The Imagine Neighborhood

Today Princess Donnasaurus, Macho Supreme, and Alakazambra are answering questions from our friends Jori, Levi, Margot, and Wesley . . . although it's a little hard to hear them over all that noise in the Neighborhood! It is the Burn Voyage blasting Cannonballs? Is it the Kaiju coming early for her cardboard feast? Is it the latest drop from the Dreadnoughts? We may not find out today, but in the meantime we've got replies, ridiculousness, and a royal introduction to a brand new friend!Get more at: IMAGINENEIGHBORHOOD.orgFriend and follow us!FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, YOU TUBE

Today, Macho Supreme is headed to Princess Donnasaurus's place to perform an act of kindness . . . or is he? Last summer Macho rotated PD's castle out of the sun every day, and he's planning to do it again. But does PD want her castle rotated this year? Making sure our kind acts feel kind to the person we want to be kind to is the kindest thing of all!Get more at: IMAGINENEIGHBORHOOD.orgFriend and follow us!FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, YOU TUBE

It's pool-party time at Alakazambra's house and everyone's invited. Even Preston Change-o is there! But when AllyK asks him to fill the empty pool using his new water spell, he starts to feel nervous. It's difficult, and Preston keeps making mistakes. He's getting really frustrated and is about ready to give up when Alakazambra teaches him the most powerful spell of all—one that even mere mortals can use!You say you don't know the spell? . . .You don't know it - YET!Get more at: IMAGINENEIGHBORHOOD.orgFriend and follow us!FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, YOU TUBE

Today Princess Donnasaurus and Macho Supreme are playing one of the Neighborhood's favorite games—“Feelin' Groovy!” You play by listening to a song together, then you share all the different emotions it makes you feel, and the different things it makes you think about! It's a fun way to learn about your friends, and to find out about cool music. And the best part about playing “Feelin' Groovy” is that there are no wrong answers and everybody wins!Get more at: IMAGINENEIGHBORHOOD.orgFriend and follow us!FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, YOU TUBE

Best friends Princess Donnasaurus and Doctor Apocalypso love to spend time together, and today they're heading to the amusement park to ride the best rides, play the greatest games, and eat the tastiest treats! But what happens when besties don’t agree on what is best? Things will get a little sticky at first, but in the end PD and Doc will learn that being friends is about how much you like each other—not how much you like other things. And that being kind means letting people like whatever they like, and to not yuck their yums!Get more at: IMAGINENEIGHBORHOOD.orgFriend and follow us!FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, YOU TUBE

Today Count Vacula is super excited because Alakazambra is taking him to a fancy new roller-skating rink! But first she’s getting a brand-new hairdo from magical Miss Mamas at The Enchanted Haus of Coils, Curls, and Charms! Her new bewitching braids make her feel happy, confident, and ready to roll, but at the rink a bunch of troller skaters tell AllyK they won’t let her skate until she changes her hair. It'll take some support from Miss Mamas to help Alakazambra stand up against discrimination and let her inner light shine bright!This episode is supported by a generous grant from the Allstate Foundation. The Allstate Foundation works to empower youth to reach their full potential and build the just, equitable, and healthy world we all deserve. To learn more, visit allstatefoundation.org.Get more at: IMAGINENEIGHBORHOOD.orgFriend and follow us!FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, YOU TUBE

When Macho Supreme decides that Count Vacula can't play Nebula Trek with him, because in the Nebula Trek movie all the actors are white and Vac is Asian, Scotty explains that excluding people because of their identity is wrong—plus, it makes playing less fun! Macho apologizes to Vac and learns that the kind thing to do is to make it okay for everyone to play!This episode is part of our 'Imagine Equity' project. Imagine Equity is supported by a generous grant from The Allstate Foundation; working to empower youth to reach their full potential and build the just, equitable, and healthy world we all deserve. To learn more, visit AllstateFoundation.org.Get more at: IMAGINENEIGHBORHOOD.orgFriend and follow us!FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, YOU TUBE

Today Doctor Apocalypso is waiting for the bus . . . and waiting, and waiting, and WAITING! And worse than that, she’s bored, bored, BORED! She left her phone at home, plus she forgot to bring a book and the bus won’t be here for twenty endless minutes! Fortunately, Conductor Scotty and the Brain Train show up in her imagination just in time. And by using the power of her mind, Doc can do anything! From catching wild bananabeasts to watching stunt shows to just hanging out with old friends, Doc’s imagination is a ticket to ride!Get more at: IMAGINENEIGHBORHOOD.orgFriend and follow us!TWITTER, FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, YOU TUBE

Hey everybody! It’s me, Count Vacula, bringing you a brand-new No Filter with Count Vacula. Today I get to introduce you to the very creative Kayte Sabicer! Kayte is an artist, and she has one of the greatest jobs I ever heard of—building miniatures for special effects in movies! Miniatures are very little models of very big things like buildings and spaceships. She gets to build and paint and use her imagination every day! She’s worked on movies like Solo: A Star Wars Story, and The Dark Knight Rises, and Hugo, and Pirates of the Caribbean, plus tons of TV shows and commercials! I’m really happy I got to meet Kayte, and I think you’ll like her, too!Get more at: IMAGINENEIGHBORHOOD.orgFriend and follow us!TWITTER, FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, YOU TUBE

Greetings, listeners. Once again it is I, Gruncle Vaxie. Today we will discuss how to tell what your grown-up is feeling. Yes, I know. You are surprised. But it is true—grown-ups have feelings, just like regular people! And just as it is important to practice empathy with regular people, it is also important to practice empathy with your grown-ups. It can be quite difficult to tell what your grown-up is feeling. They are often very busy and distracted by adult concerns like tax returns, performance reviews, and adequate flossing. But today we will learn some tips for assessing the emotional state of your grown-up and whether they might need a hug.And remember, you can always simply ask your grown-up how they are feeling and if they would like a hug. You may practice with me now. Thank you for asking. Yes, Gruncle Vaxie has many deep feelings. And yes, he would like a hug.That was very kind of you. And although the universe remains a bewildering kaleidoscope of conflicting demands, I feel much better now.Your friend,Gruncle VaxieGet more at: IMAGINENEIGHBORHOOD.orgFriend and follow us!TWITTER, FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, YOU TUBE

The Imagine Neighborhood just turned three this week, so we know how exciting birthdays can be! It reminds us of the time Princess Donnasaurus decided she couldn't wait another whole year for hers, and decreed that EVERY day would be her birthday!It seemed like a good idea at first, but it turns out that partying every day is exhausting, cake and ice cream aren't all that nutritious, and special days aren't so special when they never end. Luckily, Scotty was on hand to help PD learn patience, and that some things are worth waiting for!Get more at: IMAGINENEIGHBORHOOD.orgFriend and follow us!TWITTER, FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM

It's our birthday! The Imagine Neighborhood launched on this day in 2020, and now we have 5 seasons, 145 episodes, and over 1.3M downloads, all thanks to YOU!To celebrate we're sharing a brand-new remaster of our first-ever episode, "Count Vacula Feels Afraid." It's the story about the time he babysitter was coming over, and Vac was having some big feelings called separation anxiety. But with a little encouragement, Vac was able to share his feelings with me—and together we learned that talking about the things that matter with the people that matter most can help you feel better about almost anything!Get more at: IMAGINENEIGHBORHOOD.orgFriend and follow us!TWITTER, FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM

A PRINCESS DONNASAURUS™ episode.Adjusting to new things can be challenging. Just ask Princess Donnasaurus—she’s about to become a big sister, and that means lots of change! She’s really excited, but she’s also feeling uncertain. She’s learning that a new sibling means sharing her toys and her room, and not making too much noise—plus it turns out that you can’t even yeet a baby! Not ever!So come join us at the (now slightly crowded) castle, where we’ll meet the Neighborhood’s newest royal reptile in this week's sisterly PRINCESS DONNASAURUS™ story!Get more at: IMAGINENEIGHBORHOOD.orgFriend and follow us!TWITTER, FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM

This week on No Filter with Count Vacula, Vac gets to introduce you to a very cool new friend named Jonathan Knowles. He’s an explorer and a scientist who studies animals and the ocean and the climate and outer space and technology and even robots like Vac. But the thing that interests Jonathan the most is helping make everybody’s future the very best it can be! Get more at: IMAGINENEIGHBORHOOD.orgFriend and follow us!TWITTER, FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM

Here in The Imagine Neighborhood, we love questions! We love to ask them, because that’s how we learn about things, and we love to answer them because that’s how we help other people learn about things. This week, Vac and Scotty are answering questions from listeners like you, and they’re great! A big thank you to Elyza, Levi, Maggie, Mara, Robin, Rosemary, Theo, and all of Mrs. Darley’s first-grade class for writing in to us—that was very kind of you! Get more at: IMAGINENEIGHBORHOOD.orgFriend and follow us!TWITTER, FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM

On today’s No Filter with Count Vacula you'll meet YA author Rachel Litfin. Rachel started writing her very first story when she was only 13 years old, and now it’s her grown-up job. How great is that?! She and Vac talked about how stories help us to learn about our own feelings, and how they can also teach us that everybody else has big feelings, too. We really liked getting to know Rachel and we think you’re going to like her too! Get more at: IMAGINENEIGHBORHOOD.orgFriend and follow us!TWITTER, FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM

When Empress Bawkarella of the planet Cluckatron catches a lift in the Mach Billion, everything goes great—until the gang runs into a field of dangerous EGGsteroids! And with Scotty out doing a squeegee spacewalk to wipe off the windshield, it’s up to Macho and Bawkarella to navigate the ship to safety. But she doesn’t speak English and Macho doesn’t speak Bawkish! If someone doesn’t speak your language, and you don’t speak theirs, can you still find a way to communicate and make friends? That's the big question in today’s episode, "Macho's Eggcellent Adventure"! This episode is supported by a generous grant from the Allstate Foundation. The Allstate Foundation works to empower youth to reach their full potential and build the just, equitable, and healthy world we all deserve. To learn more, visit allstatefoundation.org.Get more at: IMAGINENEIGHBORHOOD.orgFriend and follow us!TWITTER, FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM

BREAKING NEWS! This just in from WTIN Studios, The Imagine Neighborhood’s top radio station: Reports indicate that many kinds of animals are having difficulty safely crossing the busy road in front of Princess Donnasaurus’s castle! Her Royal Highness is personally taking action to assist them, but it seems she hasn't made sure that they all want her help.Is an act of kindness still kind, even if it's unwelcome? Let’s join lead anchor Cardboard Scotty with Count Vacula live at Donnasaurus Castle to bring you all the answers. Over to you, Cardboard Scotty! . . . Get more at: IMAGINENEIGHBORHOOD.orgFriend and follow us!TWITTER, FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM

Hey there, my little hardcore headbangers! Doctor Apocalypso here, welcoming you back for Part Two of our slammin’ story about fighting discrimination. Last week, you heard how our new Big Bot Burger restaurant wouldn’t serve Wastelanders like me—and how me and Scotty led a peaceful protest to let them know unfairness is not welcome in our Neighborhood. But guess what? Big Bot just opened their restaurants in other places. Lots and lots of other places!Like I said before—the thing about discrimination is that you have to fight it no matter where it happens. So even though Big Bot wasn’t open in the Wasteland anymore, we still had to do something. We had to let everyone know the truth! Because no matter how delicious a Big Bot burger is, nothing is tastier than some juicy justice!I hope you have a great time listening to the episode, and always remember—whenever you and your friends stand together against injustice, you make the world a more rockin’, cooler, and kinder place!This episode is part of our 'Imagine Equity' project. Imagine Equity is supported by a generous grant from The Allstate Foundation; working to empower youth to reach their full potential and build the just, equitable, and healthy world we all deserve. To learn more, visit AllstateFoundation.org.Get more at: IMAGINENEIGHBORHOOD.orgFriend and follow us!TWITTER, FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM

Hey there, rockers, it's Doctor Apocalypso! Strap on your skull boots and crank up the volume 'cause today, we're going to re-listen to part one of a story that's really important to me. Maybe you remember when a new restaurant called Big Bot Burgers opened up in the Wasteland, and how they wouldn't let any Wastelanders eat there! Other people could order all the tasty burgers they wanted, but when Wasties like me came in, the restaurant called us terrible names and kicked us out. So we held a peaceful protest to let everyone know about the discrimination going on at the restaurant, and you know what? Our protest worked! Big Bot was forced to leave the Wasteland! Well, it sort of worked. It turned out that Big Bot just moved to other locations. And the thing about injustice is, you can't only care about it when it affects your own Neighborhood. You have to fight discrimination wherever it's happening. So Scotty and I called all our friends and we . . . oops! Oh man, I’m sorry! I'm getting way ahead of myself. We'll tell you that part of the story next week!For now, it's time to rock and resist. Ready? WE WANT JUSTICE! WE WANT RESPECT! BIG BOT BURGERS, GET CORRECT!See you at the protest!This episode is part of our 'Imagine Equity' project. Imagine Equity is supported by a generous grant from The Allstate Foundation; working to empower youth to reach their full potential and build the just, equitable, and healthy world we all deserve. To learn more, visit AllstateFoundation.org.Get more at: IMAGINENEIGHBORHOOD.orgFriend and follow us!TWITTER, FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM

Hello, you little throw rugs. It’s me! Your very favorite supervillain, Queen Hastabee! You remember me, right? Of course you do. I’m the one who tried to teach Scotty and his rusty robot pal a lesson about the way a pillow fort HAStabee, but they escaped and instead I just got buried in fluffy blankets! Then I tried to make those two cornflakes understand the way a bowl of cereal hastabee, and they still got away from me!So today, we are listening to this episode again, because it is clear to me that none of you understood it the first time!You and your friend Scotty seem to think this story is all about being proud of your identity, when obviously it is all about the extremely demanding work I do to keep everything the way it hastabee!I know that you’ll enjoy re-listening to this episode because it stars me, and anything starring me hastabee amazing. And just ignore the part where that pillow-fort fraud Scotty says that we all have a superhero inside us—what does he know? He’s the sort of person who puts two different kinds of cereal together in the same bowl!Farewell for now, fringe fleas! And don’t forget to keep things the way they hastabee, or . . .I’ll bee back!This episode is supported by a generous grant from the Allstate Foundation. The Allstate Foundation works to empower youth to reach their full potential and build the just, equitable, and healthy world we all deserve. To learn more, visit allstatefoundation.org.Get more at: IMAGINENEIGHBORHOOD.orgFriend and follow us!TWITTER, FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM

Hello, listeners. It is I, Count Vacula's Great-uncle Vacstradamus. But because existence is a delicate gift whose every fleeting if meaningless second we must cherish and not squander on unnecessary verbosity, you may call me Gruncle Vaxie.I hope you all enjoyed your winter holiday celebrations. The season of mirth is now past. Now is the time for learning all about the inexorable march of time. And laundry. Today we will be re-listening to the episode "The Trials Of Vacstradamus." It is about the time my Great-nephew Count Vacula turned one thousand years old. That is a big birthday. And big birthdays can also bring big responsibilities. Like laundry. When we are little vacuums, we are not expected to help our family with chores. But as we become bigger vacuums, we can learn to be kind and help out so that our grown-ups don't have to do everything by themselves. And as we have discussed, grown-ups' lives are already very hard and they do not even have light-up shoes. But they do have laundry.I do not want to spoil the story for you, but I will tell you that I am very proud of my Great-nephew Count Vacula. Sometimes the most important thing is that we try our best, even if in the process we accidentally open an interdimensional portal through time and space. It is all part of growing up. Enjoy this episode, listeners. If you are bothered that it is a re-run, just remember that there is no such thing as past or present in an indifferent and chaotic universe, and that the only thing that really matters is kindness. And clean laundry.Get more at: IMAGINENEIGHBORHOOD.orgFriend and follow us!TWITTER, FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM

Yes! Cardboard Boxing Day is finally here!The day the Neighborhood waits for all the year!But we want our friends to enjoy their holiday fun,So today, we’re sharing a CBDay re-run!Do you remember the story of CBDay Two?When Scotty was tense and had too much to do?He tried to make sure all his friends were okayAnd he forgot to take time to enjoy the day! And though the holidays sometimes can make folks feel stressedFrom working so very hard to deliver their best—What makes a day great isn’t because it’s grandiose,It’s spending time with the people who matter the most!So come revisit last year’s Boxing Day Eve With its cardboard creations you just won’t believe!And by the end, you too will opine—“Right in this moment, everything’s fine!” Get more at: IMAGINENEIGHBORHOOD.orgFriend and follow us!TWITTER, FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM

‘Tis holiday season across the land,And the best celebration of all is at hand!Cardboard Boxing Day’s here, so we get to play—Building cardboard creations all through the day!But not everyone’s ready for when this day ends . . .Macho wants to keep making creations for friends!He’s constructing a whole Cardboard NeighborhoodAnd he’s taking a lot more time than he should.He won’t stop pasting and painting and priming!He won’t stop drawing and cutting and rhyming!He won’t listen when friends say the holiday’s through!He won’t even stop for the Cardboard Kaiju!The Kaiju has come for her annual dinner—She can’t wait to get all that old cardboard in her!She loves to bite boxes, crunch cartons galore,Degustation of corrugation makes her heart soar!But Macho won’t give her his cardboard to gobbleAnd the hungry Kaiju is starting to squabble!Her tummy’s growling, she’s feeling frustrations—It’s her job to munch up all the creations!So what do we do when it’s time to be done,But we aren’t ready to stop having fun?Can Macho be macho enough to let goSo the Kaiju can have a good time, also?It’ll take being brave, and grateful, and kind,But if Macho can do it, soon he will findThough happy things ending can give you the blues It feels good to share things with friends—and Kaijus!Happy Holidays, everyone—enjoy the show!Get more at: IMAGINENEIGHBORHOOD.orgFriend and follow us!TWITTER, FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM

In this week's No Filter with Count Vacula you'll meet the amazing actor and voice artist, Ray Porter! Ray has been in movies like Argo, and Zack Snyder’s Justice League—and he’s been in kids' TV shows like The Suite Life of Zack and Cody. We talked about cardboard creations, and how penguins don’t like cheese, and how he likes to ask new people to tell him whatever they know the most about. I learned a lot of cool things about Ray, especially that he’s super fun to talk to and a really kind person. I think you’ll think he’s fun and kind, too!Get more at: IMAGINENEIGHBORHOOD.orgFriend and follow us!TWITTER, FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM

I’m really excited about today’s show, because Macho is here with me and we get to snack on his delicious “Macho Nachos” while we answer more of the cool questions listeners like you sent in this season!Special thanks to Brookson, Alma, Levi, Miles, Penny, and Jori for sending in today’s terrific questions—and hey Jori, here is the “Goodbye Giganticus” episode I mention in today’s show. I bet someone else out there might want to hear it too, so thank you for asking your question!Get more at: IMAGINENEIGHBORHOOD.orgFriend and follow us!TWITTER, FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM

Greetings, listeners. It is I, Count Vacula's Great-uncle Vacstradamus. Also known as Gruncle Vaxie. Isn't that amusing?You know what else is amusing?No, I am asking you. Please tell me.Today, my young friends, I welcome you to “Gruncle Vaxie’s Grown-Up Corner.” Do not worry. This is not an episode for grown-ups. This is an episode about grown-ups.Poor grown-ups. Poor, poor grown-ups. Their lives are very hard. They work boring jobs. They never get to play tag. And they have hardly any stickers.It is very easy to forget how much your grown-up could use some kindness. But today I will share with you some of the terrible things that grown-ups have to endure, and when the episode is over, perhaps you will feel like giving your grown-up a hug. You can also tell them, "I am very sorry that a creeping awareness of the purposelessness of the universe haunts your waking hours." But maybe just a hug would be best. Well, children. That is all. I have enjoyed speaking with you today. In fact, I enjoyed it so much that I even considered smiling. I look forward to considering smiling with you again. Until then, please remember to be kind and take good care of your grown-up. If you want, you could even give them a sticker. Your acquaintance, Gruncle VaxieGet more at: IMAGINENEIGHBORHOOD.orgFriend and follow us!TWITTER, FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM

A big crowd has gathered to watch Cap’n Marion perform the three difficult stunts that only the legendary pirate Reckless Ricardo has ever accomplished! She completes two, but when the time comes to lava-ski down the side of boiling hot Mt. Infernus on just a pair of boat paddles, Cap’n Marion isn’t so sure she wants to keep going. Her sailor-sense tells her that it’s not a good idea, but everyone is watching and waiting! When we get dared to do something, is it okay to say “no”? And what if we already said "yes," but then we change our minds? For the answers to these questions plus a high seas adventure that’s sure to shiver yer timbers, hoist the anchor and set sail with The Imagine Neighborhood! Get more at: IMAGINENEIGHBORHOOD.orgFriend and follow us!TWITTER, FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM

Today Scotty and Princess Donnasaurus are playing a game called “Feeling Groovy!” The game starts by having all the players listen to a song together. Then, they talk about the different emotions it made them feel, and the different things it made them think about. And the best part about playing “Feeling Groovy” is that there are no wrong answers and everybody wins! Ready to play? . . .Get more at: IMAGINENEIGHBORHOOD.orgFriend and follow us!TWITTER, FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM

Today Vac and I get to go answer some of your letters right here on the show! You asked some really interesting questions about us, and about Cap’n Marion and Princess Donnasaurus, too—wanting to know about our favorite animals, our friends, and even what we do to help ourselves calm down when we feel worried! Special thanks to Florence, Travis, Harper, and Kobe for being part of today’s show. We loved getting your letters and being able to answer your questions, and most of all, we loved when you told us—how were you kind today?Have a great week, everybody, and watch out for those draggers! - Scotty Get more at: IMAGINENEIGHBORHOOD.orgFriend and follow us!TWITTER, FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM

Hey everybody, it’s your pal Count Vacula! I’m super excited because today I get to share a very special BONUS episode of No Filter with you, featuring my good friend, “Weird Al” Yankovic!He and I met last season, but we had such a terrific time getting to know each other that we talked and talked and talked and talked for so long that not all of it could be in the original show. But Al has a really awesome movie coming out today called WEIRD:The Al Yankovic Story, so I thought it would be a great time to see if Scotty would let me share the rest of our meeting with you—and he said yes! How awesome is that?!See you soon!Your pal,Vac

Everyone makes mistakes, and that’s okay. What’s important is what we do after the mistake to help make things right! But it enough to just say the words, “I’m sorry”? And do you have to accept an apology even if it isn’t sincere? Evil Billionaire Hamster Tantrumus Maximus sure thinks so! He’s decided that he can get away with hurting people’s feelings and doing unkind things just as long as he says “I’m sorry” afterwards—even if he isn’t the least bit sorry at all!Will Scotty be able to scrape all the jam and birdseed off himself before the local sparrows decide it’s lunchtime?Will Princess Donnasaurus have to go live with Harry and Meghan?Will Tantrumus ever learn about the importance of empathy?To find out the answers to these questions (and whether we all have to start calling Tantrumus “Your Highness”), sneak past the cream-pie Palace Guards and tune in to this week’s fantastic fable of forgiveness from The Imagine Neighborhood! Get more at: IMAGINENEIGHBORHOOD.orgFriend and follow us!TWITTER, FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM

Here in the Neighborhood, we love to celebrate Halloween with scary decorations and all kinds of spooky fun! But what makes something scary? Is everybody scared by the same things? Scotty and Vac thought so, until they invited Alakazambra over to see the cool haunted house they made last year. It had monsters, and alien eggs, and bowls of eyeballs . . . and Alakazambra wasn’t frightened at all! It turns out that when you’ve been battling demons for thousands of years, a mummy made of toilet paper just isn’t very exciting.At first Scotty and Vac were a little disappointed. But when Alakazambra invited them over to visit her haunted house, they couldn’t wait to find out what kinds of chills and thrills a powerful sorceress puts together when she wants to have some frightening fun! Would they discover demons? Hordes of howling banshees? Gruesome ghosts? Or, um . . . is that a kitten?!Did Alakazambra learn that different people can feel differently about things, and that’s okay?Did Scotty survive the tiny tot talent show?Are we sure that not everyone is afraid of Nickelback?To find out, grab your most ghoulish getup and get ready to revisit one of the eeriest episodes ever of The Imagine Neighborhood! Get more at: IMAGINENEIGHBORHOOD.orgFriend and follow us!TWITTER, FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM

Hey there, everybody! It’s me, Count Vacula, bringing you a brand-new No Filter with Count Vacula and a brand-new friend to meet!I’m so excited about today’s guest! Her name is Kari Byron and most people know her from the TV show MythBusters, where Kari and her friends conducted all kinds of crazy science experiments to learn the truth about things. They tested everything from whether elephants are actually scared of mice (they aren’t) to whether a person can really climb a building on a rope of human hair like Rapunzel’s prince did (they can)! Kari loves learning so much that she even started a kids’ content platform called EXPLR—it’s full of amazing science videos that teachers and families can use to help 5th–10th graders learn more about the world. Kari and I have a lot of things in common, including the fact that we both like to eat delicious bugs! I eat them when they fall under the couch, but Kari buys hers specially. She even brought a bag of chocolate-covered crickets to the show! She taught me that eating food made from insects is a great way to help the planet, because they’re full of protein and it’s really easy to make more of them. But you probably shouldn’t eat any bugs unless your grown-up gives them to you.Kari and I talked about toilet monsters, and cardboard spaceships, and how you need to keep practicing at things if you want to get them right. That’s why I keep practicing my getting-to-know-you skills! Making new friends can be difficult, or even feel a little scary—but the more I keep doing it, the better I get at it and the more confident I feel, even when I meet a TV star like Kari!It was super fun getting to know Kari, and I think you’re going to have a great time too!I’ll be back after awhile with another new person for you to meet, but until then, I hope you’re practicing making friends and meeting new people. Is there someone you made friends with who you really like? Write me and tell me about them! I want to know what you have in common with them, and what you don’t have in common with them, but most importantly, I’d love to know—how were you kind today?See you soon, pal!VacGet more at: IMAGINENEIGHBORHOOD.orgFriend and follow us!TWITTER, FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM

An ALAKAZAMBRA™ episode.This week, we finally get to meet math wizard (and Alakazambra's beloved boyfriend), Bandersnatch Countyseat! It’s Bandersnatch’s birthday, and a monster surprise party is in the works—but he isn’t really in a party mood. People keep saying his name wrong, and every time they do he fades away a little more. And if the gang can’t fix the problem in time, Bandersnatch may disappear completely!So put on your party hat and get ready to belt out “Happy Birthday” in today’s transparently terrific ALAKAZAMBRA™ tale!This episode is supported by a generous grant from the Allstate Foundation. The Allstate Foundation works to empower youth to reach their full potential and build the just, equitable, and healthy world we all deserve. To learn more, visit allstatefoundation.org.Get more at: IMAGINENEIGHBORHOOD.orgFriend and follow us!TWITTER, FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM

Count Vacula here, bringing you a new No Filter with Count Vacula! Today’s guest is Dr. Marion Nestle, PhD! Her favorite thing (and one of my favorite things, and probably one of your favorite things, too) is food! She has spent her whole life studying food, and her main job is teaching people about the best foods to help keep your body—and even your pets’ bodies—healthy and strong. Sometimes we choose our food based just on how it tastes on our tongue, but Dr. Marion taught me the word “nutrition,” which is how we describe the ways the other parts of our body react to food. Our muscles and our bones and our hair and even our mood can be affected by what we eat! I think that’s so cool to know about!Dr. Marion gives lectures about food and nutrition all over the world, and she teaches at colleges, and she also writes books. They’re mostly for grown-ups, but she has one called Eat Drink Vote that’s filled with cartoons we think you and your family might like. Dr. Marion talked to me about greenhouses, and about how some “junk” food (like her favorite—ice cream!) is ok to eat if you don’t overdo it. She also explained to me that she is uncomfortable making up answers to questions, so instead of giving a silly wrong answer to our science question, she explained the real reason why humans sweat, and that was really awesome! I liked learning the answer, but I also liked that she told me how she was feeling. It was really fun to meet Dr. Marion, and I think you’ll have fun meeting her too! I’ll be back in a couple of weeks with another new friend for you to meet. Have you met anyone new and interesting? Tell me about it! Or just let me know—how were you kind today?Your friend,VacGet more at: IMAGINENEIGHBORHOOD.orgFriend and follow us!TWITTER, FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM

An ALAKAZAMBRA™ episode.Scotty, Alakazambra, and Miss Mamas are on an Epic Quest to snatch the enchanted spellbook The Glamoire from the diabolical Temple of 'Do . . . but it's filled with tricky booby traps, and Scotty falls into all of them! Miss Mamas and Alakazambra take turns casting wizarding spells in each of their own dialects, and together they save Scotty, get The Glamoire, and learn that the way everybody speaks is magical! So grab thine magic wand, curling wand, or whatever enchanting accessory reflects your identity, and get caught up in this spellbinding ALAKAZAMBRA™ episode!This episode is supported by a generous grant from the Allstate Foundation. The Allstate Foundation works to empower youth to reach their full potential and build the just, equitable, and healthy world we all deserve. To learn more, visit allstatefoundation.org.Get more at: IMAGINENEIGHBORHOOD.orgFriend and follow us!TWITTER, FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM

Oh boy oh boy! Hey, friends! It’s me—Count Vacula, starting off a brand-new season of No Filter with Count Vacula just for you!My first guest is named Riley Black, and she has maybe the most fun job in the world. She’s a paleontologist, which means she studies dinosaurs! And Riley doesn’t just study them—she’s an explorer who hunts for fossils and dinosaur bones in the desert. Riley loves to learn all about the way the world was millions of years ago, and she also loves to teach other people about it, so she writes articles and books, and she even helped make the movie Jurassic World!Riley and I have a lot in common, like, we both love dinosaurs (although her neighborhood doesn’t have a Princess dinosaur like mine does), and we both love to taste rocks! Riley does it to help her know what kind of rock it is, and I do it just because I think they’re delicious. (But you should be careful to not lick any rocks unless you ask your grown-ups first.)Riley talked to me about her favorite dinosaur (Allosaurus!), and about how she loves to be kind to her dog, and she also told me a terrific made-up story about why werewolves love fireworks. I really liked meeting Riley, and I think you’ll like meeting her too! I’ll be back soon with more new friends for you to meet, and I hope you’ve been making some fun new friends of your own! You can write in and tell me all about it, or just let me know, how were you kind today?See you soon!Your pal,VacGet more at: IMAGINENEIGHBORHOOD.orgFriend and follow us!TWITTER, FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM

In today’s episode of The Imagine Neighborhood, Count Vacula isn’t sure he has anything to feel proud about. And even though there are lots of unique things about his identity, Vac's worried that he needs something else to be special... like superpowers! So when Queen Hastabee kidnaps Scotty to teach him a lesson about how cereal “hastabee,” Vac decides he'd better put on a mask and cape if he wants to save his best pal. Will Scotty finish eating his Choco-berry Marshmallow Bransplosion before Queen Hastabee takes it away from him?... Will Queen Hastabee ever get the Crunchulator sugar frosting out of her Supervillain outfit?... Will Vac learn that his own identity is already full of things to be proud of?... To find out, grab a bowl and spoon and get ready to enjoy your recommended daily allowance of The Imagine Neighborhood podcast! This episode is supported by a generous grant from the Allstate Foundation. The Allstate Foundation works to empower youth to reach their full potential and build the just, equitable, and healthy world we all deserve. To learn more, visit allstatefoundation.org.Get more at: IMAGINENEIGHBORHOOD.orgFriend and follow us!TWITTER, FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM

Princess Donnasaurus has sent her Poll-a-Keet out to make sure that the Royal Records are up to date on important things like everyone’s birthdays, favorite colors, and identity. But when Count Vacula says he’s a boy, the Poll-a-Keet isn't so sure. It’ll take an Epic Quest, sardine pancakes, and macho manicures for Vac to learn that there’s no one right way to be a boy, or a girl, or anything else—and that the person who knows you best is you!This episode is supported by a generous grant from the Allstate Foundation. The Allstate Foundation works to empower youth to reach their full potential and build the just, equitable, and healthy world we all deserve. To learn more, visit allstatefoundation.org.Get more at: IMAGINENEIGHBORHOOD.orgFriend and follow us!TWITTER, FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM

Summer’s almost over, but (buuuu-uuuuuut!) that’s good news—because it means that a brand new season of The Imagine Neighborhood is right around the corner!Everyone here is so excited to share all of our exciting new adventures, and introduce you to all of our awesome new friends! Get more at: IMAGINENEIGHBORHOOD.orgFriend and follow us!TWITTER, FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM

Avast, ye landlubbing listeners! It be I, Cap'n Marion, sendin’ ye a piratey postcard direct from the deck of the Burn Voyage! Are ye havin' a swashbucklin’ summer? I surely be! For I be spendin' me summer tellin’ me friends—and even me enemies!—"I love you!" And how does a scurvy sailor such as myself say "I love you"? Why, with compliments, o' course! Just this mornin' I told one o' the Fire Pirates that his hook glittered like a dolphin in the sun. And I told me adoptive mother that her laugh makes me happier than a treasure chest full o' gold! PS: AYE love you!!Get more at: IMAGINENEIGHBORHOOD.orgFriend and follow us!TWITTER, FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM

Greetings, my Royal Subjects! It is I, Princess Donnasaurus, wishing you a most resplendent summer! I have been making sure that my summer is resplendent by bestowing Royal Hugs upon all of my friends. That is a very good way to say “I love you!” Of course, I only give Royal Hugs to my friends if they want them. If someone says they do not want a hug right now (even one from a Regal Personage such as myself!), another majestic way to say “I love you” is to save your hug for another time. I would be delighted to offer you a Royal Hug, but unfortunately, we are too far apart. Instead, may I suggest that you have your grown-up help you write me to tell me—how were you kind today, and then I decree that Scotty shall send you a sticker!Have a stately summer, my friends, and I shall see you soon in The Imagine Neighborhood! PS: I love you!! Get more at: IMAGINENEIGHBORHOOD.orgFriend and follow us!TWITTER, FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM

Greetings, friends! Macho Supreme here! How is your summer going? Is it extremely macho? Macho hopes that it is. Macho is making his summer extremely macho by doing one of the most macho things Macho can think of—saying “I love you!” Macho has decided to say “I love you!” to all of Macho’s friends by helping them! So far this summer, Macho has helped the Fire Pirates, and Nana Supreme, and Princess Donnasaurus, and Macho has even helped Count Vacula by leaving goblin glitter on the floor for him to eat . . . although, now that Macho thinks about it, that may not have been the best idea Macho has ever had. What ideas do you have for saying “I love you” to your friends and family? You can have your grown-up help you write to Macho to tell him all about it, and then Macho can tell Scotty to send you some awesome stickers! That would definitely be extremely macho!Well, Macho has more friends to go say “I love you” to, and Macho also thinks he should probably check on his friend Count Vacula. Macho is concerned that Vacula has eaten a little too much goblin glitter and might hurt himself zooming around so fast. That would not be macho at all.PS: Oh! Did you think Macho had forgotten to say “I love you” to you? That would also not be macho at all!PPS: I LOVE YOU!!Get more at: IMAGINENEIGHBORHOOD.orgFriend and follow us!TWITTER, FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM

Salutations! It is I, Alakazambra Tyesha Morganis, sending you greetings from Flutterbudge Lake Summer Camp where I am saying “I love you” by teaching Charms and Crafts to all the campers! This year, camp is extra special. Wanteth to know why? Because Count of Vacula is here as well! He has never been to camp before, so I thought sharing this experience with him wouldst be a terrific way to say, “I love you!”We are having a spellbinding summer, and Vac is even helping me write a love letter to my boyfriend, Bandersnatch Countyseat. That is, Vac might help me as soon as he calms down from all the goblin glitter he hath eaten off the floor . . . By the Eye of Greldar, that stuff really makes him excited!I shall see you all again in a few weeks back at The Imagine Neighborhood™, but in the meantime, I hope you are finding all kinds of magical methods for telling your family and friends “I love you!” Sendeth me a letter to tell me about it, and of course, I wouldst be delighted to know—how wast thou kind today?PS: And remember—pixie wings do NOT go in thine mouth! Get more at: IMAGINENEIGHBORHOOD.orgFriend and follow us!TWITTER, FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM

Helloooo out there you radical rockers, and happy summer! It’s me, Doctor Apocalypso, coming to you live from the Doc Apocapalooza music festival where ten thousand fans are having an awesome time jamming out to my newest song “The Way I Say I Love You!” You heard a short version of the song in the Great Breakfast Mess episode, but today we’re sharing the whole entire thing, so crank up the volume and get ready to shout I LOVE YOU!I’ll see you back at The Imagine Neighborhood in a couple weeks, and until then, keep rockin’ . . . and don’t forget to write in and tell us—how were you kind today?Ps: I LOVE YOU!!!!Get more at: IMAGINENEIGHBORHOOD.orgFriend and follow us!TWITTER, FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM

It’s Father’s Day, and Doc wants to let her dads know how much she loves them, so she plans a very special breakfast-in-bed—maybe one that’s a little too special! And when Doc’s turbocharged breakfast catapult makes a mess in the house, her Papa gets so upset that she thinks he might not love her anymore! Will one bite of Scotty’s Choc-o-Berry Marshmallow Bran Explosion send Doc hurrying home? Will Papa’s apology help Doc understand that it’s okay to make mistakes, because they help us learn how to do better next time? Will Doc’s new song “Ways to Say I Love You” be the world’s next huge hit?For all the answers, agarra a alguien que amas and get ready to hit the dance floor for some heart-pounding headbanging on today’s rockin’ episode of The Imagine Neighborhood!Get more at: IMAGINENEIGHBORHOOD.orgFriend and follow us!TWITTER, FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM

Hi, friends—guess what? It’s almost time for summer break, so today I get to bring you this season’s very last episode of No Filter with Count Vacula!I’m so happy about all the amazing people I got to meet this year, but I’m super excited for you to meet my newest friend, “Weird Al” Yankovic! His first name is really Alfred, but everyone calls him Weird Al because he’s extremely silly, and he’s famous for writing and performing hilarious songs. A lot of Weird Al’s music is in a style called “parody,” which means that he takes other people’s songs and gives them new and funny words. Some of my favorites are “Eat It”, “Yoda,” and the “Captain Underpants Theme Song.” He’s so good at making songs that he’s won five Grammy Awards and sold more than 12 million albums! He’s also written two terrific kids’ books, When I Grow Up and My New Teacher and Me!But what matters most about Weird Al is that he’s a really nice and kind person! And even though I’m a vampire robot vacuum and he’s an accordion-playing human, we have lots of things in common. We both like cardboard boxes, and dogs, and cereal. . . and he says he’s a vampire like me, but I haven’t seen him at any of the meetings, so I think he was probably just being playful. Weird Al told me an amazing true story about selling his old dryer lint for $600, and a hilarious made-up story about the tiny monsters that make all the echoes we hear. I had a great time getting to know Weird Al, and I think you’ll have a great time, too. I can’t wait to practice meeting more new people over the break! Are you looking forward to trying out your friend-making skills this summer? Maybe you’re going to camp or on a family vacation, or you’re excited about spending more time at your favorite park—but wherever you go, I’ll bet there will be new friends just waiting to meet you and I can’t wait to hear about it! Until then, stay kind and have a great summer!See you soon!Your pal,VacGet more at: IMAGINENEIGHBORHOOD.orgFriend and follow us!TWITTER, FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM

Today, Count Vacula is super excited, because Alakazambra is taking him to a fancy new roller-skating rink! But first she’s getting a her hair done by magical Miss Mamas at The Enchanted Haus of Coils, Curls, and Charms. With her bewitching new braids, "AllyK" feels happy, confident, and ready to roll! But at the rink, there’s trouble. A bunch of troller skaters make fun of her hair and say they won’t let her skate until she takes her braids out! Will Vac give himself a tummyache eating candy off the floor of the Golden Rink Deluxe?... Will Miss Mamas teach Alakazambra to stand up against discrimination and let her inner light shine bright?... Will Scotty ever stop looking in the mirror at his fancy new fade?To find out, lash up those laces and get ready to rock the rink on today’s exciting episode of The Imagine Neighborhood!Ready? Set?ALL SKAAAAAAAAAATE!This episode is supported by a generous grant from the Allstate Foundation. The Allstate Foundation works to empower youth to reach their full potential and build the just, equitable, and healthy world we all deserve. To learn more, visit allstatefoundation.org.Get more at: IMAGINENEIGHBORHOOD.orgFriend and follow us!TWITTER, FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM

A COUNT VACULA™ episode. In today’s special episode, Scotty and Count Vacula are feeling scared and mad! But they talk through their feelings and that helps them feel a little better. Promising to be kind to each other and to all of their friends in the Neighborhood helps them feel a little better, too. If you’re feeling scared or SMAD or any other big feelings, we hope you’ll talk to a trusted grown-up about them. In the meantime, come feel better with your friends in this calming COUNT VACULA™ episode.Get more at: IMAGINENEIGHBORHOOD.orgFriend and follow us!TWITTER, FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM