Story Pirates – DJ Squirm-a-Lot’s Back to School Mixtape 2025
Release Date: September 1, 2025
Host: DJ Squirm-a-Lot (with Lee and Nephworm)
Theme: Celebrating the joy, jitters, and creative energy of back-to-school time with kid-created stories turned into hilarious sketches and original songs.
Episode Overview
This special back-to-school mixtape is a blend of comedic sketches, silly worm banter, and original songs — all based on stories written by kids. DJ Squirm-a-Lot (the world’s greatest DJ who is also a worm) hosts with his nephew Nephworm and regular Story Pirates crew member Lee, tackling topics like first-day nerves, the struggle to fit in, and the importance of supporting each other. Throughout, songs like “The Werewolf in Missouri,” “Rainbow Cars,” and “The Test” take listeners on imaginative journeys, all tied together with trademark Story Pirates humor and heart.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Back-to-School Nerves and Family Support
- Opening Scene [00:01–06:00]:
- Lee welcomes listeners and sets the back-to-school theme.
- DJ Squirm-a-Lot and Nephworm showcase a classic worm joke ("Why did the worm cross the road? To get to the other soil.")
- Nephworm admits to feeling anxious about returning to school, fearing classmates won’t appreciate his carefully crafted jokes because “everything’s all meme this, meme that.”
- DJ Squirm-a-Lot vows, “The second most important thing to me in my life is helping my family.” [04:39]
Notable Quotes
“You’re a great comedian.” – DJ Squirm-a-Lot to Nephworm [03:55]
“I don’t even know what a meme is!” – DJ Squirm-a-Lot [04:17]
“The number one thing that’s most important to me...is being the greatest DJ who happens to be a worm that ever lived. But the second most important thing… is helping my family.” – DJ Squirm-a-Lot [04:39]
2. DJ Squirm-a-Lot’s “Master Plan”: The Laugh Box
- Discussion [11:45–16:30]:
- DJ Squirm-a-Lot reveals a special invention: a handheld box with a button that plays a laugh track.
- He explains that laughter is contagious and sometimes all it takes is one person (or sound) to break the ice.
- A parallel is drawn to how he became a famous DJ by hiring dancers to encourage crowds to join in — “Sometimes people can be afraid to let it all out...unless they know they aren’t alone.” [16:16]
Key Segment
- Demonstration of the Laugh Box [25:00–28:00]:
- Nephworm tests the box by saying ordinary words like “pickle” and “paragraph,” and gets laughs every time.
- The lesson: "It doesn’t matter if it’s funny. The point is…” [27:00]
- DJ Squirm-a-Lot recounts his DJ journey, teaching Nephworm that confidence can come from a little nudge.
Notable Quotes
“See, it got a laugh!” – DJ Squirm-a-Lot, after pressing the laugh box [25:33]
“When I was starting out… do you think from the very beginning that my audience members would literally faint at the sight of me smashing a space bar?” – DJ Squirm-a-Lot [27:16]
3. Using the Laugh Box in Real Life
- First Test [29:50]:
- Lee enters. Nephworm tells a deliberately unfunny joke (“What’s a worm’s favorite day?” “Earth Day”) and uses the laugh box — prompting Lee to laugh along, even though he “didn’t get it at first.”
- Nephworm’s confidence is visibly boosted, and he thanks DJ Squirm-a-Lot for saving his school year.
Memorable Exchange
“Amazing joke, Nephworm!” – Lee [31:00]
“Thank you, Uncle DJ Squirmalot, for saving the school year.” – Nephworm [31:05]
4. Kid-Written Song Highlights
A. The Werewolf in Missouri – by Jack, age 8 (Wisconsin) [07:00–11:30]
- A gentle, quirky song about a werewolf whose dream is to see the St. Louis Arch.
- Notable for creative rhyming and upbeat storytelling.
“I want to see the St. Louis Arch / 630 feet torch arch…”
B. Martian Mallow – by Eason, age 7 (Colorado) [13:30–18:50]
- Andrew battles an alien invasion demanding marshmallows.
“We want marshmallows, marshmallows. That is what we want!”
- Features clever escalation (paper balls mistaken for marshmallows, the hero’s juggling act backfiring), and a funny resolution sending aliens to Saturn.
C. Rainbow Cars – by Jean, age 4 (New York) [19:00–21:00]
- An upbeat, repetitive tune about magical, star-powered cars going to Rainbow Island, trick-or-treating and dancing.
“There are rainbow cars that are cars covered in rainbows, they are covered in rainbows…”
D. President Worm [32:00–37:30]
- Story-song about a worm who becomes President, overcomes obstacles (a river, a meteorite), and learns to be “flexible” — thanks to newfound wings.
“The greatest leaders are flexible, which I am — no bones.”
“I promise to… help the garden of humanity flourish.” – President Worm [36:40]
E. The Wizard Who Could Just Go Poof – by Jonah, age 14 (Utah) [39:00–42:30]
- A comedically uncool wizard (Erlen) whose only magic is “poof,” turns out to have the one power that defeats a dragon.
“I once only could just go poof.”
“But then what happened next was a curious thing. The dragon’s face changed to a frown from a grin. The poof is his one weakness.”
F. The Little Man Who Powers Your Washing Machine – by Annabelle, age 11 (UK) [43:00–45:40]
- A surreal, absurdist take on why washing machines work (hint: it’s a little man doing all the hard running inside).
“I’m the little man who powers your washing machine and I live to fight your grease and grime…”
G. The Test – by Mason, age 10 (Wisconsin) [45:45–49:30]
- Epic, schoolyard rap battle about a rhyming test — underdog Robbie uses a mysterious potion to triumph over Big Kid.
“Hi, my name is Robbie, and I’m here to do my best.”
“The final word to rhyme to win will be the noun ‘moose’.”
“I write with goose!” (and wins!)
H. One Little Pink Rose – by Zoe, age 9 (Tennessee) [49:35–end]
- Story of Pinky, the only pink rose at a red rose school, who learns to stand up for herself and be proud of being different.
“Listen up. My name is Pinky Merry Rose and I don’t care what you roses say / I can stand up for myself…”
Memorable Moments & Quotes
- The Joke that Sets the Tone [03:10]:
- “Why did the worm cross the road? To get to the other soil.”
- Nostalgia for ‘Old School’ Comedy [04:12]:
- “What happened to good old comedy joke joking? It’s a thing of the past.” – Nephworm
- DJ Squirm-a-Lot’s Motivational Wisdom [27:16]:
- “Sometimes people can be afraid to let it all out. To dance, to laugh. Unless they know they aren’t alone.”
- Resolution of the Laugh Box Plan [31:00]:
- “Amazing joke, Nephworm!” – Lee
Important Timestamps
| Time | Segment/Highlight | |-------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:01–04:30 | Introduction: Back-to-school theme, worm family banter | | 07:00–11:30 | “The Werewolf in Missouri” song | | 13:30–18:50 | “Martian Mallow” song | | 19:00–21:00 | “Rainbow Cars” song | | 25:00–28:00 | Discussion & Demo: The Laugh Box | | 29:50–31:10 | Nephworm tests joke w/Lee using the Laugh Box | | 32:00–37:30 | “President Worm” song | | 39:00–42:30 | “The Wizard Who Could Just Go Poof” song | | 43:00–45:40 | “The Little Man Who Powers Your Washing Machine” song | | 45:45–49:30 | “The Test” (rhyming battle) song | | 49:35–End | Finale: “One Little Pink Rose” song / back-to-school send-off |
Episode Takeaways
- Laughter and courage are contagious.
- Everyone feels awkward sometimes — even world-famous worm DJs.
- Sometimes all it takes is a little help (or a little box) to break the ice.
- Be proud of what makes you unique.
- Kids’ imaginations truly drive this unique and heartwarming mixtape.
To all the wormies and Story Pirates fans out there: have a great time back at school!