Circle Round

by WBUR

NewEncore: Little CuOctober 20, 2026 · 23 min

Episodes: 468
Released: weekly
Latest episode: Oct 20, 2026

About the podcast

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.

Episodes 468

Encore: Little Cu
October 20, 202623 minSeason 9 · Episode 67
Desmin Borges (You're The Worst, Utopia) plays a tiny bird with an ever-growing ego in this playful story with roots in Mexico and Puerto Rico. This Circle Round episode originally was released on Sept. 15 …
Show notes
Desmin Borges (You're The Worst, Utopia) plays a tiny bird with an ever-growing ego in this playful story with roots in Mexico and Puerto Rico.
This Circle Round episode originally was released on Sept. 15, 2020.
Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.
Encore: The Polka-Dotted Pigeon
October 13, 202629 minSeason 9 · Episode 66
Adam Goldberg (The Equalizer) stars in this Portuguese tale about ambitions, imposters, and making the feathers fly! This Circle Round episode originally was released on March 12, 2024. Sign up for our monthly …
Show notes
Adam Goldberg (The Equalizer) stars in this Portuguese tale about ambitions, imposters, and making the feathers fly!
This Circle Round episode originally was released on March 12, 2024.
Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.
Encore: A Biscuit, A Basket
October 6, 202626 minSeason 9 · Episode 65
Saara Chaudry (The Muppets Mayhem, Holly Hobby) stars in this tale from India and beyond about good deeds, bad intentions, and biscuits. Lots of biscuits. This Circle Round episode originally was released on …
Show notes
Saara Chaudry (The Muppets Mayhem, Holly Hobby) stars in this tale from India and beyond about good deeds, bad intentions, and biscuits. Lots of biscuits.
This Circle Round episode originally was released on Aug. 8, 2023.
Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.
Encore: The Hiding Place
September 29, 202627 minSeason 9 · Episode 64
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. This Circle Round episode …
Show notes
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.
This Circle Round episode originally was released on Oct. 1, 2024.
Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.
Encore: The Round Mossy Stone
September 22, 202625 minSeason 9 · Episode 63
Béchir Sylvain (Jurassic World Rebirth) stars as trickster Anansi in a West African tale about a magic stone, a major trick, and getting a taste of your own medicine. This Circle Round episode originally was …
Show notes
Béchir Sylvain (Jurassic World Rebirth) stars as trickster Anansi in a West African tale about a magic stone, a major trick, and getting a taste of your own medicine.
This Circle Round episode originally was released on Sept. 9, 2025.
Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.
Encore: The Stork King
September 15, 202629 minSeason 9 · Episode 62
Julian Lerner (The Wonder Years, Alma's Way) stars in a Ukrainian tale about how high-flying risks can pay off in the end. This Circle Round episode originally was released on Oct. 3, 2023. Sign up for our …
Show notes
Julian Lerner (The Wonder Years, Alma's Way) stars in a Ukrainian tale about how high-flying risks can pay off in the end.
This Circle Round episode originally was released on Oct. 3, 2023.
Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.
Encore: The Cleverest Person in the Room
September 8, 202626 minSeason 9 · Episode 61
Vanessa 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. This Circle Round …
Show notes
Vanessa 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.
This Circle Round episode originally was released on April 2, 2024.
Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.
Encore: The Seamstress and the Deev
September 1, 202629 minSeason 9 · Episode 60
Recorded live at Tanglewood with Boston Symphony Orchestra musicians and a star-studded cast, this Afghan tale follows a savvy seamstress and her chatty kitty on a royally epic adventure. This Circle Round …
Show notes
Recorded live at Tanglewood with Boston Symphony Orchestra musicians and a star-studded cast, this Afghan tale follows a savvy seamstress and her chatty kitty on a royally epic adventure.
This Circle Round episode originally was released on Aug. 5, 2025.
Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.
Summer Camp: Top Banana
August 25, 202626 minSeason 9 · Episode 59
Welcome back to Circle Round Summer Camp! We're revisiting our favorite stories about the outdoors. Tatyana Ali (Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Abbot Elementary) and Jack De Sena (Lego Monkie Kid, Avatar: The Last …
Show notes
Welcome back to Circle Round Summer Camp! We're revisiting our favorite stories about the outdoors.
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.
Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.
Summer Camp: Crocus-Pocus
August 18, 202621 minSeason 9 · Episode 58
Welcome back to Circle Round Summer Camp! We're revisiting our favorite stories about the outdoors. Jacob Laval (The Unbreakable Boy, John Mulaney and the Sack Lunch Bunch) and Amanda Warren (The Night Agent …
Show notes
Welcome back to Circle Round Summer Camp! We're revisiting our favorite stories about the outdoors.
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.
Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.
Summer Camp: The Salmon Famine
August 11, 202620 minSeason 9 · Episode 57
Welcome back to Circle Round Summer Camp! We're revisiting our favorite stories about the outdoors. Recorded live at The Aladdin Theater in Portland, OR, this high-flying tale explains how the islands of the …
Show notes
Welcome back to Circle Round Summer Camp! We're revisiting our favorite stories about the outdoors.
Recorded live at The Aladdin Theater in Portland, OR, this high-flying tale explains how the islands of the Philippines came to be.
Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.
Summer Camp: The Bird of a Different Feather
August 4, 202623 minSeason 9 · Episode 55
Welcome back to Circle Round Summer Camp! We're revisiting our favorite stories about the outdoors. Recorded live at Round House Theatre in Bethesda, MD, this African tale explains how the guinea fowl got its …
Show notes
Welcome back to Circle Round Summer Camp! We're revisiting our favorite stories about the outdoors.
Recorded live at Round House Theatre in Bethesda, MD, this African tale explains how the guinea fowl got its distinctively speckled feathers.
Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.
Summer Camp: The Salmon Famine
July 28, 202624 minSeason 9 · Episode 55
Welcome back to Circle Round Summer Camp! We're revisiting our favorite stories about the outdoors. Recorded live at Symphony Hall with Boston Symphony Orchestra musicians and a star-studded cast, this …
Show notes
Welcome back to Circle Round Summer Camp! We're revisiting our favorite stories about the outdoors.
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.
This Circle Round episode originally was released on Feb. 18. 2025.
Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.
Summer Camp: The Snow Eater
July 21, 202623 minSeason 9 · Episode 54
Welcome back to Circle Round Summer Camp! We're revisiting our favorite stories about the outdoors. Cree Summer (Good Times, Abbott Elementary) headlines a Blackfoot legend about fast friends, warm winds, and …
Show notes
Welcome back to Circle Round Summer Camp! We're revisiting our favorite stories about the outdoors.
Cree Summer (Good Times, Abbott Elementary) headlines a Blackfoot legend about fast friends, warm winds, and why bears hibernate during the winter.
This Circle Round episode originally was released on May 7, 2024.
Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.
Summer Camp: The Long Crimson Thread
July 14, 202621 minSeason 9 · Episode 53
Welcome back to Circle Round Summer Camp! We're revisiting our favorite stories about the outdoors. Jessika Van (Seoul Searching, Awkward) and Mark Pellegrino (American Rust, Beverly Hills Cop: Axel Foley) …
Show notes
Welcome back to Circle Round Summer Camp! We're revisiting our favorite stories about the outdoors.
Jessika Van (Seoul Searching, Awkward) and Mark Pellegrino (American Rust, Beverly Hills Cop: Axel Foley) co-star in a Welsh tale about a girl, a drought, and a mouse with a life-saving secret.
This Circle Round episode originally was released on May 14, 2024.
Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.
Summer Camp: The Upside-Down Tree
July 7, 202620 minSeason 9 · Episode 52
Welcome back to Circle Round Summer Camp! We're revisiting our favorite stories about the outdoors. Comedian Alonzo Bodden (Wait, Wait... Don't Tell Me!, Heavy Lightweight) headlines this African legend about …
Show notes
Welcome back to Circle Round Summer Camp! We're revisiting our favorite stories about the outdoors.
Comedian 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.
This Circle Round episode originally was released on Nov. 7, 2023.
Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.
Circle Round presents: The Midnight Rebellion, Ch. 3 "Into the Machine"
July 2, 202615 minSeason 9 · Episode 51
Circle Round continues our special presentation of WBUR's new podcast, The Midnight Rebellion, with Chapter 3, "Into the Machine." If you have not listened to Chapter 1, go back and start there! The Midnight …
Show notes
Circle Round continues our special presentation of WBUR's new podcast, The Midnight Rebellion, with Chapter 3, "Into the Machine."
If you have not listened to Chapter 1, go back and start there!
The Midnight Rebellion tells the story of a girl on an adventure in a watery world where everything is wrong. She has to set it right—with your help. Each episode ends with a choice that YOU make.
**Recommended for ages 7 and up.**
To hear more episodes, search for The Midnight Rebellion in your podcast app and follow the show, or visit ⁠wbur.org/midnight⁠.
Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.
Circle Round presents: The Midnight Rebellion, Ch. 2 "Get Hart"
July 2, 20266 minSeason 9 · Episode 50
Circle Round continues our special presentation of WBUR's new podcast, The Midnight Rebellion, with Chapter 2, "Get Hart." If you have not listened to Chapter 1, go back to the previous episode and start there …
Show notes
Circle Round continues our special presentation of WBUR's new podcast, The Midnight Rebellion, with Chapter 2, "Get Hart."
If you have not listened to Chapter 1, go back to the previous episode and start there.
The Midnight Rebellion tells the story of a girl on an adventure in a watery world where everything is wrong. She has to set it right—with your help. Each episode ends with a choice that YOU make.
**Recommended for ages 7 and up.**
To hear more episodes, search for The Midnight Rebellion in your podcast app and follow the show, or visit wbur.org/midnight.
Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.
Circle Round presents: The Midnight Rebellion, Ch. 1
July 2, 202617 minSeason 9 · Episode 53
Circle Round brings you a special new podcast: The Midnight Rebellion, by WBUR, the same place that makes our show! Heads up! This podcast is recommended for ages 7+. The Midnight Rebellion, starring Erika …
Show notes
Circle Round brings you a special new podcast: The Midnight Rebellion, by WBUR, the same place that makes our show!
Heads up! This podcast is recommended for ages 7+.
The Midnight Rebellion, starring Erika Henningsen (Netflix's "The Four Seasons") and others, tells the story of a girl on an adventure in a watery world where everything is wrong. And she has to set it right—with help from YOU.
Each episode ends with a choice. What YOU choose changes the story, sometimes for the better, and sometimes ... not. Either way, it's fun!
To hear more episodes, search for The Midnight Rebellion in your podcast app and follow the show, or visit wbur.org/midnight.
Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.
Summer Camp: The Parakeet’s Promise
June 30, 202620 minSeason 9 · Episode 48
Welcome back to Circle Round Summer Camp! We're revisiting our favorite stories about the outdoors. Broadway stars Lorna Courtney (& Juliet) and Shoba Narayan (Aladdin) face off in this Indian legend about a …
Show notes
Welcome back to Circle Round Summer Camp! We're revisiting our favorite stories about the outdoors.
Broadway stars Lorna Courtney (& Juliet) and Shoba Narayan (Aladdin) face off in this Indian legend about a tiny bird who opens up a farmer’s eyes in a big way.
This Circle Round episode originally was released on Dec. 20, 2022.
Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.
Summer Camp: The Sunlight Tree
June 23, 202628 minSeason 9 · Episode 47
Welcome back to Circle Round Summer Camp! We're revisiting our favorite stories about the outdoors. Recorded live at Symphony Hall with Boston Symphony Orchestra members and a star-studded cast, this Swedish …
Show notes
Welcome back to Circle Round Summer Camp! We're revisiting our favorite stories about the outdoors.
Recorded live at Symphony Hall with Boston Symphony Orchestra members and a star-studded cast, this Swedish tale sheds magical light on kindness, caring, and letting roots run deep.
This Circle Round episode originally was released on Oct. 28, 2025.
Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.
Summer Camp: The Sweet Spot
June 16, 202622 minSeason 9 · Episode 46
Welcome back to Circle Round Summer Camp! We're revisiting our favorite stories about the outdoors. Tantoo Cardinal (Killers of the Flower Moon, Three Pines) and Jonathan Joss (King of the Hill, Tulsa King) …
Show notes
Welcome back to Circle Round Summer Camp! We're revisiting our favorite stories about the outdoors.
Tantoo Cardinal (Killers of the Flower Moon, Three Pines) and Jonathan Joss (King of the Hill, Tulsa King) star in this sweet and sour Wabanaki tale about how people first learned to tap maple trees.
This Circle Round episode originally was released on March 28, 2023.
Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.
Summer Camp: The Missing Mountainside
June 9, 202621 minSeason 9 · Episode 45
Welcome to Circle Round Summer Camp! This summer, camp counselor Erika Henningsen (The Four Seasons, The Midnight Rebellion) will be reintroducing us to some of our favorite episodes celebrating the great …
Show notes
Welcome to Circle Round Summer Camp!
This summer, camp counselor Erika Henningsen (The Four Seasons, The Midnight Rebellion) will be reintroducing us to some of our favorite episodes celebrating the great outdoors and spending time with others outside.
In this Taiwanese tale starring Karen Huie (Welcome to Flatch, Abominable and the Invisible City), a town learns the bad taste it can leave when you bite off more than you can chew!
This Circle Round episode originally was released on Jan. 24, 2023.
Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.
Encore: The Four Winds
June 2, 202624 minSeason 9 · Episode 44
This Circle Round episode originally was released on Oct. 31, 2023. Kimberly Guerrero (Spirit Rangers, Reservation Dogs) stars in a tale from the Lakota people about one thieving fox and four wise winds. Sign …
Show notes
This Circle Round episode originally was released on Oct. 31, 2023.
Kimberly Guerrero (Spirit Rangers, Reservation Dogs) stars in a tale from the Lakota people about one thieving fox and four wise winds.
Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.
The Storyteller
May 26, 202635 minSeason 9 · Episode 43
Film, TV and theater star Maria-Christina Oliveras (The Balusters, Cymbeline) headlines a Portuguese tale about the magical ways stories bring us together. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.
Seven Silver Rings
May 19, 202621 minSeason 9 · Episode 42
Marielle Heller (A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, Can You Ever Forgive Me) and Jorma Taccone (The Lonely Island and Seth Meyers Podcast, Little Fox and the Wild Imagination) headline a Seneca and Shawnee …
Show notes
Marielle Heller (A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, Can You Ever Forgive Me) and Jorma Taccone (The Lonely Island and Seth Meyers Podcast, Little Fox and the Wild Imagination) headline a Seneca and Shawnee legend about how the raccoon got its eye mask and tail stripes.
Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.
Leader of the Birds
May 12, 202621 minSeason 9 · Episode 41
Carolyn Michelle (Familiar Touch, The Chi) and Christopher Rivas (Brown Enough, Rubirosa) headline a Maya tale about lies having short legs... and long tails! Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.
Chicken Scratches
May 5, 202615 minSeason 9 · Episode 40
Musician and podcaster Hrishikesh Hirway (Song Exploder) plays a cocky rooster in this Southern American tale about judging a book by its cover and eating humble pie. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The …
Show notes
Musician and podcaster Hrishikesh Hirway (Song Exploder) plays a cocky rooster in this Southern American tale about judging a book by its cover and eating humble pie.
Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.
Encore: The Blizzard Wizard
April 28, 202622 minSeason 9 · Episode 39
Vivien Lyra Blair (Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Boogeyman) headlines this story from the indigenous peoples of Siberia about a supernatural spirit with a very cold shoulder. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The …
Show notes
Vivien Lyra Blair (Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Boogeyman) headlines this story from the indigenous peoples of Siberia about a supernatural spirit with a very cold shoulder.
Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.
Encore: The Magic Touch
April 21, 202629 minSeason 9 · Episode 38
Edi Gathegi ("The Harder They Fall," "For All Mankind") stars in this East African story about twin brothers, enchanted fruit, and the magic of an open heart. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.