Once upon a time…

Hi! We’re Rebecca Sheir and Eric Shimelonis: partners in podcasting and life who for nine years have produced the kids and family podcast, Circle Round, for a university-owned radio station.

The story takes a turn…

Making Circle Round within the corporate framework of a university-owned radio station was never easy. But the support of our amazing fans around the world kept us going -- for a while, anyway...

Recent decisions and practices at the university and radio station have led us to realize that a corporate environment is not a hospitable place for the storytelling world we wish to create, nor for the listeners of all ages who’ve stood by us for nearly a decade.

A new beginning

It breaks our hearts to leave Circle Round. But we're determined to give our tale a “happily ever after” ending -- and you can help us do it!

As we enter our 10th year as storytellers for kids and families – and our 11th year as parents – we're spreading our artistic wings, soaring away from the difficulties of the corporate world, and producing a suite of high-quality podcasts for all ages… independently!

Lions and Legends

Our first indie podcast will be Lions and Legends: fun, fantastical retellings of legends, myths, folktales, and fables through the ages! With exciting action and unforgettable characters, each episode will serve as a timeless tool for teaching values, fostering empathy, and providing hope, wisdom, and comfort in today’s topsy-turvy world.

But here’s the thing: we can’t do it on our own!

A little help from our friends

Now that we’re going indie, your support means we can keep bringing enchanting, diverse, accessible stories to listeners of all ages… like you!

Whatever dollar amount you can give, your donation will help us create years of unforgettable audio experiences for anyone seeking high-quality entertainment, enchantment, and inspiration in our modern times.

Thank you for supporting and believing in us. We couldn’t do what we do without superstar champions like you!

But wait – there’s more!

Do you belong to a company, foundation, or organization who wants to support important, inspiring, family-friendly work like ours? We want to hear from you… and invite you to join our Producers Circle!

Email us through Go Fund Me -- or through our website (lionsandlegends.org) -- to learn how you can get even more perks, including a producer credit at the end of each Lions and Legends episode!

Where your donation will go:

When you donate to our cause, where will your hard-earned dollars go? We’re glad you asked! Your generous investment will help us with:

→ Longevity!

We want to run a sustainable family business, with production resources that are safe from the politics and profit-centric mindsets of large corporate entities.

→ Artistic labor!

Making our podcasts sing means investing in story research, script-writing, script-editing, creating music and sound design (more on that audio-tastic stuff below), mixing episodes, promos, and other audio elements, creating original video, and more!

→ Talent management!

Lions and Legends will feature a fabulous cast of voice actors. You can help us take care of our talent as we cast, schedule, direct, and get them paid fairly and on time!

→ Music/sound creation!

Your donation will help support our resident music man, Eric Shimelonis, as he composes custom theme music and scores, hires guest musicians, and builds an evocative world of original sound-design for you to enjoy!

→ Studio equipment and hardware!

You deserve a podcast that sounds every bit as amazing as you are! Donate now, and help us procure and maintain all sorts of tech-tastic stuff, like microphones, audio interfaces/mixers, and more!

→ Branding, marketing, and promotion!

Podcasts aren’t just for the ears! You can help us invest in eye-catching art and graphic design, branding materials, email marketing, social media ads, and other head-turning elements that’ll help us spread the Lions and Legends word.

→ Audience engagement!

Your donation will help us keep you in the loop with regular emails, newsletters, social media posts, and more!

→ Website!

You deserve a snazzy, user-friendly web experience. Donate today to help us invest in web design and maintenance, domain registration, and those spiffy monthly hosting fees!

→ Merchandise production!

Who doesn’t love swag? We’re jazzed to produce branded t-shirts, stuffies, and other marvelous merch for you to enjoy!

→ A national – and (fingers crossed) international – tour!

After touring to dozens of cities with our first podcast, we look forward to visiting a stage near you! Your donation helps cover rental fees, production/technical fees, moving/storing equipment, transportation, lodging/accommodations, fair fees for actors and musicians, marketing materials, ticketing and service fees, and – most fun of all – liability insurance!

Who we are (i.e. Who you’ll help live happily, and gratefully, ever after):

Before embarking on a passionate career in storytelling for families, Rebecca Sheir brought thousands of stories to life as a public radio reporter and host, appearing on national programs like “Morning Edition,” “All Things Considered,” “Here & Now,” and “Marketplace,” and regional shows like “AK” (Alaska Public Media) and “Metro Connection” (WAMU in Washington, D.C.). Rebecca holds a BA in Film Studies from Columbia University and an MFA in Creative Nonfiction from the University of Iowa.

Composer, multi-instrumentalist, and audio producer Eric Shimelonis has wowed audiences with compositions at Symphony Hall, Tanglewood, the Kennedy Center, the Juilliard School, Carnegie Hall, and on countless theater stages across the United States. Eric has won a Helen Hayes Award and been nominated for Drama Desk, Lucille Lortel, Big Easy. and Henry Hewes Design Awards. Film highlights include the features “International Falls” and “Winter Passing.”