Circle Round - podcast cover

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.
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Episodes

Poor Rich feat. Michael Cerveris & Patrick Page

Broadway stars Michael Cerveris (The Gilded Age, Fun Home) and Patrick Page (The Gilded Age, Hadestown) star in a Ukrainian folktale that shows there's more to wisdom than meets the eye. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Mar 29, 202221 minSeason 5Ep. 37

Queen of the Forest feat. Mari Heller & Jorma Taccone

Actors, directors and real-life couple Marielle Heller (The Queen's Gambit, MacGruber) and Jorma Taccone (MacGruber, The Lonely Island) headline a tale about bossy bullies and itsy-bitsy underdogs. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Mar 22, 202216 minSeason 5Ep. 36

The Lumps of Clay feat. Maulik Pancholy

In this classic Indian tale, Maulik Pancholy (Phineas and Ferb, Sanjay and Craig) plays a wonderfully wise adviser who finds an ingenious way to bring the truth to light. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Mar 15, 202220 minSeason 5Ep. 35

The Magic Touch feat. Edi Gathegi

Edi Gathegi ("The Harder They Fall," "For All Mankind") stars in this East African story about twin brothers, enchanted fruit, and the magic of an open heart. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Mar 08, 202228 minSeason 5Ep. 34

Encore: Share and Share Alike

Glynn Washington (Snap Judgment) and Tiffany Boone (Hunters, Nine Perfect Strangers) star in this favorite folktale from season one, about a lazy bear who isn't big on sharing, until he meets a clever rabbit. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Mar 01, 202219 minSeason 5Ep. 33

Coyote's Wild Ride feat. Alan Tudyk

Alan Tudyk (Resident Alien, Rogue One) plays a wily coyote desperate to show the world just how ultra-mega-super-spectacular he is -- or thinks he is, anyway! Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Feb 22, 202220 minSeason 5Ep. 32

Porcupine’s Plan feat. Jacob Laval

Jacob Laval (John Mulaney & the Sack Lunch Bunch, Unbreakable Boy) plays a super savvy critter with a sharp body and even sharper mind in this Siberian folktale about taking advantage of hospitality. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Feb 15, 202220 minSeason 5Ep. 31

The New Neighbor feat. Melora Hardin & Michael Zegen

Michael Zegen (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Boardwalk Empire) helps Melora Hardin (The Bold Type, The Office) get her literal and figurative "just desserts" in this tricky tale about two very different neighbors. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Feb 08, 202219 minSeason 5Ep. 30

A Coconut a Day feat. Jayne Houdyshell

Tony Award winner Jayne Houdyshell (The Humans, The Music Man) stars in this Burmese tale about honesty, honor, and a highly coveted coconut tree. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Feb 01, 202221 minSeason 5Ep. 29

Tiddalick Drinks Up feat. Izaac Wang

Izaac Wang (Clifford the Big Red Dog, Raya and the Last Dragon) plays a tiny eel who teaches a big frog an even bigger lesson in this laugh-out-loud legend from Australia. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Jan 25, 202217 minSeason 5Ep. 28

Plowing the Road feat. Kimiko Glenn

Kimiko Glenn (My Little Pony, Orange is the New Black) learns the wonders of wisdom that old age can bring in this touching tale with roots in Japan, Laos, Mongolia, Slovenia, Romania, Russia and Haiti. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Jan 18, 202221 minSeason 5Ep. 27

The Wiser Adviser feat. Elaine Hendrix, Devyn McDowell, Mark Pellegrino

Elaine Hendrix (Dynasty, The Parent Trap), Mark Pellegrino (Supernatural, American Rust), and Devyn McDowell (Annette, The Good Nurse) star in this Jewish and Persian tale about how fortune can change in the blink of an eye. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Jan 11, 202223 minSeason 5Ep. 26

Encore: The Beggar and the Baker’s Daughter

In this whimsical tale from the archives, comedian Margaret Cho (The Margaret Cho, Fresh Off The Bloat) plays a greedy woman who bites off more than she can chew. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Jan 04, 202221 minSeason 5Ep. 25

Encore: All That Glitters

This Circle Round favorite starring Story Pirates Podcast hosts Lee Overtree, Peter McNerney and Meghan O'Neill shines a sparkling light on the treasures that come from honesty, integrity and honor. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Dec 21, 202121 minSeason 5Ep. 24

Encore: The Dozen Loaves of Bread

Podcast luminary Avery Trufelman (99% Invisible, Nice Try!) stars as a generous baker touched by magic in this appetizing episode from the Circle Round archives. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Dec 21, 202120 minSeason 5Ep. 23

Encore: The Tug of War

Does bigger always mean stronger? Oscar nominee & children's author Quvenzhané Wallis (Beasts of the Southern Wild, Annie) stars in this amusing folktale from the Circle Round archives. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Dec 14, 202119 minSeason 5Ep. 22

Treasure Mountain feat. Boston Symphony Orchestra

Recorded live at Tanglewood with members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and an all-star cast, this tale from China explores the true riches in life. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Dec 07, 202124 minSeason 5Ep. 21

The Bags of Seeds feat. Boston Symphony Orchestra

Recorded live at Tanglewood with members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and an all-star cast, this Vietnamese origin story imagines how a very important grain first came to earth. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Nov 30, 202119 minSeason 5Ep. 20

Lookalike Falls (feat. Boston Symphony Orchestra)

Recorded live at Tanglewood with members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and an all-star cast, this tale from Mexico explores wisdom, folly, and everything in between. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Nov 23, 202123 minSeason 5Ep. 19

Encore: The Very Busy Fairies

In this zany Celtic tale from the archives, when fairies come to help Parker Bates (This Is Us) with his chores, he discovers the spirited creatures are far more trouble than they're worth. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Nov 16, 202119 minSeason 5Ep. 18

The Bright Yellow Hat feat. Jona Xiao

Jona Xiao (Raya and the Last Dragon, Hightown) plays a flower peddler who makes gardens and goodness grow in this story with Chinese, Tibetan, Japanese, Moroccan, French, Canadian, and Peruvian roots. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Nov 09, 202125 minSeason 5Ep. 17

Clear as a Bell feat. Carla Hall

Chef, author, and TV personality Carla Hall (Carla and the Christmas Cornbread, Holiday Baking Championship) plays a sly, surprising judge in this courtroom tale with roots in China and the Ozarks. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Nov 02, 202119 minSeason 5Ep. 16

Catching Fire feat. Lilli Cooper & Chuck Cooper

Broadway stars and father-daughter duo Chuck Cooper ("The Life," "Trouble In Mind") and Lilli Cooper ("Tootsie," "SpongeBob SquarePants") headline this West African adventure tale about using your inner spark to change the world. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Oct 26, 202117 minSeason 5Ep. 15

The Persimmon Sisters feat. Tennille Read

In this story with Jewish, Arab, and Korean origins, Tennille Read (SurrealEstate, Workin' Moms) plays a young woman who learns the true meaning of sisterly love. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Oct 19, 202118 minSeason 5Ep. 14

Encore: The Woman in the Moon

In honor of Indigenous Peoples' Day, we bring back a favorite tale from the archives: Irene Bedard (Pocahontas, Ralph Breaks the Internet) stars in an Alaska Native story about the out-of-this-world power that comes when we work together. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Oct 12, 202120 minSeason 5Ep. 13

Getting Skunked feat. Terrence Terrell

Terrence Terrell (B Positive, Giants) stars in this Native American tale about a gentle giant who brings night and day to the world, and gives a certain striped critter its telltale scent. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Oct 05, 202118 minSeason 5Ep. 12

Fools Thrush In feat. Anthony Alabi

Anthony Alabi (Family Reunion, black-ish) headlines an Oneida and Mohawk story about how one of the most beautiful bird songs of all came to be. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Sep 28, 202118 minSeason 5Ep. 11

Night and Day feat. MASUMI

Actor/singer-songwriter MASUMI (Yakuza Princess) headlines this magical tale from the Yoruba people about how night came to a world of endless day. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Sep 21, 202124 minSeason 5Ep. 10

The Red Velvet Purse feat. Elisa Donovan

Elisa Donovan (Clueless, Sabrina the Teenage Witch) plays a judge who puts honesty on trial in this tale with Chinese, Indian, Ethiopian, and Romanian roots. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Sep 14, 202119 minSeason 5Ep. 9

The Friend Ship feat. Carra Patterson

Carra Patterson (Turner & Hooch, Jitney) stars in a tale from Japan about a woman with enough generosity to last a lifetime, and a man with enough greed to sink a ship. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Sep 07, 202121 minSeason 5Ep. 8
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