In this Sunday Edition of The Nightly, Josh Gondelman welcomes mascot designer Tom Sapp into the pillow fort for a behind-the-scenes look at the surprising art, strategy, and heart behind the characters we cheer for.

What You'll Hear

From Sketchbook to Stadium: Tom shares how a career in advertising unexpectedly led him to designing iconic mascots for sports teams, schools, hospitals, and beyond—and why every great mascot starts with understanding the people it's meant to delight.

More Than a Costume: From Rocky the Mountain Lion's lightning-bolt tail to comforting characters for children's hospitals, Tom explains how storytelling, thoughtful design, and unforgettable performers work together to create characters that people truly believe in.

Why Kids Know Best: Josh and Tom explore the surprisingly emotional side of mascot design, why honest audience reactions matter, and the creative freedom that comes from letting ideas wander before they take shape.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Intro & welcoming Tom Sapp!
01:19 How Tom's career in mascot design began
05:06 Designing characters with purpose
08:00 The origin story of Rocky the Mountain Lion
12:00 Building mascot backstories & creative process
14:15 Designing for children's hospitals
17:08 Testing ideas with real audiences
18:47 The magic of seeing mascots come alive
21:00 The challenge of designing for brands and products
22:39 Ending with some advice for creatives
24:14 Goodnights

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