What’s that? You need a mixtape to help provide the soundtrack to your holiday travels? Good news: the world’s greatest DJ who is also a worm is on the case!

The Story Pirates track down Rachel, who has been busy directing a television show at the Statue of Liberty. Featuring two new stories: “The Ice Cream Translator,” a story about a young inventor who accidentally unleashes vengeful ice creams upon the world, written by Jacob, a 10 year old from Michigan, and “The Dad Who Bought Himself,” a cautionary tale about a dad who thought he could get more done by making copies of himself, written by 7 year old from New Hampshire named Lyla. 

The Story Pirates track down Eric and Peter, who have been busy constructing a strange theme park near Coney Island. Featuring two new stories: “The Staple Removing Comedian,” about a comic who finds his muse in tiny, metal fasteners, written by Sebastian, an 11 year old from Texas, and “The Smelly Cheese,” a story about an outcast blue cheese desperate for validation from the person who owns the fridge she lives in, written by an 8 year old from Pennsylvania named Tess.

The Story Pirates track down Nimene, who has become a top fashion designer for an eccentric mathematician (Christy Carlson Romano). Featuring two new stories: “Porch Boogie,” a song about porches that detach from their houses and start a dance party, written by Elias, a 4 year old from Washington, and “A Very Monstrous Game Show,” a story about the only game show where contestants genetically engineer terrifying monsters to win the Golden Gross Thing, by an 11 year old from Utah named Charlie.

Lee, Rolo and Smitty start tracking down the other members of the Story Pirates in NYC, starting with Meghan, who is starring in her very own Broadway show alongside a theatrical ghost (Heléne Yorke). Featuring two new stories: ‘Why Are There So Many Commercials?’, a story about two kids who find out the truth behind the constant barrage of advertisements on TV, written by Sarah, a 10 year old from New York, and ‘The Tooth Problem,’ a terrifying tale of cavities come to life, written by two siblings from Wisconsin, Kade and Avery. 

The Story Pirates are finally back home in NYC! Featuring two new stories: “Black Bird, Blue Bird,” a gentle folk song about two birds who are celestially connected, featuring the band Mipso and written by Joanna, an 11 year old from Colorado, and “Trying to Write a Story,” a tale of two authors who overcome a debilitating case of writers' block, written by a 10 year old from Alabama named John Bannon.

In this bonus episode, Story Pirate Eric interviews a witch to help him decide what he should be for Halloween. Featuring one of our favorite spooky stories from the archives, “Boo!” by a 7 year old from Florida named Nora.

In this bonus episode, Story Pirate Eric interviews Frankenstein to help him decide what Eric should be for Halloween. Featuring one of our favorite spooky stories from the archives, “Zombies Ate My Homework!!!!!,” by an 11 year old from California named Paxton.

The Story Pirates Podcast is back for Season 6! Coming October 19th, listen to new episodes wherever you get your podcasts.

We’re off this week getting ready for Season 6, so here’s a taste of a series we’ve been releasing on the Creator Club feed. It’s called Idea Storm, and in it we give you ideas to try out in your own writing! Today’s idea is about how to introduce an exciting problem in your story. When you finish your stories, we’d love to see what you come up with! Grownups can submit stories at storypirates.com. And remember, we respond to every single story we receive!

Show Notes: If you want to listen to any of the stories we played clips of today, go to Season 5, episode 11 for the story “The Dangerous Plumbers,” Season 5, episode 19 for the story “The Town of Snake Therapists,” and Season 5, episode 6 for the story “The Magician’s Accidents.”