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.
Download Metacast podcast app
Podcasts are better in Metacast mobile app
Don't just listen to podcasts. Learn from them with transcripts, summaries, and chapters for every episode. Skim, search, and bookmark insights. Learn more

Episodes

The Golden Advice feat. Kate Siegel

Kate Siegel (Midnight Mass, The Time Traveler’s Wife) plays a struggling farmer who learns the true value of wisdom in this tale with origins in Greece, India, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Scotland, Wales, and the Jewish tradition.

Aug 16, 202228 minSeason 6Ep. 7

The Tale of Koala's Tail feat. Kaniehtiio Horn

Kaniehtiio Horn (Letterkenny, Reservation Dogs) stars in an Aboriginal Australian tale about a koala whose overbearing pride makes her lose her pride and joy!

Aug 09, 202227 minSeason 6Ep. 6

Encore: Curious Boots feat. Colin Hanks

Colin Hanks (Life in Pieces, Jumanji) stars as a precocious little brother whose curiosity earns him a royally big reward in this Norwegian adventure story from the Circle Round archives.

Jul 26, 202225 minSeason 6Ep. 4

A Trio of Tricks feat. Della Saba

Della Saba (Zootopia, Physical) headlines an Indonesian and Malaysian tale about a teeny-tiny trickster who outsmarts the other animals with her big wit.

Jul 19, 202224 minSeason 6Ep. 3

Pulling Strings feat. Bashir Salahuddin

Bashir Salahuddin (Top Gun: Maverick, South Side) stars in a Ghanaian tale about legendary eight-legged trickster Anansi, and why all spiders have narrow waists.

Jul 12, 202220 minSeason 6Ep. 2

A Song for the Spirits feat. Krys Marshall

Krys Marshall (For All Mankind) stars in a West African story about an honest fisherwoman, a haunted forest, and a flute with value beyond compare.

Jul 05, 202226 minSeason 6Ep. 1

Encore: Rabbit’s Wish (feat. Ryan Michelle Bathé)

In this season-3 story with roots in West Africa, the Caribbean and Latin America, Ryan Michelle Bathé (This Is Us, First Wives Club) plays a clever Rabbit who discovers that power and strength aren't just about physical size.

Jun 28, 202221 minSeason 5Ep. 50

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, 202223 minSeason 5Ep. 47

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, 202226 minSeason 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, 202219 minSeason 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, 202222 minSeason 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, 202219 minSeason 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, 202225 minSeason 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, 202223 minSeason 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, 202225 minSeason 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, 202223 minSeason 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, 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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

Feb 01, 202221 minSeason 5Ep. 29
For the best experience, listen in Metacast app for iOS or Android
Open in Metacast