Dorktales Storytime | Stories for Kids Who Love Big Adventures
Welcome to the wonderful, wacky, and wildly imaginative world of Dorktales Storytime, an award-winning kids and family podcast with stories for kids and their pop-culture loving grownups. Join hosts Jonathan Cormur and Mr. Reginald T. Hedgehog as they explore the land of Once Upon a Time through three kinds of tales: clever and geeky retellings of classic fairy tales and fables, original Once Upon a Time lore stories about magical places and friendly creatures, and inspiring stories about the Hidden Heroes of History. Every tale is packed with twists, turns and lessons learned. Step through our portal into a story-filled realm where anything is possible!
Recognized by Common Sense Media as outstanding entertainment with an official seal for quality and impact. Named an ‘essential’ kids podcast by Apple Podcasts.
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Reach us at dorktalesstorytime@gmail.com. Free fan resources: jonincharacter.com/dorktalesfans.
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Fan Favorite Story Themes: Reimagined fairy tales, fables, tall tales, fantasy and folklore, mysteries and spy adventures, Greek mythology, Wonderland adventures, pirate adventures, spooky Halloween stories, STEAM heroes, historical figures, SEL stories, dinosaur stories, bedtime sleep stories and lullabies.
Popular Guests Include: Eric O’keeffe (What If World), Sabrina Glow, Chanel Tsang (Peace Out podcast), Imani Russell, Melissa Victor (Stoopkid Stories), Twitch streamer s0ph
Beware of the horrifying hedgewolf! Or maybe beware the bored shepherd boy who decides to entertain himself by playing the same trick over and over again. When the mischievous youngster cries “Hedgewolf” not once, not twice, but three times, the townspeople come running to help. But what will happen to the far-fetched fibber when he finally needs their help for real? Will anyone listen?
This reimagined Aesop fable, The Boy Who Cried Wolf, is a Dorktales Classic.
PARENTS, TEACHERS AND HOMESCHOOLERS: In this retelling of the classic Aesop’s fable, The Boy Who Cried Wolf, young listeners explore the importance of honesty, trust, personal responsibility, and the consequences of their actions. The story encourages children to think about how trust is built, why truthfulness matters, and how their choices can affect others.
CREDITS: This episode is a Jonincharacter production. It was written by Amy Thompson, produced by Molly Murphy and performed by Jonathan Cormur. Sound recording and production by Jermaine Hamilton at Pacific Grove Soundworks.
GROWNUPS: Dorktales Storytime is more than a Kids and family stories for kids podcast. Every visit to our Once Upon a Time world invites kids to discover reimagined fairy tales, fables, Greek myths, mysteries, fantasy adventures, pirate adventures, bedtime stories, Halloween stories, dinosaur stories, and inspiring stories about historical figures and STEAM pioneers. We believe a well-told story brings families together, opens the door to meaningful conversations, and helps every child know they belong and their imagination can change the world.
Hello, Dork Squad. I'm Jonathan Cormur, and you're listening to Dork Tales Storytime, the podcast for kids and their pop culture-loving grown-ups.
Theme Song
It's a beautiful day for a story, adventure, and glory, new friends and old ones too. It's an excellent day to get swept away in a tale, so let us regale
Really? So bored that he often neglected his shepherding. He would sit on the hill above the valley and watch the sheep, but soon his eyes would begin to wander. He'd count the blades of grass.
Redge
Oh my.
Jonathan
Yeah, he'd point out the shapes in the clouds.
Shepherd Boy
Oh look! There's a pot of narwhals. Oh, and over there, Eeyore. Thanks for noticing me. Oh, and Scooby. Zoink Scoob! Like we're clouds! Yeah, Scooby-Dooby Doo
Redge
Uh Who would he point them out to?
Jonathan
Well nobody. He was all alone. Besides the grazing sheep.
Redge
Ugh. Sheep smell like a porridge of dry dung in July.
Jonathan
Wow. And gross. So one day, an idea popped into his head. He stood up and started running down the hill, shouting Wolf!
Shepherd Boy
Wolf! A wolf is coming to steal our sheep and harm our town.
Redge, I thought we got past your drowsy dozing. Why are you interrupting again?
Redge
Well, my apologies, Jonathan. I'd love to venture beyond that point, but it's not the story that's boring me anymore. Now it's the villain.
Jonathan
The wolf?
Redge
Precisely. I simply cannot support a wolf being the scapegrace coistrel again. It's trite. The big bad wolf and the three little hedgehogs, the wolf who dressed like Ninja Granny in little red, and now this wolf in sheep's clothing.
Jonathan
Oh, Redge, you're being silly. And half the words you're saying are old English. If you just listen to the story, you'll soon see how this story is different.
Redge
I'd rather not, Jonathan. I find this wolf story repetitive and humdrum.
Jonathan
But wolves are terrifying. Their teeth and claws, their growl, their
Redge
Jonathan, that was a great impression. But no. I find I must put my paw down this time. I'm tired of wolves.
Jonathan
So you won't let me continue telling the story unless the villain is something other than a wolf.
Redge
Precisely.
Jonathan
And uh who, may I ask, would you rather the shepherd boy yells approaching the town? Who is scarier than a wolf?
Redge
A hedgewolf?
Jonathan
A hedge wolf.
Redge
What did did I stutter?
Jonathan
What's a what's a hedgewolf?
Redge
Oh, it's one of the most frightening creatures. Half mad hedgehog, half horrifying werewolf. It's one of the most underrepresented baddies of all lore. Mother hedgehogs used to warn all of their insolent little piglets to behave or risk incurring the wrath of the fearsome hedgewolf. Always got me into bed on time.
Jonathan
Hmm. Well, all my years of telling tales, and I've never even heard of a hedgewolf.
Redge
Oh, consider yourself lucky. I've had many sleepless nights due to fear.
Jonathan
Okay, so if I make the villain of this story a hedgewolf, you'll stop loudly falling asleep, and I can continue.
Yes, among other inconveniences. Like stealing one's Netflix password.
Jonathan
Uh mind if I leave the less scary inconveniences out? This is getting complicated.
Redge
Fine, fine, my good man, but ineffective communication and purloining passwords are real fears that shouldn't be underestimated.
Jonathan
Right. Uh another time, Redge, another time. Because now the townspeople were up in arms. They came running to the shepherd boy, brandishing pitchforks and flaming torches. But as they reached the bottom of the hill, their angry faces softened into confusion. People's eyes started around, and their pace slowed. Where is the w hedgewolf?
Redge
Ah, good catch.
Jonathan
Thanks. Where's the hedge wolf? The not so angry but more confused mob asked the shepherd boy. But he couldn't answer. He was too busy slapping his knee and doubling over in giggling glee. The crowd began extinguishing their torches in the dirt. A couple people even walked away, but an old woman in the front spoke up.
Old Woman
You shouldn't lie about hedgewolves. One day you'll soon understand why.
Redge
Ooh, wow, ominous.
Jonathan
Yes, it was pretty scary, Redge. The Shepherd Boy watched as all of the villagers turned around and headed back into town. He wiped a tear from his eye.
Redge
From crying, from guilt?
Jonathan
Well no, because he had been laughing so hard. You see, the shepherd boy really didn't take the villagers' reactions or warnings to heart.
Redge
Well, that's unfortunate. Is that the story then?
Jonathan
Ah, there's more Redge.
Redge
Oh goodness.
Jonathan
Yep. The shepherd boy overlooked the woman's warning and continued to chuckle to himself as he walked home, guffawed as he put the sheep in their pen, and even snorted as he brushed his teeth before bed.
Redge
Ugh, probably spit toothpaste all over the bathroom doing that.
Jonathan
Yeah, most likely he had to wash the mirror. But he didn't care. In fact, the shepherd boy woke the next morning still amused about his prank. He kept thinking how clever he was and how silly he made those people look. All the way into the next afternoon as he sat on the hill and watched his flock of sheep graze in the valley. And then an idea came
Yes, again. The shepherd boy wanted to prank the town another time.
Redge
How rude!
Jonathan
Extremely.
Redge
He didn't have one moment of doubt.
Jonathan
Nope. The shepherd boy, having grown bored just thinking about his prank from the previous day, decided he'd do it again.
Redge
Now I'm starting to regret the hedge wolf suggestion.
Jonathan
Oh, why?
Redge
Well it's not a funny thing to shout. It's truly dangerous.
Jonathan
Well, so is crying wolf.
Redge
Boring!
Jonathan
Okay, okay. We're sticking with hedgewolf. Though I'm pretty sure that's not a real thing.
Redge
Keep saying that, and the hedge wolf will get you.
Jonathan
Ah, is that a threat, Reginald?
Redge
Well I don't control the devilish impulses of a half mad hedgehog, half werewolf.
Jonathan
Oh, that's too many halves. It's gotta be quarter mad hedge, which, by the way, is a plant, and then another quarter mad hog, a quarter wolf? Quarter human?
Redge
My lineage is not comprised of beings that are half shrubbery, half pig, nor human. You know what a hedgehog is, right?
Jonathan
I guess I assumed you'd tell me sometime.
Redge
It's called Google, Jonathan. Anyway, I'm a fairly common mammal on multiple continents. Distant cousin of the shrew, who has nothing to do with porcupines or pigs. My family just happens to live in lush gardens and have cute snouts. That's all. Nothing to be ashamed of. Anyway, weren't you telling some story that I was fact checking? We're not mathematicians. Let's stick to what we know, shall we?
Jonathan
That was enlightening. Thanks for sharing, Redge.
Redge
Well some poor soul's gotta do it.
Jonathan
So the shepherd boy was bored.
Redge
Again
Jonathan
Yes, bored again, just like you. And he was ready for a prank again, as he watched his sheep graze in the valley. So he called to the village.
Shepherd Boy
Hedgewolf! Hedgewolf! A hedgewolf is chasing my sheep!
Redge
The villagers won't fall for it another time.
Jonathan
But they did. The villagers came running with their pitchforks and torches. A mob of people ready to defend their town and livestock from the hedge wolf. But when they reached the shepherd boy, you guessed it, Redge, they saw no hedge wolf. Their faces quickly turned to anger, as they only saw the shepherd boy laughing at how they believed him again.
Shepherd Boy
Ha ha ha! Oh, you're all so gullible!
Jonathan
He taunted them as they angrily snuffed their torches and returned home. They weren't confused this time. This time they were angry with the boy. Before they left, the old woman stepped forward from the crowd.
Old Woman
I thought I warned you to stop crying Hedgewolf, Shepherd Boy. No good can come from this.
Shepherd Boy
Ha! You foolish woman! The sheep are fine, and the town is fine. I'm just having a laugh. Get over it.
Redge
Sounds like the shepherd boy needs a nap and an attitude adjustment.
Jonathan
He really does. But that's not what he did.
Redge
Oh let me guess. He dismissed the old lady, went home chuckling, and laughed his way through dinner.
Jonathan
Yep. And for dinner that night, they had soup. So it was messy.
Redge
And then he probably laughed his way through brushing his teeth and readying for bed too.
Jonathan
Toothpaste everywhere.
Redge
Oh tell me I'm wrong, Jonathan, but did he wake up the next morning still laughing about his prank?
Jonathan
Sorry to say it, Redge, he did. The shepherd boy was very proud of his joke. So proud that the next day, as his flock grazed in the field, he began to tire of counting blades of grass or finding shapes in clouds.
But you can't, and he was all alone on that hill. No warnings from the old woman stuck. So the young shepherd boy stood up on the hill, looking down at his flock of sheep, filled his lungs with air, and then he saw something peculiar.
Redge
What?
Jonathan
The sheep were running. The shepherd's flock was clearly scared of something. Was it a hawk? No, the skies were clear. Was it a snake? No, the sheep could sidestep a tiny snake.
Redge
What was it?
Jonathan
There was a big, shadowy figure looming over the flock of terrified sheep. It had big fangs like a wolf, but it stood on hind legs like a human.
Redge
A werewolf?
Jonathan
But it also had spines up and down its back like a porcupine and a cute snout like a shrew.
Redge
No!
Jonathan
Yes, an actual hedge wolf was coming for the shepherd boy's flock
Redge
Oh this is terrifying. I've got goosebumps.
Jonathan
Not bored any more, Redge?
Redge
Oh goodness no. Keep going, but also hold me close
Jonathan
Okay, Reg. Hop into my arms. Ow
Redge
Oh sorry, my quills are a defense mechanism. And I'm quite afraid right now.
Jonathan
Oh it's uh Ah it's okay. I wish I had worn gloves. But uh back to the story. The hedge wolf was there, in the valley below the shepherd, chasing his sheep, and once he ate them, there was no doubt he'd move on to the townspeople. The shepherd had to warn everyone.
Redge
But
Jonathan
Exactly, but is right. But when the young shepherd called out to the town at the top of his lungs,
Shepherd Boy
Hedgewolf! Hedgewolf! A hedgewolf is attacking my sheep, and soon will come for the town.
Jonathan
Nobody came to his aid.
Redge
Oh, what a shame for the poor lad!
Jonathan
Such a shame. The old lady's warning had come true. When the townspeople heard his calls, they thought he was playing a trick on them again. So they didn't rush to his side, and the shepherd boy had no other choice than to hide in a tree at the top of the hill. However, when the day came to an end and the villagers saw that no sheep or shepherd boy had come home for supper, they began to worry.
Redge
Ooh, because he wasn't tossing his soup everywhere, or expectorating toothpaste all over the mirror?
Jonathan
Exactly. The shepherd boy's mother was quite worried, so she gathered the townspeople and searched for him in the dark. They went to the field and saw the flock of sheep had scattered. There were only a few shaking sheep surrounded by hoof prints in the mud, and next to them large paw prints with massive claws.
Old Woman
It's happened just like I warned him.
Jonathan
The old woman led the group with their torches up the hill, to where they knew the shepherd boy watched his flock. From his spot in the tree, he saw their torches nearing, so he climbed down to meet them. His knees and hands were scraped, clearly from a scramble up the tree, and his face was streaked with dry tears.
Redge
What a lesson for the chap.
Jonathan
Almost. When the boy approached the crowd, he shouted at them.
Shepherd Boy
It was true, it was true. The hedge wolf was really here, and he scared away the sheep. I think it ate one. I thought it was going to head to the town after.
Jonathan
The old woman stepped forward.
Old Woman
Well, I'm very grateful it didn't.
Shepherd Boy
But nobody came for me when I called.
Jonathan
The group turned and made their way back to the safety of town. The boy was confused and angry as they trudged home.
Shepherd Boy
Why did nobody hear me? he said to the old woman.
Old Woman
Because nobody believes a liar. Even when they're telling the truth.
And that's the lesson of the story. What do you think, Redge?
Redge
Oh terrifying.
Jonathan
I know.
Redge
The boy performed pranks so often that the townspeople thought he never told the truth. So when he finally said something honest, he was not believed. Oh I will never lie again.
Jonathan
Well, good. That is the lesson of the story. Still bored?
Redge
No, Jonathan, I must admit, but I won't be able to sleep tonight. I'm too scared.
Jonathan
Ah, don't worry, Redge. If you call for help, I'll believe you and come running.
Redge
Well, good sir. I'm not quite sure you should. See I kind of fibbed.
it. This has been a Jon in Character production. Today's story was written by Amy Thompson, edited by Molly Murphy, and performed by Jonathan Cormur. Sound recording and production by Jermaine Hamilton at Hamilton Studios. Reach out to us on Instagram or email us at DorkTalestorytime at gmail.com. Find links in the show notes or go to DorkTalesStorytime.com. Now, go be the hero of your own story, and we'll see you next once upon a time.
