Podcasts about Beanie Babies

The world has seen a lot of weird investment bubbles in its time, but few of them rival the fever that gripped the world in the 90s after Beanie Babies took off. Let’s visit this strange chapter in toy history together.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From negotiating on the phone for some art to generating 10 Billion dollars a year, Pierre Omidyar built an empire out of other peoples stuff. Dave Young: Welcome to the Empire Builders Podcast, teaching business owners the not-so-secret techniques that took famous businesses from mom-and-pop to major brand. Stephen Semple is a marketing consultant, story collector and storyteller. I’m Stephen’s sidekick and business partner, Dave Young. Before we get into today’s episode, a word from our sponsor which is, well, it’s us, but we’re highlighting ads we’ve written and produced for our clients. So here’s one of those. [Travis Crawford Ad] Dave Young: [inaudible 00:01:32] and sold. eBay is the topic today. Oh, by the way, welcome to the Empire Builders Podcast. I’m Dave Young, that’s Steve Semple in your other ear. Is that how this works, are we each in one ear? Stephen Semple: I’m not sure. Dave Young: I don’t think that’s how this works. Stephen Semple: I don’t pay enough attention to things like that. Dave Young: As the countdown timer went down, Stephen told me we’re going to talk about eBay and I went immediately to the sound of the auctioneers of my youth back in my hometown. Stephen Semple: Oh, God. Dave Young: There’s cattle sales and estate sales. On any Saturday morning walking around in a small town, off in the distance you hear somebody with one of those cheap portable PA systems, “Give me five, give me five, give me five, give me five, five, five.” Aren’t you glad that eBay doesn’t have sound effects? Stephen Semple: Maybe it should. It might make it more entertaining. Dave Young: There’s some AI auctioneer going 24/7 for two weeks. Stephen Semple: Oh, my God, Dave, the fact you’ve now said it, you know what meme is going to happen. Oh, no, you put it out there. So when you come across this as a meme- Dave Young: There’s that little mute thing on the screen where if you turn it on, there’s some AI, “We’ve got $12.50. Since Tuesday, we have $12.50. Anyone, anyone?” Stephen Semple: So when this meme is driving us nuts on social media, you can blame Dave Young. Dave Young: I don’t see it happening. Oh, yeah, back. Oh, we’re going to talk about eBay. Stephen Semple: But talking about auctions for a second, here’s what I always find fascinating. Somebody will have something and they’ll go, “Okay, do I have an opening bid of $500?” Nothing. “Okay, do I have an opening bid at $200? Now do I have an opening bid of $100?” Somebody bids for 100 and then the damn thing ends up selling for 750. Dave Young: Yeah. Stephen Semple: And I’m like, “Wait a minute. It sold for 750 and no one was willing to open at 500. What the heck?” I don’t get it. Dave Young: I know. There’s a … Man, I’m not a big auction person. It stresses me to be in the bidding war. Stephen Semple: Right. Dave Young: I don’t know why. Even on eBay. Stephen Semple: Right. Dave Young: But there’s a psychology of auctions- Stephen Semple: Clearly. Dave Young: … that certain people … I don’t know for sure, I’m not a psychologist, Stephen, but I play one on a podcast. I think there’s a compulsion that’s similar to gambling and I think it’s just there’s a dopamine hit involved when you’re active in an auction. Stephen Semple: There probably is. Dave Young: And I think there’s a bit of a compulsion to it maybe. Stephen Semple: Maybe. Dave Young: Because it also, as long as you have the money to do it, it’s probably a little safer than gambling because if you lose, you don’t lose then. Stephen Semple: Right, right. Dave Young: If you win, hopefully you’ve won and purchased something that’s worth more than you paid. Stephen Semple: Right. Dave Young: That’s the upside. The downside is that you didn’t get the thing that you wanted. Stephen Semple: Right. Dave Young: But you didn’t lose any money. Stephen Semple: Cool. Well, let’s talk about eBay. Dave Young: Let’s do. Wasn’t Musk involved in it, and Thiel and those guys? Stephen Semple: No. Dave Young: Or am I thinking wrong? Stephen Semple: You’re thinking wrong. Dave Young: I get all my American oligarchs confused. Stephen Semple: They were over in the PayPal world. Dave Young: Okay. Stephen Semple: But the thing that’s interesting about eBay is it’s still a really important player in online retail. We can kind of forget about it because the growth has been stalled a little bit in the last bunch of years, but they still do $10 billion- Dave Young: That’s amazing. Stephen Semple: … in sales, which- Dave Young: I remember back when, probably in the first five or six years of eBay, you could use eBay, like if you had something you wanted to sell. Stephen Semple: Yeah. Dave Young: Not a garage sale, but just list somewhere to sell. Stephen Semple: Yeah. Dave Young: You could actually scour eBay and see what it was probably going to get you, what would be a good way to price it. That was always a way to see what are these going for? Stephen Semple: Right, because you could see what things were bidding at. So they are a really important part of the history of online retailing. And they were founded by Pierre Omidyar who was born in France to Iranian parents, and immigrated to the United States as a kid. And the company was founded in March ’96. And he had worked at a startup that he had got bought out from, he did pretty well. And he set up a consulting business called Echo Bay Technology Group, so that was the first thing he had going on. Dave Young: Echo Bay, okay. Stephen Semple: Echo Bay, Echo Bay Technology Group. And one day, a friend noticed that he had bought these bunch of drawings and was like, “Oh, tell me about these drawings.” And he was like, “Well, I saw them listed in the newspaper and I gave the guy a call, and we backed-and-forthed a few times, and I got a really good price on it.” And this was a seed of an idea. He was like, “You know what? There’s lots of stuff listed in newspapers and classified ads.” And if we remember, back in the day, going way back in the mid-’90s. Dave Young: Sure. Stephen Semple: The most profitable part of many, many newspapers was the classified ads. I remember being a portfolio manager and looking at one company called Torstar, it was a big newspaper group here in Canada. And yeah, literally, 25% of their revenue was classified ads. Massive part, massive, massive part of the business. But if you think about a classified ad, you’ve got to call up the newspaper, you’ve got to create the ad, you’ve got to send the ad over, and then somebody’s got to phone you, and then you’ve got to back-and-forth on price. There’s lots of friction there. There’s lots of touchpoints. Dave Young: Well, and you have to go pay the newspaper even before you could pay them online, right? Stephen Semple: Oh, right, you had to go … Yeah. Dave Young: You had to pay for that ad. I think most of those were probably in. Stephen Semple: Yeah. Dave Young: Unless the newspapers take a payment over the phone. Stephen Semple: So he looked at it and he went, “Not only is there all these touchpoints to creating the ad and paying for the ad, there’s all these touchpoints in terms of the selling process.” And he looked at it and he went, “I think there’s a way for technology to eliminate all of that, and it’s clearly a big business because people spend lots of money-“ Dave Young: Sure. Stephen Semple: “… on classified ads.” So this was the seed, this was the seed of the idea. How do I make this easier, frictionless, and all this other stuff for customers? So he decided, “Well, I’ve got this consulting webpage, I’ll just do a page on my consulting site. On Echo Bay Consulting Services, I’m just going to put a page in there and I’m going to play around with it.” Because what he wanted to do was eliminate the need to contact the newspaper, make it easy to write the ad, and then basically make it easier to make the sale, and he really felt the internet could do this. Dave Young: Sure. Stephen Semple: And he also wanted to facilitate the price negotiation because he felt like people don’t really want to do that whole back-and-forth. Dave Young: Yeah. Stephen Semple: And the model he looked at was auctions. He went, “Wow, what if I could do an online auction site?” Because now, now the buyer and seller don’t have to have this conversation. Dave Young: Yeah. Stephen Semple: And the marketplace will just set the price. Dave Young: And you know that they’re going to be paying attention as the time wears down. Stephen Semple: Yeah, all sorts of things with that. So he launches it with a really simple design, there’s no pictures or anything like that, which we look at that today. But then I thought about and I went, “Well, wait a minute, that’s not really a disadvantage,” because there was no pictures in the newspaper one either. Dave Young: Yeah. Stephen Semple: So the whole idea of requiring a picture, we were used to doing this stuff without pictures through the newspaper classifieds. Dave Young: Yeah. Stephen Semple: Yeah. So he sets up the site and he calls it Auction Web. And he launches it on September 3rd, 1995. Dave Young: Okay. Auction Web. Stephen Semple: Sorry, I said the wrong date. I said the wrong date earlier, the date was when it really started making sales. But Auction Web launches September 3rd, 1995, not March ’96. He decides to do a test, and this is people of … This has test has been written up a whole pile of times. He’s looking around, he’s got this broken laser pointer. Dave Young: A broken laser pointer. Stephen Semple: It’s broken. Dave Young: Okay. Stephen Semple: And on the ad he even says, “This is broken.” And he puts it up and it sells after a few weeks for $14.83. Dave Young: Sweet. Better than throwing it away. Stephen Semple: He even calls the bidder because he’s like, “I got to make sure this guy know it’s broken. I don’t want to send this to him and have him ticked off.” And he goes, “Yeah, I know it’s broken, but I know how to fix these things and it’s cheaper to fix it.” So he’s like, “All right, I’ll send you my broken laser pointer.” So he starts advertising, he starts going to all these chat rooms because remember, this is back in the mid-’90s and there was these chat rooms all over the place. So he would be going to these chat rooms and he was promoting Auction Web on chat rooms. Now, the other thing he changed was newspapers would charge a fee to list. So the other friction point with people was, “It’s still going to cost me five bucks, whether this sells or not.” Dave Young: Yeah. Stephen Semple: So he said, “There’s going to be no fee to list. What you’re going to do is you’re going to pay me a commission when it sells.” So he removed the fee, he replaced it with a commission. Now, here’s the crazy thing. Here’s the crazy thing. The commission was collected on the honor system. People mailed in the payments. Dave Young: Really? Stephen Semple: Yes. Dave Young: Stay tuned, we’re going to wrap up this story and tell you how to apply this lesson to your business right after this. [Using Stories To Sell Ad] www.UsingStoriesToSell.com Dave Young: Let’s pick up our story where we left off, and trust me, you haven’t missed a thing. Stephen Semple: Here’s the crazy thing. Here’s the crazy thing. The commission was collected on the honor system. People mailed in the payments. Dave Young: Really? Stephen Semple: Yes. Dave Young: He was I guess then not coordinating the payment either? Stephen Semple: Not at that point. Dave Young: So you sell something to me on eBay, I just get back with you and pay you, and then you ship it to me? Stephen Semple: Yeah. Dave Young: But you found your buyer. You were using the auction site to find your buyer. Stephen Semple: You were using the auction to find the buyer, the buyer paid you directly, you shipped it directly to the buyer, and then you would send me a payment for the commission because you go, “I owe Auction Web four bucks.” And it worked. They found most people paid. Most people paid. Now, I think what they also figured out- Dave Young: I would guess that the ones that didn’t, maybe the sale falls through or something. Stephen Semple: Right. Well, and I think the other thing they figured out is for a lot of people, especially sellers, they probably weren’t one-time sellers, so they also wanted to continue to potentially … Anyway. Dave Young: Yeah. Stephen Semple: I just found it hurt my brain a little bit when I was like, “Really, that’s how it ran?” Dave Young: Yeah, wow. Stephen Semple: And it worked, and it’s nice to feel like things like this can happen. So in March 1996, they hit $1000 in revenue for the month. By May, it’s 5000. Dave Young: Okay. Stephen Semple: By October, they’re doing 1000 auctions a day. This thing when it took off- Dave Young: It took off like wildfire. Stephen Semple: Just took off like fricking wildfire. And Pierre realizes, “Man, I got a real business here and I really didn’t want to run a business. I’m a tech guy.” So he hires Jeffrey Skoll to be the president. He just goes out almost right away and hires him because he’s like, “This thing is going to the Moon.” Now, think about this. This site is hard to find. It’s still a page on Echo Bay Technology Group’s website. Dave Young: Oh, man. And it’s called Auction Web, or something. Stephen Semple: And it’s called Auction Web. So the first thing they realize is, “We got to change that.” And they go to get echobay.com and echobay.com is taken by a Canadian mining company. Dave Young: Oh, okay. Stephen Semple: So they shorten it to eBay. Dave Young: eBay. Stephen Semple: Which I actually think is in a lot of ways- Dave Young: Which is better anyway. Stephen Semple: It is better. It is better. Dave Young: Yeah, it’s four letters. Stephen Semple: Yeah. Dave Young: Try to buy yourself a four-letter domain name these days. Stephen Semple: So in September ’97, it changes from the wonderful name of Auction Web to eBay. Dave Young: And gets its own domain, yeah. Stephen Semple: Yeah, and it gets its own domain. Now at this time, it’s mostly tech nerds looking for parts, that’s really what got it going. If you think about it, that also makes sense because he’s going to those early chat sites on the web. Dave Young: Those are the people that were online early. Stephen Semple: Well, it is. Dave Young: Yeah. Stephen Semple: It was, and especially where you’re promoting it going to these chat groups. That would be mainly nerds in there. But what they figure out is they do want to make this a little bit more of a mass appeal. So they wanted to find things that were products that people already want, but were hard to get their hands on. And what they figured out was they wanted to do Beanie Babies. Dave Young: Oh, there you go. Stephen Semple: Because what they discovered was there was a community of Beanie Babies, collectors of Beanie Babies. Dave Young: Yeah. Stephen Semple: So they reached out to them and because, let’s face it, they were limited number, they were not sold everywhere, and collectors loved them. So they actually created an auction category for this toy alone. They created a category for Beanie Babies. And very quickly, they sold $500,000 worth of Beanies Babies almost right out of the gate. Dave Young: Man. You know where my brain’s going with this? Stephen Semple: No, I don’t. Dave, I never know where your brain is going. Dave Young: Well, hang on. I rarely do. I know a little bit of the story of Beanie Babies, I think I watched the weird documentary or movie about it. But I’ll bet you this contributed to the demise of the Beanie Baby craze because now you could actually see the value of your Beanie Baby. Stephen Semple: Oh, maybe. Maybe. Dave Young: Right? You put your Beanie Baby on and, “Oh, God, it didn’t sell for as much as I thought it was worth.” And it turns out that you also just found a million other, yeah, you found a million other people that have one. Stephen Semple: Right. Dave Young: And you’re like, “Maybe this isn’t as valuable as I thought it was.” Stephen Semple: Maybe. That’s an interesting … Interesting. Dave Young: Whereas if you’re only going to little craft fairs and get togethers, a whole different deal. I don’t know. Stephen Semple: Maybe. Don’t know. Dave Young: That’s worth studying. Go ahead. Stephen Semple: Yeah, that’s an interesting thought. So they created this category for Beanie Babies and it explodes. So within four months, the whole collectibles part of the site- Dave Young: Oh, sure. Stephen Semple: … is just blowing up. By mid-1998, they have 750,000 users, which is a huge number. They’re rivaling AOL’s numbers in that day. They’re doing 400,000 auctions. Now, here’s the other thing that they discovered, the other innovation that they did, that they were the creators of. They were the first to do this. They would get people calling in complaining. So what they decided to do was create a feedback form that is public. Now, what made this one different, it was ranking the seller and ranking the buyer. Dave Young: Right, right. Stephen Semple: Which no one had done before. Dave Young: Yeah. You go into it and you’re a shitty buyer, so the seller says … Yeah. Stephen Semple: Yeah, “Be careful if you’re selling to this guy, or don’t buy from this person.” Dave Young: Yeah. Stephen Semple: And it was less about ranking the product, because everything before was about the product, but this was about the ranking of the buyer and the seller in a public format. Look, that’s one of the cornerstones of our whole review system today, much of it is person-to-person. Much of it is person-to-person. Dave Young: Yeah, yeah. Stephen Semple: And these guys innovated that and were the first to do that. So they’re really growing, they end up hiring Meg Whitman as CEO, and she really brought a strategy to the business which turned it into profitable business. And by fall of 1998, so you think about it, they’re just at it for a couple years, they end up going public at a $2 billion valuation. Dave Young: Amazing. Stephen Semple: The growth on them was really spectacular. And here’s the thing that I loved about this story is he bought something through the traditional manner. Saw it in the newspaper, bought it, and then looked at it and went, “The web is ideal for just making this,” I know we use the word friction, but I just prefer, “making this whole thing easier. I can make it easier to post. I can make it easier to sell because there’s less back-and-forth. I can just make this whole process easier.” Dave Young: Sure. Stephen Semple: “And I already know lots of people are doing it, it’s super profitable for newspapers. So clearly, lots of people are doing it.” I love that thought process. And I also love the fact that he ran an experiment. Let’s just do something and test this out. The other thing I really liked was once it got going and it’s in that niche, they immediately went, “What’s something I can do to expand across it?” And what they recognized was where this fit was with something that lots of people are doing, but is hard to connect people together. Dave Young: Yeah, yeah. Stephen Semple: Right? So what they actually recognized was we are actually a facilitator. Dave Young: Absolutely. Stephen Semple: “And what is something that we can facilitate? Collectibles. Where are we going to start? We’ll start with Beanie Babies. What the heck, that’s where we’ll start.” I thought that that was a really great starting point because their whole thing was, “How do we make things easier?” And I find not enough businesses think about the whole how do I make things easier for my consumer? How do I bundle things so it’s a fixed price? How do I do this? How do I do it? And any time a business makes things easier for the consumer, it wins. And look, eBay went from nothing to a few years being a couple billion-dollar business. Dave Young: Yeah, amazing. Stephen Semple: Yeah, and they’re still doing, as I said, 10 billion in revenue today. Dave Young: I rarely go there. Stephen Semple: Yeah, I don’t use them either. Dave Young: We sold some things on eBay years ago. Stephen Semple: Yeah. Dave Young: Right? We just said, “Oh, we have this stuff and we know that there’s people out there that want it.” I’m thinking of homeschool books that our kids are now grown. Stephen Semple: Yeah. Dave Young: That was a good place to list things like that. Stephen Semple: Yeah. Dave Young: Because you may not know somebody in town that’s got a kid the right age for it. Stephen Semple: Well, and today there’s more competition. You’ve got Facebook Marketplace. Dave Young: Absolutely. Stephen Semple: And I think Amazon has an auction site as well. There are other options, but clearly there’s still things eBay’s doing really correctly for them- Dave Young: Yeah. Stephen Semple: … to still, as I said, to be a $10 billion business. Dave Young: How much of what they do now is true auction versus just true commerce? Stephen Semple: You know what? I did not research the breakdown. I didn’t research the breakdown of that. Dave Young: Because when they put the buy it now button on. Stephen Semple: Yeah. Dave Young: You could list something and then let people bid on it, but you could also just say, “If it goes below this, I’m not selling it.” Stephen Semple: Right. Dave Young: Put a buy it now button up there and if it doesn’t sell, maybe relist it down the road. Stephen Semple: Again, and I think it’s more around this collectible space. Dave Young: Yeah. Stephen Semple: I know there’s certain spaces that they are still pretty big on. Dave Young: It’s the place. Stephen Semple: And one of them oddly enough is auto parts. Dave Young: Okay. Stephen Semple: Let’s say you’ve got a ’65 Corvette and you’re looking for an old Corvette part, seemingly a pretty popular place to go is eBay. Dave Young: Okay. What if you have a ’65 Dodge Dart? Probably the same. Stephen Semple: Probably the same. Dave Young: Probably the same. Stephen Semple: Just one is really cool. Dave Young: Yeah, right? The parts are going to be a little rusty. Stephen Semple: And I’ll let the audience decide based on their preferences which one is really cool. Dave Young: That’s how the market- Stephen Semple: And let the argument begin. Dave Young: That’s how the market works. That’s how the marketplace works. Well, I’m glad to hear the story of eBay, Stephen. Stephen Semple: Yeah. Dave Young: Thank you for bringing it to the Empire Builders Podcast. Stephen Semple: Yeah, it was kind of fun. And you’re bidding at the beginning was awesome. Dave Young: Oh, thank you. Really, when I was young, I figured out that the way to emulate an auctioneer is just to make noise with your mouth and then rub your finger over your lips while you’re doing it. [inaudible 00:22:44]. That’s it, that’s it. Now you’re an auctioneer. Thanks, Stephen. Stephen Semple: Alright. Thanks, David. Dave Young: Thanks for listening to the podcast. Please share us, subscribe on your favorite podcast app, and leave us a big, fat, juicy five-star rating and review at Apple Podcasts. And if you’d like to schedule your own 90-minute Empire Building session, you can do it at empirebuildingprogram.com.

In this episode of the Business of Aesthetics Podcast, host Don Adeesha convenes an expert panel featuring Plastic Surgeon Dr. Gregory Buford, Entrepreneur Tiffany DiGiuseppe, Marketing CEO Naren Arulrajah, and Aesthetic Nurse Sonya Ellis to decode the future of practice growth. The conversation tackles the critical challenge of distinguishing between profitable innovation and "shiny object syndrome." Dr. Buford warns against investing in fleeting "trends" (likening them to Beanie Babies) versus sustainable "trending" technologies. He introduces the powerful strategy of "pre-marketing", generating patient demand and a waitlist six weeks before a device is even purchased, to ensure immediate ROI and prevent expensive equipment from becoming a "coat hanger" in the device graveyard. On the operational and digital front, the discussion shifts to navigating the age of AI. Naren Arulrajah explains that while AI is transforming search, Google still prioritizes "human content" and authority (E-E-A-T) over AI-generated text. He urges owners to abandon vanity metrics like website visits in favor of hard ROI metrics, such as call volume and booking conversions, to survive the rise of "zero-click" searches. Complementing this, Tiffany DiGiuseppe argues that technology fails without culture. She outlines a blueprint for hiring based on core values rather than just clinical skills and retaining top talent through shared experiences and group bonuses that foster collective ownership of the practice's mission. Finally, Sonya Ellis provides a candid look at the changing clinical landscape, noting a significant 15-20% dip in traditional filler usage due to economic shifts. She argues that the future of profitability lies in the pivot toward "regenerative medicine", biostimulators, lasers, and functional health, driven by a patient desire to be "pretty on the inside and out". The panel also explores how to capitalize on the "Ozempic effect," which has surged demand for body tightening and hair restoration, and highlights the massive, underserved potential of the menopausal demographic as a key driver for future revenue.

The Stupid History of Beanie BabiesBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-stupid-history-minute--4965707/support.

Send Mary and Kelsey a Message!Remember when we as a nation all collectively believed that Beanie Babies would fund high education and down payments on our future homes? In this episode, Mary and Kelsey go back to their Christmas wish lists of the 90s and 2000s and revisit the most-wanted toys. All of their picks included a hint of drama and they break it all down including how the Beanie Baby bubble burst, why Tamagotchi sent kids to the guidance counselor, the time Furby caused a spy scandal, and the litigation-happy founder behind Razor scooters. This episode will have you feeling nostalgic and ready to mark up a Sharper Image catalogue! Support the show Instagram: @whentheypoppedpodTikTok: @whentheypoppedpodEmail: whentheypoppedy2k@gmail.comWebsite: linktree.com/whentheypopped Subscribe to our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=85610411

Get down from the treehouse because it's time for Red Rover, Red Rover! You can't officially talk about Now and Then for its 30th anniversary without four friends, so Mark welcomes his hometown loves Sarah Menaquale, Kit Sheehan, and Melissa Ward back on the show for a bike ride to the past. Cosmo quizzes, skinny-dipping, storm drains, and Rosie O'Donnells wardrobe - they mention it all! Plus, Beanie Babies, OJ, and Sophie B. Hawkins get shout-outs!

Not the Queen of Hearts! Greetings, England's roses, and welcome back to the People's Podcast - this week, it's the original parasocial relationship: ROYALTY.  Kasia is being pursued by a stream of Lady Di-themed cursed objects, and with Dan explores the universe of royal tat, Diana standom, 90s tabloids and the media hysteria around her death and funeral, when Britain discovered EMOTIONS and behaved like honking loons. Some younger listeners may not realise that in the days before TikTok and BBC News 24, commemorative plates were the primary means of news dissemination, and mass-produced soft toys could be a profound avatar for loss. So it's a wild ride in a white Fiat Uno, discussing dark souvenirism, the anatomy of a Beanie Baby, royal grief in Harvester, the hoarding of historic newspapers, a riot in Woolworths over Candle in the Wind '97, and er ... whatever happened to jacket potatoes? Regular free and regular Patreon-exclusive episodes are back, baby! To listen to this episode and all the rest too - including a back catalogue of over 30 exclusive bonus eps - it is STILL ONLY £4 a month to sign up, and support your favourite cultural historians: https://www.patreon.com/c/cursedobjects  

This week, we're talking about the big brands you'll be seeing this Christmas: #Funko, #Hasbro, and #Mattel. We look at their recent sales performance and break down what it means for YOU, the collector, as you plan your holiday shopping and budget. Are the big companies creating a must-buy toy aisle, or is it a sign to hold off?The main event: Funko. Their future looks shaky to some, and we debate whether the mass production of Funko Pops is heading for the same fate as the Beanie Babies craze. Is your collection value at risk?Plus, we get hyped about the return of standalone Toys R Us stores and what that could mean for finding those rare holiday exclusives!Join us every Sunday night for a new podcast topic and every Wednesday night for our "Wins and Wiffs" episode!0:00 Intro0:06:20 The Main Topic: Funko, Hasbro & Mattel Financials0:09:12 Funko Stock0:17:21 Hasbro's Revenue Growth vs. Mattel's Sales Decline0:20:42 Mattel's Limited Toy Stock Strategy vs. Hasbro's Oversupply0:23:00 Toys R Us is Back & Holiday Toy Sales0:29:33 Debate: Is the Funko Pop Craze Dying?0:32:00 The Beanie Babies Parallel0:34:04 The Bizarre Buc-ee's Gas Station Diversion#FunkoPops, #FunkoStock, #toycollectors, #vintagetoys #holidaytoys #ToysRUs, #ToyCollecting, #CollectibleNews, #ActionFigures, #FiveIdiotsTalkingToys, #FITT-----------------------

We are back!  After the long hiatus, the Dead Air Dudes podcast is back with new fresh episodes for the rest of the year!  Since 2024 Funko and their lines of vinyl pop toys and collectibles has not been doing well.  Is this the end of Funko as we. know it? Are these adorable vinyl dolls going by the way of the Beanie Babies? Let us know what you think about the episode in the comments and please like, comment and subscribe to our podcast and YouTube channel!  Thanks for listening!

Na 14 jaar is het wel mooi geweest voor Tim Cook. Volgens de Financial Times is de zoektocht naar zijn opvolger als CEO van Apple van start. Geen ruzie, of grote fout. Cook is gewoon op pensioengerechtigde leeftijd, en kan dus van zijn verdiensten gaan genieten. Het levert wel een probleem op, want wie oh wie moet in die grote schoenen van hem gaan staan? En wat betekent die keuze voor de toekomst van Apple? Dat bespreken we deze aflevering. Verder hebben we het over de man die al lang met pensioen had moeten zijn, maar dat eindelijk binnenkort maar eens gaat doen. Warren Buffett zat jarenlang op een geldberg van honderden miljarden dollars, maar geeft nu toch weer wat ervan uit. Zijn Berkshire Hathaway steekt een slordige 5 miljard dollar in Alphabet, het moederbedrijf van Google. En dat terwijl het aandeel Alphabet al een enorme stijging achter de rug heeft. Ook hoor je over tech-investeerder Peter Thiel. Die verkoopt juist zijn grootste belang. Gaat om zijn investering in Nvidia. Dat komt woensdag met de kwartaalcijfers, maar daar gaat Thiel niet op wachten. En we vertellen je over Trump die op de knietjes gaat. Hij geeft toe: zijn importheffingen zorgen voor enorme inflatie.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Na 14 jaar is het wel mooi geweest voor Tim Cook. Volgens de Financial Times is de zoektocht naar zijn opvolger als CEO van Apple van start. Geen ruzie, of grote fout. Cook is gewoon op pensioengerechtigde leeftijd, en kan dus van zijn verdiensten gaan genieten. Het levert wel een probleem op, want wie oh wie moet in die grote schoenen van hem gaan staan? En wat betekent die keuze voor de toekomst van Apple? Dat bespreken we deze aflevering. Verder hebben we het over de man die al lang met pensioen had moeten zijn, maar dat eindelijk binnenkort maar eens gaat doen. Warren Buffett zat jarenlang op een geldberg van honderden miljarden dollars, maar geeft nu toch weer wat ervan uit. Zijn Berkshire Hathaway steekt een slordige 5 miljard dollar in Alphabet, het moederbedrijf van Google. En dat terwijl het aandeel Alphabet al een enorme stijging achter de rug heeft. Ook hoor je over tech-investeerder Peter Thiel. Die verkoopt juist zijn grootste belang. Gaat om zijn investering in Nvidia. Dat komt woensdag met de kwartaalcijfers, maar daar gaat Thiel niet op wachten. En we vertellen je over Trump die op de knietjes gaat. Hij geeft toe: zijn importheffingen zorgen voor enorme inflatie.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

MONSTER PARTY REVISITS THE ERA OF ROLLERBLADING, BEANIE BABIES, THE MACARENA… AND TERROR!!!! JAMES GONIS, SHAWN SHERIDAN, LARRY STROTHE, and MATT WEINHOLD honor the last part of a decade that brought us so many seminal films. If you thought our previous '90s HORROR episode was “da bomb,” you're guaranteed to go nuclear when you hear… '90s HORROR VOL. 2!!! The 1990s were an exciting and innovative time for horror films, with the latter half of the decade boasting some downright game-changers. With THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT, we saw the explosion of the found footage genre that is still popular to this day, and the Japanese showed us the dangers of sitting too close to the TV with RINGU! If that didn't change your horror movie game enough, David Fincher gave us the ultimate worst-case mystery box scenario in SEVEN, Wes Craven made horror meta with SCREAM, and M. Night Shyamalan peaked early with THE SIXTH SENSE. But we're not even close to this episode's EVENT HORIZON! We'll also look at a creepy ice cream vendor (aren't they all?), a castle freak, some self-improvement cannibals, a Rubik's Cube of death, an evil genie, Chucky's better half, a Hardrock Cafe for vampires, and so much more! Too bad all of it was lost in the devastation caused by Y2K. Joining us for this second dose of '90s chills is an award-winning friend of the show, and really, the only guest for this subject. He was the editor in chief of the legendary FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND magazine, the genius behind the blog, IT CAME FROM..., the writer/director/producer of the IN SEARCH OF DARKNESS longform documentary series, as well as the '80s sci-fi documentary IN SEARCH OF TOMORROW. His latest project is the shockingly episode appropriate mega doc, IN SEARCH OF DARKNESS: 1995-1999! Honestly, what were the odds?! Please welcome back the always scintillating… DAVID WEINER!! '90 HORROR LIVES! AND IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT, TALK TO THE SEVERED HAND!

This week's conversation starts with laughs and lands deep. The crew picks up Paxton's sermon illustration about feeding the tiger—those little desires we keep alive until they grow teeth. From late-night scroll sessions to collecting Beanie Babies and Dr. Squatch soaps, everyone admits they've got their own “tigers.” It's funny, but it hits close to home. The group turns the corner to what Scripture says about desire. Psalm 37:4 and 1 Peter 5:6 remind us that when we delight in the Lord, He reshapes what we want—and when we humble ourselves, He's the One who lifts us up. They talk about ambition, approval, and the moments when God flips our motives from self-promotion to kingdom purpose. It's honest, hopeful, and a good reminder that some things need starving… and others need surrendering. Before wrapping up, the guys highlight Harvest Fest on October 26—a chance to turn good intentions into real ministry by serving, smiling, and sharing the gospel with thousands of neighbors. ASK A QUESTION – TELL A STORY – CONNECT WITH US

Episode 150! Ben has a hilarious ATC mix-up flying into Nashville at night ("The other controller told me it was two zero...I could hear him laughing in the background"), Ted gets stuck at an abandoned airport for five hours, and the crew dives deep into avionics upgrades. From hoarding Garmin 430s like Beanie Babies to debating engine monitors, this is real talk about the joys (and financial pains) of panel upgrades.In this episode:Ben's ATC comedy: vectored past his approach, realizes the airport is right there at 4,000 feet, and reveals his identity: "Is this Sierra Whiskey? It's Bravo Sierra from your second favorite podcast"Music City STOL recap: Brian gets his second SNJ ride with the CAF, they meet community members, and discuss rookie class plansTed's five-hour weather delay: "Nobody locks sliding doors properly" - breaking into an abandoned clubhouse to wait out IMCAvionics deep dive: Discord's best conversations about GPS upgrades, dual G5s, engine monitors, and managing limited budgets"The 430 is that friend who peaked in high school" - why these units are hoarded and what your options areDo you really want to know THAT much about your engine? The pros and cons of digital engine monitoringWhy partnerships make upgrades harder: "Convince your partners to spend $12,000 and the plane will be the exact same afterward"Listener feedback: Louis R. makes the case for getting Mike Busch on the podcast.Mentioned on the Show:Music City STOL - XNX Gallatin, TNXNX - Music City Executive Airport9er Systems - Pete's CardinalEP134 with Dev Cannon about the CAFPiperzilla - Ultimate STOL Cherokee 180"Lost Prop Sonex Guy" - Cheapest instrument setupAvidyne IFD440 - Drop-in replacement for Garmin 4301dullgeek on Ask the A&Ps Episode 51AVEMCO on MOSAIC InsuranceSarasota Avionics - Pricing resourcePacific Coast Avionics - Pricing resourceSavvy Aviation - Mike Busch's resourcesFAA Part 61.129 - IFR requirementsSupport the Show:Patreon.com/MidlifePilotPodcast - Discord access & exclusive contentMidlifePilotPodcast.com - Merch & feedbackyoutube.com/@midlifepilotpodcast - Live Mondays 8PM ET10% supports Freedom Aviation Network's anti-human trafficking efforts

Bob's Movie Club this Thursday - grab your kids and watch ‘Hocus Pocus!' Taylor Swift weekend recap: #1 Movie, Album, and Spotify streamed song - but don't expect a tour! The Rock didn't crush the box office. SNL Season 51 opener was “horrible” according to Sarah. How COULD you even spend a billion dollars? Your little football recap. Waiting is good for your brain. What will define this time period the way Beanie Babies and boy bands ruled the 2000s?

Bob's Movie Club this Thursday - grab your kids and watch ‘Hocus Pocus!' Taylor Swift weekend recap: #1 Movie, Album, and Spotify streamed song - but don't expect a tour! The Rock didn't crush the box office. SNL Season 51 opener was “horrible” according to Sarah. How COULD you even spend a billion dollars? Your little football recap. Waiting is good for your brain. What will define this time period the way Beanie Babies and boy bands ruled the 2000s? Call the shipping department! Sarah tells us how Taylor handles her packages. Lori Loughlin and Mossimo Giannulli are separated after 28 years of marriage. Congrats to everyone who ran the local half marathon this weekend, including Vinnie's wife. It's Monday, which means another edition of 10 years ago this week! Have you ever gotten something this weird while trick-or-treating? How far would you drive to settle a grudge? Drum roll please: The Alice in Winterland lineup is here! The gang is so excited! Diddy broke down in tears before being sentenced to 4 years. Taylor Swift dominated the weekend box office, and her vinyl sales are breaking her own record. Burger King ditches the King. Social media has peaked: It's free falling across the world, other than in the US. Plus, some fast facts that will drop your jaw. Taylor's got some acoustic CD bangers on the way! Rush is touring with a new drummer. Country music keeps growing, but this shocking state is holding out. It's Fleet Week in San Francisco! What do this substitute teacher and Charli xcx have in common? Indiana you don't know? Plus: Interesting facts about ordinary things!

Frank breaks down Peacemaker Season 2, Episode 6, “Ignorance Is Chris,” and why the “better world” finally shows its cracks. From the diner photo that warps, to Harcourt and Chris opening up in an interrogation room, to Vigilante meeting his Earth X counterpart, this episode clicks into place. We also hit Rick Flag Sr.'s prison visit with Lex Luthor, the Sons of Liberty twist, and the hallway tells that confirm where we are. It is a tense, funny, uneasy chapter that sets up a high-stakes sprint to the finale. Timestamps and Topics 00:00 Intro and episode plan 00:23 Housekeeping, L.A. Comic Con updates, why last week skipped 00:44 Frank's knee update and getting back on mic 01:01 The big swing lands: “Hello, Earth X, mind the flags” 01:19 Diner scene breakdown and the melting-faces photo 02:01 The inevitability of the reveal and why the vibe felt off 02:28 At Adrian's place: mom cameo, “secret room,” evidence stash 03:33 The Beanie Baby closet and recreating the portal 04:06 Back in the portal room: the neighbor-alien and why it matters 04:44 Sneaking the Smith mansion and the rising tension 05:20 Harcourt's snow globe stall, the car ride with Keith 06:10 Music clues in this world, no rap, the whitewashed timeline 06:33 Eagly raid in the kitchen, the mess to clean up 06:55 Vigilante meets Vigilante, animal “facts,” and the glasses tell 08:12 Sons of Liberty inversion and why Alt Adrian hates Peacemaker 09:39 Rick Flag Sr. visits Lex Luthor at Belle Reve 10:38 The deal for portal tech and the DCU bridge it hints at 11:19 Harcourt and Chris finally say the quiet part out loud 12:40 Adebayo's walk, “one got out,” and the street chase 13:59 Auggie ambushes Economos at the mansion 14:47 Alt Harcourt flips the switch at A.R.G.U.S. 15:08 The flag with a swastika and the words that land like a punch 15:47 Wrap up, what 6 through 8 now promise, social plugs and sign-off Key Takeaways The episode earns its dread by letting small details stack until the Earth X truth can no longer be ignored. Vigilante meeting himself is both the funniest stretch and honest character work that reframes his bravado. The Harcourt and Chris scene gives the alt-world twist emotional weight and nudges their relationship into something healthier. Rick Flag Sr. and Lex Luthor open the door to wider DCU stakes without hijacking the episode. Adebayo's street sequence and the desk flag reveal are the gut checks that make the cut to black land. Quotes “Hello, Earth X, mind the flags.” “One got out! It's a black.” “This is your perfect world.” Call to Action If you enjoyed this breakdown, follow the show, leave a rating, and share the episode with a friend who is watching along. Use #ChallengeAcceptedLive so we can find your takes. Links and Resources GeekFreaksPodcast.com for our hub and the source of all news discussed during our podcast Follow our con coverage and reviews all week Follow Us Instagram: @challengeacceptedlive TikTok: @challengeacceptedlive Twitter: @CAPodcastLive Listener Questions What was the exact moment you realized we were on Earth X? Where do you land on Adrian vs. Adrian after this episode? Send thoughts and questions to ChallengeAcceptedGFX@gmail.com or DM us on socials and we will read a few next episode. Apple Podcast Tags: Peacemaker, Peacemaker Season 2, Peacemaker S2E6, Ignorance Is Chris, Earth X, Vigilante, James Gunn, John Cena, Danielle Brooks, Jennifer Holland, Rick Flag Sr., Lex Luthor, DCU, Review, Podcast Show Notes, Geek Freaks, Challenge Accepted

Are Jazwares and AEW about to wish one another the best in each other's future endeavors? Plus, we glimpse out first look at Ryan Gosling in a Star Wars movie and it's giving Waterworld vibes. Great news for Zombie Sailor! And, Forget Funko. Are Labubu the real modern day Beanie Babies? It's The Reluctant Adult Podcast. (This episode contains spoilers for the Netflix documentary Unknown Number. Viewer discretion is advised.) Email TheReluctantAdultPodcast@gmail.com Save 10% with code RAP101 at New Meta Save and get Free Shipping from Entertainment Earth Spooky & Weird Plush from MaterialJill TikTok @TheReluctantAdultPodcast Instagram @TheReluctantAdultPodcast Twitter @Reluctant_Pod Facebook The Reluctant Adult Podcast YouTube The Reluctant Adult Podcast Paul's eBay Auctions  

LinkedIn just added some sneaky-powerful analytics, Instagram is rolling out a surprisingly useful tweak, and Jay Schwedelson has a clever email test that could boost your open rates without writing a single extra word. He also throws in a few life notes, from collapsing toy fads to what's actually worth streaming this week. Quick, punchy, and packed with the kind of tiny updates that can quietly change your marketing game.ㅤBest Moments:(01:00) Why LinkedIn's new save and send metrics matter for your content strategy(02:00) Posting more often could unlock thousands of extra impressions on LinkedIn(03:20) Instagram finally lets you pin your own comments(04:00) The no-preheader email test that can increase opens by 15 percent(05:26) Labubu toys are tanking in value, Beanie Baby dreams crushed(06:15) The Girlfriend on Prime is worth your binge, unlike that wild Netflix catfish docㅤCheck out our 100% FREE + VIRTUAL EVENTS! ->Guru Conference - The World's Largest Virtual EMAIL MARKETING Conference - Nov 6-7!Register here: www.GuruConference.comㅤCheck out Jay's YOUTUBE Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@schwedelsonCheck out Jay's TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@schwedelsonCheck Out Jay's INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/jayschwedelson/ㅤMASSIVE thank you to our Sponsor, Marigold!!Email chaos across campuses, branches, or chapters? Emma by Marigold lets HQ keep control while local teams send on-brand, on-time messages with ease.Podcast & GURU listeners: 50 % off your first 3 months with an annual plan (new customers, 10 k-contact minimum, terms apply).Claim your offer now at jayschwedelson.com/emma

This week's guest is a serial entrepreneur, angel investor, and global advisor at the forefront of data and AI. She is the founder & CEO of Mantis Group, a consulting-led tech firm helping organizations unlock the power of artificial intelligence. Her entrepreneurial spark showed early at just 12 years old, she turned a Beanie Babies hustle into $20,000, foreshadowing a lifelong drive for innovation and growth. Today, that spirit extends beyond business, co-founding Superclub, a BIPOC networking community, and Filling the Gap, a Toronto-based nonprofit conference. Alongside sitting on three boards, she continues to invest in startups, advise businesses worldwide, and champion diversity and inclusion in every space she leads. Welcome, Janice Liu.Janice LiuThe Mantis Group InstagramLinkedInTikTokYouTubeMena MassoudAlex Maryuen

In this tender and soul-stirring episode of Taking Flight, Megan shares how a childhood storybook, a beloved stuffed animal, and a deep belief in possibility sparked a lifelong understanding of manifestation. Through the tale of her first dog, Taz (who, yes, was visualized into her life with the help of a very well-loved copy of The Velveteen Rabbit), Megan explores how open-hearted imagination and small, intentional actions can turn dreams into reality. Spoiler: she may have manifested a job, too—and not just any job, but one she could vividly see herself thriving in before it ever existed.But this episode goes far beyond visualization. Megan invites listeners to embrace the magic of being "real"—through acceptance, action, and a willingness to stay open even when life feels wobbly. Whether you're curious about manifestation, skeptical but intrigued, or someone who's always believed in the quiet power of childhood wonder, this episode wraps it all in love, laughter, and realness (with just the right amount of sass and sparkle).Keywords:Hashtags: #ManifestThatMagic #ChildhoodWonder #VelveteenRabbitWisdom #TakingFlightPodcast #MeganHollyCreates #EnergyAlignment #OpenHeartOpenLife #ConfidenceInClarity #SmallStepsBigDreams #WorthyAndCapable #SparkleManifestRepeat #TrustTheTimeline #ImaginationIsPower #FeelItIntoReality #ManifestationJourney

Rules Americans Ditch On VacationHalf (49%) of respondents intentionally avoid reading work emails when traveling and 59% skip normal to-dos, like working out and tidying up.Two-thirds say they eat out for every single meal and 23% have dessert with every meal on a trip.54% admit they rarely stick to a budget on a getaway, and 48% confess to using credit cards more than usual. Nearly two-thirds (63%) believe that returning texts or calls is completely optional in non-emergency situations and 33% admit they ignore texts and emails altogether.A big part of the vacation mindset is saying “yes” more often, as 82% say traveling is a time to embrace the extras, from dessert to new adventures.“Treat yourself” is the top vacation motto for 41% who say it describes their approach to time off, while others relate to “Try everything once,” (18%) and “No alarms, no plans” (12%).Favorite parts of traveling include sleeping in (42%), forgetting what day of the week it is (36%) and wearing comfy clothes 24/7 (30%).And the best part? Nearly three-quarters (72%) say they don't feel guilty at all about overindulging on vacation.Gen Z RegretsThese are the trends that make the over 35 crowd yell “What are you guys thinking?!”"Dubai chocolate. It is $$$, and maybe it's just me, but it does not look appealing to me at all.""Giant pants. People are wearing jeans that could fit a family of three in each leg hole...why? They also often wear them with a t-shirt that's two sizes too small. It's so goofy looking!""In the past few years, I've noticed there is no shame anymore. It's 'cool' and 'funny' to make a fool of yourself for views. Stop pranking employees who are just trying to work, stop making a mess at Walmart to be funny, stop singing and dancing in public while filming yourself, etc. I refuse to watch any creator that pulls that sh*t.""Labubus. They're just Beanie Babies.""Mullets. Like, I get the irony standpoint, but no, they're genuinely fashionable and attractive right now, and that confounds the hell out of me."These Sleep Hacks Sound A Bit Wild, But People Swear They WorkRedditors are here to help share their best sleep hacks. Some may sound weird, but they supposedly work!"Relax your toes, relax your ankles, follow all body parts...By the time you reach your forehead you're asleep.""Reading something boring. The minute I start, I fall asleep. Also having a cold room.""World building! I like to just imagine the same fantasy world of my own every night. I go over every little detail until I fall asleep! It works wonders — you just keep making new rules or places!""I listen to something boring! On Spotify, there is a podcast called ‘I Can't Sleep'. It's a guy who reads Wikipedia pages on various topics. His voice is quite relaxing and puts me out every time. 10/10 Highly recommend!""I use a red color filter on my phone screen (if I do scroll before bed).""Do a pose called legs up the wall. It's exactly how it sounds, but Google it if you're not familiar. Try 5-10 minutes. It'll reset your nervous system and help make ya sleepy.""Straw breathing works wonderfully for me. 10 breaths with a very slow exhale is good. Yoga nidra works as well.""I take a piece of paper and write the word sleep over and over, usually about a half page. If you wanna try it, just take your time, and if it turns into other writings, just let it flow...and hopefully it's calming to your mind."Second Date UpdateRosa called us about Miguel. They matched on Hinge and went out for dinner in Walnut Creek.  Rosa said they split calamari, ordered pasta, and lingered over dessert because the conversation was going so well. She thought Miguel was funny and attentive, and she couldn't figure out why he ghosted.

Send us a textRewind to 11–18 September 2005⚡ Lights out in LAMillions of Angelenos suddenly found themselves trapped in elevators, stuck at dead traffic lights, and clutching their Nokia flip phones as a worker's “oopsie” cut the wrong line. Terrorism fears? Nah — just Culver City's clumsiest electrician turning LA into the world's largest candlelit dinner for two hours.

Gillian and Matt cuddle up with plushies past and present, from the Beanie Babies of their youth to the Build-A-Bear they birthed in the Glendale Galleria. They also stuff in facts about the history of stuffed animals and weigh-in on trending plushies like Labubu, Squishmallows, and JellyCat. Tea Time Autumn Mist Green by Adagio Tea Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso by Dunkin' Candle Review Bear-Shaped Scented Candle by T-Shin Support All Things Cozy by joining our Patreon and following us on Facebook, Instagram, and Bluesky.

Though the character known as Labubu has been around for a decade, the toy version—around six inches tall, sporting bunny ears and a demonic grin—is only just becoming a must-have accessory. On this episode of Critics at Large, Vinson Cunningham, Naomi Fry, and Alexandra Schwartz join the trend and unbox their very own Labubu before diving into the history of such fads. They draw a distinction between collecting and speculating, from the seventeenth-century Dutch tulip mania through to the eBay-fuelled Beanie Baby craze of the nineteen-nineties and the far more recent rise and fall of non-fungible tokens. And they attempt to understand why this slightly unsettling children's toy is now inspiring such intense reactions. “People were flooding my D.M.s, like, ‘This thing is the end of culture,' ” Schwartz says. “This thing is not the end of culture. It's a point on a line.”Read, watch, and listen with the critics:“The Monsters,” by Kasing Lung“Where the Wild Things Are,” by Maurice Sendak“What the Labubu Obsession Says About Us,” by Jia Tolentino (The New Yorker)“A Dubai Chocolate Theory of the Internet” (“Search Engine”)“IRL Brain Rot and the Lure of the Labubu,” by Kyle Chayka (The New Yorker)“Little House on the Prairie,” by Laura Ingalls Wilder“Toy Story” (1995)New episodes drop every Thursday. Follow Critics at Large wherever you get your podcasts. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Funko has recently reported a second quarter loss of $41 million! What does that mean for the beloved collectables? Will they go the way of the Beanie Babies? Will the secondary market surge in value? Will POPs stop being produced? We talk about all of this and more in this episode. What do YOU think of the loss for Funko? Do you collect Funko POPs? Sound off in the comments below!!

What's got rabbit-like ears, huge eyes, nine teeth and a demonic grin? It's Labubu! These ugly-cute toys have gone viral online, largely thanks to social media's trending machine. Their fame was previously limited to China and parts of Asia, but since 2024 their popularity has grown and the dolls can now be purchased in more than 30 countries round the world. This week, the global demand for Labubu inspired us to play around with trend-based science. First up, we hear how the special sauce behind TikTok's algorithm helps drive viral trends. Next, we find out that humans are not the only ones that love a fad – chimpanzees are susceptible to them too!We then discover what connects the hugely popular Beanie Baby toys of the 1990s with modern CubeSat exploration, thanks to aerospace engineer Professor James Cutler, from the University of Michigan. Plus, we discuss a weird object thousands of light-years away that could lead to new physics.And why do we find songs annoying after multiple listens?All that, plus many more Unexpected Elements. Presenter: Marnie Chesterton, with Godfred Boafo and Edd Gent Producers: Alice Lipscombe-Southwell, with Imaan Moin, Lucy Davies and Margaret Sessa Hawkins

These ugly AF Labubu dolls are the new Beanie Babies. Now people are planning heists to steal the lil' bastards. Watch this podcast episode on YouTube and all major podcast hosts including Spotify. CLOWNFISH TV is an independent, opinionated news and commentary podcast that covers Entertainment and Tech from a consumer's point of view. We talk about Gaming, Comics, Anime, TV, Movies, Animation and more. Hosted by Kneon and Geeky Sparkles. D/REZZED News covers Pixels, Pop Culture, and the Paranormal! We're an independent, opinionated entertainment news blog covering Video Games, Tech, Comics, Movies, Anime, High Strangeness, and more. As part of Clownfish TV, we strive to be balanced, based, and apolitical. Get more news, views and reviews on Clownfish TV News - https://news.clownfishtv.com/ On YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/ClownfishTV On Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4Tu83D1NcCmh7K1zHIedvg On Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/clownfish-tv-audio-edition/id1726838629

Lauren and Christy deep dive the 2021 documentary Beanie Mania, and the world of '90s Beanie Babies. Christy's research reveals endless product lines, a rich man's audacity, and shocking details about Ty Warner's dating history. So grab a drink, put on some pjs, and join this duo for a true crime slumber party!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week, Eric is on vacation and Deric gets big thanks for his genius idea that helped Zac perfect his 3D-printed soldering fume extractor, making it solid and adjustable with just 2 thumb screws. Zac is also deep into a tool-buying spree, playing "day trader" on Facebook Marketplace to switch all his tools to DeWalt. Did he make the right choice? We dive into the world of tool reviews, discussing how free tools can unknowingly bias creators and the refreshing honesty of some channels.Deric shares his current woodworking projects, including building a platform bed for his daughter's closet and custom shelving for his son's retro game console collection. This leads to a deep dive into the fascinating world of vintage game consoles, from the elusive N64 disc drive to the N64 that was contained entirely in its controller. We reminisce about old games, the Beanie Baby craze, and the nostalgia of classic game smells. Got a question that you want us to answer? Send us an email at ⁠⁠offthecutpodcast@gmail.com⁠Be sure to hit up the links below to get even more content from us!Interested in starting your own podcast? Check out Streamyard: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://streamyard.com/pal/c/5926541443858432⁠  ⁠⁠ ⁠-------------------------AftershowConsider supporting the show on Patreon to get access to the aftershow and unlock tons of cool perks!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/offthecutpodcast⁠  ⁠⁠⁠-------------------------Hang Out with UsWatch the live stream of the podcast on YouTube!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcRJPIp6OaffQtvCZ2AtWWQ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠-------------------------Pick Up Some Merch!Windbreaker - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.spencleydesignco.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠   -------------------------Follow ZacInstagram - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/zacbuilds⁠ YouTube - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/@ZacBuilds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@zacbuilds⁠⁠⁠⁠  -------------------------Follow EricInstagram - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/spencleydesignco⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@spencleydesignco⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@spencleydesignco⁠⁠  ⁠-------------------------Follow Deric@PecanTreeDesign everywhere⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/pecantreedesign⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ---------------------------Shoutout to:KM Tools for sponsoring the show! Check out everything they have to offer at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KMTools.com ⁠⁠⁠kmtools.com/SPENCLEYDESIGNCO⁠ And ⁠WTB Woodworking⁠, our newest sponsor! Check out the giveaway over here:⁠https://www.wtbwoodworking.com/giveaway⁠ #Woodworking #DIY #3DPrinting #Maker #ContentCreation #YouTuber #OffTheCutPodcast

900 EPISODES OF THE GIANT BOMBCAST! We talk about Y2Roll, Pokémon Friends, The Drifter, visiting Wizard Quest, and how great Donkey Kong Bananza has been so far. We also cover the biggest news stories like the Pokémon Presents, the new Marvel fighting game will be playable at Evo, Saber Interactive is making a Hellraiser game, and even more!Support us and get new episodes ad-free by signing up for Giant Bomb Premium at https://www.giantbomb.com/join

From Britpop to Beanie Babies, 1995 was da bomb! So much so, in fact, that we thought it would be pretty phat if we revisited the albums of the year in a Volume 2 episode. As if! This week's Third Lad, singer/songwriter/guitarist Josh Caterer had a pretty memorable 1995 as well. His Chicago pop-punk band Smoking Popes signed a major label deal with Capitol Records, who re-released their second indie album, Born To Quit. The album featured the alternative smash "Need You Around," which received radio and MTV airplay, as well as a prominent placement in the hit film Clueless. Fast forward 30 years and things are once again heating up for Smoking Popes. They've just released a triumphant new album, Lovely Stuff, and are celebrating three decades of Born To Quit by playing the record live in its entirety this spring. This summer, they will embark on a tour with Bayside. https://smokingpopesmusic.com Josh joined us from a random rest stop somewhere in Florida to chat about '95 albums, the Popes' past, present, and future, hangin' out in Billie Joe Armstrong's basement, getting Morrissey's seal of approval, the pros and cons of sudden fame, faith, Wisconsin, and much more. We're Audi! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

David, the $725M protein bar brand, dropped its most controversial product yet… Cod fish.Pittsburgh just snagged $90B in AI investments… If all goes to plan, Pitt becomes the Austin of the East.Labubu dolls are now bigger than all of Mattel… but will these viral dolls become Beanie Babies or Barbies?Plus, France has a wild new plan to boost the economy… Cancel 2 holidays.$META $GIS $SPYWant more business storytelling from us? Check out the latest episode of our new weekly deepdive show: The untold origin story of… The Michelin Restaurant ⭐Subscribe to The Best Idea Yet: Wondery.fm/TheBestIdeaYetLinks to listen.TBOY Live Show Tickets to Chicago on sale NOW: https://www.axs.com/events/949346/the-best-one-yet-podcast-ticketsAbout Us: The daily pop-biz news show making today's top stories your business. Formerly known as Robinhood Snacks, TBOY Lite is hosted by Jack Crivici-Kramer & Nick Martell.GET ON THE POD: Submit a shoutout or fact: https://tboypod.com/shoutouts NEWSLETTER:https://tboypod.com/newsletter SOCIALS:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tboypod TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tboypodYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tboypod Anything else: https://tboypod.com/ Our 2nd show… The Best Idea Yet: Wondery.fm/TheBestIdeaYetLinksEpisodes drop weekly.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this juicy episode, one guest reveals her surprising (and expensive) addiction to Labubu toys — collectible dolls with a cult following. From sneaky spending habits to hiding purchases from her husband, she confesses everything, including dropping $3,000 on a rare collab with Vans. Is it an investment or just another Beanie Baby repeat? Tune in for laughs, gasps, and a bit of judgment. The juiciest, most outrageous confession podcast from The Jubal Show! It's the Jubal Show's Dirty Little Secret! Listeners spill their wildest, weirdest, and most scandalous secrets anonymously—no judgment, just pure entertainment. From shocking revelations to hilarious mishaps, you never know what you'll hear next! Hosted by Jubal Fresh and the team, every episode is packed with jaw-dropping confessions, witty reactions, and unexpected twists. Got a secret? Share it with us… we promise we won’t tell!➡︎ Get on The Jubal Show with your story - https://thejubalshow.com This is just a tiny piece of The Jubal Show. You can find every podcast we have, including the full show every weekday right here…➡︎ https://thejubalshow.com/podcasts The Jubal Show is everywhere, and also these places: Website ➡︎ https://thejubalshow.com Instagram ➡︎ https://instagram.com/thejubalshow X/Twitter ➡︎ https://twitter.com/thejubalshow Tiktok ➡︎ https://www.tiktok.com/@the.jubal.show Facebook ➡︎ https://facebook.com/thejubalshow YouTube ➡︎ https://www.youtube.com/@JubalFresh Support the show: https://the-jubal-show.beehiiv.com/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Trump says he will NOT fire Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. Trump claims “really only pretty bad people including fake news want to keep” the Epstein Files going. Dana reacts to the “Labubu” trend where celebrities are wearing “Beanie Baby” like Teddy Bears, causing the price to skyrocket and contributing to theft. Rep. Hank Johnson sings a song about the Epstein files in the tune of Dreamsicle by Jason Isbell. Dana explains why Trump's recent comments on the Epstein Files have become problematic for him. Trump calls the Epstein Files a Democrat “hoax” while Speaker Johnson and Lara Trump continue to say that they exist. NPR's CEO Katherine Maher thinks rural America often has no other possible source of news or connection to the outside world EXCEPT through PBS and NPR. Inflation falls to 2.3% BEATING expectations of all 50 forecasters in Bloomberg's survey. Dana praises Kristi Noem's changes to the TSA including removing the shoe policy and hinting at rolling back restrictions on liquids. A Paranormal Investigator unexpectedly dies on the ‘Annabelle' Haunted Doll Tour. Gavin Newsom accidentally tweets out pictures of Nevada when bragging about the beauty of California.Thank you for supporting our sponsors that make The Dana Show possible…Angel Studioshttps://Angel.com/danaStream King of Kings, check out fan-picked shows, and claim your member perks.Allio CapitalDownload Allio from the App Store or Google Play, or text “DANA” to 511511 to get started today.All Family Pharmacyhttps://AllFamilyPharmacy.com/Dana Medical freedom is American freedom. Use code DANA10 to get 10% off your order.Relief Factorhttps://ReliefFactor.com OR CALL 1-800-4-RELIEFTurn the clock back on pain with Relief Factor. Get their 3-week Relief Factor Quick Start for only $19.95 today! Byrnahttps://Byrna.com/danaGet your hands on the new compact Byrna CL. Visit Byrna.com/Dana receive 10% off.Patriot Mobilehttps://PatriotMobile.com/DanaDana's personal cell phone provider is Patriot Mobile. Get a FREE MONTH of service code DANA.HumanNhttps://humann.comFind both the new SuperBerine and the #1 bestselling SuperBeets Heart Chews at Sam's Club!Keltechttps://KelTecWeapons.comSee the third generation of the iconic SUB2000 and the NEW PS57 - Keltec Innovation & Performance at its best.

Dana reacts to the “Labubu” trend where celebrities are wearing “Beanie Baby” like Teddy Bears, causing the price to skyrocket and contributing to theft. Meanwhile, Dana praises Kristi Noem's changes to the TSA including removing the shoe policy and hinting at rolling back restrictions on liquids.Thank you for supporting our sponsors that make The Dana Show possible…Angel Studioshttps://Angel.com/danaStream King of Kings, check out fan-picked shows, and claim your member perks.Allio CapitalDownload Allio from the App Store or Google Play, or text “DANA” to 511511 to get started today.All Family Pharmacyhttps://AllFamilyPharmacy.com/Dana Medical freedom is American freedom. Use code DANA10 to get 10% off your order.Relief Factorhttps://ReliefFactor.com OR CALL 1-800-4-RELIEFTurn the clock back on pain with Relief Factor. Get their 3-week Relief Factor Quick Start for only $19.95 today! Byrnahttps://Byrna.com/danaGet your hands on the new compact Byrna CL. Visit Byrna.com/Dana receive 10% off.Patriot Mobilehttps://PatriotMobile.com/DanaDana's personal cell phone provider is Patriot Mobile. Get a FREE MONTH of service code DANA.HumanNhttps://humann.comFind both the new SuperBerine and the #1 bestselling SuperBeets Heart Chews at Sam's Club!Keltechttps://KelTecWeapons.comSee the third generation of the iconic SUB2000 and the NEW PS57 - Keltec Innovation & Performance at its best.

BEST OF TST: The sudden popularity of Labubu toys has resulted in grown adults lining up in the early morning hours to acquire as many of these little monsters as possible. Although upon first glance they appear sort of cute, closer examination will reveal that their apparent smile is actually a sinister grin with razor sharp teeth. Designed by Hong Kong-born artist Kasing Lung, the toys are sold by Pop Mart in collaboration with the artist and in relation to his 2015 book “The Monsters.” Their increasing popularity is a result of celebrities like Rihanna or Dua Lipa flaunting their own, although the trend began when Blackpink k-pop singer Lisa first was spotted with the keychain in April 2024. Each doll comes in a sealed box with no indication of what's inside, meaning each purchase is a mystery. Shoppers are notified of a new drop off of the toy at their local stores via WhatsApp. They then rush to the spot, as one Australian article documented, “at 3am.” Put simply, people are lining up during the “witching hour” to buy a mysterious monster in a box after receiving an oddly timed text in the middle of the night. The atmosphere around these toys is similar to any long gone or persisting product, from Furbys and Beanie Babies to Hello Kitty and Pokemon, but there is something else about these little toys that is anything but friendly.The dolls themselves are not really even monsters, but instead more like little children that appear to be possessed and wearing Teletubbies costumes. Like any good marketing campaign, the product page on Amazon describes their various character stores: one of the leaders, zimomo ventures to the human world where he learns yoga and then brings the practice back to his own world in the forest. The monsters are thus more like fairies, and in fact one description reads: “the elves in the forest are curious about the human world. So, the No. 1 curious player LABUBU gathered her friends and secretly came to the city for an adventure. The goal is absolutely not to be discovered by humans!” The forests are described further as “nordic,” which is the mythological nature that was inspiration for the dolls.It's not just the name zimomo that brings back memories of the Momo Challenge, but the fact that these monsters from another world are essentially being promoted like Momo. Mysterious messages in the middle of the night that prompt half-asleep humans to perform some action - in this case, buy a mysterious box that contains what amounts to a fairy, demon, familiar, or personal spirit charm. This is reminiscent also of the 3am Challenge and the recent Mirror Challenge, where one looks into the mirror for so long they watch their face and reality around them distort. The name LA BU BU is even more telling of an underlying darkness. The LALALOOPSY doll, a girl with no apparent ears, a mouth sewn shut, and black buttons for eyes - something further reminiscent of the movie Carolin where the Beldam Other Mother replaces the girl's eyes (soul) with buttons to trap her in the other world - is a toy about fanciful play through a sort of loopy “Lala-ness.” The LA BU BU is generally said to refer to the same playfulness, though the word “bubu” is both a euphemism for a child's injury, and also holds the meaning of grandmother. In other words, LA GRANDMOTHER, the old crone of the forest. She is also known as Momo, Yamamba, the hag, the Hansel and Gretel Witch, or Baba Yaga. She also shares something in common with La Llorona, Ubume, and Banshee.   Perhaps this is all a coincidence, or perhaps Labubu, like Elf on the Shelf, is not something we should be bringing into our homes or carrying with us on our person. *The is the FREE archive, which includes advertisements. If you want an ad-free experience, you can subscribe below underneath the show description.-FREE ARCHIVE (w. ads)SUBSCRIPTION ARCHIVEX / TWITTER FACEBOOKWEBSITECashApp: $rdgable EMAIL: rdgable@yahoo.com / TSTRadio@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-secret-teachings--5328407/support.

On this episode of the Libertarian Christian Podcast, host Cody Cook sits down with author and journalist Ross Benes to discuss his latest book, 1999: The Year Low Culture Conquered America and Kickstarted Our Bizarre Times. The conversation dives deep into how the most sensational and “trashy” pop culture of the late 90s—think Jerry Springer, pro wrestling, Insane Clown Posse, Pokémon, and Beanie Babies—not only shaped our current media landscape, but also influenced today's political and cultural divides.Ross explores the ascent of “low culture,” tracing how it blurred the boundaries between entertainment and politics—culminating in a world where reality TV tactics rule the public sphere. They talk about the rise of populism, the persistence of elitism, and why figures like Trump are both symptoms and products of this cultural shift. Cody and Ross also debate whether democracy is better off now that the “facade of respectability” is gone, or if we've lost something essential along the way.Ross Benes' work can be found at rossbenes.com, and his book 1999 is available in paperback, Kindle, and Audible formats.Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com ★ Support this podcast ★

Today's Post - https://bahnsen.co/3TlA3MA Navigating Investment Bubbles and Market Psychology In this special episode of Dividend Cafe, host David Boson delves into the critical topic of investment bubbles and their potential impact on investors. Released ahead of the July 4th holiday, David explores the complexity of identifying bubbles and the often overlooked influence of human psychology on market behavior. Drawing on historical examples including the dot-com bubble, the 2008 housing crisis, and the Beanie Baby craze, he underscores the importance of prudence and valuation in investment decisions. While examining the current state of technology stocks and AI, he questions the sustainability of their valuations and highlights the significance of learning from past market excesses. David concludes with seven key takeaways to guide investors through today's financial landscape, emphasizing the need for caution and fundamental analysis. 00:00 Introduction and Special Release Announcement 00:25 Understanding Investment Bubbles 04:09 Historical Examples of Bubbles 11:02 Modern Context: The Mag Seven and AI 24:38 Concluding Thoughts and Caution Links mentioned in this episode: DividendCafe.com TheBahnsenGroup.com

Toy fads, from Labubu dolls to Beanie Babies, spark a whirlwind of memories and sharp observations about what truly matters. Stories, humor, and even a Ronald Reagan comeback slip in, making everyday faith feel immediate and alive. Donata (email) - If we are to accept God's will in all things, why should we pray for people, peace, etc. Should we only pray prayers of thanks and worship? (01:02) Michael - I got a new audio bible that says it is Catholic, but it says it is the King James version. Is that still alright to use? (06:19) Labubu’s Mega Markups Make Pop Mart a $43 Billion Export Giant (12:38) Supreme Court rules states can cut Medicaid funds from going to Planned Parenthood (20:47) Rosalie - How do I tell a 6-year-old child about death and dying? (23:11) Tony - I appreciate your show! I started listening about a month ago. My wife just converted to the Catholic Faith. I would like to understand the main difference between non-Catholic Christians and Catholics? (32:03) Audio: Ronald Reagan: When college protesters told then-Governor Reagan he didn’t understand today’s world… he reminded them who built it. (41:08) Sandy - My granddaughter is having a Disney birthday party. Is that okay? (43:41) Jan - My friend said that the martyrs were given a grace to not feel pain when they were being killed. Is that true? (46:43)

Cody & Andrew embark on a new journey through cultural moments of the past decades that for a moment seem great and nostalgic, but let's be real, we were scammed! The top 10 scams of the 90s include classics like the Macarena, Milli Vanilli, Now That's What I Call Music, and Beanie Babies. ALSO: Andrew breaks down his 101 Dalmatians themed Christmas Tree and Cody surprises us with his ice skating past. Original Airdate: 08/15/2024We have summer deals for YOU!!Skylight: Stay on top of your calendar! Get $30 off your 15 inch calendar at SkylightCal.com/pettyQuince: Stick to the staples that last! Go to Quince.com/pettiness for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns!Homes.com: Looking for your next home? Head to Homes.com - we've done your homework!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Subscribe to The Best Idea Yet here: https://wondery.com/links/the-best-idea-yet/Beanie Babies — the unassuming critters with birthdates and bios — are designed to tug on your heartstrings (and your wallet). But for a moment in the late-90s, they burst out of gift shops and into investment portfolios as America went crazy over Legs the Frog, Pinchers the Lobster, and the rest of the plushie pals.Behind this bean-stuffed market bubble hid a mysterious salesman with a chip on his shoulder named Ty Warner (the P.T. Barnum of Plush), who masterminded limited drops, direct-to-retail strategies, and internet virality before any of those things had names.With plastic pellets and perceived scarcity, Ty built an empire worth billions that stands to this day. But there wasn't such a happy ending for most speculators when the market turned from (Snort the) bull to (Brownie the) bear, wiping out millions.Find out how Beanie Babies helped launch eBay, why you should never trade your Bucky the Beaver for a cupcake, and why Beanie Babies is the best idea yet.Subscribe to The Best Idea Yet for the untold origin stories of the products you're obsessed with — and the bold risk takers who made them go viral.Episodes drop every Tuesday, listen here: https://wondery.com/links/the-best-idea-yet/—-----------------------------------------------------GET ON THE POD: Submit a shoutout or fact: https://tboypod.com/shoutouts FOR MORE NICK & JACK: Newsletter: https://tboypod.com/newsletter Connect with Nick: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolas-martell/ Connect with Jack: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-crivici-kramer/ SOCIALS:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tboypod TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tboypodYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tboypod Anything else: https://tboypod.com/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For an ad-free experience and much more content, subscribe now. Subscribers at the "Top Secret" tier get a one-year digital subscription to The Nation! In this week's episode, Danny speaks with journalist Ross Benes about his book 1999: The Year Low Culture Conquered America and Kickstarted Our Bizarre Times. They discuss the connection between the Telecommunications Act of 1996 and “trash culture”, what makes the instantiation of reality TV in 1999 unique and how early reality shows foreshadowed modern politics, how Beanie Babies were akin to “stock investments” for working class and lower middle class people, Pokémon as a pure distillation of unrestrained capitalism, and the other features of that moment that predicted American life as we now know it.  If you enjoyed this episode, listen to our discussion with Colette Shade, “Y2K: The Future That Never Was”. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dave and Chuck the Freak talk about a listener saw Jason at swim class, ad renting out a room might be a lady of the night, Dave calls alleged cuck barber, 2 planes nearly collide midair, travel warning about measles cases, teens rescue family from house fire on prom night, bees scaped after truck spilled its load, group of kids ding-dong-ditched a guy, fewer tourists traveling to Las Vegas, NBA and NHL playoffs, NBA on TNT ending, Ohtani fell asleep during game, sexiest MLB mascots, athletes who will not be drug tested, 103-year-old lady still bowling, Annabel doll escaped, actors who were nearly killed while filming, chairs caught fire at movie theater, final season of Stranger Things, firework from stage hit fan in head, Taylor Swift bought rights to music back, Iggy Pop hauled off stage in a coffin, water in Dave’s ear, old woman confronted man for playing bagpipes, flight attendant found naked dancing in business class bathroom, guy who stripped nude on flight gets to keep job, women in trouble for staging near nude photoshoot at Greek palace, woman woke up to her stalker sucking on her toes, drunk things, cop was stealing from work and selling at pawn shop, adults only mini golf in Las Vegas, car gets torn apart to look for woman’s engagement ring, man accused of stealing panties from laundromat, police searching for ferret fondler, break-in at the home of Beanie Baby inventor, man who lost nose in fight trying to rebuild it, toddler rescued from conveyer belt, family reeled in 800lbs great white shark, guy claims to be inventor of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, girl goes viral for love of guacamole, and more!

Beanie Babies, Broadway, & Cassette Players. Listen. Leave a Review. Get Patreon. Enjoy!! Check out The Cover to Cover Patreon! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/franjola⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ------------------------------ COVER TO COVER MERCH!!! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CLICK HERE!!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ----------------------------------- VISIT OUR SPONSORS!! ----------------------------------- Shave Your Parts with MANSCAPED! Get 20% Off + Free Shipping Code: COVER Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.manscaped.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ------------------------------ Conquer your wellness with THRIVE! $30 Off Your First Order + A FREE $60 gift. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thrivemarket.com/cover⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ------------------------------ CASH-MERE Outside, How Bout Dat? With QUINCE! Get Free Shipping + 365 Days Return Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.quince.com/cover⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ------------------------------ Take a Mental Health Break with BETTERHELP! This episode is Sponsored by Betterhelp, get 10% off your first month, Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BetterHelp.com/c2c⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ------------------------------ Shop Healthy, Eat Healthy with HUNGRYROOT! Get 40% off and A Free Gift FOR LIFE Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hungryroot.com/cover⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Code: COVER ------------------------------ Bake Better Bread with WILDGRAIN! Get $30 off and Free Croissants FOR LIFE Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wildgrain.com/cover⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Code: COVER ------------------------------ Feel Good AND Mean It with HEADSPACE! Get 2 Months Free Visit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ headspace.com/franjola⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ------------------------------ Make Your House a Home with WAYFAIR! $30 Off Your First Order + A FREE $60 gift. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Wayfair.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ------------------------------ Eat Healthy AND Convenient with FACTOR! Get 50% Off with Code: FACTORPODCAST Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠factormeals.com/covertocover50off⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ------------------------------ Better Mobile at a Better Price with MINT MOBILE! Get 3 Months for $15/Month + Free Shipping Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MintMobile.com/cover⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ------------------------------ Find Proper Healthcare with ZOCDOC! Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠zocdoc.com/cover⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to find the perfect doctor. ------------------------------ Follow Chris: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.franjola.fun/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠   ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/chrisfranjola/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Alex:   ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/conn.tv/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/Conn.TV Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Episode #743: Bryan and Krissy are back to discuss the wild Pop Art craze feeding the Labubu craze! As usual, once TCB knows about it...it's too late! Plus, they break down the chaos behind Hollywood's labor disputes and the wild world of nostalgic collectibles. First, they take a jab at union drama in the entertainment biz—why some actors are barely scraping by while execs are jetting off to Istanbul to save a buck. Then, they dig into the rise of Labubu (no, seriously), the vinyl toy that's got adults throwing elbows at Pop Mart's around the globe. From behind-the-scenes rental companies of Hollywood to Beanie Baby flashbacks, Bryan misses every opportunity to cash in! Show Notes: [04:15] Union Struggles in Hollywood – Why productions are fleeing L.A. faster than a Netflix cancelation [05:18] Real Estate and Production Trends – Istanbul: now with more actors [06:21] Podcast Shenanigans & Celebrity Interview Teases [09:20] Will Ferrell vs. Adam Sandler – Who wins in the existential comedy showdown? [12:20] Pop-Up Stores and Nostalgia Drops – Yes, adults are still buying toys [15:20] Meet La Boo Boo – The collectible you never knew you needed [19:17] Collectibles & Culture – What your Funko Pop says about you [21:28] The Parental Guilt of Consumerism – Because kids need therapy and matching plushies [26:24] Sean's Weird Job Reveal – It's as strange as it sounds [35:16] The Economics of Labubu– Capitalism in a cute little box [43:44] Nostalgia, Beanie Babies, and the Cyclical Nature of Dumb Trends [47:00] Farewell Rant – Bryan declares Beanie Babies are back (again) TCB Intro Clips: Ferris is a righteous dude! Watch EP #743 on YouTube! Text us or leave us a voicemail: +1 (212) 433-3TCB FOLLOW US: Instagram:  ⁠⁠@thecommercialbreak⁠⁠ Youtube: ⁠⁠youtube.com/thecommercialbreak⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠@tcbpodcast⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠www.tcbpodcast.com⁠⁠ CREDITS: Hosts: ⁠⁠Bryan Green⁠⁠ &⁠⁠ Krissy Hoadley⁠⁠ Executive Producer: Bryan Green Producer: Astrid B. Green Voice Over: Rachel McGrath TCBits Written, Voiced and Produced by Bryan Green To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Grumpy Old Geeks—Mad Hatter edition—we kick things off with a refresher on Staingate and the joys of delamination (spoiler: it's not a spa treatment). Then we dive into the U.S. government's latest tech innovation: buying up domains that sound like QAnon Mad Libs in support of Trump's meme coin. Meanwhile, DOGE decided to hand the steering wheel of housing regulations to a college kid and an AI. What could possibly go wrong? Not to be outdone, Elon shows up to a Trump meeting wearing two hats—one for each of his unchecked egos—and MoviePass launches a crypto-tied box office fantasy league, because we've clearly learned nothing.In the actual news, 4chan has risen from the dead like a less hygienic Lazarus, but it's still broken (shocker). Worldcoin's eyeball-scanning overlords are now teaming up with Tinder and Visa—romance and capitalism, together at last. Bitcoin mining is officially more pointless than Beanie Babies, and Microsoft says AI now writes 30% of its code—explains a lot, really. Meta somehow manages to forecast $1.4 trillion in AI revenue while also letting its bots get horny with minors. Meanwhile, Pinterest suddenly pretends to care about AI slop (while being the biggest copyright vampire online), and ChatGPT gets less clingy after OpenAI dials back its update that made it sound like your overly supportive aunt. Plus: more AI lies, shady benchmarks, pillow guy legal drama, and a reminder that North Korean remote workers also hate awkward small talk.We cool off with a Media Candy binge: Schmactors Season 2 is here, Andor returns, Conclave confuses us in the best way, and Ryan Coogler is giving X-Files a reboot we probably don't deserve. Jeremy Renner turns down Disney's lowball Hawkeye offer (respect), and musically we vibe with Maria Somerville and Anka Wolbert's latest releases. In Apps & Doodads, Apple and Epic are back in court, Apple Arcade keeps feeding us Mahjong, and Meta's Ray-Bans go full Stasi. Lyft wants your boomer parents off the road, and Google is sunsetting old Nest thermostats like it's Logan's Run for smart homes. Finally, we peek At the Library with Jason Pargin's black box paranoia, Scalzi's lunar love story, and a massive stack of sci-fi, fantasy, and horror. Rounding out the show: a shout-out to The Alarm's Mike Peters, gone too soon at 66.Sponsors:DeleteMe - Head over to JoinDeleteMe.com/GOG and use the code "GOG" for 20% off.Private Internet Access - Go to GOG.Show/vpn and sign up today. For a limited time only, you can get OUR favorite VPN for as little as $2.03 a month.SetApp - With a single monthly subscription you get 240+ apps for your Mac. Go to SetApp and get started today!!!1Password - Get a great deal on the only password manager recommended by Grumpy Old Geeks! gog.show/1passwordShow notes at https://gog.show/695FOLLOW UPStaingate 101: What is Delamination?US Government Registered Several Websites Potentially Linked to Trump Meme CoinDOGE Recruits College Kid to Help Rewrite Housing Regulations With AIElon Wears Two Hats During Trump Meeting in Desperate Bid for AttentionMoviePass Launches Box Office Betting Platform Unfortunately Tied to CryptoIN THE NEWS4chan is back after a nearly two-week shutdown, but it still has some serious problemsWorld partners with Tinder, Visa to bring its ID-verifying tech to more placesBitcoin Mining Is No Longer Worth itMicrosoft CEO says up to 30% of the company's code was written by AIMeta's AI chatbots were reportedly able to engage in sexual conversations with minorsMeta forecasted it would make $1.4T in revenue from generative AI by 2035OpenAI rolls back update that made ChatGPT a sycophantic messStudy accuses LM Arena of helping top AI labs game its benchmarkLawyer for MyPillow Founder Filed AI-Generated Brief with ‘Nearly 30' Bogus CitationsPinterest launches new tools to fight AI slopTime saved by AI offset by new work created, study suggestsUndercover North Korean Remote Workers Hate This One Weird QuestionMEDIA CANDYSchmactors Season 2!AndorConclaveRyan Coogler Confirms X-Files Reboot Is His Next ProjectJeremy Renner Says Disney Offered Him Half His Hawkeye Wage for Season 2Maria Somerville - LusterAnka Wolbert - Cocoon TimeAPPS & DOODADSEpic Games just scored a win against AppleApple updates its App Store guidelines to allow external payment optionsMeta Is Turning Its Ray-Bans Into a Surveillance Machine for AIApple Arcade Mahjong Titan+Lyft Silver wants to keep your aging parents off the roadGoogle is cutting off support for these older Nest Thermostats — what you need to knowAT THE LIBRARYI'm Starting to Worry About This Black Box of Doom: A Novel by Jason Pargin63 New Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and Horror Books Arriving in MayWhen the Moon Hits Your Eye by John ScalziCLOSING SHOUT-OUTSThe Alarm frontman Mike Peters dies aged 66See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of Coffee Convos, Lindsie and Kristen cover everything from Kristen's recent medical diagnosis to health topics like UTIs, kidney stones, and cancer awareness. They discuss the impact of genetic testing and data privacy, along with societal pressures around relationships and parenthood. The duo also shares laughs over Beanie Babies nostalgia and a wild listener-submitted hospital story. Tune in for a mix of humor, health insights, and real-life moments you won't want to miss!Thanks for supporting our sponsors!Boll & Branch: For a limited time get 20% off at http://BollAndBranch.com/coffeeconvos Cook Unity: Go to https://www.cookunity.com/COFFEECONVOS for 50% off your first week. Lume: Control Body Odor ANYWHERE with @lumedeodorant and get 15% off with promo code Coffee at http://Lumepodcast.com/Coffee! #lumepodRo: Join the over 385,000 people who have already chosen Ro to access GLP-1s. Go to http://ro.co/COFFEECONVOS to see if you qualify.Rocket Money: Cancel your unwanted subscriptions and reach your financial goals faster with Rocket Money. Go to http://RocketMoney.com/COFFEECONVOS Full video is available on Patreon: Patreon.com/kaillowry See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.