The Apple Seed

Here at The Appleseed, a lot of our team members are going through big life changes. Whitney recently studied abroad in Spain, Victoria just got married (you may have wondered why her last name changed), Kassie is graduating this summer, Naomi is finishing up her first year of college, and Andre’s baby just turned one. We were talking the other day about how time flies and how before you know it, you’re an “adult,” even if you don’t feel like one. Growing up can be exciting...there are new adventures, new privileges, new experiences. But it can also be hard. Sometimes we just want to be like Peter Pan and escape to an island where we never have to grow up. Although growth can be painful, it’s a part of life. Today’s stories are all about kids with both emotional and physical growing pains.

A Ride to Remember by Glenda Bonin (1:41)

Dusty, a 6 year old girl, decides to go for a ride by herself, but the horse isn't exactly on the same page. Learn more about Glenda Bonin by visiting: www.storyworksgroup.com

The Mumps by Laura Pershin Raynor (7:51)

One summer all of Laura's friends go away on vacation or head to camp so she starts hanging out with some brothers who are in a nameless band together and play pretty intense rock covers of various songs. Halfway through the summer Laura gets really sick and almost misses the boys' first concert. Learn more about Laura Pershin Raynor by visiting: www.lpraynor.com

When I Was Ten by Finn Billie and Rick Davis (27:56)

Finn remembers his brother gifting his mother a painting and feeling sad that he was left out of the moment. Decades later Finn publishes his own work of art, a book of poems, and gifts it to his mother just like his brother gave her the painting.

Grownups are Strange by Bill Harley (37:10)

A song revealing the oddities of being an "adult". Learn more about TELLER by visiting: www.billharley.com

Water Torture by Antonio Sacre (41:37)

Tony shares his birthday with his little twin brothers which isn't his favorite thing in the world so when water balloons are present at one of their shared birthday parties things get a little out of hand, which Tony refuses to apologize for. Years later his little brother wrecks his car and Tony has to choose how he'll respond. Learn more about TELLER by visiting: www.antoniosacre.com

In conjunction with the 131st Groundhog Day we're celebrating the way that little marmot has made a name for himself in the national storytelling world. Bringing you facts and stories of shared meals from Doug Elliott, a song by Dan Keding, and some tales and an interview with Megan Hicks about her album "Groundhogs Meet Grimm".

Groundhog Day by Doug Elliott (2:23)

The Story of the Three Groundhogs Gruff by Megan Hicks (11:22)

Megan Hicks Interview (18:33)

Groundhog Godmother by Megan Hicks (27:59)

Oh, Groundhog by Dan Keding (37:59)

Groundhogs and Indians by Doug Elliott (40:09)

Recently at The Apple Seed, we were thinking about iconic American organizations that have influenced our lives or our families’ lives and one of the ones that came to our minds was the Boy Scouts of America. We realized that the 108th anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America is right around the corner, on February 8th, so we decided it was the perfect time to share some stories about scouts.

Corn Maze by Bil Lepp (2:23)

Bil goes to Farmer Graber’s famous corn maze with his scout troop. He and his buddies get lost in the maze and they all start making up stuff about the maze to scare each other. Learn more about Bil Lepp by visiting: www.leppstorytelling.com

Big Lake Sasquatch by Christopher Leebrick (28:52)

In the Pacific Northwest, Christopher and his friend Bill go snow camping with his scout troop the next day, the scoutmaster suddenly insists that they leave their campsite because of some strange activity. Years later, Chris and Bill are reunited and both swear that it was Big Foot they saw that night. Learn more about Christopher Leebrick by visiting: allgoodstories.com

Saved by the Scouts by Erika Price (39:08)

Erika takes her den of cub scouts on a hike and even after she warns them not to run, one of the boys does (of course) and ends up hurting himself. The other 8 year old kiddos, who have annoyed her with their messiness and rowdiness for months, apply their first aid knowledge gleaned from her, and are surprisingly helpful and thoughtful. Erika is an English professor at BYU.

Webelos Pack 909 Roundtable (49:19)

A group of webelo scouts from Payson Utah get together with Sam Payne for a storytelling party.

We often talk about first impressions and how they can be quite distant from the reality of the situation or what the situation eventually ends up being and the stories in this episode highlight how comical things can turn out when somebody you know is not who you think they are.

The Ransom of Red Chief by Kaye Byrnes (1:50)

Some bandits try to ransom a kid but end up paying money to return him he’s such a pill. Learn more about Kaye Byrnes by visiting: www.kayebyrnes.com

The Wizard and the Girl with the Golden Hair by Dan Keding (24:44)

An evil wizard captures girls with different features for his stone garden. He realizes he’s missing a girl with golden hair and when he finally finds one she turns out to be a tricky target. Learn more about Dan Keding by visiting: www.dankeding.com

Mexico City Subway by Rick Huddle (33:52)

Rick is on a subway in Mexico City and gets pickpocketed by an unlikely thief--a little mexican mother. Learn more about Rick Huddle by visiting: www.rickhuddle.com

The Innkeeper's Clever Daughter by Zette Harbour (39:15)

In Russia, a nobleman challenges a tailor and an innkeeper to solve 3 riddles and only thanks to his clever daughter does the Innkeeper win. Learn more about Zette Harbour by visiting: www.zetteharbour.com

When we heard that Utah Opera was mounting a production of Moby Dick, we got excited about the tale behind the tale. On this episode of The Apple Seed, you’ll hear a behind-the-scenes look at bringing this incredible story to the opera stage. We’ll talk to composer Jake Heggie, librettist Gene Scheer, director Kristine McIntyre, and more. We’ll also talk with English professor (and Moby Dick enthusiast) Stephen Tuttle, and listen to some melancholy sea songs and stories from the great Jay O’Callahan. You can visit www.utahopera.org for more information about the opera itself. And you ought to! It’s a whale of a tale.

We have a tradition here at the Apple Seed where every time someone joins our team or has to say "farewell", we have lunch at one of our favorite Mexican restaurants in Provo: El Gallo Giro. We recently said goodbye to our assistant producer, Makena Bauss, and while we were eating we got to talking about some of our favorite dishes and we all agreed that food can leave some strong impressions whether we like it or hate. In this episode the stories are all about food: weird obsessions, phobias, and times that food brought people together or drove them apart.

The Little Boy Who Hated Pizza by Mark Binder (4:06)

Max doesn’t like food that has flavor so when he and his dad are eating dinner at a friend's house Max finds himself in a bit of a pickle when they serve pizza. Learn more about Mark Binder by visiting: markbinder.com

How I Learned to Love Liver by Joel Ben Izzy (9:10)

The doctor tells Joel he needs to eat liver because he is iron deficient so his parents try to make him eat it but he won’t. But then, he eats it by mistake. Learn more about Joel Ben Izzy by visiting: www.storypage.com

A Baker's Dozen by Antoinette Griffin (19:50)

Antoinette’s uncle owns a bakery in Brooklyn. One of his customers insists that he sell 13 Christmas cookies for those who order a dozen, just like all the other bakers do. When he refuses to give the customer 13 cookies, his bakery is cursed.

Apple Seed Roundtable (29:50)

Members of the Apple Seed team discuss some memorable food experiences they've had.

Hide the Salami by Bob Reiser (44:05)

Bob’s Dad is obsessed with salami. He eats it every night when everyone is asleep, however one night his wife catches him in the act of munching away and decides to finally do something about his salami obsession! Learn more about Bob Reiser by visiting: www.bobtales.com

From tricksters like the Norse god Loki, to wisemen like the Old Testament’s King Solomon, clever characters have been a staple of world folklore since the beginning of time. On this episode we’re going on a little adventure around the world looking at just a few of these characters and the oral tradition that has kept them alive.

The Dragon and the Monkey's Heart by Simon Brooks (1:26)

www.diamondscree.com

Tulips by Jay O'Callahan (11:24)

ocallahan.com

Anansi & Stories by Zette Harbour (18:36)

www.zetteharbour.com

Farmer and the Snake by Norah Dooley (29:07)

www.norahdooley.com

The Walking Man by Jerry Brooks (34:11)

www.cowboypoetry.com

When Wren was King of the Birds by Glenda Bonin (41:39)

www.storyworksgroup.com

The White Deer by Brian "Fox" Ellis (47:55)

foxtalesint.com

There are some classic tales that are good to nestle into, some storytelling staples if you will but it’s also fun to take those stories and tweak them a little. Take the protagonist on an adventure outside of their usual walk in the woods, or change up the time frame for a brand new spin and it’s those kind of stories we’re bringing to you in this episode; Jack tales and Cinderella stories that break away from the traditional mold.

Jack and the Singing Leaves by Bill Harley (1:38)

Distracted Jack heals a bird with a broken wing that tells him to give a branch of singing leaves to the princess on her birthday. Learn more about Bill Harley by visiting: www.billharley.com

11 Cinderellas (France and Mi'kmaq) by Mary Hamilton (28:30)

From her album “Sisters All...and One Troll” this is only a small segment of a greater work that tells the entire Cinderella story from the entrance of the wicked stepmother to happily ever after by intertwining Cinderella stories from around the world. Learn more about Mary Hamilton by visiting: www.maryhamilton.info

Ashy Pet by Milbre Burch (35:17)

Cinderella as told in the Appalachian mountains. Learn more about Milbre Burch by visiting: www.kindcrone.com

Stupid Jack with Beanstalk by Willy Claflin (50:18)

Moral of this fractured tale: as long as you’re very very rich, it’s okay to be very very stupid. Learn more about Willy Claflin by visiting: www.willyclaflin.com

On this episode, we think about some of those people who have traveled with us – sometimes for a good, long way – but who will travel with us no longer, except as they live on in the ways they taught us and the stories we treasure about them.

We celebrate the life of Merle Davis, friend to storytellers everywhere and the wife of celebrated storyteller Donald Davis. We share stories from LDS Church president Thomas S. Monson, and we share just a bit about Sam’s grandfather, World War II veteran Gordon Pappas.

We’re spending thiss episode of The Apple Seed with Shonaleigh, the torchbearer for the Drut’syla tradition: the oral passing down of a canon of some 4,000 traditional stories from woman to woman. We’ll hear some great recordings of live performances made by the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival, and we’ll summarize a five-day storytelling workshop given to story enthusiasts right here in our backyard.