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.

Episodes

Encore: Nilsa and the Troll

In this favorite tale from the archives, Raegan Revord (Young Sheldon) plays a generous young woman who proves that small gestures of kindness can make a big difference.

Nov 29, 202221 minSeason 6Ep. 22

The Scholar’s Reward feat. Summer Bishil & Michael Maliakel

This Indian tale starring Summer Bishil (The Magicians, Four Samosas) and Michael Maliakel (Aladdin on Broadway) tells how the first chess game came to be, while teaching a powerful lesson about the ripple effects of our actions.

Nov 22, 202224 minSeason 6Ep. 21

Like Oil and Water feat. Michelle Ang

In this courtroom tale with roots in Chinese lore, Michelle Ang (The Bad Batch, Riddle Me This) plays a wise judge who proves that dishonesty and justice just don't mix.

Nov 15, 202219 minSeason 6Ep. 20

The Most Fabulous Fur Of All feat. Q’orianka Kilcher

In this Cherokee story, Q'orianka Kilcher (Yellowstone, Dora and the Lost City of Gold) plays a clever rabbit who craftily tries pulling the wool — and fur — over everyone’s eyes.

Nov 08, 202224 minSeason 6Ep. 19

The Wheat and the Chaff feat. Christopher Rivas

In this tale with Finnish roots, Christopher Rivas (Call Me Kat, Brown Enough) plays a sly fox who tricks a pair of bullies into reaping what they sow.

Nov 01, 202226 minSeason 6Ep. 18

The Sorcerer’s Offer feat. Alondra Delgado, Amber Nash, & Bill Ratner

Inspired by a tale from Armenia, this story starring Amber Nash (Archer, How To Ruin The Holidays), Bill Ratner (Family Guy, G.I. Joe), and Alondra Delgado (All American, Is Mejor to Say ADIÓS) shows how small risks -- and acts of kindness -- can pay off in big ways.

Oct 25, 202226 minSeason 6Ep. 17

The Banana Split feat. Jim Conroy & Amirah Vann

Amirah Vann (A Jazzman’s Blues, Underground) and Jim Conroy (Jellystone, FETCH! with Ruff Ruffman) star in this Panamanian tale about a slow, steadfast tortoise who teaches a swift, stingy monkey about sharing.

Oct 18, 202219 minSeason 6Ep. 16

Encore: The Fantastic Fiddle

In this favorite tale from the archives, Adam Irigoyen (Away, Shake It Up) plays a fiddler whose magical instrument brings the world to its feet, and the guilty to their knees.

Oct 11, 202225 minSeason 6Ep. 15

Finding the Light feat. Kennedy Kanagawa

Kennedy Kanagawa (Into The Woods) plays a young man who brings light to a dark world in this tale with roots in Alaska Native and First Nations legends.

Oct 04, 202219 minSeason 6Ep. 14

Chameleon’s Contest feat. Jonica Booth & Jay Pharoah

Jonica Booth (Rap Stuff) 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 27, 202221 minSeason 6Ep. 13

The Little Blue Pebble feat. Bret Shuford & Stephen Hanna

In this magical story with roots all over the world, Broadway performers Bret Shuford and Stephen Hanna (Broadway Husbands) play farmers who receive a little magic that leads to big transformations!

Sep 20, 202228 minSeason 6Ep. 12

One Wish (feat. Boston Symphony Orchestra)

Recorded live at Tanglewood with members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and an all-star cast, this tale with Indian, Irish, and Jewish roots proves that wishes can come true —sometimes all at once!

Sep 13, 202226 minSeason 6Ep. 11

Fair-Feathered Friends (feat. Boston Symphony Orchestra)

Recorded live at Tanglewood with members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and an all-star cast, this Burmese folktale imagines why the thrush's colors are in its voice, not its feathers.

Sep 06, 202222 minSeason 6Ep. 10

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