Deep In Bear Country - A Berenstain Bearcast

Hey! There's a kid in my podcast! Mitzi joins me – or, do I join Mitzi – for a talk about armor, archaeology and underground birds! You can find our official Facebook page on Facebook. Or, you can yell at me on Twitter. And, please please please rate and review the show on iTunes. Also, we're … Continue reading "Episode 53 – The Berenstain Bears and the Knight to Remember!"

Oh, what fresh heck is this?! It's a creepy robot voice that will control us all! KIDDING! It's Brad and Jeremy returning to bring us the Magic Wand Speak & Learn and its dulcet tones! Check out the pics Brad sent me! If you’re interested in joining the Berenstain Bears Collectors Facebook Group, just click through … Continue reading "Episode 52 – Collector's Corner 4!"

In which I talk about the book "The Berenstain Bears Learn About Strangers" and ponder its place on your bookshelf. As always, it really helps the show to get a good rating on iTunes, so visit our page and do us a solid. You can also visit us on Facebook, Twitter or write us an … Continue reading "Episode 51 – The Berenstain Bears Learn About Strangers Part 2"

Here in Bear Country, I try to keep things light. But then along comes a book that requires a slightly more serious approach to the subject matter. "The Berenstain Bears Learn About Strangers" is notorious among kids of the Eighties for inspiring the very fear it's supposed to counteract. A confusing mishmash of messages, "Strangers" … Continue reading "Episode 51 – The Berenstain Bears Learn Abou...

In preparation for this week's episode, I'm releasing a recording I did of "The Berenstain Bears Learn About Strangers." This was done purely for my kid's amusement, but it might be helpful considering I don't spend as much time on the actual "plot" this week. https://ia800406.us.archive.org/30/items/BerensatinBearsStrangers/BerensatinBearsStrangers.mp3

I am honored to be joined this week by Mike Berenstain. As always, you can find our official Facebook page on Facebook. Or, you can find me on Twitter. And, please rate and review the show on iTunes. https://ia600401.us.archive.org/6/items/DIBCEP50/DIBC-EP50.mp3

It's no secret that I love Saturday Morning Cartoons. It's not secret that I'm fairly uncritical of them. So, join me as I dip my toe into the waters of the Berenstain Bears' first cartoon series! And, hey, if you want to talk cartoons, you can find our official Facebook page on Facebook. Or, you can yell … Continue reading "Episode 49 – The Berenstain Bears on Saturday Mornings!"

Come into the bath with us! It's another Collector's Corner and Bradley, Jeremy and I are talking BATH BOOKS! Is that a good topic of conversation? No! Are we going to do it anyway? Probably! Take a look at these soft books you can get wet, courtesy of Brad! If you’re interested in joining the … Continue reading "Episode 48 – Collector's Corner 3!"

When is a birthday, TOO MUCH BIRTHDAY?! When it's Sister's birthday, of course! Join me and professional party princess Suzie Juul as we discuss sawing cubs in half, why Bear country has never seen a birthday party before and trick candle boyfriends! Also, should six-year-olds be playing spin-the-bottle? If you want to book Suzie for … Continue reading "Episode 47 – The Berenstain Bears and Too Mu...

Mr. Stuart Wellington of The Flop House and Till Def Do Us Ppardy joins me to discuss "The Berenstain Bears – No Girls Allowed." Is sister Bear in the wrong here? Can one actually barbecue honeycomb? Is The Bear Country Boys Club an antecessor of Gamergate? Also, if Stuart tells you to stop giggling . . . … Continue reading "Episode 46 – The Berenstain Bears No Girls Allowed!"

We're back in Bear County and Brother and Sister are up to some weird tricks as Brother assembles the idol and Sister begins demonstrating heretofore unknown skills in magic. Also, Cousin Frankie likes soccer? All this and more, in "The Berenstein Bears and the Doomspell Tournament!" https://ia600406.us.archive.org/28/items/DIBCEP445/DIBC-EP44-5.mp3

This week, Marilyn Pentel, creator and CEO of Mannerly Manners, joins me to discuss something about which I carry no authority . . . MANNERS! Think manners are just rules to keep kids quiet? It's a bit more complex than that. Marilyn and I discuss the importance of manners in maintaining a world in which true … Continue reading "Episode 44 – The Berenstain Bears Forget Their Manners!"

And, BOOM, we're back in the Dreamlands! Thought we'd never go back? Oh, you thought wrong! In this breezy little tome, we journey to that most mysterious of heavenly bodies: the moon! What does the moon have in store for our intrepid explorers? Not much! But, what does it all meeeeeeeeeeean? Join me as I … Continue reading "Episode 43 – The Berenstain Bears On the Moon!"

This week, I'm joined by Mark Sweeney – local performer, writer and gad-about – who actually worked at Berenstain Bear Country HOLY MOLY! He spills the beans and fills the dirt on what it was like to be one of Papa Bear's earthly avatars. Take a look! I found these pictures on the internet! And, … Continue reading "Episode 42 – Berenstain Bear Country?"

Bradley and Jeremy are BACK! And, they've brought with them some truly wonderful finds. I'm talking coloring books! I'm talking an amazing activity book! I'm talking a rub . . . . thing. A rub-a-book thingy. It's all awesome! Take a look! Here's a link to Jeremy's music – preorder that album! Here's a link … Continue reading "Episode 41 – Collector's Corner 2!"

Hey, gang. Let's stuff our faces! With knowledge! About the Berenstain Bears and their gross obsession with junk food! It's gross! I'm joined this week by the amazing Elana! https://ia600209.us.archive.org/13/items/DIBCEP40_201603/DIBC-EP40.mp3

I'm all alone and kind of lose it in this one? So, join me, dear listeners, as I delve into the horrors of greed. Also, I promise to never say "Giggly Goo" ever again. As always, our official Facebook page is on Facebook. You can holla at me on Twitter. And, please please please rate and review the show … Continue reading "Episode 39 – The Berenstain Bears Meet Santa Bear!"

When is a skunk not a skunk? When it's a stand-in for PREJUDICE! This week, Brandi Brown of Brandi and Bill talk about Blaxploitation (among MANY OTHER THINGS) joins me to discuss a book that is short of pages but long on social commentary. Where did all the non-bear animals in Bear Country go? If … Continue reading "Episode 38 – The Berenstain Bears and the Neighborly Skunk!"

DINOSAURS! Who doesn't love dinosaurs?! Well, parents, apparently? Joining me to discuss dinosaurs and the love thereof are Trish and Talcott, two artists and dinosaur lovers. We talk dinos, inaccurate dinos, weird dinos and "Baby, Secret of the Lost Legend." It's a doozy, folks! https://ia600202.us.archive.org/32/items/DIBCEP37/DIBC-EP37.mp3 You can find our official Facebook page on Facebook. Or...

POLITICS! That's what we're all about this week. POLITICS! How do they work? Why? Where? Tax! Papa don't know. And Papa . . . don't care. All this and no more! https://ia600208.us.archive.org/8/items/DIBCEP36/DIBC-EP36.mp3

Boy am I lucky! Mr. Andrew Schwartz of the "Talkin' ‘Bout Turtle: Your One Stop Shoppe for Entourage Schlopp" podcast has joined me to discuss the notion of perhaps watching too much television. Is this even possible? What was television like when I was a kid? What's a "cube puzzle?" Paula Poundstone? We discuss all … Continue reading "Episode 35 – The Berenstain Bears and Too Much TV!"

Okay, I learned my lesson last time. I'm only going to try to tackle one mini storybook. this week. 1984's "The Berenstain Bears Shoot the Rapids." Sounds like a treat. https://ia800201.us.archive.org/4/items/DIBCEP34/DIBC-EP34.mp3

WHAT is my problem?! Four books?! There's no way this is going to be anything less than unwieldy, right? Wellllllllllllllll, you may be right. Still, these are fun little books and, though it may not be readily apparent, very important books in the development of the Berenstain's creative empire. It has to do with some … Continue reading "Episode 32 – Four Mini Storybooks!"

Welcome back! Or, since I'm the one who's been gone, I guess you should be saying that. So. Welcome back, me! This week, we take a look at where we have been. We also take a look at The Berenstain Bears' Trouble with Money. I feel like it would be better served with the title "and The … Continue reading "Episode 31 – Welcome Back! & The Berenstain Bears and the Trouble With Money"

This episode, Mitzi and I explore the ethics of telling the truth. Also, the reasons we lie and the benefits of living a truthful life. Or, something. I don't know. I haven't listened to the show yet. If you enjoyed last week's reading, let me know and I'll do more! You can find our official … Continue reading "Episode 30 – The Berenstain Bears and the Truth"