Chris and Richard, with Richard on the keys, have a conversation with Jessica Kalichman, director of marketing for WowWee about her career, the company's use of Tik Tok both to market and create community. They talk about why it works, what social media reveals, how a company run by Milliennials is different, and how engaging consumers with the real folks behind the scenes at a toy company (and behind some very popular toys) has been a winning strategy.

The Playground Podcast is sponsored by ⁠⁠Global Toy Experts⁠⁠, ⁠⁠The Toy Guy⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠Beacon Media Group⁠⁠

Join Richard (on the keys) and Chris as they talk with inventor Dan Klitsner, creator of Bop-It about his newest puzzle Free Fall from ThinkFun. They talk about this new innovation, the challenges and rewards of inventing and delve into the topic of AI and what it might mean for creatives and everyone in the toy business. You wont' want to miss this lively conversation.

The Playground is sponsored by ⁠Global Toy Experts⁠, ⁠The Toy Guy⁠, and ⁠Beacon Media Group⁠

We kick of season five of The Playground Podcast with Madame Alexander's VP of sales, David Morgenstern. Richard, Chris, and guest host Chris Bensch from The Strong Museum of Play chat about this history, the legend, and what's new for the next chapter in the life of this iconic brand. 

Chris was back in Hong Kong for the 49th annual Toys & Games Fair… for the first time since 2020.

Richard and Chris talk to Christian Ulrich from Spielwarenmesse about the upcoming Nuremberg Show. What’s new, what to expect, and the general excitement of gathering once again at the world’s largest Toy Fair.

The Playground Podcast is supported by Global Toy Experts, The Toy Guy,  Beacon Media Group, and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council.

Richard and Chris talk with John Baulch from Toy World UK and James Zahn from The Toy Book for our 4th Annual year-end conversation. From inventory levels to new challenges, to the potential for the revitalized Toys "R" Us, to, of course, the issue of Toy Fairs, the panel looks back at 2022 and ahead to 2023 and beyond. 

The Playground Podcast is supported by Global Toy Experts, The Toy Guy,  Beacon Media Group, and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council.

Richard and Chris talk to Josh Loerzel of Sky Castle Toys about his career and his ongoing success in using social media to create hits. From his early days at Zing where he made a monster hit out of Stikbot, Josh talks about how he did it and the three important elements of building a social media strategy. Moreover, how has social media changed the landscape for the trade? Josh will clue you in.

The Playground Podcast is supported by Global Toy Experts, The Toy Guy,  Beacon Media Group, and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. 

Richard and Chris talk with Jim and Donna Pressman about their new book, A Century of American Toys & Games: The Story of Pressman. They talk about the  company's colorful history over the past century. It was a labor of love, and it's an important book for anyone who loves toys...the process all started with an elephant. 

After you listen, you'll want to buy the book. It makes a great holiday gift for anyone who loves toys. Find it at Amazon! 

The Playground Podcast is supported by Global Toy Experts, The Toy Guy, and Beacon Media Group.

Richard and Chris talk to Ron Solomon, creator and CEO of MAPPTrap, an online software service that allows manufacturers to monitor compliance with minimum advertised pricing policies across all distribution channels (even ones they may not know about.) They discuss how it works, why it's important, and why the "race to the bottom" on pricing hurts manufacturers and retailers. 

It's an important conversation that can help everyone in the merchandising area and an intriguing look at how Solomon and his team have effectively countered price cutting...and where everyone wins.

Richard and Chris talk to Isaac Larian, founder and CEO of MGA. From his earliest days to having unprecedented success in the industry, Isaac talks about his vision, how he's built the company, worked with his team, and what the toy industry means to him. In this exclusive conversation, Isaac shares what it takes to make it in the toy industry, how it's a non-stop challenge, and why it's actually good to be paranoid. (It's a business strategy that drives non-stop innovation.)