The Apple Seed

An interview with Natalie Daise, who for more than 20 years has developed and facilitated interactive learning experiences for educators, students, young and young-at-heart audiences alike. You may know her from the popular Nick Jr. and Noggin TV show "Gullah Gullah Island." Other honors include the 1997 and 1998 IMAGE Award nominations, 1998 Daytime Emmy nomination, Silver and Gold Parent's Choice awards, the South Carolina Jean Lacy Harris Folk Heritage Award for a lifetime of achievement and excellence in folk art, and South Carolina's highest honor, The Order of the Palmetto.

Natalie says of her work, "stories connect us in the most visceral way." We were delighted to see Natalie on stage at the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, Tennessee and to have her join us for a conversation with our host, Sam Payne. In this episode, listen to a conversation about her rich passion in storytelling and storytelling traditions, as well as stories recorded live a the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, Tennessee.

To learn more about Natalie visit nataliedaise.com

Stories included in this episode: 

Miss Morton (1:24)

A story about a spectacular woman and her feline friends from the effervescent Donald Davis. To learn more about Donald Davis's work visit www.ddavisstoryteller.com

Daddy's Ashes (33:03)

An insightful and thoughtful story from the delightful Geraldine Buckley. To learn more about Geraldine Buckley's work visit www.geraldinebuckley.com

Stories small enough to fit in your pocket!

Stories included in this episode: 

The Boy and the North Wind (01:04)

Sam Payne tells a favorite Norwegian tale from childhood.

The Creation (5:03)

An short Iroquois story about a great big happening. To learn more about Josephe Bruchac's work visit josephbruchac.com

Three Heavenly Gifts (8:12)

A story about choosing and using gifts. To learn more about Len Cabral's work visit www.lencabral.com

How the Rhinoceros Got His Skin (12:51)

A traditional story from Rudyard Kipling's collection of "Just So" Stories. To learn more about Jim Weiss' work visit www.jimweiss.com

Goldilocks and the Three Bears (19:49)

A fresh take on a classic story. To learn more about Mark Binder's work visit markbinder.com

The Soldier's Tale (26:08)

Sam Payne shares a Russian folktale.

The Wolf Who Cried Sheep (28:53)

A twist on a classic moral tale. To learn more about Willy Claflin's work visit www.willyclaflin.com

Mr. Fox (32:00)

A spooky story from Jenni Cargill-Strong. www.storytree.com.au

Old John and the Devil (36:18)

A story about memory and besting the devil. To learn more about Charlotte Blake Alston's work visit www.charlotteblakealston.com

Caterina the Wise (41:19)

Caterina has lots of tricks up her sleeve and wisdom in her pocket. To learn more about Norah Dooley's work visit www.norahdooley.com

King Solomon and the Smell of Bread (49:45)

A good example of the wisdom of King Solomon. To learn more about Joel Ben Izzy's work visit storypage.com

The Fox and the Cheese (53:15)

Sam Payne shares a version of one his favorite Aesop's fables.

The school year is winding down and summer is quickly coming upon us, so the thought of adventure is fresh within our minds. Stories included in this episode: 

Keep A-Going (01:21)

Recorded live from the grounds of the National Storytelling Festival, this story can be found on Donald's album "I Wouldn't Tell This To Just Anybody." Plan your life, live your plan, and whatever happens, keep a-goin! Donald's stories are like time capsules, freezing moments in time and turning them into timeless tales enjoyed by audiences from all over. This one is no different! To learn more about Donald's work visit ddavisstoryteller.com

Mrs. Ammons and the Boys' Room (19:37)

This story from Bill Harley's Grammy-nominated album, "The Battle of the Mad Scientists & Other Tales of Survival", is all about the ways in which students AND teachers have to survive school. To learn more about Bill Harley's work visit www.billharley.com

Wiley and the Hairy Man (40:34)

Recently, we got to hear Len Cabral tell this story at the Four Corners Storytelling Festival. In the tradition of a good Jack tale, Wiley gets the best of the Hairy Man in unexpected ways. To learn more about Len Cabral's work visit www.lencabral.com

In a letter to Ingmar Bergman on his seventieth birthday, the acclaimed Japanese director Akira Kurosawa wrote:

“A human is born a baby, becomes a boy, goes through youth, the prime of life and finally returns to being a baby before he closes his life.

This is, in my opinion, the most ideal way of life. I believe you would agree that a human becomes capable of producing pure works, without any restrictions, in the days of his second babyhood.”

On this episode, enjoy stories and songs that highlight our first and second “babyhoods." Stories and songs  included in this episode: 

Assorted Stories Recorded at the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival (1:41-11:02)

What better place for the old and young to converge than the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival? At a recent festival, the Apple Seed team gathered stories on site about everythin from sneaking gummy vitamins to cooking at scout camps to grandparents and grandchildren learning sign language together. Thank you to Amara, Brian, Chuck, and Terri for sharing your stories with us! To learn more about the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival visit  timpfest.org

THe Old King and His Daughters (11:34)

Joel ben Izzy has been telling stories all his life, beginning his professional career in 1983. Since then, his job has taken him all around the world where he has collected many stories to add to his collection. In additional to his geographical tales, his stories have carried audiences of allages to all different times and places. This story is a timeless tale about the wisdom of youth meeting with the wisdom of old age. To learn more about Joel ben Izzy's work visit storypage.com

Grownups are Strange (17:11), It's Better Than That (21:14)

These two songs from the acclaimed Bill Harley show two unique ways at looking at adulthood. There are some things that get better with age and people are at the top of the list. However, people also get pretty strange as they grow up, too! To learn more about Bill Harley's work visit www.billharley.com

The Old Folks' Home (24:28)

Adam Booth's storytelling blends traditional folklore, music, and an awareness of contemporary Appalachia. His stories have been influenced by generations of diverse storytellers from West Virginia. As a a teller, educator, researcher and four-time winner of the West Virginia Liars' Contest he presents a unique blend of narratie, education, tradition, and music in all of his tales. To learn more about Adam Booth's work visit www.adam-booth.com

The Strongest Thing in the World (46:32)

Lyn Ford is a fourth-generation, nationally recognized, Affrilachian storyteller. As a teaching artist, mentor, Laughter Yoga Teacher, and happy mama, grandmama and great-grandmama, Lyn understands what happens when new and old generations learn from each other. To learn more about Lyn Ford's work visit www.storytellerlynford.com

People from all over the world to come share their stories at the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival right here in our own backyard of Orem, Utah.

Stories included in this episode: 

The Marriage Boulder (1:05)

Born in Dublin, Clare Murphy has a repertoire of tales & shows that include myth, legend, folklore, fable, personal tales & origin stories that have been heard in over 20 countries. Now residing in London, Clare's visists are highly anticipated by fans of the Timpanogoas Storytelling Festival and listeners of The Apple Seed. To learn more about Clare & the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival visit this link: TimpFest.org (Clare Murphy storyteller profile)

Book Thief (12:49)

After a childhood in segregated New Orleans, Mary Gay Ducey moved to Berkeley-- just in time for the protest marches and sit-ins. From a childhood steeped in tradition and heritage to beginning her own family amidst the social unrest of the sixties, Ducey has many stories to tell and draws from her life to delight audiences with the humor and insight of her personal and historical, literary and folk storeis. To learn more about Mary Gay Ducey & the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival visit this link: TimpFest.org (Mary Gay Ducey storyteller profile)

Life Begins When You Turn 40 (35:31)

The repertoire of Antonio Rocha, a native of Brazil, includes unique solo shows of stories and mines that have been performed in many places on 6 continents. Antonio has performed at festivals and educational institutions all over the United States. It's always a treat when Antonio comes to town! To learn more about Antonio & the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival visit this link: TimpFest.org (Antonio Rocha storyteller profile)

Science stories have a special place in our hearts here at The Apple Seed. The inspiration drawn from all sciences in storytelling make expand our knowledge and our imaginations. Featured in this episode: 

Interview with Dr. Daniel Smalley (00:54)

An intrepid experimenter from a very young age, Dr. Daniel Smalley of the Brigham Young University Electrical & Computer Engineering department "once used an od metal bucket, some sand and a computer fan to construct an aluminum furnace for melting pop-cans and old screen doors into machine tool parts." Fascinated by the way things worked, Dr. Smalley went on to attend MIT where he earned his B.S., M.Eng, M.S., and Ph.D. degrees. Now working at BYU, Dr. Smalley continues his work in electroholography and aspires to create large, high resolution holographic, volumetric displays. 

The Succession of Forest Trees by Henry David Thoreau (25:35)

One of the very last essays written before the author's death, this essay explores nature's order of disorder and re-order. Performed by live right here in our studios by Sam Payne & Suzanne Christensen, Leah Kershisnik, and Noah Kershisnik of The Acting Company. 

The Battle of the Mad Scientists (32:43)

A hilarious exploration of science fiction, science fact, storytelling & imagination from the legendary Bill Harley. To find more of Bill Harley's work visit www.billharley.com

Many storytellers have their hands in a lot of baskets: they are educators, teaching artists, puppeteers, musicians, mothers, fathers, mimes, naturalists, and so on and so forth. Many storytellers, in their own unique way, also participates in “placemaking”: the philosophy and practice of capitalizing on a local community’s assets, inspiration, and potential with the intention of creating public spaces to promote, health, well-being, and happiness.

Stories included in this episode: 

Liz Carpenter's High Hillside (02:06)

Geraldine Buckley is a passionate & award-winning storyteller with a high capacity for hilarity that is equal to her capacity to care for the downtrodden. Geraldine shares stories across the globe, has been featured at the National Storytelling Festival & the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival among many others, and until 2010 was a chaplain in the largest men's prison in Maryland. This story is about placemaking on a small scale, referencing a time when Geraldine lived in Texas for a spell. To learn more about Geraldine Buckley's work visit  www.geraldinebuckley.com

Interview with Derrick Clements (13:46)

Derrick Clements is a feature reporter for The Daily Herald in Utah, and audiostoryteller who has worked in documentary and nonfiction for radio, print, and online publications for the past six years. In the past, Derrick has worked on stories for and has been featured on Radiolab, Reply All, On Being, and RadioWest. Currently, Derrick produces The Pixar Podcast, The Disney Animation Podcast, the ‘What Say Ye?’ podcast with colleague Court Mann, and a storytelling venue called The Porch, providing a stage for Utah’s neighborhood stories to be told live. To find these projects & more of Derrick's work visit www.derrickclements.com

Crisanto Family Story (39:44)

In the late 80s, Deidrene Crisanto's parents came to America to begin a new life for their family. Making a new home out of a new country is never easy, but their sacrifices and successes live on through the sharing of their family stories.

(song) Compass Rose by Archie Crisanto (51:04)

A song written and performed by Archie Crisanto about creating home and coming home.

Part of an Apple Seed project dedicated to bringing some of the world's best printed stories to the radio stage, featuring stories about new life. With the help of members of The Acting Company, Noah and Leah Kershisnik, director of The Acting Company and sometimes contributor to The Apple Seed, Suzanne Christensen, hear words from Lewis Carroll, Mary Shelley, and Frances Hodgson Burnett. The stories you'll hear in this episode are accompanied with music by musician, Cherie Call. 

Stories & Songs Featured in May Stories: 

(song) Heart Made of Wind by Cherie Call

Excerpt from Francis Hodgson Burnett's "The Secret Garden"

The Secret Garden is the story of Mary Lennox, a troubled, sickly, and unloved 10-year-old sent to live with her uncle after the death, by cholera, of her wealthy parents in India. There she discovers a walled garden, long locked away by the miserable Mr. Craven following a long-ago tragedy. As Mary works the garden, the whole house, including its inhabitants, seems to come to life. In this excerpt, performed by Sam Payne and the Acting Company, Mary seeks permission to work the earth of the walled the garden. 

(song) Big Yellow Moon by Cherie Call

Excerpt I from Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein"

In an episode devoted to spring and new life, Frankenstein might seem like an odd choice. However, Mary Shelley's horror classic is also a story of a doctor who meticulously looks at how things grow, the relationship between creator and creation, and ultimately, of family and relationships. In this scene, "the wretch" (as Frankenstein's monster is referred to in the original tome) comes to life to the horror of its master.

Excerpt II from Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein"

Mary Shelley's horror classic that is about, among other things, new and renewed life. In this scene, "the wretch" revisits its creator, Dr. Victor Frankenstein, and confronts him about existence, creation, and destruction. 

(song) Walk You Through the Night by Cherie Call

An Easter Greeting to Every Child Who Loves "Alice."

While admirers of Lewis Carroll's "Alice" books include readers of all ages, this letter was written to his youngest members of his audience-- to children at the approach of Easter 1876.

On today's episode, we're taking elementary school trading to an extreme with Kyle Macdonald of One red paperclip fame, who turned one small red paperclip into a global movement with a simple game of Bigger or Better. Listen to Kyle's story, hear Sam Payne share a story of his own adventures in trading up as a child, and finish the hour with a few stories from some Apple Seed favorites: "The Acquisition of Skipper" from Slash Coleman and "Pony" from Kevin Kling.

Listeners of The Apple Seed can get a free digital copy of Kyle's book about his adventures by visiting oneredpaperclip.blogspot.com, sending Kyle an email, and telling him about listening to this episode.