Circle Round

Latest Episodes:

Encore: 'Kangaroo And Joey Too' Jun 30, 2020

Show notes

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.

Shortie: The Leaky Bucket Jun 23, 2020

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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.

Encore: 'The Great Ball Game' Jun 16, 2020

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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.

Shortie: The Dinner Date Jun 09, 2020

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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.

Encore: The Most Powerful Of All Jun 02, 2020

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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.

The Noblest Tale feat. Lisa Loeb May 26, 2020

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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.

Leopard’s Rhythm feat. Tonya Mosley May 19, 2020

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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.

Sweet and Sour feat. Avi Nash & Marshall Escamilla May 12, 2020

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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.

Chief Know-It-All feat. Chris Sullivan May 05, 2020

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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.

The Sultan’s Figs feat. Shazad Latif and Anthony Rapp Apr 28, 2020

Show notes

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.

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