Circle Round

As we ring in the new year, we bring back a favorite episode about planting the seeds of honesty, starring Nikki SooHoo (Star Wars Resistance, The Resident) and Christine Toy Johnson (Iron Fist, Come From Away).

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As we celebrate the winter holidays, we revisit a favorite episode from season two: Broadway legends Rebecca Luker and Danny Burstein play a talking bird and spoiled prince who explore the meaning of true wisdom.

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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.

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Kiera Allen (Run) plays a wise woman whose cleverness is tested by her father long after he's gone in this story from Armenia, Greece, Russia, Germany and Hungary.

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Julia Nickson (Rambo: First Blood Part II, The Unbidden) and YouTuber Lizzy Capri headline this Tibetan and Burmese tale about finding treasure, playing tricks, and monkeying around.

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To celebrate the season of giving, we bring you a special mega-episode revisiting four of your favorite Circle Round stories about generosity.

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In this tale inspired by a Polish legend, Nabiyah Be (Black Panther, Daisy Jones & The Six) and Evan Whitten (The Resident, Mr. Robot) face off against a fantastical creature whose gaze turns people to stone.

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This Hispanic tale from the Southwest U.S. stars Adam Irigoyen (Away, Shake It Up) as a fiddler whose magical instrument brings the world to its feet, and the guilty to their knees.

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Dyllón Burnside (POSE, Prideland) and Tony nominee Alex Brightman (Beetlejuice, School of Rock - The Musical) co-star in this Australian story about small critters, giant egos, and why frogs croak.

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Kelly Jenrette (The Handmaid's Tale, Uncorked) and John Carroll Lynch (American Horror Story, The Founder) headline this Estonian/Finnish story about how very far a little generosity can go.

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In this Native American tale, Brittany O'Grady (Little Voice, Star) plays a cunning creature who uses teamwork to bring light, sun and fire to the dark, cold world.

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In honor of Indigenous Peoples' Day, we're revisiting this Seneca tale from Season 2 about the origin of stories -- co-starring NPR veteran Diane Rehm and Jonathan Joss (Parks and Recreation, Comanche Moon).

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Corey Stoll (Billions, West Side Story) and Glenn Fleshler (Billions, Joker) bring to life this Brazilian story about the sweetness of humility and the sting of greed.

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Maggie Siff (Billions, Mad Men), Santino Fontana (Tootsie, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend), and Denim Richards (Yellowstone, The Chickasaw Rancher) co-star in this Northern African/Middle Eastern/Jewish tale about spoiled olives and fresh starts.

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Rosalind Chao (Mulan, The Joy Luck Club) headlines this Chinese tale about a tall mountain, a big radish, and the magic of giving back to your community.

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Desmin Borges (You're The Worst, Utopia) plays a tiny bird with an ever-growing ego in this playful story with roots in Mexico and Puerto Rico.

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Tzi Ma (The Farewell, Mulan) and Jimmy Wong (Wish Dragon, Mulan) co-star in this Burmese tale about turning soil and dirt into an invaluable treasure.

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At the end of season 3, we asked fans to send us their own Circle Round story. This week, you’ll hear some of the submissions we received!

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This favorite story from season one, starring Mel Rodriguez (The Last Man on Earth, Electric Dreams), is about the importance of being honest and keeping your word... especially when you’re a leader in charge of something big.

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In part four of our summer series with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Amy Hargreaves (13 Reasons Why, Homeland) plays a mystical flute player who teaches a greedy landowner to sing a different tune.

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Hannah Simone ("New Girl") stars alongside her real-life father Naren Simone in a South Asian tale about the power of self-reliance.

Download a coloring page for this episode here: wbur.org/circleround/coloring-pages

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In part three of our summer series with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Chloe Coleman (Timmy Failure, My Spy) stars in an African tale about how bigger isn't always better, and how slow and steady can be best of all!

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Jurnee Smollett-Bell stars in this classic tale about a young girl who teaches a group of neighbors what it means to really share.

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In part two of our summer series with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Jin Ha (Devs, Love Life) and Greta Jung (Modern Family, Station 19) headline a Korean folktale about a hardworking farmer whose generosity brings a surprising reward.

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Phillipa Soo (Hamilton) and Stacy Keach (Man With a Plan) headline this favorite episode from season 3: a tale from China about a kind, humble artist whose paintings come to life.

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Part one of our special summer series with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Melora Hardin and Gildart Jackson co-star in this tale about a crafty countess who teaches a broke baker never to look a gift horse in the mouth.

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Recorded live with musicians from the Boston Symphony Orchestra as part of our 2019 summer pop-up series, this Aboriginal story from Australia imagines how the kangaroo got her indispensable pouch.

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Is the bucket half empty or half full? This week's bonus episode comes from a Chinese folktale about the unexpected upside of imperfection.

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In this Native American story, William Jackson Harper (The Good Place) portrays a tiny creature who teaches the other animals and birds to appreciate what it means to be different.

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In this bite-sized bonus episode from West Africa, a tricky spider bites off more than he can chew when he tries outwitting a wise dinner guest.

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Iain Armitage (Young Sheldon, Big Little Lies) learns a surprising lesson about size, strength and power in this twist on a folktale from East Asia, India, Spain, Latin America and the southwestern U.S.

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Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Lisa Loeb (A Simple Trick to Happiness, Feel What U Feel) discovers the true meaning of goodness, virtue and honor in this folktale originally from Mexico.

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Public radio and podcast veteran Tonya Mosley (Here and Now, Truth Be Told) plays a clever turtle determined to outwit the local bully in this whimsical tale inspired by stories told in Ghana.

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In this story from the Zulu people of South Africa, Marshall Escamilla (Tumble: A Science Podcast for Kids) and Avi Nash (The Walking Dead, Hosea) star as brothers who are as different as sweet and sour.

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Actor and musician Chris Sullivan (This Is Us, Joseph The Spouse) plays the boastful, blowhard title character in this Hawaiian tale about an egotistical chief who gets cut down to size.

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Shazad Latif (Star Trek: Discovery, Penny Dreadful) and Anthony Rapp (Star Trek: Discovery, Rent) headline this Middle Eastern/North African tale about sweet figs, bad breath, and the bitter truth.

When you need advice, what kind of advisor do you turn to?

Someone who’s honest? Trustworthy? Supportive?

In today’s story, we’ll meet an advisor who’s none of these things. And the person he’s advising -- a wealthy, powerful sultan -- has no idea!

Our story is called “The Sultan’s Figs.” Versions of this tale originally come from North Africa and the Middle East.

Voices in this episode include Mike DelGaudio, Shazad Latif and Anthony Rapp. Grown-ups, you can see Shazad and Anthony on the CBS All-Access series, Star Trek. You can also check out Shazad Latif in three Netflix shows -- Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, Penny Dreadful and Toast of London -- plus the upcoming indie film, Falling For Figaro. Anthony Rapp has starred in dozens of Broadway plays and musicals, including Rent and If/Then, opposite Idina Menzel. He’s the author of the book, Without You: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and the Musical Rent.

To give to Circle Round got to WBUR.org/supportcircleround

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Adrian Martinez (Stumptown, Lady and the Tramp) stars in this classic folktale about the big treasures a little honesty can bring.

Visit our website, www.wbur.org/circleround and print out our coloring pages!

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What does it mean to be “honest”?

Being “honest” means being truthful in what you do and say - even if it isn’t easy!

In today’s story, we’ll find out why telling the truth can be even more precious than bronze, silver, and gold!

Our story is called “The Treasured Axe.” Versions of this tale come from all over the world, from Greece, Latvia and Russia, to Nigeria, Indonesia and Japan, to China, Thailand and Tibet.

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In this bonus episode inspired by a Chinese folktale, an industrious man finds a clever way to teach his brother the value of hard work.

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If you’re looking for something extra to do while listening to today’s tale, ask a grown-up to print out the coloring page for this week’s story! You can find it at WBUR.org/circleround. At the end of this episode you'll hear more another activity -- an "I did it" jar!

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Children's podcast hosts Molly Bloom (Brains On!, Smash Boom Best) and Jane Lindholm (But Why: A Podcast For Curious Kids) co-star as twin sisters who reap what they sow in this story with origins in Korea, Tibet, Japan and China.

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In this bonus story with roots in Europe and China, a horse teaches a knight about loyalty and kindness.

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If you’re looking for something extra to do while listening to today’s tale, ask a grown-up to print out the coloring page for this week’s story! You can find it at WBUR.org/circleround. At the end of this episode you'll hear more another activity -- writing notes.

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Think about someone in your life who has helped you. Perhaps a teacher helped you learn something new. Or a family member gave you a smile and a hug when you were having a rough day. When people help us out, it’s nice to return the favor, by doing something helpful for them.

But in this bonus edition of Circle Round, we’ll meet a character who forgets about that last part, even though his helper saved his life!

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Think about someone you admire for their courage.

Maybe it’s a person from history, who stood up for what’s right. Perhaps it’s a family member or friend who’s always bold enough to try something new.

In today’s story, we’ll meet a character who’s so brave, she’s willing to give up everything she’s ever known. Everything!

Our story is called “The Birds and the Trees.” Versions of this tale come from New Zealand, an island nation in the Pacific Ocean.

Voices in this episode include James Konicek, Adam Mastroianni, Maurice Emmanuel Parent, Gamalia Pharms, and Krys Marshall. Grown-ups, you can see Krys Marshall on Apple TV’s fictionalized version of the 1960s race to the moon, For All Mankind. Krys is also a mentor with the Young Storytellers Foundation, which seeks to "inspire young people to discover the power of their own voice.”

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A bonus story from Hawaii, about the magic that happens when we show kindness to strangers in need.

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If you’re looking for something extra to do while listening to today’s tale, ask a grown-up to print out the coloring page for this week’s story! You can find it at WBUR.org/circleround. At the end of this episode you'll hear more about how to play "Kindness Bingo."

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We’ve been hearing a lot from our listeners around the world - listeners like you! And many of you have been asking for more stories to help you get through this time of social distancing, when we’re all spending a bunch more time at home than we’re used to.

Today we’re bringing you a special bonus episode of Circle Round.  Our story is called “A Cup of Poi.” Poi is a popular food where our tale originally comes from: Hawaii, the only island state in the United States. It’s all about the magic that happens when we’re kind to others… especially when we’ve never met them before!

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Have you ever teamed up with other people to get something done? 

We’re all keeping our distance from other people, to help everyone stay healthy and safe.

But just because we’re keeping a physical distance, it doesn’t mean we have to be separated. Even if we’re not in the same room, or the same building, we can still find ways to join up with others, and accomplish things that we can’t do on our own! 

In the story we’re about to hear, we’ll meet some people who really need to work together. But first… they need to get their act together!

Our story is called “The Search For Rain.” It’s inspired by a tale from Argentina, the second-largest country in South America.

Voices in this episode include Doug Lockwood, Maurice Emmanuel Parent, Gamalia Pharms, Delores King Williams, and Amory Sivertson. Amory is the co-host of Endless Thread, a podcast from WBUR and Reddit that brings stories from the Internet to life -- from mysteries, to histories, to stories about our shared humanity. 

This episode was adapted for Circle Round by Rebecca Sheir. It was edited by Circle Round’s executive producer, Katherine Brewer. Circle Round’s original music and sound design is by Eric Shimelonis. Our artist is Sabina Hahn.

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This week we present a favorite story from the archives: Keith David (Greenleaf) and Tony Award winner James Naughton (City of Angels, Chicago) play a curious, disguised king and a cobbler who proves the power of self-reliance.

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Analeigh Tipton (Crazy, Stupid Love; Why Women Kill) and Stephen Tobolowsky (One Day at a Time, The Tobolowsky Files) co-star in this Burmese tale about a king who dreams of finding an elusive white elephant.

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Pop singer David Archuleta (American Idol) and stand-up comic Sherry Cola (Good Trouble) headline this Mongolian story about the origins of the country's national instrument: the horsehead fiddle.

Voices in this episode include Doug Lockwood, Maurice Emmanuel Parent, Kimberly Schraf, David Archuleta and Sherry Cola. Grown-ups, look for stand-up comedian Sherry Cola on the Freeform network drama, Good Trouble. Singer-songwriter and American Idol star David Archuleta kicks off his Ok, All Right Tour on March 30th, 2020; it will run throughout the US into May.

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Orla Brady (Star Trek: Picard, Into the Badlands) stars in this Irish tale about three wise animals, two very different sisters, and one bag of silver coins.

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Tony Award winner Kelli O'Hara (The King and I; Kiss Me, Kate) stars opposite real-life husband, director/musician Greg Naughton (The Independents, The Sweet Remains), in this Korean and Japanese tale about eternal love, kindness and youth.

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This Russian and European folktale stars real-life husband and wife Paul Sparks (House of Cards, Sweetbitter) and Annie Parisse (Friends From College) as a king who's taken prisoner, and a queen whose musical prowess sets him free.

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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.

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