E1 | How It All Started

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Immerse your family in the thrilling adventures of the kids podcast, "Critter Protectors," where courageous heroes unite to protect the natural world. In a universe already filled with stinky villains and ninjas, the Critter Protectors face a new formidable adversary: Victor Von Smog. Teaming up with the renowned Mr. Jim and the Spyology Squad, our heroes find themselves in a desperate race against time.

Led by Mr. Jim, Mr. Luke, Marcus, Ally, and Gabe join forces to save animals, decode mysterious messages, and uncover crucial clues. Will they be able to save their hometown before it's too late? Tune in to "Critter Protectors," a podcast packed with action, where brave heroes rise against evil forces to protect the innocent and preserve the natural world.

Perfect for young listeners, this kids podcast offers a blend of excitement, mystery, and valuable lessons about teamwork and environmental stewardship. Join the Critter Protectors on their epic journey and experience the captivating stories that will keep your kids entertained and inspired.

Whether you're searching for engaging stories for your children or an adventurous kids podcast featuring Mr. Jim, "Critter Protectors" is the perfect choice.

Producers: Storybutton, Chelsea Bowman, Steven Forbis, Lisa Biggs

Writers: Chelsea Bowman

Sound Design & Mastering: Nicolas Gutierrez Garcia

Voice Actors: Elvis Barksdale, Dustin Reedy, Jim Jacob, Max, Ian O'Donnell, Ginger Sue, Brett Schwartz, Callie Forbis, Mason, Max

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
Hey, fam, Before we get back to the show, I
have some major news to tell you. For over a year,
I've been building a brand new app called Button Plus
spelled bttn. So if you love our shows like Miles
the Brave, Pixel Quest or Critter Protectors Parents, you're gonna
need to download our Button plus app to get unlimited

(00:22):
access to all of our Story Button and Mister Jim
shows completely add free. Thank you to everyone who has
supported us so far. It's truly amazing to have you
a part of our family. From all of us here
at Story Button, we really couldn't continue to do this
without you, so it would be really helpful to us
if you went to the app store and searched for

(00:43):
Button spelled bttn, gave it a download and a five
star review, that would be awesome.

Speaker 2 (00:50):
Thank you, and now back to.

Speaker 1 (00:51):
The show.

Speaker 3 (01:08):
Critter Protectors. It's crazy to think just how little those
two words meant to me a few short years ago.
I mean, maybe the word critter would have gotten my attention,
but all I could think about that summer after fifth
grade was how glad I was that school was finally over.
I think what I was really craving was an adventure,

(01:30):
something beyond just myself, the classroom or my little hometown.
And boy did I ever get it. The truth is,
our story started a lot like any story with a villain. There.
We were suddenly blindsided by a huge problem. We had
no training, barely any experience, and we were mostly just

(01:50):
kids ourselves. Just like that, we were thrown into one
of the craziest missions of all time. Almost overnight, we
became detectives, high speed chase experts, environmental scientists, and the
team responsible for.

Speaker 2 (02:04):
Saving the world. But I'd better not give it away.

Speaker 3 (02:08):
Just like that, Let's start at the beginning, Critter Protectors
day one. Since summer break had just begun in our town,
all the camps, sports programs, and public beaches were packed
with people. Everywhere just seemed a little more crowded and

(02:30):
a little more alive. Our town's famous biology squad team,
mister Jim Jaden and Ava were single handedly saving the
world time and time again. Doctor Stinky Breath, that smelly
villain kept them on their toes, for sure, but they
never failed to put him back in his place. He
always landed right back up in his purple blimp with

(02:52):
those sneaky purple ninjas. Even when Doctor Stinky Breath thought
up another terrible plans, Biology Squad seemed to defeat him.

Speaker 2 (03:01):
Just the same.

Speaker 3 (03:02):
Things on the villain front were pretty normal and pretty controlled.
But then everything changed. This is when our story began.
This is when the Critter Protectors made a name for ourselves.

Speaker 1 (03:16):
Once the situation mister Jim over, Uh, hey, Luke, I've
got a huge problem.

Speaker 4 (03:23):
Over Where are you.

Speaker 1 (03:25):
Over, I'm I'm at the Force Preserve esive HQ. You
know the one with that really winding path. Yeah, that's
the one.

Speaker 4 (03:38):
Got it heading your way now?

Speaker 2 (03:40):
Ten four.

Speaker 3 (03:42):
The beginning of the story is a bit tricky to follow.
Mister Jim was supposed to be busy with this biology squad,
and animal rescues weren't usually part of the job. The
problem was, critter rescues were becoming pretty frequent around town,
people constantly calling in and animals stuck in strange situations.

(04:03):
All the rescues were becoming very time consuming, which is
why mister Luke joined the team as head Gritter Protector.
And now the real problem was starting to show its face.

Speaker 2 (04:18):
Shit, it's okay, I'm not gonna hurt you.

Speaker 1 (04:24):
And oh I wish I could say the same for
whoever set this trap. It just doesn't make any sense.
I just wish there was some kind of like release
rope on this net. Oh there's my backup. Those tire

(04:46):
sounds didn't help us much. Now you're even more tangled
in this mess.

Speaker 2 (04:55):
How are you kidding me?

Speaker 4 (04:57):
A bobcat and I knew they lived around here, but
I never seen one wild like this.

Speaker 2 (05:05):
But wait, a net trap? This makes no sense, you're
telling me.

Speaker 4 (05:12):
I mean when you said a huge problem, I thought
maybe you had a possum by the tail or baby
rabbit's about to freeze to death, or luke.

Speaker 1 (05:22):
It's summer frozen to death, and a possum by the tail.

Speaker 4 (05:29):
As I was saying, I didn't expect to see such
an angry predator so.

Speaker 2 (05:35):
So deliberately trapped.

Speaker 1 (05:38):
Yeah, well, there's definitely something fishy about this. Whoever caught
this guy definitely didn't do it by accident.

Speaker 4 (05:48):
Well, either way, we need to get him free without
hurting him or him hurting us, that is.

Speaker 2 (05:57):
I don't think I have anything on me to cut
him loose hold on. I should have something in the jeep.

Speaker 4 (06:06):
Let's see essentials. Essentials where are you.

Speaker 2 (06:10):
Ah?

Speaker 4 (06:11):
Ha, I knew these scissors would come in handy someday.

Speaker 1 (06:15):
Ha.

Speaker 2 (06:15):
And that bag of beef jerky?

Speaker 4 (06:19):
Hey, Jim, do you want some beef jerky?

Speaker 1 (06:23):
I'll pass on the snacks. And don't you think it
might be a bad idea to bring meat around this,
oh bobcat.

Speaker 4 (06:33):
Yeah, come to think of it, that's a pretty terrible idea. Well,
I found these little guys. I knew they'd come in
handy someday.

Speaker 1 (06:44):
I guess those little things will do with the job.
But those have to be the smallest scissors ever made.

Speaker 2 (06:52):
Hey, at least I'm prepared. Okay, okay, you're right.

Speaker 1 (06:57):
Um. I think our best bet is to try and
cut the rope loose from above. Then we can figure
out where his paws are caught in the netting it.

Speaker 4 (07:09):
I'll climb up there. You just make sure he doesn't
somehow come after me. In the meantime we'll do. Okay,
not too bad so far. Just a little further.

Speaker 2 (07:31):
Those things making a debt on that rope at all.

Speaker 4 (07:34):
Patience, patience, just a little bit.

Speaker 1 (07:39):
More, and.

Speaker 2 (07:45):
Quick jump down here.

Speaker 1 (07:46):
We need to hold his net down flat before he
gets it tighter on his paws.

Speaker 2 (07:54):
There his left paw. That's what's stuck.

Speaker 4 (07:58):
Jim. Just keep holding that net. I can get it
in a one snip.

Speaker 2 (08:02):
I'm lucky. Okay.

Speaker 1 (08:04):
Count of three, one, two, three, and he's free.

Speaker 2 (08:11):
Quick flipped your side.

Speaker 4 (08:15):
Uh, Jim, what is he doing?

Speaker 2 (08:18):
Why is he frozen like that?

Speaker 4 (08:21):
Why is he staring at us and purring?

Speaker 2 (08:24):
I don't know what.

Speaker 1 (08:25):
Grab that branch and like, I don't know, make a
sound against the tree or something, scare him off.

Speaker 4 (08:35):
Okay, that was really weird. Did you see his eyes?
It was like he was in a trancer, like sleepwalking,
or like some kind of robot mind control. Okay, okay,
maybe let's not go quite that far.

Speaker 2 (08:53):
I don't know. It's just all suspicious though, don't you agree? Yes?

Speaker 4 (08:58):
But do we know who whoever set this trap actually
wanted to catch a Bobcat?

Speaker 2 (09:04):
Well? I don't know for sure, but look a can
of cat food. Huh.

Speaker 1 (09:13):
Maybe it was for the bobcat. Holy smokes, it's two
thirty already. I've got to be back at HQ to
meet Jayden in five minutes. Oh we're supposed to meet
up to test all the jetpack batteries today.

Speaker 2 (09:30):
Oh mind if I catch a ride with you.

Speaker 4 (09:32):
Oh yeah, no problem, I'm heading back there anyways.

Speaker 3 (09:46):
And if only this whole story was that simple. But
mister Luke and mister Jim knew something or someone was
behind it all. And man, this was just the beginning.

Speaker 4 (10:01):
So I think this guy makes sixteen rescues and that's
just this week alone.

Speaker 1 (10:07):
Sixteen rescues. Yeah, but now it seems like, hm, we
need to start the count over again. Like fifteen simple
rescues and one animal saved from an actual trap.

Speaker 4 (10:19):
Yeah. I mean I've felt swamped before, but if this
is the new type of thing we're trying to handle, well,
I'm not sure how much longer I could keep this
one man job going.

Speaker 1 (10:38):
You're right, Luke, I mean fishing, boating, hiking, picnics makes
sense that there were more opportunities for animals to be
in the wrong place at the wrong time. I just
hope this Bobcat incident was just some kind of misunderstanding.

Speaker 2 (10:58):
What was that? I think? So something just popped our
tire quick all over up here?

Speaker 4 (11:12):
Wow, Jim, you're right, something completely punctured this thing when
the world was that. It's like someone sliced through half
the tire. I'll call it toe truck. I don't even
have the spare tire in the back right now. This
thing is definitely not drivable.

Speaker 1 (11:30):
One agree with you, but I need to let Jayden
know I'm not gonna make it back. Hey, we got
a flat tire. I need to schedule or tomorrow. Send yes,

(11:52):
right off wind road. It's a jeep that says credit Protectors.

Speaker 4 (11:56):
On the back.

Speaker 2 (11:57):
You won't miss us.

Speaker 1 (11:58):
Hey, I'll go look back over there on the road
like maybe it was a scrap metal or I don't know,
something we didn't see. Huh, Okay, let's see. There's there's
gotta be there's gotta be something back up.

Speaker 2 (12:13):
That's it. I was right, well kind of kind of, Luke,
you're gonna want to see this