Grimm, Grimmer, Grimmest: "The Three Feathers (Part I)"

Host: Adam Gidwitz
Date: September 18, 2025

Main Theme

In this episode of Grimm, Grimmer, Grimmest, author and storyteller Adam Gidwitz retells "The Three Feathers," a classic Brothers Grimm fairy tale, blending the original story with lively dialogue and commentary from a classroom full of enthusiastic kids. The tale explores themes of inheritance, loyalty, and the true measure of worth, all while balancing spooky and silly moments. This is the first part of a two-part story, setting up a series of tests among three royal brothers who vie for their father’s throne.

Key Discussion Points & Story Highlights

1. Setting the Stage: What Makes Grimm Tales "Grimm"?

• [01:53] Adam introduces himself as a lover of the original, weird, and sometimes scary Grimm fairy tales, promising that this version will be more "grim" than the sanitized "kid bedtime" versions.
• The episode’s spookiness is rated as "Grimm": suitable for most, with some sudden scares for sensitive listeners.

2. Introduction to "The Three Feathers"

• [04:23] Adam shares that the story is based on a Brothers Grimm tale, inspired by English folklore and Shakespeare’s King Lear.
• Brief discussion with the kids about familiarity with Shakespeare.
  • Memorable kid moment [04:17]:
    Child: "I know Romeo and Juliet."
    Adam: "Romero and Juliet. You know that one? Okay, so King Lear is a different one..."

3. The King’s Quest for an Heir

• [04:39] The aging king calls his three sons to decide which will inherit the kingdom—not by birth order, but by a series of contests.
• The responsible eldest, the party-loving younger sons, and their initial attitudes are detailed.
• Children’s skepticism [05:11]:
  Child: "Why is the oldest son the good one? Generally, it's the youngest one."
  Adam: "Usually, that's how it goes. Very interesting."

4. The First Contest: Declarations of Love

• [06:12] The king asks each son to prove how much they love him.

  • Youngest: "I love you more than life itself."
  • Middle: "I love you more than that. The moment you die, I will die of heartbreak."
  • Eldest: "I love you as much as meat loves salt."

• Kids’ Reactions [07:54–08:09]:

  • "If he dies and then you die, like you're overreacting a bit... He can't be king. He's dead... bro, what is he even thinking? They're both going to be like and dead for a very, very long time..."
  • "So there is basically no end to being dead. Exactly right."

• The king, offended by the eldest’s pragmatic answer, banishes him to the stables.

5. Meat Loves Salt: What Does It Mean?

• [09:18] Discussion about the meaning behind the phrase "I love you as much as meat loves salt".
  • [09:41] "It connects to, like, the father and the son, because they kind of connect..."
  • Adam: "So, like, the father teaching the son makes the son better. Just like salt makes meat better. That's really interesting..."

6. The Second Contest: The Finest Carpet

• [11:41] King sets a contest: each son must return with the richest, finest carpet, following the direction their feather flies.
  • Youngest: East, buys a cheap carpet at a market.
  • Middle: West, coerces two old sisters, but takes only a doormat.
    • Comic moment: "Oh, I hate to see him go, but I love to watch him walk away. You're looking in the wrong direction, Maude. That's a tree. Put on your glasses." [15:43]
  • Oldest: Feather lands at the castle gates. While gathering leaves, he discovers a hidden trapdoor.

7. Discovery Beneath the Trapdoor

• [16:30–21:02] Oldest son bravely enters the trapdoor, after much debate among the kids whether they would do the same. The suspense is broken with jokes and reassurances from Adam.
  • "Sometimes you gotta take a risk to become king." [21:32]
• Descends into a dark, smelly cave, greeted by a booming voice: "What are you waiting for?" [21:02]

8. Encounter with the Toad Lady

• [23:03–24:03] Polite and brave, the oldest son is welcomed by a huge, green, apron-wearing "giant toad lady."
  • "I want one." (kid comment) [23:48]
• The toad lady offers hospitality—tea and pumpkin bread.

9. Task for the Carpet: Fixing the Door

• [25:12] She will give up her magical carpet only if the oldest son fixes her creaky door, not if he marries her (jokey misdirection).

  • "I'm just kidding. I just need you to fix my creaky door." (Toad Lady) [26:03]
  • "That's so kind of him." (kid, about the son fixing the door) [26:43]

• The eldest does so, receives the beautiful carpet, outshining the others, but the king refuses to declare the winner.

10. The Third Contest: The Most Beautiful Ring

• [28:19] The king declares a new contest: who will bring him the most beautiful ring?
  • Youngest: Buys a crude iron ring from the blacksmith.
  • Middle: Bullies a child out of her tin ring.
    • "It's not even gold. The prince wants something like gold from, like, a diamond store or something." (kid) [30:32]
  • Oldest: Returns to the toad lady, who again requests help (this time, fixing her groaning stairs) rather than marriage—more playful misdirection.
    • "Do you want me to make them into rings, too?" (blacksmith, joking) [31:29]
• Toad lady gives the oldest son a stunning golden ring inlaid with emeralds and rubies.

11. Conclusion & Cliffhanger

• The sons return; their rings are presented. Once again, the oldest blatantly wins, but the king defers the verdict.
  • "I'll tell you later." (King) [32:56]
• Adam ends the episode with a teaser for part II.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Adam [03:00, beginning tone]: "The original Grimm fairy tales aren't like that at all. They're weird and sometimes gross and often scary. In other words, they're grim."
• Child [07:54]: "He can't be king. He's dead... bro, what is he even thinking?"
• Adam [09:41]: "So, like, the father teaching the son makes the son better. Just like salt makes meat better."
• Toad Lady [26:03]: "I'm just kidding. I just need you to fix my creaky door."
• Kid [28:58]: "He's got, like, $120. Exactly. Maybe even more."
• Adam [21:32]: "Sometimes you gotta take a risk to become king."
• King [32:56]: "I'll tell you later."
• Adam [32:59]: "The final contest, he announced, will be... to find out next time, because we're out of time for today."

Important Timestamps

• [04:39] The king introduces the contest to determine his successor
• [06:12] The “how much do you love me” test
• [09:04] The eldest gives the "meat loves salt" answer
• [12:14] Three feathers are cast for the carpet contest
• [16:30–21:02] Discovery and descent into the trapdoor and cave
• [24:03] First meeting with the toad lady
• [26:03] The "fix my door" request
• [28:19] The king announces the ring contest
• [31:09] Repairing the stairs, receiving the golden ring
• [32:56] King defers announcing the winner—setting up the cliffhanger

Tone & Atmosphere

Adam maintains an engaging and playful tone, frequently interacting with the kids, welcoming their insightful, silly, and sometimes irreverent responses. The children’s interjections add comic relief and maintain a lively energy, making the tale both funny and suspenseful.

TL;DR:
This episode retells the start of "The Three Feathers," where three royal brothers compete in increasingly ridiculous contests set by their stubborn king—showcasing clever dialogue, cozy spookiness, friendly banter, and a giant toad lady with a penchant for practical favours instead of marriage proposals. Listeners are left keen for part II after a climactic cliffhanger.