The Apple Seed

The Oral Torah includes laws and rituals that are not recorded in the Five books of Moses and was passed on from generation to generation until 70CE when it was finally written down. And though this sacred text was finally recorded, the oral tradition did not die out for the Jewish people and today we’re bringing you stories that showcase how alive and vibrant the oral tradition still is in the Jewish community

Fox and Fish by Karen Golden (1:36)

A Rabbi and his students are in a bit of a dangerous situation, especially since he keeps telling them Torah stories, but the Rabbi tells them they are in the best spot they can be and proceeds to tell them why. Learn more about Karen Golden by visiting: www.karengolden.com

Language of the Birds by Susan Strauss (6:10)

The Baal Shem Tov teaches a man to appreciate the beauty around him. Learn more about Susan Strauss by visiting: www.straussstoryteller.com

Debate by Mary Wright (16:16)

Part of Hanukkah lore, a chicken dealer outsmarts a king in battle of wits. Learn more about Mary Wright by visiting: spiritedstories.com

The Magician by Judith Black (23:30)

A Jewish couple gives everything they have to the poor and the husband, Jonah, keeps telling his wife that God will provide for them during Passover. The night of the Passover they still have nothing when a mysterious guest knocks on their door. Learn more about Judith Black by visiting: storiesalive.com

The Sound of Money by Zette Harbour (35:54)

A King Solomon story, wherein a baker insists that a woman pay for the smelling his bread. Learn more about Zette Harbour by visiting: www.zetteharbour.com

Buried Treasure by Joel Ben Izzy (40:15)

A Polish folktale that's still part of the Jewish oral tradition. A man has a dream to leave everything and go to another city and after having this dream three nights in a row he decides to act on it. Learn more about Joel Ben Izzy by visiting: www.storypage.com

Holidays or special occasions can provide exciting breaks from daily life. They give you something to celebrate or commemorate and in order to do that a lot of people throw parties, not only making for a great time but often a great story.

Party Girl by Leeny Del Seamonds (00:57)

Leeny wakes up from what she thinks is a strange dream asking "Where's the party?". Learn more about Leeny Del Seamonds by visiting: leenydelseamonds.com

Party People by Donald Davis (13:04)

Growing up Donald didn’t have birthday parties but when he goes to school he learns of their existence and wears his mother down into throwing him one. Learn more about Donald Davis by visiting: www.ddavisstoryteller.com

You Shoulda Been There by Bill Harley (43:32)

A song about how you should have been at this really cool party. Learn more about Bill Harley by visiting: www.billharley.com

Mary, New Year's Eve by Jay O'Callahan (48:13)

Mary is nine years old and so her mother invites her to stay up for New Year’s, however, Mary lets her parents know she is an important guest at another party. Learn more about Jay O'Callahan by visiting: ocallahan.com

Don’t put away the tree yet! In a season still rich with holiday magic, we’ll share stories and songs both light and serious on today’s episode of the Apple Seed. You’ll hear songs by the terrific songwriter Cori Connors, along with stories from Donald Davis, Kevin Kling, and our host, Sam Payne.

Flexible Flyer by Cori Connors (00:49)

www.coriconnors.com

Don't Kill Santa by Donald Davis (5:38)

www.ddavisstoryteller.com

You Dressed as a Gypsy and I as a Clown by Sam Payne (15:40)

www.sampayne.com

Nutcracker by Kevin Kling (45:03)

www.kevinkling.com

Sleepy Little Town by Cori Connors (50:38)

Celebrating some more of our storytelling friends who have performed at the Timpanogos Storytelling festival.

The Messenger by Laura Pershin Raynor (2:09)

www.lpraynor.com

The Bear Hunter's Bold by Waddie Mitchell (19:28)

www.cowboypoetry.com/waddie.htm

Jumping on Grandma's Plastic Covered Couch by Linda Gorham (25:37)

lindagorham.com

What Was I Thinking? by Syd Lieberman (40:50)

www.sydlieberman.com

Here on the Apple Seed we have many wonderful friends and in this episode we're celebrating some of our storytelling friends that have performed at the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival. That festival was created by the Ashton family and they're responsible for getting the Apple Seed started and so we're also celebrating our foundational and fruitful relationship with them. We're happy to bring these wonderful recordings to you today!

The Old Stained Man \[Live] by Kim Weitkamp (1:54)

www.kimweitkamp.com

Kindergarten Wall/Grandpa's Song/Room at the Top of the Stairs by John McCutcheon \[Live] (17:40)

www.folkmusic.com

Momma's Coat by Barbara McBride-Smith \[Live] (33:45)

www.barbaramcbridesmith.com

A Letter to God by Antonio Sacre \[Live] (51:53)

www.antoniosacre.com

As part of our ongoing series of live readers theater presentations of terrific literary works, this episode of The Apple Seed includes the hilarious and delightful fable "Christmas Every Day," by William Dean Howells. You'll also enjoy the strange and wonderful "The Girl Who Trod on a Loaf," by Hans Christian Andersen, and "The Rich Woman and the Poor Woman," one of the "Christmas Tales from Flanders." The episode also features winter music from BYU Professor of jazz piano Kurt Reeder, delivered before an intimate audience in the Apple Seed studio.

Wintertime is a time to gather with friends old and new, reminisce around the fireplace, and share stories that warm the heart. It doesn’t matter if the weather outside is frightful; friendships can blossom even in the dead of winter.

The Winter Cherries by Odds Bodkin (1:21)

Miracle cherries reunite old friends as a retired knight goes to offer his king a Christmas gift. Learn more about Odds Bodkin by visiting: www.oddsbodkin.net

The Nose Tree by Laura J. Bobrow (32:42)

Three friends are rewarded for their loyalty to each other by a little man dressed in red who gives them each a magic gift. The true test of their friendship comes when a fairy princess tries to steal their gifts from them, putting in jeopardy their vow to always stay by each other's side. Learn more about Laura J. Bobrow by visiting: www.laurajbobrow.com

Let's Go Sledding by Kim Weitkamp (50:04)

A song from her album Pickle in the Middle Blues. Learn more about Kim Weitkamp by visiting: www.kimweitkamp.com

An episode celebrating the innovation, imagination, and mischievous plans that kids are so good at coming up with. In Bill Harley's story he and his friend deal with a neighborhood bully and a little sister that only tells the truth in an unconventional manner. Andy's Wild Amphibian Show tracks the change of tadpoles to frogs and the way they shaped part of his youth and his sister after a unique incidence.

Weezie and the Moon Pies by Bill Harley (1:42)

www.billharley.com

Andy's Wild Amphibian Show by Andy Offutt Irwin (26:44)

andyirwin.com

The Menorah commemorates a famous Jewish miracle and the reclaiming of their Holy Temple of Jerusalem in 2 BC, after they had defeated the Maccabees in a war. Upon re-entering the temple they only found enough consecrated oil to light the menorah for one day, however, that oil went on to provide light for 8 days! The word “Chanukkah” means “dedication”.

Hanukkah in Chelm by Joel Ben Izzy (1:27)

www.storypage.com

The Generous Man by Odds Bodkin (11:06)

www.oddsbodkin.net

Bubbies Coming for Chanukah by Karen Golden (19:34)

www.karengolden.com

Selections from "A Chanukah Present" by Mark Binder (33:44)

markbinder.com

Great escapes! Flying objects! Sometimes both!

The Caged Bird by Jill Lamede (2:00)

A princess keeps a bird in a cage as a pet. One day when the princess sends a message to another village the bird asks her to take a message to her brother that lives there. The return message brings unexpected news. Learn more about Jill Lamede by visiting: www.lamede.com

The Escape of Archibald Gardner by Sam Payne (4:37)

Story and a song about a actual man being chased by a posse whose escape route joins with what seems to be an impassable river. Learn more about Sam Payne by visiting: www.sampayne.com

Billy Boy by Laura Pershin Raynor (10:42)

When Laura Pershin Raynor was young her grandmother always had a bird named Billy Boy. The one rule at her grandmother's house was to never open Billy Boy's cage. This story is about the time she broke that rule. Learn more about Laura Pershin Raynor by visiting: www.lpraynor.com

The Bremen Town Storytellers by Willy Claflin (19:49)

Maynard Moose tells the story of some animals that are past their prime yet they decide to escape their retirement home and end up capturing some robbers with their storytelling abilities. Learn more about Willy Claflin by visiting: www.willyclaflin.com

Groundhogstiltskin by Megan Hicks (28:31)

A twist on Rumplestiltskin that addresses the story's gold inflation issue plus it involves a charming and clever groundhog. Learn more about Megan Hicks by visiting: www.meganhicks.com

The Flying Head by Joseph Bruchac (36:50)

The Flying Head is a man-eating monster that picks up the scent of a mother and her baby in this story. Will they escape? Listen to find out. Learn more about Joseph Bruchac by visiting: josephbruchac.com

The Most Precious Gift by Dan Keding (44:37)

A king declares that whoever gives him the most precious gift can marry his daughter. Three brothers succeed in doing this when they work together, leaving the king with the tricky choice of who gets to marry his daughter. Learn more about Dan Keding by visiting: www.dankeding.com