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: 100

A story and a song: musical stories for children
Podcast Episodes
Cuckoo... A Mexican Folk Tale [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:57
Send us Fan Mail Tanya and Pete, along with children on Waiheke, have just been celebrating the arrival of Migratory birds on our shores. These include the Bar-Tailed Godwit/Kuaka which has made the loooong journey from…
The hat seller and the monkeys [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:11
Send us Fan Mail Tanya and Pete have been celebrating Mad Hatters Day at a friends Birthday party, and decided to tell the Popular Indian story about a hat seller and his meeting with a group of very mischievous monkeys.…
The Firebird: Episode 2 of 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:39
Send us Fan Mail Here it is.. the second and final part of the Firebird story: a Wonder tale from Russia ....Enjoy!! Support the show You can find our audios and books to purchase at https://imagined-worlds.net/story-sho…
The Firebird : part 1 of 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:11
Send us Fan Mail This week in the Bat Cave Tanya , Pete and Bat lamb present part 1 of a Russian story about an Old man who discovers a magical feather. He has a great friend in his horse and together they face many chal…
A Butterfly story and song [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:34
Send us Fan Mail Tanya bought some felt butterflies in Australia and got inspired to sing this butterfly song and tell the story of the magical transformation butterflies undergo. Support the show You can find our audios…
Soup from a stone [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:12
Send us Fan Mail On the teams epic recent trip to Australia Tanya and Pete were invited to Mintara in South Australia to tell stories for a grown up audience on the theme of community and the links we all share with thos…
Only Me.... Beth and the Faery [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:52
Send us Fan Mail Tanya, Pete and Batt lamb have just got back from a month touring and performing in Australia. They start off with a spring song to celebrate spring arriving here in New Zealand, and then tell an old Eng…
Mikku and the Trees [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:10
Send us Fan Mail It's the middle of winter in New Zealand and it's the best time to plants trees... Tanya and Pete have just planted thirty plus trees and wanted to celebrate the wonder of trees in the Batt Cave this wee…
Matariki Star songs and the story of Tāwhirimātea [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:43
Send us Fan Mail Tanya and Pete share more Matariki songs about some of the stars in the Matariki Cluster and then tell a very poignant story from the Māori tradition about Tāwhirimātea, the God of te hau/ the wind and h…
Matariki...Celebrating with a song and a story [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:52
Send us Fan Mail Mānawatia a Matariki. In the Batt cave today we are celebrating Matariki, the Māori new year. We start by sharing a fantastic Matariki waiata by our friends Loopy Tunes in Ōtautahi/Christchurch. The star…