Parents' Guide to

Dorktales Storytime Podcast

Podcast Kids & Family Independent Average run time: 20 minutes
Dorktales: Boy with hedgehog on his shoulder reads a book to forest animals.

Common Sense Media Review

Lakshmi Hutchinson By Lakshmi Hutchinson , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 5+

Inclusive and fun stories inspired by fairy tales & history.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 5+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

age 4+

Based on 3 parent reviews

age 2+

Funny and fascinating takes on tales !

Our family has been a fan for years! Dorktales presents classic stories and under-sung heroes of history in unique, humorous and heartfelt ways. Jonathan is an amazing performer and the whole team does a great job.
age 5+

Educational and Entertaining

We love Dorktales Storytime Podcast!! It is full of educational value and great messages. I also love how they are able to insert humor that both kids and parents enjoy. This is our #1 go-to podcast!

What's It About?

In each episode of DORKTALES STORYTIME PODCAST, host Jonathan Cormur and his hedgehog sidekick, Redge, present either a unique twist on a fairy tale or a profile of a lesser-known trailblazer from history. The lovable kids' podcast takes a familiar tale and shifts it to be relatable to kids' current experiences in the world (for example, "The Midas Touch" is reimagined as "The Golden Touch Screen," a relatable story about being appreciative and grateful for what matters most in life rather than getting the latest phone). The "Hidden Heroes of History" episodes celebrate inspirational people who contributed in major ways to American history or made an impact in the arts, sciences, or math. Many of the individuals profiled are women or people of color who persevered in their fields despite challenges, like Japanese American sculptor Ruth Asawa or African American scientist and innovator George Washington Carver. Throughout the episodes, Redge asks questions of Jonathan that help with explaining difficult concepts, definitions, or sensitive topics like racism. The lesson or main takeaway is reinforced at the end of each episode.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (3 ):
Kids say: Not yet rated

This is an entertaining and educational podcast that's perfect for family listening. While Dorktales Storytime Podcast is aimed at kids, there are enough pop culture references to keep adults entertained. Having Redge as a sidekick is a great idea, because it makes the show more conversational, and Redge can ask the questions that may be on listeners' minds and helps to spark fun discussions between kids and adults. It should be noted that some of the extended banter between Jonathan and Redge at the start of the episodes may be lost on younger listeners.

Jonathan Cormur does an impressive job of incorporating social-emotional lessons and messages about inclusion into the featured stories. The "Hidden Heroes of History" episodes stand out for being educational, age-appropriate, and thoughtfully done. Kids listening to these episodes will learn a lot about important diverse figures in American history, many of whom they may not hear about in school. Some kids may prefer the fictional tales and others may like the historical profiles more -- since the episodes are stand-alone, they can choose their favorites or get a nice combination of both.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how Dorktales Storytime Podcast puts a new spin on familiar tales. Can you think of other stories that have been "rebooted"? Do you like to hear more than one version of a story? What are some reasons these older fairy tales can use an update?

  • The "Hidden Heroes of History" episodes include many inspiring women and people of color who you may not have heard of. Why do you think some histories or historical figures are not discussed as much or featured in history books? What are some ways to expand our understanding of history?

  • This podcast promotes empathy, gratitude, perseverance, and courage. Why are these important character strengths?

Podcast Details

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