Deep In Bear Country - A Berenstain Bearcast

This week, I am very excited to welcome Jason Bucklin onto the show. Jason is the LGBTQ Programming Director for Minneapolis Public Schools and he's here to talk about "The Berenstain Bears and the Bully" a book I've been excited yet nervous about for three years. Jason walks us through what bullying is, how parents … Continue reading "Episode 156 – The Bully!"

This week, I'm joined by Erin Ayers – one half of the Over the Table Top podcast – to discuss a tale of fraud and dinosaurs. It's "The Berenstain Bears and the G-Rex Bones!" How far will Ralph go to secure a million dollars? Pretty far! Will he sell out his own personal values and … Continue reading "Episode 155 – The G-Rex Bones!"

Ollie is back, my partner in crime from It's Del Toro Time! and we're talking about . . . something. What even are these? It's the first two Merit Badge Mysteries "The Missing Merit Badges" and "The Search for Naughty Ned" and, well, animals talk? Dr. Mr. Wide Old Owl? Naughty Ned? It's clear we're … Continue reading "Episode 154 – The Missing Merit Badges & The Search for Naughty Ned"

When is a book NOT a book? When it's a sequel to a book YOU'VE NEVER READ! Yes, this week I discover the peril of not knowing which book comes after which as I delve into the second part of an apparent two-parter that isn't actually that difficult to understand; it's a book for children. … Continue reading "Episode 153 – The Evil Eye!"

This week, Jamie Tyler, author of the "Cowabloga" Ninja Turtles blog, is BACK to talk about the most convoluted, frustrating, fascinating and satisfyingly unsatisfying Big Chapter Book I've read in a while: "The Berenstain Bears and the Perfect Crime (Almost)!" Yes, get that parenthetical in there; it's important. Jamie and I work ourselves up to … Continue reading "Episode 152 – The Perfect Crime...

Boy oh boy! Milton Chubb! Who is Milton Chubb, you ask? Only the strangest cub introduced in these here books. He's introduced TWICE actually, in "Too Much Teasing" and in "The Love Match." Two different formats that tell essentially the same story but in wildly different ways and for wildly different reasons. To commemorate this … Continue reading "Episode 151 – "Too Much Teasing" and "The Love M...

It's been over a year and FIFTY EPISODES since I've had a proper Collectors Corner with Brad and Jeremy, so HERE WE ARE! And we are talking about EVERYTHING. So, kick back, relax and enjoy the ride! You can find Brad's complete list of Berenstain Bears books here and Jeremy's music here. https://ia903108.us.archive.org/10/items/DIBCEP150/DIBC-EP150.mp3

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? https://ia801001.us.archive.org/32/items/DIBC149/DIBC-149.mp3

This week I am joined by not one, not two, not three, but FOUR GUESTS! It's a veritable ROUND TABLE as I welcome back Elana, Corinna, Andrew and Scott – from Episode 55(!!!) "The Berenstain Bears Get Stage Fright" – to talk about "The Berenstain Bears and the Trouble With Grownups!" And, seeing as how … Continue reading "Episode 148 – The Trouble with Grownups!"

This week, I'm joined by the delightful Drew Stewart to rock out to "The Berenstain Bears Go Platinum!" It's the gripping tale of Stan and Jan Berenstain really wanting to stick it to the music of today! https://ia803109.us.archive.org/21/items/DIBCEP147/DIBC-EP147.mp3

This week, I'm joined by Emily Bennett of Best Acquaintances to talk about the insidious nature of young jealousy! Like, seriously, it's a pretty solid book that deals with a pretty serious topic for adolescent kids. I know! https://ia903106.us.archive.org/1/items/DIBCEP146/DIBC-EP146.mp3

sq This week, I am joined by Justin Harrison of Birth. Movies. Death. to talk about the incredibly long and detailed "The Berenstain Bear Scouts and the Sinister Smoke Ring!" This is a huge one, folks, and we talk about the influences of the story, how it came to be written, the interwoven plot threads, the … Continue reading "Episode 145 – The Sinister Smoke Ring!"

Oh boy oh boy oh jeez. This book, I swear . . . I'm joined this week by Alexandra Bowser of Arthur, Mommy, Movie Time! to talk about the bizarre, sad, terrible, horrifying, rushed and ultimately satisfying "The Berenstain Bear Scouts and the Run-Amuck Robot!" What is Robow? Is he alive? Are any of us? Why … Continue reading "Episode 144 – The Run-Amuck Robot!"

This week, we get mired in ATOMIC MAGIC. Seriously. There is ACTUAL MAGIC in this episode. Or, is it science? Doesn't matter. What does matter is that I have Megan Sunday from In The Attic here to help me through it. And, man, once Grizzly Gramps starts yelling, things get a bit unhinged. https://ia601007.us.archive.org/0/items/DIBCEP143/DIBC-EP143.mp3

It's ME! I'm all alone for this episode, so you know what that means: CONSPIRACY THEORIES! OLD RELIGION! FRACTURED REALITIES! ALTERNATE TIMELINES! OLD GODS! ANCIENT FAITHS! DOOMSDAY! THE END OF THE WORLD! RANTING! RAVING! WELCOME. https://ia600106.us.archive.org/33/items/DIBCEP142/DIBC-EP142.mp3

Elana and Mitzi are back! Or, are here because they've never been on together! And we're talking "Giant Bat Cave!" It's a Berenstain Bear Scouts book and may, in fact be the *first Berenstain Bear Scouts book but, then again, maybe it's not? Also, Elana gets really excited to talk about local politics and then has … Continue reading "Episode 141 – The Berenstain Bear Scouts Giant Bat Cave!"

Gena Radcliffe – one half of the Kill By Kill Podcast duo – joins me to talk about the decidedly NON-SCARY "The Berenstain Bears and the Haunted Hayride!" There's no haunting but there IS a hayride although it is very short and they don't go into a lot of details about it. Still . . … Continue reading "Episode 139 – The Berenstain Bears and the Haunted Hayride!"

This week, I'm joined by Kacie Galyon to talk about one of the most surprisingly enjoyable books I've read so far in the Big Chapter Book series, ‘The Berenstain Bears and the Bermuda Triangle." Kacie and I are taken somewhat aback by the mature handling of themes in this book, the twists in the plot … Continue reading "Episode 137 – The Bermuda Triangle!"

Let's close out this chunk of Bear Scouts books with "The Berenstain Bear Scouts and the Terrible Talking Termite." This one was based on an episode of the cartoon and it shows and shows and shows. It makes little sense and to help me figure it out, I have Christy Admiraal, from Nerdist and VICE … Continue reading "Episode 136 – The Terrible Talking Termite!"

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. https://ia600106.us.archive.org/22/items/DIBCEP135/DIBC-EP135.mp3

Oh boy! Erin Gambrill from Ladies Who Library is here to talk about a book that COMPLETELY CAUGHT ME OFF GUARD! Like, seriously. There is so much going on in this one I needed to bring in a friend just to help me get through it. https://ia800106.us.archive.org/13/items/DIBCEP134/DIBC-EP134.mp3

I'm joined this week by Master of Pollution, Mark Sweeney! He gets it! He KNOWS. Mark Sweeney understands the complicated nature of pollution in bear country and the gentle grace with which the topic is handled in "The Berenstain Bears Don't Pollute (Anymore)" parenthetical and all. Get to know us through the fine art of … Continue reading "Episode 132 – The Berenstain Bears Don't Pollute (Anymore...

My CHILDREN ARE HERE and we're talking about "The Berenstain Bears and TOO MUCH PRESSURE!" No pressure here, though. We're cool as cucumbers. https://ia800600.us.archive.org/24/items/DIBCEP131/DIBC-EP131.mp3

MRRRRRR CHZZZZZZMMZZZZZ! Mr. Mark Sweeney is BACK to talk about THE BEATLES and THE BARENAKED LADIES and . . . The Beatles? Also, we've got this COMMENTARY TRACK for you but it's really just the middle part of a JAM PACKED episode of TWO GUYS HANGING OUT. Here's the video we used! https://ia800102.us.archive.org/18/items/DIBCEP130/DIBC-EP130.mp3

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! https://ia800103.us.archive.org/14/items/DIBCEP129/DIBC-EP129.mp3