Mr. Redge Hotline | Kids Podcast Q&A and Shout Outs

We’re wrapping up the year and our season of original stories for kids (and their geeky grownups) with a festively fun winter edition of the Mr. Redge Hotline. Join Jonathan and Redge as they answer listener questions from around the world and give shout-outs to our incredible Dorktales Storytime fans.

This episode includes:

•  Zahra’s question about Redge’s favorite adventure (spoiler: it’s spy-tacular!)
•  Jonathan’s stories about his creative sibling, Molly, who helps make Dorktales magical.
•  Redge’s dashing answer to why he’s “Mr.” at just three years old.

Thank you for a wonderful year of storytelling. Happy New Year, and we’ll see you in 2025! 

SURVEY: Grownups, help us make stories your family loves to hear by filling out this quick survey: https://forms.gle/LWq6r2v5WDpVqzBX8

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: 

• Operation Golden Tie: https://jonincharacter.com/operation-golden-tie/ 

FOR GROWNUPS:

• Email us with a question and/or record your child saying their first name, age and their awesome question. Send the recording to us at dorktalesstorytime@gmail.com
• Use the contact us form on our website: https://jonincharacter.com/contact-the-podcast/  

Transcript

Mr. Redge’s voicemail ringtone

REDGE: Jonathan, I can’t think of a better way to end our season of storytelling AND the year we’ve spent with our listeners than answering their questions and giving some shout-outs.

JONATHAN: I couldn’t agree more, Redge. I’m excited because we’ve heard from listeners from all over my world. 

ZAHRA: Hello Reginald, my first name is Zarah. I’m 5 years old and I live in Bahrain. I’d like to know, what’s your favorite adventure you had and also you seem quite funny and cute to me. It’s quite nice of you to be so funny and cute. I met a real hedgehog at a campfire once actually every Saturday, Bye.

REDGE: Oh Jonathan, did you just hear what Zahra said? Did you? Did you? She thinks I’m quite funny and cute! 

JONATHAN: She’s right about that, Redge. You are very funny and cute…even if you do get a bit prickly sometimes.

REDGE: Oh, thanks mate. And Zahra, your message made my quills stand up with joy. Picture me blushing! It’s wonderful that you’ve seen a real hedgehog. While I’m probably a bit different from that hedgehog—you know, being from the land of Once Upon a Time and all—I’m sure it was adorable too.

 JONATHAN: Redge, don’t forget to answer Zahra’s question about your favorite adventure.

REDGE: Of course! You know it’s funny Zahra should ask about my favorite adventure because Thea from Canada also wonders, ‘Does Reginald like being a spy with Jack A. Lope?’ The answer to both is a big YES! My favorite adventure this season has to be Operation Golden Tie. Being a secret agent was thrilling! Jack A. Lope and I had to outsmart the Meany Minotaur himself, Bull Dozer, to retrieve Niko the Unicorn’s magical golden bow tie. We used cool spy gadgets, clever disguises, and plenty of quick thinking to save unicorn magic and protect Legend Lake from chaos. It was downright spy-tacular!

JONATHAN: Double-Oh-Quills reporting for duty!

REDGE: Two of our listeners have related questions for you, Jonathan. Cutiepie asks “Does Jonathan have siblings?” And Freya asks, “Does Jonathan have any relatives?”

JONATHAN: Great questions! I have lots of relatives and I’m very close with all of them—grandparents, aunts, uncles, and so many cousins—but I have only one sibling, my sister Molly. She’s the best! We have always done creative things together, like performing on stage for example. Molly helped me discover Dorktales Storytime. She is our resident lore keeper, who helps write the stories and music of Once Upon a Time.  

JONATHAN: Oh, and Redge, Nolan and Graeme want to know why do you go by Mr. If you’re only 3 years old?

REDGE: What a fantastic question! While it’s true that I’m only 3 years old, age works a bit differently in the magical realm of Once Upon a Time. But really, I chose “Mr.” because I think it sounds dashing! It rolls right off the tongue—Mr. Reginald T. Hedgehog! Plus, it’s fun! You can call me Mr. Redge, Redge the Hedge, or even just Redge. I’m easygoing like that!

JONATHAN: Hey Redge the Hedge, Luke wants to know if you have a door.

REDGE: Luke, my hovel—my cozy home—absolutely has a door! It’s made from magical, sturdy wood gifted by a tree friend in the Folktale Forest and lovingly crafted by Glimmer the Beaver. It’s one of a kind and has some enchanting features to keep me snug and safe.

JONATHAN: Leslie says, “I love your stories so so much. How do you have those ideas?” 

Oh why thank you, Leslie! Our ideas come from everywhere—nature walks, conversations, old fairytales, and suggestions from listeners like you. Anything can spark our imaginations! My sister Molly and other creative friends help write our stories too, so it’s a team effort. You’ll always know who helped with a story because I always give them a shout-out at the end of our  episodes. They come after the story and right before our theme song. 

REDGE: And don’t forget to listen all the way through the theme song—because sometimes I leave secret little messages just for you, dear listeners!

JONATHAN: I have to say thanks to Cadence from Australia for your wonderful handwritten letter and Empress Athena from the Philippines for sending me your ideas and joyful spirit.

REDGE: Also, thank you to our listener friend, Jose, for all of your comments. I want you to know a secret: the question that you asked will be answered in our episode coming out on January 9th.

JONATHAN: Let’s me send shout-outs to - and I apologize if I don’t pronounce these names correctly:

McKenna 

Miriam

Tensie 

Beakers

Lula

Lily 

Emmanuelle

Kirin

And, Danny, Clara and Margaux from Utah

REDGE: And big huzzahs to:

Valentina

Yadamon from Thailand

Ellie

Wei

Tina

Olivia

Seolah

Abigael 

Josephine

And, HB8o8 (ooh my a mysterious code name. I love it!)

JONATHAN: Tina shared something that sums up what Dorktales is all about: “You guys, I love the fact that we’re all a big Dorktales family.” And that’s so true! Dorktales is a place where everyone is welcome and appreciated.

REDGE: I couldn’t agree more! Every comment, every question, every idea you send our way—it’s the best gift we could ever get because they’re coming from all of YOU.

JONATHAN: Grownups, we’d love to hear from you and your young listeners! You’ll find all the ways to connect with us in the show notes. The best way to get a direct and personal response is to email us at dorktalesstorytime@gmail.com or leave a comment on Spotify after an episode.

REDGE: Or try one of our one-way options: use the text link in the show notes or leave a question in a 5-star review—don’t forget your young listener’s first name! While we can’t reply directly, we’ll do our best to feature your messages in future Hotline episodes.

JONATHAN: Happy New Year, everyone! We can’t wait to share more stories and adventures with you in 2025. Now, go be the hero of your own story, and Mr. Redge and I will see you next, once upon a time!

REDGE: Cheers!