Circle Round
357 episodes - English - Latest episode: 10 days ago - ★★★★★ - 12.5K ratingsCreated 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.
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Episodes
A Bee in the Bush
April 09, 2024 19:00 - 23 minutes - 21.5 MBErika Ishii (Worlds Beyond Number, Apex Legends) headlines this Vietnamese tale about getting a bee in your bonnet, buzzing off, and feeling the sting.
The Cleverest Person in the Room
April 02, 2024 19:00 - 25 minutes - 23.7 MBVanessa Aspillaga (Dora Saves the Snow Princess, Leave the World Behind) stars in this Puerto Rican and Chilean tale about baby basil, cuddly kittens, and how two heads can be better than one.
The Whole Cart
March 26, 2024 19:00 - 21 minutes - 19.5 MBJulia Chan (Bojack Horseman, Extinct) and Hrishikesh Hirway (Song Exploder, The West Wing Weekly) co-star in a story from India about matching wits, mincing words, and getting the upper hand.
The Young Healer
March 19, 2024 19:00 - 25 minutes - 23.7 MBJonigan Booth (The Underdoggs, This Is Us) headlines this Angolan tale about flowing with your heart, and the healing power of dreams.
The Polka-Dotted Pigeon
March 12, 2024 19:00 - 28 minutes - 25.8 MBAdam Goldberg (The Equalizer) stars in this Portuguese tale about ambitions, imposters, and making the feathers fly!
The Uncommon Commoner
March 05, 2024 20:00 - 29 minutes - 26.6 MBRecorded live at The Cowell Theater in San Francisco, this story with roots in Europe and Asia proves that wisdom can be found in unexpected places.
Grime and Punishment
February 27, 2024 20:00 - 23 minutes - 21.9 MBRecorded live at The Cowell Theater in San Francisco, this Chinese tale shows why a good neighbor is priceless, and why a bad neighbor pays the price.
Encore: The Basilisk’s Stare
February 20, 2024 20:00 - 20 minutes - 18.6 MBIn this tale inspired by a Polish legend, Nabiyah Be (Black Panther, Daisy Jones & The Six) and Evan Whitten (The Resident, Ahsoka) face off against a fantastical creature whose gaze turns people to stone.
The Weeping Witness
February 13, 2024 20:00 - 17 minutes - 16.3 MBBrittany Ishibashi (Runaways, Hawaii Five-O) stars in a Japanese and Persian tale about facing the music and changing your tune.
The Lone Dragon
February 06, 2024 20:00 - 20 minutes - 18.9 MBEllen Wong (Beacon 23, GLOW) headlines a Chinese legend about how the dragon came to be a powerful symbol of prosperity and luck.
Something Fishy
January 30, 2024 20:00 - 22 minutes - 20.8 MBJorma Taccone (The Lonely Island, Spider-Man: Across the Spiderverse) stars in a tale from Hawaii about a fisherman whose magical gift leads to a fishy situation.
The Seal of Fate
January 23, 2024 20:00 - 26 minutes - 24.2 MBAhmed Mawas (Human Resources, Rescuing Christmas) plays a king with a knack for finding the truth and sealing the deal in this tale from Persia.
The Sharpest Tack
January 16, 2024 20:00 - 24 minutes - 22.1 MBNegin Farsad (Fake the Nation, Wait, Wait... Don't Tell Me!) and Stacey Vanek Smith (Planet Money, The Indicator) face off in a battle of wits in this tale with roots in North America, China, and the Middle East.
Rhyming Rhino
January 09, 2024 15:00 - 26 minutes - 24.6 MBKel Mitchell (Good Burger 2, Kenan and Kel) plays a hungry rhino with a gift for trickery and poetry in this African tale from the savanna.
Encore: The Nine Sticks
January 02, 2024 15:00 - 20 minutes - 18.4 MBMaulik Pancholy (Phineas and Ferb; Mira, Royal Detective) and Nikesh Patel (Four Weddings and a Funeral, The Devil’s Hour) headline this Indian story that asks what's more precious: glittering jewels, or good friends?
The Forest Folk
December 26, 2023 15:00 - 26 minutes - 24.3 MBRecorded live at CitySpace at The Lavine Broadcast Center in Boston, Mass., this German tale about unconditional love explains the enchanting origins of a classic holiday tradition.
Encore: The Horse of a Different Color
December 19, 2023 15:00 - 26 minutes - 23.8 MBChristina Anthony (Mixed-ish, Key & Peele) and Tony winner Lindsay Mendez (Carousel, Merrily We Roll Along) play a one-of-a-kind horse and rider in this enchanted tale from across the Spanish-speaking world and beyond.
Encore: Coyote's Flame
December 12, 2023 15:00 - 19 minutes - 17.6 MBBrittany O'Grady (Little Voice, The White Lotus) stars in a Native American tale about a cunning creature who uses teamwork to bring light, sun and fire to the dark, cold world.
The Secret of Success
December 05, 2023 15:00 - 25 minutes - 23.7 MBHelen Hong (Family Switch, The Thundermans) stars in a tale with English, Welsh, Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Indian roots about how imagination and effort affect supply and demand.
The Valley Visitor
November 28, 2023 15:00 - 20 minutes - 18.4 MBNPR’s Ailsa Chang (All Things Considered) headlines a Chinese tale about a mysterious guest, a raging storm, and the true fruits of kindness.
Encore: The Red Leather Shoes
November 21, 2023 15:00 - 24 minutes - 22.5 MBAasif Mandvi (The Daily Show, Evil) and Madhur Jaffrey (Madhur Jaffrey's Curry Nation, I Feel Bad) co-star in this Indian story about a wise king, a generous shoemaker, and a priceless pair of shoes.
Riches to Rags
November 14, 2023 15:00 - 22 minutes - 20.9 MBVeteran Wait, Wait... Don't Tell Me! panelists Tom Bodett and Roxanne Roberts co-star in a Dutch tale about a treasure so precious, it's priceless, and so valuable, it's invaluable!
The Upside-Down Tree
November 07, 2023 15:00 - 19 minutes - 18 MBComedian Alonzo Bodden (Wait, Wait... Don't Tell Me!, Heavy Lightweight) headlines this African legend about how one animal’s mischief created the savanna’s most majestic, magical trees.
The Four Winds
October 31, 2023 15:00 - 23 minutes - 21.2 MBKimberly Guerrero (Spirit Rangers, Reservation Dogs) stars in a tale from the Lakota people about one thieving fox and four wise winds.
The Crowning Achievement
October 24, 2023 15:00 - 24 minutes - 22.7 MBFaith Salie (Wait, Wait... Don't Tell Me, CBS Sunday Morning) stars in a Jewish legend about a princess who learns how to lead with her head and her heart.
The Sweetest Sounds
October 17, 2023 15:00 - 19 minutes - 18.3 MBNPR's Rachel Martin (Up First, Enlighten Me) and Ayesha Rascoe (Weekend Edition, Up First) co-star in a Hungarian tale about a violinist, a wizardess, and listening to the music of your heart.
Heart and Stone
October 10, 2023 00:00 - 24 minutes - 22.9 MBJoshua Johnson (The Night Light with Joshua Johnson, Now Tonight with Joshua Johnson) headlines this international tale about losing your heart and finding an adventure.
The Stork King
October 03, 2023 15:00 - 28 minutes - 26.1 MBJulian Lerner (The Wonder Years, Alma's Way) stars in a Ukrainian tale about how high-flying risks can pay off in the end.
The Empty Barrel
September 26, 2023 15:00 - 24 minutes - 22.5 MBAnjali Bhimani (Overwatch, Stray Gods) stars in this Moroccan Jewish tale about a woman who doesn’t view chores as a barrel of fun, until they lead to a boatload of adventure!
The Clock Bird
September 19, 2023 15:00 - 18 minutes - 16.9 MBByron Mann (The Modelizer) plays a preening, boastful bird in this Latin American story about learning there's no "I" in team.
The Bright Side
September 12, 2023 15:00 - 28 minutes - 26.3 MBBroadway star Liana Hunt (Back to the Future) headlines this tale with Polish and Hispanic roots about seeing the bright side, even when things get dark.
Encore: The Star Fruit Tree
September 05, 2023 15:00 - 21 minutes - 19.5 MBOscar nominee Stephanie Hsu (Everything Everywhere All At Once, The Monkey King) headlines this magical Vietnamese tale about the sweet rewards generosity and contentment can bring.
Big news from Rebecca Sheir… plus an exclusive Circle Round story!
August 31, 2023 15:00 - 5 minutes - 5.38 MBAnnouncing an exciting new way for you to Circle Round with us, support public radio and get some really cool stuff — welcome to the Circle Round Club! Also check out the preview of one of our bonus bedtime stories: a tale we call “The Lighthouse of the Pampas,” from the South American country of Uruguay.
The Elephant in the Room
August 29, 2023 15:00 - 20 minutes - 18.7 MBRecorded live at Tanglewood with members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and a star-studded cast, this Chinese courtroom drama explores truth, justice, and the elephant way.
The Bitter Truth
August 22, 2023 15:00 - 25 minutes - 23.4 MBRecorded live at Tanglewood with members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and a star-studded cast, this West African tale shows why dishonesty is definitely not the best policy!
All Tied Up
August 15, 2023 15:00 - 25 minutes - 23.6 MBRecorded live at Tanglewood with members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and a star-studded cast, this tale from Borneo features a tiny trickster who untangles a problem by tying it up in knots!
A Biscuit, A Basket
August 08, 2023 15:00 - 25 minutes - 23.5 MBSaara Chaudry (The Muppets Mayhem, Holly Hobby) stars in this tale from India and beyond about good deeds, bad intentions, and biscuits. Lots of biscuits.
The Blizzard Wizard
August 01, 2023 15:00 - 21 minutes - 19.7 MBVivien Lyra Blair (Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Boogeyman) headlines this story from the indigenous peoples of Sibera about a supernatural spirit with a very cold shoulder.
Encore: The Great Ball Game
July 25, 2023 15:00 - 20 minutes - 18.6 MBIn this Native American and First Nations tale, William Jackson Harper (The Good Place, Love Life) portrays a tiny creature who teaches the other animals and birds to appreciate what it means to be different.
Encore: A Taste of Honey
July 18, 2023 15:00 - 21 minutes - 19.4 MBHannah Simone (New Girl; Mira, Royal Detective) stars alongside her real-life father Naren Simone in a South Asian tale about the power of self-reliance.
Encore: The Unwelcome Guest
July 11, 2023 15:00 - 18 minutes - 16.9 MBRichard Kind (Inside Out, American Dad!) stars in this Middle Eastern folktale about a clever man who teaches his village a thing or two about the dangers of judging a book by its cover.
Encore: The Lion’s Whisker
July 04, 2023 15:00 - 14 minutes - 13.3 MBMiles Brown and Marsai Martin (Black-ish) co-star with NPR veteran Ofeiba Quist-Arcton in this Ethiopian story about courage, collaboration, patience, and sibling love.
Buried Treasure - live at KCRW
June 27, 2023 15:00 - 24 minutes - 22.6 MBRecorded live at KCRW in Santa Monica, CA, this story with international roots shows how having a soft spot for hard work can pay off -- big time!
Two Moons - live at KCRW
June 20, 2023 15:00 - 24 minutes - 22.7 MBRecorded live at KCRW in Santa Monica, CA, this story from Thailand, Laos, and Malaysia gives a whole new meaning to "promising the moon"!
The Bird of a Different Feather - live at Round House Theatre
June 13, 2023 20:10 - 22 minutes - 20.3 MBRecorded live at Round House Theatre in Bethesda, MD, this African tale explains how the guinea fowl got its distinctively speckled feathers.
The Pot of Gold - live at Round House Theatre
June 06, 2023 15:00 - 29 minutes - 26.8 MBRecorded live at Round House Theatre in Bethesda, MD, this tale from the Jewish tradition shows how misplacing our trust can put us in a sticky situation!
Once Upon a Flame - feat. William Mapother
May 30, 2023 15:00 - 27 minutes - 25.5 MBWillam Mapother (Lost, On Sacred Ground) headlines this Romanian tale about a story-less man who hopes his tale will end happily ever after!
Earning Peanuts - feat. Pablo Castelblanco & Meredith Holzman
May 23, 2023 15:00 - 21 minutes - 19.9 MBPablo Castelblanco (Alaska Daily, Ganymede) and Meredith Holzman (Alaska Daily, Inventing Anna) headline a story with Burmese and Indian roots about a humble peddler, a magic squirrel, and a golden opportunity.
The Fairy Fort - feat. Taylor Richardson & Alison Wright
May 16, 2023 15:00 - 21 minutes - 20 MBTaylor Richardson (The Gilded Age) and Alison Wright (The Americans, Snowpiercer) co-star in this Irish tale about mischievous fairies and the power of music.
The First Customer - feat. Stephanie Panisello
May 09, 2023 15:00 - 25 minutes - 23.3 MBStephanie Panisello (What If...?, Ba Da Bean) stars in a Filipino tale about the sweet role kindness can play in achieving your dreams.