In this tale inspired by a Polish legend, Nabiyah Be (Black Panther, Daisy Jones & The Six) and Evan Whitten (The Resident, Mr. Robot) face off against a fantastical creature whose gaze turns people to stone.
This Hispanic tale from the Southwest U.S. stars Adam Irigoyen (Away, Shake It Up) as a fiddler whose magical instrument brings the world to its feet, and the guilty to their knees.
Dyllón Burnside (POSE, Prideland) and Tony nominee Alex Brightman (Beetlejuice, School of Rock - The Musical) co-star in this Australian story about small critters, giant egos, and why frogs croak.
Kelly Jenrette (The Handmaid's Tale, Uncorked) and John Carroll Lynch (American Horror Story, The Founder) headline this Estonian/Finnish story about how very far a little generosity can go.
In this Native American tale, Brittany O'Grady (Little Voice, Star) plays a cunning creature who uses teamwork to bring light, sun and fire to the dark, cold world.
In honor of Indigenous Peoples' Day, we're revisiting this Seneca tale from Season 2 about the origin of stories -- co-starring NPR veteran Diane Rehm and Jonathan Joss (Parks and Recreation, Comanche Moon).
Corey Stoll (Billions, West Side Story) and Glenn Fleshler (Billions, Joker) bring to life this Brazilian story about the sweetness of humility and the sting of greed.
Maggie Siff (Billions, Mad Men), Santino Fontana (Tootsie, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend), and Denim Richards (Yellowstone, The Chickasaw Rancher) co-star in this Northern African/Middle Eastern/Jewish tale about spoiled olives and fresh starts.
Rosalind Chao (Mulan, The Joy Luck Club) headlines this Chinese tale about a tall mountain, a big radish, and the magic of giving back to your community.
Desmin Borges (You're The Worst, Utopia) plays a tiny bird with an ever-growing ego in this playful story with roots in Mexico and Puerto Rico.
Tzi Ma (The Farewell, Mulan) and Jimmy Wong (Wish Dragon, Mulan) co-star in this Burmese tale about turning soil and dirt into an invaluable treasure.
At the end of season 3, we asked fans to send us their own Circle Round story. This week, you’ll hear some of the submissions we received!
This favorite story from season one, starring Mel Rodriguez (The Last Man on Earth, Electric Dreams), is about the importance of being honest and keeping your word... especially when you’re a leader in charge of something big.
In part four of our summer series with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Amy Hargreaves (13 Reasons Why, Homeland) plays a mystical flute player who teaches a greedy landowner to sing a different tune.
Hannah Simone ("New Girl") stars alongside her real-life father Naren Simone in a South Asian tale about the power of self-reliance. Download a coloring page for this episode here: wbur.org/circleround/coloring-pages
In part three of our summer series with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Chloe Coleman (Timmy Failure, My Spy) stars in an African tale about how bigger isn't always better, and how slow and steady can be best of all!
Jurnee Smollett-Bell stars in this classic tale about a young girl who teaches a group of neighbors what it means to really share.
In part two of our summer series with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Jin Ha (Devs, Love Life) and Greta Jung (Modern Family, Station 19) headline a Korean folktale about a hardworking farmer whose generosity brings a surprising reward.
Phillipa Soo (Hamilton) and Stacy Keach (Man With a Plan) headline this favorite episode from season 3: a tale from China about a kind, humble artist whose paintings come to life.
Part one of our special summer series with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Melora Hardin and Gildart Jackson co-star in this tale about a crafty countess who teaches a broke baker never to look a gift horse in the mouth.
Recorded live with musicians from the Boston Symphony Orchestra as part of our 2019 summer pop-up series, this Aboriginal story from Australia imagines how the kangaroo got her indispensable pouch.
Is the bucket half empty or half full? This week's bonus episode comes from a Chinese folktale about the unexpected upside of imperfection.
In this Native American story, William Jackson Harper (The Good Place) portrays a tiny creature who teaches the other animals and birds to appreciate what it means to be different.
In this bite-sized bonus episode from West Africa, a tricky spider bites off more than he can chew when he tries outwitting a wise dinner guest.
Iain Armitage (Young Sheldon, Big Little Lies) learns a surprising lesson about size, strength and power in this twist on a folktale from East Asia, India, Spain, Latin America and the southwestern U.S.
Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Lisa Loeb (A Simple Trick to Happiness, Feel What U Feel) discovers the true meaning of goodness, virtue and honor in this folktale originally from Mexico.
Public radio and podcast veteran Tonya Mosley (Here and Now, Truth Be Told) plays a clever turtle determined to outwit the local bully in this whimsical tale inspired by stories told in Ghana.
In this story from the Zulu people of South Africa, Marshall Escamilla (Tumble: A Science Podcast for Kids) and Avi Nash (The Walking Dead, Hosea) star as brothers who are as different as sweet and sour.
Actor and musician Chris Sullivan (This Is Us, Joseph The Spouse) plays the boastful, blowhard title character in this Hawaiian tale about an egotistical chief who gets cut down to size.
Shazad Latif (Star Trek: Discovery, Penny Dreadful) and Anthony Rapp (Star Trek: Discovery, Rent) headline this Middle Eastern/North African tale about sweet figs, bad breath, and the bitter truth. When you need advice, what kind of advisor do you turn to? Someone who’s honest? Trustworthy? Supportive? In today’s story, we’ll meet an advisor who’s none of these things. And the person he’s advising -- a wealthy, powerful sultan -- has no idea! Our story is called “The Sultan’s Figs.” Versions of ...
