FolkTales set to Music from Around the Globe
The WMI FolkTales podcast is an original award-winning production that features improvised re-imaginings of classic folk tales from around the world, hosted by acclaimed storyteller Bill Gordh. Each episode features a guest artist who joins Bill for a musical re-telling of a beloved story from their culture. Recommended for children of all ages.
WMI Folk Tales podcasts are supported by music lovers like you. We thank you!
Podcast producer: Kate Winn
Audio courtesy of Cliff Hahn Sound
Podcast artwork courtesy of Cody Hudson - https://www.struggleinc.com
- Update frequency
- every 97 days
- Average duration
- 30 minutes
- Episodes
- 13
- Years Active
- 2022 - 2025
Japan - The Dancing Tea Kettle with Kaoru Watanabe and Bill Gordh
The story follows an old man living in the mountains who discovers his leaking tea kettle has magical properties: When he tries to boil water, the kettle transforms into a tanuki (racco…
India - A Flowering Tree with Saraswathi Ranganathan and Bill Gordh
In a tiny village, sisters Gitika and Lalitika are on a mission to save their struggling mom by selling blossoms from Gitika, who can magically transform into a flowering tree and back …
West Africa - Why Sun and Moon Are Up in the Sky with Yacouba Sissoko and Bill Gordh
For this FolkTale episode, Bill plays banjo and is joined by Malian kora master, singer, and fellow storyteller Yacouba Sissoko. Yacouba was born to a well-known Djeli family in Kita, M…
Ukraine - A Garment for the Moon with Lisa Gutkin and Bill Gordh
Grammy Award-winning fiddler and vocalist Lisa Gutkin (The Klezmatics) and Bill Gordh tell the Jewish-Ukrainian tale A Garment for the Moon. The moon loves being up in the night sky but…
Persia - Parinaz and the Golden Lamp with Mehrnam Rastegari and Bill Gordh
Mehrnam Rastegari and storyteller Bill Gordh improvise this Persian folk tale which tells the story of a young woman named Parinaz who escapes being married off to a rich man she does n…
China - The Dragon's Eye with Zhou Yi and Bill Gordh
Storyteller Bill Gordh and pipa master Zhou Yi improvise the Chinese folktale The Dragon's Eye which tells the story of a tinker who meets and befriends an orphaned dragon whom he raise…
Morocco - The Sultan's Horse with Samir LanGus and Bill Gordh
Storyteller Bill Gordh and gnawa artist Samir LanGus improvise the Moroccan tale of The Sultan's Horse, in which the Sultan must choose one of his three sons to be his successor, and ta…
Finland - The Enchanted Kantele with Kardemimmit and Bill Gordh
Storyteller Bill Gordh and Finnish ensemble Kardemimmit improvise the folktale "The Enchanted Kantele". In this magical story, a hunter saves a squirrel who transforms into a beautifu…
Tibet - The Gathering Tree with Techung and Bill Gordh
Storyteller Bill Gordh and Tibetan artist Techung improvise the folktale "The Gathering Tree", which delves into the adventures of Paulden, a lone traveler who uncovers life-saving tip…
South America - The Two Girls with Harpist Edmar Castaneda and Bill Gordh
Storyteller Bill Gordh and Colombian harpist Edmar Castaneda improvise the South American folktale "The Two Girls" - a cautionary tale of two girls: one from a humble home, whose compas…
Brazil - Night Comes to the Rainforest with Cyro Baptista and Bill Gordh
Storyteller Bill Gordh and percussionist Cyro Baptista improvise the Brazilian folktale "Night Comes to the Rainforest". The story follows a farmer's wife, the daughter of the mighty S…
Ireland - Red Rory and the Fairies with Seamus Egan and Bill Gordh
Storyteller Bill Gordh and multi-instrumentalist Seamus Egan improvise the Irish folktale "Red Rory and the Fairies". Red Rory likes showing off and telling stories - especially about…
India - Grandmother Rabbit and the Elephant King with Saraswathi Ranganathan and Bill Gordh
Storyteller Bill Gordh and veena player Saraswathi Ranganathan improvise the Indian folktale "Grandmother Rabbit and The Elephant King", an enchanting story that dives into the drama b…