Rephonic
Artwork for Making It in The Toy Industry

Making It in The Toy Industry

Azhelle Wade | The Toy Coach
Toy Industry
Toy Creators Academy
Licensing Expo
Entrepreneurship
Licensing
Hasbro
9 To 5 Warriors
Sustained Fun
Angelitos Magicos
Tabletop Game Design Masterclass
Licensing Deals
Inventors
Kindness Mouse
Mesh
Mental Health
World Sustainable Toy Day
Mattel
Toy Safety
Partnerships
Sweet Suite

How do I bring my toy ideas to life? How can I pitch my toy concept to top toy companies like Hasbro, Mattel, or Goliath Games? What does it cost to make a prototype, and where can I get one made? Are there toy manufacturing options outside of China? These are just a few of the questions that will be answered on this weekly podcast, Making It In The Toy Industry. In addition to mini toy masterclas... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes311Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
EntrepreneurshipSociety & CultureBusiness

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Making It in The Toy Industry

Latest Episodes

Like any good season finale, I'm putting it all on the table.

Episode 10 marks the END of our season all about the Impact of AI on The Toy Industry. In this week's episode we're revisiting everything we covered this season from the environmental and... more

I once told CNN that some AI toys feel like a wolf in sheep’s clothing because it can be hard to tell how much privacy you’re giving up. While I'm a fan of AI use in business, I’ve been skeptical of AI toys for a while.

But in today's interview, the... more

What if I told you Dan Klitsner discovered AI 30 years ago and used it to invent Bop It?

Well, he didn’t. But I did ask Dan how AI might have influenced the creation of his hit game if it did exist when he was first starting out. Dan’s breakout inve... more

AI is changing fast, but for the first time in a while I'm feeling that we've hit a moment of "stability". That means NOW is the perfect time to learn to apply the latest AI tools to your toy business.

In this mini reset episode, I break down why so... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

Dan Klitsner
Award-winning industrial designer and inventor of Bop It
Klitsner Industrial Design, KID
Episode: S6E08 | The Inventor of Bop It on AI, Execution, and Creating the Next Classic Toy
Pyper Bleu
Multidisciplinary artist based in Brooklyn, New York
Pyper Bleu Collective
Episode: S6E05 | Why Human Touch Still Wins At Retail with Pyper Bleu
Angie Chua
Founder and creative director of Bobo Design Studio and Bobo Palm Springs, a stationery brand
Bobo Design Studio
Episode: S6E02 | Is Amazon AI Selling Your Products Without Consent? with Angie Chua
Gena Lavallee
Vice President of Global Brands at Make It Real
Make It Real
Episode: #299: How Swift Clicks Heishi Bracelet Maker Became A Creative Toy Of The Year Finalist with Gena Lavallee
Paul Weingard
CEO of Schylling Toys
Schylling
Episode: #298: Why The Nee Doh Cube Nice Cube Is A Finalist For This Major Toy Award with Paul Weingard
Ron Weizman
Founder of South Beach Bubbles
South Beach Bubbles
Episode: #297: How South Beach Bubbles Became a 2-Time TOTY Finalist with Ron Weizman
Steve Rad
Co-creator of the ESPN Virtual Reality Headset and founder of Abacus Brands
Abacus Brands
Episode: #296: ESPN Virtual Reality Experience Nominated For A Major Toy Award with Steve Rad
Lev Nelson
Co-creator of Sticki Rolls and partner at Sky Castle Toys
Sky Castle Toys
Episode: #295: How Sticki Rolls Went From 1 Billion Views To Toy of the Year Finalist with Lev Nelson
Melanie Sperling Palmer
Founder of Emmers, a play-based emotional learning company
Emmers
Episode: #291: Toy Creators Academy Coaching Call with Melanie Palmer

Host

Azhelle Wade
Host of the show focused on helping toy creators bring ideas to life and navigate manufacturing, licensing, and pitching.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 205 ratings
  • Quality Podcast

    New listener to your podcast and learning so much. Top quality production and amazing presentation, looking forward to getting to listen to more episodes.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Popicons
    Ireland3 months ago
  • Hi

    I just like listening. but love the llllllllllllllllllaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaabbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbuuuuuuuuuuuuuubbbbbbbbbbbbbuuuuuuuuuu episode so ya peace

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Love crested geckos
    United States5 months ago
  • Amazing and so helpful

    I've been in the toy industry for 10 years and I sell to big retailers. This podcast is so validating and helpful.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bgeghfdsrtv3467
    United Statesa year ago
  • Very insightful and knowledgeable!

    This woman knows her stuff. Listening to her podcasts has taught me tips and tricks of the trade but has also walked me through a lot of things I didn’t even know I should be doing as a person starting in this business! Ask the question, pitch the sale, present your product, get out there and do what you gotta do! Added bonus, met her in person and she is absolute delight to speak to. Listen up people! Don’t miss out!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    SuperDave0828
    United Statesa year ago
  • 💎💎💎

    Azhelle was previously in my program so I can’t believe it took me so long to review her podcast! l'm not in the toy industry but as a PR coach for product makers, many who make toys, I LOVE recommending them quality resources and this is def one of them! Make sure to check out her ep on click worthy subject lines cause she knows what she’s talking about👏Also love the range of shorter to the point ep, and longer more in depth interviews, and everyone has such great energy!! It’s a community you... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    _doremi101
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The show is described as a top resource for toy industry insights and real-world guidance.
Listeners praise the practical, actionable advice and strong host knowledge.
Guests are highlighted for depth, expertise, and relevance to hands-on toy creation and marketing.

Top Entrepreneurship Podcasts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

S6E08 | The Inventor of Bop It on AI, Execution, and Creating the Next Classic Toy
Q: How did you leverage AI in presenting your ideas or in the development process?
AI helps render concepts, create sizzles, and visualize ideas for pitches, but the inventor still needs to provide a clear vision, prompts, and judgment to ensure the final product is feasible and compelling.
S6E05 | Why Human Touch Still Wins At Retail with Pyper Bleu
Q: What piece of advice do you wish more people knew about what sells in a store like yours?
Merchandising is key; the presentation and packaging can make a huge difference.
S6E05 | Why Human Touch Still Wins At Retail with Pyper Bleu
Q: How do you support artists through your shop?
I try not to tell people no, as exposure and discovery are important for emerging artists.
S6E05 | Why Human Touch Still Wins At Retail with Pyper Bleu
Q: What inspired you to transition from online content creation to having a physical store?
I always had a dream to have a store, and it became a way to combat my depression from feeling stagnant.
S6E05 | Why Human Touch Still Wins At Retail with Pyper Bleu
Q: How does it feel to be a finalist on Brand?
It's bittersweet; I wish I got further, but I'm proud of myself.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Making It in The Toy Industry

What is Making It in The Toy Industry about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show spotlights practical, action-oriented guidance for turning toy ideas into real products. Episodes frequently cover topics like retail strategies, manufacturing options beyond traditional hubs, AI's impact on design and operations, and how to pitch, prototype, and market toys effectively. A standout virtue is the host's hands-on, founder-level perspective, often featuring practitioners from small- to mid-size toy businesses and creators who are navigating the contemporary toy landscape. The format blends tactical advice with industry connectivity, making it valuable for aspiring inventors, indie brands, and marketers seeking to accelerate product journeys and retail success without deep corporate resources.

Where can I find podcast stats for Making It in The Toy Industry?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Making It in The Toy Industry. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Making It in The Toy Industry and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Making It in The Toy Industry get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Making It in The Toy Industry, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Making It in The Toy Industry?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Making It in The Toy Industry, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Making It in The Toy Industry have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Making It in The Toy Industry has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Making It in The Toy Industry?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Making It in The Toy Industry:

1. Huberman Lab
2. The School of Greatness
3. The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett
4. Dan Snow's History Hit
5. My First Million

How many episodes of Making It in The Toy Industry are there?

Making It in The Toy Industry launched 6 years ago and published 311 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Making It in The Toy Industry?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Making It in The Toy Industry?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Making It in The Toy Industry from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Making It in The Toy Industry?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Making It in The Toy Industry. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Making It in The Toy Industry?

Recent guests on Making It in The Toy Industry include:

1. Dan Klitsner
2. Pyper Bleu
3. Angie Chua
4. Gena Lavallee
5. Paul Weingard
6. Ron Weizman
7. Steve Rad
8. Lev Nelson

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days