Magical Minivan Adventure (T.A.L.E. Tour Rewind & Giveaway)

Welcome to the T.A.L.E. Tour Rewind! In The Magical Minivan, Jonathan and Redge return to the extraordinary vehicle that launched their adventures. It is part home, part library, part snack station, and powered by imagination. Sometimes the magic begins before you even arrive.

Find the full Magical Minivan Episode: https://jonincharacter.com/magical-minivan-tale/ 

We’re celebrating 2026 and the T.A.L.E. Tour Rewind with a special Dorktales Storytime merch giveaway ahead of Season 7. 

• Listeners are invited to imagine where they’d go on a future T.A.L.E. Tour. Grownups can submit a child’s idea to dorktalesstorytime@gmail.com for a chance to win a Dorktales Storytime prize pack. 
• This giveaway is open to residents of the USA, Canada, UK, and Australia. Families outside these regions may contact us about a digital reward option.
• Last day to submit: Wednesday, February 25, 2026.
• Seven winners will be randomly selected and announced in a Mr. Redge Hotline episode dropping March 5. 
• Full details and submission info can be found here: https://jonincharacter.com/tale-tour-adventure-playlist/

CREDITS: This episode is a Jonincharacter production. It was produced by Molly Murphy and performed by Jonathan Cormur. Sound recording and production by Jermaine Hamilton at Pacific Grove Soundworks.

MERCH GIVEAWAY! Enter by February 25, 2026. Find all the details about the Dorktales Merch Giveaway here: https://jonincharacter.com/tale-tour-adventures-rewind/

Transcript

JONATHAN CORMUR: Hello Dork Squad. I'm Jonathan Cormur and you're listening to Dorktales Storytime, the podcast for kids and their pop culture-loving grown-ups.

THEME SONG: It's a beautiful day for a story, adventure and glory, new friends and old ones too. It's an excellent day to get swept away in a tail, so let us regale you.

JONATHAN: Happy New Year, friends! It’s a brand-new year, and you know what that means—new stories, new discoveries, and new adventures waiting just beyond the horizon.

REDGE: And while we’re getting everything ready for our next Dorktales Storytime season—

JONATHAN: Season Seven!

REDGE: (cheerfully) Huzzah!

JONATHAN: We thought it would be fun to look back at the Thrilling and Astounding Lore Expedition! 

REDGE: Or as you, our loyal listeners and fellow adventurers, know it: the T.A.L.E. Tour!

JONATHAN: That’s right! All of you came along with us as we explored the land of Once Upon a Time, uncovering magical lore, meeting unforgettable friends, and collecting stories that make up our world.

REDGE: And what a journey it’s been! But none of those trips would’ve been possible without one extraordinary creation—

BOTH: The Magical Minivan!

INSERT CLIP 1: “The Big Reveal” 

(From EP104 “The Magical Minivan” — begin with “VAL: Just one second…” and end with “REDGE: Then say nothing at all! Let us walk you through the magic!”)

VAL: Just one second… (A few seconds of mechanical whirring and cartoon-y construction sounds) I think… we’ve… got it!

SAL: Alright! Ready to unveil!

REDGE: On three!

VAL: One!

SAL: Two!

REDGE: Three!

(A magical reveal sound effect)

VAL/SAL/REDGE: TA DA!!!

JONATHAN: Oh… my… goodness!! WOW! It’s… it’s…

REDGE: The Magical Minivan!! Look at this excellent vehicle!

JONATHAN: There are so many gadgets and gizmos on this thing. I… I don’t know what to say!

REDGE: Then say nothing at all! Let us walk you through the magic!

END CLIP

JONATHAN: That was the moment our adventure really began.

REDGE: Val and Sal A. Mander are geniuses! Without them, the T.A.L.E. Tour would’ve been a walking tour, and trust me, I much prefer riding in style.

JONATHAN: And it isn’t just an ordinary van……

CLIP 2: “Go Up, Up, and Away!” 

(From EP104 — begin with “VAL: It’s going to take you everywhere…” and end with “VAL: His work is all over this beauty.”)

VAL: It’s going to take you everywhere!

SAL: And when she says everywhere, she means everywhere

VAL: We’ve got regular drive mode…
(The sound of the engine starting)

SAL: There is “Go Up, Up, and Away!” mode.

REDGE: Weee!

JONATHAN: Wait… does that mean… it can fly?

VAL: Oh. This van can fly alright. Just pull on this lever here (a slidewhistle sound) spin this rainbow pinwheel counter-clockwise (a magical spinning sound) and press this big button with a bird on it! (A ding sound, and then a short “tweet tweet” from a bird)

JONATHAN: Omg! Wings just popped out!

VAL: These ain’t just wings, my friend. These are top-of-the-line Hover Hawk Wings, deluxe issue, first generation. (Gets teary) They are beautiful.

JONATHAN: Are those feathers painted on there?

SAL: You know it! Our brother, Hal, is an amazing artist.

VAL: His work is all over this beauty.

END CLIP

REDGE: Every time we lift off, I still get that fluttery feeling. (Singing) “We can fly, we can fly, we can fly!”

JONATHAN: The view from up in the sky is incredible. We can see all of Once Upon a Time stretched out beneath us… and we soar through clouds that look like fuzzy sheep -

REDGE: And the most delicious cotton candy -

JONATHAN: We get to fly with the birds -

REDGE: Like my most favorite bird band, the Branch Sisters! 

JONATHAN: Sometimes even actual dragons ride alongside us!

REDGE: Yes, it’s true! We meet such wonderful dragon friends while soaring over Mythdom! 

JONATHAN: Oh! Let’s not forget the wonders that await you on the inside of the Magical Minivan…

CLIP 3: “Bigger on the Inside” 

(From EP104 — begin with “VAL: Well, we’ve got individualized sleep compartments…” and end with “REDGE: I can pack even more snacks!”)

VAL: Well, we’ve got individualized sleep compartments. We asked one of the Folktale Forest’s top enchanters, also known as Hesper the Fairy of the Evening Star -

REDGE: We know Hesper!

VAL: Aw, you do? Love her.

REDGE: She helped us defeat The Night Mare!

VAL: Wow!

REDGE: I know!

VAL: Well, we asked Hesper to come in here and create a pocket dimension. In that pocket dimension, you can enjoy a realm of sleep and relaxation. It is a realm so comfortable and so spacious that you will forget you’re even in a van!

SAL: What she’s trying to say is this place is bigger on the inside than the outside.

REDGE: I say! This is like an entire hovel!

SAL: We each have our own bunk!

REDGE: That we can decorate to our own likes and specifications?!

VAL: Of course! Jonathan, we made sure to install the bookshelf near your bed.

JONATHAN: This thing is tall! I can pack even more books now!

VAL: There’s a big pantry over by Redge’s bunk.

REDGE: I can pack even more snacks!

END CLIP

JONATHAN: The Magical Minivan isn’t just how we travel - it’s our home base, our library, our sanctuary, our place for dreaming…

REDGE: and our snack station! 

JONATHAN: all rolled into one.

REDGE: The Magical Minivan really is a character of its own, isn’t it?

JONATHAN: It sure is. And it reminds us that our curiosity, creativity, and imagination can take us anywhere we want to go.

REDGE: Jonathan, please tell me there’s more to come on our T.A.L.E. Tour recap - I just love revisiting all of the places we’ve gone, friends we’ve made (lost in daydreaming)…snacks we’ve enjoyed…outfits we wore…. 

JONATHAN: Yes, Redge! We’re making this a four-part series so there’s three more to go before the new season begins. Shout out to our loyal listener, Jose, who inspired the idea!

REDGE: Brilliant! This one’s for you, buddy!

JONATHAN: In our next special episode, we’ll revisit a mountain of a tale from our lore-collecting travels across Once Upon a Time.

REDGE: Oooo, what a cliffhanger! But before we go, we have a VERY IMPORTANT AND SUPER COOL QUESTION to ask you.

JONATHAN: Imagine joining us on our T.A.L.E. Tour—where would YOU like to go with us?

REDGE: Would you want to dive into the Fantasea? Visit the city of Litropia? Or dream up a new place of your own?

JONATHAN: We want to know! Grownups can send your ideas to dorktalesstorytime@gmail.com 

REDGE: 7 lucky listeners will be chosen at random to receive Dorktales Storytime's new merch prize packages!

JONATHAN: Redge and I look forward to hearing your ideas. Until then, go be the hero of your own story, and we’ll see you next once-upon-a-time!

THEME SONG: So gather your squad for all to see. It's a universe that we've imagined. There's twists and turns and lessons learned. This is where the unexpected happens. Join our humble hosts and hit the trails of the wonderful, wacky, wild world of Dorktales.

© Dorktales Storytime 2026