
Have you ever noticed that narrators are pretty much control freaks?
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Lee Overtree
Hey, Story Pirates podcast listeners. Lee here. Welcome back to Story Pirates Summer, where we have new stories for you all summer long, including today's news story about an epic battle between a bear and a narrator. Grown Ups. Guess what? You can get twice as many new stories on your feed this summer by subscribing to Story Pirates Creator Club. Plus, subscribers get the ad free version of the show, and premium members even get to participate in a quarterly video meetup with Lee and Peter, where we create a brand new story together for the podcast. But most of all, Creator Club members help us support the cost of the show so we can keep bringing it to you every week if you're already a member. Thank you so much. And if you'd like to join, you can do so by visiting storypirates.com creatorclub or by subscribing right in Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Today's brand new story plus another edition of Roll Call Live with Lee and Peter. Coming up after a few more words for the grown ups. Hey, grown ups. See Story Pirates live. We're bringing the amazing adventure tour to more cities this fall in places like Northern and Central California, Idaho, Montana, and Oregon. We want to see you there. Get tickets at Story Pirates.
Peter McNerney
I love storytelling.
Belle
I'm very different from everybody. Confusion is the step before curiosity. Okay, that's a really funny idea. We have to send that in. I just get some joy when I hear other people giggling. I believe all the things in my store. Human beings are just able to create the Story Pirates.
Lee Overtree
Welcome back to the Story Pirates podcast. It must be hard being a narrator. Here at Story Pirates, we get a lot of stories about narrators who are really getting into it with the characters that they're narrating. It's almost like narrators are control freaks. The one in today's news story certainly is. Here's the author to introduce it.
Belle
Hi, I'm Belle. I'm nine years old and I live in Oklahoma. This is my story, Bears Forest Days.
Narrator
Welcome to Bear's Forest Days. What wild and happening misadventures will he get up to this week? Well, I'll tell you. This momentous day began, like many others, with Bear rising from his nightly slumber.
Bear
Good morning, narrator.
Narrator
Good morning, Bear. Are you ready for a day full of adventure?
Bear
Oh, I don't know about that. I was hoping to just have another pleasant day here in the forest, full.
Narrator
Of hijinks and wackiness.
Bear
Probably not, no. Every day I do have a problem, to be sure. But every day I solve it. Not much to it we'll see. Now, what should I wear today?
Narrator
And so he dressed up in his soft red T shirt. At which point the bear was struck by a profound, startling realization.
Bear
Something just occurred to me.
Narrator
Yes.
Bear
I can't shake the feeling that I go on. Am hungry. No, I think I will go to the berry bush to eat.
Narrator
So that's what the bear did.
Bear
Here I go. Oh, berry bush, berry bush I love my berry bush it's full of berries and it's a bush. Boy, my berry bush song just keeps getting better and better. Well, better head home.
Narrator
The bear set out for home. But on his way, he saw his friend, the rabbit.
Bear
Hello, rabbit.
Lee Overtree
Hello, bear.
Narrator
Goodness only knows what secrets he might divulge. Or what hijinks he might get into on this fateful day.
Bear
Well, it was good seeing you.
Peter McNerney
You too, bear. Bye bye.
Belle
Ugh.
Narrator
I guess the rabbit didn't have much going on today. So the bear went back home.
Bear
Here I go.
Lee Overtree
Ah.
Bear
Back in my den. Time to eat my berries. Huh? That's funny. My dining room table seems to be missing.
Narrator
Aha. I knew it. Today is special. So many questions. Who could the culpr? This is juicy stuff. And at that moment, the bear had an idea.
Bear
I have an idea. In this moment, I think I have.
Narrator
To find out who took your table. Solve the mystery, Defeat a villain, Become a hero.
Bear
Build myself a new table.
Lee Overtree
What?
Bear
But wait. Oh, there's my friend, the cardinal.
Cardinal
Oh, hi there.
Bear
Hi, Cardinal.
Narrator
No time to talk because he had an urgent errand.
Cardinal
Because I'm busy making morning songs for the animals in the forest.
Bear
Can I hear one?
Narrator
Really? Now?
Peter McNerney
Sure.
Cardinal
Here in the forest we are full of glee Us animals live so very happily.
Bear
Oh, my goodness, Cardinal, that was beautiful.
Cardinal
Thank you, bear.
Narrator
Toodle oo.
Bear
Bye bye.
Narrator
Okay. And then the bear finally set out to spin. Solve his problem.
Bear
Here I go.
Narrator
Bear went looking for a tree stump.
Bear
Oh, this one looks nice.
Narrator
He tore the stump out of the ground to use as a table. And then he got some big rocks to use as stools.
Bear
Back to home.
Narrator
Hey, hey. It's my job to change locations.
Bear
Oh, sorry. Narrator.
Narrator
Anyway, the bear went home to set up his brand new dining room table just outside his cozy cave.
Bear
What a pleasant day it is.
Narrator
Oh, I can't take it anymore.
Bear
What's up?
Narrator
I promised these people thrills, chills, wild misadventures.
Bear
Why did you do that?
Narrator
It's time for me to take things into my own hands.
Bear
Okay, if you say so.
Narrator
Suddenly, there appeared, crashing through the forest, a giant rhinoceros.
Bear
Hey, There. Rhino.
Narrator
Bear.
Bear
Good seeing you. Would you mind not crashing so hard?
Peter McNerney
Oh, sure thing. Sometimes I don't realize what I'm doing.
Narrator
We'll see you later.
Bear
Goodbye.
Narrator
Oh, fine. Scratch that. I don't know. Okay. How about 5 million snakes suddenly fall from the sky?
Bear
Welcome, new friend.
Lee Overtree
Thank you, Bear. It's.
Narrator
And they all slither off. What? Ow. Then a bunch of humans show up to cut down the forest to build commercial real estate. How great would a yoga studio be right here?
Bear
Hi, humans. I was wondering, would you mind building somewhere else?
Lee Overtree
Okay, bye.
Narrator
How are you so charming?
Bear
Excuse me, narrator?
Grown Up
What?
Bear
Could I talk to you for a moment?
Cardinal
Sure.
Bear
Not all stories are adventure stories. Some stories can just be really pleasant.
Narrator
But if there's no adventure, then what's happening?
Bear
Plenty. I saw two of my best friends, I ate my favorite breakfast, I sang my berry good berry song. Didn't you notice any of that?
Narrator
Well, sure I did, but who?
Bear
We always have problems to solve. But I don't really like to think of my life as just the problems. If I do, I tend to miss all of the really nice things.
Narrator
I guess that does make sense.
Bear
Would you like to narrate the rest of my day? And be warned, it's going to be pretty pleasant.
Narrator
You know what, Bear? I'll give it a go. And the rest of the day was very pleasant.
Bear
There you go.
Narrator
Bear ate some lunch, drank from the stream and took a nap. In the evening, Bear went to the stream to catch fish.
Bear
Come here, fishy fishy, fishies.
Narrator
He caught enough for dinner, took a bath in the stream, and sat down to eat at his new table.
Bear
Gotta find a way to sand this in the morning, but it's looking pretty good for now.
Narrator
And then, Bear went to bed, hoping for an equally momentous, equally special day tomorrow. But the question of what really happened to his dining room table began to nag him terribly. And he vowed right then and there to discover the true villain responsible for.
Bear
Oh, you know what I just remembered? I never owned a table before the end.
Belle
We'll be right back after a few words for the grownups.
Grown Up
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Advertiser 1
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Advertiser 2
And.
Lee Overtree
Now it's time for Story Pirates Roll Call. Send us your story. Send us your story. We read them all.
Peter McNerney
We read them. Hello.
Lee Overtree
We love Story Pirate Roll Call. Welcome back to Story Pirates Roll Call where we take stories written by kids.
Advertiser 2
And we talk about them the way that we would before we adopt them for the Story Pirates podcast. Peter, hello.
Peter McNerney
Hello, Lee. How are you?
Advertiser 2
I'm very good. Our first story today is a doozy. Yeah. Would you please read it for us?
Peter McNerney
It would be my honor. This first story comes to us from a 12 year old from Idaho named and Gemma's story is called New Eyebrows. Now, before we read the story, Gemma wrote a note that I think is going to give us some very interesting context.
Advertiser 2
Okay.
Peter McNerney
This says a note from the author. Hi, Lee, Peter, Megan, Rachel, Nimini, Rolo and Eric. I love your podcast. Peter is hilarious. He and the fish character from the story we're about to hear would get along well, huh? Recently, a new baby entered our family. Congrats. Her name is Charlotte and she is so. Okay. I wrote my story in Latin? Because we are learning Latin in school.
Advertiser 2
Latin?
Peter McNerney
Yes. It sounds kind of weird in English because I translated it. Exactly. Hope you like it. I wrote it in ancient Roman font. Sincerely, Gemma. P.S. we have a cat named Rolo.
Advertiser 2
Unbelievable. We have never, ever had a story submitted to us in Latin before, let alone ancient Roman font.
Peter McNerney
Yeah, I mean, I can't even read this, but it's very, very well done.
Advertiser 2
All right, read us the translation, please.
Peter McNerney
In English. New Eyebrows by Gemma. The fish is without eyebrows. He searches for handsome and new eyebrows.
Bear
Behold.
Peter McNerney
The wolf's beautiful eyebrows get found by the fish. The fish shears the beautiful eyebrows. The mad wolf punches the fish. The wolf is sad, so he cries and screams. The fish gives the wolf gems and pearls. The wolf is no longer sad or mad. The wolf is happy. The fish says, tomorrow I will give you your eyebrows. I will search for better eyebrows. The next day, the fish somehow walks towards a ship. The fish sees a pirate. The pirate's eyebrows are beautiful and handsome, but small. The pirate has a big club. The fish punches the pirate. The pirate is an enemy now. The pirate is in chains. The pirate has been defeated by the fish. The fish eats cheese. The fish throws the wolf's eyebrows to the wolf. The wolf catches them. Now. The fish shears the pirate's eyebrows. The fish is happy and peaceful. The wolf is a hilarious friend. The fish eats ham, bread and cheese. The end. I now see why the fish and I get along.
Bear
Yeah.
Advertiser 2
Yeah.
Peter McNerney
Snacks.
Advertiser 2
This is genius. Such a good story. And I know that Gemma said that she felt like it sounded kind of funny translated.
Peter McNerney
Yeah.
Advertiser 2
But I don't think that's true to me. Like, the simple declarative sentences sound very authoritative.
Peter McNerney
Yeah. There is a satisfying clarity to the absolute nature of these word choices.
Advertiser 2
That's right. That's right. The wolf is a hilarious friend.
Peter McNerney
You do. See, you can feel a little bit how the translation creates interesting word choices that you might not normally use. This sentence. Here goes. The wolf is sad, so he cries and screams. You know, in my mind, I think the original meaning was more boo hoo. Loud crying or like wailing. Exactly.
Advertiser 2
Yeah.
Peter McNerney
But it's. I love having it as cries and screams.
Advertiser 2
It sounds amazing. I think it's at the same time, though.
Peter McNerney
Yes.
Advertiser 2
They're not the other.
Peter McNerney
No. Let's read another story.
Advertiser 2
Okay. This one's from 6 year old Caleb in Maryland and it's called Vinegar in My Bagel.
Lee Overtree
Oh.
Advertiser 2
Once I was sitting at a kitchen table at a restaurant. Actually, the name of the restaurant was the Kitchen. So every Table was the kitchen table. I ordered a bagel, but I noticed there was vinegar on my bagel. I wanted a cinnamon bagel, not a vinegar bagel. We told the police that the chef was being mean and gave me vinegar on my bagel. The police fired the chef.
Peter McNerney
What?
Advertiser 2
The chef was angry because cinnamon bagels were too much work. The chef had to go to the underground slime puddle. Except the underground slime puddle had baking soda in it. So when the chef tried to use vinegar in exploded everywhere. The chef turned into a goblin.
Bear
Whoa.
Advertiser 2
And the restaurant was sticky with goo. The people watching asked what was going on, but one of the customers shouted the end. So no one found out why they were gooey.
Peter McNerney
Don't you wish in your life that when you're in an uncomfortable situation, you could just say the end and get out of it?
Advertiser 2
Yeah.
Peter McNerney
I just love the escalation of this story.
Advertiser 2
Yeah.
Peter McNerney
Where it's I want a cinnamon bagel.
Advertiser 2
Ugh.
Peter McNerney
Too hard. Vinegar. I'm calling the police.
Advertiser 2
Yeah.
Peter McNerney
I didn't know the police have this authority to fire the chef. This is a rather scary world where the small.
Advertiser 2
Less scary in some ways.
Bear
Yay.
Peter McNerney
And so it seems like very reasonable thing, but then suddenly he's in an underground slime puddle.
Advertiser 2
Yeah. It goes wild.
Peter McNerney
Also his solution to everything. Vinegar. He's in prison. I better put vinegar on the prison. Yeah, cinnamon. Too hard to put vinegar on it.
Advertiser 2
When was the last time you put vinegar and baking soda together?
Peter McNerney
It's been at least 35 years.
Advertiser 2
You never did that with your kids? No, not for fun.
Peter McNerney
Last time I did it, I was a child.
Advertiser 2
You're not a home chemistry dad.
Peter McNerney
No, I'm not.
Advertiser 2
You're really not.
Peter McNerney
I think that's for the best.
Advertiser 2
Yeah, I think so too. All right, Caleb, Incredible story, my friend. Peter, we have one more. Would you do us the honors?
Peter McNerney
Yes. This final story comes to us from a 7 year old from Wisconsin. Named Harlow. And Harlow's story is called Super Banana. Once a banana did not like crime. Every day he watched the news. There was a crime right before. When he turned 16, he made a cape and mask. He was a superhero. They called him Super Banana. One day, Super Banana was snatched from behind. It was his arch nemesis, the evil Pom Pom. He was a giant pom Pom. He peeled Super Banana. He ate Super Banana. Super Banana had a chance to tickle Pom Pom. And he took it. He was free. The endor is it.
Advertiser 2
You really gave it. He took it some flavor.
Peter McNerney
That's right.
Advertiser 2
I love this story, my favorite detail is every day he watched the news, there was a crime right before. Like, he's pointing out something really interesting here.
Lee Overtree
He's like, every time I turn the.
Advertiser 2
News, it's like they're reporting on something that just happened, which is, like, really suspicious.
Peter McNerney
Or the banana doesn't understand that the things they're reporting on could have happened anytime in the last 24 hours. And you just assume, well, this must have just happened.
Advertiser 2
Amazing story. Any thoughts that you have on it?
Peter McNerney
I love a superhero that doesn't have powers. You know, he just put on a mask and a cape and he said, I'm going to do good.
Advertiser 2
You're Batman over Superman.
Peter McNerney
You know, in some ways, yes. But I don't get me wrong, I love Superman. I collected Superman comics for two years in middle school. That was my comic book. But as an adult, you know, it's like, he is a little too perfect. Batman, it's dangerous. He's taken a risk. This banana is taking big risks.
Advertiser 2
I also like a superhero that doesn't have powers, but I especially like one with a very strong moral compass, like Banana. And the story begins with it. Once a banana did not like crime.
Peter McNerney
Yeah, he's got a want from sentence one.
Advertiser 2
That's right. That's right. He has a code.
Peter McNerney
Yeah.
Advertiser 2
I do not like crime.
Peter McNerney
Also, he never gives up because at the end, he got peeled, he got eaten. And even in the face of defeat, he's being eaten. I guess this means not all of them, because Super Banana had a chance at the very end to tickle Pom Pom, and he took it.
Advertiser 2
Maybe he took it and he took it.
Peter McNerney
Maybe he tickled his from the inside.
Advertiser 2
Because that's what I assumed.
Peter McNerney
Wow. Even though he's totally done, he doesn't give up till the very end.
Advertiser 2
The easiest way to tickle a tum tum is from the inside. That's right. Is to just goo, goo, goo, goo, goo, goo, goo. It's. There's all these arms in the way of the tum on the outside, but inside, no arms blocking the tum.
Peter McNerney
He's in there going, I do not like crime. The end. Or is it.
Advertiser 2
I don't think he'd tickle with his fists, though.
Peter McNerney
That was me trying to just. He's a mass of banana. Chewed up banana. So he's going, I think it's more.
Advertiser 2
Of a thing where the banana was swallowed whole. Otherwise, how do you tickle?
Peter McNerney
Well, that's like this.
Advertiser 2
And on that note, that is what we've got for Story buyers Roll call today. Thank you, Harlow. And to everyone who sent us stories. And to read today's Roll Call stories.
Lee Overtree
Just head to storypirates.com and remember, you can watch an even longer version of Roll Call on the Story Pirates YouTube page with help from your grown ups. And now it's time for you to write us a story. Because summertime is a great time to write stories, grownups can submit stories@storypirates.com and remember, we respond to every single story we receive. That was broken. That's it for today's episode. Thanks for listening. And a big thanks to today's author, Belle. We'll be back next week with more brand new stories. Until then, stay creative and stay kind.
Peter McNerney
Bye.
Lee Overtree
The Story Pirates podcast is a production of Story Pirates Studios. Executive produced by Lee Overtree and Benjamin Salka. This episode was produced by Sam Baer, Peter McNerney, Andrew Miller, and Lee Overtree. Recording sound design and mixing by Sam Baer at the Relic Room in New York City. Theme song by Bobby Lord. Roll Call theme by Andrew Barbado. Musical scoring by Eric Erson and Jack Mitchell. Our head writers are Rachel Winitsky and David Sidorov. Bears Forest Days was adapted by Will Jacobs. Production coordination by Denisa Wharton. Episode artwork by Camilla Franklin. This episode features performances by Christina Gross Peach, Tara Halpern, ileana Inocencio, Randy McKay, Peter McNerney and Kyle Moore. You know, after hearing that story today, I am so glad that I don't have a narrator in my own life. You know, Feels like it could be kind of irritating.
Narrator 2
On the other hand, think about how much you could get done every day if you had a narrator guiding you. A narrator like meee.
Lee Overtree
Yeah, I'm gonna pass. I already have an interior monologue going.
Advertiser 2
All the time in my head.
Lee Overtree
You know, there's plenty of voices already. Why did I just reveal that I have an interior monologue now when I'm not talking, everyone's gonna know that I'm listening to it. Anyway, now that the episode's over, guess I gotta figure out what to do next.
Narrator 2
You could clean your private bathroom.
Lee Overtree
I don't really want to clean my private bathroom.
Narrator
Ugh.
Lee Overtree
I probably should clean my private bathroom.
Narrator 2
And so Lee cleaned his private bathroom.
Lee Overtree
No, I didn't. But again, I probably should. Enough. Everybody quiet. Okay, sorry.
Release Date: June 19, 2025
Episode Title: Bear’s Forest Days
Host/Author: Story Pirates
In the June 19, 2025 episode of the award-winning Story Pirates podcast titled "Bear’s Forest Days," listeners are immersed in a delightful blend of storytelling, sketch comedy, and musical interludes crafted from the imaginative minds of children. Hosted by the talented team at Story Pirates, this episode not only brings Belle’s captivating story to life but also features the engaging Roll Call Live segment, showcasing creative narratives from young authors.
Belle, a nine-year-old storyteller from Oklahoma, introduces her enchanting tale "Bear’s Forest Days." The story revolves around Bear, a thoughtful and somewhat reluctant protagonist, and his interactions with a persistent narrator aiming to infuse adventure into his daily life.
Key Plot Points:
Morning Routine and Reluctance for Adventure:
Encounter with Friends:
The Mystery of the Missing Table:
Conclusion and Reflection:
Plot Twist – The Missing Table Revelation:
Insights and Themes:
Following the main story, the episode transitions into the Roll Call Live segment, a beloved feature where the Story Pirates team reads and discusses stories submitted by young listeners. This episode showcases three imaginative tales, each bringing its unique flavor and creativity.
"New Eyebrows" by Gemma (12 years old, Idaho):
"Vinegar in My Bagel" by Caleb (6 years old, Maryland):
"Super Banana" by Harlow (7 years old, Wisconsin):
Discussion Highlights:
Gemma’s "New Eyebrows": The Story Pirates team appreciates the literal and whimsical translation from Latin, noting how the straightforward sentences add a unique charm to the narrative ([13:30] - [15:19]).
Peter McNerney: "I love having it as cries and screams." ([15:44])
Caleb’s "Vinegar in My Bagel": The escalating absurdity from a simple kitchen mishap to magical transformations is celebrated, reflecting Caleb’s vivid imagination ([16:03] - [17:53]).
Peter McNerney: "Don't you wish in your life that when you're in an uncomfortable situation, you could just say the end and get out of it?" ([16:58])
Harlow’s "Super Banana": The narrative is praised for its strong moral message and the portrayal of a superhero relying on determination rather than powers, resonating with themes of bravery and empathy ([18:08] - [21:25]).
Peter McNerney: "Super Banana had a chance at the very end to tickle Pom Pom, and he took it." ([20:21])
The "Bear’s Forest Days" episode masterfully intertwines Belle’s original story with the vibrant Roll Call Live segment, showcasing the creative prowess of young storytellers. Through engaging narratives and thoughtful discussions, the Story Pirates podcast continues to inspire children and entertain listeners of all ages. As always, the episode concludes with an invitation for young writers to submit their stories, fostering a community of creativity and imagination.
Final Thoughts:
Thank you for tuning into Story Pirates! Stay creative and kind until next week’s episode.