Episode Overview

Title: Throwback: The Narrow Bridge
Podcast: Stories Podcast: A Bedtime Show for Kids of All Ages
Host: Amanda Weldon
Date: September 23, 2025

This episode features a retelling of a classic fable called "The Narrow Bridge." Set in the Himalayan mountains, it’s a playful, musical story about two famously stubborn goats forced to reckon with their own unwillingness to compromise. Through their misadventures—and the reactions of the mountain’s other animal residents—young listeners are gently reminded of the importance of patience, sharing, and learning to take turns.

Main Story Summary

Setting and Characters

[03:10]

• The story takes place “high up in the Himalayan mountains, in the chilly place above the clouds” where winter animals—mighty goats, white leopards, yaks, musk deer, marmots, and birds of prey—all call the mountain home.
• Goats are described as sure-footed and, more importantly, very stubborn, especially the old ones.

The Bridge Encounter

[04:40]

• Two of the oldest, most stubborn goats meet at the same time at a “stone bridge above an icy river… a slim sliver of stone above glistening waters.”
• The narrow bridge can only fit one animal at a time; typically, animals share it by taking turns.
• Neither goat will yield:
  • Left Goat: “Whoa there, old timer, move out of my way, old timer.”
  • Right Goat: “We’re the same age—now you move out of my way.”

The Stubborn Standoff

[05:40]

• They argue:
  • Left Goat: “I’m crossing the bridge.”
  • Right Goat: “No. I’m crossing the bridge.”
  • Both: Refuse to move, horns locked, unyielding.
• Other animals gather, watching and growing frustrated at the delay.

[06:17] — Musical Interlude

• The animals sing, urging the goats to cooperate:
  • “Don’t be stubborn, just take turns, the more you feud the less you move, the standoff is absurd, now we’re all here waiting for you.”

The Clash and the Lesson

[07:41]

• Rather than compromise, the goats attempt to force their way past each other—resulting in both tumbling off the bridge into the icy river below.
  • “...when they hit there on the bridge, they tumbled in a heap.” — Narrator ([07:41])
• The animals are surprised and amused by the spectacle, reinforcing the folly of stubbornness:
  • “Maybe next time you’ll just take turns,” someone calls out.

Resolution on the Bridge

[08:49]

• Once out of the river, soaked but unharmed, the goats glare at each other, but something has changed. The next time they meet at the bridge, both pause:
  • Left Goat: “After you.”
  • Right Goat: “No, after you. I insist.”
• At last, they learn, sometimes slowly, to take turns—even if they’re still the two most stubborn goats on the mountain.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Introduction to the Goats:
  • “As excellent as they were at balancing, they were even better at being stubborn.” — Amanda Weldon ([03:55])
• The Stubborn Deadlock:
  • Left Goat: “I’m always first.”
    Right Goat: “I’m always first!” ([05:50])
• The Animals’ Choral Plea:
  ([06:42])
  • “Don’t be stubborn, just take turns, the more you feud the less you move, the standoff is absurd, now we’re all here waiting for you.” — The animal crowd
• The Fable’s Moral, Clear and Kind:
  ([09:30])
  • “They were still the most stubborn creatures on the mountain, but maybe, just maybe, from that day forth, they were a little less stubborn than they used to be. And sometimes, when it comes to stubborn old goats, that’s just about as much as you can hope for.” — Amanda Weldon

Key Insights & Discussion Points

The Folly of Stubbornness

• Both goats embody stubbornness so fully that their inability to yield results in mutual misfortune—and makes life harder for everyone around them.

The Wisdom of Taking Turns

• The animals’ sing-song advice is simple but profound: “Don’t be stubborn, just take turns.” The story demonstrates how pride and refusal to compromise results in no one getting what they want.

Gentle Humor and Empathy

• The goats’ grumbling (“Well, I’m not moving!”) and the crowd’s exasperation provide comic relief, making the lesson memorable without scolding.

Growth, Even If Slow

• The ending acknowledges change is difficult: even the most stubborn hearts can soften—if only a little.

Timestamps for Major Segments

• [03:10] — Entrance into the Himalayan animal world and the goats’ stubborn nature
• [04:40] — The first encounter at the narrow bridge
• [05:50] — Public confrontation and refusal to yield
• [06:17] — The animals’ musical call to compromise
• [07:41] — The goats fall into the river
• [08:49] — The goats finally learn to take turns
• [09:30] — Moral of the story and gentle conclusion

Conclusion

"The Narrow Bridge" is a playful fable infused with humor, rhyme, and music, perfectly designed for young listeners (and their families) to engage with timeless lessons about cooperation, patience, and letting go of stubbornness. This throwback episode offers a gentle reminder: sometimes, the bravest thing is to step aside, share, and let someone else go first—even if you’re a stubborn old goat.