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 First Councilor

Danielle Panabaker (The Flash) and James Wolk (Mad Men, Happy Face) headline a Swedish tale about an uncertain king, a magic fairy, and a monumental decision. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Sep 02, 202528 minSeason 9Ep. 5

Princess Persistence

Aparna Brielle (FUBAR, A.P. Bio) stars as a legendary Indian princess whose love, devotion and courage face the ultimate test. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Aug 26, 202524 minSeason 9Ep. 4

True Colors

Heather Burns (Bored to Death, Manchester by the Sea) and Ajay Naidu (Office Space, Blindspot) headline a Bantu, Zulu and Tumbuka tale about why the hyena's coat is spotted and scraggly. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Aug 19, 202522 minSeason 9Ep. 3

Milk from a Bull

Recorded live at Tanglewood with Boston Symphony Orchestra musicians and a star-studded cast, this tale with roots in India, Mongolia, Siberia and the Philippines is all about thinking outside the box... and inside the jar. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Aug 12, 202529 minSeason 9Ep. 2

The Seamstress and the Deev

Recorded live at Tanglewood with Boston Symphony Orchestra musicians and a star-studded cast, this Afghan tale follows a savvy seamstress and her chatty kitty on a royally epic adventure. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Aug 05, 202528 minSeason 9Ep. 1

Encore: The Unselfish Shellfish

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. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Jul 29, 202525 minSeason 8Ep. 57

Encore: The Missing Mountainside

Karen Huie (Welcome to Flatch, Abominable and the Invisible City), stars in a Taiwanese tale about the bad taste it can leave when you bite off more than you can chew! Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Jul 22, 202521 minSeason 8Ep. 56

Encore: The Mountain Guardian

Audrey Hsieh (Here Today, Mixtape) and Alonzo Bodden (Wait, Wait... Don't Tell Me!, Who's Paying Attention) headline this Tibetan tale about two family members who are rewarded appropriately by a stone lion, one for her generosity and one for his greed. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Jul 16, 202526 minSeason 8Ep. 55

Encore: Of Beans and Bunnies

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. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Jul 08, 202525 minSeason 8Ep. 54

Encore: Mangoes in the Middle

Utkarsh Ambudkar (Ghosts, We Are Freestyle Love Supreme) stars in an Indian tale about an ingenious royal advisor who cunningly proves the true owner of a fruitful treasure. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Jul 01, 202519 minSeason 8Ep. 53

Encore: Hungry Hippo

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. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Jun 24, 202524 minSeason 8Ep. 52

Encore: Strong Mind and Kind Heart

Christopher Sean (Star Wars Resistance, Gotham Knights) stars in this Vietnamese tale about two friends, one dream, and the infinite value of a true heart. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Jun 17, 202528 minSeason 8Ep. 51

Encore: Counting Crocodiles

In this playful tale from Indonesia, Japan and Malaysia, Tiya Sircar (Star Wars Rebels, The Good Place) plays a cunning mouse deer who teaches a cantankerous crocodile a lesson. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Jun 10, 202519 minSeason 8Ep. 50

Encore: The Rooster in the Sky

In this adventure story with roots in Russia, Hungary and the Middle East, a magical rooster rewards Rachel Matthews (Frozen 2) for her fearless persistence and precious friendship. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Jun 03, 202522 minSeason 8Ep. 49

Out of Time

Brittany Ishibashi (Marvel’s Runaways, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) stars in a Japanese tale about the power of stories, and the value of reading -- and listening -- between the lines. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

May 27, 202525 minSeason 8Ep. 48

The Fruits of Labor

Jeffrey Donovan (Burn Notice, Fargo) stars in an ancient Jewish tale about how working to benefit the future can bring sweet rewards in the present. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

May 20, 202523 minSeason 8Ep. 47

The Big Green Bag

Tim Bagley (Somebody Somewhere, Hacks) and Rebecca Mader (Lost, Once Upon a Time) co-star in a Rumanian and British tale about the high-flying differences between wants and needs. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

May 13, 202517 minSeason 8Ep. 46

Call of the Cuckoo

Stephen Hanna and Bret Shuford (Broadway Husbands, Husbands 2 Dads) headline a European and Asian tale about outlawing anger, forbidding frustration, and making the feathers fly! Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

May 06, 202530 minSeason 8Ep. 45

Encore: Friends in High Places

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! Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Apr 29, 202524 minSeason 8Ep. 44

At First Light

Natalie Dormer (Audrey's Children, Game of Thrones) headlines a legend from Aboriginal Australia about a bright, bold bird and the illuminating power of teamwork. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Apr 22, 202520 minSeason 8Ep. 43

The Donkey’s Tail

Rapper/poet Omar Offendum (Little Syria) stars in a Persian and North African tale about righting wrongs and sniffing out a thief. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Apr 15, 202521 minSeason 8Ep. 42

One Good Turn

Alan Goffinski, Ana González and Lulu Miller (Terrestrials) star in a very international story about returning favors and being stuck between a rock and a hard place. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Apr 08, 202518 minSeason 8Ep. 41

In the Willow Tree

Stephanie Koenig (Lessons in Chemistry, The English Teacher) and Patrick Luwis (Cobra Kai) star in a Taiwanese tale about a tiny ant, a boastful pigeon, and unexpected favors. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Apr 01, 202517 minSeason 8Ep. 40

Miss Tilda

Arienne Mandi (The L Word: Generation Q, The Night Agent) and Patrick Renna (You Gotta Believe, The Sandlot) go head-to-head in a battle of wits in this tale with roots across Europe, Asia, the Caribbean and the American Southwest. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Mar 25, 202524 minSeason 8Ep. 39

Crocus-Pocus

Jacob Laval (The Unbreakable Boy, John Mulaney and the Sack Lunch Bunch) and Amanda Warren (The Night Agent, East New York) headline a Sicilian tale about sowing the seeds of kindness, compassion and crocuses. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Mar 18, 202520 minSeason 8Ep. 38

The Flame Keeper

Joy Ofodu (Dating Unsettled, Heart of Sunshine) and Camron Jones (Panic, Shameless) co-star in a Huichol story from Mexico about stolen fire and bald tails. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Mar 11, 202517 minSeason 8Ep. 37

Maushop and the Shark

Román Zaragoza (Ghosts) stars in a Wampanoag tale about a gentle giant, a hungry shark, and the power of fun and games. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Mar 04, 202521 minSeason 8Ep. 36

Diamonds in the Sky

Kyriana Kratter (Star Wars: Skeleton Crew) and Mila Harris (Mary, World-Breaker) headline an out-of-this-world Filipino tale about how the sun and moon came to be. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Feb 25, 202520 minSeason 8Ep. 35

The Salmon Famine

Recorded live at Symphony Hall with Boston Symphony Orchestra musicians and a star-studded cast, this indigenous Pacific Northwest tale follows a wily coyote on a daring rescue. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Feb 18, 202524 minSeason 8Ep. 34

The Well of Honor

Recorded live at Symphony Hall with Boston Symphony Orchestra musicians and a star-studded cast, this Egyptian, Iraqi, Palestinian, Sudanese and Tunisian tale shows the importance of never biting off more than you can chew. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Feb 11, 202523 minSeason 8Ep. 33
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