Q: Could TCA be valuable to you if you already have corporate toy industry experience A: YES! Perhaps you think that having professional toy industry experience guarantees success in your entrepreneurial ventures. But this episode turns that notion on its head, featuring Gerardo, a former toy industry professional turned toy entrepreneur, charting his own course through the toy market with a little help from the Toy Creators Academy.

What happens when a frustrated parent channels her passion into playtime? For Jana Hallam of Wonderwell Toy Co., it sparked The Kindness Mouse - an ingenious plush toy system inspiring kindness and empathy in kids through irresistible storytelling and activities. Tune in for her inspiring entrepreneurial journey and how Toy Creators Academy became an integral part of it.

Join us as we chat with Cathy Tenaglia, a graduate of Toy Creators Academy, who shares her journey and insights into navigating the toy industry. From debunking myths to discussing the importance of pitching, Catherine offers invaluable advice and experiences gained through her 12-weeks in TCA.

Ever wondered how a beloved character from a children's book can leap off the pages and become a real toy? This episode of "Making It in the Toy Industry" reveals the transformative journey of a TCA Alumni who turned a character from their storybook into a cherished 12-inch plush toy.

If you're feeling frustrated and discouraged because your games aren't resonating with fans and delivering the powerful and rewarding experiences you envisioned, then you are not alone! You may be investing countless hours in game development, pouring your creativity into every detail, but still not capturing the essence of the fandom. Instead of the desired result, you might be facing lukewarm reactions from players who fail to connect deeply with your games.

We are delighted to introduce Deirdre Cross, an esteemed veteran in the toy and game industry since 2007. Her impressive career began at Forrest-Pruzan Creative, where she swiftly moved up the ranks from production manager to an influential partner. Deirdre has actively participated in the creative development of over 500 products across varied game publishers, solidifying her presence in the industry. Now, she serves as the general manager of emerging brands for Funko, heading both Funko Games and Mondo. Her recent masterpiece, Disney Villainous The Game, won Game of the Year at the 2019 TOTY Awards.

In a world where game development meets fandom, Funko Games has mastered the art of creating immersive gameplay experiences. Join Deirdre Cross as she reveals their secret sauce: understanding the essence of a brand and collaborating with a passionate team.

Long form episode description goes here.9 to 5 Warriors, and it's a nineties inspired toy line that aims to recapture the magic of the Saturday morning cartoon era. The founder o 9 to 5 Warriors, Brandon Braswell, is sharing his experience pitching a show idea and toy line at the TCA Virtual Pitch Event, we'll discuss what he's done with the brand so far, he'll share his pitch video, and share tips for making your best IP pitch yet. Have you ever dreamed of seeing your show idea turned into a hit animated series or action figure line by the iconic toy company, Hasbro? Well that’s a dream you share with the guest of today’s podcast episode, Brandon Braswell! Lucky for you, Brandon sat down with The Toy Coach to share his experience of building his toy brand and TV show, and ultimately pitching it to Hasbro at the TCA Virtual Pitch Event. 

Follow along Brandon's toy journey, including his early ideas, the mistakes he made along the way, and why he wishes he’d found Toy Creators Academy sooner! During this episode, The Toy Coach asks Brandon questions that YOU want to hear the answers to, including how he found funding to develop his first production run, how his show pitch was received, and how he built his following online. But that’s not all! You’ll also get to hear the exact tv show pitch that Brandon presented to Hasbro, featuring his brand 9 To 5 Warriors. If you’re a visual person, head over to youtube.com/thetoycoach to watch the entire pitch.

What happens when you’ve got a great idea for a toy, you have inventory, and you want to break into a major toy show or media event but you just simply don’t have the funds left to make it happen? Well, in the past there wasn’t an option, but now for NEW creators there is The Toy Coach Showcase. Listen to this Part 2 Episode where we explain what The Toy Coach Showcase is and how you can get involved. This showcase has become an industry game-changer as it provides a more affordable entry point for aspiring creators. In this episode, hear brief yet powerful interviews from showcase participants who are the creators of social emotional MESH toys, construction sets, dolls, and more, as they open up about their toy journeys.

Are you ready for a thrilling episode filled with innovation, inspiration, and the untold stories of toy and game creators? Join us as we delve into The Toy Coach Showcase, an extraordinary platform creating a revolutionary entry point for newbies in the industry. Get ready to be inspired as you hear firsthand from the creators themselves. Engage in brief yet powerful interviews, where they open up about their journeys, the motivation behind their creations, and the overwhelming response they've received. As you listen, you'll be amazed by their resilience, as they share stories of overcoming brain tumors, combating colorism during pregnancy, and finding solace through trauma toys. These creators have not only turned their struggles into triumphs but have also built vibrant communities around their brand missions.

Have you been considering joining Toy Creators Academy to develop your toy or game idea? Do you still have a few questions about how the program works, when it starts, or what it covers? This episode is perfect for you! In today’s podcast episode, The Toy Coach addresses the most frequently asked questions about this 12 week group coaching program. Toy Creators Academy is the only toy education and implementation program of its kind that not only shows you how to fully develop your toy or game idea like a pro — but also how to properly pitch that idea to buyers and toy companies. Are you ready to bring your toy and game ideas to life? Make it happen with the guidance and support provided by Toy Creators Academy.

Some hopeful toy inventors struggle with how to get their ideas in front of toy industry executives. Does that sound like you? Today’s episode is all about some things you can do to make that happen, and they might be surprising to you. Today I interviewed Daniela Valenzuela, a recent student of the Toy Creators Academy. Daniela shares with you how her experience in the TCA helped her to build the confidence to pitch to large toy companies, what she learned from the TCA, and how the pitch event helped get her products in front of top toy industry executives to begin fostering an ongoing relationship. This episode highlights the importance of building relationships in the toy industry.

Wondering what toy entrepreneurs like you do to get their product placed in retail? In this episode, The Toy Coach sits down with Nicole Hawthorne, student of Toy Creators Academy and co-founder of Jaylas Heirlooms dolls. Nicole is a researcher at heart, and her devotion to the craft of Googling helped her find the roadmap that she so desperately wanted. Nicole shares how she devoured the podcast way back in season one, enjoying episode after episode. A few years and a few grants later, Nicole Joined Toy Creators Academy to get the full picture of what it takes to take her toy product to the next level.

Does this sound like you? You have a life outside the toy industry, but you have ideas. There’s something from your daily life that has inspired an idea for a toy or game. How do you take that from inspiration to product? In today’s episode, I share stories from my students who took their products from idea to reality with the help of The Toy Creators Academy. After 11 years in the Toy Industry and working with more than 100 students as The Toy Coach, I’ve seen so many different kinds of people turn their expertise into a toy or game. Listen to this episode to find out what kinds of ideas have worked and why, and hear a few inspiring stories of toy industry success.

Today’s episode is all about the bi-annual pitch event, The TCA Virtual Pitch Event, held for graduates of The Toy Creator’s Academy and why you should attend. Today in Episode 109, you will learn who you can meet by attending this event and what you can gain by doing it. You will also hear about what it is like to attend this event, and how going through the Toy Creator’s Academy can prepare you for success in the toy industry!

Students of Toy Creators Academy join The Toy Coach on the podcast today to share their experience going through Toy Creators Academy, and ultimately pitching at the TCA Virtual Pitch Event. During this chat, Chrissy Fagerholt, Geordie Humphrey, and Scott Underwood share lessons learned, and achievements as new toy creators. In this episode, hear specific stories about what it was like to virtually pitch to major toy companies like Hasbro, Mattel and Spinmaster. Chrissy shares her what it was like to work 1:1 with The Toy Coach to perfect ideas, Scott shares how he took a positive perspective after hearing “no” to his ideas, and Geordie shares how Toy Creators Academy and the TCA Virtual pitch event really helped him understand what the toy industry needs AND how to deliver that.

For today’s episode of the show, I invited three of my star students of Toy Creators Academy to be guests on the podcast to share their experiences pitching their ideas right to major toy companies. By the end of this episode, you’ll have a clear understanding of what it takes to pitch your toy ideas in a virtual event, you’ll learn some lessons, and be inspired to take action whether you’re a toy inventor or toy entrepreneur.