Stories included in this episode:

Mitch Capel

Story 1: The Spelling Bee

Teller: Mitch Capel

Site: www.gjbug.com

Notes: Mitch Capel's telling of the classic Paul Laurence Dunbar poem.

Leeny Del Seamonds

Story 2: El Desafio (The Dare)

Teller: Leeny Del Seamonds

Site: www.leenydelseamonds.com

Notes: A story about how fear and peer-pressure make for a horrible combination.

Bob Reiser

Story 3: Ishtar

Teller: Bob Reiser

Site: www.bobtales.com

Notes: The Princess Ishtar saves humanity by calling off her wedding. 

Beth Horner

Story 4: The Mousedeer and the Buffalo Chip

Teller: Beth Horner

Site: www.bethhorner.com

Notes: A mousedeer outsmarts a tiger with his quick thinking.

Bonnie Greenberg

Story 5: The Wonder Child

Teller: Bonnie Greenberg

Site: www.bonniegreenberg.net

Notes: A beautiful, talented girl becomes the envy of a queen and a prince finds his true love.

In this episode Sam Payne interviews Sheila Starks Phillips, a professional storyteller and native Texan whose tales are full of wit and wisdom. This episode also includes Sheila's stories "Amarillo Sandies/Football Champions," "Dog Outsmarts the Leopard," "Jobs I Have Had" and "The Bagpiper."

For more of Sheila's stories visit her website: www.sheilaphillips.com.

photo © storytree.com.au

Michael Reno Harrell is a native of North Carolina and flavors his stories and songs with sights and sounds of the Southern Appalachian Mountains. A veteran storyteller and entertainer, Michael Reno Harrell has traveled the world with his "Appalachian grit and wit" and his storytelling in print, song and spoken word has earned him praise from many facets. We love the humor, wit, and emotional depth of Michael's stories and songs, and we hope you will, too. In this episode, you will hear an interview with Mr. Harrell as well as the stories "Southern Suggestions", "Cell Phone", "Salvation Army Shoes", "Jesus When You Get the Time."

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

Stories included in this episode:

Joel ben Izzy

Stories 1-2: "Be Polite" & "The Pickpocket"

Teller: Joel ben Izzy

Site: www.storypage.com

Notes: In the first story, a woman tries her teach her child manners in utero, and in the second story, a couple learns that their child is a talented thief.

Laura Pershin Raynor

Story 3: The Basement

Teller: Laura Pershin Raynor

Site: www.lpraynor.com

Notes: Laura's father plays a prank on the college students who walk past Laura's window.

Simon Brooks

Story 4: The Fly

Teller: Simon Brooks

Site: www.diamondscree.com

Notes: A dishonest creditor tries to collect his money, and his plan is thwarted by the clever son of the debtors. 

Priscilla Howe

Story 5: The Small-Tooth Dog

Teller: Priscilla Howe

Site: www.priscillahowe.com

Notes: The daughter of an unlucky man is taken by a beast.

Jill Lamede

Story 6: The Blue Feather

Teller: Jill Lamede

Site: www.lamede.com

Notes: An orphan's wishes are granted by a magical feather.

Interviews included in this episode:

The Apple Seed

Interview 1: Catherine Edwards

Notes: Catherine is a caring, savvy English and history teacher from New York City. Sam Payne and Catherine discuss how she became interested in teaching, what being a middle school teacher is like, and how she's been able to help students through the subject she teaches. 

Johanna Hancock

Interview 2: Johanna Hancock

Notes: The Apple Seed's producer Andy Bay interviewed Johanna, a high school teacher in the San Francisco Bay area. She shares her experience with teaching a 5th period class that was so tough to crack, it took an act of God.   

The Apple Seed

Interview 3: Steve Williams

Notes: Steve Williams is a teacher at a K-8th charter school in Park City, UT. Steve spoke with Andy Bay about his commitment to the idea of a school as a community and some of the fears he had as a young teacher. 

Sam Bennion

Interview 4: Sam Bennion and the Rebecchis

Notes: Sam Bennion, a student producer with The Apple Seed, reconnected with his beloved 3rd grade teachers, Margaret and Larry Rebecchis, and they swap memories from Sam's time in their classroom.

Tellers featured in this episode include Willy Claflin, Donna Washington, Simon Brooks, Christopher Leebrick, Joel ben Izzy and child teller Gwen Niven.

Kevin Kling

This episode includes Sam Payne's interview with Kevin and Kevin's recorded stories "Harvest" and "Dad's Day 04'." The episode also includes The Apple Seed's original recordings of Kevin gathered at the 2014 Timpanogos Storytelling Conference.

To find out more about Kevin visit his website - www.kevinkling.com.

Stories included in this episode:

Charlotte Blake Alston

Story 1: Nyala

Teller: Charlotte Blake Alston

Site: www.charlotteblakealston.com

Notes: A story about how our shortcomings can sometimes become our greatest strengths.

Alton Chung

Story 2: Punia and Kaialeale

Teller: Alton Chung

Site: www.altonchung.com

Notes: A boy tricks a mighty shark into abandoning his territory.

Bill Harley

Story 3: The Boy Who Hide in a Peanut

Teller: Bill Harley

Site: www.billharley.com

Notes: A folk tale from Africa about a boy who bites off more than he can chew.

Kevin Kling

Story 4: Bus Strike

Teller: Kevin Kling

Site: www.kevinkling.com

Notes: Kevin's funny and poignant memories of riding on the buses in his native Minnesota.

The Apple Seed

Story 5: Johnny Appleseed

Teller: Bonnie Greenberg

Site: www.bonniegreenberg.net

Notes: Bonnie's rendition of the traditional Johnny Appleseed tale.

In this episode Brandon Sanderson, author of the "Mistborn" fantasy series, talked to Sam Payne about authors who inspire him and his writing methods. This episode also includes an interview with McKenzie Wagner, a child author whose book "Benotripia" is gaining popularity in the world of fiction. Brandon and McKenzie also share with us excerpts from their latest publications.

This episode of The Apple Seed is all about storyteller Heather Forest! Heather has a wonderful gift for combining music and story in a way that has made her a favorite with audiences around the world. This episode includes an interview with Heather, and her stories "Drakestail," "The Cap My Mother Made For Me," "The Lute Player" and "A Farmer's Horse Ran Off."

photo © Lucas Foglia & storyarts.org

For more information on Heather and her CDs visit her website: www.heatherforest.com.