Episode 460 – The Berenstain Bears Bears On Time Solving The Lateness Problem!

When the Bear Family finds themselves overbooked and running late, they turn to one of the Biblical Prophets(?) to solve(??) the lateness problem(???). It’s “The Berenstain Bears Bears On Time Solving The Lateness Problem!”

Episode 452 – The Berenstain Bears Love Is Kind

What can I say? I’m a sucker for straightforward messaging. It’s “The Berenstain Bears Love Is Kind” and it KIND of works!

Episode 448 – The Berenstain Bears Honesty Counts

Are you honest? Are you FAIR? Are you READY for BEARS? It’s “The Berenstain Bears Honesty Counts” and, does it? Does it really?

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 439 – The Berenstain Bears Get The Job Done

When the cubs are assigned the chore of cleaning out their old playhouse, will the presence of creepy crawly spiders keep them from getting the job done? HINT: the book is called “The Berenstain Bears Get The Job Done.”

Episode 437 – The Berenstain Bears My Bedtime Book of Poems and Prayers

This week, we’re taking a look at yet another book that’s just a plot-free collection of poetry and prayer… try. And guess what? I like it! It’s “The Berenstain Bears My Bedtime Book of Poems and Prayers” and it’s pretty darn good!

Episode 436 – The Berenstain Bears’ Mother’s Day Blessings

It’s Mother’s Day! And you know what that means! A long history of said day. Also, some blessings. “The Berenstain Bears’ Mother’s Day Blessings” that is!

Episode 435 – The Berenstain Bears’ Bedtime Devotional

This week, it’s a book that I find very hard to talk about because there’s no plot and it’s long and it’s a devotional. It’s “The Berenstain Bears’ Bedtime Devotional” and I’m falling asleep just thinking about it!

Episode 433 – The Berenstain Bears Storybook Bible/For Little Ones/Search and Find!

Three three three three three BOOKS! This week, I’m getting THREE BOOKS oout of MY LIFE by talking about “The Berenstain Bears Storybook Bible” “The Berenstain Bears Storybook Bible for Little Ones” AND “The Berenstain Bears Storybook Bible Search and Find” and BOY OH BOY am I ever tired of typing “The Berenstain Bears Storybook Bible” I guess I could have copy/pasted it but I go the extra mile FOR YOU.

Episode 431 – The Berenstain Bears’ Holiday Cookbook – Part 2

We missed Easter! But, never fear! Elana and I are here to report on the Easter treats we made from out “The Berenstain Bears’ Holiday Cookbook!” Yom.

Episode 422 – The Berenstain Bears Stay Healthy

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

Episode 421 – The Berenstain Bears’ Country Cookbook

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

Episode 420 – The Berenstain Bears’ Bedtime Blessings

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

Episode 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 413 – The Berenstain Bears God’s Wonderful World

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

Episode 412 – The Berenstain Bears Bless Our Gramps and Gran

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

Episode 410 – The Berenstain Bears Bless Our Pets

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

Episode 403 – The Berenstain Bears School Time Blessings

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

Episode 396 – The Berenstain Bears’ Harvest Festival

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

Episode 395 – The Berenstain Bears God Bless Our Country

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

Episode 367 – The Berenstain Bears and the Biggest Brag

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

Episode 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 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.”

Episode 346 – The Berenstain Bears Honey Hunt Helpers

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

Episode 345 – The Berenstain Bears Jobs Around Town

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

Episode 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 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 328 – The Berenstain Bears, Faith Gets Us Through

This week, we go back to Spooky Cave for a religious look at a Cub Club book I’d forgotten existed! It’s “The Berenstain Bears Faith Gets Us Through” but I mostly talk about musicals and The Descent.

Episode 327 – The Berenstain Bears Let The Bible Be Your Guide

Should you? I mean, should you *really* let the Bible be your guide? Specifically on a WHITE WATER CANOEING TRIP? Well, let’s find out. It’s “The Berenstain Bears Let The Bible Be Your Guide!”

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 318 – The Berenstain Bears and the Little Lost Cub!

I have a guest! Willow has rolled out of her bed and joined me for “The Berenstain Bears and the Little Lost Cub!” That awful little sailor suited boy is back, but he’s no longer naughty and he’s no longer Ned. He’s just some kid and he’s lost. So, the Good Deed Scouts are here to… do nothing. As usual. The wore things change, I guess?

If you want to hear more of me and Willow chatting about stuff, check out It’s Del Toro Time, our podcast that we do together!

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 303 – The Berenstain Bears Play a Good Game!

Let’s get religious on the playing field! This week, “The Berenstain Bears Play a GOOD GAME” and by “good game” I mean they play according to BIBLICAL LAW! Blessed are the ball players, ya’ll!

Episode 298 – The Berenstain Bears God Loves You!

How Do You Explain To A Child Who Created God

Real talk: does God love you? Let’s find out! Let’s also learn a bit about Bear Country’s Musical Theater heritage; the gender division between theater and sports; and Ferdy Actual… he exists! Also, Mama won’t stop making the conversation all about God God GOD! God, Mama! It’s “The Berenstain Bears God Loves You!”

Episode 297 – The Berenstain Bears Go To Sunday School!

Amazon.com: The Berenstain Bears Go to Sunday School (Berenstain Bears/Living  Lights: A Faith Story): Mike Berenstain, Stan Berenstain, Jan Berenstain:  Books

Get up kids! It’s time for SUNDAY SCHOOL! In this episode, the Bear Family goes to Sunday School. But, where did Sunday School come from? Who invented it? What about the song Mama and Papa sing? And they went to Sunday School together? Also, Noah’s Ark… did it stink? It’s “The Berenstain Bears Go To Sunday School!”

Episode 295 – The Berenstain Bears and the Golden Rule!

I avoid making an Aladdin joke in this episode and that’s pretty good for me! It’s “The Berenstain Bears and the Golden Rule!”

Episode 229 – The Berenstain Bears Down On the Farm/The Berenstain Bears Reap the Harvest

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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 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.