Under The Puppet

http://www.UnderThePuppet.com -

At just 17 years old, Justin Ward has embraced the world of puppetry full force. Not only is Justin a puppeteer and builder, he's also the writer, producer and creative mastermind behind the series Draw It Out - a show that aims to help young children develop reading skills through puppetry, animation, and storytelling. I talk to Justin Ward about his passion for puppetry and creating on this episode of Under The Puppet.

Plus, hear more of my conversation with Justin Ward by becoming a Saturday Morning Media Patreon Patron. Visit http://www.patreon.com/saturdaymorningmedia for info and to help create more episodes like this.

Connect with Justin Ward:

Draw It Out - https://rumble.com/v790i54-draw-it-out-s1-ep1-splattered-paint-pilot.html IMDB - https://www.imdb.com/name/nm18052946/?ref_=tt_ov_1_1

Discussed on the show: DefunctTV: Jim Henson Documentary Series - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLplWWKocAfTYIGzH8eQ0x0kEQgoV9CpYm The Muppets - https://muppets.disney.com/ Sesame Street - https://sesameworkshop.org/ Adam Kreutinger - https://www.youtube.com/puppetnerd Reading Rainbow - https://www.readingrainbow.org/ Rock 'N Learn - https://www.youtube.com/rocknlearn Between the Lions - https://pbskids.org/ The Mr. E Show / Mr. E - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUZWFHZ-TRXfeOCjduck4ZsAKiulw7cYi Jessica Care Moore - https://www.jessicacaremoore.org/ FOX 2 Detroit - Justin Ward Interview - https://thedetroit.org/news/detroit-teen-pulls-the-strings-to-help-kids-learn-to-read

Connect with the Show: http://www.instagram.com/underthepuppet https://www.facebook.com/underthepuppet http://www.twitter.com/underthepuppet

Connect with Grant: http://www.mrgrant.com/http://www.twitter.com/toasterboy https://instagram.com/throwingtoasters/

Art by Parker Jacobs Music by Dan Ring Edited by Stephen Staver

©2026 Saturday Morning Media - http://www.saturdaymorningmedia.com

http://www.UnderThePuppet.com -

Artie Esposito began working his puppetry skills at a young age. Several years puppeteering at Walt Disney World as well as workshops with The Jim Henson Company and The Muppets would propel him to television on shows such as Crank Yankers and Sesame Street. He puppeteered Baloo the Bear in the live action remake of Disney's The Jungle Book and puppeteers Freddy Fazebear for the film Five Nights At Freddys where he also served as Puppet Captain. I talk to Artie Esposito about all these things on this episode of Under The Puppet.

Plus, hear more of my conversation with Artie Esposito by becoming a Saturday Morning Media Patreon Patron. Visit http://www.patreon.com/saturdaymorningmedia for info and to help create more episodes like this.

Connect with Artie Esposito:

Website - https://www.puppetsbyartie.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/puppetsbyartie/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@ArtieEsposito IMDB - https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1186819/

Discussed on the show:

The Muppet Show - https://shows.disney.com/the-muppet-show

The Jim Henson Company - https://www.henson.com/

Ringling College of Art and Design - https://www.ringling.edu/

Walt Disney World - https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/

Bear in the Big Blue House - https://shows.disney.com/bear-in-the-big-blue-house

Festival of the Lion King - https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/entertainment/animal-kingdom/festival-of-the-lion-king/

Sesame Street Live - https://sesamestreetlive.com/

Crank Yankers - https://www.paramountplus.com/shows/crank-yankers/

Sesame Workshop - https://sesameworkshop.org/

Muppet Mobile Lab - https://d23.com/a-to-z/muppet-mobile-lab/

The Muppets - https://muppets.disney.com/

America's Got Talent - https://www.nbc.com/americas-got-talent

D23 - https://d23.com/

Lady Gaga - https://www.ladygaga.com/

Swazzle - https://www.swazzle.com/

Chiodo Brothers - https://chiodobros.com/

The Jungle Book - https://movies.disney.com/the-jungle-book-2016

The Little Mermaid Live! - https://abc.com/show/5800af6c-88bd-4985-921d-29d93f02dba9

Five Nights at Freddy's - https://www.universalpicturesathome.com/movies/five-nights-at-freddys

Gabby's Dollhouse Live! - https://gabbysdollhouselive.com/usa/

Connect with the Show: http://www.instagram.com/underthepuppet https://www.facebook.com/underthepuppet http://www.twitter.com/underthepuppet

Connect with Grant: http://www.mrgrant.com/http://www.twitter.com/toasterboy https://instagram.com/throwingtoasters/

Art by Parker Jacobs Music by Dan Ring Edited by Stephen Staver

©2026 Saturday Morning Media - http://www.saturdaymorningmedia.com

http://www.UnderThePuppet.com -

Lee Armstrong is a puppeteer, producer and the co-owner of Images In Motion, a company that specializes in TV Production, puppets and 3D Printing. Lee worked as a puppeteer on three seasons of Jim Henson's Fraggle Rock and her other screen puppetry credits include Being John Malkovich, Follow That Bird and Mustard Pancakes. She won a Regional Emmy for her special Land of I and as a lifelong teacher, Lee has taught puppetry to thousands as well as teaching the course "Jim Henson and the Art of the Muppets" at the University of California at Santa Cruz. I'm excited to welcome Lee Armstrong as my guest on this episode of Under The Puppet.

Support the show! Visit http://www.patreon.com/saturdaymorningmedia for info and to help create more episodes like this.

Connect with Lee Armstrong:

Website - https://www.imagesmedia.com/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/images_inmotion/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ImagesinMotionMedia/ IMDB - https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0035796/

Discussed on the show: Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia - https://mermaidtheatre.ca/ Acadia University - https://www.acadiau.ca/ Mount Allison University - https://mta.ca/ Children's Fairyland - https://www.fairyland.org/ Folkmanis Puppets - https://www.folkmanis.com/ Puppeteers of America - https://puppeteers.org/ Puppetry Journal - https://www.puppeteers.org/shop/ UNIMA-USA - https://www.unima-usa.org/ Canada Council for the Arts - https://canadacouncil.ca/ HB Studio - https://www.hbstudio.org/ Fraggle Rock - https://www.henson.com/fraggle-rock/ Jim Henson - https://www.henson.com/jim-henson/ The Jim Henson Company - https://www.henson.com/ Julie Taymor TED Talks - https://www.ted.com/speakers/julie_taymor The Public Theater - https://publictheater.org/ University of Toronto - https://www.utoronto.ca/ Quigley's Village - https://www.quigleysvillage.com/ James and the Giant Peach - https://movies.disney.com/james-and-the-giant-peach Mattel - https://corporate.mattel.com/ Crayola - https://www.crayola.com/ The San Francisco Music Box Company - https://www.sanfranciscomusicbox.com/ LeapFrog - https://www.leapfrog.com/ Industrial Light & Magic - https://www.ilm.com/ Swazzle - https://www.swazzle.com/ Smokey Bear - https://smokeybear.com/ U.S. Forest Service - https://www.fs.usda.gov/ Adventures with Kanga Roddy - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0138998/ Oracle - https://www.oracle.com/ Being John Malkovich - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120601/ Ronnie Burkett Theatre of Marionettes - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronnie_Burkett Mustard Pancakes - https://www.courtneycampbell.com/ Follow That Bird - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089994/ Sesame Street - https://www.sesameworkshop.org/what-we-do/shows/sesame-street University of Connecticut Puppet Arts - https://drama.uconn.edu/programs/puppet-arts/ Black Hills Institute of Geological Research - https://www.bhigr.com/ California Academy of Sciences - https://www.calacademy.org/ Southern Oregon University - https://sou.edu/ University of California, Santa Cruz - https://www.ucsc.edu/ San Francisco Bay Area Puppeteers Guild - https://sfbapg.org/ Center for Puppetry Arts - https://puppet.org/

Connect with the Show: http://www.instagram.com/underthepuppet https://www.facebook.com/underthepuppet http://www.twitter.com/underthepuppet

Connect with Grant: http://www.mrgrant.com/http://www.twitter.com/toasterboy https://instagram.com/throwingtoasters/

Art by Parker Jacobs Music by Dan Ring Edited by Stephen Staver

©2026 Saturday Morning Media - http://www.saturdaymorningmedia.com

http://www.UnderThePuppet.com -

On Friday, July 21, 2023, I was honored to be asked to host a post-performance question and answer session with ventriloquist Terry Fator at the Puppeteers of America Festival at the University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland. I was able to chat chat with Terry about performing on America's Got Talent, where his early puppets came from, how much improvisation goes into his act, his singing chops and more. I'm happy to share a recording of that audio with you on this episode of Under The Puppet.

Connect with Terry Fator: Website - https://terryfator.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/terryfator/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@officialterryfator

Discussed on the show:

Puppeteers of America - https://puppeteers.org

National Puppetry Festival - https://puppeteers.org/national-puppetry-festival

Sesame Street - https://sesamestreet.org

Sesame Street Live - https://www.sesamestreetlive.com

America's Got Talent - https://www.nbc.com/americas-got-talent

The Jim Henson Company - https://www.henson.com

The Muppets - https://muppets.disney.com

Kermit the Frog - https://muppets.disney.com/kermit-the-frog

Puppet Heap - https://www.puppetheap.com

Venthaven Museum - https://venthaven.org

UNIMA-USA - https://www.unima-usa.org

The Mirage Las Vegas - https://mirage.com

Sam and Friends - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_and_Friends

Edgar Bergen - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgar_Bergen

Charlie McCarthy - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_McCarthy

Connect with the Show: http://www.instagram.com/underthepuppet https://www.facebook.com/underthepuppet http://www.twitter.com/underthepuppet

Connect with Grant: http://www.mrgrant.com/http://www.twitter.com/toasterboy https://instagram.com/throwingtoasters/

Art by Parker Jacobs Music by Dan Ring Edited by Stephen Staver

©2026 Saturday Morning Media - http://www.saturdaymorningmedia.com

http://www.UnderThePuppet.com -

Honey Goodenough is a puppeteer, clown, educator and magician. She's traveled the United States and the world with her shows Sock Monkey Circus and Word Play and she's been featured at the National Puppetry Slam several times. She's toured with the Frisch Marionettes and worked with past Under The Puppet guest Nick Coppola performing at Macy's in New York City. Honey has also founded several grants to assist puppeteers and is the creator of Puppet Pandemic, a nationally touring puppet slam funded in part by Heather Hensons Puppet Slam Network. Honey Goodenough is my guest on this episode of Under The Puppet.

Plus, hear more of my conversation with Honey Goodenough by becoming a Saturday Morning Media Patreon Patron. Visit http://www.patreon.com/saturdaymorningmedia for info and to help create more episodes like this.

Connect with Honey Goodenough:

Website - https://goodheartedentertainment.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/goodhearted_entertainment/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@honeygoodenough304

Discussed on the show:

2001 - Yello Dyno: First professional wrangling Job

https://youtu.be/apMsMF-9wpM?si=UplJL-mTYXkjlnrY

2010 - Sweet Dreams: Marionette Piece

https://youtu.be/v8uodD_8DVc?si=zNbPhwhREAnlA66h

2014 - A Dream of ME:

https://youtu.be/qYPWO-RgaZs?si=zGEOXywcnx3b5EQ9

2016 - WORD PLAY: Trailer

https://youtu.be/sc-49YbQD-k?si=KLdz5h4CoAUzVB4O

2017 - Sock Monkey Circus Trailer:

https://youtu.be/9Jsxek_xQ0M?si=nVR8bSMWsAlxR7O0

2015 NYTimes: Robotica The Caring Bear: Boston Children's Hospital

https://youtu.be/QwTCmbq9C4o?si=jVViBeyvQrKWc1Gm

2015 - Buzzfeed: I'm a clown but I'm not...

https://youtu.be/fLgm4qSc6SA?si=Ipyp-32BKoszSEbM

2015 Wired: Huggable, BCH Boston Children's Hospital

https://youtu.be/UaRCCA2rRR0?si=asKcoD33qK7o429x

2009-2014 - Macy's Marionette Theater: Miracle on 34th Street:

https://youtu.be/Km61BTxiDyc?si=36fLxLwZaHVw4qs5

2009-2014 - Macy's Marionette Theater: Nearly FULL Show: Miracle on 34th St.

https://youtu.be/_RzvwmwaGMY?si=ZwVaKAFx1gPgveAs

Trash Island, By Wonder Spark - Honey made costumes and helped with Puppet Builds.

https://youtu.be/Vor0SiUqtY8?si=rYBhCL5E1YzsDKhk

2013 - The Fuzz: Head Wrangler

https://youtu.be/tiTrLy5D8k4?si=LNXTaqlNfIkHaC5A

Music Videos

2010 - Sia: Clap your hands:

https://youtu.be/HLA0ofsu0Qg?si=o4nzjggD8nI94Dy7

2026- Mikky and the Dooms: H2Hoe

https://youtu.be/Jkb5_e9vuic?si=AnNEUQsg0i4avnzo

Mr. Leo's Bus - https://www.gofundme.com/f/save-mr-leos-magic-puppet-bus

Word Play at the Puppet Fringe in 2026 - https://puppetfringenyc.com/

Connect with the Show: http://www.instagram.com/underthepuppet https://www.facebook.com/underthepuppet http://www.twitter.com/underthepuppet

Connect with Grant: http://www.mrgrant.com/http://www.twitter.com/toasterboy https://instagram.com/throwingtoasters/

Art by Parker Jacobs Music by Dan Ring Edited by Stephen Staver

©2026 Saturday Morning Media - http://www.saturdaymorningmedia.com

http://www.UnderThePuppet.com - Nicolas Coppola became enchanted by puppetry at an early age. This enchantment lead to a life of building, performing and running puppet companies that has lasted over 70 years. He created shows for The Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C. and had a long standing job creating shows and performing at Macy*s in New York City. He also created PuppetWorks, a non-profit marionette theater in Park Slope Brooklyn, New York that has entertained families since 1980. I chat with Nicolas Coppola about his amazing career on this episode of Under The Puppet.

Plus, hear more of my conversation with Nicolas Coppola by becoming a Saturday Morning Media Patreon Patron. Visit http://www.patreon.com/saturdaymorningmedia for info and to help create more episodes like this.

Connect with Nicolas Coppola: Website - https://puppetworks.org Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/puppetworksnyc/

Discussed on the show: Puppetworks History - https://puppetworks.org/blank/ Honey Goodenough - https://www.instagram.com/honeygoodenough/ Vincent Anthony - https://www.unima-usa.org/vince-anthony-tribute

Connect with the Show: http://www.instagram.com/underthepuppet https://www.facebook.com/underthepuppet http://www.twitter.com/underthepuppet

Connect with Grant: http://www.mrgrant.com/http://www.twitter.com/toasterboy https://instagram.com/throwingtoasters/

Art by Parker Jacobs Music by Dan Ring Edited by Stephen Staver

©2026 Saturday Morning Media - http://www.saturdaymorningmedia.com

http://www.UnderThePuppet.com -

Jim LoGiudice began his career making props and models for films such as The Abyss, Con Air, The Rocketeer, and Armageddon. He made the move to puppetry though his church and started developing the characters and the show that would become Far Outpost, which performs weekly at Granite Creek Church in Claremont, California. I talk to Jim LoGiudice about the development of Far Outpost, the building of the puppets on the show, their crazy special effects, and more on this episode of Under The Puppet.

One quick note. During my interview with Jim we discuss some of the special effect techniques uses on Far Outpost. Jim is a Hollywood professional and has trained in creating these special effects. Do not attempt any of the effect techniques discussed in this interview for yourself.

Plus, hear more of my conversation with Jim LoGiudice by becoming a Saturday Morning Media Patreon Patron. Visit http://www.patreon.com/saturdaymorningmedia for info and to help create more episodes like this.

Connect with Jim LoGiudice: Far Outpost - https://www.youtube.com/@FarOutpost Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jimbo.logiudice/ IMDB - https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0517754/

Discussed on the show: Granite Creek Community Church - https://www.granitecreek.org The Abyss (1989) - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096754/ Con Air (1997) - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118880/ The Rocketeer (1991) - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0102803/ Armageddon (1998) - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120591/ Flubber (1997) - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119137/ Men in Black (1997) - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119654/

Sesame Street - https://www.sesamestreet.org The Muppet Show - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Muppet_Show The Muppet Movie (1979) - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079588/ Mystery Science Theater 3000 - https://www.gizmoplex.com Joel Hodgson - https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0388273 Joel Hodgson's TV Wheel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meqonUzc-pI

Connect with the Show: http://www.instagram.com/underthepuppet https://www.facebook.com/underthepuppet http://www.twitter.com/underthepuppet

Connect with Grant: http://www.mrgrant.com/http://www.twitter.com/toasterboy https://instagram.com/throwingtoasters/

Art by Parker Jacobs Music by Dan Ring Edited by Stephen Staver

©2026 Saturday Morning Media - http://www.saturdaymorningmedia.com

http://www.UnderThePuppet.com -

In July of 2025, an incredible group of people got together at the Amazon MGM studios in Culver City, California on historic stage 15, to shoot a series of shorts called Judge Boing Boing. I recently sat down with the creative forces behind this project Bill Barretta and Frank Oz to find out how it all came together for this episode of Under The Puppet.

Connect with Judge Boing Boing: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/judgeboingboing/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@JUDGEBOINGBOING TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@judgeboingboing

Discussed on the show: Milton Berle on the Muppets clip - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POH8xAsuNr4 WIlkins and WOntkins - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K33mMjsjbdA

Connect with the Show: http://www.instagram.com/underthepuppet https://www.facebook.com/underthepuppet http://www.twitter.com/underthepuppet

Connect with Grant: http://www.mrgrant.com/http://www.twitter.com/toasterboy https://instagram.com/throwingtoasters/

Art by Parker Jacobs Music by Dan Ring Edited by Stephen Staver

©2026 Saturday Morning Media - http://www.saturdaymorningmedia.com

http://www.UnderThePuppet.com -

Amanda Maddock is a puppeteer, builder, wrangler, and teacher who has experience working with puppets of all sizes. From the regular puppets of The Book of Pooh, Bear in the Big Blue House, Between the Lions, Sesame Street, and The Muppets to the enormous puppets of Walking with Dinosaurs and How to Train Your Dragon, Amanda's career has taken her across the country and around the world—including to Iceland to work on LazyTown and to Russia to puppeteer in the opening ceremonies of the 2014 Winter Olympics.

Versed in many styles of puppetry, from tabletop to hand-and-rod to the animatronics of the two Five Nights at Freddy'sfilms, she has done it all. It's my pleasure to chat with Amanda Maddock about all these projects and more on this episode of Under the Puppet.

Plus, hear more of my conversation with Amanda Maddock by becoming a Saturday Morning Media Patreon Patron. Visit http://www.patreon.com/saturdaymorningmedia for info and to help create more episodes like this.

Connect with Amanda Maddock:

Website - http://www.amandamaddock.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mander_mudduck_puppeterer IMDB - https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1566555 Sandglass Theater Summer Intensive (Amanda is teaching) - https://www.sandglasstheater.org/summer-intensive

Discussed on the show:

The Book of Pooh – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Book_of_Pooh

Bear in the Big Blue House – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bear_in_the_Big_Blue_House

Between the Lions – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Between_the_Lions

Sesame Street – https://www.sesamestreet.org

The Muppets – https://muppet.fandom.com/wiki/The_Muppets

Walking with Dinosaurs – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walking_with_Dinosaurs_%E2%88%92_The_Arena_Spectacular

LazyTown – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LazyTown

2014 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Winter_Olympics_opening_ceremony

Skidmore College – https://www.skidmore.edu

University of Connecticut Puppet Arts Program – https://drama.uconn.edu/puppet-arts/

National Puppetry Conference at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center – https://www.theoneill.org/pup

Puppets in Prague – https://www.puppetsinprague.eu

Sandglass Theater – https://sandglasstheater.org

The Henson International Puppetry Festival – https://www.hensonfestival.org

The Jim Henson Company – https://www.henson.com

Bob Baker Marionette Theater – https://www.bobbakermarionettetheater.com

Connect with the Show: http://www.instagram.com/underthepuppet https://www.facebook.com/underthepuppet http://www.twitter.com/underthepuppet

Connect with Grant: http://www.mrgrant.com/http://www.twitter.com/toasterboy https://instagram.com/throwingtoasters/

Art by Parker Jacobs Music by Dan Ring Edited by Stephen Staver

©2026 Saturday Morning Media - http://www.saturdaymorningmedia.com

http://www.UnderThePuppet.com -

Geneviève Flati is a puppeteer, producer, and one of the most driven creative individuals I know. Her passion has led to work as Puppet Director, Puppet Captain, and Puppeteer on several nationwide tours, including a role as puppeteer and puppet director for The Maybe Man Arena Tour by pop band AJR. She's performed with the Jim Henson Company's Puppet Up! Uncensored, worked on Earth to Ned, and was the Jim Henson Company's youngest female puppet captain on the Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock Live Tour. From commercials to web series to live shows, Geneviève has done it all—and I talk to her about it on this episode of Under the Puppet.

Plus, hear more of my conversation with Geneviève Flati by becoming a Saturday Morning Media Patreon Patron. Visit http://www.patreon.com/saturdaymorningmedia for info and to help create more episodes like this.

Connect with Genevieve Flati:

Website - https://www.gflati.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/gflati/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@genevieveflati2460

Discussed on the show: AJR's Karma Music Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_b86Hx3UdZo AJR - https://www.ajrbrothers.com Jim Henson Company - https://www.henson.com Puppet Up! – Uncensored - https://puppetup.com Earth to Ned - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth_to_Ned Disneyland - https://disneyland.disney.go.com Maverick Theater - https://www.mavericktheater.com Backstage - https://www.backstage.com Disney Careers - https://jobs.disneycareers.com Chapman University - https://www.chapman.edu Kevin Clash - https://saturdaymorningmedia.com/2020/10/utp-52/ Alan Trautman - https://saturdaymorningmedia.com/2017/09/utp-007/

Connect with the Show: http://www.instagram.com/underthepuppet https://www.facebook.com/underthepuppet http://www.twitter.com/underthepuppet

Connect with Grant: http://www.mrgrant.com/http://www.twitter.com/toasterboy https://instagram.com/throwingtoasters/

Art by Parker Jacobs Music by Dan Ring Edited by Stephen Staver

©2026 Saturday Morning Media - http://www.saturdaymorningmedia.com

http://www.UnderThePuppet.com -

In 1981, Rita Peruggi was hired by The Jim Henson Company as a production assistant on various projects including Rocky Mountain Holiday with John Denver and The Muppets. She then moved on to the role of producer for the company working on many projects such as the Jim Henson Play along Videos, Muppet Vision 3D, Dinosaurs, Dark Crystal Age of Resistance, Earth To Ned and Fraggle Rock Back To The Rock. Outside of the The Jim Henson Company, Rita has served as Producer on Jack's Big Music Show and Yo Gabba Gabba! and the updated Yo Gabba GabbaLand!. I talk Rita Peruggi about all of these projects and more on this episode of Under The Puppet.

Plus, hear more of my conversation with Rita Peruggi by becoming a Saturday Morning Media Patreon Patron. Visit http://www.patreon.com/saturdaymorningmedia for info and to help create more episodes like this.

Connect with Rita Peruggi: IMDB - https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0675745/ Wikipedia - https://muppet.fandom.com/wiki/Ritamarie_Peruggi

Discussed on the show: Rita Peruggi – https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0675745/ Jim Henson Company – https://www.henson.com/ Jim Henson Play-Along Videos - https://muppet.fandom.com/wiki/Play-Along_Video Rocky Mountain Holiday with John Denver and the Muppets – https://muppet.fandom.com/wiki/Rocky_Mountain_Holiday Muppet Babies Music Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5EUpo1pXq8 Muppet*Vision 3D – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muppet*Vision_3D Dinosaurs (TV series) – https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101081/ The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance – https://www.netflix.com/title/80148535 Earth to Ned – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth_to_Ned Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock – https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/originals/fraggle-rock-back-to-the-rock/ Jack's Big Music Show – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack%27s_Big_Music_Show Yo Gabba Gabba! – https://www.yogabbagabba.com/ Splash and Bubbles – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Splash_and_Bubbles

Connect with the Show: http://www.instagram.com/underthepuppet https://www.facebook.com/underthepuppet http://www.twitter.com/underthepuppet

Connect with Grant: http://www.mrgrant.com/http://www.twitter.com/toasterboy https://instagram.com/throwingtoasters/

Art by Parker Jacobs Music by Dan Ring Edited by Stephen Staver

©2026 Saturday Morning Media - http://www.saturdaymorningmedia.com

http://www.UnderThePuppet.com -

Louise Gold is puppetry royalty. A trained theatre performer, Louise began her puppetry career working on the second season of The Muppet Show, where she played many characters — including the role of Annie Sue, much to Miss Piggy's dismay. In addition to continuing her work with The Muppets, she went on to perform in The Dark Crystal, Sesame Street, and the Sesame Street spin-off The Furchester Hotel, where she played the hotel's proprietor, Funella Furchester. She's also performed on Spitting Image, The Ghost of Faffner Hall, Dodge's Pup School, and many, many more puppetry projects. I talk to Louise Gold about her incredible career on this episode of Under The Puppet.

Plus, hear more of my conversation with Louise Gold by becoming a Saturday Morning Media Patreon Patron. Visit http://www.patreon.com/saturdaymorningmedia for info and to help create more episodes like this.

Connect with Louise Gold: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/gold7046 IMDB - https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0325028/ Muppet Wiki - https://muppet.fandom.com/wiki/Louise_Gold

Discussed on the show: The Muppet Show - https://shows.disney.com/the-muppet-show Annie Sue - https://muppet.fandom.com/wiki/Annie_Sue The Dark Crystal - https://www.darkcrystal.com/ Sesame Street - https://www.sesamestreet.org/ The Furchester Hotel - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Furchester_Hotel The Ghost of Faffner Hall - https://muppet.fandom.com/wiki/The_Ghost_of_Faffner_Hall Dodge's Pup School - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt33665574/ Spitting Image - https://www.youtube.com/c/SpittingImage

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Connect with Grant: http://www.mrgrant.com/http://www.twitter.com/toasterboy https://instagram.com/throwingtoasters/

Art by Parker Jacobs Music by Dan Ring Edited by Stephen Staver

©2025 Saturday Morning Media - http://www.saturdaymorningmedia.com

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Stacey Weingarten is a puppeteer, puppet wrangler, director, writer, and producer who got her puppet start studying with John Tartaglia and later went on to work on the show Johnny and the Sprites. Since then, she's worked with The Muppets and Sesame Street, where she won an Emmy Award for her work on the show's 50th season. She also has her own theatrical puppetry projects — Rescue Rue and Runaway Rue — that have played Off-Broadwayand at the Hollywood Fringe Festival. I talk to Stacey Weingarten about all these projects and more, including her work on the upcoming The Muppet Show special for Disney+, on this episode of Under The Puppet.

Plus, hear more of my conversation with Stacey Weingarten by becoming a Saturday Morning Media Patreon Patron. Visit http://www.patreon.com/saturdaymorningmedia for info and to help create more episodes like this.

Connect with Stacey Weingarten:

Website - https://www.saweingarten.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sayetc/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/stacey.weingarten.9 IMDB - https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3899160/

Discussed on the show: John Tartaglia - https://saturdaymorningmedia.com/2019/02/utp-25/ Johnny and the Sprites – https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/Johnny_and_the_Sprites Sesame Street – https://www.sesameworkshop.org The Muppets – https://muppets.disney.com Rescue Rue & Runaway Rue – https://www.rescuerue.com Fordham University Theatre Program – https://www.fordham.edu/theatre CTY (Center for Talented Youth) – https://cty.jhu.edu The O'Neill Puppetry Conference – https://www.theoneill.org/pup Tim Lagasse – https://www.timlagasse.com Jim Henson Company – https://www.henson.com Puppet Kitchen NYC – https://www.puppetkitchen.com John Tartaglia's ImaginOcean – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Tartaglia%27s_ImaginOcean

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Connect with Grant: http://www.mrgrant.com/http://www.twitter.com/toasterboy https://instagram.com/throwingtoasters/

Art by Parker Jacobs Music by Dan Ring Edited by Stephen Staver

©2025 Saturday Morning Media - http://www.saturdaymorningmedia.com

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Marisol Himmel is an educational puppeteer and ventriloquist and the creator of Moddy Puppets, A puppet company that explores new ways to use puppetry in education. I talk with Marisol about her puppetry journey, her explorations of different styles of puppetry, her collaborations with other artists and much more on this episode of Under The Puppet.

Plus, hear more of my conversation with Marisol Himmel by becoming a Saturday Morning Media Patreon Patron. Visit www.patreon.com/saturdaymorningmedia for info and to help create more episodes like this.

Connect with Marisol Himmel:

Website - https://moddypuppets.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/moddypuppets/

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/ModdyPuppets

TIkTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@moddypuppets

Discussed on the show: Geoff Rams (ventriloquism coach) - https://www.instagram.com/GeoffRams/

Cynthia Lopez - My Puppet Factory - https://www.instagram.com/MyPuppetFactory/

nunushi - https://www.instagram.com/nunushi.art/

Becca - https://www.instagram.com/Beccasaccount/

Elakha Alliance (otter project) - https://www.instagram.com/ElakhaAlliance

San Francisco Bay Area Puppetry Guild - https://sfbapg.org

Children's Fairyland - https://fairyland.org

Connect with the Show: http://www.instagram.com/underthepuppet https://www.facebook.com/underthepuppet

Connect with Grant: http://www.MrGrant.com https://instagram.com/throwingtoasters/

Art by Parker Jacobs Music by Dan Ring Edited by Stephen Staver

©2025 Saturday Morning Media - http://www.saturdaymorningmedia.com

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Jeanne Lauren worked in the creature shop that was building some of the most iconic creatures for Return of the Jedi. She also worked on the film ensuring the creatures looked good on screen and more importantly, that their performers were comfortable while wearing the creature suits. Her own company, Skyana has been designing puppets, mascots and costumes for Corporate events and television for decades. I talk to Jeanne Lauren about all these things and more, including her appearance as a biker in the 1986 film Howard the Duck, on this episode of Under The Puppet.

Plus, hear more of my conversation with Jeanne Lauren by becoming a Saturday Morning Media Patreon Patron. Visit http://www.patreon.com/saturdaymorningmedia for info and to help create more episodes like this.

Connect with Jeanne Lauren: IMDB - https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0491067/

Discussed on the show: Eco, You and Simon, Too - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCqhpxFd8AY&t=517s Light & Magic (TV Series) - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light_%26_Magic_(TV_series)

To see the photos discussed visit underthepuppet.com

Connect with the Show: http://www.instagram.com/underthepuppet https://www.facebook.com/underthepuppet http://www.twitter.com/underthepuppet

Connect with Grant: http://www.mrgrant.com/http://www.twitter.com/toasterboy https://instagram.com/throwingtoasters/

Art by Parker Jacobs Music by Dan Ring Edited by Stephen Staver

©2025 Saturday Morning Media - http://www.saturdaymorningmedia.com/

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Vanessa Valliere creates original solo theater shows combining elements of clown and puppetry. She's performed these shows all over the world and often performs at the Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival. She's also toured with the Manual Cinema and she recently attended the National Puppetry Conference at the O'Neill for the very first time. I talk to Vanessa Valliere about all these things and more on this episode of Under The Puppet.

Plus, hear more of my conversation with

by becoming a Saturday Morning Media Patreon Patron. Visit http://www.patreon.com/saturdaymorningmedia for info and to help create more episodes like this.

Connect with Vanessa Valliere:

Website - https://www.vanessavalliere.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/vanessavalliere YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@nessagoof

Discussed on the show: Mucca Pazza - https://www.muccapazza.com Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival - https://chicagopuppetfest.org Manual CInema - https://manualcinema.com National Puppetry Conference - https://www.theoneill.org/pup

Connect with the Show: http://www.instagram.com/underthepuppet https://www.facebook.com/underthepuppet http://www.twitter.com/underthepuppet

Connect with Grant: http://www.mrgrant.com/http://www.twitter.com/toasterboy https://instagram.com/throwingtoasters/

Art by Parker Jacobs Music by Dan Ring Edited by Stephen Staver

©2025 Saturday Morning Media - http://www.saturdaymorningmedia.com

http://www.UnderThePuppet.com -

Showko Showfukutei is a Ventriloquist, comedian, actor and one of the few female Rakugo performers in the world. Born in Japan, Showko traveled the world with stops in Canada, Singapore, London to learn her craft which combines 400 year old Japanese comedy techniques and ventriloquism. I talk to Showko about her live stage shows, working on cruise ships, creating web series, being on Australia's Got Talent and much more on this episode of Under The Puppet.

Plus, hear more of my conversation with Showko Showfukutei by becoming a Saturday Morning Media Patreon Patron. Visit http://www.patreon.com/saturdaymorningmedia for info and to help create more episodes like this.

Connect with Showko Showfukutei:

Website - https://showkocomedy.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/showkocomedy/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/ShowkoComedy笑福亭笑子 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ShowkoComedy/

Discussed on the show: Puppets Need Therapy Too - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjaNXplABELOBuUeP9WZz7tofsCbcPt7Q Saccharine - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt35050712/ Heath McIvor - https://saturdaymorningmedia.com/2019/11/utp-34/

Connect with the Show: http://www.instagram.com/underthepuppet https://www.facebook.com/underthepuppet http://www.twitter.com/underthepuppet

Connect with Grant: http://www.mrgrant.com/http://www.twitter.com/toasterboy https://instagram.com/throwingtoasters/

Art by Parker Jacobs Music by Dan Ring Edited by Stephen Staver

©2025 Saturday Morning Media - http://www.saturdaymorningmedia.com

http://www.UnderThePuppet.com -

Sarah Oh is a puppeteer and improvisor who got her start in puppetry working on the Jim Henson Company Show Splash and Bubbles. Since then she's worked with The Muppets, Puppet Up Uncensored, Postmodern Jukebox and on TV shows like Kidding and The Barbarian and the Troll as well the blockbuster film Five Nights At Freddy's as well as the upcoming sequel Five Nights At Freddy's 2! I chat with Sarah about her puppetry career on this episode of Under The Puppet.

Plus, hear more of my conversation with Sarah Oh by becoming a Saturday Morning Media Patreon Patron. Visit http://www.patreon.com/saturdaymorningmedia for info and to help create more episodes like this.

Connect with Sarah Oh: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/troubadourheart IMDB - https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5344942/

Discussed on the show:

Jim Henson Company - https://www.henson.com

Splash and Bubbles - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6167962

Puppet Up! – Uncensored - https://www.puppetup.com

Postmodern Jukebox - https://postmodernjukebox.com

Kidding - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7375404/

The Barbarian and the Troll - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13435114/

Five Nights at Freddy's - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4589218/

Five Nights at Freddy's 2 - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt30274401

Glorious Ladies of Puppetry (GLOP) - https://saturdaymorningmedia.com/2024/02/utp-92/

UC Irvine - https://drama.arts.uci.edu/

Alan Trautman - https://saturdaymorningmedia.com/2017/09/utp-007/

Earth to Ned - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11176048

Let's Be Real - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13102370

Muppets Haunted Mansion - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14602326

The Muppets Mayhem - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt18545980

Connect with the Show: http://www.instagram.com/underthepuppet https://www.facebook.com/underthepuppet http://www.twitter.com/underthepuppet

Connect with Grant: http://www.mrgrant.com/http://www.twitter.com/toasterboy https://instagram.com/throwingtoasters/

Art by Parker Jacobs Music by Dan Ring Edited by Stephen Staver

©2025 Saturday Morning Media - http://www.saturdaymorningmedia.com

http://www.UnderThePuppet.com -

Adrian Rose Leonard is a puppeteer, builder and director who has worked in many forms of puppetry. She's puppeteered on TV shows like Waffles & Mochi's Restaurant, Crank Yankers and Mr. Neighbor's House as well as movies such as If It Bleeds and The Butthole Surfers Movie. She's also directed several projects including short films and music videos. I talk to Adrian Rose Leonard about all this and more on this episode of Under The Puppet.

Plus, hear more of my conversation with Adrian Rose Leonard by becoming a Saturday Morning Media Patreon Patron. Visit http://www.patreon.com/saturdaymorningmedia for info and to help create more episodes like this.

Connect with Adrian Rose Leonard: Website - https://www.yoadrianrose.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/adrianroseleonard IMDB - https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6452467/

Discussed on the show: Crank Yankers - https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6452467/ Mr. Neighbor's House - https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6452467/ Waffles & Mochi's Restaurant - https://www.netflix.com/title/81609457 The Butthole Surfers Movie - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt16304140/ Yamasong: March of the Hollows - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4191486/ Crank Yankers - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0318959/ LA Guild of Puppetry - https://www.laguildofpuppetry.org

Connect with the Show: http://www.instagram.com/underthepuppet https://www.facebook.com/underthepuppet http://www.twitter.com/underthepuppet

Connect with Grant: http://www.mrgrant.com/http://www.twitter.com/toasterboy https://instagram.com/throwingtoasters/

Art by Parker Jacobs Music by Dan Ring Edited by Stephen Staver

©2025 Saturday Morning Media - http://www.saturdaymorningmedia.com

http://www.UnderThePuppet.com -

Stoph Scheer is a puppeteer, writer, and director who has worked with The Jim Henson Company, The Muppets, and even Banksy. Stoph is also a writer, producer and puppeteer for the surreal and nostalgic web series The Creatures of Yes, and has performed in Slumberkins, Puppet Up! Uncensored, and The Muppets Mayhem. I sit down with Stoph to talk about her journey in puppetry and much more on this episode of Under the Puppet.

Plus, hear more of my conversation with Stoph Scheer by becoming a Saturday Morning Media Patreon Patron. Visit http://www.patreon.com/saturdaymorningmedia for info and to help create more episodes like this.

Connect with Stoph Scheer:

Website - http://www.scheerbrilliance.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/stophscheer_transpuppeteer IMDB - https://www.imdb.com/name/nm14251884/

Discussed on the show: Muhlenberg College – Theatre Department - https://www.muhlenberg.edu/academics/theatre-dance/ Sandglass Theater - https://sandglasstheater.org/ The O'Neill National Puppetry Conference - https://www.theoneill.org/pup University of Connecticut (UConn) – Puppet Arts Program - https://drama.uconn.edu/programs/puppet-arts/ Jim Henson Company – Puppet Up! Uncensored - https://www.puppetup.com The Creatures of Yes (YouTube Series) - https://www.youtube.com/@TheCreaturesofYes The Creatures of Yes (Official Site) - https://creaturesofyes.com/ Doppelskope - https://www.doppelskope.com/

Connect with the Show: http://www.instagram.com/underthepuppet https://www.facebook.com/underthepuppet http://www.twitter.com/underthepuppet

Connect with Grant: http://www.mrgrant.com/http://www.twitter.com/toasterboy https://instagram.com/throwingtoasters/

Art by Parker Jacobs Music by Dan Ring Edited by Stephen Staver

©2025 Saturday Morning Media - http://www.saturdaymorningmedia.com