Dorktales Storytime | Stories for Kids Who Love Big Adventures

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Dr. Kazue Togasaki | Japanese American Doctor Sep 22, 2022

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A story of duty, dedication, and deliveries! Dr. Kazue Togasaki was one of the first Japanese American women to become a doctor in the US. Inspired by her experience in the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, she overcame gender and racial barriers to start her own medical practice. But it was living in a Japanese internment camp during World War II where she showed her moxie - setting up make-shift facilities to provide vital health care to her community and delivering over 10,000 babies during the course of her career.
Go to the episode webpage: https://jonincharacter.com/kazue-togasaki/
Visit the Dorktales Storytime Podcast website:
https://jonincharacter.com/dorktales-storytime-podcast/
CREDITS: This episode has been a Jonincharacter production. Today’s story was written by Molly Murphy and performed by Jonathan Cormur. Sound recording and production by Jermaine Hamilton at Hamilton Studio Recordings.

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GROWNUPS: Dorktales Storytime is more than a Kids and family stories for kids podcast. Every visit to our Once Upon a Time world invites kids to discover reimagined fairy tales, fables, Greek myths, mysteries, fantasy adventures, pirate adventures, bedtime stories, Halloween stories, dinosaur stories, spy adventures, and inspiring stories about historical figures and STEAM pioneers. We believe a well-told story brings families together, opens the door to meaningful conversations, and helps every child know they belong and their imagination can change the world.

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The Tornado Two-Step | Pecos Bill Tall Tale Stories for Kids Sep 08, 2022

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There's tension in the Folktale Forest! When two friends disagree over the blueprints for Midge the Pidge's new birdhouse, their argument starts to spin out of control. To help them see things differently, Jonathan shares the legendary tall tale of Pecos Bill, the rootinest-tootinest, roughest, toughest cowboy who rode a raging tornado and left behind one unforgettable legend about the Grand Canyon. Yippee-ki-yay! Will the friends learn to listen, compromise, and work together before their friendship blows away?

Episode webpage: https://jonincharacter.com/tornado-two-step/

FAN PAGE FUN: https://jonincharacter.com/dorktalesfans/
DOWNLOAD FUNSHEET/COLOR PAGE: https://bit.ly/dorktales9funsheet
GRAB YOUR FREE PDF list of conversation questions for this episode: https://dorktalesstorytime.aweb.page/ep52freePDF

PARENTS, TEACHERS AND HOMESCHOOLERS:This story explores how misunderstandings and unspoken frustrations can quickly spiral into larger conflicts, just like the tornado in the legendary tale of Pecos Bill. Key lessons include the importance of communicating honestly, listening to others' perspectives, compromising when solving problems, and working together to protect friendships. The episode encourages kids to recognize conflict early and shows that respectful conversations often lead to better solutions for everyone.

IF YOU ENJOYED THIS STORY about a retelling of a Pecos Bill tall tale, we think you’ll also enjoy this retelling of The Little Red Hen, episode 36, The Little Redge Hen: https://jonincharacter.com/little-redge-hen/

CREDITS: This episode is a Jonincharacter production. It was written by Amy Thompson, produced by Molly Murphy and performed by Jonathan Cormur. Sound recording and production by Jermaine Hamilton at Pacific Grove Soundworks.

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Masterpiece Stories: The Tortoise and the Hare | ABC Story Sisters Aug 25, 2022

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Perhaps you've heard of a certain race between a smart-but-slow-moving tortoise and a quick-on-their-feet hare? In our bonus episode, Masterpiece Stories, our friends Alexa, Bristol, and Charlotte – the kids behind the mic of the magnificent ABC Story Sisters podcast – will whisk you off to classic fable land with the original “Tortoise and the Hare.'' Then, you will hear our Dorktales’ contemporary take, “Ready, Set, Slow!”, where Tortoise never gives up and never surrenders! Join us for this exciting literary journey – from the classic to the contemporary.

HEY LISTENERS! Mr. Redge and Jonathan will be back to bring you a rootin’ tootin’ reimagined tall tale on September 8. Yeehaw! Find all episodes on the Dorktales Storytime Podcast website: https://jonincharacter.com/dorktales-storytime-podcast/
ABC Story Sisters Season 5, The Little Mermaid, is coming this October! Subscribe or follow their podcast to catch up on past seasons while you wait: https://abcstorysisters.com/
CREDITS: The Masterpiece Stories intro was written by Molly Murphy and performed by Jonathan Cormur. Ready, Set, Slow! was written by Amy Thompson, edited by Molly Murphy and performed by Jonathan Cormur. Sound recording and production by Jermaine Hamilton at Hamilton Studio Recordings. Follow us on Instagram @dorktalesstorytime
ABC Story Sisters is written, produced and edited by Charity Robinson of Thirteen Media, and hosted by sisters Alexa, Bristol and Charlotte Robinson. If you’d like to learn more about their dedication to supporting children’s literacy through their podcast, you can visit their website at abcstorysisters.com. You can also find them on Instagram @abcstorysisters.

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Tuning-in to Newsy Poolozi | World News for Kids Aug 11, 2022

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Mr. Redge wonders where he’ll get his daily dose of adventure while Jonathan takes a storytelling break to spend time planting and tending his garden. All it takes is turning on their magical radio to tune-in to Newsy Pooloozi, the Common Sense Media news podcast pick for curious kids (and hedgehogs). In this episode, mother-daughter duo, Lyndee and Leela, talk about the hopes for earth-saving plastic trees and the surprising benefits of zoo poo!
Find more Newsy Pooloozi news stories: https://www.newsypooloozi.com/
Visit the Dorktales Storytime Podcast website:
https://jonincharacter.com/dorktales-storytime-podcast/
CREDITS: Today’s magical radio intro was written by Molly Murphy and performed by Jonathan Cormur. Sound recording and production by Jermaine Hamilton at Hamilton Studio Recordings. Today’s episode was created and provided by the amazing Newsy Pooloozi team. You can find more of their work wherever you listen to podcasts, or on their website, newsypooloozi.com. Discover more of our tales at DorktalesStorytime.com.

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We love our fans! Find free goodies: https://jonincharacter.com/dorktalesfans/
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Music & Lullabies: https://dorktalesstorytime.bandcamp.com/music

Mary Had a Little, Yes And | Mary Had a Little Lamb Stories for Kids Jul 28, 2022

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It’s the perfect day for pure play! Sherlock Nettlesbee, the great deducing squirrel detective, joins Jonathan and Mr. Redge in an afternoon of imagination and good old-fashioned make believe. When their cloud gazing doesn’t cut it, Sherlock declares that “the Improv Game is afoot!” Can the trio find inspiration from Mary and her little lamb, Lula? Yes and…they’re sure to find a whole-lotta playful, floofy fun everywhere they go!
PARENTS, TEACHERS AND HOMESCHOOLERS: This story is about making time for imaginary play! Improvisation, or improv, is when you make up a story, or a scene, or a little bit of music on the spot. The ‘Yes And’ game is when you listen to another person in your improv scene and agree with what they are saying—that’s the ‘yes’ part—and you use your own ideas to build on their thoughts—that’s the ‘and’ part. It’s entertaining and very fun, plus it also encourages listening skills, collaboration and cooperation.
Episode webpage: https://jonincharacter.com/mary-had-a-little-yes-and
Visit the Dorktales Storytime Podcast website:
https://jonincharacter.com/dorktales-storytime-podcast/
SPECIAL THANKS: Our great deducer Sherlock Nettlesbee the Squirrel is performed by Eric O’Keeffe, host of What If World, a story podcast where "What if?" questions from kids become imaginative stories! Visit the website at whatifworldpodcast.com and check out their Patreon page for ad-free stories and rewards: https://www.patreon.com/whatifworld
PODFRIENDS: We want to introduce you to another kids’ podcast we know you’ll enjoy: A Kids Book About: The Podcast! It’s about the things that matter, like racism, body image and belonging. Created by the folks who’ve been there. Honest. Important. Relevant. Find more on their website: https://akidsco.com/pages/a-kids-book-about-the-podcast
CREDITS: This episode has been a Jonincharacter production. Today’s story was written by Amy Thompson, and edited by Molly Murphy. Special thanks to Eric O’Keeffe from What if World, who voiced Sherlock Nettlesbee and created the Mary and Lula story with Jonathan Cormur. Jonathan and Mr. Redge were performed by Jonathan Cormur. Sound recording and production by Jermaine Hamilton at Hamilton Studio Recordings.

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We love our fans! Find free goodies: https://jonincharacter.com/dorktalesfans/
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Music & Lullabies: https://dorktalesstorytime.bandcamp.com/music

What If Dragons Breathed Sprinkles? | What If World Jul 14, 2022

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Jonathan is visiting the magical realm of the What If World podcast where he is joined by the show’s host, Mr. Eric, for a storytelling adventure and some mythical merry-making! Enjoy this bonus episode “What if Dragons Breathed Sprinkles?” from What If World. Stay tuned after the story to hear a short interview with our storyteller, Jonathan.
“All-star adventurer and wizard, Igneous Draconius (played by Jonathan Cormur) is a guest lecturer at the Observatorium this week, and Professor Abacus P. Grumbler starts to feel jealous…”
PARENTS, TEACHERS AND HOMESCHOOLERS: The lessons learn in this episode include: 1) You can't get everyone to like you, but you can find people who like you just as you are; 2) competition can help us challenge ourselves, and 3) it’s important to remember that failing is part of growing.

Find more What If World episodes: http://www.whatifworldpodcast.com/
Visit the Dorktales Storytime Podcast website:
https://jonincharacter.com/dorktales-storytime-podcast/
CREDITS: Special thanks to Mr. Eric for letting us share this What If World episode with you. What If World is made by Mr. Eric and Karen O’Keeffe and you’ll find it wherever you listen to podcasts! Make sure you subscribe to both Dorktales Storytime AND What If World for a playlist library overflowing with imaginary tales. Please support Mr. Eric’s work by joining What If World’s Patreon for ad-free stories, a shout-out on the show, bonus audio and so much more: https://www.patreon.com/whatifworld

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We love our fans! Find free goodies: https://jonincharacter.com/dorktalesfans/
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Music & Lullabies: https://dorktalesstorytime.bandcamp.com/music

Why We Created Dorktales Storytime | Stories for Kids Podcast Jul 05, 2022

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We’re 50 episodes in so Molly Murphy, writer, producer and composer for Dorktales Storytime—and our host, Jonathan Cormur’s sister—has a special message about why storytelling and imagination are so incredibly important to the Dorktales’ Team:
“We love making this podcast because we can tell all kids that everything they’re feeling is valid. We can give them tools for navigating the world, and stories to turn to where they can hear that they matter and they’re enough. We want to be that community for young people. We want Dorktales to be the space where kids can celebrate who they are without fear.”
READ THE SPECIAL MESSAGE:
https://jonincharacter.com/whats-the-why-behind-dorktales-storytime/
THE MAGICAL DOORWAY, OUR 50TH EPISODE:
https://jonincharacter.com/the-magical-doorway/
Dorktales Storytime Podcast website:
https://jonincharacter.com/dorktales-storytime-podcast/

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We love our fans! Find free goodies: https://jonincharacter.com/dorktalesfans/
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Music & Lullabies: https://dorktalesstorytime.bandcamp.com/music

The Magical Doorway | Fantasy Portal Stories for Kids Jun 30, 2022

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On an otherwise normal day, a portal opens in a mysterious tree hidden in the very corners of a California redwood forest. Jonathan walks through the trunk and tumbles into the mystical, magical land of Once Upon a Time. Mr. Reginald T. Hedgehog, who’s out on his daily walk around his hovel, encounters this lost human. The two discover their kinship and begin their quest to bring joy and understanding to others through stories. As the sun sets behind the Cliffhanger mountains, they set sail across the Fantasea in pursuit of their first storytelling adventures!

Cue the confetti, it’s our 50th episode! For almost two years, we’ve been building our fictional “Once Upon a Time” universe—a place filled with Imagination where Jonathan and Mr. Redge take you on a journey of curiosity and acceptance – through fairy tales with a geeky twist, the histories of hidden heroes, and now, Dorktales lore stories! Our lore stories take you deeper into our anything-is-possible world-building. The Magical Doorway—our very first lore story–was inspired by our listener friend, Gael who asked, “How did Mr. Jonathan and Mr. Redge meet?”
Go to the episode webpage: https://jonincharacter.com/the-magical-doorway
HEY GROWNUPS: Sign up to receive our podcast newsletter every two weeks and you'll receive FREE access to our Dorktales Storytime Podcast's Resource Library filled with activity guides, conversation starter PDFs, printables and more: https://dorktalesstorytime.aweb.page/Dorktales-Library-Card
CREDITS: This episode has been a Jonincharacter production. Today’s story was written by Molly Murphy and performed by Jonathan Cormur. Sound recording and production by Jermaine Hamilton at Hamilton Studios.

Go on even more adventures with our pod friends, Armchair Adventures:

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We love our fans! Find free goodies: https://jonincharacter.com/dorktalesfans/
Support Our Storytime for Kids pod: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1267991/supporters/new
Music & Lullabies: https://dorktalesstorytime.bandcamp.com/music

Big Bad’s Big Feelings | SEL Mindfulness Stories for Kids Jun 16, 2022

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Annoyed and anxious and angry, oh my! Looks like our friends from the Folktale Forest are on an emotional roller coaster, especially the Big Bad Wolf. He's so upset, he just wants to howl at the moon! Luckily, they encounter a caring capybara who patiently helps them sort through their big feelings and calm themselves down. Join Jonathan, Redge, and Big Bad as they learn how to understand one another, and huff and puff their stress away.

PARENTS, TEACHERS AND HOMESCHOOLERS: Recognizing overwhelming feelings is one of the first steps towards feeling better and managing stress. This is an original story that helps kids learn how to self-regulate. It covers many coping strategies and ends with a mindfulness exercise that will help young people move through their anxious feelings. We have a special grownup companion guide for this episode, “Are You Feeling Big Feelings?” It’s FREE when you sign up for our community mailing list:
https://dorktalesstorytime.aweb.page/BigFeelingsGuide
Episode webpage: https://jonincharacter.com/big-bads-big-feelings
Visit the Dorktales Storytime Podcast website:
https://jonincharacter.com/dorktales-storytime-podcast/
SPECIAL THANKS: Our caring capybara, Serena, is performed by Chanel Tsang, host of Peace Out Podcast, mindfulness stories for kids. Chanel is a Montessori educator, family supports practitioner, and yoga and mindfulness meditation guide. She created the Peace Out Podcast as a resource for parents and educators to promote social-emotional skills and introduce yoga and mindfulness to children: https://peaceoutpodcast.com/
CONTACT MR. REDGE HOTLINE Grownups, have your kids contact us for a chance to appear in a future podcast episode: https://jonincharacter.com/contact-the-podcast/
CREDITS: This episode has been a Jonincharacter production. Today’s story was written by Amy Thompson and edited by Molly Murphy. Jonathan, Mr. Redge and the Big Bad Wolf were performed by Jonathan Cormur. Special thanks to Chanel Tsang from Peace Out Podcast who voiced Serena. Sound recording and production by Jermaine Hamilton at Hamilton Studios.

Go on even more adventures with our pod friends, Armchair Adventures:

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Does your child have a question? Send it to us here.
We love our fans! Find free goodies: https://jonincharacter.com/dorktalesfans/
Support Our Storytime for Kids pod: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1267991/supporters/new
Music & Lullabies: https://dorktalesstorytime.bandcamp.com/music

Jerry Lawson | Video Game Inventor and Engineer Jun 02, 2022

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An epic quest to uncover an early video game pioneer! As a teen, Jerry Lawson was a self-taught electronics wiz—building ham radios, making walkie-talkies from scratch, and repairing his neighbor’s TVs. His love of new technologies brought him to California where he became one of the only Black engineers in Silicon Valley. While there, he changed the course of the video game industry with his revolutionary invention—the Channel F game console with interchangeable cartridges. Today, his legacy is paving the way for a new generation of inventive engineers!
Episode webpage: https://jonincharacter.com/jerry-lawson
Visit the Dorktales Storytime Podcast website:
https://jonincharacter.com/dorktales-storytime-podcast/
Learn even more about Jerry Lawson from these great resources:

Raising the Game by Anthony Frasier on Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/Raising-the-Game-Podcast/B09CRFNH6C
Past and the Curious Podcast Episode 73 on Ralph Baer and Jerry Lawson: https://thepastandthecurious.com/episodes/episode-73-video-games/

PODFRIENDS: We want to introduce you to another storytelling podcast we think you’ll enjoy: African Folktales with Miss JoJo! It’s a Webby Award-winning children’s podcast of diverse short stories originating in Africa. Find more on their website: https://www.abfc.co/shows/african-folktales/
CREDITS: This episode has been a Jonincharacter production. Today’s story was written by Molly Murphy and performed by Jonathan Cormur. Sound recording and production by Jermaine Hamilton at Hamilton Studio Recordings.

Go on even more adventures with our pod friends, Armchair Adventures:

Support the show

REACH OUT!

Does your child have a question? Send it to us here.
We love our fans! Find free goodies: https://jonincharacter.com/dorktalesfans/
Support Our Storytime for Kids pod: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1267991/supporters/new
Music & Lullabies: https://dorktalesstorytime.bandcamp.com/music

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