Best Robert Topp Podcasts (2026)

1
"Sail by the Moon" by Gretchen Woelfle 11:36

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1h ago11:36

11:36

On Chester's eleventh birthday, his father announces that it's time for him to build an iceboat, just as he and his grandfather had before him. Chester is excited to build the craft but is unsure if he has the skill to sail it by himself.

1
"The Button Box: A Story for Christmas" by Melinda Lancaster 7:49

1M ago7:49

7:49

Amy loves to hear the stories connected to each button in her grandma's button box. When her grandma passes away on Christmas Eve, her final present to Amy is already under the Christmas tree – the button box so that Amy can add her own stories.

1
"You Never Call" by Robert Lynn Asprin 11:54

1M ago11:54

11:54

Two commanders, one human, one alien, have been best friends for a lifetime but now find their empires at war and with five minutes left in an ultimatum, five minutes before they blow each other to smithereens, a phone call? "Raymond?" "Mom?" "It's mother's day, you're too busy to call your mother?"

1
"Four Gallant Sisters" by Eric A. Kimmel 10:46

3M ago10:46

10:46

When their mother dies, four sisters disguise themselves as men and find apprenticeships with a tailor, a hunter, a thief and a stargazer. At the end of their apprenticeships, each is given a magic tool. Both the skills and the magic are critical when they are enlisted to save the young king's betrothed and her four brothers from a loathsome dragon…

1
"The Spell Singer: A Tale of Dyslexia, Witches and Spells" by Anna Lewins 23:01

4M ago23:01

23:01

Katherine, a young witch, has dyslexia and can't ever get spells right. But when her friend the garden wizard suggests that she try singing the spells, Katherine succeeds where her classmates failed in charming the Dragon and winning the Dragon's fire to give the village luck.By Anna Lewins

1
"Noah Count and the Arkansas Ark" by Gary Blackwood 8:20

4M ago8:20

8:20

Mama, Papa and Granny all have peculiar ways of knowing that a big rain is coming – none of them very scientific. But that doesn't stop Papa from building a raft the size of an ark for the great flood of 1908.

1
"My Grandma Can Fly" by Chris Pease. 23:08

5M ago23:08

23:08

When Sarah's grandma was fourteen and living in England, she fell out of the hayloft but never hit the ground. That was the day she discovered she could fly with the help of a little magic leftover from times pasts.

1
"Mr. Runkle's Pumpkin: A Summer Tale" by Betse Brydon 9:47

6M ago9:47

9:47

Mr. Runkle grows only orderly vegetables while his neighbor, Miss Appleby's garden is a tangle of bright flowers with the exception of one gigantic, prize winning pumpkin.

1
"Nick of Time: a Dog-Ghost's Tale" by Jackie Vivelo 20:40

7M ago20:40

20:40

Jared loved artifact hunting at his grand parents farm. But each summer a local pack of wild dogs was getting bolder. They had already killed Nick, grandpa's courageous hound. When Jared came face to face with the pack, only one thing could save him.

1
"Beauty and the Beast" retold by Adele Geras 24:26

8M ago24:26

24:26

A traditional fairytale for all ages beautifully retold by award-winning British author, Adele Geras.

1
"The Woodcutter's Secret" by Simon Higgins 19:04

9M ago19:04

19:04

Two of the King's guards pay a young man to show them the way to Aliforde the Woodcutter's hut. But when they arrive the humble woodcutter bests them both by sword revealing his true identity as the King's Personal Champion, self-exiled after an accidental killing of a rival. But the King has a new son, and he needs his trusted champion back to tea…

1
"The Leprechaun's Story" by Richard Kennedy 10:46

10M ago10:46

10:46

According to legend, if you see a leprechaun and don't take your eyes off him, he must take you to his pot of gold, which is just what a traveling tradesman does. However, in the end, he is outwitted by the leprechaun's sad but clever story.

1
"The Skunk and the Bear: A Love Story" by Terry Jones 15:13

11M ago15:13

15:13

A skunk was madly in love with a bear. But the bear, barely noticed the skunk … that is until the skunk saved the bear from hunters and the forest's most unlikely friendship blossomed.

1
"Money Trees: An African-American Story" by Jane Nickerson 8:18

11M ago8:18

8:18

John Michael was poor, but his friend William was dirt poor and that's what decided John Michael to give William all the money he got from selling pecans. He would have loved to buy some sports equipment. but it was more important for William to get a bicycle so that he could get a delivery job and help support his family.…

1
"The Princess Who Stood on Her Own Two Feet" by Jeanne Desy 26:19

1y ago26:19

26:19

A long time ago, in a kingdom by the sea, there was a Princess as tall and bright as a sunflower, but she refused to wither in the shadow of her betrothed Prince and found greater pleasure in her beloved talking dog.

1
"Castles in the Air" by Stephen Krensky 13:39

1y ago13:39

13:39

When a witch goes before the king to ask for the road in front of her house to be repaired, she is told by the king's chief advisor that the king could build castles in the air if he wanted to, rather than talk to her. This gives the witch a clever idea and pretty soon the king is looking down on his kingdom from his castle in the clouds…

1
"Ghost Walk" by Mark A. Garland 8:49

1y ago8:49

8:49

Arin and her Mom go to the cemetery to tell Arin's Dad that it's okay, that they love him and don't blame him for what happened in the church the night they surprised two burglars. A softly told tale of a ghostly encounter in a graveyard with a nice twist at the end.

1
"Miz Mephitis" by Robert D. Culp 12:44

1+ y ago12:44

12:44

When Rooster ducks into the barn to get out of the afternoon rain storm he is surprised to have his sneeze answered by a polite "God bless you, young man." When he realizes it is Miz Mephitis, the skunk, he backs away just a far as he can. But his fear is replaced by curiosity when a right friendly discussion ensues and Rooster learns there is a lo…

1
"The Booted Cat: or Puss in Boots." Newly translated by Sophie Masson 20:08

1+ y ago20:08

20:08

A very literary and delightful modern translation/adaptation of one of Charles Perrault's most famous fairy tails wherein the youngest son inherits nothing of value except the family cat. But the cat, who is very fond or his young master, proves to be well more that just a cat. Bebooted and behatted, the clever feline finds his master both a kingdo…

1
"The Imaginary Dragon" by Terry Jones 9:55

1+ y ago9:55

9:55

A dragon, fearing that he doesn't exist, shares his concern with his friends the griffin, the unicorn and the sphinx. They can offer little to ease his worries but in the end, like Rousseau, he decides, someone imagines, therefore, I am.

1
"Cinders" by Katherine Gibson 35:16

1+ y ago35:16

35:16

A "what if" story about one of Cinderella's coachmen who stays a man rather than regaining his mouse form at the stroke of midnight. Dazed and confused, he finds himself at the gates of a castle and discovers that, upon being given lowly work in the King's stables, he has a knack as a horse whisperer.…

1
"The Trouble with Trouble; a Tale from the American South" by Amy Friedman and Meredith Johnson 5:30

1+ y ago5:30

5:30

The trouble with Trouble was he talked too much, even old skunk told him so. But when Trouble tried to tell everyone old skunk spoke to him, no one ever believed him again.

1
"Come Again in Spring" by Richard Kennedy 16:24

1+ y ago16:24

16:24

When death comes for Old Hark, the old man tells him to come again in the spring so he can feed his birds for one more winter. After some argument, Death offers to give him one more winter if he can answer three questions.By Richard Kennedy

1
"The Hare and the Orphan" by Lynne Reid Banks 6:09

2y ago6:09

6:09

A story from Ms Banks' delightful anthology "The Magic Hare" in which the magic hare is snared by an orphan for dinner. The hare continues to suggest ingredients that would make him taste better but the final one is through the dark forest where the orphan has never gone. The hare leads the way, the orphan overcomes her fear and both live happily, …

1
"The Magic Weaver: a Tale from Ireland" by Melissa Shaw-Smith 16:02

2y ago16:02

16:02

When Conal builds his castle on a hilltop he is not aware that he is intruding in the domain of the powerful fairy, Duine Sidhe. Cursed by the fairy, Conal and his family find no happiness until Conal's son is befriended by a weaver who weaves a magic tapestry that can lift the curse.By Melissa Shaw-Smith

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"John Robert and the Dragon's Egg" by Thomas N. Scortia 28:24

2y ago28:24

28:24

After John Robert found a dragon's egg down by the swamp, he and his Grandpa Riley kept it a secret from Aunt Bess whose life was too hard to care about such things. That is until it hatched, grew to 14 feet in two months and drank all the coal oil in the barn. Well, something had to be done. Lucky for John Robert and Grandpa Riley it was the flyin…

1
"The Hare and the Flower" by Lynne Reid Banks 9:17

2y ago9:17

9:17

A story from Ms Banks delightful anthology "The Magic Hare" in which the magic hare hears tiny bells after every good deed and discovers they are applause from a sad, unnamed flower. In gratitude, the magic hare gives the flower a name, 'harebell,' or 'Campanula rotundifolia.'By Lynne Reid Banks

1
"Mistletoe: A Tale of Giving" by Douglas Evans 6:29

2y ago6:29

6:29

When Derek's kid brother finds bunches of mistletoe on the ground in an orchard, he decides to sell them to earn money to buy Derek a much needed guitar case. Little does he know that Derek is the one cutting the mistletoe trying to earn enough money to buy him the wooden recorder he has always wanted. Nicely reminiscent of O. Henry's "The Gift of …

1
"The Magic Spoon: a Tale for Hanukkah" by Eric A. Kimmel 11:42

2y ago11:42

11:42

When a stranger comes to the city of Chelm, he claims that he can make his own latkes with nothing but his magic spoon. To make them even better, the folk of Chelm start to loan him ingredients until they are feasting on the perfect latkes.By Eric A. Kimmel

1
"Kotoshi the Dragon Doctor" by Phillis Gershator 9:32

2y ago9:32

9:32

By Phillis Gershator

1
"The Entrance Exam: A Young Witch's Tale" by Mary Carey 18:10

2y ago18:10

18:10

Young Kate Fotheringay is refused entrance to Miss Perkle's School for Young Witches, until one of her spells saves the school and causes Miss Perkle to reconsider.By Mary Carey

1
"The Magic Carpet" by Sophie Masson 14:26

2+ y ago14:26

14:26

Young Hamid, is bound as a servant to rug merchants that he believes are his aunt and uncle, until one day a beautiful but ghostly figure hands him an old carpet. Both the woman and the carpet seem remotely familiar and, indeed, they lead to Hamid being reunited with his father, a prince, while the abusive couple get their comeuppance.…

1
"Katya and the Goat with the Silver Hoof: A Tale from the Ural Mountains" by Bob Barton 15:31

2+ y ago15:31

15:31

When a young orphaned girl comes to live with Old Vanka, he tells her of his yearly search for the goat that leaves jewels wherever he stamps his silver hoof.

1
"A Kindness: From an Arkansas Boyhood" By Robert D. Culp 8:56

2+ y ago8:56

8:56

Rooster is wondering how to untangle his lucky bobber when mean Old Man Bockenweiler comes strolling down the path. While Rooster hides, his dreaded enemy stops, untangles the bobber, neatly rolls the line and leaves Rooster's fishing pole by his can of worms, showing Rooster a surprisingly kind side of the Old Man.…

1
"Three Foots: A Tale from Down South" by Nancy Van Laan 4:41

2+ y ago4:41

4:41

A lovely verbal rhythm develops as three squirrels, foot, foot-foot and foot-foot-foot, attempt to eat all the nuts on the tangliest ol' giant of a nut tree in the bottom of the holler.By Nancy Van Laan

1
"Who Owns the Moon?" by Sonia Levitin 8:08

2+ y ago8:08

8:08

Farmers Abel, Nagel and Zeke could argue about anything, and did. But when they started to argue about which of them owned the moon, their wives said enough was enough and demanded they go into town and talk to the Teacher who settled their argument in a very clever fashionBy Sonia Levitin

1
"The Magic Kerchief" by Kirby Larson 11:18

2+ y ago11:18

11:18

A grumpy and friendless old woman begrudgingly gives a weary traveler a bed for the night. In exchange the traveler gives the old woman a magic kerchief. Wearing her new kerchief, the old woman's curt and hateful words come out compliments as warm as sunshine, bringing with it the riches of new found friends.…

1
"Above the Classroom" by Douglas Evans 24:39

2+ y ago24:39

24:39

For a minor crime, Howard and Francis must stay at their desks for recess. Left to their own devices, they climb through the trap door above the cloak room only to find W. T. Mellon, founder of their school and dead these many years, living in a room filled with books and overflowing with information, including where teachers come from.…

1
"Si-Ling and the Dragon" by Joan Hiatt Harlow 15:34

3y ago15:34

15:34

When the emperor dies, no man in the kingdom is brave enough to be tested by the great dragon. It is only the emperor's daughter Si-Ling who has the courage to face the dragon and test her skill against his riddles. Solving the three riddles she ascends the throne with the dragon's best wishes and rules with courage, heart and wisdom the rest of he…

1
"Tremble with Fear" by Will Rawson 4:05

3y ago4:05

4:05

While eating his morning cereal, Jamie is confronted by two 5 centimeter aliens named Zzyxc and Xthyyz. Jamie suggests that there lives would be a lot simpler if they had names like Alan. The aliens think this a brilliant idea, give up their plan of conquest and head home to rename their planet, and all of its inhabitants, Alan.…

1
"Wizard's Apprentice" by Delia Sherman 24:39

3y ago24:39

24:39

Dahoe, Maine boasted its very own evil wizard—it said so right on the sign over his door, "Evil Wizard Books, Z. Smallbone, Prop." But Mr. Smallbone's apprentices never stayed long, that is until young Nick Chanticleer arrived.By Delia Sherman

1
"Heart's Desire: A Cinderella Tale for Our Times" by Janni Lee Simner 14:26

3y ago14:26

14:26

In a modern day twist on a well known fairy tale, Cinderella can't seem to convince her fairy god-mother that she just wants to stay home and read a good book.By Janni Lee Simner

1
"Good Neighbors: A Tale from Northern Lands" by Bob Barton 10:41

3y ago10:41

10:41

When a young couple moves into a remote valley, they assure the local trolls that they mean no harm. As the years pass the trolls come to love the couple and they the trolls. Unfortunately the family's prosperity brings development to the valley and eventually the trolls have to move north, leaving behind a precious gift for their friends.…

1
"A Good Day for Dragons" by Rick Hautala 26:28

3y ago26:28

26:28

It's always a good day to fight pirates, especially if you're a dragon and a boy, friends for life. Even if your mother keeps telling you that the is no such thing as "people" and that you must curb your dragon imagination.By Rick Hautala

1
"Gyffes Llaw: A Welsh Tale" by Sharon Bailly 9:32

3y ago9:32

9:32

Gyffes Llaw is the finest shoemaker in Wales and the Princess of Wales goes barefoot for lack of good shoes. But it won't be easy for Gyffes to win her heart. "I will marry, but the man I wed must come to me neither on horse nor on foot. He must welcome me neither inside nor out. He must stand above me yet remain beneath."…

1
"Mountain Medicine" by Rosemary Wells 13:03

3+ y ago13:03

13:03

The first of three lovely, interconnected stories about nurse Mary Breckinridge who created the Frontier Nursing Service and spent her life riding the isolated hills of Appalachia bringing medicine to their poorest residents and building clinics.By Rosemary Wells

1
"An Autumn Tale" by Susan Eberly 13:22

3+ y ago13:22

13:22

Arcite, the coldest queen, feels neither joy nor sorrow. At the suggestion of her High Counselor, Arcite sets out on an adventure in hopes of finding both. In her chance encounter with the great Bully Legged Bogle, she finds, at last, both sorrow and great joy.By Susan Eberly

1
"The Breadth of a Whisker" by Janet McNeill 12:58

3+ y ago12:58

12:58

Each night the alchemist and the mouse meet in the lab to try to make gold. But after so many years, it is as much for friendship as it is for the gold. One night – almost absentmindedly – they succeed with just enough to coat the mouse's whisker but the Alchemist can't even remember how he did it, or perhaps simply doesn't want the nightly friends…

1
"How to Stuff a Rhino" by Gene Twaronite 12:15

3+ y ago12:15

12:15

Juan had wanted his own Rhino for the longest time. Then, one birthday, his parents gave him a Rhino. But after a short few hours of fun, Juan realized that the Rhino was homesick and Juan had to figure a way to get the Rhino back to the Serengeti. So, Juan stuffed his Rhino into a hatbox…By Gene Twaronite

1
"Watch: An Ogre's Tale" by J. G. Formato 19:48

3+ y ago19:48

19:48

It is the Ogres' sacred trust to watch over human beings, but when Oni's mother is killed by humans she vows to never help a human again. That is until she begrudgingly saves, then befriends a young woman who is drowning.By J. G. Formato