Summer Camp: The Salmon Famine

Summary

Circle Round — "Summer Camp: The Salmon Famine"

Podcast: Circle Round (WBUR)
Host: Rebecca Sheer (with camp counselor Erica Henningson)
Date: July 28, 2026
Recording Location: Symphony Hall, Boston, MA
Length: ~25 minutes

---

Episode Overview

Theme:
This episode of Circle Round, "The Salmon Famine," adapts an Indigenous folktale from the Pacific Northwest. The central theme is the importance of sharing and the consequences of selfishness, explored through the clever tricks of Coyote as he teaches three giant sisters a much-needed lesson.

Purpose:
To entertain and engage listeners of all ages with a sound-rich folktale while nurturing discussion about values like generosity, fairness, and creative problem-solving.

---

Key Discussion Points & Story Breakdown

1. Introduction to the Tale and Main Characters

• [00:50] Erica Henningson welcomes listeners to a summer of outdoor-themed stories and introduces “The Salmon Famine”—a tale about selfishness and learning to share.
• [03:57] Rebecca Sheer sets the scene: Coyote is the clever trickster animal, known for both getting what he wants and teaching important lessons.

2. The Mystery of the Missing Salmon

• [04:50 - 05:29] Coyote discovers that, unlike every other year, the salmon haven’t arrived to swim upstream. The animals are worried about the impending famine:
  • Coyote (04:50): “And what a feast those salmon make... we reach into the river, snatch them out of the water and enjoy a mouth watering meal.”
• [06:05] Floating downstream, Coyote finds a dam blocking the salmon—built by “three giant sisters.”

3. Meet the Giant Sisters

• [06:22 - 07:36] The three sisters (one tall, one wide, one hairy) are hoarding all the trapped salmon for themselves, wielding huge clubs and ignoring the needs of other creatures.
  • Giant Sisters’ delight in hoarding (06:49): “Look at all these yummy salmon we’ve caught.”

4. Coyote’s Plan: Outwitting the Giants

• [07:52 - 09:13] Coyote’s shapeshifting power comes into play. He disguises himself as an irresistibly cute “baby giant.” The sisters, thrilled at the idea of a future servant, adopt him.
  • Giant Sisters, charmed (09:10): “Aw, little baby!”
• [10:16 - 11:22] The next morning, the sisters leave the baby alone in their cave, ordering him to stay put. Once they’re gone, Coyote returns to his true form—ready to act.

5. Efforts to Break the Dam

• [13:05 - 15:05] Each day, Coyote slips away and tries to break the dam, but it proves too big for him alone.
  • Coyote (14:50): “Boy, oh boy, this job is bigger than I thought. ... If they discover my secret, I’ll be up the river without a paddle.”
• [15:57 - 16:43] To gain more strength, he transforms into bigger animals—wolverine, wolf, moose, bear—working tirelessly at the dam over several days.
  • Coyote’s resolution (17:02): “Okay, that settles it. I need a new plan. And if it means being discovered by those salmon stealing sisters, then so be it.”

6. Climactic Showdown at the Dam

• [17:12 - 18:11] Coyote decides to risk exposure. He stacks the sisters’ enormous wooden spoons on his head as helmets and resumes breaking the dam.
• [18:30 - 20:00] The sisters catch him mid-escape and attack:
  • Coyote, taunting (19:10): “Nice try, but you’ll have to try harder than that.”
  • Each sister’s club only breaks a “helmet”—buying Coyote precious moments. Finally, he creates a gap large enough for the salmon to escape.

7. Resolution and Lesson

• [20:13 - 20:43] Coyote escapes, leaving the giants shocked and the salmon free to swim upstream. He points out their selfishness and teaches them the value of sharing:
  • Coyote (20:18): “I’m not stealing anything. I’m giving these fish back to the other animals who need the salmon to survive... now you must learn to share.”
• [20:43 - 21:37] Coyote races alongside the salmon, their famine now over.

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Sharing:
  • Narrator (02:13): “Sharing with others can make everyone feel good.”
• Coyote’s Cunning:
  • Coyote (07:36): “I must find a way to free those fish by using my cunning, my wiles, and my magic.”
• Humor:
  • Coyote (19:54): “Sorry to burst your bubble, ladies—or your dam.”
• Lesson Delivered:
  • Coyote (20:18): “I’m not stealing anything. I’m giving these fish back to the other animals... So now you must learn to share.”

---

Important Segments with Timestamps

• [03:57] — Folktale’s world setting and Coyote’s character
• [06:05] — Discovery of the dam and the three giants
• [07:52] — Coyote’s shapeshifting plan
• [15:57] — Coyote transforms into stronger animals
• [17:27] — Coyote dons the giant spoons as helmets
• [18:30] — The confrontation with the sisters at the dam
• [20:18] — Coyote’s speech on sharing and fairness

---

Episode Reflection Activity

[21:37]

• Encourages listeners:
  • Write “I can” strips for a jar or basket, adding to them as they accomplish new things.
  • Designed to spark reflection on personal growth and achievement—an activity for family discussion.

---

Cast & Music

• On-stage cast: Josh Gondelman, Hari Kondabolu, Faith Salie, Bethany Van Delft
• Boston Symphony Orchestra Sextet (live accompaniment, [03:15])
• Composer: Eric Shyamalonis

---

Listener Engagement

• [24:27] Kids share their favorite Circle Round episodes, fostering community and inviting further listening.

---

Summary

"The Salmon Famine" is a resourceful, humorous, and music-filled retelling of a classic trickster folktale, brought to life by lively performances and orchestration. Coyote’s cleverness and perseverance free the salmon and remind everyone that generosity ensures abundance for all—a message relevant at any age. The episode closes with an empowering activity to help families track their own “I can!” moments and nurture ongoing conversations about values and achievements.

Transcript

[Ben Brock Johnson]

Hey parents, it's Ben Brock Johnson from the WBUR Podcasts team. Circle Round is supported by Doordash. Doordash is for those parent moments when the plan falls apart. And as a parent of twins, I can relate. I have a lot on my plate. You know what I often don't have on my plate? Dinner. Or the groceries with which to make said dinner. Sometimes a swimsuit will go missing. Even though I thought we had like four of those groceries. Retail dinner supplies. Doordash can help with all of these things. When Doordash brings the goods right to our door, dad gets a little more time for himself and a little more time for a good bedtime story. When life gets crazy, DoorDash brings some order to it. Order now.

[Erica Henningson]

Hi listeners, it's your camp counselor, Erica Henningson. I'm here with you all summer bringing you Circle Round's best stories about our big, beautiful shared outside. Today's episode is called the Salmon Famine. It's a story about what happens when we are feeling a little selfish and refuse to share with others. Spoiler alert. It does not go well. Let's circle around the campfire and take a listen.

[WBUR Podcasts Announcer]

Wsbur podcasts boston.

[Narrator/Announcer]

This Circle round episode was one of two recorded in February 2025 at Boston's Symphony hall, home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. And now, on with the story.

[Rebecca Scheer]

Think about a time you shared with someone. Maybe you shared a toy or some food. Maybe you shared some time.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Sharing with others can make everyone feel good.

[Rebecca Scheer]

But in today's story, we'll meet three giants who refuse to share until a clever coyote does his share to teach them a giant lesson. I'm Rebecca Scheer and welcome to Circle Round live at Symphony hall in Boston, Massachusetts. Today our story is called the Salmon Famine. It comes from indigenous tribes of the present day Canadian and American Pacific Northwest. Joining me on stage is a star studded cast of actors Josh Gondelman, Hari Kondabolu, Faith Salee and Bethany Van Delft providing musical accompaniment under the direction of our own Eric Shyamalonis is a world class sextet from the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Kathy Basrak on viola, Chris El Chico on clarinet, Clint Foreman on flute, Ben Levy on double bass, Suzanne Nelson on

[Narrator/Announcer]

bassoon and Austin Ruff on horn.

[Rebecca Scheer]

So circle round everyone for the Salmon Famine.

[Giant Sister 1]

It.

[Rebecca Scheer]

Long, long ago when the world was ruled by animals, the craftiest and cleverest of all creatures was Coyote. The wild and wily dog was always playing tricks. Sometimes he used his cunning to get something he wanted. Sometimes he used it to teach a Lesson. This story is about a time he did both. Coyote made his home along a wide, winding river. And like the other animals who lived by the riverside each year, Coyote eagerly awaited the running of the salmon. The running of the salmon happened every summer when the big sleek fish known as salmon left the saltwater of the ocean and swam upstream to the fresh water of the river where they had first been born.

[Coyote]

And what a feast those salmon make. The minute we animals spot them, those plump, delicious fish muscling against the current, we reach into the river, snatch them out of the water and enjoy a mouth watering meal.

[Narrator/Announcer]

However, this particular summer, something unexpected happened.

[Rebecca Scheer]

The salmon didn't show up. And though Coyote and the other animals waited here.

[Coyote]

Fishy fishies and waited, nice fishy fishies.

[Rebecca Scheer]

The salmon never appeared.

[Coyote]

What is going on? The salmon should have started running by now. If the salmon don't come, a long hungry famine will. I must get to the bottom of this mystery.

[Rebecca Scheer]

Coyote bolted toward the water and dove in.

[Giant Sister 1]

Wh.

[Rebecca Scheer]

He floated downstream for hours, keeping his eyes peeled for salmon. At last, as he drifted past a thick tangled forest, what should he spy in the river stretching all the way from one side to the other, but a dam?

[Coyote]

A big wall of logs and stones? The dam is catching the salmon as they swim upstream. And look. It's trapping them so they can't move. Who would do such a thing? Who would build a giant dam and hoard the fish for themselves?

[Rebecca Scheer]

The moment Coyote asked that question, he heard the sound of thundering footsteps followed by the sound of thundering voices. Coyote leaped from the river and sprang behind a bush just as three giants, sisters actually burst out of the forest. One was a spirit, especially tall.

[Giant Sister 1]

It's time to eat, sisters.

[Rebecca Scheer]

One was especially wide.

[Giant Sister 2]

Look at all these yummy salmon we've caught.

[Rebecca Scheer]

And one was especially hairy.

[Giant Sister 3]

They're going to be absolutely delish.

[Rebecca Scheer]

All three giants were carrying big wooden clubs. And before Coyote's very wide eyes, each of the sisters seized a flip flopping fish by the gills. Come here. Little slippery. Hold it from the water. You're gonna get it away from me. Then stunned it with a club blow to the head. With their dazed dinners in their jumbo hands, the sisters lumbered back into the forest. Coyote waited till they were out of sight before emerging from his hiding place.

[Coyote]

I can't believe it. Those giant sisters are hogging all the salmon by trapping them in their dam. I must find a way to free those fish by using my cunning, my wiles and my magic.

[Rebecca Scheer]

Something we didn't mention before about Coyote. He was a shape shifter. He could magically transform into any creature he wanted. And as he plotted a way to free the salmon from the giant sisters, he suddenly got an idea. He twitched his ears, wiggled his nose, and in no time flat, he transformed into a baby.

[Coyote]

Step by Jojo.

[Rebecca Scheer]

A baby giant, as it happens, sort of a mini version of the three sisters, only nowhere near as tall. Tall, wide or hairy. In fact, he was downright adorable. He plopped down on his little behind. Then he opened his cute little mouth and let out a big whopping cry. Within moments, who should come trundling from the forest, their surfboard sized arms waving in alarm. But the three giant sisters.

[Giant Sister 1]

Is that a baby?

[Giant Sister 2]

Why is he all alone by the river?

[Giant Sister 3]

I don't know. But I do know this. He's totally adorable.

[Giant Sister 2]

Aw, little baby.

[Rebecca Scheer]

Delighted that the sisters were falling for his trick, Coyote smiled his cutest smile and cooed his sweetest coo coo.

[Giant Sister 1]

I say we take him home and raise him.

[Giant Sister 2]

Once he gets big enough, he can help us collect salmon.

[Giant Sister 3]

Or he can collect it for us and cook it too. Maybe he'll even tidy up our house. We'll never have to lift a finger again.

[Rebecca Scheer]

The sisters scooped up their future servant and carried him to their deep, dark cave in the forest. After Coyote's long trip down the river, he was faint with exhaustion and and hunger. So when the sisters offered him a bite of fresh cooked salmon, he eagerly gulped it down. Then he snuggled up beneath a blanket and dropped off to sleep. The next morning, he was awoken by his siblings booming voices.

[Giant Sister 1]

Get up, little one.

[Giant Sister 2]

The three of us, us are going out to gather roots and vegetables to make a scrumptious salmon stew.

[Giant Sister 3]

Don't even think about leaving while we're gone.

[Giant Sister 1]

We wouldn't want to lose our future fisherman and cook and housekeeper. Ah, good plan.

[Rebecca Scheer]

The sisters grabbed their baskets and fishing

[Narrator/Announcer]

clubs, then shambled away.

[Rebecca Scheer]

Once they were gone, Coyote slipped out from the blanket, twitched his ears, wiggled his nose and transformed into.

[Coyote]

Ugh. That's more like it himself. Those three sisters are really a handful. Not only are they taking all the salmon, they're raising me to be their servant. Little do they know, but I'm about to serve them a lesson one they will never forget.

[Rebecca Scheer]

What do you think Coyote is plotting? What would you do if you were the wily trickster? We'll find out what happens after a quick break.

[Ben Brock Johnson]

Hey, parents, it's Ben Brock Johnson from the WBUR podcasts team. Circle Round is supported by DoorDash. DoorDash is for those parent moments when the plan falls apart. And as a parent of twins, I can relate. I have a lot on my plate. You know what I often don't have on my plate? Dinner. Or the groceries with which to make said dinner. Sometimes a swimsuit will go missing. Even though I thought we had like four of those groceries. Retail dinner supplies. Doordash can help with all of these things. When doordash brings the goods right to our door, dad gets a little more time for himself and a little more time for a good bedtime story. When life gets crazy, doordash brings some order to it. Order now,

[WBUR Podcasts 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, and 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]

I'm Rebecca Shear. Welcome back to Circle Round live at Symphony hall in Boston, Massachusetts. Today, our story is called the Salmon Famine. Before the break, clever Coyote discovered that three giant sisters had built a dam across the river so they could keep all the salmon for themselves. Coyote used his magic to shape shift into a baby. The sisters found him so irresistible and so promising as a future fisherman, cook, and all around servant that they brought him to their cave in the woods. The next morning, after the giants left to pick roots and vegetables and gather more fish, Coyote cooked up a plan. He transformed back into himself, then headed straight for the dam.

[Coyote]

My goodness. There must be thousands of pink and silver salmon trapped in this damage. Desperate to get past, these salmon need to swim upstream and the animals need these salmon. So I'm going to fix this problem by breaking it apart.

[Rebecca Scheer]

Coyote wrenched a log from the dam. Then he tore out a stone. Then another log. Then another stone. The dam was so large that even after hours of work, Coyote could hardly see a difference.

[Coyote]

Boy, oh boy, this job is bigger than I thought. But I should call it a day. The sisters will be here any minute to collect fish for their stew. If they discover my secret, I'll be up the river without a paddle.

[Rebecca Scheer]

Coyote took to his heels and scampered to the cave. Then he twitched his ears, wiggled his nose, and transformed into a baby goo. He had just crawled beneath the blanket when the sisters returned with their vegetables, roots and fish.

[Giant Sister 1]

It's time to cook up Some stew.

[Giant Sister 2]

Let's make sure our new baby brother has plenty to eat.

[Giant Sister 3]

Yeah, he's got to be big and strong if he's going to do all the work around this place.

[Rebecca Scheer]

Everyone ate very well that night, and the following morning, the sisters had a hankering for salmon with huckleberry sauce. Once they left the cave with their berry baskets and fishing clubs, Coyote twitched his ears, wiggled his nose and transformed into

[Giant Sister 1]

a wolverine.

[Coyote]

I'm pretty strong as a coyote, but I need to be even stronger. Stronger if I'm going to tear this dam apart. Hopefully this getup will do the trick.

[Rebecca Scheer]

Coyote bounded to the dam and got down to business. His new brawny body made him much more efficient. But by the time he had to head back to the cave, he still hadn't broken the dam. So the next morning, after the giants left to gather food, Coyote shape shifted into

[Giant Sister 1]

a wolf.

[Rebecca Scheer]

The next day he became a moose. And the next day, a bear.

[Listener Testimonials]

Roar.

[Rebecca Scheer]

He kept this routine up for a week. He shape shifted into bigger and bigger animals. He worked on the dam for a few hours. Then he hurried to the lair and became a baby again. Coyote was busting his tail to bust the dam apart. The progress was slower than he would have liked.

[Coyote]

Okay, that settles it. I need a new plan. And if it means being discovered by those salmon stealing sisters, then so be it.

[Rebecca Scheer]

The following morning, after the giants bid their baby brother farewell and headed to the woods with their baskets and clubs, Coyote transformed back into the himself that always feels good.

[Narrator/Announcer]

And jumped into action.

[Rebecca Scheer]

Each of the sisters had a sturdy wooden spoon that they used for snarfing down soup and stew. Of course, the giants were so gargantuan that in Coyote's eyes, their spoons looked a lot more like bowls. Coyote gathered up the big wooden spoons. Then he set to work stacking them on his head, one on top of the other.

[Coyote]

1, 2, 3.

[Rebecca Scheer]

Once all three spoons were in place, Coyote hightailed it to the dam and got to work heaving and hauling stones and logs. Coyote worked hard. So hard that after a few hours, he had actually managed to create a gap.

[Coyote]

This gap's not quite big enough for a salmon to swim through, but I'll keep at it. And any minute now, those fish could be free.

[Rebecca Scheer]

Coyote was so immersed in his task that he didn't hear thundering footsteps plodding from the forest. But he did hear thundering voices.

[Giant Sister 1]

Is that Coyote?

[Giant Sister 2]

That shaggy rascal is tearing our dam apart.

[Giant Sister 3]

So I say we tear him apart.

[Rebecca Scheer]

The sisters gnashed their teeth and charged Toward Coyote. Next thing he knew, the first sister lifted her club and smashed him over the head. But remember, Coyote was wearing three huge wooden spoons, like three sturdy helmets. So when the club came plummeting down, all it did was crash into his top helmet and splinter it apart.

[Coyote]

Nice try, but you'll have to try harder than that.

[Rebecca Scheer]

Now, the second sister raised her club and brought it down on Coyote's noggin. But like her sister before her, all she did was break Coyote's middle helmet to pieces.

[Coyote]

Not bad. Not too good either.

[Rebecca Scheer]

Now it was the first third sister's turn. She hoisted her club high and gave Coyote's head a wallop.

[Giant Sister 3]

Gaw.

[Rebecca Scheer]

But as you can probably guess, all she succeeded in doing was breaking Coyote's bottom helmet Just as he yanked one more stone from the dam and the gap opened wide.

[Coyote]

Sorry to burst your bubble, ladies, or your damn.

[Rebecca Scheer]

The sisters watched in horror as their precious salmon pushed through the hole and surged up the river.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Our fish.

[Giant Sister 2]

They're swimming away.

[Giant Sister 3]

How dare you steal them from us, Coyote.

[Coyote]

Steal them?

[Rebecca Scheer]

Coyote sprang out of the water and onto the opposite bank.

[Coyote]

I'm not stealing anything. I'm giving these fish back to the other animals along the river who need the salmon to survive. The three of you have been hoarding the fish for yourselves. So now you must learn to share. Gosh. And here I was thinking it's the big sisters who should teach their baby brother a lesson, not the other way around.

[Giant Sister 1]

Big sisters.

[Giant Sister 2]

Baby brother?

[Rebecca Scheer]

Whoa.

[Giant Sister 3]

Are you saying that all this time you were actually.

[Rebecca Scheer]

But that's all Coyote heard. Because now that he had taught the sisters their lesson, he broke into a sprint and bolted up the riverbank. Mile after mile, the clever canine raced alongside the salmon as he and the fish made their long awaited way back home.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Now it's your turn. Think about some of the great things you've achieved. Cut out some strips of paper and on each one write the words I can. And finish that sentence with something you've proven you can accomplish. Put your I can strips in a jar, box or basket. And each time you rise to a new challenge or learn a new skill, fill out another strip. Drop it in and watch your achievements grow. This week's story, the Salmon Famine, was adapted by me, Rebecca Scheer. It was edited by Dean Russell. Circle Round's composer is Eric Shyamalonis, who conducted our world class sextet from the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Kathy Basrak on viola, Chris El Chico on clarinet. Clint Foreman on flute. Ben Levy on double bass. Suzanne Nelson on bassoon and Austin Ruff on Horn. Special thanks to everyone at the BSO including Chad Smith, Tony Fogg, Mark Rulison, Angie Dsocio, Dana Falloon, John Stanton, Steven Ponchack, Amy Aldrich and gc.

[Rebecca Scheer]

And a big Circle round of applause for our actors at Symphony Hall.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Josh Gondelman, Hari Kondabolu, Faith Salee and Bethany Van Delft. Josh Gondelman is a stand up comedian and Emmy award winning writer who can often be heard on the NPR News quiz Wait, Wait, don't tell Me you grown ups can find his comedy special People Pleaser streaming online. Hari Kondabolu is also a regular panelist on Wait Wait don't tell Me.

[Rebecca Scheer]

His comedy specials include Vacation Baby on

[Narrator/Announcer]

Hulu and Warn your Relatives on Netflix.

[Rebecca Scheer]

Most recently he hosted the Netflix food

[Narrator/Announcer]

competition show Snack vs Chef. Faith Saley is a writer, actress, comedian and Emmy award winning contributor to CBS Sunday Morning. She is also a regular on NPR's Wait Wait Don't Tell Me. Her one woman show approval Junkie is available on Audible. Bethany Van Delft is an award winning stand up comedian and a regular host and storyteller for the Moth. She also co hosted the Nova series Parental Logic. Circle Round's artist is Sabina Hahn. Sabina has created a black and white coloring page for all of our Circle Round stories and you can print them out and color them in Grown ups. Visit our website WBUR.org CircleRound and click on Coloring pages. Love the stories you hear on Circle Round. Leave us a five star rating on your favorite podcast app and please tell your friends friends about the show. Circle Round is a production of wbur, Boston's NPR News Station. I'm Rebecca Shear. 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 and telling us about the Circle Round stories they like best. Take a listen. Maybe one of their favorites is one of yours too.

[Listener Testimonials]

Hello, my name is Scarlett, I'm from Melbourne, Australia and my favourite Circle Round story is the Spotted Goat. My favorite part is when the queen takes the spotted goat to the castle to see her gold. My name is Gabe, I live in Newton, Massachusetts. I yank Home sweet home because the part I yank is where the bunnies took the yepbird. Hi, my name is Rowan and I live in Seattle, Washington and my favorite Circle Rose story is the Clockwork. I like the part when the bird tries to stick his whole body into the rock. My name is Alan. Hi, I'M Nora and I'm recording from Menlo Park, California. And my favorite story is the Basilisk Stare. Hi, my name is Vivian and I live in Washington. And my favorite circle around stories is the Bird of a Different Feather. I like the part when the lion says he always sticks his tail out from the tree, but where is it now? Hi, my name is Zoe, I live in Woodbury, Minnesota. My favorite circle round story is the Giant Steps and my favorite part is when the giant hops around the house. I'm Nora, I'm from Washington and my favorite story is Granny Snowstorm. I like it because the brother and sister go down the well and Granny Snowstorm and see her garden and shake her masters for her.

[Narrator/Announcer]

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.