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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 366 – The Berenstain Bears Gone Fishin’

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

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 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 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 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 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!

Episode 335 – The Berenstain Bears, Do Not Fear, God Is Near

I’m not afraid! I’M NOT AFRAID! It’s “The Berenstain Bears, Do Not Fear, God Is Near!”

Episode 333 – The Berenstain Bears and Mama for Mayor!

I’m Phil Gonzales and THIS… is POLITICS! Actually, it’s a rewrite, redo, gender-swap of “The Big Election” but it’s called “The Berenstain Bears and Mama For Mayor!”

Places to Donate:
Ukraine aid


Organizacion Latina de Trans en Texas
Transgender Education Network of Texas
allgo qpoc (allgo envisions a just and equitable society that celebrates and nurtures vibrant queer people of color communities.)
The Mahogany Project, Inc. (We aim to reduce social isolation, stigma, and acts of injustice in TQLGB+ Communities of Color)
Embrace Austin (Embrace Austin is a coalition of LGBTQIA2+ individuals, organizations, and businesses in Austin. We aim to build bridges between queer people and queer initiatives, boost Austin’s queer economy, and set a new standard for cultural competency in LGBTQIA2+ Austin*)
Out Youth (Out Youth serves Central Texas LGBTQIA+ (lesbian/gay/bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning, intersex, and asexual) youth and their allies with programs and services to ensure these promising young people develop into happy, healthy, successful adults)

Zebra Coalition (Zebra Coalition is a network of organizations, which provide services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and all youth (LGBTQ+) ages 13 – 24. The Coalition assists young people facing homelessness, bullying, isolation from their families, and physical, sexual and drug abuse with individualized programs to guide them to recovery and stability.)
The Trevor Project (The Trevor Project is the world’s largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning) young people.)
ALSO Youth (ALSO Youth is a Non-Profit Charity that provides peer support services, educational programs, advocacy, and referrals for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and questioning youth ages 13 to 24, their families and friends, and the community, thereby enhancing self-esteem, promoting healthy dialogue, and increasing awareness of sexual minority youth issues.)

Episode 332 – The Berenstain Bears At The Aquarium

This week, we’re off to see the whales! The dolphins! The fish! It’s “The Berenstain Bears At The Aquarium!”

Episode 331 – The Berenstain Bears’ Gossip Gang/Truth About Gossip

Ready to dish that hot hot goss?! Well, Sister sure is. TWICE! It’s “The Berenstain Bears’ Gossip Gang” and the exact same book “The Berenstain Bears Truth About Gossip!”

Places to Donate:
Ukraine aid


Organizacion Latina de Trans en Texas
Transgender Education Network of Texas
allgo qpoc (allgo envisions a just and equitable society that celebrates and nurtures vibrant queer people of color communities.)
The Mahogany Project, Inc. (We aim to reduce social isolation, stigma, and acts of injustice in TQLGB+ Communities of Color)
Embrace Austin (Embrace Austin is a coalition of LGBTQIA2+ individuals, organizations, and businesses in Austin. We aim to build bridges between queer people and queer initiatives, boost Austin’s queer economy, and set a new standard for cultural competency in LGBTQIA2+ Austin*)
Out Youth (Out Youth serves Central Texas LGBTQIA+ (lesbian/gay/bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning, intersex, and asexual) youth and their allies with programs and services to ensure these promising young people develop into happy, healthy, successful adults)

Zebra Coalition (Zebra Coalition is a network of organizations, which provide services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and all youth (LGBTQ+) ages 13 – 24. The Coalition assists young people facing homelessness, bullying, isolation from their families, and physical, sexual and drug abuse with individualized programs to guide them to recovery and stability.)
The Trevor Project (The Trevor Project is the world’s largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning) young people.)
ALSO Youth (ALSO Youth is a Non-Profit Charity that provides peer support services, educational programs, advocacy, and referrals for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and questioning youth ages 13 to 24, their families and friends, and the community, thereby enhancing self-esteem, promoting healthy dialogue, and increasing awareness of sexual minority youth issues.)

Episode 330 – The Berenstain Bears Show Some Respect and…?

“Show some respect for Judge Reinhold! I mean… your parents.” It’s “The Berenstain Bears Show Some Respect” and a SECRET BONUS! Tee hee. I respect you all!

Episode 329 – The Berenstain Bears’ Valentine Love Bug

We’re unhinged this week as Brian Skinner from Center of Weirdness and Christy Admiraal from our very own Pizza Toast join me yet again to discuss Valentine’s Day! It’s “The Berenstain Bears’ Valentine Love Bug” but it’s really just madness. It’s madness.

Episode 326 – The Berenstain Bears and the Secret Clubhouse/Deep Dark Secret!

Brad and Jeremy are back to talk about “The Berenstain Bears and the Secret Clubhouse!” That’s right, they found a book that seemed, for a hot minute, to have been the source of last week’s mystery. However, an email from Mike Berenstain completely reframed everything for us. We’ll be talking about the origins of “The Trouble With Friends” this week!

Find Jeremy’s music here!

Find Brad’s collector’s page here!

Episode 325 – The Berenstain Bears The Trouble With Secrets

This week, I take a look at a book that might be older than I think it is. It’s “The Berenstain Bears The Trouble With Secrets” and is it based on an older book?! Please HELP ME.

Episode 324 – The Berenstain Bears Kitten Rescue!

Happy The New Year! Willow joins me to talk about what might very well be our final Good Deed Scouts book “The Berenstain Bears Kitten Rescue.” It’s ridiculous.

Episode 322 – The Berenstain Bears Get Ready for Christmas

MERRY HAPPY! It’s our truncated Christmas Season and we’re celebrating by digging our nativity scenes out and talking about nativity scenes! Let’s talk The Nativity, Where’s Spot and the very nature of Lift-The-Flap Books as a concept! It’s “The Berenstain Bears Get Ready For Christmas!”

Episode 320 – The Berenstain Bears Mama’s Helpers!

More Good Deed Scouts = More Willow! What happens when the Good Deed Scouts help Mama Bear? Not much! It’s “The Berenstain Bears Mama’s Helpers!”

Episode 319 – The Berenstain Bears’ Neighbor in Need!

This week, the Good Deed Scouts are back and so is Willow! Do the GDSs do… anything worthwhile this week? Probably not? Is there a witch? Maybe? Do we have to make up our own plot just to stay awake? Definitely.

Episode 316 – “Meet The Berenstains” Uncommon Ephemera

This week, Deep In Bear Country goes deeper than usual into the wild world of Berenstain Bears ephemera with our guest, Mark O’Brien of the YouTube channel “Uncommon Ephemera!” He’s unearthed a Filmstrip interview/documentary about Stan and Jan Berenstain that is one of the most delightful things I’ve ever seen. I also have on, as a bonus, my collectors Brad Mariska and Jeremy Gloff to talk about the Filmstrip and just shoot the breeze. It’s fun!

Watch “Meet the Berenstains” here!

Episode 314 – The Berenstain Bears and the Gift of Courage!

It’s a regular David and Goliath tale up in here, except David is Sister and Goliath is Too-Tall and Sister doesn’t so much defeat Too-Tall as “stand back and watch him get attacked by hornets.”

Episode 313 – The Berenstain Bears Kindness Counts!

This week, does kindness count? Does it “count?” Well, Jan and Mike seem to think so! It’s “The Berenstain Bears Kindness Counts!”

Episode 312 – The Berenstain Bears and A Job Well Done!

Some people like their jobs RAW, but I like mine WELL DONE! It’s “The Berenstain Bears and A Job Well Done!

Episode 311 – The Berenstain Bears and the Forgiving Tree!

Hey, it’s time to talk about forgiving! And forgiveness! And stealing a bike and crashing it in to a mailbox! It’s “The Berenstain Bears The Forgiving Tree!”

Episode 275 – Mike Berenstain!

Mike Berenstain joins me for the first time in way too long to discuss the saga of “The Berenstain Bears Save Christmas.” No, not the saga of the story; but the saga of its creation. It’s a big big tale. Big.

Episode 234 – Benjamin Clark and the Charles M Schulz Museum

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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 222 – The Berenstain Bears Learn About Colors/The Berenstain Bears God Made the Colors (1993/2003)

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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 197 – Deep In Bear Country Live Show HOT WASH!

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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 149 – The Berenstains’ A Book

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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 135 – The Sci-Fi Pizza!

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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 129 – The Berenstain Bear SCOUTS and the Coughing Catfish!

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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!

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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!

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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!

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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 119 – Media Madness!

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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)!

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

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These boxes contain copies of books from various publishers.

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A photo of Stan and Jan rests atop one bank of art drawers.

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Mike shows examples of the color process and all the work that went into producing a single image.

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Some of Stan and Jan’s early comics work.

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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.”

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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.

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An unpublished children’s book.

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Mike’s assistant, Maryann.

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

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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!

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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 110 – Meeting Mike (Part 1)

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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!

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Mike’s desk at Berenstain Studios
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A look at the production schedule for upcoming books.
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Jeremy and Brad sitting with Mike.
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Mike shows the cover of the upcoming bullying book featuring Skuzz! Pic by Bradley Mariska
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The two alternate covers for “Why Do Good Bears Have BAD Days?” Pic by Bradley Mariska

Episode 109 – Diner Talk

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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!

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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 106 – The Berenstain Bears and the Wheelchair Commando!

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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!

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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!

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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!

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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!

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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!

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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!

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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 97 – The Berenstain Bears’ Pet Show!

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  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!”

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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!

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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

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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?”

Episode 87 – The Berenstain Bears at the Super-Duper Market!

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Well, this was poorly thought out. Mitzi and I go to a large supermarket to test the theories put forward in this week’s book. Turns out . . . they were right. There are things in a supermarket.

Episode 86 – The Berenstain Bears’ Four Seasons!

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No, I’m not interviewing Frankie Valli; I’m – wait . . . okay, he’s still alive – I’m not interviewing Frankie Valli; I’m reviewing the book “The Berenstain Bears and the Four Seasons.” Or . . . “The Berenstain Bears’ Four Seasons?” Something. I’m too tired to look it up. Oh, and Mitzi is here again.

Episode 84 – The Berenstain Bears and Too Much Vaca(tion)!

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Hey guess what I DON’T LIKE THIS BOOK. That’s unfair. That’s unfair to YOU. That’s unfair to ME. That’s. Un. Fair. So. I brought on a friend and VACATION EXPERT – Carrie Keuhl – to talk VACAs with me. We’re talking VACAs. We’re talking . . . I don’t go on VACAs. Can’t afford ’em.

You can find Carrie’s company Moucecierge online. Check it OUT!

Episode 82 – The Berenstain Bears and the Eager Beavers!

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It all comes crashing to an end!

Episode 75 – Collector’s Corner 5!


My joyful collector boys are BACK with a tale of amazement! Hold onto your seats as we discover how they found the most ELUSIVE BERENSTAIN BEARS BOOK of ALL!
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!

You can find our official Facebook page on Facebook. Or, you can yell at me on Twitter. And, please please please rate and review the show on iTunes. Also, we’re on Google Podcasts!

Episode 73 – The Berenstain Bears and the Ghost of the Forest!

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Things are getting spooky around here as Erin Sheppard joins me to talk about “The Ghost of the Forest!” Why do we like being scared? What’s the point of safeguarding yourself against danger only to then create your own terrors for fun? Also, things can go one of three ways – which way will they go . . . for you!

Check out Erin’s show “Book of Shadows” at the Twin Cities Horror Festival!

You can find our official Facebook page on Facebook. Or, you can yell at me on Twitter. And, please please please rate and review the show on iTunes. Also, we’re on Google Podcasts!

Episode 72 – The Berenstain Bears and the In-Crowd!

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Caroline Fulford of the Loose Canon Podcast joins me to talk about “In-Crowds.” What are they? Do they matter? Does anything?

You can find our official Facebook page on Facebook. Or, you can yell at me on Twitter. And, please please please rate and review the show on iTunes. Also, we’re on Google Podcasts!

Episode 71 – “Go To School” & “The Sitter” PBS adaptations

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Let’s go back in time, shall we? We’re taking a look at a couple of PBS episodes based on two of our earlier books. Are they better? Worse? By “we’re” do you mean “I’m?” Yes, yes and YES!

You can find our official Facebook page on Facebook. Or, you can yell at me on Twitter. And, please please please rate and review the show on iTunes. Also, we’re on Google Podcasts!

Episode 70.5 – The Berenstain Bears Get The Gimmies on PBS

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Just a quick extra to chat briefly about the PBS episode based on “Get the Gimmies.” Is it better? Kinda yes?

Episode 70 – The Berenstain Bears Get The Gimmies!

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Elana is BACK! And we’re talking about The Gimmies – and do *we* know from Gimmies. Do The Berenstains offer up any good advice on how to deal with these Gimmies? Maybe? No? Maybe no?

You can find our official Facebook page on Facebook. Or, you can yell at me on Twitter. And, please please please rate and review the show on iTunes. Also, we’re on Google Podcasts!

Episode 69 – The Berenstain Bears On the Job and Ready, Get Set, Go!

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They’re not amazing books, but I gotta catch ’em all.

Episode 68 – The Berenstain Bears and the Double Dare!

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Mark had to come back to the studio so we could finish up our discussion on John Braden and I managed to keep him around to talk about “The Double Dare!”

See Mark in “Sweet Dreams, Alfie” at the Twin Cities Horror Festival this October!

Episode 67 – Meet The Berenstain Bears!

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Wait. But, we’ve already met the OOOOHHHHHHH IT’S A RECORD!

Mr. Mark Sweeney joins me for a listening party as we dig into “Meet the Berenstain Bears,” a 1982 release from Kid Stuff Records. It’s . . . something all right.

Make sure and check out Mr. Sweeney in “Sweet Dreams, Alfie” at this fall’s Twin Cities Horror Festival!

And, check me out at . . . here. And, on iTunes and Twitter and Stitcher and Google and wherever fine podcasts are sold!