The Big Green Bag

Summary

Podcast Summary: Circle Round – "The Big Green Bag"

Podcast Information:

• Title: Circle Round
• Host/Author: WBUR
• Description: WBUR's Circle Round adapts carefully-selected folktales from around the world into sound- and music-rich radio plays for kids ages 3-103. Each 15 to 25-minute episode explores important issues like kindness, persistence, and generosity, culminating in an activity that fosters deeper conversations between children and grown-ups.
• Episode: The Big Green Bag
• Release Date: May 13, 2025

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Introduction and Theme

In the episode titled "The Big Green Bag," hosted by Rebecca Shear, Circle Round delves into the classic theme of distinguishing between wants and needs. The narrative is a beautifully adapted folktale with contributions from talented actors Tim Bagley and Rebecca Mader, who bring depth and emotion to the characters. The story emphasizes the consequences of greed and the importance of understanding true necessities versus superficial desires.

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Story Synopsis

A Wealthy Man's Dissatisfaction ([00:51] - [02:31])

The story introduces a very wealthy man living in opulence—a swanky house adorned with a spacious swimming pool, a soaring fountain, manicured gardens, and priceless statues. Despite his apparent abundance, the man is perpetually dissatisfied, always longing for more:

Tim Bagley (02:31): "Why own just one swanky house when I could have two? A country house and a city house. And why settle on a mere swimming pool when I could have my own private lagoon or lake? I could fill it with swans and flamingos and all the fish a man could eat."

This discontent stems from his inability to appreciate his current wealth, leading him to seek ever-increasing luxuries.

Descent into Gambling ([03:11] - [05:24])

In a bid to amass more riches, the man makes a reckless decision to gamble away everything he possesses, betting on card games and dog races:

Tim Bagley (03:11): "Deal me in, I'm bettin it all."

However, the odds are never in his favor, and he soon loses all his wealth, leaving him with nothing but the clothes on his back and an empty stomach. Desperate and destitute, he begins to beg from town to town:

Tim Bagley (03:36): "Anyone have a coin to spare or a bite of food? Food."

Encounter with the Green-Clad Woman ([05:09] - [07:42])

One day, as the man trudges down a country road, he meets a mysterious woman dressed in a long green cloak with sparkling emerald eyes. She possesses a large green bag tied with a green ribbon that piques his curiosity:

Rebecca Mader (06:20): "Oh."

Tim Bagley (06:21): "Excuse me, did you just say your green bag is getting tossed into the sea?"

The woman offers him a loaf of bread, which he consumes greedily without gratitude:

Rebecca Mader (05:09): "Perhaps you'd like to pull off a hunk of bread so you can."

Tim Bagley (05:17): (Eats the bread)

She then proposes a deal: if he takes her big green bag to the shore and tosses it into the sea without opening it, she promises to eliminate all his cares and worries.

Rebecca Mader (06:36): "Well, I will make all of their cares disappear. Their worries will be a thousand thing of the past. But only if they promise not to open the bag. They must keep it exactly as it is, with all of its contents intact. If anything comes out, they will suffer an unimaginable fate."

Tempted by the promise of a worry-free life, the man accepts the challenge:

Tim Bagley (07:09): "That settles it, ma'am. I will toss your green bag into the sea."

He assures her he will honor the agreement, setting the stage for the unfolding drama.

The Man's Curiosity and Consequences ([09:00] - [11:59])

With the bag slung over his shoulder, the man's curiosity about its contents grows as he travels. Passing by a thick green forest, the temptation becomes too strong:

Tim Bagley (09:43): "How about if I pop into this forest and take a quick look in the bag? I'll keep everything inside. I won't mess with anything and the woman will be none the wiser."

He decides to sneak into the forest to peek inside the bag, despite the woman's clear instructions. Upon opening it, he discovers a multitude of bugs:

Tim Bagley (10:23): "Yuck. This entire thing is filled with bugs."

The sight repulses him, and as the bugs escape into the air and forest, the woman reappears, furious at his betrayal:

Rebecca Mader (11:06): "You knew what you were doing. You opened the bag!"

Realizing his mistake, the man attempts to rectify by trying to gather the countless insects, but it's an impossible task:

Tim Bagley (11:38): "Trust me, ma'am, I am trying to do as you say. But there are thousands of these things. Millions. Even a man like me could never gather all of them."

Acknowledging his failure, the woman decides to enforce the promised consequences. With a wave of her arms, the man undergoes a magical transformation into a woodpecker:

Narrator (Rebecca Shear) (11:59): "For this was the unimaginable fate the woman warned about. Right there in that forest the man had transformed into the very first woodpecker."

Now forever trapped in avian form, the man-turned-woodpecker continues to search for the bugs, symbolizing his never-ending quest to fill the bag and rid himself of his woes.

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Lessons and Moral

"The Big Green Bag" imparts several valuable lessons:

1. Gratitude vs. Greed: The wealthy man's inability to appreciate what he has leads to his downfall. His greed blinds him to the value of his existing possessions.

2. Understanding Wants vs. Needs: Initially, the man fails to distinguish between essential needs and superficial wants, leading him to make poor decisions.

3. Consequences of Actions: His choice to gamble everything and later to break the woman's trust results in severe consequences, emphasizing the importance of keeping promises and respecting agreements.

4. Curiosity and Discipline: The man's inability to resist curiosity and stay disciplined leads to his transformation, showcasing the importance of self-control.

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Conclusion and Activity

At the end of the story, the host, Rebecca Shear, invites listeners to engage in an interactive activity designed to reinforce the episode's themes:

"Think about the things that you feel give you a happy life. Then find some paper, cut it into squares and draw each item on a separate square. Pair up with a grownup and sort your items into two wants and needs. Talk with your grownup about why you feel each of them is a want or a need. Then ask your grown up to tell you about their wants and needs and see which ones match up."

This activity encourages children and their caregivers to reflect on and discuss the difference between desires and necessities, fostering meaningful conversations about values and priorities.

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Notable Quotes with Attributions and Timestamps

• Tim Bagley ([02:31]): "Why own just one swanky house when I could have two? A country house and a city house. And why settle on a mere swimming pool when I could have my own private lagoon or lake? I could fill it with swans and flamingos and all the fish a man could eat."

• Rebecca Mader ([06:36]): "Well, I will make all of their cares disappear. Their worries will be a thousand thing of the past. But only if they promise not to open the bag. They must keep it exactly as it is, with all of its contents intact. If anything comes out, they will suffer an unimaginable fate."

• Tim Bagley ([07:09]): "That settles it, ma'am. I will toss your green bag into the sea."

• Tim Bagley ([10:23]): "Yuck. This entire thing is filled with bugs."

• Rebecca Mader ([11:06]): "You knew what you were doing. You opened the bag!"

• Tim Bagley ([11:38]): "Trust me, ma'am, I am trying to do as you say. But there are thousands of these things. Millions. Even a man like me could never gather all of them."

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Production Credits

• Adaptation: Rebecca Shear
• Actors: Tim Bagley (wealthy man) and Rebecca Mader (green-clad woman)
• Editing: Dean Russell
• Music and Sound Design: Eric Shyamalonis (featured instrument: Tsambal, a Romanian hammered dulcimer)
• Artist: Sabina Hahn (created black and white coloring page for the story)

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Conclusion

"The Big Green Bag" is a captivating tale that seamlessly blends folklore with modern storytelling techniques. Through engaging characters and a compelling narrative, Circle Round effectively conveys important life lessons about gratitude, the distinction between wants and needs, and the repercussions of one's actions. The episode not only entertains but also encourages listeners to engage in reflective activities that reinforce its core messages.

For those who haven't listened yet, "The Big Green Bag" offers a rich and meaningful experience, making it a valuable addition to the Circle Round collection.

Transcript

[Rebecca Shear]

Hey there grown ups. We want to learn more about you and why you listen to Circle Round. Take our short 10 minute survey and get a special bonus story from me, Rebecca Shear. Find a link in the show notes of this episode or visit WBUR.org survey WBUR podcasts Boston have you ever thought about the difference between. Between a want and a need? Wants are things that might be nice to have, fun even, but we can survive without them. Things like toys or ice cream. Needs are things that we must have in order to stay healthy and safe. Things like warmth, shelter and food. In today's story, we'll meet a character who can't tell the difference between once and needs until he learns a high flying lesson about them both. I'm Rebecca Scheer and welcome to Circle Round, where story time happens all the time. Today, our story is called the Big Green Bag. We found versions of this tale from the British Isles off the northwest coast of Europe, as well as Romania in southeastern Europe. Some really great people came together to bring you our adaptation of this folktale, including Tim Bagley and Rebecca Mater. Grown ups. You may know Tim Bagley from his starring roles in Somebody Somewhere and Hacks, and Rebecca Mader from her starring roles in Once Upon a Time and Lost. So circle around everyone for the Big Green Bag. Long, long ago, there was a. A very wealthy man who lived in a very swanky house with a spacious swimming pool out back and a soaring fountain out front. To each side was a manicured garden full of exotic plants, sculpted hedges and priceless statues. So, given everything the man had, you would think he'd be satisfied, right? Content with his swanky lot in life? The truth is, he was not satisfied. Instead of appreciating what he had, he would always grouse about what he lacked.

[Tim Bagley]

Why own just one swanky house when I could have two? A country house and a city house. And why settle on a mere swimming pool when I could have my own private lagoon or lake? I could fill it with swans and flamingos and all the fish a man could eat.

[Rebecca Shear]

As you can see, the man may have been rich in money, but he was poor in sense. And so he did something rather foolish. He took everything he owned. The money, the riches. And in hopes of getting even more, he gambled it all. He placed big whopping bets on card games.

[Tim Bagley]

Deal me in, I'm bettin it all.

[Rebecca Shear]

And dog races.

[Tim Bagley]

I'm putting all my money on the underdog. Literally.

[Rebecca Shear]

But the odds were always stacked against him. And guess what? He wound up losing everything. So with nothing but the shirt on his back and the shoes on his feet. The man went begging from town to town.

[Tim Bagley]

Anyone have a coin to spare or a bite of food? Food.

[Rebecca Shear]

He was trudging down a country road one day when he encountered a woman by the roadside. She was wearing a long green cloak. Her eyes were green, too, and they sparkled like emeralds as she gave the man a wave.

[Rebecca Mader]

Good day, sir.

[Tim Bagley]

Good day.

[Rebecca Shear]

The man's face soured into a scowl.

[Tim Bagley]

And what, pray tell us, so good about it? This day is nothing short of wretched. This life is nothing short of wretched.

[Rebecca Shear]

The woman furrowed her brow.

[Rebecca Mader]

My good sir, you seem awfully troubled. Tell me, what is the matter?

[Tim Bagley]

What isn't the matter? Believe it or not, I used to have an exquisite life until I gambled away my last penny. Now I have nothing. No money, no food, and my belly's as empty as a hollow drum.

[Rebecca Shear]

The man looked down at his grumbling stomach, and that's when he noticed the bag. Sitting at the woman's feet was a large green bag tied shut with a green ribbon. The bag was so full, so plump, its seams were nearly splitting. The man eyed it with curiosity.

[Tim Bagley]

Say, that bag of yours doesn't have anything to eat in it, does it?

[Rebecca Mader]

Anything to eat?

[Rebecca Shear]

The woman shook her head.

[Rebecca Mader]

I can't say that it does, but here.

[Rebecca Shear]

She reached into her cloak and drew out a loaf of bread.

[Rebecca Mader]

Perhaps you'd like to pull off a hunk of bread so you can.

[Rebecca Shear]

Before she could finish, the man seized the entire loaf and gobbled it down without saying so much as a thank you.

[Rebecca Mader]

Goodness, you were hungry. I hope. That bread hit the spot.

[Rebecca Shear]

The man wiped the crumbs from his mouth and frowned.

[Tim Bagley]

That was just an appetizer. You sure you don't have any tasty food in that bag of yours?

[Rebecca Mader]

I can't say that I do, sir. And besides, I need this bag to stay exactly as it is so it can get tossed into the sea.

[Rebecca Shear]

The man paused as he took in this curious statement.

[Tim Bagley]

Excuse me, did you just say your green bag is getting tossed into the sea?

[Rebecca Mader]

That is my hope, provided I can find the right person to do it for me. That's why I'm sitting here by the road. I'm waiting for someone to take my green bag, bring it to the shore, and toss it into the sea.

[Tim Bagley]

But why? Why would you want someone to toss a perfectly good bag into the sea?

[Rebecca Mader]

Oh.

[Rebecca Shear]

The woman smiled a mysterious smile.

[Rebecca Mader]

I have my reasons. And the person who does as I ask will receive a rich reward A.

[Tim Bagley]

Rich reward, you say? What kind of rich reward?

[Rebecca Mader]

Well, I will make all of their cares disappear. Their worries will be a thousand thing of the past. But only if they promise not to open the bag. They must keep it exactly as it is, with all of its contents intact. If anything comes out, they will suffer an unimaginable fate.

[Rebecca Shear]

The man imagined a life free from cares and worries. Then he knelt down and snatched up the bag.

[Tim Bagley]

That settles it, ma' am. I will toss your green bag into the sea.

[Rebecca Shear]

But before he could turn to go, the woman stopped him.

[Rebecca Mader]

Not so far, sir. I must make sure you understand. If you open up this bag, you're not going to like what happens to you.

[Tim Bagley]

I don't like what's already happened to me. So I promise not to open the bag. Okay?

[Rebecca Mader]

Very well.

[Rebecca Shear]

She fixed the man with a steely gaze.

[Rebecca Mader]

Be on your way then. And be warned.

[Rebecca Shear]

What do you think will happen now that the man has the big green bag? We'll hear how our story unfolds after a quick break. Before we return to our story, a quick reminder and request to take our short survey so we can learn how to make your Circle Round experience even more fun. It takes 10 minutes and all survey takers get a bonus story from me. Rebecca Scheer. Click the link in the show notes or visit WBUR.org survey I'm Rebecca Scheer. Welcome back to Circle Round. Today our story is called the Big Green Bag. Before the break, a rich man gambled away everything he owned. Then one day he encountered a green cloaked woman seeking someone to toss her big green bag into the sea. She explained that if they did so without opening the bag, I will make.

[Rebecca Mader]

All of their cares disappear. Their worries will be a thing of the past.

[Rebecca Shear]

But if they did open it and let anything out, they will suffer an unimaginable fate. The desperate, grasping fellow offered his services, promising to do as the woman said. Then he slung the bag over his shoulder and took off down the road. Questions swirled through his mind as he walked.

[Tim Bagley]

What is the woman keeping in this bag? Why was she so insistent that I not open it? How could she possibly know if I did?

[Rebecca Shear]

With every mile his curiosity grew, as did his temptation. And as he was passing by a thick green forest, an idea rushed into his head.

[Tim Bagley]

How about if I pop into this forest and take a quick look in the bag? I'll keep everything inside. I won't mess with anything and the woman will be none the wiser.

[Rebecca Shear]

The man veered off the road and headed into the woods. He Followed a long, winding path through tightly packed trees and thick brambles. He stopped when he came to a trickling stream.

[Tim Bagley]

Well, this is as good a place as any to peek inside. Here goes.

[Rebecca Shear]

With trembling fingers, he untied the green ribbon and yanked the bag open. But when he peered inside, he recoiled in disgust.

[Tim Bagley]

Yuck. This entire thing is filled with bugs.

[Rebecca Shear]

It was true. Ants and aphids, beetles and bees, spiders and slugs, wasps and worms. They were all scuttling and wriggling around inside the bag. And the moment they sensed fresh air, do you know what they did? They came scuttling and wriggling out before scuttering, slithering and flying around the forest.

[Tim Bagley]

This is revolting. I've never seen so many creepy crawlies in my life.

[Rebecca Mader]

And you weren't supposed to see them because you were supposed to keep the bag closed.

[Rebecca Shear]

The man whirled around and there was the woman, her emerald green eyes blazing.

[Rebecca Mader]

You promised you would do as I ask. And tossed the bag into the sea without opening it. And now look what you've done. Gather up the insects and put them back.

[Rebecca Shear]

Now. The man took the empty bag and went racing around trying to capture the bugs. Some were wriggling on the ground, others were zipping through the air. Still others were scuttering onto tree trunks and disappearing into the bark.

[Tim Bagley]

Trust me, ma' am, I am trying to do as you say. But there are thousands of these things. Millions. Even a man like me could never gather all of them.

[Rebecca Mader]

You know what? You're right. A man like you couldn't gather all of them. So let's fix that, shall we?

[Rebecca Shear]

The woman threw back her head and waved her arms. And as the man went zigging and zagging around the forest trying to get the bugs back into the bag, do you know what happened? He began to change. The hair on his head and body turned into feathers. His nose became a sharp beak, his arms changed into wings. And his shrinking legs sprouted sharp, clawed, backward pointing toes. For this was the unimaginable fate the woman warned about. Right there in that forest the man had transformed into the very first woodpecker. He winged his way through the trees, pausing to bang his chisel like beak against their trunks in hope of catching the insects behind the bark. And guess what? He's still trying to catch them today. If you visit certain forests, you might hear him pecking and pecking as he strives to fill up the big green bag and throw away his cares and worries forever. Now it's your turn. Think about the things that you feel give you a happy life. Then find some paper, cut it into squares and draw each item on a separate square. Pair up with a grownup and sort your items into two wants and needs. Talk with your grownup about why you feel each of them is a want or a need. Then ask your grown up to tell you about their wants and needs and see which ones match up. This week's episode, the Big Green Bag, was adapted by me, Rebecca Shear. It was edited by Dean Russell. Our original music and sound design is by Eric Shyamalonis. Eric's featured instrument this week was the Tsamball. You can learn about this Romanian hammered dulcimer and see a photo of Eric playing one on our website, WBUR.org CircleRound'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. You can find them [e-mail] CircleRound Special thanks to this week's actors Rebecca Mater and Tim Bagley. Grown Ups. You can see Rebecca Mater in such TV shows as Once Upon a Time and Lost and Tim Bagley stars in the highly acclaimed television series Somebody Somewhere and hacks to circle around with us in even more ways while also supporting Punishment Public Media. I invite you to join the Circle Round Club. As a member, you'll get special club swag ad free episodes, bonus bedtime stories, early access to live events. You can even order a personalized birthday message from me, Rebecca Shear. Join our community of super Fans [e-mail] CircleRound Grown Ups if you have a sec, please leave us a five star rating or review on whatever podcast app you're using right now. It helps other listeners find the show so we can make the Circle Round circle even bigger. 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 been telling us about the Circle Round stories they like best. Take a listen. Maybe one of their favorites is one of yours too.

[Various Children]

Hello, my name is Haze. I'm from Chiang Mai, Thailand. I love all the Circle Rounds. My name is Huskar. I'm from the United States of America. My favorite story is Beans and Bunnies and I love the bunnies in it. And I love you Rebecca Shea. A million times a million. My name is Samya. I am from Harrisonburg, Virginia and my favorite Circle round episode is why the Ocean is Salty. I like it because I like the part when the brother stole a jar and was in the boat and said cut it out jaw cut it out. My name is Parker and I am from Thornton, Colorado and my favorite Circle round star is a horse of a different color and my favorite part is when Latusa dressing because they actually see their sister riding a rainbow horse because it's very, very silly. My name is Evelyn and I live in San Luis Obispo. My favorite circle story is the Golden Flask and I like the pipe when I the girl cured the little boy. My name is Annika and I'm from Charlotte, North Carolina and my favorite story is the Horse for Hire. My favorite part is when Amand says we're not talking about a cargo ship. My name is Penelope and I'm from Charlotte, North Carolina and my favorite story is the World of Music. I like the part when that these are my musicians.

[Rebecca Shear]

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.