392.1K
Downloads
68
Episodes
Have I Got a Story For You is a new podcast from PJ Library, a program of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation. In 2025, PJ Library relaunched Have I Got a Story For You! with eight beautifully told, calming, stories from the Torah and other Jewish texts. Sleepytime visuals accompanying each episode can be found on YouTube as well.
Episodes
Tuesday May 19, 2020
Tuesday 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
Tuesday Mar 31, 2020
Tuesday Mar 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
Tuesday Mar 24, 2020
Tuesday Mar 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
Monday Mar 16, 2020
Monday Mar 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
Tuesday Mar 10, 2020
Tuesday Mar 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
Tuesday Mar 03, 2020
Tuesday Mar 03, 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.
Tuesday Dec 17, 2019
Tuesday Dec 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
Tuesday Dec 10, 2019
Tuesday Dec 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
Tuesday Dec 03, 2019
Tuesday Dec 03, 2019
Isaac has everything - a sprawling mansion, a private chef, a sweet car... but he can't figure out how his friend Ruthie, who lives in a small studio, makes the best food he's ever eaten. Will Isaac learn Ruthie's secret? What IS the missing ingredient?
This is the last full-length episode of Season 1 of Have I Got a Story For You! And this December, PJ Library subscribers will receive a special apron and booklet of this story, so you can cook along at home, just like Isaac and Ruthie!
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
Story editor: Alli Thresher
This episode was written by Naomi Shulman
Cast:
Narrator, Rita Toomey: Madelaine Ripley
Isaac: Rich Wentworth
Ruthie: Deirdre Wade
Chef: Rich Wentworth
Special thanks to Pat Bordenave and Johnny Blazes
Tuesday Nov 19, 2019
Tuesday Nov 19, 2019
David King is a nine year-old special agent in the midst of a quest for... something. Who is he running from? Why? And what happened to cousin Jen, the previous game champion? And why are big brothers so sneaky?
Have I Got a Story For You is a production of PJ Library
Executive producers: Meredith Lewis, Alli Thresher
Director: Alli Thresher
Assistant Director: Henry Wentworth
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 Jason Allen
Cast:
Narrator, Rita Toomey: Madelaine Ripley
Al, the engineer: Rich Wentworth
David King: Nate Dziura
Florencia: Audrey Wentworth
Logan: Bear Hartley
Adam: Payton James
Darcie: Gwen D’Angelo
Aunt Nancy: Alli Thresher
Uncle Ira: Rich Wentworth
Cousin Shelly: Karen Fine
Extra cousins: Karen Fine, Henry Wentworth, Peter Moore