Dorktales Storytime

Send us Fan Mail In this fall/winter edition of Mr. Redge’s Hotline, Jonathan and Redge answer listener questions about favorite trees, forest friends, quills, and Redge’s favorite color. They celebrate fans’ creative ideas, share the stories behind listener-inspired episodes, and give shout outs to fans from around the world. Plus, discover how to take part in the Dorktales community beyond listening to the Dorktales Storytime podcast! Stories for Kids Mentioned in this Episode: Jolly Holly ...

Send us Fan Mail Mysterious thund-earths are shaking things up in the Folktale Forest and no one knows why. Jack suspects the Ogress is still angry over his shady shenanigans, so he builds a golden ladder to return to the land of the giants. Why would he ever want to go back? He’s on a mission to make amends for stealing a bag of gold, a hen that lays golden eggs and a golden harp. But he and his friends are in for an astonishing surprise when they discover that two big, very happy feet are t...

Send us Fan Mail Meet Jack. Is he daft or the dealmaker of the century when he sells his cow for 5 beans? His mother thinks he’s out of his mind until they sprout into a giant beanstalk that reaches the sky, where he discovers a giant castle filled with bags of gold, the goose that lays the golden eggs, and a magical golden harp! Despite a kind welcome from the ogress, Jack keeps sneaking into the castle and taking its treasures so he and his mom can have a lovely cottage with all the modern ...

Send us Fan Mail Redge has a mop and a dream! He wants to turn Raven’s Roost mansion into a beautiful bed and breakfast for the magical and mysterious residents of the Foreshadow. Even the raven’s warning of spirits, ghouls, and frights dwelling within won’t keep him and Jonathan from their cleanup. But when flying sponges, dancing mops, a piano that plays itself, and an endless hallway send them scrambling, they realize that the house may be unfixable. Can they convince its ghostly resident ...

Send us Fan Mail As soon as the leaves fall, the Folktale Forest hedgehogs turn them into maple leaf medals. They award them to the trees every autumn for their exemplary service to the land and its critters. Now, Jonathan and Mr. Redge are adding to this annual tradition by honoring the unique talents and contributions of their forest friends. And what better way to celebrate than a razzle-dazzling awards show with dancing trios, wonderful wordsmiths, astonishing acrobats, and one famous roo...

Send us Fan Mail Nessie comes to Legend Lake every summer for one thing: some peace and quiet! All she wants is some time alone to study the amazing rock collection she found deep in the hidden caves beneath her loch. But when a crowd of mythical creatures shows up hoping to spot the famous Loch Ness Monster, her safe haven turns into a chaotic mess. Her friends try to help, but their diversion just makes things worse. Now, Nessie must find the courage to step out of the shadows and show ever...

Send us Fan Mail When an acorn strikes a blow onto Henny Penny’s head, she mistakenly fears the worst and believes that the whole sky is falling! As she waddles off to warn the farmyard, her fine-feathered friends join in the panic. When a fiendish fox offers to help, Henny Penny realizes that she and her bird buddies are in for some real trouble. Can her sense of danger help her save the day? This stories for kids episode, The Great Acorn Incident, is a Dorktales Classic reimagining of...

Send us Fan Mail A tale of a trailblazing Filipina doctor and her life-saving invention! Inspired by her sister’s dream of becoming a doctor, Dr. Fe Del Mundo devoted her life to helping children. She broke barriers to study medicine and became the first Filipino and first person of Asian background to study at Harvard University. In the Philippines, she cared for children during World War II, opened the first pediatric hospital, and brought healthcare to children in rural communities. She al...

Send us Fan Mail Taylor the Valley Hen is new to the neighborhood, and even though she’s got plenty to be proud of, she’s still nervous about making new friends. When the giants hear about her spectacular six-grain feat, they invite her to boogie down at the biggest bash ever! Taylor fears she’ll look foolish at the party and no one will like her. Will her nerves get the best of her, or will she find the courage to be herself and dance her way into some wonderful new friendships? This stories...

Send us Fan Mail Redge is taking Ariel, the little mermaid, on a photography adventure through Once Upon a Time to find the most magical and extraordinary things the land has to offer. Her search quickly turns into a day of delightful distractions, from flipping flapjacks at Granny’s Diner, to exploring little thing-a-ma-jigs in the community garden, to having fits of fascination over the library. As Ariel zooms in on unexpected details, she discovers that magical moments can be found in the ...

Send us Fan Mail If your child is experiencing back to school anxiety, this story for kids will validate their feelings and build confidence before a new school year begins. We explore first day of school worries and share gentle ways to help anxious kids conquer their fear of the unknown. Big Bad Wolf is starting a new school year and he’s having back to school jitters. He’s worried his wolf classmates will continue to make fun of him over his embarrassing incident during last year’s h...

Send us Fan Mail The Mad Hatter is facing the Cheshire Cat in the final round of the Wonderland Poetry Slam, where rhymes and wordplay take center stage. When his allergies threaten to turn every line into a giant sneeze, his friends must think fast to save the show. Without a moment to spare, a little Wonderland nonsense, a spoonful of honey from a singing bee, and a bit of quick-thinking improvisation help turn an unexpected setback into a clever comeback. PARENTS, TEACHERS AND HOMESCHOOLER...

Send us Fan Mail 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 the Cheshire Cat appears with a curious new path to follow. In a land where left is right and up is down,...

Send us Fan Mail OH NO! Alice accidentally summoned the Jabberwock who’s causing chaos across Wonderland. She’s frantic to banish the bullying beast when the Cheshire Cat pops in to lend a paw or… tail? Can this feline mischief-maker help Alice and her friends find a way out of this monster jam? Purrrhaps. Or, maybe what’s called for is a little curiosity and self-discovery to show Alice she already glows with the power to send the creature back to his home. This reimagined Lewis Carroll port...

Send us Fan Mail After tumbling down the rabbit hole, Alice and Redge find themselves smack dab in the middle of the Queen of Hearts’ kingdom. Seeing the queen’s subjects so sad over her very bad temper and impossible expectations, the two come up with a clever croquet challenge to help her learn that winning isn’t everything. Can the queen learn that good sportsmanship makes every game more fun, or will she keep sending everyone… OFF TO THEIR BEDS?! This reimagined Lewis Carroll portal fanta...

Send us Fan Mail Jack A. Lope and Double 0 Quills race across the stars to uncover the mysterious disappearance of the science vessel Biblio 5 and its crew. Their mission leads them through floating space junk, cosmic dust bunnies, and a gerbil triple threat until they land right in the clutches of the evil cat captain of the Star Scratcher. With the fate of Once Upon a Time hanging by a thread, the spies must outsmart this clever feline before his purr-fectly twisted plan turns it into a hop...

Send us Fan Mail There's tension in the Folktale Forest! When two friends disagree over the blueprints for Midge the Pidge's new birdhouse, their argument starts to spin out of control. To help them see things differently, Jonathan shares the legendary tall tale of Pecos Bill, the rootinest-tootinest, roughest, toughest cowboy who rode a raging tornado and left behind one unforgettable legend about the Grand Canyon. Yippee-ki-yay! Will the friends learn to listen, compromise, and work togethe...

Send us Fan Mail A story of galactic grit and refusing to give up! Dr. Vera Rubin’s love of science and the stars began early. At 14, she and her father built a cardboard telescope so she could track meteors. She dreamt of becoming an astronomer, a career many believed was impossible for a woman at the time. But Vera never let limitations hold her back. From her school days to her work as a scientist, she followed her curiosity, overcame obstacles, and made discoveries that changed astronomy ...

Send us Fan Mail Beware of the horrifying hedgewolf! Or maybe beware the bored shepherd boy who decides to entertain himself by playing the same trick over and over again. When the mischievous youngster cries “Hedgewolf” not once, not twice, but three times, the townspeople come running to help. But what will happen to the far-fetched fibber when he finally needs their help for real? Will anyone listen? This reimagined Aesop fable, The Boy Who Cried Wolf, is a Dorktales stories for kids Class...

Send us Fan Mail Athena and her best friend Pallas love playing beautiful music together, so they eagerly sign up for Litropia’s first Fabulous Flautist Competition. Both are determined to do their best while cheering each other on along the way. But Athena’s prideful father, Zeus, zaps Pallas’s confidence when he tries to give Athena an unfair advantage. Athena must help her friend find the courage to stay and teach the king of the gods a lesson about honest competition, friendship, and the ...

Send us Fan Mail In this summer edition of the Mr. Redge Hotline, Jonathan and Redge share exciting news about the brand-new Dorktales Fan Page, introduce the first-ever FAN-TALES fan zine, and answer listener questions from around the world. They chat about Rapunzel, Scribbleton, spy missions, the Foreshadow, and celebrate a whole bunch of wonderful listener ideas. Plus, there are shoutouts, and a few top-secret hints about stories still to come. Important News Alerts: Introducing FAN TALES,...

Send us Fan Mail Hoist the sails for a pirate adventure across the Fantasea! Join our crew on a high seas quest to find the rare Golden Peanut. Their treasure hunt begins with cracking the mysterious Corvid Code on an ancient map that guides them to the hidden Legume Lagoon. ’Tis a wild journey filled with encounters including a giant squid, wandering whales, and bouncy jellyfish. But when a rival crew of squirrel pirates tries to claim the treasure first, our pirate friends must decide wheth...

Send us Fan Mail Three goat siblings set off on a quest to reach the hill with the healthiest snacks when they butt heads with a very hangry troll. Are they fit for the challenge? Will it take brains or brawn to beat the troll and cross the bridge? Each goat must use their own special strengths to outsmart the greedy troll and protect one another. Clever tricks, sibling teamwork, and one very surprised flying troll will leave you rolling in clover. his Dorktales stories for kids classic episo...

Send us Fan Mail Get ready for a high-speed adventure! Redge suits up for the Folktale Forest Grand Prix, a magical Formula 1 race across Once Upon A Time. With help from his pit crew, he solves riddles that guide his route, taking him to princess castles in Mythdom, the foggy waters of Legend Lake and the towering skyline of Litropia. But the race isn’t just about speed, Redge must navigate tricky turns, fierce competition, and a rival team willing to cheat to win. As he zooms towards the fi...

Send us Fan Mail “Rump, who?” asks Redge as Jonathan spins the tall tale of Daphne, the Miller’s daughter, who must spin thread into gold for a greedy king. Facing an impossible challenge, Daphne must think fast, make tough choices, and outsmart a tricky deal. It’s an epic yarn involving a mysterious little man, a clever guessing game, and a Wizard of Oz–inspired ending full of surprises. This fairy tale stories for kids episode about Rumpelstiltskin is a Dorktales Classic. WEBPAGE: htt...

Send us Fan Mail A story of big ideas and bold curiosity! David Unaipon was an Aboriginal Australian inventor, author, preacher, and lifelong learner who never stopped asking “what if?” His invention of mechanical sheep shears helped farmers go from shearing 30 to 300 sheep a day. It was life-changing! He used scientific thinking and Aboriginal knowledge to create solutions far ahead of his time, including concepts for rotary-wing flight before helicopters existed. David traveled across Austr...

Send us Fan Mail Hercules and his Greek mythological heroes are getting ready to rock the house at Mythic Mania, Legend Lake’s annual battle of the bands. But Hercules keeps finding excuses to leave rehearsals so he doesn’t have to play the drums. After chasing Cerberus the three-headed dog, helping Hydras build an aquatic stage, and tracking down the elusive Golden Deer, everyone begins to wonder what’s really going on. With the clock ticking and the crowd waiting, the band rallies together ...

Send us Fan Mail Jonathan and Redge return to the land of dinosaurs to compete in the Mini Golf Masters with their Maiasaura friend, Minh. If they can win the Quotatious Period’s biggest golf tournament, the grand prize means Minh can be the first dinosaur to go to space camp. They drive and putt through a wild prehistoric course full of giant frog obstacles, sneaky Pterosaurs, and a twisting Brontosaur’s tail. But when an erupting volcano shakes up their final shot, everything changes, and a...

Send us Fan Mail Jonathan and Redge wake up early to get in line for Sidequest, the Folktale Forest’s very first game and hobby shop. Redge hopes to find the last, and rarest, card he needs to complete his Cards of Enchantment deck, But before the doors even open, the elusive card escapes and its magic begins causing mystical mishaps! Jonathan and Redge team up with the shop owner in a race to catch the runaway card before everything spirals out of control. Using the powers of Redge’s deck, t...

Send us Fan Mail The red telephone is ringing and the Question Hat is ready for action! In this spring edition of Mr. Redge’s Hotline, Jonathan and Redge announce the winners of the T.A.L.E. Tour Dorktales Merch Prize Pack Giveaway, answer listener questions, reveal Redge’s least favorite snack, share Jonathan’s favorite superhero, countdown to Season 7 and end with lots of listener shoutouts. Important News Alerts: Season 7 launches March 19 with “The Enchanted Sidequest,” set in the Folktal...

Send us Fan Mail Jonathan and Redge take one last T.A.L.E. Tour rewind to Scribbleton, Once Upon a Time’s tiniest town. After nibbling a Wonderland cookie and shrinking to size, they explored colorful streets made of leaves and mushrooms and met some very small (and very friendly) locals. When it was time to get ready for the Scribbleton Scramble Parade, there was a lot to do and not much time. As they dashed from task to task, Jonathan and Redge discovered a special kind of magic in helping ...

Send us Fan Mail Jonathan and Redge plunge back into the Fantasea, when the magical minivan transformed into a submarine and carried them to the vibrant underwater village of Red Herring Reef. The adventure started as a dazzling tour of colorful coral and amazing art, until an empty frame led to an unexpected mystery to solve. As clues rippled to the surface, they discovered a special kind of magic hiding beneath the waves about finding the confidence to share who you are. Listen to the origi...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to Dorktales Storytime, the award-winning kids podcast for imaginative listeners and their pop-culture-loving grownups. Join voice actor and storyteller Jonathan Cormur and his best hedgehog buddy, Reginald T. Hedgehog, as they take you on adventures through the magical land of Once Upon a Time. You’ll hear: Wacky, geeky retellings of classic fairytales and fablesOriginal lore-filled adventures in a world of curious creatures and hidden traditionsTrue stories of histo...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to the T.A.L.E. Tour Rewind! Jonathan and Redge revisit their climb into the Cliffhanger Mountains and their unforgettable visit to the Color Pillars. What starts as a search for ancient, shimmering ruins takes a surprising turn, leaving you on a cliffhanger before revealing a special kind of magic hidden in the natural world. Find the full Color Pillars Episode: https://jonincharacter.com/the-color-pillars/ We’re having a special Dorktales Storytime merch giveaw...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to the T.A.L.E. Tour Rewind! In The Magical Minivan, Jonathan and Redge return to the extraordinary vehicle that launched their adventures. It is part home, part library, part snack station, and powered by imagination. Sometimes the magic begins before you even arrive. Find the full Magical Minivan Episode: https://jonincharacter.com/magical-minivan-tale/ We’re celebrating 2026 and the T.A.L.E. Tour Rewind with a special Dorktales Storytime merch giveaway ahead ...

Send us Fan Mail Happy New Year! Today we’re sharing our participation in the Big Emotions: Kids Listen Mashups About Feelings. This episode focuses on Belonging and Independence, two emotions that may seem opposite but often work together as children explore who they are and where they fit. You’ll be guided through stories about friendship, self-discovery, and finding one’s place while finding one’s voice by Abbe Opher and Kelly MacBride from Koala Kids. You’ll also hear familiar voice...

Send us Fan Mail It’s Jolly Holly season, and everyone in town is brimming with holiday cheer. The Society of Bards and Balladeers has come together to build the festive set for their annual event. There’s just one tiny problem: Redge has no idea what this year’s show should be! From classic Quilliam Shakespeare plays, to poetry readings and ballets, to comedy jests and holiday whodunnits, they've already done it all. Just when Redge thinks the show won't go on, Jonathan has a brilliant idea....

Send us Fan Mail Jonathan and Redge come home in the middle of the day to find that the Folktale Forest folk are fast asleep and no one can wake them up! The mystery leads to Tinkerbell, who’s created a pixie dust harvesting mix-up of magical proportions. In an attempt to fix things, she borrowed a bit of stardust and accidentally sent all of Once Upon a Time into a super-deep slumber. Determined to make things right, she and her friends put their clever tinkering skills to work, turning the ...

Send us Fan Mail Redge takes Jonathan on a wild ride through the city of Litropia, heading straight through a brick wall into the hidden tunnels of a secret lair. Deep beneath the streets, they meet Rat King Cam M. Bert, a cheese-loving, pun-tastic ruler who keeps Once Upon a Time’s magical trains running on schedule. From the buzzing Bee-Train to the groovy Bandstand Train and the twinkling Jolly Holly Express, every ride is full of surprises. But when a jolly jam threatens to derail the fun...

Send us Fan Mail Cast off on another T.A.L.E. (Thrilling and Astounding Lore Expedition) Tour and take an unexpected turn, straight through a waterfall and into the Quotatious Period! It’s a dino-tastic world of plesiosaurs, pterosaurs, and prehistoric parties. But one young Maiasaura isn’t in the mood to celebrate. He’s being teased because no one believes his theory about the power of the moon’s pull. But when his auntie’s nest suddenly disappears, his scientific curiosity and careful lunar...

Send us Fan Mail 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 we tell them? What purpose do they serve? And what has Adam learned in all his years of studying and retelling ...

Send us Fan Mail 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! Despite wartime hardships and lost recognition, his creativity, friendship, and tasty experiments turned a ...

Send us Fan Mail 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 joyful jousting and jesting, and take your best shot with Rapunzel’s Accurate Archer 5000 at the archery c...

Send us Fan Mail 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 the Mr. Redge Hotline, Jonathan and Redge talk favorite sports, real-world friends, and the finest forest snacks. They share a collection of your brilliant ideas, heartfelt reviews, and a flurry of shoutouts. Grab your headphones, coziest blanket, a favorite snack...

Send us Fan Mail 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 and Wabbitson step in to crack the case. As the clues lead them toward something far scarier than they ...

Send us Fan Mail 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 Folktale Forest friends go hunting for Swashbuckle Joe’s buried riches. When they're greeted by his gregarious ghos...

Send us Fan Mail 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 lightbulb. He went from building his own unicycle as a kid to being honored in the National Inventors Hall...

Send us Fan Mail 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, pirate airships, clanky robots, and all sorts of strange and silly characters. And the best part? Their...

Send us Fan Mail 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 alternate’s out-of-town swing’s understudy (try saying that five times fast). Worried he’ll let his teammates d...

Send us Fan Mail 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.” During World War II, Marge Villa was one of only 11 Latinas to play in the first professional women’s base...