Circle Round

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Created 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 4 to 10. Each 10- to 20-minute episode explores important issues like kindness, persistence and generosity. And each e…

WBUR


    • Jun 3, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekly NEW EPISODES
    • 22m AVG DURATION
    • 413 EPISODES

    4.5 from 12,103 ratings Listeners of Circle Round that love the show mention: circle round, free real, earth rangers, less ads, clams, coloring, wow in the world, many adds, folktales, two princes, encores, story pirates, less adds, love that the stories, like the adds, reese2, wbur, spot the difference 1, guineapigbean, spot the differences.


    Ivy Insights

    The Circle Round podcast is an absolute gem in the world of storytelling podcasts. From the moment you start listening, you are transported into a world filled with captivating tales and enchanting music. The combination of Rebecca Sheir's fantastic hosting skills and Eric Shimelonis' divine musical compositions makes for an unforgettable experience. It's no wonder that both children and adults alike have fallen in love with this show.

    One of the best aspects of The Circle Round podcast is the sheer creativity and quality put into each episode. The stories are carefully curated from around the world, exposing listeners to different cultures and traditions. The attention to detail in the storytelling is impressive, capturing the imagination and leaving you eagerly awaiting the next episode. The music perfectly complements each story, enhancing the overall atmosphere and drawing you deeper into the narrative. This podcast truly showcases the power of storytelling at its finest.

    However, there are a few minor drawbacks to consider when listening to The Circle Round podcast. Some reviewers have mentioned being annoyed by the occasional advertisements throughout the episodes. While it's understandable that ads are necessary for funding, they can disrupt the flow and immersion of the stories for some listeners. Additionally, a few reviewers expressed disappointment when certain holiday-themed episodes were not released on time or as expected. While these are small issues that do not detract from the overall quality of the podcast, they are worth mentioning for those seeking uninterrupted storytelling experiences.

    In conclusion, The Circle Round podcast is a must-listen for anyone who appreciates beautifully crafted stories paired with incredible music. Whether you're a child or an adult, this podcast captivates hearts and minds with its entertaining and enriching content. The dedication put into each episode shines through in every aspect, creating an experience that will leave you wanting more. So sit back, relax, and let yourself be transported into a world where imagination knows no bounds with The Circle Round podcast.



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    Latest episodes from Circle Round

    Encore: The Rooster in the Sky

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 3, 2025 21:57


    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. Take our listener survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/crpod

    Out of Time

    Play Episode Listen Later May 27, 2025 25:02


    Brittany Ishibashi (Marvel's Runaways, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) stars in a Japanese tale about the power of stories, and the value of reading -- and listening -- between the lines. Take our listener survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/crpod

    The Fruits of Labor

    Play Episode Listen Later May 20, 2025 23:09


    Jeffrey Donovan (Burn Notice, Fargo) stars in an ancient Jewish tale about how working to benefit the future can bring sweet rewards in the present. Take our listener survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/crpod

    The Big Green Bag

    Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2025 17:15


    Tim Bagley (Somebody Somewhere, Hacks) and Rebecca Mader (Lost, Once Upon a Time) co-star in a Rumanian and British tale about the high-flying differences between wants and needs. Take our listener survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/crpod

    Call of the Cuckoo

    Play Episode Listen Later May 6, 2025 29:34


    Stephen Hanna and Bret Shuford (Broadway Husbands, Husbands 2 Dads) headline a European and Asian tale about outlawing anger, forbidding frustration, and making the feathers fly! Take our listener survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/crpod

    Encore: Friends in High Places

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 29, 2025 23:41


    Mario Cantone (And Just Like That, Surf's Up) and Denise Crosby (Star Trek: The Next Generation) star in this folktale about how the giraffe got its long neck, and how the rhino got an unexpected ally!

    At First Light

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2025 20:02


    Natalie Dormer (Audrey's Children, Game of Thrones) headlines a legend from Aboriginal Australia about a bright, bold bird and the illuminating power of teamwork.

    The Donkey's Tail

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 15, 2025 20:32


    Rapper/poet Omar Offendum (Little Syria) stars in a Persian and North African tale about righting wrongs and sniffing out a thief.

    One Good Turn

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2025 18:06


    Alan Goffinski, Ana González and Lulu Miller (Terrestrials) star in a very international story about returning favors and being stuck between a rock and a hard place.

    In the Willow Tree

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2025 16:48


    Stephanie Koenig (Lessons in Chemistry, The English Teacher) and Patrick Luwis (Cobra Kai) star in a Taiwanese tale about a tiny ant, a boastful pigeon, and unexpected favors.

    Crocus-Pocus

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2025 20:10


    Jacob Laval (The Unbreakable Boy, John Mulaney and the Sack Lunch Bunch) and Amanda Warren (The Night Agent, East New York) headline a Sicilian tale about sowing the seeds of kindness, compassion and crocuses.

    The Flame Keeper

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2025 17:16


    Joy Ofodu (Dating Unsettled, Heart of Sunshine) and Camron Jones (Panic, Shameless) co-star in a Huichol story from Mexico about stolen fire and bald tails.

    Maushop and the Shark

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2025 20:49


    Román Zaragoza (Ghosts) stars in a Wampanoag tale about a gentle giant, a hungry shark, and the power of fun and games.

    Diamonds in the Sky

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 25, 2025 20:14


    Kyriana Kratter (Star Wars: Skeleton Crew) and Mila Harris (Mary, World-Breaker) headline an out-of-this-world Filipino tale about how the sun and moon came to be.

    The Salmon Famine

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 18, 2025 23:54


    Recorded live at Symphony Hall with Boston Symphony Orchestra musicians and a star-studded cast, this indigenous Pacific Northwest tale follows a wily coyote on a daring rescue.

    The Well of Honor

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 11, 2025 23:20


    Recorded live at Symphony Hall with Boston Symphony Orchestra musicians and a star-studded cast, this Egyptian, Iraqi, Palestinian, Sudanese and Tunisian tale shows the importance of never biting off more than you can chew.

    Encore: The Lumps of Clay

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 4, 2025 20:37


    Maulik Pancholy (Phineas and Ferb, Sanjay and Craig) stars in a classic Indian story about a witty royal adviser who finds an ingenious way to bring the truth to light.

    The Zodiac Twelve

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2025 30:01


    Tzi Ma (Five Blind Dates, Interior Chinatown) and Jimmy Wong (Mulan, Wish Dragon) co-star in an action-packed legend about the origin of the Chinese zodiac animals.

    Hot Potatoes

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2025 22:36


    Arlen Escarpeta (Found, The Oath) headlines a tale from southern Africa about stolen spuds and hare-brained schemes.

    The Cobbler's Soul

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 14, 2025 30:05


    John Patrick Amedori (Three Women, Dear White People) headlines an internationally-inspired story about fixing soles and saving souls.

    Encore: Ariana's Music

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 7, 2025 21:49


    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!

    Encore: Three Clever Brothers

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 31, 2024 19:39


    Alexandra Billings (Transparent, Paddleton) stars in a North African, Middle Eastern and central and north-central Asian folktale about the power of a keen eye and a quick mind.

    Encore: Getting Skunked

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 24, 2024 18:35


    Terrence Terrell (B Positive, Giants) stars in this Abenaki tale about a gentle giant who brings night and day to the world, and gives a certain striped critter its telltale scent.

    The Peach of Life

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 17, 2024 27:27


    Recorded live at Symphony Space, a star-studded cast brings to life this Chinese and Vietnamese legend about the healing power of a kind and honest heart.

    The Wild Goose Chase

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 10, 2024 27:04


    Recorded live at Symphony Space with a star-studded cast, this magical tale inspired by Ukrainian and Russian lore follows a kindly tailor as he embarks on an unforgettable chase.

    Encore: The Most Fabulous Fur of All

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 3, 2024 24:52


    Q'orianka Kilcher (Yellowstone, Dora and the Lost City of Gold) stars in a Cherokee tale about a clever rabbit who craftily tries pulling the wool — and fur — over everyone's eyes.

    Dancing to a Different Tune

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2024 22:53


    World-renowned violinist Hilary Hahn plays a musician with a miraculous gift in this whimsical folktale from South America, North Africa, Europe and the US.

    The Caged Bird

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 19, 2024 25:08


    Tim Matheson (The West Wing, Virgin River) and Jonathan Tucker (Kingdom, Westworld) co-star in a Jewish and Persian tale about a parrot, a prince, and the priceless value of freedom.

    A World of Music

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 12, 2024 20:18


    Jon Huertas (This Is Us, Tracker) headlines an Aztec legend about how music first came to the world.

    In the Wolf's Mouth

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 5, 2024 17:14


    Jennifer Hale (Stars Wars: The Clone Wars, X-Men ‘97) stars in a Portuguese tale about a big bad wolf and a sharp shrewd owl.

    The All-Wish Stick

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 29, 2024 27:38


    Amy Tsang (Star Wars: The Acolyte, Kung Fu) stars in a Chinese tale about a magical gift that makes wishes come true, provided you make them with an honest heart.

    The Face-Off

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 22, 2024 19:37


    Actor Kelly Jenrette (All American: Homecoming, The Handmaid's Tale) and producer/actor Lamar Richardson (Appropriate, Merrily We Roll Along) co-star in a Shona legend that proves how big strength can come in little sizes.

    Top Banana

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 15, 2024 25:19


    Tatyana Ali (Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Abbot Elementary) and Jack De Sena (Lego Monkie Kid, Avatar: The Last Airbender) headline this Filipino story about getting the upper hand by taking the lower half.

    Pride and Proverbs

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 8, 2024 18:43


    Real-life couple David Giuntoli (Grimm, Batman: Soul of the Dragon) and Elizabeth Tulloch (Grimm, Superman and Lois) face off as a wise farmer and proud queen in this tale with Georgian, Kazakh and Ghanaian roots.

    The Hiding Place

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2024 26:05


    Broadway's Aaron Bartz, Erik Christopher Peterson and Cara Ricketts (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child) headline a Jewish and Egyptian story about a high-stakes game of hide and seek.

    Encore: The Princess and the Bee

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 24, 2024 24:08


    Duchess Sarah Ferguson of York (Storytime with Fergie) and Suzie McGrath (Star Wars Resistance, The Punies) star in this charming tale about the importance of having a sound, sensible head, and a warm, fuzzy heart.

    Encore: Chameleon's Contest

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 17, 2024 21:33


    Jonica Booth (Rap Stuff, Bad Girls Club) and Jay Pharoah (Out of Office, Saturday Night Live) co-star in this West African tale about a clothing-obsessed goddess and a crafty, colorful chameleon.

    A Horse for Hire

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 10, 2024 24:54


    Recorded live at Tanglewood with members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and a star-studded cast, this Haitian and Creole tale is all about hefty horses and broken deals.

    The Price Master

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 3, 2024 24:30


    Recorded live at Tanglewood with members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and a star-studded cast, this Indian tale shows what happens when the price is right... and the price is wrong!

    The Farmer and the Cow

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 27, 2024 23:12


    Recorded live at Tanglewood with members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and a star-studded cast, this Icelandic tale features a magical bovine who's able to moooooove mountains!

    Laughing and Crying

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 20, 2024 26:11


    Recorded live at The Athenaeum Center in Chicago, IL, this tale with East Asian and Egyptian roots pits a proud king against a sharp-witted schoolteacher who proves she's nobody's fool.

    Giant Steps

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 9, 2024 27:21


    Recorded live at The Athenaeum Center in Chicago, IL, this tale from the Iraqi Jewish tradition gives a whole new meaning to "putting your best foot forward."

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