1
00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:02,759
Speaker 1: I've been blessed with the opportunity to share conversations with

2
00:00:02,839 --> 00:00:05,960
each and every person who has appeared on NBC's The

3
00:00:06,040 --> 00:00:09,560
Voice from twenty sixteen to this present day. We now

4
00:00:09,599 --> 00:00:13,839
have it all on one podcast, that Voice. It's on

5
00:00:14,439 --> 00:00:18,600
Aro dot net A R. R Oe dot Net. Hello

6
00:00:18,640 --> 00:00:21,320
and good morning you two. How are you doing good?

7
00:00:21,399 --> 00:00:24,600
How are you absolutely fantastic and fired up to talk

8
00:00:24,640 --> 00:00:28,320
to you about the rise of Nicholas and the Noble because,

9
00:00:28,359 --> 00:00:29,800
I mean, this is the kind of stuff that we

10
00:00:29,839 --> 00:00:34,600
want right now. Christmas or the holidays are so the season,

11
00:00:35,039 --> 00:00:36,119
not the day.

12
00:00:38,439 --> 00:00:42,320
Speaker 2: Agreed completely, Yeah.

13
00:00:41,479 --> 00:00:44,039
Speaker 1: And to be talking about an elf on a shelf wa,

14
00:00:44,439 --> 00:00:47,200
I mean this is like all over Facebook and TikTok

15
00:00:47,240 --> 00:00:49,240
and stuff. I mean, you are so in tune with

16
00:00:49,280 --> 00:00:50,520
what's going on right now.

17
00:00:53,320 --> 00:00:56,079
Speaker 2: We really are, you know, we are, so we are

18
00:00:56,159 --> 00:00:59,320
so blessed. It is here right elf season is here.

19
00:00:59,439 --> 00:01:02,560
And so it has been an absolute blast for watching

20
00:01:02,640 --> 00:01:05,519
elves starting to return back from the North Pole elves

21
00:01:05,560 --> 00:01:08,920
that were adopted, So that's been fun. Elves are now

22
00:01:09,000 --> 00:01:12,280
being adopted at adoption centers everywhere. So the Elf on

23
00:01:12,359 --> 00:01:14,719
the shelf is out and about, as well as all

24
00:01:14,799 --> 00:01:17,000
the other Santa Verse characters. You know, we have a

25
00:01:17,159 --> 00:01:21,920
toll twentieth anniversary line lineup of product that's available. So

26
00:01:21,959 --> 00:01:25,359
we have Razzle, our brand new snowman, and like you said,

27
00:01:25,439 --> 00:01:27,879
we have the Rise of Nicholas the Noble, which is

28
00:01:27,959 --> 00:01:31,120
our first ever novel, and the backstory of Santa Claus

29
00:01:31,200 --> 00:01:34,439
and how he comes to know the Elves. So really

30
00:01:34,480 --> 00:01:37,959
providing all of the stories and characters and more that

31
00:01:38,000 --> 00:01:41,120
families need to create joyful family moments this season.

32
00:01:41,359 --> 00:01:43,319
Speaker 1: How does a story like this come to you? Because

33
00:01:43,359 --> 00:01:44,760
I mean it's one of those things where it's like

34
00:01:44,799 --> 00:01:46,840
we all think that we're in the Christmas spirit only

35
00:01:46,879 --> 00:01:51,439
in December, but man, it happens from January to December thirty. First,

36
00:01:51,480 --> 00:01:53,519
I mean, it goes on all the time, especially in

37
00:01:53,519 --> 00:01:54,799
the world of creativity.

38
00:01:57,920 --> 00:01:59,599
Speaker 2: Yeah, I'll let Shannon answer that.

39
00:01:59,640 --> 00:01:59,719
Speaker 1: One.

40
00:02:00,159 --> 00:02:03,719
Speaker 2: She is the author of the Rise of Nicholas the Noble. Shan,

41
00:02:03,840 --> 00:02:07,719
what about you? Well, I get to be Santa's chief storyteller,

42
00:02:07,799 --> 00:02:10,719
which is like the coolest strap the whole world, right,

43
00:02:10,800 --> 00:02:12,879
And so whether it was co authoring The Elf on

44
00:02:12,919 --> 00:02:15,599
the Shelf with my mom or writing all of these

45
00:02:15,680 --> 00:02:19,560
other characters and stories in the Santa verse and telling

46
00:02:19,639 --> 00:02:22,879
their stories. It's a huge responsibility, right, getting to be

47
00:02:22,960 --> 00:02:25,719
the voice of Santa. So the Rise of Nicholas the

48
00:02:25,759 --> 00:02:29,080
Noble really is. It's our first ever novel. It's the

49
00:02:29,120 --> 00:02:32,159
backstory of Santa Claus and how he meets the elves,

50
00:02:32,199 --> 00:02:36,280
and it's an epic fantasy adventure story much along the

51
00:02:36,319 --> 00:02:38,719
lines of I would say, like the Chronicles of Narnia

52
00:02:38,840 --> 00:02:39,680
or a Harry Potter.

53
00:02:41,560 --> 00:02:44,080
Speaker 1: Right away, that's telling me Hulu and Netflix right there

54
00:02:44,159 --> 00:02:45,159
is what that one's telling me.

55
00:02:47,319 --> 00:02:50,560
Speaker 2: I hope, so got my eye on that Netflix, Let's go.

56
00:02:51,560 --> 00:02:53,919
And then we also took a Croudolf Squad, which is

57
00:02:53,960 --> 00:02:57,000
our preschool show that we just launched on YouTube. Right

58
00:02:57,120 --> 00:03:01,439
it's for that two plus the North Pole exists three

59
00:03:01,479 --> 00:03:04,039
hundred and sixty five days a year, and kids want

60
00:03:04,080 --> 00:03:06,000
to know what the elves are doing and what they're

61
00:03:06,080 --> 00:03:09,439
up to. So we pride ourselves on using characters kids

62
00:03:09,520 --> 00:03:14,120
love and creating stories and moments of opportunity for the

63
00:03:14,159 --> 00:03:17,280
family to spend time together. And so scou Elf Squad

64
00:03:17,479 --> 00:03:21,680
is a fun, learning, teamwork, friendship adventure story but also

65
00:03:21,840 --> 00:03:24,479
holiday content, which is what kids are looking for, and

66
00:03:24,520 --> 00:03:28,439
that's available on our YouTube channel. Our official YouTube channel,

67
00:03:28,439 --> 00:03:29,159
Elf on the Shelf.

68
00:03:29,240 --> 00:03:31,159
Speaker 1: You know what's amazing about this is that I wish

69
00:03:31,199 --> 00:03:32,919
I would have had this as a kid. All we

70
00:03:33,000 --> 00:03:35,080
had was the radio station where the jock will get

71
00:03:35,120 --> 00:03:37,639
on there and say, well, weather radar at Santa Claus

72
00:03:37,680 --> 00:03:40,199
is now over Australia, and that's what you lived off from.

73
00:03:40,439 --> 00:03:42,719
I mean, at least you guys are allowing us to

74
00:03:42,759 --> 00:03:46,400
step into a world of Nicholas before the elves, and

75
00:03:46,439 --> 00:03:48,360
you're allowing us, with Elf on a Shelf to have

76
00:03:48,439 --> 00:03:52,879
any imagination. Imagine that having an imagination in twenty twenty five.

77
00:03:55,120 --> 00:03:58,080
Speaker 2: It's so nice to be able to share in families

78
00:03:58,280 --> 00:04:03,120
moments and memories because there really is so much noise anymore, right,

79
00:04:03,479 --> 00:04:06,639
it's constantly coming at us. And for us to live

80
00:04:06,680 --> 00:04:10,080
in a space where it's simple and it's about kindness

81
00:04:10,080 --> 00:04:15,080
and thoughtfulness and wonder and magic. It really isn't something

82
00:04:15,080 --> 00:04:17,720
that we take for granted. We adore what we do.

83
00:04:17,920 --> 00:04:19,639
You know, we don't have to go to work. We

84
00:04:19,839 --> 00:04:22,759
get to go to work, We get all the stories

85
00:04:22,759 --> 00:04:25,600
of Santa's North Pole, and it's a magical thing to

86
00:04:25,680 --> 00:04:28,439
be able to do, and we don't take it lightly. Certainly,

87
00:04:28,560 --> 00:04:30,800
I love what you said about imagination. You know, we

88
00:04:30,959 --> 00:04:34,439
pride ourselves on these are simple traditions, and I love

89
00:04:34,480 --> 00:04:38,240
when a kid's imagination takes over, you know, And I

90
00:04:38,240 --> 00:04:40,160
think that's part of what makes the Elf on the

91
00:04:40,160 --> 00:04:42,879
Shelf so iconic, is you know, Chris and I would

92
00:04:42,920 --> 00:04:45,879
have these whole ideas in our head of like what

93
00:04:45,959 --> 00:04:47,959
was it like at the North Pole when the elf

94
00:04:48,079 --> 00:04:51,199
was talking to Sanna? You know. So we think a

95
00:04:51,199 --> 00:04:54,839
great tradition can be just as simple, right as what

96
00:04:54,920 --> 00:04:57,720
the family makes it and what's in your imagination.

97
00:04:58,360 --> 00:05:01,199
Speaker 1: Please do not move. There's more Shonda and Krista coming

98
00:05:01,279 --> 00:05:06,199
up next. You've heard of Elf on a Shelf. Yeah,

99
00:05:06,360 --> 00:05:09,079
now it's time to read the Rise of Nicholas the

100
00:05:09,160 --> 00:05:12,839
Noble and so much more. We're back with Shonda Abell

101
00:05:13,120 --> 00:05:16,600
and Krista Pitts. I love your the the attitude of

102
00:05:16,680 --> 00:05:19,160
that that this is not a job is basically a choice,

103
00:05:19,160 --> 00:05:20,439
and that's the way that I lead my life. I

104
00:05:20,439 --> 00:05:22,360
don't have a job. It's a choice. I do what

105
00:05:22,439 --> 00:05:24,759
I want to because I know what's going to reach people.

106
00:05:24,959 --> 00:05:27,160
And when you've got Elf on a shelf, I mean

107
00:05:27,279 --> 00:05:29,800
people have turned this into the modern day flat Stanley.

108
00:05:29,920 --> 00:05:33,120
It is all over social media and people are creating

109
00:05:33,160 --> 00:05:35,680
their own stories. They're dressing them up, they're putting them

110
00:05:35,680 --> 00:05:38,360
with music, they're they're and I'm going, wait a second,

111
00:05:38,560 --> 00:05:39,879
do these girls know this?

112
00:05:42,279 --> 00:05:43,959
Speaker 2: Well? The elves get into a lot of that on

113
00:05:44,040 --> 00:05:46,399
their own, right, So I went, they fly back from

114
00:05:46,439 --> 00:05:51,040
the North Hole. They are crafty for sure. But you know,

115
00:05:51,199 --> 00:05:53,680
I think, just like anyone, you know, we're living our

116
00:05:53,720 --> 00:05:57,319
lives and it's like I'm scrolling through social media and

117
00:05:57,399 --> 00:06:00,639
I'm seeing all the same things everyone else is is seeing,

118
00:06:00,720 --> 00:06:04,759
and it is absolutely wild to see the impact that

119
00:06:04,959 --> 00:06:09,199
something our family celebrated and enjoyed when we were growing

120
00:06:09,319 --> 00:06:13,759
up really become as synonymous with Christmas as Santa Claus.

121
00:06:13,839 --> 00:06:18,560
And the only way that we can, you know, I

122
00:06:18,600 --> 00:06:21,399
guess even fathom what that has been for us is

123
00:06:21,439 --> 00:06:23,759
by coming on shows like this and saying thank you

124
00:06:24,240 --> 00:06:26,720
to all of the families who have taken a chance

125
00:06:26,800 --> 00:06:29,519
on our brands and coming to come to know that

126
00:06:30,240 --> 00:06:32,879
we really are, you know, a trusted partner at Christmas

127
00:06:32,959 --> 00:06:36,079
time with family friendly content that they can be proud

128
00:06:36,079 --> 00:06:37,000
to share with their family.

129
00:06:37,360 --> 00:06:39,279
Speaker 1: Now, before the elf on a shelf, the one thing

130
00:06:39,319 --> 00:06:41,360
that we had was the sock monkey are they are?

131
00:06:41,360 --> 00:06:41,480
Speaker 2: They?

132
00:06:41,519 --> 00:06:42,120
Speaker 1: They're good friends?

133
00:06:42,199 --> 00:06:42,279
Speaker 2: Right?

134
00:06:42,360 --> 00:06:44,079
Speaker 1: I mean and elf We'll make friends with anybody, and

135
00:06:44,079 --> 00:06:45,800
the sock monkey in the elf are still good friends,

136
00:06:45,839 --> 00:06:47,360
and that maybe there will be a story one day

137
00:06:47,399 --> 00:06:49,759
about how they meet and they go to see Santa

138
00:06:49,839 --> 00:06:52,439
Claus and you see what you guys do? You turn

139
00:06:52,480 --> 00:06:54,120
on my imagination and all of a sudden, I want

140
00:06:54,120 --> 00:06:55,120
to write a story with you.

141
00:06:57,800 --> 00:07:01,199
Speaker 2: Well, we welcome all the stories, and we appreciate them too.

142
00:07:01,360 --> 00:07:04,360
I mean, Shanda and I didn't have a sock monkey,

143
00:07:04,800 --> 00:07:09,360
certainly were jealous of the people that did. So we had.

144
00:07:09,720 --> 00:07:12,959
We had plenty of stuff to keep us satisfied, that's

145
00:07:13,040 --> 00:07:15,800
for sure. But we were actually kind of rough and

146
00:07:15,879 --> 00:07:19,360
tumble kids. We were spending more time outside, I think

147
00:07:19,399 --> 00:07:20,040
than anything.

148
00:07:20,759 --> 00:07:23,240
Speaker 1: Yeah, but that's what I loved about being a kid

149
00:07:23,279 --> 00:07:25,560
and growing up in that era is that the outside

150
00:07:25,560 --> 00:07:27,839
world to me was the living room and that everything

151
00:07:27,959 --> 00:07:29,839
was your play toy. And then when you get something

152
00:07:29,879 --> 00:07:31,240
like an elf on a shelf, I'm gonna tell you,

153
00:07:31,600 --> 00:07:33,879
growing up in Montana, that elf went outside with me.

154
00:07:34,240 --> 00:07:36,199
It had to go outside with me because that was

155
00:07:36,279 --> 00:07:37,240
my world to play.

156
00:07:39,079 --> 00:07:41,839
Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, I mean that's the beautiful thing about the

157
00:07:41,920 --> 00:07:44,399
Elf on the shelf is it engages with your family

158
00:07:45,040 --> 00:07:47,879
in a way that is very personal. Right, Like, if

159
00:07:47,920 --> 00:07:50,319
your family is creative, your elf is going to be

160
00:07:50,439 --> 00:07:53,519
uber creative. And if your family is very laid back

161
00:07:53,600 --> 00:07:56,319
and you're kind of a chill family, your elf is

162
00:07:56,360 --> 00:07:59,519
going to have that same personality. So we hear all

163
00:07:59,560 --> 00:08:03,160
the time about elves being outside and in cars and

164
00:08:03,199 --> 00:08:06,519
meeting people will on vacation, and so your elf would

165
00:08:06,519 --> 00:08:09,040
definitely be with you. They're there to watch and listen

166
00:08:09,079 --> 00:08:10,759
and report all the good things too.

167
00:08:11,120 --> 00:08:14,000
Speaker 1: Man, ten minutes with you, guys is not enough. Is

168
00:08:14,040 --> 00:08:16,879
there a website where people can go to find out

169
00:08:16,920 --> 00:08:20,199
more to listen to your passion and your drive because pitch,

170
00:08:20,279 --> 00:08:23,279
volume and tone in your vocal cords is so so

171
00:08:23,279 --> 00:08:24,720
so important.

172
00:08:27,560 --> 00:08:30,560
Speaker 2: Thank you so much. Yes, you can go to Louma Stella,

173
00:08:30,879 --> 00:08:33,399
l U, M I S T E l l A

174
00:08:33,600 --> 00:08:38,039
dot com or elf on theshelf dot com. Shanda has

175
00:08:38,159 --> 00:08:41,559
a website, as do I Kristapitts dot com and Shanda

176
00:08:41,639 --> 00:08:44,440
bell dot com. So if you want to interact with

177
00:08:44,480 --> 00:08:47,320
our companies or learn more about us, or find out

178
00:08:47,320 --> 00:08:50,039
what's new in the Santa Verse, any of those spots

179
00:08:50,080 --> 00:08:53,080
will allow you a glimpse inside of the North Pole.

180
00:08:53,360 --> 00:08:59,279
Speaker 1: Next year, at this time, there's a movie Hi'm Coming.

181
00:09:03,320 --> 00:09:05,279
Will you guys be brilliant today?

182
00:09:05,320 --> 00:09:12,240
Speaker 2: Okay, thank you so much, have a wonderful day. Holidays,