Episode notes
Recorded live in Charlotte, NC, this Japanese legend about a rhyming pine tree puts a (literally) sappy new spin on "poetic justice." Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .
Podcast
Circle Round
WBUR · Kids & Family · English
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.
More from Circle Round All episodes →
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S9 · E22 · 30 Dec 2025 · 20 min
Encore: The Patched-Up Coat
NPR's Peter Sagal (Wait, Wait... Don't Tell Me!) stars in this Russian story about how fantastically priceless a little generosity can be. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .
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S9 · E21 · 23 Dec 2025 · 20 min
Encore: Finding the Light
Kennedy Kanagawa (Into The Woods) plays a young man who brings light to a dark world in this tale with roots in Alaska Native and First Nations legends. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .
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S9 · E20 · 16 Dec 2025 · 27 min
Python’s Drum
Gabe Kunda (Marvel Rivals, Apex Legends) and Natasha Rothwell (The White Lotus, Insecure) co-star in a Ugandan legend about friendship, rivalry, and making music. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .
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S9 · E19 · 9 Dec 2025 · 25 min
Birbal's Barrels
Ravi V. Patel (Animal Control, LEGO Masters Jr.) headlines this Indian tale about distinguishing need from greed with help from grain, gold, and a barrel of lies. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .
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S9 · E18 · 2 Dec 2025 · 21 min
The Underestimated Beetle
Recorded live in Charlotte, NC, this Brazilian tale pits a round-rumped, fleet-footed critter against a teeny-tiny insect in a surprisingly high-flying race. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .
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S9 · E16 · 18 Nov 2025 · 34 min
How the Turkey Got Its Gobble (A Podcast Turducken with Terrestrials and Wow in the World)
Fellow kidcasts Terrestrials and Wow in the World join us for a story-stuffed special about smart chickens, mysterious duck quacks, and how the turkey got its gobble. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .
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S9 · E15 · 11 Nov 2025 · 22 min
Little Peacock’s Plumage
Alfred Hsing (Train Dreams, The Book of Boba Fett) stars in a Chinese legend about a kind bird, a mystical fairy, and the magic of giving. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .
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S9 · E14 · 4 Nov 2025 · 27 min
Whatever You Like
Recorded live at Symphony Hall with Boston Symphony Orchestra members and a star-studded cast, this story with roots in Jewish and Indian lore proves that when you weigh your words, they can be worth their weight in gold! Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .
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S9 · E13 · 28 Oct 2025 · 28 min
The Sunlight Tree
Recorded live at Symphony Hall with Boston Symphony Orchestra members and a star-studded cast, this Swedish tale sheds magical light on kindness, caring, and letting roots run deep. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .
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S9 · E12 · 21 Oct 2025 · 26 min
The Tree of Love
Real-life couple Paige Davis (Trading Spaces, Pen Pals) and Patrick Page (The Gilded Age, Archduke) headline a Greek legend about two people whose love is so strong, they find a divine way to stay together forever. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .
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