Fablist releases first podcast, Pear Blossom, a new kind of family-friendly audio story

ST. LOUIS - July 16, 2018 - PRLog -- Fablist is taking podcast storytelling to a new level. Unlike traditional podcasts, Fablist features a fully scripted story, live actors, cinematic sound design, and original songs and music. Fablist is creator Adam Frick-Verdine's latest project to bring families together to listen to audio stories. Its inaugural release is a serialized audio story and a modern take on the Korean classic children's story Pear Blossom. This free 40-minute, 3-episode podcast is a St. Louis-based production available at the nonprofit's site Fablist-stories.com (https://www.fablist-stories.com/) as well as on iTunes, Apple, Google Play, and every other major podcast app. It makes for perfect screen-free summer family entertainment.

"I have two adopted daughters from Korea," Adam Frick-Verdine, creator and producer of Fablist explains. "I wrote the song 'When Will It Feel Like Spring,' that's now included in this podcast, for them 6 years ago, and the idea for Fablist was born then. While there's a growing number of podcasts for kids, I haven't seen anyone else who is creating storytelling like this for kids and families yet, and the kids who have heard this story want to hear more! They love the format and the story and can't wait to hear what's next."

The podcast, released in June 2018, features diverse collaborations with St. Louis-based artists—writers, actors, musicians, songwriters—from St Louis' theater, comedy, and music scenes. Pear Blossom even boasts a cameo by the world-famous Lil BUB (http://lilbub.com/), who plays the role of the main character's faithful sidekick.

Fablist's Pear Blossom is a retelling of the traditional Korean Cinderella story. In this updated version, the heroine, Ewha, lives a difficult life caring for her sick and aging parents. When her uncle from the country is sent to help, things go from bad to worse until Ewha receives help from some mysterious animals. She discovers that happiness is all around her; by helping others and focusing on their happiness, she brings goodness into her own life.

The Fablist series — part of the Sonic Stories family of projects — reimagines fables, fairy tales, and legends from world cultures, and infuses them with simple moral messages. Fablist focuses on universal themes for kids such as: treat others with respect, tell the truth, honor inner beauty over appearances. Best of all, there's no screen required, so the stories engage kids imaginations and offer opportunities for family discussions. Pear Blossom is the first in a planned 5-story, 3-hour first season that will introduce diverse characters, stories, and lessons from around the world.

As a nonprofit entity, Fablist relies solely on donations (https://www.fablist-stories.com/support) to keep its podcasts going. The goal is to keep the podcasts free of ads cluttering up the beginning and end like many other podcasts for children and families.

About Fablist/Sonic Stories

Sonic Stories is a collaborative effort to generate original audio storytelling projects in St Louis, Missouri. Led by sound designer and sound artist Adam Frick-Verdine, this collection of projects includes: Fablist, audio fables for modern families, and UnHeardOf St. Louis, an interactive audio map telling stories from St Louis history. Our goal is to tell a wide range of outstanding stories amazingly well, and in so doing create a culture where audio is a valued and important medium of artistic expression. Sonic Stories is a project fiscally sponsored by Midwest Artist Project Services (midwestarts.org/sonicstories) and a recipient of a Regional Arts Commission Program Support grant. Fablist-stories.com (https://www.fablist-stories.com/). Twitter (https://twitter.com/FablistStories). Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/fablist.stories/?ref=br_rs).