Riddle of Red Herring Reef
Little Mermaid Underwater Adventure
Dorktales Podcast: Episode 113
While exploring the Fantasea in their magical minivan-submarine, Jonathan and Redge discover Red Herring Reef, a vibrant underwater village. Just in time for the annual Jubilee of the Sea art show, they meet Ariel the mermaid, who dazzles as the MuSEAum’s lively curator. While on the School of Fish tour, they find one of the frames is mysteriously empty! Their curiosity turns into a full-blown caper, as our friends flip their fins and dive into detective mode to crack the case. What they uncover may reveal more than just the whereabouts of the artwork—it could help a mermaid re-discover her voice.
BONUS! Ariel needs your help! Download the free color page to draw your own artwork for the Jubilee of the Sea exhibit.
PARENTS, TEACHERS AND HOMESCHOOLERS: In Riddle of Red Herring Reef, Jonathan and Redge travel to an underwater village where they meet Ariel the Mermaid, curator and tour guide of an undersea art show. When a mysterious empty frame is discovered, Redge takes on the role of detective to crack the case. As the clues unfold, Ariel reveals that she created the missing painting but hid it out of fear of sharing her personal expression. The encouragement of her new friends helps her find the courage to display her work and celebrate her voice. This episode gently explores themes of self-confidence, creativity, and the importance of community support.
FREE PDF TO GET THE CONVERSATIONS STARTED!
Grab your free list of comprehensive questions for Riddle of Red Herring Reef designed to spark thoughtful conversations, promote deep thinking and help young listeners relate the episode’s themes to their own experiences and perspectives.
Podcast Episode Credits
Narration, Voice Over and Podcast Host: Jonathan Cormur
Voice of Ariel and Gill: Sophie
Scriptwriters: Kristin Schmitz and Molly Murphy
Show Producer: Molly Murphy
Sound Production, Audio Editing and Mastering: Jermaine Hamilton
Podcast Episode Illustration: Arthur Lin
Title Design and Layout: Jeri DeMartini
Sophie is a voice actor making her debut as Ariel the Little Mermaid in Dorktales Storytime’s “Riddle of Red Herring Reef.” Typically, when she’s behind the mic, she’s streaming as a family-friendly variety creator on Twitch. Tune in for cozy, simulation, and horror games, or drop by while she’s baking in the kitchen, crafting, singing, or playing acoustic guitar. Sophie launched her first stream in January 2022 and went full-time as a streamer and content creator in 2023. Catch her live at twitch.tv/s0ph.
If you enjoyed this story about an underwater sea adventure, you may enjoy learning about Eugenie Clark and Isabella Aiona Abbott, two Hidden Heroes of History who made important discoveries in our oceans that helped all mankind.
