St. Nicholas history and persecution

What if Santa Claus wasn’t just a character… but a calling?

In this unforgettable episode of The Chris Stefanick Show, I sit down with one of my oldest and dearest friends, Eddie Cotter, Jr.—a longtime Catholic youth minister who unexpectedly took on the role of Santa Claus and eventually ended up appearing as Santa at Rockefeller Center in New York City!

What starts as a fun conversation turns into something deeply moving as Eddie tells the story of how he became Santa Claus for his autistic grandson, attended the Harvard of Santa training schools, and has had some truly magical experiences serving in this beloved role.

And then… Eddie steps out, and Santa Claus himself walks in for an exclusive interview!

Yes. I really interviewed Santa Claus. And yes…I cried.

Santa gets deep as we delve into the history of St. Nicholas, the backstories behind some well-known Christmas traditions and legends, and how Santa Claus points us to the real reason for the season—the greatest gift of all. This episode is about hope, goodness, repentance, and the deep truth behind Christmas—that God really did come into the world, and love still wins.

You do not want to miss this one.

HIGHLIGHTS

00:00 – Intro

02:51 – How Eddie first felt called to become Santa

06:14 – The moment Santa changed Eddie’s autistic grandson’s life

07:17 – “Lord… if You want me to do this, I’m in”

09:05 – Santa school is WAY more intense than you think

14:35 – Why being Santa makes you a better Christian

17:42 – The Rockefeller Center Santa moment

19:37 – “I’ll never live long enough to give back that much love”

31:39 – Santa Claus walks into the studio

36:38 – What it means to be Santa Claus

37:40 – Redemption from the Naughty List

39:12 – The Legend of Receiving Coal

41:20 – The Story of St. Nicholas

46:10 – St. Nick Bows Before the King (A New York Story)

49:54 – Santa's Outift Explained

52:53 – How He Does It All In One Night

59:55 – Milk and Cookies

1:03:01 – Be A Giver

1:04:54 – Santa's Message to Those Struggling This Christmas

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Learn more about Eddie's work:

Eddie's ministry: https://deadtheologianssociety.com
Eddie's book: https://deadtheologianssociety.com/product/wisdom-inspiration-from-the-saints-in-a-sentence/
Email Santa: santa@santaclauseddie.com
Book Santa Claus Eddie: santaclauseddie.com

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