Deep In Bear Country - A Berenstain Bearcast

This week, we’re looking at another Lift-The-Flap book! It’s “The Berenstain Bears Trim the Tree” and … it’s good? It’s good!

The Reverend Lauren McLeavey is back! This week, we’re taking a look at “The Berenstain Bears’ Thanksgiving Blessings” and hoping that it avoids the pitfalls of last week’s – oh, nope… nope. No, it’s just as bad. At least stickers are included?

Thoughts on Mike’s email!

Ooh, dang. Sometimes you get to a book that really, uh, well, that’s really something. And then you gotta have a guest on to help you with it. The Reverend Lauren McLeavey is back to help me panic my way through an ostensibly religious book about Pilgrims and Mayflowers and turkeys named… turkeys that have … Continue reading "Episode 271 – The Berenstain Bears Give Thanks!"

Look, it’s Election Week and I’m in a weird place. Let’s talk about death. It’s “The Berenstain Bears Lose A Friend.”

It’s a roundtable! Elana, Mark and Gemma join me to talk about “The Berenstain Bears and the Haunted House!” We lift the flaps and lift… your spirits? Your Halloween spirits?! I hope so! Let’s get flap-liftin’!

‘Allo, ‘allo, ‘allo! Look who’s back to talk about books! It’s Bradley and Jeremy from the ol’ Collectors Corner episodes saving my bacon by jumping in at the last minute to school me on “The Berenstain Bears and/in the Spooky Fun House!” One book talks, but one book POPS! Up. Which is which? You decide! … Continue reading "Episode 268 – The Berenstain Bears and/in the Spooky Fun House!"

This week, I’m all by myself and thinkin’ of BEES! Spelling bees, that is! It’s “The Berenstain Bears and the Big Spelling Bee!”

This week, Brian Skinner from Predict-O-Cast joins me for a GHOST WALK! What’s a Ghost Walk? Apparently, it’s a haunted house? It’s not a hayride! It’s also WAY TOO SPOOKY FOR KIDS! It’s “The Berenstain Bears Go On A Ghost Walk!”

Let’s welcome back to the show the hosts of Kill By Kill, Gena and Patrick as we go exploring a spooky old house atop Spook Hill and maybe, just maybe, learn a little something new about Beartown.

Oh boy! Kacie Galyon is back, everyone and we’re discussing “The Berenstain Bear Scouts and the Really Big Disaster!” And, what is the disaster? Bigpaw? No. An earthquake? No. The town’s really patronizing intolerance of a vulnerable member of their community? Mmmmmmmmmmaybe?

This week, we are back with the Bear Scouts; we are back with Raffish Ralph Ripoff; and we are back with a story that doesn’t make a heck of a lot of sense. It’s “The Berenstain Bear Scouts and the Ripoff Queen!” There’s no queens. There’s actually no ripoffs. There is a lot of crime, … Continue reading "Episode 263 – The Berenstain Bear Scouts and the Ripoff Queen!"

It’s the first week of school here in Minneapolis and things are weird! So, I brought *my* school kid on the show to talk about “The Berenstain Bears Go Back To School” and marvel at a simpler time when everything wasn’t the worst. Enjoy it!

How much car trip is too much? Let’s find out with “The Berenstain Bears and Too Much Car Trip!”

The Berenstain Bears’ Seashore Treasure. BOOTY!

This week, I’m peekin’ at TWO books about introducing pets into the Bear Family. “The Berenstain Bears’ New Pup” and “The Berenstain Bears’ New Kitten!” Are they useful books as far as educating children about the ins and outs of acquiring a new pet? Lulz.

This week, I am joined by a guest who couldn’t be better suited to the material. Remy Maisel is a lifelong horse girl in addition to being a published author, copywriter and blogger. She fills me in on the facts behind “The Berenstain Bears Ride Like The Wind.”

This week it’s t-t-t-TWO BOOKS! I’m talking about “The Berenstain Bears Ride the Thunderbolt” and “The Berenstain Bears: We Like Kites!” Look, they’re Step-Into-Reading books for preschoolers. This is a fun one! https://ia601909.us.archive.org/33/items/dibc-ep-257/DIBC-EP257.mp3

Join me for the final Family Time Book “The Berenstain Bears’ Back To School!” Not, “Back To School With The Berenstain Bears” and NOT “The Berenstain Bears GO Back To School.” Those are VERY DIFFERENT THINGS. https://ia903208.us.archive.org/26/items/dibc-ep-256/DIBC-EP256.mp3

Look, I just won’t let this birthday thing go, okay? OKAY? It’s “The Berenstain Bears’ Birthday Boy!” https://ia801903.us.archive.org/18/items/dibc-ep-255/DIBC-EP255.mp3

I recorded this on my birthday! And, as a way of saying “Happy birthday to me!” I decided to combine two things: my show and Family Game Night! What a terrible idea! I had to somehow salvage the mess I’d made and here’s what’s left. Sorry? https://ia601906.us.archive.org/19/items/dibc-ep-254/DIBC-EP254.mp3

Two and a half years ago, Mark Sweeney and I talked about “The Showdown at Chainsaw Gap!” Well, we’re back to talk about it again! Only now it’s call “Nature Rescue” and it’s missing, like, one line. Still a good talk tho! https://ia903207.us.archive.org/33/items/dibc-ep-253/DIBC-EP253.mp3

When is mystery *not* a mystery? When it’s only a question that anyone can answer given a few seconds thought. Well, Willow – my co-host from It’s Del Toro Time – is back to help solve this not-a-mystery with “The Berenstain Bears and the Tic-Tac-Toe Mystery!” It’s really dumb!    

Here’s a conversation Brian and Josh had with me about “The Epic Dog Show” the religious rewrite of this week’s book.

Brian asks an innocent question about yard sales and Josh dredges up some mysterious mysteries! https://ia803200.us.archive.org/14/items/dibc-ep-251-bonus-yard-sales/DIBC-EP251-Bonus-Yard%20Sales.mp3

Hot Diggity Dog! Look who’s back! It’s the hosts of Hot Diggity Dog, Brian and Josh, and they’re here talk about “The Runamuck Dog Show!” It’s a book about dogs and cats and poop and… poop, actually. There’s a lot of poop. Don’t know what else to tell you. https://ia803202.us.archive.org/19/items/dibc-ep-251/DIBC-EP251.mp3

Megan Sunday, co-host of the Dune-tastic “Let’s Get Wierding” podcast, joins me this week to talk about SMOKING IN THE WOODS and PLAYING BASKETBALL IN THE WOODS and DO THE BULLIES LIVE IN THE WOODS? It’s “The Berenstain Bears: The Wrong Crowd!” https://ia803204.us.archive.org/15/items/dibc-ep-250/DIBC-EP250.mp3

Guess who can’t catch a break. SISTER! We’re back with another look at the unjust sporting world Sister inhabits with “The Soccer Tryouts” and it’s Stepping Stone rewrite “Too Small For The Team!” And, joining me on this journey is returning guest Christy Admiraal! And here is a list of places to donate to in … Continue reading "Episode 249 – The Berenstain Bears and the Soccer Tryouts/Too Small For The Team!"

This week, I’m joined once again by Helen LaStar of the Falling In Love Montage podcast to talk about a book that shouldn’t be as fraught as it is: “The Berenstain Bears Play Ball!” It should be an uplifting story of Sister bringing change to the male-dominated world of Little League, but instead it’s mostly … Continue reading "Episode 247 – The Berenstain Bears Play Ball!"

It’s a special EARLY episode because this one couldn’t wait! https://ia801901.us.archive.org/15/items/dibc-ep-248/DIBC-EP248.mp3 Link to Twitter thread mentioned in the episode. Places to donate (as usual, use caution before giving to any organization you’re unfamiliar with).

Hey! Mitzi’s back! And we’re talking about a guy who may be goofy and he may be goony but… but, he’s “The Goofy, Goony Guy.” That’s all. https://ia803209.us.archive.org/35/items/dibc-ep-246/DIBC-EP246.mp3

We’re back with the rest of my interview with Dave Bulmer! Want to know about DIZZY? Well, here you go! https://ia801901.us.archive.org/33/items/dibc-ep-245/DIBC-EP245.mp3

Welcome to the show, Dave Bulmer! He’s here to talk about (checks notes) Dizzy. However, before we get to Dizzy, we’ve got to talk about everything else. So much everything else that this is Part 1 of a 2-part conversation. Check out Dave’s other projects: his YouTube channel, Sonic the Comic the Podcast and Serious … Continue reading "Episode 244 – Dave Bulmer, pt. 1"

This week, I’m talking with writer, producer and performer Shannon Campe about “Little Women” and the role it’s played in her life from childhood to today! Shannon’s “Little Women” podcast can be found here. The link to the video Shannon mentions is here. https://ia902905.us.archive.org/17/items/dibc-ep-242/DIBC-EP242.mp3

At least there’s no dog poop in this one. https://ia801901.us.archive.org/16/items/dibcep241/DIBC-EP241.mp3

It’s Passover, y’all. https://ia601900.us.archive.org/31/items/dibcep240/DIBC-EP240.mp3

Boy oh boy. Let’s all go to the DOCTOR. https://ia902907.us.archive.org/5/items/dibcep239/DIBC-EP239.mp3

Let’s all go to the potty. https://ia902907.us.archive.org/19/items/dibcep238/DIBC-EP238.mp3

We’re in seclusion. Let’s talk about chores. https://ia802905.us.archive.org/19/items/dibcep237/DIBC-EP237.mp3

Let’s go to the fair! The BIG BEAR FAIR! How big are the bears? Who cares?! It’s the BIG BEAR FAIR!

This week, we’re taking a hard look at rope and the jumping over thereof! We’re also looking at Sister Bear and her bragging ways and how if you brag too much… nothing bad will happen. It’s “The Berenstain Bears and the Jump Rope Contest!”

This week, I have a very exciting guest on the show. Benjamin L. Clark is the curator of the Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center in Palo Alto, California. He’s joining me this week to talk Schulz, cartoonists, legacy and the delights of archives! Benjamin’s Twitter – twitter.com/BLClarkCharles M. Schulz Museum Twitter – twitter.com/SchulzMuseumCharles … Continue reading "Episode 234 – Benjamin Clark and the Charles M Schulz Museum"

This week, things get weird as a Step Into Reading Book takes a dark turn. We learn to count and the cops get involved in “The Berenstain Bears Go UP and DOWN!”

Are you ready to get sandy?! No? Me neither. I hate the beach. But, the Bear Family loves(?) it! They can’t wait to get there! So, of course, Mama and Papa make the cubs wait. And wait. And wait. And then they get in the water. That’s the story! SEA ya! https://ia802806.us.archive.org/24/items/dibcep232/DIBC-EP232.mp3

GRRR! GRRR! I’ve got the GROUCHIES! And so do the BEARS! What are these Grouchies? What causes them? Does it matter? Does anything? Let’s find out!

This week, I close out the “Big Mall” series(?) by taking a quick look at “The Berenstain Bears Hold Hands at the Big Mall” which, honestly I spend about five minutes on it. No, the big book this week is “The Berenstain Bears On The Road” which does not involve a seminal work of Beatnik-related … Continue reading "Episode 230 – The Berenstain Bears On The Road"

Let’s go back to the farm, this week, with a couple of rewrites of a couple of the books we *just* looked at! It’s “The Berenstain Bears Down On The Farm” and the religious “The Berenstain Bears Reap The Harvest!”

In this episode, I’m sick! And talking about Cub Club Books! This week, I’m taking a cold hard look at two books that may, in fact, form the beginnings of a trilogy that we discussed the ending of last week! That’s right, “Nothing to Do” and “Visit Farmer Ben” would seem to set up the … Continue reading "Episode 228 – The Berenstain Bears With Nothing to Do/The Berenstain Bears Visit Farmer Ben"

In a time when it is neither summer nor job I take a look at the story of the Cubs getting railroaded into working for a farmer, maybe for free(?!?). It’s “The Berenstain Bears and the Summer Job!” https://ia902809.us.archive.org/35/items/dibcep227/DIBC-EP227.mp3