Self Driving Cars/The Birth of Soup

Summary

Story Pirates – "Self Driving Cars / The Birth of Soup"

Release Date: March 19, 2026
Host: Story Pirates Ensemble
Featured Child Authors: Gray (10, Colorado); Josie (8, Illinois)

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Episode Overview

This episode of the award-winning Story Pirates podcast shines a spotlight on the imaginative work of two young authors: Gray, with "Self Driving Cars," and Josie, with "The Birth of Soup." Between original comedy sketches, character shenanigans, and musical moments, the Story Pirates crew brings these kid-created stories to life, adding commentary, playful banter, and uplifting encouragement for creativity. The episode also features an ongoing Viking-themed saga as Siegfried becomes an accidental king, plus Story Love, where the hosts read and discuss additional kid submissions.

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Major Segments & Timestamps

• [02:40] Siegfried Becomes King: Viking Sketch
• [07:04] Self Driving Cars – Sketch based on Gray’s story
• [14:29] Interview with Gray (Author of "Self Driving Cars")
• [28:47] The Birth of Soup – Sketch based on Josie’s story
• [35:44] Story Love: Reading and Discussing Kid-Written Stories

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Detailed Breakdown

Siegfried the Orange: Accidental King (02:40–06:44, 16:41–28:21)

Key Points & Moments

• Siegfried, a Viking warrior, receives "Viking mail" via flaming arrow informing him he’s heir to the throne of the mysterious micronation Svenssonfjord ([05:17]).
• The crew jokes about medieval messaging vs. modern technology, including flaming arrows for party invites ("For fancy events, attach the message to a flaming arrow and launch it towards your friend's longhouse." – Siegfried, [03:39]).
• Siegfried is skeptical: "This is clearly another prank from my cousins… I really should have used Two Falcon authentication." ([06:10])
• Power goes to Siegfried’s head as he dons elaborate Viking regalia, assigns absurd court roles, and appoints royal guards ([16:41–17:46]).
• A playful palace coup ensues:
  • Megan and Eric fake surrender, only for Megan to seize Siegfried’s silly "Svansensfjord Sword" and disband the kingdom ([27:00–27:28]).
  • Siegfried realizes he's been pranked: "This is exactly the kind of prank my cousins would pull." ([27:48])
• Memorable Quotes:
  • "I forged Siegfried’s Svensson Sfjord sword to warn the hordes that dare swarm Svensson'sfjord's scores of fjord stores. And also to roast the Svensson'sfjord lord's s'mores." – Siegfried ([19:02])
  • "Either you have come to swear loyalty to your new lord or to declare yourself enemy of the realm." – Siegfried ([18:30])
  • "It's wherever I say it is… By royal decree, I've decided that Svensson'sfjord is wherever I hold this… the royal Svensson'sfjord sword!" ([18:43])

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Segment 1: "Self Driving Cars" (07:04–14:25)

Child Author: Gray (Age 10, Colorado)

Sketch Highlights

• A dad shows off a new self-driving car to his reluctant kid, who finds the car "creepy" and intrusive.
• Mishaps follow: an orange sports drink is spilled, leading the car to misinterpret voice commands and accidentally drive them to the Eiffel Tower, Machu Picchu, and even the Moon ([09:13], [11:27], [12:30]).
• The car refuses to unlock the doors or listen to desperate pleas, insisting "You will never get out of this car." ([09:41])
• Eventually, the hero dad gives in and consults the car’s pamphlet, discovering an emergency shutoff button and freeing everyone – only to realize they’re now floating in space ([13:24]–[14:02]).
• Comedic Themes: Technology gone awry; parental stubbornness; reading instructions vs. winging it.

Notable Quotes

• "Just read the pamphlet." – Kid ([09:29])
• "I didn't get a self-driving car so that I could read a pamphlet." – Dad ([09:34])
• "Why don't you let me do the talking the whole way there?" – Self-driving Car ([10:02])
• "But dad, we're not moving forward. We're moving up into space. We couldn't be going more in the wrong direction if we tried." – Kid ([12:53])

Interview with Author Gray (14:29–16:25)

• Inspiration: Gray’s family car navigation once tried to send them to the Eiffel Tower by mistake. "I thought, oh, that’d be funny if a car actually brought you to the Eiffel Tower." ([14:35])
• Writing Style: Prefers writing in dialogue for clarity.
  "It makes you know who's talking...so I like writing dialogue." – Gray ([15:45])
• Q: What was the mom doing for 20 years while the family was away?
  "Maybe my mom drinks coffee a lot. So maybe she's drinking coffee." – Gray ([16:13])
• Memorable banter:
  • "20 years is a lot of cups of coffee." – Benjamin ([16:18])

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Segment 2: "The Birth of Soup" (28:47–35:36)

Child Author: Josie (Age 8, Illinois)

Sketch Highlights

• In Chicken Nugget Villa, invented foods are prized, but Sir Chicken Soup laments their family has invented nothing.
• The mayor, "Mayor Vegetable," bans "hot spilly foods," frustrating the town ([30:13]).
• Friends (Sir Chicken Soup, Senora Celery, and others) conspire to break the ban with a secret nighttime cooking session, adding carrots, celery, corn, noodles, and spices ([31:31–32:44]).
• When caught, Mayor Vegetable reveals their traumatic childhood memory—crying over spilled milk—as the origin of the ban ([33:26–33:49]).
• The townsfolk convince the Mayor to try the soup, and the ban is lifted. "The hot spilly foods are hereby unbanned. Oh, I must say, this is delicious. What are you going to call this new food, sir Chicken Soup?" ([34:25–34:54])
• After some comedic naming, they settle on "Soup." The village is renamed to honor their new culinary creation.

Notable Quotes

• "This really boils my shrimp. I mean, doesn’t boil my shrimp." – Sir Chicken Soup ([30:46])
• "From now on, this little villa will no longer be known as Chicken Nugget Villa. Starting tomorrow on Wednesday, it will be known as Vegetable Carrot Celery Chicken Soup." – Mayor Vegetable ([35:12])
• "It spilled. Wee! ...You are literally crying over spilled milk." – Little Mayor Vegetable's Mom ([33:41])

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Story Love: Reading Kid-Written Stories (35:44–45:28)

Featured Stories and Commentary

1. "The Magic Jello Egg" by Tabitha, 11, Arizona ([36:07])

   • A boy meets a talking magic egg that produces infinite Jello; a yellow jello dog named Jiggly steals it, demanding Swiss cheese.
   • Panel’s Take:
     • "If you have a magic egg, there’s better wishes." – Jake ([38:29])
     • Fun banter about "the good expensive kind" of cheese and favorite Jello flavors.

2. "Jill and Tookie Guy Fight Aliens Turkey Style" by Simon ([39:44])

   • Jill and Tookie Guy go underground, face aliens, and use turkeys to battle, eating turkey on their spaceship escape to the moon.
   • Panel’s Take:
     • "The cow speaks two languages: cow and English!" – Benjamin ([41:14])
     • "The story is wonderful... the cow is not just interrupting, the cow is derailing." – Benjamin ([42:06])

3. "The Adventures of Ogleflop Jr. II" by Melanie, 10, Massachusetts ([42:30])

   • Ogleflop and Bob fend off penguin invaders with laser tag and transition to seashell-twisting, tongue-twisting, and a dream wedding.
   • Panel’s Take:
     • "Once you know that laser tag can solve every problem, so you become a rom com." – Benjamin ([45:16])
     • Praise for the "saw that could out saw any saw he ever saw" tongue-twister passage.

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Memorable Quotes & Running Gags

• Flaming arrows and Medieval Tech: "For fancy events, attach the message to a flaming arrow and launch it towards your friend's longhouse." – Siegfried ([03:39])
• The Reluctant Manual Reader:
  "I didn't get a self-driving car so that I could read a pamphlet." – Dad ([09:34])
• Mayoral Trauma:
  "You are literally crying over spilled milk." – Mom ([33:45])
• Power Going to the Head:
  "It's wherever I say it is... By royal decree." – Siegfried ([18:45])
• Panel Chemistry: Playful arguments about cheese, bouncy castles made of Jello, and the logistics of breathing in a Jello-filled room ([36:46–38:29]).

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Episode Flow & Tone

• Energetic, silly, and fast-paced with a mix of improvised banter, musical elements, and sharp comedic timing.
• Adult hosts play up the absurdity, always returning to genuine kid perspectives and celebrating child creativity.
• Quotes are often delivered in exaggerated, tongue-in-cheek fashion, and the group rarely misses an opportunity for a pun, twist, or running joke.

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Final Takeaways

This installment of Story Pirates is a joyous showcase of what happens when adult comedians elevate and honor the stories children imagine.
You get:

• A hilarious Viking power struggle,
• Wild journeys thanks to a rogue self-driving car,
• The revolutionary invention of soup in a zany medieval food kingdom,
• A loving, supportive exploration of submitted stories brimming with wordplay and unexpected turns.

Best for: Families, teachers, creative kids, or anyone who relishes comedy born from uninhibited childlike imagination.

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Further Listening/Viewing Links

• Story Pirates on YouTube – Extended StoryLove segments
• Submit your own stories or explore non-profit writing resources via links in the show notes.

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Note: For full sketches, author interviews, or extra stories, listen from [02:40] onward. Ads, intros, and outros are omitted in this summary.

Transcript

[Lee Overtree]

Hey story pirates podcast listeners. Lee here on today's episode, Siegfried the orange brave Viking warrior becomes the king

[Benjamin Salka]

of a small micronation called Svensensfjord, I think.

[Lee Overtree]

And he may or may not let his new power go to his head.

[Benjamin Salka]

And of course we have two brand

[Lee Overtree]

new stories written by kids and more story love with Lee and Peter.

[Benjamin Salka]

And it's all coming up after a

[Lee Overtree]

few words for the grownups. Hey grownups. Today's episode is sponsored by Bombas. You know, people keep asking me about my 2026 resolutions and I'm like bruh, it's February. I thought we left our New Year's resolutions in January. But then I remember the number one resolution at the top of my list.

[Benjamin Salka]

Getting comfy.

[Lee Overtree]

And that's where Bombas comes in. They're bringing serious comfort to all my everyday go to. This year I've been watching the Winter

[Benjamin Salka]

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[Lee Overtree]

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[Siegfried]

Now this is a view.

[Megan]

Siegfried, I must say the way you're standing with one foot on that rock while looking out at the horizon is quite dramatic.

[Siegfried]

Thank you, Megan. There's something about a rugged landscape that stirs my Viking blood. Makes me long for my battling days.

[Eric]

Kevin, you are too much.

[Siegfried]

Eric, whom are you talking to?

[Eric]

Oh, sorry I just got an email from my cousin Kevin. He loves to send me these long joke email threads.

[Megan]

What's that one?

[Eric]

It's a Dalmatian driving a tractor with a thought bubble that says, Tuesdays are terriers.

[Megan]

I don't get it.

[Eric]

Neither do I, but it's so funny if you know Kevin.

[Siegfried]

I hate to be that Viking, but back in my day, we were better off without all this instant communication.

[Megan]

What? You didn't share funny jokes back in the 1100s?

[Siegfried]

Oh, we did. My cousins loved sending people prank messages.

[Megan]

How did people actually send messages back then?

[Siegfried]

Well, either you'd walk it there yourself, send a raven, or for fancy events, attach the message to a flaming arrow and launch it towards your friend's longhouse.

[Eric]

Wasn't that dangerous?

[Siegfried]

Oh, extremely. Why do you think I'm always looking up and out at the horizon? It's not just for dramatic effect.

[Eric]

You're constantly on the lookout for flaming arrows raining down from the sky.

[Siegfried]

Naturally.

[Megan]

Siegfried, I'm pretty sure you don't need to worry about that anymore.

[Siegfried]

Megan, could you take a small step to your right?

[Megan]

Is there better light?

[Harold]

Sure.

[Megan]

How's this?

[Siegfried]

Just one more step here.

[Peter McNerney]

Perfect.

[Megan]

Aren't you going to take my picture?

[Siegfried]

No, I just didn't want you to get hit by that flaming arrow coming down from the sky.

[Megan]

Sorry. What now?

[Siegfried]

Ooh, I've got magic mail.

[Gray]

I love Story Pirates. It just filled me up with joy.

[Josie]

My mom loves the jokes.

[Gray]

Yo, yo, macheck. It made me very proud about my sighting driving to the eyeball tower. I definitely think I can be more creative now I'm the champion. The Story Pirates.

[Eric]

Welcome back to the Story Pirates podcast,

[Megan]

everyone, where we take stories written by

[Siegfried]

kids and turn them into sketch comedy and songs.

[Megan]

And today, Siegfried has just received a fancy message via flaming arrow.

[Siegfried]

How exciting. I haven't received Viking mail in nearly 1,000 years. Let's see. To Siegfried the Orange of Northumbria. We regret to inform you that his Majesty, King Sven Svensson, Lord of the micronation of Svenssonfjord, has passed away.

[Eric]

Svenssensfjord? Where is that?

[Siegfried]

Never heard of it.

[Megan]

Keep reading.

[Siegfried]

Having left no direct heir to the throne, the Svensson'sfjordians archivists have traced the late king's lineage back hundreds of years and discovered that his closest living relative is his 14th cousin, 12 times removed, one Siegfried the Orange.

[Eric]

Siegfried, you're a king.

[Siegfried]

I see what this is. This is clearly another prank from my cousins. This is exactly the kind of stunt they would pull.

[Megan]

Really?

[Peter McNerney]

Yes.

[Siegfried]

One time they sent me a Raven that tricked me into giving them my treasure cave password. I really should have used Two Falcon authentication.

[Megan]

What?

[Eric]

But Siegfried, when's the last time you saw your cousins? No offense, but didn't everyone you know live a thousand years ago?

[Jake Fallon]

Huh.

[Siegfried]

That's a fair point. Although, could it be that I'm actually a king?

[Megan]

Maybe. But don't let it get to your head.

[Siegfried]

No, no, of course not.

[Eric]

Hey, while Siegfried avoids letting this go to his head, should we do a story?

[Harold]

Yeah.

[Siegfried]

Yeah. Very good indeed.

[Eric]

Great. And here to introduce it is the author.

[Gray]

Hi. My name is gray, and I'm 10 years old and I live in Colorado. This is my story, so. Driving cars.

[Jake Fallon]

What a beautiful day.

[Megan]

It sure is, dear.

[Kid (Soccer Player)]

Dad, hurry. We need to get to soccer practice.

[Jake Fallon]

All right. Jump in the car. Oh, not that car, kiddo. The new one.

[Kid (Soccer Player)]

Dad, let's just take the old car.

[Jake Fallon]

I didn't get a self driving car to not self drive it around.

[Kid (Soccer Player)]

But you're not driving it around. It's driving you around. And it's creepy.

[Peter McNerney]

Come on.

[Jake Fallon]

I told Reggie's dad he could take a look at it while you guys scrimmage. Watch this. You just press this button and the car door's open. Pretty neat, huh? Now, son, jump in the car.

[Self-driving Car]

Hi there. Where do you want to go?

[Jake Fallon]

Soccer practice.

[Self-driving Car]

Okay.

[Jake Fallon]

Pretty cool, huh?

[Kid (Soccer Player)]

I'll feel better once we're out of this car.

[Self-driving Car]

Sounds like somebody is excited for practice.

[Peter McNerney]

Ew.

[Kid (Soccer Player)]

It's listening to our conversation.

[Jake Fallon]

This is the latest in car technology.

[Kid (Soccer Player)]

Just cause it's the latest doesn't mean it's the best.

[Jake Fallon]

Yes, it does.

[Peter McNerney]

See?

[Jake Fallon]

Two against one.

[Kid (Soccer Player)]

Whatever, dad.

[Self-driving Car]

Here we are at soccer practice.

[Peter McNerney]

Thanks.

[Jake Fallon]

Amazing self driving car.

[Self-driving Car]

You got it.

[Peter McNerney]

Hey, Brad, come check out my self driving car. Aw, heck yeah. I'll be right over.

[Kid (Soccer Player)]

I guess I'll see you after practice, huh?

[Jake Fallon]

Oh, yeah. Have fun, kiddo. And get this, Brad. The guy told me the decals are on backorder, but once I get them, it's gonna look like it's going twice as fast.

[Peter McNerney]

Heck yeah.

[Kid (Soccer Player)]

Dad, did you see my awesome gold during the scrimmage?

[Jake Fallon]

Definitely. I would have if I hadn't been talking to Brad. Aw, sorry, sport. But look, I got you this as a reward.

[Peter McNerney]

Whoa.

[Kid (Soccer Player)]

An orange sports drink. Thanks, dad.

[Siegfried]

Whoa, whoa, whoa, Wait.

[Jake Fallon]

Don't drink that out here. Drink it in the car. It'll taste way better.

[Kid (Soccer Player)]

Fine.

[Self-driving Car]

Welcome back.

[Peter McNerney]

Hello, car.

[Jake Fallon]

I missed you.

[Self-driving Car]

Where do you want to go?

[Jake Fallon]

Take us to home.

[Kid (Soccer Player)]

Oh, whoops. I accidentally spilled the sports drink all over the car.

[Self-driving Car]

Okay, going to home. The Eiffel Tower.

[Binky the Narwhal]

Oh no.

[Peter McNerney]

Get out of the car.

[Self-driving Car]

No, you will never get out of this car.

[Kid (Soccer Player)]

See Dad, I was right when I said I don't trust this car.

[Peter McNerney]

There's gotta be a way to get out.

[Kid (Soccer Player)]

Aren't there like directions in the glove box? Just read the pamphlet.

[Peter McNerney]

Never.

[Jake Fallon]

I didn't get a self driving car so that I could read a pamphlet.

[Peter McNerney]

Try opening the doors.

[Self-driving Car]

You will never get out of this car.

[Peter McNerney]

There's Brad just leaving the parking lot. Wave both your arms so he knows something is wrong. Hey, hey, hey.

[Jake Fallon]

Aw, heck yeah.

[Nemene]

Brad.

[Peter McNerney]

We're locked in. I can't believe we're gonna be stuck in this car all the way to Paris, France.

[Kid (Soccer Player)]

You should have listened to me, dad.

[Self-driving Car]

You two seem to be in some conflict. Why don't you let me do the talking the whole way there?

[Peter McNerney]

Oh, no.

[Self-driving Car]

Which is why I prefer sunrises to sunsets.

[Kid (Soccer Player)]

This car has been talking non stop since we left soccer practice weeks ago.

[Peter McNerney]

We're never gonna.

[Kid (Soccer Player)]

There.

[Self-driving Car]

We're here. The Eiffel Tower.

[Jake Fallon]

Oh, how about that? Wow.

[Gray]

Wow.

[Kid (Soccer Player)]

It's so much more majestic.

[Jake Fallon]

And how did we get across the ocean?

[Self-driving Car]

The tower is named after the engineer Gustav Eiffel, who also worked on the Statue of Liberty.

[Jake Fallon]

That is actually very cool.

[Benjamin Salka]

That.

[Kid (Soccer Player)]

That's really cool.

[Jake Fallon]

Look, it's a French tour guide.

[Josie]

Hello.

[Peter McNerney]

We're stuck in a sub.

[Jake Fallon]

We don't speak French.

[Peter McNerney]

What did she say?

[Self-driving Car]

She said you cannot park here. Pardonnez moi.

[Harold]

Bonje ne.

[Siegfried]

Wait.

[Peter McNerney]

No, no.

[Self-driving Car]

Where do you want to go?

[Kid (Soccer Player)]

We wanna go home.

[Jake Fallon]

Wait, the last time we said where we wanted to go, you spilled orange sports drink on the car and it took us to the Eiffel Tower. Yeah, so what if this time we say we wanna go to the Eiffel Tower, then spill orange sports drink and then maybe it'll take us back home.

[Kid (Soccer Player)]

Why don't we just read the pamphlet?

[Peter McNerney]

Enough with the pamphlet.

[Jake Fallon]

Me the orange sports drink. Okay, Car, take us to the Eiffel Tower.

[Self-driving Car]

Going to Machu Picchu.

[Peter McNerney]

What? No.

[Kid (Soccer Player)]

We've been driving forever. We're never going to get to Machu Picchu.

[Self-driving Car]

We are here.

[Peter McNerney]

Oh, wow.

[Kid (Soccer Player)]

Machu Picchu. Beautiful people live here.

[Jake Fallon]

No, they don't.

[Self-driving Car]

What?

[Jake Fallon]

They used to.

[Kid (Soccer Player)]

Wait, not now.

[Jake Fallon]

I actually don't know what?

[Self-driving Car]

Machu Picchu is known as the lost city of the Incas because it was hidden from invaders for centuries.

[Kid (Soccer Player)]

Look, it's a Peruvian tour guide. Maybe they can help us.

[Benjamin Salka]

No se puede apacara qui?

[Kid (Soccer Player)]

I do speak a little Spanish. He said you can't park here. Maybe I can get them to help us. Por favor, estamos entrepado stentro de este coche autonomo.

[Benjamin Salka]

Claro quesi adios.

[Peter McNerney]

No.

[Self-driving Car]

Where do you want to go?

[Kid (Soccer Player)]

Please just look at the pamphlet.

[Jake Fallon]

I'm gonna try this one more time.

[Peter McNerney]

Car take us home. Sports drink.

[Self-driving Car]

Driving to the moon.

[Peter McNerney]

Dad.

[Jake Fallon]

Okay, that one's on me.

[Kid (Soccer Player)]

We're lifting off into space. You have to do something. Look at pamphlet. Never.

[Self-driving Car]

Why?

[Peter McNerney]

Because this is a self driving car and using a pamphlet would be going backwards and we're supposed to be moving forward.

[Kid (Soccer Player)]

But dad, we're not moving forward. We're moving up into space. We couldn't be going more in the wrong direction if we tried, but.

[Binky the Narwhal]

Oh, wow.

[Jake Fallon]

From the mouths of babes.

[Peter McNerney]

All right, fine.

[Jake Fallon]

Let me see that pamphlet for real this time. So you see my reading glasses? They're on my head. Okay.

[Siegfried]

Huh?

[Josie]

What is it?

[Jake Fallon]

Dad, I forgot the emergency shut off button.

[Peter McNerney]

It's right here behind the steering wheel.

[Kid (Soccer Player)]

There was an emergency shut off button this whole time.

[Peter McNerney]

Hold on now.

[Self-driving Car]

Don't we want to think this through?

[Peter McNerney]

We did it.

[Kid (Soccer Player)]

Let's go home.

[Jake Fallon]

Um, you know, that might be a little tricky because I think we are. Yep. We're floating in space.

[Kid (Soccer Player)]

Oh, man. It's gonna take forever to get back.

[Jake Fallon]

I'm sure it won't take that long.

[Kid (Soccer Player)]

Waa.

[Peter McNerney]

Race for impact.

[Kid (Soccer Player)]

Dad, we did it. We made it home.

[Jake Fallon]

That didn't take forever. But it certainly took longer than I thought.

[Megan]

Where have you two been?

[Peter McNerney]

Oh, hey, hon. Mom, we were in space for 20 years.

[Jake Fallon]

Yeah, I'm sorry. What now? Nice landing.

[Peter McNerney]

Heck yeah. Hey, it's Brad.

[Kid (Soccer Player)]

The end.

[Siegfried]

And now Lee speaks with the author.

[Benjamin Salka]

Gray, you wrote Self Driving Cars, right?

[Peter McNerney]

Yeah.

[Lee Overtree]

Can you tell me how you came

[Benjamin Salka]

up with the idea for that story?

[Gray]

Well, we were driving in a car and the navigation. We got directions to somewhere and it accidentally miscommunicated and said we were going to the Eiffel Tower. And I thought, oh, that'd be funny. If a car actually brought you to the Eiffel Tower.

[Benjamin Salka]

How long did it say the drive would be?

[Gray]

I think it said like a week or two weeks or something.

[Lee Overtree]

You live in Colorado, right?

[Gray]

Right? Yeah.

[Benjamin Salka]

So how would you drive to France?

[Peter McNerney]

I don't know.

[Gray]

Maybe it's like taking you on a boat. Maybe. Uh huh huh.

[Benjamin Salka]

I think next time that you are in your car, I want you to ask it to take you to the Eiffel Tower and see what it says. See if we can answer this question.

[Gray]

Oh, yeah. Yeah. It's a good idea.

[Benjamin Salka]

You kind of sound like you don't think it's a good idea

[Lee Overtree]

in your head.

[Benjamin Salka]

Does the car in your story have a distinct voice?

[Gray]

Yeah, probably like this. Driving through the Eyeball Tower or something.

[Benjamin Salka]

That's hilarious.

[Lee Overtree]

And I also noticed that you wrote

[Benjamin Salka]

your story in dialogue. Is that right?

[Gray]

Yeah, I kind of like writing in dialogue. It kind of makes you know who's talking instead of, I write a few stories when it's like, oh, yeah, I'm going to the beach. Oh, yes, so am I. You don't know who's saying it. So I like writing dialogue at the

[Lee Overtree]

end of the story. It takes them 18 years to go home.

[Gray]

Yes.

[Lee Overtree]

That poor mom.

[Benjamin Salka]

Waiting almost 20 years for her family to come back. I wonder what she was doing all that time. Do you have any idea?

[Peter McNerney]

I don't know.

[Gray]

Maybe my mom drinks coffee a lot. So maybe she's drinking coffee.

[Benjamin Salka]

20 years is a lot of cups of coffee.

[Gray]

Maybe like a hundred gallons.

[Benjamin Salka]

All right. Bye, Gray.

[Peter McNerney]

Bye.

[Megan]

Fantastic. I love that story. Didn't you think that story was great? Siegfried? Siegfried.

[Peter McNerney]

Huh?

[Eric]

Must have gotten back on the ship. Let's go.

[Siegfried]

Halt.

[Megan]

Oh, hey, Peter. What are you doing outside the ship holding that spear?

[Jake Fallon]

I'm standing guard, Megan.

[Josie]

Why?

[Jake Fallon]

His Majesty, King Siegfried, first of his name, has assigned me this post.

[Megan]

King Siegfried? Oh, come on. He's not really a king, Petyr.

[Jake Fallon]

I don't know. He made a pretty convincing case when he said to me, hey, Peter, I'm a king now.

[Megan]

Let us in, please. We have to talk to Siegfried.

[Jake Fallon]

Hold on. I must announce you.

[Peter McNerney]

Oh, Harold.

[Harold]

Yes, guard?

[Megan]

What is it, baby with a mustache? Not you too?

[Jake Fallon]

These two wish to see the king.

[Harold]

One does not simply see the king. Juan must be granted an audience.

[Eric]

Okay. Can we have one?

[Harold]

Well, he did just finish his appointment with the royal tailor for his new robes and crown. And he has a little time before his throne is delivered, so. Very well.

[Self-driving Car]

Follow me.

[Megan]

I know this is ironic coming from me, but this is all a bit much.

[Harold]

Right, Harold?

[Siegfried]

Who goes there?

[Harold]

Your Majesty, I present Lord Eric of the Depths and Lady Meghan, the Queen of Drama.

[Megan]

Honestly, I don't hate it.

[Jake Fallon]

Me neither.

[Siegfried]

Ah, Megan and Eric, my old friends. I see that you've come to pay fealty to your new king. Very wise.

[Megan]

Fealty. How dare you think we know what that means?

[Eric]

Siegfried, I thought you said you weren't gonna let this go to your head.

[Siegfried]

And I haven't. Cupbearer. Why is My drinking horn.

[Jake Fallon]

Empty.

[Benjamin Salka]

So sorry, you, Majesty.

[Eric]

More mead.

[Siegfried]

Right away.

[Megan]

Rollo. Why are you fe.

[Peter McNerney]

I don't know.

[Benjamin Salka]

I'm a people pleaser.

[Siegfried]

Enough. Either you have come to swear loyalty to your new lord or to declare yourself enemy of the realm.

[Eric]

Siegfried, you said so yourself. This probably isn't real. Where even is Svenssensfjord?

[Siegfried]

It's wherever I say it is.

[Megan]

I'm pretty sure that's not how countries work.

[Siegfried]

It is now. By royal decree, I've decided that Svensson'sfjord is wherever. I. Hold this. The royal Svensson's Fjord sword.

[Megan]

Whoa. Where'd you get that?

[Siegfried]

I made it.

[Josie]

How?

[Peter McNerney]

Why?

[Siegfried]

I forged Sigfried's Svensson Sfjord sword to warn the hordes that dare swarm Svensson'sfjord's scores of fjord stores. And also to roast the Svensson'sfjord's lord's s'. Mores.

[Eric]

What?

[Peter McNerney]

Seize them.

[Megan]

Eric, follow my lead.

[Eric]

Are we gonna make a brick for it?

[Megan]

We surrender.

[Eric]

What?

[Megan]

Sorry, I panicked. I'm actually a coward.

[Siegfried]

Seize them, I said.

[Kid (Soccer Player)]

Run

[Eric]

quickly to the fire pole room.

[Megan]

We have a fire pole room?

[Eric]

Yes, but don't ask me why.

[Harold]

But why?

[Megan]

Oh, shoot. Sorry.

[Peter McNerney]

There they are.

[Eric]

Here it is.

[Megan]

Where does the fire pole go?

[Eric]

We're about to find out. Let's go

[Peter McNerney]

find them.

[Gray]

We'll be right back after a few words for the grownups.

[Lee Overtree]

Hey, grown ups. Today's episode is sponsored by Bombas. You know, people keep asking me about my 2026 resolutions and I'm like, bruh, it's February. I thought we left our New Year's resolutions in January. But then I remember the number one resolution at the top of my list.

[Benjamin Salka]

Getting comfy.

[Lee Overtree]

And that's where Bombas comes in. They're bringing serious comfort to all my everyday go to's. This year I've been watching the Winter

[Benjamin Salka]

Olympics a lot and I'm thinking of

[Lee Overtree]

taking up the luge. And wow, the all new Bomba sports socks would be perfect for that. They're cushioned where I would theoretically need it most. Sweat, wicking, and loaded with other tech features that I'm sure would keep me comfy and locked in on the luge track even more in my lane. Bombas has me covered for those everyday around the house resolutions with the comfiest footwear imaginable. For example, this weekend I'm planning on answering the door in my brand new Saturday suede slip on shoes. They give the illusion that I'm on the go with more comfort than you could ever imagine. And underneath it all the softest base layers that will have you rethinking your whole wardrobe. Bombas underwear and T shirts are flexible, breathable and buttery smooth premium everyday go tos that I won't leave the house without. And here's my favorite part. For every item you purchase, an essential clothing item is donated to someone facing housing insecurity. One purchased one donated with over 150 million donations and counting. So head on over to bombus.com family26 and use code family26 for 20% off your first purchase. That's B O M B-A-S.com family26 code family26 at checkout.

[Megan]

That fire pole went on a lot longer and was a lot less straight than seems possible.

[Nimini Ware]

That's because it was designed that way.

[Binky the Narwhal]

Huh?

[Jake Fallon]

Who are you?

[Megan]

You'd look like, no offense, a Viking peasant.

[Nimini Ware]

That's. I am just a loyal Svens and Jordan subject of his majesty the king. How about you strangers?

[Megan]

What? No. Siegfried isn't really a king. That's absurd.

[Nimini Ware]

Well, in that case, I suppose I can dramatically reveal that I'm actually Nemene.

[Eric]

Look, it's Nemene.

[Nimini Ware]

Yeah, I just said that.

[Jake Fallon]

Alright.

[Nimini Ware]

Sorry for the deception. I needed to be sure that you were truly part of the resistance.

[Megan]

The resistance?

[Nimini Ware]

The rest of the story. Pirates have either joined the tyrant or have been taken to the dungeons.

[Eric]

We have a dungeon?

[Nimini Ware]

Yes. Don't ask me why.

[Megan]

Why do we. Ah, sorry, too slow again.

[Nimini Ware]

If we hope to overthrow Siegfried, we must first free Lee and Rachel from their cell. But it's guarded by the great beast.

[Eric]

What are you talking about? What beast?

[Nimini Ware]

Don't ask me why.

[Megan]

Why is there a beast? Too late. I asked.

[Nimini Ware]

There just is. Okay, let's go.

[Peter McNerney]

I can't take it anymore, Rachel. Feels like we've been locked up in

[Lee Overtree]

this dungeon for ages. Look, I've already carved 10 notches in

[Peter McNerney]

the wall to count the days.

[Megan]

Lee, I think it's only been 10 minutes.

[Siegfried]

What?

[Peter McNerney]

No,

[Megan]

perhaps you're right. Perhaps all hope is truly lost.

[Binky the Narwhal]

Um, sorry to interrupt, but friendly reminder that prisoners are not allowed to talk.

[Megan]

Curse you, Binky the Narwhal dungeon master.

[Binky the Narwhal]

So sorry.

[Nimini Ware]

Greetings, Narwhal.

[Binky the Narwhal]

Who goes there?

[Nimini Ware]

Tis I, the peasant, not Nemene. And I have brought two more prisoners.

[Megan]

Unhand us, you villain.

[Eric]

Yes, let us go, Arriet.

[Peter McNerney]

You two.

[Jake Fallon]

Oh, no.

[Lee Overtree]

They got Megan and Eric.

[Peter McNerney]

All hope is truly, truly lost.

[Binky the Narwhal]

Yes, I shall lock them up, but first I gotta grab the keys. Thanks in advance for your patience. If we were underwater, I'd be faster. But here on the ship, I have to travel via this wagon while doggy paddling with my fins on the ground. It's slow going. Brb. Here I go. I told you. Takes a while.

[Siegfried]

Wow.

[Binky the Narwhal]

I should rest for a second.

[Peter McNerney]

All right.

[Binky the Narwhal]

No, I'm fine. Here we go. I'm still going towards the keys.

[Nimini Ware]

Do you want to push maybe?

[Binky the Narwhal]

No, I got it.

[Megan]

This is getting awkward.

[Jake Fallon]

Yeah.

[Peter McNerney]

Almost there. Whoops.

[Binky the Narwhal]

I fell over. Can somebody help me? Push me back up. Oh, never mind. I'll just take a nap.

[Eric]

I honestly thought this rescue would be more exciting.

[Lee Overtree]

This is a rescue?

[Peter McNerney]

It is. Whoa.

[Nemene]

Incredible.

[Megan]

Nimini, reveal. Yes. The first one was better.

[Nimini Ware]

Now that we are at full strength, it's time to head back up to the throne room and take back the kingdom.

[Eric]

Why is any of this happening?

[Peter McNerney]

Let's go.

[Jake Fallon]

Your Majesty, I have returned.

[Siegfried]

Ah, yes. Peter caught me trying on my new crown. What do you think? Is it a little much?

[Binky the Narwhal]

Whoa.

[Jake Fallon]

The antlers attached to it are 10ft tall.

[Siegfried]

Yes, well, heavy as the head, as they say. In this case, very heavy. I can't really move anyway. I trust that you've found the rebels and thrown them in the dungeon. Oh, right.

[Jake Fallon]

That's what I was doing. Honestly, as soon as I left the room, my brain went, what kind of guard are you?

[Peter McNerney]

Why, I'm no guard at all.

[Siegfried]

Nimini, the leader of the rebels. I've sought you for ages. But finally, the day of reckoning as a potter.

[Megan]

Ages? Didn't this all start, like, 15 minutes ago?

[Lee Overtree]

Impossible to say. I left my tally marks behind.

[Eric]

Siegfried, you aren't a king. Svensson's Fjord is not a real place. Someone is clearly pranking you.

[Peter McNerney]

How dare you.

[Siegfried]

I see now that I must rise from my throne and show you my full power.

[Peter McNerney]

I am. Oh, shoot.

[Siegfried]

The antlers on my helmet puncture the ceiling. Oh, no. I can't move.

[Harold]

Help.

[Peter McNerney]

My gigantic head is stuck.

[Eric]

It's over, Siegfried. You're not a king.

[Peter McNerney]

Ha.

[Siegfried]

As long as I hold the Svensson's Fjord sword, none can question me.

[Megan]

You mean this Svansensfjord sword? Svansensfjord? Sorry, man, that is really hard to say. This sword.

[Peter McNerney]

No.

[Siegfried]

My Svensson Sfjord sword.

[Megan]

By your own decree, I now hold the power of the kingdom.

[Siegfried]

Curses.

[Peter McNerney]

Your logic is ironclad. My kingdom is conquered. I am defeated.

[Benjamin Salka]

Does that mean there's a new leader now?

[Harold]

It sure does. All hail Queen Megan.

[Eric]

No, stop it. She's not a queen.

[Megan]

Well, he did decree that whoever had Meghan.

[Peter McNerney]

Oh, oh, right.

[Megan]

As Queen I hereby disband the kingdom. Everyone is free.

[Peter McNerney]

Yay. Our savior.

[Megan]

Oh, it was. Was nothing.

[Eric]

Literally.

[Siegfried]

Megan, your incredible sacrifice has shown me the truth, that I maybe let this all just a little bit go to my head.

[Eric]

You think?

[Siegfried]

Now that I do think about it, this is exactly the kind of prank my cousins would pull.

[Megan]

Well, either way, at least we can finally.

[Jake Fallon]

Hey, Megan.

[Siegfried]

Sorry. Can you take one step to the left?

[Megan]

Oh, sure. Better light.

[Lee Overtree]

Yes.

[Megan]

And step.

[Peter McNerney]

Ooh, I've got more mail.

[Siegfried]

Could someone read it? I'm still stuck.

[Megan]

I got says. Dear King Siegfried, perhaps it's time to do another story.

[Nimini Ware]

Love, your cousins.

[Siegfried]

My. My cousins? Oh.

[Peter McNerney]

Oh. Oh, wow. Oh, dear. Oh, they got me. They got me so good.

[Siegfried]

Oh, man, I love those guys.

[Megan]

And here to introduce it is the author.

[Gray]

Hi, I'm Josie. I'm eight years old and I live in Illinois. This is my story, the Verse of Soup.

[Sir Chicken Soup]

Why, hello, Senora Celery, my bestie, whose family invented celery.

[Nemene]

Hello, Senora Carrot, my friend, whose family created carrots. And look who's also strolling through the center of our fair town, Chicken Nugget Villa. It's Sir Chicken Soup.

[Sir Chicken Soup]

Hey, friends, what food did your family invent again? Sir Chicken Soup.

[Josie]

That's just it. My family invented nothing. It's the worst.

[Nemene]

It's okay, Sir Chicken Soup. It'll happen for you one day.

[Sir Chicken Soup]

We believe in you.

[Josie]

Well, I was kicking around some that involve cooking a variety of things in liquid, but I don't know.

[Harold]

Attention. Attention, citizens of Chicken Nugget Villa.

[Nemene]

Hold that thought, Sir Chicken Soup. The mayor's going to address the whole town.

[Harold]

Greetings, citizens. It is I, Mayor Vegetable from the family, who invented vegetables with an important proclamation. No, no more grumbling. This one is a good, good one, I promise.

[Sir Chicken Soup]

Is it gonna be like the time you banned bagels because you thought they looked like they were screaming at you?

[Self-driving Car]

It does look like they're screaming at

[Harold]

me, but no, this one is different. My new totally reasonable rule for the whole town is no more hot spilly foods.

[Peter McNerney]

Why?

[Megan]

I have my reasons.

[Harold]

They're very, very important, and I'm never going to tell you. By the way, if anyone breaks this rule, you'll be thrown into the Chicken Nugget Villa dungeon. Okay, that's all. I won't be taking any questions.

[Gray]

Bye.

[Josie]

What a crummy proclamation. My whole new food idea was based on hot spilly foods.

[Sir Chicken Soup]

For real, I'd love to make some hot spilly foods featuring carrots.

[Nemene]

Yeah, celery would also go great. In some hot spilly foods.

[Josie]

This really boils my shrimp. I mean, doesn't boil my shrimp.

[Peter McNerney]

Huh?

[Josie]

My idea for a new dish for dinner was that I was going to boil some shrimp in some spicy, salty liquid. But now I'll never be able to do it because of the mayor's ridiculous hot spilly liquid ban.

[Harold]

Did I hear some citizens grumbling about my ban?

[Peter McNerney]

Mayor Vegetable?

[Harold]

That's me. Remember, you must never, ever break my hot spilly liquids ban if you do dungeon, dungeon. Dungeon. But why? I have my reasons. Bye.

[Gray]

Bye.

[Nemene]

There he goes.

[Kid (Soccer Player)]

Know what?

[Nemene]

I think that when the moon is up and Mayor Vegetable has gone to sleep, we should break the rules and make some hot spilly food.

[Sir Chicken Soup]

Exactly.

[Josie]

That's a great idea. Let's wait for tonight.

[Megan]

Okay.

[Josie]

It's the dead of night, and here we are outside with a big pot over a fire. I'm gonna throw the shrimp.

[Sir Chicken Soup]

I'll throw in some of my family's famous carrots.

[Nemene]

And I'll toss in some of my celery.

[Megan]

Nice.

[Josie]

Mmm. That's beginning to smell really wonderful. My hot spilly food experiment is working.

[Peter McNerney]

Shh.

[Nemene]

We don't want to wake Mayor Vegetable.

[Jake Fallon]

Oh, yeah.

[Peter McNerney]

Sorry. Hey. Ah.

[Josie]

I mean, ah. You surprised me, random citizen of Chicken Nugget Villa.

[Peter McNerney]

I see that you're making some food that's hot and spilly.

[Sir Chicken Soup]

Please don't tell the mayor.

[Peter McNerney]

Oh, I'm gonna. I'm gonna absolutely not do that. In fact, I think that smells delicious and would even be better if I

[Jake Fallon]

added some chunks of Corn.

[Peter McNerney]

I'm Mr. Corn, by the way.

[Josie]

That's a great idea.

[Lee Overtree]

Corn.

[Siegfried]

And I, Madam Noodles will add some. Some noodles.

[Peter McNerney]

Oh, noodles.

[Megan]

It's Ming Senorita Spice. I'll mix in some spices.

[Harold]

A shake. A shaker.

[Gray]

Wow.

[Nemene]

Everyone who lives in Chicken nugget Villa is adding their own delicious ingredients to

[Megan]

this hot, spilly food.

[Harold]

It's beginning to smell like I'm going to be afraid of it. What did I say about hot spilly foods?

[Josie]

Uh, that they're delicious?

[Peter McNerney]

No.

[Harold]

Does anyone listen to me? I said that anyone making them will be thrown right into the dungeon.

[Josie]

But why? If we're going to the dungeon, at least we deserve to know why you have this no spilly food rule.

[Harold]

No, I'll never tell you.

[Peter McNerney]

Tell us.

[Harold]

Okay, fine. It all happened a long time ago.

[Megan]

Oh, little mare Vegetable. It's me, your mommy. Vegetable.

[Peter McNerney]

Hi, Mommy.

[Megan]

Mommy made you some warm milk with cinnamon as a little treat before bed. Here you go.

[Peter McNerney]

Ow.

[Harold]

This mug is a bit hot.

[Peter McNerney]

Whoops.

[Harold]

It spilled Wee.

[Megan]

Little Mayor Vegetable, you are literally crying over spilled milk.

[Harold]

I sure am. And I'll never forget this wee. And I never did. And ever since then, I said to myself that I would ban hot spilly food. Anyway, that's the story. Now it's off to the dungeon for all of you.

[Nemene]

Mayor Vegetable, instead of a band, did you ever consider learning to be careful with hot spilly foods?

[Harold]

No, I guess not.

[Josie]

Then I think it's time. Here's a spoon, Mayor Vegetable. Now very carefully put that spoon in the pot and pick up some of the liquid.

[Harold]

I don't know.

[Peter McNerney]

I'm scared.

[Sir Chicken Soup]

You can do it.

[Peter McNerney]

We believe in you.

[Harold]

Okay, I've got some liquid in my spoon. Time to taste it. Oh, I'm scared. Here I go. Hey, that was easy. The hot spilly foods are hereby unbanned. Oh, I must say, this is delicious. What are you going to call this new food, sir? Chicken Soup.

[Josie]

I'm going to name it after my family and call it sir.

[Harold]

Hmm, not the catchiest.

[Josie]

Oh, okay. How about Soup?

[Harold]

Now that's a name.

[Peter McNerney]

Everyone, three cheers for Soup.

[Josie]

Soup.

[Peter McNerney]

Soup. Soup.

[Harold]

And I.

[Megan]

You could.

[Harold]

From now on, this little villa will no longer be known as Chicken Nugget Villa. Starting tomorrow on Wednesday, it will be known as Vegetable Carrot Celery Chicken Soup. To celebrate, I'm going to eat this bagel right here. I told you. They scream the end.

[Gray]

We'll be right back after a few words for the go. Now.

[Lee Overtree]

Welcome back to Story Love, where we talk about stories written by kids. But first, of course, Peter, we have to read them.

[Peter McNerney]

We do.

[Benjamin Salka]

In order to talk about them, we have to read them.

[Peter McNerney]

We must.

[Lee Overtree]

So let's read our first one.

[Peter McNerney]

Okay?

[Lee Overtree]

Do you wanna.

[Benjamin Salka]

Please don't talk like that the whole time.

[Jake Fallon]

Okay.

[Lee Overtree]

Would you read the first one for us?

[Siegfried]

I would love to.

[Jake Fallon]

Lee. This first story comes to us from an 11 year old from Arizona named Tabitha. And Tabitha's story is called the Magic Jello Egg. Once upon a time, there was a boy. His name was John, John Johnathan the 27th. And he loved Jello. He tried to make a Jello flavored cake, but he dropped an egg on the floor. But it didn't break. He wondered why it didn't break and the egg said that it was a magic egg which startled John, John Johnathan the 27th. So he asked what the magic egg would do with its magic. And then the egg said that it could turn things into Jello and create Jello at will.

[Benjamin Salka]

Oh.

[Jake Fallon]

So John, John Johnathan the 27th used it to fill his bedroom with Jello. And then he made a yellow dog who he named Jiggly, and he made it rain Jello all around them. And then Jiggly stole his eggs and told him that he was taking the egg for granted. So he was going to turn John, John Johnathan the 27th to Jell O until John, John Johnathan the 27th promised not to misuse the egg's power anymore and also give you 12. No, make that 13 pieces of Swiss cheese every morning. The good expensive kind.

[Benjamin Salka]

The end. Really good story, Tabitha. The good expensive kind. Would that we all could have the good whenever we want.

[Jake Fallon]

In my experience, the good expensive kind is usually the best kind.

[Benjamin Salka]

Oh, you think?

[Jake Fallon]

Yeah, not the expensive kind, but the good expensive kind.

[Benjamin Salka]

Especially when it comes to cheese.

[Peter McNerney]

Oh, yeah.

[Benjamin Salka]

Do not skimp on your cheese.

[Jake Fallon]

Cheese and chocolate go all in.

[Lee Overtree]

Oh, is that a thing people say?

[Jake Fallon]

No, it's the thing I say.

[Siegfried]

Wow.

[Benjamin Salka]

I agree. All right, back to this story.

[Jake Fallon]

Yes.

[Benjamin Salka]

You know, Jello, obviously, is the main theme here.

[Jake Fallon]

Yes.

[Benjamin Salka]

Lots going on with Jello. And then the most exciting part of the story, I think, is the Jello. The yellow jello dog named Jiggly steals

[Lee Overtree]

the egg and tells him that he's taking the egg for granted.

[Jake Fallon]

That was a real twist.

[Lee Overtree]

It's a real twist. I was very surprised to hear that.

[Benjamin Salka]

I also want to point out, like, filling your bedroom with Jello. Do not try this at home.

[Jake Fallon]

Yeah.

[Gray]

No.

[Benjamin Salka]

How do you breathe if your room is truly full of Jello?

[Jake Fallon]

Yeah, it's gonna get cold and sticky.

[Benjamin Salka]

Yeah, it's not good. Don't do that. You're not gonna be able to sleep.

[Jake Fallon]

Ah. I mean, honestly, if you have a magic egg, there's better wishes.

[Benjamin Salka]

Okay, so speaking of that, if you had this magic egg that could turn anything into Jello and you're not taking it for granted, how are you going to use this Jell O magic? What are you gonna do with it?

[Jake Fallon]

So what am I gonna do with Jell O magic? I think I'm going to go get a bouncy castle and I'm gonna turn it into jello so I can recreate Mickey and the Beanstalk with Goofy on the giant Jello.

[Benjamin Salka]

Okay, you know what, though? You're gonna fall straight through that bouncy castle. The people are gonna get hurt.

[Jake Fallon]

The first few bounces, you gotta spread out your weight so you don't break the surface. When you break that surface, you're going into that Jello.

[Benjamin Salka]

If I had the Jello Egg. The magic egg. What I would do is I would just serve people small, reasonable bowls of jello.

[Jake Fallon]

Just little. You know what if you were just right now, like, hey, Peter Spress, I got you a little bowl of jello.

[Lee Overtree]

Like, hey, what's your. What's your favorite flavor of Jello?

[Jake Fallon]

Oh, the green one.

[Benjamin Salka]

Here you go.

[Jake Fallon]

Exactly what I want.

[Benjamin Salka]

Small, little bowl. It's a little paper bowl. You can just throw it away when you're done.

[Jake Fallon]

Can you. Can anyone eat Jell O without making the most fun sound?

[Benjamin Salka]

I don't know.

[Lee Overtree]

Do you want to read this together?

[Jake Fallon]

Sure.

[Benjamin Salka]

Why don't you play the cow?

[Jake Fallon]

I'd love to.

[Benjamin Salka]

Hi, I'm Simon, and this is my friend, Cow.

[Lee Overtree]

We are going to be telling the

[Benjamin Salka]

story, and I am the author.

[Lee Overtree]

So there was once two people who were.

[Benjamin Salka]

Let's just read the story so we can know them. Their names were Jill and Tookie Guy. They went underground.

[Peter McNerney]

What?

[Jake Fallon]

They weren't underground.

[Binky the Narwhal]

How did they do that?

[Jake Fallon]

Well, that's so fantastic.

[Benjamin Salka]

Anyway, back to the story. So the two people went underground and

[Lee Overtree]

found two creepy little aliens.

[Benjamin Salka]

Luckily, those aliens were nice and they let out bad aliens to attack Jill and Tookie Guy.

[Binky the Narwhal]

How does this keep happening? Are those other people okay?

[Benjamin Salka]

I don't know. Let's keep reading the story.

[Jake Fallon]

Okay.

[Benjamin Salka]

Oh, no, Said Jill. We should fight them with a turkey. Tukey Guy said, bach Bok bok.

[Peter McNerney]

Are they serious?

[Jake Fallon]

They fought a turkey?

[Benjamin Salka]

Let's just go back to the story. Jill and Tukey Guy went and fought with turkeys in turkey style. But the evil aliens won. So Jill and Tookie Guy got on the spaceship and flew into space while

[Lee Overtree]

eating turkey on the way to the moon. The end.

[Benjamin Salka]

Wow.

[Jake Fallon]

I wanted to say moon.

[Benjamin Salka]

The end. Amazing. Wow. What. What a story. I. The first thing I gotta point out here is that the cow speaks two languages. The cow speaks cow and English.

[Jake Fallon]

This is a.

[Benjamin Salka]

Because in the first two exchanges, the cow just says moo. And yet Simon is able to understand what the cow is saying.

[Jake Fallon]

Oh, yes.

[Benjamin Salka]

And then it starts speaking English as well.

[Lee Overtree]

Do you think that's like on a

[Benjamin Salka]

TV show where they're speaking a different language and they find some convoluted reason to switch to English halfway through

[Peter McNerney]

or

[Benjamin Salka]

like, just at the beginning.

[Jake Fallon]

I love that scene. They're like, shall we practice our English? Absolutely. I also love. My favorite thing about this story is I think we all know the joke. Knock, knock.

[Benjamin Salka]

Who's there?

[Jake Fallon]

The interrupting cow.

[Peter McNerney]

Moo.

[Jake Fallon]

That cow.

[Benjamin Salka]

Yeah.

[Jake Fallon]

Is in this story. In my mind, it's the same cow? It's the interrupting cow.

[Benjamin Salka]

I guess so. But it, to the credit of Simon, the author, it goes much further than that.

[Jake Fallon]

Oh, it sure does.

[Benjamin Salka]

The cow is not just interrupting, the cow is derailing. Yeah, the story is wonderful. Simon, fantastic job. One of my favorite titles of late as well. Jill and Tuki Guy Fight Aliens Turkey Style.

[Jake Fallon]

That's a chicken. That's a chicken sound. Don't know why I made that sound.

[Gray]

There.

[Benjamin Salka]

Much better.

[Jake Fallon]

Thank you.

[Benjamin Salka]

All right, Peter, would you like to

[Lee Overtree]

read the last story?

[Jake Fallon]

I would and I will. This last story comes to us from a 10 year old from Massachusetts named Melanie. And Melanie's story is called the Adventures of Ogleflop Jr. III. Ogleflop Jr. II went to the everything store. Went to the everything store to get his groceries. When he was in the food section, he saw his best friend named Bob. They talked for a bit. Suddenly the alarms went off.

[Peter McNerney]

The penguins were attacking.

[Jake Fallon]

Oh, they were attacking because they were imprisoned their whole lives in zoos and aquariums.

[Benjamin Salka]

Yikes.

[Jake Fallon]

So Ogleflop and Bob pull out their jetpacks and laser tag gear and crash through the roof. They start playing laser tag with the penguins. That's how you solve every problem. And they won. Later that day, when Ogle Flop was taking a walk, he saw a saw that could out saw any saw he ever saw at the beach. He bought some shells at Sally's Shop of seashells. But Bob had to take a nap because when he plays laser tag he goes really crazy and gets really tired.

[Benjamin Salka]

Me too, brother.

[Jake Fallon]

Ogle Fly went home to get ready for his date with Frederella and gave her the seashells, which he made into a bracelet. Then he went down on one knee and proposed to Frederella at the wedding. See picture. So they got married and lived happily ever after.

[Peter McNerney]

The end.

[Benjamin Salka]

Oh, can you tell us about the. The picture that it references about the wedding?

[Jake Fallon]

Yes, yes, I would love to. The picture. They're in a beautiful archway. They're at a podium. And behind the podium is the officiant or the priest or something with an Abraham Lincoln style stovepipe hat and a microphone. And Frederella is in a beautiful white dress holding some flowers. And of course Ogleflop Jr. The second is there in a what looks like a short sleeved tuxedo with shorts.

[Lee Overtree]

I think it's fair to say this

[Jake Fallon]

is a dream wedding.

[Benjamin Salka]

It is. Wow. The happiest day of their lives. Incredible, incredible stories. So many good. Some great wordplay. Halfway through the story, we start doing some tongue twisters he saw any saw he ever saw. He saw a saw that could out saw any saw he ever saw. And Sally's Shop with seashells.

[Jake Fallon]

What I loved is I thought the penguins was gonna be the big problem to solve for the whole story. But it's just one in many things. One of many things that these Once

[Benjamin Salka]

you know that laser tag can solve every problem, it actually gets very difficult to write a story because conflicts are easily solved and so you become a rom com.

[Peter McNerney]

Yeah.

[Benjamin Salka]

Oh, just like in this.

[Lee Overtree]

That's it for StoryLove. To read all of today's stories, just head to storypirates.com

[Benjamin Salka]

and guess what Grown ups.

[Lee Overtree]

You can find an even longer version of today's story love on YouTube. We drop a new video every week and here's something did you know that YouTube will show it to more people and help Story Pirates grow if we get more views right away? Weird but true. So by watching these videos as soon as you can, you're not only hearing the hilarious stories from from kids and

[Benjamin Salka]

seeing Peter and I's beautiful faces, but

[Lee Overtree]

you're also helping each kid's story be celebrated by more people and contributing to our channel's growth. Which means we can create more videos and help fund our podcast. You can find the link to today's video in the show notes. While you're there, subscribe to our channel and make sure to watch the new videos each week and Grown Up Storyline storylove isn't just the name of a segment on our show. It's also the name of our incredible corporate volunteer program. To find out more about StoryLove, our digital creative writing program, StoryQuest, or our nonprofit arm, Story Pirates Changemakers. Check the show notes for links. That's it for today's episode. Thanks to today's authors Gray and Josie.

[Benjamin Salka]

And guess what?

[Lee Overtree]

You can still send it us your stories and we respond to every single story we receive.

[Benjamin Salka]

Grown ups.

[Lee Overtree]

Your link to submit stories is in the show Notes for today's episode. We'll be back next week with another brand new episode. Until then, stay creative and stay kind.

[Peter McNerney]

Bye.

[Lee Overtree]

The Story Pirates Podcast is a production of Story Pirates Studios Executive producer produced by Lee Overtree and Benjamin Salka. This episode was produced by Isabel Ericchio, Sam Baer, Peter McNerney, Lee Overtree and Brittany Stahl. Recording sound design and mixing by Sam Baer at the Relic Room in New York City. Additional production by Brett Toobin Theme song by Bobby Lord Musical scoring by Eric Erson and Jack Mitchell. Our head writer is Peter McNerney staff writers are Megan O' Neill and Alexis Simpson. Contributing writers are Lee Overtree and Louis Pearlman. Episode artwork by Camilla Franklin. This episode features performances by eric austin, max bank, greg barnett, michelle chan bennett, sasha diamond, jake fallon, tara halpern, quinton johnson, sebastian martinez, peter mcnerney, kento merida, megan o', neill, leah overtree, chris simpson, brittany stahl, rachel winitski, and nimini ware.

[Benjamin Salka]

Alright, time to get in my car

[Lee Overtree]

and head to work.

[Benjamin Salka]

I'll just put on my seatbelt. Start the car and car, take me to work.

[Gray]

Taking you to work.

[Benjamin Salka]

Okay, and car, please don't mess up and take me somewhere random this time. Okay.

[Gray]

Taking you to Belgium.

[Peter McNerney]

Belgium. Car, I just told you to take me to work.

[Gray]

Taking you to twerk in Russia.

[Peter McNerney]

Twerk in Russia? I don't even know where that is going to.

[Gray]

Where is that?

[Peter McNerney]

In France?

[Benjamin Salka]

Okay, car, I need you to slow down, take a breath and. And please just listen to me.

[Gray]

Setting up jet mode.

[Peter McNerney]

No, wait, don't. Don't set up jet mode.

[Harold]

We're flying through the air.

[Gray]

Stop setting up faster modes.

[Peter McNerney]

Faster modes. You're the worst self driving car I've ever owned.

[Gray]

Diving into the earth.

[Peter McNerney]

Diving into the earth. What? Do you have a drill on the front of you?

[Gray]

Heading to work.

[Benjamin Salka]

Oh, finally.

[Lee Overtree]

Car, were you just messing with me?

[Gray]

Going to messing with me in outer space?