The Apple Seed

In this episode we've got some Southern flavored stories for you from some of our favorite tellers. These stories are a little longer in form, so take a moment to settle in, relax, and enjoy "Farther Along" from Donald Davis and "I Ain't Know, Bo!" by Tim Lowry.

Stories included in this episode:

Jenni Cargill-Strong

Story 1: The Legend of the Big Dipper

Teller: Jenni Cargill-Strong

Site: www.storytree.com.au

Notes: An origin story about one of the most beloved constellations in the sky.

Joel ben Izzy

Story 2: Short Snippets of Tall Tales

Teller: Joel ben Izzy

Site: www.storypage.com

Notes: Joel's own mixing and matching of tales.

Donald Davis

Story 3: The Octopus

Teller: Donald Davis

Site: www.ddavisstoryteller.com

Notes: Donald Davis and his brother try a new ride at the county fair.

Glenda Bonin

Story 4: Raven and Daylight

Teller: Glenda Bonin

Site: www.storyworksgroup.com

Notes: An Alaskan tale about the raven.

Norah Dooley

Story 5: Little Daughter

Teller: Norah Dooley

Site: www.norahdooley.com

Notes: A story about Little Daughter and the wolf.

photo © Mark Binder by Jason Beaver

Mark Binder is a father, an author, and storyteller who connects readers and listeners of all ages to an eclectic body of work that includes traditional storis, bedtime favorites, and some autobiographical tales. Mark was born in Newton, MA, grew up in Bethesda, MD, has lived in New York, Cambridge and London and lives with his family in Providence RI. He is an award-winning recording artist, author, is the founder of the American Story Theater, teacher, third-degree black belt in Aikido, and has ran even ran for political office. In this episode, you'll hear a collection of storis from this multi-talented teller and an interview between Mark and our host, Sam Payne.

To find more of Mark's work and to learn more about him, visit his website: markbinder.com

Stories included in this episode:

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Story 1: Finding Christmas

Teller: Dolores Hydock

Site: www.storypower.org

Notes: Christmas will find you, wherever you are, if you let it.

Finn Bille

Story 2: Marzipan

Teller: Finn Bille & Rick Davis

Site: southernorderofstorytellers.org/finnbille

Notes: A Danish Christmas memory of a mother, her son, and a little Christmas magic.

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Story 3: Kevin Kling's Christmas Memories

Teller: Kevin Kling

Site: www.kevinkling.com

Notes: Recorded live at the 2014 Timpanogos Storytelling Festival, Kevin Kling shares his own Christmas memories.

Stories included in this episode:

Renee Englot

Story 1: Troublemakers

Teller: Renee Englot

Site: www.reneeenglot.com

Notes: A tale about gifts given to animals on that first Christmas night.

Bob Reiser

Story 2: Up Up and Away

Teller: Bob Reiser

Site: www.bobtales.com

Notes: A childhood plea to Santa that involves Superman.

Linda Goodman

Story 3: The Radio

Teller: Linda Goodman

Site: www.lindagoodmanstoryteller.com

Notes: When it comes to the holiday season, gratitude is the attitude.

Dolors Hydock

Story 4: Something in There

Teller: Dolores Hydock

Site: www.storypower.org

Notes: Finding new meaning in holiday traditions that have lost their magic as a man grows older.

Susan Klein

Story 5: The Night Before Christmas

Teller: Susan Klein

Site: www.susanklein.net

Note:A reading of the classic Christmas poem by Clement C. Moore.

Stories included in this episode:

Joel ben Izzy

Story 1: Hanukkah Basics and Thoughts on Luck

Teller: Joel ben Izzy

Site: www.storypage.com

Notes: Joel ben Izzy introduces this holiday episode with thoughts on wisdom and luck.

Joel ben Izzy

Story 2: Luck vs. Wisdom

Teller: Joel ben Izzy

Site: www.storypage.com

Notes: A story about what happens when wisdom and luck meet.

Mark Binder

Story 3: Spin the Dreidel

Teller: Mark Binder

Site: markbinder.com

Notes: A tale about one of the iconic traditions of Hanukkah.

Mark Binder

Story 4: Chanukah Bush

Teller: Mark Binder

Site: markbinder.com

Notes: Memories about the origin of a family tradition.

Odds Bodkin

Story 5: The Generous Man

Teller: Odds Bodkin

Site: www.oddsbodkin.net

Notes: A story about generosity.

Karen Golden

Story 6: The Legacy

Teller: Karen Golden

Site: storynet.org/karengolden

Note:The spirit of the Hanukkah season changes hearts and perspectives.

On today's episode, you'll hear stories that our host, Sam Payne, has shared during his weekly visits with Marcus Smith on "The Morning Show." This storytelling segment of the "The Morning Show" served as the original inspiration for "The Apple Seed."

Stories and songs included in this episode:

Bruce Walker

Story 1: Frog Gigging

Teller: Bruce Walker

Site: www.brucestoryteller.com

Notes: Catching frogs at grandpa's pond in Walker's Bend.

Alton Chung

Story 2: The Magic Pear Tree

Teller: Alton Chung

Site: www.altonchung.com

Notes: A Chinese folktale about the price of greed.

Geraldine Buckley

Story 3: Devils on Horseback

Teller: Geraldine Buckley

Site: www.geraldinebuckley.com

Notes: Childhood memories about watching wrestling with an eccentric aunt.

Clare Murphy

Story 4: Half a Blanket

Teller: Clare Murphy

Site: www.claremurphy.org

Notes: A story recorded live at the 2011 Jonesborough National Storytelling Festival in Tennessee.

Sam Payne

Story 5: Original Story

Teller: Sam Payne

Site: www.sampayne.com

Notes: Our host, Sam Payne, shares some memories about the journey to becoming "king scarer."

Kevin Kling

Story 6: State Fair

Teller: Kevin Kling

Site: www.kevinkling.com

Notes: Kevin and his wife show their European cousin, Ted, a good old-fashioned American time at the State Fair.

Connie Regan-Blake

Story 5: Two Friends and One Horse

Teller: Connie Regan-Blake

Site: www.storywindow.com

Notes: A folktale from the Middle East.

Connie Regan-Blake

Story 6: Lantern

Teller: Connie Regan-Blake

Site: www.storywindow.com

Notes: A tall-tale about fishing in Florida with family.

photo © www.beatricebowles.com

Sam Payne talks to Beatrice Bowles, a folkteller from San Francisco, CA with a passion for sharing myths and legends from around the world. Along with their conversation, this episode also includes Beatrice’s tellings of “The Monkey King (China),” “Thor’s Magic Hammer (Norway),” “Ice Heart & the Beaming Maiden (Alaska),” and “Psyche & Eros (Greece).”

To find more of Beatrice’s work visit her website - www.beatricebowles.com.

Our listeners will remember our first pumpkins episode in Fall 2013. In that episode, we got a taste for the giant pumpkin growing culture and spoke with Kyle and Carrie Fox of the Utah Giant Pumpkin Growers Association. Since then, The Apple Seed team has had a penchant for for all things (giant) pumpkin! In today's episode, we have a conversation with Daria Matza and Mark Devendorf, the directors of the delightful film Rise of the Giants, a documentary feature all about giant pumpkins and their growers. Our assistant producer, Whitney Snow, had the opportunity to attend the premiere of the film in Thanksgiving Point and meet some members of the giant pumpkin community.

Visit the Utah Giant Pumpkins Growers Association at their website.

Watch the trailer for Daria Matza and Mark Devendorf's film here.

Today on The Apple Seed we're bringing you highlights from the 2014 Timpanogos Storytelling Festival held in Orem, Utah - about 50 miles south of Salt Lake City. The festival is one of the most highly accredited storytelling events in the United States, with top tellers from around the world sharing stories over the course of a weekend. The Apple Seed team attends the festival every year, and is excited to bring you highlights from the 25th anniversary of this special event. Tellers and stories in this episode include:

Kim Weitkamp tells us about her Crooked Family Tree.

Kevin Kling with a story about going away to come back home.

Bil Lepp and the story of The King of Little Things.