Podcast Summary: Story Pirates
Episode: Penny the Multi-Talented Girl/Husbordes (feat. Glo Tavarez)
Date: January 22, 2026
Host: Story Pirates
Special Guest: Glo Tavarez
Episode Overview
This episode of Story Pirates delivers its celebrated mix of kid-created stories, zany sketch comedy, and musical numbers. The Pirates—and guest star Glo Tavarez—explore the quirky Triumph Footer Curious House, dramatize two standout stories penned by young writers ("Penny the Multi-Talented Girl" and "Husbordes"), and share laughter-filled commentary and insightful interviews with the authors. As always, the episode encourages creativity, self-acceptance, and the joy of storytelling.
Main Storyline: The Curious House Adventure
Exploring the Curious House (00:47–06:15)
- The ship fills with smoke due to Nimini's "ultimate bicycle toaster" invention, prompting the crew to take a break and explore the area (00:47).
- They discover the legendary, oddball Triumph Footer Curious House—a mansion with upside-down rooms and a water slide from the third to first floor (02:03).
- Local lore says the house’s builder, Frank Triumph Footer (of hot dog fame), expanded it yearly with new, whimsical rooms—until it mysteriously closed (02:23).
- The group encounters Winifred Triumpher (Glo Tavarez), Frank’s daughter, who’s secretly attempting her own ultimate, whimsical room in hopes of living up to her father’s legacy (05:05).
- Winifred’s eccentricities unfold, blending past family tradition with her own struggle for creative identity.
“It's the Triumph Footer Curious House. A strange mansion built by Frank Triumph Footer, the eccentric owner of the Triumph Butter Hot Dog Company.”
—Lee, (02:23)
- Upon investigating mysterious noises, they meet Winifred, whose attempts at building "the ultimate room" push the boundaries between fun, puns, and absurdity.
The House of (Not Always) Fun (14:12–23:06)
- Winifred describes her father’s summer tradition of unveiling increasingly spectacular (and pun-filled) rooms for the public—each outdoing the last (15:30).
- Now, years into her own effort, Winifred admits she’s struggled, with rooms like the "Hot Dog Room" (literally a warm room with panting dogs), the "Trip Room" (a booby-trapped tripping hazard), and the "Room Full of Quicksand" (which is, unfortunately, just a pit of quicksand) (18:16–21:36).
- The Pirates try out these rooms, leading to many silly moments and plenty of pun-based humor.
- Ultimately, they discover a hidden room preserving Frank's memorabilia and realize its value as a museum, not a traditional funhouse (22:10–24:12).
“His legacy was to build a fun house, but I think yours is to build a fun museum.”
—Nimini, (23:40)
- Winifred, relieved, embraces her true passion for curation, inspired to display her father’s history rather than replicate his eccentricity.
Featured Kid-Written Stories
1. "Penny the Multi-Talented Girl" by Mia, Age 9 (England) (06:29–15:14)
Plot Highlights
- Penny keeps winning classroom awards for being "multi-talented", but her internal dialogue reveals insecurity: do her peers like her, or just her talents?
- She tries (and fails) to intentionally make mistakes to see if friends love her for herself. Every "mistake" (including wild lunch combos and missing a soccer kick) makes her even more admired.
- Penny confides in Max about her feelings; he assures her, “I like you for who you are. Isn't that enough?” (13:48)
- Penny realizes self-acceptance matters most, delivering a heartfelt speech about wanting true friends who like her for herself.
Notable Messages
- Self-doubt and internal voices
- True friendship beyond success
- Owning one’s feelings and expressing vulnerability
“I may have just won a ton of end of semester awards, but the real prize is getting to spend every day in the classroom with all of you. These are our awards, y’all. So give yourself a round of applause.”
—Penny, (07:20)
“I need true friends who like me for myself. Not what I can do, but who I am inside.”
—Penny, (14:27)
2. "Husbordes" by Olivia, Age 14 (Texas) (24:30–32:00)
Plot Highlights
- Dr. Blair McMad, an eccentric inventor, brainstorms new gadgets using her trusty hoverboard, but her ideas (like the "Cat Car" and "Cat Rocket") flop at the Mad Science Institute.
- Her supportive husband Tom tries to comfort her, but Blair’s breakthrough comes when her beloved hoverboard breaks—so she invents the "Husbord" (a hoverboard... that's her husband with wheels attached!).
- The Husbord is a hit. Orders pour in, and Olivia reveals in an interview that it doesn’t actually come with a husband—users must supply their own (33:11).
- The interview segment humorously explores the logic behind "husbords," the importance of support in relationships, and creative language.
Notable Moments & Quotes
“How does it work? Two wheels of madness connected by my incredibly supportive husband. To move it, all you have to do is stand on him and shift your weight.”
—Blair McMad (Mia), (31:07)
“I think it's like a kit where it comes with the wheels. But you have to have a husband first.”
—Olivia, author, (33:22)
- Olivia invents a new word for listeners to write stories about: “Shaboink.” (34:03)
Story Love: Listener Submissions with Lee and Peter (34:31–45:10)
The hosts read and delight in more inventive tales by kids:
-
"How We Got the Moon" by Cody, 8 (Virginia):
- A wishing star tries to become the moon, visiting various celestial relatives for help before succeeding via the sun’s condition.
- Discussion revolves around cosmic logic and the idea that all stars may be wishing stars.
- (36:07–37:44)
-
"The World Where You Cannot Say Help" by Beth, 6 (Canada):
- In a town where "help" is illegal, a girl navigates bureaucracy to lift the ban, complicated by her runaway scooter-riding dog.
- Lee and Peter riff on the story’s logistical quirks.
- (37:54–40:52)
-
"The Rapping Lawyer" by Beckett, 10 (Canada):
- An Arizona lawyer raps every court argument; if he loses, he pays clients "one million gooses."
- The hosts improvise their own rap battle court case, inventing a new improv game on the spot.
- (42:20–45:10)
“Are you a West coast, east coast or Arizona hip hop?”
—Lee, (42:56)
“Did we just make up a short-form improv game?”
—Lee, (44:32)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
Winifred’s self-discovery:
“I can never top the old man's whimsy. I don’t even like puns.”
—Winifred Triumpher, (23:52) -
Improvised rap court banter:
“Now, you weren’t there during the crime as you claim. But first, for the court, will you state your name?”
—Peter (as lawyer), (44:32)“Yes, my name is George Philanthropy Evans.”
—Lee, (44:46) -
On inventing new words:
“Can you pay it forward right now by making up your own fake word for other kids listening to write a story about?”
—Lee, (33:53)
“Shaboink.”
—Olivia, (34:08)
Key Timestamps
- 00:47: The Pirates depart their ship and find the Curious House
- 02:23: History of the house and Frank Triumph Footer
- 05:05: Meet Winifred Triumpher (Glo Tavarez)
- 06:29: "Penny the Multi-Talented Girl" story
- 14:12: Reflections and Winifred’s house backstory
- 18:16–21:47: Hilarious journey through the pun-filled rooms
- 23:06–24:12: Discovery of the museum room, Winifred’s revelation
- 24:30: "Husbordes" story
- 32:03: Lee interviews Olivia, author of "Husbordes"
- 34:31: Story Love: Cody’s “How We Got the Moon”
- 37:54: Beth’s “World Where You Cannot Say Help”
- 42:20: Beckett’s “The Rapping Lawyer”
- 44:32: Lee and Peter’s rap-court improv game
Tone & Takeaways
The episode is packed with whimsical humor, gentle self-reflection, and joyful celebration of youth storytelling. The playful banter, puns, and musical breaks are balanced with authentic conversations about creativity, friendship, and being true to oneself—delivered in the energetic, inclusive style that defines Story Pirates.
Kids and grownups alike are encouraged to write, submit, and play with ideas—whether it’s building a funhouse (or museum) in your mind, trying a new improv game, or just inventing a word like “Shaboink.”