The Apple Seed

The natural world is enchanting. And we occasionally lose touch with that in the rush of our daily lives. For those of us who get caught up in our city and suburban lives, a return to nature can provide us with a breath of fresh air and a sense of rejuvination. However sometimes our circumstances or location don't allow us easy access to the majestic beauties of nature and to assuage that problem we've got stories about the awe-some wonder of the natural world. Stories and poems included in this episode:

A Bronco Shod With Wings (1:51)

A poem written by Henry Herbert Knibbs and performed by Jerry Brooks. Learn more about the cowboy poet and woman who spent time living off of fresh trout, Jerry Brooks, by visiting www.cowboypoetry.com

Donald Davis Compilation (6:14)

Stories from Donald's album "Grand Canyon" that are about his love of National Parks and the adventures that he's had in them. The stories are: Paying Taxes, Visiting Our Property, We Meet Shirley and the Mules, and The River Trail. Learn more about Donald Davis by visiting www.ddavisstoryteller.com

The Great Bear (25:35)

An Iroquois tale that illustrates the importance of man and nature living in harmony together. Fran Yardley believes in the healing aspect of storytelling and she's been running workshops on that belief for more than 25 years. You can learn more about Fran and her workshops by visiting www.creativehealingconnections.org

Discovery and Danger on the Prairie (37:46)

A narrative retelling of Lewis and Clark's westward expedition. You can find more stories like this on Jim Weiss's album "Gone West: Bold Adventures of American Explorers and Pioneers". Discover more about Jim Weiss by visiting www.jimweiss.com

The Spruce Grouse (45:29)

Doug's personal story about finding a unique bird in a grove of spruce trees and becoming a wildlife artist. Doug Elliott is also a herbalist and basketmaker in addition to being a storyteller. Find more of his work at www.dougelliott.com

Anais Nin said that "we travel, some of us forever, to seek other states, other lives, other souls" and in this episode you'll hear stories of people who've been set adrift, often by their own volition, and who discover things greater than themselves along the way. Whatever event occurs amidst the wandering, we're reminded through these tales that the story develops during the journey, not at the destination. Stories included in this episode:

The Tale of a Very Old Traveling Wizard by Peter J. Parker (1:43)

On this magical voyage of yester-year a wizard helps a family in exchange for some shelter. Before telling stories as Panryl the Wizard, Peter J. Parker worked as a police officer and director of a security company. You can learn more about his storytelling ventures at www.storytellerpeterjparker.co.uk

Like Meat Loves Salt by Pete Castle (16:11)

A father asks his children how much they love him and when his youngest daughter responds with "I love you like meat loves salt" he casts her out of the house and onto a journey of her own. A folk singer and a storyteller, Pete Castle is based in Belper, Derbyshire and you can discover more about him by visiting www.petecastle.co.uk

Cold Feet by Glenda Bonin (23:34)

Snowstorms and a brush with the supernatural conspire around a set of cold feet. Glenda Bonin is a member of the Puppeteers of America. Find more of her unique accomplishments by visiting www.storyworksgroup.com

Branded by Joe Herrington (32:00)

A young cowboy encounters a drifter who makes him re-evaluate his hopes to stay "unbranded" in this poem by Joe Herrington. Born and raised in West Texas, Joe Herrington is a cowboy poet, an author, and a storyteller. Learn more about him by visiting www.joeherrington.com

Johnny Appleseed by Jim Weiss (40:00)

Johnny Appleseed migrated around the Northeastern part of the United States, not only planting apple seeds, but also seeds of community wherever he went. 28 years ago Jim started a production company with his wife with the purpose of introducing children to classic literature. Find out more about that project and Jim Weiss at www.jimweiss.com

The Wanderlight by Jerry Brooks (51:53)

The itch for roaming runs in one man's blood in this poem written by Henry Lawson and performed by Jerry Brooks, who has spent time as a coal miner as part of her wandering. You can learn more about Jerry Brooks by visiting www.cowboypoetry.com

Deidrene Crisanto has been an assistant producer on The Apple Seed since 2014, and has now officially graduated from Brigham Young University. She'll be moving on to embrace the many adventures that await her in her post-graduate future. As a goodbye gift she's compiled some of her favorite stories and interview excerpts to express her love and appreciation for being a part of this team and the storytelling world. Stories and interviews included in this episode:

Max Brooks (2:32)

Max Brooks is the author of several books and we got to interview him about his graphic novel The Harlem Hellfighters. You can listen to the rest of the interview on The Harlem Hellfighters episode and you can learn more about Max Brooks by visiting maxbrooks.com

Nate Dimeo (6:43)

Nate Dimeo is the host and producer of The Memory Palace, a podcast that tells the story of often overlooked or forgotten people and facts from history. You can discover, or re-discover, the rest of the interview here: Narrative Memory. You can listen to The Memory Palace at this site: thememorypalace.us or wherever you get your podcasts from.

Lyn Ford (13:35)

Lyn Ford is a fourth-generation, nationally recognized, Affrilachian\* storyteller, who according to her, is the first person in her family to get paid for running their mouth. (Affrilachian was a word created by Frank X Walker which denotes someone of African American heritage who is from the Appalachia region). You can hear the rest of the interview here: Lyn Ford Stories. Learn more about the very talented Lyn Ford by visiting www.storytellerlynford.com

The Apple Seed and Aliens (21:00)

With an entire episode dedicated to the theme of extraterrestial encounters, you can hear the rest of the excerpt as well as many other interviews on that topic on our episode: Alien Encounters and Ufology.

Idaho by Hunter Phillips (30:47)

Written by Hunter Phillips, this story was the fruit of a collaborative effort from Deidrene and a few of her friends. The background music in this story was written and performed by Danny & Dallin Hunt and you can find more of their work at soundcloud.com/dallin-danny. Listen to the rest of the episode by clicking on: What's Your Story?

Cyrano de Bergerac (46:47)

One of the final scenes of Cyrano de Bergerac performend by Sam, our host, Suzanne, Noah, and Leah of the Acting Company. They regularly come and perform readings of classic literature in front of a studio audience.

Heaven and Hell by Motoko (52:37)

An old woman journeys to see a wise man to learn the fate of her soul and learns the importance of attitude and gratitude. That story comes from the album, Tales of Now & Zen. Utilizing her cultural heritage in her storytelling career, you can learn more about Motoko by visiting motoko.folktales.net

And from all of us here on The Apple Seed: Thanks Lady Dream and best wishes!

Carl Jung said "mistakes are, after all, the foundations of truth, and if a man does not know what a thing is, it is at least an increase in knowledge if he knows what it is not." Mistakes are a necessary part of life. That doesn't make them enjoyable, but they can become something of great worth depending on how we respond to them. We can learn valuable lessons from them, but to spare you the chagrin that usually accompanies mistakes, take a listen to theses stories instead and see what you can glean from them without having to live the experience. Stories and songs included in this episode:

Thank You, Ma'am by Diane Ferlatte (1:36)

Often we are able to learn from our mistakes thanks to the care and correction of those around us. Diane Ferlatte was surrounded by oral tradition growing up and was a 2008 Grammy Nominee. Learn more about Diane Ferlatte by visiting www.dianeferlatte.com

Talking Woodstove Blues by Michael Reno Harrell (13:40)

High power bills lead Michael Reno Harrell to buy a wood burning stove, which comes with a whole slew of extra expenses. Michael Reno Harrell consistently tops the charts of the Americana Music Association. To learn more about him, his stories, and his songs visit www.michaelreno.com

Occum's Razor by Dolores Hydock (19:26)

Dolores remembers her mother's experience with hospice care and though they refused to have her live in assisted living, Dolores realizes that they were being assisted by others the entire time. Dolores Hydock lives in Birmingham, Alabama where she defends her impressive garden from very large slugs. Learn more about Dolores Hydock by visiting www.storypower.org

Fireworks by Lani Peterson (33:00)

Lani's experience as a sound manager and how she didn't let her mistakes stop her from moving forward with her work. In addition to storytelling, Lani is currently teaching Effective Organization Communication Skills for the Masters Program at Wheelock College. Learn more about Lani Peterson by visiting lanipeterson.com

The Red Velvet Ribbon by Richard & Judy Dockery Young (43:50)

A rich man marries a woman who always wears a red velvet ribbon around her neck. One day his frustration over the constant presence of the ribbon gets to him and he tugs it off. Richard and Judy Dockery Young share a passion for teaching and theater and you can learn more about them by visiting www.yawp.com

Mama, Mama, Ayudame by Barry Stewart Mann (46:56)

Mical always says the wrong thing when he's trying to impress a girl, but he finally finds a way to communicate in a way that works for him. Barry Stewart Mann has previously been named National Storyteller of the Year and you can learn more about him by visiting https://www.barrystewartmann.com

Fyodor Dostoyevsky's work Crime and Punishment as been widely read for more than a hundred years and its title embodies the theme of today's stories. Bad deeds and how we respond to them have been a societal and personal question that has been posed since the beginning of mankind. In exploration of that question these stories demostrate how punishment can be exact, manipulated, and even unexpected. Stories included in this episode:

New Mother by Daniel Bishop (1:13)

Two good little girls decide to be bad so that a mysterious lady will give them her music box. Drawing on his theater background when he tells stories, you can learn more about Daniel Bishop, a Utah native, by visiting www.danielbishopthestoryteller.com

The Wise King, The Cook, and The Farmer by Donna Washington (13:04)

When a poor farmer makes his way into town and smells the cook's soup without paying, the cook takes the case before the wise king to settle the issue. An author of several wordless picture books in addition to being a storyteller, you can learn more about Donna Washington by visiting www.dlwstoryteller.com

The Little Rat by Donald Davis (21:38)

When Donald empties an entire bottle of Chanel 5 without his mother's permission, he decides to hide himself in a closet to avoid punishment. Donald Davis has been awarded the Circle of Excellence and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the national Storytelling Network. You can find out more about Donald Davis by visiting www.ddavisstoryteller.com

My Father and the Mob by Joan Stockbridge (40:55)

When the FBI finally finds a member of the mob who is willing to act as their informer, they call upon an average family man to keep him safe. Joan Stockbridge earned an Oracle Award in 2016 from the National Storytelling Network for her work in the Pacific region. Learn more about Joan Stockbridge by visiting www.joanstockbridge.com

Humans can be complex creatures. Sometimes we end up making a mountain out of a molehill. One example is the Rube Goldberg machine which is made of a plethora of intricate moving parts that end in a simple outcome like cracking an egg or turning a page. Another example is going through a countless amount of bizarre experiences just to learn how to make one's skin crawl. Or being cold and hungry enough to nibble on your own body. Whatever the simple situation may be, the characters in these tales decide to respond in the most complicated of ways. Stories included in this episode:

The Ojai Mountain Lion by Bil Lepp (2:11)

When Bil goes on a hike by himself some unexpected events occur, particularly involving the salvation of a mountain lion. Bil Lepp has written several award winning children's books, his first being "The King of Little Things". Learn more about Bil Lepp by visiting www.leppstorytelling.com

The Skeleton Woman by Glenda Bonin (12:54)

One woman's drastic response to cold and hunger. Glenda Bonin is currently focusing on storytelling geared towards older adults in order to foster memory recall. Learn more about Glenda Bonin by visiting www.storyworksgroup.com

Getting the Creeps by Tim Lowry (26:13)

A young man goes through a series of strange events hoping to finally learn what it means to "get the creeps". Tim Lowry won the 2014 Southern Hospitality Recognition of Excellence from the Convention South Media Group. Learn more about Tim Lowry by visiting www.storytellertimlowry.com

Why I Bought a Sailboat by Bill Harley (39:50)

According to Bill, only people who've lost touch with reality own a sailboat. He recalls experiences he has had that led him to buying a sailboat. Learn more about Bill Harley and his recently released first folk album, Coyote, by visiting www.billharley.com

Success is not a form you need to fit into or qualifications you need to meet, it relies on your attitude. As Winston Churchill put it, "Success is walking from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm." Though that attitude can be fostered through achievement, sometimes it comes from an unexpected source, just after a let down. Stories and songs included in this episode:

Tales of a Shammes by Joel Ben Izzy (1:47)

Joel draws upon his Jewish heritage to tell the story of a man who does not get blinded by the wealth he acquires. Joel Ben Izzy is also a writer and storytelling consultant. Learn more about Joel Ben Izzy by visiting www.storypage.com

The King's Riddles by Joel Ben Izzy (9:05)

An Irish tale where a storyteller succeeds in responding to the King's tricky questions.

The Englewood Game by Syd Lieberman (17:06)

Syd Lieberman's personal experience winning big on a highschool football team. Quoted by the Vancouver Music Festival they say, "Syd's stories are full of a kind of humane, validating, ad caring humor...He is simply one of the best." Learn more about the late Syd Lieberman by visiting www.sydlieberman.com

Love of the Game by Bill Harley (41:04)

Success isn't always centered on winning and for Bill Harley's childhood baseball team, it's centered on passion. Bill Harley is a singer-songwriter, storyteller and NPR commentator. Learn more about Bill Harley by visiting www.billharley.com

Roll-a-Rama by Adam Booth (45:33)

The limbo competition doesn't work out for Adam Booth, but he's successful in another arena. Adam Booth has been the Teller-In-Residence at the International Storytelling Center as well as several other centers. Learn more about Adam Booth by visiting http://www.adam-booth.com/

"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself" is a popular quote by Franklin D. Roosevelt. It illustrates how often our own minds make out a situation to be a lot worse than it actually is. Many of the stories in this episode involve taking a second look or continuing a journey to gain a new vantage point, causing us to think that fear may just be a matter of perspective. Except when it comes to spiders. Stories included in this episode:

How I Got Bill the Chicken by Joel Ben Izzy (1:21)

Joel's schoolmate claims to be fearless and one Halloween that statement is put to the test. An author as well as a storyteller, Joel Ben Izzy most recently published work is Dreidels on the Brain. Learn more about Joel Ben Izzy by visiting www.storypage.com

Wash Me by Dolores Hydock (14:13)

A friend of Dolores' is afraid of computers and the internet and refuses to have one in her home until a fateful sign occurs. Dolores Hydock won her first storytelling award when she was five and has been winning awards ever since. Learn more about Dolores Hydock by visiting http://www.storypower.org/

The Girl Who Wanted to Know How to Shiver by Ruth Halpern (17:08)

Based on a Grimm fairytale a fearless girl embarks into the world asking her parents, a baker, a minister and his wife, and a prince try to teach her how to shiver. Ruth Halpern has traveled the world telling stories. She also enjoys drawing and photography. Learn more about Ruth Halpern by visiting www.ruthstory.com

Fear by Dan Keding (33:51)

A little girl decides to face a beast in order to help her village, cutting fear down to its actual size. A ballad singer and story teller, Dan Keding grew up listening to traditional Croatian stories his grandmother told him. Learn more about Dan Keding by visiting www.dankeding.com

Spiders by Glenda Bonin (37:00)

A little girl and her brother's response to a fear of spider shows that sometimes the way you react to what scares you matters. A poor response can lead to frightening consequences. Glenda is very involved with storytelling in her a community. She regularly tells at assisted living facilities and senior communities. Learn more about Glenda Bonin by visiting www.storyworksgroup.com

What Buddha Sees by Motoko (47:26)

Buddha guides on of his followers on a path to enlightenment but there are stumbling stones - bones - along the way. Motoko was featured on "Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood" and has won several awards. Learn more about Motoko by visiting motoko.folktales.net

While the fairy tale tradition is innately European (think Hans Christian Anderson or the Brothers Grimm), there’s a small corner of the canon reserved for writers like L. Frank Baum and Carl Sandburg, Americans who wrote fairy tales with distinctly American themes. Instead of knights, dragons, and castles, their stories are populated with cowboys, corn fairies, and farm houses. They speak more directly to the experience of American children, but nevertheless, these American fairy tales, like their European counterparts, have stuck around as moral guideposts for us even now.

White Horse Girl and the Blue Wind Boy (1:51)

This story, performed by Carol Birch, comes from a collection of Sandburg stories called "Sandburg Out Loud" featuring tellers adapting different Carl Sandburg tales for audiences. This story was originally included in Sandburg's "Rootabaga Stories," a collection of fairy tales that embrace Midwestern culture and slang originally written for his daughters.

Learn more about the Parents' Choice album by visiting www.parents-choice.org

Learn more about Carol Birch by visiting www.carolbirchstoryteller.com

Barney McCabe (12:12)

www.davidholt.comOne of the oldest fairy tale premises includes two children who come across a witch in the woods. In this story, instead of bread crumbs, the children have magic corn. Learn more about David Holt by visiting www.davidholt.com

The Brave Woman and the Flying Head (21:40)

In this Iroquois tale, a woman shows great courage in protecting her son from menacing forces in the forest. To learn more about Joseph Bruchac, visit josephbruchac.com

The Story of Blixie Bimber and the Power of the Gold Buckskin Whincher (28:37)

Another Carl Sandburg story from the "Rootabaga Tales," told by Carol Birch.

The Evil Prince and the Sleeping Beauty (36:23)

Sleeping Beauty might not have an American origin, however, Judith Black's adaptation of Sleeping Beauty is full of American nostalgic motifs. Learn more about Judith's work by visiting storiesalive.com

Never Kick a Slipper at the Moon (53:01)

One last story from the fictional Rootabaga Country, performed by Angela Lloyd. This track is included on the earlier mentioned album, "Sandburg Out Loud", on which Lloyd is also a featured teller. Learn more about Angela by visiting www.angelalloyd.com

Stories about the annoying and endearing things that little brothers have been known to do throughout literature, and throughout history. Featured in this episode:

Softball (2:58)

Kevin Kling is a storyteller, speaker, and writer who has mulled over the big brother-little brother conundrum so much that he even wrote a book about it. With is own little brother, Steven, Kevin turned their sibling dynamic into a book called "Big Little Brother" that you can find here. You can learn more about Kevin Kling's other works by visiting www.kevinkling.com

Pickle in the Middle Blues (9:44)

In this story, Kim Weitkamp take the "little brother blues" and the "big brother blues" and combines them to explain what it's like to be the middle child. Learn more about Kim by visiting www.kimweitkamp.com

The Drowning Game (14:45)

And now, some words from a little brother. Learn more about Rick Huddle by visiting www.rickhuddle.com

Blockhead Hans (20:43)

A local Utah teller, Julie Barnson, shares this folk tale about the youngest brother of a family who wins the hand of a princess with his innocence rather than might. Learn more about the Utah Storytelling Guild by visiting utahstorytelling.org

The Legend of Osiris (32:01)

One of the most ancient stories involving a pesky little brother features the Egyptian god, Set. The god of the desert, storms, disorder, and chaos in the ancient Egyptian religion was integral to the origins of the world. Learn more about storytelling duo Judith Heineman and Dan Marcotte by visiting www.judithanddan.com

The Magic Mill (41:55)

A Norwegian tale retold by Dan Keding about how betrayal leads a younger brother on a magical journey. Learn more about Dan Keding by visiting www.dankeding.com