Episode 179 – The Berenstain Bears and the Big Question!

DIBC-EP179-01.jpg

Here on “Deep In Bear Country” we know that I do like to blather on about topics I have no training in, especially religion! But, I’m breaking with tradition this week by inviting onto the show the Reverend Lauren McLeavey!

Lauren and I talk about “The Berenstain Bears and the Big Question” and . . . what is this question. Well, it’s about God. Capital G God. Sister gets all “asky” about the guy and Mama sets her straight by dragging the family to church. Along the way we talk about church architecture, Quakers and seminary. It’s a roller coaster of a talk! Check it out!

Episode 178 – The Berenstain Bears and the Mad, Mad, Mad Toy Craze!

Screen Shot 2019-01-10 at 3.42.57 PM.png

Do YOU have Beary Bubbies? Well, Brian Skinner, co-host of Predict-O-Cast, sure does. And he’s joined me to discuss Beanie Babies, Toy Crazes and anything else that passes through our old addled brains.

Episode 177 – The Berenstain Bears Lend a Helping Hand!

DIBC-EP177-01.jpgIt’s pretty bold to start an episode by coughing directly into the mic, but that’s the kind of seat-of-your-pants entertainment you can expect from Deep In Bear Country in the New Year!

This week, Elana joins me once again to talk about “The Berenstain Bears Lend a Helping Hand!” Brother and Sister must overcome their extreme apathy to help Miz McGrizz clean out her attic and they must do it with the promise of nothing more than the pleasure of helping others and possibly the acquisition of tens of thousands of dollars in collectibles.

Episode 176 – The Berenstain Bears and the Joy of Giving!

DIBC-EP176-01.jpg

And with this, the fourth episode in our Holiday Extravaganza, we *end* our Holiday Extravaganza. And what an ending to go out on “The Berenstain Bears and the Joy of Giving.” This book has it all: pageants, Jesus, presents, malls, Santa, Bearbie. It has everything you could possibly hope for in a Berenstain Bears Christmas book.

And I have everything I could possibly hope for in listeners like you. Merry Holiday everyone!

Episode 175 – The Berenstain Bears and the Christmas Angel!

DIBC-EP175-01.jpg

Things are getting Christmas-y up in here! We’re back with more Christmas explorations as we tackle “The Berenstain Bears and the Christmas Angel.” Now, this is a Zonderkidz book, but don’t let that scare you, man; let that free you! Take a look at how Mike addresses the existence of angels and their myriad heavenly responsibilities. Also, Snowbears: more progressive than our gendered human counterparts?

Episode 174 – The Berenstain Bears’ Night Before Christmas!

DIBC-EP174-01.jpg

Hey, you guys wanna hear some more INTERESTING CHRISTMAS FACTS?! Well, buckle up, buttercup, because here comes “The Berenstain Bears’ Night Before Christmas!”

Episode 173 – The Berenstain Bears and the Nutcracker!

DIBC-EP173-01.jpg

It’s the Season of Giving, the Season of Cheer, the Season of Something, Christmas is Here! And with the Christmas comes the Christmas episodes!

This week, I’m taking a hard look at a hard nut. Or, a hard nutCRACKER! It’s “The Berenstain Bears and the Nutcracker” and I get to the book at about the 25 minute mark. In the meantime, I give a bit of backstory of the tale of the nutcracker itself. Join me join me!

Episode 171 – Get Their Kicks!

DIBC-EP171-01.jpg

As many of you know, I do not tend to follow the vagaries of the sporting life. And so, when it comes to Berenstain Bears books on sports, I’m usually at a loss. Thankfully, I have the ever eager David Kalan on speed-dial to talk about sports while I listen and absorb his knowledge. This week, David joins me to talk about “The Berenstain Bears Get their Kicks” and everything that entails!

Episode 170 – The Homework Hassle!

DIBC-EP170-01.jpg

We’re back with an ACTUAL BOOK! It’s exciting! You know what else is exciting? Homework. Wrong! It’s Brian Skinner! Brian Skinner is exciting and he’s back on the show to talk about taxes, homework, radio shows, peanut butter and not doing your assignments! It’s a meandering conversation that sometimes comes back around to “The Berenstain Bears and the Homework Hassle!”

Check out Brian and his lovely co-host Josh on their Show Predict-O-Cast!

Episode 167 – The Spooky Shadows!

DIBC-EP167-01.jpg

Nick Wood, from “Stranger Still” and “Limited Cel” returns to Bear Country to help me confront my fears and to talk about 1994’s “The Berenstain Bears and the Spooky Shadows!” Does this book teach a good lesson about fear? Did Sister learn to weaponize shadows? Do Bear Country bears grow an extra finger at puberty? Join us to find out!

Episode 166 – The Baby Chipmunk (1993, 2003, 2005)

DIBC-EP166-01.jpg

What’s sadder than a baby chipmunk who’s been abandoned by his mother? Maybe a pocaster sitting in his car on a rainy day talking about a baby chipmunk who’s been abandoned by his mother? Maybe? What if he talks about THREE different incarnations of the story? How would that make you feel?

Episode 165 – Jellybean Books (Part 2)!

DIBC-EP165-01.jpg

I have two more Jellybean Books to get through and my COLLECTORS have joined me in this bizarre and satisfying task!

Brad and Jeremy phase in and out of reality as we talk about “Scardies!” and “Twitchies!” and “CROTCHIES” because CROTCHIES IS CANON! CROTCHIES IS CANON! CROTCHIES IS CANON!

To see Brad’s full list of Berenstain Bears books, visit his website! To buy Jeremy’s music, visit his website! To join the Collectors and Fans Group, visit the Facebook page!

Episode 164 – Jellybean Books (Part 1)!

DIBC-EP164-01.jpg

This week, I’m taking a look at three books in the Random House Jellybean Books series “The Berenstain Bears Get the Screamies” “The Berenstain Bears Get the Noisies” and “The Berenstain Bears Get the Don’t Haftas.” Why have you never heard of these books? Because they tend to not stand out. Why *should* you have heard of them? Because they might be amazing.

Episode 163 – Lenny!

DIBC-EP163-01.jpg

⛥ Ǹ̷̘̝̞̰͍͆̀o̴͈̅̽̑̉̚t̷̬̹͖͕̃̿̃͂̈́ ̴̨͙̿ŕ̴̪͇̘ȩ̴̬͙̣͉͒ả̶̪̠͚̙͆͂l̴̥̔͑͆l̷̡͈͎̜̊̔y̵͚̤̒̌̇͠ ̸̙͎̲̄̆̋͊͝ś̶̚͜u̶̱͒̋͐̚͝r̸̰͘͠ͅe̵̙͓͒ ̴̧͈͉̼̯̅͋̏w̵̮̰̆́̏̚͝ͅh̴̩͖̯̆͘͠ả̶̮̈́̒̄̽t̶̡͓̾ ̷̛̟͉͇̹̌ͅt̴̮̺̩̀̂̓õ̶͓̖͚̳ ̵̤̍w̵̩̝̳̙̎̓̄͝r̴̝͆í̷̝̙͔́͛t̴̖͉͘͠e̶͙̿̀̀̏̕ ̶̨̡͙̹͚͛͛a̸̧̪̯̰͐͘b̶̭̱͖̰̌͌͒́̚ơ̶̫̳ǔ̶̡̥̺̉̆̒t̷͙̹̃̊̈́ ̵̢̟̇̓͛̉̚t̷̨͙̜͎̀͒̇ḧ̵̢̢̛͕͉͝í̷̧̛̟̠s̵̢͈͕͂ͅ ̴̘͉̟̪́̆͝o̷̝̯͇̾̌͜n̷̲͇̂e̶͖͇͈̥̽̃̏͌.̶͍͉̇͋̓̃͠ ̸͉̮̈́̕̕͜I̶̡͖̖̼̒́̚t̵̳̅͝’̷̩̝͊̊̃͝s̷̻̰̣̊̐͠ͅ ̵̲̪͋͆̅͒k̴̝̂i̵̠̯̱̺͋͗ͅǹ̸̼d̷̛̩̾̄͜ą̴̫͖͎̆͝ ̸̝̰͚͙̃̌̋m̶̡͎̩̼̣̂͛̎ẻ̸̦̥̲̒͌š̸͕̩̮̭͌ş̸͈̣̙̮͠e̶̙̊d̴̠́̓̽ ̷̡̲̪̒̽̊͂̕u̷̘̤͙̾̑̍͝p̷͚͓͝ ̷̢̃̈́̅͐̾a̵̬̻̍͜ṅ̴͈͇̼̯̔͘d̸̟̈́ ̸̭͉̟͊̾̇͜Ỉ̶͇́̃̍’̶̻͍͛̀̉̐m̵̫̟͓͔͔̅̚͠ ̵̡̜̊h̴͚͕͒̂̈́á̵̘͍v̶̜͚͂̀͋͊ì̴̮̺͊̇̉͜n̴̢͍͓̼̆̾̓́̃g̸̨͍̃̅͒͊̆ ̴͎̝̾̀̆t̴̰͓̣̦̀͂ŕ̶̳̖̙̱̲͆͊̂ȍ̸̖̲͂̈́̇͐ủ̸̯͝b̷̨͔̈l̵̢̨͔̟̗̆ê̷̱̲̼̝̕ ̴̫̖̌͗̉g̸͇̞͖̰̈͑͝ë̴͙͔́̌͘ţ̸̛̫̰̳̱͂̆͋́t̴͔̻̮̖̉̄͒į̶̟̠̺̐́͆̓̕n̸̡̩̽ͅg̸̖̞̬̓́̎ ̴̡̺͠m̴̟͚̭̗̘͆̆͂͝ỳ̵̳̪͔̰̹̔̾̀ ̸̧͇̪̀̉́̑́t̸̪̳͕̃́̇h̸̞̜͉͂̅̈́͜͝ō̴̥͆ữ̸͓̺̾̓ġ̵͎͒̑h̶̜̬̠͆̉t̸̢̑̉̽̀͝s̸̯̾͒͌ ̸͖̹͕́̐̓t̶̹͖̯̹͂̈́̄̎͠ò̴̟̜̠̋̒̆g̷͙̮̲͙̻̃̏͋̃͘e̷͇̯̼͆̋̍̕̚ṭ̴̜̮̋͐h̵̞̭̞̺́́̒͌̕͜e̸̡͇̥͆͘̚̕͜r̸̯̟̭͔̐̚ ̴̋͋̚͜ơ̶̢̯̣͕̭̄̀n̶͙̹̏̎̈́ ̷̛̮̖̯̻̀̅̇i̵̡͒͛̚͝t̷̨̲̦̐̍͊͜.̶̢̣̂̄̓͠ ☠

Episode 162 – The Blame Game!

DIBC-EP162-01.jpg

When is a book *not* a book? When you can’t figure out what the heck point it’s even trying to make. This week, Christy Admiraal from Nerdist and The California Diarists Podcast joins me to talk about(?) “The Berenstain Bears and the Blame Game!” It’s a book that almost ceases to be a book and ends up being just a bunch of pieces of paper. It’s weird. Why is this book?

Episode 161 – Count Their Blessings!

DIBC-EP161-01.jpg

When is a story *not* a story? When it’s TWO stories! Elana joins me to discuss these two stories and how they don’t really add up or connect or ever speak to each other in “The Berenstain Bears Count Their Blessings.” Does the beginning of the book forget about itself? Does the thunderstorm make the cubs forget about toys? Are there poor people in Bear Country? Who knows?! We sure don’t!

Join me over on Patreon! Become a patron and enjoy bonus episodes and more!

Episode 160 – GROW-IT! Mother Nature Has Such A Green Thumb!

DIBC-EP160-01.jpg

Psst! Hey everyone! You, uh . . . you wanna learn about vermiculite? Shh! Don’t let everyone hear, or they’ll all want in on this. Well, I got a book for you that not only mentions vermiculite about a dozen times, but doesn’t really explain what it is! Sound good? Hello? Oh, you left.

THIS WEEK, I have on my show two very good friends, Aaron and Melanie, who know a LOT about vermiculite as well as farming and growing plants and being generally incredible friends. They’re here to fill me in on the fine art of GROWING FOOD and PLANTS and OTHER THINGS related to the book “The Berenstain Bears GROW-IT! Mother Nature Has Such A Green Thumb!”

Episode 159 – The [REDACTED] [REDACTED] and Too Much [REDACTED]

DIBC-EP159-01.jpg

My collectors are back! Brad Mariska and Jeremy Gloff have joined me to discuss a book that is the worst thing and that should not exist. “The Berenstein Bears and Too Much Tequila” is dumb, bad and dumb and bad and I hate it. I hate it. I hate that I’m even discussing it in a public forum. I hate it. Enjoy!

Episode 158 – PATREON QUESTION: POLICE BLOTTER!

DIBC-EP158-01.jpg

This week, I answer a question from Patreon Subscriber Michael, who asks, “What do you think the Bear Country police blotter looks like on a typical day (let’s say big chapter books continuity since that’s where we are)?”

Episode 157 – The Green-Eyed Monster!

DIBC-EP157-01.jpg

This week! My dear college friend, writer, director, performer, monologist, cartoonist Brad McEntire joins me to talk about “The Berenstain Bears and the Green-Eyed Monster!” And, boy do we ever talk about it! And, a lot of other things!

Check out Brad’s many projects at his website! He always has a dozen things going on.

BONUS CONVERSATION – Phil and Brad on The Out-of-Doors

DIBC-LOGO-iTunes.png

In this excised excerpt from the upcoming “The Berenstain Bears and the Green-Eyed Monster” Phil and his guest Brad McEntire go off on a long tangent about Scouting and Camping. It has nothing to do with the book and everything to do with Phil’s neurotic aversion to the Great Outdoors.

SUMMER RERUN – Go To School!

dibc-ep15-rerun.jpg

Let’s go WAY back in time to EPISODE 15! That’s right! I remember thinking “Oh, man, I’ve done maybe a MILLION of these shows!” But, I hadn’t. Just the fifteen. My guest was Rachael Schlee who is currently appearing in Medusa at the Minnesota Fringe Festival!

We talk all about Kindergarten and prepping for school. The sound isn’t great becuase I still didn’t understand how microphones worked! Still don’t really. Ah well.

SUMMER RERUN! – The Bad Dream!

DIBC-SUMMER RERUN BAD DREAM-01.jpg

It’s July and I’m BEAT. I had a birthday; now my girlfriend’s having a birthday; I gotta clean the stove; there’s summer camp, doctor’s appointments, school shopping, UGH! Time for a rerun.

This week, let’s go back and enjoy a Deep In Bear Country CLASSIC! Brian Skinner joined me in my steamy backyard to talk about ACTION FIGURES. And DREAMS. And HORRIBLE LAUGHING.

Episode 156 – The Bully!

DIBC-EP156-01.jpg

This week, I am very excited to welcome Jason Bucklin onto the show. Jason is the LGBTQ Programming Director for Minneapolis Public Schools and he’s here to talk about “The Berenstain Bears and the Bully” a book I’ve been excited yet nervous about for three years. Jason walks us through what bullying is, how parents can constructively address bullying with their children and the longterm effects of unaddressed bullying.

Minneapolis Public School Bully Prevention Resources: http://sss.mpls.k12.mn.us/bullying
National Bullying Prevention Center: http://www.pacer.org/bullying/classroom/elementary/
Out4Good Minneapolis Public Schools LGBT Programs: http://osfce.mpls.k12.mn.us/policy

Episode 155 – The G-Rex Bones!

DIBC-EP155-01.jpg

This week, I’m joined by Erin Ayers – one half of the Over the Table Top podcast – to discuss a tale of fraud and dinosaurs. It’s “The Berenstain Bears and the G-Rex Bones!” How far will Ralph go to secure a million dollars? Pretty far! Will he sell out his own personal values and ruin the reputation of a fine upstanding bear like Actual Factual? Sure! Will any of this plot make a lick of sense? Nope!

Episode 154 – The Missing Merit Badges & The Search for Naughty Ned

DIBC-EP154-01.jpg

Ollie is back, my partner in crime from It’s Del Toro Time! and we’re talking about . . . something. What even are these? It’s the first two Merit Badge Mysteries “The Missing Merit Badges” and “The Search for Naughty Ned” and, well, animals talk? Dr. Mr. Wide Old Owl? Naughty Ned? It’s clear we’re in a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT CONTINUITY AGAIN. Oh well.

Episode 153 – The Evil Eye!

DIBC-EP153-01.jpg

When is a book NOT a book? When it’s a sequel to a book YOU’VE NEVER READ! Yes, this week I discover the peril of not knowing which book comes after which as I delve into the second part of an apparent two-parter that isn’t actually that difficult to understand; it’s a book for children. It’s “The Berenstain Bear Scouts and the Evil Eye!”

Joining me to talk about this confounding book is the completely confounded founder of the celebrated Twitter account Best of NextDoor, Jenn Takahashi! Jenn is confused by everything going on, but that’s fine because she has been mentioned in an article in The Atlantic and have the Berenstains? Well, yes actually. They have on a number of occasions. Still, Jenn has been mentioned MOST RECENTLY!

Episode 152 – The Perfect Crime (Almost)!

DIBC-EP152-01.jpg

This week, Jamie Tyler, author of the “Cowabloga” Ninja Turtles blog, is BACK to talk about the most convoluted, frustrating, fascinating and satisfyingly unsatisfying Big Chapter Book I’ve read in a while: “The Berenstain Bears and the Perfect Crime (Almost)!” Yes, get that parenthetical in there; it’s important. Jamie and I work ourselves up to a fever pitch as nothing makes sense, adds up or resolves in any way resembling logical or even dramatically resonant. It’s amazing. And I love it.

Episode 151 – “Too Much Teasing” and “The Love Match!”

DIBC-EP151-01.jpg

Boy oh boy! Milton Chubb! Who is Milton Chubb, you ask? Only the strangest cub introduced in these here books. He’s introduced TWICE actually, in “Too Much Teasing” and in “The Love Match.” Two different formats that tell essentially the same story but in wildly different ways and for wildly different reasons.

To commemorate this event, I’ve brought John McCoy – host of the Sophomore Lit podcast and my co-host on Klickitcast: A Beverly Cleary Podcast – onto the show to try and suss out the point of these two books. Does the first one teach us anything about teasing? Why are Too-Tall and his gang so bad at it? Does Milton have parents, really? Do pigs have armpits? Who knows?! Not us!

Episode 150! – Collectors Corner 9!

dibc-logo-collectors.jpg.jpg

It’s been over a year and FIFTY EPISODES since I’ve had a proper Collectors Corner with Brad and Jeremy, so HERE WE ARE! And we are talking about EVERYTHING. So, kick back, relax and enjoy the ride!

You can find Brad’s complete list of Berenstain Bears books here and Jeremy’s music here.

Episode 149 – The Berenstains’ A Book

DIBC-Ep149-01.jpg

This week, I celebrate THREE YEARS of “Deep In Bear Country” by bringing back my first ever guest, Mitzi! And she’s . . . less than enthused by this week’s book. It’s the “Berenstains’ A Book” and it’s about the letter A! Hooray?

Episode 148 – The Trouble with Grownups!

DIBC-EP148-01.jpg

This week I am joined by not one, not two, not three, but FOUR GUESTS! It’s a veritable ROUND TABLE as I welcome back Elana, Corinna, Andrew and Scott – from Episode 55(!!!) “The Berenstain Bears Get Stage Fright” – to talk about “The Berenstain Bears and the Trouble With Grownups!” And, seeing as how we all have kids and we all do theater, I think we’re more than qualified to discuss a thing or two!

Episode 147 – Go Platinum!

DIBC-EP147-01.jpg

This week, I’m joined by the delightful Drew Stewart to rock out to “The Berenstain Bears Go Platinum!” It’s the gripping tale of Stan and Jan Berenstain really wanting to stick it to the music of today!

Episode 146 – The Big Date

DIBC-EP146-01.jpg

This week, I’m joined by Emily Bennett of Best Acquaintances to talk about the insidious nature of young jealousy! Like, seriously, it’s a pretty solid book that deals with a pretty serious topic for adolescent kids. I know!

Episode 145 – The Sinister Smoke Ring!

sqDIBC-EP145-01.jpg

This week, I am joined by Justin Harrison of Birth. Movies. Death. to talk about the incredibly long and detailed “The Berenstain Bear Scouts and the Sinister Smoke Ring!” This is a huge one, folks, and we talk about the influences of the story, how it came to be written, the interwoven plot threads, the mean attitudes of the denizens of Bear Country and many many other things in between. It’s DENSE and LONG and amazing.

Here is the link to Justin’s page for the BP MS 150.

Episode 144 – The Run-Amuck Robot!

DIBC-EP144-01.jpg

Oh boy oh boy oh jeez. This book, I swear . . .

I’m joined this week by Alexandra Bowser of Arthur, Mommy, Movie Time! to talk about the bizarre, sad, terrible, horrifying, rushed and ultimately satisfying “The Berenstain Bear Scouts and the Run-Amuck Robot!” What is Robow? Is he alive? Are any of us? Why was Ralph stripped naked and arrested? Why the lightning? Why is Gus? What is book?

Episode 143 – The Magic Crystal Caper

DIBC-EP143-01.jpg

This week, we get mired in ATOMIC MAGIC. Seriously. There is ACTUAL MAGIC in this episode. Or, is it science? Doesn’t matter. What does matter is that I have Megan Sunday from In The Attic here to help me through it. And, man, once Grizzly Gramps starts yelling, things get a bit unhinged.

Episode 142 – The Ice Monster!

DIBC-EP142-01.jpg

It’s ME! I’m all alone for this episode, so you know what that means: CONSPIRACY THEORIES! OLD RELIGION! FRACTURED REALITIES! ALTERNATE TIMELINES! OLD GODS! ANCIENT FAITHS! DOOMSDAY! THE END OF THE WORLD! RANTING! RAVING!

WELCOME.

Episode 141 – The Berenstain Bear Scouts Giant Bat Cave!

DIBC-EP141.jpg

Elana and Mitzi are back! Or, are here because they’ve never been on together!And we’re talking “Giant Bat Cave!” It’s a Berenstain Bear Scouts book and may, in fact be the *first Berenstain Bear Scouts book but, then again, maybe it’s not? Also, Elana gets really excited to talk about local politics and then has to settle for talking about bats.

Episode 140 – The Berenstain Bears and Queenie’s Crazy Crush!

DIBC-EP140.jpg

Helen LaStar, one of the hosts of Falling In Love Montage, joins me this week to peel back the layers of “The Berenstain Bears and Queenie’s Crazy Crush!” What happens when a young girl cub falls in love with a grown man and plots to trick him into coming over to her house when her parents are – you know what? I’m going to just leave that right where I found it. Just . . . just walk away from that one.

Episode 139 – The Berenstain Bears and the Haunted Hayride!

DIBC-EP139.jpg

Gena Radcliffe – one half of the Kill By Kill Podcast duo – joins me to talk about the decidedly NON-SCARY “The Berenstain Bears and the Haunted Hayride!” There’s no haunting but there IS a hayride although it is very short and they don’t go into a lot of details about it. Still . . . there it is.

Also, you can find Gena’s writing on a ton of different subjects here and I strongly suggest that you do!

st

Episode 138 – The Berenstain Bears and the Ghost of the Auto Graveyard!

DIBC-EP138.jpg

This week, Meghan Griffin is BACK and this time we’re not talking dress codes or drama, we’re talking . . . classic cars. I mean, I guess Bear Country has cars. And, some of them are really old. So . . . classic cars.

You can find Meghan at any of her three podcasts: Judging Book Covers, Fabelulous Retellings and A Handbook for Handbook for Mortals.

Episode 137 – The Bermuda Triangle!

DIBC-EP137.jpg

This week, I’m joined by Kacie Galyon to talk about one of the most surprisingly enjoyable books I’ve read so far in the Big Chapter Book series, ‘The Berenstain Bears and the Bermuda Triangle.” Kacie and I are taken somewhat aback by the mature handling of themes in this book, the twists in the plot and the revelation about Too-Tall’s age! Also, Bermuda . . . is that a good first name?

Episode 136 – The Terrible Talking Termite!

DIBC-EP136.jpg

Let’s close out this chunk of Bear Scouts books with “The Berenstain Bear Scouts and the Terrible Talking Termite.” This one was based on an episode of the cartoon and it shows and shows and shows. It makes little sense and to help me figure it out, I have Christy Admiraal, from Nerdist and VICE and the California Diarists podcast here to pick over this . . . plot? Ralph is in it, so that’s cool. Also, the termite? Not so terrible. Plus, do the authors understand what “insurance fraud” really is?

Episode 135 – The Sci-Fi Pizza!

DIBC-EP135.jpg

Wendy Mays from “Pet Cinematary” joins me to talk about the illogical happenings that occur when someone puts a remote control into helium-inflated pizza dough? Or, something? It doesn’t make a whole lot of sense, but Wendy is here to help me try to puzzle at least SOME of it out.

Episode 134 – Save That Backscratcher!

DIBC-EP134.jpg

Oh boy! Erin Gambrill from Ladies Who Library is here to talk about a book that COMPLETELY CAUGHT ME OFF GUARD! Like, seriously. There is so much going on in this one I needed to bring in a friend just to help me get through it.

Episode 133 – The Berenstain Bear SCOUTS Ghost VS Ghost!

DIBC-EP133.jpg

This week, I’m joined by Patrick Hamilton, one half of Kill By Kill, to talk about “The Berenstain Bear Scouts Ghost Vs. Ghost!” What happens in this book? Would you believe crime and deforestation? Probably. Would you believe GHOSTS! Well, calm down. Patrick and I puzzle over the book’s incredibly detailed look at survival skills, card catalogs and hucksterism, and it’s surprisingly short focus on ghosts. Also, a BIG SWITCHEROO! This book has everything! And by that I mean it doesn’t have much.

Episode 132 – The Berenstain Bears Don’t Pollute (Anymore)!

DIBC-EP132.jpg

I’m joined this week by Master of Pollution, Mark Sweeney! He gets it! He KNOWS. Mark Sweeney understands the complicated nature of pollution in bear country and the gentle grace with which the topic is handled in “The Berenstain Bears Don’t Pollute (Anymore)” parenthetical and all. Get to know us through the fine art of POLLUTION.

Episode 131 – Too Much Pressure!

DIBC-131.jpg

My CHILDREN ARE HERE and we’re talking about “The Berenstain Bears and TOO MUCH PRESSURE!” No pressure here, though. We’re cool as cucumbers.

Episode 130 – Christmas Tree COMMENTARY!

MRRRRRR CHZZZZZZMMZZZZZ! Mr. Mark Sweeney is BACK to talk about THE BEATLES and THE BARENAKED LADIES and . . . The Beatles? Also, we’ve got this COMMENTARY TRACK for you but it’s really just the middle part of a JAM PACKED episode of TWO GUYS HANGING OUT.

Here’s the video we used!

Episode 129 – The Berenstain Bear SCOUTS and the Coughing Catfish!

DIBC-EP129.jpg

Here I go again. It’s yet another retelling of the age old classing “The Coughing Catfish.” Does he cough? Yep. Is he a catfish? Yep. Is there a pirate ship? Oh yes. It’s a short one, folks!

Episode 128 – At the Teen Rock Cafe!

DIBC-EP128.jpg

It’s ME again! I’m back at my desk and I’m chatting about things like MALLS and STONE-WASHED JEANS and BEARY MANILOW and NOT MURDER THIS TIME.

Episode 126 – Maniac Mansion!

DIBC-EP126.jpg

This week, I’m joined by Sammi Campbell from Excessively Diverted to talk about this . . . weird . . . book. I mean, it’s great, but it’s weird. There’s ghosts but no ghosts! Bags under eyes and then no bags under eyes! Pajamas and no pajamas! What more do you want?!

Episode 125 – Blaze a Trail!

Brad Mariska sneaks on over to talk about “The Berenstain Bears Blaze a Trail” from 1987 – a book I ACCIDENTALLY SKIPPED!

Oh, and, it looks like there IS an animated adaptation! Waddaya know?

Episode 123 – The Berenstain Bear SCOUTS Meet Bigpaw!

DIBC-EP123.jpg

Those Bear Scouts are at it again! What is “it” exactly? Adapting cartoons into chapter books is what it is! That’s right, it’s the 1980 classic special “The Berenstain Bears Meet Bigpaw” rejiggered into a Bear SCOUTS book. Does it work? Eh.

Episode 122 – The Berenstain Bear Scots and the Humongous Pumpkin!

DIBC-EP122.jpg

Just when you thought they couldn’t create YET ANOTHER series for us to follow, we begin the next adventure in chaptered bookery “The Berenstain Bear Scouts!” And, man, are they plumbing the depths of the Saturday Morning TV series for this one. And, you know, that ain’t all bad.

I’m kicking things off with “The Berenstain Bear SCOUTS and the Humongous Pumpkin.” It’s got thrills, chills and PLOTS GALORE! Keep up, friends; things don’t get any easier to follow after this one.

Episode 121 – The Berenstain Bears’ Showdown at Birder’s Wood!

DIBC-EP121.jpgHey, there was an episode sort of based on “Showdown at Chainsaw Gap!” Only, they fixed the title and changed the plot. Kept the bird, though. So, Mark came back to talk about it! Here he is!

Episode 120 – The Berenstain Bears and the Showdown at Chainsaw Gap!

DIBC-EP120.jpg

Mr. Mark Sweeney RETURNS! And this time he’s got OPINIONS about BIRDS and CHAINSAWS!

Episode 119 – Media Madness!

DIBC-EP119.jpg

Jon Biegen and Nick Wood slide on over from Stranger Still to talk about children successfully managing a television station. That’s . . . that’s really all that happens in this book, so – so, lesson learned, I guess.

Episode 118 – Meeting Mike (Part 3)!

DIBC-EP110

It’s Part 3 of our Mike Berenstain meetup and Brad, Jeremy and I finally hit the archives!

2017-07-11 13.35.19.jpg
These boxes contain copies of books from various publishers.

2017-07-11 13.35.52.jpg
A photo of Stan and Jan rests atop one bank of art drawers.

2017-07-11 13.36.04.jpg
Mike shows examples of the color process and all the work that went into producing a single image.

2017-07-11 13.43.57.jpg
Some of Stan and Jan’s early comics work.

2017-07-11 13.45.41.jpg
The book that would become “The New Baby.”

The above is pages from an unpublished finished book.

The above is examples of the evolution of “The B Book.”

2017-07-11 14.14.08.jpg
The Mama and Papa cutout used for the magazine article.

Above is a slideshow of Stan and Jan’s early art school work and various studies.

2017-07-11 15.07.06.jpg
An unpublished children’s book.

2017-07-11 15.24.27.jpg
Mike’s assistant, Maryann.

Episode 117 – The Freaky Funhouse!

DIBC-EP117.jpg

Brian and Josh – from Predict-O-Cast and . . . another show – actually come INSIDE MY HOUSE and INVADE MY SPACE to talk about “The Berenstain Bears and the Freaky Funhouse!”

Join us as we talk about MURDER! ATTEMPTED MURDER! And . . . Frankenbear’s Monster? Also, the funhouse doesn’t figure into the plot as much as we’d have liked. What’s that chainsaw noise? Just us.

Episode 116 – The Galloping Ghost!

DIBC-EP116.jpg

I’m alone! I’m scared! I’m surrounded by ghosts! It’s a spooktacular book about TRAUMA. That’s right! The Berenstains wrote a secret book about dealing with trauma and I didn’t figure it out until near the end of the episode. Keep on surprising me, Big Chapter Books!

Episode 115 – The Berenstain Bears and the School Scandal Sheet!

DIBC-EP115.jpg

Ollie, my teen and co-host of It’s Del Toro Time! – A Guillermo del Toro Podcast, joins me this week to talk “The Berenstain Bears and the School Scandal Sheet!” In which we discuss the terrible things the cubs accuse a teacher of and also divide the cubs into their Hogwarts Houses. IT’s kind of a discussion that goes all over the place. Also, we talk about the importance of owning up to your terrible terrible mistakes how if you’re a cub, you face no consequences for those terrible terrible mistakes.

Episode 114 – Meeting Mike (Part 2)

DIBC-EP110We’re back with Part 2 of our big Mike Berenstain meetup! This episode, Brad and Jeremy and I get grilled as to our intentions; we talk about books whose success caught Mike off guard; what books didn’t do so hot; and dish the hot goss. Or, not. I can’t remember.

Episode 113 – The Berenstain Bears and the Giddy Grandma!

DIBC-EP113.jpg

Welcome to the world of degraded audio! Please bear with this terrible sounding episode, as I flop around trying to talk about “The Giddy Grandma.” Things didn’t work out according to plan, but I think I get my point across.

Also, I have a Patreon page!

Episode 112 – At Camp Crush!

DIBC-EP112.jpg

This week, I am joined by Michael M. Rader of We’ll Get It Right Next Year to talk about “The Berenstain Bears at Camp Crush!” This book gets WAY OFF TRACK and doesn’t really involve crushes and barely involves camping. It does involve the most loathsome of Bear Country characters, however, Mervyn Grizzmeyer. Ish.

Episode 111 – The Berenstain Bears and the Dress Code!

DIBC-EP111.jpg

Meghan Griffin of Judging Book Covers and Fableulous Retellings joins me to talk dress codes, law enforcement and a Berenstain Bears book that gets way more political than we were anticipating!

Episode 110 – Meeting Mike (Part 1)

DIBC-EP110.jpg

Hoo boy! This is it! The first part of our massive trip to the Berenstain Bears studio! It’s so big, I’m not only splitting it up, but I’m sprinkling it throughout upcoming episodes, just so you don’t get burnt out on this one thing. So, I’ll be alternating traditional episodes with Mike episodes. I think that’s fair!

2017-07-11 12.21.26
Mike’s desk at Berenstain Studios
2017-07-11 12.21.47
A look at the production schedule for upcoming books.
2017-07-11 15.25.22
Jeremy and Brad sitting with Mike.
Photo Jul 11, 12 29 51
Mike shows the cover of the upcoming bullying book featuring Skuzz! Pic by Bradley Mariska
Photo Jul 11, 12 28 14
The two alternate covers for “Why Do Good Bears Have BAD Days?” Pic by Bradley Mariska

Episode 109 – Diner Talk

DIBC-EP109.jpg

WHAT’S ALL THAT NOISE?! It’s ambiance. Brad, Jeremy and I sit in a diner in the Strong National Museum of Play and catch people up on just what we’d been up to. We give our impressions of the previous days and it all serves as a prelude to the major editing job I have in store for myself. Yeesh.

SUMMER RERUN – Meet the Berenstain Bears!

dibc-ep67

It’s summer and the week of the Fourth of July and I have no time to record a new episode. So, here’s a classic from the archives. Obviously, anything about upcoming anything is now hopelessly out of date. ENJOY!

Episode 108 – The Red-Handed Thief!

DIBC-EP108.jpg

What a weird book. Kerry Nelson from Random Sampling joins me to talk about the gross violation of trust that occurs at Bear Country School! Also, democracy in action? Maybe?

Episode 107 – The Berenstain Bears and the Drug Free Zone!

DIBC-EP107.jpg

Joel Torres of the Please Don’t Send Me Into Outer Space podcast joins me to talk about DRUGS! And DRUG ZONES! And BACKWOODS DRUG DISTRIBUTION? It’s a wild weird but pretty nicely done book.

Episode 106 – The Berenstain Bears and the Wheelchair Commando!

DIBC-EP106.jpg

Today, I am joined by writer, musician, educator and Ninja Turtles Blogger Jamie Tyler to talk about wheelchairs, ableism and the way we approach people living with disabilities. Also, should you call a person in a wheelchair “Wheels?” Come on, people.

Episode 104 – The Berenstain Bears Accept No Substitutes!

DIBC-EP104.jpg

It’s a live recording of a Facebook Live show! I’m talking about “Accept No Substitutes” and people are listening. So, that’s what’s going on.

Episode 103 – The Berenstain Bears and the Female Fullback!

DIBC-EP103.jpg

Shannon Campe of Stage of Fools: the Unofficial Royals Podcast joins me once again and this time we’re talking sexism! Things get downright creepy in Bear Country as the town erupts over the thought of a girl getting girl germs all over their precious football. Farmer Ben turns out to be a nightmare, Coach Grizzmeyer should be fired and Papa Bear . . . what a disappointment he turns out to be.

Episode 102 – The Berenstain Bears and the Nerdy Nephew!

DIBC-EP102.jpg

What is a nerd? What makes a nerd a “good nerd?” What makes a nerd a “bad nerd?” What makes a nerd an “insufferable jerk?” Let’s explore!

Episode 101 – Gotta Dance!

DIBC-EP101.jpg

Once again, I am joined by Jessie Cooper of Alphabet Flight, Turn to Page and Random Sampling. This time, we’re discussing the BIG CHAPTER BOOK “Gotta Dance!” Do they gotta? I think they gotta.

Episode 100 – Collector’s Corner 8!

DIBC-LOGO-COLLECTORS

It’s 100 Episodes! And, what better way to mark the occasion than by having my Collector Boys on to talk about upcoming books in Bear Country. Also, a surprise? A surprise.

You can find Bradley’s official list of books at his website, visit Jeremy’s site to discover his amazing music, or join the Collector’s Facebook Group!

Episode 99 – The New Girl In Town!

DIBC-EP99.jpg

This week, I am joined by Jessie Cooper of Alphabet Flight, Turn to Page and Random Sampling as we discuss our first BIG CHAPTER BOOK “The New Girl In Town!” Listeners, this book has got everything. History, romance, racism, war, moaning. Everything.

Episode 98 – Collectors Corner 7!

DIBC-LOGO-COLLECTORS

My collectors are BACK and they’ve brought with them . . . nothing. Nothing at all. This episode is a special “free form” episode where anything brought to the table comes out of *us* and our IMAGINATIONS. Trust me, it works.

You can find Bradley’s official list of books at his website, visit Jeremy’s site to discover his amazing music, or join the Collector’s Facebook Group!

Episode 97 – The Berenstain Bears’ Pet Show!

DIBC-EP97.jpg

  1. The Bear Family had a skunk for a neighbor.
  2. In “Pet Show” a skunk has been surgically altered and turned into a pet.
  3. Bear Country is horrifying.

Episode 96 – The Berenstain Bears “The Good Deed”/”Hurry to Help!”

DIBC-EP96.jpg

Oh, come on! This is the *bare minimum* you can rewrite a book and still call it a rewrite!

I apologize for getting so angry just now.

Episode 90 – The Berenstain Bears and the Big Red Kite/Do Their Best!

dibc-ep90

Kites? Who needs ’em?! Well, the Bears do! They also need God. Or, something. Join me as I try to piece together the Bear Family’s weird kite-based theology.

Episode 89 – The Berenstain Bears and the Broken Piggy Bank/Piggy Bank Blessings

dibc-ep89

We’re all afraid of change. I know I am. But, sometimes, it’s valuable to look at things that have changed and ask, “Why?” And, “How?” And, “Did they put Proverbs in it?”