171 episodes

Join Chris Byrne, The Toy Guy® as he presents a series of interviews with industry experts will tackle the topics of the toys, culture, toy history and talk with some of the leading people in the business of toys and children’s entertainment. Designed for anyone interested in toys, play and great stories, each weekly episode will feature engaging, entertaining conversation, useful information, insights, tales of the toys that we’ll never forget and so much more.
As they say, if it concerns toys and play, we’ll be kicking it around in The Playground.
Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-playground-podcast/support

The Playground Podcast Chris Byrne

    • Kids & Family
    • 4.8 • 13 Ratings

Join Chris Byrne, The Toy Guy® as he presents a series of interviews with industry experts will tackle the topics of the toys, culture, toy history and talk with some of the leading people in the business of toys and children’s entertainment. Designed for anyone interested in toys, play and great stories, each weekly episode will feature engaging, entertaining conversation, useful information, insights, tales of the toys that we’ll never forget and so much more.
As they say, if it concerns toys and play, we’ll be kicking it around in The Playground.
Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-playground-podcast/support

    Radical Play: How Toys & Culture Changed in the 60s and 70s

    Radical Play: How Toys & Culture Changed in the 60s and 70s

    In this episode, Chris talks to author and historian Rob Goldberg about his fascinating book Radical Play. It's a look at the social movements of the 1960s and 1970s and how those challenged and changed the toy industry–and the ways in which the industry responded.

    We cover the major issues of the era–war toys and guns, race and gender–and look at the ways the world and by extension playthings changed.

    It's a lively and informative conversation. Listen in.

    And you can buy Rob's book here.


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    Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-playground-podcast/support

    • 41 min
    The Hong Kong Toy Fair, Perspectives on Barbie

    The Hong Kong Toy Fair, Perspectives on Barbie

    In this episode, Chris talks with Sophia Chong on site at the Hong Kong Toys & Games Fair about the 50th Edition of the show, the value of toy fairs, and a vision for the show as an essential gateway to the Asian markets.

    This episode brings back The Endcap, and Chris talks about the impact of the Barbie movie, why it could only happen now, and why another movie out now misses the point completely.

    The Playground Podcast is supported by Global Toy News, The Toy Guy, and the https://home.hktdc.com/https://home.hktdc.com/.


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    Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-playground-podcast/support

    • 31 min
    Year End 2023: James Zahn & John Baulch

    Year End 2023: James Zahn & John Baulch

    In our fifth annual year-end conversation, Chris is joined by James Zahn of The Toy Book, The Toy Insider and The Pop Insider and John Baulch managing director and publisher of Toy World UK.

    Zahn and Baulch are two of the leading industry observers, analysts, and thinkers about the business of play. Their insights are entertaining, thoughtful, and clear-eyed.

    Listen in as we talk about innovation, entertainment, inventory, and the year ahead.

    The Playgorund Podcast is supported by Global Toy Experts, The Toy Guy, and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, managers of the Hong Kong Toys & Games Fair.


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    Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-playground-podcast/support

    • 43 min
    How Innovation Defines a Company: Joost Poulus of Moose

    How Innovation Defines a Company: Joost Poulus of Moose

    In this conversation, Chris talks with Joost Poulus, chief product officer for Moose toys. They talk about Joost's 20-plus year career with Moose, building a culture that supports innovation and the company's BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal) for the future.

    In a time when "innovation" can merely be a buzzword, Moose is one of the first companies to build, and publish, a series of metrics to determine how innovation as they define it is succeeding.

    Not surprisingly, it encompasses people, product and play.

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


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    Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-playground-podcast/support

    • 26 min
    Towards More Effective Communication: Matt Abrahams

    Towards More Effective Communication: Matt Abrahams

    Listen in on this great conversation as Chris talks to Matt Abrahams, author of Think Faster, Talk Smarter. Abrahams discusses the book and how people can be more effective communicators, whether as managers, colleagues...or pitching a product.

    Matt Abrahams is a leading expert in communication with decades of experience as an educator, author, podcast host, and coach. He teaches at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business, and he has his own podcast Think Fast, Talk Smart: The Podcast.

    Enjoy this lively conversation.


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    Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-playground-podcast/support

    • 32 min
    Remembering Richard Gottlieb

    Remembering Richard Gottlieb

    Richard Gottlieb's death on October 26 from ALS was a blow for the people who knew and loved him, the toy industry, and, of course, this podcast.

    In this short segment, Chris remembers and honors Richard and all his contributions, his amazing spirit and kindness, and much more.

    We also talk a bit about continuing this show both to serve the industry and to honor Richard's memory.


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    Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-playground-podcast/support

    • 9 min

Customer Reviews

4.8 out of 5
13 Ratings

13 Ratings

AndrewDarlow ,

A Window Into the Toy Business

I absolutely love this podcast! Richard, Chris and their guests consistently offer information about recent trends in the toy business while reaching back through history to inform and entertain listeners about the impact that vintage toys and toy pioneers have had over the years.

I especially like learning about different demographics (like the influence of Aunts and Grandparents), as well as recent and upcoming toys, game consoles and entertainment properties.

3 team ,

Love Chris Bryne and so glad to learn about his podcast!

Making my way through all of Richard’s and Chris’ podcasts! Learning so much from their guests and getting huge chuckles from their sense of humor!

Engineer+teacher+gardener ,

Fun and informative

Just listened to the Eggmazing story and found it both entertaining and enlightening (just like the best toys!).

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