Stories Podcast: A Bedtime Show for Kids of All Ages

Episode Summary: Throwback - The Village That Didn’t Share

Air Date: September 9, 2025
Host: Amanda Weldon
Story Written By: Daniel Hines

Overview

This throwback episode revisits "The Village That Didn't Share," a heartwarming adaptation of the classic "stone soup" folk tale. Performed and sung by Amanda Weldon, the episode explores the pitfalls of selfishness and the transformative, joyful magic of sharing. Two clever travelers help a stingy village discover the happiness and community that comes from generosity.

Key Discussion Points & Story Highlights

1. Setting the Scene

• The story takes place in a reclusive forest village notorious for never sharing.
• "The adults didn't share their tools, the kids didn't share their toys, even the dogs wouldn't share their bones." (03:13)
• The village's lack of sharing leads to social and economic isolation.

2. Arrival of the Travelers

• Two weary travelers, Maria and John, stumble into the unfriendly village at dusk.
• Their polite pleas for food and shelter are met with scorn.

  "We don't share," the baker said, and as if on cue, the villagers all returned to their homes. (04:48)

3. The Clever Plan: Stone Soup

• Maria and John, both traveling performers, concoct a scheme to encourage sharing by making “stone soup.”
• They begin boiling a pot of water in the town square and claim it’s a magical “stone soup.”
• Maria theatrically introduces the “magic stone”:

  "It's easy—and just a little magic," said Maria with a wink. (06:13)

4. Sparking Curiosity and Participation

• A villager asks to try the soup but is told she needs to trade an ingredient, not simply receive.
• The villagers, eager to participate without “sharing,” begin trading ingredients: first carrots, then rosemary, later more.

5. The Power of Performance and Song

• Maria and John use their performance skills—a lively song and lute playing—to attract more villagers and keep the mood cheerful.
• Song Lyrics (performed energetically):
  “Stone soup, it’s delicious. You should try,
  Stone soup, it’s the best, I’ll testify.
  Stone soup, the finest meal you can make.
  Stone soup, just need some old give and take…” (09:21)

6. Transforming the Village

• The cook pot fills with a bounty of vegetables, pork, onions, rice, and more—each ingredient added in the spirit of trade.
• For the first time, the villagers gather, laugh, and eat together.

  "Soon the entire village was gathered together outside, talking and laughing and smiling over their bowls of stone soup." (11:23)

7. Acceptance and Change

• The formerly gruff baker approaches with a peace offering—fresh golden rolls—in exchange for a bowl of soup.
• John and Maria’s gentle wisdom is rewarded with newfound friendship, good food, and a less selfish community.
• The moral is subtle but clear: sharing transforms not just the meal, but the very spirit of the village.

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• On the Village’s Infamy:
  "They’d sooner marry their horses on a Sunday than they’d share food with a stranger.” (02:23)
• Maria’s Tactful Persuasion:
  "If you wanted to throw in some, I don't know, carrots…then it's more like a trade...Carrots for a bowl of soup? Why, it's hardly sharing at all." (07:13)
• The Stone Soup Song:
  (Multiple timestamps between 09:21 - 10:20)
  “Eat stone soup, 'cause I’m telling you now you know: Stone soup is good for the soul.”
• Resolution:
  “From that day on, they were a little slower to hoard and a little quicker to share.” (13:49)

Major Timestamps

• 00:01 – Host introduction & brief conversation
• 03:13 – Setting: the unsharing village
• 04:10 – Travelers arrive and are rebuffed
• 06:13 – The “magic” of stone soup is explained
• 07:13 – First villager trades for soup—others follow
• 09:21 – The musical number and villagers’ growing participation
• 11:23 – The communal meal and change in spirit
• 12:57 – The baker’s peace offering
• 13:49 – Epilogue: The village changes for the better

Tone and Storytelling Style

The episode is lively, gently humorous, and filled with magical realism. Amanda Weldon’s narration is warm, engaging, and just a touch mischievous—mirroring Maria and John’s cleverness and kind intent. The original song adds energy and a participatory feel, inviting young listeners to imagine themselves in the unfolding scene.

Takeaway

“The Village That Didn’t Share” delivers a timeless message about the joy found in generosity, using playful storytelling and music to underscore how community is built one shared act at a time. Even the most stubborn hearts can be softened—with a little cleverness, kindness, and a very special (if ordinary) stone.