Podcasts about Hasbro

  All Hail Unicron: Episode 112: Fever dreams of Robert D INTRODUCTION Anybody Get Anything? Movie/Show News That show nobody's talking about is getting a season 2! https://news.tfw2005.com/2026/02/13/transformers-cyberverse-season-2-energon-surge-confirmed-new-energon-surge-bumblebee-power-spark-figure-images-557055 Third Party And now, a word from totally not our sponsor, because we have no sponsors. TFSource and MakeToys are asking, no begging, you to please buy their damned Seeker repaints. So much so that they've now done Silverbolt and Onslaught as Seekers. Please, PLEASE, buy this shit! Remember, only YOU can prevent forest fires and only YOU can make the Colorverse a success. MakeJets and TFSource thank you. (2 links) https://tfsource.com/3rd-party-figures/mtrc-18-crocstyle-exclusive-maketoys-colorverse-recolor-series-limited-edition-200/   https://tfsource.com/3rd-party-figures/mtrc-17-silverside-exclusive-maketoys-colorverse-recolor-series-limited-edition-200/ Magic Square's next Legend scale combiner revealed! https://news.tfw2005.com/2026/02/16/magic-square-toys-mb-63-67-eniac-legends-scale-computron-technobots-gray-prototype-557599 Craftsman Toys Ultra Magnus https://showzstore.com/craftsman-toys-djs-bs01-skybreaker-ultra-magnus_p7639.html Official: Flame Toys Arcee and Windblade revealed https://news.tfw2005.com/2026/02/18/flame-toys-furai-action-windblade-arcee-new-images-preorders-live-556656 Missing Link Grimlock's cartoon colors no longer missing https://news.tfw2005.com/2026/02/12/takara-tomy-missing-link-c-13-grimlock-anime-type-official-stock-images-556762 Transformers Evangelion crossover Prime full gallery https://news.tfw2005.com/2026/02/12/takara-tomy-t-spark-transformers-evangelion-prime-unit-01-official-stock-images-556775 Official images of TF Overgear Ironhide and Blackout figures in all of their gray glory https://news.tfw2005.com/2026/02/12/takara-tomy-t-spark-transformers-overgear-og-01-ironhide-og-02-blackout-official-stock-images-556790 Let's keep the Overgear grays going with a gray model first look at Overgear Optimus Prime https://news.tfw2005.com/2026/02/13/overgear-optimus-prime-revealed-556868 It's huge, it's matrix-ee, it's expensive, it's the 40th TF The Movie Matrix! https://news.tfw2005.com/2026/02/12/studio-series-roleplay-matrix-first-look-556831 Purple titties and phoned in alt modes, that's right, it's time for a look at Studio Series 2026 wave 2 figures! https://news.tfw2005.com/2026/02/13/studio-series-2026-wave-2-official-pics-and-info-556964 Don't worry, Justin, he comes with a bra for dem purple tit-tays https://news.tfw2005.com/2026/02/14/transformers-studio-series-2026-leader-astrotrain-new-images-toy-accurate-chest-confirmed-557093 Truck not monkey, now in 4 easy steps https://news.tfw2005.com/2026/02/12/cyberworld-cyber-changers-optimus-primal-first-look-556857 Well, they at least got the off-center tape door and buttons right with MPG Blaster https://news.tfw2005.com/2026/02/13/takara-tomy-new-transformers-mpg-reveals-mpg-24-blaster-steeljaw-mpg-21-rumble-frenzy-and-mpg-22-ravage-buzzsaw-ratbat-556872 Dramatic Capture series RoTF Prime and Jetfire https://news.tfw2005.com/2026/02/13/takara-tomy-dramatic-capture-series-revenge-of-the-fallen-jetwpower-optimus-prime-optimus-prime-jetfire-2-pack-images-556887 Time for another word from totally not our sponsor. Hasbro is sorry. For the waffles? For the huge price hikes? For the lowered quality? For showing up in the E files? Don't be silly, they're sorry for killing off Optimus Prime 40 years ago, and they're here to apologize for the entire 2026 year by asking you to buy more stuff!!! https://news.tfw2005.com/2026/02/13/the-transformers-the-movie-the-apology-tour-hasbro-is-sorry-for-killing-optimus-prime-556916 Skybound is sorry for Hasbro killing off Prime too, and to show you they're bringing out a special edition of both the 1986 TF The Movie Marvel comic adaptation as well as the IDW version in one volume. https://news.tfw2005.com/2026/02/13/skybounds-transformers-the-movie-deluxe-edition-announced-557069 FINALLY some non-transforming TF news this week! Blokees Wheels wave 2 info https://news.tfw2005.com/2026/02/13/blokees-wheels-transformers-in-package-image-and-wave-2-information-557081 A red, white, and blue eagle. Why? Cuz 'MERICA! https://news.tfw2005.com/2026/02/14/transformers-deluxe-class-star-eagle-official-stock-images-557459 AotP Monstructor first look https://news.tfw2005.com/2026/02/19/selects-core-monstructor-first-look-557996 Toy Fair 2026 coverage starts... NOW! Blokees: https://news.tfw2005.com/2026/02/14/toy-fair-2026-blokees-transformers-557116 Your Old Lady's Orgasm Park (Yolopark): https://news.tfw2005.com/2026/02/14/toy-fair-2026-yolopark-amk-g1-transformers-combiners-more-557187 Hasbro Cyberworld (2 links): https://news.tfw2005.com/2026/02/14/toy-fair-2025-hasbro-booth-part-2-cyberworld-reveals-557260   https://news.tfw2005.com/2026/02/15/transformers-cyberworld-energon-surge-official-stock-images-product-descriptions-557488 Hasbro Studio Series and AotP https://news.tfw2005.com/2026/02/14/toy-fair-2026-hasbro-booth-part-1-transformers-studio-series-age-of-the-primes-557256 Hasbro collabs and crossovers https://news.tfw2005.com/2026/02/14/toy-fair-2026-hasbro-booth-part-3-transformers-collaborative-tf-x-ussf-breakaway-tf-x-stranger-things-freakwency-star-eagle-more-557262 That's it for Toy Fair, but not it for 2026 Generations and AotP reveals https://news.tfw2005.com/2026/02/20/new-2026-listings-details-megazarak-autobot-pack-more-557632 Ever wish you could have Megatron or Optimus Prime marking your balls or covering your head? No, not a hat, the other head. Well now you can... https://news.tfw2005.com/2026/02/20/new-rsvlts-x-transformers-new-gear-available-now-558010 Questions? Discussion: Email your questions to: Hailunicroncast@gmail.com    Special Shoutouts: Dustmightz for providing the beats for the theme song! Check the Realm of Collectors on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/groups/realmofcollectors   Everyone who followed us from Shattered Cast Uncut, we are grateful to each and everyone of you for joining us on this journey!   Hosts: T2RX6 http://www.youtube.com/user/T2rx6 Rich “Preordered” H. Oscar Alonso https://www.youtube.com/user/oscarnjboy Robert Duyjuy-sabado-gigante

In this episode we cover: dismissed Hasbro lawsuit, weird new Steam game, Ninja turtle Early Access, Xbox dying, Baldur's Gate TV show, wild MTG prices.   Please remember to rate the show and leave a comment! DeQuan - @powrdragn Brian - @brianpsionic Color of Magic Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ColorofMagic Website: https://www.colorofmtg.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/ColorofMTG Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/colorofmtg

Jake and Jay tackle the 1990 Akio Jissoji led ULTRA Q THE MOVIE: LEGEND OF THE STARS as well as a flurry of new toy releases from ANRAKU ANSAKU, KAIJU ONE, USTOYS, MARUSAN, and X-PLUS to name a few! The duo share some recent pickups as well as discuss KAIJU GO! 2026, the launch of CRYPTOIDS, and more!---YHS on Monster Island is the premier kaiju / tokusatsu / Godzilla podcast - YouTube show, covering everything throughout the giant monster landscape, from films to fandom, television to toys. The two daikaiju devotees review old monster movies, discuss weekly toy pickups, rank anything that can be ranked, and, generally, just have a grand ol' time. There's not another show like it!---FOLLOW OUR HOSTSJacob Walsh on Instagram: @jacobtherevengeJay Key on Instagram: @tokutoytownMONSTER ISLAND VISITORS CENTER FACEBOOK GROUPBe sure to go and join our Facebook Group - The Monster Island Visitors Center - at https://www.facebook.com/groups/yhsonmonsterisland.YES HAVE SOME NETWORKYHS ON MONSTER ISLAND is a proud member of the Yes Have Some Network, a premier collection of pop culture podcasts and YouTube shows tackling every franchise, from Ghostbusters to Star Wars, Godzilla to Jurassic Park. Don't forget to check out the other great shows from the Yes Have Some Network included TOY ANXIETY, live every Tuesday at 9:30pm EST at https://www.youtube.com/@YHSToyAnxiety , and the mothership, YES HAVE SOME, every Monday at https://www.youtube.com/@yhspodcast. PATREONDon't forget to join the YHS Patreon, supporting both YES HAVE SOME and TOY ANXIETY, at patreon.com/yeshavesome. For as little as $5/month, you can unlock a vault of content going back multiple years. SPONSORED BY TOKU TOY TOWNYHS on Monster Island is sponsored by Toku Toy Town, your go-to for kaiju collectibles, tokusatsu toys, and rare sofubi. Visit Toku Toy Town today at tokutoytown.com.THE GEOFFREYS TOY AWARDS SHOWYHS on Monster Island is proud to be part of the annual Geoffrey's Toy Awards, featuring the top brands and toys in the industry, including Hasbro, Mattel, NECA, Super7, Mondo, and more! YHS on Monster Island presents the KAIJU TOY/COLLECTIBLE OF THE YEAR and KAIJU TOYLINE OF THE YEAR awards. Check it out on the Toy Anxiety YouTube channel.KAIJU GO!YHS on Monster Island is a sponsor of the Dallas-based kaiju event, KAIJU GO! Check out details at KaijuGo.com.Special thanks to all previous guests of YHS on Monster Island, including Abigail Gardner (Yes Have Some, Toy Anxiety), Attack Peter (artist, Mondo Creative Director), Chas Foreman (Chazbro Toys, Kaiju Go!), John Yurcaba (IDW comic artist) and some of the top fans in the world of kaiju (Ryan Wilhelm, Andy Peters, Lou Munster, Michael Hamilton, Sweaty Vinyl) and many more!YHS on Monster Island (c) 2021-2026

What are you thoughts from todays episode?Make sure to follow  @jbstoytrunk  

Joan Barnes wanted to meet new moms and that was the inspiration for a place for moms to hang out with other moms. 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 brands. 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. Here’s one of those. [Tommy Cool Plumbing, Cooling & Heating Ad] Dave Young: Welcome back to the Empire Builders Podcast, Dave Young here with Stephen Semple, and we’re talking about empires. Stephen just whispered the name of the topic into my headphones, and I recognize it, but I don’t recognize it. I don’t have any direct experience with this other than when I was a little kid watching Romper Room, but I don’t think it’s the same thing. The topic is Gymboree, but it sounds like it’s probably related, but I doubt that it is. Stephen Semple: Gymboree is not big any longer. There’s a bit of a sad story on that. Dave Young: It was a place though, wasn’t it? Stephen Semple: Right, it was, and it was huge at one point. It was part of the culture and it was mentioned in movies. It was a really, really big deal at one point. Dave Young: Yeah, here’s the issue. Here’s why I don’t remember it. I didn’t grow up in a place. It wasn’t the kind of place it would have a thing. I think I told you I drove 100 miles on our first date to go to Starbucks at a Barnes and Noble. Stephen Semple: It wasn’t even a real Starbucks. Dave Young: No, it wasn’t even a standalone Starbucks. Stephen Semple: Well, to give you an idea how big it got in 2010, Bain bought the company for $1.8 billion, 1.8 billion, and seven years later it went bankrupt. Dave Young: Oh, boy. That’s a bigger story than Gymboree if we wanted to go there. But let’s go go with building the empire. Stephen Semple: Let’s go with the building of the empire. Dave Young: How many buyout people does it take to ruin a company? Not many. Stephen Semple: But here’s the thing that’s interesting about this story. We often talk about this whole idea of unleveraged assets, and unleveraged assets becomes a very, very big part of this story. It’s very, very cool. The business was founded by Joan Barnes in 1976. She grew up outside of Chicago, studied dance and English in college, and got married. They moved to the West Coast. She’s this new mom in this new area looking for connections, and she started to host these get togethers with parents and kids at a local Jewish center. Joe Barnes, her husband, was a journalist. This journalist background becomes important a little bit later. As I mentioned, they grew up outside of Chicago and they picked up and moved and landed in San Francisco, where he got a job. And then they moved out to a suburb in 1973. She was basically lonely. 1973 was actually one of the lowest birth years in a long time, and so she was looking for people who had kids. Both of their families, both her family and his family, were back on the East Coast, and so she wanted to meet other moms. At this point, this whole idea of play groups didn’t exist. It was this new idea. And so she was in this dance company and had a friend in the company, and this friend had been offered a job to run activities for kids in a local community center. She was nervous to do it. Joan suggests, “Why don’t we share this idea?” And so it was a preschool after school programs. Joan went to a local YMCA that had this gym that they had set up called Kindergym, and she went and she checked it out. Everything there was this full-sized gym equipment and they modified how it was being used, but it was like full sized trampolines and full sized this and full sized that. As soon as she saw it, she had this vision of what it could be. Dave Young: I mean, there’s nothing funnier than a five-year-old on the uneven bars. Stephen Semple: Yeah, there you go. Dave Young: I’m just saying. But go ahead. Stephen Semple: So she had this vision: scale down the equipment, make it colorful, add music, lively teacher. This could be something really special, and maybe this is what could be done at the Jewish center. Now, some of the things were available it turns out she found out for special needs kids and the rest needed to be built, so she started to do that. But here’s the other thing. She knew how to get press to promote this. She had learned from her husband. She created a story of what the plan would be like, and she managed to get this big full page feature article in the local newspaper. In 1976, they opened this Kindergym in the JCC, and it’s immediately this huge success. It’s oversold. They hire preschool teachers to run the program. The goal was for the kids to have fun and let moms connect with other moms. That was the goal. It’s so successful they open another one in a center close by, and at this point they get approached by an entrepreneur, Max Shapiro, to put up some money. Basically the idea was, let’s do more of these. I’ll put up the money, you run them. Max Shapiro had run a basketball camp with Rick Barry, who was an ex-basketball player, that he had sold. He had some money kicking around to do this. They went down to San Montejo and they opened a Kindergym in a temple there, and they hired someone of the preschool background to run it and did the same idea. Joe went and got a story in a local paper, big story in a local paper. Basically it filled up, and she was running it almost like a franchise. They expand to five or six locations, and at this point she buys out Max and she makes the people that are running these couple of locations partners. It’s 1976, and there’s nine locations in California. They’re making a little bit of money. Joan decides she’s going to get a license to open franchise. Here’s the thing, she didn’t get any legal advice on setting any of this stuff up. She tries to trademark Kindergym, and she’s running this for a couple of years as a franchise until she discovers you can’t franchise Kindergym. It’s too generic a name- Dave Young: Oh, because kindergarten, kinder… Stephen Semple: But she’s already got these franchises isn’t been operating under the name Kindergym. They’re trying to think of different names, trying to think of different names. One day, one of the names sticks. Her husband even calls and the says, “Gymboree, Gymboree, Gymboree.” What a great name, Gymboree. They decide to set it up as Gymboree, and she decides to do it right this time. She goes out and gets some advice, a guy by the name of Bud Jacob, who has experience in franchising, likes the idea, likes her, and decides to help her out. It’s 1982 and they need to raise some money, and Bud introduces her to Stuart Muldaw, who invests. Now at this point, they’re still renting church halls. This is how they’re doing it. They’re going and renting church halls. It’s no leases, none of this other stuff. It’s handshake agreements. He invests $300,000 into the business for 30%. Here’s what they’re looking for. They’re looking for women that were just like Joan when she started this. They’re looking for women in their late 20s, early 30s who are raising families but wanted to do something, wanted to do something more, wanted to bring some extra income into the household. Their strategy is they’ll create a PR strategy in every community that they’re thinking about going to, so just replicating the idea. Again, remember Joe knows how to create this because of her husband, and also was very successful. But here’s another idea that they created. They also did advertorials in the Wall Street Journal. For those who don’t know what advertorials are, their advertisements that look like an editorial. Dave Young: Yeah, you write your own news report, news story, and then pay to have it placed in the paper. Stephen Semple: Right, and this speaks to how well she understands influencers. Because what she was looking at when she created these advertorials, they were not written to the women. They were written to the husbands. The whole idea is the father would read this article in the Wall Street Journal, this advertorial, and think to themselves, “This would be perfect for my wife,” which is really interesting because so many people would want to target the buyer instead of targeting the influencer. Dave Young: We call it indirect targeting. You write an ad that’s ostensibly an employment ad for your company. But when you talk about the kind of people you want to hire, you’re really talking to every consumer out there saying, “No, this is the kind of people that we are.” I love that, I love that. Stephen Semple: But today, so few people think that way. It’s all about target, got a target. But here she was purposely targeting the influencer, targeting the father who would read it, this be perfect for my wife. Now, here’s one of the things they were really picky on. Fit was one of the biggest things. If they didn’t think there was a good fit, they didn’t offer the person the franchise, and they focused on the East Coast. At this point, they’re focusing because they didn’t need help on the West Coast. LA was exploding. A lot of the people that they had focusing in on already understood press and media because they were actors on the side and all this other stuff. The West Coast was growing organically, so they were focusing these advertorials and whatnot on the East Coast. Here’s how much it was growing. By 1986, they have 400 centers. They’re doing 15 million in sales in 400 centers. But here’s where the problem happened. Audio: 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] Dave Young: Let’s pick up our story where we left off. Trust me, you haven’t missed a thing. Stephen Semple: Here’s how much it was growing. By 1986, they have 400 centers. They’re doing 15 million in sales in 400 centers. But here’s where the problem happened. Joan realized the franchising model was flawed. It was never going to work. The franchisees could not pay enough money to pay for the support that head office was providing because they were all like these really tiny businesses. They felt like they couldn’t charge much more because there was competitors popping up because it didn’t cost a lot to get these things started. They couldn’t reduce the service they were supporting. Here’s this business, 400 units, all looking great. It’s being mentioned in press and all this other stuff. But the business side is failing, so they needed to figure out another way to make money because the investors needed to get repaid, right? They thought, “Hey, maybe here’s what we could do. Maybe we do licensing because everybody knows the Gymboree name.” Dave Young: Merch. Merch. Stephen Semple: Yeah, so they go out and they get a whole pile of great licenses. But guess what? After about a year, almost all of them dropped them because the products didn’t sell. Hasbro then looks at doing an acquisition event, so they think, “Okay, great.” It felt like a bailout for Joan and a lifeline. Literally, they’re at the stage. Joan and her lawyer and the senior management team have flown to New York to sign the deal with Hasbro. She’s in the hotel and she gets a telephone call from one of the VPs of Hasbro who says the deal’s off. Dave Young: The deal’s off. Just like that? Stephen Semple: Just like that. Her team is there, the investors are there, her lawyer’s there, and they’re supposed to meet the next day, and the deal is off. She’s devastated because she now has to go back and tell everyone that this is off. She’s so completely spent this point she says she’s got to go for the weekend to her cabin in the Sierras. She basically looks at her team and says, “You got to think of another plan. You got to think of another plan. This franchising isn’t working. The Hasbro’s deal’s off. We need another plan.” Guess what? what’s the unleveraged asset that they have, Dave? Dave Young: Well, their name. I mean, we’ve got all these kids in there. Stephen Semple: Yeah, so she comes back because they have this great brand, but they have a business that can’t make money. She comes back and sitting on her desk is a sketch of a play center right next to a retail store. Dave Young: There you go. Stephen Semple: Actually, what they end up doing was putting the play center at the back of the store. Dave Young: Sure. Stephen Semple: What’s the asset that they have? Moms coming in to drop their kids off, parents coming in to drop their kids off. And what are they going to do when their kids are playing? Dave Young: Walk clear through the store. Stephen Semple: Clear through the store. It’s like having the gift shop at the back of the museum. When you leave the museum, you got to walk through the gift shop. Dave Young: It’s the milk and eggs back in the back of the grocery store. Stephen Semple: Exactly, unleveraged asset. And so here’s what they decide to do. They’re going to sell their own apparel, sell, play equipment, toys, all that stuff. They’re going to do as much as they can, where they’re going to brand it all themselves. Basically you got to walk through the gift shop, and the gift shop is what’s going to make the money. The play center is the draw that brings people in. They went back to the board to ask for money to invest, and they agree to do a test store. That then for a whole bunch of reasons, ends up becoming two test stores. One of the things that freaked Joan out at the time was one of the people on the board was very close to the folks at Gap. She gets a meeting with Gap, and Gap says to them, “We love the idea so much. We’re launching Gap Kids in a few months.” Dave Young: Oh, great. Thank you, we’re stealing the idea. Stephen Semple: It was one that was so far along she’d even say it wasn’t that because they were like, “Literally, we’re opening in four months Gap Kids.” Dave Young: They already were watching and saw that this paying attention to little kids can pay off. Stephen Semple: Yeah. But anyway, they launched in 1987. I want you to go back to 1987 because in 1987, malls were really big, and getting into a mall… You couldn’t just get into a mall. Malls had to approve you. They were very picky, right? Now, it’s still that way for really high-end luxury malls today. But you couldn’t just pick up the phone and say, “Hey, I wanted to open in a mall.” But what Joan was able to do is the Gymboree name was so well-known she was able to leverage the name. She was able to leverage the idea that parents will be coming in, dropping their kids off, and wandering around. She got into a couple of really great malls, and here’s what ended up happening. That Christmas, her two locations were the highest dollar per square foot sales in the entire mall. Dave Young: In the mall? Okay. Stephen Semple: So that huge success, huge success. Based upon that success, she was able to go out and raise $6 million to expand the business. 17 years later, Bain comes along and buys the business for $1.8 billion and then bankrupts eight, seven years later. Dave Young: I wonder how much of the equity she still owned. Stephen Semple: I don’t know because one of the things that happened- Dave Young: I mean, she sold that 30% chunk and that early guy… I hope she did well. Stephen Semple: One of the things is she did well, but she was completely uninvolved with the company by the time Bain bought the company, she recognized when it was growing that it was beyond her abilities. But she also had some real health issues with some eating disorders and things along that lines, and so there was a certain point after the raise of $6 million and they were doing the really rapid expansion that she actually left the company. She had a whole pile of health issues that she went, “You know what? I’ve got to deal with all of this. I actually need to step back and step away from the business.” I didn’t want to explore all of that. What I wanted to explore was the success that she had of building this business and this whole idea of… To me, it was really interesting. You and I often talk on this podcast, what are the unleveraged assets of the business? They had it there in front of them, and they were forced to look for it when all of a sudden it was, this franchise model cannot make money. They explored every possible way, and there was no way for it to make money. The sale falls through and suddenly it’s like, well, what do we do? The unleveraged asset was we have all these people coming to our locations. We have all these kids- Dave Young: All we got to do is find a location that wants this traffic. Stephen Semple: Yeah, all these kids are coming. Dave Young: They’ll want us if they want the traffic. Stephen Semple: Right? It’s like the whole movie theater. Again, when movie theaters were much bigger than they are today, you would have a mall where you put a movie theater. And then that would attract all sorts of restaurants around it because the movie theater brings people to the location. The anchor tenant back in the day. We had the anchor tenant in the mall. That brought people to the mall. They had that asset there and were not leveraging it. Dave Young: I mean, to have that designation of the highest dollars per square foot in the mall, that was before at Apple Stores, but she held that position for a bit, right? That’s pretty cool. Stephen Semple: Yeah, and it was all from, okay, we’ve got these people coming in. It’s no easy task, no easy task. People coming in, we should sell them stuff. They love Gymboree, so let’s sell them branded Gymboree apparel, branded Gymboree toys, and all that other… Dave Young: And the brand just doesn’t exist anymore? They bankrupted it and… Stephen Semple: Still a few around. I think there’s a company that now that’s trying to revive it and things along that line. I didn’t look too far after the whole Bain thing was like- Dave Young: Yeah, in my mind I’m thinking, okay, well, she did all this before social media, too. That’s pretty amazing. Stephen Semple: But what she leveraged was and what she knew was how to create PR. Dave Young: Yeah, I love videos of kids falling off playground equipment for some reason. Or there’s one where you’ve probably seen the meme of the perfect job doesn’t exist. Oh wait, it’s a guy on a skating rink throwing a big ball at kids and knocking them over. I’m like, “Okay, yeah, sign me up.” Well, that’s a cool story. There’s several reasons I didn’t really know much about it. I was born at the wrong time when she was up and running big. I was a young guy in his 20s without any kids living in a town that didn’t have a mall and blissfully unaware of all the things that were affecting us. But what a cool story, and good for her for building it up and making a nice, big, juicy exit. Stephen Semple: When I heard it just jumped out at me just because of it being such a good example of an unleveraged asset that they were forced to find because of all these other challenges. That’s often the thing that we’re doing when we’re going and visiting businesses is that whole, what are the assets? Is it a story? Is it thing? Is it- Dave Young: Oh, absolutely. It’s fun. To me, that’s the fun of the one-day sessions that we do, which is you start pulling at threads looking for those. They don’t even realize it, but that’s really what you’re looking for. What do you have that we can leverage in a good way that people just don’t understand that you do or that you have or where you are or who you are? Those kinds of things. Stephen Semple: They didn’t realize they had it until they were forced to look for it. Dave Young: Great fun. Well, is there a Gymboree for old men? I should probably go. Stephen Semple: There’s a business opportunity. Dave Young: We just go in and play around on equipment. Not serious weightlifting, but you’d get some work in. Stephen Semple: There you are. Dave Young: I can, probably. Thank you for bringing the Gymboree story. Stephen Semple: All right, 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. If you’d like to schedule your own 90-minute Empire Building session, you can do it at empirebuildingprogram.com.

As I mentioned on the show, my absolutely favorite reveal, despite its duck-billed alt mode, was Krannix from the Transformers '86 movie. Talk about holes being filled. For Joe, the addition of dinosaurs to the line is extremely interesting, even if it's just a momentary distraction. Masters of the Universe, of course, went off. With two different lines similar enough to be confused, at least by me, we have a ton of options. But, that Trap Jaw with an articulated jaw, am I right? Star Wars blew their load pre-Toy Fair, but being an arctic guy, let's just say, I want everything.

Dominic Leonardo — the urban planner and creator behind CityGlowUp — is back in good traffic this week for a conversation about the hidden costs of hosting major sporting events, why cities keep building stadiums they can't afford, and what a leaked 2013 Super Bowl bid book reveals about the NFL's demands. As cities across the country bond for billions to build new facilities hoping for economic windfalls, Dominic's recent videos expose financial inconsistencies that rarely make headlines — and why the math might never add up the way boosters claim.We also touch on: The Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs' new stadium deals. How economic impact studies overstate benefits. Parking requirements as a tax on density. Rhode Island's iterative approach to housing legislation. ADUs in existing non-conforming structures. Massachusetts transit-oriented development laws. Hasbro leaving Rhode Island for Boston. The Washington Bridge replacement project.*Apologies for the delay in getting this out - an illness slowed us down, last week.Timeline:00:00 Dominic Leonardo returns.02:47 CityGlowUp on YouTube.03:28 The economics of the Super Bowl video.04:08 The leaked 2013 NFL bid book.04:55 Tax exemptions and 35,000 free parking spaces.05:24 Are cities really seeing economic growth?05:41 Brad's biggest hypocrisy.06:33 Why stadium financing is so problematic.07:07 New England's unique approach to stadiums.07:42 The Buffalo Bills and Kansas City deals.08:25 Dallas Cowboys and public subsidies.11:18 Economic impact studies and their flaws.15:34 The cultural value of sports teams.19:47 Other CityGlowUp videos worth watching.24:12 Parking requirements as a hidden tax.29:38 Minimum lot sizes and exclusionary zoning.35:22 Rhode Island's housing production package.40:15 Iterative legislation year after year.44:50 ADUs in existing non-conforming structures.48:33 State preemption of local zoning.52:41 Comparing Rhode Island to Massachusetts.57:28 Transit-oriented development laws in Mass.1:01:15 Commuter rail bleeding into Rhode Island.1:04:22 The latest in Rhode Island land use.1:06:23 ADU regulations evolving rapidly.1:07:23 Hasbro leaving for Boston.1:07:38 Rhode Island versus other New England states.1:09:40 Wrapping up and future meetups.Further context:CityGlowUp on YouTube.On Instagram.On TikTok.

Marc and Greg talk about Marc's visit at Toy Fair 2026 in New York City, where he was able to interview Tim Kilpin, President of Toys, Licensing and Entertainment at Hasbro.  Hasbro had announced on February 4, 2026 that they had obtained the license to make Toys, Action Figures and Role Play Items for the upcoming Voltron Movie, due to be released by Amazon/MGM Studios.  Marc also gives a full report of Toy Fair and everything that goes on at the Javits Center in New York for those 4 glorious toy-filled days every February. If you want to view the view version of this podcast on our YouTube Channel, click HERE. As Always, Thanks for listening and watching! Let's Voltron!!

What are you thoughts from todays episode?Make sure to follow  ⁨@jbstoytrunk⁩  

"Arise, Rodimus Prime!" This week on All Things Transformers, host Steve Megatron and TFG1Mike are reporting live (spiritually) from the floor of Toy Fair 2026 with a massive haul of reveals. The showstopper? The official Studio Series 86 Matrix of Leadership Role Play accessory! We break down the electronics, the "The Touch" sound clips, and whether it's worth the upgrade for your center-shelf display.But the Matrix isn't the only spark in the room. We dive into the Hasbro Booth for a first look at the Age of the Primes and Studio Series lineups, including the highly anticipated Bruticus and Kranix. Plus, we get weird with Cyberworld: Energon Surge, featuring a "Deep Sea Explorer" Soundwave and a pirate-ship Scourge. Finally, we navigate the upcoming Skybound Energon Universe comic solicitations, including a ground-breaking Megatron-centric tale. What you'll get out of this episode:A breakdown of the Studio Series 86 Matrix role-play toy features.In-depth analysis of Toy Fair 2026 reveals, from Blokees to Titan Class rumors.A roadmap for your pull list with the latest Skybound comic solicitations.Honest reactions to the "Cyberworld" gimmickry—is a sea-monster Soundwave what we needed?KeywordsAll Things Transformers, Steve Megatron, TFG1Mike, Hasbro, Toy Fair 2026, Matrix of Leadership, Studio Series 86, Age of the Primes, Skybound, Energon Universe, Blokees, Astrotrain, Kranix, Soundwave, Scourge, G.I. Joe, Void Rivals, Robert Kirkman, Transformers News, Action Figures.

It's another HUGE week for The Mandalorian & Grogu! Did the new trailer deliver everything you were hoping for? James Burns (Jedi News) joins us to break down the biggest moments, including surprise character reveals, Sigourney Weaver's role as Colonel Ward, and a "revenge" storyline that has us wondering. At the time of recording, James had just wrapped all four days at Toy Fair in New York. This isn't your typical fan convention, it's an industry-only showcase offering an exclusive first-look (and some they were sworn to secrecy) at the year's biggest merchandise launches. James shares insights from the Star Wars: Most Wanted campaign, highlighting standout reveals from LEGO, Hasbro, Jazwares, Funko, and more. And if you've ever dreamed of owning a green Grogu Furby that somehow makes you crave a Shamrock Shake, you're definitely in for a treat. PODCAST SPONSORS Small World Vacations is an official sponsor of Skywalking Through Neverland. Contact them for a no obligation price quote at www.smallworldvacations.com. Tell them Skywalking Through Neverland sent you.

Send a textFor today's episode, Mike & Bogie look to provide a #trailer #reaction video for the recently released 2nd official #StarWars: #Mandalorian & #Grogu trailer.  On top of that, they also react to the #SuperBowl ad that was released for the same movie.  It was disappointing that we didn't get the trailer during the Super Bowl as rumors had it and it might have been even more disappointing that the ad released seemed less... serious?  Either way, come join as they watch the trailers for the first [and 2nd] time and listen to what their thoughts and opinions are as the trailer is new and fresh in their minds.They also take a little time to play another round of Blind Rankings.  #Porkins may or may not make another appearance within their conversation...#Jedi #Sith #Rebel #Empire #Republic #Force #cosplay #lightsaber #toy #nerd #geek #photography #tv #film #gamer #comic #book #movie #scifi #LucasFilm #MandalorianAndGrogu Social Media Handles:TikTok: @DetBlockAA23Twitter: @DetBlockAA23PodInstagram: detention_block_aa_23FB Group: Detention Block AA-23: A Star Wars PodcastYouTube: Detention Block AA-23: A Star Wars #PodcastDon't forget to #SUBSCRIBE to our #YouTube channel for #podcast episodes and other content! #Prize #giveaway at 200 subs! Goal = 500!Sponsors:Under Pressure #BrewingGolden Valley, MNMirror Twin BrewingLexington, KYSource: #Comics & #GamesRoseville, MNStar Wars ComicsStar Wars Games: X-Wing & Armada strategy games; Star Wars: Legion strategy #gameTwin Cities Geek - Magazine & Online #CommunityMy Star Wars Life - FB Group (Join Now!)

It's another HUGE week for The Mandalorian & Grogu! Did the new trailer deliver everything you were hoping for? James Burns (Jedi News) joins us to break down the biggest moments, including surprise character reveals, Sigourney Weaver's role as Colonel Ward, and a "revenge" storyline that has us wondering. At the time of recording, James had just wrapped all four days at Toy Fair in New York. This isn't your typical fan convention, it's an industry-only showcase offering an exclusive first-look (and some they were sworn to secrecy) at the year's biggest merchandise launches. James shares insights from the Star Wars: Most Wanted campaign, highlighting standout reveals from LEGO, Hasbro, Jazwares, Funko, and more. And if you've ever dreamed of owning a green Grogu Furby that somehow makes you crave a Shamrock Shake, you're definitely in for a treat. PODCAST SPONSORS Small World Vacations is an official sponsor of Skywalking Through Neverland. Contact them for a no obligation price quote at www.smallworldvacations.com. Tell them Skywalking Through Neverland sent you.

Sign up for Audible, using our affiliate link! When you sign up for Audible you will be helping out our podcast, and the “Terry goat fund.” When you sign up, your first month is free. After that it becomes $15 every month. You can unsubscribe at any time. Each month you will get one token for an audible book, and some really great prices and discounts on titles that you want to add to your library. Quick recap The podcast “That Sounds Funny” for February 17th, 2026, featured Keith, Terry, and Jill discussing various topics including personal anecdotes, current events, and pop culture. Terry shared a humorous story about coffee-related mishaps, while Keith and Jill talked about their recent experiences with family and entertainment. The trio engaged in a quiz about the TV show “The Beverly Hillbillies” and Terry presented a list of humorous events that occurred in February. The podcast concluded with a segment on computers and AI, where Keith shared his experiences with Copilot, and the hosts shared jokes and humorous observations. Summary Terry shared a humorous story about spilling coffee and the subsequent chaos it caused. Jill mentioned having her two granddaughters stay overnight, which went smoothly despite the youngest’s attempts to follow everyone around. Terry also shared a fact about “The Andy Griffith Show,” noting that Season 4, Episode 32 marked the first appearance of Gomer Pyle as a USMC recruit. The group discussed the availability and cost of streaming classic TV shows like Andy Griffith and Hogan’s Heroes, with Terry expressing frustration over expensive episode pricing on Amazon Prime. Keith shared a humorous list of songs containing the word “bird” in their titles or lyrics, which led to a discussion about code words and family expressions. News of the Week Terry then shared a news story about the University of Maryland developing “smart underwear” that tracks fart frequency and volume, which led to some lighthearted banter about the device’s practicality. Terry continued sharing the study on gas production in healthy adults, which found an average of 32 farts per day, with some individuals producing up to 59. They also talked about a woman in England who lost her prosthetic leg at the beach and found it 10 months later. Lastly, they mentioned the return of the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile race at the Indy 500, with six vehicles competing in the “Winnie 500” event. Unusual News Stories Roundup Terry continued the news with the story about a Texas man who set a world record by folding 250 paper airplanes in one hour. They also covered a story about a cat in New Zealand that had been stealing towels, shoes, and underwear from a school, and finally mentioned Rhode Island’s decision to stop producing Mr. Potato Head license plates following Hasbro’s relocation out of the state. A lawmaker introduced legislation to stop the practice, citing concerns about tax dollars leaving the state, though the plates have been available since 2002 and generate revenue for the Rhode Island Community Food Bank. The conversation concluded with a story about a California man who lost $6,270 in cash, which was found and returned by a helpful neighbor. Jill's Trivia Quiz Jill hosted a Beverly Hillbillies trivia quiz, where she asked Terry and Keith questions about the show’s characters, plot details, and behind-the-scenes facts. Terry and Keith answered most of the questions correctly, revealing details like Granny’s first name (Daisy), the name of the bank (Commerce Bank of Beverly Hills), and the fact that Buddy Ebsen, who played Jed Clampett, was originally cast as the Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz but had to drop out due to an allergic reaction to the makeup. Terry's Terry's top 10 list included various humorous events from February, including a groundhog predicting spring, heart-shaped pancakes gone wrong, and a cat stealing Valentine’s bouquets. The list of ten funny occurrences also contained, such as a smoke alarm interrupting a candlelit dinner and a penguin escaping its enclosure. Anchor Topic Keith discussed the use of computers and AI, including Copilot, for tasks like generating bird song lists and creating images. He emphasized that people with disabilities, such as blindness, can effectively use computers with tools like voiceover, JAWS, or Narrator. The group also discussed the importance of carefully prompting AI to ensure accurate and appropriate results. Email and Final Thoughts Following this, they read a listener’s email about a humorous encounter with Satan at a church, which Jill found amusing. Keith and Terry discussed a humorous email about a Texas state trooper who, while pulling over a magician, ended up juggling flares with the magician. They also talked about the location of Houston and the route of Interstate 10. Keith then played a voicemail message from a listener who shared a joke about a husband and wife visiting a therapist. The conversation concluded with Keith mentioning that listeners can send messages to their voicemail number. The final word from our AI companion The meeting was a comedy show featuring jokes and puns from Terry, Keith, and Jill. The hosts encouraged listeners to visit their website www.thatsoundsfunny.com to listen to past episodes, subscribe, and leave ratings and reviews. They also invited listeners to call their voicemail number 217-250-0799. The show concluded with Keith signing off and thanking the audience for listening. Show notes written by AI, edited as needed by Keith. Sponsored by: Retro Radio Podcast. Bringing you family-friendly entertainment through classic, old-time radio. Episodes are posted daily. Keith and his Retrobots share everything in his collection from the days of vintage radio. Adventure, comedy, detective, westerns, and lots in between. If you don't hear your favorite show, just ask Visit the web page today, https://retro-otr.com

What if Hasbro made a Marvel Legends wave based on the NEW Ultimate Universe?

Chris Perkins reveals how Vecna: Eve of Ruin COULD have been a perfect finale for 5e 2014, D&D continues the march towards its digital future, and is the fall of Discord going to harm tabletop roleplaying games?Email your questions to podcast@ghostfiregaming.comBen: @TheBenByrneDael: @dailydael Todd:  @ToddKenreck  Shawn: @shawnmerwinEditor:  @jberrt  Topics:00:00 - Intro09:20 - Vecna's missing obelisks19:57 - Hasbro pushes digital26:46 - Discord hurting TTRPGs35:42 - Villain foreshadowing49:39 - Volcano adventures

Jamie takes a turn at transitions as he leads John through the news of Hasbro's earnings call, C'mon selling shares, reality TV is about to get way more gamified. 

Go to ⁠Boot.dev⁠ and use code KINDAFUNNY to get 25% off your entire first year on the annual plan. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at ⁠Shopify.com/kindafunny⁠ Highguard's website is down and players are freaking out, Valve speaks up on the Steam Deck stock issues, and Hasbro shouts down the Snake Eyes game studio. Thank you for the support! Run of Show - - Start - The Highguard Website Is Down As Players Brace For The Worst - Zack Zweizen @ Kotaku - Ad - Valve warns of Steam Deck OLED stock issues due to RAM shortage - Chris Kerr @ Game Developer - Hasbro has Reportedly Shut Down G.I. Joe Snake Eyes Game Makers, Atomic Arcade - David Carcasole @ WCCFTech - As Early Copies of Resident Evil Requiem Appear in the Wild, Fans Warn That Now is the Time to Log Off in Order to Avoid Leaks - Tom Philips @ IGN - Wee News! - SuperChats & You‘re Wrong Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What's up, dudes? It's Mardi Gras, so we're celebrating with a special episode of M.A.S.K. "Mardi Gras Mystery!" Oh, and there's a Christmas comic we're talking about too. Nicholas Pepin of Pop Culture Roulette joins me to dig into the Mobile Armored Strike Kommand UK comic Christmas issue and Fat Tuesday episode! In "Christmas Kidnap," Matt Trakker takes his son and robot sidekick T-Bob to a toy store in London. Scott visits Santa, and gets kidnapped by Miles Mayhem who was masquerading (no pun intended) as Father Christmas. Consequently, T-Bob has to rescue Scott. Luckily, he does, and V.E.N.O.M. ends up buried under Christmas decorations. In "Mardi Gras Mystery," once again Matt, Scott, and T-Bob are on a mission, this time in New Orleans. V.E.N.O.M. is looking for a super fuel resource, and M.A.S.K. has to stop them. Of course, shenanigans ensue. Undercover ops are blown, vehicles can't transform, and kids fall into quicksand. In the end, Scott pours super fuel residue into the baddies' fuel tanks. Masks? Check. Vehicles? Got 'em. Disguises? Well, if you like Groucho Marx glasses. so put on your mask, drive to New Orleans, and celebrate Mardi Gras (and Christmas) to this episode on M.A.S.K. "Mardi Gras Mystery!"   Pop Culture RouletteFB: @PopCultureRouletteTwitter: @popcultrouletteIG: @popcultrouletteGive us a buzz! Send a text, dudes!Check us out on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Totally Rad Christmas Mall & Arcade, Teepublic.com, or TotallyRadChristmas.com! Later, dudes!

Is the spark going out in the galaxy? On this episode of the Smugglers Galaxy Podcast, we dive deep into the massive reveals from Toy Fair 2026 and tackle the tough questions currently facing the Star Wars collecting community.Also, Hasbro has officially pulled back the curtain on their latest lineup. We break down the new figures and roleplay gear inspired by The Mandalorian and Grogu. From The Black Series to The Vintage Collection, we discuss:Despite the new reveals, the Star Wars collecting hobby feels... quiet. We have a candid discussion on why collector excitement seems to be hitting a new low and the impact of pricing fatigue.In the rumor mill, we explore the tantalizing possibility of a Star Wars and Marvel comic book crossover. Could Vader go toe-to-toe with Doom?

In der heutigen Folge sprechen die Finanzjournalisten Anja Ettel und Lea Oetjen über einen neuen Europa-Infrastruktur-ETF, ein neues Sparprogramm bei VW und SpaceX als Rüstungskonzern. Außerdem geht es um Hapag-Lloyd, Flatexdegiro, Heidelberg Materials, Hochtief, ACS, Gold, Silber, Bitcoin, Nintendo, Hasbro, Konami, VanEck Video Gaming and eSports UCITS ETF (WKN: A2PLDF), First Trust Indxx Europe Infrastructure UCITS ETF (WKN: A420NU), Global X European Infrastructure Development UCITS ETF (WKN: A40E7B), Iberdrola, Schneider Electric, Eaton Corp, Airbus, Enel, CRH, National Grid, Vinci, DSV und Compagnie de Saint-Gobain. Wir freuen uns an Feedback über aaa@welt.de. Noch mehr "Alles auf Aktien" findet Ihr bei WELTplus und Apple Podcasts – inklusive aller Artikel der Hosts und AAA-Newsletter. Hier bei WELT: https://www.welt.de/podcasts/alles-auf-aktien/plus247399208/Boersen-Podcast-AAA-Bonus-Folgen-Jede-Woche-noch-mehr-Antworten-auf-Eure-Boersen-Fragen.html. Der Börsen-Podcast Disclaimer: Die im Podcast besprochenen Aktien und Fonds stellen keine spezifischen Kauf- oder Anlage-Empfehlungen dar. Die Moderatoren und der Verlag haften nicht für etwaige Verluste, die aufgrund der Umsetzung der Gedanken oder Ideen entstehen. Hörtipps: Für alle, die noch mehr wissen wollen: Holger Zschäpitz können Sie jede Woche im Finanz- und Wirtschaftspodcast "Deffner&Zschäpitz" hören. +++ Werbung +++ Du möchtest mehr über unsere Werbepartner erfahren? Hier findest du alle Infos & Rabatte! https://linktr.ee/alles_auf_aktien Impressum: https://www.welt.de/services/article7893735/Impressum.html Datenschutz: https://www.welt.de/services/article157550705/Datenschutzerklaerung-WELT-DIGITAL.html

Before Spinbrush became the top selling toothbrush in the U.S—and before Procter & Gamble paid $475M for it—John Osher was a teenager selling earrings for $4.99. In this episode, John walks through the strange, scrappy, but disciplined path that led to one of the fastest consumer-product breakouts ever: from a six-year stint in a commune (where he learned plumbing and carpentry), to selling baby products and battery-powered spinning lollipops. Finally, the big bet: a $5 electric toothbrush that was cheap enough to compete with manual brushes, and good enough to become a best-seller.You'll hear the make-or-break moment that many founders can't survive: the decision to scrap 400,000 defective brushes before they hit the shelves. And then, the stealth move that turned a “licensing pitch” into a buyout —with one perfectly timed bluff.What you'll learn:Why pricing is about what the market will pay, not what your product costsThe hidden power of packaging (How “Try Me” changed everything)How to recover from “entrepreneurial terror” Why scrapping inventory can be the most important decision you'll ever makeThe acquisition formula: you get a lot more money when they want to buy… than when you want to sellTimestamps: 07:01 - A pricing lesson that John used forever: The 19-cent earrings that sold for $4.99.12:04 - Six years in a commune and the unexpected skill stack: plumbing and construction.22:09 - “Entrepreneurial terror” and a lifeline from Toys R Us 29:11 - Spinning lollipops lead to a $166 million Hasbro exit.35:54 - What's the real competition: $80 electric toothbrushes, or cheap manual ones?38:42 - The design breakthrough: fixed + oscillating bristles.55:43 - P&G admits: “We've bought three companies like yours… and ruined them all.”58:07 - The earnout problem: What happens when Spinbrush performs much better than expected? Hey—want to be a guest on HIBT?If you're building a business, why not get advice from some of the greatest entrepreneurs on Earth?Every Thursday on the HIBT Advice Line, a previous HIBT guest helps new entrepreneurs work through the challenges they're facing right now. Advice that's smart, actionable, and absolutely free.Just call 1-800-433-1298, leave a message, and you may soon get guidance from someone who started where you did, and went on to build something massive.So—give us a call. We can't wait to hear what you're working on.This episode was produced by Katherine Sypher, with music composed by Ramtin Arablouei.It was edited by Neva Grant, with research by Rommel Wood. Our engineers were Patrick Murray and Kwesi Lee. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The crew talks Hasbro's 2025 financial results and debates what iconic old cards might be safe for 2026 Standard!

Download this episode if you previously received pre-show for Episode 974. This week on Radio Free Cybertron, the crew reacts to Hasbro's latest LinkedIn flex, revealing Transformers as the company's most engaged global brand—beating out Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons & Dragons. We chat about Hasbro's strong earnings report, what it means for the brand, and how it compares to Mattel's rough quarter. On the toy front, we preview the upcoming T-Spark livestream featuring Missing Link Animation Grimlock, speculate on whatever US250 Star Eagle is, and examine new Yolopark reveals.

Download this episode if you previously received pre-show for Episode 974. This week on Radio Free Cybertron, the crew reacts to Hasbro's latest LinkedIn flex, revealing Transformers as the company's most engaged global brand—beating out Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons & Dragons. We chat about Hasbro's strong earnings report, what it means for the brand, and how it compares to Mattel's rough quarter. On the toy front, we preview the upcoming T-Spark livestream featuring Missing Link Animation Grimlock, speculate on whatever US250 Star Eagle is, and examine new Yolopark reveals.

Good Morning BT with Bo Thompson and Beth Troutman | Monday, February 16th, 2026. 7:20 Tyler Reddick wins Daytona 500 7:35 Hasbro launches Transformers The Movie "Apology" Tour 7:50 WBT text line traumatized by Bo and Beth after Transformers flashback 8:05 NBA All-Star Weekend recap 8:20 Never-ending Story dedication to Steve | All that wasted time with Beth, Bo and Jim 8:35 Super Bowl Halftime show ideas for 2027, Backstreet's back? 8:50 Charlotte Pizzeria lands on top 20 pizza joints nationwide 9:05 Guest: Mick Mulvaney - Pres. Trump at Fort Bragg 9:20 Mick Mulvaney cont. - AG Bondi hearing on Epstein files 9:35 Mick Mulvaney cont. - Epstein files hearing cont. 9:50 Mick Mulvaney cont. - Epstein Files cont.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's been a crazy weekend, and I've got an “NBA All-Star” game to watch, so no long post today. Stay tuned for Toy Fair talk next Sunday.

NOTHING BUT HASBRO! In this episode Dave, Jonathan Davenport, LegionCub, and Head of Research Ryan Schweck spotlight more toys of interest from Hasbro's 100+ year history! "Procrastibate" by LeSexoflex.com Social Media: Needless Things on Instagram Needless Things on Bluesky

There's a rumor that Wizards of the Coast is already working on the 6E version of DnD after 2024 crashed and burned with a lot of players. But it gets better -- they're reportedly roping in OG TSR alumni including Ed Greenwood and Tracy Hickman. Are they DESPERATE to get the stinky old white men back into the hobby or what?Watch the podcast episodes 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.Get more news, views and reviews on Clownfish TV News - https://more.clownfishtv.com/On YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/ClownfishTVOn Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4Tu83D1NcCmh7K1zHIedvgOn Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/clownfish-tv-audio-edition/id1726838629

This week on Radio Free Cybertron, the crew reacts to Hasbro's latest LinkedIn flex, revealing Transformers as the company's most engaged global brand—beating out Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons & Dragons. We chat about Hasbro's strong earnings report, what it means for the brand, and how it compares to Mattel's rough quarter. On the toy front, we preview the upcoming T-Spark livestream featuring Missing Link Animation Grimlock, speculate on whatever US250 Star Eagle is, and examine new Yolopark reveals.

This week on Radio Free Cybertron, the crew reacts to Hasbro's latest LinkedIn flex, revealing Transformers as the company's most engaged global brand—beating out Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons & Dragons. We chat about Hasbro's strong earnings report, what it means for the brand, and how it compares to Mattel's rough quarter. On the toy front, we preview the upcoming T-Spark livestream featuring Missing Link Animation Grimlock, speculate on whatever US250 Star Eagle is, and examine new Yolopark reveals.

We kick things off in FOLLOW UP with the ongoing "nuclear war" between Automattic and WP Engine, where discovery has revealed Matt Mullenweg's alleged hit list of competitors and a desperate attempt to bully payment processors—because nothing says "open source" like an eight-percent royalty shakedown. Meanwhile, the Harvard Business Review confirmed what we already knew: AI isn't reducing our work; it's just compressing it until we're all working through lunch and burning out faster while Polymarket turns our collective brain rot into a literal "attention market" where you can bet on Elon's mindshare.Transitioning to IN THE NEWS, Elon has officially pivoted SpaceX from Mars to the Moon, presumably because building a "self-growing lunar city" is easier than admitting the Red Planet is hard, though his xAI all-hands rant about "ancient alien catapults" suggests he's been staring at the sun too long. Between X allegedly taking blue-check lunch money from sanctioned Iranian leaders, Meta facing trials for creating "predator-friendly hunting grounds," and Russia finally pulling the plug on WhatsApp, the internet is looking more like a digital dumpster fire than ever. Add in Discord leaking 70,000 government IDs, OpenAI shoving ads into ChatGPT while safety researchers flee the building like it's on fire, and a "cognitive debt" crisis eroding our ability to think, and you've got a recipe for a tech-induced psychosis that even crypto-funded human trafficking can't outpace.In MEDIA CANDY, we're wondering about the soft-core porn intro in the latest Star Trek: Starfleet Academy while Apple buys the total rights to Severance for seventy million dollars—because in-house production is the only way to keep those ballooning budgets under control. Super Bowl trailer season gave us a glimpse of The Mandalorian and Grogu and a Project Hail Mary teaser, while Babylon 5 has finally landed on YouTube for free, proving that even 90s serialized sci-fi eventually finds its way to the clearance bin.Over in APPS & DOODADS, Meta Quest is nagging us for our birthdays like a needy relative, while Roblox had to scrub a mass-shooting simulator—because "AI plus human safety teams" is apparently just code for "we missed it until it hit the forums." Ring's Super Bowl ad for "Search Party" accidentally terrified everyone by revealing a mass surveillance network for pets that's a slippery slope toward a police state, and Waymo is now paying DoorDashers ten bucks just to walk over and close the car doors that autonomous tech still can't figure out.Wrapping up with THE DARK SIDE WITH DAVE, we dive into the Mandalorian Hasbro reveal where Sigourney Weaver's action figure comes with no accessories because her existence is enough of a flex. We explore the grim reality of "RentAHuman," where humans are paid pittance to pretend AI agents are actually doing work, and look at "Trash Talk Audio," which sells a $125 microphone made out of a literal old telephone for that authentic Gen-X "get off the line, I'm expecting a call" aesthetic. From Marcia Lucas finally venting about the prequels and a rare book catalog specifically for our aging generation, we're reminded that while the future is a chaotic mess of "GeoSpy" AI and corporate reshuffling at Disney, at least we still have our cynical memories and some free versions of Roller Coaster Tycoon to keep us from losing it completely.Sponsors:CleanMyMac - Get Tidy Today! Try 7 days free and use code OLDGEEKS for 20% off at clnmy.com/OLDGEEKSDeleteMe - Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan when you go to JoinDeleteMe.com/GOG and use promo code GOG at checkout.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/733FOLLOW UPAutomattic planned to target 10 competitors with royalty fees, WP Engine claims in new filingAI Doesn't Reduce Work—It Intensifies ItPolymarket To Offer Attention Markets In Partnership With Kaito AIIsrael Arrests Members of Military for Placing Polymarket Bets Using Inside Information on Upcoming StrikesIN THE NEWSUnable to Reach Mars, Musk Does the Most Musk Thing PossibleWe'll Find the Remnants of Ancient Alien Civilizations': Read Musk's Gibberish Rant from His xAI All-Hands MeetingElon Musk's X Appears to Be Violating US Sanctions by Selling Premium Accounts to Iranian LeadersMeta Faces Two Key Trials That Could Change Social Media ForeverWhatsApp is now fully blocked in RussiaRussia is restricting access to Telegram, one of its most popular social media apps. Here's what we knowDOJ may face investigation for pressuring Apple, Google to remove apps for tracking ICE agentsDiscord Launches Teen-by-Default Settings GloballyDiscord says hackers stole government IDs of 70,000 usersFree Tool Says it Can Bypass Discord's Age Verification Check With a 3D ModelTesting ads in ChatGPTOpenAI Researcher Quits, Warns Its Unprecedented ‘Archive of Human Candor' Is DangerousOpenAI Fires Top Safety Exec Who Opposed ChatGPT's “Adult Mode”Anthropic AI Safety Researcher Warns Of World ‘In Peril' In ResignationMusk's xAI loses second co-founder in two daysAmerica Isn't Ready for What AI Will Do to JobsMonologue: No, Something Big Isn't ComingThe Scientist Who Predicted AI Psychosis Has a Grim Forecast of What's Going to Happen NextCrypto-Funded Human Trafficking Is ExplodingMEDIA CANDYShrinkingStar Trek: Starfleet AcademyPoor ThingsProject Hail Mary | Final TrailerMinions & Monsters | Official TrailerDisclosure Day | Big Game SpotThe Mandalorian and Grogu | A New Journey Begins | In Theaters May 22Babylon 5 Is Now Free to Watch On YouTubeApple acquires all rights to ‘Severance,' will produce future seasons in-houseOptimizing your TVAPPS & DOODADSTumbler Ridge Shooter Created Mall Shooting Simulator in RobloxHere's how to disable Ring's creepy Search Party featureWaymo Is Getting DoorDashers to Close Doors on Self Driving CarsTikTok US launches a local feed that leverages a user's exact locationApple just released iOS 26.3 alongside updates for the Mac, iPad and Apple WatchTHE DARK SIDE WITH DAVEDave BittnerThe CyberWireHacking HumansCaveatControl LoopOnly Malware in the BuildingWe Call It ImagineeringYour First Look at Hasbro's 'Mandalorian and Grogu' Figures Is Here (Exclusive)I Tried RentAHuman, Where AI Agents Hired Me to Hype Their AI StartupsTrash Talk AudioRoger Reacts to Star Wars - A New HopeMarcia Lucas Finally Speaks Out | Icons Unearthed: Unplugged (FULL INTERVIEW)What's wrong with the prequels?Rare Books, Gen X editionGeoSpyCLOSING SHOUT-OUTSRobert Tinney, who painted iconic Byte magazine covers, RIPBud CortSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What are you thoughts from todays episode?

Transformers are robots in DECLINE. Transformers sales are down per Hasbro's earnings report, and even Transformers sites are asking why. Expense? Lack of good moves and series? Ideology? Yes to all of the above?Watch the podcast episodes 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.Get more news, views and reviews on Clownfish TV News - https://more.clownfishtv.com/On YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/ClownfishTVOn Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4Tu83D1NcCmh7K1zHIedvgOn Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/clownfish-tv-audio-edition/id1726838629

This week on Newsmakers: Pawtucket mayoral candidate Adam Greenman discusses his Democratic primary challenge against Don Grebien, Hasbro, Memorial Hospital and more; state Rep. Jon Brien talks about being the General Assembly's only independent, challenges in Woonsocket, the $70,000 rug mistake and more.

Livestreaming as always Friday at 2pm UK time (9am Eastern)! In this week's show we'll be talking about the abandoned 'Obelisk' metaplot from the pre-2024 D&D campaigns, Hasbro's CEO on AI and their 'Digital First' strategy, and more! D&D's Obelisk Plotline Was Supposed to Be Resolved in Vecna: Eve of Ruin WotC Continues D&D's Advance To Digital First Brand Hasbro CEO Says AI Integration Has Been "A Clear Success" Dungeons & Dragons Questers Toy Line Revealed, Due for Release in July Get Ready for Traveller 5e Gate Pass Gazette Annual 2025 Is Here!

In this episode we cover: Harry Potter x MTG concerns, Smells in gaming, MTG bannings, Hasbro earnings report, and Mattel buying Mattel163.   Please remember to rate the show and leave a comment! DeQuan - @powrdragn Brian - @brianpsionic Color of Magic Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ColorofMagic Website: https://www.colorofmtg.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/ColorofMTG Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/colorofmtg

Let's see what's up with the controversial layoffs around 2XKO, Hasbro getting the Harry Potter toy license, Discord's age verification concerns, and more.

The Cyclops solo series is finally here—and we're breaking it all down with series writer Alex Paknadel.We dive deep into Scott Summers' history, his complicated origin story, his relationship with Jean Grey, and how Mister Sinister has been pulling the strings—plus what readers can expect as Cyclops steps fully into the spotlight.

ANZ’s profit jumps 6% to $1.94 billion after 3,500 job cuts under its new ANZ 2030 strategy. Temple & Webster’s share price plummeted 30% but it’s promising to double down on discounts to chase Ikea and Harvey Norman. Hasbro and Mattel have both warned of a slowdown in the toy market, but their share prices have moved in opposite directions _ Download the free app (App Store): http://bit.ly/FluxAppStore Download the free app (Google Play): http://bit.ly/FluxappGooglePlay Daily newsletter: https://bit.ly/fluxnewsletter Flux on Instagram: http://bit.ly/fluxinsta Flux on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@flux.finance —- The content in this podcast reflects the views and opinions of the hosts, and is intended for personal and not commercial use. We do not represent or endorse the accuracy or reliability of any opinion, statement or other information provided or distributed in these episodes.__See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode a new 3rd party company has a new take on G1 Star Saber, Takara announces its new military vehicle themed Overgear toyline, and Hasbro's latest fanstream shows off the newest Age of the Primes figures… All this and much, much more on this episode of TransMissions! Order our exclusive Skybound Transformers #1 comic with cover art by E.J. Su! Want some TransMissions swag? Check out our online shop, powered by Dashery! Show Notes: If you enjoy TransMissions, please rate us and subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify! These ratings greatly help podcasts become more discoverable to other people using those services and is an easy way to help out our show. Contact us: Continue reading The post Alignment | TransMissions Podcast Episode 681 appeared first on TransMissions Podcast Network.

Any time a Hasbro toy makes an appearance in the grid it puts a smile on our faces, and so we are grinning as a consequence of today's crossword — a collaboration between Sarah Sinclair and Amie Walker. The theme was terrific, the rest of the clues equally splendid. Making just his third appearance in the grid, we had at 44D, John _______, longtime writer for The New Yorker, MCPHEE; we had a debut at 37A, "Toy Story 2" character who says "I'm packing you an extra pair of shoes, and your angry eyes, just in case" , MRSPOTATOHEAD; and finally we enjoyed 9D, Do the splits?, DIVIDE. Personally, we are not divided at all: both cohosts adored this crossword.Show note imagery: a DIY CLAPOMETER, just becauseWe love feedback! Send us a text...Contact Info:We love listener mail! Drop us a line, crosswordpodcast@icloud.com.Also, we're on FaceBook, so feel free to drop by there and strike up a conversation!

On this episode a new 3rd party company has a new take on G1 Star Saber, Takara announces its new military vehicle themed Overgear toyline, and Hasbro's latest fanstream shows off the newest Age of the Primes figures… All this and much, much more on this episode of TransMissions! Order our exclusive Skybound Transformers #1 comic with cover art by E.J. Su! Want some TransMissions swag? Check out our online shop, powered by Dashery! Show Notes: If you enjoy TransMissions, please rate us and subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify! These ratings greatly help podcasts become more discoverable to other people using those services and is an easy way to help out our show. Contact us: Continue reading The post Alignment | TransMissions Podcast Episode 681 appeared first on TransMissions Podcast Network.

Hasbro landed the Harry Potter license, and almost immediately, WotC told people that Magic: The Gathering has no plans to make Harry Potter cards. This was a few weeks after "the fans" came after Upper Deck for getting an HP license as well. But money talks, right?Watch the podcast episodes 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.Get more news, views and reviews on Clownfish TV News - https://more.clownfishtv.com/On YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/ClownfishTVOn Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4Tu83D1NcCmh7K1zHIedvgOn Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/clownfish-tv-audio-edition/id1726838629

The boys start off the podcast sharing more stories of dad. Scott has a great story of dad taking him to Toys R Us.    In the news, La Toonie showed off another Everst figure that will be upcoming as well as another retro figure. Speaking of retros, Grapplers and Gimmicks showed off a slew of retros such as Gallows and Anderson. Funko Jacob Fatu was shown off. There is news regarding elite legends series 29. Also, Hasbro is going to be making a form of Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns. The Major group showed off their next tag team for their Major Stars line. The major group also showed off a new series of BRG's.   Pre Orders: Big Rubber Guys - Collectmajor.com   The Rogeaus  Big Bad Toy Store   - Rush - Dralistico - Dragon Lee - Ultimo Dragon   Fig Collections - shop.figurecollections.com Grapplers and Gimmicks - Regium figures - Ahmed Johnson - Raven   Zombie Sailor - (zombiesailor.com) - Zombie is also on BBTS La Toonie KWK Shopkwk.com or KWKbrand on Instagram Thank you to everyone for keeping this show going!

In a rare moment of self-awareness, Hasbro remembered it used to be toy company and unveils plans for a Street Fighter–G.I. Joe–WWE multiverse. Plus—I'll form the head! —Hasbro's Voltron news brings Marvel Legends collectors one step closer to the mythical Cavillrine. And Nacelle is betting big on Star Trek—but is this plan a bridge too far, even for the most hardcore Trekkies? It's The Reluctant Adult Podcast. Email TheReluctantAdultPodcast@gmail.com TikTok @TheReluctantAdultPodcast Instagram @TheReluctantAdultPodcast Facebook The Reluctant Adult Podcast YouTube The Reluctant Adult Podcast Paul's eBay Auctions Save 10% with code RAP101 at New Meta Save and get Free Shipping from Entertainment Earth

This week on Radio Free Cybertron, the crew breaks down Hasbro landing the Voltron movie toy license and what that could mean for both Hasbro and Voltron going forward. On the Transformers side, we dig into the new Nexus Prime, its plug-in combiner gimmick, and whether it's a weird half-step forward or a faceplant in the snow. There's plenty more toy talk too, including Dramatic Capture Decepticons, Studio Series 86, Takara's upcoming Overgear line, third-party upgrades, and, of course, what we got this week!