalski Cast: Narrator - Peter Lewis "Benson Bridge" written by Katelyn Barbee ... Show More
1h 12m
Dec 2024
S22 Ep2: NoSleep Podcast S22E02
It's Episode 02 of Season 22. The voices are calling with tales of sinister solutions. "Bank Deposits" written by Blair Daniels (Story starts around 00:04:00) TRIGGER WARNING! Produced by: Jeff Clement Cast: Lynn - Erin Lillis, Jerry - Kyle Akers "The 17" written by Adrian DeLeon ... Show More
1h 21m
Feb 2025
S22 Ep11: NoSleep Podcast S22E11
It's Episode 11 of Season 22. The voices are calling with tales of collegiate carnage. "Put on the Spot" written by Ryan Alleman (Story starts around 00:03:00) Produced by: Claudius Moore Cast: Kirk - Kyle Akers, Russ - Atticus Jackson, Owner - Graham Rowat, John - Jesse Cornett, ... Show More
1h 9m
Nov 2020
Epilogue: Martha Stewart Entertaining
Kristen & Jolenta respond to listener questions about Entertaining by Martha Stewart Kristen and Jolenta's new book How to be Fine is available now [amazon.com]. You can subscribe to Jolenta and Kristen's show, We Love You (And So Can You) on Stitcher, Apple Podcasts [podcasts.ap ... Show More
32 m
Apr 20
S22 Ep19: NoSleep Podcast S22E19
It's Episode 19 of Season 22. The voices are calling with tales of fraught fatalities. "Quack" written by Trent Snyder (Story starts around 00:03:25) TRIGGER WARNING! Produced by: Jeff Clement Cast: Narrator - Andy Cresswell, Boy's Father - David Ault "Trust Me" written by Travis ... Show More
1h 6m
Nov 2023
Season 6, Episode 15: Creating Bookish Community + Having Hobbies Outside of Reading
On this episode of Currently Reading, Meredith and Kaytee are discussing: Bookish Moments: creating bookish community in a new place and being bossed to read books NOW Current Reads: all the great, interesting, and/or terrible stuff we’ve been reading lately Deep Dive: how to hav ... Show More
53m 42s
Apr 27
S22 Ep20: NoSleep Podcast S22E20
It's Episode 20 of Season 22. The voices are calling with tales of insidious income. "Crowdsourced" written by Amanda Liefeld (Story starts around 00:03:25) Produced by: Phil Michalski Cast: Narrator - Linsay Rousseau, Becca - Mary Murphy, Security System - Mike DelGaudio "Hide a ... Show More
1h 4m