Skip to main content
No Nonsense Storytime

No Nonsense Storytime

By Christopher Panico & Robert Ho

A weekly podcast in which co-hosts Christopher Panico and Robert Hoffman apply real-world logic and rationale to famous children's stories in order to discover the true meaning behind our childhood classics.
Available on
Apple Podcasts Logo
Castbox Logo
Google Podcasts Logo
Overcast Logo
Pocket Casts Logo
PodBean Logo
RadioPublic Logo
Spotify Logo
Currently playing episode

Coraline

No Nonsense StorytimeNov 03, 2020

00:00
56:39
Coraline

Coraline

It's be quite a long time since our last episode, but we couldn't let Halloween come and go without at least getting together for a special episode. This year we're tackling one of our very favorite kids novellas, 'Coraline' by Neil Gaiman.

Nov 03, 202056:39
Bedknobs are Real

Bedknobs are Real

Chris and Bobby are back from their start-of-the-year hiatus! We're all feeling refreshed and are ready to start a brand new year of story-time. We're going to kick it off by revisiting one of our favorite author's: Maurice Sendak. We started the podcast with him and it seemed time to check back on his work. This time we're talking through "In the Night Kitchen", a story about Mickey, a young boy he finds himself in the middle of fantastical, magical, and totally nonsense kitchen. 

Feb 01, 202041:57
A Christmas Intervention

A Christmas Intervention

Happy Holidays to all our listeners! This is our final episode in our annual Holiday cycle AND our last episode of 2019. Thanks so much for all your support. We hope you enjoy our take on the Christmas Classic "A Christmas Carol". 


Music Credit

Hark The Herald Angels Sing
Exzel Music Publishing (freemusicpublicdomain.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Dec 26, 201938:30
Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins

Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins

We're so excited to bring Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins to No Nonsense Storytime! The story is filled with trickery, drama, and heroic cleverness in the face of what appears to be pure evil. But nothing is what it seems to be here...


Music Credit

Hark The Herald Angels Sing
Exzel Music Publishing (freemusicpublicdomain.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Dec 22, 201932:33
An Escape Claus

An Escape Claus

The Holidays are back and with them come our annual series of holiday stories! This is our favorite time of the year and we've picked a few particularly beloved stories for you. To start this season off we're changing the script a little bit. Instead of a children's book we're actually going to look into the narrative behind the famous song 'Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer'.




Music Credit

Hark The Herald Angels Sing
Exzel Music Publishing (freemusicpublicdomain.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Dec 15, 201934:22
What Even Are Double Ovens?

What Even Are Double Ovens?

Chris and Bobby travel to Maine (metaphorically speaking) to pick apart a classic folk tale, The Gingerbread Man

Dec 08, 201935:36
Pippi Langstrumpf

Pippi Langstrumpf

This episode is a little bit different from most of of our others so far. With the help of our friend Lin we have decided to take a world renowned character from Swedish culture and break down what her story really is. Sit back with Chris, Bobby, and Lin as they talk about Pippi Langstrumpf (Longstocking!) and hash out where her Pirate King Father is and how she could possibly lift a horse.

Nov 29, 201901:00:44
What Was I Scared Of? Pants, of course!

What Was I Scared Of? Pants, of course!

Chris and Bobby bring you a slightly belated, slightly spooky second Halloween special for the year. We return to our always reliable Dr. Seuss with a not-so-well known story full of brand new, spooky nonsense.

Nov 09, 201924:50
North and Through the Mirror

North and Through the Mirror

Harriet doesn't like playing music for other people...it's Halloween...and there's a Moon in her chimney! 

Nov 01, 201942:42
No Nonsense Question Time

No Nonsense Question Time

Chris and Bobby open up the mail bag and answer questions from their adoring fans.

Sep 30, 201942:59
The Napping Houses

The Napping Houses

They wanted us to believe there was only one Napping House. But Chris and Bobby know better than to believe everything that they read in a book.

Sep 11, 201939:22
Every Old Man Deserves Fudge
Aug 24, 201944:05
Amelia Bad-Elia

Amelia Bad-Elia

Amelia Bedelia is starting her first day on the job...but she seems to have a little bit of trouble following directions accurately....or does she!?

Aug 21, 201932:47
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Australian Day

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Australian Day

Alexander is having a very, VERY bad day. We've all been there...but we haven't all be to Australia. There may just be more to this bad day than meets the eye.

Aug 04, 201937:11
Fedoras For Sale

Fedoras For Sale

An episode including many puns, Chris trying to make Bobby laugh, and Bobby trying to convince you all that Fedoras are cool. 

Jun 30, 201937:51
Under the Sea

Under the Sea

Even if you've never read "The Rainbow Fish" before, you surely remember the beautiful water color illustrations by Marcus Pfister. The story is about the finer points of underwater society, how to make friends, and why you should literally give pieces of your body away to strangers so that they'll like you. Makes sense, right? WRONG! Click the play button to see what we can do about all this nonsense.

Jun 15, 201942:01
Fireboy Small

Fireboy Small

Fireman Small is the only firefighter on this side of the bay...and boy howdy is it a demanding job. He works night and day, never gets any sleep, and oh..by the way...he's the only human being in town. But why? What is this unusual place on the side of the bay? Find out now!

May 25, 201931:53
The Tailor of Gloucester

The Tailor of Gloucester

Goodness, those waistcoats are nice.
May 19, 201944:22
Jack and the Treehouse

Jack and the Treehouse

Is it really a beanstalk?
May 04, 201956:07
If You Take A Mouse's Sense of Self

If You Take A Mouse's Sense of Self

Would he ask for milk though?
Apr 27, 201930:06
Chicka Chicka Doom Doom

Chicka Chicka Doom Doom

The shocking truth behind the coconut tree
Apr 24, 201940:11
Pete the Liar

Pete the Liar

Chris and Bobby talk about Mr. Eric's beloved series.
Apr 13, 201933:21
The Seussiverse: Episode Four: We Can Help the Knoxarelli

The Seussiverse: Episode Four: We Can Help the Knoxarelli

The grand conclusion to Ned Knox's saga
Mar 31, 201956:16
The Seussiverse: Episode Three: Fort Knox

The Seussiverse: Episode Three: Fort Knox

Freestyle rap legend Ned Knox comes back on the scene...and you won't believe what happened next...
Mar 24, 201957:04
The Seussiverse: Episode Two: Knox-Hop

The Seussiverse: Episode Two: Knox-Hop

Green Eggs and Ham
Mar 17, 201952:21
The Seussiverse: Episode One: Who-Tang Clan

The Seussiverse: Episode One: Who-Tang Clan

Kicking of Read Across America with Fox in Socks!
Mar 10, 201901:05:57
Harold and the Purple Marker

Harold and the Purple Marker

Is it a crayon really?
Feb 23, 201942:47
Mani-Cat-ti

Mani-Cat-ti

Strega Nona's helper, Big Anthony, bites of a little more than he can chew.
Jan 26, 201944:11
'Twas the Bear before Fish-mas

'Twas the Bear before Fish-mas

'Twas the Night Before Christmas
Dec 23, 201848:18
How the Grinch Went Back On His Convictions

How the Grinch Went Back On His Convictions

Why does the Grinch hate Christmas so much?
Dec 15, 201837:23
The Podcast Express

The Podcast Express

All aboooooooooard!
Dec 09, 201833:54
The Giving-to-Myself Tree

The Giving-to-Myself Tree

Trees can't talk...
Dec 02, 201827:39
A Bad Case of Alexa

A Bad Case of Alexa

Where did these stripes come from? What do they mean?
Nov 18, 201832:01
The War-ax

The War-ax

The Lorax vs. The Once-lear.
Nov 10, 201829:31
Halloween Special: Charlie and the Gaslit Factory

Halloween Special: Charlie and the Gaslit Factory

What happens behind closed doors at Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory?
Oct 27, 201801:06:52
Big Pumpkin Fibs

Big Pumpkin Fibs

Big Pumpkin. Big pie.
Oct 20, 201835:12
Hansel and REGRETel

Hansel and REGRETel

I couldn't think of a better title.
Oct 14, 201831:09
Jurassic Bark

Jurassic Bark

Oct 06, 201826:02
Who's Waldo?

Who's Waldo?

Where's Waldo? Also why? And how?
Sep 29, 201827:56
Humanji

Humanji

We embark on our safari to find discover the secret sense within 'Jumanji'.
Sep 15, 201824:05
Rumple-Mean-Skin

Rumple-Mean-Skin

Rumplestiltskin, what weird name.
Sep 08, 201823:54
There's a Health Code Violation in My Pocket

There's a Health Code Violation in My Pocket

The truth behind Wockets, Wosets, Yeps, Yottles, Bofas, and more!
Sep 01, 201826:32
Goodnight, Bunny

Goodnight, Bunny

Goodnight, Moon. Goodnight, who?
Aug 18, 201822:56
The Gruffa-What?

The Gruffa-What?

Solve the puzzle of the anomaly that is The Gruffalo.
Aug 11, 201828:54
The Very Missing Caterpillar

The Very Missing Caterpillar

A tale of friendship, morality, insects, and food.
Aug 04, 201834:36
Where are the Wild Things?

Where are the Wild Things?

Discover where and what the Wild Things actually are.
Jul 28, 201827:45