Circle Round

Greed. Deception. Adorable baby cows. Billy Porter ("Pose") and Joshua Boone ("Seven Seconds") star in this East African folktale that asks: "is honesty always the best policy?" Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.

Actor Richard Kind, known for his role in 'Inside Out', stars in this Middle Eastern folktale about a wise man named Nasruddin who teaches his village a lesson about judging a book by its cover. Nasruddin attends a dinner party where he is treated poorly due to his appearance, so he comes up with a clever plan involving a magic coat to show the importance of true character over appearances.

Keith David and James Naughton star in a folktale about a powerful king who discovers the importance of self-reliance. The cobbler's innovative solutions impress the king, leading to unexpected opportunities. Encourages listeners to reflect on challenging situations and share their stories.

Ailsa Chang and Joshua Rush co-star in this entertaining podcast where Anna navigates changing seasons, encounters magical beings on a journey to find scallions and strawberries, and learns the value of each month. January demonstrates power, causing all the months to disappear. Yet, Anna and Otto appreciate the gifts of each month and enjoy charming weather year-round on their farm.

Sela Ward ("Graves," "Independence Day") stars in a traditional English tale about a woman who can't seem to find home sweet home. Download a coloring page for this episode here: wbur.org/circleround/coloring-pages Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.

Miriam Shor ("Younger," "The Americans,") stars in this Portuguese folktale about a feathered creature who gives a young, inpatient man a lesson he'll never forget. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.

Being a good partner is all about give and take. But in today’s story, Sam Sanders (NPR) and Joshua Johnson (WAMU) co-star in a Ghanaian story about one man who's far more interested in the taking. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.

NPR's own Linda Wertheimer and Susan Stamberg co-star in a Kazakh folktale about lifelong friends whose bond is tested by the unexpected discovery of big treasure. Download a coloring page for this episode here: wbur.org/circleround/coloring-pages Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.

Hannah Simone ("New Girl") stars alongside her real-life father Naren Simone in a South Asian tale about the power of self-reliance. Download a coloring page for this episode here: wbur.org/circleround/coloring-pages Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.

Jason Alexander, known for his role in Seinfeld, stars in this Yiddish folktale about a man overwhelmed by his crowded house. He seeks advice from a wise old woman and brings chaos by bringing goats and chickens inside. He then seeks further guidance and tries bringing in a cow, leading to more frustration. Finally, he finds peace and spaciousness in his house with the help of the wise old woman.