Circle Round

Recorded live at KCRW in Santa Monica, CA, this story with international roots shows how having a soft spot for hard work can pay off -- big time! Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Recorded live at KCRW in Santa Monica, CA, this story from Thailand, Laos, and Malaysia gives a whole new meaning to "promising the moon"! Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Recorded live at Round House Theatre in Bethesda, MD, this African tale explains how the guinea fowl got its distinctively speckled feathers. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Recorded live at Round House Theatre in Bethesda, MD, this tale from the Jewish tradition shows how misplacing our trust can put us in a sticky situation! Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Willam Mapother (Lost, On Sacred Ground) headlines this Romanian tale about a story-less man who hopes his tale will end happily ever after! Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Pablo Castelblanco (Alaska Daily, Ganymede) and Meredith Holzman (Alaska Daily, Inventing Anna) headline a story with Burmese and Indian roots about a humble peddler, a magic squirrel, and a golden opportunity. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Taylor Richardson (The Gilded Age) and Alison Wright (The Americans, Snowpiercer) co-star in this Irish tale about mischievous fairies and the power of music. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Stephanie Panisello (What If...?, Ba Da Bean) stars in a Filipino tale about the sweet role kindness can play in achieving your dreams. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Nazneen Contractor (Holidazed, Star Wars Resistance) plays a cunning barber whose wits are as sharp as her scissors in this clever Bengali tale. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Comedians Fortune Feimster (Good Fortune, FUBAR) and Tom Papa (What a Day!, You're Doing Great!) face off in a contest of brawn versus brains in this tale with roots across Europe, and Latin and North America. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Broadway performer Brittney Johnson (Wicked) stars in an Estonian story about being able to control the weather -- and the responsibility such power brings. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

In this magical tale from Japan, Marc delaCruz (If/Then, Hamilton) plays a lowly cook whose kitchen scraps bring him a golden reward. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Mel Rodriguez (The Afterparty, CSI: Vegas) stars in this Ecuadorian tale about a talented architect who has a devil of a time meeting a seemingly impossible deadline. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Tantoo Cardinal (Killers of the Flower Moon, Three Pines) and Jonathan Joss (King of the Hill, Tulsa King) star in this Wabanaki tale about how people first learned to tap maple trees. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Jackie Chung (The Summer I Turned Pretty, Coming Home Again) and Louis Ozawa (Hunters, Pachinko) star in this rollicking tale from Africa about how the zebra got its stripes and the baboon got its bare bottom. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

We celebrate our 200th episode with two Circle Round alums -- Jon Jon Briones (Ratched, Class of ‘09) and Kathleen Chalfant (The Affair, House of Cards) -- starring in a Jewish tale about how revenge is a dish best served cold. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Tallie Medel (Everything Everywhere All At Once, Cocoon Central Dance Team) headlines this Moroccan Jewish tale about how pursuing your passion can be music to everyone’s ears. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Eric Bauza (Bugs Bunny Builders, Woody Woodpecker) and Harry Shum Jr. (Everything Everywhere All At Once, Crazy Rich Asians) star in an Indonesian story about a bad egg who winds up in a real pickle when he tries having his cake and eating it too. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Kyla Pratt (Call Me Kat, The Proud Family) headlines this Ethiopian story about the power of facing your fears. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Diana Lee Inosanto (The Mandalorian, The Curious Mind of Sebastian) and Myrna Velasco (Elena of Avalor, Trick-or-Treat Scooby-Doo!) star in this Venezuelan story about loyalty, courage, and the supernatural power of friendship. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Jennifer Hale (Stars Wars: The Clone Wars, Mass Effect) and Connor Ratliff (Dead Eyes, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) star in this tricky tale about donkeys, ducats, and being a good neighbor. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Trinity Jo-Li Bliss (Avatar: The Way of Water, The Garcias), Jen Cohn (Welcome to Chippendales, Star Wars: The Old Republic) and America Young (Barbie, Gotham Knights) star in a classic folktale about the unexpected upside of imperfection. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

In this Taiwanese tale starring Karen Huie (Welcome to Flatch, Abominable and the Invisible City), a town learns the bad taste it can leave when you bite off more than you can chew! Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Liza Lapira (The Equalizer, Must Love Christmas) and Telly Leung (Allegiance, Warrior) star in this folktale from Japan about good days, bad days, and the gift that keeps on giving. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .

Scott Lawrence (Star Wars Resistance, Vader Immortal) stars in this African legend about how the hippopotamus came to be the decidedly distinctive creature it is today. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here .