The Apple Seed

Stories included in this episode:

Bill Harley

Story: Jack and the Singing Leaves

Teller: Bill Harley

Site: www.billharley.com

Notes: A two-time Grammy award-winning artist, storyteller Bill uses song and story to paint a vibrant and hilarious picture of growing up, schooling and family life. His work spans the generation gap, reminds us of our common humanity and challenges us to be our very best selves. A prolific author and recording artist, Bill tours nationwide as an author, performing artist and keynote speaker. This story is from the album, "The Best Candy in the Whole World."

Bil Lepp

Story: Rumplestiltskin

Teller: Donna Washington

Site: www.dlwstoryteller.com

Notes: An award-winning storyteller, recording artist, writer, educator and dramatist, Donna Washington has stories with roots all over the globe. Born to an Army family in Colorado, she has been all over the globe and has traveled the storytelling traditions of the world extensively. Her stories are enjoyed by young and old, incorporating fresh takes on classic themes that teach us how we can better ourselves and be better to each other. These days you can find her traveling the country at festivals, conferences, schools, & libraries telling stories & giving workshops for anyone who is willing to listen to her.This story is from the album, "Fun, Foolery, and Folktales."

photo © Antonio Sacre by Dan Zatkowsky

Photo by Dan Zatkowsky

Antonio Sacre, born in Boston to a Cuban father and Irish-American mother, is an internationally touring writer, storyteller, and solo performance artist based in Los Angeles. A veteran of the Kennedy Center Stage, the National Storytelling Festival, Antonio has performed on stages, and at schools, museums, and other venues all over the world. A recipient of numerous awards and critical praise, he has taught drama, storytelling, and writing to teachers and students nationwide, and worked as artist in residence with youth in four inner city high schools of New York, Chicago, and South Central Los Angeles. He often tells multicultural stories that build bridges, cultivate diversity, and his expansive repertoire of stories- written, recorded and/or performed live- are full of humor, heart, and healing. He is a favorite teller among festival crowds, including the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival right here in Utah. In this episode, you'll hear some of Antonio's tried-and-true bilingual tales, some new favorites, and some snippets from a conversation between our host, Sam Payne, and Antonio himself.

To learn more about Antonio and find more of his work, visit his website at antoniosacre.com

Stories included in this episode:

Jenni Cargill-Strong

Story: Lily & the Fig Tree

Teller: Jenni Cargill-Strong

Site: www.storytree.com.au

Notes: Friendship & an unconventional companion.

Bil Lepp

Story: Yard of the Week

Teller: Bil Lepp

Site: leppstorytelling.com

Notes: Mischief in the town of Halfdollar.

Odds Bodkin

Story: The Lion Makers

Teller:  Odds Bodkin

Site: www.oddsbodkin.net

Notes: Four Brahmins explore wisdom in this Indian folktale. 

Danielle Bellone

Story: Merisier, Stronger than the Elephants

Teller:  Danielle Bellone

Site: www.pocketmousetells.com

Notes: An adaptation of a Hatian folktale.

Bobby Norfolk

Story: Wicked John & the Devil

Teller: Bobby Norfolk

Site: folktale.com

Notes: Bobby has been an Emmy Award winning TV host, National Park Ranger, stand-up comedian and now makes his living as a storyteller and educator. His ability to read and connect with audiences of all ages makes him one of our favorite storytellers. His performances are a perfect marriage of theatrics and education, and he inspires and motivates kids and adults alike through the tradition of oral storytelling. In this story, John and the devil try to outwit and outlast each other.

Octavia Sexton

Story: Jack and the Magic Sack

Teller: Octavia Sexton

Site: www.octaviasexton.com

Notes: A native eastern Kentucky, Octavia knows life in the Appalachians quite well. Her storytelling performances, workshops, and storytelling residencies utilize historical writing, drama, environmental awareness and much more. In this jack tale, see if you can recognize the conventions and characteristics of a classic storytelling trope.

photo © Lyn Ford

Lyn Ford is a fourth generation "Affrilachian" storyteller, teaching artist, workshop facilitator, writer, recording artist, mama, grandmama, great-grandmama and good cook. Lyn has a delightful repertoire of folktale adaptations, spooky tales, and original stories rooted in Lyn's multicultural heritage and traditions. Her stories and storytelling programs are often enriched with call and response, choral response, rhythm and rhyme, humor and heart. Lyn Ford's stories are as rich and fillling as a meal at the family table. In this episode, Lyn joins Sam Payne for a conversation and we feature the stories, "Sista Sarah Mae", "Wolf's Garden", "Fire and Rain."

To learn more about Lyn and find more of her work, visit her website at www.storytellerlynford.com

Stories included in this episode:

Dolores Hydock

Story: Different Versions

Teller: Dolores Hydock

Site: www.storypower.org

Notes: Dolores explains the truth about truth and its many versions.

Joel ben Izzy

Story: Stories of the Fools of Chelm

Teller: Joel ben Izzy

Site: www.storypage.com

Notes: The tiny town of Chelm is full of fools with a wisdom all their own.

Bil Lepp

Story: The Inflatable Easter Bunnies of Halfdollar

Teller:  Bil Lepp

Site: leppstorytelling.com

Notes: With Easter around the corner, this story from Halfdollar is from one of our favorite jokesters

Joel ben Izzy

Story: Stories of the Fools of Chelm (2)

Teller: Joel ben Izzy

Site: www.storypage.com

Notes: We travel back to Chelm for more stories of foolish wisdom.

Bob Reiser

Story: Warsaw is a Very Friendly Place

Teller:  Bob Reiser

Site: www.bobtales.com

Notes: Bob Reiser takes us for a trip in this clever Chelm tale.

Stories included in this episode:

Andy Offutt Irwin

Story: Risk Assessment

Teller: Andy Offutt Irwin

Site: andyirwin.com

Notes: A native of Covington, GA, Andy is a storyteller, humorist, singer, songwriter, musician, whistler who is especially known in storytelling circles for relating adventures of his eighty-five-year-old-widowed-newly-minted-physician-aunt, Dr. Marguerite Van Camp. In this story Aunt Marguerite deals with teenagers at summer camp.

Corinne Stavish

Story: You Can Learn A Lot on A Road Trip

Teller: Corinne Stavish

Site: www.stavishstorytelling.com

Notes: Corinne was born in The Bronx, and has since spent her years between many states, giving her given her an unusual perspective of this country that informs her storytelling and is indicative of a wanderlust embedded in her family. In this story, five-year-old Corinne and her family take a road trip in the summer of 1950.

Stories and songs included in this episode:

Motoko

Story: Master Meiser

Teller: Motoko

Site: motoko.folktales.net

Notes: Motoko recounts tales of her hard-working father live at the Bay Area Storytelling Festival.

The Yellow Room Gang

Song: Do What You Love

Teller: The Yellow Room Gang

Site: yellowroomgang.com

Notes: The Yellow Room Gang, featuring our friends from Mustard's Retreat, gives solid advice about feeding the belly and the soul.

Kevin Kling

Story: Circus

Teller:  Kevin Kling

Site: www.kevinkling.com

Notes: Kevin shares stories about an interesting part of his resume.

Ed Stivender

Story: The Sick Note

Teller:  Ed Stivender

Site: www.kevinkling.com

Notes: If you have to call in sick, take some notes from Ed Stivender.

Dolores Hydock

Story: On the Sales Floor

Teller:  Dolores Hydock

Site: www.storypower.org

Notes: Stories of from the life of Ninette Griffith.

Joel ben Izzy

Story: Moose Turd Pie

Teller:  Joel ben Izzy

Site: www.storypage.com

Notes: A story that doesn't need an introduction...

Allison Downey

Story: Migrating to Michigan

Teller:  Allison Downey

Site: http://allisondowney.com/

Notes: Produced for radio, this is a perfect perspective on making a living.

In this special two-part episode of The Apple Seed, we're pleased to bring you The Ballad of Ronnie Calloway, a folk operetta from the mind of the brilliant Kim Weitkamp. Set in the 1890s in Scurry, Texas, this story follows two lonely Texans, train robber Ronnie Calloway and orphan Lizzy Gibson. Recorded live at the National Storytelling Festival, this narrative is full of foot stompin' music, twists and turns, and haunting ballads and features such musical collaborators as Michael Reno Harrell and The Broken Bucket Band. In this episode, Kim joins us in the studio once again for a conversation with host, Sam Payne. 

To learn more about Kim and find more of her work, visit her website at www.kimweitkamp.com

photo © Sam Payne & Kim Weitkamp

In this special two-part episode of The Apple Seed, we're pleased to bring you The Ballad of Ronnie Calloway, a folk operetta from the mind of the brilliant Kim Weitkamp. Set in the 1890s in Scurry, Texas, this story follows two lonely Texans, train robber Ronnie Calloway and orphan Lizzy Gibson. Recorded live at the National Storytelling Festival, this narrative is full of foot stompin' music, twists and turns, and haunting ballads and features such musical collaborators as Michael Reno Harrell and The Broken Bucket Band. In this episode, Kim also joins Sam Payne in the studio to talk about Ronnie Calloway, music, and storytelling.

To learn more about Kim and find more of her work, visit her website at www.kimweitkamp.com

photo © Sam Payne & Kim Weitkamp