Toys on Tap
by Toys on Tap
Toys on Tap is a designer-toy podcast, creative platform, and production studio founded and hosted by Abraham Musto. It interviews artists, sculptors, collectors, and creators from the designer-toy, sofubi, resin, vinyl, bootleg, and collectible-art communities. Toys on Tap also helps artists develop and launch physical toys through production planning, factory coordination, crowdfunding strategy, packaging, storytelling, and promotion.
Episodes
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Bonus Episode: Depressed Monsters x Toys on Tap: Yerman Is Coming to DesignerCon
Ryan Brunty of Depressed Monsters is back and this time we have some announcements. The Toys on Tap x Depressed Monsters Yerman is finally headed to DesignerCon, and we’re going BIG. We talk about: • Bringing Yerman back to DesignerCon • Sharing a Toys on Tap x Depressed Monsters booth • The...
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Ep. 299 Toys on Tap w/Okashii Station: From Toy Podcasts to Building a Toy Company
Jacob and Jay join Toys on Tap to talk about what happens when years of collecting, podcasting, obscure monster movies, and toy obsession finally turn into actually making toys. Between them, there’s a lot going on. We talk about: • Growing up with Godzilla, Ghostbusters, and Ninja Turtles • 12...
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Ep. 298 Toys on Tap w/Quzu Critters: What If Every QR Code Had a Monster Inside?
Drew joins Toys on Tap to talk about QUZU Critters, a new electronic toy that lets you discover collectible creatures and more hiding inside everyday QR codes. What started as something Drew wanted to build with his son quickly turned into something much bigger. We talk about: • Growing up with...
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Ep. 297 Toys on Tap w/Scott Cherry: The Toy That Nearly Broke Barbarian
Scott Cherry of Barbarian Rage is back and somehow we had to record this episode TWICE. This time we dig into a year of conventions, creative obsession, GWAR, black velvet paintings, and the biggest toy Scott has tackled yet: The Destroyer. We talk about: • Going all-in on conventions this year •...
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Ep. 296 Toys on Tap w/Neil Ewing: It's easy to make a toy. It's hard to make a good one!
Neil Ewing of Bombastic Plastic is back, and this one goes everywhere. Fresh off a trip to Japan, Neil joins Toys on Tap for a brutally open conversation about what it actually takes to survive as an independent toy maker. We talk about: • Selling toys in Japan vs. the U.S. • Why some conventions...
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Ep. 295 Toys on Tap w/Space Rabbit Studio: They Quit Their Jobs to Make Toys
Space Rabbit Studio joins Toys on Tap to talk about turning a creative escape into their full-time life. They started Space Rabbit with no business plan, just two creatives who wanted somewhere to make their own work. Then a logo became a character. The character became a resin toy. And…
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Ep. 294 Toys on Tap w/ Creeder Toys: Tattooing, Yokai & Japanese Vinyl
Tattoo artist and toy maker Chris Reed of Creeder Toys joins Toys on Tap to talk about what happens when decades of tattoos, horror movies, Japanese art, vintage toys, and monster obsession all collide. Chris started apprenticing as a teenager and has spent nearly 30 years tattooing—but…
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Ep. 293 Toys on Tap w/ SF GodzillaFest:Inside SF Godzilla Fest with Bob Johnson
Bob Johnson of Bay Area Film Events joins Toys on Tap to talk about the wild evolution of Godzilla Fest, from a seven-day movie marathon to a full-blown convention. Bob has spent decades turning the movies he loves into experiences people remember. We talk about: • Discovering Godzilla and…
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Ep. 292 Toys on Tap w/ BullMart: Building Something Worth Collecting
Bullmart founders Jerry and Shiti join Toys on Tap to talk about building a collectible that doesn’t really fit into any existing category. It’s leather. It’s weighted. It uses magnets. It comes with premium packaging and a handwritten letter, and it was created by a team new to toys. We talk...
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Ep. 291 Toys on Tap w/ Kaiju Go: Building the Best Kaiju Party in Texas
Kaiju Go co-founder Chaz joins Toys on Tap to break down how two friends turned a love of kaiju films and toys into one of the most talked-about small toy events around. And the philosophy is simple: throw a great party and take care of the artists. We talk about: • Growing up obsessed with...
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Ep. 290 Toys on Tap w/ Whiskeyjack Toys: The Brutal Reality of Making Action Figures
WhiskeyJack Toys founder joins Toys on Tap to talk about the brutal, expensive, and incredibly rewarding reality of making 3.75-inch action figures. Darren wanted to make toys since discovering G.I. Joe as a kid, but getting there included lost molds, failed production runs, a $100,000 factory...
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Ep. 289 Toys on Tap w/ Manic: Turning a Lifetime of Collecting Into Spooky
Photographer, collector, and first-time toy maker Robert of Manic joins Toys on Tap for a deep dive into the obsession behind the collection. From Godzilla, horror movies, skateboarding, and photography to spending $320 on designer vinyl on day one, Robert’s path into toys went from zero to full...
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Ep. 288 Toys on Tap w/ Shahin Studios: One Stencil Changed Everything
Egyptian artist Marwan Shahin joins Toys on Tap to tell the wild story of how one piece of street art completely changed his life. During the Egyptian Revolution, Marwan created the Anonymous Pharaoh, a stencil that became a symbol of the uprising, landed in museums, and eventually helped launch…
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Ep. 287 Toys on Tap w/ Fixed Temple Toys: The Glorble Gospel Begins
Fixed Temple Toys joins Toys on Tap to talk nostalgia, street art, resin casting, and the strange little creatures taking over his world: the Glorbles. What started as stickers and woodcuts grew into resin toys, sofubi, costumes, videos, secret codes, and a full sci-fi universe packed with…
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Ep. 286 Toys on Tap w/ ToyCollectr: 25 Issues of Toy History and Exclusive Reveals
Blake Wright, publisher and editor-in-chief of Toy Collector magazine, joins Toys on Tap to talk Star Wars, lost toy history, and keeping print alive. Blake shares how a childhood love of action figures grew into a journalism career, the Toys That Time Forgot book trilogy, and a magazine built to...
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Ep. 285 Toys on Tap w/ Chogrin: The Artist Behind the Guru
Illustrator, toy designer, filmmaker, and lifelong storyteller Chogrin joins Toys on Tap to trace a creative journey shaped by two cultures and an unstoppable love of characters. Growing up in Ecuador, Chogrin absorbed everything from Super Sentai and Japanese heroes to Ghostbusters, Ninja…
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Ep. 284 Toys on Tap w/ M.U.D. Toys: Mad Ugly Dudes Make Killer Toys
Steven Nunes, aka Steve Beef the “Sofubi Shy Guy", joins Toys on Tap to talk horror, collecting, and the creation of M.U.D. Toys. Steven traces his obsession from Ninja Turtles, Goosebumps, vintage masks, and early sofubi discoveries in New York to partnering with longtime friend and turning…
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Ep. 283 Toys on Tap w/ SpaceBoiDega: Turning SpaceBoi Into a Toy Universe
In this episode, Andrew, also known as Spaceboi, returns to Toys on Tap to talk about the evolution of Space Boi and the growing universe around the character. Since his last appearance, Spaceboi has expanded far beyond one figure. What started as different versions of Space Boi has grown into...
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Ep. 282 Toys on Tap w/ Quang Le: The Collector that built a sofubi community part 2
In part two of this conversation, Quang Le shares the story behind the creation and evolution of Creature Bazaar. After years spent collecting toys, building relationships, and learning the industry from the inside, Quang and Brandon turned an idea into one of the most recognizable names in the...
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Ep. 281 Toys on Tap w/ Quang Le: The Collector that built a sofubi community part 1
Quang Le joins the show for part one of a two-part conversation about collecting, creativity, and the foundation that eventually led to Creature Bazaar. Before Creature Bazaar and SummerSlime, Quang was a lifelong toy collector shaped by Ninja Turtles, Transformers, Japanese robot cartoons, Asian...
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Ep. 280 Toys on Tap w/ Mike Die:The Creator Behind Rock Protectors
Mike Die joins the show to share the journey that led him from New York graffiti artist to creator of the Rock Protectors toy line. Growing up surrounded by He-Man, Battle Beasts, Transformers, and Ninja Turtles, Mike always dreamed of making toys. After years spent in graffiti, custom Dunnys,...
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Ep. 279 Toys on Tap w/ Sio Pio: The Toy Designer Reinventing Himself
Tony Coppolillo (SioPio) joins the show to share his incredible creative journey from architecture student to Hollywood movie poster artist, visual effects professional, and independent toy creator. Over the course of his career, Tony has contributed to major film campaigns, worked in visual...
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Ep. 278 Toys on Tap w/ Motley Miscreations: From Battle Beasts to Making Toys for Collectors
Brandon of Motley Miscreations joins the show to discuss his journey from childhood toy collector to professional sculptor, resin caster, and independent toy maker. Growing up with Battle Beasts, TMNT, Batman, comics, and video games, Brandon always had a passion for art and creativity. After...
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Ep. 277 Toys on Tap w/ Mimor Toys: The DIY Sofubi Artist Changing the Toy Scene
Mimor Toys steps on the stage to talk about handmade soft vinyl toys, learning sofubi production from scratch, and building an entirely analog toy-making process out of a garage in Southern California. Inspired by Kidrobot, Dunnys, Webkinz, Club Penguin, and DIY maker culture, Mimor grew up...
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Ep. 276 Toys on Tap w/ Zander Miner Toys: How This RISD Graduate Became a Toy Designer
Toy designer and illustrator Zander Miner joins the show to talk about turning original characters into collectible toys. Inspired by cartoons like Adventure Time, Gravity Falls, Teen Titans, and Regular Show, Zander grew up wanting to become an animator and artist. After studying illustration at...
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Ep. 275 Toys on Tap w/ Ehimo Adventures: How TMNT & Warhammer Created This Toy Maker
Toy maker and sculptor Ehimo joins the show to talk about his journey from vintage toy collector to internationally recognized independent creator. Growing up in Spain surrounded by TMNT, Street Sharks, Warhammer, and role-playing games, Ehimo developed an obsession with toys and miniature…
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Ep. 274 Toys on Tap w/ Gum it up Makers:The Real Story Behind Launching a Toy Kickstarter
Danny and Esther join the show to share the story behind their original toy line and upcoming Kickstarter. Danny, a longtime artist who has worked on major animated films, opens up about a difficult moment in his career that led him back to creating for himself. What started as a personal reset...
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Ep. 273 Toys on Tap w/ Kaleo Legends:Turning Theology Into Action Figures
Jeff from Kaleo Legends joins the show to talk about creating a new kind of action figure line rooted in biblical inspiration, mythology, and storytelling. We dive into his journey from youth ministry to working at Mezco, and eventually taking the leap to build his own toy company. Jeff shares…
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Ep. 272 Toys on Tap w/ Sergey Safonov:How Creativity Survives Without Influence
Sergey Safonov joins the show to share a completely different path into the world of character design and art toys. Growing up in the Soviet Union with limited access to toys and pop culture, Sergey developed a unique creative voice rooted in storytelling and original character creation. From…
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Ep. 271 Toys on Tap w/ Seismic Toys: From Fans to Licensed Toy Makers
Chris and Alex from Seismic Toys join the show to talk about building a licensed toy company from the ground up. From meeting at G-Fest to producing officially licensed Ultraman and Astro Boy figures, they break down what it actually takes to move from collector to creator. We dive into their…
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Ep. 270 Toys on Tap w/ Hakon Collectibles: Creating a Toy Scene Where None Exists
Hakon Collectibles is doing something most people wouldn’t even attempt, building a designer toy scene in Scotland where there is much of one. In this episode, we talk about his journey from growing up on Ghostbusters and Ninja Turtles to spending 12 years teaching kids how to rollerblade… all...
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Ep. 269 Toys on Tap w/ Ali Bate: Building a Toy Scene From Scratch in South Africa
In this episode, we sit down with South African toy maker Ali Bates, a creator pushing the boundaries of what toys can be in a place where the scene is still just beginning. From rediscovering art during lockdown to building characters like his iconic bag-head figures and emotional devil...
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Ep. 268 Toys on Tap w/ Mutant Vinyl Hardcore Episode 3: Just Be Genuine
In the final episode of our three-part series with Rich of Mutant Vinyl Hardcore, we zoom out and reflect on the long game. Rich opens up about what decades in the sofubi scene have taught him about creativity, discipline, community, and what actually matters over time. We talk about the…
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Ep. 267 Toys on Tap w/ Mutant Vinyl Hardcore Episode 2: The Business of Sofubi
In episode two with Rich of Mutant Vinyl Hardcore, we move from origin story into real growth. Rich breaks down what happened after the first Sludge Demon run, how he learned to stretch inventory, price work fairly, and slowly build MVH without pretending success came overnight. We talk about the...
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Ep. 266 Toys on Tap w/ Mutant Vinyl Hardcore Episode 1: The Origin Story
We sit down with Rich of Mutant Vinyl Hardcore to dig into the roots before the legend. This episode stays in the origin story: growing up around small-business hustle, early encouragement from a Marvel Comics artist, and a childhood shaped by He-Man, G.I. Joe, fantasy films, graffiti, anime...
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Ep. 265 Toys on Tap w/ Draculazer: Touring the World, Then Making Monsters
We sit down with Michael, aka Draculazor, to trace a path from childhood weird-toy obsession to becoming a mainstay in the sofubi world. He talks hand-me-down Transformers and Marvel, buying his first Japanese soft vinyl in 2005, and the brutal college house-party flood that forced him to sell...
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Ep. 264 Toys on Tap w/ Buya Toys: Trust the Pivot
We sit down with Ron of Buya Toys to trace a wild pivot from gaming industry 3D artist to full-time music-inspired toy maker in Thailand. Growing up in the Middle East, art became survival, identity, and escape. After losing his job, Ron found clarity through music, The Artist’s Way, and…
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Ep. 263 Toys on Tap w/ Merthewiz: From Sketch to Milk Carton
We sit down with M+W to trace the rise of Beefy Boy, from sketchbook idea to milk-carton-packaged art toy. A Singapore-based maker with global experience, Merick shares how American cartoons, gym culture, and He-Man proportions collided into a cow-themed character that actually moves units at...
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Ep. 262 Toys on Tap w/Elwa: Designing Toys That Do Something
We sit down with ELWA to talk about choosing creative freedom over turning passion into pressure. While holding a 9-to-5, ELWA builds toys on the side, by design and using that distance to protect experimentation and joy. We trace his path from drawing and video games to UX/UI, 3D modeling, and...
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Ep. 261 Toys on Tap w/ Canary Customs:When Action Figures Become Fine Art
We sit down with John of Canary Customs to talk about finding art through action figures, resin, and doing things the hard way on purpose. From growing up on Star Wars toys with his dad to discovering custom figures during the pandemic, John shares how fine art, kitbashing, and analog mold-making...
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Ep. 260 Toys on Tap w/ Janky Toys: Making Art While the Ground Shifts
We sit down with Christopher (Janky Toys) for a wide-ranging, deeply honest conversation about making art, surviving the market, and staying human in the process. We talk DesignerCon, orbiting the toy scene without chasing the spotlight, and why working with artists, not just collectors, changes...
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Ep. 259 Toys on Tap w/ GonKong Studios:From Tattoo Flash to Soft Vinyl
We sit down with Josh of Gong Kong Studios to trace a path that runs from childhood anime obsessions to tattooing, and eventually into soft vinyl toy making. We talk Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh, obscure robot cartoons, and how discovering sofubi at a hardcore show flipped a creative switch. Josh walks us...
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Ep. 258 Toys on Tap w/ Nofubi Toys: Hong Kong, Kaiju, and the Quiet Build
We sit down with Dan to explore how a life spent in Hong Kong, at the crossroads of Eastern and Western pop culture, shaped his path into toy design. From growing up surrounded by kaiju, Ultraman, and untranslated toys, to building a career in commercial design, this episode traces how creativity...
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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...
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Ep. 256 Toys on Tap w/ Spumoni Toys Co: Building Toys the Hard Way
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...
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Ep. 255 Toys on Tap w/ MindSponge Toys: Toy Production in Full Swing
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...
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Ep. 254 Toys on Tap w/ MUMBOT: Art, Toys, and Playing the Long Game
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...
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Ep. 253 Toys on Tap w/ Madworld Toys: From Needles to Kaiju: The Tattoo Artist Who Wouldn’t Stop Creating
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…
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Ep. 252 Toys on Tap w/ Mecha Virus: Kaiju, Customs, and Comebacks
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…
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Ep. 251 Toys on Tap w/ The Last Goldfish: From Museums to Mutant Fish Machines
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...
About this show
Toys on Tap is a designer-toy podcast, creative platform, and production studio founded and hosted by Abraham Musto. It interviews artists, sculptors, collectors, and creators from the designer-toy, sofubi, resin, vinyl, bootleg, and collectible-art communities. Toys on Tap also helps artists develop and launch physical toys through production planning, factory coordination, crowdfunding strategy, packaging, storytelling, and promotion.
Hosted by
Toys on Tap