Throwback: The Bee's Sting

Summary

Throwback: The Bee's Sting

Podcast Information:

• Title: Stories Podcast: A Bedtime Show for Kids of All Ages
• Host/Author: Starglow Media / Wondery
• Episode: Throwback: The Bee's Sting
• Release Date: April 16, 2025

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Summary:

Stories Podcast presents "Throwback: The Bee's Sting," a charming and instructive episode that blends classic fable elements with original storytelling. Narrated by Amanda Weldon and Daniel Hines, this episode takes listeners on an enchanting journey with Billy, a dedicated honey bee striving to protect his hive from persistent honey thieves. The story imparts valuable lessons on responsibility, the ethical use of power, and the importance of community.

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1. Introduction to the Hive and Billy's Role

The episode opens in a bustling bee hive where bees are diligently engaged in various tasks—producing honey, feeding the queen and larvae, and collecting pollen and nectar. However, Billy has a unique and challenging responsibility: guarding the honey. Unlike his fellow bees, Billy lacks a stinger, making his task particularly difficult.

Notable Quote:

• Billy pleading with the beetle:

  "Please don't take the honey."
  [00:28]

2. The Honey Thieves and Growing Tensions

Billy's attempts to protect the honey are constantly undermined by three persistent intruders:

• The Beetle: Scoops up mouthfuls of honey by trundling across the hive.

  Quote:

  "Share and share alike, that's what I always say."
  [00:29]

• The Skunk: Uses her long, greedy tongue to lick honey from the hive.

  Quote:

  "Oh, please stop."
  [00:45]

• The Bear: Shakes the hive vigorously to scoop out honey with his large paws.

  Quote:

  "Delicious."
  [01:00]

Despite Billy's efforts, the honey theft continues, leading to a shortage that leaves the hive's bees hungry. Frustration mounts as the bees begin to blame Billy and the other guards for their predicament.

Notable Quote:

• Billy expressing his frustration:

  "It's not fair. We're so small, how are we supposed to stop even a big beetle?"
  [02:15]

3. Billy's Despair and Encounter with Mother Nature

Overwhelmed by the unrelenting challenges, Billy leaves the hive in despair. He lands on a leaf under the moonlight, lamenting:

Quote:

"We guards do our best, but we're just little honey bees. If only I had a way to protect the hive."
[03:30]

As Billy reflects on his struggles, Mother Nature makes her presence known, offering a solution to his woes.

Notable Quote:

• Mother Nature addressing Billy:

  "I'll give you a stinger sharp as you could, like if anyone tries to steal your honey, you give them a sting and that will have them thinking twice."
  [05:45]

4. Empowerment and Initial Success

Empowered with a newly acquired stinger, Billy returns to the hive to share the good news. The other guard bees now also possess stingers, sparking a wave of confidence and hope.

Notable Quote:

• Billy announcing the change:

  "This is great."
  [07:00]

Their first tests of their enhanced abilities prove successful:

• Beetle Confrontation: Billy warns the beetle to leave their honey alone. When the beetle persists, Billy uses his stinger to chase him away.

  Quote:

  "Last warning. Outta my way, wise guy."
  [08:30]

• Skunk Encounter: The skunk attempts to steal honey again. This time, Billy and the guard bees swiftly sting her, causing her to retreat.

  Quote:

  "This stinks worse than me."
  [09:45]

• Bear Assault: When the bear tries to snatch honey, the united front of the guard bees overwhelms him with their stings.

  Quote:

  "Protect the honey."
  [10:15]

The hive celebrates their victories, and the queen expresses pride in their newfound ability to safeguard their resources.

5. Escalation: Overusing the Stinger

Buoyed by their initial successes, Billy proposes a more aggressive strategy:

Quote:

"Instead of waiting for them to come to us, this time we'll take the fight to them."
[12:00]

The guard bees adopt a proactive approach, preemptively stinging any animals they suspect of intending to steal honey, even when these animals are not actively attempting theft.

• Beetle: Stung before he can attempt to take honey.

  Quote:

  "What gives? That's what you get for thinking about our honey."
  [14:00]

• Skunk: Targeted while foraging, leading her to flee yet again.

  Quote:

  "This seriously stinks."
  [15:30]

• Bear: The guard bees swarm him as he lazily drinks from the river, forcing him to retreat into the woods.

  Quote:

  "Never come for our honey again."
  [16:45]

6. Consequences and Moral Lesson

Billy's overzealous defense does not go unnoticed. Mother Nature convenes a meeting with Billy and the thwarted animals—beetle, skunk, and bear—to address his misuse of the stinger.

Notable Quote:

• Mother Nature admonishing Billy:

  "You've turned into a bully. I gave you the power to protect yourself, and you use it to attack your fellow creatures."
  [18:30]

As a consequence, Mother Nature imposes limitations on the stingers:

Quote:

"From now on, you can only sting once. After that, you'll lose your stinger. So don't waste it."
[19:00]

Billy experiences a whirlwind of emotions and transformations, ultimately learning the importance of restraint and ethical responsibility.

Final Quote:

"I won't," Billy promises, committed to change.
[20:00]

7. Conclusion: Lessons Learned

"Throwback: The Bee's Sting" concludes with a heartfelt reflection on the significance of using one's abilities responsibly. The hive adopts a balanced approach to protection, ensuring that they defend their honey without becoming aggressors themselves. Through Billy's journey, young listeners learn that power comes with responsibility and that ethical choices are crucial in maintaining harmony within a community.

Notable Quote:

• Mother Nature's closing words:

  "Don't forget. I won't."
  [20:30]

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Key Takeaways:

• Responsibility: The story emphasizes the importance of using one's abilities wisely and the impact of overstepping boundaries.
• Community Harmony: Highlighting how aggressive actions can disrupt relationships within a community.
• Consequences of Actions: Illustrates that misuse of power can lead to negative repercussions, not just for the individual but for the entire community.

Overall Impression:

"Throwback: The Bee's Sting" is a beautifully crafted narrative that combines engaging storytelling with meaningful lessons. Amanda Weldon and Daniel Hines deliver the tale with warmth and clarity, making it accessible and enjoyable for children and parents alike. The inclusion of relatable characters and moral dilemmas ensures that listeners not only enjoy the story but also take away valuable insights about behavior and responsibility.

---

Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• Billy to the beetle:

  "Please don't take the honey."
  [00:28]

• Beetle's Response:

  "Share and share alike, that's what I always say."
  [00:29]

• Mother Nature's Offer:

  "I'll give you a stinger sharp as you could, like if anyone tries to steal your honey, you give them a sting and that will have them thinking twice."
  [05:45]

• Billy's Declaration:

  "Protect the honey."
  [08:30]

• Mother Nature's Reprimand:

  "You've turned into a bully. I gave you the power to protect yourself, and you use it to attack your fellow creatures."
  [18:30]

• Billy's Promise:

  "I won't."
  [20:00]

---

This comprehensive summary captures all the key points, discussions, insights, and conclusions of the "Throwback: The Bee's Sting" episode. It provides a clear and engaging overview for those who haven't listened to the episode, complete with notable quotes and proper attribution.

Transcript

[Amanda Weldon]

Hello.

[Daniel Hines]

Welcome to Stories Podcast.

[Amanda Weldon]

I'm your host, Amanda Weldon.

[Daniel Hines]

Today's story is a throwback episode. 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, [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 Stories Podcast if you send us.

[Amanda Weldon]

A drawing of your favorite scene or.

[Daniel Hines]

Character, we'll share it on our feed. Now here's a word from our sponsors. If you're a parent and you want to be doing everything you can to set your child up for success in school, then IXL is right for you. IXL is an online learning program for kids that covers math, language arts, science, and social studies and offers interactive practice problems for every topic from Pre K to 12th grade. Every topic is organized by grade and subject, or you can navigate by textbook. IXL has skill plans for specific textbooks so your child can get extra help for the exact unit they're covering in class.

[Amanda Weldon]

How cool.

[Daniel Hines]

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[Amanda Weldon]

Thanks. Enjoy the episode the Bees Sting Once upon a time, a long time ago, a hive of bees was busy with the business of honey. Some were making it in sticky little gobs, some were feeding the queen and the babies, and some others were out collecting the pollen and nectar they needed. Billy had a different job. He was supposed to guard the honey. Unfortunately, this was before bees had stingers, so he had an awfully tricky time of it. Please don't take the honey, he'd say to the beetle, who would trundle across the hive and scoop up a few mouthfuls. Share and share alike, that's what I always say, the beetle would reply, unfazed. Really, you have to stop, billy would say to the skunk who would sneak in her long, greedy tongue. Just a few licks. You can spare it. The skunk would wheedle back. Oh, please stop. He'd shriek at the bear, who would shake the whole hive and nearly break it apart, scooping out globs of honey with his big hairy paws. Delicious. Buzz, buzz, buzz, little friends. The bear would rumble back pleasantly. On and on this went, until there was barely enough honey left for the bees to feed themselves. They started to get hungry, and many of them started to blame Billy and the other guards. It's not fair, said Billy. We're so small, how are we supposed to stop even a big beetle? Never mind a skunk, never mind a bear. Well, you better figure something out, grumbled the hungry others. Dismayed and lost, Billy buzzed out of the hive. One night he landed on a lolling leaf and sighed into the moonlight. It's not fair, he said. We guards do our best, but we're just little honey bees. If only I had a way to protect the hive. The wind swirled around the little bee and. And soon he heard a voice blowing past his fuzzy antenna. Little bee, little bee, said a rustle of flowers and grass. Who's there? Billy said, looking around the darkness. It's me, Mother Nature, said the voice. You're right about it not being fair. I should have realized that others would be after your honey. So you'll help me? Billy asked. I will, said Mother Nature. I'll give you a stinger sharp as you could, like if anyone tries to steal your honey, you give em a sting and that will have them thinking twice. Billy thanked her over and over and flew back to the hive to tell the other guards. The next morning, when they woke up, they all had stingers at the end of their abdomens. This is great, said Billy, and the others all agreed. We can finally protect the honey. Protect the honey. The guard bees cried together. That day, a beetle came trundling up. Please leave the honey alone, Billy said. Share and share alike, little bee, the beetle said, and went to steal some honey. Like usual, Billy readied his new stinger. Last warning. Outta my way, wise guy. Billy could tell that the beetle wasn't going to back down, so to protect his hive's honey, he flew over and gave him a sting. Yow. Yelped the beetle. I'm outta here. The guard bees all celebrated together their first honey defense. The queen would be so proud. Later that day, the skunk happened by. She crept up close and got her long tongue ready to steal something sweet. Hey, don't take our honey, Billy said a little More confident now. Just a little lick, said the skunk. You won't even miss it. Well, Billy was out of patience and didn't even bother asking twice. He grabbed some other guard bees, and together they dove down and stung the skunk. They got her on the nose and on the ears, and she was soon yelping. Ow, Ow. Ow. Hey, hey, she said, shaking her head. This stinks worse than me. Forget it. And the skunk ran off, leaving the guard bees to celebrate again. A little later, as the afternoon sun was warming them into a happy, sleepy stupor, a bear came snuffling about. This time, the bees didn't even wait for the bear to ask. When he got too close, all the guards came out at once, led by brave Billy. Protect the honey. He cried. Protect the hive. They flooded over the bear and stung him all over his shaggy face and neck. He roared and swung his mighty paws, but the bees were everywhere, and they were too small to swat. Never mind the honey, he said, rolling in the grass. Ow. Ow. My buzz friends. He turned and ran into the woods, leaving the hive alone. The guard bees all celebrated, and that night, all the other bees joined their celebration, too. Not a single drop of honey had been stolen. The next day, the guard bees got together again, and Billy had an exciting new idea. Instead of waiting for them to come to us, he said, this time we'll take the fight to them. What do you mean? Asked another guard. Well, we had to tell the beetle twice. The skunk and bear tried, too. Let's go sting them now before they even get close. The other bees cheered the idea, and soon a whole cloud of guards was floating across the grassy forest floor. First they found the beetle, chewing a little leaf. They stung him before he even knew what was happening. Hey, what gives? That's what you get for thinking about our honey. I was thinking about my pincers. A likely story, said Billy. And on they flew. Soon they found the skunk digging through some flowers for their tender roots. The cloud darkened the sky and then landed on the skunk, stinging her left, right and center. She sprayed her stink. But the bees weren't deterred. Ow.

[Daniel Hines]

Ow.

[Amanda Weldon]

Stop it. She said, running back to her burrow. This seriously stinks. And don't think about our honey again, said Billy. And on they flew. Next, they found the bear, lazily drinking from the river. He heard the buzzing approach and looked up, waving a shaggy paw. Oh, it's my buzzy friends, he said. Hello, friends. Wait. Oh. What are you doing? The stings. He panicked and lumbered into the Water. Where Billy and the other guard bees were forced to let him swim away. That's right, Billy called after him. And never come for our honey again. That night, they celebrated another successful day protecting the hive. There was singing and dancing and buzzing of all kinds. The next morning, Billy and the guard bees went out stinging everyone again and again and again, all before they could even come close to the hive. This went on for a couple weeks, until one day, Billy found himself swept aside by the wind. It tumbled him tail over wings and sent him spinning away from the other guards. Hey. Whoa. He cried as the invisible stream of air dragged him through the forest and then dumped him in the middle of a grassy clearing. He looked up and saw he wasn't alone. Around him were the beetle, the skunk and the bear. Oh, hey there, he said a little sheepishly. Billy the bee, came the wind rustle voice of Mother Nature. These animals say you've been stinging them to protect the honey, he said. To protect the queen, she needs to eat. True enough, but. But they say you've been stinging them even when they aren't after honey. I was taking a walk, said the beetle. I was brushing my tail, said the skunk. I was waving hello, said the bear. Is this true? Asked Mother Nature. Billy buzzed uncomfortably well. They'd come for the honey. In the past, we figured, you know, better to sting first. Before they got close. The wind of Mother Nature gusted through the clearing, and the bee had to buzz to stay in place. You've turned into a bully, she said, her voice an angry gale. I gave you the power to protect yourself, and you use it to attack your fellow creatures. I'm sorry. I won't do it again. That's right, you won't, said Mother Nature. From now on, you can only sting once. After that, you'll lose your stinger. So don't waste it. There was a howl of wind, a whirl of leaves, a patter of rain, and a crack of thunder. Billy was swept off in a whirlwind, spiraling up and down and around and around. The grass was the sky, and the ground was blue. And just when he thought he might lose his honey, he was back at the hive, gasping for breath. Don't forget. Came the voice of Mother Nature on the fading maelstrom. I won't, Billy said back, his little voice swept up in the breeze. And that's how Billy and the bees learned that hurting others was a serious business. And to this day, honeybees will only sting if you're threatening them. Because when a honeybee stings. It stings them too. The end Today's story the Bees Sting.

[Daniel Hines]

Was an adaptation of an Aesop's Fable written for you by Daniel Hines and performed for you by me, Amanda Walden. 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 storiespodcast or simply tell your friends about us. In case you missed it, Dan and I have a new show on Stories rpg. We play games just like Starsworn with all your Max Goodname 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.

[Amanda Weldon]

Over there so check them out now.

[Daniel Hines]

Thanks for listening.