Dorktales Storytime

Jonathan Cormur

Be the hero of your own story with Dorktales Storytime, the award-winning podcast for kids and their pop culture loving grownups. Enter their Once Upon a Time world where hosts, Jonathan Cormur and Mr. Reginald T. Hedgehog, take you on a storytelling journey of curiosity and acceptance. You’ll explore reimagined fairytales and fables with social emotional themes, discover inspiring stories of history’s hidden heroes, and experience imaginary tales of boundless possibilities.    Recognized by Common Sense Media as outstanding entertainment with an official seal for quality and impact. Common Sense Selections include age-appropriate media with the potential to spark family conversations, entertain families of all kinds, and have a positive, lasting effect on society.Reach out to us at dorktalesstorytime@gmail.com

  1. Maiasaura and the Moon - A Dinosaur Story for Kids

    NOV 6

    Maiasaura and the Moon - A Dinosaur Story for Kids

    Send us a text 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 observations just might be the key to saving the day. Go to the episode webpage: https://jonincharacter.com/maiasaura-and-the-moon/       DOWNLOAD COLOR PAGE: https://bit.ly/dorktalesEP122activity        GRAB YOUR FREE PDF list of conversation questions for this episode: https://dorktalesstorytime.aweb.page/ep122freePDF  PARENTS, TEACHERS AND HOMESCHOOLERS: In “Maiasaura and the Moon,” young listeners join Jonathan and Redge on a prehistoric adventure where curiosity and science key themes. Through Minh, a thoughtful young dinosaur who studies the moon and tides, kids see how observation, persistence, and self-confidence can lead to problem-solving and understanding. The story encourages scientific thinking, celebrates the value of staying true to one’s ideas, and models empathy and cooperation when helping others. IF YOU ENJOYED THIS STORY about a special place on the T.A.L.E. Tour, you may also enjoy the time when the tour took Jonathan and Redge to the Cliffhanger mountains in EP108 The Color Pillars: https://jonincharacter.com/the-color-pillars/   CREDITS: This episode is a Jonincharacter production. It was written by Monique Hafen Adams, edited and produced by Molly Murphy and performed by Jonathan Cormur. Sound recording and production by Jermaine Hamilton at Pacific Grove Soundworks. Support the show REACH OUT! Send us a TEXT: if your young listener has a question. Pls include their first name in the text. Your name/number is hidden so it's a safe way to reach out. Send us an email: dorktalesstorytime@gmail.com DM us on IG @dorktalesstorytime Library of Resources: https://dorktalesstorytime.aweb.page/Dorktales-Library-Card One time donation: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dorktales Our Pod's Songs on Bandcamp: https://dorktalesstorytime.bandcamp.com/music Now, go be the hero of your own story and we’ll see you next once-upon-a-time!

    18 min
  2. Beyond the Grimm - Kooky Spooky Countdown with Adam Gidwitz

    OCT 30 · BONUS

    Beyond the Grimm - Kooky Spooky Countdown with Adam Gidwitz

    Send us a text 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 Grimms’ Fairy Tales? So gather close, our little creatures of the night. It's a conversation you don't want to miss! The Kooky Spooky Countdown Three award-winning, family-favorite children’s podcasts - Grimm, Grimmer, Grimmest (Pinna), Unspookable (Soundsington Media), and Dorktales Storytime - have teamed up this October for the Kooky Spooky Countdown, a seasonal, screen-free listening event for families and classrooms everywhere. Participants are challenged to listen to 13 “spooky-ish” podcast episodes to earn rewards, including exclusive congratulatory videos from all three podcast hosts. The challenge celebrates October’s festivities with safe thrills, playful storytelling, and engaging experiences. It launched on October 2nd and runs until October 31, 2025. You can download the challenge materials at https://jonincharacter.com/kooky-spooky-countdown/  About the Podcasts Grimm, Grimmer, Grimmest (Pinna) It's Grimm fairy tales like you've never heard before! On every episode of Pinna Original Grimm, Grimmer, Grimmest, bestselling author Adam Gidwitz retells a classic fairy tale to a group of inquisitive kids, who anticipate plot twists, crack jokes, and share their own perspectives on these very Grimm stories. Unspookable (Soundsington Media) Unspookable is a family-friendly podcast that explores the history, brain science, and real-world influences behind spooky stories, myths, and urban legends. Host Elise Parisian takes the scare out of spooky stories by digging into the real history behind them, the cool facts, and why people keep telling them. Dorktales Storytime Be the hero of your own story with Dorktales Storytime, a podcast for kids and their pop culture loving grownups. Hosts Jonathan Cormur and Mr. Reginald T. Hedgehog share reimagined fairytales and fables with SEL themes, stories of hidden heroes, and wildly imaginative folklore. Support the show REACH OUT! Send us a TEXT: if your young listener has a question. Pls include their first name in the text. Your name/number is hidden so it's a safe way to reach out. Send us an email: dorktalesstorytime@gmail.com DM us on IG @dorktalesstorytime Library of Resources: https://dorktalesstorytime.aweb.page/Dorktales-Library-Card One time donation: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dorktales Our Pod's Songs on Bandcamp: https://dorktalesstorytime.bandcamp.com/music Now, go be the hero of your own story and we’ll see you next once-upon-a-time!

    33 min
  3. Makoto Hagiwara, Hidden Hero of History

    OCT 23

    Makoto Hagiwara, Hidden Hero of History

    Send us a text 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 simple crunchy cookie into a sweet symbol of good fortune enjoyed around the world. Go to the episode webpage: https://jonincharacter.com/makoto-hagiwara/           Get a free activity guide on Makoto Hagiwara:  https://dorktalesstorytime.aweb.page/ep121freePDF  This episode of Dorktales Storytime is presented by Red Comet Press, and their hardcover children’s book, Fortune Cookies for Everyone: The Surprising Story of the Tasty Treat We Love to Eat by Mia Wenjen with illustrations by Colleen Kong-Savage. This Smithsonian collaboration unwraps the mystery of the fortune cookie and the immigrant stories behind it: https://www.redcometpress.com/nonfiction/fortunecookie IF YOU ENJOYED THIS STORY, try this playlist of Asian American Hidden Heroes of History who were belonging builders and community creators like Makoto Hagiwara: https://bit.ly/belonging-and-community   CREDITS: Hidden Heroes of History is a Jonincharacter production. Today’s story was written and produced by Molly Murphy and performed by Jonathan Cormur. Sound recording and production by Jermaine Hamilton at Pacific Grove Soundworks. Support the show REACH OUT! Send us a TEXT: if your young listener has a question. Pls include their first name in the text. Your name/number is hidden so it's a safe way to reach out. Send us an email: dorktalesstorytime@gmail.com DM us on IG @dorktalesstorytime Library of Resources: https://dorktalesstorytime.aweb.page/Dorktales-Library-Card One time donation: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dorktales Our Pod's Songs on Bandcamp: https://dorktalesstorytime.bandcamp.com/music Now, go be the hero of your own story and we’ll see you next once-upon-a-time!

    17 min
  4. Ye Olde Fairy Faire - Folklore Stories for Kids

    OCT 16

    Ye Olde Fairy Faire - Folklore Stories for Kids

    Send us a text 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 competition. Then, cheer for the Kings and Queens at their Royal Decree before a thrilling ride on the Fairy-Go-Round, powered by pure fae magic! Go to the episode webpage: https://jonincharacter.com/ye-olde-fairy-faire/        DOWNLOAD COLOR PAGE: https://bit.ly/dorktalesEP120colorpage      GRAB YOUR FREE PDF list of conversation questions for this episode: https://dorktalesstorytime.aweb.page/ep120freePDF  PARENTS, TEACHERS AND HOMESCHOOLERS: In “Ye Olde Fairy Faire,” Jonathan, Redge, and their friend Fairy Godmother Fey spend a day exploring a lively renaissance style fair and each stop along the way highlights curiosity, creativity, and collaboration. Children learn the value of expressing themselves, supporting their friends, and celebrating the diverse talents that make a community thrive. It’s a gentle, imaginative reminder that everyone brings their own kind of magic to the world. IF YOU ENJOYED THIS STORY with the Fairy Godmother, Fey, you may also like her appearance in EP90 Cinderella and the Dough Ball: https://jonincharacter.com/cinderella-and-the-dough-ball/  CREDITS: This episode is a Jonincharacter production. It was written and produced by Molly Murphy and performed by Jonathan Cormur. Sound recording and production by Jermaine Hamilton at Pacific Grove Soundworks. Support the show REACH OUT! Send us a TEXT: if your young listener has a question. Pls include their first name in the text. Your name/number is hidden so it's a safe way to reach out. Send us an email: dorktalesstorytime@gmail.com DM us on IG @dorktalesstorytime Library of Resources: https://dorktalesstorytime.aweb.page/Dorktales-Library-Card One time donation: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dorktales Our Pod's Songs on Bandcamp: https://dorktalesstorytime.bandcamp.com/music Now, go be the hero of your own story and we’ll see you next once-upon-a-time!

    18 min
  5. Mr. Redge’s Hotline: Cozy Autumn Q&A and Shoutout Celebration!

    OCT 9 · BONUS

    Mr. Redge’s Hotline: Cozy Autumn Q&A and Shoutout Celebration!

    Send us a text 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, heartfelt reviews, and a flurry of shoutouts. Grab your headphones, coziest blanket, a favorite snack, and get ready for a cheerful harvest of listener love. JOIN THE KOOKY SPOOKY COUNTDOWN CHALLENGE and earn rewards: https://jonincharacter.com/kooky-spooky-countdown/  FOR THE GROWNUPS: We want to hear from your kids! Email us at dorktalesstorytime@gmail.com with your their first name, age, and their awesome question—written or recorded! You can also reach us through our contact form at https://jonincharacter.com/contact-the-podcast/, leave a comment on Spotify, or include a question in a 5-star review. We’ll do our best to feature as many as we can! MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE  EP41 A Hedgehog’s Homerun: https://jonincharacter.com/hedgehogs-home-run/ EP71 Zinnia Fig and the Droop: https://jonincharacter.com/zinnia-fig-and-the-droop/Support the show REACH OUT! Send us a TEXT: if your young listener has a question. Pls include their first name in the text. Your name/number is hidden so it's a safe way to reach out. Send us an email: dorktalesstorytime@gmail.com DM us on IG @dorktalesstorytime Library of Resources: https://dorktalesstorytime.aweb.page/Dorktales-Library-Card One time donation: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dorktales Our Pod's Songs on Bandcamp: https://dorktalesstorytime.bandcamp.com/music Now, go be the hero of your own story and we’ll see you next once-upon-a-time!

    10 min
  6. A Howl Noir Mystery - Spooky Stories for Kids

    OCT 2

    A Howl Noir Mystery - Spooky Stories for Kids

    Send us a text 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 ever imagined, can these sleuths solve the mystery before the full moon rises?  Go to the episode webpage: https://jonincharacter.com/a-howl-noir-mystery/       DOWNLOAD COLOR PAGE: https://bit.ly/dorktalesEP119colorpage       GRAB YOUR FREE PDF list of conversation questions for this episode: https://dorktalesstorytime.aweb.page/ep119freePDF  PARENTS, TEACHERS AND HOMESCHOOLERS: In this nod to a film noir mystery, kids learn the value of looking past assumptions, supporting friends, and working together to solve problems. The story shows how trust and teamwork can uncover the truth and reminds kids that even scary situations can be better understood when faced with curiosity and courage.  IF YOU ENJOYED THIS STORY you’ll find even more Halloween spooky-ish tales on our Dorktales Storytime Halloween playlist: https://jonincharacter.com/halloween-stories-for-kids-playlist-thats-more-fun-than-fright/  CREDITS: This episode is a Jonincharacter production. It was written and produced by Molly Murphy and performed by Jonathan Cormur. Sound recording and production by Jermaine Hamilton at Pacific Grove Soundwork Support the show REACH OUT! Send us a TEXT: if your young listener has a question. Pls include their first name in the text. Your name/number is hidden so it's a safe way to reach out. Send us an email: dorktalesstorytime@gmail.com DM us on IG @dorktalesstorytime Library of Resources: https://dorktalesstorytime.aweb.page/Dorktales-Library-Card One time donation: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dorktales Our Pod's Songs on Bandcamp: https://dorktalesstorytime.bandcamp.com/music Now, go be the hero of your own story and we’ll see you next once-upon-a-time!

    20 min
  7. The Tale of Swashbuckle Joe, a Ghost Pirate Story (Replay)

    SEP 19 · BONUS

    The Tale of Swashbuckle Joe, a Ghost Pirate Story (Replay)

    Send us a text 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 ghost, he leads them to the precious treasures he values the most.  Episode webpage: https://jonincharacter.com/the-tale-of-swashbuckle-joe/        PARENTS, TEACHERS AND HOMESCHOOLERS: Overall, the story encourages us to find treasure in the intangible aspects of life, such as friendships, adventures, and the appreciation of the present moment, rather than solely chasing material wealth.  If you liked this story, you may also enjoy episode 69, Eel for One and One for Eel, a daring adventure with the three Hedgeketeers: https://jonincharacter.com/eel-for-one/  CREDITS: This episode has been a Jonincharacter production. Today’s story was written and produced by Molly Murphy. All characters are performed by Jonathan Cormur. Sound recording and production by Jermaine Hamilton at Pacific Grove Soundworks. Support the show REACH OUT! Send us a TEXT: if your young listener has a question. Pls include their first name in the text. Your name/number is hidden so it's a safe way to reach out. Send us an email: dorktalesstorytime@gmail.com DM us on IG @dorktalesstorytime Library of Resources: https://dorktalesstorytime.aweb.page/Dorktales-Library-Card One time donation: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dorktales Our Pod's Songs on Bandcamp: https://dorktalesstorytime.bandcamp.com/music Now, go be the hero of your own story and we’ll see you next once-upon-a-time!

    21 min
  8. Lanny Smoot, Hidden Hero of History

    SEP 18

    Lanny Smoot, Hidden Hero of History

    Send us a text 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 of Fame for his work with Disney. Lanny brings joy to millions and his journey lights the way for future inventors. Go to the episode webpage: https://jonincharacter.com/lanny-smoot/               Get a free activity guide on Lanny Smoot: https://dorktalesstorytime.aweb.page/ep118freePDF  If you enjoyed this story about Lanny Smoot, you may also enjoy learning about Lewis Latimer, the inventor and patent draftsman who helped improve Thomas Edison’s light bulb: https://jonincharacter.com/lewis-latimer/  CREDITS: Hidden Heroes of History is a Jonincharacter production. Today’s story was written by Rebecca Cunningham, edited and produced by Molly Murphy and performed by Jonathan Cormur. Sound recording and production by Jermaine Hamilton at Pacific Grove Soundworks. Support the show REACH OUT! Send us a TEXT: if your young listener has a question. Pls include their first name in the text. Your name/number is hidden so it's a safe way to reach out. Send us an email: dorktalesstorytime@gmail.com DM us on IG @dorktalesstorytime Library of Resources: https://dorktalesstorytime.aweb.page/Dorktales-Library-Card One time donation: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dorktales Our Pod's Songs on Bandcamp: https://dorktalesstorytime.bandcamp.com/music Now, go be the hero of your own story and we’ll see you next once-upon-a-time!

    17 min
4.6
out of 5
189 Ratings

About

Be the hero of your own story with Dorktales Storytime, the award-winning podcast for kids and their pop culture loving grownups. Enter their Once Upon a Time world where hosts, Jonathan Cormur and Mr. Reginald T. Hedgehog, take you on a storytelling journey of curiosity and acceptance. You’ll explore reimagined fairytales and fables with social emotional themes, discover inspiring stories of history’s hidden heroes, and experience imaginary tales of boundless possibilities.    Recognized by Common Sense Media as outstanding entertainment with an official seal for quality and impact. Common Sense Selections include age-appropriate media with the potential to spark family conversations, entertain families of all kinds, and have a positive, lasting effect on society.Reach out to us at dorktalesstorytime@gmail.com

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