198 — Gene Luen Yang & Tom Waltz: Writers for IDW TMNT Comics

In this episode, host Brian VanHooker chats with the guys at Frothy Beard Brewing Company about their TMNT-inspired beers they've offered over the years, including "Shadow Sessions" which is now available for preorder. Owner Michael Biondi and in-house artist Chris Miller chat about the history of the brewery and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles-inspired beers they've offered since 2020, as well as their own love for the Turtles. Preorder here: https://frothybeardbrewing.square.site/ Sound engineering by Ian Williams. Follow Turtle Tracks Podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turtle_tracks_podcast

In this episode, host Brian VanHooker is joined by Tim Stahl, head of marketing at Wonderland Amusements, who are releasing a new TMNT Pinball machine now available for Preorder. Sthal talks about the history of Wonderland Amusements and working with IDW comics artist Mateus Santuolouco on designing the newest TMNT pinball machines, designed to be an affordable alternative to conventional pinball machines. Stahl also discusses his former work with Arcade1Up, including the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles release from Arcade1Up. Preorder the Piunball mavhine here: https://wonderlandamusements.com/pages/tmnt-preorder Sound engineering by Ian Williams. Follow TURTLE TRACKS PODCAST on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turtle_tracks_podcast/

For my work at Polygon Magazine, I got a first look at the upcoming preschool TMNT show, TEENY MUTANT NINJA TURTLES. Check out the first 6 stills and an exclusive video clip here: https://www.polygon.com/exclusive-first-look-at-the-next-tmnt-show/

For the 35th anniversary of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze host Brian VanHooker interviewed Kurt Bryant and MArk Ginter, the guys who performed inside the suits of Tokka and Rahzar. This was a part of an interview you can find here: https://www.polygon.com/35-years-tmnt-2-tokka-rahzar-interview/ 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 Pat Linden, the VP of Boys Marketing at Playmates Toys, who brings some breaking news to the podcast. Find out the final TMNT releases for Playmates Toys before they are done with the license after 40 years at the end of 2026. This includes the SDCC exclusive and other previously unannounced releases. Sound engineering by Ian Williams. Follow TURTLE TRACKS PODCAST on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turtle_tracks_podcast/

In this episode, host Brian VanHooker is joined by Archie Comics TMNT Adventures artist Chris Allan and Virgil Cardamone, the owner of Mahoning Drive-In theater in Lehighton, Pennsylvania. Mahoning Drive-In is the last full-time 35mm Drive-In theater in the world and on June 5th and 6th 2026 they will be hosting a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles-themed weekend showing the first two films from the 1990s. Chris Allan will also be there selling comic pages, taking commisions and doing sketches. There will also be toy vendors and TMNT-themed snacks and refreshments. If you're in the northeast and you're a TMNT fan, don't miss it! Sound engineering by Ian Williams. Follow TURTLE TRACKS PODCAST on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turtle_tracks_podcast/

In a very special 200th episode, host Brian VanHooker welcomes Brian Henson to the program. The son of Jim Henson, Brian Henson played a huge role in the 1990 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film, including being its lead puppeteer and its second unit director, Here, Henson shares stories from the set of the film and what the process was like building the TMNT for Jim Henson's Creature Shop. 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 a man integral to early TMNT history, Ralph DiBernardo. Beginning in the early 1980s, Ralph DiBernardo was friends with Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird, who would frequest his comic book business at a New Hampshire flea market. When Eastman and Laird created the first Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic, Ralph bought 500 copies and debuted the comic at Portsmouth Mini-Con in 1984. Now, Ralph owns Jetpack coimics in Rochester, New Hampshire and this FREE COMIC BOOK DAY (5/2/26) he is offering a star-studded event full of TMNT artists. 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 Gene Luen Yang, current writer of IDW's ongoing TMNT series, as well as Tom Waltz, who wrote the first 100 issues. This was for an interview conducted for Polygon: https://www.polygon.com/idw-teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-comics-interview-gene-luen-yang-tom-waltz/ Sound engineering by Ian Williams. Follow TURTLE TRACKS PODCAST on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/

In this episode, host Brian VanHooker chats with Ace St. Germain of Cortopia Studios, the company making the first-ever TMNT VR game: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Empire City. The two discuss why Karai is the main villain and how the game is developing. This interview was originally for Polygon. Read the article here: https://www.polygon.com/tmnt-empire-city-vr-preview/. Sound engineering by Ian Williams. Follow TURTLE TRACKS PODCAST on Intagram: https://www.instagram.com/turtle_tracks_podcast/