The Apple Seed

Henry David Thoreau once said, "It is remarkable how closely the history of the apple tree is connected with that of man.” For a show named "The Apple Seed" our appreciation for a good crisp apple, and a fresh story is very high. 

“And when you crush an apple with your teeth, say to it in your heart:

Your seeds shall live in my body,

And the buds of your tomorrow shall blossom in my heart,

And your fragrance shall be my breath,

And together we shall rejoice through all the seasons.” - Kahlil Gibran

Stories included in this episode: 

Johnny Appleseed

Tim Lowry shares the story of one of the most popular figures in American folklore. To learn more about Tim Lowry visit www.storytellertimlowry.com

Jack and the Sally-Bally

Once upon a time, a smart boy named Jack lived in the wooded hills of the Ozarks... To learn more about Richard and Judy Dockery-Young visit www.yawp.com/stories

Brat

Lots of mischief is to be had when you're a kid with brothers. To learn more about Martha Reed Johnson visit www.marthareedjohnson.com

Legend of the Mingo Black

Adam Booth is able to see stories in every inch of the West Virginian landscape. To learn more about Adam Booth visit www.adam-booth.com

Iduna and the Magic Apples

Iduna, a goddess who tends to her garden with great care, becomes a part of one of Loki's tricks. To learn more about Beatrice Bowles visit www.beatricebowles.com

Memory is the process that helps us register, store, and recall information. Storytelling and memory have always been intricately connected: sounds, smells, images and feelings from our individual and collective past float around for us to organize into the stories we tell ourselves. As Aldous Huxley once said, “every man’s memory is his private literature.” Segments in this episode include: 

Excerpt from "Swann's Way" by Marcel Proust

Swann Way is the first Volume in Proust's series, "In Search of Lost Time (Remembrance of Things Past)." This passage is about a moment of involuntary memory: the narrator finds themselves filled with images, sounds, and feelings during a simple afternoon tea. We’d like to thank Peggy Woodruff, part of our BYUradio family and announcer for Classical 89, for lending her voice talent to this passage for us. 

Interview with Nate DiMeo

The Memory Palace is a storytelling podcast devoted to stories of the past. Each story is an extremely detailed world built with personal memories, slightly obscure histories, and a thoughtful interpretation of individual people and their moments. The Memory Palace is a member of Radiotopia, from PRX, a network of narrative-driven radio shows. Recently, The Memory Palace was named a finalist for a 2016 Peabody Award.

Its creator, Nate DiMeo, is an expert storyteller having had his hand in a few different mediums over the years. Nate is the Artist in Residence at the Metropolitan Museum of Art for 2016/2017, is the co-author of the book, Pawnee: the Greatest Town in America, and was a finalist for the 2012 Thurber Prize for American Humor. Having spent a decade or so in public radio, you may have heard him on NPR’s All Things Considered, Morning Edition, or Marketplace. You can learn more about The Memory Palace at thememorypalace.us 

A Conversation with The Payne Family

In this segment, Sam Payne speaks with his father about his extensive journalkeeping habit.

The Timpanogos Storytelling Festival, the largest festival of its kind in the Western United States, has been taking place at the mouth of Provo Canyon for over 25 years! Storytellers from all over the world have come to town to share all kinds of stories and we are so happy to have them every year. On this episode, listen to and learn about some of the featured tellers from the 2016 Timp Fest. To learn more about the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival and the Timpanogos Storytelling Institute visit TimpFest.org

Don't Kill Santa

Born in the Southern Appalachian mountains, Donald "didn't learn stories, \[he] absorbed them." Learning fairy tales, folk tales, and family tales from a long line of traditional storytllers who have lived on the same Western North Carolina land since 1781, Donald is a rockstar in the storytelling world. Learn more about the "Dean of Storytelling" check out out Donald Davis on TimpFest.org

Samuel Horaldo Jonathan Drew

Nationally known, award-winning speaker and storyteller, Linda inspires her audiences by using movement, humor, and sometimes zaniness as she tells imaginative folktales and personal tales updated with “attitude.” At this year's Timp Fest, Linda got audiences to laugh and dance with her as she transported us through story. Catch more of Linda's signature sass by visiting her storyteller page on TimpFest.org

The Night That Changed Everything

Geraldine Buckley has shared her trademark wit, warmth, and humor with audiences across the US, Canada, England, Holland, South Africa, Spain and New Zealand. Known primarily for her personal stories, Geraldine has led a dynamic life and invites audiences to laugh, cry, and think with her about her many life experiences including brief periods of time as a past Chaplain in the largest men's prison in Maryland, radio DJ, ghostwriter, poet, and television newsreader. Learn more about Geraldine's eclectic past and enthusisastic style by visiting her storyteller page on TimpFest.org

The Crow

Joe Herrington learned to weave stories from his Grandfather and Uncle Jack, and worked his storytelling muscles through such experiences as an Army Drill Sergeant, Mortar Platoon Sgt in Korea, tactical officer in the Army National Guard, Scoutmaster, Media Designer for Walt Disney Imagineering, and Bible school teacher. His love for Western ways and traditions is as strong as an evening campfire. Learn more about this West Texan by clicking here

Demolition Derby and the Three Phrases of Prayer

Kevin Kling, best known for his popular commentaries on National Public Radio’s All Things Considered and his storytelling stage shows like Tales from the Charred Underbelly of the Yule Log, delivers hilarious, often tender stories. Kling’s autobiographical tales are as enchanting as they are true to life: hopping freight trains, getting hit by lightning, performing his banned play in Czechoslovakia, growing up in Minnesota, and eating things before knowing what they are. Learn more about Kevin Kling by clicking this link

Stories about getting back in the saddle, hopping back on the bike, and learning how to rise after a fall.

Chris' Accident

To learn more about Sheila Starks Phillips visit www.sheilaphillips.com

A Ride in the Saddle

To learn more about Glenda Bonin visit www.storyworksgroup.com

The Golden Touch

To learn more about Heather Forest visit www.heatherforest.com

Joseph the Knight

An epic poem written by our very own Andrew McQuinn and performed by the incredibly talented Ken Samson.

The Bicycle Story

To learn more about Donna Ingham visit www.donnaingham.com

A mix-and-match of assistant producer Makena Bauss' recent favorites from our extensive story collection.

Woman of the Sea

From the album "Diving and Emerging: Stories of Awakening", this selkie story is a favorite among Apple Seed team members. To learn more about Regi Carpenter visit regicarpenter.com

Chilis Con Cafe

This humorous tale about exchange programs and language barriers is from Oregon storyteller Rick Huddle's album "Citizen of the World." Our assistant producer Makena Bauss is a true traveler at heart. To learn more about Rick Huddle visit www.rickhuddle.com

Emerson's Chevrolet

Family cars, football, and fathers: a great story from Willy Claflin with something for everyone to relate to. To learn more about Willy Claflin visit www.willyclaflin.com

Robbery, Forgive Us (song)

A story about an experience with thievery with an unexpected ending and an uplifting message. To learn more about John McCutcheon visit www.folkmusic.com

On today's episode, our history lesson is hopping the rails! Listen to stories and songs about railroads all across North America throughout the last few centuries.

Railroad Bill

Railroad Bill was an African American outlaw in the American Southeast, often portrayed as a Robin Hood type of character with many legends surrounding him. David Holt & Doc Watson bring him to life with this finger pickin' song. To learn more about David Holt & Doc Watson visit www.davidholt.com/mentors/doc-watson

North Platte Canteen

The North Platte Canteen was a railroad stop manned by local citizens of North Platte, Nebraska, United Stats that operated from 1941 to 1946. Located along the tracks of the Union Pacific Railroad, these local citizens provided refreshments, hospitality, and creature comforts to soldiers traveling during ten- to fifteen-minute stopovers. To learn more about Pippa White visit www.pippawhiteonecompany.com

Railroad Blessing (song)

Sam Payne and friends, commissioned to create stories and songs celebrating the railroad in American history, share this song about the railroad work ethic. In this section, enjoy a taste of some of the railroad museums Sam Payne visited in his research for our railroad episode.

The Train That Carried My Girl From Town

A goodbye along the tracks of a long-gone train performed by David Holt & Doc Watson. To learn more about David Holt & the legendary Doc Watson visit www.davidholt.com/mentors/doc-watson

Down, Down, Down

Sam Payne and friends-- Ryan Rilby, Drew & Lacy Williams, Nick Chamberlain, Suzanne Christensen-- created a story and song to celebrate the creation of the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel in Southern Utah. To learn more about the history of this landmark visit

Train

Life's journeys take many forms, and Kevin Kling has traveled far and wide. To learn more about Kevin Kling visit www.kevinkling.com

Poet Wallace Stevens once said, “human nature is like water. It takes the shape of its container.” Human beings are made up of water just as much as we are made of stories. So today, we’ve collected stories about water from the tiniest drops to the biggest waves.

Frogs, Guardians of the Water

A story about the importance of water conservation that shows a little love for the little green guys we call bullfrogs. Doug Elliott is one of our favorite nature storytellers who often mixes naturalism, the sciences and folklore together to create dynamite stories and songs. Learn more about him by visiting www.dougelliott.com

Wave

This Japanese folktale highlights the importance of community. To learn more about Anne Shimojima, who draws from her Japanese-American heritage to share stories from history and folk traditions, visit www.anneshimojima.com

Dead Man’s Float

Every childhood can be tied to a big body of water: floating, rafting, swimming, paddling, etc. A river can be the best playground, equal parts magnificent and untameable but always fun to play in. To learn more about Regi Carpenter visit regicarpenter.com

Water of Life

This folk tale takes a different angle on the life-giving properties of water. To learn more about Motoko visit motoko.folktales.net

Jonah, the Real Story

The real story of one of the most infamous sea travelers in history. To learn more about Bil Lepp visit www.leppstorytelling.com

It’s not necessarily the clothes that make the man, but as LM Montgomery points out in Anne of Green Gables, “it is ever so much easier to be good if your clothes are fashionable.” Stories included in this episode:

The Red and Blue Coat

This story from Heather Forest is all about perspective. It's hard to see the whole story if you're looking at it from only one angle. To learn more about Heather Forest visit

The Blue Coat

This next story from Jenni Cargill-Strong is and is a Jewish wisdom tale about another special coat and a lesson in frugality. To learn more about Australian teller Jenni Cargill-Strong visit www.storytree.com.au

Garment for the Moon

Let's take a trip to the notoriously wise & foolish town of Chelm, where a small-town tailor attempts his biggest project yet: clothing the moon. To learn more about Michael Katz visit www.storytellermichael.com

Rhodopos: The Egyptian Cinderella

Cinderella stories come in all shapes and sizes, but did you know that Cinderella-type tales date back all the way to Ancient Egypt? In this next story from Judith Heineman and Dan Marcotte, you might recognize some elements of a well-known fairy tale that has been transported back a few thousand years. To learn more about Judith Heineman and Dan Marcotte visit www.www.judithanddan.com

The Lady and the Glove

Another take on the Cinderella story model, in song form. To learn more about Dan Keding visit www.dankeding.com

How the Birds Got Their Feathers

Our last story is for the birds—or rather about them. Have you ever wondered how birds got such an array of beautiful colors and patterns to wear? Joseph Bruchac shares this Native American origin story to explain. To learn more about his work visit josephbruchac.com

A story about a dad and a story about a mom that encourage us to appreciate our parents in all their wisdom and eccentricity. What are the stories of your own heritage? Stories included in this episode: 

Shmulky

A live recording made at the National Storytelling Festival about the late Syd Lieberman's father, Sam Lieberman. To learn more about Syd Lieberman's work visit www.sydlieberman.com

My Mother's Mind

Have you ever had a "senior moment?" If you have, you may be becoming more like your parents than you think. This story, recorded live at the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival, is all about the ways our minds can work. To learn more about Beth Horner visit bethhorner.com

Start your school year off fresh with these stories from two of our favorite tellers.

In the Back of the Bus

What better way to start the school year than with a song from Bill Harley? To learn more about Bill's work visit www.billharley.com

A School Visit

Sam Payne takes us on a to Aristotle Academy.

Look It Up!

Sometimes the only way to learn is the hard way. To learn more about Donald Davis visit www.ddavisstoryteller.com

Bottlecaps

In many of Bill Harley's school-oriented stories, somebody's having a good time getting into trouble. To learn more about Bill Harley visit www.billharley.com