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2 episodes with Popples
2 episodes with Popples
Welcome back to Bat and Spider. This week we talk Tom Green, Popples, and UNINVITED starring another Y&R alum!ChaptersWelcome! (00:00:00)Banz week in news (00:8:22)Movie - Uninvited (00:30:15)Mail! (00:55:33)Next episode! (00:59:29)LinksCheck out or Ko-fi at https://ko-fi.com/batandspiderJoin our DISCORDGet your Bat & Spider STICKERS hereSteve Barkett Rules t-shirts!!!Get a sweet Bat & Spider t-shirt here! All sale proceeds go to The Movement For Black Lives.Technical Adviser: Slim of 70mmTheme song composed and performed by Tobey Forsman of Whipsong Music.Follow Bat & Spider on Instagram Follow Chuck and Dale on Letterboxd.Bat & Spider on LetterboxdBat & Spider WatchlistSend us an email: batandspiderpod@gmail.com.Leave us a voice message: (315) 544-0966Artwork by Charles Forsmanbatandspider.comBat & Spider is a TAPEDECK podcast, along with our friends at 70mm, The Letterboxd Show, Escape Hatch, Will Run For..., Twin Vipers, The Movie Mixtape, The Yeti is Still Broken, Austin Danger Pod, and Lost Light. ★ Support this podcast ★
How do toys shape who we become? Today, I sit down with a fascinating toy historian Chris Byrne who reveals the hidden power of play - from how different toys develop everything from relationship skills to problem - solving abilities. We explore why true play isn't about reaching an end goal, but about embracing the pure joy of the journey. Whether you're looking to understand the art of playing alongside your kids or giving them space to explore independently, this episode will transform how you think about playtime. Join us for a rich conversation about rediscovering the magic that happens when we give ourselves permission to simply play. After exploring the art of play with our toy historian today, I want to share something powerful with you. My book Fertile Imagination tackles a crucial truth: we can't guide our children toward imagination if we've lost touch with our own. I'll show you the exact framework I used to reawaken and strengthen this superpower – the same one that transformed both my life and my three sons'. If you're ready to rediscover your creativity and childlike zest for life, grab your copy now: https://bit.ly/fertilebook In this episode, you will hear: Play is a process, not a means to an end, and embracing it can reduce stress. Imagination influences every decision we make. Playing with toys helps kids develop problem-solving and relationship skills. Adults benefit from play too—it fosters creativity, joy, and innovation. Letting children lead playtime strengthens their confidence and creativity. Kids learn by doing, and unstructured play is vital for their development. In corporate settings, a playful mindset can unlock new ideas and innovation. Fear of failure limits creativity—kids don't judge play, and neither should we. This episode is brought to you by: Fertile Imagination: A Guide For Stretching Every Mom's Superpower For Maximum Impact – My book is available as a hard cover, paperback, and also as an audiobook. If you are on the go and wish to quickly jot down where you can purchase the book then head to: https://bit.ly/fertilebook. If however you want to grab the audio version then head to the show notes to click the direct Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/Fertile-Imagination-Stretching-Superpower-Maximum/dp/B0CK2ZSMLB About Chris Bryne Chris Byrne has spent over 35 years in the toy industry, holding major marketing and creative roles before launching Byrne Communications, a consultancy specializing in product development, strategic planning, and marketing. A passionate advocate for the power of play, he has studied its impact on child development and creativity across industries. He has appeared on major media outlets worldwide, sharing insights on toys, play, and innovation. He also co-hosts The Playground Podcast, diving deep into the toy industry's past, present, and future. SHARE this episode with fellow moms and entrepreneurs who want to bring more creativity into their lives! Chris's insights on play, imagination, and innovation are a must-listen for anyone balancing motherhood and career growth. Let's embrace play, rediscover joy, and inspire the next generation! Supporting Resources: Website: https://www.thetoyguy.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetoyguy/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thetoyguyofficial/ The Playground Podcast: Spotify & Apple Podcasts Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to my podcast for new moms who are entrepreneurs, founders, and creators? I'd love for you to subscribe if you haven't yet. I'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast for writer moms. About Fertile Imagination You can be a great mom without giving up, shrinking, or hiding your dreams. There's flexibility in how you pursue anything – your role, your lifestyle, and your personal and professional goals. The limitations on your dreams are waiting to be shattered. It's time to see and seize what's beyond your gaze. Let's bridge your childhood daydreams with your grown-up realities. Imagine skipping with your kids along any path – you, surpassing your milestones while your kids are reaching theirs. There's only one superpower versatile enough to stretch your thinking beyond what's been done before: a Fertile Imagination. It's like kryptonite for impostor syndrome and feeling stuck when it's alert! In Fertile Imagination, you will awaken your sleeping source of creative solutions. If you can wake up a toddler or a groggy middle schooler, then together with the stories in this book – featuring 25 guests from my podcast Unimaginable Wellness, proven tools, and personal anecdotes – we will wake up your former playmate: your imagination! Advance Praise “You'll find reality-based strategies for imagining your own imperfect, fulfilling life in this book!” —MARTHA HENNESSEY, former NH State Senator “Melissa invites the reader into a personal and deep journey about topics that are crucially important to uncover what would make a mom (and dad too) truly happy to work on…even after the kids are in bed.” —KEN HONDA, best-selling author of Happy Money “This book is a great purchase for moms in every stage of life. Melissa is like a great friend, honest and wise and funny, telling you about her life and asking you to reflect on yours.” —MAUREEN TURNER CAREY, librarian in Austin, TX TRANSCRIPT 00:00:00 Chris: I really believe is what we play with as kids really becomes, we become a lot of that. And we had a basement in our house that had a room in it, that had a window in it. And my brothers and I would create puppet shows. And we would do that. And we would just go round up all the kids in the neighborhood and say, you have to watch this puppet show. And they did. I mean, they were good. But it was really about storytelling. It was about connection. It was about making things up and just feeling very alive in that moment, feeling very connected to who I was at that time and being able to share that with other people. 00:00:43 Melissa: Welcome to the Mom Founder Imagination Hub, your weekly podcast to inspire you to dream bigger. Plan out how you're going to get to that next level in business, find the energy to keep going, and make sure your creative juices are flowing so that this way you get what you really want rather than having to settle. Get ready to discover how mom founders have reimagined entrepreneurship and motherhood. Ever wonder how they do it? Tune in to find out. 00:01:09 Melissa: And stretch yourself by also learning from diverse entrepreneurs who might not be moms, but who have lessons you can tailor about how you can disrupt industries and step way outside of your comfort zone. I believe every mom's superpower is her imagination. In this podcast, I'm gonna give you the mindset, methods, and tools to unleash yours. Sounds good? Then keep listening. 00:01:36 Melissa: So how do toys shape who we become? Have you ever asked yourself that question as you are giving your child a toy? If that toy is going to influence their career choices ahead or the way that they are, their character. Today, I sat down with a fascinating toy historian, Chris Byrne. 00:02:04 Melissa: Now he is a 35 year plus veteran of the toy industry. He's held major marketing and creative positions earlier in his life. And he's appeared on TV talking about toys and play in the US and around the world. He's even been on the Live with Kelly and Mark show as a regular guest. And he has his own podcast, by the way, the Playground Podcast. 00:02:29 Melissa: So, Chris reveals today the hidden power of play, from how different toys develop everything from relationship skills to problem-solving abilities. We also explore why true play isn't about reaching an end goal, it's about embracing the pure joy of the journey. So, whether you're looking to understand the art of playing alongside your kids or giving them some space to explore independently, this episode is going to change how you think about playtime. So I encourage you to join us for this rich conversation about rediscovering the magic that happens when we give ourselves permission to just play. 00:03:10 Melissa: Okay, so before we jump into the conversation, I wanna just let you know that after the conversation, I would invite you to explore the art of play with my book, Fertile Imagination. Why is that relevant to you as a mom? Here's what I want you to know. It's really hard to guide our kids toward imagination if we've secretly lost touch with our own. So in my book, Fertile Imagination, I share with you the exact framework that I used in order to reawaken my imagination, play with my imagination, stretch my imagination, and strengthen what I believe to be our greatest superpower. 00:03:56 Melissa: So this framework is super simple to follow. It is guided and it is also provided in lots of really cool journaling question prompts in the book. And it's gonna be the same exact process that I used in order to really get back in touch with that little childlike spirit that all of us has, but maybe we forgot we have held quite tightly close to our hearts. 00:04:22 Melissa: So, I invite you to go ahead, rediscover your creativity, and see if you can find your childlike zest for life. Because I really believe that it's hard to teach our kids things that we may have forgotten are natural to us, and maybe came naturally to us when we were younger. So enjoy the conversation. The link to the book is available in the show notes where you're listening to this. Let me read the actual link so that you can learn more about my book, Fertile Imagination. 00:04:53 Melissa: It is a bit.ly link. So it is bit.ly/fertilebook. You can absolutely grab a copy right there of Fertile Imagination. If you wanted the audio version that is available exclusively via Amazon. So go ahead and check out the show notes for that link. Thank you again. And I hope you enjoy the conversation and let me know what you think at the end, I will share with you my top three takeaways that you can apply to your immediate mom life. Thank you so much. 00:05:28 Melissa: Chris Byrne. I am so excited to have you here on the Mom Founder Imagination Hub. How are you? 00:05:35 Chris: I am very well. I'm so excited to be with you. Thank you so much for the invitation. 00:05:40 Melissa: I couldn't get enough of your TED Talk. I was like, oh my gosh, he's not just a toy historian. He's like a toy psychologist. I loved it. I loved it. So welcome to the show. Chris, I want to just start with the big, big question on my mind. Help me understand from your perspective, decades in the industry, learning about the art of play, like what is an imagination to you and do you consider it a superpower? 00:06:12 Chris: Well, I absolutely consider our imagination our superpower. It is the one thing that, really one of the many things that really define us as human beings. Nothing happens in our world that doesn't start in the imagination. It can be, what do I want for lunch? Or what do I want to be when I grow up? Or should I marry this person? Or should I have children? 00:06:34 Chris: Or whatever it is because we begin in the imagination and other kinds of animals, you just put food in front of them and they eat, it's instinctual. But for us, it's not- as humans, it's not just instinctual. We literally create our worlds on a daily basis and that starts in the imagination. 00:06:54 Melissa: I agree. And it's interesting because as a fully grown adult, I would say that when I was writing my book, Fertile Imagination, and I see it as like a superpower for moms who are technically adults. I feel like it's a topic that is seldom discussed amongst adults. Like, is this something that you are noticing? Or maybe, you know, people that have that childlike quality because of your industry? What's your take on imagination, the art of play, and being an adult? 00:07:30 Chris: Well, I think all of those are really critical to who we are, because play is really the act of asking a question, what if? What if I do this? What if I, you know, as an adult in can be, what if do whatever? For me, as a kid is like, what if I jump off this wall? What's gonna happen? You know, but we grow up and we have a little bit more, more adult kind of perceptions, if you will, for that. And it really is like trying to spin out a scenario. 00:08:06 Chris: So if I am going to take a new job, for example, what is that gonna be like? Who am I gonna be working with? And we begin to develop stories around things in our imagination. And those stories are very important because we really can't take action to make things real until we've imagined them as a concept. 00:08:28 Melissa: Yeah. And so, okay. So this is something that I'm struggling with right now. This is like real time, I need some help, get me unclogged sort of stuff. So this idea of having a story in my mind and having a vision I want to make real, the vision side of it is so hard right now for me to see, mainly because it's like, there's things that I've envisioned in the past, but I haven't made happen. So I don't know kind of like how to play myself to a solution or a vision or just kind of like, think with a little less of like the past, you know, like hindering this vision. 00:09:15 Chris: Right. It's a great, it's a great thing. I mean, I'm sorry you're going through that, but I think that if you look at how a child plays, right, when they get an idea and they don't sit there and think, well, if I just do this or I do this or I do that, it's going to be fun, right? They come, that's not fun. I'm done. I'm on to the next thing. And I think as adults, we should do that too. If something is becoming too much effort, if it's not working, then we just drop it and go on to the next thing. 00:09:47 Chris: And I don't think there's any harm or foul in that. And I think that when you look at a kid who is imagining and playing, they're not judging the play as they're doing it. They're looking at well, where did this take me and where should I go next from it? And it's a much freer, kind of more peaceful way to go through the world. 00:10:08 Chris: I mean, I talk about things that I've done that turned out to be mistakes. And I call them I said, well, that was a once in a lifetime experience. As in I don't have to do that again. I learned the lesson. 00:10:20 Melissa: Yeah. And I think, you know, approaching any problem from that perspective releases that pressure to get it right the first time. And it gives you like the levity to get back up and just be like, okay, let's go at it again. And I imagine like, cause I noticed also, and I know that this side of it might be a little bit more conventional thinking, but like, you actually bring these ideas into corporate settings, you know, the art of play. 00:10:51 Melissa: And I'm like, if I think about the different environments where it's not okay to play. It's not okay to make mistakes. Like how do you sell that idea of we're just playing right now and don't get frustrated if it works or not in like a corporate setting, you know? 00:11:11 Chris: Well, one of the things that's so interesting in a corporate setting is people come into a meeting or a brainstorming and they're focused on one specific outcome, right? So if you're focused on an outcome, you kind of end-run the process of play because play is a process. Play is asking, what if, you know, let's go down this road and let's go down this road and see what it is. So I always encourage people to be as off the wall as possible. I will give you an example that almost got me fired. 00:11:43 Melissa: This is a good one, okay. 00:11:44 Chris: And nobody will like it, but I was working with Ideal, with Ideal Toy Company and we had the Shirley Temple doll. And nobody, we had these porcelain $400 Shirley Temple dolls and Shirley Temple dolls were huge in the '30s and still with doll collectors, but nobody was buying them. And we thought, how do we get rid of them? And I said, well, why don't we put them on the QE2 and use them as skeet? Like people can launch the doll. 00:12:11 Chris: So the brand manager got really mad at me. And told me I was inappropriate. But as we talked more, we ended up doing a doll collecting event with Cunard that actually turned out to be good. So the idea is, go out there and play off the wall in a safe environment, obviously. So the idea of creating an environment where it's safe to play, where it's safe to have that sort of impulsive childish response to a situation is okay. 00:12:45 Chris: We would never have promoted that in a corporate sense. But the idea that we were just playing with ideas and being silly. That opens the pathway to being really creative and to seeing what could actually work. And then once you get that, you put the action steps in place to get to the next step. 00:13:05 Melissa: Yeah, I think just, you know, going crazy and just really trying to break out of conventional thinking and our very logical pathways in our mind, it's like first we do this, that, the other. It's almost like some sentences, right? And the way we like greet each other, it's so like rehearsed that to come up with something like, oh my gosh, I love your outfit. You know, it reminds me of like a toy soldier or something. It would be like way off, but it would start rapport, I think. Rapport or like, you know, people would be like, kind of weirded out. But I've always tried that. How can I not weird people out? 00:13:44 Chris: Well, it's, right, well, that's always a question, but I don't really worry about that too much. But I think that one of the things, again, as I was saying about process, but also getting over fear, right? As adults, we think, well, what if I get it wrong? Children, when they play, if you watch them play, they don't worry about getting it wrong. They just think, well, that didn't work. That didn't do what I wanted it to do. Let me do something else. They haven't built a hierarchy of judgment and really being unkind to themselves about doing something wrong. 00:14:19 Chris: And if you embrace play, there's really no kind of, you can't be wrong when you're playing, right? Some things may be practical, but there's imagination and there's spinning things out, things that might never become real, but then things that actually could practically become real. And the process of getting to that point is actually pretty joyful. 00:14:42 Melissa: And I think we could all use some more joy these days, that's for sure. Adults and children alike. So let's see, let's go back in time. So let's go back to the time where you recall maybe playing with a toy and feeling like an insane amount of joy. If you can think about, you know, your one moment or one of the moments, I'm curious to hear your perspective. 00:15:06 Chris: Well, it's really interesting because one of the things that I really believe is what we play with as kids really becomes, we become a lot of that. And we had a basement in our house that had a room in it. They had a window in it. And my brothers and I would create puppet shows. And we would do that. And we would just go round up all the kids in the neighborhood and say, you have to watch this puppet show. And they did. They were good. But it was really about storytelling. It was about connection. It was about making things up and just feeling very alive in that moment, feeling very connected to who I was at that time and being able to share that with other people. 00:15:52 Melissa: Wow, so that's interesting. So it's funny because I feel like maybe I was, because I was an only child for most of my upbringing, like a lot of the things I did were just on my own and I had to really figure out how to make something out of what was around me. So let me share like this one thing that I would do to just pass the time. And of course, like in the background, like there was like maybe Magnum P.I. playing or, you know, name- Hawaii Five-0, whatever my mom was into. 00:16:25 Melissa: So I would go to the closet and I would take out a shoebox. And I would proceed to create like a scene. So they're called dioramas. I looked it up because I was like, this is a weird thing that I just kept doing all the time. And then I would create little figurines and put like little slots, you know, on the sides and move the little carboards in and out, you know. And I was like, okay, I have to ask Chris, like, what does that say about me? I have no idea. 00:16:56 Chris: Well, I mean, I would say it sort of starts you as a storyteller, which is what you're doing today. You're telling stories and you're facilitating other people telling stories. But it's also, I mean, especially for children at that age, it's about trying to make sense of the world and the stories they tell us, like trying to make sense of relationships. I'll tell you another story. 00:17:18 Chris: Years ago, we were playing with some kids with Barbie dolls. And they had all these different Barbie dolls. And one kid took all the blonde Barbie dolls and they were making fun of the brunette Barbie doll. And we were just watching this and going, yeah, this is somebody who is working out a reality in their life. 00:17:38 Chris: And that is really what play is, because even as she, in this case it was a girl, became powerful in that situation, was able to stand up for herself, you're giving your brain the sense that you can actually do this. If you do it vicariously, you've already had that experience on some level. So that when you confront that in real life, it might be easier, or you might have a solution. 00:18:03 Chris: I mean, how many times do you go into a situation, an interview or whatever, and you've rehearsed what you're gonna say? And your brain already knows that. It's like visual, what they talk about in sports about visualizing, you know, the outcome. You know, you're already having that experience, which is so cool. Cause our brain doesn't know the difference sometimes between reality and what we imagine. 00:18:24 Melissa: I love that. I love that. And so, yeah, who knows what I was trying to work out? There are a lot of things going on in my home. I'll tell you that much. But yeah, I think, you know, that idea though, just like trying to work things out that, you know, maybe you don't have that first person experience with, but like doing it through the use of a toy. Have you noticed at a curiosity any sort of changes with the dynamics between toys and kids now that there's like AI sort of toys out there? 00:19:01 Chris: There are so many different types of play experiences. What we were just talking about is more traditional doll or action figure or stuffed animal kind of play where a child is really doing that. Some of the other stuff with AI or licensed space like Star Wars, Marvel, all of that is beginning to understand yourself as a capable human being. 00:19:23 Chris: So for example, if I'm a superhero, I can feel. I can have the feeling of what it's like to be a superhero. And I always say, if your life is all about mom is in control, eat your peas, get in the minivan, do your homework, suddenly if you're a superhero, that's very empowering. And then empowering as an individual to be able to confront the world in a different way because you're empowered. So it's very classical, the kind of totemistic idea that we take on the powers of the superheroes. 00:19:59 Chris: And even though we're not gonna fly, we're not gonna lift, we're not gonna pick up a truck, we're not gonna do that, you have the emotional sense of capability, which is really what it's all about. 00:20:10 Melissa: That's interesting. I think, I mean, I don't know. Now that I think about my kids, for example, their toy experiences these days is really YouTube videos and playing video games and things like that. And I wonder if that's also along the same thread of what you just said, feeling the different capabilities like running fast or jumping high, things like that. 00:20:37 Chris: I think definitely. I mean, it's, you know, YouTube videos are like today's cartoons, right, on some level. You know, I grew up watching cartoons and, and it was- so they're looking at who are my role models and who are, you know, somebody's doing something. Oh, I'd like to try that. And, you know, or oh, wow, they tried that, I'm not gonna do that, but what would it be like if I did this kind of thing? 00:21:03 Chris: So I think that it's a window on the world and people are always concerned about screen time and I'm never concerned about screen time so much as I'm concerned about what's on the screen. So that is what's being modeled through the YouTube things, things that you as a mom or a parent want your child to be consuming because it can be very supportive or it can be kind of dangerous depending on what kids have access to. 00:21:30 Melissa: Yeah. And it's so interesting what you're sharing right now, because I mean, I had Saturday morning cartoons, for example, and I ate a lot of cereals with all the dyes and all these other things. And my kids literally tell me, they're like, oh, we want to have Saturday morning cartoons just like you. But of course, it is that YouTube thing. And I limit it to SpongeBob. Like, that's appropriate for their ages right now. 00:21:54 Melissa: But I think that's so interesting, this whole idea of rehearsal and visualization and imagination. I wonder because when it comes to toys and just the way that they've changed through the years, how did, for example, Tickle Me Elmo, how did that support people in terms of capabilities or anything? I'm curious. 00:22:22 Chris: Well, Tickle Me Elmo was kind of an outlier in that, you know, in terms of classical play. Tickle Me Elmo became a fad, right? And fads take on a life of their own. They kind of jump the shark or jump from the toy industry because Tickle Me Elmo started as an entertaining little preschool doll for preschoolers, infants and preschoolers. Suddenly it becomes this whole cultural phenomenon that everybody has to have. 00:22:50 Chris: It becomes, so it's a fad, so it becomes kind of a marker in time. So if you were around for Tickle Me Elmo, and you remember that, it's sort of a springboard to your memories of what the latter part of 1996 was about, because that's when Tickle Me Elmo was really huge. So that's not really kind of play in the way that I talk about it a lot. That becomes a cultural event. And my other joke about Tickle Me Elmo, Tickle Me Elmo was $40 really, basically, or more. You know, you can have a Tickle Me Elmo and be really cool for a lot less than you can have a Birkin bag. 00:23:26 Melissa: Wow, yeah, that's true. That is true. It's so funny, this conversation just takes me down the whole nostalgic route. Like I'm thinking about my Steve Urkel joke pull doll. Do you remember that one? 00:23:39 Chris: Yeah, yeah, of course. 00:23:41 Melissa: Yeah, so anyways, I'm totally like aging myself right now. I'm like, oh, I had Steve Urkel and I had Popples and all the like. What do you think, you know, nostalgia? Let's talk about that. Because I feel like a lot of marketers use that, you know, in order to kind of like pull forth a certain generation, let's say. And I even feel like at a supermarket, like I'm like, I think they know who their shoppers are with the music. But let's talk about nostalgia. 00:24:09 Melissa: Like, and again, thinking about more quote unquote modern toys, you know, like. And back to like these like electronics, like do you think that it'll be the same sort of calling card, I think is the right phrase? Like when someone starts saying, oh, like, let's say 10 years from now, you know, what's the name of the- Stumble Guys? Like, do you think that people will say like a certain like thing on video games and it'll have the same emotional pull as like Tickle Me Elmo, Popples, or Cabbage Patch? 00:24:41 Chris: It's hard to know. The thing about nostalgia is it's really for adults, right? Nostalgia is for people looking back. When you're three and four, you're not nostalgic for much. You're not remembering much. Maybe you remember your pull ups, right? When you had your pull ups. But you don't, you're not really nostalgic for something because you haven't been around that much. 00:25:03 Chris: The challenge from a toy marketing standpoint is relying on nostalgia to sell toys. Because I mean, yes, there's a certain level of you as a mom had My Little Pony or Littlest Pet Shop or any of those huge hits, Masters of the Universe. And you want to share those with your child. But for it to engage your child's imagination, there has to be something authentic to them. It's not just, mom liked this, so I'm going to like it too. That doesn't really work. 00:25:31 Chris: Look at Barbie and how Barbie's been redefined over the years, because Barbie always reflects the culture at any given time. So in 1959, she could be a fashion model or a bride, right? Pretty much, those are the Barbie options. Today, there are hundreds of careers and there's hundreds of abilities. And Barbie, the Barbie line looks like the world kids are growing up in, just as it did in 1959. It's just a more diverse and broader world with more possibility for girls and women today than it was in 1959. 00:26:08 Melissa: So when it comes to the toy industry, who's actually using their imagination to come up with like what to make for the future? Like, is it a combination of kids and adults? Is it like who's actually imagining like right now, like in the Mattels, et cetera, you know, what's coming down the line like 10 years from now? It's going to be hot and cool. And like, how do you how do you imagine something like that? 00:26:36 Chris: Well, it's hard. I mean, I think I think it's like, you know, my crystal ball usually needs a shot of Windex so I could get a clearer sense. But it's more an art than a science, that's for sure. And it's looking at trends. It's looking at how are kids playing, how are they interacting, how are they socializing, what is fun to them, and what's going on in the culture at large. Because the toy industry always reflects the culture. 00:27:03 Chris: We're always reflecting, because kids, you know, most healthy kids, they aspire to being big. They wanna grow up and they want the things like their parents have. So back in the, you know, in the early 2000s when cell phones came out, you saw tons of preschool cell phones, right? You don't see that so much anymore because the preschoolers have a real cellphone. 00:27:25 Chris: But you see things that will allow them to feel like they are part of the culture and they are growing up into it and that they are older and perhaps more capable than they really are because that's an important imaginative tool to help in the maturation process. 00:27:41 Melissa: That's fascinating. So that's true. It was definitely a lot of like, I don't know, mommy and me things. Like you see them with like a cash register or like a Target cart, right? The plastic little one, right? Cause their parent is shopping at Target. And so I wonder because it's like, there's some habits that as a parent, like maybe we wanna shake off ourselves, but we're inadvertently doing a lot. 00:28:06 Melissa: So like the cellphone one, I'm like, oh God, yeah, mommy has a cellphone and now her child does too. And it's like, how can I stop? And it's a reinforcement, but I'm wondering, okay, so in terms of the future and in terms of toys, have you ever done or seen any sort of things where the mom was playing with the child versus the child was playing by themselves? Like any differences there? 00:28:31 Melissa: Because I would love to just kind of inspire a listener right now to consider the fact that actually getting lost in play with their child can be even more beneficial than just having your child play with a toy to the side and you're doing something completely different. 00:28:52 Chris: I think that is critically important. One of the things that we're talking to parents of Gen Z and Gen Alpha kids. And Gen Alpha was born 2010 to this year. And one of the things that parents talk about is some of the best part of their day is when they're playing with kids. And what I always suggest is that if you're playing with your kid, especially if they're a preschooler, let the child run the play and you respond. Don't tell them, oh, look at this, oh, do that. 00:29:24 Chris: And you don't have to teach, it doesn't have to teach them anything, right? It doesn't have to teach. Kids are going to learn. So really letting that child's imagination drive the experience because, you know, I think every parent has had the experience where your child comes up with something and you go where did that come from? 00:29:45 Melissa: 100%. All the time. 00:29:47 Chris: And it's because they're sponges and they're listening to their absorbing everything and then they're processing it to their childlike brains or their childish brains. So I think that letting the child do that, but being there and being in communication is really important. 00:30:02 Chris: When I was growing up and maybe when you were too, we had three different worlds. We had kid world where no adults came in and the kids were doing that. We had adult world where we weren't allowed, where the parents would do that. And then there was family world, which is dinner and vacations and being yelled at about your grades or whatever that was. 00:30:21 Chris: But those three worlds don't really seem to exist anymore. And parents and kids are much more integrated in one another's lives. I think that's an outcome of COVID. It's actually a very positive outcome from COVID. Because you as mom and dad, have fun with your kids. Come on. It's, again, back to the idea of process rather than outcome. They don't have to become an expert ball player. They don't have to become an expert thing at times. They can actually just learn and play and discover the world and share those discoveries with you. 00:30:51 Melissa: Yeah, I love that. And I think it's an opportunity for someone that has to think a lot in life and feels the stresses of life to kind of let go and just stop thinking and just going with what is. Be present. You know, be totally present. 00:31:12 Chris: Be totally present and just be open to what it is. It's trying not to, as I was saying, it doesn't have to have a definitive outcome. And the one thing I think we've lost track of, often in our culture right now, is the idea of embracing process. It's really okay to make mistakes. It's really okay to try something, as long as you get up and start again. 00:31:36 Chris: I mean, how many times have you, I was talking about, for me, I learned to ski late. And I'm a really mediocre skier. I'm enthusiastic, but I'm not good. And I had somebody who was teaching me and he said, Chris, eventually I was scared. Eventually you're gonna have to point your skis down the hill. So I did it, I fell a lot, I did that, but I was so eager to learn that I'd fall and get up again. 00:32:04 Chris: I had to learn how to get up, but that's the thing that I think is, you know, if you have an idea of where you'd like to go but embrace the process on the way there because who knows what you're going to learn and what you're going to discover. 00:32:16 Melissa: Yeah, I definitely agree with that. I think that's the key to any goal. It's just you have to really fall in love with the process as you head towards the vision the goal, you know, whatever it is that you're trying to accomplish. And I also love the fact that, you know, as with play it's like there's something that's so pure about it, you know, when left on unmanipulated. 00:32:40 Melissa: It's like as a parent, we might have this desire to like educate our kids up to wazoo with regards to like every educational toy out there and every moment with we're with them, we're teaching them another language or coding or something. But I think, you know, just being open to a little bit, you know, unstructured play and that time with your child has so many benefits. And I think, you know, Chris, the work that you're doing just stay connected to like play as just being fun and okay and positive is is really helpful. Thank you so much for the work that you've done. 00:33:18 Chris: Thanks. I mean, I really do think that it as I mentioned, joy before it really does open the door to being joyful and going, oh, wow, that's fun, you know? I mean, when was the last time you said, oh, wow, that's really fun. 00:33:31 Melissa: 100%. Yeah, for sure. Thank you so much, Chris. So where can listeners continue to learn about their favorite toys, about you, about what's up ahead in the toy industry? 00:33:42 Chris: You can come see the toyguy.com. That's probably the best way. And then on Instagram, I'm thetoyguy. So, yeah. And I post a lot of pictures from things like toy fairs and different things and things that are fun for me and that make me giggle. 00:33:58 Melissa: Thank you so much, Chris. Have an awesome one. 00:34:01 Chris: Thank you. 00:34:03 Melissa: My three takeaways for this conversation that you can absolutely take to the bank and apply in your home are, first, this idea that playing with our kids has benefits for our kids, but also for us, especially if you're a super busy mom. It helps put you in the immediate present moment. So that's a big, big perk right there. 00:34:25 Melissa: Second is this idea that it's all about the process as opposed to the final answer. And that's something that I know is hard to think about when you're constantly thinking about what's next in your life. So thinking about play as something that you're doing and it's a process instead of to put together that Lego piece might be a great shift in your thinking and could relieve you of the stress and pressure of getting things right. 00:34:54 Melissa: Second, no, actually my third point here, my third point would be that in terms of the benefits of playing, I hadn't realized how psychologically deep some of these toys touch the minds of our kids. So the simple fact that we are thinking about, you know, working out relationships when you're doing a diorama, which may have been the case for me personally or maybe you're thinking about whether or not you have skills like a superhero, which was something that Chris shared, I just never thought about how psychologically interesting playing with a toy could be. 00:35:32 Melissa: So you might want to reconsider this idea that playing with a toy is just a way to distract your child or keep them focused on something other than breaking things. There could be real psychological value and also something for you to just consider psychological opportunity when it comes to the choices behind the toys we put in front of our kids. 00:36:00 Melissa: So I hope you enjoyed this conversation. Again, this episode was brought to you by my book, Fertile Imagination. I am excited about it. It's a guide for stretching every mom's superpower for maximum impact. Your imagination is your superpower. That is why I had Chris on the show today. I encourage you to check out the show notes where you could actually purchase the book and let me know that you did. I am always available for conversation and any questions. Thank you so much and I appreciate you. And until next Tuesday.
On this episode of the cerealboxprizepodcast we take alook back at some of AArons awesome toy pickups from 2024. We get into a little discussion about thrifting and how Savers should be called "Spenders" with there insane price increases. And our main topic of the show LoyalSubjects gets the HASBRO license for Jem and The Holograms, Popples, My Buddy, My Pet Monster, and M.A.S.K. So grab your favorite snack and hi-c ecto cooler as we serve you 3 scoops of pop culture
No marriage this side of glory is perfect. Dennis and Barbara Rainey are joined by Bob Lepine to help you avoid repeating mistakes and instead turn them into something that will strengthen your relationship.What You'll Learn in this episode:The Importance of Understanding: Discover why getting to the heart of why something affects your spouse is more meaningful than just knowing what to avoid saying or doing.Rookie Mistakes Are Normal: Hear Dennis and Barbara talk about the rookie mistakes they made in their early years of marriage and learn why these mistakes are a natural part of growing together.Handling Differentness: Understand how recognizing and appreciating the innate differences between men and women can enhance your relationship.The Value of Perseverance: Learn why it's crucial to stick together through thick and thin, adapting and growing in love over the years.Biblical Blueprints for Marriage: Get insights on how having a shared biblical foundation can help couples navigate life's challenges together.Fun Fact from the Episode:Did you know that teasing as a form of affection can backfire? Bob shared a funny yet insightful anecdote about how teasing, which was normal in his family growing up, didn't translate well with his wife Marianne, particularly when he pointed out her pimples. It's a prime example of a rookie mistake that many can learn from!
Créée par Jean Chalopin et sa société DIC, la série sert surtout à mettre en valeur une gamme de peluches. Elle arrive en France à la rentrée de septembre 1986 sur TF1, dans La Vie des Botes, mais elle sera aussi rediffusée assez régulièrement dans le Club Dorothée. Comme pour toutes les séries de Jean Chalopin, les musiques des Popples sont produites par Haim Saban et composées par Shuki Levy. Le générique est chanté par Noam.
While dolls, games, and action figures have existed for decades, even centuries, in the 1980s toys became big business – the industry earned an estimated $12 billion in America in 1986 alone. IP concepts and trends that started in the 1960s and 70s were fully developed, manufactured, and marketed to eager moppets transfixed by after-school cartoons or breakfast cereal tie-ins. And the toys themselves were incredible, with many of the most popular lines standing the test of time even decades later. Now the Great Pop Culture Debate wants to determine: what IS the Best 80s Toys Line? Toy lines discussed: Cabbage Patch Kids, Jem and the Holograms, Micro Machines, G.I. Joe, Pound Puppies, Polly Pocket, Masters of the Universe, My Little Pony, Care Bears, Star Wars, Strawberry Shortcake, Rainbow Brite, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Popples, Thundercats, Transformers. Join host Eric Rezsnyak and GPCD panelists Karissa Kloss, Kate Racculia, and Zack Derby as they discuss and debate 16 of the most legendary toy lines of the 1980s. Great Pop Culture Debate is brought to you by Factor Meals. Visit factormeals.com/greatpop50 and use the code greatpop50 for 50% off your first box plus 20% off your next month. Play along at home by finding the listener bracket here. Make a copy for yourself, fill it out, and see if your picks match up with ours! For more exclusive content, including warm-up in which we discuss the toys we were bummed didn't make the bracket, become a Patreon supporter of the podcast today. Sign up for our weekly newsletter! Subscribe to find out what's new in pop culture each week right in your inbox! Vote in more pop culture polls! Check out our Open Polls. Your votes determine our future debates! Episode Credits Host: Eric Rezsnyak Panel: Karissa Kloss, Kate Racculia, Zack Derby Producer: Bob Erlenback Editor: Bob Erlenback Theme Music: “Dance to My Tune” by Marc Torch #80s #80stoys #1980s #80skid #cabbagepatchkids #motu #transformers #tmnt #mylittlepony #starwars #heman #gijoe #jemandtheholograms #actionfigures #dolls #toys #stuffedanimals Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Cloverleaf Radio's host "The Host with the Most" Jimmy Falcon welcomes 40 year toy designer (Hasbro, Tonka, Wrestling Buddies, Ranbow Brite, Jem, Popples) and so much more, as well as author, Stefanie Eskander! Check it out! visit Stefanie online at... www.stefanieeskanderdesign. com! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jianetwork/support
In 1984, Marvel Comics created a spinoff line of all-ages kid-targeted comics called STAR COMICS! Overseen by Tom DeFalco and Sid Jacobson, the Star Comics line lasted through 1988 and introduced the comic reading world to the original characters Misty, Planet Terry, Royal Roy, Top Dog, Wally The Wizard, and [most famously] Peter Porker: The Spectacular Spider-Ham! -- along with comics based on licensed IPs from cartoons and toy lines, including [deep breath...] Air Raiders, Animax, Care Bears, Chuck Norris' Karate Kommandos, Defenders of the Earth, Droids, Ewoks, Flintstone Kids, Foofur, Fraggle Rock, The Get-Along Gang, Heathcliff, Hugga Bunch, Inhumanoids, Madballs, Masters of the Universe, Muppet Babies, Popples, Rocky & Bullwinkle, SilverHawks, Strawberry Shortcake, ThunderCats, and Visionaries: Knights of the Magical Light! Joining us on this nostalgic adventure is special guest ADAM THORN, founder of the annual TerribleFest Film Festival! TERRIBLEFEST 7 is happening on March 22-24 2024 at Toronto's Eyesore Cinema - admission is just $3 per movie, or $12 for a weekend pass! Find out more at https://terribletoonietuesday.tumblr.com/terriblefest/ and https://www.instagram.com/riotatthemovies/ --- Join our Patreon for weekly bonus episodes! https://www.patreon.com/theveryfinecomicbookpodcast/ Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/theveryfinecomicbookpodcast/ and send us questions to potentially read on-air via IG DM or via email at theveryfinecomicbookpodcast@gmail.com If you're enjoying The Very Fine Comic Book Podcast, please take the time to Rate it [on Spotify], Rate+Review it [on Apple Podcasts], Follow/Subscribe, and tell a friend! New episodes forthcoming weekly! Mail us things c/o Justin Decloux, Unit 1010, 3230 Yonge St, Toronto, ON, M4N 3P6, Canada Thanks for listening! Keep reading comics! ---
Only two more stops to go on this classic cartoon voyage! On this second to last stop we are going to be "popping" in on the Popples! Another show that I didn't recall watching too often but remember mostly for the plush toy advertising! Now sit back, relax, pop some popcorn or pour yourself your favorite bowl of cereal and enjoy the show! Don't forget to rate and review this podcast wherever you get your podcasts from! Follow Me on: Instagram: @mindofsmoothie Threads: @mindofsmoothie Tumblr: mindofsmoothie.tumblr.com YouTube: https://youtube.com/mindofsmoothie Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/mindofsmoothie Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindofsmoothie Website: https://www.mindofsmoothie.com Music: "Mind of Smoothie" Intro, and "Friday Smooth" by Ryall K "Transition Riff" by capthowdy1027 of Howdy Inc.
This week on the Time Blaster Toy Cast, we'll be joined by legendary toy designer STEFANIE ESKANDER! From Rainbow Brite, to Popples, to Jem, to WWF Wrestling Buddies... Stefs designs played a huge part in all of our lives & with a career spanning decades, there's so much to discuss, so let's get into it! The Time Blaster Toy Cast is a nostalgic podcast about growing up in the 1980's & 1990's, with a specific focus on action figures, video games, junk food and retro geek stuff. Hosts Keith, Joe & Dave are your weekly tour guides as we travel back in time... when toys were cooler, movies were funnier, times were simpler & life in general was just MORE RAD! Got a question, comment or idea for our show? Want to share a story of your own with us? The Time Blaster Toy line is open 24/7! Leave us a voice message or shoot over a text message at 734-494-2292 Follow us on Instagram: @timeblastertoys @theretroko @mathew_priest --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/timeblastertoycast/support
Thank you for tuning in! In today's episode, we will look back at some of the most bizarre and long-lost cartoon series of the 1980s and 1990s including Heathcliff, The Popples, Denver the Last Dinosaur, Wish Kid, and Camp Candy! You'll learn a bit about the backstory of some of the shows, the characters and the talented voice actors behind them, and so much more! On this episode, I announced that the Pop Culture Retrospective Podcast has a new sponsor - Protocol Labs! They have created some of the most well-respected and effective skincare products available. Visit their website here: https://protocol-lab.com/ Enter the promo code: thepcretrospective25 at checkout to get 25% off of your order! Thank you so much Protocol Labs for listening to my show and for being a sponsor, I really appreciate it! Support the showVisit: https://www.popcultureretrospective.com/ for all things Pop Culture Retrospective! Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/popcultureretrospective/ Follow me on Twitter!: https://twitter.com/PopCultureRetroReview the show! https://www.popcultureretrospective.com/reviews/new/Pop Culture Retrospective Merch!: https://pop-culture-retrospective-pod.myspreadshop.com/allEmail me anytime: amy@popcultureretrospective.com
Another multi-hyphenated talent is back on Alicyn's Wonderland! ADR Director, voice actor, content creator, and ultra-marathoner Ezra Weisz is back to inspire, encourage, and share some awesome insider stories about his many works and passions! As a prolific voice actor, Ezra has done voices in many popular anime shows, including Blade of the Immortal, Vampire Knight, Rurouni Kenshin, Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion, and Blade of the Immortal. He is best known for his ADR directing work for various animated shows, including Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug, Lupin the Third Vs. Cat's Eye and Cat Noir and Popples. In this episode, Ezra and I cover a whole range of topics, starting with the things that push him to run ultramarathon distance races and what he loves about being able to help others make positive changes in their lives. He then takes us on a nice walk down memory lane as he recounts how he got involved in Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir and gives us insider stories on what it's like to work on the show! Finally, Ezra and I talk about working together on Lupin vs. Cat's Eye for Prime Video. Make sure to listen to the end to find out who is Ezra's favorite Miraculous ship!Timestamps:[04:33] What Ezra loves about being able to help others[07:42] How Ezra got involved in Miraculous: Ladybug[09:18] Ezra talks about Popples[13:04] When did Miraculous start to get traction?[14:51] How ships got Miraculous sailing to the top[28:01] Why Ezra loves warming up live audiences[30:34] Ezra talks about working with Alicyn on Lupin vs. Cat's EyeFollow Alicyn:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alicyn/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@alicynpackardTwitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/alicynLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alicynpac...Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alicynpackar...Website: https://www.alicynpackard.com/Follow Ezra:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ezraweisz/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ezraweiszTwitter: https://twitter.com/warmupguyFacebook: https://facebook.com/ezrafanclubAlicyn's Wonderland | Inside the World of Animation & Games
This week on HDWGW, we are joined by actress and comedian Jenny Slate to discuss everyone's favorite plush toy that resembled a sleeping bag: POPPLES! We discuss the difficulty but satisfaction of putting the popple back in its home, the curious nature of celebrity poppels and the recent cartoon reboot of the celebrated brand. We also discuss Jonah's cool new GQ hat, embarrassing encounters while buying ice cream and why there's few feelings on Earth better than receiving a free Bluetooth speaker. (No mugs, please.) Finally we play an inspired round of LEGIT MOAN OR UNNECESSARY GROAN where we go "battlezone" about lawnmowers, discuss how you should treat your bicycle when parking it outside a Subway Restaurant and debate whether magazine coupons belong to you or to the library where you're reading the latest issue of People. The results just might surprise you. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thank you for tuning in! On today's show we will be taking a look back at the top holiday toys for each year spanning 1980 to 1989. From the Rubik's cube to He-Man to Popples, and everything in between, you will learn not only what toys were at the top of kid's wish lists, but also a bit of a backstory behind each item. So kick back, relax and enjoy!Please check out my new website! Yahoo! Visit: www.popcultureretrospective.com You can listen to old episodes, read more about the show, leave reviews and more! Please visit my new website: www.popcultureretrospective.com Follow me on Social Media!Twitter: @popcultureretroInstagram: @popcultureretrospectiveEmail me: popcultureretrospective@gmail.com
In an attempt to record with the Popples, we screwed the pooch. What the heck is a Popple, you ask? Join Danie and OG and learn more about the little community we both have been a part of for centuries. Also, don't forget to answer our question of the week, down below. Dont worry, nobody's judging you....or are we?
The year was 1986 and Those Characters From Cleveland (TCFC) were at it again, creating a new stuffed animal so cute that you would want to just roll it up and turn it into a ball. That's right we talked about Popples this week and found out about all the crazy P names along with some outrageous prices.
Täglich vom 1. bis zum 24. Dezember
This week we are joined by our friend Brian to discuss the first episode of Popples(1985). Follow us on Facebook or Instagram at @8bitFusion or visit our website www.popculturejunk.com! Thanks for listening and remember to rate and review us on your platform or choice! Also don't forget to join our Facebook group, Saturday Morning Showdown, for further discussions and fun!
On this week's episode Needless Things is teaming up with The Clown is Down to talk about some of the forgotten toy lines of the past! Everyone knows about Star Wars, GI Joe, and Transformers. But what about Supernaturals, Popples, or Mighty Crusaders? It's time those unsung heroes got some love, too! Listen in as Dave talks to Keith and Pete – the hosts of The Clown is Down podcast – about the little toy lines that could have, but didn't, on the newest episode of the Needless Things Podcast! Be sure to join the Needless Things Podcast Facebook Group and get in on the conversation for this week's episode! Let us know what you think! “Procrastibate” by LeSexoflex.com You can follow Needless Things on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for all the latest on pop culture! Hungry for more movies, music, and pop culture? Visit the Needless Things Archives for a decade of dorkery!
Sometimes the best ideas are only the best until something better comes along. This episode is a tribute to just such things. This week we are discussing toys that for whatever reason have been forgotten in time. Perhaps there were technological advances, perhaps the trends were moving along too fast and they got left behind, or perhaps they just sucked and needed to be taken out in the desert and buried (We're looking at you Atari). In whatever case, join us as we remember Monchichi, Popples, Wuzzles, Rock Lords, the Power Glove and more this week on the Power Hour. Let us know what you think: Email the show at retropowerhour@gmail.com Call 669-237-3876 and tell us whats on your mind. That's 669-BE RETRO. Join the discussion on Facebook. Looking forward to hearing from you all and thank you for your continued support. Like what we're doing? Please consider supporting the show with a small donation. Every bit will help us level up and do some really cool stuff. https://anchor.fm/retropowerhour/support and we thank you for listening. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/retropowerhour/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/retropowerhour/support
AndrewDoordash: https://www.doordash.comPostmates: https://postmates.comLaurenDrawing Monsters: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/hellboy-s-creator-mike-mignola-a-documentary-film#/PatrickPogs: https://firstwefeast.com/drink/2016/01/surprising-history-of-pogs-juice-companyTOMY Turnin' Turbo: https://circuitbeard.co.uk/2017/08/28/tomy-turnin-turbo-dashboard-outrun-arcade/Crossfire: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dkc2vYUEA9wTamagotchi: https://tamagotchi.com/Mighty Max: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mighty_Max_(toyline)Barnyard Commandos: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barnyard_CommandosGI Joe: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G.I._JoeCreepy Crawlers: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ThingmakerPolly Pocket: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polly_PocketStreet Sharks: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Street_SharksMoon Shoes: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moon_shoesTalkboy: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TalkboySkip It: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skip-ItPopples: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PopplesStretch Armstrong: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stretch_ArmstrongGlow Worms: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glo_Worm
The title says it all...this week we take a ride on the Nostalgia Express and dive into some TV shows we remember from our youth, and Jasmine tells me about the old cartoon "Popples" and now I'm scared...Also, apparently Kim K's daughter is the next Bob f**king Ross. What is happening!? Grab a beverage, pull up a seat and find out! Cheers! *DON'T FORGET! Subscribe to The Irish Exit Podcast and leave us a 5 star review. If we like what you write we may just read it on the air!*
Today we celebrate the American Romantic poet who wrote: "The rose that lives its little hour is prized beyond the sculptured flower..." We'll also learn about the man who made Six Hills Nursery famous. We hear some words about autumn by an American Poet Laureate. We Grow That Garden Library™ with a book that rocked the Vegetable Cookbook world three years ago - and here’s a hint: the author divided the year into Six Seasons. And then we’ll wrap things up with a recipe I received from a friend recently for a delicious Golden Squash Soup. Subscribe Apple | Google | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeart To listen to the show while you're at home, just ask Alexa or Google to “Play the latest episode of The Daily Gardener Podcast.” It's just that easy. Gardener Greetings Send your garden pics, stories, birthday wishes, and so forth to Jennifer@theDailyGardener.org Facebook Group If you'd like to check out my curated news articles and blog posts for yourself, you're in luck because I share all of it with the Listener Community in the Free Facebook Group - The Daily Gardener Community. There’s no need to take notes or search for links - the next time you're on Facebook, search for Daily Gardener Community and request to join. I'd love to meet you in the group. Important Events November 3, 1794 Today is the birthday of the American Romantic poet and nature-lover William Cullen Bryant. As a young man, William became an attorney. His first job was in Plainfield, Massachusetts - a town seven miles away from his home. In 1815, William was walking to work one day in December when he spied a lone bird flying on the horizon. The image moved him so much that William wrote his poem called To a Waterfowl. William Cullen Bryant is a favorite poet among gardeners. Here’s an excerpt from a little poem by William called A Winter Piece: ...When shrieked The bleak November winds, and smote the woods, And the brown fields were herbless, and the shades, That met above the merry rivulet, Were spoiled, I sought, I loved them still,—they seemed Like old companions in adversity. When he was alive, William Cullen Bryant visited Wodenethe - the 20-acre estate overlooking the Hudson River purchased and sculpted by Henry Winthrop Sargent. Sargent’s naming of Wodenethe was a marriage of two old Saxon terms Woden (pronounced Woe-den) and ethe, which stands for woody promontory ( promontory ), of high land that juts out into the sea or a large lake; a headland. Sargent turned Wodenethe into a personal arboretum, where he artfully used trees to frame the Hudson's incredible views. One reviewer said it was, “a bijou full of interest for the lover of rural beauty; abounding in rare trees, shrubs, and plants, as well as vases, and objects of rural embellishment of all kinds.” William Cullen Bryant loved Wodenethe, and he was particularly charmed by an illusion that Sargent had created on the property. Sargent had created the view from inside his house to look like the lawn extended out to the Hudson, creating the illusion of a sharp dropoff - almost like the lawn ran out to the edge of a cliff. To help pull this off, Sargent would send his young son Winthrop out onto the lawn with a fishing pole where he would pretend to fish off the edge of a nonexistent cliff. On one occasion, a lady visitor commented on how SHE wouldn't let her own children play so close to that dropoff. In reality, Winthrop was sitting a good mile away from the water's edge - quite safe on the flat earth of the lawn nestled among the trees. Sargent's masterful vista created an artful and beautiful illusion - a trick that he even pulled on his good friend William Cullen Bryant. Wodenethe so moved William he wrote his poem “A Scene on the Banks of the Hudson.” Here’s an excerpt: All, save this little nook of land, Circled with trees on which I stand; All, save that line of hills which lie Suspended in the mimic sky,— Seems a blue void, above, below, Through which the white clouds come and go; And from the green world's farthest steep, I gaze into the airy deep Loveliest of lovely things are they, On earth, that soonest pass away. The rose that lives its little hour Is prized beyond the sculptured flower. November 3, 1881 Today is the birthday of the English garden writer, plant explorer, renowned nurseryman, alpine specialist, and a founding member of the Alpine Garden Society, Clarence Elliott. Clarence had a remarkable career, and he cast an enormous shadow from his legendary nursery in Stevenage called Six Hills. If Six Hills has a familiar ring to it, you might be familiar with the popular and prevalent landscape plant and stalwart of most garden borders cultivated at Six Hills: the Nepeta Six Hills Giant. Or, perhaps you were thinking of the Penstemon Six Hills - another Clarence offspring. And many gardeners have forgotten that the Mrs. Popple Fuschia - was actually a nod to the Popples - a couple who lived near Six Hills. One day Clarence spied Mrs. Popple’s gorgeous hardy Fuschia. After taking some cuttings, Clarence ultimately won an RHS Show Award of Merit for the Mrs. Popple Fuschia in 1934. Nearly a century later, gardeners still grow this beloved starter Fuschia in their gardens today. When Clarence wasn’t scouring his neighborhood (or the world in general) for new plants, he was busy mentoring other horticultural greats like Will Ingwerson and EK Balls. The great Graham Stuart Thomas worked at Six Hills for 24 years. A gardener’s gardener, Clarence even invented a little garden tool he dubbed The Widger. Somehow Vita Sackville-West ended up with a Widger, and she wrote that it was “the neatest, slimmest, and cheapest of all gadgets to carry in the pocket.” Vita continued: "[Clarence] invented the Widger, its name, and the verb "to widge", which, although not exactly onomatopoeic, suggests very successfully the action of prising up—you widge up a weed, or widge up a caked bit of soil for the purpose of aerating it—all very necessary operations which before the arrival of the Widger were sometimes awkward to perform. This small sleek object, four inches long, slides into the pocket, no more cumbersome than a pencil, and may be put to many uses. Screwdriver, toothpick, letter-opener, Widger, it fulfills all functions throughout the day… it is the perfect gadget.” Unearthed Words And the dead leaves lie huddled and still, No longer blown hither and thither; The last lone aster is gone; The flowers of the witch-hazel wither … — Robert Frost, American poet and Poet Laureate Grow That Garden Library Six Seasons by Joshua McFadden This book came out in 2017, and the subtitle is A New Way with Vegetables. This is one of my favorite vegetable cookbooks ever. Joshua’s book won a James Beard Award for Best Book in Vegetable-Focused Cooking. His book was named a Best Cookbook of the Year by the Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, Bon Appétit, Food Network Magazine, Every Day with Rachael Ray, USA Today, Seattle Times, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Library Journal, Eater, and more. “Six Seasons: A New Way with Vegetables is poised to join the veggie canon. . . . The flavors are big. . . . They’re also layered and complex, despite their apparent simplicity. What will really change your cooking is [McFadden’s] approach to seasoning. . . . Trust me: Read this book and you’ll never look at cabbage the same way again.” —Bon Appétit “Downright thrilling. . . . Divided into six seasons rather than the traditional four—a more accurate reflection of what’s happening in the fields—the book encourages readers to embrace what he calls ‘the joyful ride of eating with the seasons. . . .’ On page after page, McFadden presents a deliciously enlightening way of cooking with vegetables.” —Sunset This book is 384 pages of vegetable magic. You can get a copy of Six Seasons by Joshua McFadden and Martha Holmberg and support the show using the Amazon Link in today's Show Notes for around $23 Today’s Botanic Spark Speaking of recipes, I wanted to share a delicious recipe I received from a friend for Golden Squash soup. It’s a keeper. Golden Squash Soup 3 leeks (white portion only) 4 medium carrots chopped 5 Tbl. butter or margarine 3 lbs. butternut squash peeled, sliced 6 c. chicken or vegetable broth 3 medium zucchini, peeled, sliced 2 t. Salt 1/2 t. dried thyme 1/4 t. white pepper 1 c. half & half 1/2 c. milk In a soup kettle over medium heat, saute leeks and carrots in butter for 5 min., stirring occasionally. Add squash, broth, zucchini, salt, thyme, pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover simmer until vegetables are tender, about 30 min. Cool until lukewarm. In a blender or food processor, puree soup until smooth. Return to the kettle, add cream and milk, and heat through. Do not boil. If desired, garnish with parmesan cheese and chives. yields 12 - 14 servings ( 3 ½ qts )
Amphibia, Lupin the III Part 4, Big City Greens, & Popples. JOIN OUR DISCORD CHAT! WE NOW HAVE SHIRTS AND MORE FOR SALE! Broadcast on October 25th, 2020Featuring:Dave Roberts, Tyler Moliterno, Felipe Diaz-Vera, & Bianca Michaelson Summary:Bianca didn’t like most of this,
This week on @PowerPalsPod we put on our bibs and visit the Island of Dr. Moreau for a sex banquet. Along the way we discuss embarrassing toys from the '80s and movies we didn't know we were allowed to not like. At the end, one common thread is revealed - the art of ballet.
Get ready for a fast-food run or maybe a home delivery of some McD's! Why? Because Larry, Dan, and Producer Dave are talking about the best Happy Meal toys of the 80's! Do you remember the Changeables? McFurby's? You won't believe what some of these old toys are worth. We also have another segment of our "5 Minutes in Pop-Culture History with Mike the Voice Monkey"! Watch Our Recap Slideshow and Video Show Content at YouTube.com/poprockspodcast Our Facebook page @poprockspodcast Our Instagram is @poprockspodcast Our Email is poprockpodcast@gmail.com
Hey fam! It’s that time of the month. (No, not that time. Well, also probably that time. Where’s the moon at?) The time when we fawn over your emails and messages and then read them back to you. Today we’re talking about ponzi schemes (what a cute word, btw. Easily confused with Popples and ponzu sauce), Belle Gibson, the Houston Astros, Glen A. Joy, speaking in tongues, making love to a garden, optavia, Savage x Fenty, corporate cults, and a hot air balloon festival with no balloons! The topics are all over the place but the key takeaway here is that you’re the best and we love you! (Also this is Sue and I’m so sorry that my audio is peaking in the beginning I’m literally doing the best I can.) Resources: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2014/09/the-law-school-scam/375069/ https://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/01/business/law-school-grants.html?referer=https://www.google.com/ https://www.businessinsider.com/highest-paid-law-dean-in-the-country-2013-1) http://optaviamedia.com/pdf/learn/OPTAVIA_LRN-Integrated-Compensation-Plan-080117.pdf http://optaviamedia.com/pdf/LEARN/OPTAVIA_LRN-IDS.pdf https://www.optavia.com/optaviacategorypage/essential-kits https://youtu.be/UAhgEfm74ew https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medifast Visit scamwowpodcast.com for our Patreon, TeePublic, and more. This episode is sponsored by Modern Fertility. Send us your scams! scamwowpodcast@gmail.com Or call: 347-509-9414 DISCLAIMER: We are comedians and this is satire. C’mon.
Sure you're familiar with the voices of Dan and Larry, but who's this new guy you've been hearing adding his 2 cents to the conversation? Why it's Producer Dave! Join Dan and Larry as they start a new segment, "Get To Know..." And they kick it off by getting to know the shows producer, Producer Dave. Watch Our Recap Slideshow and Video Show Content at YouTube.com/poprockspodcast Our Facebook page @poprockspodcast Our Instagram is @poprockspodcast Our Email is poprockpodcast@gmail.com
The Popples were a brightly colored bear-like stuffed animals that could roll up into a pouch. Their inspiration may have come from a pair of socks and they were created by the same lady who brought us Care Bears and Strawberry Shortcake. This is a look back on how the Popples came to be, the popular cartoon, and how Shelley Duvall is somehow involved in all this... Show notes: Popples
MovieSquat (2:44) Staying Alive + The Hills Have Eyes Part 2 = "The Hills Have Tony"TubeSquat (10:07) Supercarrier + TV's Bloopers & Practical Jokes = "U.S.S. Have Mercy"ToySquat (18:50) Skateboard Smack-Ups + Popples = "Popple Smack-Ups"GameSquat (28:04) Warrior of Rome II (Genesis) + Canyon Bomber (2600) = "Bomber: Random War"Recap (42:55)⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀RetroSquat.com / YouTube / Twitch / iTunes / Google Play / Stitcher / @retrosquatJOIN us as we record LIVE, Mondays at 7pm EST on Twitch and YouTube!Music/SFX: https://evanking.bandcamp.com/album/20xxWant to be a guest host for a segment? DEMAND to be on the show!
Dave Matthews joins the podcast to discuss Episode 217, Daphne’s Room. Diana really liked Popples back when she played in the NHL. Dave’s mom knows …
Snap, Crackle and Popples? Listen in as Todd and Dave discussion the Netflix series Popples. Follow us on Twitter/ parentmistakes and Facebook/ parentingmistakes
Fancy Nancy, star of Fancy Nancy's Funny Hour, and stickler about animals, joins Nick and Lars to watch the 1986 live-action tie-in program for Popples, a plush toy thing or whatever. In this episode, terrifying stuffed animals infect the minds of impressionable young children and tear a family apart. Topics discussed within include keeping secrets from adults, Shelley Duvall's inscrutable agenda, and being murdered by popples. Send your emails to letters@breakfastquest.net! Watch the show we watched HERE! ...and SUBSCRIBE TO BREAKFAST QUEST ON iTUNES!
February’s Interview: Donna Christie Donna Christie - the talented voice behind Iggy and Cleo (Heathcliff and the Catillac Cats) joins Tim for this amazing episode of Saturday Morning Rewind! (podcast intro recorded by Larry Kenney from the original Thundercats) PLEASE rate us/subscribe on iTunes. Find us online: www.saturdaymorningrewind.com And FOLLOW us on Facebook and Twitter!
Endlich bekommt ihr wieder etwas auf die Ohren! Und diesmal extra lang und rand voll mit gequatsche über die GamesCom, die RBC und natürlich die Popples!!!
The toys of the 80's were literally a perfect storm of relaxing federal regulations, the proliferation of cable TV and syndication and media tie-ins. Gone were the previous generation's large 12" and clothed dolls. The late 70's saw a relatively unknown film usher in a new era of action figures and with it a new approach to toy marketing. With the advancements in technology in the last 20 years, such as life-like video games and the World Wide Web, unfortunately kids will never have an experience like we did. While we normally cover the 4 boys' lines that have dominated action figure isles for the last 30+ years, this time around we talk about our other favorite lines from what many kids that grew up during that time call the best decade ever, the 80's.
In this quasi-"live" episode, recorded with Patrick, Ray, and Ashley all in the same room, sound quality and general coherency goes out the window a bit. We discuss King's new take on life as a married man, Goldfish Krakens, Untapped Casino Themes, the persuasive powers of Scarlett Johansen, Popples, and much, much more. Somehow we even discuss the validity of Taquitos as a foodstuff. Joining the regular cast are the regular cast-joiners, Ashley and Leslie, whom you may remember from Episode 3. We blamed them for the amount of semen and masturbation discussion, and there's a minimal amount of that in this episode.
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