Welcome to Jake's Happy Nostalgia Show, the podcast where nostalgia comes alive! In this episode, we're joined by the talented Australian actress, director, and producer Joanne Samuel! Best known for her iconic role as Jessie Rockatansky in the original Mad Max, Joanne takes us on a journey through her remarkable career in film and television. We t…

Welcome to Jake's Happy Nostalgia Show, the podcast where nostalgia comes alive! In this exciting episode, we're joined by the creative masterminds behind some of your favorite TV series and films, Bob Schooley and Mark McCorkle! From their early work on The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! to writing episodes of beloved Disney hits like Goof Troop an…

Welcome to Jake's Happy Nostalgia Show, the podcast where nostalgia comes alive! In this episode, we're thrilled to welcome legendary drummer and longtime "Weird Al" Yankovic collaborator, Jon "Bermuda" Schwartz! For over four decades, Bermuda has been the rhythmic force behind Al's iconic parodies, touring the world and recording countless fan-fav…

Welcome to Jake's Happy Nostalgia Show, the podcast where nostalgia comes alive! In this exciting episode, we're joined by the incredibly talented composer and music director David Bernard Wolf! Early in his career, David founded his own audio production company, Crywolf Productions, where he created and recorded audio content for none other than C…

Welcome to Jake's Happy Nostalgia Show, the podcast where nostalgia comes alive! In this episode, we're joined by the incredibly talented Kanja Chen—puppeteer, puppet builder, and writer! Kanja's journey in the puppet world began with performing the title character in Slick Silly and working on series like Mr. Meaty and Big & Small. He later brough…

Welcome to Jake's Happy Nostalgia Show, the podcast where nostalgia comes alive! On today's episode, we're joined by the incredibly talented dancer, singer, and musician Ryan Desaulnier! Originally from Canada, Ryan began his career performing in a variety of productions for the Stratford Festival before making the move to Australia, where he starr…

Welcome to Jake's Happy Nostalgia Show, the podcast where nostalgia comes alive! On today's episode, we're joined by the wonderful Alison Mork! Best known for her work on Pee-wee's Playhouse, Alison brought to life beloved characters like Chairry, Chicky Baby, Magic Screen, and many more. Following her time in the Playhouse, she went on to puppetee…

Welcome to Jake's Happy Nostalgia Show, the podcast where nostalgia comes alive! On today's episode, we're joined by the incredibly talented director, writer, and producer Andy Fickman! Andy has brought countless memorable films to the big screen, including The Game Plan, Race to Witch Mountain, You Again, and Parental Guidance. He also co-wrote an…

Welcome to Jake's Happy Nostalgia Show, the podcast where nostalgia comes alive! On today's episode, we're joined by the incredible Eryk Casemiro! Early in his career, Eryk produced the beloved holiday special Frosty Returns, but he is best known for his extensive work with the animation studio Klasky Csupo. As a producer and executive producer, he…

Welcome to Jake's Happy Nostalgia Show, the podcast where nostalgia comes alive! In today's episode, we're thrilled to welcome Michelle Hickey! As a talented puppet wrangler and Muppet Workshop artist, Michelle has been a key part of bringing Sesame Street to life, working closely with iconic characters, especially as one of the main wranglers for …

Welcome to Jake's Happy Nostalgia Show, the podcast where nostalgia comes alive! On today's episode, we're joined by the incredibly talented Fracaswell Hyman! For years, Cas has been a key creative force in children's television, writing for beloved series like Ghostwriter, Gullah Gullah Island, Taina, and recently Lyla in the Loop. He's best known…

Welcome to Jake's Happy Nostalgia Show, the podcast where nostalgia comes alive! In today's episode, we're joined by the wonderful Hilary Momberger-Powers! As a former child actress, Hilary is best known for voicing Sally Brown in several Peanuts projects, including the beloved feature film Snoopy Come Home and the classic holiday special A Charlie…

Welcome to Jake's Happy Nostalgia Show, the podcast where nostalgia comes alive! In today's episode, we're thrilled to welcome Richard Termine! Richard's career began in the world of puppetry, designing and building beloved Sesame Street characters like Placido Flamingo, Meryl Sheep, and Wolfgang the Seal. He also contributed to the Sesame Street s…

Welcome to Jake's Happy Nostalgia Show, the podcast where nostalgia comes alive! Join us on today's episode as we chat with puppeteer and voice actor, Tim Blaney. Tim's work has brought so many beloved characters to life, most notably as the puppeteer and voice of the iconic Johnny 5 in the Short Circuit films. His career with The Jim Henson Compan…

Welcome to Jake's Happy Nostalgia Show, the podcast where nostalgia comes alive! Today, we had the pleasure of speaking with the incredibly talented composer, arranger, and orchestrator, Bill Sherman. Bill's musical journey has taken him from the bright lights of Broadway to the streets of Sesame Street, and everywhere in between. He's a key collab…

Welcome to Jake's Happy Nostalgia Show, the podcast where nostalgia comes alive! In today's episode, we chat with writer and author, Ellis Weiner. From his early days as an editor at National Lampoon and columnist for Spy Magazine, to his work with the Muppets (including writing the mock behind-the-scenes book The Great Muppet Caper!: The Making of…

Welcome to Jake's Happy Nostalgia Show, the podcast where nostalgia comes alive! On this episode, we have a conversation with Michael Hirsh, the creative force behind so many cherished childhood memories. Michael co-founded Nelvana, the studio that brought us classics like Little Bear, Franklin, Babar, Max & Ruby, The Magic School Bus, Rolie Polie …

Welcome to Jake's Happy Nostalgia Show, the podcast where nostalgia comes alive! In this episode, we talk with puppeteer, writer, and director David Skelly. David's journey began at The Jim Henson Company, where he honed his puppetry skills as a puppet builder on projects like The Muppet Christmas Carol and Sesame Street. He then transitioned to Pi…

Welcome to Jake's Happy Nostalgia Show, the podcast where nostalgia comes alive! Join us as we chat with writer and producer Michael Poryes, the mastermind behind a number of iconic series! Michael co-created the hit Disney Channel shows That's So Raven and Hannah Montana, shaping a generation of viewers. He also created Life with Boys on YTV and H…

Welcome to Jake's Happy Nostalgia Show, the podcast where nostalgia comes alive! On this episode, we speak with the incredibly talented puppeteer, Tracie Mick! Tracie has brought characters to life for Disney stage shows like Playhouse Disney Live!, Bear in the Big Blue House Live!, and even contributed her puppetry skills to Disney Cruise Line and…

In this episode of Jake's Happy Nostalgia Show, we are joined by Steve Roslonek, better known in the children's music scene as SteveSongs! Steve shares stories from his beginnings with a capella group The Vineyard Sound, his years appearing on PBS Kids as Mr. Steve, performing at a wide variety of live events and so much more!…

In this episode of Jake's Happy Nostalgia Show, we discuss puppetry, animatronics and more with British master puppeteer, David Barclay! David, a true master of his craft, shares his incredible experiences working on iconic films like Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, where he helped bring to life the beloved Yoda and the f…

Get ready to jump into a world of puppetry and voiceover with Australian puppeteer and voice actor Adam Kronenberg! Adam's best known role is performing Dumpster the Cat in the beloved children's series Raggs. He also lent his voice to the English dub of Ketchup: Cats Who Cook and performed Fidget on Bambaloo and Squidge on Pipsqueaks. Get ready fo…

Get ready to dive into the world of on-camera acting and voice acting with the incredibly talented Daniel Ross! As an on-camera actor, he is known for his roles in HBO's The Wire and portraying Kyle in the Ninjas vs. Zombies films. In voiceover, Daniel is one of the voices of iconic Disney character Donald Duck and has also been the voice of Lucky …

In this episode, we're joined by the delightful Dennisha Pratt, best known for her beloved role as one of the hosts of the Sprout morning block, The Sunny Side Up Show. Dennisha shares heartwarming stories from her time on the show, including behind-the-scenes glimpses and the lasting impact it had on her life and career. We'll also explore her div…

Get ready for a delightful dive into the world of puppetry with the incredibly talented Greg Ballora, a master puppeteer whose work consists of films like RoboCop 2, The Flintstones, Stuart Little 2 and Spider-Man 2 and series like The Adventures of Timmy the Tooth and Greg the Bunny. Greg shares stories from his experiences working with The Muppet…

In this episode, we welcome the legendary Fred Garbo, a performer whose career spans decades and continents. From his iconic role as Barkley on Sesame Street, including unforgettable moments like Follow That Bird and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, to his Broadway performance and touring with Foolsfire, Fred shares stories from a life dedicated…

In this episode of Jake's Happy Nostalgia Show, we're kicking off 2025 by speaking with the legendary Jennifer Batten, a guitar virtuoso who has wowed audiences worldwide. From her electrifying performances with the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, to her collaborations with Jeff Beck and her own successful solo career, Jennifer shares incredible stor…

Join us as we finish off 2024 by welcoming back Jeff Sutphen, known by many for hosting the Nickelodeon game show, BrainSurge! As BrainSurge celebrates its 15th anniversary, our follow-up conversation with Jeff dives into how this iconic game show came to be, filming episodes with celebrities, the transition to Family BrainSurge and so much more! A…

Join us as we catch up with three past guests! Author and illustrator Marc Brown, his son, producer Tolon Brown, and children's writer Peter K. Hirsch. Our previous conversation with them mostly covered the new Max series HOP, a show that celebrates diversity and inclusion with a cast of differently-abled characters. This time, we take a trip back …

Join us as we talk with the legendary Sharon Hampson and her talented daughter, Randi Hampson, of the children's musical duo, Sharon & Randi. Together, they continue the beloved legacy of Sharon, Lois & Bram, a musical trio that has entertained children for generations. Sharon and Randi share stories about their experiences on television with The E…

Join us as we speak with actor and voiceover artist Ty Olsson. From his early days on projects like The X-Files and Lake Placid to his memorable voiceover work as Ord in the PBS Kids series Dragon Tales, Ty shares some wonderful stories from his diverse career. We dive into his more dramatic roles, including his powerful portrayal of Mark Bingham i…

Join us for a heartwarming conversation with "Mrs. Big Bird" herself, Debra Spinney, the wife of the late Caroll Spinney, original Muppet performer of Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch on Sesame Street. Debra offers a unique perspective on the world of puppetry, having worked closely with Caroll on iconic projects such as Big Bird in China and Follow T…

Join us as we speak with the incredibly talented Colleen Smith, a puppeteer and actress whose work includes various projects with The Muppets and The Jim Henson Company. She has also lent her puppetry talents to shows like Nickelodeon's The Barbarian and the Troll and Disney+'s Earth to Ned. Colleen shares stories from her incredible career, from h…

Join us as we talk to Traci Paige Johnson, the creative mind behind one of the most beloved children's shows of all time. As the co-creator of Nick Jr.'s Blue's Clues and the voice of its title character Blue, Traci shares stories about the show's creation and the casting of the original hosts, Steve Burns and Donovan Patton! Traci also discusses w…

Join us as we speak to the talented director Scott Preston. From puppetry to reality, Scott has directed a wide range of television. Hear stories about his experiences working on shows like The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss, Oobi and Between the Lions, as well as his work on Sesame Street. Plus, learn about his career directing talk shows and realit…

Join us as we talk to the iconic Sonia Manzano, known by generations for her role as Fix-It Shop co-owner Maria Rodriguez on Sesame Street from 1971 to 2015. Hear stories about her time on the show, her experiences as a writer, and the impact of Sesame Street on her life and career. Sonia also discusses her memoir Becoming Maria: Love and Chaos in …

Join us as we talk to acclaimed composer Jeff Danna. From the scores of Silent Hill and The Boondock Saints to Miss Spider's Sunny Patch Friends and The Zula Patrol, Jeff shares stories and insights about his iconic work. He is also best known for collaborating with his brother Mychael on Disney/Pixar's The Good Dinosaur and Onward.…

Join us as we speak with the incredibly talented puppeteer, Kristin Charney. From the iconic Muppets to characters on shows like Greg the Bunny and Crank Yankers, Kristin has had quite the career. Hear stories about her experiences working with The Muppets on both the 2011 film and the 2015 TV series. Learn about her work on the Henson digital pupp…

Join us as we take a nostalgic journey with legendary children's TV creator and producer, Rick Siggelkow. Rick shares behind-the-scenes stories about bringing beloved franchises like Thomas the Tank Engine and Noddy to American audiences. From the magic of Shining Time Station and The Noddy Shop to creating series like Ace Lightning and Dinosapien,…

On Episode 265 of Jake's Happy Nostalgia Show, we interview TV creator and author Zachariah O'Hora and director and storyboard artist Lisa Whittick! Zachariah and Lisa have backgrounds in the children's world! Zachariah is an author and illustrator and Lisa is a storyboard artist and director! Recently, Zachariah created the upcoming PBS Kids serie…

On Episode 264 of Jake's Happy Nostalgia Show, we interview composer, singer and voice actor Russ Velazquez! For many years, Russ was a singer and composer for a variety of projects under 4Kids Entertainment, including the highly successful animes Pokémon and One Piece, as well as composing and performing the theme songs for the 2003 Teenage Mutant…

On Episode 263 of Jake's Happy Nostalgia Show, we interview TV, Broadway and film actor Kevin Chamberlin! Early on in Kevin's professional acting career, he appeared in projects such as Ghostwriter, Die Hard with a Vengeance and State of Mind. He is known by many for portraying the role of the family butler Bertram Winkle in the Disney Channel seri…

On Episode 262 of Jake's Happy Nostalgia Show, we interview voice actress and singer Gigi Abraham! Some of Gigi's voiceover roles include voicing the Hasbro toy TJ Bearytales and several projects for Sprout, including JB in Sprout's Wiggly Waffle and Halley in Astroblast! She also voiced Laura Carrot and Nicky the Pepper in VeggieTales and voiced c…

On Episode 261 of Jake's Happy Nostalgia Show, we interview puppeteer and actor Bruce Connelly! Throughout Bruce's career, he has acted and directed a wide variety of theatre productions. He is best known for being the current performer of Barkley on Sesame Street since 1993! In addition to performing Barkley on the show, he performed Barkley in th…

On Episode 260 of Jake's Happy Nostalgia Show, we interview puppeteer, photographer and editor Art Vega! For many years, Art puppeteered in various stage shows for Disney, including the Playhouse Disney and Disney Junior live shows! Since 2010, he has been a Muppet performer with The Muppets, where he got to work on The Muppets (2011), Muppets Most…

On Episode 259 of Jake's Happy Nostalgia Show, we interview writer and TV creator Jymn Magon! Jymn is best known for his work with Disney, first starting out by producing their children's records. After Jymn moved to Disney's animated television division, he created Adventures of the Gummi Bears, co-created DuckTales and TaleSpin, wrote episodes of…

On Episode 258 of Jake's Happy Nostalgia Show, we interview puppeteer and diretor Raymond Carr! Early on in Raymond's career, he was an assistant puppeteer on the Icelandic series LazyTown. He is best known for performing the character Dunk in the Henson digital puppetry series Splash and Bubbles. Raymond also puppeteered on Moon and Me, WonderMore…

On Episode 257 of Jake's Happy Nostalgia Show, writer Peter K. Hirsch returns to the show! Peter has written for a number of children's series, with most of his work being with PBS! His longest writing job was on Arthur, taking on the role of head writer later in the show's run. He also wrote episodes of Between the Lions, Lomax: The Hound of Music…

On Episode 256 of Jake's Happy Nostalgia Show, we interview authors Barbara Irwin, Tony Buttino Sr. and Pam Johnson! Barbara, Tony and Pam recently wrote the book Creating Reading Rainbow: The Untold Story of a Beloved Children's Series, which covers the long-running PBS literacy series Reading Rainbow, which Tony also co-created! The new book talk…