Story by Amy Turner, Staff writer
Photo courtesy of Loree Stark
The temperature is dropping and the Christmas spirit is rising. This leads many to want to curl up and watch some Hallmark Christmas movies.
Loree Stark and husband Rob Bricken are doing just that with their podcast “A Very Hallmark Christmas” reviewing the year’s new Christmas releases.
Stark, a 2003 Murray State graduate, is a legal director for the American Civil Liberties Union of West Virginia. After a long day at work she said she enjoys spending time with Bricken and doing something fun.
“It has taught me that I really have to make time for myself to pursue recreational activities and do something that is fun,” Stark said. “In the work that I’m in it is very easy to take it home and work a ton of hours every day. Having this means I have to commit to doing something else; I have to learn to make more time for things like that.”
The podcasts are around an hour long and go through an in-depth critique of the movie. Stark said she originally thought she wouldn’t like the movies but both she and her husband have learned to enjoy some of them.
“A Very Hallmark Christmas” is on its second season, with new podcasts coming out as the new movies are released. The podcast averages 1,000 to 1,500 listeners but neither Stark nor Bricken are too concerned with the numbers, for them this is an enjoyable side project.
“For me the best part of it is that it gives me something to focus on outside of work, last year when we started the podcast I had broken my hip.” Stark said. “I was stuck in our apartment for six weeks and it was a really great way for me to have something to pass the time. Now it is a fun way to concentrate on stuff outside of work. And to spend time with my husband that is different than we would normally spend time the rest of the year.”
She said they began to invite guests onto the podcast but ultimately decided to stick to the husband and wife duo. At the end of each podcast they rank the movie in the Christmas lineup.
According to their website, listeners have to tune in to find out which rugged men and flustered big-city career women will make the cut and join the Hallmark Cinematic Universe of 2018.
This podcast can be found through their website: A Very Hallmark Christmas, Apple Podcast or through other podcast-listening services apps. Stark also posts her favorite screenshots from the movie on her instagram account @Loree_Stark.