Deep In Bear Country – A Berenstain Bearcast

This week, I am joined by Michael M. Rader of We’ll Get It Right Next Year to talk about “The Berenstain Bears at Camp Crush!” This book gets WAY OFF TRACK and doesn’t really involve crushes and barely involves camping. It does involve the most loathsome of Bear Country characters, however, Mervyn Grizzmeyer. Ish. https://ia803103.us.archive.org/17/items/DIBCEP112/DIBC-EP11...

Meghan Griffin of Judging Book Covers and Fableulous Retellings joins me to talk dress codes, law enforcement and a Berenstain Bears book that gets way more political than we were anticipating! https://ia801006.us.archive.org/2/items/DIBCEP111/DIBC-EP111.mp3

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 … Continue reading "Episode 110 – Meeting Mike (Par...

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 … Continue reading "Episode 109 – Diner Talk"

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 Obviously, anything about upcoming anything is now hopelessly out of date.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! https://ia601507.us.archive.org/16/items/DIBCSUMMERRERUN67/DIBC-SUMMER%20RERUN-67.mp3

What a weird book. Kerry Nelson from Random Sampling joins me to talk about the gross violation of trust that occurs at Bear Country School! Also, democracy in action? Maybe? https://ia800804.us.archive.org/20/items/DIBCEP108/DIBC-EP108.mp3

Joel Torres of the Please Don’t Send Me Into Outer Space podcast joins me to talk about DRUGS! And DRUG ZONES! And BACKWOODS DRUG DISTRIBUTION? It’s a wild weird but pretty nicely done book. https://ia600603.us.archive.org/31/items/DIBCEP107/DIBC-EP107.mp3

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. https://ia800606.us.archive.org/12/items/DIBCEP106/DIBC-EP106.mp3

Because I felt guilty – here’s a talk about The Big Chapter Books! https://ia600605.us.archive.org/13/items/DIBCBONUS/DIBC-BONUS.mp3

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. https://ia600609.us.archive.org/29/items/DIBCEP104/DIBC-EP104.mp3

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 … Continue reading "Episode 103 – The Berenstain Bears a...

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!

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. https://ia601505.us.archive.org/16/items/DIBCEP101/DIBC-EP101.mp3

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 … Continue reading "Episode 100 – Collector’s Corner 8!"

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. https://ia801505.us.archive.org/30/items/DIBCEP99/DIBC-EP99.mp3

My collectors are BACK and they’ve brought with them . . . nothing. Nothing at all. This episode is a special “free form” episode where anything brought to the table comes out of *us* and our IMAGINATIONS. Trust me, it works. You can find Bradley’s official list of books at his website, visit Jeremy’s site … Continue reading "Episode 98 – Collectors Corner 7!"

The Bear Family had a skunk for a neighbor. In “Pet Show” a skunk has been surgically altered and turned into a pet. Bear Country is horrifying. https://ia601608.us.archive.org/2/items/DIBCEP97/DIBC-EP97.mp3

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. https://ia801606.us.archive.org/23/items/DIBCEP96/DIBC-EP96.mp3

Enjoy! https://ia601608.us.archive.org/15/items/DIBCEP95/DIBC-EP95.mp3

In which I take offense at God telling me to not watch television.

More Bears. More Jesus. https://ia601607.us.archive.org/19/items/DIBCEP93/DIBC-EP93.mp3

I don’t know what’s wrong with me. https://ia601606.us.archive.org/24/items/DIBCEP92/DIBC-EP92.mp3

It’s me again and this week I’m covering a book about which the less said the better! So, of course, I ramble on and on and on.

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. https://ia801600.us.archive.org/22/items/DIBCEP90/DIBC-EP90.mp3

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?” https://ia601603.us.archive.org/9/items/DIBCEP89/DIBC-EP89.mp3