The Apple Seed

Every now and then, we are delighted to host live storytelling events in the studio. We invited the "Introduction to Folklore" class from the Brigham Young University English Department into Studio 6 to share stories of pranks they've taken part in or have fallen prey to. We'll hear some great stories from the class, as well as conversation from the Apple Seed Team and some other folks at BYU Radio.

This episode features audio from our most recent live recording in Studio 6. For this event Dr. Jill Rudy of the BYU English Department brought in a group of her folklore students to share personal stories about the weirdest things they've done. The night included hilarious stories about awkward dates, "frenemies", middle school and so much more, so check it out!

2014 Intro to Folklore Class

Pictured above: The Brigham Young University "Intro to Folklore" class with Sam Payne, the host of The Apple Seed.

This episode of The Apple Seed includes an interview with Alton Chung. As a native Hawaiian with Japanese and Korean roots, Alton is able to tap into the fire of the Hawaiian legends, and he tells traditional stories from Asian with an inspiring sense of reverence and respect. Alton also just finished serving as the chair of the National Storytelling Network's board of directors, an organization we appreciate and admire. This episode also includes Alton's stories "How Pele Came to Hawaii," "Mujina" and "The Holua Sled Race."

Alton Chung

For more information and to find more of Alton's work you can visit his website: http://www.altonchung.com/.

Stories included in this episode:

Granny Su Holstein

Story 1: Granny Su Holstein

Site: http://grannysu.blogspot.com/

Notes: Granny starts her performance by singing the balled "Pretty Polly," and in her story a young girl meets an old woman who promises to teach her all the secrets of the forest.

Steffani Raff

Story 2: Steffani Raff

Site: http://piratesandpajamas.com/

Notes: Steffani performance included two different stories. The first was about playing "beauty salon" as a child, and finding that her grandfather was her only willing client, while the second was about her son's experience at a scout camp.

Lynn Ruehlmann

Story 3: Lynn Ruehlmann

Site: http://www.cascadingstories.com/

Notes: Lynn ties together the story of her first time in a cop car, the story of Icarus and Daedalus, and the story of her son's first parking ticket.

Andy Offut Irwin

Story 4: Andy Offut Irwin

Site: http://andyirwin.com/

Notes: On of Andy's classic stories about his Aunt Marguerite, an 80-somthing-year old widow and recovering racist.

Stories included in this episode:

Robin Bady

Story 1: Robin Bady

Site: http://www.robinbady.com/

Notes: Robin looks for balance in a classroom of Latino and Chinese students who don't get along.

Donna Ingham

Story 2: Donna Ingham

Site: http://www.donnaingham.com/

Notes: Donna shares stories about her mother, a fun-loving woman with a big heart and a love of beauty products.

Regina Carpenter

Story 3: Regina Carpenter

Site: http://www.soaringstories.com/

Notes: Regi recognizes that, to be an artist living in the slums of New York, she must learn self-defense to stay safe.

Sherry Norfolk

Story 4: Sherry Norfolk

Site: http://www.sherrynorfolk.com/

Notes: Sherry shares the story of a samurai who grows tired of his perfect wife.

Stories included in this episode:

Milbre Burch

Story 1: Tia Astucia

Teller: Milbre Burch

Site: http://www.kindcrone.com/?

Notes: An old woman traps all the evil in the world in a glass bottle, and a young man makes a deal with the devil to win the hand of a princess.

Ed Stivender

Story 2: Hamlet

Teller: Ed Stivender

Site: http://edstivender.com/

Notes: A New Yorker's take on Shakespeare's Hamlet.

Priscilla Howe

Story 3: Portraits

Teller: Priscilla Howe

Site: http://www.priscillahowe.com/

Notes: A portrait that hung in Priscilla's childhood home once spoke to her. 

Madeline Pots

Story 4: Boating With Charlie

Teller: Madeline Pots

Site: http://www.madelinelpots.com/

Notes: Madeline and her older brother Charlie attempt to drive their family's boat. 

Brian

Story 5: Ossein and the Isle of Tier Na Nog

Teller: Brian "Fox" Ellis

Site: http://foxtalesint.com/

Notes: Ossein, a handsome young man, marries a fairy princess and travels to the land of eternal youth. He insists on returning to Ireland though, and when he makes it back he finds that almost 300 years have passed.

This episode features Kevin Kling's keynote address from the 2014 Timpanogos Storytelling Conference. Kevin is an acclaimed storyteller from Minnesota whose work has been featured on National Public Radio’s All Things Considered and storytelling stage shows like Tales from the Charred Underbelly of the Yule Log. Kevin was just one of the many talented storytellers who presented at the 2014 Timpanogos Storytelling Conference and his brilliant keynote address about healing through storytelling brought many of the conference attendees to their feet in applause.

photo © Lucas Foglia & storyarts.org

For tickets and more information on the Timpanogos Storytelling Conference click here. For more Kevin Kling visit his website - http://www.kevinkling.com/.

This episode of The Apple Seed is dedicated to Noa Baum. Born in Jerusalem, Noa offers a a unique approach to storytelling in communities and organizations.  Since 1982, she has inspired and educated audiences of all ages with her performances. This episode includes an interview with Noa, and a selection of her recorded stories. 

photo © Lucas Foglia & storyarts.org

For more information and to find more of Noa's material you can visit her website: http://www.noabaum.com/.

Stories included in this episode:

Jenni Cargill Strong

Story 1: The Legend of the First Strawberry

Teller: Jenni Cargill-Strong

Site: http://www.storytree.com.au/

Notes: A Cherokee legend about the first man and woman.

Kim Weitkamp

Story 2: Love on the First Floor

Teller: Kim Weitkamp

Site: http://www.kimweitkamp.com/

Notes: A story about the many different textures of love.

David Vanadia

Story 3: The Hunting Story

Teller: David Vanadia

Site: http://www.vanadia.com/

Notes: A boy has mixed emotions about hunting until his father forces him to go. 

Ed Stivender

Story 4: The Man in the Moon in Love

Teller: Ed Stivender

Site: http://edstivender.com/

Notes: The man in the moon spies a lonely woman that he'd really love to meet.

Heather Forest

Story 5: The Sealskin

Teller: Heather Forest

Site: http://www.heatherforest.com/

Notes: An Icelandic folktale about a fisherman and the beautiful woman he finds on the shore. 

Joel ben Izzy

Story 6: The Orange

Teller: Joel ben Izzy

Site: http://storypage.com/

Notes: A Holocaust victim describes the true beauty of a piece of fruit to Joel.

David Holt

David Holt is a Grammy Award winning storyteller and musician who has worked to preserve traditional folk music and stories for over three decades. In their interview Sam Payne talked to David about his storied career, artists who have inspired him, and his choice to perform in schools rather than bars.  David's stories "Good News in the Cotton Field," "Burma Shave," "Gooteekhl" and "The Whirlwind" are included in this episode along with his songs "Johnson Boys," "The Titanic" and "The Train That Carried My Girl From Town."

For more of David's stories visit his website: www.davidholt.com/.