The Apple Seed
A family-friendly showcase of professional storytellers, framed by a host who encourages listeners to share their own memories.
This is a curated storytelling showcase produced by BYUradio. Each episode features two pre-recorded performances from professional storytellers, woven together by host Sam Payne. He introduces a weekly theme, provides context for the tales, and often shares his own short, related anecdotes, creating a warm, reflective listening experience designed for families.
“Unlike interview shows, The Apple Seed is a performance showcase. Its unique structure—two distinct stories plus a host's personal vignette on a single theme—and its explicit mission to prompt family story sharing sets it apart from other storytelling podcasts.”
Who hosts this show
Sam Payne is a storyteller, writer, singer-songwriter, and radio personality who hosts "The Apple Seed" for BYUradio. A veteran of the storytelling festival circuit, he performs original stories and jazz-inflected folk music across the US and internationally. His work often explores themes of family, faith, and the Western pioneer experience. In addition to his performance career, Payne has also worked as a schoolteacher and serves as the school director of Pioneer High School for the Performing Arts.
Credentials & credits
- Host, The Apple Seed on BYUradio
- Host, Highway 89 on BYUradio
- Singer, Songwriter, and Storyteller
- School Director, Pioneer High School for the Performing Arts
- Veteran performer at Timpanogos and Weber storytelling festivals
- Author of children's books
Other ventures
- Highway 89 (BYUradio music and interview show)
- Solo music career (as a folk singer)
- Savoy (jazz quartet)
What kind of podcast
- Country
- United States
- Region
- usa
When new episodes drop
- 01Rebuilding the Heart - Stories for the Whole Family by Noa Baum and Pippa WhiteJun 25, 2026 · 33 min
- 02
- 03The Wonder of Nature - Stories for the Whole Family by Antonio Sacre and Bil LeppJun 11, 2026 · 32 min
- 04
- 05Hospitality Rules - Stories for the Whole Family by Bill Harley and Lyn FordMay 28, 2026 · 27 min
- 06
- 07Food Fight - Stories for the Whole Family by Alton Takiyama-Chung and Willy ClaflinMay 14, 2026 · 27 min
- 08
Notable episodes
- 01Rebuilding the Heart - Stories for the Whole Family by Noa Baum and Pippa White
Shows the program's emotional depth, featuring a story about connecting with Jewish heritage after the Holocaust and another about the historical Orphan Trains.
- 02Finding Wisdom in Unlikely Places - Stories for the Whole Family by Kim Weitkamp and Kevin Kling
Highlights the show's blend of humor and heart with a story about a yarn shop owner and the Knitted Knockers charity for breast cancer survivors.
- 03For the Love of the Game - Stories for the Whole Family by Geraldine Buckley and Donald Davis
Illustrates the host's integral role, as Sam Payne shares a poignant personal story about a letter from his father that frames the episode's theme.
What you'll be asked on this show
This is a narrative showcase, not an interview show. Host Sam Payne acts as a gentle curator, introducing a theme, presenting two recorded stories, and adding a short personal anecdote. The production is clean and centered on the spoken word, with a warm and inviting tone.
Signature segments
- · Thematic introductions by host Sam Payne.
- · Host shares a short, personal story related to the theme.
- · Listener prompt: "Where did the story take you, and who will you take along?"
- · Closing encouragement to share stories with family.
- · Cross-promotion of other BYUradio podcasts.
Topics covered repeatedly
Who gets booked here
The show features established professional storytellers, often from the national festival circuit, who perform well-crafted personal or folkloric tales. Guests are performers, not interview subjects, and include notable tellers like Donald Davis, Kim Weitkamp, and Bil Lepp.
- Noa Baumon Rebuilding the Heart - Stories for the Whole Family by Noa Baum and Pippa White
- Pippa Whiteon Rebuilding the Heart - Stories for the Whole Family by Noa Baum and Pippa White
- Kim Weitkampon Finding Wisdom in Unlikely Places - Stories for the Whole Family by Kim Weitkamp and Kevin Kling
- Kevin Klingon Finding Wisdom in Unlikely Places - Stories for the Whole Family by Kim Weitkamp and Kevin Kling
- Antonio Sacreon The Wonder of Nature - Stories for the Whole Family by Antonio Sacre and Bil Lepp
- Bil Leppon The Wonder of Nature - Stories for the Whole Family by Antonio Sacre and Bil Lepp
- Donald Davison For the Love of the Game - Stories for the Whole Family by Geraldine Buckley and Donald Davis
Where to find this show
Audience & reach
The show is produced by BYUradio and primarily promotes other podcasts from the same network, such as 'The Lisa Show' and 'Constant Wonder Kids'. No external commercial sponsors were mentioned in the evidence provided.
Subscriber and view counts are pulled live from YouTube and re-verified on a 30-day cycle. Listener estimates for the RSS feed aren't published here unless they're host-verified.
Pitch this show
b•••@•••.eduFree: limited reveals · Pro: unlimited reveals + CSV export
You’re only charged when we return a verified hit.
People also ask
- Who is the host of The Apple Seed?
- The host is Sam Payne, a professional storyteller, musician, and radio personality.
- What is the format of the show?
- It is a storytelling showcase, not an interview podcast. Each episode, the host introduces a theme and presents recorded stories from two different performers, often adding a short personal anecdote.
- Is The Apple Seed still releasing new episodes?
- Yes, the podcast is active and typically releases new episodes on a weekly basis.
- Is this podcast for kids?
- The show is designed for the whole family to listen to together. The host occasionally provides content warnings for stories with more mature themes.
- Where can I listen to The Apple Seed?
- The podcast is produced by BYUradio and is available on its website, YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and other major podcast platforms.
- Who are the guests on the show?
- The 'guests' are professional storytellers who perform their work. The show features a rotating cast of tellers from the national storytelling community.
Built from the show's public RSS feed, YouTube, the host's own websites, and the cited sources below. Computed and AI-extracted fields are labelled. Facts only — no private info, no fabrication, no transcripts republished.
Sources & how this page was built
This page is AI-assisted, grounded in the public sources cited below, and host-verifiable. We publish facts only; we do not republish transcripts. If anything here is wrong, the host can claim and correct the page above.Model: gemini-2.5-pro · high confidence
Podcasts like The Apple Seed
PARANORMAL EXPERIENCE
PARANORMAL EXPERIENCE
Um podcast brasileiro de longa duração onde dois apresentadores entrevistam médiuns, mentores e especialistas sobre suas experiências paranormais e estruturas espirituais.
Dear Shandy Podcast
Dear Shandy
A married couple offers comic relief and practical advice on relationships, alongside detailed, analytical recaps of reality dating shows.
Learn Korean with Jadoo
Full episodes of the popular South Korean animated sitcom 'Hello Jadoo' are used as a language-learning tool with bilingual subtitles.
Great Art Explained
Great Art Explained
A curator breaks down a single great work of art in each episode, demystifying its history and meaning without academic jargon.
Own Narrative Podcast
Own Narrative
A South African podcast where host Promise Makunyane interviews women about overcoming adversity, building businesses, and navigating family dynamics.
Podcast Cringe
A YouTube commentary channel that produces narrated mini-documentaries critiquing popular podcasters, particularly Joe Rogan and his circle.
Hashtag Mumbai News
A Mumbai-based interview podcast exploring social, religious, and entrepreneurial issues within the modern Indian Muslim community.
DeFi Dad
DeFi Dad
In-depth interviews with the founders and builders creating the next wave of decentralized finance protocols and infrastructure.