JONATHAN: Hello and Happy New Year Dork Squad! This is Jonathan Cormur and you’re listening to Dorktales Storytime. Mr. Redge and I are super excited to bring you more wacky and wonderful stories from our Once Upon a Time world.
REDGE: We have everyone here in the Folktale Forest pitching in to make sure our new season is the best one ever! Jonathan, while we wait for the launch of Season 5 why don’t we answer some listener questions?
JONATHAN: Great idea, Redge! And how about a few shout outs too?
REDGE: Brilliant, cue the hotline please…
Phone rings twice
REDGE’S VOICEMAIL: Hello friend, you have reached Mr. Redge’s hotline. What are you curious about today?
REDGE: Let’s begin with Josephine who asks: “Does Jonathan have a family because he walked into Once Upon a Time through a tree, does he ever visit his family?”
JONATHAN: Great question Josephine and thank you for listening to “The Magical Doorway” where Mr. Redge and I shared how I found the land of Once Upon a Time and met my best hedgehog buddy, Mr. Redge.
REDGE: Your BHB? EEE, I’m blushing.
JONATHAN: So Josephine, I do travel back and forth between worlds. I spend time with my family and human friends in my world and that’s how I learn about the stories and hidden heroes I bring back you and my critter friends who live here in Once Upon a Time.
REDGE: You also share some of your family’s real traditions with all of us, like your “marshmallow mountains and cupcake hills” and “don’t let the bedbugs bite” bedtime routines you did when you were young.
JONATHAN: That’s right, Redge. I love to include some of my own personal experiences in the stories I tell you, just like you teach me and our listeners about Once Upon a Time’s most treasured traditions.
REDGE: I’m already counting the days for the Outstanding Olympiads competition tradition!
JONATHAN: Oooh, nice teaser of what’s coming in a Season 5 story.
REDGE: tee hee, thank you!
JONATHAN: I have a listener question for you, Mr. Redge. Fredo 2 on Spotify asks: “Who is your mother and how come sometimes you’re as big as Jonathan and sometimes you can fit on his shoulder?”
REDGE: Well, my mother’s name is Regina Hedgehog. She actually comes from a long line of hedgehogs who hail from the magical land of Fairyquill. And speaking of magic, did you know that Jonathan is actually a word master? That means he uses the power of words to cast magic spells. One of his favorites is a size-changing spell, so he can make me grow as tall as he is so we can do many things like play games together and arm wrestle.
JONATHAN: Or I can make myself as small as Redge so we can have tea…
REDGE: AND SNACKs..
JONATHAN: …together in his hovel.
REDGE: Fredo 2 also says P.S. “I love your podcast and can’t fall asleep without it.” That’s so nice to hear. We hope every story brings you sweet dreams.
JONATHAN: I love to hear that we’re part of our listeners’ bedtime rituals. Grant and his mom sent us an email to let us know that he also listens at bedtime, AND every morning on the walk to school. How cool is that?
REDGE: The coolest.
JONATHAN: Spotify makes it possible for listeners to respond to questions we ask after each episode we publish. Thanks to all of you who take the time to answer and tell us how much you love our podcast.
REDGE: There’s no way for us to reply directly but we want you to know that we see every comment and your kind words and support mean so much to us.
JONATHAN: Yes! Shout outs to LouisaS, Jillpughfeero, Jerome_compacion, Sawyer, Citrine, jlsherrill, Lauren and Nikki! And thank you, FaithC for all of your encouraging and thoughtful notes after almost every one of our episodes. Redge, FaithC also wants to know out of all the hidden heroes I’ve told you about, which is your favorite?
REDGE: Every hero’s story you tell me is so fascinating and important! I love learning about all of them. Nichelle Nichols story comes to mind because her influence went way beyond her groundbreaking role as Lieutenant Uhura on Star Trek. She helped to recruit more women and people of color to become astronauts at NASA. Her story inspired me to go where no hedgehog has gone before!
JONATHAN: By becoming the first hedgehog TREKKIE?
REDGE: Live long and prosper, mate!
JONATHAN: So, my listener friends, did you like this special episode where we answer some of your questions? Would you like us to do more of these? Grownups, look in the show notes for a link to a quick survey so you can let us know what your family thinks.
REDGE: Also, we’re ALWAYS excited to hear from your kids! Let them join in the fun and ask a question for an email response and a chance to be featured in a future episode.
JONATHAN: Here’s how to make it happen: Record your child saying their first name, age and their awesome question. Send the recording to us at dorktalesstorytime@gmail.com. You can also find more ways to reach us in the credits or show notes. Now, go be the hero of your own story, and Mr. Redge and I will be back when we launch Season 5 on February 8th!