Episodes

  • Ep 42 - Stranger Danger
    May 23 2026

    This week on River Reads Episode 42- Stranger Danger features one longer tale from the collection The Blue Fairy Book by Andrew Lang, called, A Voyage to Lilliput.

    River Reads is a program where those of all ages can escape into fairy tales and strange stories; both new and old, but mostly old and at times macabre, or silly, or even perhaps a little confusing as written in old english and the host fumbles words, and then there’s those stories whose premises have perhaps not aged as well over the years. Let’s face it you can’t be too picky when you’re dependent upon free material available to you through creative commons.

    River Reads is not a kids show but not not a kids show and may contain content suitable for a mature audience. Listener discretion is advised.

    River Reads has won Best Podcast in the Small Market category at 2023 Broadcast Dialogue's Canadian Radio Award. All music is composed and produced by Wilde.

    This episode's fairy tales are:

    1. A Voyage to Lilliput. The Blue Fairy Book. Andrew Lang. Longmans, Green and Co. 1889. This edition, printed in Great Britain by Cambridge University Press. 2003 Printing.


    Remember to Tune in weekly for our Gender Blender segment, where we flip and play with traditional gender roles, reimagining classic fairy tales. Only revealing which tale is our Gender Blender tale at the end of each episode.

    Support the show

    River Reads: Fairytales and Stories
    Host, Producer, Composer, Narrator: River Wilde
    Cover Art: River Wilde

    The River Reads Show - "Not a kids show but not not a kids show"

    Catch River Reads on air, Saturdays at 10am -11am PST and Sundays at 9am - 11am PST on smithersradio.com

    Access additional River Reads episodes directly at smithersradio.com/program/river-reads

    Contact the host - TheRiverReadsShow@gmail.com

    Show More Show Less
    58 mins
  • Ep 41 - Flesh & Bones
    May 9 2026

    This week on River Reads Episode 41- Flesh & Bones, featuring four tales from the collection Fairy Tales as retold by Bridget Hadaway, called Jack the Giant-Killer, The Firebird, Cinderella, and Blackbeard.

    River Reads is a program where those of all ages can escape into fairy tales and strange stories; both new and old, but mostly old and at times macabre, or silly, or even perhaps a little confusing as written in old english and the host fumbles words, and then there’s those stories whose premises have perhaps not aged as well over the years. Let’s face it you can’t be too picky when you’re dependent upon free material available to you through creative commons.

    River Reads is not a kids show but not not a kids show and may contain content suitable for a mature audience. Listener discretion is advised.

    River Reads has won Best Podcast in the Small Market category at 2023 Broadcast Dialogue's Canadian Radio Award.

    This episode's fairy tales are:

    1. Jack the Giant-Killer. Fairy Tales. Hadaway, B. London: Octopus Books, 1974.
    2. The Firebird. Fairy Tales. Hadaway, B. London: Octopus Books, 1974.
    3. Cinderella . Fairy Tales. Hadaway, B. London: Octopus Books, 1974.
    4. Blackbeard. Fairy Tales. Hadaway, B. London: Octopus Books, 1974.

    Remember to Tune in weekly for our Gender Blender segment, where we flip and play with traditional gender roles, reimagining classic fairy tales. Only revealing which tale is our Gender Blender tale at the end of each episode.


    Support the show

    River Reads: Fairytales and Stories
    Host, Producer, Composer, Narrator: River Wilde
    Cover Art: River Wilde

    The River Reads Show - "Not a kids show but not not a kids show"

    Catch River Reads on air, Saturdays at 10am -11am PST and Sundays at 9am - 11am PST on smithersradio.com

    Access additional River Reads episodes directly at smithersradio.com/program/river-reads

    Contact the host - TheRiverReadsShow@gmail.com

    Show More Show Less
    58 mins
  • Ep 40 - They Change
    Apr 25 2026

    This week on River Reads we enter Season Five with Episode 40- They Change, featuring five tales from the collection Fairy Tales as retold by Bridget Hadaway, called The Adventures of Pinocchio, The Straw, the Coal, and the Bean, The Elves and the Shoemaker, The Princess & the Pea, and The Swan Maiden.

    River Reads is a program where those of all ages can escape into fairy tales and strange stories; both new and old, but mostly old and at times macabre, or silly, or even perhaps a little confusing as written in old english and the host fumbles words, and then there’s those stories whose premises have perhaps not aged as well over the years. Let’s face it you can’t be too picky when you’re dependent upon free material available to you through creative commons.

    River Reads is not a kids show but not not a kids show and may contain content suitable for a mature audience. Listener discretion is advised.

    River Reads has won Best Podcast in the Small Market category at 2023 Broadcast Dialogue's Canadian Radio Award

    This episode's fairy tales are:

    1. The Adventures of Pinocchio. Fairy Tales. Hadaway, B. London: Octopus Books, 1974.
    2. The Straw, the Coal, and the Bean. Fairy Tales. Hadaway, B. London: Octopus Books, 1974.
    3. The Elves and the Shoemaker. Fairy Tales. Hadaway, B. London: Octopus Books, 1974.
    4. The Princess & the Pea. Fairy Tales. Hadaway, B. London: Octopus Books, 1974.
    5. The Swan Maiden. Fairy Tales. Hadaway, B. London: Octopus Books, 1974.

    Remember to Tune in weekly for our Gender Blender segment, where we flip and play with traditional gender roles, reimagining classic fairy tales. Only revealing which tale is our Gender Blender tale at the end of each episode.

    Support the show

    River Reads: Fairytales and Stories
    Host, Producer, Composer, Narrator: River Wilde
    Cover Art: River Wilde

    The River Reads Show - "Not a kids show but not not a kids show"

    Catch River Reads on air, Saturdays at 10am -11am PST and Sundays at 9am - 11am PST on smithersradio.com

    Access additional River Reads episodes directly at smithersradio.com/program/river-reads

    Contact the host - TheRiverReadsShow@gmail.com

    Show More Show Less
    58 mins
  • Ep 39 - The Pain of Envy
    Apr 11 2026

    This week on River Reads, Episode 39- The Pain of Envy, features two longer tales from the collection Fairy Tales as retold by Bridget Hadaway, called The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and The Voyages of Sindbad the Sailor.

    River Reads is a program where those of all ages can escape into fairy tales and strange stories; both new and old, but mostly old and at times macabre, or silly, or even perhaps a little confusing as written in old english and the host fumbles words, and then there’s those stories whose premises have perhaps not aged as well over the years. Let’s face it you can’t be too picky when you’re dependent upon free material available to you through creative commons.

    River Reads is not a kids show but not not a kids show and may contain content suitable for a mature audience. Listener discretion is advised.

    River Reads has won Best Podcast in the Small Market category at 2023 Broadcast Dialogue's Canadian Radio Award

    This episode's fairy tales are:

    1. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Fairy Tales. Hadaway, B. London: Octopus Books, 1974.
    2. The Voyages of Sindbad the Sailor. Fairy Tales. Hadaway, B. London: Octopus Books, 1974.

    Remember to Tune in weekly for our Gender Blender segment, where we flip and play with traditional gender roles, reimagining classic fairy tales. Only revealing which tale is our Gender Blender tale at the end of each episode.

    Support the show

    River Reads: Fairytales and Stories
    Host, Producer, Composer, Narrator: River Wilde
    Cover Art: River Wilde

    The River Reads Show - "Not a kids show but not not a kids show"

    Catch River Reads on air, Saturdays at 10am -11am PST and Sundays at 9am - 11am PST on smithersradio.com

    Access additional River Reads episodes directly at smithersradio.com/program/river-reads

    Contact the host - TheRiverReadsShow@gmail.com

    Show More Show Less
    58 mins
  • Ep 38 - Magic & Pancakes
    Mar 28 2026

    This week on River Reads, Episode 38- Magic & Pancakes, features five tales from the collection Fairy Tales as retold by Bridget Hadaway, called The Three Little Pigs, Aladdin & His Lamp, Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs, Aniello & His Little Speckled Hen, and The Thick, Fat Pancake.

    River Reads is a program where those of all ages can escape into fairy tales and strange stories; both new and old, but mostly old and at times macabre, or silly, or even perhaps a little confusing as written in old english and the host fumbles words, and then there’s those stories whose premises have perhaps not aged as well over the years. Let’s face it you can’t be too picky when you’re dependent upon free material available to you through creative commons.

    River Reads is not a kids show but not not a kids show and may contain content suitable for a mature audience. Listener discretion is advised.

    River Reads has won Best Podcast in the Small Market category at 2023 Broadcast Dialogue's Canadian Radio Award

    This episode's fairy tales are:

    1. The Three Little Pigs. Fairy Tales. Hadaway, B. London: Octopus Books, 1974.
    2. Aladdin & His Lamp. Fairy Tales. Hadaway, B. London: Octopus Books, 1974.
    3. Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs. Fairy Tales. Hadaway, B. London: Octopus Books, 1974.
    4. Aniello & His Little Speckled Hen. Fairy Tales. Hadaway, B. London: Octopus Books, 1974.
    5. The Thick, Fat Pancake. Fairy Tales. Hadaway, B. London: Octopus Books, 1974.

    Remember to Tune in weekly for our Gender Blender segment, where we flip and play with traditional gender roles, reimagining classic fairy tales. Only revealing which tale is our Gender Blender tale at the end of each episode.

    Support the show

    River Reads: Fairytales and Stories
    Host, Producer, Composer, Narrator: River Wilde
    Cover Art: River Wilde

    The River Reads Show - "Not a kids show but not not a kids show"

    Catch River Reads on air, Saturdays at 10am -11am PST and Sundays at 9am - 11am PST on smithersradio.com

    Access additional River Reads episodes directly at smithersradio.com/program/river-reads

    Contact the host - TheRiverReadsShow@gmail.com

    Show More Show Less
    58 mins
  • Ep 37 - Rosemary & Gold
    Mar 14 2026

    This week on River Reads, Episode 37- Rosemary & Gold, features four tales from the collection Fairy Tales as retold by Bridget Hadaway, called Beauty & the Beast, Foolish Jim & Clever James, The Pied Piper of Hamelin and The Sprig of Rosemary.

    River Reads is a program where those of all ages can escape into fairy tales and strange stories; both new and old, but mostly old and at times macabre, or silly, or even perhaps a little confusing as written in old english and the host fumbles words, and then there’s those stories whose premises have perhaps not aged as well over the years. Let’s face it you can’t be too picky when you’re dependent upon free material available to you through creative commons.

    River Reads is not a kids show but not not a kids show and may contain content suitable for a mature audience. Listener discretion is advised.

    River Reads has won Best Podcast in the Small Market category at 2023 Broadcast Dialogue's Canadian Radio Award

    This episode's fairy tales are:

    1. Beauty & the Beast.Fairy Tales. Hadaway, B. London: Octopus Books, 1974.
    2. Foolish Jim & Clever James. Fairy Tales. Hadaway, B. London: Octopus Books, 1974.
    3. The Pied Piper of Hamelin. Fairy Tales. Hadaway, B. London: Octopus Books, 1974.
    4. The Sprig of Rosemary. Fairy Tales. Hadaway, B. London: Octopus Books, 1974.

    Remember to Tune in weekly for our Gender Blender segment, where we flip and play with traditional gender roles, reimagining classic fairy tales. Only revealing which tale is our Gender Blender tale at the end of each episode.

    Support the show

    River Reads: Fairytales and Stories
    Host, Producer, Composer, Narrator: River Wilde
    Cover Art: River Wilde

    The River Reads Show - "Not a kids show but not not a kids show"

    Catch River Reads on air, Saturdays at 10am -11am PST and Sundays at 9am - 11am PST on smithersradio.com

    Access additional River Reads episodes directly at smithersradio.com/program/river-reads

    Contact the host - TheRiverReadsShow@gmail.com

    Show More Show Less
    58 mins
  • Ep 36 - Snakes, Bear, Fish, & a Gingerbread Man
    Feb 28 2026

    We're back!! This week on River Reads, Episode 36- Snakes, Bear, Fish, & a Gingerbread Man, features five tale from the collection Fairy Tales as retold by Bridget Hadaway, called The Gingerbread Man, Goldilocks & the Three Bears, The Snake Prince, The Knights of the Fish and Cannetella & the Wizard.

    Remember to Tune in weekly for our Gender Blender segment, where we flip and play with traditional gender roles, reimagining classic fairy tales. Only revealing which tale is our Gender Blender tale at the end of each episode.

    River Reads is not a kids show but not not a kids show and may contain content suitable for a mature audience. Listener discretion is advised.

    River Reads is a program where those of all ages can escape into fairy tales and strange stories; both new and old, but mostly old and at times macabre, or silly, or even perhaps a little confusing as written in old english and the host fumbles words, and then there’s those stories whose premises have perhaps not aged as well over the years. Let’s face it you can’t be too picky when you’re dependent upon free material available to you through creative commons.

    This episode's fairy tales are:

    1. The Gingerbread Man. Fairy Tales. Hadaway, B. London: Octopus Books, 1974.
    2. Goldilocks & the Three Bears. Fairy Tales. Hadaway, B. London: Octopus Books, 1974.
    3. The Snake Prince. Fairy Tales. Hadaway, B. London: Octopus Books, 1974.
    4. Cannetella & the Wizard. Fairy Tales. Hadaway, B. London: Octopus Books, 1974.
    5. The Knights of the Fish. Fairy Tales. Hadaway, B. London: Octopus Books, 1974.

    River Reads has won Best Podcast in the Small Market category at 2023 Broadcast Dialogue's Canadian Radio Award


    Support the show

    River Reads: Fairytales and Stories
    Host, Producer, Composer, Narrator: River Wilde
    Cover Art: River Wilde

    The River Reads Show - "Not a kids show but not not a kids show"

    Catch River Reads on air, Saturdays at 10am -11am PST and Sundays at 9am - 11am PST on smithersradio.com

    Access additional River Reads episodes directly at smithersradio.com/program/river-reads

    Contact the host - TheRiverReadsShow@gmail.com

    Show More Show Less
    58 mins
  • Ep 35 - A Cat, Fairies Be Disturbed
    Mar 15 2025

    This week on River Reads, Episode 35- A Cat, Fairies Be Disturbed, features two longer tale from the collection The Blue Fairy Book from Andrew Lang, called The History of Whittington and The Terrible Head

    Remember to Tune in weekly for our Gender Blender segment, where we flip and play with traditional gender roles, reimagining classic fairy tales. Only revealing which tale is our Gender Blender tale at the end of each episode.

    River Reads is not a kids show but not not a kids show and may contain content suitable for a mature audience; listener discretion is advised.

    River Reads is a program where those of all ages can escape into fairy tales and strange stories; both new and old, but mostly old and at times macabre, or silly, or even perhaps a little confusing as written in old english and the host fumbles words, and then there’s those stories whose premises have perhaps not aged as well over the years. Let’s face it you can’t be too picky when you’re dependent upon free material available to you through creative commons.

    This episode's fairy tale is:

    1. The History of Whittington. The Blue Fairy Book by Andrew Lang. Longmans, Green and Co. 1889. This edition, printed in Great Britain by Cambridge University Press. 2003 Printing.
    2. The Terrible Head. The Blue Fairy Book by Andrew Lang. Longmans, Green and Co. 1889. This edition, printed in Great Britain by Cambridge University Press. 2003 Printing.

    River Reads has won Best Podcast in the Small Market category at 2023 Broadcast Dialogue's Canadian Radio Awards

    Support the show

    River Reads: Fairytales and Stories
    Host, Producer, Composer, Narrator: River Wilde
    Cover Art: River Wilde

    The River Reads Show - "Not a kids show but not not a kids show"

    Catch River Reads on air, Saturdays at 10am -11am PST and Sundays at 9am - 11am PST on smithersradio.com

    Access additional River Reads episodes directly at smithersradio.com/program/river-reads

    Contact the host - TheRiverReadsShow@gmail.com

    Show More Show Less
    58 mins