Land of Nod | Kid's stories
40 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 2 years ago -Re-telling of ordinary and not-so-ordinary stories to create a magical and peaceful bedtime treat for babies, kids, and pretend grown-ups! These children's stories have been specially chosen to represent cultures and peoples from all over the world, from ancient Greece to Africa to Alsaka, there are wonders to be found all around us! This collection is suitable for all ages and is wonderful for car journeys, as a sleep aid, or as an alternative to screen time! Keep Dreaming Big!
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Episodes
The Song of Beowulf
August 12, 2021 15:00 - 11 minutes - 8.19 MBGreetings!Welcome back to the podcast and let me introduce the heroic Beowulf! Beowulf is an epic poem that is one of the most important texts in old English (that's an English that was spoken thousands of years ago and sounds very different from what we speak today!) Monster alert! There is a monster in this story, and like most monsters, he's not the most pleasant chap! I try to be careful about the monsters I choose for the podcast because some of them are unnecessarily scary! I do, howe...
The Wolf and the 7 Little Kids!
August 05, 2021 11:00 - 8 minutes - 5.72 MBAnd just like that, we are back! Welcome to Season 4 of Land of Nod! As ever this season, we will endeavour to bring you the most wonderful tales from every corner of the world! Speaking of which, what better way to kick of the brand new season than with a tale from the master storytellers themselves, The Brothers Grimm! The brothers lived in Germany over 200 years ago, and it was their life's work to travel around the country they loved and collect folktales from ordinary people. When their...
The Hare and the Tortoise
July 16, 2021 08:00 - 5 minutes - 3.9 MBWhat better way to end season 3 than with this timeless tale from Aesop's fables! I think we all have heard some version of this tale along the way-but do you know just how long it's been around? Well, Aesop the man, was thought to have been born in Greek about 650 BC- and because that is such a long, long time ago, very little is known about his life! We know that many years later, stories said to have been written by him started to show up all over ancient Greece, and many famous thinkers ...
Athena and Arachne
July 09, 2021 13:00 - 6 minutes - 4.85 MBWow! I had to overcome a big fear of mine with this story- and TALK ABOUT SPIDERS! I had no idea that the scientific name for spiders came from this ancient story, from the poet Ovid, born in 43 BCE! It tells the story of the beautiful and powerful goddess Athena, and how her jealousy of a mere mortal causes her to come to earth to take part in a contest that will change both their lives forever. The story challenges ideas of identity and speaks of jealousy, bitterness, and loss, and its pow...
The Tiger and the Rabbit!
July 01, 2021 00:00 - 9 minutes - 6.66 MBWelcome back friends, and get ready for a darling little fable from beautiful Korea! I was so charmed by this little story and by the book (published all the way back in 1955!) from which it came! Our story centers on the relationship between a hungry tiger and a wiley little rabbit, who outwits him at every turn! The rabbit is a very important character in Korean folklore. Did you know that there is a festival that is celebrated on the lunar calendar in Korea, and the symbol for this festiv...
The Miller's Daughters
June 24, 2021 11:00 - 9 minutes - 6.48 MBI am so delighted to finally bring you this story from Poland! I found the most wonderful book of Polish folk tales accompanied by absolutely beautiful and really unique illustrations in the style of paper cut-outs. These are a form of polish folk-art and are made simply with paper and a pair of scissors, and the imagination, skill, and dexterity of the artist! When folk in Poland had no money to buy curtains, they often asked the local folk artist to make a paper design for them instead, wh...
The Elves and the Shoemaker
June 17, 2021 15:00 - 9 minutes - 6.87 MBWelcome to another story from the Land of Nod! Today's story is another classic from the brother's Grimm and was collected in the first volume of Children's and Household Tales all the way back in 1812! It was actually the first of three stories about rascals of elves and if you keep an eye out you might just find another one down the line! The beauty of this story is in the wonderful generosity of the little shoemaking elves and in the selflessness of their acts towards the shoemaker and hi...
Gulliver's Travels!
June 09, 2021 20:00 - 10 minutes - 7.3 MBWe are back with this version of the first part of the epic that is Gulliver's Travels! Did you know that Gullivers Travels was written by an Irishman, and an Irish priest at that! Did you also know that it was first published all the way back in 1726?! That makes my head hurt! The story has been retold in various versions thousands upon thousands of times over the years, and remains a firm favourite with kids and adults alike. It is a real favourite of mine because of the wonderous 6 inch...
The Trojan Horse
June 02, 2021 16:00 - 8 minutes - 5.88 MBIm sure you've heard of this story before! But did you know that in the original account it was 10 whole years of battle before the Greeks came up with the genius idea of using a sneaky trick to get into the city of Troy? Did you also know that there is real evidence to show us that the city of Troy did indeed burn to the ground at one stage- so maybe there is more truth to this tale of a giant wooden horse than meets the eye! We hope you enjoy this classic tale as much as we did! Please Su...
The Emperor's New Clothes!
May 27, 2021 16:00 - 11 minutes - 7.91 MBThis classic comes from the master himself, the Danish author Hans Christian Andersen, it was published in 1837, and has been translated into more than 100 languages! Andersen's tale is based on a 1335 story from a medieval Spanish collection, and so we see that some of the best stories in the world are those that are recycled over and over again! We hope you enjoy the timeless classic! Please Subscribe, rate and review! Bonus Material available weekly on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/l...
The Man who Bought a Dream!
May 19, 2021 11:00 - 13 minutes - 9.53 MBIn this wonderful parable, we return to ethereal Japan! I found this story really interesting from the first read several months ago and it stayed in my mind. The tale tells us of a poor man who quite literally buys a dream from his friend, hoping it will bring him his fortune. The story appears in many different forms all over the world and has morphed in form along the way, but the general teachings remain the same, honesty, fairness, and integrity win the day in the end, and in a way I gu...
The Magic Conch Shell!
May 12, 2021 10:00 - 9 minutes - 6.35 MBAloha! Today we have the privilege of traveling to one of the most beautiful places in the world-Hawaii! Hawaii is an ancient place with wonderful ancient stories of how the islands came into being, with its landscape being forged by the mighty gods themselves. The four main gods (Akua) are Ku, Kane, Lono, and Kanaloa. Then there are many lesser gods (kupua), each associated with certain professions (theres a god for each job!) Our gorgeous story today is about an item that is very importan...
The Race to be King!
May 05, 2021 08:00 - 9 minutes - 6.32 MBThis week we return to the majestic continent of Africa, and find a very funny and entertaining little tale! I found this wonderful story in a lovely old book of myths and legends from Africa, but it is mysterious in its original exact origins, and like some of the best stories, it might have traveled around quite a bit! It is common in stories from Africa to include animals with human characteristics, and one of the archetypes here is the trickster. The trickster is an animal who outsmarts...
Thomas the Rhymer
April 28, 2021 09:00 - 17 minutes - 12.2 MBWe are back and with a bang!! Thank you all so much for joining us for season three! This season we start off with the epic tale of Thomas the Rhymer, also known as True Thomas, or Thomas of Erclidoune! Unlike some of our wild and wonderful characters, Thomas the Rhymer was a real person! He lived in a town which is now called Earlston, in the Scottish borders . He was a laird (or lord) and reputed prophet with astounding gifts of foresight! This tale explores just how he came to acquire th...
King of the Leprechauns!
April 07, 2021 10:00 - 16 minutes - 11.1 MBTo wrap up the second season of stories we return back home to Ireland to meet the King of the Leprechauns! This is a hilarious glimpse into the world of the REAL Leprechauns, and they might be a little more feisty and mischievous than you think! This beautiful story brings us into the fabled world of Faoilinn, where everything is perfectly well proportioned and TEENY TINY! We hope you enjoy this last story in this season and thank you so much for joining us in Land of Nod! We have discovere...
The Rice Road
March 31, 2021 08:00 - 10 minutes - 7.04 MBThis week we travel to the wondrous country that is China! For more than half of the people on earth, rice is life. Every third person on earth eats rice every day in one form or another. It is the grain that has shaped the history, culture, diet, and economy of BILLIONS of people of Asia for hundreds and hundreds of years! This Taoist legend is all about the importance of rice and how a greedy and wasteful man was taught the greatest lesson of his life by the person he least expected! Wha...
How Rabbit stole Otter's Coat!
March 24, 2021 10:00 - 7 minutes - 5.38 MBI read so many stories in preparation for this week’s podcast and I was so struck by the beauty of these stories from the ancient Americas. The reoccurring themes of the elements of nature, the wind, water, earth, and the sky, their faith in the natural world, and their knowledge of it were incredible. Their stories are full of respect for the world they live in and I think there is so much wisdom to be found in us now returning to these tales to relearn what many have known to be true since...
Saint Patrick
March 22, 2021 15:00 - 8 minutes - 6.18 MBHow could we not do it today of all days?! This day is so special here in Ireland and all over the world! It always amazes me how one tiny country has managed to spread its story so far and wide and that so many millions of people identify as or with Irishness. The message has been helped in no small part by one of our Patron saints, and this is the story of his life. Although Patrick is obviously a Christian icon, reading back this story as an adult, I feel the story transcends religion as...
Manachar and Munuchar and the Leprechaun!
March 17, 2021 12:00 - 6 minutes - 4.61 MBSt.Patrick's Day Bonus episode! This really is the strangest and funniest tale- and I remember these names sticking in my head when I was a kid! I could find many versions of this story but little information on where it came from- it is as mysterious as the characters themselves! I love how it describes the more traditional idea of what a leprechaun is also- they are said to really be more devious and cunning than the happy chap we see on the box of Lucky Charms! I hope you enjoy this bonus...
Fionn and the Fianna
March 08, 2021 22:00 - 9 minutes - 6.93 MBThe Fianna was a mighty group of warriors that guarded Ireland for the high king, who lived at Tara. There are many, many stories about the Fianna, and we have met Fionn before, in the tale of how the Giants Causeway was created! Today's story tells us how another brave deed leads to Fionn becoming the leader of the Fianna, like his father before him. There is so much to explore! We really hope you enjoy this beautiful tale! :) x Please Subscribe, rate and review! Bonus Material availab...
The Crane Wife
March 02, 2021 13:00 - 11 minutes - 7.83 MBAw! Beautiful Japan! I've always wanted to go to Japan and this story hasn't helped in these lockdown times! Everything about this story is beautiful- the names, the descriptions, the story itself! Lonely Osamu helps a poor injured bird, and is greatly rewarded in unexpected ways, but will his curiosity be his downfall? This might just be my favourite story so far!! Special thanks for the beautiful music! Ishikari Lore by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 ...
Balor of the Evil Eye! (with special guests!)
February 24, 2021 11:00 - 16 minutes - 11.1 MBWow! What an adventure this one is! We return to mythological Ireland and the Tuatha De Danann- a race of magical people said to be descended from the gods. Lugh of the Long Arm is replaced in this story by Darragh, and his brother Jack stands in for King Nuada. Thanks, boys, for entering our competition and helping us defeat the giant Balor of the Evil Eye!! This story has a scary giant and a battlefield so if you are brave enough, join us and help the brave boys save Ireland!!!! Please S...
The Runaway Pancake!
February 16, 2021 00:00 - 7 minutes - 5.17 MBIt's PANCAKE DAY! Do you have pancake day where you live? here in Ireland, we call it Pancake Tuesday as it is always a Tuesday and it always falls 47 days before Easter Sunday! Other parts of the world call it Shrove Tuesday (shrove was another name for confessing one's sins!) or Mardi Gras, which literally means Fat Tuesday! making pancakes on this day may have been a way for people to use up their supplies of eggs and milk before fasting with very basic food for Lent! This silly little t...
The Voyage of the Poppykettle!
February 10, 2021 10:00 - 9 minutes - 6.7 MBThis story is so magical and full of wonder! It comes from the Incan people, who once were the largest empire in America! They were a highly sophisticated and unique people, and their history is fascinating! They had many gods, some of whom we meet in this story, and we meet some mischievous little gnomes who decide to go on an amazing adventure! Their ship is the poppykettle, which is a traditional kettle used to make tea! This story forms part of my intention to include stories from a dive...
How The Animals Came
February 05, 2021 18:59 - 9 minutes - 6.38 MBWow! This story is just so beautiful and feels really special! It is a legend from the Dogon tribe from Mali in Africa, and tells their story of how the world was created. The Dogon are a highly artistic and creative people, they are known for their incredibly beautiful artwork, their mask dances, wooden sculpture, and their architecture.This wonderful story echos many of the elements of the story of creation in the Christian faith, although it evolved separately. It reminded me that so many...
The tale of King Midas
January 27, 2021 14:31 - 12 minutes - 8.74 MBKing Midas, wandering one day in his garden, comes across the wise satyr Silenus who was rather the worse for wear after a night’s drinking. Midas is feeling generous and gives the satyr food and drink to restore his spirits and is in return granted a wish from Dionysus. WHAT WOULD YOU WISH FOR IF YOU COULD HAVE ANYTHING IN THE WORLD? The king, already famous for his wealth, chose to be given the magical ability to turn any object he touched into solid gold. Can you imagine that scenes fro...
Tristan and the Dragon
January 20, 2021 09:53 - 12 minutes - 8.61 MBThe artwork for this episode was so much fun to draw! The dragon in this story was said to have "the head of a bear, the claws of a lion, and the tail of a serpent!' So I was able to let my imagination run wild! The tale of Tristan and Iseult(or Isolde as she comes to be known in some versions) was one of the most influential romances in the medieval period and makes use of the dragon-princess story which would become a staple of romantic stories. The story is one of love but not a straightf...
Odysseus and the Cyclops!
January 13, 2021 15:10 - 11 minutes - 7.74 MBThis is an ancient tale indeed! It comes from one of the most famous books in the world, Homer's ODYSSEY. The hero of our tale, Odysseus, lands on a strange island and soon becomes the captive of the giant one-eyed monster Polyphemus. The vivid nature of this story made it a favorite of the ancient Greeks, and the scene of the blinding of the cyclops, which I have illustrated here, is one that has been reproduced over and over again for hundreds and hundreds of years-isn't that amazing!!? We...
Kingdom of the Seals
January 07, 2021 18:12 - 12 minutes - 8.75 MBWe are back for the new year with a wonderful new season, packed full of tall tales to see us through long January evenings. Our first story is called the kingdom of the Seals and takes us to a magical underwater world where the Seal is King, and humans are often seen as the enemy! This seal story probably has its origins in Scotland, and from a creature in Gaelic folklore known as a selkie! Selkies were mythical creatures that could transform themselves from seal to human form and back agai...
The Night before Christmas
December 21, 2020 22:21 - 4 minutes - 3.24 MBThis one was such a joy to make. It is such a beautifully crafted rhyme and it becomes more apparent each time you read it. I've created a kind of mash-up with the beautiful hymn Angels we Have Heard on High (see credit below). It's my favourite piece of Christmas music and the rhythm seemed to match this piece well. There's not much more to be said, apart from a very merry Christmas to you all, thank you so much for listening. Angels We Have Heard by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creat...
A Christmas Carol
December 16, 2020 15:04 - 15 minutes - 11 MBScrooge, an elderly miser, is visited by the ghost of his former business partner and the spirits of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come. As a result of their visits, Scrooge is forced to rethink his life and is transformed into a kinder, better man. This tale was first published by Charles Dickens in 1843, but I think it is the very human trials of Scrooge that make it so easy to relate to even today. I hope ears of all ages enjoy the miraculous transformation within this story- for wh...
The King's Secret
December 09, 2020 19:42 - 10 minutes - 7.59 MBIt never ceases to amaze me that the message in these very old legends can still ring so true today. This is another favourite from the annals of Irish folk stories but has a very light and entertaining feel to it. It also addresses the topic of keeping secrets and the power of telling the truth. I also love that when this huge secret is finally revealed, it loses its power over its keepers. I really hope you all enjoy it! Music accreditation: Fairytale Waltz Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com...
Fionn macCumhail and the story of the Giant's Causeway
December 01, 2020 10:21 - 7 minutes - 5.13 MBI am so excited to bring this one to you guys! This is a story that feels as old as Ireland himself and tells the tale of the creation of one of Ireland's most striking and beautiful places, the Giant's Causeway, in County Antrim. The story is full of wonderful quirks and mischievous deeds and is sure to be a favourite for little ears far and near. Music Accreditation Long Road Ahead B by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.or...
The Musicians of Bremen
November 24, 2020 16:27 - 9 minutes - 6.53 MBCan you believe that this German classic was first published by the Brother's Grimm as far back as 1819! That's why I love folk tales -they are a little bit of history being listened to by the ears of the future! We hope you enjoy it! :) Please Subscribe, rate and review! Bonus Material available weekly on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/landofnodlearning?fan_landing=true Join us on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/landofnodlearning Join our Facebook page! https://www.facebook.com...
Rumpelstiltskin
November 21, 2020 21:21 - 7 minutes - 5.23 MBThis is another family favourite that will have big and little ears enthralled! I love telling these stories that dark tones but end with the good triumphing over the bad! I really hope you all enjoy it!! Please Subscribe, rate and review! Bonus Material available weekly on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/landofnodlearning?fan_landing=true Join us on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/landofnodlearning Join our Facebook page! https://www.facebook.com/landofnodlearning Listen on App...
The Children of Lir
November 11, 2020 12:48 - 10 minutes - 7.49 MBWelcome back! I am so delighted to bring you this beautiful old tale from Ireland! It is one I was very fond of as a child and I would read it over and over again, its beauty and sadness were enthralling to me. A king remarries and his new queen grows jealous of his beloved children. Soon, a wicked plan is put in action and the children are doomed to a terrible fate, but can the spell be broken and the children set free? Music accreditation Long Road Ahead B by Kevin MacLeod is licensed u...
The Snow Queen
November 10, 2020 21:16 - 16 minutes - 11.6 MBGerda has lost her best friend. Wherever could he have disappeared to? Join her on an epic adventure through wild and dangerous lands in her efforts to rescue him from the treacherous Snow Queen!! Please Subscribe, rate and review! Bonus Material available weekly on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/landofnodlearning?fan_landing=true Join us on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/landofnodlearning Join our Facebook page! https://www.facebook.com/landofnodlearning Listen on Apple podca...
The Ugly Duckling
November 10, 2020 21:10 - 21 minutes - 14.5 MBWelcome back to the second week of the show.! This children's story is a classic and much loved all over the world for many years, and perhaps it is because the feelings of loneliness and being left out are ones all of us have experienced to some extent or another. Why does this little duckling feel so different from everybody else? Will he ever find his happy place? He will need to be patient and brave to find his true place in the world. . . Please Subscribe, rate and review! Bonus Mate...
The tale of Thumbling
October 01, 2020 13:59 - 12 minutes - 8.75 MBOur very first story is a marvel!How can the tiniest person make it out there in the big bad world? Thumbling will show us the way in this retelling of a much loved classic! Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/land-of-nod. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
The Tale of Thumbling
October 01, 2020 13:59 - 12 minutes - 8.75 MBWe are so excited to be here to begin this wonderful journey with you! Each week we will take a story from a very special place in the world and explore it together, and we will meet many wonderful people along the way! Our very first story is a marvel! How can the tiniest person make it out there in the big bad world? Thumbling will show us the way in this retelling of a much-loved classic! We very much hope you enjoy this story-come back next week for more! Please Subscribe, rate and revi...