Nyangara the Python

Nyangara the Python

Author: Tanya Batt and Peter Forster May 7, 2026 Duration: 25:39
Send us Fan Mail This story comes from the Shona people of Zimbabwe and was collected by a UK storytelling friend and colleague, Helen East in her book 'The Singing Sack'. While Batt-lamb is uncertain about large snakes, this story celebrates the bravery of a group of children who have the courage to fetch Nyangara, a python with healing powers, to cure their ailing chief. Support the show You can find our audios and books to purchase at https://imagined-worlds.net/story-shop Or join the li...

From the cosy, creative space known as the Batt Cave, performance storyteller Tanya Batt and musician Peter Forster bring you A story and a song: musical stories for children. This podcast weaves together original tales and memorable melodies, creating a unique listening experience for young families. Each episode is a gentle adventure, built around themes of friendship, perseverance, and the simple joys found in everyday life-like the surprising power of vegetables. The stories have a quirky, wholesome charm, often leaving you with a sense of hope and the understanding that even difficult feelings don't last forever. Peter's catchy, folk-inspired refrains are designed for easy joining-in, turning each story into a shared musical moment. It’s the kind of audio you’ll find yourself humming long after the episode ends. Perfect for quiet afternoons, car journeys, or winding down before bed, this collection offers more than just passive entertainment; it invites participation and connection. Listening to this podcast feels like being welcomed into a warm, creative corner where imagination is always humming a tune. You'll hear Tanya's expressive storytelling voice, rich with character and warmth, perfectly complemented by Peter's skillful guitar and uplifting songs. Together, they create a world where problems are solved with kindness, sadness gives way to song, and every story has its own soundtrack. It’s a genuine, handcrafted audio experience from Aotearoa, made for singing along and feeling good.
Author: Language: en-nz Episodes: 50

A story and a song: musical stories for children
Podcast Episodes
The Leprechaun's Pot of Gold [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:22
Send us Fan Mail Pete has reached a golden milestone in November, turning 65! To celebrate, we've put together a collection of 'golden stories' to share. The first one is is from Ireland, and is aboutt a Leprechaun and h…
The Pumpkin Wife [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:17
Send us Fan Mail This traditional story comes from the Lotha Naga people who originate from North East India. A gentle but lonley farmer finds an exceptionally large pumpkin growing in his garden. While the other village…
A Talking Vine, a Smiling Apple and a Singing Ringing Pear [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:38
Send us Fan Mail Continuing with the theme of springtime in the Garden; Tanya and the Batt Crew tell a delightful musical story of a King who wants to give a gift to his three Daughters. The youngest asks for a Talking v…
Pollinator Power Action Song [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:47
Send us Fan Mail It's Halloween again and here in New Zealand it's springtime and that means lots of busy bees and other pollinators out and about pollinating all the flowers and plants in the garden. Tanya has lots of p…
The Three Billy Goats Gruff [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:18
Send us Fan Mail Continuing The epic European adventure Our Heroes briefly pass through Norway on their way to Shetland. This is a re-telling of the Classic Norwegian story : The Three Billygoats Gruff...told with verve…
The Seals/Selkies of the Vee Skerries & Papa Stour [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:45
Send us Fan Mail During their big adventure, Tanya, Pete and Batt lamb were lucky enough to visit Papa Stour, one of the most westerly isles of the Shetland Islands. One of the old stories connected to Papa Stour is abou…
Cuckoo Song and The Crow Who Stole the Seeds [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:53
Send us Fan Mail At long last, Pete, Tanya and Batt Lamb are back from their epic adventure, with new stories and songs to share - this month the stories are from Thailand, Shetland and Norway. In celebration of spring,…
Hare brings Light - a midwinter story from Siberia [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:48
Send us Fan Mail In the second half of the Batt-Cave from Sweden where the days are long and full of light, Tanya, Pete and Batt-lamb share a story from Siberia about how hare brought light to a very dark world - a story…
Salt on a Magpie's Tail - a special podcast from Sweden [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:38
Send us Fan Mail Tanya, Pete and Batt-lamb continue on their world storytelling adventure and are joined in Sweden by Greger (and Lena) who are long time fans of the Batt- Cave. This story is musical remake of a traditio…
Happy Just Where They Are - a story with Xanthe Gresham Knight [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:20
Send us Fan Mail This episode was recorded in Sutri, Italy with the wonderful UK storyteller Xanthe Gresham - Knight. (Tanya and Xanthe were on their way to FEST - the Federation of European Storytellers Conference). Bat…