Episode 429 – The Berenstain Bears Visit the Credit Union PART 2!

I never thought we’d revisit this book, but Jeremy Gloff had some huge news about it and Bradley Mariska tagged along and this episode became a Collector Boys ep!

Episode 428 – The Berenstain Bears Long, Long Ago

Hey! Do you wanna go back in time? DO YOU WANNA GO AROUND THE WORLD?! Well, let’s go back in time and around the world and let’s bring a REAL HISTORIAN WITH US! Dan Everton is an anthropologist and historian and a whole bunch of fun and I’m so glad to finally have him on the show for “The Berenstain Bears Long. Long Ago!”

Episode 427 – The Berenstain Bears We L❤️ve the Library!

Hey! Do you l❤️ve the library? Well, guess who else l❤️ves the library! My guest, Erin Gambrill, that’s who! Join me and Erin and we talk about “The Berenstain Bears We L❤️ve the Library!” They do! They do l❤️ve it!

Episode 426 – The Berenstain Bears and the Ducklings

Make way for ducklings… I might say if that was the book we were discussing this week. But, it isn’t, so I won’t. Still, make way for them in general. The Bear family sure does and that’s kinda the plot of this week’s book? “The Berenstain Bears and the Ducklings!”

Episode 425 – The Berenstain Bears Gifts of the Spirit ❤️ Politeness

Man oh man, is there anything worse than being forced to sit through a terrible music recital? How about having to be POLITE afterwards? It’s “The Berenstain Bears Gifts of the Spirit ❤️ Politeness!”

Episode 424 – The Berenstain Bears’ Holiday Cookbook, Part 1

Elana is back with me for the first part of our “The Berenstain Bears’ Holiday Cookbook” coverage! Woo hoo!

Episode 423 – The Berenstain Bears’ Extra Special Valentine

It’s Valentine’s Time, so you know what that means! Brian and Christy are back for their annual Valentine’s Day book coverage and we actually have a new book to talk about. It’s “The Berenstain Bears’ Extra Special Valentine” and it’s SHORT and WEIRD and SO ARE WE. Check it out!

Check out Brian’s podcast Center of Weirdness at predictocast.libsyn.com and check out Christy’s podcast Pizza Toast at withthewhatnow.wordpress.com!

Episode 422 – The Berenstain Bears Stay Healthy

This week I am joined by returning guest Becca Peter to discuss “The Berenstain Bears Stay Healthy!” It’s a brand new book and a very prescient book and a very strange book in so far as its setup is concerned. A musical about the topic? With no music? Because it’s a book? Sure! Why not?! Stay healthy! Give it a chance!

Episode 421 – The Berenstain Bears’ Country Cookbook

This week, I am joined by the lovely Elana to discuss “The Berenstain Bears’ Country Cookbook.” It’s a little bit country; a little bit cookbook. But, do the recipes… recipe? Find out now!

Episode 420 – The Berenstain Bears’ Bedtime Blessings

When is a ladder not a ladder? When it’s Jacob’s Ladder! Or… staircase. Or, ramp. Doesn’t matter. What matters is that Jacob is the focus of this week’s book “The Berenstain Bears’ Bedtime Blessings”! Because Jacob goes to bed, I guess? Zzzzzz.

Episode 419 – The Berenstain Bears’ BIG Machines

You want big machines? We got big machines! Well, the Bears got big machines. It’s “The Berenstain Bears’ BIG MACHINES!” They’re big! Really!

Episode 418 – The Berenstain Bears Brother Bear and the Kind Cub

It’s a retelling! IT’S A RETELLING! This week, we’ve got a RETELLING of a book we covered only a couple years ago. Whoulda thought? It’s “The Berenstain Bears Brother Bear and the Kind Cub” and it’s SIMPLE. You can read it all by yourself!

Episode 417 – The Berenstain Bears The Very First Christmas

Oof. Let’s talk about The Nativity. It’s “The Berenstain Bears The Very First Christmas!”

Episode 416 – The Berenstain Bears Welcome To Bear Country!

This week, we’re heading off to… Bear Country? Yeah, Cousin Tex is here so we’re giving him a… sorry, Mayor Honeypot(?) is giving his a tour of Bear Country! And, he hates it! It’s “The Berenstain Bears Welcome To Bear Country!” Whew!

Episode 415 – The Berenstain Bears Play Football!

This week, the Berenstain Bears play football in “The Berenstain Bears Play Football.” No kidding!

Episode 414 – The Berenstain Bears’ Show-and-Tell

This week, the Bears go back into the attic to dig up some old treasures! It’s “The Berenstain Bears’ Show-and-Tell!”

Episode 413 – The Berenstain Bears God’s Wonderful World

We’re back in nature this week with… wait, have I done this before? It’s “God’s Wonderful World” y’all! Woo!

Episode 412 – The Berenstain Bears Bless Our Gramps and Gran

You ever hear of this Grandparents’ Day? And how does Nixon fit into all of this? It’s “The Berenstain Bears Bless Our Gramps and Gran!”

Episode 411 – The Berenstain Bears: Here’s the Church, Here’s the Steeple

Open it up… where are the people? It’s “The Berenstain Bears: Here’s the Church, Here’s the Steeple” and we’ve got a LOT to discuss.

Episode 410 – The Berenstain Bears Bless Our Pets

It’s Halloween! And you know what that means! A book about our pets and the blessing of them thereof. That’s right! The Bears are GOING TO CHURCH and GETTING THEIR PETS BLESSED. It’s “The Berenstain Bears Bless Our Pets!”

Episode 409 – The Berenstain Bears Gifts of the Spirit ❤️ Helping

I was so happy to have a new Gifts of the Spirit book to talk about. Then, I opened it and read it and something felt familiar. It’s “The Berenstain Bears Gifts of the Spirit ❤️ Helping” and… we’ve been here before. Right?

Episode 408 – The Berenstain Bears Sister Bear and the Golden Rule

This week, Sister Bear takes canter stage with a rehash of a book we covered back in 2021. It’s “The Berenstain Bears Sister Bear and the Golden Rule!” That’s clunky. But, that’s the title!

Episode 407 – The Berenstain Bears We ❤️ Baseball!

Spoiler alert! We don’t. The Berenstain Bears have a long history with the game of base-based balls and we are NOT going to explore it. Instead, we’re going to take a look at some clues as to the history of Bear Country, some clues as to the identity of their most famous baseball player and some clues as to the inner mind of Grizzly Gramps. It’s “The Berenstain Bears We ❤️ Baseball!”

Episode 406 – The Berenstain Bears’ Pirate Adventure

Yar. Ahoy. Blah blah blah. We’re off on a Pirate Adventure and the Berenstain Bears are taking us there. Thus, the title. It’s “The Berenstain Bears’ Pirate Adventure!” Shiver. Timbers. Etc.

Episode 405 – The Berenstain Bears Visit the Firehouse

This week, our Bear Family creates a major imposition on their local fire constabulary. also, the history of firefighting! Also, Restaurant. Apartments? Maybe!

Episode 404 – The Berenstain Bears Under The Sea

This week, let’s go down, down, down, with the Bear Family as they’re dragged to the bottom of the ocean to sleep with the fishes! It’s “The Berenstain Bears Under The Sea” and… there’s a lot of fish, I guess?

Episode 403 – The Berenstain Bears School Time Blessings

It’s back to school time, and you know what that means! GOD! It’s “The Berenstain Bears School Time Blessings!”

Episode 402 – The Berenstain Bears Around the World

This week, I’m taking you on a trip around the world! It’s “The Berenstain Bears Around the World” and it’s PROBLEMATIC!

Episode 401 – The Berenstain Bears We Love Our Mom/Dad!

I can’t believe I’ve been doing this show for over 8 and a half years and I’ve only now had my parents on as guests. That’s right! For the first time ever, Gale and Ruben Gonzales are on the show to talk about “The Berenstain Bears We Love Our Mom!” and “We Love Our Dad!”

Episode 400 – The Berenstain Bears Hospital Friends

It’s my 400th official numbered episode! In celebration, I have Mike Berenstain back on the show to talk about the history of “The Berenstain Bears Hospital Friends!”

Episode 397 – The Berenstain Bears We Love Soccer!

Finally, a book I can relate to: another soccer book. But, hey! It’s actually a fairly insightful book! It’s “The Berenstain Bears We Love Soccer!”

Episode 396 – The Berenstain Bears’ Harvest Festival

It’s not a Thanksgiving book! It’s “The Berenstain Bears’ Harvest Festival!”

Episode 395 – The Berenstain Bears God Bless Our Country

Happy Borthday Bear Country! It’s the celebration of the Fourth of July; the day the bears signed a thing to declare independence from… a king? It’s all a little vague, but remember THIS AIN’T AMERICA! Also, God. It’s “The Berenstain Bears God Bless Our Country!”

Episode 394 – The Berenstain Bears Gifts of the Spirit ❤️ Goodness

The Gifts of the Spirit are back! And they’re the Gifts of the Spirit that keep on Gift of the Spiriting. It’s “The Berenstain Bears Gifts of the Spirit ❤️ Goodness!”

Episode 393 – The Berenstain Bears’ Book of Prayers

And so we come to the end of the Worthy Kids/Hachette board book series with “The Berenstain Bears’ Book of Prayers.” But, this isn’t just a fond farewell to this series, oh no! I’ve got THE SCOOP on how it came to be and why it ended as well as some other JUICY TIDBITS from Mike Himself. So, strap in buckos!

Episode 392 – The Berenstain Bears’ Easter Blessings

When’s an Easter book not an Easter book? Well, when it’s June, for one thing. But also, when the author successfully avoids actually discussing Easter for the bulk of it. It’s “The Berenstain Bears’ Easter Blessings!”

Episode 391 – The Berenstain Bears All God’s Creatures

It’s a Berenstain Bears book where the Bear Family goes on a walk and looks at animals. I mean… that’s pretty much it? “The Berenstain Bears All God’s Creatures!”

Episode 390 – The Berenstain Bears Love One Another

This week is all about LOVE! As a verb. It’s “The Berenstain Bears Love One Another!”

Episode 389 – The Berenstain Bears’ Sleepy Time Book

Sleep, man. Ya dig? It’s pretty heavy stuff. Like, what even is sleep, my dude? You ever think that, like, sleep is, like, dying every night? Pretty intense, right? It’s “The Berenstain Bears’ Sleepy Time Book.”

Episode 388 – The Berenstain Bears Say “I’m Sorry”

When is an apology not an apology? What does “sorry” even mean? Does it count if your parents *make* you say it? It’s “The Berenstain Bears Say ‘I’m Sorry!'”

Episode 387 – The Berenstain Bears’ Please & Thank You Book

I know we’ve covered this before. I know we have! But, this is different? I think. In any case, get ready to learn too much about PLEASE and THANK YOU! It’s “The Berenstain Bears’ Please & Thank You Book!”

Episode 385 – The Berenstain Bears’ Graduation Day

This week, Willow joins me to talk about GRADUATION! Whose? Hers! And, the bears. But, they’re not REALLY graduating, are they? It’s “The Berenstain Bears’ Graduation Day!”

Episode 384 – The Berenstain Bears Visit The Credit Union

This week, we’re going to the Credit Union! Bet you thought it would NEVER happen! “The Berenstain Bears Visit the Credit Union” is a remarkably common, yet remarkably difficult to obtain, book in the Bears’ library. You have to join a credit union to get it! Or, watch it on YouTube. Like I did!

Episode 383 – The Berenstain Bears Gifts of the Spirit ❤️ Growing Up

This week, God gave the growth, eh? Honey Bear is growing up and there’s nothing for Mama to do but take the bull by the horns and do something smart by doing something completely expected? It’s “The Berenstain Bears Gifts of the Spirit ❤️ Growing Up!”

Episode 382 – The Berenstain Bears Gifts of the Spirit ❤️ Family

Brother Bear is turning an indeterminate age once again and none of his friends are coming to his party! And that’s a good thing? Also, who is Uncle Tex married to these days? What’s with the opening Bible quote? And, being in a family: kind of a mixed bag, right? It’s “The Berenstain Bears Gifts of the Spirit ❤️ Family!”

Episode 381 – The Berenstain Bears Gifts of the Spirit ❤️ Trust

We must, we must, we must increase our TRUST! It’s “The Berenstain Bears Gifts of the Spirit ❤️ Trust!”

Episode 380 – The Berenstain Bears Gifts of the Spirit ❤️ Fair Is Fair

This week, “The Berenstain Bears Gifts of the Spirit ❤️ Fair Is Fair” introduces us to a new character in Bear Country, we explore the Book of Zechariah, and we learn a little bit about what true justice may be.

Episode 379 – The Berenstain Bears Gifts of the Spirit ❤️ Love

This week, it’s all about LOVE, baby! Good ol’ First Epistle of John LOVE, BABEEEE! It’s “The Berenstain Bears Gifts of the Spirit ❤️ Love!”

Episode 378 – The Berenstain Bears Gifts of the Spirit ❤️ Sharing

After last week’s extensive deconstruction of the concept of “Caring” it only makes sense that this week I’d completely ignore the concept of “Sharing” and instead ramble on about not-Paul’s epistle to the Hebrews. Makes sense! It’s “Deep In Bear Country – The Berenstain Bears Gifts of the Spirit ❤️ Sharing!”

Episode 377 – The Berenstain Bears Gifts of the Spirit ❤️ Caring

It’s the first “The Berenstain Bears Gifts of the Spirit” book and we’re kicking it off with “Caring!” What is caring? Is it an attitude? And opinion? An action? What does it mean to care? Who are Fred’s parents? How many men has Aunt Min married? And what of THE TIMELINES? Let’s dive in, shall we?!

Episode 375 – The Berenstain Bears Talking Stories

I’ll show you love, I’ll show you everything
With mouth wide open
With mouth wide open
I’ll show you everything, oh yeah
With mouth wide open
Wide open

Episode 374 – The Berenstain Bears Keep the Faith

What – and this isn’t a theoretical – if the Berenstain Bears met an atheist?

Episode 373 – The Berenstain Bears Blessed Are The Peacemakers

“Did he say ‘Blessed are the chee-‘” you know what? I’ll let the episode do the joke. It’s “The Berenstain Bears Blessed Are The Peacemakers!”

Episode 372 – The Berenstain Bears When I Grow Up

I think we put too much pressure on kids to figure out what they want to be when they grow up. What about when they grow *down*? Why does no one ever talk about THAT? It’s “The Berenstain Bears When I Grow Up!”

Episode 371 – The Berenstain Bears are Superbears!

How do you like your superheroes? Bear style? In “The Berenstain Bears are Superbears” that’s what you get! And, you know what? I kinda love it.

Episode 370 – The Wild, Wild Honey Saga

Decades ago, the Berenstain Bears’ Saturday Morning Cartoon secretly presented a multi-part saga that only reveals itself when you’re bored and watching a Berenstain Bears Saturday Morning Cartoon. It’s the “Wild Wild Honey Saga!”

JUMBO RERUN Episode 255 – The Berenstain Bears’ Birthday Boy

One last rerun! It’s “The Berenstain Bears’ Birthday Boy” with BONUS CONTENT!

JUMBO RERUN Episode 250 – The Berenstain Bears and the Wrong Crowd/Rowdy Crowd

Another JUMBO BONUS! In 2020, Megan Sunday joined me to discuss “The Berenstain Bears and the Wrong Crowd.” Well, I’ve added twenty minutes to the end of BONUS content about the religious rewrite. Enjoy!

JUMBO RERUN Episode 249 – The Berenstain Bears and the Soccer Tryouts/Too Small For The Team

It’s a rerun from 2020, but with BONUS content! Christy Admiraal and I talk about SOCCER BALLS!

Episode 369 – The Berenstain Bears The Wonderful Scents of Christmas

Christmas is coming (slightly) early this year! It’s the Berenstain Bears’ first scratch-and-sniff book since “Papa’s Pizza” and it’s got TWELVE scents and they smell… sometimes. Sometimes they smell. It’s “The Berenstain Bears The Wonderful Scents of Christmas!”

Episode 368 – The Berenstain Bears Meet Bigpaw (2022)

You might think you’ve heard this story before, but… well, you have. But you’ve never seen it like this! 2022 brings us a whole new edition of “The Berenstain Bears Meet Bigpaw” featuring previously unpublished art by Stan and Jan Berenstain. It’s pretty cool.

Episode 367 – The Berenstain Bears and the Biggest Brag

Whaddaya get when Brother and Sister won’t stop bragging? You get Grizzly Gramps throwing a lot of Bible quotes at them and then yelling that they’re fool! That’s right, the worst bear in Bear Country is back to learn these kids a thing or two in “The Berenstain Bears and the Biggest Brag!”

Episode 366 – The Berenstain Bears Gone Fishin’

Is this my shortest episode in years? Yes. It’s “The Berenstain Bears Gone Fishin’.”

Episode 365 – The Berenstain Bears’ Lemonade Stand

My co-host from It’s Del Toro Time, my own Willow, is back to talk about the hottest bears in Bear Town. It’s “The Berenstain Bears’ Lemonade Stand!”

Episode 364 – The Berenstain Bears’ Phonics Fun

What’s more fun than talking about a Berenstain Bears book? TWELVE. Twelve books. It’s “The Berenstain Bears’ Phonics Fun” and… is it? Is it really?

Episode 363 – The Berenstain Bears Go Green!

The Bears care a lot for the environment, but in “The Berenstain Bears Go Green!” we’re not given an environmental tale so much as a treatise on the importance of having a decent municipal dump and a non-corrupt mayor. It’s “The Berenstain Bears Go Green!”

Episode 362 – The Berenstain Bears and the Trouble With Things

You know what stinks? THINGS! This week, Brian Skinner from Center of Weirdness is back to talk about how terrible it is to buy toys for your kids? Or King Solomon? Or something? It’s The Berenstain Bears and the Trouble with THINGS! Just… just things.

Episode 361 – The Berenstain Bears Thank God For Good Health

The Bear Family is typically fairly healthy, and who do they thank for that? GOD. It’s “The Berenstain Bears Thank God for Good Health!” It’s a rewrite if that means anything to ya. No?

Episode 360 – The Berenstain Bears God Bless/Loves the Animals

No, not the famous English rock ‘n’ roll band The Animals, but the actual animals walking around on the Earth! This week, we look at TWO Berenstain Bears books, but really? They’re the same book. But also? They’re not. It’s “The Berenstain Bears God Bless/Loves the Animals!”

Episode 359 – The Berenstain Bears Get Involved!

There’s a flood in Bear Town! Oh no! And it’s up to the Bear Family, and the entire town, to help out! Elana joins me for a book that actually involves the Bears… getting involved. It’s “The Berenstain Bears Get Involved!” And, spoiler: THEY DO!

Episode 358 – 60th Anniversary Interview w/Mike Berenstain!

Happy 60th Anniversary to the Berenstain Bears! In recognition of this incredible milestone, I’ve invited Mike Berenstain on the show to chat about those bears, his parents, his childhood and anything else we want to talk about. Happy Anniversary, Bears!

Episode 357 – The Berenstain Bears God Bless Our Home

This week, my voice is SHOT. Also, we learn a lot more about the Bear Family’s house, like the layout and structure and also how God fits into it, apparently? I like it! It’s “The Berenstain Bears God Bless Our Home!”

Episode 354 – The Berenstain Bears’ Dinosaur Dig!

The Berenstain Bears and dinosaurs go together like Rice Krispies and marshmallows… and butter(?) I think. So, I’m super glad to have the actual Dino Dad on my show to talk about “The Berenstain Bears’ Dinosaur Dig!”

Episode 355 – Berenstain Bears Games from SolidRoots

This week, Jen Armstrong, CEO of gaming company SolidRoots, joins me to talk about her company and how they came to design three new Berenstain Bears games for kids!

Episode 353 – The Berenstain Bears and the Tooth Fairy

You can’t HANDLE the TOOTH! I can’t believe we didn’t make that joke. Anyway, Brian Skinner is back and we’re talking puffy stickers, disappointing transformers, beating up the ice cream bike kid and something else. Oh right! “The Berenstain Bears and the Tooth Fairy!”

Check out Center of Weirdness, Brian and Josh Hollis’s podcast!

Episode 352 – The Dollar Tree Saga – The Saga Continues!

Updates from Dollar Tree Land with Bradley Mariska and Jeremy Gloff! Plus, Berenstain Bedsheets: appropriate bachelor bedding? And, a new Garbage Pail Kids card has Phil excited!

Episode 351 – The Berenstain Bears: All Things Bright and Beautiful

Bright AND beautiful? In THIS economy? It’s “The Berenstain Bears: All Things Bright and Beautiful.”

2022 Summer Rerun – 02

It’s the follow up episode to last week’s episode that is a rerun of the 2018 follow up to the first 2018 episode. It’s the Jellybean Books Part Two!

Episode 350 – Becca Peter!

So, Becca Peter is on the show because we had a couple of things to talk about. That’s it. Just wanted to chat!

Episode 349 – The Berenstain Bears We ❤️ Trucks!

You say you love trucks, but DO YOU? The Berenstain Bears do. You know they do because they use the actual heart in their title! It’s “The Berenstain Bears We ❤️ Trucks!”

Episode 348 – The Berenstain Bears Help the Homeless

What happens when you try to turn a spoooooky haunted house book into a book about aiding the unhoused? I don’t know. But, Elana is back to help me figure it all out. It’s “The Berenstain Bears Help The Homeless!”

Episode 347 – The Berenstain Bears’ Computer Trouble

Well, we got trouble, my friends. Right here in Bear Country. With a capital T and that rhymes with C and that stands for COMPUTER. This week, we welcome to the show Kate Queram, writer for States Newsroom, who has a bone to pick with the Bears and some thoughts about just how Papa came to be the voice of reason in “The Berenstain Bears’ Computer Trouble!”

Episode 346 – The Berenstain Bears Honey Hunt Helpers

Mitzi is back to talk with me about honey and hunting and helping. But, who is hunting whom and who is helping what? It’s “The Berenstain Bears Honey Hunt Helpers!”

Episode 345 – The Berenstain Bears Jobs Around Town

This week, we’re taking a look, and a look back, at a book we’ve covered in one form or another several times over the years. Only now, there’s some GOD in it. It’s “The Berenstain Bears Jobs Around Town!”

Episode 344 – The Berenstain BABY Bears Me First! Me First! Coping On The Playground

Okay, one final Berenstain BABY Bears book and this one has the delightfully long title of “The Berenstain BABY Bears Me First! Me First! Coping On The Playground!” So, join me as we discuss the pinnacle of BABY Bear books, the crossroads of Too-Tall’s psyche and “coping.” What does it even mean?

Episode 343 – The Dollar Tree Saga!

Okay, we’re back for real and I’ve brought Brad and Jeremy! They’re here to talk about something that’s been going in the Collector’s Group involving cups and puzzles and coloring books and Dollar Tree. It’s the Dollar Tree Saga, y’all!

Episode 342 – The Berenstain BABY Bears My Every Day Book

I was having a bad day and decided to record a Patreon episode in 2020. Here it is. “The Berenstain Baby Bears My Every Day Book.”

Episode 341 – The Berenstain BABY Bears My Trusty Car Seat

Wanna learn a bit about CAR SEATS? I hope you do because this week is another old Patreon episode “The Berenstain BABY Bears My Trusty Car Seat!” Let’s gooooooo!

Episode 339 – The Berenstain BABY Bears Pacifier Days

I’m releasing some old Patreon material! This is my first coverage of the Berenstain Baby Bears books. It’s about pacifiers! Hoorah!

Episode 338 – The Berenstain Bears’ Easter Sunday

Hoppy Easter, everyone! I wasn’t going to do an Easter episode this weekend, but things don’t always turn out the way we plan, do they? So, I’m releasing it EARLY to keep my word! Happily, Reverend Lauren is back to take us to Church and talk about Noah? It’s “The Berenstain Bears’ Easter Sunday!”

Episode 337 – The Berenstain Bears’ Easter Parade

I wasn’t planning on talking about Easter Parades, but here we are! It’s “The Berenstain Bears’ Easter Parade!”

Episode 336 – The Berenstain Bears and The Easter Story/The Very First Easter

The Reverend Lauren is back! Yes, Reverend Lauren McLeavey has returned to Bear Country to talk about Easter and, more specifically, the First Easter. and, even more specifically, “The Berenstain Bears and the Easter Story” as well as “The Berenstain Bears and The Very First Easter!” She gives us the skinny on how good a job those Bears do at telling us about the Resurrection (spoiler: a pretty good job!) And, we might go off on a few tangents!

You can find The Reverend Lauren here, here and here!