Send us a text In Wonderland, nothing is ever quite what it seems, including Alice’s birthday. The White Rabbit, who promised to celebrate with her, keeps darting off in all directions. Even the Mad Hatter deflates her hopes for a special day when he un-invites her to tea—because it’s not her unbirthday. Feeling lost and forgotten, Alice wonders if anything can turn the day around—until the Cheshire Cat appears with a curious new path to follow. In a land where left is right and up is down, a da...
Jun 26, 2025•16 min•Season 6Ep. 114
Send us a text The sun is shining, the questions are sizzling, and Mr. Redge is soaking it all in—headphones on, beach towel out, and ready for the A’s to your Q’s! It’s the summer edition of Mr. Redge’s Hotline, where we answer YOUR curious, clever, and wonder-filled questions. Jonathan and Redge share favorite podcast moments, reveal the most important lore story from the Land of Once Upon a Time, snack on seaweed crisps, and send out shoutouts galore. Plus, Jonathan shares exciting updates ab...
Jun 19, 2025•10 min
Send us a text While exploring the Fantasea in their magical minivan-submarine, Jonathan and Redge discover Red Herring Reef, a vibrant underwater village. Just in time for the annual Jubilee of the Sea art show, they meet Ariel the mermaid, who dazzles as the MuSEAum’s lively curator. While on the School of Fish tour, they find one of the frames is mysteriously empty! Their curiosity turns into a full-blown caper, as our friends flip their fins and dive into detective mode to crack the case. Wh...
Jun 12, 2025•22 min•Season 6Ep. 113
Send us a text A tale of secret codes and early computers! Alan Turing was a British mathematician and thinker who helped turn the tide of World War II for the United Kingdom and its allies. His groundbreaking work also laid the foundation for much of the technology we use today. As a child, Alan loved solving puzzles—like tracking the patterns of bees—and as a teen, he spent many late nights working through challenging math problems. From imagining the Turing Machine to cracking the uncrackable...
May 29, 2025•18 min•Season 6Ep. 112
Send us a text Hesper, the Fairy of the Evening Star, casts a dream-traveling spell to take Redge on his long-awaited journey to Slumberland. With her moth companion, Vesper, by her side, the trio soar along the starry brick road to explore the dreamy realm’s enchanting destinations—from a visit to the Shut Eye Shopping District, a cuppa at Forty Winks Tea House, and a run through the clouds to catch some Z’s at Catnap Castle. Let the stardust of this story work its magic and slip you into a lov...
May 15, 2025•19 min•Season 6Ep. 111
Send us a text With binoculars ready and journals in hand, Jonathan and Redge meet up with their Bigfoot friend, Samuel Squatch, for a day of birdwatching by Legend Lake. The bird-loving buddies soon learn that migration season is more than the return of their favorite birds—it’s a full blown fashion event! As glowing fairies light up the forest canopy, birds both real and mythical strut their stuff in style—from classical geese in flight to a phoenix who sets the fashion world on fire. The glam...
May 01, 2025•18 min•Season 6Ep. 110
Send us a text A story of early Earth science in action! Mary Anning was a pioneering paleontologist and fossil hunter who reshaped our understanding of prehistoric life. Growing up by the seaside cliffs of Lyme Regis, England, she uncovered ancient creatures hidden in the rocks—like giant sea reptiles and even fossilized dinosaur poop! Her discoveries helped scientists understand that creatures could go extinct and that the Earth was much older than people once believed. Her work was often dism...
Apr 17, 2025•21 min•Season 6Ep. 109
Send us a text We’re bringing you a bonus episode from our friends at Koala Shine —a podcast full of exciting, mindful adventures with wonderful characters like Koko the Koala, Hector & Sunny, and the Jupiter Twins. Their storyteller, Kelly, will take you to incredible places—from Ancient Rome to the Land of Dinosaurs—sharing awesome facts and jokes along the way! The story we’ve chosen for you is The Jupiter Twins: The Beastly Brew . Come with Kelly to the Academy of Magic, where Lily and J...
Apr 10, 2025•20 min
Send us a text Jonathan and Redge travel to the Cliffhangers eager to witness the legendary Color Pillars glow in the Spring Equinox light. But when they arrive in the village of Symbol Ism, they discover something is terribly wrong—the once-vibrant pillars are covered in an eerie, unexplainable muck. As they search for answers, they encounter someone who sees the fading pillars as a sign to tear down the ancient site and build a brand new theme park. With time slipping away, Jonathan and Redge ...
Apr 03, 2025•19 min•Season 6Ep. 108
Send us a text Something mysterious is happening over Legend Lake—stars are vanishing from the night sky! When Jack A. Lope and Double-Oh-Quills receive an urgent message from Agent M, they suit up and soar into action. With the help of Kit and a clever prairie dog named Dusty, they track the missing stars to a top-secret lair hidden in plain sight. But who—or what—is behind this cosmic caper? Agents Lope and Quills must use all of their wits (and some nifty spy tech) to stop the star snatcher f...
Mar 20, 2025•23 min•Season 6Ep. 107
Send us a text It's time for another Mr. Redge’s Hotline—where we answer your questions and give some very special shout outs! Redge kicks things off with a hedgehog-huzzah for Ada, age 7, and then we’re off on a Q&A adventure with you, our amazing listeners. Want to know Redge’s top 10 favorite Dorktales stories (at least for the moment)? Wondering how a hedgehog gets a haircut (or doesn’t)? Curious about how Jonathan cheers himself up on a bad day? What about Redge’s snazzy outfits? Jonath...
Mar 13, 2025•8 min
Send us a text A story of drive and determination! Shirley Chisholm, known as being a person for the people, was the first Black woman elected to the U.S. Congress. From her childhood in Brooklyn and Barbados to standing up for fairness, education and equal rights, Shirley never backed down from a challenge. She boldly ran for President to continue her quest to make life better for everyone in America. Through hard work, trailblazing ideas and a voice that couldn’t be ignored, Shirley Chisholm c...
Mar 06, 2025•19 min•Season 6Ep. 106
Send us a text Redge’s plans for the Bubbly, Cuddly, Huggly, Snuggly Hearts Party are in jeopardy when the musical act cancels at the last minute. Redge knows the show must go on if he wants this special celebration of friendship to be truly unforgettable. Luckily, he knows just who to put on the bill—the Hey Diddle, Diddle crew! With Cat on the fiddle, Cow jumping over the moon, and Dish and Spoon racing around, they seem like the perfect performers. But something is missing. Dog, the heart of ...
Feb 20, 2025•19 min•Season 6Ep. 105
Send us a text Jonathan and Redge are gearing up for their Thrilling and Astounding Lore Expedition (T.A.L.E.) tour, but first, Redge has a special surprise for Jonathan—a magical minivan equipped with everything they’ll need for their storytelling road trip adventures! Outfitted with drive mode, fly mode, teeny tiny shrink and deep sea dive modes—this van has every gizmo and gadget they’ll need to explore new places, meet magical creatures, and gather stories galore. Go to the episode webpage: ...
Feb 06, 2025•14 min•Season 6Ep. 104
Send us a text We’re revisiting an episode from the early days of Dorktales Storytime as we get ready for the launch of Season 6 with brand-new tales and adventures on February 6th! “The Three Little Hogs” was the very first fairy tale we told when the podcast began in 2020. It’s where you’ll meet the three hedgehog brothers—Percy, Porky, and Peregrin—and encounter the Big Bad Wolf before he had a change of heart. Relive the beginnings of Jonathan and Redge’s budding friendship before they set o...
Jan 23, 2025•23 min
Send us a text As we prepare for the exciting launch of Season 6 of Dorktales Storytime on February 6th, we’re revisiting some favorite past adventures. Ever wondered how Jonathan found the magical doorway into Once Upon a Time or met his storytelling best friend, Reginald T. Hedgehog? This is the backstory to all our Dorktales adventures. This also answers the question our listener friend, Jose, asked about how Jonathan can go between Once Upon a Time and the real world. On an otherwise normal ...
Jan 09, 2025•18 min
Send us a text We’re wrapping up the year and our season of original stories for kids (and their geeky grownups) with a festively fun bonus episode. Join Jonathan and Mr. Redge as they answer listener questions from around the world and give shout-outs to our incredible Dorktales Storytime fans. This episode includes: Zahra’s question about Redge’s favorite adventure (spoiler: it’s spy-tacular!) Jonathan’s stories about his creative sibling, Molly, who helps make Dorktales magical. Redge’s dashi...
Dec 26, 2024•8 min
Send us a text Blast off into the story of Dr. Ellen Ochoa, a trailblazer in space exploration! As an astronaut, engineer, scientist, inventor, and the first Latina woman to journey into space, Dr. Ochoa broke barriers and reached for the stars—literally. During four missions, she spent nearly 1,000 hours in orbit. She studied Earth’s atmosphere, mastered robotic technology, and contributed to the creation of the International Space Station. Her groundbreaking work didn’t stop there—Dr. Ochoa la...
Dec 19, 2024•15 min•Season 5Ep. 103
Send us a text It’s Jolly Holly season in the land of Once Upon a Time, and Pinocchio is in serious nose-growing trouble. He was left in charge of Geppetto’s chiming Jolly Holly clock—a cherished symbol of the season. When his curiosity gets the best of him, one clumsy mishap leads to another, and the clock breaks! In a panic, Pinocchio’s fanciful fibbing turns into a whale of a problem. Can his quest to right his wrongs ultimately save the Jolly Holly celebration? This episode features a sample...
Dec 05, 2024•23 min•Season 5Ep. 102
Send us a text What if every blunder you made could blossom into something beautiful? Take it from your hedgehog buddy, Redge, who frolics through his failures in his very own field of daisies! He plants a seed for every big—and little—misstep and mistake he makes and they sprout into a spectacular floral garden. From salty cookie catastrophes to daring belly flops, Redge shows us how he celebrates his "oopsies" as opportunities to learn and grow. This episode was inspired by the children’s book...
Nov 21, 2024•15 min•Season 5Ep. 101
Send us a text Redge stumbles upon a dazzling, magical plant—the Radiant Root—glowing with glittering leaves and capable of conjuring a feast of the imagination for 100 creatures. The only problem? It's deeply rooted in the Folktale Forest, and even the Hedge Witch, Zinnia Fig, can’t uproot it alone. Soon, friends from all over Once Upon a Time come together to use their strengths, spells and specialties to lift the Radiant Root. Will their teamwork turn into a triumphant night that will stay in...
Nov 07, 2024•21 min•Season 5Ep. 100
Send us a text It’s time to grab your candy, turn off the lights, and get ready for our encore presentation of Sleepy Hallow’s Eve—a tale that will give you just the right amount of shivers and giggles! Hello boils, ghouls, and non-corporeal entities! Our SCARE-rator is here to tell you a spooky tale that will send shivers up your quivers and make your teeth chatter with delight! It’s party time at Katrina’s house and Ichabod Crane is having the time of his life. Jealous of his fun, Brom Bones g...
Oct 31, 2024•29 min
Send us a text An inspiring story that will rock your world! Meet Simon Tam, the visionary founder of the Asian American band, The Slants. Follow his path from a young music lover to a trailblazing activist who stood up for free speech and fair representation. His desire to reclaim a hurtful term and turn it into something positive and empowering became a groundbreaking case at the U.S. Supreme Court. Discover how his fight for the band’s name became a victory for artistic expression. Simon’s st...
Oct 17, 2024•18 min•Season 5Ep. 99
Send us a text Jonathan and Redge adventure into The Tomes, the vast desert of Once Upon a Time, when they stumble into a mysterious tomb—and find themselves on a ghoulish (and very goofy) game show. The two must solve haunting riddles, guess what’s missing in an ancient witch’s potion, and test their courage in the chilling, thrilling Malevolent Maze of the Mummy! Can they work together to tackle all the terrifying twists and turns or will they be lost in The Tomes desert forever? Episode webpa...
Oct 03, 2024•26 min•Season 5Ep. 98
Send us a text Jonathan is having the worst day ever—gum stuck in his hair, soaked clothes, and he's even missing a shoe! Redge thinks the wood nymphs caused Jonathan's series of unfortunate mishaps because he forgot to knock on wood. The two friends shrink down to the size of a speck of dust and go into the floorboards to investigate. But are the wood nymphs really creating bad luck or is it all an itty bitty misunderstanding? Episode webpage: https://jonincharacter.com/knock-on-wood/ GRAB YOUR...
Sep 19, 2024•17 min•Season 5Ep. 97
Send us a text It’s hotline time! In this special Fall episode, Mr. Redge and Jonathan answer listener questions and give shout-outs to our Dorktales friends from around the world. From the reason behind Redge’s happy dance after every story, to the most important tale Jonathan’s ever told, there’s a whole lot of fun, laughter, and heartwarming moments waiting for you. There are also some super cool shout-outs to our amazing listeners and even a secret reveal about Redge’s mysterious middle name...
Sep 12, 2024•8 min
Send us a text Your mission—should you choose to accept it—is to follow agents Jack A. Lope and Double-Oh-Quills on their action-packed spy-tacular adventure! When the meanie minotaur, Bull Dozer, steals Niko the Unicorn’s magical golden bow tie, it’s up to the quirky agents to retrieve it before all of Legend Lake falls into chaos. Armed with cool spy gadgets, clever disguises and their own good sense, they race against time to outsmart the baddies and save unicorn magic. Episode webpage: https...
Sep 05, 2024•23 min•Season 5Ep. 96
Send us a text Mr. Redge starts acting strange after a mysterious encounter in the garden. Jonathan grows worried because his best hedgehog friend has lost interest in their day of adventure. To solve this mystery, Jonathan asks his STEM princess friend Rapunzel for help. What could be causing Redge’s unusual behavior? With her love for science, Rapunzel proposes a hypothesis and sets up a hopscotch experiment to get to the root of Redge’s strange behavior. Will they solve the mystery and hop Re...
Aug 22, 2024•20 min•Season 5Ep. 95
Send us a text A captivating tale of determination and the bright lights of Broadway! From his beginnings in a Bronx tenement, Moss Hart became one of the most talented figures in American theater history. His journey from office boy to legendary playwright, stage director and screenwriter is a testament to the power of dreams and perseverance. His award-winning collaborations with George S. Kaufman and Irving Berlin left a lasting mark on the arts. And, his autobiography, “Act One” continues to...
Aug 08, 2024•16 min•Season 5Ep. 94
Send us a text With a new school year just around the corner, we know many of you might be feeling a mix of excitement and nerves. Our friend Big Bad also had back-to-school jitters, and he found comfort and support from his friends. They helped him manage his fears and guided him back to his calm and confident self. As you prepare for a new school year or start something new, remember that it's okay to feel nervous. Learning to calm yourself and seeking support from friends and family can make ...
Jul 25, 2024•21 min
