WEST STOCKBRIDGE — When Ohio natives Rebecca Sheir and Eric Shimelonis met in Washington, D.C., she was a public radio host, reporter and writer, and he was a composer and sound designer for theater. Together, the couple has built a career founded on telling stories.

They will share their creativity and encouragement at a storytelling workshop for all ages, 3 p.m. July 21, at The Foundry in West Stockbridge, their hometown since 2016.

Sheir has studied and made a career of storytelling for two decades. She stumbled into public radio, winding up hosting a show for Alaska Public Radio Network. After two and a half years, “eventually the darkness and cold got to me,” she said, and, like Shimelonis, relocated to Washington D.C.

After marrying in 2014, a son, Igor — named for composer Stravinsky, Shimelonis’ musical hero — was born in 2015. A year later, the political climate drove the family to find refuge in the Berkshires.

“We talked about retiring to the Berkshires one day,” Sheir said. “When I lived in New York City, this was my summer escape, and Eric worked at Barrington Stage Company. We just retired early. By then, we had founded our own company, so we’ve been working our own hours in our yoga pants ever since.”

BEGINNINGS

In 2017, Boston public radio station WBUR invited them to create the children’s podcast “Circle Round.” They recently launched Season Eight.

“We have a total of 250 episodes,” Sheir said.

“We take age-old folk tales from around the world and adapt them as 15 to 25 minute audio plays for modern audiences aged 3 to 103. Each episode features original music by Eric and voices from stage, screen, podcasts and public radio. We have guest stars, and a supporting cast of actors from across the country. I’m researcher, writer and host, and Eric does the music and sound.”

“We leave a lot of room for imagination,” Shimelonis added. “It’s the oral tradition of storytelling. We’re working in the medium of radio plays that goes back to early 20th century. We use instruments from all around the world, a passion of mine.”

They adapt lesser-known tales, perhaps beloved in home regions, but not heard elsewhere. With fans in nearly 200 countries, they try to showcase diverse stories and cultures, Sheir said.

“Folk tales go back generations to when people didn’t stare at glowing screens all day. Instead, they connected with each other, telling stories and whiling away the dark hours. Through trade routes, they got carried all over the world. Now I have this treasure trove at my disposal.”

Podcast downloads went way up during the pandemic as families around the world found them, Sheir said.

“Everybody wanted to listen — parents, grownups and kids.”

LIVE PODCAST

“Circle Round Live” started touring last year, recording episodes on stages from San Francisco to Boston.

“We can sell out a 1,000 seat Chicago theater in one day, but we’re not as well known on our Berkshires home turf,” Sheir said.

They present Circle Round at Tanglewood for the fifth year, Aug. 18, recording episodes live with an all-star cast and Boston Symphony Orchestra musicians.

At the end of every episode, Sheir says, “Now it’s your turn,” presenting a prompt for listeners to further engage with the story.

WORKSHOPS

The workshop idea originated with their upcoming appearance at Alaska World Arts Festival.

“We realized we could also do it locally,” Sheir said. “The workshop lets people of all ages come together and realize they have a story to tell. We’re all authentic storytellers. You just need to have the confidence, courage and belief that people want to hear what you have to say.”

Using accessible and engaging exercises, Sheir breaks the ice with interactive improv games.

“I like to do movement to get silly,” she said. “I used to do vocal coaching for NPR reporters, and would always open with silly vocal stuff to loosen the tongue.”

The workshop helps develop both fiction and non-fiction stories.

“We want to encourage people to have wild locations and characters and unlikely things occurring,” she said.

Shimelonis will demonstrate how music can support and lift the story.

“I want to open folks’ ears, to see how they might wield the power of music themselves,” he said.

In one example, he accompanies the same bit of dialogue using three different types of music, instruments and moods.

There will be no recording or criticism of stories, Shimelonis added.

“In the effort of making it a safe and uncritical environment, what happens at The Foundry will stay at The Foundry!”

Sheir hopes to have “the youngest of youngs and the goldenest of golden years coming to this workshop. Children definitely bring out a more playful side of grownups.”

And there’s plenty of room, as The Foundry can accommodate 80 participants.

“We would love for everyone to come,” Sheir said. “I want to encourage people to let down their guards, shed their shells, and let their inner storyteller come out and shine.”

IF YOU GO

What: “Telling a Story They’ll Remember” storytelling workshop

Who: “Circle Round” podcast’s Rebecca Sheir and Eric Shimelonis

Where: The Foundry, 2 Harris St., West Stockbridge

When: 3 p.m., July 21

Cost: $35; $25 for 12 and under

Information and tickets: 413-232-5222, thefoundryws.com