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PODCAST

Storybrooke Circus: A Once Upon A Time Podcast

Every fairytale has a beginning. If Once Upon a Time meant something to you, this podcast is an invitation back to the magic. Episode-by-episode, let"s revisit the series to explore its characters, flashbacks, and fairytale mythology, looking at how the story works, why it holds up, and what we might have missed the first time around. Whether you’re watching for the first time or returning to a favorite episode, step back into Storybrooke with fresh eyes. Pull up a chair. The stories may be

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All Episodes

02:45:44

106. Storybrooke Goes to Hell | OUAT S5E12

Storybrooke Circus: A Once Upon A Time Podcast ·

2026/10/06

While the Evil Queen's birthday party in the Enchanted Forest turns into a very tense hunt for a gift only Snow White can provide, our heroes land in a spooky knockoff of Storybrooke where everyone is dead, stuck, and holding a grudge, and plenty of those grudges are about them. Storybrooke Circus digs into how Once Upon a Time uses its 100th episode to drag Regina's oldest wounds back into the light, and what it costs her to finally face them.Episode Review starts at 45:50S5E12: Souls of

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02:49:30

105. The Dark One Pays the Price | OUAT S5E11

Storybrooke Circus: A Once Upon A Time Podcast ·

2026/09/29

Storybrooke's entire population of resurrected Dark Ones wants one soul to buy their way back to the living, and Gold's advice for surviving that math is to go hug the people you love instead of fighting it — advice Emma has no intention of taking, because the last mistake still uncorrected on her Dark One redemption list is currently walking around in leather, hearing his own name in the dark. Once Upon a Time finally lets that confrontation happen, and Storybrooke Circus spends the hour arguing

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02:50:47

104. The Real Dark Hook Stands Up | OUAT S5E10

Storybrooke Circus: A Once Upon A Time Podcast ·

2026/09/22

Season 5 Episode 10 of Once Upon a Time finally gives us Dark Hook in full leather-and-vengeance mode, Emma trying to hold onto hope that love can still pull him back, Gold winning a duel clean only to lose Belle anyway, and the timeline finally catching up to present-day Storybrooke with answers to how Merlin died and how Excalibur ended up back in that stone — Storybrooke Circus breaks down why the past finally catching up might be the scariest villain this season's produced.Episode Review

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03:07:36

103. Merida and Flashbacks and Bears, Oh My | OUAT S5E9

Storybrooke Circus: A Once Upon A Time Podcast ·

2026/09/15

A story that never leaves its own past can still tell you everything about the present. On this week's Storybrooke Circus, we review Once Upon a Time S5E9, "The Bear King" — the series' only all-flashback episode! Merida inherits her dead father's unpaid magic-helm debt, recruits a debt-collecting Mulan and a wolf-cursed Ruby to track it down, and spends the whole hour making a case for leadership that doesn't need magic to be feared.Episode Review starts at 49:00S5E9: The

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02:48:06

102. Two Births and a Funeral | OUAT S5E8

Storybrooke Circus: A Once Upon A Time Podcast ·

2026/09/08

Emma finally runs out of good options, and the choice she makes to keep her family alive is something none of us saw coming on Once Upon a Time.In this episode of Storybrooke Circus, Steph and I break down Merlin's grim ultimatum under Arthur's orders, the full-blown magical showdown that follows, and the fallout of Emma's last-resort plan.Meanwhile, back in Storybrooke, Zelena's pregnancy speeds toward the finish line and Hook turns interrogator, grilling the Dark Swan for answers

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02:36:41

101. Merlin's Ex Becomes the First Dark One | OUAT S5E7

Storybrooke Circus: A Once Upon A Time Podcast ·

2026/09/01

Turns out the entire Dark One curse started because a guy fell in love with a woman holding a magic cup he told her not to drink from. Sound familiar? Once Upon a Time really said "let's do the forbidden fruit thing again, but Arthurian."In this episode of Storybrooke Circus, we break down Merlin and Nimue's 1,000-years-ago origin story, the exact moment she becomes the very first Dark One, and how none of it stopped Emma from needing to summon a literal warlord out of her own subconscious to finish

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01:56:51

100. BONUS - Once Upon a Milestone | OUAT Bonus

Storybrooke Circus: A Once Upon A Time Podcast ·

2026/08/25

100 episodes. One rewatch. Zero regrets (mostly). We're celebrating The Storybrooke Circus's 100th episode the only way that makes sense — with cake-tier chaos.Social Media Guru Steph joins as cohost for this milestone, and I sit down with romance author Melissa Kendall to talk fairy tales, storytelling, and why we're all still obsessed with happy endings. Plus — a surprise video tribute from you, the listeners, that I absolutely did not see coming.It's an episode about gratitude,

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02:23:37

99. Merida's Big Lesson in Bravery | OUAT S5E6

Storybrooke Circus: A Once Upon A Time Podcast ·

2026/08/11

Merida spends a whole flashback proving she's brave enough to save her own kingdom without magic. Cool lesson. Shame nobody in Storybrooke got the memo.In this episode of Storybrooke Circus, we break down Dark Swan's plan to manufacture a hero out of Gold, Merida and Belle's flashback mission to save her brothers with nothing but skill, and Gold pulling Excalibur from the stone.It's an episode about two very different tests of bravery—one earned, one forced—and what happens when the

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02:12:29

98. The Dark Swan Breaks Henry’s Heart | OUAT S5E5

Storybrooke Circus: A Once Upon A Time Podcast ·

2026/08/04

Henry’s first real romance should be one of the sweetest stories of the season. Unfortunately, his mother is the DARK SWAN NOW—and she needs his heartbreak for a spell.In this episode of Storybrooke Circus, we break down Regina and Emma finally freeing Merlin from the tree, Henry and Violet’s first date, Emma manipulating her own son to get what she needs, and the heroes discovering just how much she has been hiding from them.It’s an episode about manipulation, broken trust, and the dangerous moment

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02:08:02

97. Arthur Broke the Kingdom | OUAT S5E4

Storybrooke Circus: A Once Upon A Time Podcast ·

2026/07/28

We’re continuing Season 5 of Once Upon a Time with “The Broken Kingdom,” and Camelot’s shining king is starting to look a lot less heroic.In this episode of Storybrooke Circus, we break down Arthur’s obsession with repairing Excalibur, Guinevere and Lancelot’s secret history, David and Snow uncovering the truth about Camelot, and the magical twist that changes everything we thought we knew about their plan.Meanwhile, back in Storybrooke, Emma pushes Merida to turn Rumplestiltskin into the hero she

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02:26:57

96. David’s Heroic Quest—and Arthur’s Big Lie | OUAT...

Storybrooke Circus: A Once Upon A Time Podcast ·

2026/07/21

We’re continuing Season 5 of Once Upon a Time with “Siege Perilous,” and David is finally getting the heroic quest he has been waiting for — unfortunately, King Arthur may have written the ending in advance.In this episode of Storybrooke Circus, we break down David and Arthur’s suspiciously convenient mission, the return of Lancelot with a warning about Camelot’s king, Emma using Hook to get closer to Excalibur, and her decision to turn an unconscious Rumplestiltskin into the hero she needs.It’s an

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02:34:27

95. Regina and Emma Pay the Savior’s Price | OUAT S5E2

Storybrooke Circus: A Once Upon A Time Podcast ·

2026/07/14

We’re continuing Season 5 of Once Upon a Time with “The Price,” and Regina is officially being asked to prove she can be Storybrooke’s new Savior.In this episode of Storybrooke Circus, we break down Regina’s fight to save Robin from the Fury, the heroes learning how to carry the burden together, the mystery surrounding their missing memories, and Dark Emma’s plan to reunite the dagger with Excalibur — no matter what price has to be paid.It’s an episode about sacrifice, shared responsibility, and the

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02:26:16

94. The Dark Swan Rises | OUAT S5E1

Storybrooke Circus: A Once Upon A Time Podcast ·

2026/07/07

We’re kicking off Season 5 of Once Upon a Time with “The Dark Swan,” and Emma is officially the one holding the darkness now.In this episode of Storybrooke Circus, we break down Emma’s first steps as the new Dark One, Rumplestiltskin becoming the voice of her dark conscience, the heroes scrambling to find her, and the show’s big swing into Camelot with Merida, Arthur, and a whole lot of magical chaos.It’s a season premiere about temptation, identity, and whether Emma can fight the darkness — or

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02:05:14

93. Emma Becomes the Dark One | OUAT S4E23

Storybrooke Circus: A Once Upon A Time Podcast ·

2026/06/30

The alternate universe story reaches its final page as Henry races to rescue his family, Regina and Hook make major sacrifices, and Isaac’s rewrite starts to fall apart. Let's talk through the end of the Once Upon A Time Season 4 finale Operation Mongoose, Henry becoming the new Author, and the finale twist that changes everything: Storybrooke has a new Dark One.S4E23: Operation Mongoose Part 2__________Links:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch the Show Recording LIVE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ -

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02:25:27

92. Operation Mongoose Begins: The Author Rewrites...

Storybrooke Circus: A Once Upon A Time Podcast ·

2026/06/24

In this episode of Storybrooke Circus, we break down Once Upon a Time Season 4, Episode 22, “Operation Mongoose Part 1.” The Author rewrites the rules. The wrong people are heroes. The wrong people are villains. And the only person who remembers who everyone actually is? Henry. The stage is set for the season finale!S4E22: Operation Mongoose Part 1__________Links:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch the Show Recording LIVE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - https://twitch.tv/mackeemousemedia

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03:06:09

91. Mother Knows Best? | OUAT S4E21

Storybrooke Circus: A Once Upon A Time Podcast ·

2026/06/16

Just because your parents made a mess of things doesn't mean you're obligated to continue the tradition.On Storybrooke Circus, I am joined by special guest and Social Media Team Captain Steph as we break down Once Upon a Time Season 4 Episode 21, where Emma begins the long road toward forgiveness, Regina gets one final lesson in what not to inherit from Cora, and Maleficent makes a choice that completely reframes her story. In an episode packed with difficult conversations between parents

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02:16:28

90. Emma Meets Her Dark Reflection | OUAT S4E20

Storybrooke Circus: A Once Upon A Time Podcast ·

2026/06/02

It's a lot easier to make a terrible decision when you never expect to meet the person who has to live with it.This week on Storybrooke Circus, we break down Once Upon a Time Season 4 Episode 20, where Emma finally comes face to face with Lily and the fallout of a choice Snow and Charming have spent years trying to justify. As Emma begins to see just how differently her life could have turned out, the episode shifts the conversation away from destiny and toward accountability, asking whether

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02:20:08

89. Cruella Does Not Need Your Sympathy | OUAT S4E19

Storybrooke Circus: A Once Upon A Time Podcast ·

2026/05/26

Not every villain origin story actually explains anything. Sometimes the person was just already Like That™.On Storybrooke Circus, I'll be breaking down Once Upon a Time Season 4 Episode 19, where Cruella’s past finally comes into focus and somehow only makes her more unsettling. Between animal mind control, deeply concerning childhood behavior, and one of the show’s most aggressively committed villains, the episode raises a bigger question about darkness itself and whether every evil act really

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03:11:09

88. Heart of Gold? | OUAT S4E18

Storybrooke Circus: A Once Upon A Time Podcast ·

2026/05/19

Whose “heart of gold” are we even talking about here? Gold’s? Robin’s? The person pretending to have Robin’s?This week on Storybrooke Circus, we break down Once Upon a Time Season 4 Episode 18, where Gold drags Robin Hood into a desperate mission to survive without magic, Regina gets cornered into an impossible choice, and the episode quietly starts hinting that something about this entire situation feels deeply, deeply wrong...S4E18: Heart of

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03:59:06

87. Turns Out the Author Sucks Too | OUAT S4E17

Storybrooke Circus: A Once Upon A Time Podcast ·

2026/05/12

Joining us this week is special guest cohost and Storybrooke Circus social media wizard Steph_PursuingMagic, just in time to witness Snow and Charming make one of the wildest parenting decisions in the history of this show.On this week's episode, we break down Once Upon a Time Season 4 Episode 17, where Snow and Charming make one of the most genuinely shocking choices in the entire series, convincing themselves that protecting Emma somehow justifies ruining another child’s life before it even

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