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.
Jun 24, 2025•24 min•Season 8Ep. 52
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: 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.
Jun 17, 2025•28 min•Season 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.
Jun 10, 2025•19 min•Season 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.
Jun 03, 2025•22 min•Season 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.
May 27, 2025•25 min•Season 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.
May 20, 2025•23 min•Season 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.
May 13, 2025•17 min•Season 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!
May 06, 2025•30 min•Season 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!
Apr 29, 2025•24 min•Season 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.
Apr 22, 2025•20 min•Season 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.
Apr 15, 2025•21 min•Season 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.
Apr 08, 2025•18 min•Season 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.
Apr 01, 2025•17 min•Season 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.
Mar 25, 2025•24 min•Season 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.
Mar 18, 2025•20 min•Season 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.
Mar 11, 2025•17 min•Season 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.
Mar 04, 2025•21 min•Season 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.
Feb 25, 2025•20 min•Season 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.
Feb 18, 2025•24 min•Season 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.
Feb 11, 2025•23 min•Season 8Ep. 33
Encore: The Lumps of Clay
Maulik Pancholy (Phineas and Ferb, Sanjay and Craig) stars in a classic Indian story about a witty royal adviser who finds an ingenious way to bring the truth to light.
Feb 04, 2025•21 min•Season 8Ep. 32
The Zodiac Twelve
Tzi Ma (Five Blind Dates, Interior Chinatown) and Jimmy Wong (Mulan, Wish Dragon) co-star in an action-packed legend about the origin of the Chinese zodiac animals.
Jan 28, 2025•30 min•Season 8Ep. 31
Hot Potatoes
Arlen Escarpeta (Found, The Oath) headlines a tale from southern Africa about stolen spuds and hare-brained schemes.
Jan 21, 2025•23 min•Season 8Ep. 30
The Cobbler’s Soul
John Patrick Amedori (Three Women, Dear White People) headlines an internationally-inspired story about fixing soles and saving souls.
Jan 14, 2025•30 min•Season 8Ep. 29
Encore: Ariana’s Music
Mireille Enos (Hanna, The Killing) headlines this new spin on an ancient Greek legend about an instrument that captivates everyone who hears it – whether they have skin, scales, hair, hides, feathers or fur!
Jan 07, 2025•22 min•Season 8Ep. 28
Encore: Three Clever Brothers
Alexandra Billings (Transparent, Paddleton) stars in a North African, Middle Eastern and central and north-central Asian folktale about the power of a keen eye and a quick mind.
Dec 31, 2024•20 min•Season 8Ep. 27
Encore: Getting Skunked
Terrence Terrell (B Positive, Giants) stars in this Abenaki tale about a gentle giant who brings night and day to the world, and gives a certain striped critter its telltale scent.
Dec 24, 2024•19 min•Season 8Ep. 26
The Peach of Life
Recorded live at Symphony Space, a star-studded cast brings to life this Chinese and Vietnamese legend about the healing power of a kind and honest heart.
Dec 17, 2024•27 min•Season 8Ep. 25
The Wild Goose Chase
Recorded live at Symphony Space with a star-studded cast, this magical tale inspired by Ukrainian and Russian lore follows a kindly tailor as he embarks on an unforgettable chase.
Dec 10, 2024•27 min•Season 8Ep. 24
Encore: The Most Fabulous Fur of All
Q'orianka Kilcher (Yellowstone, Dora and the Lost City of Gold) stars in a Cherokee tale about a clever rabbit who craftily tries pulling the wool — and fur — over everyone’s eyes.
Dec 03, 2024•25 min•Season 8Ep. 23
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