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

The Dust-Up - feat. Jackie Chung & Louis Ozawa

Jackie Chung (The Summer I Turned Pretty, Coming Home Again) and Louis Ozawa (Hunters, Pachinko) star in this rollicking tale from Africa about how the zebra got its stripes and the baboon got its bare bottom.

Mar 21, 202325 minSeason 6Ep. 38

The Fast Feast - feat. Jon Jon Briones and Kathleen Chalfant

We celebrate our 200th episode with two Circle Round alums -- Jon Jon Briones (Ratched, Class of ‘09) and Kathleen Chalfant (The Affair, House of Cards) -- starring in a Jewish tale about how revenge is a dish best served cold.

Mar 14, 202331 minSeason 6Ep. 37

Written in the Stars - feat. Tallie Medel

Tallie Medel (Everything Everywhere All At Once, Cocoon Central Dance Team) headlines this Moroccan Jewish tale about how pursuing your passion can be music to everyone’s ears.

Mar 07, 202329 minSeason 6Ep. 36

The Unselfish Shellfish - feat. Eric Bauza & Harry Shum Jr.

Eric Bauza (Bugs Bunny Builders, Woody Woodpecker) and Harry Shum Jr. (Everything Everywhere All At Once, Crazy Rich Asians) star in an Indonesian story about a bad egg who winds up in a real pickle when he tries having his cake and eating it too.

Feb 28, 202324 minSeason 6Ep. 35

The Eagle’s Return - feat. Diana Lee Inosanto & Myrna Velasco

Diana Lee Inosanto (The Mandalorian, The Curious Mind of Sebastian) and Myrna Velasco (Elena of Avalor, Trick-or-Treat Scooby-Doo!) star in this Venezuelan story about loyalty, courage, and the supernatural power of friendship.

Feb 14, 202323 minSeason 6Ep. 33

Donkey Business - feat. Jennifer Hale & Connor Ratliff

Jennifer Hale (Stars Wars: The Clone Wars, Mass Effect) and Connor Ratliff (Dead Eyes, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) star in this tricky tale about donkeys, ducats, and being a good neighbor.

Feb 07, 202324 minSeason 6Ep. 32

The Missing Mountainside - feat. Karen Huie

In this Taiwanese tale starring Karen Huie (Welcome to Flatch, Abominable and the Invisible City), a town learns the bad taste it can leave when you bite off more than you can chew!

Jan 24, 202320 minSeason 6Ep. 30

The Wrong Day feat. Liza Lapira & Telly Leung

Liza Lapira (The Equalizer, Must Love Christmas) and Telly Leung (Allegiance, Warrior) star in this folktale from Japan about good days, bad days, and the gift that keeps on giving.

Jan 17, 202322 minSeason 6Ep. 29

Hungry Hippo feat. Scott Lawrence

Scott Lawrence (Star Wars Resistance, Vader Immortal) stars in this African legend about how the hippopotamus came to be the decidedly distinctive creature it is today.

Jan 10, 202322 minSeason 6Ep. 28

Encore: The Great Acorn Robbery

Katy Mixon (American Housewife, Minions) and Diedrich Bader (American Housewife, Veep) headline this Seneca tale about an industrious squirrel and the sneaky critters who pilfer her prized acorns.

Jan 03, 202321 minSeason 6Ep. 27

Encore: The Three-Legged Pot

Comedian Aparna Nancherla (The Standups, Corporate) stars as a rambunctious cooking vessel in this Danish and Middle Eastern story about generosity and greed.

Dec 27, 202222 minSeason 6Ep. 26

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
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