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The Playground Podcast

The Playground Podcast

By Chris Byrne

Join Chris Byrne, The Toy Guy® as he presents a series of interviews with industry experts will tackle the topics of the toys, culture, toy history and talk with some of the leading people in the business of toys and children’s entertainment. Designed for anyone interested in toys, play and great stories, each weekly episode will feature engaging, entertaining conversation, useful information, insights, tales of the toys that we’ll never forget and so much more.
As they say, if it concerns toys and play, we’ll be kicking it around in The Playground.
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Music, Play and More--Josh Shriber of Jammin With You

The Playground PodcastMay 15, 2020

00:00
18:30
Radical Play: How Toys & Culture Changed in the 60s and 70s

Radical Play: How Toys & Culture Changed in the 60s and 70s

In this episode, Chris talks to author and historian Rob Goldberg about his fascinating book Radical Play. It's a look at the social movements of the 1960s and 1970s and how those challenged and changed the toy industry–and the ways in which the industry responded.

We cover the major issues of the era–war toys and guns, race and gender–and look at the ways the world and by extension playthings changed.

It's a lively and informative conversation. Listen in.

And you can buy Rob's book here.

Feb 21, 202441:46
The Hong Kong Toy Fair, Perspectives on Barbie
Feb 05, 202431:10
Year End 2023: James Zahn & John Baulch

Year End 2023: James Zahn & John Baulch

In our fifth annual year-end conversation, Chris is joined by James Zahn of The Toy Book, The Toy Insider and The Pop Insider and John Baulch managing director and publisher of Toy World UK.

Zahn and Baulch are two of the leading industry observers, analysts, and thinkers about the business of play. Their insights are entertaining, thoughtful, and clear-eyed.

Listen in as we talk about innovation, entertainment, inventory, and the year ahead.

The Playgorund Podcast is supported by Global Toy Experts, The Toy Guy, and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, managers of the Hong Kong Toys & Games Fair.

Dec 20, 202343:59
How Innovation Defines a Company: Joost Poulus of Moose

How Innovation Defines a Company: Joost Poulus of Moose

In this conversation, Chris talks with Joost Poulus, chief product officer for Moose toys. They talk about Joost's 20-plus year career with Moose, building a culture that supports innovation and the company's BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal) for the future.

In a time when "innovation" can merely be a buzzword, Moose is one of the first companies to build, and publish, a series of metrics to determine how innovation as they define it is succeeding.

Not surprisingly, it encompasses people, product and play.

The Playground Podcast is supported by Global Toy Experts, The Toy Guy, and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council.

Dec 10, 202326:24
Towards More Effective Communication: Matt Abrahams
Dec 01, 202332:33
Remembering Richard Gottlieb

Remembering Richard Gottlieb

Richard Gottlieb's death on October 26 from ALS was a blow for the people who knew and loved him, the toy industry, and, of course, this podcast.

In this short segment, Chris remembers and honors Richard and all his contributions, his amazing spirit and kindness, and much more.

We also talk a bit about continuing this show both to serve the industry and to honor Richard's memory.

Nov 25, 202309:57
John Tong: Hong Kong, Opportunities and the Future

John Tong: Hong Kong, Opportunities and the Future

Chris talks to John Tong, chairman of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council Toys Advisory committee. (Just one element of his diverse career.) They talk about Toy Fairs, opportunities in Hong Kong and how Hong Kong is coming back as a business center and gateway to Asia coming out of the pandemic.

The conversation was recorded at New York Toy Fair, and Richard and Chris divided and conquered to see as much of the show as possible...and find new guests for the rest of the season.

Oct 13, 202313:30
A Change in the Era: A Chat with Litzky PR

A Change in the Era: A Chat with Litzky PR

Richard and Chris talk with Michele Litzky and Josslynne Welch about the history of Litzky Public Relations, the evolution of PR over the past quarter century, and the transition as Josslynne takes over the reins of the company.

It's a great conversation about toy industry history, succession planning, and much more. Listen in as we talk to two major players in the toy industry.

(Apologies for the cellphone going off. We didn't want to edit that out. Just pretend you're at a Broadway theater and annoyed. That's what Chris would do.)

Oct 07, 202332:40
Mary Couzin: Creating Community in the Toy Biz

Mary Couzin: Creating Community in the Toy Biz

Chris and Richard talk to Mary Couzin about her career, the creation of People of Play, the upcoming 21st edition of the Chicago Toys & Games Fair, and the Young Inventors Challenge.

It's an energetic conversation, and you'll see why from her passion for play and the business to all she does why she's joining the Toy Industry Hall of Fame this year.

Listen in...and get as excited as we are about Mary and her work.

Sep 28, 202324:34
Eric Poses: 25 Years of Winning

Eric Poses: 25 Years of Winning

Chris talked with Eric Poses of All Things Equal Games about the 25th Anniversary of Leading Questions and his repeat of the cross-country car trip he did to launch the game in 1997. We caught up with him just as he was leaving. for 22 cities, with a stop at New York Toy Fair.

Sep 18, 202322:15
Gaming the Industry: Elan Lee of Exploding Kittens

Gaming the Industry: Elan Lee of Exploding Kittens

Richard and Chris talk with game inventor Elan Lee about his hugely successful game Exploding Kittens, developing great games, and his new line of Kitten Games, which Elan developed with his 4-year-old daughter.

This high-energy conversation will have you thinking about what makes a good game in the current market. Elan is also hugely entertaining and thoughtful about the role of games in our lives.


Aug 28, 202338:07
Innovation & The Playful Life: Brendan Boyle

Innovation & The Playful Life: Brendan Boyle

Serial inventor, professor, inveterate innovator and advocate of play Brendan Boyle of Fuse London joins us for a lively and wide-ranging conversation.

From his early career to his current gig with Fuse, Brendan has been a joyful advocate of play for kids, for organizations and for enhancing life overall.

Join us for a super fun episode.

Aug 05, 202327:13
Toy Zone: Alex Prieto, Director of Fun on The Company, The Future of Play...And More
Jun 20, 202320:39
Tik Tok, Innovation, and a Millennial-run Company: Jessica Kalichman of WowWee
Jun 08, 202327:43
AI, Invention & More Dan Klitsner, Inventor of Bop-It

AI, Invention & More Dan Klitsner, Inventor of Bop-It

Join Richard (on the keys) and Chris as they talk with inventor Dan Klitsner, creator of Bop-It about his newest puzzle Free Fall from ThinkFun. They talk about this new innovation, the challenges and rewards of inventing and delve into the topic of AI and what it might mean for creatives and everyone in the toy business. You wont' want to miss this lively conversation.


The Playground is sponsored by ⁠Global Toy Experts⁠, ⁠The Toy Guy⁠, and ⁠Beacon Media Group⁠

Apr 25, 202329:45
Madame Alexander Turns 100! A Chat with David Morgenstern

Madame Alexander Turns 100! A Chat with David Morgenstern

We kick of season five of The Playground Podcast with Madame Alexander's VP of sales, David Morgenstern. Richard, Chris, and guest host Chris Bensch from The Strong Museum of Play chat about this history, the legend, and what's new for the next chapter in the life of this iconic brand. 

Mar 10, 202323:05
Report from Hong Kong: Direct from the Toys & Games Fair
Jan 14, 202326:03
Getting Ready for Nuremberg: Christian Ulrich of Spielwarenmesse
Jan 06, 202318:14
2022 In Review: Our 4th Annual Discussion

2022 In Review: Our 4th Annual Discussion

Richard and Chris talk with John Baulch from Toy World UK and James Zahn from The Toy Book for our 4th Annual year-end conversation. From inventory levels to new challenges, to the potential for the revitalized Toys "R" Us, to, of course, the issue of Toy Fairs, the panel looks back at 2022 and ahead to 2023 and beyond. 


The Playground Podcast is supported by Global Toy Experts, The Toy Guy,  Beacon Media Group, and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council.

Dec 29, 202239:50
Slaying Social Media: Josh Loerzel & Sky Castle Toys

Slaying Social Media: Josh Loerzel & Sky Castle Toys

Richard and Chris talk to Josh Loerzel of Sky Castle Toys about his career and his ongoing success in using social media to create hits. From his early days at Zing where he made a monster hit out of Stikbot, Josh talks about how he did it and the three important elements of building a social media strategy. Moreover, how has social media changed the landscape for the trade? Josh will clue you in.

The Playground Podcast is supported by Global Toy Experts, The Toy Guy,  Beacon Media Group, and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council


Dec 13, 202234:08
100 Years of Fun: Jim & Donna Pressman on Their New Book
Dec 07, 202226:03
Price Protection in a Competitive Environment: Ron Solomon of Mapptrap

Price Protection in a Competitive Environment: Ron Solomon of Mapptrap

Richard and Chris talk to Ron Solomon, creator and CEO of MAPPTrap, an online software service that allows manufacturers to monitor compliance with minimum advertised pricing policies across all distribution channels (even ones they may not know about.) They discuss how it works, why it's important, and why the "race to the bottom" on pricing hurts manufacturers and retailers. 

It's an important conversation that can help everyone in the merchandising area and an intriguing look at how Solomon and his team have effectively countered price cutting...and where everyone wins.

Nov 09, 202224:16
Isaac Larian: The Interview. Building a Life and a Business with a Passion for Play

Isaac Larian: The Interview. Building a Life and a Business with a Passion for Play

Richard and Chris talk to Isaac Larian, founder and CEO of MGA. From his earliest days to having unprecedented success in the industry, Isaac talks about his vision, how he's built the company, worked with his team, and what the toy industry means to him. In this exclusive conversation, Isaac shares what it takes to make it in the toy industry, how it's a non-stop challenge, and why it's actually good to be paranoid. (It's a business strategy that drives non-stop innovation.)

Oct 25, 202236:13
ASTRA: Toy Boats and the State of Specialty

ASTRA: Toy Boats and the State of Specialty

Richard and Chris talk to Sue Warfield, president of ASTRA and board members Tom Rushton and Cassidy Smith about ASTRA's Toy Boat next February. Find out why this actually is a great opportunity to cost-effectively reach the specialty trade. Also, they talk about the state of specialty, particularly coming out of COVID, what specialty means today and the terrific opportunities for both retailers and manufacturers.

Oct 14, 202230:07
More than a Blip: Building a Business on Classic Play

More than a Blip: Building a Business on Classic Play

Richard and Chris talk to Bill Nichols and Peter Cmiel co-presidents of Blip Toys about their careers, their strategies, the benefits and challenges of just being a "Blip" on the radar of the toy industry (despite major successes) and how they manage to keep the company lean, creative, and successful. Plus, they chat about Chris's favorite active play toy of 2022. 

Oct 05, 202229:33
Update on Toy Fairs: Kim Carcone of the Toy Association

Update on Toy Fairs: Kim Carcone of the Toy Association

Richard and Chris have a lively chat with Kim Carcone, EVP of the Toy Association about the current state of Toy Fair, the upcoming Dallas show, what's ahead for 2023, and new initiatives to make the show more useful and relevant than ever. 

Sep 07, 202225:50
Validating STEM & STEAM: A Chat with The Good Play Guide

Validating STEM & STEAM: A Chat with The Good Play Guide

Amanda Gummer and Frances Cain from The Good Play Guide talk with Richard and Chris about their scientifically based accreditation program for evaluating toys for their potential to support STEM and STEAM learning. Beyond marketing buzzwords, this insightful conversation talks about the value of play, its role in learning...and why fun is an essential element of any toy that they validate. 

With sound methodology and a dedication to children, they talk about what this can mean to parents, children, and manufacturers, including a new storefront on Amazon.com that will help consumers find toys that are appropriate for their kids. 

Aug 22, 202229:45
Didier Pietri, CEO of Luki Lab & Strottman

Didier Pietri, CEO of Luki Lab & Strottman

Chris and Richard talk to Didier Pietri about how he built a toy business from a business-to-business operation, their entry into the market, how they’ve developed unique products, and marketing. From creating their own animation studio, to managing current supply chain issues, to the decision to sell exclusively direct-to-consumer; Pietri talks about navigating the market…and answers the question he always gets: “You want to start a toy company. Are you insane?”

Jul 18, 202232:52
Showcase Comes to the U.S.: Samir Kulkarni, CEO

Showcase Comes to the U.S.: Samir Kulkarni, CEO

After a successful 10-store pilot, the Canadian trend retailer Showcase is coming to the U.S., and that is big news for the toy industry. Richard and Chris talk to the retailer's CEO Samir Kulkarni about the store, their growth, their U.S. strategy and the unique and powerful combination of high tech systems and a deep understanding of trends to create a retail destination in malls across the U.S. Twenty-seven stores are planned for 2022 alone, with more to come.

It's a dynamic conversation that you won't want to miss.


Jun 28, 202235:09
Jeffrey Breslow: A Gamemaker's Life
Jun 14, 202234:03
Private Label, New Materials Inside Boley
Jun 04, 202225:12
Action Face CEO Kenny Davis on a New, Interactive Virtual and Real World Platform
May 26, 202221:12
Aaron Muderick of the Toy Association on Toy Fair & More
May 16, 202233:16
Building a Global Brand: Star Stable Gallops Into the Toy World
May 09, 202230:31
Toy Industry History: Barry Schwartz on 50 Years of Making Hits

Toy Industry History: Barry Schwartz on 50 Years of Making Hits

Richard and Chris talk to Barry Schwartz of Schwartz PR about his incredible career. From his start as a kid in vaudeville, Barry moved into PR (another kind of showbiz, he notes) and was the creative and PR force behind many hits of the mid-20th Century. From introducing LEGO and the Othello game to the United States, to launching Hello Kitty in America to the recent TOTY winner Create-A-Castle, Barry shares stories of how this happened and how the world of PR has evolved over nearly half a century. This is must-listen industry history, direct from someone who lived it and created it.

In The Endcap, Chris and Richard talk about the potential demise of The Star Ferry in Hong Kong. It's a lighthearted, but heartfelt, conversation about a fixture of Hong Kong, which may be going away.

The Playground Podcast is supported by Global Toy Experts, The Toy Guy, and Beacon Media Group.

May 02, 202239:50
From Fad to Brand: Rainbow Loom 10 Years In
Apr 19, 202228:58
What Disney's Current Situation Teaches Managers: Eric Pliner of YSC Consulting

What Disney's Current Situation Teaches Managers: Eric Pliner of YSC Consulting

In this important and insightful episode, Richard and Chris talk with Eric Pliner, CEO of YSC Consulting about what today's managers can learn from the current political, employee and public image crisis at Disney. Pliner's insights on the changing nature of ethics and employment are essential for anyone who wants to function effectively in the contemporary market. Pliner previously appeared on The Playground Podcast to talk about DEI programs. Now, he takes all of that information to the next level to help managers understand what's coming...and be prepared.

In The Endcap, Chris and Richard have some fun with a recent article posted on Global Toy News about the Top Retro Toys in the U.S. It's a lighthearted conversation in this serious time, and it reminds us of the joy of play. 

The Playground Podcast is supported by Global Toy Experts, The Toy Guy, and Beacon Media Group.

Apr 10, 202234:42
Next Gen Genius: Yanofsky & Wiseman of WowWee
Mar 31, 202235:15
Jumping into the Toy Biz: Producer Brian Volk-Weiss
Mar 21, 202224:24
Jay Foreman: The Case for September Toy Fair
Mar 07, 202235:33
The Power of Collecting: Christian Braun of HobbyDB

The Power of Collecting: Christian Braun of HobbyDB

Richard and Chris speak with Christian Braun of HobbyDB, the global hobby and collectibles database about collecting, what creates value, and best practices for companies that want to be in the collectible or limited edition business. They talk about what makes this sector different from traditional toy development and marketing, and such issues as "completion" and the reality that sometimes building long-term value means leaving money on the table. 

In The Endcap, Chris and Richard discuss recent news that the UN may limit petroleum-based plastic production, what that might mean, and a Spielwarenmesse survey of consumers in the EU about what is important to them in toys, particularly as the next generation of toy buyers confront and deal with the climate impact of plastics. 

The Playground Podcast is supported by Global Toy Experts, The Toy Guy, and ChizComm.


Mar 02, 202234:39
September Toy Fair: What It May Mean. Take 10
Feb 23, 202210:50
Thomas Kaeppeler of Ravensburger: Puzzling Out the Business
Feb 23, 202234:03
Steve Markey of Hog Wild: Toy Fairs, Retail & More
Feb 14, 202230:16
The Strong Museum: Game On
Jan 31, 202233:20
Making Music, Making Toys: Sarah Baskin of Far Out Toys

Making Music, Making Toys: Sarah Baskin of Far Out Toys

Richard and Chris talk with Sarah Baskin, Vice President of Marketing Communications for Far Out Toys. She talks about the evolution of this "new type of toy company," their major investment in content and music, and has great tips fo companies looking to implement a content strategy in the current marketplace. Her insights and advice are invaluable, and you'll want to listen in.


In The Endcap, Chris and Richard talk about the five-year decline in China's birthrate, the aging of the Chinese population, and what that means for the toy industry...and the world. 

The Playground Podcast is supported by Global Toy Experts, The Toy Guy, and ChizComm.

Jan 24, 202233:35
Strong Museum: The Doll Collections & The Power of American Girl

Strong Museum: The Doll Collections & The Power of American Girl

The Playground Podcast begins its fourth season with the first of a series of conversations with curators at the Strong Museum of Play, Richard and Chris talk with Michelle Parnett-Dwyer who oversees the doll collection. From the Edison talking doll to the newly inducted American Girl dolls, they discuss the history, significance and evolution of dolls in the culture and the collection.

In The Endcap, Chris and Richard discuss the new CEO at Hasbro, Chris Cocks, and how his arrival from the Pacific Northwest may impact Hasbro's culture and why his experience with Wizards of the Coast may be the ideal springboard for moving Hasbro ahead in a dynamic toy/entertainment environment. 

The Playground Podcast is supported by Global Toy Experts, The Toy Guy, and ChizComm.

Jan 11, 202227:30
2021 Year in Review: Second Annual Thought Leader Panel Discussion

2021 Year in Review: Second Annual Thought Leader Panel Discussion

Richard and Chris are joined by John Baulch of Toy World UK and James Zahn of The Toy Book to talk about the major issues of 2021: supply chain, consumer buying, inflation, toy fairs, and much more.

In this lively conversation, four of the toy industry's top thought leaders share their perspectives and insights on one of the most challenging years the toy industry has face and their outlook for what's ahead in 2022.

The Playground Podcast is supported by Global Toy Experts, The Toy Guy, and ChizComm.

Dec 20, 202138:23
Dan Yaccarino: Drawing on a Great Career

Dan Yaccarino: Drawing on a Great Career

Richard and Chris talk with Dan Yaccarino, author, artist and creator of such shows as Oswald the Octopus and the Backyardigans. They talk about Dan's career, the state of kids' content and much more. 

In The Endcap, Chris and Richard talk about the new Toys "R" Us, its potential and what success could mean for the business and invite CEO Yehuda Shmidman to come on the show and talk about his vision for reviving the iconic brand.

The Playground Podcast is supported by Global Toy Experts, The Toy Guy, and ChizComm.


Dec 09, 202137:09
Spielwarenmesse Update: A Conversation with Christian Ulrich
Nov 12, 202118:48