Encore: The Four Winds

Summary

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Circle Round – "Encore: The Four Winds" (June 2, 2026)

Episode Overview

This encore episode of Circle Round brings to life "The Four Winds," a Lakota-inspired tale blending nature, transformation, and perseverance. The story follows a clever boy and his grandmother as they seek help from the four cardinal winds to stop a crafty fox from stealing food, highlighting themes of resourcefulness, community, and change. The episode is designed for children and families, rich with musical soundscapes and character voices, and closes with a creative activity to encourage deeper engagement with the story.

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Key Discussion Points & Story Breakdown

Introduction to the Story and Setting (00:50–02:29)

• Host Rebecca Scheer introduces the cardinal directions and the concept that each has its own wind: North, South, East, West.
• The episode is inspired by a Lakota folktale and features acclaimed Native American actor Kimberly Guerrero among other talents.

Meet the Fox – Setting Up the Problem (02:29–04:38)

• The Fox establishes herself as the sly, crafty, and quick fox, not just “any fox.” She brags about her cunning in stealing food from the village both by night and day.
• Quote:
  • Fox: "I am the original sly, crafty and quick fox." (03:12)
• The villagers—concerned as winter approaches—struggle to keep their food from disappearing.

The Boy and His Grandmother – The Dream (04:38–09:05)

• Focus shifts to a wise grandmother and her grandson.
• The boy shares a dream where the Four Winds promise to help with the fox if visited.
  • Grandmother describes each wind’s traits:
    • East Wind: “A legendary loafer” (06:23)
    • West Wind: Energetic, brings rain and thunder.
    • South Wind: Kind, sends warm breezes.
    • North Wind: Harsh, cold, but powerful when on your side.
  • Quote:
    • Grandmother: “Dreams can be very powerful. We just need to pay attention.” (05:16)
• The grandmother offers a magical quilt, passed down from her own mother, able to transport the boy anywhere.
  • Quote:
    • Grandmother: "This quilt can transport you anywhere you wish to go. Wrap it around your shoulders, think about a place, and just like that, you're there." (08:27)

The Journey to the Four Winds (09:53–15:01)

• The boy uses the quilt to visit each wind:
  • East Wind (11:18): Sleepy but promises help tomorrow.
    • East Wind: “I never break a promise. Even if sometimes I’d much rather sleep.” (11:50)
  • West Wind (12:36): Loud, jolly, brings rain and thunder, also promises help.
    • West Wind: “That fox won’t be raining on your parade for much longer.” (12:56)
  • South Wind (13:42): Gentle, brings fragrance of growth, ready to help as well.
    • South Wind: “I’m never one to turn a blind eye to those in need.” (13:54)
  • North Wind (14:15): Brash, icy, powerful, reassures his promise.
    • North Wind: “You should never doubt my word.” (14:48)
• The boy returns home to await the winds’ intervention.

How the Winds Help – The Fox’s Transformation (15:33–18:50)

• The next day, Fox considers her next meal but grows inexplicably tired as the East Wind’s drowsy breeze sweeps over her.
• As she dozes, the West Wind awakens her with thunder, rain, and storms, soaking her.
• The South Wind brings warm, sweet scents, lifting her mood.
• Suddenly, the North Wind arrives with freezing cold, turning her wet fur frosty and then carrying her far north to the Arctic tundra.
  • Quote:
    • Fox: “I’ve never been this cold in my life.” (17:25)
• In the snow, Fox discovers her brown fur has turned white—she’s become the first arctic fox.
  • Quote:
    • Fox: “My brown fur…it’s white!” (18:07)
• The host explains this change is why arctic foxes have fur that’s brown in summer and white in winter, helping them survive in their new landscape.
  • Quote:
    • Rebecca Scheer: “This changing fur helps the arctic fox blend into the landscape so it’s easier for her to catch food.” (18:46)
• Fox realizes she won’t live in luxury and plenty as she did among the people anymore.

Closing Reflection & Moral (19:00–19:10)

• Scheer offers a closing pun:
  • "Thanks to one brave boy and four powerful winds, Fox’s life will never be a breeze again." (19:00)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Fox on Reputation (03:12):
  “All of those phrases originated with me. I am the original sly, crafty and quick fox.”
• Grandmother on Dreams (05:16):
  “Dreams can be very powerful. We just need to pay attention.”
• Grandmother on the Magical Quilt (08:27):
  “This quilt can transport you anywhere you wish to go. Wrap it around your shoulders, think about a place, and just like that, you’re there.”
• East Wind’s Promise (11:50):
  “Even if sometimes I’d much rather sleep. So, yes, tomorrow I will help you catch that fox.”
• West Wind’s Personality (12:56):
  “That fox won’t be raining on your parade for much longer.”
• South Wind’s Compassion (13:54):
  “I’m never one to turn a blind eye to those in need.”
• North Wind’s Assurance (14:48):
  “You should never doubt my word.”
• Fox’s Transformation (18:07):
  “My brown fur…it’s white!”

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Key Timestamps

• 00:50 — Introduction to the four winds and the story’s roots
• 02:29 — Meet the Fox and her antics
• 05:11 — The Boy’s dream is revealed to Grandmother
• 06:23 — Grandmother describes the Four Winds
• 08:07 — The magical quilt is introduced
• 11:13 — The journey to the East Wind
• 12:36 — West Wind encounter
• 13:42 — South Wind encounter
• 14:15 — North Wind encounter
• 15:33 — The four winds intervene; Fox’s fate
• 18:07 — Fox becomes the first arctic fox
• 19:00 — Moral and wrap-up

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Episode Tone & Language

• Playful and Inviting: Frequent direct address to listeners maintains engagement.
• Educational: Integrates vocabulary (pangram, cardinal directions) and cultural background.
• Character-driven: Each character (Boy, Grandmother, Fox, the Winds) has a distinct voice and personality, with Fox providing comic relief and bravado.

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Activity Segment (19:10)

• Listeners are guided on how to make their own weathervane using simple materials, tying the story to a tangible hands-on project.

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Listener Interaction (22:36–23:59)

• Kids leave messages sharing their favorite Circle Round stories, creating a sense of community and encouragement for listeners to explore further tales.

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Conclusion

This Circle Round episode uses folklore to share lessons about cleverness, respect for nature, and the power of working together. Vivid sound design, lively character performances, and educational touch-points make "The Four Winds" engaging for children and adults alike, while the practical activity and listener call-ins extend the story’s impact beyond the podcast itself.

Transcript

[WBUR Announcer]

Wbur podcasts, boston.

[Anne Marie Sivertson]

Hey, listeners, it's Anne Marie Sivertson from WBUR Podcasts, and we're in between seasons of Circle Round right now, but that doesn't mean we're taking the summer off. All summer long, we'll be playing you some of the best Circle Round episodes about nature and the environment, because hopefully you're spending lots of time outside and enjoying our shared home of planet Earth. That officially starts soon with a special guest host for Circle Round Summer. So get ready for all that. But in the meantime, we're pleased to present a special encore edition of the podcast, a fantastic folktale you may have missed the first time around. Enjoy.

[Rebecca Scheer]

Have you ever heard of the four cardinal directions? The four cardinal directions are the main points of a compass. So north, south, east, and any guesses? That's right.

[Fox Character]

West.

[Rebecca Scheer]

But did you know that each cardinal direction has its own wind? Yep. The north wind comes from the north, the south wind comes from the south, and so on. In today's story, we'll get to meet all four of these winds. And what happens next may very well blow you over. I'm Rebecca Scheer, and welcome to Circle Round, where storytime happens all the time. Today our story is called the Four Winds. It's inspired by a tale from the Lakota, the largest band of the Sioux nation in North America. Some really great people came together to bring you our adaptation of this tale, including Kimberly Guerrero, whose voice you kids may recognize from Spirit Rangers on Netflix. You grown ups may know Kimberly from Reservation Dogs on fx, Rutherford Falls on Peacock, and the English on Amazon Prime. So circle around, everyone for the four wins. Long, long ago, in a land of shimmering lakes, rolling hills and grassy plains, there lived a fox.

[Fox Character]

Hold on a minute. A fox? You're calling me a fox like I'm just some random brown bushy tailed, triangular eared, omnivorous mammal? I will have you know that I am the fox. Ever heard the phrase sly as a fox?

[Rebecca Scheer]

Yes.

[Fox Character]

Crafty as a fox?

[Rebecca Scheer]

Sure.

[Fox Character]

The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.

[Rebecca Scheer]

That one's a little more obscure, but yes. My middle school typing teacher made me learn it because it contains all 26 letters of the English language. It's what's known as a pangram.

[Fox Character]

Okay, thank you, Miss Smarty Pants. But I will have you know that all of those phrases originated with me. I am the original sly, crafty and quick fox.

[Rebecca Scheer]

So you are. In fact, back when our story takes place, you were so sly, crafty and quick that you drove all the people wild.

[Fox Character]

I sure did. In the dark of night, when the people were asleep, I would come creeping into a village. I would grab whatever food I could and I would gobble it down. By the time the people woke up in the morning, their food was gone. And I was, too.

[Rebecca Scheer]

That's the truth. But you didn't just raid villages in the dark of night. You were bold enough to strike in the light of day.

[Boy]

Oh, yeah.

[Fox Character]

The people would be cooking the meat they just hunted, or simmering the berries they just picked. And if they turned their back for just one second, bam. I'd steal their food and then scurry away.

[Rebecca Scheer]

And they never even saw it happen.

[Fox Character]

You've got that right. It's like I told you. Sly, crafty and quick. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have another village to visit. I hear the people just went fishing. And they've left all their trout hanging outside to dry.

[Grandmother]

Mmm.

[Fox Character]

Toodaloo.

[Rebecca Scheer]

Well, as the seasons changed and winter loomed closer, the people began to worry. If Fox kept stealing their food like this, how would they survive the cold months ahead? In one village, a boy lived with his grandmother, a wise, silvery haired woman who once crafted the most beautiful quilts before her fingers grew too old and stiff to handle a needle and thread. One morning, the boy told Grandmother he had an idea for how to get rid of Fox.

[Boy]

The answer came to me in a dream, Grandmother. A strange and wonderful dream.

[Grandmother]

Dreams can be very powerful. We just need to pay attention. Tell me about your dream.

[Boy]

Well, I met the four W Winds.

[Rebecca Scheer]

Grandmother's eyes grew bright.

[Grandmother]

The Four Winds are the sons of the Great Wind Spirit. If they came to you in a dream, you must heed their message. What did they say?

[Boy]

They said that I must pay each of them a visit. If I do, they promised they would help us get rid of Fox.

[Fox Character]

It's as simple as that.

[Rebecca Scheer]

Grandmother shook her silvery head.

[Grandmother]

Oh, my dear, I wish it were that simple. But the Four Winds live in faraway places. Very far. The East Wind lives at the edge of the world, where the sun begins its daily journey. He's the one who summons the dawn. Though the truth is, he's a legendary loafer and would much rather sleep.

[Wind Spirits]

Really?

[Boy]

And what about the West Wind?

[Grandmother]

The West Wind dwells where the sun goes over the mountain when the day is through. Unlike his sleepy brother in the east, the West Wind is full of energy. He's rambunctious, jolly and loud. After all, he's the one who sends the reins and the thunder.

[Boy]

And the South Wind? What about him?

[Grandmother]

The South Wind resides in the Place where the sun reaches its highest point in the sky and everything is alive and growing. He's kind and generous and sends warm, pleasant breezes and good weather, unlike the North Wind.

[Boy]

Ooh, tell me about him.

[Grandmother]

The North Wind makes his home way up north, where the sun rarely shines and the world is usually frozen with snow and ice. The North Wind can be mean and harsh. Cold in more ways than one. But if he promised you his aid, then he's a good one to have on your side.

[Rebecca Scheer]

The boy paused for a moment as he took in Grandmother's words.

[Boy]

So if the four Winds live in such far flung places, how could I possibly visit them all? I'd have to travel by foot, and it would take forever.

[Grandmother]

Well, in that case.

[Rebecca Scheer]

A smile dawned across Grandmother's face.

[Grandmother]

It's a good thing you won't have to travel by foot. Look at this.

[Rebecca Scheer]

She reached into a basket and pulled out a soft quilt patterned with colorful stars.

[Grandmother]

My mother made this quilt for me years and years ago, back when she first taught me how to sew. I've been waiting for the right moment to use it.

[Boy]

For warmth?

[Grandmother]

No, for travel. This quilt can transport you anywhere you wish to go. Wrap it around your shoulders, think about a place, and just like that, you're there.

[Rebecca Scheer]

The boy gazed at the quilt in wonder. Then he flung his arms around Grandmother and planted a kiss on her cheek.

[Boy]

Thank you, Grandmother. This is just what I need. To visit all four Winds. And once I do, I promise we will never be troubled by Fox again.

[Rebecca Scheer]

If you were the boy, how would you feel about meeting the four winds? And how might the four winds help solve the people's problem? We'll hear what happens after a quick break

[WBUR Announcer]

100 years from now in a land far, far away. Hang on. It's not so far away at all, actually. Hey, Circle Round families, we're here to share a new listening experience from wbur. The Midnight Rebellion. It's a climate podcast adventure for kids 8 and up. Time traveling, problem solving, laughs in danger is here. Follow the feed to listen. Oh, and bring your goggles and boots. That's the Midnight Rebellion in your feed or wherever you get podcasts.

[Rebecca Scheer]

Welcome back to Circle Round. I'm Rebecca Shear. Today our story is called the Four Winds. Before the Break, a boy dreamt that the four winds promised to do away with a pesky fox who'd been stealing the people's food.

[Fox Character]

Okay, hold your horses. A pesky fox. It's like I told you at the start of this episode, I am not just a fox.

[Rebecca Scheer]

Right Right you are the fox. Mm.

[Fox Character]

And as for pesky, I much prefer sly, crafty and quick.

[Rebecca Scheer]

So noted.

[Fox Character]

And as for doing away with me, I can assure you this. This fox isn't going anywhere except to another village to steal more food. I hear that on the other side of that lake over there, they just picked a whole mess of wild potatoes.

[Wind Spirits]

Mmm.

[Grandmother]

Ta ta.

[Rebecca Scheer]

The boy's grandmother knew it would be difficult to reach the Four Winds by foot. So she offered him a quilt that could take you wherever you wished to go. The boy wrapped the quilt around his shoulders and made his first wish.

[Boy]

I wish to visit the home of the East Wind.

[Rebecca Scheer]

In the twinkling of an eye, he found himself at the edge of the world, where the sun begins its daily journey. And there before him.

[Grandmother]

Hello there.

[Rebecca Scheer]

Was the East Wind. He was lounging on what looked like an enormous base of clouds.

[Boy]

Almighty East Wind, after I saw you in my dream, I had to come see you in person. Fox is still causing much trouble for the people. Can you help us catch her?

[Wind Spirits]

Well, I promised I would help. And I never break a promise. Even if sometimes I'd much rather sleep. So, yes, tomorrow, I will help you catch that fox. You can count on me.

[Rebecca Scheer]

As the East Wind fought to keep his eyes open, the boy thanked the sleepy spirit, then wished to visit the home of the West Wind. Next thing he knew, he was standing beneath the A mountain. The same mountain the sun goes over when the day is through. And towering above him.

[Wind Spirits]

Hey, there.

[Rebecca Scheer]

Was the West Wind. As he clapped a giant hand on the boy's back, there was a rumble of thunder and a drizzle of rain.

[Boy]

Oh, powerful West Wind. I'm here about Fox. She's been stealing from the people. Can you help us catch her like you told me in my dream?

[Wind Spirits]

Of course I can. Trust me. That fox won't be raining on your parade for much longer. But seriously, tomorrow, I will help you catch that fox. You can count on me.

[Rebecca Scheer]

The boy thanked the jolly spirit, then wished to visit the home of the South Wind. Quick as a flash, he found himself in the place where the sun reaches its highest point in the sky. And standing before him, welcome, was the South Wind. All at once, the boy's nostrils filled with the scent of fruits, flowers and other things that grow from the earth.

[Boy]

Oh, sweet South Wind. After I saw you in my dream, I simply had to visit. Will you help my people catch Fox?

[Grandmother]

You bet I will.

[Rebecca Scheer]

I'm never one to turn a blind eye to those in need. Tomorrow, I will help you catch that fox. You can Count on me. The boy thanked the kind spirit and held the quilt around his shoulders. There was just one more stop to go.

[Boy]

I wish to visit the home of the North Wind.

[Rebecca Scheer]

In an instant, the boy found himself in a cold, dark place, so dark he could barely see his hand in front of his face. And barreling toward him, greetings. Was the North Wind. All at once, an icy breeze cut through the boy's quilt and clumps of snow landed on his head.

[Boy]

Ho, Great North Wind. My people are growing desperate. We must catch Fox or we won't survive. Will you help us like you said you would in my dream?

[Wind Spirits]

Will I help you? Will I help you? You should never doubt my word. Tomorrow I will help you catch that fox. You can count on me.

[Rebecca Scheer]

The boy thanked the brash spirit, then made his final wish to go back home. It was late when he arrived, and after giving his sleeping grandmother a goodnight kiss, he curled up in bed and fell fast asleep. The next morning, somewhere across the plains, Fox was setting off for another day of mischief. Her bushy brown tail wagged back and forth as she tried to decide which village to raid next.

[Fox Character]

Let's see. I've heard one village just harvested a whole bunch of honey, and I do love me some honey. But another village has been drying all this corn so they can pound it into cornmeal. And that could be tasty, too.

[Rebecca Scheer]

As Fox mused over her next conquest, she felt herself growing tired.

[Fox Character]

Why am I feeling so zonked all of a sudden?

[Rebecca Scheer]

Well, do you know why? It's because the East Wind came sweeping in with his sleepy, lazy breeze.

[Fox Character]

I think I'll just close my eyes for a moment.

[Rebecca Scheer]

But just as Fox began drifting into dreamland, she was roused from her slumber by the west wind. Thunder boomed like a cannon as heavy clouds rolled in and unleashed sheets of rain.

[Fox Character]

Oh, no. I'd better find cover.

[Rebecca Scheer]

As Fox scampered around, the rain fell heavier and heavier. And just as she was dragging her soaking wet body under a shrub, the South Wind came breezing in. The rain ceased and the air became warm and fragrant. Fox stopped in her tracks and took

[Fox Character]

a sniff m such an intoxicating scent. I smell all sorts of fruits and flowers and.

[Rebecca Scheer]

But that's all Fox could say. Because who should come blowing in next? Unleashing his icy breath all over Fox's body but the North Wind.

[Fox Character]

Yikes.

[Rebecca Scheer]

Each breath was colder than the last. Fox's brown fur was already soaking wet from the rain. Now it was frosty white from the ice.

[Fox Character]

I've never been this cold in my life.

[Rebecca Scheer]

Well, little did Fox know, but she was about to get even colder, because as the north wind wind let out another frigid breath, Fox felt herself rising up and off the ground.

[Fox Character]

Whoa.

[Rebecca Scheer]

Next thing the shivering creature knew, she was way up north in the vast treeless area we now call the Arctic tundra. The north wind dropped Fox in a bank of snow, and hours later, when she finally dug her way out, she made an ascent. Astonishing discovery.

[Fox Character]

My brown fur. It's white.

[Rebecca Scheer]

Indeed. Fox had been so very frozen and frightened that her fur had turned white, making her the very first Arctic fox.

[Fox Character]

So wait, does this mean I'm no longer the quick brown fox who jumps over the lazy dog?

[Rebecca Scheer]

Not necessarily. Come summer, when the sun gets a bit stronger and warmer, the Arctic fox's white fur turns brown again. When winter returns, it goes back to white. This changing fur helps the arctic fox blend into the landscape so it's easier for her to catch food.

[Boy]

Oh, yeah.

[Rebecca Scheer]

But living way up north, she'll never experience such luxury and plenty as when she resided a among the people.

[Fox Character]

Ah, shucks.

[Rebecca Scheer]

I guess you could pretty much say that thanks to one brave boy and four powerful winds, Fox's life will never be a breeze again. Now it's your turn. You can always know which wind is blowing by making your own weathervane. First, take some scissors and construction paper and cut out an arrow and tail. The arrow should be bigger than the tail is. Now get a straw and ask a grown up to help you cut a notch into each end. Next, slip your arrow and tail into the notches. Alternatively, you could also use tape or glue. Now roll some clay or play doh into a ball and push a pencil into the top with the eraser facing up. Now take your straw arrow and with a grown up's help, push a pin through the middle of the straw into the eraser. Next, take your weather vane out to a spot that isn't sheltered from the wind and check out which way the wind is blowing. This week's episode, the Four Winds, was adapted by me, Rebecca Shear. It was edited by Sophie Kodner. Our original music and sound design is by Eric Shimalonis. Our artist is Sabina Hahn. Sabina has drawn a black and white picture for all of our circle round stories and you can print them out and color them in while you listen. Grown ups. Visit our website WBUR.org CircleRound and click on coloring pages. Special thanks to this week's actors. Theodore Chin, Dave Edson, Joe Hernandez, Anthony Palmin, Erica Rose, Chris Tucci. And Kimberly Guerrero. Kimberly Guerrero has starred on such shows as Reservation Dogs on fx, Rutherford Falls on Peacock, and the English on Amazon Prime. You grown ups may also remember her as Jerry's Native American girlfriend on Seinfeld Kids. You can hear Kimberly's voice in Spirit Rangers on Netflix. And While you'[e-mail] CircleRound you can support our public radio podcast by joining the Circle Circle Round Club. To show our thanks, we'll send you a welcome box with all sorts of Circle Round goodies, plus weekly activity, emails, our monthly newsletter, and early access to Circle Round events both live and virtual. You can also get ad free episodes, bite sized bedtime stories, music education videos, even a personalized birthday message from me. Visit wbur.org circleround and click circle Round. Our featured instrument this week was the hand drum. You can learn more about this cherished Native American and First nations instrument and see a photo of Eric Shimalonis playing one on our website. Again, that's WBUR.org CircleRound Grown Ups. If you enjoy Circle Round, please leave us a five star review on your favorite podcast app. It really does help. And please tell your friends about the show and talk about us on social media. Our handle on Facebook And Instagram is CircleRound Podcast. Circle Round is a production of WBUR, Boston's NPR news station. I'm Rebecca Scheer. Thanks for circling Round with us. Now that you've made it to the end of this Circle Round episode, we want to know what's your favorite Circle Round story? Thousands of fans just like you have been telling us about the Circle Round stories they like best. Take a listen. Maybe one of their favorites is one of yours too.

[Listeners/Kids]

My name is Camden and I live in California. And my favorite story is the Wine Whisker. My name is Amos. I'm from New Orleans, Louisiana. My favorite Spirit Circle Round episode is Amos and the Ogre. I like the part when Amos pulls down all the trees in the forest. My name is Casper and I'm from Taoisto, Mexico. And my favorite Circle Round story is the Devil of the Job. And I like to part when the inventor Outsmarts the Devil. I'm Sam. I live in Millville, New Jersey. And my favorite episode of Circle Round is Fighting Like Cats and Dogs. Hi, my name is Ronan. I'm from Brookline, Massachusetts. My favorite Circle Round story is the Tug of War and my favorite part is all of It. It's all so good. My name is Sarah. My favorite Circle Wild story is the Bird of a Different Feather. My favorite bark is one that I tries to eat Cow cgplesome Podcast hi, my name is Nathan and I live in Lake Hatchet City and my favorite circle around the story is the Pot of Gold. My favorite part is when Rufus says what the devil's food cake. Thank you for your awesome podcast.

[Rebecca Scheer]

Beck Rocheer did someone mention a story you've missed? Not to worry grown ups. You can find all of our Circle Round stories plus links to the Circle Round Club, picture books, coloring pages, and oh so much more on our website, WBUR.org CircleRound.