Ep. 257 Toys on Tap w/ Akashik Records Toys: Ten Years Deep in the Indie Toy Grind

We’re diving deep into kaiju culture, business reality, and what it really takes to last in the indie toy world. From childhood obsessions with Pokemon to turning collection into creation, we sit down with Dave to trace a decade-long path of trial, failure, and hard-earned clarity. We talk DesignerCon strategy, why business discipline matters more than pure creativity, and how failed Kickstarters don’t have to define you. Dave opens up about gatekeeping, trusting your instincts, and building toys that are weird, wearable, and fun. This episode is about originality over trends, relationships over hype, and staying grounded while carving out your own lane in toys. Perfect for builders trying to grow without losing the joy.On Instagram: @akashikrecordstoysThis Episode is Sponsored by: Empire Blisters – Your go-to source for blister packaging! With 19+ styles and bundle deals, they’ve got everything you need to make your toys shine. Use code TOYSONTAP10 at checkout for 10% off. Patreon members get 20% off another reason to join!Support the Show on Patreon Unlock exclusive episodes, early access, and behind-the-scenes content: patreon.com/toysontapThanks to Our Supporters: @dketoys | @massiveminihorse | @dimensionxtoys @bootlegtoyco | @pocket_salsa | @dirtyyetti @dan_overdorff_art | @zimotco | @barbarian_rage @mannycartoonstudios | Shaun C. Downey | @richiemanic | @recollectiontoys | @rubbercitytoys | @acid9toys | @teneki_toys | @angryhedgehogRate & Review the Show! Leave a rating and review wherever you listen it's the best way to help Toys on Tap grow!

We’re breaking down the real indie toy grind, fresh off DesignerCon and IndyToy Show, talking vendor culture, why pre-show connection matters, and what separates good shows from great ones. Then we go deep with Spumoni Toys. From growing up in connection with a family-run toy factory producing iconic figures, to falling in love with kaiju, Power Rangers, and animation, to teaching himself 3D sculpting during lockdown, this is a raw look at building toys from obsession and grit. We unpack Kickstarter wins and scars, shipping delays, clear-neon experiments, Wonder Festival acceptance, and why smaller figures at smarter price points are hitting right now. This episode is for collectors-turned-creators, builders in the trenches, and anyone chasing the long game in toys.On Instagram: @spumonitoyscoThis Episode is Sponsored by: Empire Blisters – Your go-to source for blister packaging! With 19+ styles and bundle deals, they’ve got everything you need to make your toys shine. Use code TOYSONTAP10 at checkout for 10% off. Patreon members get 20% off another reason to join!Support the Show on Patreon Unlock exclusive episodes, early access, and behind-the-scenes content: patreon.com/toysontapThanks to Our Supporters: @dketoys | @massiveminihorse | @dimensionxtoys @bootlegtoyco | @pocket_salsa | @dirtyyetti @dan_overdorff_art | @zimotco | @barbarian_rage @mannycartoonstudios | Shaun C. Downey | @richiemanic | @recollectiontoys | @rubbercitytoys | @acid9toys | @teneki_toys | @angryhedgehogRate & Review the Show! Leave a rating and review wherever you listen it's the best way to help Toys on Tap grow!

This episode is a full-tilt ride through art, toys, culture, and creative obsession. MindSponge breaks down his rapid rise in the art-toy world, sharing how he sold out early releases, navigated preorders, and learned why building a core audience matters more than chasing followers. We dive into vinyl production, staggered drops, hip-hop influence, and balancing artistic integrity with toyetic appeal. MindSponge also takes a turn and opens up about overcoming addiction, turning creativity into healing, and scaling without selling out. You'll want to hear this episode!On Instagram: @mindspongetoyThis Episode is Sponsored by: Empire Blisters – Your go-to source for blister packaging! With 19+ styles and bundle deals, they’ve got everything you need to make your toys shine. Use code TOYSONTAP10 at checkout for 10% off. Patreon members get 20% off another reason to join!Support the Show on Patreon Unlock exclusive episodes, early access, and behind-the-scenes content: patreon.com/toysontapThanks to Our Supporters: @dketoys | @massiveminihorse | @dimensionxtoys @bootlegtoyco | @pocket_salsa | @dirtyyetti @dan_overdorff_art | @zimotco | @barbarian_rage @mannycartoonstudios | Shaun C. Downey | @richiemanic | @recollectiontoys | @rubbercitytoys | @acid9toys | @teneki_toys | @angryhedgehogRate & Review the Show! Leave a rating and review wherever you listen it's the best way to help Toys on Tap grow!

What happens when art week chaos, toy shows, Web3, and long-term creative vision collide? We sit down with MUMBOT for a wide-ranging, honest, and surprisingly grounding conversation on building a sustainable art life without losing your soul. From Miami Art Week and live painting to navigating Asian toy markets, choosing the right shows, and resisting the pressure to turn everything into a cash grab, this episode is packed with real talk. We dig into long-term projects, community over clout, evolving art forms, and what it actually takes to grow globally while staying human. Plus: upcoming toys, a Kickstarter, a secret game project, and why DesignerCon still matters.On Instagram: @mumbotThis Episode is Sponsored by: Empire Blisters – Your go-to source for blister packaging! With 19+ styles and bundle deals, they’ve got everything you need to make your toys shine. Use code TOYSONTAP10 at checkout for 10% off. Patreon members get 20% off another reason to join!Support the Show on Patreon Unlock exclusive episodes, early access, and behind-the-scenes content: patreon.com/toysontapThanks to Our Supporters: @dketoys | @massiveminihorse | @dimensionxtoys @bootlegtoyco | @pocket_salsa | @dirtyyetti @dan_overdorff_art | @zimotco | @barbarian_rage @mannycartoonstudios | Shaun C. Downey | @richiemanic | @recollectiontoys | @rubbercitytoys | @acid9toys | @teneki_toys | @angryhedgehogRate & Review the Show! Leave a rating and review wherever you listen it's the best way to help Toys on Tap grow!

After finally seeing each other at DesignerCon, we get to dive into the awkward art of navigating conventions and the respect it takes to approach people well. Madworld shares how 18 years of tattooing, childhood love of monsters, and a creative slump pushed him into sofubi. We get to walk through the journey from early sketches to producing his kaiju Eborath, the sludge-born protector inspired by sci-fi and horror. From selling out at G-Fest to planning new designs, Adam’s story is grit, community, and creative rebirth.On Instagram: @madworldtoysThis Episode is Sponsored by: Empire Blisters – Your go-to source for blister packaging! With 19+ styles and bundle deals, they’ve got everything you need to make your toys shine. Use code TOYSONTAP10 at checkout for 10% off. Patreon members get 20% off another reason to join!Support the Show on Patreon Unlock exclusive episodes, early access, and behind-the-scenes content: patreon.com/toysontapThanks to Our Supporters: @dketoys | @massiveminihorse | @dimensionxtoys @bootlegtoyco | @pocket_salsa | @dirtyyetti @dan_overdorff_art | @zimotco | @barbarian_rage @mannycartoonstudios | Shaun C. Downey | @richiemanic | @recollectiontoys | @rubbercitytoys | @acid9toys | @teneki_toys | @angryhedgehogRate & Review the Show! Leave a rating and review wherever you listen it's the best way to help Toys on Tap grow!

We sit down with Mechavirus for a fast-moving dive into his journey from Boston street art to kaiju customs to full-on vinyl production. Todd talks returning to the scene, the rise of DIY toy studios, and the spark behind his robot-meets-steampunk aesthetic. He breaks down early factory struggles, how tech changed the game, and why U.S. vinyl production is finally leveling up. Todd also teases his newest project, The Watchers, blending humanoid and mech forms. A killer look at creativity, craft, and reinvention.On Instagram: @mechavirusThis Episode is Sponsored by: Empire Blisters – Your go-to source for blister packaging! With 19+ styles and bundle deals, they’ve got everything you need to make your toys shine. Use code TOYSONTAP10 at checkout for 10% off. Patreon members get 20% off another reason to join!Support the Show on Patreon Unlock exclusive episodes, early access, and behind-the-scenes content: patreon.com/toysontapThanks to Our Supporters: @dketoys | @massiveminihorse | @dimensionxtoys @bootlegtoyco | @pocket_salsa | @dirtyyetti @dan_overdorff_art | @zimotco | @barbarian_rage @mannycartoonstudios | Shaun C. Downey | @richiemanic | @recollectiontoys | @rubbercitytoys | @acid9toys | @teneki_toys | @angryhedgehogRate & Review the Show! Leave a rating and review wherever you listen it's the best way to help Toys on Tap grow!

Kelly Barfield grew up without TV, without many toys… but surrounded by ancient Egyptian artifacts. Now she designs toys at Kid Robot by day and builds her own wonderfully strange fish-themed empire by night. We dive in with Kelly as she unpacks how museums shaped her imagination, why humor is hiding in history, and how her journey went from car modeling to Nerf blasters to art-toy storytelling. We explore the beauty of odd, inexplicable objects, the joy of making things that outlive the digital world, and the charm of keeping a brand simple: fish, pins, hats... done. Get ready for blind-box fish chaos, heartfelt creative philosophy, and the wild evolution of The Last Goldfish.On Instagram: @thelastgoldfish_toysThis Episode is Sponsored by: Empire Blisters – Your go-to source for blister packaging! With 19+ styles and bundle deals, they’ve got everything you need to make your toys shine. Use code TOYSONTAP10 at checkout for 10% off. Patreon members get 20% off another reason to join!Support the Show on Patreon Unlock exclusive episodes, early access, and behind-the-scenes content: patreon.com/toysontapThanks to Our Supporters: @dketoys | @massiveminihorse | @dimensionxtoys @bootlegtoyco | @pocket_salsa | @dirtyyetti @dan_overdorff_art | @zimotco | @barbarian_rage @mannycartoonstudios | Shaun C. Downey | @richiemanic | @recollectiontoys | @rubbercitytoys | @acid9toys | @teneki_toys | @angryhedgehogRate & Review the Show! Leave a rating and review wherever you listen it's the best way to help Toys on Tap grow!

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. If you care about toys, process, or the community that holds it all together, this is a must-listen.On Instagram: @paulkaijuThis Episode is Sponsored by: Empire Blisters – Your go-to source for blister packaging! With 19+ styles and bundle deals, they’ve got everything you need to make your toys shine. Use code TOYSONTAP10 at checkout for 10% off. Patreon members get 20% off another reason to join!Support the Show on Patreon Unlock exclusive episodes, early access, and behind-the-scenes content: patreon.com/toysontapThanks to Our Supporters: @dketoys | @massiveminihorse | @dimensionxtoys @bootlegtoyco | @pocket_salsa | @dirtyyetti @dan_overdorff_art | @zimotco | @barbarian_rage @mannycartoonstudios | Shaun C. Downey | @richiemanic | @recollectiontoys | @rubbercitytoys | @acid9toys | @teneki_toys | @angryhedgehogRate & Review the Show! Leave a rating and review wherever you listen it's the best way to help Toys on Tap grow!

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 balancing life in Ohio and a thriving artistic passion. It’s a story of resilience, nostalgia, and pure creative drive.On Instagram: @sebastiangomeztoysThis Episode is Sponsored by: Empire Blisters – Your go-to source for blister packaging! With 19+ styles and bundle deals, they’ve got everything you need to make your toys shine. Use code TOYSONTAP10 at checkout for 10% off. Patreon members get 20% off another reason to join!Support the Show on Patreon Unlock exclusive episodes, early access, and behind-the-scenes content: patreon.com/toysontapThanks to Our Supporters: @dketoys | @massiveminihorse | @dimensionxtoys @bootlegtoyco | @pocket_salsa | @dirtyyetti @dan_overdorff_art | @zimotco | @barbarian_rage @mannycartoonstudios | Shaun C. Downey | @richiemanic | @recollectiontoys | @rubbercitytoys | @acid9toys | @teneki_toys | @angryhedgehogRate & Review the Show! Leave a rating and review wherever you listen it's the best way to help Toys on Tap grow!

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 toward confidence. If you’ve ever faced imposter syndrome, battled burnout, or wondered how to turn chaos into art, this episode’s for you.On Instagram: @rickkitagawaThis Episode is Sponsored by: Empire Blisters – Your go-to source for blister packaging! With 19+ styles and bundle deals, they’ve got everything you need to make your toys shine. Use code TOYSONTAP10 at checkout for 10% off. Patreon members get 20% off another reason to join!Support the Show on Patreon Unlock exclusive episodes, early access, and behind-the-scenes content: patreon.com/toysontapThanks to Our Supporters: @dketoys | @massiveminihorse | @dimensionxtoys @bootlegtoyco | @pocket_salsa | @dirtyyetti @dan_overdorff_art | @zimotco | @barbarian_rage @mannycartoonstudios | Shaun C. Downey | @richiemanic | @recollectiontoys | @rubbercitytoys | @acid9toys | @teneki_toys | @angryhedgehogRate & Review the Show! Leave a rating and review wherever you listen it's the best way to help Toys on Tap grow!