x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

Toys on Tap

A podcast that interviews artists that make toys in the professional, independent, bootleg, and designer toy scenes!

leisure hobbies

All Episodes

71:31

Ep. 250 Toys on Tap w/ Paul Kaiju: From Model Kits to...

Toys on Tap ·

2025/11/17

In this packed episode, we sit down with the legendary Paul Kaiju to trace his path from early model kits and “Wild West” vinyl experiments to becoming one of the most influential artists in the sofubi world. We dive into shipping nightmares, unexpected tariffs, and the obscure paint techniques behind iconic Japanese vinyl. Paul opens up about his early commissions, his transition into original designs, lessons from Goto-san’s workshop, and the evolution of events like SummerSlime and DesignerCon

en

64:25

Ep. 249 Toys on Tap w/ Sebastián Gómez: From Chile to...

Toys on Tap ·

2025/11/10

We sit down with 3D artist and toy designer Sebastian to explore his incredible journey from Chile to the U.S., where he arrived without knowing a word of English and found his voice through art and toys. From sketching Thundercats and TMNT to sculpting for Disney and landing a licensing deal with Mondo, Sebastian shares how a childhood love for collecting became a full-fledged creative career. We dive into his work in animation, digital sculpting, and custom toy design for his son, all while

en

56:29

Ep. 248 Toys on Tap w/ Rick Kitagawa: Kaiju Coaching...

Toys on Tap ·

2025/11/03

What if the monsters in your head could help you grow? In this episode, we sit down with Rick; artist, toy designer, and creator of Kaiju Coaching which helps to explore how “inner monsters” can fuel creativity instead of fear. From his early days in screen printing and co-founding a San Francisco print shop to sculpting vinyl figures, Rick’s story weaves art, anxiety, and empowerment into one wild narrative. Hear how he blends mythology, mental health, and monster metaphors to coach creatives

en

95:12

Ep. 247 Toys on Tap w/ Theo Cane: From Battle Bars to...

Toys on Tap ·

2025/10/27

This week, we sit down with Theo Kane, the former battle rapper, filmmaker, and the creative force behind Slimehouse TV. From spitting bars to sculpting toys, Theo’s story is one of relentless creativity and reinvention. He shares how growing up with an antique-dealer father sparked his obsession with toys, how 90s plastic junk became modern treasure, and why authenticity always beats algorithms. They dig into the grind of building a niche YouTube empire, the evolution of toy culture, and the

en

79:30

Ep. 246Toys on Tap w/ David Coffman: The Secret...

Toys on Tap ·

2025/10/20

From a farm in Gilroy to the world of animation and sofubi, David's journey is one of grit, creativity, and community. In this episode, We sit down with the artist behind Secret Handshake Toys to talk about how Saturday morning cartoons sparked a lifelong love of animation and toy collecting. David shares his path from Hallmark animator to indie toymaker, how social media reshaped the collector scene, and what it takes to turn passion into production. From sculpting his first Kappa to launching his

en

67:01

Ep. 245 Toys on Tap w/ Chance Priest: Handcrafted...

Toys on Tap ·

2025/10/13

After 2 years away, Chance returns to Toys on Tap with a massive update. From running a 45,000 sq. ft. warehouse to streamlining his operation, Chance opens up about the grind, the downsizing, and the auctions that keep his empire alive. He’s created over 200 handcrafted figures, each sculpted, molded, and painted by hand, while balancing the late-night creative rush and the chaos of Comic Cons. We dive deep into the wild world of bootlegs, from rare Mexican TMNT figures to the hidden factories

en

60:30

Ep. 244 Toys on Tap w/ Toy Monster Podcast: Toy...

Toys on Tap ·

2025/10/06

What happens when lifelong toy collectors turn their childhood obsessions into careers and creative ventures? In this episode of Toys on Tap, we sit down with Chris and Nick; tattoo artists, podcasters, and toy fanatics, to explore how toys have shaped every stage of their lives. From chasing the world record for Optimus Prime figures to turning nostalgia into sculpted art, they unpack the emotional heartbeat behind collecting and creating. Together they dive into the realities of toy production

en

59:20

Ep. 243 Toys on Tap:Bootlegs, Basslines & Resin...

Toys on Tap ·

2025/09/29

This week on Toys on Tap, we sit down with Christian of Pope Toys for a deep dive into the wild intersections of collecting, customizing, and creating. From childhood Ninja Turtle hunts and Ghostbuster yard-sale scores to horror-inspired kitbashes and rare bootleg finds, the conversation traces how a love of toys evolved into a resin-casting practice that thrives on experimentation. Along the way, they unpack the challenges of painting, resin work in cold climates, and the realities of shipping

en

43:48

Ep. 242 Toys on Tap: From Punk to Kaiju: Paul’s...

Toys on Tap ·

2025/09/22

This episode of Toys on Tap dives into the origins of legendary toy maker Paul Kaiju (Paul Copeland). From 1970s Chicago mornings watching Speed Racer, Kimba, and Son of Godzilla with his dad, to hunting Japanese die-cast treasures in Little Tokyo, Paul’s story is pure nostalgia. The path winds through skateboarding, punk shows, and even a career in aerospace, where resin casting first sparked his sculpting journey. Blending punk art, skate culture, and Japanese vinyl, Paul built a foundation for an

en

70:45

Ep. 241 Toys on Tap: Dinos, Mechs, and Making It...

Toys on Tap ·

2025/09/15

This week we sit down with illustrator and toy designer Tony Bui to dive into his creative journey from Saturday morning cartoons and Street Fighter marathons to launching his own toy lines. Tony shares how he balanced art school with military commitments, made the leap from greeting cards to resin toys, and found his footing in the indie toy scene with smash-hit dinos and mech-inspired creations. Hear how Captain Pink Eye was born at a Vegas con, what’s next for his sofubi dreams, and why mixing

en

81:38

Ep. 240 Toys on Tap: From Avocados to Animation: Tony...

Toys on Tap ·

2025/09/08

In this episode, we sit down with artist and creator Tony Mora to unpack his remarkable journey across animation, web design, 3D modeling, and toy making. From his childhood in Bell Gardens, where anime and Godzilla shaped his imagination, to carving out a career in a turbulent creative industry, Tony shares how resilience and adaptability have guided him through uncertainty.Tony opens up about the pressure of constant production, the anxiety that comes with freelancing, and the importance of

en

57:26

Ep. 239 Toys on Tap w/Flaw Toys: Resin, Flaws, and...

Toys on Tap ·

2025/09/01

Together, we trace Flaw Toys’ journey from Dutch toy-store summers to life in Thailand, exploring how an engineering career gave way to sculpting strange, resin-cast figures that embrace imperfection. Along the way, you’ll hear about early experiments, artistic flops that became fan favorites, and why “flaws” are actually the soul of handmade art.We also get into the nuts and bolts: resin casting challenges, the high costs of toy expos, international shipping headaches, and the surprising perks of

en

56:17

Ep. 238 Toys on Tap w/Unlucky Toys, Big Moves:...

Toys on Tap ·

2025/08/25

From graffiti walls in Des Moines to the resin and vinyl toy scene in Japan, this week we sit down with Joseph of Unlucky Toys. At just 27, Joseph has already carved out a path through resin casting, graffiti-inspired design, and collaborations with artists across the U.S. Now, he and his wife are preparing for a huge move to Japan, where Joseph hopes to plug into the legendary soft vinyl scene and push his work even further. We talk about the roots of Unlucky Toys, why safety matters in resin

en

51:28

Ep. 237 Toys on Tap:From Dreams to Digital: Sculpting...

Toys on Tap ·

2025/08/18

We sit down with Mark, a digital sculptor who stumbled into the craft during the pandemic and turned late-night experiments of “Dreams” into a thriving career. What started as tinkering with clay shifted into the world of digital sculpting, where Mark now balances family life, a full-time job as a news director, and collaborations with major companies like Bottleneck and Mondo.We get to see the art and hustle behind toy design, from navigating licensing loopholes and copyright quirks to chasing

en

67:47

Ep. 236 Toys on Tap: Inside Summer Slime – Building...

Toys on Tap ·

2025/08/11

Step into the heart of the indie toy scene as we talk through Toys on Tap's first-ever experience at Summer Slime, a backyard gathering that’s as much about community as it is about art. From curated music and food to a unique lottery buying system, the event blends collector excitement with a laid-back, personal vibe. With careful pacing, ticketed entry, and collaborative artistry Creature Bizarre creates a space where artists and attendees can connect deeply. Quang opens up about the challenges

en

49:42

Ep. 235 Toys on Tap: From Resin to RayGun: The Rise...

Toys on Tap ·

2025/08/04

What happens when a childhood obsession with Godzilla morphs into a full-blown art career? In this episode, We trace Raygun Wizard's creative evolution from sneaking toys past his mom’s neat-freak purges to selling out sofubi drops across the globe.Eli opens up about his early love of drawing, the influence of his grandmother , and how art became more than just expression, it became a tool for empathy. We dive into his transformation from resin hobbyist to sofubi artist, learning how guidance from

en

55:42

Ep. 234 Toys on Tap: Inside the Mind of an artist and...

Toys on Tap ·

2025/07/28

This week ttep inside the vivid mind of the artist as he unpacks the wild ride of launching Mind Sponge a boundary-pushing toy brand blending 80s nostalgia, street culture, and pop absurdity. From a robotic ice cream cone to bat-inspired figures and cuckoo clocks, Mindsponge Toys pulses with bold energy and personal story. He opens up about the struggles and sparks of his creative journey how ADHD, addiction recovery, and deep love for music and toys shaped his path.Whether it's growing a brand

en

40:20

Ep. 233 Toys on Tap: Behind the Booths: ToyCon UK...

Toys on Tap ·

2025/07/21

Ben, co-owner of ToyCon UK and Ko-Re Ko-Re, joins Toys on Tap to break down the highs and hurdles of the 2024 show. With 46 booths and 10 tables packed, the event hit full capacity, drawing global talent and even an appearance from Mutant Vinyl Hardcore.We dive into the logistical chaos of planning in London, from venue headaches to managing crowds with a queue lottery system.We also unpack the explosive rise of Labubu, the toy causing frenzy (and fights) in East London, and discuss why Pop Mart’s

en

57:08

Ep. 232 Toys on Tap: Popaganda Plastics: Ron English...

Toys on Tap ·

2025/07/14

We are back at it again with Ron English in this fourth installment of his life. We journeyed through his toy making as he has taken on some of the most intense messaging and "propaganda". The same spirit we heard about with his billboards, we saw in his toys.From MC Supersize and Temper Tot, Ron knows no boundaries in making toys.Here how he has pushed the limits of what toys can be on this weeks episode of Toys on Tap!On Instagram: @ronenglishThis Episode is Sponsored by: Empire Blisters – Your

en

106:28

Ep. 231 Toys on Tap: From Airbrush to Kaiju: The Art...

Toys on Tap ·

2025/07/07

On this episode of Toys on Tap, we dive deep into the incredible career of legendary artist and toy maker Mark Nagata, a pioneer in the world of sofubi and the creative force behind Max Toy Company. From childhood days obsessing over kaiju figures to airbrushing at the Academy of Art, Mark takes us on a wild ride through freelance illustration, Goosebumps covers, magazine publishing, and building a toy empire with his son Max.Hear how a chance encounter with artist Kazuhiko Sano sparked a lifelong

en

273 results

Similar Podcasts

Expres Ráno

Expres FM

詭哭郎嚎

郎祖筠 & FMTaiwan製作團隊

Ron en Erik Podcast

Ron en Erik

Poor Man"s Pinball Podcast

Poor Men Ian and Drew

WeAreChange on Odysee

WeAreChange