Circle Round

Kids & Family

About

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

  • Chicken Scratches

    Musician and podcaster Hrishikesh Hirway plays a rooster in this Southern American tale. The episode explores themes of judging by appearances.

  • Encore: The Blizzard Wizard

    Vivien Lyra Blair narrates "The Blizzard Wizard," an indigenous Siberian story about a supernatural spirit. This episode is from the Circle Round podcast.

  • Encore: The Magic Touch

    This episode of Circle Round, titled "Encore: The Magic Touch," features an East African story about twin brothers, enchanted fruit, and the magic of an open heart. Edi Gathegi stars in the episode.

  • Lighting a Spark

    In this episode of Circle Round, Charlene Amoia performs a French legend. The story is about the origin of fire.

  • Swift Fox and the Coyote Twins

    This episode retells a multicultural legend about two coyotes and a fox. Sterling K. Brown, Mandy Moore, and Chris Sullivan are featured co-stars.

  • A Tale of Two Neighbors

    This episode of Circle Round, recorded live in Cleveland, OH, presents an Appalachian tale. It explores the theme of true friends sticking together through various challenges.

  • Copper and Dumplings

    This episode of Circle Round, recorded live in Cleveland, OH, presents a Japanese story about a wise baker and two goblins. The goblins are depicted as refusing to confront their fears.

  • Encore: The Laughing Canoe

    George Salazar narrates "The Laughing Canoe," a Brazilian story emphasizing the benefits of teamwork. This episode is from the Circle Round podcast.

  • The Bolt of Silk

    Samantha Béart plays a sorceress in "The Bolt of Silk," a story drawing from Sudanese, Egyptian, and Palestinian traditions. This episode explores a tale of magic and mischief.

  • The Beech-Wood Box

    Krassimira Belev and Christian Hebel tell a Romani tale about the origin of the violin. This episode is from the podcast Circle Round.

  • Stealing Summer

    Meena Harris stars in "Stealing Summer," a Shoshone, Shasta, and Hupa legend that explains how summer and winter began. This episode is from the podcast Circle Round.

  • Down the Garden Path

    This episode of Circle Round, recorded live with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, features a Buddhist story from Tibet and India. The narrative emphasizes the theme of helping others, regardless of one's size.

  • The Masked Bandit

    This podcast episode of Circle Round, titled "The Masked Bandit," features a Sioux legend about a raccoon. It was recorded live at Symphony Hall with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and a star-studded cast.

  • The Noise Next Door

    This episode of Circle Round, recorded live in Glendale, CA, presents a Haitian tale. It features two blacksmiths whose noisy work leads to a presidential uproar.

  • Goodnight Sun

    This episode of Circle Round, recorded live in Glendale, CA, tells a story with roots in India and Vietnam. It follows a trio of birds on an adventure to bring back the sun.

  • Over the Sea

    This episode of Circle Round features Tatyana Ali in a tale from Aboriginal Australia. Her character, a starfish, outwits a whale.

  • The Fourth Post

    Jeff Meacham (Black-ish, Vampirina) plays a lead role in "The Fourth Post," a humorous tale. The story originates from Great Britain, Italy, Russia, and the Philippines.

  • Encore: The Fairy Fort

    Taylor Richardson and Alison Wright co-star in an Irish tale about fairies and the power of music. This episode is from the podcast Circle Round.

  • Encore: The Patched-Up Coat

    In this episode of Circle Round, Peter Sagal narrates a Russian story about the importance of generosity. The narrative highlights how acts of kindness can be incredibly valuable.

  • Encore: Finding the Light

    Kennedy Kanagawa of Into The Woods stars in an encore episode of Circle Round. This tale is rooted in Alaska Native and First Nations legends and tells of a young man who brings light to a dark world.

  • Python’s Drum

    This episode of Circle Round features Gabe Kunda and Natasha Rothwell in a Ugandan legend. The story explores themes of friendship, rivalry, and music.

  • Birbal's Barrels

    Ravi V. Patel narrates an Indian tale about distinguishing need from greed with grain, gold, and a barrel of lies. This episode of Circle Round explores themes of need versus greed.

  • The Underestimated Beetle

    This episode of Circle Round, recorded live in Charlotte, NC, features a Brazilian folktale. It tells the story of an unexpected race between a swift animal and a tiny insect.

  • A Sticky Situation

    This episode of Circle Round, "A Sticky Situation," features a Japanese legend about a rhyming pine tree, recorded live in Charlotte, NC. The story offers a new perspective on poetic justice.

  • How the Turkey Got Its Gobble (A Podcast Turducken with Terrestrials and Wow in the World)

    This special episode of Circle Round, featuring Terrestrials and Wow in the World, explores the story of how the turkey got its gobble. It also includes discussions about smart chickens and mysterious duck quacks.

  • Little Peacock’s Plumage

    Alfred Hsing stars in this episode of Circle Round. It features a Chinese legend about a kind bird, a mystical fairy, and the magic of giving.

  • Whatever You Like

    This episode of Circle Round, recorded live with members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, presents a story rooted in Jewish and Indian lore. The narrative explores the theme that words can be very valuable when carefully considered.

  • The Sunlight Tree

    This episode of Circle Round, recorded live with Boston Symphony Orchestra members, presents a Swedish tale. The story focuses on themes of kindness, caring, and the importance of letting roots run deep.

  • The Tree of Love

    Paige Davis and Patrick Page from "Trading Spaces" and "The Gilded Age" respectively, act out a Greek legend about two people whose strong love finds a divine way to unite them forever. This episode of Circle Round explores their story of…

  • The Stone Horse

    This episode of Circle Round, recorded live in Parker, CO, presents a Chinese adventure story. It highlights how kindness and hard work can revitalize anything, even stone.

  • The Palace of Cats

    This episode of Circle Round, recorded live in Parker, CO, presents a Palestinian tale. It features wisecracking elders and wayward felines, exploring the unexpected rewards generosity can bring.

  • Encore: The Scholar's Reward

    This episode of Circle Round features Summer Bishil and Michael Maliakel in an India tale. It explores the origins of the first chess game and the ripple effects of our actions.

  • The Right Apple

    June Squibb narrates "The Right Apple", a Jewish Turkish story where a wrong turn leads to an unexpected reward.

  • Sundown on Sunday

    Charlet Takahashi Chung stars in "Sundown on Sunday", a Japanese folktale about a clever farmer. This episode is from the podcast Circle Round.

  • The Round Mossy Stone

    This episode of Circle Round, "The Round Mossy Stone," features Béchir Sylvain as Anansi in a West African tale. The story centers on a magic stone and a trickster who experiences the consequences of his own actions.

  • The First Councilor

    This episode of Circle Round features Danielle Panabaker and James Wolk in a Swedish tale. The story is about an uncertain king, a magic fairy, and a monumental decision.

  • Princess Persistence

    Aparna Brielle stars in "Princess Persistence," an episode where a legendary Indian princess is tested. The story focuses on her love, devotion, and courage.

  • True Colors

    This episode of Circle Round, titled "True Colors," features Heather Burns and Ajay Naidu. They narrate a Bantu, Zulu, and Tumbuka tale to explain why the hyena's coat is spotted and scraggly.

  • Milk from a Bull

    This episode of Circle Round, recorded live at Tanglewood with Boston Symphony Orchestra musicians, features a tale with roots in India, Mongolia, Siberia and the Philippines. The story is about thinking unconventionally.

  • The Seamstress and the Deev

    This episode of Circle Round, recorded live at Tanglewood with Boston Symphony Orchestra musicians, presents an Afghan tale. It features a seamstress and her cat on an adventure.

  • Encore: The Unselfish Shellfish

    Eric Bauza and Harry Shum Jr. star in an Indonesian story on Circle Round. The episode features a character who faces consequences for their actions. Listeners can sign up for the monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar".

  • Encore: The Missing Mountainside

    This episode of Circle Round features Karen Huie in a Taiwanese tale. The story explores the theme of biting off more than one can chew.

  • Encore: The Mountain Guardian

    This episode of Circle Round features Audrey Hsieh and Alonzo Bodden in a Tibetan tale. A stone lion appropriately rewards two family members for generosity and greed.

  • Encore: Of Beans and Bunnies

    This episode of Circle Round features Efren Ramirez narrating "Of Beans and Bunnies," a folktale from the Spanish-speaking world. The story centers on a trickster who uses his intelligence to outwit others.

  • Encore: Mangoes in the Middle

    This episode of Circle Round, titled "Encore: Mangoes in the Middle," features Utkarsh Ambudkar. It tells an Indian tale about a royal advisor who proves the owner of a treasure.

  • Encore: Hungry Hippo

    This episode of Circle Round, titled "Encore: Hungry Hippo," features Scott Lawrence. It tells an African legend about the origin of the hippopotamus.

  • Encore: Strong Mind and Kind Heart

    This episode of Circle Round features Christopher Sean in a Vietnamese tale. It is about two friends, a shared dream, and the value of a true heart.

  • Encore: Counting Crocodiles

    This episode of Circle Round features a playful tale from Indonesia, Japan, and Malaysia. Tiya Sircar narrates the story of a cunning mouse deer and a cantankerous crocodile.

  • Encore: The Rooster in the Sky

    This episode of Circle Round features an adventure story with roots in Russia, Hungary, and the Middle East. It tells of a magical rooster that rewards Rachel Matthews for her persistence and friendship.

  • Out of Time

    Brittany Ishibashi stars in a Japanese tale about the power of stories and the value of reading and listening between the lines. This episode is from the podcast Circle Round.