Good Stories Podcast

Check out our Patreon and join us for free: https://www.patreon.com/GoodStoriesPodcastToday's story is a journey deep into the mountains of George MacDonald’s The Princess and the Goblin, a beautiful fairytale full of good lessons and good humor for us all. This story has enchanted readers for generations — and it’s easy to see why.The Princess Irene lives in her lonely castle, perched halfway up a mountain. In the story, she meets a miner boy named Curdie as well as sneaky goblins, who live deep inside the mountain -- and they hatch a plan to take revenge on the people who live above them. At the heart of the tale is something precious: a beautiful picture of faith and peace in the midst of fear and darkness. There’s the mysterious great-great-grandmother, who spins her shining thread and teaches Irene to follow it with trust. We talk about how MacDonald masterfully tells a story that still speaks today — inviting us to laugh, hope, and walk in faith.

Want to support us? Join our Patreon today: patreon.com/GoodStoriesPodcastWe're talking about the Bard today -- the one and only Shakespeare -- and his exciting drama The Tempest -- a story of shipwreck, sorcery, and second chances. We also talk a bit about Shakespeare’s genius overall—his impressive body of work, the characters that still breathe on stage and page, and the words and phrases he invented that we still use today.Whether you’ve read every play or just met Prospero today, we hope you enjoy it!

In this dive into the epic poem Beowulf, we explore the clash of monsters and men. With the translated combination of prose and poetry, this poem tells of the strongest of warriors - who grapples bare-handed with man-eating monsters - and wins! And follows it up with a fire-breathing dragon!There's a wonderful history to this poem from the middle ages and we talk through some of the literary tools used (ever heard of a kenning?!) and some key Old English themes; like the impermanence of life and the pursuit of glory.

This one is for Vanessa and Heidi!! In this episode, we journey through the cosmic pages of A Wrinkle in Time, where a brilliant but awkward teen named Meg Murry teams up with her younger brother Charles Wallace and new friend Calvin O'Keefe to search for their missing father across space and time. With the help of some eccentric celestial beings—Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Which, and Mrs. Who—they discover the wonders of the tesseract, a wrinkle in time that lets them leap across the universe. As they travel to strange planets, including a chilling world of forced conformity and the peaceful cave of the Happy Medium, they face the deep battle between good and evil. Along the way, they’re given gifts -- not just of magic or power, but of wisdom, courage, and love. It's a tale of warm family bonds, unlikely friendships, and learning that sometimes the greatest strength comes from being exactly who you are.

Step into the intriguing plot of The Scarlet Pimpernel. Set during the Reign of Terror of the French Revolution, it's an exciting tale of daring disguises, secret identities, and quiet heroism. But beyond the adventure and suspense lies a deeper story—of a marriage strained by silence, of love tested by secrets, and an ache of not knowing how to speak the truth. In this episode, we explore not just the disguised rescuer at the heart of the tale, but also the quiet tensions between husband and wife, and what it takes to rebuild trust when words have failed. It’s a story of courage and cleverness.

Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson are hired to keep a man safe from a legendary family curse on the bleak moors of southwest England. They investigate a chilling tale -- a monstrous hound said to haunt the Baskerville family across the centuries. In this episode, Watson keeps a wary eye on Sir Henry, the last Baskerville heir, while Holmes uncovers unsettling clues in the shadows. The hound only ever leaves footprints but its howls echo through the fog, and a silent figure watches from afar. A compelling mystery where logic and reason go head-to-head with fear and fog in the night.

Meet Ender Wiggin – born to save humanity. In this episode, we talk about the compelling, high-stakes world of Ender’s Game.Written in the 1980s but looking ahead to Earth's future, this is a story of war games, manipulation, strategy, leadership, and love.Come learn about Battle School and the blurred line between games and reality. Join us as we unpack the manipulation and moral dilemmas at the heart of Orson Scott Card’s sci-fi classic.Want to learn more about the Good Stories Podcast? Check out our patreon page at https://www.patreon.com/c/GoodStoriesPodcast.

Any history lovers out there? In this episode, we dive into the wild life of Alcibiades—Ancient Athens' most charming troublemaker. From his privileged childhood under the guidance of Socrates to his bold (and sometimes reckless) moves in the Peloponnesian War, Alcibiades flipped loyalties more than once and helped shape the fate of empires like Athens, Sparta and Persia, along the way. Was he a genius, a traitor, or both? It’s a good story from history—full of glory, scandal, and strategy.

Join us as we explore the Mary Poppins books, which differ quite a bit from the movies, as Jane and Michael experience even wilder adventures. There are some of the same magical nanny vibes but turns out Mary has a whole lot in common with Dr Who!She blows in on the East wind to help the Banks family, bringing both magic and some strict rules to the household. Our favorite chapters include stories about delicious gingerbread and painting the skies with stars as well as a red cow who can dance the Highland Fling.

We're glad you're here! This episode dives into GK Chesterton and his book, The Ball and the Cross. In a rollercoaster plot, two sworn enemies demand a duel to the death—only to find themselves paired together on a wild adventure, dodging the police, confronting their own beliefs, and maybe even becoming friends along the way.We also explore some amazing paradoxes from Chesterton—who was also known as the Prince of Paradox! Listen in to discover his favorite party concept and the fascinating idea behind Chesterton’s Fence. Buckle up as there are some crazy twists and turns in this story but also some wonderful philosophy and classic Chesterton sense of humor!

In this episode, we invite you to look at heaven and hell through the eyes of C.S. Lewis. The Great Divorce presents a somewhat bizarre but deeply insightful “imaginary supposal,” where Lewis imagines what it might look like for a person to choose hell over heaven. The story shows personal examples of how a person’s thoughts and choices can shape their eternity—and the tension between the self-centered nature of hell and the liberating joy of heaven.But The Great Divorce isn’t just a reflection of the consequences of rejecting heaven; it is also a beautiful and hopeful invitation to choose transformation, freedom, and the love of God. The hope that even those who are stuck in darkness can find redemption and salvation in the light of heaven is woven throughout the narrative. It’s a powerful reminder that no matter how far we’ve fallen, the possibility of redemption is always within reach.

In this episode, we’re diving into J.R.R. Tolkien’s Leaf by Niggle; a short but beautiful story that describes our friend Niggle as he strives to create his perfect tree, leaf by leaf. Initially he fails but in collaboration with his neighbor Parish, he builds something far greater.Whether Tolkien meant for the names of Niggle and Parish to have deeper meaning or just "picked at random from the first name I came to in the phone directory" (from the letters of JRR Tolkien), he uses both characters to create meaningful symbols of love, work, and relationship. This story -- like Niggle's tree -- is a gift.Enjoy!

Our audio gets better after this first episode - we promise! Jumping in with both feet and learning as we go. Welcome!