Throwback: The Giant's Daughter

Summary

Summary of "Throwback: The Giant's Daughter" Episode Stories Podcast: A Bedtime Show for Kids of All Ages Hosted by Amanda Weldon Release Date: February 4, 2025

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1. Introduction to the Story

The episode begins with Amanda Weldon welcoming listeners to a throwback episode of the Stories Podcast. She introduces the tale titled "The Giant's Daughter," an adaptation of a Brazilian folktale crafted by Daniel Hines. This story transports listeners to a fantastical kingdom inhabited by giants, setting the stage for an engaging adventure suitable for children and families.

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2. The Kingdom of Giants and the Princess's Dilemma

The narrative unfolds in a kingdom of giants, where the ruler, a mighty king nearly a mile tall, oversees a land where every action by his subjects—whether walking, laughing, or crying—has monumental effects on the environment.

• Narrator [00:06]: "Everything is G rated and safe for all ages..."

The central conflict revolves around the princess, who is enduring prolonged periods of sorrow. Her distress stems from losing her favorite giant-sized cookie in the great river, leading to relentless crying that disrupts the entire kingdom.

• Amanda Weldon [01:07]: "She cried all day, so loud that the giants could barely go about their business."

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3. The King's Ultimatum

Growing desperate to restore peace and silence his daughter's incessant crying, the king issues a grand challenge to his subjects:

• King [02:50]: "If anyone can make my daughter smile again, they shall have a pot of gold the size of my fist."

• King [03:02]: "And if anyone can make her laugh, they can have half of my kingdom to rule as their own."

This proclamation sets the stage for potential heroes to emerge, offering rewards that exceed ordinary expectations.

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4. Felipe Accepts the Challenge

Enter Felipe, a young boy from the land of normal-sized folks. Despite not being inherently funny, Felipe is motivated by the allure of the prize and the hope of seeing the princess smile.

• Amanda Weldon [03:20]: "He thought that a pot of gold sounded fine, and to rule a kingdom sounded even finer."

Felipe, though skilled with his violin, typically plays somber melodies. However, inspired by his pet sheep, Larry, he endeavors to create a happier tune in hopes of eliciting joy.

• Amanda Weldon [04:33]: "A dancing sheep is at least a little funny. Maybe it would get me a smile."

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5. Forming the Entertaining Ensemble

As Felipe travels towards the giants' kingdom, his music has a magical effect, attracting a variety of whimsical animals who join his quest:

• Larry the Sheep: Becomes animated, dancing to Felipe's changing melodies.

  • Amanda Weldon [04:32]: "Yay. There we go. He shouted. Baa. Larry shouted back."

• A Stray Cat: Initially aloof, the cat is enchanted by the rhythm and becomes a dancing companion.

  • Amanda Weldon [05:21]: "I like your moves. Come with us to see the princess."

• Wild Monkeys: Their initial chatter transforms into joyful dancing under Felipe's persistent rhythm.

  • Amanda Weldon [06:13]: "Monkeys, he called wild with style. Come on with us to see the giants."

• Giant Armadillo, Darting Deer, Tawny Tigers, Snakes, Spinning Spiders, Birdie Bats, Crocodile with a Smile, Deep Enthotomous Hippopotamus: Each animal adds its unique flair, enhancing the ensemble's appeal.

Felipe's growing band symbolizes teamwork and creativity, showcasing how diverse talents can come together to solve a problem.

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6. The Giants' Frustration and Failed Attempts

Back in the giant kingdom, the king's attempts to resolve his daughter's sorrow are ineffective. Despite enlisting numerous jesters and comedians who showcase a variety of humorous acts, nothing manages to stir a smile from the princess.

• King [11:09]: "The lot of you. This is the best you can do? Doesn't one of you have something halfway funny to say?"

A failed attempt by a comedian delivers a joke that only exacerbates the princess's tears, underscoring the depth of her despair and the inadequacy of traditional humor.

• Comedian [11:20]: "Where do you find a giant snail? At the end of their giant finger."

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7. Felipe's Triumphant Arrival and the Princess's Joy

As the giants grapple with their own limitations, Felipe and his eclectic troupe arrive, their vibrant and synchronized performance a stark contrast to previous attempts. The sheer spectacle of dancing animals, coupled with Felipe's infectious melody, captures the attention of both the princess and the king.

• King [12:06]: "What's going on?"

The princess, witnessing the joyful display, finally finds herself moved. Her long-suppressed emotions give way to a gigantic smile, and subsequently, a hearty laugh that reverberates across the land.

• Narrator [12:07]: "...she smiled a wide giant smile. And then, wonder of wonders, the princess laughed and all the land shook with its thunder."

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8. The Reward and the Kingdom's Harmony

True to his promise, the king bestows half of his kingdom upon Felipe. The animals, appreciative of Felipe's contribution, choose to remain nearby, committing to daily parades that celebrate joy and unity.

• Amanda Weldon [13:00]: "Felipe was rewarded with half of the kingdom, just as the giant king promised."

Felipe continues to play his violin, now embracing more lively tunes that foster happiness among his friends, exemplifying the lasting impact of his creative efforts.

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9. Conclusion and Themes

"The Giant's Daughter" is a heartwarming tale that underscores themes of perseverance, creativity, and the power of joy. Felipe's journey illustrates how embracing one's unique talents and collaborating with others can overcome seemingly insurmountable challenges. The story also highlights the importance of understanding and addressing emotional distress with empathy and innovative solutions.

Amanda Weldon's rendition brings these lessons to life, offering listeners a blend of adventure, humor, and meaningful morals suitable for children and families alike.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• King [02:50]: "If anyone can make my daughter smile again, they shall have a pot of gold the size of my fist."

• Felipe [04:33]: "A dancing sheep is at least a little funny. Maybe it would get me a smile."

• King [11:09]: "The lot of you. This is the best you can do? Doesn't one of you have something halfway funny to say?"

• Comedian [11:20]: "Where do you find a giant snail? At the end of their giant finger."

• Princess's Reaction [12:07]: "...she smiled a wide giant smile. And then, wonder of wonders, the princess laughed and all the land shook with its thunder."

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This episode of "Stories Podcast" masterfully weaves a narrative that entertains while imparting valuable life lessons, making it a perfect bedtime story for kids of all ages.

Transcript

[King]

Hello.

[Narrator]

Welcome to Stories Podcast.

[Amanda Weldon]

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, [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 a drawing of your favorite scene or character, we'll share it on our feed. Now, here's a word from our sponsors.

[Narrator]

Check out the podcast Mysteries About True Histories Tune in each week as best friends Max and Molly are faced with their latest time traveling quest. It's up to them to use their math and logic skills to keep the troublesome trolls from causing chaos throughout space and time. Can they crack the code before time runs out? Join in on the fun every Thursday to find out. Follow Mysteries about True Histories on Apple Podcasts or wherever you find your podcasts.

[Amanda Weldon]

Thanks. Enjoy the episode the Giant's Daughter Once upon a time, nearby to the lands of normal sized folks, there was a kingdom of giants. It was ruled by a mighty king nearly a mile tall, and his subjects were all almost as big. When they walked, the ground shook. When they laughed, the mountains quaked, and when they cried, it was an endless brutal wind that swept over the land. Unfortunately, the princess had been crying for weeks. You see, she had dropped her favorite cookie, itself, bigger than any normal person, into the great river that ran through the giant's kingdom. It dissolved in the rushing water and was swept away before she could grab it back again. She was left with nothing. Not a bite, not a crumb. She cried for another cookie, but it had been the last in the kingdom, so she just kept on crying. She cried all day, so loud that the giants could barely go about their business. She cried all night, so loud that all the giants jammed cotton in their ears just to sleep. She cried during breakfast and sobbed during lunch and wailed at dinner. On and on it went, until all the giants thought they might go crazy and the king was forced to take drastic action.

[King]

Enough is enough.

[Amanda Weldon]

He boomed so loud his voice rolled out far and wide like a thunderstorm heard by the giants and humans alike.

[King]

If anyone can make my daughter smile again, they shall have a pot of gold the size of my fist.

[Amanda Weldon]

He held up one hand, nearly the size of a cottage home.

[King]

And if anyone can make her laugh, they can have half of my kingdom to rule as their own.

[Amanda Weldon]

Halfway across the country in the land of the normal sized folks, a young boy named Felipe heard the giant king's offer.

[Narrator]

He thought that a pot of gold.

[Amanda Weldon]

Sounded fine, and to rule a kingdom sounded even finer. But he had never been very funny. He didn't know any jokes, and he wasn't even good at making funny noises. He was good at playing the violin, but it wasn't a very happy instrument. His songs were beautiful, but usually slow and sad. He played them often for Larry, his pet sheep and his only friend in the world. Well, Larry, he said after thinking about the giant's offer, maybe we can try something a little happier for once. He took his violin and began to play. At first it was his normal slow and mournful song, but then he picked up the pace and moved it from a minor key to a major key. It still wasn't funny, but it was definitely more upbeat. What do you think, Larry? The sheep began to bob in time, with the music slowly shifting from hoof to hoof, Felipe began to play a little faster. Finding the groove now, he sped up until Larry was dancing, his great woolly coat shaking in time to the music.

[Narrator]

Yay.

[Amanda Weldon]

There we go. He shouted. Baa. Larry shouted back. Well, thought Felipe, a dancing sheep is at least a little funny. Maybe it would get me a smile. Even if I don't win the kingdom, it might be worth it just to see a princess giant smile.

[Narrator]

Okay, Larry, he said.

[Amanda Weldon]

Three, two, one. Let's jam. Playing and dancing, they started down the road. As they got going through the countryside, a stray cat heard them coming. Usually the feisty feline avoided strangers, but that music. She found herself walking to the beat, her tiny tail twitching in time. Hey, cat, felipe called.

[Narrator]

I like your moves.

[Amanda Weldon]

Come with us to see the princess. Giant or the giant princess? Who really cares? It's both, I guess. The cat jumped up on Larry's back and kept on dancing. She was clearly along for the trip. All right, felipe said to himself. A dancing sheep and a crazy cat. Maybe that'll make the princess laugh. He added a little more to his melody, and now it was really making the animals move. They paraded into the jungle, a tangle of dense, dark vegetation. They were surrounded quickly by wild, chattering monkeys from all sides. For a moment, Felipe felt afraid, but he kept the rhythm going strong, and soon the wild monkeys were dancing in their dozens.

[Narrator]

Now for a quick ad break.

[Amanda Weldon]

We'll be back with the rest of the story after this.

[Narrator]

If you'd like Stories Podcast and other.

[Amanda Weldon]

Favorite kid podcasts ad free. Subscribe to Wondery Kids on Apple Podcasts.

[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. Thanks. And now back to the story.

[Amanda Weldon]

Monkeys, he called wild with style. Come on with us to see the giants. The monkeys chattered in joy and dropped from the trees. They fell in line behind Felipe and Larry the sheep and the cat. All right, felipe said to himself. A dancing sheep and a crazy cat and some moving monkeys. Maybe that'll make the princess laugh. He walked a little taller and added another wrinkle to his music. Really getting the hang of this whole happy thing. The sound flowed through him now, and his fingers bent to the bow like he was an expert archer. Soon they passed from the jungle and heard a terrible rattling.

[Narrator]

What's that?

[Amanda Weldon]

Asked Larry the sheep. It sounds like skeletons or old bones, said the cat. Or like clack clack clack clack clacked the monkeys. They rounded a bend and saw it was a giant armadillo. The music had him boogieing, and his armored plates jittered and chimed against themselves. Armadillo, felipe said, sawing his violin like a lumberjack. Arma. Don't mind if you do. Ooh. The armadillo joined the line behind Felipe and Larry, the sheep and the cat and the monkeys. Okay, felipe said to himself. A dancing sheep and a crazy cat and some movin monkeys and a brattling, rattling armadillo. Maybe that'll make the princess laugh. He started to strut a little, feeling the melody move him. The animals started to stomp out A beat, and Felipe flexed the music to match. It was getting funkier by the minute, and none of them seemed much to mind. Soon they passed a herd of darting deer being tracked by a pack of tawny tigers. The predators and prey both stopped their foot chaining and started grooving when they heard Felipe's playing. Deer and tigers, he said, war's a bore. Quit the fighting and come with us to the land of the giants. They danced right on over, side by side. No one trying to eat anyone else, not even a nibble. Okay, Felipe said to himself. A dancing sheep and a crazy cat and some movin monkeys and a brattling, rattling armadillo. And some darting deer and tawny tigers. Maybe that'll make the princess laugh. It was pretty funny, but could he do even better? He looked at the countryside before him, animals at every turn, and he smiled. He would keep the party rolling and he'd win that kingdom. Meanwhile, back in the land of the giants, the king was getting bored. His generous offer had drawn out all the giant jesters and the colossal clowns and even the copious comedians. They threw pies and tumbled and farted and fell and did every trick they knew. The princess watched it all and didn't so much as smile, not even a lip twitch. She just kept on crying out.

[King]

The lot of you.

[Amanda Weldon]

The king cried, slamming his heavy hand on the table.

[King]

This is the best you can do? Doesn't a one of you have something halfway funny to say?

[Amanda Weldon]

Hey, I have a joke. Said one of the comedians.

[King]

Fine, let's hear it.

[Amanda Weldon]

Where do you find a giant snail?

[King]

A snail?

[Amanda Weldon]

I don't know where you find a giant snail. At the end of their giant finger. Alright. The princess started to cry even harder.

[King]

Guards, remove this man.

[Amanda Weldon]

The guards dragged him away. Suddenly, from outside, there was a noise. No, not just a noise. A song. And not just a song, but a funky song that made a few of the giants start tapping their massive toes.

[Narrator]

Tap, tap, tap.

[Amanda Weldon]

Echoing through the land like boom, boom, boom.

[King]

What's going on?

[Amanda Weldon]

The king cried, rushing to the window. The princess, still crying, was curious enough to come over too. Outside they saw the strangest sight. It was Felipe, sawing so violent on his violin it looked like it might burst into flames. Behind him was a mad menagerie, a zany zoo, a wild wumpus of animals. Felipe was followed by Larry the sheep, a crazy cat and some movin monkeys, a brattling, rattling armadillo and some darting deer and tawny tigers like before. But he'd added some snazzy snakes and spinning spiders, some birdie bats, and some batty birds, a crocodile with a smile and a deep enthotomous hippopotamus. And that was just all they could see from the window. There were even more stretching back over the horizon. They all walked by the castle, each one dancing harder than the last. The princess looked on, eyes wide. She was so surprised that for the first time in weeks, she had stopped her colossal crying. Then, as the king looked on with hopeful eyes, she smiled a wide giant smile. And then, wonder of wonders, the princess laughed and all the land shook with its thunder. Felipe was rewarded with half of the kingdom, just as the giant king promised. All the animals chose to stay and live nearby, and as a thank you for the gift, they'd put on a parade past the castle each and every day. Felipe still played his sad music sometimes, but usually he found it more fun to jam something loud for his friends, and together they all danced happily ever after. The End Today's story the Giant's Daughter, was an adaptation of a Brazilian folktale written for you by Daniel Hines and performed for you by me, Amanda Weldon.

[Narrator]

If you would like to support Stories podcast, you can leave us a five.

[Amanda Weldon]

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.

[Narrator]

In case you missed it, Dan and.

[Amanda Weldon]

I have a new show on Stories rpg.

[Narrator]

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.

[Amanda Weldon]

Play along games and coloring books.

[Narrator]

We've already got a bunch of episodes over there so check them out now.

[Amanda Weldon]

Thanks for listening.