'I spend half my time crying': Santa shares the surprising emotional toll the job really takes

Santa's job is to spread joy around the world. However, a new podcast, Niche To Meet You, by producer Leslie Thompson, is exploring Santa's other role: part-time therapist. The 3-part miniseries takes a deeper look into the world of professional Santa Clauses and the sometimes heavy talks and secrets that kids share with them.

A heartfelt conversation between Leslie and Santa Ben captured the profound emotional impact playing Santa presents them and how they navigate the emotional toll of the role. "Leslie chatted with Santa Ben, who told her a story about the kinds of questions every Santa has to be ready to answer," the TikTok post's caption reads.

In the video, Leslie is interviewing Santa Ben about a conversation between him and another Santa about the heavy and heart-wrenching requests some kids bring to him.

"You shared a story about going to Santa School and you unexpectedly found yourself crying," Leslie starts. Ben then shares, "Yes. When people come to see us...some of those stories are very touching. Children that want dad to be back. Some ask for world peace, believe it or not! That's kind of an easy one."

From there, he explained that he often feels powerless when he hears heartbreaking questions. "You're Santa, you want to do more, but you can only do so much. When I would hear those things, it just tore me up," he shares.

He adds that a fellow Santa he was attending school with asked him, "How you doing?" And Santa Ben said to him, "'I'm doing okay.'" But his fellow Santa pressed him again for his true emotions." How are you doing?' He caught me, eh?" says Ben.

He reveals that he 'fessed up to his fellow Claus, becoming more vulnerable about how deeply emotional being Santa truly is.

"I said, look. I spend half my time, eyes watering and bawling--I'm not that guy! And in the other half, I'm roaring and having fun.I said, 'Is there something wrong with me?' And he laid back in his chair and said, 'Not a thing. It means you're the right man for the job.'"

In another touching clip, Leslie interviews another Santa, Santa True, who shares a story about a woman he met with dementia.

"I say, 'Hello young lady! It's so good to see you again. How are you doing?' And she starts talking to me. I give her a candy cane and I shake her hand, and I say, 'Now be good! No more naughtiness, okay?' And she says, 'Oh I'll be good!' Then on my way out, three of the staff came running up to me. I said, 'What's wrong?' And they said, 'She's been here six months. That's the first time she's spoken.'"

Santa True concluded the interview with touching words about the powerful impact Santas can have. "It's a very powerful art form. But when you have somebody who actually walks the walk, and believes that they're there for their fellow human beings, it is powerful beyond belief."

And TikTokers could not agree more. One commented, "This is beautiful 😭"; another added, "You go, Santa!"