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.
Listen on:
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
Tuesday Jan 31, 2023
Tuesday Jan 31, 2023
There’s a new girl on the scene and she’s set to be a star, as Schulz turns the kid comic genre on its head with the debut of a startlingly modern new heroine; the immortal ‘‘Peppermint” Patty. Meanwhile, Snoopy is living an adventurous life, and Charlie Brown has no idea what’s going on. Plus: Engelbert Humperdinck. No, the other Engelbert Humperdinck.
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 Twitter. For more about Jimmy, Michael, and Harold, visit unpackingpeanuts.com.
Thanks for listening.
Tuesday Jan 24, 2023
Tuesday Jan 24, 2023
Snoopy’s latest persona is a pop culture sensation, and he’s threatening to take over the entire strip! Unless the French Foreign Legion calls him away. Elsewhere, Sally still has her eye patch, Charlie Brown is still Charlie Brown, and Linus and Lucy are moving away! Plus: maze, M-A-Y-S, maze.
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 Twitter. For more about Jimmy, Michael, and Harold, visit unpackingpeanuts.com.
Thanks for listening.
Tuesday Jan 17, 2023
Tuesday Jan 17, 2023
Today, the guys welcome Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center Curator Benjamin Clark. Benjamin leads a team of professionals dedicated to the preservation, display, and interpretation of the life and art of Peanuts comic strip creator, Charles M. Schulz. We talk about the excitement and challenges of working for the Peanuts brand, the care that goes into each exhibit at the museum, and the process of writing the new book Charles M. Schulz: A Life in 100 Objects. Plus: the origin of the Radio 914!
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 Twitter. For more about Jimmy, Michael, and Harold, visit unpackingpeanuts.com.
Thanks for listening.
Tuesday Jan 10, 2023
Tuesday Jan 10, 2023
Peanuts is peaking and we are here for it! Charlie Brown goes to camp and makes a good temporary friend. Not content with becoming a mere pilot, Snoopy also launches both his writing and surfing careers. Lucy cures Charlie Brown with Psychiatry à Go Go, and Linus manifests the gift of prophecy. Plus: Sydney or the Bush?!
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 Twitter. For more about Jimmy, Michael, and Harold, visit unpackingpeanuts.com.
Thanks for listening.
Tuesday Jan 03, 2023
Tuesday Jan 03, 2023
Snoopy’s late night rendezvous with a certain girl beagle leads to thoughts of marriage. But will Snoopy get left at the altar? Meanwhile, Patty and Violet get a late career star turn, Linus gets something called a “cinch notice,” and Annette Funicello grows up. Plus: Jimmy meets Gene Simmons, and it does not go well.
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 Twitter. For more about Jimmy, Michael, and Harold, visit unpackingpeanuts.com.
Thanks for listening.
Tuesday Dec 13, 2022
Tuesday Dec 13, 2022
As much a part of the holidays as Rudolph and mistletoe, the legendary first Peanuts special has lived in the hearts of millions since its debut in 1965. In this special episode Jimmy, Harold, and Michael examine the strips that were adapted for the show, discuss the story behind the production, and relay their own experiences with viewing… or not viewing… the classic program. Plus: More graphics get blandished!
Download super-listener Joshua Stauffer's PDF of the strips used in the animated special: https://bit.ly/3Cyt1vd
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 Twitter. For more about Jimmy, Michael, and Harold, visit unpackingpeanuts.com.
Thanks for listening.
Tuesday Dec 06, 2022
Tuesday Dec 06, 2022
In this episode, we chat with Stephen Lind, author of the fascinating book A Charlie Brown Religion. We discuss the ever-evolving nature of Schulz’s faith, hear about the challenges of writing a book of this type, and marvel at Schulz’s ability to bring people together. Plus: we ask the most important theological question of all… Has it ever occurred to you that you might be wrong?
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 Twitter. For more about Jimmy, Michael, and Harold, visit unpackingpeanuts.com.
Thanks for listening.
Tuesday Nov 29, 2022
Tuesday Nov 29, 2022
Today, the guys are joined by hilarious UCB comedians, and hosts of the popular “Screw It, We’re Just Gonna Talk About Comics” podcast, Will and Kevin Hines. We discuss the brothers' relationship with Peanuts through the years as well as the poignancy of Joe Shlabotnik, the progressiveness of Schulz, and the realism of Peppermint Patty. Then we delve into the lost comedy masterpiece… Garfooled! Plus: Screw it… we talk about the Beatles.
On Twitter and Instagram: @screwitcomics
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 Twitter. For more about Jimmy, Michael, and Harold, visit unpackingpeanuts.com.
Thanks for listening.
Tuesday Nov 22, 2022
Tuesday Nov 22, 2022
November 26th is Mr. Schulz’s 100th birthday, and we’re throwing a party! You won’t believe who shows up to celebrate the greatest cartoonist of all time! Grab a treat from the Snoopy Snow Cone Machine, watch your step around the Zamboni, and join us for the Peanuts bash of the century.Featuring guest appearances by: Terry Moore, Bill Morrison, Carolyn Belefski, Steve Conley, John Gallagher, Jamar Nicholas, Mark Mariano, Chris Mariano, Marty Baumann and more! Plus: A Charles Schulz carol?
Guests include:
Terry Moore:
https://abstractstudiocomics.com/
Carolyn Belefski:
https://www.carolynbelefski.com
Jamar Nicholas:
https://jamarnicholas.weebly.com
John Gallagher
Https://maxmeow.com
Mark Mariano:
Instagram: @mypalmark
Bill Morrison:
https://www.facebook.com/people/Bill-MorrisonAtomic-Battery-Studios
Chris Mariano:
https://www.marianobros.com
Todd Webb:
HTTPS://Toddbot.com
Marty Baumann:
https://martybaumann.com
Steve Conley:
https://steveconley.com
William Pepper
https://charliebrownpodcast.libsyn.com/
Stephen J. Lindhttps://stephenjlind.wixsite.com/stephenjlind
Jenna Clay
https://www.935wtpa.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 Twitter. For more about Jimmy, Michael, and Harold, visit unpackingpeanuts.com.
Thanks for listening.
Tuesday Nov 15, 2022
Tuesday Nov 15, 2022
We wrap up the first half of the sixties in style with a look back at Schulz’s best unseen characters, listener questions, and some Peanuts comic book stories penned by the man himself. Plus: DJ Jenna Clay on the Little Red Haired Girl!
(If you want to follow our discussion of the comic book stories attributed to Schulz, and you have a library card, you can visit hoopla.com to check out the Peanuts Dell Archive).
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 Twitter. For more about Jimmy, Michael, and Harold, visit unpackingpeanuts.com.
Thanks for listening.