About the show
Two improv comedians get banished to a faraway galaxy, and kids help them find their way home with word suggestions and celebrity guests along the way.
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Our hosts, Matt Backer and Carlo Ritchie, have been banished into a galaxy far, far away and must collect special story objects to return home to the Story Salad Studio. Guided by your word suggestions, their journey is filled with outlandish realms and eccentric characters, brought to life by a stellar cast of celebrity guests. Join Rove McManus, Susie Youssef, Becky Lucas, Shane Jenek, and the Fairbairn Brothers as they make surprise appearances throughout the series.
Fast Facts
- Audience
- Ages 8–12
- Network
- ABC Australia,ABC
- Format
- Listen in any order
- Typical length
- 9 min
- Episodes
- 68
Listen now
Listen on the Once Upon a Pod app Hand-picked, kid-safe shows worth their earsor press play on any episode below to listen right here
Episodes
68 episodes
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The story of the lesson on bums
11 min 31 August 2026The teacher in this story is a bit confused - instead of teaching the class about sums, they're teaching them about bums! Thank you to Samuel for this fantastic story starter.
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The rhyming story of Bob the dog
11 min 24 August 2026Thank you to Quest Head Orrie who sent in this rhyming start to a story. You got Matt and Carlo doing their best to tell a story rhymier than the rest.
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The story of the psychic super chicken
11 min 17 August 2026A chicken with superpowers is on the hunt for a sidekick. Join Matt and Carlo as they figure out who has what it takes to join this superchicken fighting crime! Thank you Zoe for this silly story starter.
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The story of the astrological bull shark
11 min 10 August 2026We're heading underwater to meet a bull shark obsessed with the stars above - the sort of silly antics only Matt and Carlo could create. Thank you Zara for this wonderful story starter.
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The story of the speedy pets
7 min 3 August 2026Normally you'd send in just three words for Story Salad, but this time we're hungry for more... Join Matt and his team of expert improvisers as they take a story starter, and mix it up into a wild, hilarious adventure, on the spot!
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The story of the enchanted furniture
8 min 27 July 2026A polite princess stumbled upon a talking chair in the middle of the woods, and so of course she asked nicely before she took a seat. Things start to go a bit strange from there... but that's Story Salad Quest Mode for you! Thank you to Quest Head Scarlett for this wonderful story starter.
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The story of the lost imagination
11 min 20 July 2026It's Matt and Carlo's worst nightmare - an imagination has gone missing! And what's worse, without an imagination to think of ideas, they have no idea where to even start looking to find it... will our Quest Mode hosts be able to save the day?
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The story of the missing flowers
11 min 13 July 2026Matt and Carlo are inspired to whip this story starter into a SATSTSSQM... oh you've never heard of it? That's a 'speaking at the same time Story Salad: Quest Mode', and it involves our hosts saying everything together!
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The story of the cousin's battle
11 min 6 July 2026It started off as a summer's day like any other, but then the cousins came along and started a water fight for the ages. Will Matt and Carlo emerge victorious in time for lunch? Thank you Marcus for this brilliant story starter.
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The story of the stationery scuffle
11 min 29 June 2026There's a battle that has been raging for longer than anyone can remember, and it's over... a rainbow pencil? How will Matt and Carlo solve this complicated conflict? Thank you Lucy for this wonderfully colourful story starter.
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The story of the baby stealing seasnake
11 min 22 June 2026Matt and Carlo travel deep underwater for Quest Mode this week, to confront an egg-stealing sea snake. Will they emerge victorious? Thank you Lorenzo for this wonderful story starter.
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The story of the massive toot cloud
11 min 15 June 2026It's hard to see where you're going in this jungle because one of the residents, uh, fluffed in a big way. How are Matt and Carlo going to weave their way out of this one? Thank you to Lenny for this pongy story starter.
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The story of the trick-or-treating robot
8 min 8 June 2026A robot wants to go trick-or-treating, but no one in the town thinks such a thing is possible. What might happen when a determined little robot travels door to door on the spookiest night of the year?
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The story of the ingenious inventor
11 min 2 June 2026Manny isn't just any man.. he can invent things that no one else has even thought of before!
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MAYHEM! The story of the underwater kingdom
8 min 25 May 2026For the month of May, it's MAYHEM on Story Salad Quest Mode! Three words, one story starter and four minutes to use them all, go on an adventure and find a conclusion. Can Matt and Carlo achieve the huge task they've set for themselves? You'll have to listen to find out.
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MAYHEM! The story of the lorikeet family holiday
8 min 18 May 2026For the month of May, it's MAYHEM on Story Salad Quest Mode! Three words, one story starter and four minutes to use them all, go on an adventure and find a conclusion. Can Matt and Carlo achieve the huge task they've set for themselves? You'll have to listen to find out.
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MAYHEM! The story of Pipling the pup
9 min 11 May 2026For the month of May, it's MAYHEM on Story Salad Quest Mode! Three words, one story starter and four minutes to use them all, go on an adventure and find a conclusion. Can Matt and Carlo achieve the huge task they've set for themselves? You'll have to listen to find out.
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MAYHEM! The story of Fourwingela
8 min 4 May 2026For the month of May, it's MAYHEM on Story Salad Quest Mode! Three words, one story starter and four minutes to use them all, go on an adventure and find a conclusion. Can Matt and Carlo achieve the huge task they've set for themselves? You'll have to listen to find out.
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The story of the sunken city
8 min 27 April 2026At the bottom of the ocean, there's an ancient Roman city sitting mysteriously intact. Matt and Carlo bring you deep underwater to meet Octavia the Octopus and solve the strange situation. Thank you to Quest Head Frank for this Story Starter, and Happy Birthday!
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The story of the trapped traders
9 min 20 April 2026One day, the usual Saturday traders didn't arrive at the village so young Layla head off to figure out what had happened. Join Matt and Carlo on this dramatic, perilous adventure filled with avalanches and a persistent echo. Thank you to Quest Head Frances for this Story Starter.
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The story of bumbley's solo tango
9 min 13 April 2026The big dance competition is coming up and eek! Crocio the Crocodile has broken his leg! Will Bumbley the Bumblebee be able to step up to the challenge, and dance his fuzzy little heart out solo? It's the story of a small town dancer with big town dreams. Thank you to Quest Head Eshe for this brilliant story starter!
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The story of the Grandmaster Teddy
7 min 6 April 2026Every night, when everyone is sleeping, all Emmy's teddy bears come to life. They start chanting in a circle... but what happens next?! Listen to expert improvisers Matt Backer and Carlo Ritchie figure it out and make up the ending on the spot! Thank you to Quest Head Emilie for this dramatic story starter.
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The story of the trip to Gooseland
9 min 30 March 2026A silly goose visits a very inefficient animal travel agent for trip advice in this episode of Story Salad: Quest Mode, told by two of our resident silly geese Matt Backer and Carlo Ritchie.
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The (rhyming!) story of the kitty inventor
8 min 23 March 2026Carlo and Matt set themselves a trickier-than-normal challenge for this all-rhyming episode of Story Salad: Quest Mode. Thank you Millie for sharing your wonderful story starter!
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The story of the dinosaur with lasers for eyes
8 min 16 March 2026In this prehistoric adventure, some of the local dinos have figured out how to shoot lasers from their eyes. But not everyone has the same skill... yet! Big thank you to listener Cooper for this dinoriffic story starter.
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The story of the singing ghost
10 min 9 March 2026Matt and Carlo are joined in the studio by Genevieve the singing ghost, and she hangs around for this mystical musical story. Thank you to Quest Head Bonnie for this splendid story starter.
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The story of the crooked King of Wiggleberry
8 min 2 March 2026The crooked King of Wiggleberry is well out of shape, and bent at all angles! Could a magical book be his key to a less crooked life? Thank you to Quest Head Alan for this story starter!
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The story of the bunny ball
7 min 23 February 2026Normally you'd send in just three words for Story Salad, but this time we're hungry for more... Join Matt and his team of expert improvisers as they take a story starter, and mix it up into a wild, hilarious adventure, on the spot!
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The story of the house under the sea
11 min 16 February 2026There's a mysterious house under the sea, and the lights keep flickering on and off... but who could live inside?? Thank you to Quest Head Anderson for sending in this story starter!
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The story of the moon chickens
9 min 9 February 2026Normally you'd send in just three words for Story Salad, but this time we're hungry for more... Join Matt and his team of expert improvisers as they take a story starter, and mix it up into a wild, hilarious adventure, on the spot!
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