First up this week on Jake's Happy Nostalgia Show, we welcome back puppeteer Brandon Smith!

Since 2022, Brandon has been a Muppet performer on Sesame Street, starting with playing Jamal in the YouTube video Wes' First Barbershop Haircut and working on the series since Season 54. When we first spoke with Brandon, he had just started working on the show. In this follow-up conversation, he shares his different responsibilities on the Sesame set and what it's like working alongside the rest of the crew. We also touch on some of roles outside of Sesame Street such as performing Bruno the Bear for Capital One Park and Garbanzo for Spacefish Productions. He also talks about his recent experience seeing The Wiggles in New York.

Connect with Brandon:

https://www.instagram.com/brand_198/

Check out Brandon's work with Capital One Park and Gen Con:

https://linktr.ee/capitalonepark

https://linktr.ee/gen_con

Taping date:

February 9, 2026

Edited by:

Miles

https://www.youtube.com/@Miles02109

Be sure to check out our website, where you can learn more about the podcast and find how to follow the Happy Nostalgia team:

https://jakeshappynostalgiashow.weebly.com/

Listen to the audio version wherever you find your podcasts:

https://linktr.ee/JakesHappyNostalgiaShow