You know the feeling when you’re craving a certain food, but aren’t quite sure what? Or when you’re bored and have an itch to get out and do something, but just can’t quite tell what you’re in the mood for? You want company, but aren’t quite sure whom you’d like to be with? You still haven’t found what you’re looking for – even if you don’t quite know what you’re looking for?

 

However, we know you have found what you’ve been looking for on today’s Apple Seed! Today’s episode of The Apple Seed revolves around characters motivated to keep searching for what they want – or think they want. Storytellers Margaret MacDonald, Lani Peterson, Susan Stone, and Susan Reed grace us with inspiring stories of finding what’s most important – even if their characters didn’t realize they were looking for it to begin with.

 

 

 

On today’s episode, enjoy the following:

 

“Chin Chin Kobokama” by Margaret MacDonald from Tuck-Me-In Tales (5:44)

 

Margaret Read MacDonald loves “story play,” roping in her audiences with singing, chanting, or moving. She also loves teaching others to tell stories just as much as she enjoys it herself! MacDonald tells the story of a young girl who refuses to get a new toothpick! Every day, she cleans her teeth and hides her toothpick, until one day it gets lost in her messy room. As she goes about cleaning, she realizes that searching for this lost toothpick had taught her something more significant than just cleaning her teeth.

 

“In Search of Charles Dickens” by Lani Peterson from Stories Within (14:38)

 

Lani Peterson hopes all can find their authentic voice to communicate deeper meaning through storytelling. She presents for groups of all backgrounds, from the sciences to the arts, encouraging them to engage in storytelling. Her background in literature comes through as she reminisces on a trip to England as a student. While adventuring across England searching to connect to her role model, Charles Dickens, she comes across a wonderful and inviting man who is the next best thing – if not better!

 

“The Beauty and the Melamed” by Susan Stone (11:14)

 

A Polish folktale with a surprising twist on The Beauty and the Beast! When a beautiful young woman searches and fails to find a lover, she is surprised to meet a haggard, injured man with surprising charm. He shares a secret about his past with her that makes her ever-more grateful for his bravery and selfless heart. Storyteller Susan Stone has been a teller and teaching artist for 30 years, and is the founder of the Evanston Public Library Storytelling Festival.

 

“Golden Thread” by Susan Reed from Songs & Stories About Families, Friendships & Shoes (12:59)

 

A young man sick of waiting finds a magic golden thread, and feels all his problems have now been solved! One tug on the string, and boom! Time has jumped forward! Sadly, skipping forward isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, and he finds himself suddenly at the end of his life, having missed all the best parts. Susan Reed is a contemporary violinist, vocalist, storyteller, recording artist, author and educator from the Boston area. From classical to fiddle, gypsy to jazz, Susan combines her musical artistry with storytelling, crafting original shows that celebrate our humanity.

 

Radio Family Journal: "Baffle Hanging" (5:26)

 

Thinking about not being able to quite find what you're looking for even though you get kind of an itch to make a little change sparks a memory for Sam that he'd like to share as his latest entry in his Radio Family Journal.