171 — Jonathan Alexandratos: Author of "Free with Every Kids' Meal" on TMNT Fast Food Toys

In this episode, host Brian VanHooker is joined by author Jonathan Alexandratos, who recently released the book "Free with Every Kids' Meal: The Cultural Impact of Fast Food Toys." Beginning with the classic Burger King Kids Club TMNT toys to the recent release of the TMNT x Hello Kitty Happy Meal Toys from McDonald's, the two discuss every fast food toy made for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Find Alexandratos' book here: https://www.amazon.com/Free-Every-Kids-Meal-Cultural/dp/1476688761 Sound engineering by Ian Williams. Follow TURTLE TRACKS PODCAST on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turtle_tracks_podcast/

In this episode, host Brian VanHooker welcomes back NECA's Trevor Zammit to Turtle Tracks Podcast to talk all about the upcoming line of 2012 TMNT figures. The two discuss their favorite things about the series, how the toy line developed at NECA and the unique challenges of making toys using the 3d models straight from the show. The preorders for the four Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Shredder begin on 9/16/2025 (https://store.necaonline.com/) and Zammit announces that if you order all five figures, NECA will ship for free! Sound engineering by Ian Williams. Follow Turtle Tracks Podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turtle_tracks_podcast/

Legendary voice actor Rob Paulsen returns to Turtle Tracks Podcast to talk all about playing Raphael in the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon. With host Brian VanHooker, Paulsen discusses getting the job as Raphael, working with his fellow Turtles and the longstanding friendship the foursome has held onto since the show ended. Sound engineering by Ian Williams. Follow TURTLE TRACKS PODCAST on Intagram: https://www.instagram.com/turtle_tracks_podcast/

In this episode of TURTLE TRACKS PODCAST, host Brian VanHooker interviews artist Daniel Elson, who worked on packaging art for NECA Toys, specifically many of the early VHS-style boxes for the 1987 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles line. Elson breaks down the details of the artwork for Mondo Gecko, Metalhead, the Pizza Monster and more while also explaining how the work of Greg Martin on the original TMNT cartoon VHS art inspired them. Sound engineering by Ian Williams. Follow TURTLE TRACKS PODCAST here: https://www.instagram.com/turtle_tracks_podcast/

Just in time for the preorder deadline for Casey Jones #1 on 8/11/25 (today!) host Brian VanHooker chats with two comic book writers at IDW comics who are launching two upcoming series about two core TMNT characters. Dan Watters is writing the Shredder series, which is hitting shelves in August, while Alex Paknadel is writing the Casey Jones mini-series, which hits shelves in September. Both share how their respective series will bring the charcters back to basics and what new challenges they may face in their stories. Sound engineering by Ian Williams. Follow TURTLE TRACKS PODCAST on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turtle_tracks_podcast/

In this episode, host Brian VanHooker chats with animation veteran Bob Fuentes III, who worked on nearly half the episodes of the original 1987 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon. Here, Fuentes shares his early days in the animation industry working for companies like Marvel, and then what it was like working for Fred Wolf on the TMNT. He also shares that he did some work for Playmates during the TMNT heyday, like designing the stickers that went on the iconic Turtle Van. Sound engineering by Ian Williams. Follw Turtle Tracks Podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turtle_tracks_podcast/

In this episode, host Brian VanHooker is joined by animation legend Will Meugniot, who details his storyboard work on both the 1987 TMNT series as well as the 2003 series. Meugniot also reveals that he was one of the developers behind the unmade 2001 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon that was planned for WB and he shares what might have been for that never-realized series. Sound engineering for Ian Williams. Follow TURTLE TRACKS PODCAST on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turtle_tracks_podcast/

In this episode, host Brian VanHooker chats with Frank Simms, who provided the singing voice of Raphael in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Coming Out of Their Shells: Simms recalls the recording, including the song "Walk Straight" Sound engineering by Ian Willaims. Follw Turtle Tracks Podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turtle_tracks_podcast/

Get your tickets now for Granite Con 2025, which runs from September 19 to 21 2025 at the Doubletree by Hilton and the SNHU Arena in Manchester, NH ( https://www.granitecon.com/ ). In this Turtle Tracks episode, host Brian VanHooker is joined by Chris Proulx, one of the co-founders of Granite State Comic Con, a must-see destination for fans of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, as it takes place near where the TMNT originated (Dover, NH) and features a wide array of TMNT-related artists. This year, special TMNT-related guests include Ken Mitchroney, Steve Lavigne, Ben Bishop, Jim Lawson, Eric Talbot, Michael Dooney, Sarah Myer, Luis Antonio Delgado, Mateus Santolouco, Freddie Williams II, Fero Pe and many more! Sound engineering by Ian Williams. Follow TURTLE TRACKS PODCAST on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turtle_tracks_podcast/

In time for the re-release of the 1990 film Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles this August 17th and 20th for the film's 35th anniversary, host Brian VanHooker chats with Leif Tilden, the actor inside the Donatello suit in both TMNT (1990) and TMNT: The Secret of the Ooze (1991). The two discuss what it was like for Tilden to stay in those turtle suits for hours a day, meeting Jim Henson and what it was like dancing with Vanilla Ice. He also talks a bit about doing the TGIF show Dinosaurs after TMNT. Sount engineering by Ian Williams. Follow TURTLE TRACKS PODCAST on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turtle_tracks_podcast/