One Good Turn
Alan Goffinski, Ana González and Lulu Miller (Terrestrials) star in a very international story about returning favors and being stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Apr 08, 2025•18 min•Season 8Ep. 41
Circle Round
Created and produced by parents of young children, WBUR's Circle Round adapts carefully-selected folktales from around the world into sound- and music-rich radio plays for kids ages 3-103. Each 15 to 25-minute episode explores important issues like kindness, persistence and generosity. And each episode ends with an activity that inspires a deeper conversation between children and grown-ups.
Episodes
In the Willow Tree
Stephanie Koenig (Lessons in Chemistry, The English Teacher) and Patrick Luwis (Cobra Kai) star in a Taiwanese tale about a tiny ant, a boastful pigeon, and unexpected favors.
Apr 01, 2025•17 min•Season 8Ep. 40
Crocus-Pocus
Jacob Laval (The Unbreakable Boy, John Mulaney and the Sack Lunch Bunch) and Amanda Warren (The Night Agent, East New York) headline a Sicilian tale about sowing the seeds of kindness, compassion and crocuses.
Mar 18, 2025•20 min•Season 8Ep. 38
The Flame Keeper
Joy Ofodu (Dating Unsettled, Heart of Sunshine) and Camron Jones (Panic, Shameless) co-star in a Huichol story from Mexico about stolen fire and bald tails.
Mar 11, 2025•17 min•Season 8Ep. 37
Maushop and the Shark
Román Zaragoza (Ghosts) stars in a Wampanoag tale about a gentle giant, a hungry shark, and the power of fun and games.
Mar 04, 2025•21 min•Season 8Ep. 36
Diamonds in the Sky
Kyriana Kratter (Star Wars: Skeleton Crew) and Mila Harris (Mary, World-Breaker) headline an out-of-this-world Filipino tale about how the sun and moon came to be.
Feb 25, 2025•20 min•Season 8Ep. 35
The Salmon Famine
Recorded live at Symphony Hall with Boston Symphony Orchestra musicians and a star-studded cast, this indigenous Pacific Northwest tale follows a wily coyote on a daring rescue.
Feb 18, 2025•24 min•Season 8Ep. 34
The Well of Honor
Recorded live at Symphony Hall with Boston Symphony Orchestra musicians and a star-studded cast, this Egyptian, Iraqi, Palestinian, Sudanese and Tunisian tale shows the importance of never biting off more than you can chew.
Feb 11, 2025•23 min•Season 8Ep. 33
Encore: The Lumps of Clay
Maulik Pancholy (Phineas and Ferb, Sanjay and Craig) stars in a classic Indian story about a witty royal adviser who finds an ingenious way to bring the truth to light.
Feb 04, 2025•21 min•Season 8Ep. 32
The Zodiac Twelve
Tzi Ma (Five Blind Dates, Interior Chinatown) and Jimmy Wong (Mulan, Wish Dragon) co-star in an action-packed legend about the origin of the Chinese zodiac animals.
Jan 28, 2025•30 min•Season 8Ep. 31
Hot Potatoes
Arlen Escarpeta (Found, The Oath) headlines a tale from southern Africa about stolen spuds and hare-brained schemes.
Jan 21, 2025•23 min•Season 8Ep. 30
The Cobbler’s Soul
John Patrick Amedori (Three Women, Dear White People) headlines an internationally-inspired story about fixing soles and saving souls.
Jan 14, 2025•30 min•Season 8Ep. 29
Encore: Ariana’s Music
Mireille Enos (Hanna, The Killing) headlines this new spin on an ancient Greek legend about an instrument that captivates everyone who hears it – whether they have skin, scales, hair, hides, feathers or fur!
Jan 07, 2025•22 min•Season 8Ep. 28
Encore: Three Clever Brothers
Alexandra Billings (Transparent, Paddleton) stars in a North African, Middle Eastern and central and north-central Asian folktale about the power of a keen eye and a quick mind.
Dec 31, 2024•20 min•Season 8Ep. 27
Encore: Getting Skunked
Terrence Terrell (B Positive, Giants) stars in this Abenaki tale about a gentle giant who brings night and day to the world, and gives a certain striped critter its telltale scent.
Dec 24, 2024•19 min•Season 8Ep. 26
The Peach of Life
Recorded live at Symphony Space, a star-studded cast brings to life this Chinese and Vietnamese legend about the healing power of a kind and honest heart.
Dec 17, 2024•27 min•Season 8Ep. 25
The Wild Goose Chase
Recorded live at Symphony Space with a star-studded cast, this magical tale inspired by Ukrainian and Russian lore follows a kindly tailor as he embarks on an unforgettable chase.
Dec 10, 2024•27 min•Season 8Ep. 24
Encore: The Most Fabulous Fur of All
Q'orianka Kilcher (Yellowstone, Dora and the Lost City of Gold) stars in a Cherokee tale about a clever rabbit who craftily tries pulling the wool — and fur — over everyone’s eyes.
Dec 03, 2024•25 min•Season 8Ep. 23
Dancing to a Different Tune
World-renowned violinist Hilary Hahn plays a musician with a miraculous gift in this whimsical folktale from South America, North Africa, Europe and the US.
Nov 26, 2024•23 min•Season 8Ep. 22
The Caged Bird
Tim Matheson (The West Wing, Virgin River) and Jonathan Tucker (Kingdom, Westworld) co-star in a Jewish and Persian tale about a parrot, a prince, and the priceless value of freedom.
Nov 19, 2024•25 min•Season 8Ep. 21
A World of Music
Jon Huertas (This Is Us, Tracker) headlines an Aztec legend about how music first came to the world.
Nov 12, 2024•20 min•Season 8Ep. 20
In the Wolf’s Mouth
Jennifer Hale (Stars Wars: The Clone Wars, X-Men ‘97) stars in a Portuguese tale about a big bad wolf and a sharp shrewd owl.
Nov 05, 2024•17 min•Season 8Ep. 19
The All-Wish Stick
Amy Tsang (Star Wars: The Acolyte, Kung Fu) stars in a Chinese tale about a magical gift that makes wishes come true, provided you make them with an honest heart.
Oct 29, 2024•28 min•Season 8Ep. 18
The Face-Off
Actor Kelly Jenrette (All American: Homecoming, The Handmaid’s Tale) and producer/actor Lamar Richardson (Appropriate, Merrily We Roll Along) co-star in a Shona legend that proves how big strength can come in little sizes.
Oct 22, 2024•20 min•Season 8Ep. 17
Top Banana
Tatyana Ali (Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Abbot Elementary) and Jack De Sena (Lego Monkie Kid, Avatar: The Last Airbender) headline this Filipino story about getting the upper hand by taking the lower half.
Oct 15, 2024•25 min•Season 8Ep. 16
Pride and Proverbs
Real-life couple David Giuntoli (Grimm, Batman: Soul of the Dragon) and Elizabeth Tulloch (Grimm, Superman and Lois) face off as a wise farmer and proud queen in this tale with Georgian, Kazakh and Ghanaian roots.
Oct 08, 2024•19 min•Season 8Ep. 15
The Hiding Place
Broadway's Aaron Bartz, Erik Christopher Peterson and Cara Ricketts (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child) headline a Jewish and Egyptian story about a high-stakes game of hide and seek.
Oct 01, 2024•26 min•Season 8Ep. 14
Encore: The Princess and the Bee
Duchess Sarah Ferguson of York (Storytime with Fergie) and Suzie McGrath (Star Wars Resistance, The Punies) star in this charming tale about the importance of having a sound, sensible head, and a warm, fuzzy heart.
Sep 24, 2024•24 min•Season 8Ep. 13
Encore: Chameleon’s Contest
Jonica Booth (Rap Stuff, Bad Girls Club) and Jay Pharoah (Out of Office, Saturday Night Live) co-star in this West African tale about a clothing-obsessed goddess and a crafty, colorful chameleon.
Sep 17, 2024•22 min•Season 8Ep. 12
A Horse for Hire
Recorded live at Tanglewood with members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and a star-studded cast, this Haitian and Creole tale is all about hefty horses and broken deals.
Sep 10, 2024•25 min•Season 8Ep. 11