Story Pirates Podcast: "Were-Puppy" (October 16, 2025) — Episode Summary

Episode Theme & Purpose

This episode of the Story Pirates Podcast spotlights a spooky, comedic tale written by young authors Blake (age 10) and Park (age 7) from Minnesota. With Halloween approaching, the Story Pirates team explores the age-old question: if all babies are cute, even monstrous creatures, what happens when a werewolf is just a puppy? Through song, sketch, and plenty of giggles, the episode brings the kids’ creative, clever story “Were-Puppy” to hilarious life.

Key Discussion Points & Story Highlights

1. Introduction and Set-Up

• Lee Overtree welcomes the audience, teases the spooky season, and poses the main question: Are werewolves still scary when they're puppies? (01:12)
  • Quote: “Almost any kind of creature is cute when it's a baby, right? So what about something like a werewolf? Are they still scary when they're puppies?” – Lee Overtree (01:12)

2. The Tale of Were-Puppy (Sketch Comedy & Storytelling, 01:54–09:24)

• Family Travels to the Orlikon Mountains

  • The family arrives at a highly recommended tavern in the Orlikon Mountains, mostly because of travellist.com. Jokes fly about hangry moods and travel review websites. (01:56–02:14)
    • Memorable moment: “Sounds like somebody's hangry.” – Andrew Barbato (02:12)
  • Suspense builds as they notice all the town’s doors and shutters closing for the night, with cryptic warnings from the innkeeper. (02:38–03:02)

• The Mysterious Doodles

  • The innkeeper offers them a stay for a good review, then behaves oddly as spooky sounds echo. References to “Doodles,” which seems to be both a warning and a mystery. (03:07–04:38)

• Strange Noises & Parental Curiosity

  • Odd noises lure family members outside one-by-one. Comic confusion and parental bravado as the mother insists on checking out the source herself. (04:14–05:23)
    • Quote: “Oh, stop worrying, hun. Just save me a piece of dessert.” – Andrew Barbato (05:19)

• The Legend Revealed

  • The innkeeper nervously reveals the legend of Doodles, the were-puppy:
    • “Once there was a pup named Doodles. He was a cute brown pup. But one summer evening when Doodles was out in the garden, the full moon shone down on him. His fur changed from brown to gray and he grew long claws. He became a were puppy.” – Peter McNerney (05:50–06:10)
  • Descriptions are spooky-yet-silly: Doodles can hear every sound—except those from China for some reason (06:15–06:33), and howls to fellow were-puppies at night.

• Cute, Not Creepy

  • The family finds Doodles: not a terrifying monster, but an “incredibly cute” puppy who loves cuddling. (07:23)
    • “He’s…incredibly cute.” – Langston Darby (07:23)
    • “This is what I’ve been scared of all these years. Ah, you’re adorable, Doodles.” – Peter McNerney (07:41)
  • Twist: All the town lore was based on unnecessary fear of…an adorable pup!

• Resolution

  • Guests and locals enjoy dessert together—including Doodles, who gets to taste vanilla ice cream (“safe in small quantities”). (07:54–08:18)
  • The family posts a rave travel review and everyone makes new friends. The innkeeper’s real name is simply “the Innkeeper,” a joke about local language. (08:26–08:38)
    • Travel review quote: “When you come stay at this taverna, be sure to give the resident pup Doodles a scratch behind the ears. I give it seven out of seven suitcases.” – Andrew Barbato (08:40)

• Closing Gag: Room for More Monsters

  • Hint at more weirdness: “Except for when there’s a new moon. And Winky the vampire hamster is loose.” (09:07)
  • Comic reveal: Winky the hamster is perfectly normal after all. (09:19–09:24)

3. Author Spotlight

• Blake and Park introduce themselves and the story, sharing a little peek into their creative process and excitement hearing their story come alive. (01:39, 09:29)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On travel guide culture:
  • “But those weren't on travellist.com. travellist.com says this is the best spot to eat in the whole Orlikon Mountain range.” – Andrew Barbato (02:01)
• On small-town mystery:
  • “Did all the shutters and doors in town just snap shut?” – Langston Darby (02:38)
• On monster legends:
  • “It’s like a werewolf, but a puppy.” – Peter McNerney (06:15)
• Revelation:
  • “This is what I’ve been scared of all these years. Ah, you’re adorable, Doodles.” – Peter McNerney (07:41)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:12–01:39: Lee introduces the episode theme and young authors
• 01:54–09:24: Performance of "Were-Puppy"
  • 02:38: Town shutters close mysteriously
  • 05:50: Legend of Doodles revealed
  • 07:23: The were-puppy is discovered—and is super cute!
  • 08:40: Family posts a travel review, praises Doodles
  • 09:07–09:24: Silly outro with Winky the "vampire hamster"
• 09:29: Young authors sign off

Tone & Style

• Playful, spooky but silly
• Warm and inclusive, with lots of winks to adults and kids alike
• Character-driven humor, funny travel tropes, classic monster twist played for laughs

Engaging Takeaways

• The episode, true to the Story Pirates’ spirit, takes a spooky theme and flips it into a heartwarming message: don’t let fear and hearsay cloud your judgment—sometimes the scariest thing just needs a hug (or a scratch behind the ears).
• Celebrates kids’ creativity and imagination, encouraging all listeners to write their weirdest, silliest stories.

For Listeners & Families

If you missed the episode, you’ll find all the highlights here: a mysterious tavern, a cute puppy with a monstrous twist, a community learning to judge a “were-puppy” by his cuddles—not his claws. Packed with laughter, memorable lines, and a reminder to follow your curiosity, not your fears.