Tales

As the truth of their abandonment sinks in, Hansel and Gretel begin to despair — until the tantalizing smell of gingerbread leads them to a house of sweets. But the sugary cottage hides a rotten core, and the children are left to determine how to outwit a witch.

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In the midst of a famine, a father and his wife lead their children deep into a forest. They mean to leave them there in a desperate bid for survival. And though Hansel and Gretel prove to be clever and capable, their stepmother is a determined adversary.

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Barefoot and dejected, a young girl tries in vain to sell matches on a frigid New Year’s Eve. As the temperature dips ever lower, she strikes matches for herself, and has visions of an all-embracing warmth. 

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The clock’s winding down on the final moments of the year and people around the world are putting their charms and traditions to work, shoring up good fortune for the future. But it’s not always our own personal luck that’s on the line… In this story, a night of superstitions weaves together the fates of merrymakers eager for fresh starts. 

This episode is presented by Superstitions, a Spotify Original from Parcast. Follow Superstitions free on Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

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He’s faced his ghosts, and reckoned with his past. But after decades of relentless self-enrichment, how can Scrooge truly redeem himself?

A miserly old man. A long-dead business partner. And the sound of rattling chains… In this iconic ghost story by Charles Dickens, Ebenezer Scrooge is forced to look back through his life and ponder when he lost his humanity.

This disturbing folktale from the 17th century tells of two elderly, impoverished sisters who pull a prank on a king using tallow and twine. But when their ruse is discovered, only one is left unscathed.

In 18th century Boston, a bewitching woman wraps herself in pride as a doctor scrambles to prevent an outbreak of smallpox.

You know you can find love in a bar… on an app… Why not a podcast? Every week on Blind Dating, one hopeful single is introduced to two potential matches in a virtual hangout — no cameras allowed. This week, listen in as Pauler, a 33-year-old dancer from Australia, meets a tutor who falls for mama’s boys and a one-time swinger who’s “lived and learned” in LA. Is personality enough to spark a lasting connection? Listen to find out… and don’t miss the twist at the end! Blind Dating is free on Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

After demanding his freedom from a plantation owner, a young orphan makes his way into a world filled with dangerous rogues and life-saving magic.