Brenda Wong Aoki tells the story of an unusual meeting on a San Francisco bus that didn't turn out quite like she expected. Snap judgements are easy. Opening your heart is harder, but when it happens lives can change.

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 we’re starting off with a story about a young girl filled with love who makes herself a younger brother out of wax. You'll also hear a story about a sack full of gold and the witch who's after it. You'll then enjoy a short story full of amusing wordplay. We hope the stories you hear today spark memories for you that you can share with the people you love.

On today’s episode, enjoy the following:

“Wax Child” by Eshu Bumpus on Lion in Love (2:15)

Radio Family Journal: "Eye of the Beholder" by Sam Payne (17:08)

The Daily Mix: "Polly Von" with Steven Kapp Perry (23:56)

“The Old Hag’s Long Leather Bag” by Rosie Cutrer on Mr. Bun and Other Stories (31:56)

“Bear’s Picture” by Heather Forest on Songspinner (46:40)

“Bower of Table” by Anthony Burcher on It Ain’t Right (52:55)

Joseph Bruchac tells all kinds of stories, and some of them are about Bill Greenfield, tall tale hero of the Adirondacks. This one is simply about what a good shot Bill was.

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. There are times for all of us in which life doesn’t bring us quite what we expect. Sometimes that’s a good thing, like an unanticipated snow day or a present from grandma. At other times, it’s less desirable, like the sudden loss of a loved one or an unexpected illness. Life is a series of the unexpected. When life’s surprises come our way, all we can do is react the best way we know how. In today’s stories, you’ll get to hear about different kinds of people experiencing the unexpected.

On today’s episode, enjoy the following:

“Johnny Appleseed” by Jim Weiss from American Tall Tales (2:46)

Radio Family Journal: "Four Cavities" by Sam Payne (17:30)

The Daily Mix: "It's a Wonderful Life" with Andy Offutt Irwin (23:50)

“The Elf of Springtime” by Odds Bodkin from With A Twinkle in Your Eye (32:39)

“Accident” by Kevin Kling from Wonderlure! (50:28)

This is an inspiring story of which you may have heard a version yourself. This one, told by Charlotte Blake Alston, will fill you with the hope that one person can make an important difference, no matter how small that difference can sometimes seem.

There is so much in life to be grateful for! Much of what we have today came from sacrifices of those before us, and it can be exciting to learn about their stories. When we learn of our ancestors, or just those from history, we can grow to love who they were. We learn to love people that we have never met. Today’s episode features stories of family heritage and gratefulness.

On today's episode, enjoy the following stories:

“Thank You Ma’am” by Diane Ferlatte from Yes Ma’am (3:07)

Radio Family Journal: "Smoking Money" by Sam Payne (16:41)

The Daily Mix: “Three Times a Lady" with Don Shelline (22:49)

“Cholent by Laura Pershin Raynor from All Dressed Up (31:12)

“M’Dear: Loving Someone You Never Met” by Betty Ann Wylie from Pass It On: A Storyteller’s Journey (41:47)

“Electra” by Jay O’Callahan from Pill Hill Quartet (48:28)

Geraldine Buckley shares the story of a bus ride that could have ended in disaster. Instead, it holds an adventure -- and a life lesson -- for her to treasure, and to pass on.

You’re listening to The Apple Seed and today on the program you'll hear a story from Susan Struass called “Five Sparrows” that will really make you think deeply about why perform acts of kindness, and whether that means they’re still acts of kindness at all. After that you'll hear Anne Rutherford’s “Under the Bridge”, where the three billy goats gruff and the troll who lives under the bridge find common ground in an unexpected way. Finally, you'll hear “Bastianello” from Donna Washington about how a wedding party gets interrupted by the groom's desire to find the most foolish people he’s ever met. This episode will be full of love, unexpected endings, and laughter - you won’t want to miss a minute!

On today’s episode, enjoy the following:

“Five Sparrows” by Susan Struass on Dreams of Animals: Myths and Personal Stories of Animals (2:46)

The Daily Mix: "Penguin Problems" with Rachel Wadham (16:11)

“Under the Bridge” by Anne Rutherford on Living in the Driveway: Stories of Finding Our Place (25:10)

“Bastianello” by Donna Washington on Angel’s Laughter (40:34)

Colorado storyteller Pam Faro tells an old tale about a man who captures a beautiful songbird. But the songbird has a trick or two up its sleeve, and maybe getting free is as simple as giving some good advice.

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 we’re bringing you a folk tale from Liberia called “Clever Counting,” the story of a leopard who is on the search for an animal who is just as clever as she is. You’ll hear from our very own Sam Payne with a story entitled “Camelot”, about his experience with a school play when he was growing up. Odds Bodkin will tell you “The Runaway Horse”, a folk tale about a young man down on his luck. We’ll wrap it all up with Lona Bartlett’s hilarious personal tale “Heck No, We Didn’t Bury My Mother!” Thanks for joining us on the Apple Seed!

On today’s episode, enjoy the following:

“Clever Counting” by Pam Faro from Why Didn't I Think of That?: Seeking Solutions- Some Sassy, Some Silly, Some Smart (1:55)

“Camelot” by Sam Payne from Camelot (15:26)

The Daily Mix: "Stuff You Should Know" with Stewart Foster (29:36)

“The Runaway Horse” by Odds Bodkin from The Blossom Tree (37:46)

“Heck No, We Didn’t Bury My Mother!” by Lona Bartlett from Heck No, We Didn’t Bury My Mother (45:59)