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Gossip, Journalism, and Junior High Justice! This week on Deep In Bear Country, I am joined once again by the first-ever guest of the show, Mitzi — now a fully fledged junior high student with opinions and receipts. Together, we dive headfirst into one of the most wild Big Chapter Books in Berenstain history: “The … Continue reading "Episode 482 – REWIND The Berenstain Bears and the School Scandal Sheet (1994)"
Before they created the beloved Berenstain Bears, Stan and Jan Berenstain were drawing… THIS?! Tax-Wise: A Pictorial Romp Through the Tax Form (1952) is a bizarre, hyper-specific IRS humor book filled with visual gags, surreal scenarios, and more gendered 1950s weirdness than you can shake a W-2 at. In this episode, I (Phil Gonzales) walk … Continue reading "Episode 481 – Tax-Wise: A Pictorial Romp Through the Tax Form by Stan and Jan Berenstain"
The Mandela Effect strikes again! Find out what's changing this time and test yourself on famous examples like Star Wars, KitKat, and Tinker Bell. Explore the theories of parallel universes and false memories in this mind-bending video!NOTE: The images displayed in this video are the property of their respective copyright and trademark owners. They are used here under the doctrine of 'fair use' for purposes such as commentary, criticism, education, or research. No copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
In this egg-cellent Easter episode, we're cracking open The Berenstain Bears Meet the Easter Bunny (2022), a delightful early reader book that reimagines the 1980s classic Easter Surprise — but with updated illustrations, a softer tone, and the return of everyone’s favorite grumpy hare! But that's not all! We dive DEEP into the strange, fascinating, … Continue reading "Episode 480 – The Berenstain Bears Meet the Easter Bunny!"
The Berenstain Bears finally meet real bears—and everything we thought we knew about Bear Country changes. This week, I break down “The Berenstain Bears: Here Come the Bears!”, a brand-new Level 1 reader that seems simple… but hides big implications about evolution, cultural identity, and the Berenstain multiverse.
“We ate our honey. We ate a lot. Now we have no honey in our honey pot!” This week on Deep in Bear Country, we're taking a nostalgic look back at The Big Honey Hunt (1963)—the very first Berenstain Bears book! Join me as I revisit this classic, explore its origins, and discuss how Stan … Continue reading "Episode 478 – The Big Honey Hunt (REVISITED!)"
This week we're diving deep into The Berenstain Bears' St. Patrick's Day—and wow, do we have a lot to unpack. Apparently, Ireland doesn't exist in Bear Country?! This book raises so many questions, like: How does St. Patrick's Day fit into the world of the Berenstain Bears? Why does Brother Bear have zero clue what … Continue reading "Episode 477 – The Berenstain Bears’ St. Patrick’s Day"
Buckle up, Bear Country—this one's a doozy. This week, we dive into The Berenstain Bears: God Made You Special, a book that on the surface has the best of intentions but stumbles hard into some serious pitfalls. What happens when a children's book about faith and differences accidentally reinforces inspiration porn, infantilization, and outdated disability … Continue reading "Episode 476 – The Berenstain Bears: God Made You Special"
“Love thy neighbor” sounds great—until your neighbors are literally the local drug dealers. Join me as we dive into The Berenstain Bears Love Their Neighbors, a book that asks us to embrace community… even if your neighbors were previously arrested for selling drugs to elementary school kids. This episode covers Bear Country's ever-changing geography, the … Continue reading "Episode 475 – The Berenstain Bears Love Their Neighbors!"
Did The Berenstain Bears' New Neighbors really tackle racism? Or was it just another 90s attempt at a “message book” that missed the mark? In this episode of Deep in Bear Country, we take a deep dive into the 1994 classic that started it all—literally! This is the book that launched this podcast, but I've … Continue reading "Episode 474 – The Berenstain Bears’ New Neighbors!"
The Berenstain Bears’ Biggest Continuity Shake-Up?! A new school year means new teachers, and Brother Bear is in for a surprise! In “The Berenstain Bears: We Love Our Teacher” (2024), we explore what makes a great teacher, the anxieties of moving up a grade, and—wait for it—some wild continuity-breaking moments in Bear Country history! Can … Continue reading "Episode 473 – The Berenstain Bears We Love Our Teacher!"
Mike Berenstain is BACK on the SHOW after having been away for TOO LONG. As always it’s a pleasure to catch up and check in and chat about Tintin. Enjoy!
This week, the Bear Family gets into a bit of trouble in a completely believable and scientifically accurate way! It’s “The Berenstain Bears Blast Off!” and it’s steeped in believability! I swear!
This week, I’m circling back to a book I skipped over for whatever reason and… wow, it’s a thoughtful piece of writing for kids. A surprisingly complex look at Culture of Violence Theory, it’s “The Berenstain Bears and No Guns Allowed!”
1 – 2 – 3 – 4- 5 – 6 – 7 – 8 – 9 – 10! 1 – 2 – 3 – 4- 5 – 6 – 7 – 8 – 9 – 10! Numbers numbers, WOO! This is probably it. This is probably my worst episode. It’s “The Berenstain Bears’ Numbers Book!”
Why do rotten eggs smell like rotten eggs? How many different kinds of volcanoes are there?! WHAT IS THE THEORY OF RELATIVITY?!!! I. Don’t. Know. BUT. This week, “The Berenstain Bears’ Big School Project” at least pretends to attempt to answer those questions. Also, papier mache volcanoes: better than robots?
New Year, Same Show. It’s “The Berenstain Bears Share and Share Alike!” and are you ready to start off 2025 with some ETHICAL QUESTIONS?! I hope so. I really hope so.
Oh, thank God we’re done. It’s the FINAL edition of “The Berenstain Bears’ Holiday Cookbook” and we MADE IT TO CHRISTMAS and ELANA IS HERE and we’re FINALLY DONE and that CAKE did NOT turn OUT.
Think your memories are rock-solid? Think again. In this episode, we dive headfirst into the mind-bending world of the Mandela Effect—a phenomenon where countless people recall events, brand names, and pop-culture quotes differently than reality dictates. From the “Berenstain” vs. “Berenstein” Bears debate to whether the Monopoly Man ever wore a monocle, we'll explore why so many of us are adamant we're right… even when we aren't. Buckle up, because this one might make you question everything you think you remember!Submit your own stories to KarmaStoriesPod@gmail.com.Karma Stories is available on all major Podcasting Platforms and on YouTube under the @KarmaStoriesPodcast handle. We cover stories from popular Reddit Subreddits like Entitled Parents, Tales From Tech Support, Pro Revenge and Malicious Compliance. You can find new uploads here every single day of the week!Rob's 3D Printing Site: https://Dangly3D.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/karma-stories--5098578/support.
NO CHRISTMAS EPISODE THIS WEEK! Instead, we’re focusing on TAKING TURNS. It’s The Berenstain Bears Take Turns and, hey! Give a little, won’t you? National and International Organizations Trans Lifeline Website: https://www.translifeline.org/ The Trevor Project Website: https://www.thetrevorproject.org/ Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Website: https://www.hrc.org/ Trans Youth Equality Foundation (TYEF) Website: https://www.transyouthequality.org/ Mermaids (UK-based) Website: https://mermaidsuk.org.uk/ Montana-Based … Continue reading "Episode 465 – The Berenstain Bears Take Turns"
It’s “The Berenstain Bears Christmas Fun Sticker & Activity Book” and they’re really stretching the definition of “fun” here.
It’s a Christmas miracle as I take a look at a book I’ve already covered! That’s right, we’re going back and re-evaluating “The Berenstain Bears Meet Santa Bear!” It’s a holiday treat!
GOBBLE GOBBLE! It’s AFTER Thanksgiving, but we don’t care! Because this chapter in “The Berenstain Bears’ Holiday Cookbook” is set after Thanksgiving anyways, y’all! Elana is BACK to talk about some eatible and not-so-eatible vittles! GOBBLE!
Let’s learn about Heaven! It’s “The Berenstain Bears Learn About Heaven” in which the Berenstain Bears learn about…. wait for it… wait for it… HEAVEN!
When the Bear Family finds themselves overbooked and running late, they turn to one of the Biblical Prophets(?) to solve(??) the lateness problem(???). It’s “The Berenstain Bears Bears On Time Solving The Lateness Problem!”
Noise, Noise, NOISE, NOIIIISE! It’s “The Berenstain Bears Too Much Noise!”
Happy FALLoWEEN everyone! I hope you have your costumes picked out for the big FALL FESTIVAL and that you get to go Trick or Treating for FALL candy! What a bunch of wonderful FALL TRADITIONS we have this time of year. Anywho, Elana is back as we discuss the FALL TREATS we made out of … Continue reading "Episode 457 – The Berenstain Bears’ Holiday Cookbook FALLoween!"
Welcome to Episode 01? of Deep In Bear Country! I mean, it must be because we’re just now meeting the Berenstain Bears. Also, all of my episodes have disappeared so this might very well be the beginning. It’s “The Berenstain Bears’ Meet the Berenstain Bears!”
The Berenstain Bears have a LOOONG history with Halloween. Those bears LOOOVE to Trick and they love to treat and they love to combine the two and trick and treat. But, sometimes, it’s all about the party. This week, the Bear Family throws caution to the wind and hosts a BIG HALLOWEEN PARTY in “The … Continue reading "Episode 455 – The Berenstain Bears’ BIG HALLOWEEN PARTY!"
Ghouls and Ghosts and Ghosts and Gob-o-lins! It’s Halloween time and this week, we’ve got a board book from 2020 that warms my dark little heart. It’s “The Berenstain Bears Halloween Is Fun!” and… it is!
What can I say? I’m a sucker for straightforward messaging. It’s “The Berenstain Bears Love Is Kind” and it KIND of works!
Berenstain's delightful bears' story
This week, an ACTUAL Track and Field expert walks me through the ins and outs of the Berenstain Bears’ own Track and Field book “The Berenstain Bears’ Big Track Meet!” It’s not that big. It’s not that regulated. It kinda makes Papa Bear look like a schmuck. Let’s go!
When is a bully not a bully? When he’s BEING BULLIED! And, who better to fill in as history’s greatest bully than… Joseph Dreamcoat? The Bible Guy? Or, something. Brian and Mark are here to help me try to make some sort of sense of “The Berenstain Bears Stand Up To Bullying!”
I got an important update about a certain TURKEY and a certain TURKEY’S NAME.
You ever wonder what’s on a FARM? You ever see all those closed doors and windows and gates and wish you could just RRRRIP ’em open?! Well, now you can with the Lift-the-Flap extravaganza “The Berenstain Bears Visit the Farm!”
Are you honest? Are you FAIR? Are you READY for BEARS? It’s “The Berenstain Bears Honesty Counts” and, does it? Does it really?
Are you ready to yodel your hearts out?! I hope you are! I also hope you’re ready to hear ME yodel MY heart out because I am GOING TO and I DO and I don’t even KNOW HOW TO. It’s “The Berenstain Bears’ School Talent Show” and YO-DEL-OD-EL-ODLY-ODLY-OO!
Hey, it’s a trip to the Big Apple! The City That Never Sleeps! The Town That Never Frowns! The Metropolis That Never Nets Mop O’Lips? Whatever. What happens when the Bear Family goes to Bear Country’s version of New York?! Not much! They do go to the theater, though. So… that’s something. How *does* French … Continue reading "Episode 446 – The Berenstain Bears Visit Big Bear City"
Want some absolutely generic advice coupled with random pictures from Berenstain Bears books of recent years past? Well, have I got a book for you! It’s “The Berenstain Bears Just Grin And Bear It!”
My kid’s bat mitzvah is today so I literally randomly chose an old episode to rerun. HOPE IT’S A GOOD ONE! https://ia800703.us.archive.org/2/items/DIBCEP171/DIBC-EP171.mp3
Pop the fireworks and blow the… horns? Happy belated Fourth of July to you and yours and welcome Elana back to talk about the patriotic treats in “The Berenstain Bears’ Holiday Cookbook!”
When is a lesson not a lesson? When God steps in and gives you a pass anyway! It’s “The Berenstain Bears Patience, Please” and it really isn’t about patience! At all!
This week, Sister Bear faces a moral quandry and it’s up to the ol’ SHOULDER ANGEL to save the day. Will sister do the right thing? Find out in “The Berenstain Bears Do The Right Thing!”
The Bear Family is all set to honor their fathers and HONER THEIR FATHER by sending Gramps and Papa out on a boat for the day. But, what’s this?! SINGING? Who’d a thought?! Also, the origins of Father’s Day. Also, the INCREDIBLY SAD STORY of the guy who wrote the hymn about the music of … Continue reading "Episode 441 – The Berenstain Bears Father’s Day Blessings"
Brother and Sister get a real crash course in theodicy this week when some BAD THINGS happen and their friends tell them it’s a PUNISHMENT FROM GOD and boy oh boy. Hey. Why do good bears have bad days? Well, maybe “The Berenstain Bears Why Do Good Bears Have Bad Days?” will help us answer … Continue reading "Episode 440 – The Berenstain Bears Why Do Good Bears Have Bad Days"
When the cubs are assigned the chore of cleaning out their old playhouse, will the presence of creepy crawly spiders keep them from getting the job done? HINT: the book is called “The Berenstain Bears Get The Job Done.”
This week on Deep In Bear Country , we’re exploring rudeness. What is rude? What isn’t rude? Is there a definition for rude? And, most importantly, why is SISTER so rude?! It’s “The Berenstain Bears That’s So Rude!”
This week, we’re taking a look at yet another book that’s just a plot-free collection of poetry and prayer… try. And guess what? I like it! It’s “The Berenstain Bears My Bedtime Book of Poems and Prayers” and it’s pretty darn good!
It’s Mother’s Day! And you know what that means! A long history of said day. Also, some blessings. “The Berenstain Bears’ Mother’s Day Blessings” that is! https://ia904601.us.archive.org/25/items/dibc-ep-436/DIBC-EP436.mp3