Polarizing topic incoming... DEI.

When The Toy Coach was picking up steam, many people told me a focus on DEI and being black would be to the benefit of my business. There were so many opportunities to speak on and about diversity and struggle as a person of color that it was hard to feel justified looking the other way at those opportunities.

My instincts told me that the DEI initiatives and opportunities offered, while tempting, were not solid ground to build a business upon….and unfortunately, I was right.

This episode explores my personal feelings about the DEI initiative rollbacks that started with the US federal government and spilled out into a few corporations, how we feel, what we think, and what we’ll do now.

Be sure to check the show notes for links to black-owned businesses you may be interested in buying from.

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Let’s face it: toy brands get almost ALL the glory, but the inventors behind the product—people like you—deserve the spotlight too. In this episode of Making It in the Toy Industry, I’m sharing 5 lessons to take you from hidden genius to rising star, inspired by my own experience and my recent convo with Tim Walsh, inventor of ‘Blurt!’.

We’re talking about why advocating for yourself matters (yes, you can request your name on the box), how to time your ideas to ride the perfect trend wave, and why pitching just one idea is a rookie mistake. (Spoiler: you need a whole pipeline of concepts.)

I’ll also give some insight into how to spot the white space in the market, using data-focused tools and cross-industry trends.

Hit play if you agree with me and Tim Walsh that toy and game inventors are criminally unrecognized. 🙂


Listen For These Important Moments:

• [00:01:46] - Recognition for Toy Creators
• [00:07:27] - Collaborating with the Industry
• [00:10:55] - Designing for Connection
• [00:12:25] - Playtesting in Real-World Environments
• [00:14:10] - Timing and Persistence
• [00:18:23] - Pitching Multiple Ideas
• [00:20:50] - Finding White Space
• [00:23:28] - Drawing Inspiration from Other Industries

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Popular Masterclass! How To Make & Sell Your Toy Ideas
Your Low-Stress, Start-To-Finish Playful Product Launch In 5 Steps
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What if a simple classroom activity could unite generations across decades? In this episode of Making It in the Toy Industry, we’re celebrating 30 years of Blurt with its inventor, Tim Walsh, and uncovering the incredible story behind the game that connects Boomers to Gen Alpha.

Discover how a third-grade classroom exercise—reading dictionary definitions aloud—sparked the creation of a timeless game that’s built kids’ vocabularies, brought families together, and even supported memory retention for older adults. Tim takes us through the evolution of Blurt, from its humble beginnings as a prototype called DeFUNitions to becoming a household staple.

But this episode isn’t just about one game. It’s about the unsung heroes of the toy industry—inventors who remain “criminally unrecognized” despite shaping cultural phenomena like UNO and LEGO. Tim and I explore why toy creators deserve the same recognition as musicians and authors, how Euro games are leading the way in celebrating designers, and what the industry can learn from them.

Tim also shares invaluable lessons for aspiring toy creators: why resilience and persistence are critical, why timing can make or break a product, and why you should always focus on generating multiple ideas instead of pinning your hopes on just one. You’ll also hear how toys like Operation have inspired careers in fields like healthcare and engineering and how play is essential for creativity, connection, and overcoming life’s challenges.

Whether you’re a toy enthusiast, an entrepreneur, or someone who values the power of play, this episode will leave you inspired to think differently about toys—and the brilliant minds behind them.

Listen for these Important Moments!

• [01:44] - The Surprising Anonymity of Toy Designers
• [04:16] - The Origin Story of Blurt
• [07:33] - Blurt's Impact and Evolution
• [21:58] - Challenges and Successes in the Toy Industry
• [24:10] - The Power of Play in Creativity and Connection
• [26:17] - Insights from Toyland: Interviews with Legendary Inventors
• [28:33] - The Concept of 'Entreplayneur' and Embracing Playfulness
• [34:31] - Play Throughout Life: Lessons from Blurt and Beyond
• [38:12] - Advice for Aspiring Toy and Game Inventors
• [40:40] - The Influence of Childhood Toys on Future Careers

Send The Toy Coach Fan Mail!

Support the show

Popular Masterclass! How To Make & Sell Your Toy Ideas
Your Low-Stress, Start-To-Finish Playful Product Launch In 5 Steps
>> https://learn.thetoycoach.com/masterclass <<