Circle Round

Desmin Borges (You're The Worst, Utopia) plays a tiny bird with an ever-growing ego in this playful story with roots in Mexico and Puerto Rico. This Circle Round episode originally was released on Sept. 15, 2020. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.

Adam Goldberg (The Equalizer) stars in this Portuguese tale about ambitions, imposters, and making the feathers fly! This Circle Round episode originally was released on March 12, 2024. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.

Saara Chaudry (The Muppets Mayhem, Holly Hobby) stars in this tale from India and beyond about good deeds, bad intentions, and biscuits. Lots of biscuits. This Circle Round episode originally was released on Aug. 8, 2023. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.

Broadway's Aaron Bartz, Erik Christopher Peterson and Cara Ricketts (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child) headline a Jewish and Egyptian story about a high-stakes game of hide and seek. This Circle Round episode originally was released on Oct. 1, 2024. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.

Béchir Sylvain (Jurassic World Rebirth) stars as trickster Anansi in a West African tale about a magic stone, a major trick, and getting a taste of your own medicine. This Circle Round episode originally was released on Sept. 9, 2025. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.

Julian Lerner (The Wonder Years, Alma's Way) stars in a Ukrainian tale about how high-flying risks can pay off in the end. This Circle Round episode originally was released on Oct. 3, 2023. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.

Vanessa Aspillaga (Dora Saves the Snow Princess, Leave the World Behind) stars in this Puerto Rican and Chilean tale about baby basil, cuddly kittens, and how two heads can be better than one. This Circle Round episode originally was released on April 2, 2024. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.

Recorded live at Tanglewood with Boston Symphony Orchestra musicians and a star-studded cast, this Afghan tale follows a savvy seamstress and her chatty kitty on a royally epic adventure. This Circle Round episode originally was released on Aug. 5, 2025. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.

Welcome back to Circle Round Summer Camp! We're revisiting our favorite stories about the outdoors. Tatyana Ali (Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Abbot Elementary) and Jack De Sena (Lego Monkie Kid, Avatar: The Last Airbender) headline this Filipino story about getting the upper hand by taking the lower half. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.

Welcome back to Circle Round Summer Camp! We're revisiting our favorite stories about the outdoors. Jacob Laval (The Unbreakable Boy, John Mulaney and the Sack Lunch Bunch) and Amanda Warren (The Night Agent, East New York) headline a Sicilian tale about sowing the seeds of kindness, compassion and crocuses. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.

Welcome back to Circle Round Summer Camp! We're revisiting our favorite stories about the outdoors. Recorded live at The Aladdin Theater in Portland, OR, this high-flying tale explains how the islands of the Philippines came to be. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.

Welcome back to Circle Round Summer Camp! We're revisiting our favorite stories about the outdoors. 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.

Welcome back to Circle Round Summer Camp! We're revisiting our favorite stories about the outdoors. Recorded live at Symphony Hall with Boston Symphony Orchestra musicians and a star-studded cast, this indigenous Pacific Northwest tale follows a wily coyote on a daring rescue. This Circle Round episode originally was released on Feb. 18. 2025. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.

Welcome back to Circle Round Summer Camp! We're revisiting our favorite stories about the outdoors. Cree Summer (Good Times, Abbott Elementary) headlines a Blackfoot legend about fast friends, warm winds, and why bears hibernate during the winter. This Circle Round episode originally was released on May 7, 2024. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.

Welcome back to Circle Round Summer Camp! We're revisiting our favorite stories about the outdoors. Jessika Van (Seoul Searching, Awkward) and Mark Pellegrino (American Rust, Beverly Hills Cop: Axel Foley) co-star in a Welsh tale about a girl, a drought, and a mouse with a life-saving secret. This Circle Round episode originally was released on May 14, 2024. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.

Welcome back to Circle Round Summer Camp! We're revisiting our favorite stories about the outdoors. Comedian Alonzo Bodden (Wait, Wait... Don't Tell Me!, Heavy Lightweight) headlines this African legend about how one animal’s mischief created the savanna’s most majestic, magical trees. This Circle Round episode originally was released on Nov. 7, 2023. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.

Circle Round continues our special presentation of WBUR's new podcast, The Midnight Rebellion, with Chapter 3, "Into the Machine." If you have not listened to Chapter 1, go back and start there! The Midnight Rebellion tells the story of a girl on an adventure in a watery world where everything is wrong. She has to set it right—with your help. Each episode ends with a choice that YOU make. **Recommended for ages 7 and up.** To hear more episodes, search for The Midnight Rebellion in your podcast app and follow the show, or visit ⁠wbur.org/midnight⁠. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.

Circle Round continues our special presentation of WBUR's new podcast, The Midnight Rebellion, with Chapter 2, "Get Hart." If you have not listened to Chapter 1, go back to the previous episode and start there. The Midnight Rebellion tells the story of a girl on an adventure in a watery world where everything is wrong. She has to set it right—with your help. Each episode ends with a choice that YOU make. **Recommended for ages 7 and up.** To hear more episodes, search for The Midnight Rebellion in your podcast app and follow the show, or visit wbur.org/midnight. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.

Circle Round brings you a special new podcast: The Midnight Rebellion, by WBUR, the same place that makes our show! Heads up! This podcast is recommended for ages 7+. The Midnight Rebellion, starring Erika Henningsen (Netflix's "The Four Seasons") and others, tells the story of a girl on an adventure in a watery world where everything is wrong. And she has to set it right—with help from YOU. Each episode ends with a choice. What YOU choose changes the story, sometimes for the better, and sometimes ... not. Either way, it's fun! To hear more episodes, search for The Midnight Rebellion in your podcast app and follow the show, or visit wbur.org/midnight. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.

Welcome back to Circle Round Summer Camp! We're revisiting our favorite stories about the outdoors. Broadway stars Lorna Courtney (& Juliet) and Shoba Narayan (Aladdin) face off in this Indian legend about a tiny bird who opens up a farmer’s eyes in a big way. This Circle Round episode originally was released on Dec. 20, 2022. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.

Welcome back to Circle Round Summer Camp! We're revisiting our favorite stories about the outdoors. Recorded live at Symphony Hall with Boston Symphony Orchestra members and a star-studded cast, this Swedish tale sheds magical light on kindness, caring, and letting roots run deep. This Circle Round episode originally was released on Oct. 28, 2025. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.

Welcome back to Circle Round Summer Camp! We're revisiting our favorite stories about the outdoors. Tantoo Cardinal (Killers of the Flower Moon, Three Pines) and Jonathan Joss (King of the Hill, Tulsa King) star in this sweet and sour Wabanaki tale about how people first learned to tap maple trees. This Circle Round episode originally was released on March 28, 2023. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.

Welcome to Circle Round Summer Camp! This summer, camp counselor Erika Henningsen (The Four Seasons, The Midnight Rebellion) will be reintroducing us to some of our favorite episodes celebrating the great outdoors and spending time with others outside. 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! This Circle Round episode originally was released on Jan. 24, 2023. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.

This Circle Round episode originally was released on Oct. 31, 2023. Kimberly Guerrero (Spirit Rangers, Reservation Dogs) stars in a tale from the Lakota people about one thieving fox and four wise winds. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.

Film, TV and theater star Maria-Christina Oliveras (The Balusters, Cymbeline) headlines a Portuguese tale about the magical ways stories bring us together. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.

Marielle Heller (A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, Can You Ever Forgive Me) and Jorma Taccone (The Lonely Island and Seth Meyers Podcast, Little Fox and the Wild Imagination) headline a Seneca and Shawnee legend about how the raccoon got its eye mask and tail stripes. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.

Carolyn Michelle (Familiar Touch, The Chi) and Christopher Rivas (Brown Enough, Rubirosa) headline a Maya tale about lies having short legs... and long tails! Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.

Musician and podcaster Hrishikesh Hirway (Song Exploder) plays a cocky rooster in this Southern American tale about judging a book by its cover and eating humble pie. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.

Vivien Lyra Blair (Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Boogeyman) headlines this story from the indigenous peoples of Siberia about a supernatural spirit with a very cold shoulder. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.

Edi Gathegi ("The Harder They Fall," "For All Mankind") stars in this East African story about twin brothers, enchanted fruit, and the magic of an open heart. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.

Charlene Amoia (The Breadwinner, How I Met Your Mother) plays a tiny but mighty bird in this French legend about the origin of fire. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.

This Is Us co-stars (and That Was Us co-hosts) Sterling K. Brown, Mandy Moore and Chris Sullivan co-star in a multi-cultural legend about two conceited coyotes and the fox who outfoxes them. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.

Recorded live in Cleveland, OH, this Appalachian tale proves that true friends stick together through thick, thin, and everything in between. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.

Recorded live in Cleveland, OH, this Japanese story pits a wise baker against two tricky goblins who refuse to face their fears. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.

George Salazar (Be More Chill, Superstore) plays a wise-cracking waterborne vessel in this Brazilian story about the extraordinary things teamwork can bring. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.

Samantha Béart (Baldur's Gate 3, Star Wars: The Old Republic) plays a sorceress with a knack for brewing up trouble in this tale with Sudanese, Egyptian and Palestinian roots. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.

Krassimira Belev (The Therapy) and acclaimed violinist Christian Hebel star in a Romani tale about how the very first violin came to be. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.

Bestselling children's author Meena Harris (Maya's Big Question, Kamala and Maya's Big Idea) plays an ambitious coyote in this Shoshone, Shasta and Hupa legend about how summer and winter came to be. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.

Recorded live at Symphony Hall with Boston Symphony Orchestra players and a star-studded cast, this Buddhist story from Tibet and India proves we can all be helpers, no matter our size. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.

Recorded live at Symphony Hall with Boston Symphony Orchestra players and a star-studded cast, this Sioux legend follows a rascally raccoon on a gutsy -- and gummy -- quest. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.

Recorded live in Glendale, CA, this Haitian tale about two blacksmiths whose banging, clanging, clinking and clanking cause a presidential uproar. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.

Recorded live in Glendale, CA, this story with roots in India and Vietnam follows a trio of birds on an illuminating adventure to bring back to the sun. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.

Tatyana Ali (Abbott Elementary, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air) stars as a savvy starfish who outwits a wily whale in this tale from Aboriginal Australia. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.

Jeff Meacham (Black-ish, Vampirina) plays a hapless hero whose life turns upside-down in this humorous tale from Great Britain, Italy, Russia and the Philippines. 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.

NPR's Peter Sagal (Wait, Wait... Don't Tell Me!) stars in this Russian story about how fantastically priceless a little generosity can be. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.

Kennedy Kanagawa (Into The Woods) plays a young man who brings light to a dark world in this tale with roots in Alaska Native and First Nations legends. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.

Gabe Kunda (Marvel Rivals, Apex Legends) and Natasha Rothwell (The White Lotus, Insecure) co-star in a Ugandan legend about friendship, rivalry, and making music. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.

Ravi V. Patel (Animal Control, LEGO Masters Jr.) headlines this Indian tale about distinguishing need from greed with help from grain, gold, and a barrel of lies. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.

Recorded live in Charlotte, NC, this Brazilian tale pits a round-rumped, fleet-footed critter against a teeny-tiny insect in a surprisingly high-flying race. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", here.