Big Things in Small Packages

We all know that looks can be deceiving. Not everyone or everything is exactly as it seems to our first judgment. Many times, small things can have large effects. For example, tiny bacteria are so small that we can’t even see them, but they help us digest our food, break down garbage, and keep the world clean. We don’t notice they’re there, but if they were gone, we would know it. So, big things can have big effects, but you should never underestimate something small. On today’s episode, enjoy the following: “The Most Powerful Being in the World” by Antonio Rocha from Cross Roads: Stories from Brazil & the World (12:07) Antonio Rocha (pronounced haw-sha) is originally from Brazil. He came to the United States to study mime with mime master Tony Montanaro. Since then he has blended mime with verbal storytelling to enhance his tales. This story is about two proud rats. They are proud, not in a bad way, but of their daughter, and they want what’s best for her. So, when it’s time for her to get married, they want to find the most powerful being in the world to be her husband. Thus begins their quest, traveling all around, to find the most powerful being to be their daughter’s husband. “What is Strength?” by Len Cabral from It’s How You Say It (5:15) Len Cabral descends from Cape Verde, a country located off the coast of Africa. Since 1976 he has been telling stories and has garnered international acclaim. He tells stories from Africa, the Caribbean, Cape Verde, and the rest of the world, including his own original tales. This one is about a contest. In order to find out who is the strongest, the animals hold a competition. All the animals are there, and many of them are very strong. But when the human takes a turn, the animals have to ask, is that really strength? Or is it something far more sinister. “The View from Here” by Allison Downey from Allison Downey: a Selection of Stories and Songs (5:56) Allison Downey has lived and traveled all over the world, collecting a rich variety of stories. Recen