Carrie Sue Avyar tells stories designed to be enjoyed by Spanish speakers and English speakers alike. This one features a very hungry cat.

Welcome to The Apple Seed! Some time filled with stories for you and your family. Since 2013 we’ve been bringing you tall tales, personal tales, fairy tales, historical tales and more. All kinds of tales, from all kinds of tellers.

One of the most magical things about stories is that heroes can come from anywhere and become anyone or anything. A peasant girl can become a princess, and a princess can find herself turned to gold in the blink of an eye. As fun as stories about that kind of hero are, some of our favorite stories aren’t about humans at all, but rather animals that take on human-like characteristics. In today’s stories, from the great tellers Carrie Sue Ayvar, Jim Weiss, and Susan Strauss, we’ll observe the antics of and learn lessons from different kinds of birds.

On today’s episode, enjoy the following:

“The Loon Mother” by Susan Strauss from Birds of Fortune: Blessing Stories from the Book of Nature (3:04)

The Radio Family Journal: "The Sound of Music" by Sam Payne (16:14)

The Daily Mix: "Dogs" with Pippa White (22:49)

“Chanticleer the Rooster” by Jim Weiss from Animal Tales (31:01)

“La gallinita roja- The Little Red Hen” by Carrie Sue Ayvar from Cuentame un cuento: Tell Me A Story (46:55)

This little urban legend has lots of variations, and this one is told for you by storyteller and TV actor Bill Mooney

Welcome to The Apple Seed! Some time filled with stories for you and your family. Since 2013, we’ve been bringing you tall tales, personal tales, fairy tales, historical tales, and more. All kinds of tales from all kinds of tellers.

Today’s episode is as sweet as cookies and as thrilling as an escape from death! Whether we're dealing with mischievous and mysterious imps in a bakery, the incarnation of death trapped in a nut, brides, or birds, we sure hope your sweet tooth is in the mood for mischief!

On today’s episode, enjoy the following:

“The Bakery Imps” by Steve Sanfield from Live at the Sierra Storytelling Festival (2:22)

Radio Family Journal: “Sadie Hawkins Dance” by Sam Payne (15:09)

The Daily Mix: “Shadowlands” with Rod Gustafson (20:13)

“Death in a Nut” by Simon Brooks from Second-hand Tales (28:24)

“The Bride” by Barbara Schutzgruber from Ladies’ Night Out (40:15)

“The Barnyard Birds” by Tim Lowry from SEVEN! World Folk Tales (47:53)

Carmen Deedy tells a family tale that begins with the memory of a delicious dessert

Have you ever heard a story that raised the hair on your arms or sent shivers down your spine? Have you ever heard a story that made courage rise up inside you and inspired you to go do that thing you were afraid of? In today's stories, you'll hear an old-time radio drama about the adventures of a pair of twins and their dog as they try to survive the night, a story on the trials and tribulations of trying to talk to your crush (because what could be scarier than that?), and a story on the inner workings of a prison.

Enjoy the following:

"Mamá, Mamá, Ayúdame!" by Barry Stewart Mann from The Improbable Love of Ethel and Elmer and Other Offbeat Tales of Romance (2:36)

The Radio Family Journal: "Bella's Hats" by Sam Payne (16:45)

The Daily Mix: "Harry Potter" with Cole Wissinger (22:38)

"Inner Sanctum: Detour to Terror" by OTR (31:38)

"The Night That Everything Changed" by Geraldine Buckley from Destination? Slammer! (47:26)

Illustration by Sònia Albert, © Sònia Albert

Sarah Malone shares an ancient story that unfolds around a watering hole that must quench the thirst of both a lion and a goat. Which animal will go away thirsty?

Welcome to The Apple Seed! Some time just about everyday filled with stories for you and your family. Since 2013 we’ve been bringing you tall tales, personal tales, fairy tales, historical tales and more. All kinds of tales from all kinds of tellers.

Every now and then we hear stories that we think are predictable, but in the end they turn out to be something we didn’t expect. We might think we see patterns or signals that will alert us to the ending, but sometimes things just aren’t as they seem. Sometimes, a frog turns out to be a prince, a beggar becomes a queen, and a miller's daughter can guess Rumpelstiltskin's name. and today’s episode is full of stories that will keep you guessing what the end will turn out to be!

On today's episode, enjoy the following:

“How I Learned to Love Liver” by Joel ben Izzy from How I Learned to Love Liver (1:51)

Radio Family Journal: "Doober" by Sam Payne (13:00)

The Daily Mix: "Limberjack Doll" with Tim Lowry (18:42)

“Two Peas in a Pod” by The Storycrafters from More Classics with a Twist (26:53)

“Meandering Melon” by Donna Ingham from Tall Tales and Outright Lies (35:12)

“Willie and the Hairy Man" by Big Joe Pagliuca from Spooky Ooky (43:44)

Glenda Bonin shares the true story of a horse ride that didn't go quite as planned -- a story gathered from the person who lived it

Welcome to The Apple Seed! Some time just about every day filled with stories for you and your family. Since 2013 we’ve been bringing you tall tales, personal tales, fairy tales, historical tales and more. All kinds of tales, from all kinds of tellers.

Stories have a way of sparking the imagination, and, as we learn in so many stories, the imagination has a way of sparking magic. Whether it's a girl conjuring nighttime in a box, a little boy outsmarting a terrifying ogress, or a heroic little girl defeating demons, the magic we see in stories isn't so far from our very own reality. Enjoy these stories of magic and bravery from all over, today, on The Apple Seed.

On today's episode, enjoy the following:

"The Black Cat" by Dan Keding from Strawberries in Winter (2:54)

The Radio Family Journal: "Wigging Out on McKenzie Stanley" by Sam Payne (17:56)

The Daily Mix: "Roll Call Yonder" with Donald Davis (23:43)

"Telesik" by Margaret Read MacDonald from Fat Cat and Friends (32:39)

"Left Hand Story" by Brenda Wong Aoki from Timp 2017 (46:59)