You Don’t Know Peanuts - The Untold Stories

For the final episode of this season of You Don’t Know Peanuts, hosts Melissa and Damian talk with content creators Thalia (@milkyyoats) and Melissa (@snoopylovinggal) to discuss why Gen Z is just so taken with Snoopy (specifically with a puffer coat)! 

Melissa and Damian speak with Liz Conyngham, the former brand director of Peanuts Worldwide to learn more about the process of licensing; working with Sparky, and how products featuring Snoopy and the Peanuts gang end up on the shelves of our stores.

Dan Lambe, CEO of the Arbor Day Foundation, joins the podcast to discuss the longstanding partnership with the Peanuts brand, as well as the 50th anniversary of the classic special, It’s Arbor Day, Charlie Brown. 

Melissa and Damian chat with Darren Irby from the American Red Cross to talk about the multiple campaigns that Peanuts and the nonprofit have teamed up for; the Gen Z turnout, and why Snoopy and the Peanuts gang were the right choice for a collaboration. 

Melissa and Damian kick off this new season with a conversation with Chris Bracco, the executive vice president creative director of the Charles M. Schulz studio, who dives into all things Peanuts in the world of watches. The trio discusses the partnerships with brands such as Omega, Timex, and Bamford; the process of designing and approving product, and how the Apple Watch faces came to be. 

In this holiday bonus episode, our hosts speak with the senior director of special events and creative for ICE!, an immersive holiday experience that features the beloved A Charlie Brown Christmas. 

This week Melissa and Damian speak with Derrick Bang - whose book, 50 years of happiness: A tribute to Charles M. Schulz, is the reference guide for Peanuts employees to gain even deeper knowledge of the brand. We dive in to all things Peanuts, as well as Derrick's other works that encapsulate the world of the iconic comic strip. 

Snoopy is one of the most beloved characters in all of comics. Known for his many personas and lovable energy - he is truly one of a kind. In this episode, we speak with Judy Sladky, the woman who has been appearing as the beagle for over 40 years, who  shares what it is truly like to "be" Snoopy. 

In honor of the release of the official book celebration of the 75th anniversary of Peanuts, Creative Director Emeritus of Charles M. Schulz Creative Associates, Paige Braddock, joins us to talk about her contributions to the book, as well as the history and the legacy of Schulz's art. 

Long before the viral puffer coat plush, Snoopy was turning comic fans into committed collectors. In this episode, Peanuts Collectors Club President Kathy Magrane talks to Melissa and Damian about some of the world’s most famous beagle’s biggest fanatics and the ultimate Peanuts party: Beaglefest. 

From seven newspapers to worldwide acclaim, plain white tee to famous zigzag, Snoopy on four paws to an upright Joe Cool, the story of Peanuts’ evolution is the story of all of our lives. At San Diego Comic-Con 2025, a panel of behind-the-scenes experts and famous followers—including Snoopy mega-fan Alec Baldwin—share their insights on Charles Schulz’ unparalleled achievement.

How did a knack for growing a brand-new berry turn into a major American theme park?  Why did a child-scaring mascot lead to a long-running relationship with Charles Schulz and the Peanuts gang?  And who cemented that link through ice-skating?  We talk with Ken Parks from Knott's Berry Farm to find out more...

Where can you find Schroeder Hall - as well as a statue of Lucy dressed as a cheerleader?  Why Sonoma State University, not far from the Schulz museum, of course!  Today, we talk with Jacob Yarrow, executive director of the Green Music Center at Sonoma State University.  Learn all about the connection between Peanuts, Sparky and classical music; including Schroeder, Beethoven and the musicians that have been inspired by the strip.

That catchy Christmas song, the time Snoopy went up again the Beatles and other stories about the “Peanuts” music everyone loves

Snoopy returned to space on the first launch of the Artemis rocket as the official Zero Gravity Indicator.  Hear from NASA Launch Director Charlie Blackwell Thompson about having a special Snoopy plush made specifically to ride on the first launch - it's not nearly as simple as it sounds!

Since 1952, fans have eagerly lined their shelves with the colorful spines of Peanuts paperbacks. The pocket-sized books sold millions, as readers could sit down and enjoy nearly a year’s worth of Peanuts strips at once. We talk with Benjamin L. Clark, curator of the Charles M. Schulz Museum to discover the history of these beloved treasures, see the full collection of titles, and learn how it all started with someone who didn’t read comics at all!

After years of planning, "Project Cashew" is finally revealed — not as a plan for world domination but as a plan to increase kindness and appreciation. We learn about a new partnership with Starbucks, lovely Peanuts mugs and, if you live in France, where you can get a "Charlie Brownie."  Intrigued yet?

Which spacecraft were named "Charlie Brown" and "Snoopy"?  How many Snoopy dolls have flown in space?  What is the NASA "Silver Snoopy" award?   We talk to Silver Snoopy recipient and former NASA Flight Controller (and Snoopy super-fan) Ginger Kerrick about the long history between NASA and Peanuts.

We explore the influence of the Peanuts comic strip on the world of fashion with Lynn Downey, former Levi’s archivist and author. Why did Charlie Brown have that zigzag pattern on his shirt, and how did Lucy's outfits change in the 1970s? Downey takes us behind the scenes of the upcoming “Snoopy in Style” exhibition in Paris, celebrating 75 years of Peanuts' lasting impact on the fashion industry.

We talk with Rob "Boots" Boutilier about how he started in animation, his trip to NASA on behalf of Peanuts, his work on The Snoopy Show and Camp Snoopy on AppleTV+ and how they managed to get Snoopy's "voice" recorded for shows.  We also talk about his experiences at the Schulz Museum and the one thing you'll never see.

Since 1984, The Foundation for Hospital Art has been dedicated to softening the hospital environment with colorful paintings, wall murals and ceiling tiles.  Over 1,000,000 volunteers and patients have united to create over 53,000 paintings for over 8,500 hospitals in 195 countries.   Peanuts Worldwide has teamed up with the foundation to bring Snoopy, Woodstock, Charlie Brown and the whole Peanuts gang to hospitals around the world - including Antarctica!  

Did Charles Schulz tell lots of jokes?  Did he enjoy a good prank?  What kind of humor made him LOL? Hear the behind-the-scenes stories about his sense of humor when we talk with Charles' wife, Jeannie Schulz. Jeannie shares some of her late husband's favorite jokes and how something as serious as War and Peace impacted the Peanuts comics. Jeannie also talks about how Sparky was a master at the pace of the four-panel strip, included serious topics in his daily strips while still making them funny, and why he hated the name Peanuts for his comic strip.

Hallmark and Peanuts have sold over one billion Peanuts greeting cards worldwide since their introduction in 1960. This partnership also helped produce the popular Snoopy plush dolls and the iconic Snoopy for President campaign. Peanuts podcast hosts Melissa Menta and David Templeton talk to Hallmark archivist and historian Samantha Bradbeer Stephens about the longstanding friendship between Hallmark founder and Peanuts superfan Arnold Shapiro and Charles Schulz.

The Peanuts Global Artist Collective is an unprecedented global initiative in which the beloved Peanuts characters have been brought to life in new and exciting ways for the public to experience. The project was first launched in the spring of 2018 with seven murals in New York City and then expanded to numerous cities worldwide.  Podcast hosts Melissa Menta and David Templeton talk to Brazilian artist Eli Sudbrack, one of the artists who participated in the initiative. 

For the first 18 years of the Peanuts comic strip — from 1950 until 1968 — all the characters looked mostly the same: They were all white kids. Then, with the nation battling civil unrest, a cartoon boy named Franklin changed everything. Hear about what inspired the 1968 creation of Franklin and how he was brought into the Peanuts gang. Melissa and David talk about Franklin’s enduring legacy and speak with Marissa Nance, CEO of Native Tongue Communications. The trio also discusses The Armstrong Project, which provides training, connections, and scholarships to encourage more people of color to participate in animation. Learn how the project started and how Rob Armstrong, the cartoonist and friend of Charles Schulz, inspired the character Franklin's last name.  

Nothing about the holiday comic strip brought to life was conventional — from its jazz soundtrack and Bible verse to the child actors used to voice the now-classic Christmas classic. For over 50 years, we’ve been part of Charlie’s seasonal depression, Lucy’s pageant and the puny but perfect little tree wrapped by Linus’ blanket. "A Charlie Brown Christmas" was the first of many Peanuts animated TV specials, movies and series. Learn what it took to get “A Charlie Brown Christmas” on the air from insider Jason Mendelson, son of Peanuts legend Lee Mendelson. Lee produced "A Charlie Brown Christmas" and even wrote the lyrics to the famous theme song. As a child, Jason voiced several Peanuts characters and has countless stories about the holiday special and the show’s beloved music, including the bumpy path it took to get the music just right.

How do they make those giant balloons for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City? How do they keep them from flying away? How many times has Snoopy been part of the parade. What about Charlie Brown? Will Linus ever get his balloon? Melissa and David get the inside scoop from Will Coss, vice president and executive producer of branded entertainment at Macy's. Will shares some of the outrageous inside details few people know - “Inflation Eve,” anyone? -  and he even talks about what happened during last year’s parade when part of the Beagle Scout Snoopy deflated. He walks us through the design process for a new balloon idea and what it takes to make a balloon actually "fly.” He also shares fun behind-the-scenes stories about the “Peanuts” parade balloons, including some Charles Schulz designed himself.   Stay up to date and share your Peanuts Love Stories at www.youdontknowpeanuts.com