Lions and Legends

About Lions and Legends

Produced by Rebecca Sheir and Eric Shimelonis, original creators of Circle Round, Lions and Legends presents fun, fantastical retellings of legends, myths, folktales, and fables through the ages.

Publisher

Rebecca Sheir and Eric Shimelonis

Category

education · kids & family

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

2 Jun 2026

Latest episode

3 Nov 2026

Latest episodes

14 of 19 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   3 Nov 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Flight of the Black-Winged Stingray: A Māori Pūrākau

   Host Rebecca Sheir narrates a Māori pūrākau about a young stingray protecting her ocean home, offering listeners a timeless tale of bravery.

2. 

   27 Oct 2026TRANSCRIPT

   The Game That Changed Time: An Egyptian Myth

   Host Rebecca Sheir narrates an Egyptian myth where a god challenges the moon to a cosmic board game to reverse a solar curse.

3. 

   20 Oct 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Why The Echidna Has Spines: A Djaru Dreaming Story (Live in NYC)

   Host Rebecca Sheir shares a Djaru Dreaming creation story explaining how the echidna received its spines in this live interview episode.

4. 

   13 Oct 2026TRANSCRIPT

   The Day The Jellyfish Got Squished: A Japanese Folktale (Live in NYC)

   Host Rebecca Sheir narrates a live retelling of a Japanese folktale where a monkey's mischief gives the jellyfish its jelly, featuring guest voice actors.

5. 

   6 Oct 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Two Sides of the Coin: A Chinese Parable

   Host Rebecca Sheir shares a Chinese parable illustrating the dangers of hasty judgments and the value of patience.

6. 

   29 Sept 2026TRANSCRIPT

   The Dog With the Spark and No Bark: A Nyanga Myth

   Rebecca Sheir narrates a Nyanga myth from the Congo about a dog's defiance of a deity, explaining why basenjis don't bark and forever changing hound history.

7. 

   22 Sept 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Grunt Work: A Turkish Folktale

   Host Rebecca Sheir shares a Turkish folktale where a trickster teaches a lesson on integrity and fairness through the story of a woodcutter and farmer.

8. 

   15 Sept 2026TRANSCRIPT

   The Infinite Appetite: An Indian Purana

   Host Rebecca Sheir narrates an Indian Purana where Kubera, the god of wealth, learns a lesson about generosity from the elephant god's infinite appetite.

9. 

   8 Sept 2026TRANSCRIPT

   How the Honey Bees Got Their Sting: A Greek Fable

   Host Rebecca Sheir narrates a Greek fable exploring how unkindness harms everyone, teaching that practicing kindness makes the world sweeter.

10. 

    1 Sept 2026TRANSCRIPT

    The King of Beasts and the Queen of Brains: A Swahili Folktale

    Host Rebecca Sheir narrates a Swahili folktale where a clever hare outsmarts a hungry lion, highlighting the virtue of quick thinking.

11. 

    1 Sept 2026TRANSCRIPT

    Skuba and the Dragon: A Polish Legend

    Host Rebecca Sheir narrates the Polish legend of Skuba and the Dragon, revealing how a clever shoemaker outsmarts a beast and explaining Krakow's dragon lore.

12. 

    1 Sept 2026TRANSCRIPT

    The Flash and the Crash: A Cambodian Myth

    Rebecca Sheir narrates a Cambodian myth where a goddess and a giant clash, explaining the origins of thunder and lightning.

13. 

    25 Aug 2026TRANSCRIPT

    Audio Appetizer: Settling the Score

    Host Eric Shimelonis shares how his diverse musical talents and collaborative spirit shape the scores for "Lions and Legends" in this interview.

14. 

    11 Aug 2026TRANSCRIPT

    Audio Appetizer: Setting the Fable

    Host Rebecca and guest Eric explore the enduring power of fables, revealing their surprising connections to modern culture and storytelling.

15. 

    28 Jul 2026

    Audio Appetizer: Once Upon a Folktale

    Host Rebecca Sheir explores the enduring global reach and timeless appeal of folktales in this interview episode.

16. 

    14 Jul 2026

    Audio Appetizer: Living Legends

    Host Rebecca Sheir explores the origins and evolution of legends, revealing how kernels of truth transform into captivating tales.

17. 

    30 Jun 2026

    Audio Appetizer: Myth Understood

    Rebecca Sheir and Eric Shimelonis explore the surprising connections between ancient myths and modern life in this interview episode.

18. 

    16 Jun 2026

    Audio Appetizer: The Lion and the Donkey

    Host Rebecca Sheir shares a mini-tale from ancient times, featuring her "League of Lions" in this interview episode.

19. 

    2 Jun 2026

    Introducing Lions and Legends!

    Storytellers Rebecca Sheir and Eric Shimelonis introduce their new podcast, "Lions and Legends," offering fantastical retellings of timeless tales for hope and wisdom.

Inside a recent episode

Flight of the Black-Winged Stingray: A Māori Pūrākau

Published 3 Nov 2026 · Transcript excerpt

[…] They caught only what they needed to feed themselves and their families, and everything was in balance. But, as we all know, since those long-ago days, our world has gotten a whole lot bigger, a whole lot busier and faster. In many places, peace and quiet are quickly giving way to hustle and bustle. […]

Who has been a guest on Lions and Legends

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Evan Casey
• GM Hakim
• Bradley Foster Smith
• Stephanie Y Wang
• Mairi Dorman-Phaneuf

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.7 / 5

300 ratings

Contact Lions and Legends

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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• 

  Circle Round

• 

  Forever Ago

• 

  Smash Boom Best: A funny, smart debate show for kids and family

• 

  The Midnight Rebellion

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  Brains On! Science podcast for kids

• 

  Story Pirates

Questions about Lions and Legends