Power Kid Podcast

Chandler Levine and Chris Oosthuisen have a vision for the next generation of toys. Inspired by the future of learning and fueled by their technology background in Silicon Valley they are working on tech toys that can teach language and encourage children to explore the world around them. Listen in as we discuss the future and concerns of technology in toys and they share their vision of the wonderful new product LINK. https://www.toyupgrade.com/

Julie Kerwin has taken a leap of courage and creativity to compete in the 1.4B action figure market. IAmElemental was named by Time Magazine as one of the 25 best inventions and top 10 toys of 2014. In 2017 the line was a finalist for Toy of the Year and Julie brought home the WIT Rising Star award. Join us today as she recounts her experiences in bringing this groundbreaking line to life. Hear the challenges she overcame and the many inspirations she credits in making the line a success!

Never be squared to pursue your dreams! Husband and wife creative duo Kurt Marquart and Elaine de la Mata join me today to discuss the relaunch of their Squaredy Cats brand! Licensed to Gund in 2011 the plush line had a great run in both specialty and mass markets and gained a large fan base. Today they are getting back to the roots of the concept and relaunching Squaredy Cats on Kickstarter.

I had a great time at New York Toy Fair 2018. While there I was able to catch up with old friends and interview new ones. I have several episodes in the works that are a result of introductions made at this years show - so stay tuned! This bonus episode contains several conversations I had on the Launchpad with first time exhibitors and recent creators.

At the heart of the toy industry is safety. It is my honor this week to bring you an in depth conversation with Don Moffett. During his career Don has held positions focused on safety, quality, and compliance in several industries. He is an expert in toy safety. • Is meeting the safety requirement enough? • How can you ensure your product is as safe as possible? • How can you avoid hazard and risk pitfalls?

Buyers are some of my favorite people in the industry. They act as counselors, gatekeepers, risk-takers and partners. In this episode I sit down with Paul Dixon who has gained a tremendous amount of experience on both sides of the table as a toy buyer at Target and a sales rep for Disney Consumer Products. His latest endeavor is a fantastic book series, Papa Lemon’s Little Wanderers, which is taking him into the depths of children’s book publishing.

Terence Burke has spent a large part of his career gathering trend information directly from kids. The KidSay team have a long track record of accurately predicting trends in the kids market. They have helped Hasbro, Mattel, Spin Master, McDonalds, Nickelodeon, Disney, and many more stay ahead of the curve. Listen in on this very fun and insightful conversation about the sometimes surprising and nebulous world of what kids want.

One of the missions of the Power Kid Podcast is to promote and discuss important topics that affect the educational, physical and emotional development of the children we serve and develop product for. This week it is my honor to speak with Kerry Jackson the creator of Feel Better Bear. The goal of her brand is to provide grief support for children and begin a movement to promote accessible grief recovery worldwide.

“Only in the toy industry can you get instant and honest feedback” Join me today as I speak with Perry Kaye of Perri Teri Toys. Perry is an award winning toy inventor and holds over 50 patents. He was chosen by Daymond John to be the winner of the Good Morning America Shark Tank Your Life competition. Perry has the heart of a teacher and in this conversation he gives us his step by step process on how to invent. He also gives tips on how to present your concept to potential buyers and customers.

At age 14 Matt Knott took an aptitude and career test in school - his top result: Toy maker! While at Hasbro Matt produced digital interactive media and games to help grow their excellent brands. Recently he and his business partner created and successfully funded their game -  Word Stacker. We discuss the importance of merging media entertainment and traditional play and dive deep into his Kickstarter experience.

What do you get when you cross the need to make the game of catch more fun with an Australian marsupial? Find out in this valuable conversation with Dave Yearick - inventor of Wordy Word, Djubi, and co-inventor of the hit game TriBond (3 million copies sold). We discuss the nuances of toy inventing and licensing and the importance of focusing on the customers need.

Welcome to the New Year! We are kicking off 2018 with a month of in depth discussions with fellow toy and game inventors! We start off the New Year right with the wonderful Louise White. She has been an industrial designer of toys for 18 years. She has created many great products that make parent’s and children’s lives easier and more fun -  earning her more than 20 awards. She gives us insight into how to generate unique ideas and look for problems to solve with our inventions.

Cassie and Sabrina Glow bring their amazing voice talents to the Power Kid Podcast for this special Christmas edition! These awesome girls have worked with Disney, Cartoon Network, Sesame Workshop, Sprout and many many more! http://glowgirlskidvoiceover.com/ Join us now to hear them perform - "The Night Before the night before Christmas".

Join me this week as Jon Capriola and I discuss balancing "play" with the "business of play" Jon is an extreme innovator who has developed and managed multi-million dollar brands. His latest endeavor is the wonderful toy line Lite Poppers™ How do I know when I have a hit on my hands? How does an invention become a brand? Why is it so important to listen to your customers? (especially kids) We cover it all and more in this episode!

Have we forgotten how to play? Join Jenn Choi and I as we discuss how to engage in play with our kids and get the most out of the toys we give this holiday season. Jenn is a regular contributor at Forbes, Quartz and ADDitude Magazine and has many years of experience researching toys and play. This episode is great for anyone who wants to understand play more fully and get the most out of time you spend with your kids and grandkids as you play.