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

The Cleverest Person in the Room

Vanessa Aspillaga (Dora Saves the Snow Princess, Leave the World Behind) stars in this Puerto Rican and Chilean tale about baby basil, cuddly kittens, and how two heads can be better than one. Take our listener survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/crpod

Apr 02, 202426 minSeason 7Ep. 45

The Whole Cart

Julia Chan (Bojack Horseman, Extinct) and Hrishikesh Hirway (Song Exploder, The West Wing Weekly) co-star in a story from India about matching wits, mincing words, and getting the upper hand. Take our listener survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/crpod

Mar 26, 202421 minSeason 7Ep. 44

The Young Healer

Jonigan Booth (The Underdoggs, This Is Us) headlines this Angolan tale about flowing with your heart, and the healing power of dreams. Take our listener survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/crpod

Mar 19, 202426 minSeason 7Ep. 43

The Polka-Dotted Pigeon

Adam Goldberg (The Equalizer) stars in this Portuguese tale about ambitions, imposters, and making the feathers fly! Take our listener survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/crpod

Mar 12, 202428 minSeason 7Ep. 42

The Uncommon Commoner

Recorded live at The Cowell Theater in San Francisco, this story with roots in Europe and Asia proves that wisdom can be found in unexpected places. Take our listener survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/crpod

Mar 05, 202429 minSeason 7Ep. 41

Grime and Punishment

Recorded live at The Cowell Theater in San Francisco, this Chinese tale shows why a good neighbor is priceless, and why a bad neighbor pays the price. Take our listener survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/crpod

Feb 27, 202424 minSeason 7Ep. 40

Encore: The Basilisk’s Stare

In this tale inspired by a Polish legend, Nabiyah Be (Black Panther, Daisy Jones & The Six) and Evan Whitten (The Resident, Ahsoka) face off against a fantastical creature whose gaze turns people to stone. Take our listener survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/crpod

Feb 20, 202420 minSeason 7Ep. 39

The Weeping Witness

Brittany Ishibashi (Runaways, Hawaii Five-O) stars in a Japanese and Persian tale about facing the music and changing your tune. Take our listener survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/crpod

Feb 13, 202418 minSeason 7Ep. 38

The Lone Dragon

Ellen Wong (Beacon 23, GLOW) headlines a Chinese legend about how the dragon came to be a powerful symbol of prosperity and luck. Take our listener survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/crpod

Feb 06, 202421 minSeason 7Ep. 37

Something Fishy

Jorma Taccone (The Lonely Island, Spider-Man: Across the Spiderverse) stars in a tale from Hawaii about a fisherman whose magical gift leads to a fishy situation. Take our listener survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/crpod

Jan 30, 202423 minSeason 7Ep. 36

The Seal of Fate

Ahmed Mawas (Human Resources, Rescuing Christmas) plays a king with a knack for finding the truth and sealing the deal in this tale from Persia. Take our listener survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/crpod

Jan 23, 202426 minSeason 7Ep. 35

The Sharpest Tack

Negin Farsad (Fake the Nation, Wait, Wait... Don't Tell Me!) and Stacey Vanek Smith (Planet Money, The Indicator) face off in a battle of wits in this tale with roots in North America, China, and the Middle East. Take our listener survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/crpod

Jan 16, 202424 minSeason 7Ep. 34

Rhyming Rhino

Kel Mitchell (Good Burger 2, Kenan and Kel) plays a hungry rhino with a gift for trickery and poetry in this African tale from the savanna. Take our listener survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/crpod

Jan 09, 202427 minSeason 7Ep. 33

Encore: The Nine Sticks

Maulik Pancholy (Phineas and Ferb; Mira, Royal Detective) and Nikesh Patel (Four Weddings and a Funeral, The Devil’s Hour) headline this Indian story that asks what's more precious: glittering jewels, or good friends? Take our listener survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/crpod

Jan 02, 202420 minSeason 7Ep. 32

The Forest Folk

Recorded live at CitySpace at The Lavine Broadcast Center in Boston, Mass., this German tale about unconditional love explains the enchanting origins of a classic holiday tradition. Take our listener survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/crpod

Dec 26, 202327 minSeason 7Ep. 31

Encore: The Horse of a Different Color

Christina Anthony (Mixed-ish, Key & Peele) and Tony winner Lindsay Mendez (Carousel, Merrily We Roll Along) play a one-of-a-kind horse and rider in this enchanted tale from across the Spanish-speaking world and beyond. Take our listener survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/crpod

Dec 19, 202326 minSeason 7Ep. 30

Encore: Coyote's Flame

Brittany O'Grady (Little Voice, The White Lotus) stars in a Native American tale about a cunning creature who uses teamwork to bring light, sun and fire to the dark, cold world. Take our listener survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/crpod

Dec 12, 202319 minSeason 7Ep. 29

The Secret of Success

Helen Hong (Family Switch, The Thundermans) stars in a tale with English, Welsh, Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Indian roots about how imagination and effort affect supply and demand. Take our listener survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/crpod

Dec 05, 202326 minSeason 7Ep. 28

The Valley Visitor

NPR’s Ailsa Chang (All Things Considered) headlines a Chinese tale about a mysterious guest, a raging storm, and the true fruits of kindness. Take our listener survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/crpod

Nov 28, 202320 minSeason 7Ep. 27

Encore: The Red Leather Shoes

Aasif Mandvi (The Daily Show, Evil) and Madhur Jaffrey (Madhur Jaffrey's Curry Nation, I Feel Bad) co-star in this Indian story about a wise king, a generous shoemaker, and a priceless pair of shoes. Take our listener survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/crpod

Nov 21, 202325 minSeason 7Ep. 26

Riches to Rags

Veteran Wait, Wait... Don't Tell Me! panelists Tom Bodett and Roxanne Roberts co-star in a Dutch tale about a treasure so precious, it's priceless, and so valuable, it's invaluable! Take our listener survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/crpod

Nov 14, 202323 minSeason 7Ep. 25

The Upside-Down Tree

Comedian Alonzo Bodden (Wait, Wait... Don't Tell Me!, Heavy Lightweight) headlines this African legend about how one animal’s mischief created the savanna’s most majestic, magical trees. Take our listener survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/crpod

Nov 07, 202320 minSeason 7Ep. 24

The Four Winds

Kimberly Guerrero (Spirit Rangers, Reservation Dogs) stars in a tale from the Lakota people about one thieving fox and four wise winds. Take our listener survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/crpod

Oct 31, 202323 minSeason 7Ep. 23

The Crowning Achievement

Faith Salie (Wait, Wait... Don't Tell Me, CBS Sunday Morning) stars in a Jewish legend about a princess who learns how to lead with her head and her heart. Take our listener survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/crpod

Oct 24, 202325 minSeason 7Ep. 22

The Sweetest Sounds

NPR's Rachel Martin (Up First, Enlighten Me) and Ayesha Rascoe (Weekend Edition, Up First) co-star in a Hungarian tale about a violinist, a wizardess, and listening to the music of your heart. Take our listener survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/crpod

Oct 17, 202320 minSeason 7Ep. 21

Heart and Stone

Joshua Johnson (The Night Light with Joshua Johnson, Now Tonight with Joshua Johnson) headlines this international tale about losing your heart and finding an adventure. Take our listener survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/crpod

Oct 10, 202325 minSeason 7Ep. 20

The Stork King

Julian Lerner (The Wonder Years, Alma's Way) stars in a Ukrainian tale about how high-flying risks can pay off in the end. Take our listener survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/crpod

Oct 03, 202329 minSeason 7Ep. 19

The Empty Barrel

Anjali Bhimani (Overwatch, Stray Gods) stars in this Moroccan Jewish tale about a woman who doesn’t view chores as a barrel of fun, until they lead to a boatload of adventure! Take our listener survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/crpod

Sep 26, 202325 minSeason 7Ep. 18

The Clock Bird

Byron Mann (The Modelizer) plays a preening, boastful bird in this Latin American story about learning there's no "I" in team. Take our listener survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/crpod

Sep 19, 202318 minSeason 7Ep. 17

The Bright Side

Broadway star Liana Hunt (Back to the Future) headlines this tale with Polish and Hispanic roots about seeing the bright side, even when things get dark. Take our listener survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/crpod

Sep 12, 202329 minSeason 7Ep. 16
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