![019: The Sweetest Sound]()
June 30, 2020
What is the sweetest sound in the world? A perfectly tuned harp? A 25 piece klezmer band? A local scream-grind sensation? Join Rita and world famous rockers Kreplach Riot, as they search for the perfect opening act. Will they find it? Or will picky front-man Mendelsohn and a small bout of "hanger" break up the band?
Episode Credits
Have I Got a Story For You is a production of PJ Library
Executive producers: Meredith Lewis, Alli Thresher
Additional production: Craig Rossein
Website design: Christina Rizer
Audio editing, mixing and mastering: Peter Moore
Score: Peter Moore
Recorded remotely
Mixed at Palace of Purpose Studios in Malden, MA.
Cover art: Barb Bastian
Story editor: Alan Silberberg
This episode was written by Jan Schwaid
Cast:
Narrator, Rita Toomey: Madelaine Ripley
Mendelsohn: Tau Zaman of The Whisper Forge
Loretta: Jen Kenneally
Max: Kristofer Jenson
Kazoo Player, Klezmaniac Magee Front-person: Payton James
Minyan Makers Band leader, Harpist, Haverton Symphony Conductor: Rich Wentworth
The Pizza Guy: Peter Moore
![018: The People Vs The Wind]()
May 26, 2020
The residents of Haverton are furious -- the wind is messing up all of their plans and ruining everyone's day! From lost balloons to spoiled cakes to popped kick balls, the townspeople want justice, and that's where Rita Toomey and Judge Solomon come in.
This episode is based on a King Solomon story -- learn more at gotastorypodcast.com.
Episode Credits
Have I Got a Story For You is a production of PJ Library
Executive producers: Meredith Lewis, Alli Thresher
Director: Alli Thresher
Additional production: Craig Rossein
Website design: Christina Rizer
Audio editing, mixing and mastering: Peter Moore
Score: Peter Moore
Recorded at Palace of Purpose Studios in Malden, MA.
Cover art: Barb Bastian
Story editor: Alan Silberberg
This episode was written by Jan Schwaid
Cast:
Narrator, Rita Toomey: Madelaine Ripley
Judge Solomon: Tau Zaman of The Whisper Forge
Justine Hazelworth: Jen Kenneally
Michael: Payton James
Little Leah: Wednesday Alice
Arlo Sumpkin: Rich Wentworth
Peter Grossbaum: Kristofer Jenson
The Sailor: Walter Alice Sickert
May 19, 2020
Rita Toomey's favorite holiday, Shavuot, is coming up -- but her trusty audio engineer Al, doesn't know much about it. Listen in as Rita and Al get together via video chat for a cheesecake baking session and a quick run-down of Shavuot history and traditions.
Looking for more kid-friendly, high quality, Jewish audio content? Check out pjlibrary.org/listen.
Episode Credits
Have I Got a Story For You is a production of PJ Library
Executive producers: Meredith Lewis, Alli Thresher
Director: Alli Thresher
Additional production: Craig Rossein
Website design: Christina Rizer
Audio editing, mixing and mastering: Peter Moore
Score: Peter Moore
Recorded at Palace of Purpose Studios in Malden, MA.
Cover art: Barb Bastian
This episode was written by Alli Thresher
Cast:
Narrator, Rita Toomey: Madelaine Ripley
Al: Rich Wentworth
March 31, 2020
Rita Toomey and Al the engineer are wrapping up the mini-season when Al admits that he doesn't know the Four Questions. Rita and a friend from PJ Library (pjlibrary.org) help Al get seder-ready.
Episode Credits
Have I Got a Story For You is a production of PJ Library
Executive producers: Meredith Lewis, Alli Thresher
Director: Alli Thresher
Additional production: Craig Rossein
Website design: Christina Rizer
Audio editing, mixing and mastering: Peter Moore
Score: Peter Moore
Recorded at Palace of Purpose Studios in Malden, MA.
Cover art: Barb Bastian
This episode was written by Alli Thresher
“Dr. Seuss’ Four Questions” used with permission from Uncle Eli’s Passover Haggadah, by Eliezer Segal, available through No Starch Press in San Francisco.
Cast:
Narrator, Rita Toomey: Madelaine Ripley
Al: Rich Wentworth
Four Question Narration: Lori Hoch Stiefel
March 24, 2020
Claire and Jamie open the door to welcome guests to their seder and Rita Toomey walks in – followed by a pirate! Find out what happens when a bearded scallywag leads the hunt for the afikomen.
Episode Credits
Have I Got a Story For You is a production of PJ Library
Executive producers: Meredith Lewis, Alli Thresher
Director: Alli Thresher
Additional production: Craig Rossein
Website design: Christina Rizer
Audio editing, mixing and mastering: Peter Moore
Score and “Pirate Dayenu” by Peter Moore
Recorded at Palace of Purpose Studios in Malden, MA.
Cover art: Barb Bastian
This episode was written by Danny Paller with Alli Thresher
Cast:
Narrator, Rita Toomey: Madelaine Ripley
Claire: Nina Sly
Jamie: Cyrus Nations
The Pirate: Peter Moore
March 16, 2020
Life is perfect for the candy-loving fairies of Sweet-Town! Well, except for the presence of a colony of stinky, mushroom-loving trolls at the edge of the neighborhood. Fairies and trolls have never gotten along – that’s just the way it is. But a young fairy Aviva wonders, why? And why can’t things change?
Episode Credits
Have I Got a Story For You is a production of PJ Library
Executive producers: Meredith Lewis, Alli Thresher
Director: Alli Thresher
Additional production: Craig Rossein
Website design: Christina Rizer
Audio editing, mixing and mastering: Peter Moore
Score: Peter Moore
Recorded at Palace of Purpose Studios in Malden, MA.
Cover art: Barb Bastian
Story editor: Alan Silberberg
This episode was written by Jan Schwaid
Cast:
Narrator, Rita Toomey: Madelaine Ripley
Aviva: Lyra Ericson
Sarah: Nina Groskin Sly
Etan: Cyrus Nations
Bubbe: Deirdre Wade
Tamar: Cassandre Charles
Murray and other troll friends: Tau Zaman of the Whisper Forge
Troll ensemble: Pat Bordenave
March 10, 2020
Instead of a full episode, this week we're trying something new with a short version of the Exodus story. Told in 10 brief passages to the sound of soothing music, this is a wonderful family-friendly version of the story, perfect for pre-naptime or right before bedtime. To see an animated version, check out PJ Library on YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/PJLibraryOfficial
To learn the Passover songs in your haggadah, brush up on the Four Questions, and explore child-friendly audio, visit PJ Library's new LISTEN hub at pjlibrary.org/listen.
Episode Credits
Have I Got a Story For You is a production of PJ Library
Executive producers: Meredith Lewis, Alli Thresher
Director: Alli Thresher
Additional production: Craig Rossein
Website design: Christina Rizer
Audio editing, mixing and mastering: Peter Moore
Recorded at Palace of Purpose Studios in Malden, MA.
Cover art: Barb Bastian
Cast:
Narrator, Rita Toomey: Madelaine Ripley
Story Narration: Rachel F. Hirsch
![012: The Purim Story (For Kids)]()
March 3, 2020
Purim is a holiday marked by joyous activities. We dress up in our favorite costumes, share gifts of food with friends, give charity to those in need, have a festive meal with family and friends, and read a story (PJ Library’s favorite activity) – specifically, the story of Queen Esther – together.
The story behind Purim isn’t exactly family-friendly though – so Rita Toomey and Al the audio engineer find a way to tell a version of the Purim story that works for all ages and audiences. Visit pjlibrary.org/Purim for more.
Have I Got a Story For You is a production of PJ Library
Executive producers: Meredith Lewis, Alli Thresher
Director: Alli Thresher
Additional production: Craig Rossein
Website design: Christina Rizer
Audio editing, mixing and mastering: Peter Moore
Score: Peter Moore
Recorded at Palace of Purpose Studios in Malden, MA.
Cover art: Barb Bastian
This episode was written by Alli Thresher
Cast:
Narrator, Rita Toomey: Madelaine Ripley
Al: Rich Wentworth
King Ahashverosh: Pat Bordenave
Queen Vashti: Deirdre Wade
Mordechai: Tau Zaman of the Whisper Forge
Queen Esther: Cassandre Charles
Haman: Rich Wentworth
Special thanks to Lisa Loeb. Listen to her new album A Simple Trick to Happiness, out now.
![011: The Hanukkah Story (for Kids)]()
December 17, 2019
In the final episode of Season 1, Rita Toomey shares the story of Hanukkah with Al, the sound engineer. Listen in for a humorous, and kid-friendly, version of the miracle of Hanukkah and the triumph of the Maccabees. As a bonus, your family will also find a quick guide on how to say the Hanukkah blessings, in Hebrew and English, at the end of the episode.
Have I Got a Story For You is a production of PJ Library
Executive producers: Meredith Lewis, Alli Thresher
Director: Alli Thresher
Additional production: Craig Rossein
Website design: Christina Rizer
Audio editing, mixing and mastering: Peter Moore
Theme music: Penelope Alizarin Conley
Score: Peter Moore
Recorded at Palace of Purpose Studios in Malden, MA.
Cover art: Barb Bastian
Hanukkah story adaptation: PJ Library staff
This episode was written by Alli Thresher
Cast:
Narrator, Rita Toomey: Madelaine Ripley
Al: Rich Wentworth
Judah Maccabee: Peter Moore
King Antiochus: Peter Moore
Hanukkah blessings: Lori Hoch Stiefel
December 10, 2019
Surprise! It's a bonus episode of Have I Got a Story For You! Today Rita Toomey catches up with Isaac and Chef from episode 9, "The Missing Ingredient." Are they still cooking together? Or has Isaac returned to his old grumpy, lonely self? We'll find out all of this plus hear voicemails from listeners!
Episode Credits
Have I Got a Story For You is a production of PJ Library
Executive producers: Meredith Lewis, Alli Thresher
Director: Alli Thresher
Additional production: Craig Rossein
Website design: Christina Rizer
Audio editing, mixing and mastering: Peter Moore
Theme music: Penelope Alizarin Conley
Score: Peter Moore
Recorded at Palace of Purpose Studios in Malden, MA.
Cover art: Barb Bastian
This episode was written by Alli Thresher
Cast:
Narrator, Rita Toomey: Madelaine Ripley
Chef & Isaac: Rich Wentworth
