Tag: Phil Gonzales

Episode 521 – The BEAR Essentials!

Stan and Jan Berenstain wrote a parenting guide, and Becca and I have some questions.

This week, we crack open THE BEAR ESSENTIALS: parenting advice, unexpectedly advanced vocabulary, and a VERY thorough index. We explore the Berenstains’ earlier cartoons for adults, consider the financial wisdom of Barbie and Beanie Baby college funds, and take an entirely reasonable detour into Psalty the Singing Songbook.

But first, Becca has a new clue in our ongoing mystery of those unusual Berenstain Bears hardcovers: matching Tuesday Morning stickers. We follow the discount-store trail and try to piece together how these books ended up on the shelves.

Have one of these mystery editions sitting around your house? Let us know in the comments!

There’s always more Bear Country.

Episode 520 – The Berenstain Bears and BECCA IS CO-HOST!

After more than 11 years of Deep in Bear Country, I officially have a co-host! Becca Peter joins me and she’s brought a Berenstain Bears mystery that has even Mike Berenstain stumped.

Becca has uncovered some unusual hardcover editions featuring messages from Stan and Jan, unfiltered parenting advice, maybe a connection to the Berenstains’ parenting guide(?), and Ronald Reagan’s death. We’re gonna get into these!

We also talk about how Becca found the show, our plans to revisit classic First Time Books, and why vintage coloring books might provide us with an alarming amount of material.

Have one of these mysterious editions? Know where they came from? Have something you’d like us to cover? Write to us at berenstainbearcast@gmail.com!

Episode 519 – Sister Bear Learns to Share | Brother Bear Loves Dinosaurs!

After more than a decade in Bear Country, Becca Peter is still finding Berenstain Bears books that have completely escaped my attention.

This time, we’re exploring Sister Bear Learns to Share and Brother Bear Loves Dinosaurs: two overlooked board books featuring peculiar rhymes, unfamiliar cubs, and a potentially alarming explanation for Brother’s love of dinosaurs.

Does Sister actually have anything to learn about sharing? Who are Jason and Melanie? Is the pterodactyl being a little too showy?

Plus: vintage coloring books with actual plots, our dreams of Berenstain Bears graphic novels, and the joy of discovering there’s still more Bear Country to explore.

Find Becca on TikTok at tiktok.com/@defectivebecca

Episode 518 – Too Loose, Too Tight, Just Right (2026)

Mike Berenstain returns to talk about Too Loose, Too Tight, Just Right, a rediscovered story from Stan and Jan’s archives. We discuss recreating their classic illustration style, navigating publishers’ suggestions, and more unpublished treasures headed for print. Plus: childhood artistic revelations, Dr. Seuss, Peanuts, Richard Scarry, and my entirely reasonable demand for more Ferdy Factual and Trudy Brunowitz.

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 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 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.