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Daniel Hines
Hello.
Amanda Weldon
Welcome to Stories Podcast. I'm your host, Amanda Weldon.
Narrator
Today's story is a throwback episode.
Amanda Weldon
Tune in to hear one of our classic stories from the archive that you might have missed the first time around. We have Stories Podcast merch, available@storiespodcast.com shop. We're also on cameo for all of your personalized video message needs. And don't forget to follow us on Instagram Stories Podcast 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.
Narrator
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Amanda Weldon
At the best price.
Narrator
This episode of Stories podcast is sponsored by Squarespace. Squarespace is the all in one website platform for entrepreneurs to stand out and succeed online. Whether you're just launching a new venture or managing a successful business, Squarespace makes it possible to create a beautiful website and engage with your audience. And Squarespace makes it so easy to sell anything from products to content to time, all in one place, all on your terms. With Squarespace payments, onboarding is fast and simple. Get started in just a few clicks and start receiving payments right away. It's even easy to invoice clients and create proposals, estimates and contracts, simplify your workflow and manage your business on one platform. Also, Squarespace has integrated SEO tools Every Squarespace website is optimized to be indexed with meta descriptions, an auto generated sitemap, and more, so you show up more often to more people in global search engine results. Head to squarespace.com for a free trial and when you're ready to launch squarespace.com dragon to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain. That's squarespace.com dragon for 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.
Amanda Weldon
Thanks. Enjoy the Episode King of the Frogs Once upon a time, there was a pond full of frogs. They laid on every log and sat on every stone. There were jumpy frogs and lumpy frogs, muddy frogs and cruddy frogs. There were little itty bitty frogs, and there were frogs so big they had legs like drumsticks.
Narrator
There were frogs of every size, shape.
Amanda Weldon
And color, and plenty of flies to go around. The frogs spent their days in easy pleasure around the pond. They would eat all those flies with their leaping tongues. They would lay themselves on the flat rocks and bask in the sun. They would swim in happy laps in the water until they were so tired that they stretched out under an old stump to sleep. Still, some of them weren't content. They'd seen the birds in the sky, flying in a V, all behind a leader. They'd seen the wolves in their packs, all following an alpha. They'd even spied on regal cats, all bowing to one more regal than the rest, mocking.
Daniel Hines
That's what we need.
Amanda Weldon
Bellowed an old bullfrog one lazy afternoon. To be honest, all afternoons around the pond were lazy, but this one was especially so.
Daniel Hines
A king would get this lousy lot into shape. Rabbit.
Amanda Weldon
The bullfrog croaked to emphasize his sentence, and some of the other frogs muttered their agreement. They were a grumpy group, most content when complaining, and they resented the other frogs for loudly having fun all day. What? Are you crazy? Asked a warty woman. We do whatever we want all day. What in the world would you want a king for? And you know, it could also be a queen, Just for the record.
Daniel Hines
Look at the birds always flying in the same direction. Look at the wolves, always hunting as a pack. Look even at the cats sharing their prey with their leader.
Amanda Weldon
And.
Daniel Hines
And look at this lot.
Amanda Weldon
The bullfrog waved at the pond frogs were splashing each other and laughing. They were playing tag on the rocks and tumbling into the waters. They were dunking each other under and coming up sputtering under lily pads. It was chaos, but a joyful, wide, smiling kind of chaos. They look happy, said The Warty one.
Daniel Hines
What's wrong with them?
Amanda Weldon
Asked a tree frog.
Daniel Hines
If they had some proper leadership, they'd be living the right way. They're a bunch of punks.
Amanda Weldon
The bullfrog bellowed, and his growing crowd agreed.
Daniel Hines
Odious, orderless, odourless. They need to be led the right.
Amanda Weldon
Way, the bullfrog finished. Oh, ok. And what, pray tell, is the right way? Asked the warty one. Enlighten us. Our way, the grumpy group growled, and they all croaked together.
Daniel Hines
Your way.
Amanda Weldon
No thanks, said the tree frog. You do you, man, and we'll do us. And no one has to tell anyone what to do. At this point, unnoticed by the frogs, they had drawn the attention of the spirit of the swamp. She was a mischievous sprite known to play jokes on the animals that lived in her mucky little kingdom. They couldn't see her, of course, but she was there, and she was listening. What is with all this leader stuff? The warty one said seriously. Everyone is doing just fine.
Daniel Hines
A good king is a good thing.
Amanda Weldon
The old bullfrog said, and others chimed in behind him.
Daniel Hines
Oh, that's a good point.
Amanda Weldon
A good king is a good thing.
Daniel Hines
It rhymes. It must be true.
Amanda Weldon
I just. I don't get why it needs to be a king. A queen would do the same thing.
Daniel Hines
Good king, good thing. Good king, good thing.
Amanda Weldon
The grumpy group started to chant.
Daniel Hines
Good king, good thing. Good king, good thing.
Amanda Weldon
Suddenly the pond water rippled and stirred. The scummy surface swirled and swayed and swelled into shape.
Daniel Hines
What's going on?
Amanda Weldon
Blubbered the bullfrog.
Daniel Hines
Aw, man, it's a. It's a g. Ghost.
Amanda Weldon
Chattered the tree frog. The water rose and formed into the shape of a woman. The scummy moss, her flowing gown. I'm not a ghost, but the spirit of the swamp. The spirit of the swamp. The spirit of the swamp.
Daniel Hines
The spirit of the swamp.
Amanda Weldon
They gasped. Our lady. She laughed, spinning merrily in the air and spraying water drops. So, she said, still spinning. I hear you want a king. They keep saying that, my lady. Yes, but I keep reminding them that a queen could also provide leadership, said the warty one with a pointed look at the bullfrog. But we don't need a king or a queen. We're perfectly happy leading ourselves.
Daniel Hines
We do need a king, said the bullfrog. The right sort of king for a bunch of frogs like this lot.
Amanda Weldon
Enough. Said the spirit waved her hands, raining muddy droplets. The right sort of king. Okay, coming right up. Bye bye now. The spirit grew brighter and brighter until she was nothing more than a floating ball of swampy colored light. Then the light started to stretch and grow. Whoa.
Daniel Hines
What is that?
Amanda Weldon
Asked the tree frog.
Daniel Hines
It's our new king, said the bullfrog, pushing forward. Here it comes. The king.
Amanda Weldon
His Majesty. It's crowning. The light exploded, and suddenly, from thin air, a fat, knobbly log appeared. It splashed into the water, soaking all the frogs, and then bobbed back to the surface. It floated well, offering plenty of places to sit and rest and shelter from the rain and the hot summer sun. The warty one laughed, and so did the tree frog and their friends. A perfect queen for us, she said. The spirit is wise indeed. She hopped from her rock onto the new log. It was soft with moss and smelled like rich, earthy fungus. A perfect place to rest.
Daniel Hines
Hey, that's no way to treat a king.
Amanda Weldon
The bullfrog and his grumpy group croaked. But they were ignored. The fun frogs, cozied in the king or queen's crooks and leapt from its edges and swam happy laps around it. They laughed so hard their big rubbery cheeks hurt. And then they fell asleep, burrowed in its bark. The bullfrog watched them all, and complained and complained and complained.
Daniel Hines
I must have said it wrong to.
Amanda Weldon
The spirit, he said.
Daniel Hines
This. This log, this isn't the sort of king we need. Look at that lot over there, splashing.
Amanda Weldon
And splishing and yelling.
Daniel Hines
They need someone who can get them to fall in line and stay in.
Amanda Weldon
Line and quiet down and stay in line.
Daniel Hines
A good king, A good king is a good thing It's a good thing. Oh friends, you know it's true. Cause a good king, a good king will with him bring a more orderly worldview.
Amanda Weldon
What Froggy does in crave structure, obeying rules and laws is like no other.
Daniel Hines
We need a king, we need a king who then can govern these frogs.
Amanda Weldon
Oh, these frogs into shape not just a log, a king will get us into shape.
Narrator
Now for a quick ad break. We'll be back with the rest of.
Amanda Weldon
The story after this.
Narrator
If you'd like Stories Podcast and other favorite kid podcasts ad free, subscribe to Wondery Kids on Apple Podcasts. This episode of Stories Podcast is sponsored by Squarespace. Squarespace is the all in one website platform for entrepreneurs to stand out and succeed online. Whether you're just launching a new venture or managing a successful business, Squarespace makes it possible to create a beautiful website and engage with your audience. And Squarespace makes it so easy to sell anything from products to content to time, all in one place. All on your terms. With Squarespace payments onboarding is fast and simple. Get started in just a few clicks and start receiving payments right away. It's even easy to invoice clients and create proposals, estimates, and contracts. Simplify your workflow and manage your business on one platform. Also, Squarespace has integrated SEO tools. Every Squarespace website is optimized to be indexed with meta descriptions, an auto generated sitemap, and more, so you show up more often to more people in global search engine results. Head to squarespace.com for a free trial and when you're ready to launch squarespace.com dragon to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain. That's squarespace.com dragon for 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.
Amanda Weldon
The other frogs heard them complain and laughed at the grumpy group. But the spirit heard it as well. She had given them what they'd asked for, the leader they needed, but apparently it wasn't enough for them. Okay, her voice said, coming from the water itself, to talk to the old bullfrog and his friends. You want a king that will take charge?
Daniel Hines
Yes, we do.
Amanda Weldon
You want a king that will get those lazy laughers in line?
Daniel Hines
Absolutely.
Amanda Weldon
You want a king that is mightier than any normal frog?
Daniel Hines
Yes, please. Yes. Okay, then.
Amanda Weldon
Remember, you asked for it. Suddenly there was a dark shadow cast over the grumpy group of frogs.
Daniel Hines
What's that?
Amanda Weldon
One asked, way up in the air. The shadow grew larger as whatever it was approached from the sky.
Daniel Hines
It's our new king.
Amanda Weldon
Said the bullfrog.
Daniel Hines
The spirit has brought us the king we deserve.
Amanda Weldon
He didn't know how right he was. A second later, the shadow landed before them and spread its wings. It wasn't a king, but a bird, a massive crane with an elegant neck and a long, hungry beak. One of the grumpy frogs hopped up to it and bowed low. Greetings, my liege. The crane squawked, bent down, and swallowed the frog whole. Oh.
Daniel Hines
Oh no.
Amanda Weldon
Cried the bullfrog. The crane turned and let out a cry that sounded like a T. Rex roar to the poor little frogs. It launched forward and gobbled up another of the group before the rest scattered in every direction. Run. They cried.
Daniel Hines
Everyone run.
Amanda Weldon
The crane darted among them, swallowing the grumpy group of frogs one by one until only the bullfrog was left. He managed to jump inside the floating log the spirit had sent and wedged himself way in the back.
Daniel Hines
Go away.
Amanda Weldon
He shouted.
Daniel Hines
Don't eat me.
Amanda Weldon
The bird balked and bore its beak in further snapping bare inches from the bullfrog's saggy lips.
Daniel Hines
Stop. Stop.
Amanda Weldon
He cried, and then the water next to him formed a face. Oh, isn't this what you asked for? The spirit asked, even as the crane screamed and pecked harder, ripping free a piece of old wood and nearly biting the bullfrog in two. Isn't this the king you wanted?
Daniel Hines
No, please.
Amanda Weldon
The bullfrog whimpered, pressing his bulky body into the water, trying to avoid the screaming crane beak as it snapped at and over. But they're strong, they're sure. And they punish lazy frogs. The crane finally smashed in and grabbed the bullfrog in its beak.
Daniel Hines
No.
Amanda Weldon
He cried. No.
Daniel Hines
We don't need a king.
Amanda Weldon
We don't need a king. The crane vanished in a puff of smoke and all the frogs it had gobbled rained from its belly and splashed back into the pond, the bullfrog included. They dragged themselves, wide eyed and sputtering, back to the log the spirit had given them. So how did the king go? The warty frog asked, smiling around a fly she was munching.
Daniel Hines
Well, wouldn't you know it? But we've come around to your way.
Amanda Weldon
Of thinking, the bullfrog said.
Daniel Hines
This here log will make a perfect king of the frogs.
Narrator
Right?
Amanda Weldon
Except, you know, Queen of the frogs, said the warty one.
Daniel Hines
Queen, King. Either way is fine, the bullfrog mumbled. But like, are you sure?
Amanda Weldon
Asked the tree frog.
Daniel Hines
We can always call the spirit back again. No, no, that's quite alright. I think we're better off just, you.
Amanda Weldon
Know, having fun, the warty one offered.
Daniel Hines
Yes, let's.
Amanda Weldon
Let's just have some fun, the bullfrog agreed. Then he paused, looking down at his big webbed feet.
Daniel Hines
Ah, we've never. We've never had fun before. Could you maybe show us how?
Amanda Weldon
Oh, of course, she agreed. And the rest of the day was spent teaching the grumpy group how to play tag and hide and seek and Lily Pad Leap and all their other favorite games. And by the end, the grumpy group wasn't so grumpy and none of them wished for a king ever, ever again. The End Today's story, King of the Frogs, was an adaptation of an Aesop's fable written for you by Daniel Hines and performed for you by me, Amanda Weldon.
Narrator
If you would like to support Stories.
Amanda Weldon
Podcast, you can leave us a five star review on iTunes. Check out all of our merch available@storiespodcast.com Shop Commission a special video on Cameo. Follow us on Instagram oriespodcast or simply tell your friends about us.
Narrator
In case you missed it, Dan and.
Amanda Weldon
I have a new show on Stories rpg. We play games just like Starsworn with all your max good name, friends and Gigacity Guardians featuring the brilliant Firefly. Click the link in the episode description or go to patreon.com storiesrpg to get ad free episodes. Play along games and coloring books. We've already got a bunch of episodes.
Narrator
Over there, so check them out now.
Amanda Weldon
Thanks for listening.
Stories Podcast: Throwback Episode Summary – "King of the Frogs"
Introduction
In this throwback episode of the Stories Podcast, originally released on March 4, 2025, host Amanda Weldon presents a charming and insightful adaptation of an Aesop's fable titled "King of the Frogs." This episode, created by Starglow Media in collaboration with Wondery, is designed to captivate children and families with imaginative storytelling that is both entertaining and meaningful.
Story Overview
"King of the Frogs" transports listeners to a vibrant pond teeming with diverse frogs. The pond is home to frogs of all shapes, sizes, and colors—"jumpy frogs and lumpy frogs, muddy frogs and cruddy frogs" ([03:17]). While many frogs enjoy their carefree lives, indulging in playful antics and basking in the sun, a faction led by an old bullfrog grows restless and longs for structured leadership.
Main Characters
Key Events and Notable Quotes
The Call for Leadership
The story begins with the old bullfrog expressing dissatisfaction with the current state of the pond:
His desire is echoed by other grumpy frogs who chant:
The Spirit of the Swamp Responds
The frogs' persistent desire catches the attention of the Spirit of the Swamp:
The spirit initially presents a mossy log as the king:
Unintended Consequences
Dissatisfied with the log as a leader, the bullfrog demands a more authoritative king:
This summons a massive crane, leading to chaos as it preys on the grumpy frogs:
The crane's reign of terror results in the bullfrog realizing the folly of their demands:
Restoration of Harmony
After the crane disappears, the frogs return to the log, now viewing it as a queen and embracing a more joyful existence:
The story concludes with the frogs engaging in playful activities once more, having learned that leadership imposed through force does not foster true happiness:
Conclusion and Moral
"King of the Frogs" beautifully illustrates the tensions between order and freedom. The initial longing for structured leadership stems from a desire for organization and purpose. However, the episode poignantly demonstrates that imposed authority, especially when desired for the wrong reasons, can lead to unintended and harmful consequences.
Through the transformation of the frogs' society, the story conveys that happiness and harmony are best achieved through cooperation and enjoyment rather than rigid control. The spirit's intervention serves as a whimsical reminder that sometimes, what we think we need may not align with what genuinely fosters well-being.
Notable Quotes Recap
Final Thoughts
"King of the Frogs" is a delightful addition to the Stories Podcast repertoire, offering both entertainment and a valuable lesson. It's an exemplary choice for families seeking wholesome, engaging content that sparks imagination while imparting timeless wisdom. Whether enjoyed during a car ride or as a bedtime story, this episode is sure to resonate with listeners of all ages.