The Playground Podcast

As a kid, host Chris Byrne loved science toys. People whoknow him know that he especially liked making things that blew up. However, since about 1972, thanks to the CPSC, toy science kits haven’t included componentsfor making explosives. Still, Chris and his friends had it safer than kids in 1950 who played with the Gilbert Atomic Energy lab that had realuranium in it. Yet, even without toxicity o...

Revitalizing and relaunch a brand almost 30 years after itsintroduction is never an easy task. However, when the brand was as popular and influential as the iconic Backyard Sports franchise of the late 1990s and early 2000s, thechallenge can be especially daunting. Second-grade teacher turned entrepreneur Lindsay Barnett, however, loves competition, as she tells me, and is more than up to the chal...

In the dynamic world of marketing in today’s toy industry, staying on top of best practices isn’t always easy. This is especially true when it comes to influencers. Fortunately, we have some insights that may prove enlightening and useful. Mark Basset heads up the influencer business at Precisify inthe UK. You may have known the as Precise TV in the past. Mark and I talk about their unique, data-d...

This is a special edition of The Playground Podcast. In the wake of the Supreme Court Ruling on February 20 that President Trump’s imposition of tariffs exceeded his authority to do so, there has been a lot of confusion in the toy industry. I can’t think of anyone better than Jay Foreman, CEO of Basic Fun, to comment on and put in perspective what this means for our industry and advice on how to r...

In our second conversation about the emerging medium of social shopping, we sat down with Lee Parkhurst of Parkhurst marketing. I’ve known and admired Lee for years for his strategic thinking, insights, and the pure joy he brings to his work and the industry as a whole. In this conversation we talk in depth about Tik Tok, issues,best practices, and much more. Plus, you'll hear how a game turne...

We're kicking off Season 8 of The Playground Podcast with two conversations about changing retail environments. Retail in the toy business has always been dynamic. Howeverthe last 30 years since the launch of eBay and Amazon has seen almost constant evolution. Today, we are at the forefront of yet another development—social shopping. Already established in China, where I got to see this phenom...

I have been hoping to land this guest for a while—and finally the stars aligned.  Azhelle Wade is the Toy Coach . If you’re in the toy industry, I’m pretty sure you know her—or at least know of her. After a dynamic career in product development,vshe has devoted herself to helping creators bring their visions of playthingsto life. In the years I’ve known Azhelle, every conversation we’ve had has be...

In our 7th annual year and review, James Zahn of The Toy Book and Toy Insider and John Baulch of Toy World UK join Chris to look back at the toy year for 2025...and ahead at what may be in the future. From tariffs to K-Pop Demon Hunters to the dynamic retail environment, we look at many (but by no means all) of the topics that have shaped 2025 and will continue to affect the toy business as we mov...

Eric Ostendorff spent more than 30 years at Mattel where he invented and protyped Hot Wheels sets and electromechanical products, earning more than 50 patents for his creative endeavors.  Eric is a true industry veteran with the stories to prove it, and it was a pleasure to hear some of them—and share them with all of you. After you listen, come back and check out these links he refers to: HW prot...

With more than a decade of experience across the U.S. and global markets, Audrey Birner is the U.S. Insight Director for Beano Brain . She’s a youth culture expert helping brands understand and engage kids, tweens, teens and their families. She believes the only way to truly understand Gen Alpha and Gen Z is to hear the unfiltered truth straight from the young people themselves. Chris sat down wit...

Why do we love robots so much? Especially as toys?  And for so long? I think it’s because toy robots perfectly reflect embody the intersection of imagination, play, and technology. Robots reflect our fundamental curiosity about life itself—what it means to move, think, or act independently. For children, they are magical objects that blur the line between the inanimate and the animate, allowing th...

Among the many issues currently bouncing around the toy biz,AI is one a lot of people are talking about, thinking about, and looking at ways to integrate it into play experiences. In this episode, Chris talks to Misha Sallee, CEO of Curio. Thecompany’s first products are AI-powered playmates that can make play engaging,educational, and more fun. We talk about his toys, and AI’s potential for toys....

Listen in to a really special episode. We’re talking about aprogram that’s near and dear to my heart, the Young Inventor’s Challenge. I’m joined by program director Ahren Hoffman, Amy Saldana from kiddywampus, Hilary Key from The Toy Chest, and Julie Burczyk from Tools for Teaching. We talk about how these leading specialty retailers have I integrated the Young Inventors Challenge into their busin...

Matt Brown is one of the coolest and most thoughtful guys inthe toy business. His dedication to play and kids is always inspiring. Over the years, since he entered our industry with Zoob,Matt and Chris have had many conversations about the role of play in children’s lives and why play is so critical to all of us. In this conversation, we talk about how play literally shapes kids' brains, uses...

Sue Warfield is the president of ASTRA, and a good friend. She has been a passionate leader of her organization and an equally passionate proponent of play and its value in culture. In this episode, Chris talks with Sue about their shared perspectives on play and its role in child development, and the necessity of play in building healthy children. The Playground Podcast is supported by Global Toy...

He's created a sensation from his kitchen table. This is one of those wonderful, classic toy biz stories about a great idea that finds its way. With a combination of creativity, ingenuity, social media, and timing, Josh Carman has created a hit with Popdarts and along the way created a great family activity, a challenging game...and a new sport. Listen in to his story!

In this episode, Chris talks to Brea Brand, founder of the Australian-based magnetic tile company Connetix. With a combination of passion, creativity, and a commitment to excellence, Brand and her company have made a strong entry into the highly competitive magnetic tile business. How she's built the brand and kept the focus on kids' play experiences make this a great conversation with som...

One of the most important components of any toy program inthis highly competitive and crowded market is a strategic media program. Given the proliferation of platforms, changes in demographics and emerging product categories, it can be a challenge. Well, listen in because I sat down during New York Toy Fairwith three people who are at the forefront of this changing market and whose track record of...

In this episode James Zahn of Toy Book and Toy Insider, John Baulch of Toy World UK, and Chris talk about the show, the products, the toy biz, and the year ahead. It's the 7th time these three industry experts have sat down to have a conversation about the toys and the times. Listen in to the conversation.

Chris talks with Greg Ahearn president and CEO of the Toy Association on the last day of the recent NY Toy Fair from the show floor. They talk about the almost universally positive response to the show, the future of the NY show, what's going on in LA, the exceptional work being done by the Association in DC, and the important work of The Toy Foundation. It's a somewhat wide-ranging conversation,...

Chris talks to Billy Lagor about his stellar career, today's toy industry, and his role as the CEO of retailer Entertainment Earth. His insights on licenses, properties, successes and social media are a must-listen for anyone in the toy industry.

In this episode, Chris talks to Sophia Chong, acting executive director of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, organizers of the Hong Kong Toys & Games Fair. Chris & Sophia talk on the opening day of the fair about the show, the role of Toy Fairs in the industry, the growth of the toy business in the region, and the ongoing importance of Hong Kong on the global toy stage. The Playgrou...

As the 2025 Toy Fair season begins, we kick off Season 7 of The Playground Pocast. Chris talks with Christian Ulrich, spokesperson of the Executive Board of the Spielwarenmesse about the upcoming Nuremberg show. They talk about the expansion of the show, trends to watch, and more. This is Ulrich's third appearance on The Playground Podcast, and you'll find him as insightful, entertaining and knowl...

Listen in to our sixth annual conversation about the year just past...and what may be brewing on the horizon. James Zahn of The Toy Book and Toy Insider and John Baulch of Toy World UK sit down with Chris for a wide ranging conversation about what's up in the toy biz. This is one of our most-listened-to episodes of the year, and we know you'll be engaged and entertained by the conversation. The Pl...

The Wow in the World podcast is the centerpiece of a groundbreaking entertainment platform--and an emerging licensing powerhouse. In this episode, Chris talks to Nicole Blake, chief brand office at Wonderry and Andy Quartin, CEO of Thames & Kosmos. It's a conversation about a dynamic licensing program, that capitalizes on contemporary entertainment...with a healthy dose of classic play. Listen...