Mr. Redge’s Hotline: Listener Questions and Shout Outs for Spring!

It's time for another Mr. Redge’s Hotline—where we answer your questions and give some very special shout outs! 

Redge kicks things off with a hedgehog-huzzah for Ada, age 7, and then we’re off on a Q&A adventure with you, our amazing listeners. Want to know Redge’s top 10 favorite Dorktales stories (at least for the moment)? Wondering how a hedgehog gets a haircut (or doesn’t)? Curious about how Jonathan cheers himself up on a bad day? What about Redge’s snazzy outfits? Jonathan and Redge have the answers! Plus, we reveal the story behind the name Dorktales and explain why all our characters call Once Upon A Time their home.

FOR THE GROWNUPS: Want to send in a question for a future Hotline episode? Email us at dorktalesstorytime@gmail.com with your young listener’s first name, age, and their awesome question—written or recorded! You can also reach us through our contact form at https://jonincharacter.com/contact-the-podcast/, leave a comment on Spotify, or include a question in a 5-star review. We’ll do our best to feature as many as we can!

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: 

• The Prickly Duckling: https://jonincharacter.com/prickly-duckling/
• Three Billy Goats Buff: https://jonincharacter.com/three-billy-goats-buff/ 
• Little Red: https://jonincharacter.com/dorktales-little-red/ 
• Hogenstein: https://jonincharacter.com/hogenstein-a-halloween-tale/ 
• Little Redge Hen: https://jonincharacter.com/little-redge-hen/
• Sleepy Hallow’s Eve: https://jonincharacter.com/sleepy-hallows-eve/ 
• The Merry Band of Bremen: https://jonincharacter.com/merry-band-of-bremen/ 
• A Fowl First Impression: https://jonincharacter.com/fowl-first-impression/ 
• A Hedgehog’s Homerun: https://jonincharacter.com/hedgehogs-home-run/ 
• The Boy Who Cried Hedgewolf: https://jonincharacter.com/boy-who-cried-hedgewolf/ 

Transcript

REDGE: Oh Jonathan! Jonathan! We simply must start this Spring Hotline with a grand, spectacular, hedgehog-huzzah and thank you to Ada—age 7—from Ferndale, Michigan! Not only is she a loyal listener, but her grownups are supporting our storytelling by being monthly subscribers to our show! Your belief in our work means the world to us—thank you, thank you, thank you!

JONATHAN: Ada, we appreciate you and your grownups so much! What a perfect way to start this edition of Mr. Redge’s Hotline, where we answer listener questions and give some very special shoutouts. So, let’s get to it!

(Mr. Redge’s Hotline Phone Message)

JONATHAN: Moss, we were delighted when your mum sent us a video of you with this special message for me and a question for Redge:

(audio clip of Moss:) “Hi Jonathan and Reginald, my name is Moss. I’m six years old. P.S. Hey Jonathan, did you know I’m autistic too…just like you! And Reginald, here’s my question: What are your top 10 favorite stories that Jonathan has told you so far? Bye!”

REDGE: Oh Moss, I was so excited to hear from you, and I told you I’d give your question a BIG think! And now, here we are! It was rather difficult to decide, since my favorite stories change all the time. But we’ll give it a go! Since I’m a proud member of the Folktale Forest’s Society of Bards and Balladeers, I shall present my list in poetic form. Ahem!

First The Prickly Duckling

Then Three Billy Goats Buff 

Little Red and Hogenstein

So much silly stuff!

There’s Little Redge Hen

And Sleepy Hallow’s Eve,

The Merry Band of Bremen,

with clever tricks up their sleeves 

A Fowl First Impression,

A Hedgehog’s Homerun,

The Boy Who Cried Hedgewolf

Sometimes just for fun! 

Oh dear, that’s 10!

Am I already through?

Jonathan tells so many stories

Filled with laughs and heart too! 

But I promised you 10

And 10 it has been

I could go on thinking

But this list will never end!

 JONATHAN: That was fantastic, Redge! And thank you Moss! Your message for me made my day. Now, who’s next? Ah, this is a fun one and I’m curious to know too. Empress Athena asks: “How does a hedgehog, or you, Redge, get a haircut?”

REDGE: Oh-ho! Well, Empress Athena, hedgehogs don’t really get haircuts! But that doesn’t mean I don’t keep my quills looking sharp—I get them styled by Willbee Bill, the best in quill coiffure! He’s a porcupine with a real knack for making quills stand out and sparkle. Interesting fact, hedgehogs never need haircuts. You see we naturally shed our quills over time in a process called quilling, and new ones grow in to replace them—just like your hair. So, no barbershop visits for me!

REDGE: Jonathan, it’s your turn! Maddie, age 8, wants to know: What makes you feel better on a bad day?

JONATHAN: Great question, Maddie! When I’m feeling down, I love talking or hanging out with my friends, reading a good book, or listening to a favorite podcast. Sometimes, just taking a deep breath and reminding myself that bad days don’t last forever helps too.

REDGE: Maddie has another question for me! She asks: How do I get my clothes on without making holes, and where do I get my stylish outfits?

Oh Maddie, what a fabulous question! My clothing is made with care by the seamstress fairy siblings, Penelope and Petey Pincushion! They run a shop called Creature Comforts in the tiny town of Scribbleton, where they stitch stunning outfits for every occasion—magically accommodating my quills without a single poke or tear!

JONATHAN: Simone wants to know: Where did the name Dorktales come from?

Well, there are two reasons we named the show Dorktales! First, it was inspired by one of my favorite animated shows growing up in the ‘90s—DuckTales! That show was fun and adventurous, and we aim to bring that same energy to Dorktales. Second, we wanted to take back the word “dork.” When I was younger, words like dork, geek, and nerd were used to tease or bully people, but now they’re badges of honor. I’m proud of who I am, "I'm unique, I'm a geek!" I always say. I want all of you to know that being exactly who you are is awesome!

REDGE: I love that, Jonathan! It’s so important to celebrate what makes us unique. And speaking of unique—Jose has a big question for you!

He wants to know “Why do all the characters in your stories live in Once Upon A Time?”

JONATHAN: Great question, Jose! When we created Dorktales, we dreamed of a place where our listeners—kids like you—could let their imaginations run free! Once Upon A Time is that magical realm where we can meet all sorts of characters, embark on thrilling adventures, and share stories that make us laugh, think, and dream. And of course, it’s the place where I found my best hedgehog friend, Redge! There’s always something new to discover here—new friends, new lessons, and new tales waiting to be told!

.REDGE: Now, it’s time for some shoutouts! These names come from reviews and Spotify comments, and we’ll do our best to pronounce them correctly. Here we go!

Bookworm

Miriam

McKenna

Matt F.

SethLIVM15

Lily

Tina

JONATHAN: And a few more—

Mlilienfeld

Zehava and Chaya

waximius 

Jen

Magda.gallahue

Isabelle W.

Rachael

Thank you all so much for listening and sharing your love for Dorktales!

REDGE: Empress Athena once wrote to me, “You’re small but can do big things!” And that’s true for all of you too! Every comment, question, and idea you send makes our world brighter, and we love hearing from you.

JONATHAN: Grownups, if your young listener has a question for us, we’d love to hear it! Find all the ways to connect in our show notes. The best way to get a response is by emailing us at dorktalesstorytime@gmail.com or leaving a comment on Spotify.

REDGE: Or, you can send a question in a 5-star review! Be sure to include your child’s first name. While we can’t reply directly, we’ll do our best to feature as many as we can in future Hotline episodes.

JONATHAN: Thanks again for all your support! Now, go be the hero of your own story, and Mr. Redge and I will see you next, once upon a time!

REDGE: Cheers!

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