Sunday Edition: Inventing Mascots

In this Sunday Edition of The Nightly, Josh Gondelman welcomes mascot designer Tom Sapp into the pillow fort for a behind-the-scenes look at the surprising art, strategy, and heart behind the characters we cheer for.What You'll HearFrom Sketchbook to Stadium: Tom shares how a career in advertising unexpectedly led him to designing iconic mascots for sports teams, schools, hospitals, and beyond—and why every great mascot starts with understanding the people it's meant to delight.More Than a Costume: From Rocky the Mountain Lion's lightning-bolt tail to comforting characters for children's hospitals, Tom explains how storytelling, thoughtful design, and unforgettable performers work together to create characters that people truly believe in.Why Kids Know Best: Josh and Tom explore the surprisingly emotional side of mascot design, why honest audience reactions matter, and the creative freedom that comes from letting ideas wander before they take shape.CHAPTERS00:00 Intro & welcoming Tom Sapp!01:19 How Tom's career in mascot design began05:06 Designing characters with purpose08:00 The origin story of Rocky the Mountain Lion12:00 Building mascot backstories & creative process14:15 Designing for children's hospitals17:08 Testing ideas with real audiences18:47 The magic of seeing mascots come alive21:00 The challenge of designing for brands and products22:39 Ending with some advice for creatives24:14 GoodnightsFor the fully immersive, phone free light + sound experience, learn more at hatch.co. Follow us on TikTok @hatchpodcasts and YouTube. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.