The Apple Seed

“We must never forget that Black History is American History. The achievements of African Americans have contributed to our nation's greatness.” - NY Congresswoman Yvette Clarke. This episode was made in celebration of Black History Month.

The People Could Fly by Charlotte Blake-Alston (1:19)

This story is originally from Virginia Hamilton, one of the first publishers of black folklore, known for presenting slave-era tales in their colloquial English. Learn more about Charlotte Blake-Alston by visiting: www.charlotteblakealston.com

Clinton 12 by Kate Dudding (7:20)

From her album “Young People who Made a Difference” this story is about 12 students who risk their lives to desegregate their high school. Learn more about Kate Dudding by visiting: www.katedudding.com

Martin Luther King Storypoem by Charlotte Blake-Alston (34:51)

Dr. King’s bio in metered rhyme.

Maya's Story for Indira by Lani Peterson (42:30)

Lani's personal story involving the time she met Maya Angelou. Learn more about Lani Peterson by visiting: lanipeterson.com

Sympathy by Mitch Capel (53:51)

Paul Laurence Dunbar’s poem "Sympathy". Learn more about Mitch Capel by visiting: www.gjbug.com

The Seedling by Mitch Capel (56:12)

Mitch Capel reciting Paul Laurence Dunbar’s “The Seedling” in front of a live audience at the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, TN.

There are some phrases that spark stories, think “once upon a time”, “star-crossed lovers”, or “that was the day that everything changed”. You know what I’m talking about, the type of phrase that sets a whole story in motion. I’d like to add another phrase to that list: “I promise”. Just think, it creates immediate tension and intrigue and it’s something you could construct a whole narrative around. For example, maybe you hear that some lady promised her first kid to a magical little man if he spins straw into gold for her. That promise draws you in and you want to see how the story ends--or at least our team on The Apple Seed does. The moment we hear a promise being made we’re curious whether it will be kept or broken. And because you probably already know how Rumpelstiltskin ends we’ll bring you some tales of promises that you might not have heard.

The Ice Woman by Donna Washington (1:56)

A young Japanese merchant talks his way out of death. The only catch is that he promises never to speak of the events of that night ever again. Learn more about Donna Washington by visiting: dlwstoryteller.com

Fisherman's Baby by Jenni Cargill-Strong (15:44)

A young fisherman promises to take care of his baby while his wife is away tending her sick sister, however the fair sea and his best friend complicate the situation Learn more about Jenni Cargill-Strong by visiting: www.storytree.com.au

The Banjo Player of Franceville by Dan Keding (24:49)

From his album "Promises Kept, Promises Broken" this original piece is about Franceville, a town with a snake problem. A banjo player offers to fix the situation for 10 gold dollars. The mayor is shocked when he actually succeeds. Learn more about Dan Keding by visiting: www.dankeding.com

Cheep and Cackle by Priscilla Howe (35:47)

A chick promises to share his cake with a cat, if that cat doesn’t eat him. But the cake is so yummy...Learn more about Priscilla Howe by visiting: www.priscillahowe.com

The Well of the World's End by Richard Martin (41:55)

A girl’s stepmother tells her to go out and achieve an impossible task leading the girl to make a promise that tests her limits. Learn more about Richard Martin by visiting: www.tellatale.eu

Each February, the Weber Storytelling Festival takes the stage in and around Ogden Utah. It's venues include area schools and community centers, the Student Union building on the campus of Weber State University, the historic Egyptian Theater in downtown Ogden, and more.  Now in its 22nd year, the festival features talented storytellers from all over the country and beyond. It also features storytellers from the Ogden area, and many of them are children. In fact, the festival boasts the largest number of youth storytellers of any festival in the country. On today’s episode of the Apple Seed, we’ll share stories from Bil Lepp, Andy Offutt Irwin, and Charlotte Blake Alston – three of the terrific tellers involved in this year’s festival. 

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Unless you live under a rock, you’re probably familiar with Aesop’s fable, “The Tortoise and the Hare". This is just one of many stories where the little guy, though at a huge disadvantage for one reason or another, ends up on top through his hard work and diligence. In this episode, we thought we’d bring you similar stories, because who doesn’t love a good underdog?

The Rabbit in the Moon by Antonio Sacre (1:30)

The gods gather together to create the sun and the moon. They build a fire and ask for volunteers to become the sun and moon by jumping into the fire. Learn more about Antonio Sacre by visiting: www.antoniosacre.com

Tricky the Turtle and the Lion's Cave by Big Joe Pagliuca (8:46)

Tricky the turtle is teased by all of the other animals because he is much smaller and weaker than they are. He pulls a trick on them that makes them think twice about messing with Tricky the turtle....Learn more about Big Joe Pagliuca by visiting: www.bigjoe.com

Seven Bowls of Rice by Milbre Burch (18:31)

A farmer’s daughter is treated poorly by her stepmother who throws her out of the house and bids her to wander into the forest and pay a visit to the prince with seven mouths. Learn more about Milbre Burch by visiting: www.kindcrone.com

Nonsense by Jay O'Callahan (27:02)

The family cat keeps biting people’s toes but the father won’t believe them. Learn more about Jay O'Callahan by visiting: ocallahan.com

Crackerjack by Adam Booth (30:28)

Adam grew up watching baseball with his grandpa and playing little league, although he was never good at it. Years later when he finds out that the city is going to tear down his childhood baseball field Adam goes in for one last game. Learn more about Adam Booth by visiting: www.adam-booth.com

On this episode of The Apple Seed, we visit Springfield, Illinois, the home and burial place of Abraham Lincoln. We talk with Justin Blandford and Troy Gilmore, two of the members of the team that oversees some of the important Springfield historical sites. We also chat with storyteller Brian "Fox" Ellis, who works year-round to bring the history of this place alive with stories of Lincoln and his contemporaries.

Over the top gestures, begging on your knees, or soliciting the help of an unlikely other. Would you do any of these things if it was for love?

The Stone Before the Door by Jill Lamede (1:14)

In order to be united with his one true bride a wealthy merchant must move a large stone poised before the door. Learn more about Jill Lamede by visiting: www.lamede.com

Willy's Lady by Dan Keding (11:44)

King Willy marries a lovely lady whom everyone loves but his mother, the evil witch, because she is jealous of her. She curses her with an endless labor when King Willy's child is ready to be born and it's up to Willy to figure out how to break the curse. Learn more about Dan Keding by visiting: www.dankeding.com

Collected Stories From BYU Students (20:06)

The Frog Prince by Tim Ereneta (27:05)

Would you kiss a frog for love? Learn more about Tim Ereneta by visiting: www.timereneta.com

The Crane Wife by Zette Harbour (34:20)

A Japanese man rescues an injured crane. Later, a beautiful woman shows up at his house and tells him that she is his wife. During the winter, when they are low on money, she weaves cloths for her husband to sell. Whenever she does so, she makes him promise not to look at her while she works. One night the man gives in to his curiosity. Learn more about Zette Harbour by visiting: www.zetteharbour.com

Sleeping Beastly by Willy Claflin (44:50)

A Maynard Moose rendition of Sleeping Beauty. Learn more about Willy Claflin by visiting: www.willyclaflin.com

"Won't forget, can't regret, what I did for love..."

Canadian Love by Colton Prete (1:39)

Romantic Elevator Ride by Dr. Jeffrey Hill (6:08)

Emily and the Kiss at the Dance by Dr. Joe Price (14:33)

Conversation with Dr. Hill and Dr. Price (19:09)

Simon and Susannah by Sheila Arnold (32:03)

www.mssheila.org

Psyche and Eros by Beatrice Bowles (44:26)

www.beatricebowles.com

Oh to be young and in love.

Forget that Girl by Bill Harley (1:34)

Bill is in the sixth grade and has a crush on a girl named Patty. He wants to go steady with her but some things get in the way. Learn more about Bill Harley by visiting: LINK

Perfect Match by Dolores Hydock (25:36)

Dolores' high school puts on a "computer dance". Each student filled out a questionnaire, and based on their answers, the computer hooked them up with their "perfect match" only things don't work out so well when everyone fills out the questionnaire how they think their crush might fill it out. Learn more about Dolores Hydock by visiting: www.storypower.org

Some Enchanted Wednesday by Syd Lieberman (41:50)

Syd's phases of young love: first for his elementary school teacher, then for a girl and then for baseball, all framed by his love for movie musicals. Learn more about the late Syd Lieberman by visiting: www.sydlieberman.com

From penny candy when he was young to buying candy at the sweet shop next to the school he was principal at, Sam has always had a flair for sugary delights. Maybe he can blame it all on his grandfather who always had a bag of lemon drops in the car, which is a tradition Sam still carries on today. With all that said here are some stories about candy:

The Best Candy In the World by Bill Harley (5:15)

www.billharley.com

Candy Monster by Bil Lepp (28:14)

www.leppstorytelling.com

Repetition is the name of the game in this episode full of repeating phrases, reoccurring events, and recitation.

Jack and the Soap by Donald Davis (1:56)

Donald and his little brother visit their grandma who doesn’t have a TV so they’re faced with the immense challenge of trying to entertain themselves. Donald’s solution? Repeat everything his little brother says. When Grandma steps in she tells the boys the following Jack tale. Learn more about Donald Davis by visiting: www.ddavisstoryteller.com

Why Parrots Only Repeat What People Say by Gabriel Lewenstein (20:18)

From Martha Hamilton and Mitch Weiss’s album “How & Why Stories: World Tales Kids Can Tell” this story from Thailand explains why parrots are such popular pets. Learn more about Mitch Weiss and Martha Hamilton by visiting: beautyandthebeaststorytellers.com

The Name of a Tree by Stephanie Beneteau (25:20)

It’s a time of famine and all the animals end up at this special tree that has a lot of fruit. The catch: the fruit will only fall to the ground if you say the name of the tree and no remembers exactly what it is. Learn more about Stephanie Beneteau by visiting: www.stephaniebeneteau.com

Old John and the Devil by Charlotte Blake-Alston (37:27)

Old John is a slave with a reputation for a great memory. The plantation owner starts taking him to meetings so that afterwards John can repeat who said what, how they said it, and what the response was to what was said. He’s so good at this that his reputation spreads all the way to Hell where the Devil puts Old John’s memory to the test. Learn more about Charlotte Blake-Alston by visiting: www.charlotteblakealston.com

The Smuggler by Heather Forest (43:29)

Everyday for 10 years a man brings a donkey with hay on its back to the border where the same official searches through the hay everyday because he is sure the man is a smuggler. But he never catches him smuggling anything over. After retiring the official sees the smuggler in the market and asks him what he hid and how he pulled it off and the answer shocks him! Learn more about Heather Forest by visiting: www.heatherforest.com

Tony and the Donkey by Norah Dooley (47:45)

Tony gets kicked out of his house and ends up working for a magical man who pays him with shabby looking gifts that reap lovely outcomes once a few words are repeated, however everytime he goes to show his Mama, Tony runs into some trouble with the local innkeeper. Learn more about Norah Dooley by visiting: www.norahdooley.com