Q2 2025 Mr. Redge’s Hotline – Answering Listener Questions

REDGE:
Ahhh, summer sunshine, sea breezes, and… sizzling questions from our listeners! That’s right, it’s time for the Summer Edition of Mr. Redge’s Hotline!

So grab your lemonade and your listening ears because we’ve got A’s to your Q’s and clever shoutouts cooler than this hedgehog sunbathing on a beach towel!

JONATHAN:
Redge, what are you doing?

REDGE:
I’m just trying to be hip with it dawg. You know, a cool cat. I’m getting jiggy with it, yo.

JONATHAN:
(laughs) Oh boyyyy, Speaking of summer fun, did you hear about the Summer Listening Challenge? We’ve teamed up with 7 other kids’ podcasts for a season of stories. There’s a fun reward if you complete the challenge by August 15th. Grownups, check the show notes for the link to join and download your printable tracker.

REDGE:
Oh I do love a good challenge! I do hope you’ll give it a go! Now, let's roll the Hotline tape—who’s our first caller?

[PLAY MR. REDGE’S HOTLINE PHONE MESSAGE AUDIO]

LUCAS AUDIO PLAYS

“Hi Jonathan, hi Reginald, my name is Lucas and I’m 6 years old and I have one question for you. Jonathan, what has been your favorite time with Reginald? Reginald, you are the cutest hedgehog that ever exists. Cuter than anybody in the world. Cuter than a hamster. Cuter than a cat. And you are super funny, like way funnier than, like, anybody telling jokes, you’re like the best in the entire world. Thanks Jonathan! Thanks Reginald! You are the best!”

REDGE:
(puffed up and emotional) Oh my STARS and QUILLSTRINGS Lucas! Cuter than a hamster and a cat?! Funnier than anybody telling jokes?! I think I might need to lie down! Jonathan, I’m going to lie down.

JONATHAN: Oh Redge that’s ok…OH, he’s actually lying down. Um, you alright there, buddy?

REDGE:
I just… I feel seen, Jonathan. I feel…seen.

JONATHAN:
I hear you, pal. And Lucas, thank you. And as for your question—my favorite time with Redge? That’s a tough one. I could go on a lifetime of adventures with him and each one would be the best. But most recently? I loved solving the mystery of the empty frame with Redge in “Riddle of Red Herring Reef.” I got to meet Ariel—THE Ariel! The Little Mermaid!—go on her School of Fish Tour AND help her find her voice. It was unforgettable.

REDGE:
Aw, thanks mate. I feel the same about you. And that trip was a splashing good time. I do love solving a good mystery and wearing seafoam-chic bubble helmets.

JONATHAN:
Next up, we heard from Ellery, who listens to us on Yoto—Just like so many of you! He told his dad that his Yoto is his favorite thing he owns, and that Dorktales is his favorite show! He’s a big fan of Rodge, Glimmer the Beaver, Zinnia Fig, and the wood nymphs.

You’ve got great taste, Ellery—and I love those Once Upon a Time critter folk too. It fills my heart to know listeners like you enjoy them just as much as I do. Redge, he wants to know what your favorite snack is?

REDGE:
(gleeful) Oooo, now we’re talking. Picking a favorite snack is like choosing a favorite star in the sky—it’s just impossible! But lately? I can’t get enough of Donna and Greta’s So-fish-ticated Seaweed Snacks. Crisp, salty, and taste like the ocean! A perfect summer nosh if you ask me.

Now here comes a question from Tristan. He thinks I’m funny too—clearly a listener with excellent taste! Jonathan, he’s interested in knowing the most important lore story on the podcast.

JONATHAN:
Great question! I’d say the most important lore tale is “The Magical Doorway.” That’s the one where we tell the story of how I stumbled into the Land of Once Upon a Time—right through a portal in the trunk of a redwood tree. It’s where I met you, my best hedgehog buddy.

REDGE:
A legendary beginning if ever there was one! Just think—all these stories started with a single step through a tree.

JONATHAN:
Macie from Utah wonders when the Jolly Holly Day tradition began.

REDGE:
Macie, Jolly Holly Day is a century-old hedgehog tradition! Passed down through generations, it's a celebration of joy, meaningful gifts, and heart-happy memories. It began just for hedgehogs, but now critters of all kinds in Once Upon a Time celebrate it. Isn’t that glorious?

JONATHAN:
It truly is a magical time of year.

REDGE:
Now Finn, age 5, wants to know more about how hedgehogs grow and shed their quills. So clever and curious—just like all of you listening!

JONATHAN:
So great that you want to learn more, Finn! As Redge shared in our last Mr. Redge Hotline, hedgehogs go through a process called quilling, where old quills fall out and new ones grow in. But here’s something else—young hedgehogs often go through their first major quill change when they’re just a few weeks old. That’s when baby quills make way for sturdier adult ones. It can feel a little itchy, but it’s totally normal.

REDGE:
It can make us a bit grumpy or sensitive—but soon enough, we’re back to our lovable ol’ selves!

JONATHAN:
And guess what, Ror o saurus? We heard how much you loved our story about “Owen and the Order of the Ancient Cedar,” and you’re in luck! Owen’s coming back in another epic quest called “Owen and the Lost Scroll”—launching July 10th!

REDGE:
We are SO impressed by listeners like you who suggest story ideas. You’re the wind beneath our storytelling wings!

JONATHAN:
Henry F.’s favorite animal is a gorilla and he wants one to appear in a future tale.

REDGE:
GeorgiJose wants to hear about the origins of F1—vroom vroom!

JONATHAN:
Kgbmonkey is dreaming of a story starring Tinkerbell…

REDGE:
…and Samuel R., age 11, says—ninjas, please!

JONATHAN:
Now, we can’t promise every idea will make it into an episode—but we want you to know that your ideas are like rocket fuel. You keep us inspired and energized as we create stories we hope you’ll love. So keep ’em coming!

REDGE:
Before we wrap up, let’s check in on a few friends from our last Hotline—Moss, Jose V., Simone, Maddie, and Empress Athena… are you still imagining, adventuring, and being your awesome selves?

JONATHAN:
We know you are!

Redge, how about some shoutouts! These names come from reviews, fan mail, and Spotify comments. We do our best with pronunciation—here we go!

REDGE:
Ada from Ferndale
Reid from Vilas (Vie-lus)
Emmanuelle S.
Cadence
Zahra
Rose

JONATHAN:
Josephine
Kirin
Maddie M.
Carter L.
Zehava and Chaya
VAL
Aubrey

REDGE:
Nols
Lorelei
Jeccabmabua
Seolah
CAR CAT CAN
Sparkle Dragon

JONATHAN:
Tina
Sophia
TJW – who makes their own podcast!
GOAT96
Jillian, Natalie, and Elizabeth S.—thank you for all your emoji love!

REDGE:
Isabelle W. and honey4321—thanks for sending us emoji puzzles!

JONATHAN:
Hey Redge, did you ever solve those emoji puzzles?

REDGE:
Er… moving on.

REDGE:
Grownups—if your young listener has a question, we want to hear it! You’ll find all the ways to reach us in the show notes. But the best way to get a response is by emailing us at dorktalesstorytime@gmail.com or using our contact page on our website at dorktalesstorytime.com.

JONATHAN:
You can also drop a comment on Spotify and we will comment back.

REDGE:
Or leave us a question in a 5-star review—don’t forget to include your child’s first name! We can’t respond to you directly, but we do our best to feature as many as we can in future Hotline episodes.

JONATHAN:
Thanks again for joining us today! Now, go be the hero of your own story and we’ll see you next—Once Upon a Time!