Get Your Goat

Summary

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Episode Overview

Podcast: Stories Podcast: A Bedtime Show for Kids of All Ages
Episode: Get Your Goat
Date: August 23, 2025
Host: Amanda Weldon
Story by: Daniel Hines

This episode of Stories Podcast presents “Get Your Goat,” a playful adaptation of a classic fable crafted for children and families. The story follows a large, quirky herd of goats living happily together in a meadow—until a pack of hungry wolves arrive. Through unexpected challenges and a series of comical missteps, the goats must overcome danger by learning the true strength in unity, teamwork, and listening to wise elders.

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Key Discussion Points & Story Highlights

1. Setting the Scene: The Happy Goat Family

• The episode opens by describing a vibrant and diverse goat community ("about a hundred goats, all of them living together more or less in harmony") living in a meadow.
• Goats of all shapes and fur types enjoy life (“eating grass and hay and flowers and fresh fruit...even the occasional tin can”).
• Friends Mosi and Grant express their carefree happiness, unknowingly “jinxing” their luck by joking that “nothing bad will ever happen.”
• Notable Quote:
  • "Life is good." — Mosi (03:24)
  • "It's the best of times, and nothing bad will ever happen, no matter what." — Grant (03:30)

2. Trouble Arrives: The Wolves Appear

• A haunting howl interrupts the goats’ peace, sending them into panic.
• Elmer, the wise old goat, identifies the threat: wolves, who are now hungry since the rabbits they once hunted have disappeared after a flood (06:14–07:38).
• Notable Quote:
  • "Wolves!" — Elmer (06:24)
• The initial response is chaos—most goats scatter, ignoring Elmer’s advice to stay calm (07:47–08:00).
• Three wolves attack, and in the panic, one goat is captured (09:18–09:22).

3. Failed Rescue Attempts

• The goats, led by Mosi and Grant, try to brainstorm solutions: run, hide, or climb trees (09:54–10:19).
• Notable Quotes:
  • "Maybe we can climb trees." — Mosi (10:15)
  • "We need to work together." — Elmer (10:17)
• On Mosi’s suggestion, goats climb into the trees, but too many goats cause branches to break, leaving them vulnerable (11:57–12:14).
• More goats are captured by the wolves, including Grant (12:48–12:54).

4. Turning the Tide: Listening to Wisdom

• Elmer finally gets the herd’s attention and recalls how past generations fended off wolves—by working together (13:59–14:24).
• He teaches the goats a new plan: form a tight, united circle with the biggest goats on the outside, hooves dug in, and horns ready (14:24–14:35).

5. The Power of Teamwork

• The wolves return to find their “easy” prey transformed into a formidable wall of goats (15:02–15:31).
• The goats chant and hold strong, repelling the wolves’ attacks with headbutts and tight formation ("Tougher together! Tougher together!").
• Memorable Moment:
  • Mosi boldly leads the defense, echoing Elmer’s wisdom (16:00–17:17).
  • The big, steely wolf underestimates the goats but is finally toppled by old Elmer and a group charge, even suffering from a feisty goat’s unexpected rear-end chomp (17:59–18:45).
  • "Tougher together!" — Mosi and the goats (16:00, 17:15, 18:00)
• The wolves flee, defeated and discouraged (18:52).

6. Rescue and Reunion

• Mosi and the herd discover Grant and the other missing goats trapped but unharmed in the wolves’ den (19:34–19:47).
• With their friends freed, the goats return to their peaceful meadow, forever changed and united by their ordeal.

7. Moral of the Story

• The tale ends with the goats’ newfound understanding:
  • “Whatever threat came their way, they could handle it as long as they did it together.” (19:56)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "It's a great time to be a goat in the meadow, that's for sure." — Grant (03:27)
• "We've got to save them!" — Mosi (09:24)
• "We need to work together." — Elmer (10:17)
• "Tougher together! Tougher together!" — The goats (16:03, 17:15, 18:00)
• "Run for it!" — Alpha Wolf (18:45)
• "You won't come after us anymore!" — Mosi (18:54)
• "And from that day on, they knew that whatever threat came their way, they could handle it as long as they did it together." — Narrator (19:56)

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Important Timestamps

• Happy Meadow Life: 02:15 – 04:55
• The First Howl / Realization of Danger: 05:55 – 07:41
• Goats Panic and Wolves Attack: 08:00 – 09:22
• Goats’ Failed Rescue Attempts: 10:00 – 12:45
• Elmer’s Plan & Goats Organize: 13:59 – 15:02
• Goat-Wolf Showdown (“Tougher together!”): 16:00 – 18:45
• Wolves’ Defeat & Friends Rescued: 18:52 – 19:47
• Moral & Happy Ending: 19:49 – 20:10

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Episode Summary

“Get Your Goat” is a charming, humorous, and heartwarming fable about a meadow full of unique goats who must contend with a pack of hungry wolves. After initial chaos and failed attempts to hide or escape, the herd realizes—thanks to old Elmer’s wisdom—that their true strength lies in unity. By standing together “horns out, tough together,” they not only drive away the wolves but also rescue their friends. The story wraps with a gentle moral reminding listeners that teamwork and community are the keys to overcoming any threat.

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Transcript

[Mosi]

Hello.

[Narrator / Amanda Weldon]

Welcome to Stories Podcast. I'm your host, Amanda Weldon. Today's story is called get yout Goat, an adaptation of a classic fable written for you by Daniel Hines. We have Stories Podcast merch, [e-mail] shop. We're also on Cameo for all of your personalized video message needs. And don't forget to follow us on Instagram oriespodcast. If you send us a drawing of your favorite scene or character, we'll share it on our feed. Now, here's a word from our sponsors. Summer break is here and while kids are excited to hit pause on school, as a parent you might be wondering how to keep their minds active without killing the summer vibe. Whether your child is trying to catch up, stay sharp or get a head start. IXL can make learning a seamless part of summer. IXL is an award winning online learning platform that fits perfectly into your homeschool routine even during summer. It offers interactive practice across math, language arts, science and social studies. 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Parents, I think we've all had those times when everyone in the family is off on their own personal devices. Wouldn't it be great if you could find an activity that everyone will agree on? Something that's both active and fun at the same time? Imagine that our family has found an amazing new solution called nexplayground. It's an active game system for families where your body powers the play. It's 100% motion driven gaming, no controllers or wearables needed, just play naturally and the games are so great and immersive. Go Flying in the World of How to Train youn Dragon, Dance with Barbie, Pop Bubbles in Gabby's Dollhouse or or master some moves with Kung Fu Panda right from your living room. Even better. Next Playground is kids safe with no ads in app purchases or mature content, Next Playground is your feel good solution to those long summer days. Want to learn more? Visit nextplayground.com that's n e xplayground.com to explore active family gaming today. Thanks. Enjoy the episode get your goat Once upon a time, on a hilly little meadow deep in the woods, there lived a family of goats. And when I say family, I don't mean a mom, dad, and some kids. No, when I say a family, I mean about a hundred goats, all of them living together more or less in harmony. There were big goats and small goats. There were tall goats and short goats. There were little eeny, meeny tiny, whiny goats. And there were big, round, loud and proud goats. There were goats with short, velvety fur, and goats with long shaggy fur so beautiful you could brush it. The point is, there were a lot of goats and they were living a good old time, eating grass and hay and flowers and fresh fruit off the short trees, and old fruit under the tall trees, and even the occasional tin can when they could get it. And that's just what two goat friends were doing at the moment. Some human had thrown a bag of trash in the woods and they were picking through it, munching on old wrappers and apple cores. Life is good, said a goat named Mosi to her friend Grant. It's a great time to be a goat in the meadow, that's for sure. No doubt, agreed Grant. It's the best of times, and nothing bad will ever happen, no matter what. They were both talking innocently enough. But have you ever heard of a jinx? It's a thing that brings bad luck. A jinx can be something like talking about winning a game before you actually win, which makes you lose. A jinx could be that one storefront in town that always goes out of business, no matter what opens up there. And talking, bragging about how good things are. That was definitely a jinx of the highest order. So it shouldn't be too surprising that the very next day trouble came for Mosi, Grant, and the rest of the goats. Oh, the day started normally enough. The goats all gathered by the edge of their little stream and sipped the wavy water. Then, laughing and headbutting each other for fun, they wandered their wagging way onto the fuzziest field where they began to gobble grass. Another great day, said Mosi. Can't say I'm surprised, said Grant. One for the record books, said Mosi. And it will be this good forever, added Grant.

[Mosi]

Oh.

[Narrator / Amanda Weldon]

Came a distant howl. Molesy and Grant were young and had never heard such a howl before. But still it chilled their blood and sent them running back to the herd, another o nipping at their heels.

[Mosi]

What is that?

[Narrator / Amanda Weldon]

Screamed Mosi as she crashed into the group of confused goats. The terrible howl came again, and Elmer was one of the older, wiser goats stopped and shouted, wolves. Of course, the goats had heard of wolves the same way you hear about the boogeyman, and a few had even seen them once or twice, sneaking around the edge of the field. The wolves had never bothered them, though, so most of the kids figured they were safe. But they were wrong. The wolves hadn't attacked them for a year or so because they had lived next to a big gully full of rabbits. There were big rabbits and small rabbits, fat rabbits and skinny rabbits, tall rabbits and short rabbits, and, well, you get the idea. The wolves ate their fill of the little hoppers, and it seemed the rabbits never stopped coming. Until a few weeks ago, when they had stopped coming. It turns out there had been a terrible rainstorm. It had flooded the gully, and all the rabbits ran away, hiding higher in the mountains, away from the water. That made it a lot harder for the wolves to hunt them. And now the rabbits were spreading even further afield. And the wolves. The wolves were getting hungry, and so wolves agreed. Grant, what do we do?

[Mosi]

Run.

[Narrator / Amanda Weldon]

Bellowed one of the other goats.

[Elmer]

No, wait.

[Narrator / Amanda Weldon]

Said Elmer, the wise old goat.

[Elmer]

Everyone calm down.

[Narrator / Amanda Weldon]

That was good advice. But it was hard to follow with the wolves striking panic into the heart of every goat.

[Mosi]

Everybody scatter.

[Narrator / Amanda Weldon]

Screamed Mosi. That was bad advice. But it was a lot easier to follow, and the goats scattered, running in every direction. The wolves burst from the trees, snarling and snapping. There were three of them in all. Two were dark gray, like wood burned down to ashes, with shaggy fur and teeth as yellow as a molding lemon. The third wolf was the biggest. His fur was sleek and short, steely silver with streaks of salt. His teeth were white as ice and his chest was broad and deep, making him twice as tall as any goat in the glen. Get them. He snarled, and the three wolves leaped forward. The goats scattered and ran in every direction. Some disappeared into the trees, but others collided, horns tangling with horns. Others smashed into bushes and got twisted in weeds or bounced off trunks and stumbled, stunned, to their rears and rolled. The wolves charged into the chaos, biting and snapping and snarling and doing all sorts of nasty wolf stuff. The goats all ran as best as they could, but the wolves managed to catch one. They grabbed him by the legs and dragged him into the woods to eat later on for dinner.

[Mosi]

Help.

[Narrator / Amanda Weldon]

Called the goat.

[Mosi]

Don't let them eat me.

[Narrator / Amanda Weldon]

We won't, called back Mosi. We'll save you for sure. Just hold on tight, added Grant. Then he turned to Mosi. How are we going to save them? I have no idea, said Mosi. But we'll do our best. The goats all gathered together. The tall goats and the short goats. The little eeny, meeny, tiny, whiny goats and the big, round, loud and proud goats. The goats with short, velvety fur, and the goats with long shaggy fur so beautiful that you could brush it. They all packed in a circle, shaking in fear, and talked about what they should do. I think we should run away, said a cowardly little goat. I think we should hide in the tall grass, said another. Maybe we can climb trees, mosi said, and the other goats all seemed to like that idea.

[Elmer]

We need to work together, said Elmer.

[Narrator / Amanda Weldon]

But his old voice was quiet and no one really heard. Okay, said Grant, always down to agree with his friend. We'll do Mosi's idea of climbing trees. The goats all agreed, and they didn't have long to wait. The first goat had been easy to catch, and the wolves were, after all, very, very hungry.

[Mosi]

O.

[Narrator / Amanda Weldon]

Came the terrible howl. Barely an hour later, the goats panicked and ran every which direction until Mosi yelled out the trees. And then they all bolted for the woods along their meadow. One after another, the goats all scampered up into the trees. The wolves watched in snarling anger as their dinner disappeared into the leafy branches.

[Mosi]

Ha.

[Narrator / Amanda Weldon]

Said Mosi.

[Mosi]

It worked.

[Narrator / Amanda Weldon]

The goats all cheered. Now for a quick ad break. We'll be back with the rest of the story after this. If you'd like Stories Podcast and other favorite kid podcasts ad free. Subscribe to Wondery Kids on Apple Podcasts. Now. Goats are good climbers. Great climbers, in fact. You can see them way up on hills and even in the stony faces of mountains. But these trees weren't half as strong as mountains, and there were an awful lot of goats up in the branches. And it wasn't long before Mosi heard the first creak.

[Mosi]

Creak. Crack.

[Narrator / Amanda Weldon]

One branch, burdened by a glut of goats, suddenly snapped, sending the trio tumbling. Then came another crack. And another.

[Elmer]

We're too heavy for the trees.

[Narrator / Amanda Weldon]

Cried out. Elmer. But it was too late. Branch after branch snapped off, and soon it was raining goats, and the wolves couldn't believe their Luck. Grant, what do we do? Mosi asked. I don't, Grant said. His branch snapped and he fell, plopping onto the ground right in front of the giant steely wolf. Grant. Shouted Mosi.

[Mosi]

No.

[Narrator / Amanda Weldon]

But the big wolf grabbed Grant easily by the scruff of his neck and dragged him away into the deep, dark woods. The smaller two wolves grabbed another goat that Mosi didn't know and pulled her away, too. Finally, it was quiet. The goats all climbed from their broken branches and gathered together in the meadow once more. They've gotten three of us now. Shouted a quaking goat, huddling against the others as they shook the leaves out of their fur. Running didn't work, and climbing didn't work either, said another goat. I think it's time we leave the meadow and try and find someplace else to live. We can't leave, said Mosi. The wolves will eat Grant. They'll eat all three of them. The goats grumbled. None of them liked the idea of running any more than Mosi. But no one had a better one. No one except old Elmer, who was trying to say something, but he kept getting shouted over. Finally, he got so frustrated that he let out a long, echoing meee. All the goats turned and looked at him.

[Elmer]

Listen to me, all you young kids, he said. I remember when the wolves used to come, and I remember how we drove them off. Now, if you'll all just listen to me, we can save our meadow and maybe get our friends back, too, he.

[Narrator / Amanda Weldon]

Said, looking at Mosi. Right, she said. Back. All right, Elmer, just tell us what to do.

[Elmer]

Ok, so we need to stick together.

[Narrator / Amanda Weldon]

Elmer said, and then started drawing in the dirt.

[Elmer]

Now, next time they come, this is what we do.

[Narrator / Amanda Weldon]

The goats all learned Elmer's plan, and when the hungry villains came back less than an hour later, they were ready. The wolves loped into the meadow, ready to chase down goats or stalk them in the trees. They'd learned that goats were an easy meal, and they were going to take all they could.

[Mosi]

O.

[Narrator / Amanda Weldon]

Howled the largest wolf. He expected to see goats scattering in fear. Instead, what he saw confused him down to his core. What? What are they doing? Asked a smaller wolf. The goats were gathered in a tight circle, all hundred and change of them. It was like a solid ball of goats, and the outside edge held all the biggest goats with their heads lowered and their hooves dug into the grass of the meadow. I don't know what they're doing, huffed the big wolf. But I know they're my dinner. At em, boys. The wolves snarled and leapt forward. They ran at the Goats tongues hanging out, drool spilling, big sharp teeth glinting. Steady. Called Mosi, who was acting as old Elmer's voice since he had trouble shouting.

[Mosi]

Tougher together. Tougher together.

[Narrator / Amanda Weldon]

All the goats echoed back, stomping their hooves. The two smaller wolves got to the circle of goats and prowled around looking for a weakness. Everywhere they looked was the scowling face of a big goat. They tried to nip at their feet, but that's when they learned something that they had forgotten over the years. Goats have horns. A wolf came and tried to snap at Mosi's feet, and she did just what Elmer had taught her. She lowered her horns and gave the wolf a headbutt. She barely felt it, but the wolf went staggering back. As her horns bashed his face, the two smaller wolves yelped and went scurrying back to their leader, tails tucked between their legs. Nice horns, little one, said the big, steely wolf, his voice like boulders grinding in Mosi's chest. But let's see how you do against me. With a roar, the giant leapt right for Mosi. She lowered her head, just like she'd been taught, and barked out with old Elmer.

[Mosi]

Tougher together.

[Narrator / Amanda Weldon]

And when the big wolf landed right in front of her, she gave him a headbutt. But he only laughed. Is that all you got? I'm the alpha wolf, kid. I'm the biggest and the baddest. There's not a goat here that can hurt me. Remember? Jinxes? Yeah. A second later, old Elmer crashed into the big wolf's side. Elmer was a lot heavier than Mosi, a lot madder than Mosi, and his horns were much bigger. He sent the big wolf tumbling, and before he could get up, three more goats rammed him with their big horned heads.

[Mosi]

Together.

[Narrator / Amanda Weldon]

Mosi called, and the goats all charged the wolves, keeping their circle tight so they could keep each other safe front and back. The big wolf nearly got to his feet, but then he got another pair of horns and a loud smacking back kick. One particularly nasty old lady goat even gave him a great big chomp on the rear end, like it was a tin can. Run for it. The big wolf snarled, and he took off into the woods with the other two wolves. The goats followed them, careful to keep their circle and watch out for each other. Like Elmer had hoped, the wolves led the goats right back to their den. It was a sandy little patch along the river with a rocky ridge protecting the backside, and it was far too close to the meadow.

[Mosi]

Get out of here.

[Narrator / Amanda Weldon]

Mosi shouted, and the other goats agreed. You won't come after us anymore. The wolves looked at each other and then at the group of a hundred mad goats and slumped their shoulders. Let's go, guys, said the leader. There's no good hunting here anyway. And with one last dirty look at the goats, the wolves disappeared deeper into the forest, never to be seen again. Mosi smiled to see them go, and then remembered her friend Grant. She called, please don't be eaten, Grant.

[Mosi]

Help. Help.

[Narrator / Amanda Weldon]

Called Grant. He was in a little cave tucked back in the rock wall. Mosey, I'm not eaten. None of us are.

[Mosi]

We're in here.

[Narrator / Amanda Weldon]

The goats pulled away the rocks the wolves had piled over the door and freed their friends. There was a round of cheers and smiles and goats can't hug, but they can affectionately headbutt. And they did a lot of those, too. And soon they went home to their meadow. And from that day on, they knew that whatever threat came their way, they could handle it as long as they did it together. The End Today's story Get yout Goat, was an adaptation of a classic fable written for you by Daniel Hines. It was edited and produced for you by Ellie Hines and performed for you by me, Amanda Weldon. If you would like to support Stories podcast, you can leave us a five star review on iTunes. Check out all of our merch [e-mail] Shop Commission a special video on Cameo, Follow us on Instagram Stories Podcast or simply tell your friends about us. Thanks for listening.