logo
episode-header-image
Mar 2020
28m 36s

The Magic Seed with Dan Gutman

LITERARY SAFARI
About this episode

The Story Seeds Podcast kicks off Season One with a collaboration between our 11 year old creative rockstar Hannah and  Dan Gutman, best-selling author of the My Weird School series! 

On this episode, Dan Gutman helps Hannah grow her story seed:

A girl and boy find a magic seed that grows into a plant that sparks whatever they want on command. They wish for small things. They're not greedy. One day, an evil person steals the plant and uses it for bad things. The girl and the boy learn that there's a twin seed that stops the evil from spreading. They have to travel all over to find the seed.

Follow Dan and Hannah's Story Seeds adventure with our host Betsy Bird as they: 

  • Meet up in person and take a field trip to Dear Mama Coffee on the Columbia University science campus (Jerome L. Greene Science Center) in New York City
  • Drink yummy hot chocolate
  • Brain dump their writing ideas (should the story be set in Alaska?) on index cards
  • Meet a money tree named Jude.

The episode concludes with a storytime segment (14:26) where our featured author reads  the story they grew together: The Magic Seed!

Books mentioned in this episode: My Weird School series, The Kid Who Ran For President, My Weird Writing Tips, and Million Dollar Shot by Dan Gutman. 

Calls to Action

Bonus Episode: Check back next week to hear Betsy's interview with Dan Gutman. You’ll hear more about how he decided to become an author and get a few Dan-approved writing tips. Who knows? You could become really famous if you use them :) 

Get our Imagination Lab: Experiments in Creativity activity book! It pairs perfectly with the podcast and features tons of episode-inspired prompts and projects! Order your copy here!

Kids: How would you continue "The Magic Seed?"  Call The Story Seeds Hotline with your ideas at 646-389-5153 and let us know. You can also leave us a message with your own story seed (idea)  for a chance to be featured on a future episode. 

Grownups: Join our mailing list at www.storyseedspodcast.com for news and updates. You can also follow us on Instagram @storyseedspod, on Twitter @litsafarimedia and on Facebook @literarysafari

This episode is also available on YouTube. Subscribe here.

Show credits

Produced and written by Sandhya Nankani and Anjali Sakhrani. Kayla Fedeson is our Associate Producer. Scoring, mixing, and sound design is by Ania Grzesik and Matt Boynton of Ultraviolet Audio. Our field audio was recorded by James Boo. And thank you to our very special child handler, Amrita!

Love our theme song? We do too! It's by Andrew VanWyngarden, Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter/musician and co-founder of MGMT.

The Story Seeds Podcast is a creation and production of Literary Safari www.literarysafari.com.

Up next
Apr 2022
Whoa, a Webby Award Nomination for our Podcast!
Since 1996, The Webby Awards have honored the best of the Internet, so it is kind of a big deal that our small and independently produced podcast is nominated for one this year! The episode we are nominated for is Episode 11: "A Nose that Knows" which brought together nine-year o ... Show More
2m 34s
Nov 2021
Bonus Q&A: Betsy Bird Interviews Katherine Applegate
Listen along as host Betsy Bird and Newbery Award-winning Katherine Applegate have a fun and heartwarming conversation about what it was like working with 9 year old Jocelyn in a special presentation of The Story Seeds Podcast which raises awareness of childhood cancer. In the in ... Show More
21m 48s
Oct 2021
A Nose that Knows with Katherine Applegate
This special Story Seeds collaboration brings together nine-year old Jocelyn and Newbery Award-winning Katherine Applegate, author of The One and Only Ivan and Willodeen.Katherine helps Jocelyn grow this story idea:My story seed is about a super service dog (based off of my own d ... Show More
41m 49s
Recommended Episodes
Jul 14
66. An Interview with Abacus
Find out more about Abacus P. Grumbler and see if Mr Eric can survive his magic! Lessons include: Titles and objects don’t make you what you are, thinking outside the box can get unexpected results. This remastered episode has higher quality and better-balanced sound with new sou ... Show More
15m 49s
Jun 2
356. Dear Prudence, the Giant Sheepdog
Fred the Dog teams up with Prudence to save a herd of sheep from an evil wizard and cat duo! Lessons include: This fully improvised episode offers tips on telling off-the-cuff stories with your friends and family. Please Subscribe and show your Support! New supporters can listen ... Show More
16m 14s
Dec 2024
S22 Ep2: NoSleep Podcast S22E02
It's Episode 02 of Season 22. The voices are calling with tales of sinister solutions. "Bank Deposits" written by Blair Daniels (Story starts around 00:04:00) TRIGGER WARNING! Produced by: Jeff Clement Cast: Lynn - Erin Lillis, Jerry - Kyle Akers "The 17" written by Adrian DeLeon ... Show More
1h 21m
Jun 9
183. Zero Hour: The Hidden Holiday
Alabaster Zero and Fair Elise share the first episode of their detective show, which was inspired by a listener's question! Lessons include: we can make the best of the holidays, even when they change; our big feelings are the most important to share. We are replaying this classi ... Show More
22m 47s
Dec 2024
S22: NoSleep Podcast Holiday Hiatus 2024 #1
The NoSleep Podcast is taking a Christmas break but that doesn't mean there aren't some Christmas specials to enjoy! "Christmas Santa" written by Jill Benson (Story starts around 00:05:30) Produced & scored by: David Cummings Cast: Narrator - Peter Lewis, Police Officer - Erin Li ... Show More
2h 4m
Jul 21
361. Zora and Nora vs. the Math Monsters
The forest monsters, Scushroom and Crabimedes, need your help in this fully improvised story. Just remember, math and magic don’t mix! Lessons include: When you make up a story with a friend, treat every detail as a gift. Please Subscribe and show your Support! New supporters can ... Show More
17m 32s
Aug 18
364. Ryan asks: What if a weird antidote turned you into a shark? (w/Brian Yanish)
Shark and Bot, the famous kids’ comic book characters, visit What If World along with their creator, Brian Yanish. Of course, Brian quickly gets turned into a shark-man by Abacus P. Grumbler… Lessons include: Art takes practice, but that’s part of the fun! This week, we’re joined ... Show More
27m 38s
Feb 2025
343. Lincoln asks: What if the Learninator was interviewed?
We meet the Learninator’s whole family and discover the secrets of time travel. Get ready for lots of lasers and chrome!Lessons include: family celebrates who you are, not who they want you to be; imagine the future you want, then start taking steps to make it happen!Please Subsc ... Show More
22m 10s
Jul 27
S23 Ep4: NoSleep Podcast S23E04
It's Episode 04 of Season 23. Tune in for tales about childish chills. "We found an old refrigerator and my friend won't stop pretending to be stuck inside" written by Quincy Lee(Story starts around 00:04:40) Produced by: Jeff Clement Cast: Narrator - Jeff Clement, Zazz - Atticus ... Show More
1h 17m
Apr 2025
153. Liv asks: What if clocks were bananas and monkeys ate time?
Today, we learn about Mr. Eric as he travels back in time. Can he stop the Time Monkey, or will he get stuck in his past? Lessons include: Our past helps shape who we are today, even the parts that aren’t so great; new challenges are always scary, but they can help us learn about ... Show More
18m 30s