The Tom Gulley Show Podcast!

Every Christmas Eve, millions of families around the world track Santa Claus in real time thanks to the NORAD Santa Tracker — but few people know how this beloved holiday tradition actually began. In this episode of The Tom Gulley Show, Tom dives into the surprising Cold War origins of the NORAD Santa Tracker, the accidental phone call that started it all, and how a military defense command became one of the most wholesome and enduring Christmas traditions in modern history. From its roots in the 1950s during the height of Cold War anxiety to its evolution into a global digital event followed by millions online, the NORAD Santa Tracker is a rare intersection of military history, pop culture, technology, and holiday magic. Tom explores how NORAD leveraged radar, satellites, and later the internet to track Santa’s journey — and why this tradition continues to resonate across generations. This episode also looks at how the NORAD Santa Tracker reflects broader themes of American culture, media trust, and the po