The Apple Seed

John F. Kennedy once said, “nothing compares to the simple pleasure of riding a bike” and here on the Apple Seed we feel like that expression could be extended to the stories about bikes. With tales that include scrapes, Christmas presents, and neighborhood fun, we hope you can feel the wind against your face as you listen to these heartwarming and silly stories and by then end of it all you may just find yourself saying, “I want to ride my bicycle”. Stories and songs included in this episode:

Making Ends Meet by Susan Klein (1:40)

Susan Klein talks about competing desires she has as a seven year old of not wanting to financially burden her family and wanting a shiny blue bike for Christmas. Learn more about Susan Klein by visiting: www.susanklein.net

Mulga Bill's Bicycle by Paul Taylor (17:20)

Paul Taylor retelling “Mulga Bill’s Bicycle,” a poem originally written by Banjo Paterson in the late 1800s. Learn more about Paul Taylor by visiting: www.paultaylor.ws

A Good Night's Rest by Jay O'Callahan (20:54)

A flat tire on a bike interrupts one lady's hope of a good night's rest, and spurs a series of comical events. Learn more about Jay O'Callahan by visiting: ocallahan.com

Look, Ma! No Hands! by Rick Huddle (33:32)

A poem of sorts about the many ways you can ride a bike...and how all of those methods will inevitably end. Learn more about Rick Huddle by visiting: www.rickhuddle.com

Bike Story by Michael Reno Harrell (37:52)

Michael's memory of getting a bike for Christmas and the modifications and experiences that went along with it. Learn more about Michael Reno Harrell by visiting: www.michaelreno.com

Wheels by Michael Reno Harrell (48:40)

A song that accompanies Bike Story.

A conversation in Boulder, Colorado with storytellers Rachel Ann Harding and Cooper Braun-Enos (who can be found on Facebook). Those two artists make up Stories With Spirit and we talked with them for the first half of the show. The conversation took place in the beautiful Dushanbe Teahouse, a gift to Boulder from its sister city, Dushanbe, the capital city of Tajikistan. The teahouse features decorative elements crafted by over 40 artisans, using ancient methods, over more than a dozen years. This episode also features stories from Liz Weir and Antonio Rocha, tellers that Rachel Ann and Cooper both cite as inspirations.

The Chain of Memories by Liz Weir (29:53)

A story developed by one of Liz’ storytelling classes during a residency at Killygordon National School in Donegal. The story is from a collection called “A Wailing on the Wind,” with music written by Ian Stephens, played by the Mavron Quartet. Learn more about Liz Weir by visiting: www.lizweir.org

The Most Powerful Being in the World by Antonio Rocha (35:37)

A pair of forest rat parents search out the most powerful being in the world to marry their eldest daughter. Learn more about Antonio Rocha by visiting: www.storyinmotion.com

The Leannan Sidhe by Liz Weir (49:00)

This is a story Liz collected from the work of the late Sheila Quigley – a story of a fairy lover who seeks out mortal men.

“Pourquoi” stories - which is just the fancy French way of saying “why” - is a category of stories that offers explanations, origin stories, and general responses to the marvelous question “why?”. Of all the ways to start a question, “why” seems to be the best starting point for an answer in story form and in this episode we hope you’ll enjoy the narrative responses to what may be considered some of life’s fundamental - or simply fun - questions. Stories included in this episode:

Why The Sky Is So Far Away by Jenni Cargill Strong (1:55)

The sky used to be very close to the world, so close that you could touch it and tear off a chunk from it for dinner, but when humanity began to take advantage of that easy meal the sky makes some tough decisions. Learn more about Jenni Cargill Strong and her organization, The Storytree Company, by visiting: www.storytree.com.au

Wolf and Turtle by Kirk Waller (8:55)

This story is a response to Kirk Waller’s own son asking why the turtle has a cracked shell and it involves some persimmons, a possum, and a wolf. Learn more about Kirk Waller and his album “But Why? Stories, Music and Songs”, which recieved a Parent's Choice Foundation Gold Award, by visiting: www.kirkwaller.com

Why the Sun Comes Up When Rooster Crows by Martha Hamilton & Mitch Weiss (20:08)

There used to be too many suns in the sky so the best archer in the world shot most of them down. This scared the sun that was left so the people of earth had to figure out how to bring it out. Learn more about Martha Hamilton and Mitch Weiss and their pourquoi tales album, "How & Why: World Tales Kids Can Tell", by visiting: beautyandthebeaststorytellers.com

Why Dogs Chase Cats by Charlotte Blake Alston (24:47)

The Dog and Cat used to be best friends but something happens between them involving cheese that spoils their relationship. Learn more about Charlotte Blake Alston who is an accomplished musician of traditional instruments as well as a librettist, by visiting: www.charlotteblakealston.com

Why Do We Fish? by Doug Elliott (35:34)

A more serious story compared to the others. It’s a reflection on how fishing is more than a sport or a practical means of feeding yourself, it’s really a search for hope. This story also includes a poem by W.B. Yeats. Learn more about Doug Elliott, a naturalist, herbalist, and basketmaker, by visiting: dougelliott.com

Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears by Bobby Norfolk (41:10)

A mosquito starts buzzing around one animal’s ear which sparks a chain reaction that throws off the whole animal kingdom, even stopping the sun from properly rising. The resolution, or lack thereof, informs us as to why and what mosquitoes buzz in people’s ears. Learn more about Bobby Norfolk, an Emmy Award Winning Speaker, by visiting: www.bobbynorfolk.com

Why Tell? by Jeff Gere (53:01)

Maybe the most important question of all: why tell stories? The answer may be different from person to person, but Jeff Gere provides a heartwarming - and musical - response. Learn more about Jeff Gere, who is also a mime and a puppeteer, by visiting: jeffgere.com

The Apple Seed visits St. Louis, where in the historic Old Courthouse a few blocks away from the Gateway Arch, we hear performances and conversation with the Story Stitchers, an organization with the mission to document Saint Louis through art and word to promote understanding, civic pride, intergenerational relationships and literacy. Hearing their performances and considering their mission took our thoughts to a story from Kate Dudding about the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah building in Oklahoma City in 1995, to a story from John McCutcheon called “Survivor,” and to memories of making movies in high school. Stories and segments included in this episode:

Conversation with the Storystitchers director (5:16)

For more from the Story Stitchers visit storystitchers.org

In The Face of Evil by Kate Dudding (15:52)

From a collection of stories called “People Who Made a Difference.” The story is one that so many are familiar with: the story of the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Building in Oklahoma City in 1995 – the bombing perpetrated by Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols. Storyteller Kate Dudding thrives on researching and presenting informative, insightful stories that often shed new light on stories we thought we knew. You can learn more about Kate Dudding by visiting: www.katedudding.com

Survivor/Well May the World Go by John McCutcheon (29:18)

A story and song about living through things and making memories - especially in high school. Learn more about John McCutcheon, a 6 time Grammy Nominee, by visiting: www.folkmusic.com

In My Dreams by Kim Weitkamp (40:56)

A song about dreaming recorded live at the 2013 National Storytelling Festival. Learn more about Kim Weitkamp, who was the 2016 Emcee of the National Storytelling Festival, by visiting: www.kimweitkamp.com

Sam Payne's High School Memories (46:30)

Sam reminices about his friend, Rocco DeVilliers, and the films they and their buddies made in high school together, in particular a movie they made called Bounding Overwatch. Learn more about our host, Sam Payne, by visiting: www.sampayne.com

Second chances and new beginnings. Some stories that deal with redemption and forgiveness, while others are just about accepting what comes next in the cycle of life. Stories and songs included in this episode:

The Preacher and the Ferryman by Brian “Fox” Ellis (2:20)

A Preacher inspires a rather rude Ferryman with a new perspective on life. Learn more about Brian "Fox" Ellis, who is also an author of 16 books, by visiting: foxtalesint.com

This Morning I Was Born Again by John McCutcheon (8:11)

A song about being connected with the rhythms of the natural world. Learn more about John McCutcheon, whose song Christmas in the Trenches was named one of the 100 Essential Folk Songs, by visiting: www.folkmusic.com

The Blue Coat by Jenni Cargill Strong (11:41)

A Jewish folktale about the many shapes and stages a little boy’s blue coat goes through thanks to the craft and skill of his grandfather, the tailor. Learn more about Jenni Cargill Strong, an Australian based teller, by visiting: www.storytree.com.au

Butterfly by Susan Reed (18:33)

A song about the evolution of a butterfly and its flight in the bright blue sky. Learn more about Susan Reed, who was Director of Suzuki Studies at New England Conservatory of Music before embarking on her solo career, by visiting: www.susanreed.com

Donald Davis Selection (22:55)

A collection of stories from the album "Dr. York, Miss Winnie and the Typhoid Shot" about Donald's experience getting his tonsils removed. Learn more about Donald Davis, who was born in the Southern Appalachian mountain region, by visiting: www.ddavisstoryteller.com

Sun Come On by Sam Payne (50:04)

A song commissioned by Dixie State University for a centennial celebration of the National Parks Service. Learn more about Sam Payne, our producer and host as well as a featured teller at the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, Tennessee by visiting: www.sampayne.com

Have you ever stayed up late? Like really late? Like your bedtime was hours ago? Well we wouldn’t recommend it, especially going off of these stories. Many of the characters in these tales find themselves out after the sun has gone down and everyone else is safely tucked away in their beds and for whatever reason they are awake around midnight. The midnight hour is sometimes referred to as “the witching hour”, a time when ghouls and goblins are more likely to appear, so we've collected some stories with ghosts and other strange occurrences that all happen around the midnight hour. Stories included in this episode:

Girl in the Rain by Betty Ann Wylie (1:19)

Betty Ann Wylie leaves a meeting late and finds a girl on the side of the road on a rainy night and offers her a ride. Betty Ann Wylie is also known for her unique ability to bring books and childhood stories to life through her dramatic gestures, singing, voice changes, and audience participation. Her home town is Americus, Georgia.

Little Orphant Annie by Judy Dockery Young (15:19)

A poem by James Whitcomb Riley (1885) about the advice Annie gives other children at the orphanage to avoid the goblins. Learn more about Judy Dockery Young, who receited the poem, and her storytelling husband Richard by visiting: www.yawp.com

Friday the Thirteenth by Leeny Del Seamonds (19:05)

The notion of Friday the Thirteenth didn’t even make Leeny Del Seamonds bat an eyelash until one October when she and her mother encounter some car troubles in the middle of the night. Learn more about Leeny Del Seamonds, who was the 2015 National Storytelling Network Oracle Circle of Excellence Award Winner, by visiting: leenydelseamonds.com

The Legend of Emo by Nannette Watts (31:39)

Some boys decide to take their dates to see a spooky grave and uncover the truth behind an urban legend. Learn more about Nannette Watts, who has been telling stories since 1993, by visiting: www.nannettewatts.com

Shaboom and the Gangbangers by Susi Wolf (42:58)

Shaboom the Clown trusts some gangbangers to lead her out of the hood. Learn more about Susi Wolf, who is also a counselor and an artist, by visiting her profile on the national storytelling network site: www.storynet.org

Ghosts of the Living by Rivka Willick (50:44)

A girl stays up late studying and has an frightening yet informative encounter about her brother who's in the military. Learn more about Rivka Willick, who is an author in addition to being a storyteller, by visiting: www.simplyextraordinarytales.com

At Midnight by Priscilla Howe (54:46)

A nursery rhyme of sorts about a creepy old woman with some red, red lips and some long, red nails who always comes at midnight. Learn more about Priscilla Howe, who used to be a children's librarian before becoming a storyteller, by visiting: www.priscillahowe.com

Maybe you know someone who reminds people just enough of someone else that they get caught once in awhile in a case of mistaken identity. And today’s episode is for folks like that. It’s full of erroneous suppositions, illogical assumptions, and mistaken identities. Stories included in this episode:

Carlos DeLuna by Whitney Snow (5:14)

In 2015, Columbia University’s Human Rights Law Review dedicated an entire issue of their quarterly publication to the presentation and analysis of this single case of mistaken identity. You can learn more about this case by visiting: thewrongcarlos.net

Mick Finnegan's Mother-in-Law by Laura J. Bobrow (13:39)

Mick thinks he sees some ghosts in the graveyard and decides to show them off to his mother-in-law. Learn more about Laura J. Bobrow, a recipient of the Storytelling World Award in 2009, by visiting: www.laurajbobrow.com

My Own Self by Milbre Burch (20:37)

A fairy comes to play with a boy who's up past his bedtime and he provides her with a false name which comes in handy when he accidentally hurts the fairy. Learn more about Milbre Burch, a Grammy-nominated recording artist, by visiting: www.kindcrone.com

How Bill Greenfield Moved In With the Bears by Joseph Bruchac (27:33)

Bill has an accident at work and gets covered in pitch and fuzz and looks so different from an average human that every creature has a hard time distinguishing his true form. Learn more about Joseph Bruchac, who draws many of his stories from his Native American ancestry, by visiting: josephbruchac.com

Red Riding Hood by Sean K Buvala (36:26)

The classic tale of a wolf trying to impersonate a little girl's grandmother. Learn more about Sean K Buvala, who is author of the Storytelling 101! Workbook, by visiting: www.seantells.com

I'm Sean Connery by Syd Lieberman (43:24)

The great Syd Lieberman shares his own experience about finding a Hollywood leading man that he can identify with and hopefully be identified as. Learn more about the late Syd Lieberman, who was featured at the Glistening Waters Festival in New Zealand, by visiting: www.sydlieberman.com

Oscar Wilde said, “To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people just exist”. On this episode of The Apple Seed, we’re exploring what it means to live -- and what it means to live well. Is a good life the accomplishment of great deeds like slaying a dragon and saving the kingdom? Or is it in the little things, the daily acts of kindness that make up the measure of your life? Well, thinking about those questions we found a couple stories and poems that we wanted to share with you. Stories, songs, and poems, included in this episode are:

Emma May's Rainy Day by Nathalie Vachon (1:34)

A rainy day indoors into the adventure of a lifetime, when Emma May takes on a new perspective of life. Learn more about Nathalie Vachon, who studied abstract painting, life drawing and ‘intuitive’ painting at the Honolulu Academy of Art, by visiting: www.nathalievachon.com

In the Droving Days by Jerry Brooks (7:05)

Jerry Brooks recites a Banjo Paterson poem about a cowboy and a horse who’ve both lived a good life out on the range. Learn more about Jerry Brooks, and some of her recorded work like her album Shoulder to Shoulder, by visiting: www.cowboypoetry.com/brooksie.htm

The Clown of God by Fran Yardley (14:59)

A clown has grown old and destitute he struggles to once again fufill his purpose - making other's smile. Learn more about Fran Yardley, who has been telling stories and running workshops for over 25 years, by visiting: www.creativehealingconnections.org/fran-yardley

How Will I Leave by Matt Watroba (26:26)

A song reflecting on the legacy one leaves when it comes time to pass on. Learn more about Matt Watroba, a prominent folk musician on WDET–Detroit Public Radio, by visiting: www.mattwatroba.net

Papa by Molly Catron (29:39)

Molly Catron talking sharing memories of her Grandpa and his incredible ability to appreciate both the good and the bad of life. Learn more about Molly Catron, who is also a keynote speaker and organizational consultant, by visiting: www.mollywcatron.com

Real Wealth by Peggy Godfrey (41:22)

An original poem by Peggy Godfrey that shows us how rich life can be even when it may not be abundant in material goods. Learn more about Peggy Godfrey, who has a long history of ranching next to the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, by visiting: www.cowboypoetry.com/peggygodfrey.htm

The Kindest Man I Ever Knew by Sheila Starks Phillips (43:40)

Growing up, the dad of Sheila's best friend and her next door neighbor, Mr. Kelly, had a knack for building up everyone around him and she honors his legacy in this story. Learn more about Sheila Starks Phillips, who is on the Traveling Artists Roster of Texas Commission on the Arts, by visiting: www.sheilaphillips.com

: Songwriters Cherie Call and Lyndy Butler are accomplished songwriters each in her own right. Each has a catalog of great solo recordings and a wealth of experience on stage in front of enthusiastic audiences. But they hardly knew each other before Lyndy reached out to Cherie to see if she might be interested in collaborating on a children’s project. Cherie got ready to say no – she was too busy, and hadn’t ever really considered a children’s album. But something inside said, “say yes!” The result is a collaborative album called “The Buddy System.” We sat down with Cherie and Lyndy to talk about musical storytelling, parenthood, collaboration, and of course, the album. Rich conversation and great music on today’s episode of the Apple Seed. You can find more about Cherie and Lyndy by visiting their respective websites: www.cheriecall.com and lyndybutler.com. You can find their album here: cheriecallandlyndybutler.bandcamp.com

Interview Segment 1 (1:56)

My Greatest Adventure (5:06)

Interview Segment 2 (8:02)

The Astronaut and the Mermaid (12:44)

Interview Segment 3 (16:04)

I Love You All the Colors (18:13)

Interview Segment 4 (22:47)

Oh, No! Oh, Yes! (27:29)

Interview Segment 5 (29:59)

The Buddy System (34:24)

Interview Segment 6 (37:27)

Yours and Mine (39:49)

Interview Segment 7 (44:08)

Radio Flyer (45:34)

Interview Segment 8 (47:40)

There For You (52:53)

Many of our most treasured personal stories involve our first experiences: our first steps, our first words, our first successes, our first failures... And while new experiences may not always be easy or comfortable, the stories that grow from them make up the cannon of our lives. A few of our favorite storytellers share some of their own first experiences, and we explore how trying new things helps defines who we are, and where we’re going. Stories in this episode include:

Maternal Instinct by Allison Downey (1:28)

A story about a new mother learning to care for her first child. Learn more about Allison Downey, the host and co-producer of Michigan Radio's "The Living Room" series, by visiting: allisondowney.com

When Anna Met Rufous by Anne Rutherford (15:03)

Anna, a hummingbird, finds a new lease on life when she meets Rufous, a bird from Mexico. Anne is accompanied in the story by Roberto C. Gonzalez, a bilingual storyteller from New York City. Learn more about Anne Rutherford, who is also a teaching artist, by visiting: www.annerutherford.com

Welcoming the Drums by Fran Yardley (27:52)

Childhood vignettes in which Fran experiences jazz music, the outdoors, and the loss of a loved one for the first time. Learn more about Fran Yardley, a co-founder of the original Adirondack Arts and Healing Retreat, by visiting: www.creativehealingconnections.org/fran-yardley