We wrap up the summer with another listener favorite: a Cherokee tale in which Yeardley Smith (The Simpsons, Oil and Water) plays a feisty, creative spider who proves that power and strength aren't always about physical size. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .
Aug 31, 2021•21 min•Season 5Ep. 7
George Salazar (Be More Chill, Superstore) plays a wise-cracking waterborne vessel in this Brazilian story about the extraordinary things teamwork can bring. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .
Aug 17, 2021•20 min•Season 5Ep. 6
This week we bring back a listener favorite: Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz (hosts of "Wow in the World") star in a whimsical Native American tale about the dangers of gossip. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .
Aug 10, 2021•19 min
Mo Rocca (CBS Sunday Morning, Wait, Wait... Don't Tell Me!) headlines this eco-conscious Estonian/Finnish tale about conservation, courtesy, and how actions speak louder than words. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .
Aug 03, 2021•20 min•Season 5Ep. 5
In this favorite tale from the archives, comedian/kids' author Michael Ian Black (I'm Worried, Cock-a-Doodle-Doo-Bop) and actor/director David Wain (Wet Hot American Summer, Medical Police) believe they know the secret to what makes people truly happy. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .
Jul 27, 2021•24 min•Season 5Ep. 4
NPR's Peter Sagal (Wait, Wait... Don't Tell Me!) stars in this Russian story about how fantastically priceless a little generosity can be. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .
Jul 20, 2021•19 min•Season 5Ep. 3
Broadway stars Derrick Baskin (Ain't Too Proud – The Life and Times of The Temptations, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee) and Brandon Uranowitz (An American in Paris, Burn This) play a curious king and clever farmer in this tale with roots in Russia, Italy, India, Greece, Africa and Iran. This episode was originally released on October 22, 2019. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .
Jul 13, 2021•20 min•Season 5Ep. 2
Audrey Hsieh (Here Today, Mixtape) and Alonzo Bodden (Wait, Wait... Don't Tell Me!, Who's Paying Attention) headline this Tibetan tale about two family members who are rewarded appropriately by a stone lion, one for her generosity and one for his greed. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .
Jul 06, 2021•25 min•Season 5Ep. 1
Rachael Harris (Lucifer, Suits) and Taran Killam (Nature Cat, Saturday Night Live) star in this special encore episode about a young man who learns that -- with a little hard work -- dreams can come true. This episode was originally released on December 19, 2017. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .
Jun 22, 2021•22 min•Season 4Ep. 52
In this enchanting tale from the archives, Amber Stevens West (Happy Together, Run the World) stars as a globe-trotting princess who works hard to keep her promises. This episode was originally released on October 23, 2018. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .
Jun 15, 2021•20 min•Season 4Ep. 51
In this favorite episode from the archives, Ray Magliozzi (Car Talk) plays a stubborn goat who inadvertently reminds us that true heroes comes in all shapes and sizes. This episode was originally released on January 23, 2018. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .
Jun 08, 2021•16 min•Season 4Ep. 50
In this favorite episode from the archives, Eris Baker (This Is Us) plays a tricky rabbit who presents her fellow animals with an offer they can't refuse. This episode originally released April 9, 2019. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .
Jun 01, 2021•20 min•Season 4Ep. 49
Tony Award nominee Joaquina Kalukango (Slave Play, One Night in Miami) stars in this Zulu tale from South Africa about how stories came to the world. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .
May 25, 2021•22 min•Season 4Ep. 48
Jon Huertas (This Is Us, Initiation) and Faith Salie (CBS Sunday Morning, Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me) headline this folktale about a generous queen, a cunning farmer, and a devious gatekeeper who takes more than his fair share. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .
May 18, 2021•22 min•Season 4Ep. 47
Duchess Sarah Ferguson of York (Storytime With Fergie) and Jason Mantzoukas (How Did This Get Made, Housebroken) play a crafty queen and scheming advisor who face off in an unforgettable game of chess. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .
May 11, 2021•28 min•Season 4Ep. 46
Owen Teale (Game of Thrones, Dream Horse) stars in this Welsh legend about a desperate farmer who becomes too greedy for his own good. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .
May 04, 2021•22 min•Season 4Ep. 45
In this favorite episode from the archives, seven-time Emmy-Award winner Ed Asner (Up, The Mary Tyler Moore Show) plays a wise father who challenges his daughters to solve a tricky challenge by thinking outside the box. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .
Apr 27, 2021•20 min•Season 4Ep. 44
Kyla Pratt (Call Me Kat, The Proud Family) headlines this Ethiopian story about the power of facing your fears. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .
Apr 20, 2021•23 min•Season 4Ep. 43
Alison Wright (Snowpiercer, The Americans) stars as a wise and witty Irish giant who proves she's colossal in both size and smarts. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .
Apr 13, 2021•21 min•Season 4Ep. 42
Comedian and actor Maz Jobrani (Pandemic Warrior, Back To School With Maz Jobrani) plays a wise man with an on-fire imagination in this clever tale from Turkey, Balochistan, India, Ethiopia, Kenya, the West Indies, and the Hispano community of New Mexico. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .
Apr 06, 2021•19 min•Season 4Ep. 41
Tiffany Espensen (Spider-Man: Homecoming, Kirby Buckets) stars in this Chinese folktale about thinking outside the box and inside the boat. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .
Mar 30, 2021•23 min•Season 4Ep. 40
This favorite episode from our archives is in loving memory of an actor you've heard in numerous Circle Round stories, including this one: Delores King Williams. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .
Mar 23, 2021•18 min•Season 4Ep. 39
In this tale from India, Utkarsh Ambudkar (Brittany Runs a Marathon, We Are Freestyle Love Supreme) plays an ingenious royal advisor who cunningly proves the true owner of a fruitful treasure. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .
Mar 16, 2021•17 min•Season 4Ep. 38
In this playful tale from Indonesia and Malaysia, Tiya Sircar (Star Wars Rebels, The Good Place) plays a cunning mouse deer who teaches a cantankerous crocodile a lesson. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .
Mar 09, 2021•19 min•Season 4Ep. 37
Tony Award Winner Ruthie Ann Miles (The King and I, All Rise) stars in this Paraguayan story about giving the most rare and precious gift of all. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .
Mar 02, 2021•24 min•Season 4Ep. 36
Aasif Mandvi (The Daily Show, Evil) and Madhur Jaffrey (Madhur Jaffrey's Curry Nation, I Feel Bad) co-star in this Indian story about a wise king, a generous shoemaker, and a priceless pair of shoes. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .
Feb 23, 2021•23 min•Season 4Ep. 35
Tony Award winner Lea Salonga (Miss Saigon, Les Misérables) headlines this Marshallese tale about how the first sailboat came to be. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .
Feb 16, 2021•21 min•Season 4Ep. 34
This week, we bring back a favorite story from the archives: Tony Award winner André De Shields (Hadestown, The Full Monty) stars in a Jewish tale that tests the old adage, "Finders keepers, losers weepers." Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .
Feb 09, 2021•20 min•Season 4Ep. 33
Jeremy Sisto (Law and Order, FBI) and Rory Culkin (Waco, Halston) co-star in this Hungarian story about two farmers, one wise king, and a whole mess of canines. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .
Feb 02, 2021•21 min•Season 4Ep. 32
In this magical tale from Japan, Marc delaCruz (If/Then, Hamilton) plays a lowly cook whose kitchen scraps bring him a golden reward. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .
Jan 26, 2021•20 min•Season 4Ep. 31