Encore: The Gloomy Pine Tree (feat. Mykal-Michelle Harris)
Mykal-Michelle Harris (Mixed-ish) stars as a discontented sapling in this classic "grass is always greener" tale from our third season.
Jun 21, 2022•21 min•Season 5Ep. 49
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
Encore: Little Frog’s Big Voice (feat. Alex Brightman & Dyllón Burnside)
Dyllón Burnside (POSE, Prideland) and Tony nominee Alex Brightman (Beetlejuice, School of Rock - The Musical) co-star in this Australian story from the archives about small critters, giant egos, and why frogs croak.
Jun 14, 2022•20 min•Season 5Ep. 48
Encore: The Wind Catcher
Tony Award winner Lea Salonga (Miss Saigon, Les Misérables) headlines this Marshallese tale from our fourth season about how the first sailboat came to be.
Jun 07, 2022•23 min•Season 5Ep. 47
The Neverending Stories feat. Anjali Bhimani & Adriyan Rae
Anjali Bhimani (Special, Ms. Marvel) and Adriyan Rae (Chicago Fire, The Game) co-star in this Korean, Cambodian, and Kazakh tale about the importance of spreading stories far and wide.
May 31, 2022•23 min•Season 5Ep. 46
Katya the Quick feat. Etai Benson & Susannah Flood
Susannah Flood (Life and Beth, Birthday Candles) and Etai Benson (The Band's Visit, Company) star in this Jewish folktale about a clever, quick-witted woman who uses her brilliant brainpower to save her family.
May 24, 2022•26 min•Season 5Ep. 45
Misery Loves Company feat. Hrishikesh Hirway, Joshua Malina & Samin Nosrat
Samin Nosrat (Salt Fat Acid Heat, Home Cooking), Hrishikesh Hirway (Home Cooking, Song Exploder), and Josh Malina (The West Wing, Chutzpod) star in this Ukrainian and Polish tale about what happens when misery loves company so much, it actually comes to life.
May 17, 2022•19 min•Season 5Ep. 44
After Midnight feat. Fiona Glascott & David Morse
David Morse (John Adams, How I Learned To Drive) and Fiona Glascott (Fantastic Beasts, Julia) star in this Irish tale about a magical creature who helps a young woman avoid hard work, until the tables are turned.
May 10, 2022•22 min•Season 5Ep. 43
The Early Bird feat. Megan Boone & Jazmyn Simon
Jazmyn Simon (Ballers, Most Perfect You) and Megan Boone (The Blacklist, The Underground Railroad) play competing birds in this Native American story about the surprising ways that slow and steady can win the race.
May 03, 2022•19 min•Season 5Ep. 42
Encore: The Golden Flask
Allison Strong (The Week Of) headlines this Incan tale from our second season about a brave, magical journey to heal a prince and save a family.
Apr 26, 2022•25 min•Season 5Ep. 41
Friends in High Places feat. Mario Cantone & Denise Crosby
Mario Cantone (And Just Like That, Surf's Up) and Denise Crosby (Star Trek: The Next Generation) star in this folktale about how the giraffe got its long neck, and how the rhino got an unexpected ally!
Apr 19, 2022•23 min•Season 5Ep. 40
Of Beans and Bunnies feat. Efren Ramirez
Efren Ramirez (Napoleon Dynamite, Lightyear) portrays a beloved trickster who lives by his wits—and uses them to outwit others—in this folktale from the Spanish-speaking world.
Apr 12, 2022•25 min•Season 5Ep. 39
The Troupe of Ten feat. Malia Baker, Kelly Jenrette & Kenny Leu
Malia Baker (The Baby-Sitters Club, Are You Afraid of the Dark), Kelly Jenrette (The Handmaid's Tale, All-American: Homecoming) and Kenny Leu (A Shot Through the Wall, Midway) headline a story about a troupe of actors who always bring down the house, until they're nearly brought down themselves.
Apr 05, 2022•23 min•Season 5Ep. 38
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.
Mar 29, 2022•21 min•Season 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.
Mar 22, 2022•16 min•Season 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.
Mar 15, 2022•20 min•Season 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.
Mar 08, 2022•28 min•Season 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.
Mar 01, 2022•19 min•Season 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!
Feb 22, 2022•20 min•Season 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.
Feb 15, 2022•20 min•Season 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.
Feb 08, 2022•19 min•Season 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.
Feb 01, 2022•21 min•Season 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.
Jan 25, 2022•17 min•Season 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.
Jan 18, 2022•21 min•Season 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.
Jan 11, 2022•23 min•Season 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.
Jan 04, 2022•21 min•Season 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.
Dec 21, 2021•21 min•Season 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.
Dec 21, 2021•20 min•Season 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.
Dec 14, 2021•19 min•Season 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.
Dec 07, 2021•24 min•Season 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.
Nov 30, 2021•19 min•Season 5Ep. 20
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