We're sunsetting PodQuest on 2025-07-28. Thank you for your support!
Export Podcast Subscriptions
People
A
Amanda Weldon
C
Cheetah
D
Dog
F
Froggy
S
Sky God
Topics
Froggy: 我最初很快乐地生活在水坑里,直到猎豹和野狗嘲笑我没有尾巴,说我很丑。我开始相信外表的重要性,并祈求天空之神赐予我一条尾巴。得到尾巴后,我变得傲慢自大,开始歧视那些没有尾巴的动物,认为只有外表美丽的动物才配拥有好的待遇。然而,天空之神让我明白,真正的美丽在于内在,在于善良和公正。失去尾巴后,我重新认识到自己内在的价值,学会了接纳自己的不完美,也学会了尊重和善待他人。 Cheetah and Dog: 我们最初嘲笑青蛙没有尾巴,认为她很丑陋,不配和我们一起喝水。我们的行为深深伤害了青蛙,也让她对外貌产生了错误的认知。我们以貌取人的态度是错误的,我们应该尊重每一个生命,不应该因为外表而歧视他人。 Sky God: 我赐予青蛙尾巴,是希望她能摆脱自卑,找到自信。然而,她却因为拥有了外表的优势而变得傲慢自大,开始歧视其他动物。我让她失去尾巴,是为了让她明白,真正的美丽不在于外表,而在于内在的善良和公正。我希望她能吸取教训,学会尊重和善待他人,不要重蹈覆辙。 Dung Beetle: 我因为外表丑陋而被青蛙拒绝喝水,这让我感到非常难过。天空之神的魔法水坑应该是为所有生物提供的,不应该因为外貌而被区别对待。青蛙的行为是不公平的,她应该尊重每一个生命,不应该因为外表而歧视他人。

Deep Dive

Chapters
Froggy, a cheerful frog, is called ugly by a cheetah and a wild dog because she doesn't have a tail. This makes Froggy question her self-worth and makes her pray to the Sky God for a tail to become beautiful.
  • Froggy loved splashing in her watering hole.
  • A cheetah and a wild dog called her ugly because she lacked a tail.
  • Froggy felt hurt and questioned her beauty.

Shownotes Transcript

Translations:
中文

Welcome to Stories Podcast. I'm your host, Amanda Weldon. Today's story is a throwback episode. Tune in to hear one of our classic stories from the archive that you might have missed the first time around.

We have Stories Podcast merch available at storiespodcast.com slash shop. We're also on Cameo for all of your personalized video message needs. And don't forget to follow us on Instagram at storiespodcast. If you send us a drawing of your favorite scene or character, we'll share it on our feed. Now here's a word from our sponsors. It is estimated that over 4 million people have been abducted by alien life forms, but only one of them.

Asked for it. This is Elio of Earth. If any aliens are listening, come and get me. From Disney and Pixar. Yes, spinning! He'll go where no one has gone before. Welcome to the Communiverse. What is this place? These are the lava tunnels. Lord and I are not...

Disney and Pixar's Elio. Rated PG. Parental guidance suggested. Only in theaters. Tickets available now. Are you looking for ways to enhance your homeschool curriculum with interactive practice problems, educational games, lessons, and video tutorials for every lesson you're teaching at home? Set your child up with IXL.

iXL is an online learning program for kids that covers math, language arts, science, and social studies and offers interactive practice problems for every topic from pre-K to 12th grade. Every topic is organized by grade and subject, or you can navigate by textbook.

IXL has skill plans for specific textbooks so your child can get extra help for the exact unit they're covering in class. How cool! And the research is clear. The kids who are using IXL are consistently scoring higher on tests and doing better in school. You can get these results for your family too. Don't let your child struggle when they don't have to. Let IXL help them master all the subjects and build a strong academic foundation.

Memberships start at only $9.95 a month, way less than just a single hour of tutoring. Make an impact on your child's learning. Get IXL now. Stories podcast listeners can get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership when they sign up today at ixl.com slash dragon. Visit ixl.com slash dragon to get the most effective learning program out there at the best price. Thanks. Enjoy the episode.

Froggy lost her tail. Once upon a time, there was a Froggy. She loved nothing more than splashing around the muddy little watering hole that she called home. She'd wiggle and jump and splash and ribbit happily all the while.

One day, while she was soaking up to her eyes and catching tasty flies, she heard some animals approaching. Excited, she hopped out of the water to meet her guests. Ribbit! Hello there, friends, she said. Approaching her was a beautiful cheetah and her wild dog friend. They were panting thirsty and made right for her watering hole.

Yes, come on in, have a drink, she said and backstroked across the muddy waters. Hey, look at that ugly little lump, said the cheetah. Someone put a talking wart in the watering hole. The dog barked out laughter. She looks like a yam someone left out in the sun. Get out of the watering hole, little yam. The froggy looked at herself, hurt,

But I, I live in this watering hole. Ribbit, she croaked. And wait, I'm ugly? This time the cheetah laughed. You really have to ask? Look at you. You don't have pretty eyes like us. You don't have beautiful coats like us. And worst of all, you don't even have a tail.

She swished her own big, bottle-brushed tail to drive home the point. "'Yeah, little yam girl,' said the dog, shaking his own fuzzy rump. His tail was a silky patchwork of whites and golds. "'Can't be good-looking without a tail. That's just the rules.' "'Ribbit, that's not fair,' said the froggy, who had always thought herself pretty cute all in all.

You don't have to be fair when you're beautiful, purred the cheetah. She turned to the wild dog. Let's go find somewhere else to drink. I'd hate to catch ugly from this water yam. Laughing, they sauntered away from the waterhole, leaving Froggy all alone, alone and sad.

"'I'm ugly,' she said, looking at her own reflection in the cloudy water. "'It hadn't occurred to her before. "'She had nice webbing, a pretty modeling of green and browns, "'a lovely extra-wide mouth, and even the perfect amount of slime.'

Well, she thought to herself, maybe all of that doesn't stack up to silky fur and a long, beautiful tail. Maybe they were right. I don't want to be ugly. She slapped the water with a floppy webbed hand. The ripples just made her look even uglier, and she moaned in misery. What could she do?

She thought then of the Sky God. It was said he would grant a favor to an animal, if they were willing to pay the price. Froggy didn't know what the price may be, and she didn't care. She desperately wanted to be beautiful. Her little froggy heart couldn't handle being called an ugly yam, not ever again. Softly, she began to sing a prayer to the Sky God.

Today I learn if you don't have a tail, you're basically a nobody and nobody cares. Today I learn since I don't have a tail, he wants to swim with me or even breathe my air.

Oh my Sky God, can you help me please? I don't wanna be the ugly one that everyone can tease. Oh my Sky God, I'm not sure what you need, but I'll do anything you want, oh, any job or deed. Because today I ask you to gift me your kind and nice and generous and mighty without fail.

Oh, my sky god, I hope you'll hear my plea and cure me of my misery and bring a tale to me. Oh, my sky god, please bring a tale to me. With a crack of thunder and a flash of lightning, the sky god appeared.

"'You wish for a tale?' he said solemnly. "'This I can do, but you must do me a service in return.' "'The Sky God was here! Her song had worked!' "'Yes!' she cried. "'I'll do anything!' "'Good, good,' said the Sky God. "'Tell me, what are your skills?' "'Jopping and splashing. Mostly I just sit in my watering hole.'

The Sky God clapped his hands, his smile wide. Perfect! I have a magic watering hole that needs a guardian. A guardian? I'm not much of a fighter. The Sky God laughed. No, no, nothing like that. It has a magic. It never goes dry. Your job will be to keep the animals taking turns. They'll know you work for me, so they'll listen. Can you do that?

Froggy could barely believe her luck. A tail and a magic watering hole? Yes! Rivet, thank you, yes! All right, then, the Sky God said. He clapped his hands and the world seemed to shake with thunder. Close your eyes now. Froggy squeezed them shut tight and there was another great crash of thunder and a flash of lightning so bright she could see it through her eyelids.

Take care of my watering hole, little Froggy, she heard the Sky God say from the darkness, and enjoy your new tail. Froggy shook her head. It felt like she was waking up from a long nap. She stretched her back, flexed her legs, and wagged her tail. Her tail!

"'I have a tail!' she said, watching it wag back and forth. "'It was long and green and just, just beautiful,' she said. "'It's beautiful!' It was only then she noticed she was on the edge of a new watering hole. It was deep and clear and seemed just perfect for swimming. It was the Sky God's watering hole. There was no doubt about it."

Now for a quick ad break. We'll be back with the rest of the story after this. If you'd like Stories Podcast and other favorite kid podcasts ad-free, subscribe to Wondery Plus Kids on Apple Podcasts. It is estimated that over 4 million people have been abducted by alien life forms. But only one of them asked for it. This is Elio of Earth. If any aliens are listening, come and get me. From Disney and Pixar. Yes, yes.

Thanks! And now back to the story.

Froggy settled quickly into her new life. She wiggled and jumped and splashed and wagged her tail for all the animals that came by to drink. Of course, the Sky God had made her a tail worthy of a painting, and all the animals complimented her on it. This made Froggy happy beyond belief, and she seemed to make friends with every animal that came by the magic watering hole. At least, at first.

As time went on, Froggy started to grow a little arrogant. She had the honor of guarding the Sky God's magic watering hole, and that would make anyone proud. But more than that, with her tail, Froggy felt beautiful. Simply, completely, undeniably beautiful, and she knew it. And once she knew it, well, it went right to her head.

She started being rude to the other animals, especially ones she thought were ugly, especially the ones who didn't have tails. "'I don't get it at all,' she'd say to her new friends, the cheetah and the wild dog. "'All these ugly creatures, why don't they try and be beautiful like I did? You just have to work for it.' The cheetah and dog purred and barked in agreement."

Sure, they had been mean to her before, but now she had a tail like them and a magic watering hole, and that's what really mattered.

Froggy found they were better company than ugly animals. Ugly animals, the poor, tailless things, just reminded her of how ugly she had been without even knowing it. It made her stomach feel queasy to think about. It was much easier to spend time with the beautiful animals, the ones like her.

This went on until one day, during a terrible drought, the magic watering hole was the only water to be found for miles and miles around. The animals all lined up to use it, which made Froggy feel especially important, which, unfortunately, also made her especially rude. All right, move it along, Ribbit, she said. Hey, Zebra, you call that little brush a tail?

Move it along, ugly. You can't even keep your colors straight. Okay, gazelles, you've had your fill. Now bound on out of here with that weak little behind. Of course, Froggy was happy to let her beautiful friends Cheetah and the wild dog in to drink, and the fennecs and lion with their long and lovely tails as well. But when the dung beetle scuttled up, she laughed out loud.

"'Ha! Sorry,' Froggy said. "'Waterhole is all dried up.' "'Um, but I can see Cheetah and Lion and them all drinking right now.' "'Yeah, well, we all have these beautiful tails,' Froggy said. "'And you, you eat dung, and you look like it.' Cheetah laughed, and so did the dog. "'Can I please just have one drink?' "'Sorry, beautiful creatures only,' Froggy said. "'Come back when you have a tail.'

This is the Sky God's magic watering hole, said the beetle. It's for everyone. This isn't fair. Froggy turned up her nose and ribbited. You don't have to be fair when you're beautiful.

There was a sudden crack of thunder and a flash of lightning. The sky opened and rain began to fall. The other watering holes started to fill and everyone she was rude to left to go drink somewhere else. There was another crack of thunder. So close it split the air and Cheetah and Dog and the rest yelped and ran away, leaving Froggy all alone. Wait, come back!

Uh, I'm still here, said the dung beetle, sitting calmly in the rain. Who cares about you? You don't even have a tail. Neither did you until I took pity, the beetle said. And this is how you repay me? Repay you? What are you talking about?

There was a blinding arch of lightning, and when Froggy opened her eyes again, the beetle was gone. In his place was the Sky God, crackling in his anger.

I give you a tail to ease your misery and you just put that misery on others. You should have been kinder to the tailless and those you deem ugly because you know how it feels to be looked down upon. Instead, you became just like the ones that made you miserable to begin with. I'm sorry. Sorry isn't good enough. You need to learn your lesson.

The wind howled, and the rain pounded, and the world started to shake and stutter, and thunder pounded, and lightning crashed, and everything went black as an angry sky. When Froggy woke up, she was back in her own little watering hole, and her tail was gone. She began to cry bitterly until the Sky God spoke from nowhere and everywhere.

Don't cry, little froggy, he said, his voice the wind over savannah sand. You thought you were beautiful until the other animals told you different. You were right in the first place. But you can't be beautiful without a tail. Who says? The sky god smiled. It was like a sunny bask on a warm log.

You were beautiful to start, and you are beautiful again. Look at yourself now, Froggy. Froggy looked at her familiar reflection in the pool of water before her. All she could see was her lack of tail.

Look at those beautiful colors, the sky god said. Such a pretty modeling of green and browns. There's also a lovely extra wide mouth for extra wide smiles, very nice webbing for very strong swimming, and even the perfect amount of slime.

Froggy stared at herself in the pool, noticing everything the Sky God pointed out. She remembered a time when she used to admire those very same things. Suddenly, they didn't look so bad anymore.

A frog isn't a cheetah, and it isn't supposed to be. You may not have a tail, but they don't have a long, fly-catching tongue. It doesn't mean one is pretty and one is ugly. It just means you're different, Froggy. Different, he said, and his voice was a fading crack of thunder. Different and beautiful. Today I remember, don't need a tail.

To be pretty or beautiful or even nice or fair. Today I remember, imperfect as I always was and I'll always be. I don't have to feel less than my sky god. Thank you for this gift. I know I let you down. You granted my tail wish. But oh, my sky god, now I'm where I need to be.

All because you brought a tail to me. Oh, my sky god, you brought a tail to me. Froggy was much happier after that. Even if the other animals called her a mean name, she would just ignore them. She knew she was beautiful, and that's what mattered. And it turned out lots of other animals thought Froggy was beautiful, too. Just as she always had been, tailless and warded.

She was perfect just as she was. And to this day, it's said in Africa that frogs grow beautiful tails as tadpoles, only to lose them as they get older, just to remind us all of Froggy's lesson. That everyone is beautiful, each in their own unique and special way, and you should really be nice and fair to everyone, with or without a tail. The End

Today's story, Froggy Lost Her Tail, was an adaptation of a fable from the Sakuma people of Tanzania, written for you by Daniel Hines and performed for you by me, Amanda Weldon, with a song by me. If you would like to support Stories Podcast, you can leave us a five-star review on iTunes. Check out all of our merch available at storiespodcast.com slash shop, commission a special video on Cameo, follow us on Instagram at storiespodcast, or simply tell your friends about us.

Thanks for listening. Do you want to spend another summer stuck at home? Hey, Jim, how's your back? Uh, you know. I hear ya. Leave the small talk behind because Disney and Pixar invite you on an out-of-this-world adventure. Engaging hyperspeed. This is up! On June 20th. Welcome to the community. Prepare to be conquered! But I just got here! Follow me. What is this place? These are the lava tunnels. I am not

Disney and Pixar's Elio in theaters June 20th. Tickets available now. Rated PG. Parental guidance suggested.