The Apple Seed

Stories about flora, fauna, and friendship. Stories and songs included in this episode:

Plant Pals (00:37)

Assistant producer Deidrene Crisanto shares a story about a friendship based on the love of nature and the environment. 

Green Things (05:56)

An original song about the nature of relationships and the nature of things by musician Emily Brown. Find more of her music at emilybrown.bandcamp.com

Paula Bunyan (A True Story) (09:08)

Joel ben Izzy has traveled the world collecting stories of all kinds and has found himself teaching and telling all over the globe. An award-winning recording artist and writer, in 1997 Joel awoke from a surgery and discovered he could no longer speak and what would follow was an adventure that would become the basis for his book, "The Beggar King and the Secret of Happiness." To learn more about Joel ben Izzy visit www.storypage.com

Origin of Strawberry Picking & Strawberry Picking (song) (19:05)

Doug Elliott is a naturalist, herbalist, storyteller, basket maker, back-country guide, philosopher, and harmonica wizard. Having spent a great deal of time with traditional country folk and indigenous people, he imbibes his stories with a great love of folklore and the natural world. To learn more about Doug Elliott visit www.dougelliott.com

The Magic Garden of the Poor (26:02)

Known as the "Tintagel Storyteller" Jill Lamede tells stories old and new, sharing her time and magic freely with audiences of all ages. Jill's storytelling is informed by her Celtic and Saxon studies, Arthurian and Grail Lore, among many other story traditions. Find more of Jill Lamede's work at www.lamede.com

Wilde Roses (42:09)

Anne has appeared in all kinds of venues, including inside collasping tents and on stage with biting ants. A teaching artist with Young Audiences of Oregon, member of the Portland and Seattle Storytelling guilds and a member of National Storytelling Network, Anne is also the three-time first place winner in the NW Folklore Festival Liar's Contest - so don't believe everything she tells you. To learn more about Anne Rutherford visit www.annerutherford.com

Stories included in this episode: 

There Was a Time (3:46)

This warm tale features a fictional town where the once weak and feeble become pillars of strength and intrigue. Our elders have much to offer, if only we'll take the time to listen. A little while ago, we were joined in studio by Clive Romney who shared some of his favorite stories and storytellers. One of the tellers he highlighted was Teresa Clark, whose crisp style, quick qit, and warm personality mesemerize audiences of all ages. A stellar storyteller and registered teaching artist based in Idaho, Terea B. Clark shares stories to warm your heart.  To learn more about Teresa Clark's work visit teresaclark.blogspot.com

Bobo and the Baseballs (23:23)

You'll find Dan Keding on stage at the National Storytelling Festival this October in Jonesboro, Tennessee. Dan Keding is well known for his telling of traditional world folktales, personal narratives of his boyhood in Chicago, ghost stories and dark tales, and superbly crafted original pieces. As a child he learned the traditional stories that his grandmother brought to this country from Croatia. A well-respected ballad singer, he accompanies himself on guitar, banjo and spoons.  To learn more about Dan Keding's work visit www.dankeding.com

The Weeping Girl at the Dancing Place (33:19)

Liz Weir is a storyteller and writer from Northern Ireland. She was the first winner of the International Story Bridge Award from the National Storytelling Network, USA, which cited her "exemplary work promoting the art of storytelling". Liz Weir has told her stories to people of all ages on five continents. She has performed in pubs and prisons and hospital rooms, and is beloved by audiences of all ages. To learn more about Liz Weir's work visit lizweir.net

Hansel and Gretel (40:14)

Since 1977, when he left his day job as a high school teacher in Connecticut and turned to storytelling full-time, Ed has fabulated his way around the globe --appearing in schools, churches, coffeehouses and theaters, as well as at major storytelling festivals. He has been a featured performer at the National Storytelling Festival, the Cape Clear Island International Storytelling Festival in Ireland, Graz Festival, Austria and our own Philadelphia Folk Festival. His wit, wisdom, and musical talent make him a beloved teller across the globe. To learn more about Ed Stivender's work visit edstivender.com

Pictured above: Andre with a slice of Makena's Mom's Pineapple Upside Down Cake, baked in a dutch oven as per tradition. 

Throughout this episode, join the Apple Seed team as they explore family food traditions by preparing a a dutch oven pineapple upside down cake- recipe courtesy of Makena & the Bauss family. Stories included in this episode: 

The Challah That Ate Chelm (1:36)

The author of more than a twenty books and audio books for children, families and adults, Mark Binder transmits joy through story. the author of more than a twenty books and audio books for children, families and adults. Since 2000, he has performed before more than 185,000 listeners of all ages in more than 1,200 performances where he shares folk tales, fairy tales, family tales with humor and heart. To learn more about Mark Binder's work visit markbinder.com

It's Not the Food, It's the Fellowship (10:36)

Dolores Hydock’s vivacious style fills the stage with what one reviewer called “a swirl of characters and a cascade of lovely language.” Her funny, affectionate stories about family fireworks, food fads, true love, turnip greens, and other peculiarities of everyday life are full of wit and energy, and her award-winning adaptations of oral histories, medieval adventures, and traditional tales make the magic of other lives and other times come alive. To learn more about Dolores Hydock's work visit www.storypower.org

Chopped Herring (46:55)

Bob is an expansive and joyous storyteller , teacher, and an award-winning author of books for children and adults. Accompanying himself with flute and drum, Bob brings warmth and wit to traditional and original stories. To learn more about Bob Reiser's work visit www.bobtales.com

Donald Davis is an American storyteller, author and minister. Donald held a twenty-year career as a minister before he became a professional storyteller.  His long career as a teller and his promotion of the cultural importance of storytelling through seminars, master classes, and over 25 recorded albums has led to Davis being dubbed the "dean of storytelling". This episode features the recordings "Going to Grandma's" and "Old Man Hawkins' Lucky Day." 

Barry Marshall, and Jeri Burns, PhD have been working together as The Storycrafters since 1991, and have been storytellers for even longer than that. Jeri and Barry believe in the time-tested wisdom of traditional stories, and share that wisdom with today’s audiences. They strive to honor world cultures by telling the old stories in respectful ways, often integrating the musical instruments, songs or dances indigenous to that region and adapting traditional tales with modern twists. This episode features the story, "The Two Brothers."

Between beginning of our life and the end of it, there’s a lot of middle. But there’s something really special about our first teeth, our first steps, our first kisses, and something equally special about the last time we say goodbye, the last time we clock in at an old job, and the last time we leave an old apartment. Do you remember the last time you did something for the first time?

Stories included in this episode: 

Sam's First Bike (00:54)

A short story from Sam Payne about his very first bicycle.

The First Drum (6:59)

A long, long time ago God used to walk among the creations of the earth. When God decided it was time to go back to the heavens, he left behind the first drum for people to send messages with.To learn more about Charlotte Blake Alston's work visit www.charlotteblakealston.com

First Haircut (13:39)

What is it that makes your very first haircut one of the most memorable “firsts” of your life? To learn more about Norah Dooley's work visit www.norahdooley.com

The First Flute (18:10)

From Bob Reiser's album, The Story Tree, this tale is rich in folklore. To learn more about Bob Reiser's work visit www.bobtales.com

Drowning of Walker's Bend (30:41)

The Walker family realizes together that even when you think your goose is cooked, there’s still some story left.To learn more about Bruce Walker's work visit www.brucestoryteller.com

The Last of the American Cow Girls (38:51)

A sweet and sentimental farewell to the exciting atmosphere of Western Tradition performed by Kitty Donahoe on the compilation album, The Yellow Room Gang Live at Big Sky. To learn more about The Yellow Room Gang, visit yellowroomgang.com

The Monster Stick's Last Ride (44:31)

The beloved Monster Stick, that legendary gizmo from the Lepp story universe and often an object that is as rich and alive as any other character of a Bil Lepp story, meets its retirement.To learn more about Bil Lepp's work visit www.leppstorytelling.com

Lyn Ford is a fourth-generation, nationally recognized, Affriliachian storyteller, a teaching arist, workshop facilitator, Thurber House mentor, published writer, award-winning recording artist, Laughter Yoga Teacher, and happy family member who is a great cook, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother! In this episode, she joins Sam Payne in conversation about some of her most beloved stories. To learn more about Lyn, visit www.storytellerlynford.com

Clive Romney is a recording artist, producer, composer, educator, peformer, and the Executive Director of Utah Pioneer Heritage Arts. A family man, who together with his wife Bonnie, has five children and twenty four grandchildren, Clive is a multi-disciplinary artist who understand the importance of cherishing the stories of one's ancestors. He is a passionate portrayer of the Utah pioneer experience, and effortlessly brings history to life. 

To learn more about Clive, visit www.cliveromney.com

To learn more about Utah Pioneer Heritage Arts, visit www.upharts.org

Author, musician, performer and artist, Stephen Gashler, joins Sam Payne in conversation discussing all things art and storytelling, and one of their Bil Lepp favorites, "Egg Babies." Also included in this episode are the stories, "Boys Will Be Boys" from Florida teller, Mike Scotchie, and "Pirate Field, an original story by Sam Payne produced by our former audio engineer, the late Sam Thompson.

Pelican Point

Above: Pelican Point, a strip of land just off the shore of Utah Lake, in March 2016

The Apple Seed Team tried their hand at creating a radio mystery drama inspired by the Golden Age of Radio and a story ripped from the headlines of an 1895 Utah crime. In 1895, the bodies of three young men were found near Pelican Point, Utah. The peculiar case captured the attention of local and national authorities and news outlets, including Sheriff George Storrs from Provo. What would ensue would become a cat and mouse chase between Sheriff Storrs, and the notorious conman, James Weeks. 

ACT I (00:00 - 22:45)

The bodies of Albie Enstrom, Alfred Nelson, and Andrew Johnson are found by locals along the shores of Utah Lake. Sheriff George A. Storrs investigates Harry Hayes as his primary suspect.

ACT II (22:45-37:43)

James Weeks flees Utah, using his smooth talking skills to travel all over the Western frontier with Sheriff Storrs following close behind.

ACT III (37:43-57:53)

The exciting finale of our Utah-based mystery takes us all over the country: Colorado, Chicago, and even New York.

CAST (in order of appearance):

Dillon Olsen as Sherriff George A. Storrs

Dallin Halls as James Weeks

Peter Lambert as Deputy Kimball

Mark Wait as Silas

Leah Hodson as Caroline Hayes

Ralph Tobias as Harry Hayes

Shawn O'Neil as Cobb

Kassandra Haddock as Jennie Weeks

Steven Olson as Albie Engstrom

Kate and Olivia Judd as Gracie Weeks

Gabriel Spencer as C.T. Case

Jonathan Low as Frank Crampton

Joseph Carson as "Big" Bill Crampton

Sammy Payne as Pete Carson

Sam Payne as Sherriff Angus

Andy McQuinn as Dewitt

Andre Marques as Alfred Nelson

Jacob Wisner as Andrew Johnson

WRITTEN BY: Sam Bennion

DIRECTED BY: Sam Bennion & Makena Bauss

SOUND ENGINEERING BY: Andre Marques

PRODUCED BY: Deidrene Crisanto, Makena Bauss, Sam Bennion, Andre Marques, Andy Bay

In our lives, one of the people who has the strongest, and yet perhaps most varying, influence on us is our fathers. For today’s episode, we’re going to take a bit of time to explore the different kinds of dads in the world, and the many different things we have learned from them along the way. Stories included in this episode: 

Emerson's Chevrolet (00:35)

A story from Willy Claflin about his father, football, and Shakespeare. To learn more about Willy Claflin's work visit www.willyclaflin.com

Perpetual Underdog (11:51)

From Slash Coleman, this story explores how some father teach by example. To learn more about Slash Coleman's work visit www.slashcoleman.com

Independence (22:21)

Of all the things that we can gain and be taught from our fathers, one of the greatest is a sense of self and independence. This recording, from Dolores Hydock discusses how she learned to fly solo because of her dad. To learn more about Dolores Hydock's work visit www.storypower.org

Elmer, Far From Salty Water (29:47)

Sometimes the independence we need and learn from our fathers comes from making changes to the path they have followed, making a name for ourselves, and in a number of cases, leaving our fathers behind. This short story, “Elmer”, and accompanying song, “Far from Salty Water”, by Michael Reno Harrell, talks about just that. To learn more about Michael Reno Harrell's work visit www.michaelreno.com

I'm Busy (38:16)

We all can think of a time or two when as children we had to fight for their attention. This humorous song from Bill Harley expresses just that frustration.  To learn more about Bill Harley's work visit www.billharley.com

The Night Toddler, Holiness Night at El Charro, Three Doctors, Kapoo Song (41:43)

A collection of reflections of fatherhood from Andy Offutt Irwin about his son, Liam, and his late son Tristan. To learn more about Andy Offutt Irwin's work visit andyirwin.com