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Artwork for Toy Business Unboxed

Toy Business Unboxed

Toy Launch
Kickstarter
Board Games
Amazon
Base 6
Lacorsa
Artificial Intelligence
Estate Raise the Realm
Drawn Hungry
Dragon's Lair
Herdvana
Wizard Of Oz
Blue Rondo Games
Killers the Card Game
Galactic Cruise
Gamification
Self-Publishing
Tabletop Games
Toy Industry
Lacrosse
Zombie Survival Infection

Welcome to "Toy Business Unboxed," the podcast where we unravel the secrets of the toy industry! Join us as we delve into the world of toy design, marketing, manufacturing, and retail. In each episode, we'll unbox the latest trends, strategies, and challenges faced by toy professionals. From insightful interviews with industry veterans to deep dives into market analytics and creative brainstorming... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes182Founded4 months ago
Number of ListenersCategories
EntrepreneurshipBusiness

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Artwork for Toy Business Unboxed

Latest Episodes

In this episode, we sit down with Jason Miceli, founder and publisher of Phase Shift Games and the mind behind the award winning Dungeon Drop. Jason shares how a contest winning prototype from designer Scott turned into a flagship game built entirely... more

In this episode, we sit down with Sean Brown, a veteran game designer and publisher who has spent more than 20 years shaping the tabletop industry through his own brand, Mr. B Games. Sean walks us through the chance encounter at Gen Con that got him ... more

In this episode, we sit down with Miguel Muñoz Marin, CEO of Recontour, an e-commerce holding company that owns Best Chess Set Ever and Shaka Ball. Miguel shares his journey from Amazon Spain to co-founding Recontour, why valuation discipline helped ... more

In this episode, we sit down with Nick Kopp, co-founder of Weird Giraffe Games and former rocket scientist who spent a decade building his board game company on nights and weekends before going full time. Nick shares the savings and runway plan that ... more

YouTube

In today's episode, we sit down with Jade Shames, co-founder of Pillbox Games, to trace the wild path from making a card game prototype on index cards to building a growing tabletop brand. Jade shares how a chance game night with friend and co-founde... more

YouTube

In this episode, we talk with Julian Montoya, a licensing leader whose career spans Lucasfilm, Warner Bros, and now Noble Collection. Julian traces his path from the VHS era to negotiating the first Lego Star Wars deal and pushing Funko Pop through a... more

YouTube

In this episode, we sit down with Bryan, Michael, Carson, and Angie Tamietti, the family team behind Ghetti Games. They share how a years-long idea became their first game, Oh Crud, made in the USA and launched on Amazon in 2021, plus manufacturing l... more

YouTube

In this episode, we sit down with Daniel Henao and Daniella Leoni, the real-life couple behind Why Don't We, a global brand built around games for couples. They share how they designed their first game, Talk For Hours, in a single night with just fou... more

YouTube

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.

Recent Guests

Shadoe Waterbear
Co-founder of Waterbear Workshop, board game designer and publisher
Waterbear Workshop
Episode: #175: Waterbear Workshop: Building Community One Game at a Time
Sydney Waterbear
Co-founder of Waterbear Workshop, board game designer and publisher
Waterbear Workshop
Episode: #175: Waterbear Workshop: Building Community One Game at a Time
Jason Oster
Producer for over 20 years in film and commercial media, now board game publisher at Mesa Design
Mesa Design
Episode: #166: From Film Sets to Board Games: Jason Serrato's Bold Move
Steve Resk
Creator of SRG Universe, Super Show the Game, and related games
SRG Universe
Episode: #163: From Raw Deal Fan to Game Founder: Steve Resk's 10-Year Journey
Chris Gaines
Creative force behind indie RPGs and board games; discussed Raccoon Sky Pirates and other projects
Episode: #162: Roll the Dice: Quit Playing It Safe
Chris Cofoni
Founder of Triaction Toy
Triaction Toy
Episode: #161: Hundreds of Millions Sold: Chris Cofoni's Toy Playbook
Blaine McDonnell
Technologist, futurist, and creativity coach involved with Base 6; introduced Base 6, The Car Game
Base 6 / Armoin / Hive-ID
Episode: #147: Inside the Mind of a Futurist: Building Something Bigger Than a Card Game
Matthew Canvick
Founder of MaKa Games, creator of License to Krill and Ink Tensions
MaKa Games
Episode: #136: The Ingenious Design Trick That Integrates a Plushie Into Gameplay

Hosts

Jason Hsieh
Host of Toy Business Unboxed
Jason Shea
Host of Toy Business Unboxed

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 1 ratings
  • The Real Deal for Toy Industry Professionals

    If you’re in the toy industry — or trying to break into it — this podcast is a non-negotiable listen. Toy Business Unboxed goes deep on the real stuff: design, marketing, manufacturing, retail strategy, and the business decisions that separate toy brands that survive from the ones that scale. The interviews with industry veterans alone are worth subscribing for. Jason and the team don’t just scratch the surface — they actually unbox the strategies behind how imaginative concepts become market hi... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Proud Autism Dad
    United Statesa month ago

Chart Rankings

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

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

#134: Interchangeable Play Structures: Reshaping Therapy and Family Life
Q: What are the key features included in the product bundle and how do they support therapy or play?
The Pods include an inflatable or dome-like structure, themed interiors (adventure jackets), LED lighting, memory foam mats, a remote control, color therapy options, a Bluetooth speaker with custom stories, and an app to deliver audio content for bonding and bedtime routines, all designed to be accessible and multisensory.
#134: Interchangeable Play Structures: Reshaping Therapy and Family Life
Q: Could you share with our audience your background and how you got into doing what you're currently doing?
Alex describes a long arc from a family influenced by engineering and creative work to a focus on sensory play, recognizing a market gap for accessible, non-clinical spaces that help children relax and engage in imaginative play; this led to the development of Pods Play and the interchangeable play environments.
#138: From Army Clarinetist to Indie Publisher: Jordan’s Community-Driven Journey
Q: What conventions or events have been most impactful for you recently?
Gen Con in Indianapolis and Pax Unplugged are pivotal for exposure and connections; running games at conventions helps drive demand and learn what players want.
#138: From Army Clarinetist to Indie Publisher: Jordan’s Community-Driven Journey
Q: How do you approach manufacturing and scaling as you grow?
Start small and do as much as possible in-house or with small-batch printers, then gradually scale to warehousing and more formal distribution as demand grows, while keeping production costs in check.
#138: From Army Clarinetist to Indie Publisher: Jordan’s Community-Driven Journey
Q: What were the biggest early challenges when starting Goose Poop Games, and how did you address them?
The main hurdle is being unknown in the market; I leaned into community-building, branded the company around a memorable/quirky name, and used local pop-ups and conventions to gain traction.

Audience Metrics

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Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About Toy Business Unboxed

What is Toy Business Unboxed about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A practical, founder- and publisher-focused show that centers on indie toy and game development, publishing, and distribution. Episodes span origin stories of small studios, crowdfunding campaigns, licensing versus self-publishing, manufacturing in North America, and multi-channel retail strategies (including Costco, Amazon, and specialty stores). Across conversations, listeners get behind-the-scenes perspectives on design decisions, playtesting, prototyping, and the economics of bringing tabletop ideas to life, with a notable emphasis on community building, mentorship, and hands-on tactics for launching and growing a small to mid-sized toy/game business. The show frequently highlights real-world pivots, crowdfunding learnings, and practica... more

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How many episodes of Toy Business Unboxed are there?

Toy Business Unboxed launched 4 months ago and published 182 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Toy Business Unboxed?

Recent guests on Toy Business Unboxed include:

1. Shadoe Waterbear
2. Sydney Waterbear
3. Jason Oster
4. Steve Resk
5. Chris Gaines
6. Chris Cofoni
7. Blaine McDonnell
8. Matthew Canvick

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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