Unpacking Peanuts

The show where three cartoonists take an in-depth look at the greatest comic strip of all time-- Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz.

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Your Hosts

Your hosts for Unpacking Peanuts are Jimmy Gownley, the cartoonist behind Amelia Rules, The Dumbest Idea Ever, and Seven Good Reasons Not To Grow Up;  Michael Cohen, cartoonist behind A Gathering of Spells, Tangled River and Strange Attractors as well as composer for the band Complicated People, and this podcast;  and Harold Buchholz, executive producer and writer of Mystery Science Theater 3000, former vice-president of Archie comics and cartoonist behind the Instagram strip Sweetest Beasts. Unpacking Peanuts is produced and edited by Liz Sumner.

Episodes

2 days ago

Schulz is getting pretty radical too… at least when it comes to new art techniques and comic strip approaches. Meanwhile, Lydia is still delivering the goods with classic punchlines, Charlie Brown reaches new levels of wishy-washy maturity, and Snoopy’s cookies achieve co-starring status. Plus: The Great Pumpkin is a she.
Transcript available at UnpackingPeanuts.com
Unpacking Peanuts is copyright Jimmy Gownley, Michael Cohen, and Harold Buchholz. Produced and edited by Liz Sumner. Music by Michael Cohen. Additional voiceover by Aziza Shukralla Clark. 
For more from the show follow @unpackpeanuts on Instagram and Threads, and @unpackingpeanuts on Facebook, Blue Sky, and YouTube. For more about Jimmy, Michael, and Harold, visit unpackingpeanuts.com.  
Thanks for listening.
 

Tuesday Nov 12, 2024

Sally is teaching Sunday school and runs into a student as obstinate as she is. Linus is still fighting the struggle for security against Snoopy. And meanwhile, in our world, the guys ponder how Schulz sees himself at this point in his life and career, and marvel at the variety of approaches he takes to the strip. Plus: Useless knowledge
Transcript available at UnpackingPeanuts.com
Unpacking Peanuts is copyright Jimmy Gownley, Michael Cohen, and Harold Buchholz. Produced and edited by Liz Sumner. Music by Michael Cohen. Additional voiceover by Aziza Shukralla Clark. 
For more from the show follow @unpackpeanuts on Instagram and Threads, and @unpackingpeanuts on Facebook, Blue Sky, and YouTube. For more about Jimmy, Michael, and Harold, visit unpackingpeanuts.com.  
Thanks for listening.

Tuesday Nov 05, 2024

Snoopy is drinking all of Marcie’s root beer, but maybe President Wilson can straighten him out. Meanwhile, Schulz takes some major new stylistic swings this year, and the guys debate not only their effects, but also how he did it! Plus: Babbooette?
Transcript available at UnpackingPeanuts.com
Unpacking Peanuts is copyright Jimmy Gownley, Michael Cohen, and Harold Buchholz. Produced and edited by Liz Sumner. Music by Michael Cohen. Additional voiceover by Aziza Shukralla Clark. 
For more from the show follow @unpackpeanuts on Instagram and Threads, and @unpackingpeanuts on Facebook, Blue Sky, and YouTube. For more about Jimmy, Michael, and Harold, visit unpackingpeanuts.com.  
Thanks for listening.

Tuesday Oct 29, 2024

This episode was originally released on October 15, 2022.
Spooky Season is upon us, and Harold, Michael, and Jimmy are taking a special episode long look at the Great Pumpkin, both in the strip and the animated special. They highlight the themes and origins of the idea and how it’s become a lasting part of pop culture. Then they go strip by strip through all the gags that made it into the classic TV special, and even take calls from listeners! Plus: What the heck is Graphic Blandishment?
To download Joshua Stauffer's guide to all the strips in the animated special: https://bit.ly/3Fx84Td
Transcript available at UnpackingPeanuts.com
Unpacking Peanuts is copyright Jimmy Gownley, Michael Cohen, and Harold Buchholz. Produced and edited by Liz Sumner. Music by Michael Cohen. Additional voiceover by Aziza Shukralla Clark. 
For more from the show follow @unpackpeanuts on Instagram and Threads, and @unpackingpeanuts on Facebook, Blue Sky, and YouTube. For more about Jimmy, Michael, and Harold, visit unpackingpeanuts.com.  
Thanks for listening.

Tuesday Oct 22, 2024

Marcie is struggling with the pressure of being perfect, but there’s a place for everyone at the Brown house. Later, listener mail sparks a discussion on the humanity in the art of Bill Mauldin, and Charlie Brown’s new love life causes him to struggle financially!  Plus: It’s Superman!
Transcript available at UnpackingPeanuts.com
Listener Sarah Wilson sent us a link to the Up Front strips she found: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ynxhrj8mhu8nlablfiur9/Bill-Mauldin.zip?rlkey=mnp8d36n6k69odlwezk0ko42i&dl=0
Unpacking Peanuts is copyright Jimmy Gownley, Michael Cohen, and Harold Buchholz. Produced and edited by Liz Sumner. Music by Michael Cohen. Additional voiceover by Aziza Shukralla Clark. 
For more from the show follow @unpackpeanuts on Instagram and Threads, and @unpackingpeanuts on Facebook, Blue Sky, and YouTube. For more about Jimmy, Michael, and Harold, visit unpackingpeanuts.com.  
Thanks for listening.

Tuesday Oct 15, 2024

Charlie Brown has a girlfriend! The arrival of Peggy Jean is turning things around for Good Ol’ Charlie Brown… but that’s no reason for him to be making obscene phone calls! Elsewhere in the strip, Sally asks the immortal question “Why would anyone want to say good night to the moon?” Plus: Anything is a map.
Transcript available at UnpackingPeanuts.com
Unpacking Peanuts is copyright Jimmy Gownley, Michael Cohen, and Harold Buchholz. Produced and edited by Liz Sumner. Music by Michael Cohen. Additional voiceover by Aziza Shukralla Clark. 
For more from the show follow @unpackpeanuts on Instagram and Threads, and @unpackingpeanuts on Facebook, Blue Sky, and YouTube. For more about Jimmy, Michael, and Harold, visit unpackingpeanuts.com.  
Thanks for listening.
 

Tuesday Oct 08, 2024

Charlie Brown’s family shares a tradition with Jimmy’s, but neither is gud at speling. A pencil sharpener inspires a run of the weirdest Peanuts strips of all time. Elsewhere, Sally contemplates the appropriateness of grandmas criticizing grandchildren, and at long last Snowsnakes are officially debunked. Plus: The dog is the lowest.
Transcript available at UnpackingPeanuts.com
Unpacking Peanuts is copyright Jimmy Gownley, Michael Cohen, and Harold Buchholz. Produced and edited by Liz Sumner. Music by Michael Cohen. Additional voiceover by Aziza Shukralla Clark. 
For more from the show follow @unpackpeanuts on Instagram and Threads, and @unpackingpeanuts on Facebook, Blue Sky, and YouTube. For more about Jimmy, Michael, and Harold, visit unpackingpeanuts.com.  
Thanks for listening.

Season 9 Wrap-up - 1985-1989

Tuesday Oct 01, 2024

Tuesday Oct 01, 2024

The gang talks about all of the “new” Peanuts characters. How have they changed since they were introduced? Which ones have become icons and who has faded into inky newsprint afterthoughts? Then we take a trip to the mail box for some reader reactions and a lead on a fab pizza place. Plus: Which Peanuts character would you buy the rights to?
Transcript available at UnpackingPeanuts.com
Unpacking Peanuts is copyright Jimmy Gownley, Michael Cohen, and Harold Buchholz. Produced and edited by Liz Sumner. Music by Michael Cohen. Additional voiceover by Aziza Shukralla Clark. 
For more from the show follow @unpackpeanuts on Instagram and Threads, and @unpackingpeanuts on Facebook, Blue Sky, and YouTube. For more about Jimmy, Michael, and Harold, visit unpackingpeanuts.com.  
Thanks for listening.

Tuesday Sep 24, 2024

Is it a case of mistaken identity, or is Snoopy an identity thief? Also, can Snoopy talk now?! Elsewhere in the strip, it’s a year of single panel tableaus, and whistling snowmen. And of course the 80’s couldn’t end without one last trip to the mall. Plus: Approachable Hats
Transcript available at UnpackingPeanuts.com
Unpacking Peanuts is copyright Jimmy Gownley, Michael Cohen, and Harold Buchholz. Produced and edited by Liz Sumner. Music by Michael Cohen. Additional voiceover by Aziza Shukralla Clark. 
For more from the show follow @unpackpeanuts on Instagram and Threads, and @unpackingpeanuts on Facebook, Blue Sky, and YouTube. For more about Jimmy, Michael, and Harold, visit unpackingpeanuts.com.  
Thanks for listening.

Tuesday Sep 17, 2024

Snoopy is off on an adventure with the foreign legion. Marcie is making Peppermint Patty jealous, Sally is writing more essays. And the guys can’t decide what word to emphasize in a word balloon. Plus: Well matched siblings
Transcript available at UnpackingPeanuts.com
Unpacking Peanuts is copyright Jimmy Gownley, Michael Cohen, and Harold Buchholz. Produced and edited by Liz Sumner. Music by Michael Cohen. Additional voiceover by Aziza Shukralla Clark. 
For more from the show follow @unpackpeanuts on Instagram and Threads, and @unpackingpeanuts on Facebook, Blue Sky, and YouTube. For more about Jimmy, Michael, and Harold, visit unpackingpeanuts.com.  
Thanks for listening.

Copyright 2024 Jimmy Gownley, Harold Buchholz and MichaelCohen.All rights reserved.

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