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Artwork for The Playground Podcast

The Playground Podcast

Chris Byrne
Toy Industry
Tariffs
Toys
Play
Social Shopping
Artificial Intelligence
Tiktok
The Young Inventor's Challenge
Toy Fair
Popdarts
Curio
Toy Safety
Influencer Marketing
Grimes
Creativity
Community Engagement
Child Development
E-Commerce
Silicon Valley
Chicago Toy and Game Fair

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, ins... more

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes213Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Kids & Family

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Artwork for The Playground Podcast

Latest Episodes

If you’ve listened to the podcast before, you know we'repassionate about the role of play in children’s development and lives and increasingly about the essential nature of play for children’s healthcare.

We're always thrilled to find someone as de... more

This episode was recorded at Sweet Suite in New York on July 8.Here it July—halfway through the year, and with Sweet Wuite, sponsored by the Toy Insider, the holidays have started. The shw is increasingly being seen by toy manufacturers, media, and c... more

As a kid, host Chris Byrne loved science toys. People whoknow him know that he especially liked making things that blew up. However, since about 1972, thanks to the CPSC, toy science kits haven’t included componentsfor making explosives.

Still, Chr... more

Revitalizing and relaunch a brand almost 30 years after itsintroduction is never an easy task. However, when the brand was as popular and influential as the iconic Backyard Sports franchise of the late 1990s and early 2000s, thechallenge can be espec... more

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Recent Guests

James Zahn
Editor of The Toy Book
The Toy Book
Episode: James Zahn & Chris at Sweet Suite in New York
Jared Wolfson
CEO of Blue Marble
Blue Marble
Episode: The Science of Success: Jared Wolfson of Blue Marble
Lindsay Barnett
CEO of Playground Productions, rights holder for Backyard Sports
Playground Productions
Episode: Batter Up: The Return of the Backyard Sports Franchise
Mark Basset
Head of influencer business at Precisify (formerly Precise TV)
Precisify
Episode: Data-Driven Creative: Mark Basset of Precisify
Jay Foreman
Industry expert and commentator on toy tariffs
Not explicitly mentioned
Episode: Now What? Jay Foreman on the Current Tariff Issues
Lee Parkhurst
Marketing strategist with extensive experience in social media and the toy industry
Parkhurst Marketing
Episode: Social Shopping 2: Lee Parkhurst
Nic Jones
Business development and brand development expert in the toy industry.
Situaction UK
Episode: Social Shopping Part 1: Nic Jones of Situaction UK
Chris Byrne
Host of The Playground Podcast
The Playground Podcast
Episode: Social Shopping Part 1: Nic Jones of Situaction UK
Azhelle Wade
The Toy Coach; expert in toy design and product development
The Toy Coach
Episode: Azhelle Wade: The Toy Coach

Host

Christopher Byrne
Host of The Playground Podcast; discusses toys, culture, toy history, and business stories with industry leaders.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 20 ratings
  • 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.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    AndrewDarlow
    United States5 years ago
  • 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!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    3 team
    United States6 years ago
  • Fun and informative

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Engineer+teacher+gardener
    United States6 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Insightful discussions with industry guests that illuminate current trends.
Great mix of history and forward-looking market insights.
Humor and expertise from hosts make complex topics approachable.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

James Zahn & Chris at Sweet Suite in New York
Q: What are you seeing as impacting the toy year this year?
The year is being driven by Squish trends, evergreen licenses, and a strong emphasis on specialty retailers and experiences, with TikTok Shop playing a major role in both discovery and direct purchasing.
Batter Up: The Return of the Backyard Sports Franchise
Q: How does the brand balance nostalgia with present-day sensibilities?
By reframing nostalgia as an active, living connection—focusing on the joy and community of play rather than a purely retrospective appeal, and by delivering content that is PG, inclusive, and suitable for family consumption.
Batter Up: The Return of the Backyard Sports Franchise
Q: Why now for Backyard Sports and what makes it relevant to today's kids?
Because the core audience is now parents who played the games as kids, creating a natural bridge to family-friendly content and merchandise, and because current media ecosystems lack a similar family-oriented sports property.
Social Shopping 2: Lee Parkhurst
Q: If you were setting up a marketing department now for a toy company, what would you be looking to do?
I would prioritize social selling on my marketing team to effectively reach audiences where they are engaging online.
Social Shopping 2: Lee Parkhurst
Q: Are older people on TikTok as well? Are you finding that it's becoming more pervasive?
Yes, TikTok's audience is becoming more diverse as older demographics increasingly engage with the platform, particularly due to connections with QVC-like content.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Playground Podcast

What is The Playground Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show centers on toys, play, and the business of children's entertainment, featuring candid conversations with industry leaders, designers, marketers, and reporters who shape what kids want next. Topics span tariffs affecting toy imports, social shopping and creator-driven branding, DTC strategies, robotics and AI in play, and kid culture trends, with a mix of history, innovation, and practical insights for makers, retailers, and marketers. A notable throughline is how authenticity, storytelling, and community engagement help brands stand out in a crowded market. Episodes often blend behind-the-scenes product development with broader market trends, offering actionable takeaways for listeners exploring partnerships, sponsorships, or gues... more

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How many listeners does The Playground Podcast get?

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How many subscribers and views does The Playground Podcast have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Playground Podcast 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 The Playground Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Playground Podcast:

1. Playing At Business - toy & game business podcast with Steve Reece
2. SmartLess
3. The StoryBrand Podcast

How many episodes of The Playground Podcast are there?

The Playground Podcast launched 7 years ago and published 213 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 The Playground Podcast?

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 The Playground Podcast?

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What guests have appeared on The Playground Podcast?

Recent guests on The Playground Podcast include:

1. James Zahn
2. Jared Wolfson
3. Lindsay Barnett
4. Mark Basset
5. Jay Foreman
6. Lee Parkhurst
7. Nic Jones
8. Chris Byrne

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.

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