Muse

Lemonada. kids to stay creative this summer without screens. First, we have the Story Pirates Summer Survival Kit, which has weeks worth of activities and story sparks to help turn summer boredom into creativity. And best of all, it's free for everyone and anyone grownups. Just head to storypirates.com slash podcast to get your summer survival kit today. But wait, Lee, didn't you say there were two exciting ways for kids to stay creative this summer? Yes, you bet I did. Get ready for the Summer Story Challenge. So I hear from kids all the time that they're working on a story to send us or even that they're just thinking about writing us a story. Well, if that sounds like you, then this summer is your chance to get over the hump because the Summer Story Challenge is about sending us as many stories as you can write. And guess what? They don't have to be perfect. In fact, they shouldn't be perfect. As you know, stories can be one or two sentences long even. Some of our best stories are like that. Excuse me, cats sit on you, anyone? So much of being a storyteller is about sitting down and writing even when, maybe even, especially when you're not sure what you're doing. So this summer, we're challenging you to write as many stories as you can. And this is the really cool part. For the first time ever, we are going to have a leaderboard. All summer long, the top 10 kids who send us the most stories will show up on the leaderboard on our website. And at the end of the summer, the top 10 kids will be invited to a special pizza party Zoom with me, where we'll talk about all of the amazing things that you wrote. Plus, I'll be shouting out kids all summer long on the podcast. And all kids who send us stories as part of the challenge will get a certificate at the end of the summer. And of course, story love from us telling you how much we loved your stories. But here's the little catch. To help us manage all these stories, the Summer Story Challenge is for Creator Club members only. But don't worry, being in the Creator Club grownups is only $5 a month. And if your family's experiencing financial hardship, you can let us know, and we will definitely work it out that your kids can join anyway.

And maybe you forgot, but Creator Club members also get double the amount of new episodes this summer, and they're all ad-free. Best of all, supporting us in this way is going to help Story Pirates keep on keeping on. It's tough out there for kids' podcasts right now, so we need all the help we can get. But here's what I do know. Joining Creator Club is totally worth it. And this summer, it's even more worth it. Learn more and join Creator Club for just $5 a month on storypirates.com slash podcast. And remember, that's also where you can get your free summer survival guide. OK, now on to part two of our big season eight finale after a few more words for the grownups. Previously on the Story Pirates Podcast. Well, Storyteller Con, what do you think about imagination now?

We all agree that imagination is bad. We all agree that imagination is bad. Oh, no. They're all brainwashed.

Lee, what are we going to do? we're going to go out there and celebrate the words and ideas of young people. Who's with me? I'm in. Me too.

We're all in. In deep trouble, you mean. Nugget, what are you doing here? I'm here in case you didn't immediately give up, at which point I was going to pull this lever that will send you down that giant trap door you're standing on so that the evil robot story pirates can then pretend to be you for your big presentation to concede defeat, thus ending the story pirates podcast forever. But, Nugget. My name is Evil Robot Peter Lever-Pulled. Lee, you've been sitting there sighing dramatically since we got trapped in this cage.

I know, Rachel. But what else is there to do but sigh dramatically?

I'm sorry. I know it isn't a competition, but you call that a dramatic sigh? You're right, Megan. It's not a competition. Okay, fine. I will show you how it's done. Eric, say something that would elicit a woeful response.

A what?

Something that will make me feel woeful.

What does woeful mean, exactly? I can answer that question, Eric. If you're feeling woeful, you probably just ate an entire pizzeria's supply of reserve mozzarella after getting locked in their walk-in freezer.

Peter, what? Did that happen to you?

It did, Niminy. And when I was done, I was like, Woeful!

No, Peter.

Yes, Megan, I was.

No, woeful as in unhappy, miserable, woebegone. What does woebegone mean?

I can answer that, Rachel. Have you ever been trying to get a bee out of your room when suddenly you realize it's already gone and you're like, whoa, bee?

No, Peter. Woebegone just means sad. Somebody say something that will make me sad so I can show Lee what a dramatic sigh is supposed to sound like.

Uh, okay. The evil robot story pirates are about to go on stage and pretend to be us to disband the story pirates forever and all hope is lost? That was pretty good That's a pro How does she do it?

Thank you, thank you Now that's how you express melancholy

I tried to eat a melancholy once Turns out it wasn't actually made of melon

Oh, Peter Ooh, Lee

That was a good one

Thanks

It just filled me up with joy My mom loves the jokes Yo, yo, my jokes It made me very proud about my sighting But I just thought of toilets Because what's more funny than toilets? I definitely think I can be more creative now I'm the champion The Story Pirates

welcome back to the story pirates podcast everyone where we take stories written by kids

and turn them into sketch comedy and songs at least for a little while longer until those evil

robot story pirates destroy our reputation and turn the world against us if we could only get

out of this cage not possible nugget i have told you my name is not nugget i am evil robot peter i I know you don't remember the fun time we had together at that water park, Nugget, but I do. That's how I know that your real name is Nugget. And then you love snacks and silliness and stories written by kids. Gross, yuck, barf. More like, I hate all those things.

What are you even doing here? Shouldn't you be with the rest of the evil robot story pirates getting ready to go on stage and pretend to be us?

I was, but evil robot Lee told me to come down here to keep watch over you prisoners. Why you? Well, Evil Robot Lee says that ever since the water park incident, I haven't been operating at my optimal capacity.

What does that mean?

Nothing. It just means that I've been slightly glitch, glitch, glitch, glitchy. Excuse me. Huh. Um, hey Nugget, since the story pirates are about to be disbanded forever, you know what might be nice? Do not say snacks. I wasn't going, actually, let's put a pin in that idea. But no, I was going to say, one more story. A story from a kid? But stopping you from performing stories written by kids is kind of the whole point.

What's the harm in just one more story?

Well, well, well, well, well, well. All right, but just one.

Great. Here's one last story. Listeners, this song was written by another amazing author whose school took part in our StoryQuest program StoryQuest is a digital storytelling curriculum where you get to listen to custom podcast episodes And learn the building blocks of writing a story Anyway, here's the author to introduce their story

Hi, my name is Ethan, I'm 10 years old and I live in Indiana This is my story, Coco's Crazy Schedule

All right, today's the day I, Coco, finally become the axolotl I've always wanted to be. No more dragging my little translucent feet. They say axolotls never fully mature, but they've never met Coco. Ooh, hot Coco, my favorite. drink and my namesake. Anyway, I've put together a strict, crazy schedule to keep me on track,

as long as I don't get distracted, which I won't. In fact, let me go through my schedule one more time. Step one. Get up at 11 a.m. Step two. Drink my breakfast cocoa. Step three. Then run 8,000 miles. Step four. Drink my lunch cocoa. Step five. Take a nap for two whole minutes. Drink dinner, coffee, then go to bed The best thing to do after coffee Then wake up and do it all again I'm Coco, I've got a crazy schedule I may be small, but my dreams are supersized So I wrote them down to keep them on a night sign Cocoa. I've got a crazy schedule. No one could ever call me lazy, cause my schedule is so crazy.

Now there's only one thing to do. My schedule.

Step one. Get up at 11 a.m. Step two. Drink my breakfast cocoa. Step three. There's a truck that says sugary ice cream.

Ooh, wait, sugary ice cream? Ah! Ah, at last, I finally got my ice cream. Nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom.

Now here comes a sugar rush. Ah! Please don't go. Yeah, I've got a sugar rush. Sugar rush rush. Time is short, it's not to be wasted. wasted lots of buffet and as big as if he tasted Coco, I think I was supposed to be doing something else Oh well who cares, you know it sounds like fun Going for a sugar dump, life is too fun Then Coco ran, tens a million miles That's ten to the thirty-first power Then one thousand laughs around his world That's right, we're not on Earth Now that that's a wrap, I'm gonna drink my lunch, coke, coke, then take a nap. No way, over there. What is that? It's roughly 10 to the 44th power donuts.

I'm gonna eat all those donuts.

Nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom

I'm a universal, unenknownst to you and me, I'm an axolotl D&T, and that was Coco's crazy, that was Coco's crazy, schedule, don't worry, I can recreate the universe tomorrow, I'll just put it on the schedule. And now, Lee speaks with the author.

Hi, Ethan. You wrote the story Coco's Crazy Schedule.

Yes, I did.

Can you tell me how you got the idea for that story?

Well, I was thinking that since I'm very crazy, I could put that into a character. And then I basically just made it that he was, like, a very crazy, awesome axolotl.

So are you trying to tell me that your schedule is just as crazy as Coco's?

Sometimes it is.

Do you also get out of bed at 11 and then drink breakfast cocoa?

In the weekends, I do.

Do you have a routine that you follow every day?

I try to make sure that, like, after school, I have time that I can play basketball or do some other fun hobbies that I have, like coloring and stuff.

That's amazing. Why did you choose an axolotl as the main character in your story? And how did you choose the name Coco for the axolotl?

That is, like, my favorite animal. When I was making it, it was kind of in the wintertime, and I love hot cocoa during the wintertime. So that's what I was thinking of.

For anyone listening who doesn't know, can you tell me some facts about axolotls?

They only live in one specific place, and that's in a certain lake in Mexico. They're partially transparent. Axolotls can regrow their body parts and even some parts of their brain.

Whoa, that's amazing. So at the end of your story, there is a very, very interesting detail where it says that Coco blew up the universe. Can you tell me about that?

Well, I mean, if you think about it, if he runs that many times around the whole planet, it would probably explode.

Does that expand to the entire universe then?

Kind of, because, like, all the energy goes into the blast of the planet and it basically explodes everything.

Does Coco survive that?

I think he has, like, a magical force field of sugar that protected him.

How does it feel to you when you write a story?

It feels really cool because, like, you get to basically experience a whole other world that you can completely make up.

Wow. That is such a cool way of putting it. Ethan, thank you so much for letting us perform your story.

You are welcome. Thank you for putting it on your podcast.

You are so welcome, my friend.

Bye, Ethan. Bye.

Wow, that was so good.

I didn't even feel like I was trapped in a cage.

That was such a great story. Don't you agree, Nugget? Yes, I particularly liked how full Coco's schedule was. Too full. Ha ha, ha ha. That was very good.

Wait, you did?

Yes. I mean, uh, no. Yuck. That story was horrible and silly. Children should be seen but not heard. I've said too much. Never mind.

You know, evil robot Peter, you're probably right

I am, question mark?

He is? Yes, we've done so many silly stories over the years You'd probably hate them if we told you about them Some of them are very, very silly, right guys?

Oh, right, how about cats sit on you?

Cats sit on you?

Yeah, cats sit on you, and sometimes they take over the school

Ha ha, that's so silly. I mean, illogical.

Remember that story, My Principal Ate a Worm, about a principal that has to eat a worm in front of the entire school? Yes, that was the first time we ever worked with DJ Squirmalot.

I love DJ Squirmalot, lot, lot, lot, lot. I mean, no I don't.

Or the story Air Hog, about a product that's just a balloon that you tie around your pet groundhog to keep it from getting dirty on the ground. Oh, I love that story.

Yeah, that's the one where we just keep screaming, Air Hog! Air Hog!

Air Hog!

Air Hog!

Ha ha ha, yes, Air Hog, Air Hog, no, I mean, no hog, no hog.

Or how about, My Mouth Ran Away? Once, my mouth ran away, yep, it did. My, my mouth ran away, boom, clap, ah.

Yes, yes, I love that story, no, no, warning, warning. Or how about that very silly story called the Robotics Engineering Doll? The story about the robot that was actually living? No, no, I do not feel. I am an evil robot. A robot who could feel and love

and know better than to turn on their friends. No, no, that's impossible. Not according to that song from season one called Nothing is Impossible.

Oh, that is an incredible song. Oh, no, error, error. Too silly, too silly. Resetting in three. No, two. Don't reset, Nugget. Not again.

Nugget, oh no. I thought that would work. I thought if we got him to remember how much fun stories by kids are, my friend would come back.

Oh, I'm so sorry, Peter. It was worth a try, but I think we have to accept that...

My name is... Nugget. Gasp!

Nugget, you're back!

And better than ever, let's get you out of that cage, cool guy.

Whoa, you just ripped the metal cage door off the frame.

Yeah, don't you have the key?

Oopsie, how silly of me. Ha, ha, ha, ha, I need a joke.

That's good, that's good. We're free!

Ladies and gentle storytellers, please gather in the main hall. Our final presentation from the Story Pirates will begin momentarily.

Come on, everyone. We have a presentation to give. Let's go!

We'll be right back after a few words for the grown-ups.

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Ladies and gentlemen, thank you all for coming to StorytellerCon. Now, there have been some rumors going around that all of us were brainwashed by the evil robot story pirates, which is why we all suddenly hate imagination, especially in the form of silly stories written by kids. But I don't think that's true, do you? No, we have not been brainwashed. We are individuals with our own opinions. See? Now for the final presentation of this year's StorytellerCon, please welcome to the stage the normal Story Pirates.

Hello, StorytellerCon. We are the regular human Story Pirates. I'm Lee. Gasp, am I right? Ha ha. Let's say hello to the rest of the crew.

I'm Nimini. Science. adventure, or whatever. I'm Rachel, obscure previous profession reference. I love chairs. I'm Megan, the one woman, one woman show machine, but not a machine, a human. And I'm Eric. These are real dreadlocks and not fake ones that I fashioned from the curtains in the green room.

We believe you. Good, because we have something important to announce. After a long career of adapting stories written by kids and turning them into sketch comedy and songs, we have realized that what we do is bad. Therefore, in front of the entire storytelling world, we are here to officially announce that the story pirates are not going anywhere. Gasp! The real human story pirates, I mean, quick, seize them! Nugget, pull the lever! Ah, but the trap door down to that cage isn't on the stage. No, because I hung the cage up here in the rafters. Huh? Evil robot Peter? Liverpool. We are trapped. No. And now, friends and storytellers, it's our turn to give our big presentation. You're too late, Leo Vertree. All the world's storytellers have turned against creativity, imagination, and silliness, and there's nothing you can say to change their minds. You're right, Evil Robot Lee. Yes, I am right. Whoa, wait. Did you say I'm right? I don't understand. Lee Overtree doesn't have the words to convince you of the power of creativity, imagination, and silliness. But I do have the words and ideas of tens of thousands of young people who have, for years, sent us their incredible, hilarious, and brilliant stories from all across the world. That's right.

Like this very real story from an eight-year-old from Kentucky named Ronan called Quack Quack about a duck whose name is Rat Poop.

Did she say Rat Poop?

Or this one from an eight-year-old from Michigan named Sadie called Roast Beef, the friendly dragon with eyes like mine.

about a girl who meets a dragon named Roastbeef that has blue eyes like her! Ha ha ha ha!

A dragon named Roastbeef? Most unusual. That is funny. Evil Robot Peter, I order you to stop this at once.

Or this story from two 10-year-olds from Texas named Wren and Valentina called The Revenge of Gummy McGumball Face.

That sounds really silly.

No, stop! These are too silly! Too silly! There's no such thing as too silly. It's easy to eat too much chili.

Or hike a trail that's too hilly. Or wear a shirt to work that's too frilly. But there's no such thing as too silly.

Just listen to the titles of these stories. From our ever-growing story inventory. These are from real kids around the earth Your laughs will prove exactly what they're worth

That's right, we have tens of thousands of incredible stories from kids everywhere Listen to these amazing titles

The Breakdance Ignite Teleporter Party The K-Pop Blizzard

That's not Wacky Jackie Annie Parentheses, not the movie Toey's Big Long Life

Butt McSpider Butt Oh, Brent Button No, it's the dentist! By a Borp You can listen to too much rockabilly But there's no such thing as too silly Hey, that's really funny

Yes, these stories all sound so creative So imaginative

But I thought we didn't like those things

Yeah, but why? I can't remember

Aw, who cares? Hey, everyone! I love silliness! Yeah! The caterpillar game show host! B.S. She's a princess! The cautious boy and the vivid frog! Mayonnaise tsunami!

Trumpet trouble!

No, no! Our plans are being ruined!

Coo on the shoe! It's too much fun! I cannot help myself! Ha ha ha! I'm overeating!

Fish don't do karaoke

Me too! I am laughing! I am laughing!

Laser dino disco dance-off The power of kids' creativity is too much I love these stories

The super duper realistic cauliflower scientist

This is all so inspiring It makes me want to ride a one robot woman show

You can use a bowl that's too spilly Or eat a pickle that's just way too dilly Or root too hard for the Phillies. But there's no such thing. There's no such thing.

There's no such thing. As too silly. Emergency reboot in three, two, one. Whoa!

What happened? It is the power of kids' stories. They are so creative and so funny that evil robots were no match for them.

Story pirates? Mr. Story! I have something to say to you and to this entire convention hall. Oh, no. Why do you sound angry?

Because it's a really effective dramatic device to build tension right before I say that you saved StorytellerCon! What? Everyone, let's hear it for the storytellers that saved us from a life without fun, without creativity, without silliness. Let's hear it for the Story Pirates! Wow, we did it! We really did it!

No, Eric, we didn't do it. The kids did. Let's hear it for our authors. For every kid that's ever written us a story. For every kid that's ever written any story.

For every kid who's told a joke, or played make-believe, or dared to think outside the box.

To all the kids around the world, you saved Story Pirates!

Hey, Story Pirates, you know what I think would be the perfect way to end this season? What's that, Nugget? With another story from a kid. Oh, yes, please!

That's the best idea I've ever heard. And here's another incredible author to introduce it.

Hi, my name's Ellie, and I'm 10 years old, and I live in Illinois. This is my story, The Advice Toilet.

Welcome to Fuel and Gotta Go, the New Jersey Turnpike's 48th best-reviewed gas station. How can I help you, kid? Hi, Mr. Gas Station employee. I'm a kid named Dude, and I need to go to the bathroom.

Can I get the bathroom key, please? You can, and you're in luck, KidNamedDude. We just installed a brand new toilet. I hope you find what you need in there. Uh, okay, sure, whatever, mister. I really gotta go. Okie dokie, here's the key. Enjoy, KidNamedDude. Thanks, now it'll run to the bathroom. Hoo-ha-hoo. Okay, I'm at the bathroom door. Time to put the key in the lock, then turn the key and open the door. Hello, toilet. Hello, kid. Oh, what? Oh, what? A talking toilet?

Yes. My advice, you need more fibers in your diet. Ew. Man, I did not ask for any kind of... No offense meant. I was only giving a little bit of advice. Advice such as follow your dreams, Kevin. Don't let them go down the drain.

Uh, my name isn't Kevin. It's Dude. I don't know if I can change my name.

You can do anything you set your mind to. My advice, take the plunge. Tell me, what are you going to do for your life, dude?

I don't know, toilet. I'm just a kid. My dad wants me to go to medical school. My mom wants me to go to lawyer college, so I'll probably do one of those. My advice, choose your own path, dude. Choose my own path?

Hey, kid, are you almost done in there? This is a public bathroom, and you've been in there for three hours.

Three hours? Time flows differently when you're discovering who you can become. Choose your own path, dude.

Yeesh. I will choose my own path out of this bathroom.

About time, kid. I gotta go. Wait, who were you talking to in there?

Ugh, this advice-giving toilet. It was giving me advice. So annoying, right? An advice-giving toilet?

This is great! I need advice!

Oh, well, help yourself, person wearing a big fancy suit.

Hello, toilet. I'm having trouble making decisions lately. What should I do?

My advice? Stop worrying about making the wrong decision. Follow your instincts.

Wow. I gotta tell everyone about this advice-giving toilet. I'm texting everyone I know. Advice-giving toilet. In the toilet. Come now. Everyone should be arriving at the gas station soon. I need advice. I could really use some help.

I have many problems.

Wow! In only three seconds, a thousand people showed up and got in line for the toilet. I guess the toilet is famous now?

I'm famous now? But do I really want to be famous? I ought to be overflowing with excitement. But what about my own dreams? What was that you just said to yourself quietly and dramatically, Toilet? Oh, it was nothing. Who else needs advice? Like this toilet tissue, I'm on a roll

Toilet, it's me, the person in the big fancy suit I'm taking your advice to, quote, follow my instincts See, I'm a big fancy producer And I want to make you a shiny porcelain star You and your advice are coming with me To Broadway To Broadway?

But I like it here in this bathroom

Come on, toilet Baby, sweetie, you'll be rich and famous And everyone will love you You'll make a huge splash on Broadway Toilet, is this what you want?

I, uh, well, I don't...

I won't take no for an answer. I'm taking you to Broadway.

Five years later. Welcome, audience, to Broadway. Now performing in its exciting fifth year at the James Earl Jones Theater, please enjoy tonight's performance featuring the world-famous Advice Toilet.

Thank you, sold-out audience. It's me, the Advice Toilet. It's time to start giving advice, just like I have been doing now for five long, long years on Broadway.

Hi, Toilet. Big fan. I feel like I'm always focusing on others. My advice? Focus on yourself.

Toilet, sometimes I just feel so angry. My advice? Stay calm. I'm kind of getting bored of giving advice all the time

Toilet, I'm going to ignore whatever you said quietly to yourself Tell me You, uh, you need to, I don't know, be yourself

That's my advice

Toilet baby, it's me, the big fancy Broadway producer I'm standing just off stage Are you okay?

To be honest, no

Oh, well that doesn't matter Just keep going. People love you. You're famous. And I, as a big fancy producer, will one day be famous too. Now go on, give some advice.

Once, back in my bathroom, I was overflowing with dreams of the direction my life might take. But that was a long time ago. I guess...

As a Toilet, I meant to flush my hopes away and learn to live down in the dumps.

Settle not for dream number one, but number two. Excuse me, Toilet? Sorry to interrupt your moment of introspection, but I think I'm next.

Yeah, I guess. Um, my advice, uh... Follow your dreams, Kevin? Sure, yeah.

Wait! That was the first advice I gave to? Me, a kid named Dude. Now a young adult named... Kevin? No, it still did. Oh. Well, dude, I missed you, buddy. How are you five years later? Did you go to medical school or lawyer college? No, because I took your advice and chose my own path. Now I own a Fortune 500 company that makes eco-friendly toilet paper. Easy on the pipes.

Bless you.

I followed my dreams. Toilet, you've given so much advice to others, but you've never stopped and given advice to yourself. So here's my advice. Choose your own path, advice Toilet.

Follow your instincts, Toilet. Focus on yourself, Toilet.

Add more fiber to your diet, Toilet. You're all right. No more going with the flow. It's time I do what I want with my toilet life. Time to follow my dreams.

Toilet, tell all of us here in this Broadway theater, what are you going to do for your life? I'm going to run for mayor. Wow. And guess what? The votes are in and you were elected!

Already?

Time flows differently on Broadway. Now, before we can celebrate, I do really need to do one thing. What's that? Go to the bathroom! I've been holding it in for five years! So have I! So have we!

Well, I guess we had to get to it at some point before the end!

And now, Lise speaks with the author.

Hey, Ellie, how are you? I'm good. So you wrote The Advice Toilet.

Yeah.

Can you tell me how you got the idea for that story?

I wanted to write to you guys, so I just wanted to come up with a really funny idea. So I just thought of toilets, because what's more funny than toilets? And then I thought, like, what would be something super nonsense that a toilet could do? And I thought, talk. So I decided to make the toilet talk and give advice.

The very first advice that the toilet gives dude is to follow his dreams and to choose his own path.

Yeah.

Do you feel like that's good advice?

Yeah. I mean, like, for anybody, it's really important to just, like, choose your own words and, like, do your own thing. Don't be the same as anyone else. Just be yourself.

I love that. Has there ever been a time in your life where you specifically chose your own path?

I was just in, like, a poetry contest. A lot of people were just, like, writing funny and silly poems. I wanted to do a poem that actually mattered to me.

Amazing. What was your poem about?

Waves. Because waves really calm me down. I love going to the beach because, like, I can actually hear them in person. Yeah. And I can just, like, hear the wind and waves and then feel the waves at my toes.

And what about follow your dreams? If you were going to follow that advice from your personal advice toilet, what would that mean for you?

I love writing. So one of my dreams is to be, like, an author. And I'm trying to be, like, a real author before I turn 12.

What are you doing to try to accomplish that?

I write, like, a new story every day. So I just have like piles of stories that I just have on hand. Most of the time I do fiction, but sometimes if I have like a lot of emotions and I need to get them out, I just write a poem that really like explains my feelings and I can just get it out on a piece of paper.

Well, I can tell you right now, based on everything that you're saying to me about how you write every day and the reasons you write and how much effort you're putting into it, You are already an author. You don't need a professional story published to be one. You already are one. Thanks. Are you the kind of person that people come to for advice? Or are you good at giving advice yourself?

I mean, yeah, I would say I am because I'm also in my school newspaper. And I'm kind of the advice girl. So that's another way I got the idea for advice.

Does your column have a name?

I named it Miss Know-It-All because, like, I know everything.

That is so good. Wow. As a prolific writer and the queen of advice, what kind of advice can you give to a kid who wants to write their own...

story for the Story Pirates podcast, but doesn't know where to start. Like I do, you could just

like look at something and come up with an idea or you can like ask other people for like ideas and then make your own ideas off of it. That's what I do sometimes. I ask my friends like for some crazy ideas and then I use some of the ideas and then I make my own story out of it.

Amazing. Ellie, you are extremely wise. Thank you for sharing the advice toilet with us, and thank you for sharing your advice with us. Of course. Bye.

Bye.

We'll be right back after New Words for the Grown-Ups.

Welcome back to Story Love, where we take stories written by kids and we talk about them. Now, here at Story Pirates, Peter, we get tens of thousands of stories a year. Did you know that? I do.

Sometimes I'll put them all in a big room and I'll swim in them like Scrooge McDuck.

Yeah. We respond to every single story we receive. And then some of the stories we get to put on the podcast. And some of them we get to talk about and read in today's segment of Story Love. Let's get into it, Peter. Would you read the first story?

I would and I will and I'm about to. Here I go. From a nine-year-old from Georgia named Madison, this is Barnaby, the super dog. Once upon a time, there was a dog named Barnaby, but he was not a normal dog. No, no, no. Because he had jetpack paws. He lived in a house made of waffles, and the roof was a giant strawberry. One day, Barnaby was hungry, so he ate the chimney, which was a chocolate bar. Then he accidentally pressed the red button on his paw and zoom, he flew into outer space. He saw a moon made of green cheese and a robot named Beep Boop, who was crying because he lost his screwdriver. Barnaby gave the robot a bone and the robot said, thanks, and gave Barnaby a laser sword. Then they fought a giant space taco that was trying to eat the stars. Barnaby used his jetpack To fly inside the taco And put extra spicy salsa on it So the taco sneezed And flew all the way to Mars Then Barnaby went home And his mom said Where were you? And he said Nowhere And then he ate some spaghetti And went to sleep The end Beautiful Wow

Action packed Barnaby, the super dog Madison What a fantastic story I think my favorite detail Is about Beep Boop the robot who's sad because he lost his screwdriver. A robot needs maintenance.

Right. And so you need a screwdriver to tighten as not your bolts. Doctor, heal thyself. You tighten screws with a screwdriver. Right. But yeah, he's sitting there and he's feeling like, ah, I cannot tighten my leg joint. Do you think he was on the moon or was he just floating around in space? He saw a moon made of green cheese and a robot named Beeper. I think he was on that moon. Yeah, I think you're probably right. Maybe his jet pack was loose and needed tightening so he couldn't leave the moon. Yeah. But Barnaby doesn't have a screwdriver. Barnaby says, I got a bone. So maybe he could fashion it into a screwdriver.

Yeah, that's what I was assuming is that he would carve the bone into a screwdriver. Maybe the robot said, oh, thank you.

Bone screwdriver. Yeah. You got a hand that can turn into different stuff.

Well done. Thank you. This action sequence with the taco is awesome. So Barnaby, it's interesting, though, because I would have assumed that Barnaby would use the laser sword to fight the giant space taco that's trying to eat the stars. That's just a prize. Right. But Barnaby goes inside the taco and uses one of the tacos' powers against it, extra spicy salsa. Put extra spicy.

He's like, oh, you think you're a spicy taco? I'll make you real spicy.

Ghost pepper.

Yeah. Ooh. Have you ever had that? No. You know what? I'm going to go out on a limb here and say they're hot enough. You're never going to have it? But they've made some hot sauces that are so hot, nobody enjoys them. I got to say, I love jetpack paws.

Yeah, it's really good.

It's a really great image.

Yeah.

Well, in my mind, he's mechanical. He's got jetpack paws.

So he might be made, oh, what if he's also a robot? He's not. But he's not a normal dog. No, it's certainly not. It says why he's not a normal dog, and it's because he has jetpack paws, and that's it.

Yeah, all right. You got me there. Okay. I love that he goes, I need to save the day by flying with my jetpack paws into the taco. I know.

Right? Because you know what they say, you can't go over it, and you can't go under it. Go into it. and make it explode.

Great story, Madison. Excellent work. All right, should I read this next one? Yes, please. This is from Grayson, a 12-year-old in Oregon, and this is called Cats Can Be Dinos Too. Cats are cats, dot, dot, dot, dot, dot, dot. Sometimes, and sometimes, they are dinosaurs. Fancy dinosaurs. T-end. That T-end is 100% on purpose, right? Oh, yeah, fancy dinosaurs. T-end.

And it's not a typo. One cube or two. I have two, please. Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding. There's nothing funnier than a humongous thing doing a dainty.

Yeah. It reminds me of that Story Pirates story, A Dinosaur Ate Me. Yes. Where the dinosaurs also drink tea. It's a different kind of tea. Do you remember what kind of tea it is? I think it was quote, unquote, poopy tea. Poopy tea. Poopy tea. In that song, Mandy Gonzales sings poopy tea in the most beautiful voice. It makes you almost want to try it. Not fully. But you're like, oh, maybe the... Not for me. Cats are cats. Sometimes and sometimes they are dinosaurs.

Now, this is the first thing that's intriguing. Sometimes and sometimes they are dinosaurs. Why are there two sometimeses?

Because it says cats are cats. Sometimes. And sometimes they are dinosaurs.

I didn't. I read it as cats are cats, period.

No, there's five dots here, or six. There's six of them. Oh, I see. It's a double ellipse.

Oh, so it's read this way. Cats are cats, sometimes. And sometimes they are dinosaurs. Fancy dinosaurs.

T-N. T-N.

Ding.

Incredible story, Grayson. It's like the performance is written into the very text. I love the brevity, the efficiency, the beauty. T-end. Best ending ever. T-end. All right, Peter, we got one more. You want to read it for us?

Yes. This story comes to us from a six-year-old from Florida named Apollo.

Whoa. Last episode we had an Orion, and now we have an Apollo. Oh, we're covering the heavens.

This story is called Cuz and Cuz Jr. Cuz and Cuz Jr. lived on a dry island that was once an ocean. There was a tree, but the tree became so brown they couldn't see it was there. It's because they have dark brown vision. One day, bad dragons who lived underground created evil storm clouds that never stopped raining. With all the rain, Cuz and Cuz Jr.'s vision turned blue, and they saw the tree. They decided to protect the tree. First, they build a sand protector, but it got too wet and it fell down. Next, they tried bricks, but they got shot by lightning and exploded. Finally, they tried cotton candy, but it caught fire. The fire got on the dragons and they flew away. They burned so badly, they had to shut their mouths. And the storms came from their mouths, so the storm stopped. Cuz and Cuz Jr. were so happy, the tree was safe. The end. Amazing. This story really feels like some sort of allegory or, like, origin story for civilization.

For how the world came to be.

Cuz and Cuz Jr. are at first learning to see the life around them.

Let's talk about the vision. Yes. Right? Because at first they couldn't see a brown tree because they have dark brown vision. So it, you know, it was invisible to them. That's incredible. Right? So, like, what is it that we can't see because of our vision?

Infrared light, ultraviolet. Right. There are animals that can see. No. Yeah. How do you know, though? Because they took a little under-the-sea shrimp and they probed it. they gave ultraviolet light to it and they could see its brain light up. How did they see that? I didn't do the test. I'm trusting peer-reviewed science. Okay. And there are some animals that can see beyond our spectrum. I don't know how much into the ultraviolet infrared. I mean, we got to ask one of those shrimp.

See, this is it. Science, how are you going to do that? You're going to put a ghost in front of a shrimp and see if his brain lights up? You're making me defend a thing I read not carefully enough. All right. But so then the cousin Cousin Jr.'s vision turns blue and they see the tree. And this was the moment that the world came alive to them.

And in my mind, it's the, oh, they saw something other than themselves.

And they decided to protect it. Yeah.

Other life. Right. What a beautiful way to see the world. We must protect this precious thing. Yeah, this is an environmental allegory. I think I'm with you right there. Yeah, unbelievable. Wow. Apollo, you've given us so much to think about. Thank you for your beautiful story. Peter, that's it for Story Love. Already? Yeah, already. Thanks for watching and listening. To read all of today's Story Love stories, you know, you could just head to storypirates.com. That's a fact. Peer-reviewed. T-end. And don't forget, Grownups, you can find an even longer version of today's StoryLove on YouTube. And StoryLove isn't just the name of a segment on our show, it's also the name of our incredible corporate volunteer program. To find out more about StoryLove, our digital creative writing program, StoryQuest, or our nonprofit arm, StoryPirates Changemakers, check the show notes for links. well my friends that is it for season eight of the story pirates podcast thank you so much for sticking with us this season you know when we started season eight we didn't know if we'd be able to finish it but here we are thanks to so many of you and especially thanks to our co-executive producers this season you guys saved the day and though we'll be off next week for a short break After that, we'll still be releasing new stories all summer. So thanks to today's authors, Ethan and Ellie. Have an amazing summer. And don't forget about the Summer Story Challenge. We want to read your stories. We really, really do. Most of all, stay creative and stay kind. Bye! The Story Pirates Podcast is a production of Story Pirates Studios. Executive produced by Lee Overtree and Benjamin Salka Co-executive producers are Holly and Rizwan Kasim Man Ulyssi, Aaron Moore, Murray Sampson Jack Schaefer and Jacob Vaughn This episode was produced by Isabella Riccio, Sam Baer, Peter McNerney Lee Overtree and Brittany Stahl Recording, sound design and mixing by Sam Baer at the Relic Room in New York City Additional production by Brett Toobin Theme song by Bobby Lord Musical scoring by Eric Gerson and Jack Mitchell Our head writer is Peter McNerney Staff writers are Megan O'Neill and Alexis Simpson Contributing writers are Matt Cox and Lee Overtree Episode artwork by Camilla Franklin This episode features performances by Sarah Morgan Ashey, Eric Austin, Chris Ferry, Christina Grospeach, Justin Linville, Caroline Lux, Peter McNerney, Josh Nassar, Megan O'Neill, Leah Overtree, Sam Rogal, Rachel Winitsky, Addie Weyrich,

and Niminy Ware. There's No Such Thing as Too Silly was written by Peter McNerney and Jack Mitchell and produced by Jack Mitchell. Coco's Crazy Schedule was written and produced by Eric Gerson. Ah, what an amazing adventure this season was. Our first road trip, our first time at StorytellerCon, and now we're back on the road off to our next adventure. I wonder where we'll go next. I'm all out of my coffee-free coffee kefir. I better get a refill. Excuse me, barista. Yes, sir. What can I do for you? Ah, no longer evil robot Lee. How are you liking your new job here at the Bean Emporium? It's pretty good. Honestly, world domination was exhausting. It's nice to have such a simple task as serving coffee. Glad to hear it. Speaking up, Can you refill my mug? Sure thing.

Say when.

And when.

Say when.

I did. It's overflowing now.

Say when. When.

Wow. This is a huge mess. I don't think that reprogramming really worked.

Say when.

When. Well, now I'm ankle deep. Rolo is not going to like this.

Say when.

When?

Say when! Ooh, Lee! That was a good one. Thanks. Say when!