The Apple Seed

Gather your family to listen to stories about how, by weathering trials and time, resilient love puts us back together. (00:57) "Love is a Rodeo" - Kevin Kling tells a story about how the love worth waiting for won't just watch your best efforts, but will pull right along with you. (16:22) Sam Payne tells a story about the innovative way Sam's mom helped him to learn to read. (20:41) "The Cowtail...

Gather your family to listen to stories about how a handyman can come in all shapes and surprises. (1:04) "Braswell Cleans Tombstones" - Andy Offutt Irwin tells a story about his ambitious friend, Braswell, who, with his Pontiac and a pressure hose, lends a hand in more ways than one. (15:49) Sam Payne tells a story someone in the background showing up to help. (19:21) "The Dryer Story" - Bil Lepp...

Gather your family to listen to stories about how, no matter how wild the catastrophe, the story can always get sillier. (1:05) "Silly Jack" - Debs Newbold tells the story of an exasperated wife who is reminded that, silly as a loved one may be, there are sillier people yet to meet. (18:06) Sam Payne tells a story about his first appearance in a play, and of a conversation with his dad that taught...

Gather your family to listen to stories about enviable treats and the lengths some hungry youngsters will go to for them. (00:52) "Mrs. Lunchroom Lady" - Bill Harley tells a story of his elementary school cafeteria, where even pricier than friends and first servings are...the hot bread 'n butter sandwiches. (16:27) Sam Payne tells a story about memorable characters that helped at his elementary sc...

Gather your family to listen to a bonus feature of original stories told by members of National Youth Storytelling, and recorded live in the Apple Seed studios. (1:42) "Candy House Witch" - Claire Burnham tells an adaptation of "Hansel and Gretel" that sheds some light on a misunderstood perspective--the evil witch herself! (8:57) "Texas Tall Tale" - Rebekah Garcia combines personal experience wit...

Gather your family to listen to stories about a couple playful plots that both end in funerals...and a whole lot of fun. (00:58) "Raised on Hose Water" - Bil Lepp tells his rip-roaring tale about water bars, stolen goats, and a veritable mine of brewing mischief. (15:25) Sam Payne shares memories about his community park's drinking fountain. (19:25) "Anansi and the Pot" - Donna Washington shares a...

Gather your family to listen to stories about appreciating the tale behind every experience and the world behind every person. (1:07) "People I Meet" - Kim Weitkamp shares poignant recollections of asking for the stories that individuals everywhere are hoping to give. (11:11) Sam Payne tells a story about the connection his son made with elderly neighbors. (14:55) "Milo's Tune" - Bill Harley tells...

Gather your family to listen to stories about big and little acts of redemption. (1:03) "Elijah's Menorah" - Shonaleigh shares a tale about the beautiful promise of redemption--all in good time. (11:50) Sam Payne tells a story about one of his last visits to his grandmother's bedside, and a special something of hers he was asked to choose. (16:41) "Ixchel and the Dragonflies" - Carolina tells a fa...

(1:03) Memories of year-round kindness with the hosts of BYUradio's podcasts - Part 1, featuring stories of teacher appreciation, anonymous givers, and prayers near and far. (14:01) Memories of year-round kindness with the hosts of BYUradio's podcasts - Part 2, featuring stories of shoveled driveways, community teamwork, and a Tim Tam slam. (31:38) Sam sings his original Christmas song "Stars," ab...

Gather your family to listen to stories about gift-giving and adventure that will carry listeners into the holiday season. (1:06) "The Gift of the Magi" - Ed Stivender tells a classic O. Henry tale of Christmas gifts bought with sacrifice and love, and a great deal of wisdom. (14:27) Sam Payne tells a story about his grandfather and his gift of a piano that kept on giving. (19:34) "Uncle Ephraim a...

(00:00) Trailer for our new Christmas Jars podcast. Gather your family to listen to stories about tall tales that are truly unbelievable. (2:44) "Courthouse Tall Tales" - Tim Lowry shares about the propensity for tall-tale-telling in one small town community, including three nonsensical tales about a talking mule, a singing catfish, and a prayerful bear. (11:19) Sam Payne tells a story about the p...

Gather your family to listen to a satisfying feast of stories. (00:41) "Grandma Jo and the Holiday Pig" - Lyn Ford tells her story about a laughably unappetizing menu and a grandma who saves the children's day. (10:39) Sam Payne tells a story about how food has been an important part of building family memories. (14:47) "Yeast Rolls" - Bill Harley tells a side-gripping story about childhood glutto...

Gather your family to listen to stories about the nitty gritty things in life that just might make a pearl. (1:15) "Pigwisps" - Angela Lloyd tells a story about oysters, pearls, and crossed fingers, but especially how the letter X made its mark. (14:17) Sam Payne tells a story about bedtime rituals with his young kids, and the song that was made in the process. (17:27) "Shayla's Prescriptions" - A...

Gather your family to listen to stories about how there are many ways to celebrate and worship God. (00:51) "Jack Mar Builds a House" - Donald Davis tells a story about the childhood recognition that good is not confined to one place or person. (11:26) Sam Payne talks about what keeps his family close even though they come from different religious backgrounds. (16:48) "Jerusalem Mourn" - Josh Gofo...

Gather your family around while we listen to stories of overcoming our foes with cleverness. (00:54) "Anansi and His Six Children" - Charlotte Blake Alston brings us a story of a West African trickster who was saved by his clever children. (6:33) Sam Payne tells a story about his trickster brother. (10:56) "Brer Rabbit and the Tar Baby" - Donna Washington introduces and brings to life Brer Rabbit,...

Gather your family to listen to stories fit for the Halloween holiday. (00:36) "The Witch of Laggan" - Mara Menzies tells a story for the season about a hunter, a witch, and the devil himself. (11:00) Sam Payne talks about his change of heart towards the holiday of Halloween. (15:33) "Pency Cemetery" - Kim Weitkamp shares a story and a song about old Marcus Anthony Ramsey, a cemetery keeper who wa...

Gather your family to listen to stories about how even plans gone awry can make for zany memories. (00:37) "Diablo, or How I Met My Wife" - Bil Lepp tells the story of how he met his wife while working at a summer camp. One ride on a headstrong horse taught him the risks and rewards of trying something new. (16:21) Sam Payne tells a story about the mishaps of trying to build a screened-in porch fo...

Gather your family to listen to stories about children with big mouths and big ideas. Whether human or amphibian, their brashness will make your jaw drop with laughter. (1:00) "Potholders" - Kim Weitkamp tells about her experience as a kid creating a business with an interesting marketing scheme. The story she tells people to buy her goods might surprise you--because it surely surprised her neighb...

Gather your family to listen to stories about true bravery in the face of your fears and doing the right thing. (1:06) "Pedrito and the Skull" - Carolina the Storyteller shares a story where young Pedrito is the only one brave enough to face the haunted skull. (9:19) Sam Payne tells a story about being scared by his neighborhood ghost stories. (15:14) "Rush Cape" - Ed Stivender tells a story about...

Gather your family to listen to stories about yearning for and getting a chance at true love. Will our heroes take the chance? Will it pay off? (0:55) "Frog Kissing" - Geraldine Buckley tells a story about a surprise visitor in her shower and the opportunity for love that knocked, had she only listened to fairytales and bedtime stories. (6:48) Sam Payne tells us a story about an experience with hi...

Gather your family to listen to stories about the making and breaking of curses. Are curses always a curse? (1:50) "Beauty's Beast" - Donna Washington tells a story that is based on the well-known fairytale, Beauty and the Beast--but with a twist. Get the real scoop from the Fairy Godmother who cast the curse. (14:31) Sam Payne shares a story about taking an aptitude test in high school--one which...

Gather your family to listen to stories and songs about freedom and, in particular, about American slavery and the civil rights movement. (2:04) "Wade in the Water" - This story by Sheila Arnold is intertwined with the powerful spiritual by the same name. It's the story of a slave named Moses, his fight for freedom, and the terrible price people pay when their freedom is threatened. Content warnin...

Join us as Apple Seed listeners tell us some of their own stories - some of them inspired by The Apple Seed. (1:31) "Ameba Meningitis" - Listener Becca Hurley tells about a health freak-out. (5:53) "David and King Arthur" - Listener Karla Huntsman tells about a student whose life was changed by a school play. (10:02) "Froggy Goes to School" - Listener Paul Eberting tells a childhood memory of misc...

Gather your family to listen to stories about those moments when you realize you've more like your parents than you may even want to admit. For good or for bad, our families shape us into who we are. (1:38) "What Can I Say?" - Josh Goforth tells a personal story about the two types of people in his family and how a surprising revelation strengthened Josh's relationship with his dad and helped him...

Gather your family to listen to Angela Lloyd's twist on the classic fairytale Cinderella. (2:22) "Cinderella's Choice" - Angela Lloyd tells a story that focuses on the relationship Cinderella had with her mother and how that shaped the person Cinderella became. Maybe our choices refelct who we are, and there is much more beneath the surface of every individual when we are ready to listen to their...