Deep In Bear Country - A Berenstain Bearcast

Oof. Let’s talk about The Nativity. It’s “The Berenstain Bears The Very First Christmas!”

This week, we’re heading off to… Bear Country? Yeah, Cousin Tex is here so we’re giving him a… sorry, Mayor Honeypot(?) is giving his a tour of Bear Country! And, he hates it! It’s “The Berenstain Bears Welcome To Bear Country!” Whew!

This week, the Berenstain Bears play football in “The Berenstain Bears Play Football.” No kidding!

This week, the Bears go back into the attic to dig up some old treasures! It’s “The Berenstain Bears’ Show-and-Tell!”

Stop me if you’ve heard this one: Episode 29. Busy week, y’all!

We’re back in nature this week with… wait, have I done this before? It’s “God’s Wonderful World” y’all! Woo!

You ever hear of this Grandparents’ Day? And how does Nixon fit into all of this? It’s “The Berenstain Bears Bless Our Gramps and Gran!”

Open it up… where are the people? It’s “The Berenstain Bears: Here’s the Church, Here’s the Steeple” and we’ve got a LOT to discuss.

It’s Halloween! And you know what that means! A book about our pets and the blessing of them thereof. That’s right! The Bears are GOING TO CHURCH and GETTING THEIR PETS BLESSED. It’s “The Berenstain Bears Bless Our Pets!”

I was so happy to have a new Gifts of the Spirit book to talk about. Then, I opened it and read it and something felt familiar. It’s “The Berenstain Bears Gifts of the Spirit ❤️ Helping” and… we’ve been here before. Right?

This week, Sister Bear takes canter stage with a rehash of a book we covered back in 2021. It’s “The Berenstain Bears Sister Bear and the Golden Rule!” That’s clunky. But, that’s the title!

Spoiler alert! We don’t. The Berenstain Bears have a long history with the game of base-based balls and we are NOT going to explore it. Instead, we’re going to take a look at some clues as to the history of Bear Country, some clues as to the identity of their most famous baseball player and … Continue reading "Episode 407 – The Berenstain Bears We ❤️ Baseball!"

Yar. Ahoy. Blah blah blah. We’re off on a Pirate Adventure and the Berenstain Bears are taking us there. Thus, the title. It’s “The Berenstain Bears’ Pirate Adventure!” Shiver. Timbers. Etc.

This week, our Bear Family creates a major imposition on their local fire constabulary. also, the history of firefighting! Also, Restaurant. Apartments? Maybe!

This week, let’s go down, down, down, with the Bear Family as they’re dragged to the bottom of the ocean to sleep with the fishes! It’s “The Berenstain Bears Under The Sea” and… there’s a lot of fish, I guess?

It’s back to school time, and you know what that means! GOD! It’s “The Berenstain Bears School Time Blessings!”

This week, I’m taking you on a trip around the world! It’s “The Berenstain Bears Around the World” and it’s PROBLEMATIC!

I can’t believe I’ve been doing this show for over 8 and a half years and I’ve only now had my parents on as guests. That’s right! For the first time ever, Gale and Ruben Gonzales are on the show to talk about “The Berenstain Bears We Love Our Mom!” and “We Love Our Dad!”

It’s my 400th official numbered episode! In celebration, I have Mike Berenstain back on the show to talk about the history of “The Berenstain Bears Hospital Friends!”

Some thoughts as I head into opening night of “Lost In Bear Country.”

Let’s get high! It’s “The Berenstain Bears Take Off!” It’s about planes.

Finally, a book I can relate to: another soccer book. But, hey! It’s actually a fairly insightful book! It’s “The Berenstain Bears We Love Soccer!”

It’s not a Thanksgiving book! It’s “The Berenstain Bears’ Harvest Festival!”

Happy Borthday Bear Country! It’s the celebration of the Fourth of July; the day the bears signed a thing to declare independence from… a king? It’s all a little vague, but remember THIS AIN’T AMERICA! Also, God. It’s “The Berenstain Bears God Bless Our Country!”

The Gifts of the Spirit are back! And they’re the Gifts of the Spirit that keep on Gift of the Spiriting. It’s “The Berenstain Bears Gifts of the Spirit ❤️ Goodness!”

And so we come to the end of the Worthy Kids/Hachette board book series with “The Berenstain Bears’ Book of Prayers.” But, this isn’t just a fond farewell to this series, oh no! I’ve got THE SCOOP on how it came to be and why it ended as well as some other JUICY TIDBITS from … Continue reading "Episode 393 – The Berenstain Bears’ Book of Prayers"

When’s an Easter book not an Easter book? Well, when it’s June, for one thing. But also, when the author successfully avoids actually discussing Easter for the bulk of it. It’s “The Berenstain Bears’ Easter Blessings!”

It’s a Berenstain Bears book where the Bear Family goes on a walk and looks at animals. I mean… that’s pretty much it? “The Berenstain Bears All God’s Creatures!”

This week is all about LOVE! As a verb. It’s “The Berenstain Bears Love One Another!”

Sleep, man. Ya dig? It’s pretty heavy stuff. Like, what even is sleep, my dude? You ever think that, like, sleep is, like, dying every night? Pretty intense, right? It’s “The Berenstain Bears’ Sleepy Time Book.”

When is an apology not an apology? What does “sorry” even mean? Does it count if your parents *make* you say it? It’s “The Berenstain Bears Say ‘I’m Sorry!'”

I know we’ve covered this before. I know we have! But, this is different? I think. In any case, get ready to learn too much about PLEASE and THANK YOU! It’s “The Berenstain Bears’ Please & Thank You Book!”

The Berenstain Bears clean up in “The Berenstain Bears Clean Up.”

This week, Willow joins me to talk about GRADUATION! Whose? Hers! And, the bears. But, they’re not REALLY graduating, are they? It’s “The Berenstain Bears’ Graduation Day!”

This week, we’re going to the Credit Union! Bet you thought it would NEVER happen! “The Berenstain Bears Visit the Credit Union” is a remarkably common, yet remarkably difficult to obtain, book in the Bears’ library. You have to join a credit union to get it! Or, watch it on YouTube. Like I did! https://ia801604.us.archive.org/1/items/dibc-ep-384/DIBC-EP384-1.mp3

This week, God gave the growth, eh? Honey Bear is growing up and there’s nothing for Mama to do but take the bull by the horns and do something smart by doing something completely expected? It’s “The Berenstain Bears Gifts of the Spirit ❤️ Growing Up!”

Brother Bear is turning an indeterminate age once again and none of his friends are coming to his party! And that’s a good thing? Also, who is Uncle Tex married to these days? What’s with the opening Bible quote? And, being in a family: kind of a mixed bag, right? It’s “The Berenstain Bears Gifts … Continue reading "Episode 382 – The Berenstain Bears Gifts of the Spirit ❤️ Family"

We must, we must, we must increase our TRUST! It’s “The Berenstain Bears Gifts of the Spirit ❤️ Trust!”

This week, “The Berenstain Bears Gifts of the Spirit ❤️ Fair Is Fair” introduces us to a new character in Bear Country, we explore the Book of Zechariah, and we learn a little bit about what true justice may be.

This week, it’s all about LOVE, baby! Good ol’ First Epistle of John LOVE, BABEEEE! It’s “The Berenstain Bears Gifts of the Spirit ❤️ Love!”

After last week’s extensive deconstruction of the concept of “Caring” it only makes sense that this week I’d completely ignore the concept of “Sharing” and instead ramble on about not-Paul’s epistle to the Hebrews. Makes sense! It’s “Deep In Bear Country – The Berenstain Bears Gifts of the Spirit ❤️ Sharing!”

It’s the first “The Berenstain Bears Gifts of the Spirit” book and we’re kicking it off with “Caring!” What is caring? Is it an attitude? And opinion? An action? What does it mean to care? Who are Fred’s parents? How many men has Aunt Min married? And what of THE TIMELINES? Let’s dive in, shall … Continue reading "Episode 377 – The Berenstain Bears Gifts of the Spirit ❤️ Caring"

This week, I begin… a new project.

I’ll show you love, I’ll show you everythingWith mouth wide openWith mouth wide openI’ll show you everything, oh yeahWith mouth wide openWide open

What – and this isn’t a theoretical – if the Berenstain Bears met an atheist?

“Did he say ‘Blessed are the chee-‘” you know what? I’ll let the episode do the joke. It’s “The Berenstain Bears Blessed Are The Peacemakers!”

I think we put too much pressure on kids to figure out what they want to be when they grow up. What about when they grow *down*? Why does no one ever talk about THAT? It’s “The Berenstain Bears When I Grow Up!”

How do you like your superheroes? Bear style? In “The Berenstain Bears are Superbears” that’s what you get! And, you know what? I kinda love it.

Decades ago, the Berenstain Bears’ Saturday Morning Cartoon secretly presented a multi-part saga that only reveals itself when you’re bored and watching a Berenstain Bears Saturday Morning Cartoon. It’s the “Wild Wild Honey Saga!”

One last rerun! It’s “The Berenstain Bears’ Birthday Boy” with BONUS CONTENT!