Circle Round podcast

Circle Round

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  WBUR  

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.

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.

 

#368

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. ... Read more

10 Dec 2024

27 MINS

27:04

10 Dec 2024


#367

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. ... Read more

03 Dec 2024

24 MINS

24:52

03 Dec 2024


#366

Dancing to a Different Tune

World-renowned violinist Hilary Hahn plays a musician with a miraculous gift in this whimsical folktale from South America, North Africa, Europe and the US. ... Read more

26 Nov 2024

22 MINS

22:53

26 Nov 2024


#365

The Caged Bird

Tim Matheson (The West Wing, Virgin River) and Jonathan Tucker (Kingdom, Westworld) co-star in a Jewish and Persian tale about a parrot, a prince, and the priceless value of freedom. ... Read more

19 Nov 2024

25 MINS

25:08

19 Nov 2024


#364

A World of Music

Jon Huertas (This Is Us, Tracker) headlines an Aztec legend about how music first came to the world. ... Read more

12 Nov 2024

20 MINS

20:18

12 Nov 2024


#363

In the Wolf’s Mouth

Jennifer Hale (Stars Wars: The Clone Wars, X-Men ‘97) stars in a Portuguese tale about a big bad wolf and a sharp shrewd owl. ... Read more

05 Nov 2024

17 MINS

17:16

05 Nov 2024


#362

The All-Wish Stick

Amy Tsang (Star Wars: The Acolyte, Kung Fu) stars in a Chinese tale about a magical gift that makes wishes come true, provided you make them with an honest heart. ... Read more

29 Oct 2024

27 MINS

27:38

29 Oct 2024


#361

The Face-Off

Actor Kelly Jenrette (All American: Homecoming, The Handmaid’s Tale) and producer/actor Lamar Richardson (Appropriate, Merrily We Roll Along) co-star in a Shona legend that proves how big strength can come in little sizes. ... Read more

22 Oct 2024

19 MINS

19:37

22 Oct 2024


#360

Top Banana

Tatyana Ali (Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Abbot Elementary) and Jack De Sena (Lego Monkie Kid, Avatar: The Last Airbender) headline this Filipino story about getting the upper hand by taking the lower half. ... Read more

15 Oct 2024

25 MINS

25:19

15 Oct 2024


#359

Pride and Proverbs

Real-life couple David Giuntoli (Grimm, Batman: Soul of the Dragon) and Elizabeth Tulloch (Grimm, Superman and Lois) face off as a wise farmer and proud queen in this tale with Georgian, Kazakh and Ghanaian roots. ... Read more

08 Oct 2024

18 MINS

18:43

08 Oct 2024


#358

The Hiding Place

Broadway's Aaron Bartz, Erik Christopher Peterson and Cara Ricketts (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child) headline a Jewish and Egyptian story about a high-stakes game of hide and seek. ... Read more

01 Oct 2024

26 MINS

26:05

01 Oct 2024


#357

Encore: The Princess and the Bee

Duchess Sarah Ferguson of York (Storytime with Fergie) and Suzie McGrath (Star Wars Resistance, The Punies) star in this charming tale about the importance of having a sound, sensible head, and a warm, fuzzy heart. ... Read more

24 Sep 2024

24 MINS

24:08

24 Sep 2024


#356

Encore: Chameleon’s Contest

Jonica Booth (Rap Stuff, Bad Girls Club) 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. ... Read more

17 Sep 2024

21 MINS

21:33

17 Sep 2024


#355

A Horse for Hire

Recorded live at Tanglewood with members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and a star-studded cast, this Haitian and Creole tale is all about hefty horses and broken deals. ... Read more

10 Sep 2024

24 MINS

24:54

10 Sep 2024


#354

The Price Master

Recorded live at Tanglewood with members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and a star-studded cast, this Indian tale shows what happens when the price is right... and the price is wrong! ... Read more

03 Sep 2024

24 MINS

24:30

03 Sep 2024


#353

The Farmer and the Cow

Recorded live at Tanglewood with members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and a star-studded cast, this Icelandic tale features a magical bovine who's able to moooooove mountains! ... Read more

27 Aug 2024

23 MINS

23:12

27 Aug 2024


#352

Laughing and Crying

Recorded live at The Athenaeum Center in Chicago, IL, this tale with East Asian and Egyptian roots pits a proud king against a sharp-witted schoolteacher who proves she's nobody's fool. ... Read more

20 Aug 2024

26 MINS

26:11

20 Aug 2024


#351

Giant Steps

Recorded live at The Athenaeum Center in Chicago, IL, this tale from the Iraqi Jewish tradition gives a whole new meaning to "putting your best foot forward." ... Read more

09 Aug 2024

27 MINS

27:21

09 Aug 2024


#350

The Spotted Goat

Recorded live at Town Hall Seattle, this tale with Palestinian and Lebanese roots suggests that when somebody gets your goat, don't be shy about putting them on the spot! ... Read more

06 Aug 2024

29 MINS

29:44

06 Aug 2024


#349

Granny Snowstorm

Recorded live at Town Hall Seattle, this Ukrainian tale follows a sister and brother as they meet the supernatural spirit who brings winter. ... Read more

30 Jul 2024

27 MINS

27:57

30 Jul 2024


#348

The Doggies in the Window

Recorded live at The Aladdin Theater in Portland, OR, this Japanese tale about fragile statues and tough shopkeepers proves that every dog can have its day. ... Read more

23 Jul 2024

22 MINS

22:09

23 Jul 2024


#347

The Sea and the Sky

Recorded live at The Aladdin Theater in Portland, OR, this high-flying tale explains how the islands of the Philippines came to be. ... Read more

16 Jul 2024

19 MINS

19:28

16 Jul 2024


#346

The Buffalo’s Shadow

Recorded live at The Parkway Theater in Minneapolis, MN, this Cambodian folktale shows what happens when you find clever solutions to shady problems. ... Read more

09 Jul 2024

23 MINS

23:59

09 Jul 2024


#345

Home Sweet Home

Recorded live at The Parkway Theater in Minneapolis, MN, this East African tale about unlikely roommates proves that sometimes the smallest can be the strongest of all. ... Read more

02 Jul 2024

24 MINS

24:10

02 Jul 2024


#344

Encore: Misery Loves Company

Samin Nosrat (Salt Fat Acid Heat, Home Cooking), Hrishikesh Hirway (Home Cooking, Song Exploder) and Josh Malina (The West Wing, Chutzpod) star in this Ukrainian and Polish tale about what happens when misery loves company so much, it actually comes to life! ... Read more

25 Jun 2024

19 MINS

19:56

25 Jun 2024


#343

Encore: The Friend Ship

Carra Patterson (Rustin, Elsbeth) stars in a tale from Japan about a woman with enough generosity to last a lifetime, and a man with enough greed to sink a ship. ... Read more

18 Jun 2024

22 MINS

22:28

18 Jun 2024


#342

Encore: The Little Blue Pebble

In this magical story with worldwide roots, Broadway performers Bret Shuford and Stephen Hanna (Broadway Husbands) play farmers who receive a little magic that leads to big transformations! ... Read more

11 Jun 2024

28 MINS

28:44

11 Jun 2024


#341

Encore: The Bright Yellow Hat

Jona Xiao (Raya and the Last Dragon, Hightown) plays a flower peddler who makes gardens and goodness grow in this story with Chinese, Tibetan, Japanese, Moroccan, French, Canadian and Peruvian roots. ... Read more

04 Jun 2024

25 MINS

25:57

04 Jun 2024