Dorktales Storytime

Send voice or text msg Oh helloooo, boils and ghouls! It is I… Jonathan Cormur, the SCARE-rator! If you've been following our Kooky Spooky Countdown , it has all been leading up to this: Elise Parisian, the host of Unspookable , sits down with Adam Gidwitz, the creator and host of Grimm, Grimmer, Grimmest and New York Times best-selling author, to talk about scary stories themselves. Why do w...

Send voice or text msg A tale of artistry, innovation, and lasting legacy! Makoto Hagiwara, a Japanese American landscape architect, transformed a World’s Fair exhibit into San Francisco’s Japanese Tea Garden. It's the oldest public Japanese garden in the United States, still cherished as a place of peace and natural beauty. Makoto was also the inventive mind behind the modern fortune cookie!...

Send voice or text msg Don your finest mythical attire and set off for a day of frolic and festivity at Mythdom’s annual Fairy Faire. Let the Fairy Godmother, Fey, be your enchanting guide on a grand tour through stalls brimming with splendid finery and magical wares crafted by the fair folk of Fairie. Meet a pint-sized blacksmith who forges armor fit for legends, wander the lanes in search of joy...

Send voice or text msg The leaves are crunching, the apples are baking, and Redge is wearing his favorite autumn sweater… He’s ready to for another round of your curious, clever, and heartwarming questions.  In this autumn edition of Mr. Redge’s Hotline, Jonathan and Redge talk favorite sports, real-world friends, and the finest forest snacks. They share a collection of your brilliant ideas, heart...

Send voice or text msg Something spooky is afoot in the Folktale Forest! This autumn, chaos is striking every seasonal celebration. Decorations are being destroyed. Party snacks keep disappearing. And terrified witnesses claim they’ve seen a howling creature on the loose. Everyone’s pointing paws at Big Bad Wolf, but he says he’s innocent. That’s when his junior detective friends, Redge, Jonathan...

Send voice or text msg Talk Like a Pirate Day be here, and we be settin’ sail once more on our pirate adventure for all ye story-lovin’ listener buccaneers! Ahoy, me hearties! Hop aboard Captain Edgarrr Matey's ship for an epic journey to Davey Jones Diner and the Plot Hook islands—where the seafaring folk sing shanties and tell tales of lost pirate booty. Armed with a secret map, our Folktal...

Send voice or text msg A tale of imagination, invention and real-life magic! Lanny Smoot is an Imagineer and electrical engineer with more than 100 patented inventions for Disney theme parks. He’s the mind behind the real-life lightsaber and a floor that makes you feel like you’re moving through other worlds. His inventive spirit started early, inspired by his father and a fascination with the lig...

Send voice or text msg Today we have something extra special for you here on Dorktales Storytime. We’re sharing A Very Suspicious Island , the very first episode of a brand-new podcast called Tales from the Cloud Sea. This funny, completely made-up-as-they-go adventure follows Amelia and Arthur, two kids who discover a secret in their attic that whisks them away to a world of floating sky islands,...

Send voice or text msg High above the Folktale Forest, teams of geese, sparrows, falcons and seagulls show off their best stunts in the annual sky surfing competition. With flips, spins, swirls, and daring dives, the teams dazzle the cheering crowds and impress the judges. When a member of the Sky Soaring Seagulls gets injured mid-flight, the team’s hopes rest on Shrimp, the nervous fifth alternat...

Send voice or text msg A tale of athletic feats and unstoppable spirit! Meet three superstars who took their shot and ruled their sport. Althea Gibson, the first Black woman to win a tennis championship, smashed records and shattered barriers on and off the court. Lusia Harris made history with the very first basket in Olympic women’s basketball, earning her crown as the “Queen of Basketball.” Dur...

Send voice or text msg It’s time for a story replay! This one’s all about starting something new - like a brand new school year - and all the feelings that can come with it. You might be excited, nervous, or even a little bit of both. Jonathan and Redge’s friend Big Bad felt the same way when it was time for him to go back to school. With help from his friends and some calming tools, he learned ho...

Send voice or text msg While Jonathan and Redge take a summer break, we have a special treat from our new pod pals at Cozy Critters, the podcast perfect for bedtime or anytime you need a calming adventure. And guess what? The episode we’re sharing is all about hedgehogs! Dougie Pickles and his purr-fest host, Miss Meow Meow will tell you more about these cute and cozy critters - with soothing soun...

Send voice or text msg “Big breath, magic at my fingertips, and a quest in my heart!” Owen was trying to enjoy some tea and a little magical me-time when—oops!—they accidentally cast a very real, very powerful spell straight from the pages of their favorite comic, Gwyn Guardian the Grand . When an evil shadow wizard escapes from the story and into the real world, Owen realizes that only a dangerou...

Send voice or text msg In Wonderland, nothing is ever quite what it seems, including Alice’s birthday. The White Rabbit, who promised to celebrate with her, keeps darting off in all directions. Even the Mad Hatter deflates her hopes for a special day when he un-invites her to tea—because it’s not her unbirthday. Feeling lost and forgotten, Alice wonders if anything can turn the day around—until th...

Send voice or text msg The sun is shining, the questions are sizzling, and Mr. Redge is soaking it all in—headphones on, beach towel out, and ready for the A’s to your Q’s!  It’s the summer edition of Mr. Redge’s Hotline, where we answer YOUR curious, clever, and wonder-filled questions. Jonathan and Redge share favorite podcast moments, reveal the most important lore story from the Land of Once U...

Send voice or text msg While exploring the Fantasea in their magical minivan-submarine, Jonathan and Redge discover Red Herring Reef, a vibrant underwater village. Just in time for the annual Jubilee of the Sea art show, they meet Ariel the mermaid, who dazzles as the MuSEAum’s lively curator. While on the School of Fish tour, they find one of the frames is mysteriously empty! Their curiosity turn...

Send voice or text msg A tale of secret codes and early computers! Alan Turing was a British mathematician and thinker who helped turn the tide of World War II for the United Kingdom and its allies. His groundbreaking work also laid the foundation for much of the technology we use today. As a child, Alan loved solving puzzles—like tracking the patterns of bees—and as a teen, he spent many late nig...

Send voice or text msg Hesper, the Fairy of the Evening Star, casts a dream-traveling spell to take Redge on his long-awaited journey to Slumberland. With her moth companion, Vesper, by her side, the trio soar along the starry brick road to explore the dreamy realm’s enchanting destinations—from a visit to the Shut Eye Shopping District, a cuppa at Forty Winks Tea House, and a run through the clou...

Send voice or text msg With binoculars ready and journals in hand, Jonathan and Redge meet up with their Bigfoot friend, Samuel Squatch, for a day of birdwatching by Legend Lake. The bird-loving buddies soon learn that migration season is more than the return of their favorite birds—it’s a full blown fashion event! As glowing fairies light up the forest canopy, birds both real and mythical strut t...

Send voice or text msg A story of early Earth science in action! Mary Anning was a pioneering paleontologist and fossil hunter who reshaped our understanding of prehistoric life. Growing up by the seaside cliffs of Lyme Regis, England, she uncovered ancient creatures hidden in the rocks—like giant sea reptiles and even fossilized dinosaur poop! Her discoveries helped scientists understand that cre...

Send voice or text msg We’re bringing you a bonus episode from our friends at Koala Shine —a podcast full of exciting, mindful adventures with wonderful characters like Koko the Koala, Hector & Sunny, and the Jupiter Twins. Their storyteller, Kelly, will take you to incredible places—from Ancient Rome to the Land of Dinosaurs—sharing awesome facts and jokes along the way! The story we’ve chose...

Send voice or text msg Jonathan and Redge travel to the Cliffhangers eager to witness the legendary Color Pillars glow in the Spring Equinox light. But when they arrive in the village of Symbol Ism, they discover something is terribly wrong—the once-vibrant pillars are covered in an eerie, unexplainable muck. As they search for answers, they encounter someone who sees the fading pillars as a sign...

Send voice or text msg Something mysterious is happening over Legend Lake—stars are vanishing from the night sky! When Jack A. Lope and Double-Oh-Quills receive an urgent message from Agent M, they suit up and soar into action. With the help of Kit and a clever prairie dog named Dusty, they track the missing stars to a top-secret lair hidden in plain sight. But who—or what—is behind this cosmic ca...

Send voice or text msg It's time for another Mr. Redge’s Hotline—where we answer your questions and give some very special shout outs!  Redge kicks things off with a hedgehog-huzzah for Ada, age 7, and then we’re off on a Q&A adventure with you, our amazing listeners. Want to know Redge’s top 10 favorite Dorktales stories (at least for the moment)? Wondering how a hedgehog gets a haircut...

Send voice or text msg A story of drive and determination! Shirley Chisholm, known as being a person for the people, was the first Black woman elected to the U.S. Congress. From her childhood in Brooklyn and Barbados to standing up for fairness, education and equal rights, Shirley never backed down from a challenge. She boldly ran for President to continue her quest to make life better for everyon...