This week, we rewatch the 1985 Berenstain Bears episode pairing “The Neighborly Skunk” with “The Missing Pumpkin.” We talk Too-Tall’s first TV appearance (and why he looks nothing like the books), Frank Welker’s very Frank-Welkery skunk, and why “use animals to teach anti-prejudice” never quite works the way creators hope. Then it’s off to Farmer Ben’s for a pumpkin caper, Papa’s “slapstick” “detective work,” and Snuff stealing the show. Plus: a quick shout out to comedy writer Rowby Goren.
Tag: Deep In Bear Country
Episode 494 – The Berenstain Bears And The Giant Bat Cave/Wild Wild Honey!
This week, I’m checking out “The Giant Bat Cave” and “The Wild Wild Honey!” Get ready for political corruption, eco-terrorism, and a sexually aggressive bee queen! Sister Bear overthrows city planning, Papa Bear declares war on insects, and it gets sticky!
Episode 492 – The Berenstain Bears on CBS and the Premier Ep!
This nightmare of an episode is brough to you by my unfettered ADHD and a time crunch. Enjoy me rambling about Canadian child actors’ bit roles!
Episode 491 – The BABY Berenstain Bears’ Nap Time
It’s nap time, babies! This week on Deep in Bear Country, let’s wrestle with Mike Berenstain’s latest board book, The BABY Berenstain Bears’ Nap Time (2025). From Honey Bear’s refusal to rest, to pillow cuddles, to the eternal struggle of transitions, this one’s a full-on nap time confessional. Get ready to tune in, turn on, nod off.
Episode 490 – The BABY Berenstain Bears: Potty Time
Kids be poopin’. This week on Deep In Bear Country, we take our first look at Mike Berenstain’s newest series, The Berenstain BABY Bears. A series of board books focusing on Honey, Teddi and… well, I’m certain there’s other little cubs around town.
In “It’s Potty Time” we dip back into the sewage filled well of potty training. Only, this time we’re looking at the WHYs of potty time as opposed to the whats. No stink lines or soggy puddles in THIS book; no, just drawing after drawing of toilets and the cubs who use them.
Episode 489 – The Berenstain Bears: Get Outdoors
This week I’m talking about The Berenstain Bears Get Outdoors (2025), a simple Level 1 reader where the Cubs camp in the backyard, Papa Bear makes a mess of things, and—out of nowhere—Mr. Raccoon shows up. Along the way, I share a few of my own disastrous camping stories, look back at the old Ghost of the Forest tale, and explain how this very podcast somehow landed me in a 3M commercial.
Episode 488 – The Berenstain Bears World’s #1 Teacher
This week, it’s the brand-new 2025 release The Berenstain Bears: World’s Number One Teacher, a compact “teacher gift” book built from classic illustrations of Teacher Jane, Teacher Bob, and maybe Actual Factual? I share a dedication to my own #1 teacher who’s retiring after 40 years in the classroom. Plus: a detour into Alessi vs. the Thompson Twins, candid talk on anxiety spending, and a reminder that the BusBoys’ “Cleanin’ Up the Town” deserves more love.
Episode 487 – The Berenstain Bears: World’s Best Papa Bear
After a break to work on my Fringe show, I’m back in Bear Country with a look at The Berenstain Bears: World’s Best Papa Bear, a gift book from 2024. On the surface, it’s a sweet, simple tribute to dads—but reading it got me thinking about my own father, what it means to protect your kids, and the invisible ways parents show up for us. This one’s personal. Thanks for sticking with me.
And, check out my upcoming Elgin Fringe show!
Episode 485 – 10th Anniversary and “Parents Are Such A Lot Of Trouble!”
It’s the 10th anniversary of Deep in Bear Country, so let’s reunite with longtime friends Brad Mariska and Jeremy Gloff to mark a decade of Berenstain Bear-loving chaos! Brad and Jeremy reflect on the origins of the show, the evolution of their collecting journeys, and the joys and… other joys of the Berenstain Bears fandom.
And, we’re super jazzed about the exciting release of a long-lost boutique book from Stan and Jan Berenstain—Parents Are Such a Lot of Trouble—recently discovered in the Berenstain archives and published via print-on-demand. We dive into the book’s significance, emotional resonance, and raw artistic charm, and explore what makes it such a powerful find for fans and collectors alike.
Episode 484 – The Berenstain Bears: World’s Wisest Mama Bear
In this week’s episode, I almost took a break again (thanks, cough!), but I’m here to bring you a quick Mother’s Day look at The Berenstain Bears: World’s Wisest Mama Bear — a 2024 gift book by Mike Berenstain.
PLUS — exciting news! Next episode is the 10-year anniversary of the podcast, and I’ll be joined by my collectors Brad and Jeremy!
So grab a cup of tea, wish your mom (or yourself?) a Happy Mother’s Day, and enjoy this short short short episode.
Episode 481 – Tax-Wise: A Pictorial Romp Through the Tax Form by Stan and Jan Berenstain
Before they created the beloved Berenstain Bears, Stan and Jan Berenstain were drawing… THIS?! Tax-Wise: A Pictorial Romp Through the Tax Form (1952) is a bizarre, hyper-specific IRS humor book filled with visual gags, surreal scenarios, and more gendered 1950s weirdness than you can shake a W-2 at. In this episode, I (Phil Gonzales) walk you through the entire book — panel by panel — and try to make sense of its wild humor, historical context, and what it tells us about the Berenstains before they became family-friendly legends.
This was a personal request from Mike Berenstain himself, and honestly, it’s the perfect unhinged way to celebrate tax season.
Episode 473 – The Berenstain Bears We Love Our Teacher!
The Berenstain Bears’ Biggest Continuity Shake-Up?!
A new school year means new teachers, and Brother Bear is in for a surprise! In “The Berenstain Bears: We Love Our Teacher” (2024), we explore what makes a great teacher, the anxieties of moving up a grade, and—wait for it—some wild continuity-breaking moments in Bear Country history!
Can we pinpoint the date of this book down to the year? Why does Miz Bearly’s friend defy time itself? And do we finally learn Brother Bear’s real name?
We also dive into real-world history, from Rosie the Riveter to space exploration, and the importance of hands-on education. Plus, I share my own experiences with teachers who shaped my life (both the good and the terrifying).
What was your most memorable school year? Drop your best (or worst) teacher story in the comments!
Don’t forget to LIKE, SHARE, and SUBSCRIBE for more deep dives into Bear Country!
Episode 471 – The Berenstain Bears Blast Off!
This week, the Bear Family gets into a bit of trouble in a completely believable and scientifically accurate way! It’s “The Berenstain Bears Blast Off!” and it’s steeped in believability! I swear!
Episode 468 – The Berenstain Bears’ Big School Project
Why do rotten eggs smell like rotten eggs? How many different kinds of volcanoes are there?! WHAT IS THE THEORY OF RELATIVITY?!!! I. Don’t. Know. BUT. This week, “The Berenstain Bears’ Big School Project” at least pretends to attempt to answer those questions. Also, papier mache volcanoes: better than robots?
Episode 467 – The Berenstain Bears Share & Share Alike!
New Year, Same Show. It’s “The Berenstain Bears Share and Share Alike!” and are you ready to start off 2025 with some ETHICAL QUESTIONS?! I hope so. I really hope so.
Episode 465 – The Berenstain Bears Take Turns
NO CHRISTMAS EPISODE THIS WEEK! Instead, we’re focusing on TAKING TURNS. It’s The Berenstain Bears Take Turns and, hey! Give a little, won’t you?
National and International Organizations
Trans Lifeline Website: https://www.translifeline.org/
The Trevor Project Website: https://www.thetrevorproject.org/
Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Website: https://www.hrc.org/
Trans Youth Equality Foundation (TYEF) Website: https://www.transyouthequality.org/
Mermaids (UK-based) Website: https://mermaidsuk.org.uk/
Montana-Based Organizations
Queer Prom MT Website: https://www.thequeerprom.org/
Empower Montana Website: https://www.empowermt.org/
Western Montana LGBTQ+ Community Center Website:https://www.lgbtmontana.org/
Montana Family Center Website:https://www.mtfamilycenter.org/
Minnesota-Based Organizations
Reclaim Website: https://www.reclaim.care/
Minnesota Trans & Intersex Resource Network (MNTIRN) Website:https://mntirnetwork.org/
Transforming Families Website: https://tffmn.org/
TIGERRS (Transgender, Intersex, Gender-Expansive Revolutionary Services) Website: https://tigerrs.org/
MN Trans Resource Directory Link: Trans Resource Directory
Atlanta-Based Organization
Lost-n-Found Youth Website: https://www.lnfy.org/
Episode 445 – The Berenstain Bears Just Grin and Bear It!
Want some absolutely generic advice coupled with random pictures from Berenstain Bears books of recent years past? Well, have I got a book for you! It’s “The Berenstain Bears Just Grin And Bear It!”
Episode 442 – The Berenstain Bears Do The Right Thing
This week, Sister Bear faces a moral quandry and it’s up to the ol’ SHOULDER ANGEL to save the day. Will sister do the right thing? Find out in “The Berenstain Bears Do The Right Thing!”
Episode 441 – The Berenstain Bears Father’s Day Blessings
The Bear Family is all set to honor their fathers and HONER THEIR FATHER by sending Gramps and Papa out on a boat for the day. But, what’s this?! SINGING? Who’d a thought?! Also, the origins of Father’s Day. Also, the INCREDIBLY SAD STORY of the guy who wrote the hymn about the music of the spheres. ALSO, it’s The Berenstain Bears Father’s Day Blessings!
Episode 440 – The Berenstain Bears Why Do Good Bears Have Bad Days
Brother and Sister get a real crash course in theodicy this week when some BAD THINGS happen and their friends tell them it’s a PUNISHMENT FROM GOD and boy oh boy. Hey. Why do good bears have bad days? Well, maybe “The Berenstain Bears Why Do Good Bears Have Bad Days?” will help us answer that question!
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 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 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 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!