Circle Round Podcast Episode 305: How the Turkey Got Its Gobble | (A Podcast Turducken with Terrestrials and Wow in the World)
Release Date: November 18, 2025
Host: Rebecca Sheir (WBUR)
Special Guests: Lulu Miller (Terrestrials), Guy Raz & Mindy Thomas (Wow in the World), Cy Montgomery (author, animal expert)

Overview

This special Thanksgiving episode of Circle Round brings together three beloved kids’ podcasts—Circle Round, Terrestrials, and Wow in the World—for a "Podcast Turducken": a multi-layered storytelling feast featuring a chicken, a duck, and a turkey. The episode celebrates gratitude, curiosity, and the magic of animal tales while highlighting a story from each show, culminating in a creative, kid-friendly retelling of a Cherokee legend about how the turkey got its gobble.

Episode Structure & Key Segments

[00:33] - Introduction & Thanksgiving Framing

• Rebecca Sheir invites listeners to reflect on gratitude during the Thanksgiving season, explaining the significance of the holiday in different countries.
• Podcast Turducken Concept: Just as a turducken combines three birds into one meal, this episode combines three stories (“smushed” together) from Circle Round (Turkey), Terrestrials (Chicken), and Wow in the World (Duck).
• Guests introduce themselves and their podcasts, each teasing their upcoming story.

Part 1: THE CHICKEN - Terrestrials [04:07–11:04]

The Story: "Inga the Runaway Chicken"

• Lulu Miller (Terrestrials) narrates the real-life journey of Inga, a clever red hen in Germany, and her return to her farm and her mate, Horst, after being sold for meat.
• After being taken miles away for sale, Inga escapes and navigates through forests and roads back to her original home.

Key Insights:

• Chickens’ Hidden Abilities: Cy Montgomery, animal expert and author, debunks the myth that chickens are “dumb.” She explains their excellent direction sense, sharp memory, and strong social bonds.
  • “Chickens can go nine miles an hour.” — Cy Montgomery [07:28]
  • “Birds have something called magnetite to detect the magnetism of the earth the same way that a compass does.” — Cy Montgomery [08:58]
• Why Did Inga Return? She likely used memory, environmental cues, and her desire to reunite with her flock—particularly her companion Horst.
  • “If she went home, she was going to see her boyfriend, Clark Claw.” — Cy Montgomery [09:40]

Memorable Moment:

• The heartwarming conclusion: Farmer Gerald vows to never sell Inga again, letting her live out her days in peace with Horst.

Notable Quote:

• “It wasn’t dumb luck that let her get over three miles through the cold forest past hungry foxes and speeding cars, but her own instincts, her own memories, her own very special chicken intelligence that helped her find her way.” — Lulu Miller [10:00]

Part 2: THE DUCK - Wow in the World [11:07–20:55]

The Story: "The Quacking Mystery of the Arctic Ocean"

• Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz introduce the "bio-duck mystery": In 1964, strange “quacking” sounds were heard underwater in the Arctic—far from any actual ducks.
• The tale spans fifty years as scientists try to solve this mystery, eventually suspecting the Arctic minke whale.

Key Insights:

• Solving the Mystery: Scientists attach digital recording acoustic tags (D-tags) to whales using suction cups to record sounds and track movement.
  • “Suction cups.” — Mindy Thomas [15:48]
  • “The hydrophone floats to the surface and then the scientists find it by tracking its GPS location.” — Guy Raz [16:24]
• Discovery: The data confirm that minke whales are the source of the mysterious quacking—but the reason why remains unknown.

Possible Theories for the Quacking:

• Mating Calls: “Serenading other minke whales.” — Guy Raz [19:47]
• Navigation: Letting whales know where others are in the dark water. “Like a whale version of Marco Polo.” — Mindy Thomas [20:15]
• Migration Patterns: Sounds are more frequent during migration.

Notable Moment:

• The playful live reactions as the scientists “tag” the whales, and the suspense of the fifty-year-old mystery finally being solved.

Part 3: THE TURKEY - Circle Round [22:22–29:55]

The Story: "How the Turkey Got Its Gobble" (Cherokee Legend)

• Rebecca Sheir narrates an original radio play adaptation.
• Long ago, turkey couldn’t make any special noise and was envious of other birds, especially Grouse, who could drum.

Plot Highlights:

• Turkey’s Bargain: Turkey offers some beautiful feathers to Grouse in exchange for drumming lessons.
  • “If you teach me how to drum, I’ll give you some of my feathers.” — Turkey [played by guest actor] [26:28]
• Drumming Difficulties: Turkey tries to drum like Grouse but can’t balance, ultimately teetering, gurgling, and then unexpectedly gobbling.
• Moral: Turkey discovers his own unique sound, and Grouse becomes “Ruffed Grouse” with his new feather ruff.

Notable Quotes:

• “Maybe you just weren’t meant to drum. Maybe you should appreciate your natural gifts.” — Grouse [28:14]
• “And though it isn’t quite as pleasant… that gurgling, gargling gobble definitely sets Turkey apart and makes him nothing short of special.” — Rebecca Sheir [29:29]

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Speaker(s) | Timestamp | |----------------------------------|--------------------------|---------------| | Introduction & Turducken Setup | Rebecca Sheir, Guests | 00:33–03:41 | | Chicken Story (Terrestrials) | Lulu Miller, Cy Montgomery | 04:07–11:04 | | Duck Story (Wow in the World) | Mindy Thomas, Guy Raz | 11:07–20:55 | | Turkey Legend (Circle Round) | Rebecca Sheir, cast | 22:22–29:55 | | Gratitude Activity & Wrap-up | Rebecca Sheir | 30:03–32:59 | | Listener Messages/Outro | Various Kid Listeners | 32:59–end |

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• On Chickens:
  • “We think they’re stupid, but it seems awfully unfair to me.” — Cy Montgomery [06:34]
• On Scientific Curiosity:
  • “Another scientific mystery solved.” — Guy Raz [20:55]
• On Self-Acceptance:
  • “Maybe you should appreciate your natural gifts, what you’ve already got.” — Grouse [28:14]

Fun Activity [30:03]

• Rebecca Sheir’s prompt to listeners:
  “Draw your own Thanksgiving feast, but instead of food, draw all the things you’re grateful for. …Draw your Thanksgiving feast, then share it with someone you love.”
  (Kids are invited to email photos of their drawings to the show.)

Tone & Style

• The episode maintains a playful, encouraging, and inclusive tone. Jokes, sound effects, and musical cues enrich the stories and keep the episode lively. The hosts frequently play off each other’s puns and humor, creating a warm, collaborative mood suitable for family listening.

Summary/Takeaways

This episode of Circle Round celebrates the power of curiosity, the importance of gratitude, and the uniqueness within each of us—whether feathered or not. Through stories from different podcasts, listeners learn about the intelligence of chickens, the mysteries of ocean sounds, and the value of embracing one’s own traits, all wrapped in a festive, collaborative package.

For listeners:

• Whether you’re tuning in for animal facts, a good laugh, or a thought-provoking legend, this “Podcast Turducken” offers a bite of something for everyone and inspires children and grown-ups to cherish what makes them, and others, truly special.