121 episodes

Three lifelong cartoonists take an in-depth look at the comic strip masterpiece, Peanuts. Each week, Jimmy Gownley, Harold Buchholz and Michael Cohen examine the complete run of the comic by Charles M. Schulz from 1950 all the way up to the year 2000. Plus special guests and bonuses. Unpacking Peanuts is a fan podcast unaffiliated with Peanuts Worldwide.

Unpacking Peanuts Jimmy Gownley, Michael Cohen, Harold Buchholz

    • Arts
    • 4.8 • 47 Ratings

Three lifelong cartoonists take an in-depth look at the comic strip masterpiece, Peanuts. Each week, Jimmy Gownley, Harold Buchholz and Michael Cohen examine the complete run of the comic by Charles M. Schulz from 1950 all the way up to the year 2000. Plus special guests and bonuses. Unpacking Peanuts is a fan podcast unaffiliated with Peanuts Worldwide.

    1987 Part 1 - Linus, Lydia, and the “Shadow of the Past”

    1987 Part 1 - Linus, Lydia, and the “Shadow of the Past”

    Schulz is at a crossroad in his career. He is now a member of a Hall of Fame filled with mostly dead people, yet he is still a working cartoonist who has no plans of quitting. How does an artist who wants to remain vital compete against his own past? Seriously… asking for a friend. Plus: Jangly Black.
    Transcript available at UnpackingPeanuts.com
    Unpacking Peanuts is copyright Jimmy Gownley, Michael Cohen, and Harold Buchholz. Produced and edited by Liz Sumner. Music by Michael Cohen. Additional voiceover by Aziza Shukralla Clark. 
    For more from the show follow @unpackpeanuts on Instagram and Threads, and @unpackingpeanuts on Facebook, Blue Sky, and YouTube. For more about Jimmy, Michael, and Harold, visit unpackingpeanuts.com.  
    Thanks for listening.

    • 1 hr 7 min
    1986 Part 3 - I Will Destroy You and All Your Cousins

    1986 Part 3 - I Will Destroy You and All Your Cousins

    The Gang goes to Camp Remote which causes Marcie to emote. Linus also makes another strong showing with a few classic appearances, and the guys marvel at the expressive art of the mature Charles Schulz. Plus: Tapioca Pudding.
    Transcript available at UnpackingPeanuts.com
    Unpacking Peanuts is copyright Jimmy Gownley, Michael Cohen, and Harold Buchholz. Produced and edited by Liz Sumner. Music by Michael Cohen. Additional voiceover by Aziza Shukralla Clark. 
    For more from the show follow @unpackpeanuts on Instagram and Threads, and @unpackingpeanuts on Facebook, Blue Sky, and YouTube. For more about Jimmy, Michael, and Harold, visit unpackingpeanuts.com.  
    Thanks for listening.

    • 54 min
    1986 Part 2 - Woodstock Gets Buzzed

    1986 Part 2 - Woodstock Gets Buzzed

    Schulz is having fun reintroducing Linus, and he creates a great foil for him in the enigmatic and maddening Lydia. Then, the gang gives the Unpacking Peanuts treatment to a Nancy strip. Plus: I’ll be a sellout!
    Transcript available at UnpackingPeanuts.com
    Unpacking Peanuts is copyright Jimmy Gownley, Michael Cohen, and Harold Buchholz. Produced and edited by Liz Sumner. Music by Michael Cohen. Additional voiceover by Aziza Shukralla Clark. 
    For more from the show follow @unpackpeanuts on Instagram and Threads, and @unpackingpeanuts on Facebook, Blue Sky, and YouTube. For more about Jimmy, Michael, and Harold, visit unpackingpeanuts.com.  
    Thanks for listening.
     

    • 1 hr 15 min
    1986 Part 1 - Attack of the Nancy Fans!

    1986 Part 1 - Attack of the Nancy Fans!

    In this wild episode, Unpacking Peanuts gets cyberbullied by a Who’s Who of Nancy Fans, including Bill (Zippy the Pinhead) Griffith, Tom (Seinfeld) Gammill, Raina (Smile) Telgemeir, John (King Cat) Porcellino, Todd (the Poet) Webb, and more! They explain why Bushmiller is the bees’ knees, and then we cover a batch of hilarious strips from 1986!  Plus: you have a ganglion cyst, Lucy
    Transcript available at UnpackingPeanuts.com
    Jimmy's upcoming comic - https://substack.com/@gvillecomics
    Unpacking Peanuts is copyright Jimmy Gownley, Michael Cohen, and Harold Buchholz. Produced and edited by Liz Sumner. Music by Michael Cohen. Additional voiceover by Aziza Shukralla Clark. 
    For more from the show follow @unpackpeanuts on Instagram and Threads, and @unpackingpeanuts on Facebook, Blue Sky, and YouTube. For more about Jimmy, Michael, and Harold, visit unpackingpeanuts.com.  
    Thanks for listening.

    • 1 hr 22 min
    1985 Part 3 - Snoopy is a Punk Rocker

    1985 Part 3 - Snoopy is a Punk Rocker

    It’s been a year of Sally’s anxieties, worm attacks, and hanging out at the mall. Some old favorites make some cameo appearances, Woodstock is bad at football, and the Sousaphone makes it’s long awaited debut (look it’s not easy to write these things) Plus: fuzzy uniqueness.
    Jimmy's upcoming comic - https://substack.com/@gvillecomics
    Transcript available at UnpackingPeanuts.com
    Unpacking Peanuts is copyright Jimmy Gownley, Michael Cohen, and Harold Buchholz. Produced and edited by Liz Sumner. Music by Michael Cohen. Additional voiceover by Aziza Shukralla Clark. 
    For more from the show follow @unpackpeanuts on Instagram and Threads, and @unpackingpeanuts on Facebook, Blue Sky, and YouTube. For more about Jimmy, Michael, and Harold, visit unpackingpeanuts.com.  
    Thanks for listening.

    • 1 hr 11 min
    1985 Part 2 - Go Back to the Future, Snoopy!

    1985 Part 2 - Go Back to the Future, Snoopy!

    In this episode, Sally introduces us to “The Glamorous World of Punctuation,” Snoopy and Woodstock go fishing, and Schulz goes deep “Into the Weird.” Also, the guys take a hard look at Schulz’s evolving line work and talk about Old Man Snoopy. Plus: Jimmy realizes that the eighties were a long time ago.
    Gville Comics on Substack - https://substack.com/@gvillecomicsLovely Mother's Day story about Spike - https://shorturl.at/Xa5wF
    Transcript available at UnpackingPeanuts.com
    Unpacking Peanuts is copyright Jimmy Gownley, Michael Cohen, and Harold Buchholz. Produced and edited by Liz Sumner. Music by Michael Cohen. Additional voiceover by Aziza Shukralla Clark. 
    For more from the show follow @unpackpeanuts on Instagram and Threads, and @unpackingpeanuts on Facebook, Blue Sky, and YouTube. For more about Jimmy, Michael, and Harold, visit unpackingpeanuts.com.  
    Thanks for listening.

    • 55 min

Customer Reviews

4.8 out of 5
47 Ratings

47 Ratings

Beagle Scout wannabe ,

What a fantastic podcast

It was a very good day when I happened upon this podcast! It’s an absolute gem. I was a total Peanuts nerd growing up, and am now really enjoying reliving the strips through this podcast. You all have such an easy going rapport, too. Listening to you makes my boring work commute go by in a flash now. Happiness is Unpacking Peanuts.
P.S. Andy Capp was one of my Dad’s favorite strips, but it never worked for me.

Gus the Donut Man ,

Be of good cheer..

This podcast is nearly as delightful and engaging as the incredible comic strip they unpack!

Rockhopper Lad ,

Peanuts Nerd-vana

I am a huge Peanuts fan. Going to the Schulz Museum last year was almost a pilgrimage. It is amazing to hear people talking about Charlie Brown and his friends with the same excitement I have for them. I’m a writer, so I always approach Peanuts from character development and dialogue. Hearing three cartoonists discuss the strip adds their perspective as artists. Of course, I knew what a talented artist Schulz was, but I have learned so much from listening to them.

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