It’s a special EARLY episode because this one couldn’t wait!
Link to Twitter thread mentioned in the episode.
Places to donate (as usual, use caution before giving to any organization you’re unfamiliar with).
DIBC-An Update
An update for you!
Episode 246 – The Berenstain Bears and the Goofy, Goony Guy
Hey! Mitzi’s back! And we’re talking about a guy who may be goofy and he may be goony but… but, he’s “The Goofy, Goony Guy.” That’s all.
Episode 245 – Dave Bulmer, pt. 2
We’re back with the rest of my interview with Dave Bulmer! Want to know about DIZZY? Well, here you go!
Episode 244 – Dave Bulmer, pt. 1
Welcome to the show, Dave Bulmer! He’s here to talk about (checks notes) Dizzy. However, before we get to Dizzy, we’ve got to talk about everything else. So much everything else that this is Part 1 of a 2-part conversation.
Check out Dave’s other projects: his YouTube channel, Sonic the Comic the Podcast and Serious Disness!
Image courtesy beachbear2002.
Episode 243 – Special Collector’s Corner!
What if I had special guests and NOTHING ELSE?! This week, I’m nowhere to be found, but Bradley Mariska and Jeremy Gloff – our Collector’s Corner experts – are here to take over the show!
Episode 242 – Shannon Campe!
Episode 241 – The Berenstain Bears Help Around the House!
At least there’s no dog poop in this one.
Episode 240 – Chag Sameach!
It’s Passover, y’all.
Episode 239 – The Berenstain Bears Get A Checkup!
Boy oh boy. Let’s all go to the DOCTOR.
Episode 238 – The Beresnstain Bears My Potty and I!
Let’s all go to the potty.
Episode 237 – The Berenstain Bears and the Trouble With Chores
We’re in seclusion. Let’s talk about chores.
Episode 236 – The Berenstain Bears At Big Bear Fair!
Let’s go to the fair! The BIG BEAR FAIR! How big are the bears? Who cares?! It’s the BIG BEAR FAIR!
Episode 235 – The Berenstain Bear and the Jump Rope Contest!
This week, we’re taking a hard look at rope and the jumping over thereof! We’re also looking at Sister Bear and her bragging ways and how if you brag too much… nothing bad will happen. It’s “The Berenstain Bears and the Jump Rope Contest!”
Episode 234 – Benjamin Clark and the Charles M Schulz Museum
This week, I have a very exciting guest on the show. Benjamin L. Clark is the curator of the Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center in Palo Alto, California. He’s joining me this week to talk Schulz, cartoonists, legacy and the delights of archives!
Benjamin’s Twitter – twitter.com/BLClark
Charles M. Schulz Museum Twitter – twitter.com/SchulzMuseum
Charles M. Schulz Museum Website – schulzmuseum.org
Episode 233 – The Berenstain Bears Go UP and DOWN!
This week, things get weird as a Step Into Reading Book takes a dark turn. We learn to count and the cops get involved in “The Berenstain Bears Go UP and DOWN!”
Episode 232 – The Berenstain Bears By The Sea!
Are you ready to get sandy?! No? Me neither. I hate the beach. But, the Bear Family loves(?) it! They can’t wait to get there! So, of course, Mama and Papa make the cubs wait. And wait. And wait. And then they get in the water. That’s the story! SEA ya!
Episode 231 – The Berenstain Bears Get the Grouchies!
GRRR! GRRR! I’ve got the GROUCHIES! And so do the BEARS! What are these Grouchies? What causes them? Does it matter? Does anything? Let’s find out!
Episode 230 – The Berenstain Bears On The Road
This week, I close out the “Big Mall” series(?) by taking a quick look at “The Berenstain Bears Hold Hands at the Big Mall” which, honestly I spend about five minutes on it. No, the big book this week is “The Berenstain Bears On The Road” which does not involve a seminal work of Beatnik-related literature, but does involve flat contradictions in Bear Country history as well as out first incident of vomiting children! It’s a blast!
Episode 229 – The Berenstain Bears Down On the Farm/The Berenstain Bears Reap the Harvest
Let’s go back to the farm, this week, with a couple of rewrites of a couple of the books we *just* looked at! It’s “The Berenstain Bears Down On The Farm” and the religious “The Berenstain Bears Reap The Harvest!”
Episode 228 – The Berenstain Bears With Nothing to Do/The Berenstain Bears Visit Farmer Ben
In this episode, I’m sick! And talking about Cub Club Books! This week, I’m taking a cold hard look at two books that may, in fact, form the beginnings of a trilogy that we discussed the ending of last week! That’s right, “Nothing to Do” and “Visit Farmer Ben” would seem to set up the events in “The Summer Job” by establishing that the Cubs are bored and… and… sorry I fell asleep typing this. Anyway, books.
Episode 227 – The Berenstain Bears and the Summer Job!
In a time when it is neither summer nor job I take a look at the story of the Cubs getting railroaded into working for a farmer, maybe for free(?!?). It’s “The Berenstain Bears and the Summer Job!”
Episode 226 – The Berenstain Bears and the Excuse Note (1993)
My own child, Mitzi, joins me for the final episode of the year: a look at the original Cub Club version of “The Berenstain Bears and the Excuse Note!”
Episode 225 – The Berenstain Bears In the Wax Museum!
When is a mystery *not* a mystery? When nothing mysterious happens! “The Berenstain Bears IN the Wax Museum” acts like a mystery, but it’s really a community drama about zoning ordinances. It makes a lot of promises it can’t keep and sets up plot points that melt like the wax in Madame Bearsaud’s statues, but I don’t care because KACIE GALYON is back to help me get through it! Welcome back to the show, Kacie!
Episode 224 – The Berenstain Bears and the Hiccup Cure!
*Hic* Kill me *Hic* Kill me *Hic* Kill me
This week, Ollie – my child and co-host of It’s Del Toro Time – joins me to talk about the Cub Club book “The Berenstain Bears and the Hiccup Cure!” Papa gets hiccups and… that’s about it. It’s a short one!
Episode 223 – The Berenstain Bears Go Hollywood!
I’ve been alone so long! This week, I bring back two things that this show desperately needed: the Big Chapter Books and A GUEST! Yes, I am joined by author and screenwriter Mark Wheaton, the author of “Emily Eternal” and the Luis Chavez Mysteries. He’s here to help me pick apart a book about… filmmaking? The Hollywood machine? Cecil B. DeMille? It’s a mess; but a FUN mess!
THANKSGIVING RERUN! – BIGPAW!
FOUR YEARS AGO (!!!!!!!!) I had Bradley and Jeremy on the show to talk about “The Berenstain Bears Meet Bigpaw – the Bears’ Thanksgiving special from 1980. Well, I’m BUSY so here’s this week’s show! It’s a RERUN!
Episode 222 – The Berenstain Bears Learn About Colors/The Berenstain Bears God Made the Colors (1993/2003)
What is color? Is it real? Why do colors? What am God? Where God does meet color? Why? I answer ALL OF THESE QUESTIONS AND MORE in “The Berenstain Bears Learn About Colors” and the religious rewrite “The Berenstain Bears God Made the Colors!”
Episode 221 – The Berenstain Bears and the Family Get Together/The Berenstain Bears Reunion! (1993/2009)
When is a get-together not a get-together? When it’s a reunion! Whether the Bear Family is getting together or reuniting, we’re meeting some new relatives in “The Berenstain Bears’ Family Get Together” and “The Berenstain Bears’ Family Reunion!”
Episode 220 – The Berenstain Bear Scouts and the White Water Mystery!
“Bear Country exists in a state of temporal flux” is something I say in this episode about a children’s book about cheating. So, that’s something. It’s the final Merit Badge Mystery, the final Dr. Wise Old Owl, the final not-really-a-mystery mystery; it’s “The Berenstain Bear Scouts and the White Water Mystery!”
Episode 219 – The Berenstain Bears Hug and Make Up!
This week, let’s all “Hug and Make Up!” It’s “The Berenstain Bears Hug and Make Up” from the 90s and the early 2000s and they are NOT the same books! They might LOOK similar, but they ain’t. Trust me.
Episode 218 – The Berenstain Bears and the Spooky Old House!
This week, we’re back of the HALLOWEEN track with “The Berenstain Bears and the Spooky Old House!” And, it IS spooky but not for the reasons you probably think. Let’s talk death and widows and homelessness and squatter’s rights and RAGGEDY TOM! Please. Please, let’s.
Episode 217 – The Berenstain Bears and the Talent Show!
Hey, Y’ALL! It’s time once again for a CUB CLUB BOOK LOOK MA I’M READING! This week, it’s “The Berenstain Bears and the Talent Show!” But, this time, the real talent isn’t ON the stage it’s . . . well, actually, it’s still on the stage. But also, it’s off? I don’t know. FIGURE IT OUT!
Episode 216 – Patreon Question: Ernie and Melissa
It’s nice outside, so let’s talk about dating!
Episode 215 – The Berenstain Bear Scouts and the Stinky Milk Mystery
Join me for another INCREDIBLE MYSTERY that doesn’t introduce itself until the book is nearly finished and that is then solved by a non-character in one page. That’s right! It’s a Berenstain Bear Scouts Merit Badge Mystery! But, like past Merit Badge Mysteries, it’s not much of a mystery. But, it’s still weird and fun. Join me for “The Stinky Milk Mystery” and discover my the milk may, in fact, be stinky.
Episode 214 – Big Bear, Small Bear!
This week, we’re going back to basics with “Big Bear, Small Bear” a book that, once again, completely lacks any mention of our Bear Family. But, what does that say about us? About spaghetti? About eating spaghetti on the beach? Anything? Hello?
Episode 213 – The Berenstain Bears In The House of Mirrors!
Okay, how’s this for a weird throwback in style? “The Berenstain Bears In The House Of Mirrors” doesn’t even have any members of the Bear Family! It has two fill-in characters and a WHOLE LOT of mirrors!
Episode 212 – The Berenstain Bears and the Escape of the Bogg Brothers (2000)/The Missing Watermelon Money (2001)
This week, we’re gearing up for HALLOWEEN SEASON with our first MYSTERIES! That’s right! The Bear Detectives are here to liven up your week with the “Escape of the Bogg Brothers” and the “Missing Watermelon Money!”
Episode 211 – The Berenstain Bears Visit Uncle Tex (1994)/The Berenstain Bears Out West (2006)
Look who’s back! It’s Bradley Mariska and Jeremy Gloff – my collectors! Only this time they’re not talking collectibles, but an actual book! Brad and Jeremy join me to talk about “The Berenstain Bears Visit Uncle Tex” and “The Berenstain Bears Out West” which are, in fact, the SAME BOOK ALMOST!
Check out Jeremy’s website to preorder his new album and order his old albums! Check out Bradley’s Berenstain Bears Bibliography and see what his band is up to!
Also, if you’re in town, check out my one-man show!
Episode 210 – The Berenstain Bears Say Please and Thank You (2011)!
This week, I’m taking a look at a book FILLED with BOOKS! It’s 2011’s “The Berenstain Bears Say Please and Thank You” and it’s NOT related to last week’s book at all! It’s a whole new thing entirely!
Episode 209 – The Berenstain Bears Say Please and Thank You (1997)!
This week, we talk about “Please” and “Thank you” – the words, the concepts, the social contract. We look at where these ideas came from; what the words mean; and how they hold society together. We also look at what happens when “The Berenstain Bears Say ‘Please’ and ‘Thank You!'”
Episode 208 – The Berenstain Bears’ Bedtime Battle
Elana and sometimes Mitzi join me on vacation to talk about “The Berenstain Bears’ Bedtime Battle” a book with no real battles.
Episode 207 – The Berenstain Bears Lost In A Cave
Hey everyone. Wanna get lost? Well, let’s go to a cave and get lost there. Which cave? *A* cave. Just . . . just a cave.
Episode 206 – The Berenstain Bears All Year ‘Round/God Made the Seasons!
It sure is time outside! What time? ALL THE TIME! This week, we take yet another look at the seasons and ask whether they matter more or less if God was involved.
Episode 205 – The Berenstain Bears and the Perfect Fishing Spot!
Let’s go fishin’ now, everybody’s learnin’ how, come on and go fishin’ with meeeeeeeee . . . and Godddddddddd!
Episode 204 – The Berenstain Bears Visit Fun Park!
This week, I’m taking you to a place from my childhood that I DREAD! The amusement park! Learn about why I hate amusement parks, a brief history of amusement parks and, oh right, what happens when the Bear Family visits an amusement park in “The Berenstain Bears Visit Fun Park!”
Episode 203 – The Berenstain Bears At The Giant Mall!
Boy, do I ever love to talk about going to the mall. I never even knew I loved it so much until I started doing this show. Anyways, here’s “The Berenstain Bears at the Giant Mall” featuring a couple of guest storytellers!
Episode 202 – The Berenstain Bears and the Wishing Star
This week, I’m all by myself and talking about Cub Clubs! Yes, it’s “The Berenstain Bears and the Wishing Star” and I don’t have a whole lot to say about it!
Episode 201 – The Berenstain Bears and the Funny Valentine!
This week, I am joined by two delightful souls, Christy Admiraal and Brian Skinner, as we traverse the completely off-season topic of Valentines Day! Who is an appropriate suitor for Sister? What’s a Thousand Legger? A Hop Toad? Whither fistball. We talk it all!
Episode 200 – The Berenstain Bears and the Excuse Note!
This week, I’m playing with a FULL HOUSE or FULL BACKYARD as I’m joined by not one, not two, not three but FOUR GUESTS! Yes, Elana is back and she’s brought her niece, Miriam, and her aunt and uncle Meryl and Evan for a backyard conversation about excuses and notes and “The Berenstain Bears and the Excuse Note!”
Episode 199 – The Berenstain Bears and the Papa’s Day Surprise!
This week, it’s Father’s Day and I brought on a father very near and dear to my heart: Mark Sweeney! He’s back, y’all and he’s ready to talk about Papa’s weird obsession with not celebrating Father’s Day. Enjoy it.
Episode 198 – The Berenstain Bears’ Dollars and $en$e!
Oops! This one is late! Sorry folks!
Episode 197 – Deep In Bear Country Live Show HOT WASH!
Boy oh boy, are you ever tired of hearing about the live show? I know! Well, this is it, folks. I’ve asked Elana and Mark back on the show to talk about how they felt the show went, to discuss the process and to play you a few clips! Courtesy of Mr. Bradley Mariska!
Episode 196 – Mama and Papa’s . . . Names?
This week, I’m taking a look at a shocking recent revelation in Bear Country – Mama and Papa Bear’s pre-parental names!
Episode 195 – The Berenstain Bears and the Mama’s Day Surprise
Episode 194 – Stefanie Eskander
This week, I am joined by toy designer Stefanie Eskander. Stefanie has been a part of the development of so many different toy lines, you wouldn’t even believe it if I told you. That’s why I have her on the show! So you can get it straight from the source! Honestly, Stefanie is incredible and it was an honor to speak with her.
You can find Stefanie’s design work on Instagram and at her personal website!
Episode 193 – Another Mope
In which I pause to consider Bear Country.
Episode 192 – The Berenstain Bears and the Real Easter Eggs!
Well, I thought I was going to get into the real meat of Easter – some real Easter Meat, if you will. Ham. I think ham is Easter meat. But, no. Sorry. It’s “The Berenstain Bears and the Real Easter Eggs.”
Episode 191 – The Berenstain Bears’ Easter Surprise!
This week, I begin looking at Easter and its presence in Bear Country. Specifically, I finally get around to the 1981 special and the book it inspired.
Episode 190 – The Berenstain Bears and the Haunted Lighthouse!
This week, we’re going to the shore and exploring a haunted lighthouse! Haunted by ghosts? More like HAUNTED BY HISTORRRRYYYYYY! It’s “The Berenstain Bears and the Haunted Lighthouse!”
Episode 189 – The Berenstain Bears Play T-Ball!
Man oh man. They sure play T-Ball.
Episode 188 – The Berenstain Bears’ Report Card Trouble!
Papa get angry. Papa get mad. It’s “The Berenstain Bears’ Report Card Trouble” and . . . it’s a retread of an older book really.
Episode 187 – The Big Mope!
In which I have a big mope.
Episode 186 – The Berenstain Bears Think of Those In Need (redux)!
I’m back with a response to the reactions to last week’s episode “The Berenstain Bears Think of Those In Need.” The conversation I had with my guest pushed some buttons, and I thought I’d take a moment to address some of the comments I received. Also, I take a look at the Nelvana episode inspired by the book that seems to have heard our episode somehow in the future and taken all of our advice! It’s weird!
Episode 185 – The Berenstain Bears Think of Those In Need
Man, those bears just won’t stop cleaning house! In this, our THIRD book about the Bear Family either getting rid of junk or helping people out, we finally see the culmination of all these ideas. It’s “The Berenstain Bears Think of Those In Need!” and to walk us through the bears’ actions and attitudes, I have on the show my friend Community Health Organizer and Advocate JoAnna Lund! JoAnna has a lot of strong thoughts about what Mama considers “thinking” and “those” and “need” and we really hash it out. It’s a good one, people!
Episode 184 – The Berenstain Bears Clean House!
Hey it’s just me again! In this super short episode, I look at the LIES behind “The Berenstain Bears Clean House.” Also, I get a bit loopy because of pain medication.
Episode 183 – The Berenstain Bears and the Big Blooper!
This week, we’re bleepin’ and bloopin’ and cursing up a storm! It’s “The Berenstain Bears and the Big Blooper!” where Sister Bear cusses a swear!
Episode 182 – The Birds, The Bees and The Berenstain Bears!
This week, we’re talking babies. Where do they come from? How did they get there? How do they GET OUT OF THERE? I’ll tell you . . . I don’t know. But, I found someone who *does* know!
Lindsey Hoskins is the Community Health Educator at Family Tree Clinic, a non-profit community clinic whose mission is “to cultivate a healthy community through comprehensive sexual health care and education.” They are amazing. Check them out. Lindsey addresses the book’s approach to explaining reproduction to children while offering her own informed insights into the matter. It’s a great conversation.
Episode 181 – The Berenstain Bears and Baby Makes Five!
This week, I’m joined by Annette Gagliardi. Annette is an educator, poet and author who lives in the Twin Cities and was my teacher for several years in Early Childhood Family Education. I figured, heck, she knows her business when it comes to kids, so who better to walk us through “The Berenstain Bears and Baby Makes Five?” The book where we finally meet Honey. And then immediately forget about Honey.
Episode 180 – BONUS!
A little bonus conversation about “The Berenstain Bears Save Christmas” and some other random stuff.
Episode 180 – Collector’s Corner . . . 12?
Episode 179 – The Berenstain Bears and the Big Question!
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!
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!
It’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!
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!
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!
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!
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 172 – The Berenstain Bears’ Thanksgiving All Around!
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
Episode 171 – Get Their Kicks!
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!
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 169 – Berenstain
Let’s talk for a few minutes about a name.
Episode 168 – What *Is* the Green-Eyed Monster?
Like, seriously, what *is* this thing?
Episode 167 – The Spooky Shadows!
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)
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)!
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)!
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!
⛥ 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!
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!
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!
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]
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!
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!
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
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!
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 Dress Code!
It’s a SUMMER RERUN from LAST SUMMER!
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!
SUMMER RERUN! – The Bad Dream!
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!
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
Recommended Children’s Books on Bullying: http://www.k12.wa.us/safetycenter/BullyingHarassment/WorkGroup/RecommendedBooks.pdf
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!
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!