Dad 2 Dad-Dad Talk: Gregg Spiridellis
“ I love that you are facilitating this conversation, we all just want to be the best dads we can be and help our kids be the best they can be”
We are joined this week by 5 time Emmy winner Gregg Spiridellis! Gregg is a dad to 3, the CEO and Co-creator of StoryBots, as well as the Co-founder and former CEO of JibJab....oh and also the voice of Boop!
Gregg is a true Today’s Dad and sheds a lot of light on what it’s like raising kids in today’s age while producing the best kids show of all time. He gives us a great Today’s Dad definition that will really leave you thinking about all the changes that occur from generation to generation.
In This Episode:
Ask The StoryBots
Evan Spiridellis
Netflix
Jibjab
Billy Joel
Michael (Santa) - Holiday Traditions Ep.
Storybots’ Song Writers -
Gabe Sokoloff
Parry Gripp
Erik Weiner
Subscribe:
Apple Podcast - https://apple.co/2Tt9Fka
Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2MfPPI3
Stitcher - http://bit.ly/2McLrJV
Google Podcast - http://bit.ly/2MemDS4
Show Transcript:
Palmer
Hey, everyone welcome to Wake. Dad. Drink. Repeat. the podcast that defines today's dad. I'm Anthony Palmer.
Michael
I'm Michael Smith. Hey, Palmer.
Palmer
Hey, buddy.
Michael
Boop.
Palmer
Was that the sound of a StoryBot or the sound that we made last weekend on the bourbon trail? All weekend long...
Michael
Boop
Palmer
It sounds a little StoryBot. Are you hinting at something here? Hope. Oh, man. All right, Well, that subtle hint you who are special guest was this week.
Michael
Who is our special guest?
Palmer
Our special guest was Gregg Spiridellis, the founder of Jib Jab and StoryBots.
Michael
Ah, and the voice of Boop Boop of StoryBots. Um,
Palmer
yeah, let's be real, that for the minute important role that he's ever played.
Michael
Oh, my goodness. It has been said I read this somewhere. So I say it has been said, if you don't know the StoryBots, you don't have young kids. I'm gonna go and say, if you don't know StoryBots get your shit together.
Palmer
I think that's fair. That's fair.
Michael
That's how I'm gonna go. All right. All right. Well, um, Mr Gregg Spiridelliss of his brother Evan created and founded StoryBots in 2011 amazing kids cartoon amazing learning show that has, I don't I don't know. It has taught me many things in life. So we are beyond stoked to have this interview for you guys and smash play because we had a hell the time with him.
Palmer
Yes. so, Greg's a dad to three and we get into that a little bit more on the show. He's divorced, Um, and somebody who has poured himself into his work for his kids in every sense of the word, not just like we all do, is working to provide for our families but working to provide for his family, both monetarily and with a show that he gets it down and enjoy watching with his kids and that we could sit down and enjoy watching with our kids. So, um, it's a really cool, really cool episode, really great conversation that we get to have with him, and we are beyond grateful that this Emmy Award winning dad would ah, take time and sit down and talk with us.
Michael
Five Emmys. Come on.
Palmer
Okay, Emmys award winning 5 time Emmy Award winning dad would sit down and talk with us
Michael
bananas. Well, um, Greg had an amazing today's dad definition. We're grateful that we're able to bank his today's dad definition in our arsenal. Um, certainly. I think it expanded on a lot of different points that we haven't heard before, which is pretty cool. And, um, let's do it. You want to do this?
Palmer
Yeah, but before we do, as always, if you can continue to review our show and podcast and support us on social media, be sure to check us out on Instagram and Facebook.
Michael
We always want to hear your feedback. And please help us grow this show before repress and smash that play button. I'm so eager, Palmer. What are drinking?
Palmer
Yeah, well, I didn't, as i mentioned right that we, uh we had fun this weekend up on the bourbon trail. My wife was kind enough to surprise me with a trip to the bourbon trail for my birthday. And you and your lovely wife joined us in the festivities, so Oh, so nice. I am stupidly still drinking bourbon. Well, we gotta D'oh d'oh! I'm working on working on the glass of the old reliable. Got some Jefferson's in the glass tonight.
Michael
Good man, good man. My my father in law for Christmas actually bought me a bottle of his Bourbon of Eagle Rare. So I'm actually, Yeah. Yes. So I'm a rock in a glass of eagle. Rare. So Father in law, Dad. Cheers to you, sir. And, um, and appreciate the glass.
Palmer
Yes, well, it's fitting that we're both drinking bourbon, considering our guest Gregg's Ah, drink of choice is a bourbon. So fill yourself up one and enjoy our conversation with Greg.
Michael
Enjoy guys, Boop. All right, we are here with a team member of team 341 b. We're here with Boop aka Gregg Spiridellis, Gregg man thanks for being here today.
Gregg Spiridellis
Boop, I'm just kidding great to be here, great to be here. I gave you a Boop
Michael
Come on, how much Boop Dialog do you have in the chamber?
Gregg Spiridellis
I think you know all the other folks like we've got incredible professional actors on the team and it's always funny to be the guy in the boob who's just going in the booth just going 'boop' and just take my dialogue from the first season and keep reusing it. But tell you shouldn't let me stick around
Michael
that I have a four year old daughter. And I told her that I got to talk to Boop today and she's like, Boop? Why you talking to Boop?
Gregg Spiridellis
It's going to be a short conversation?
Palmer
See. I had the flip side of that. My my eight and 1/2 year old. I was talking to her last night about it and I said, Hey, we're interviewing Ah, the guy who started StoryBots and she goes, Oh, that's cool. You should interview, interview Boop. I said, actually we are.
Gregg Spiridellis
That's awesome.
Michael
It'sjust ironic. By concept.
Gregg Spiridellis
Yeah, is that so? It's great. It's, you know, who knows? Like here I am, almost 50 and being reduced to one word of dialogue,
Gregg Spiridellis
maybe for the best. For a lot of people, our dialogue should get shorter, more limited. The older we get
Gregg Spiridellis
exactly
Michael
Oh, thats brilliant. So, one a huge thank you for being here today. Man, I'm excited to dive into kind of your journey of being a today's dad. But what we do here at Wake. Dad. Drink. Repeat. is continually define at today's dad. So, um, Greg man, can you give us your definition of a Today's Dad?
Gregg Spiridellis
Yeah, I thought about that, and I think for me. It's what I think of the phrase Today's Dad really an emphasis on today. And it's all of the things that it's always required to be a great dad that's being loving and supportive. Um, but a couple other things I think about our one being present. So when my dad and I were in a garage building a soap box racer, you know, my dad's entire world wasn't sitting in his pocket, just kind of, Ah, just a notification away. And I think that's one of the things you know, being a dad today and being with my kids, always trying to remember to be present and not be dragged into the 1,000,000 other things that are happening in my life right in my pocket. Another is like fighting generational bias. So things that that that you know weren't important to us when we were kids because the world was different. I think specifically around my 13 year old and his enthusiasm for fortnight even, just, you know, and learning kind of trying to turn off my generational biased to say, you know what? This is a sport. This is a team sport. He's working with team members they're competing. This is like this is for him as realism getting on a soccer field for me when I was a kid. Although he did that as well. Obviously you need a balance that, um you know, in the third thing I think about and the world our kids are growing up in his just adaptability and trying to teach your kids to be adaptable. Um, the world is changing and you need to be able to find things you're passionate about and and adapt and find ways to pursue the things you love. So those are those are three things that I think make being a dad today different than you know, say, when I was growing up,
Palmer
Awesome definition. Thank you for sharing that with us.
Michael
Bravo. I I let the first time we've heard the fighting generational bias Couldn't couldn't be more true. And um, Yeah, we'll said on that front.
Gregg Spiridellis
Yeah, it's hard and I mean its easy. You know, it's easy to when your kids competing and loses a game of fortnight. To think Oh, it's just a video game where when you tell them to turn it off and they've got other team members counting on them to, you know, not realize it's like the equivalent of basically ripping your kid off the soccer field in the fourth quarter when all his buddies are counting on him. So it's, it's hard, it's hard. But, you know, But it's one of being a dad is hard. So one of one of the many things that you know trying to remind myself of a regular basis
Michael
well done.
Palmer
So you have, um, three kids and they range in age from 9 to 13. So, um, you're kind of into the next. The next tier compared to Mike and I with kids eight and under, Um, but
Gregg Spiridellis
which it happens fast, by the way. It happens really fast. You will be at the next tier tomorrow.
Palmer
So they say, Um, but it's it's kind of funny that you're sitting here with kids that age with ah StoryBots, kind of being the main thing on your plate these days. I mean, because it's ah, it's definitely a little bit different than your your journey of your time with your kids is not sitting around watching Storybots like it is like Mike and I's is.
Gregg Spiridellis
Yeah exactly. Well, so much partially
Michael
I feel sorry for you on that front. I bet you don't do that.
Gregg Spiridellis
I know. Well, someday, hopefully I'll have grandkids can enjoy it. But, you know, Story StoryBots was inspired. My brother and I, My brother Evan, who's my partner. Um, it was inspired by the fact that there was nothing, really. We wanted to sit down on the couch and watch with our kids when when they were young. I mean, we remember being kids and Sesame Street was something that we would sit on the couch with our parents and watch and everyone and would enjoy, and we just felt like there was nothing in that void for us as parents. So we started StoryBots in 2011 and we started it with a series of YouTube shorts building a YouTube channel. And once that attraction, we self finance. We took the money. We're, and profits were generated from Jib Jab produced Season one of Ask the StoryBots with the idea that we could we could actually create something that was really fun for both parents and kids and something I could teach really young kids really complex ideas, like why the sky is blue or how eyes see or how cell phones work.
Michael
You guys have done it. Ah, want to do a tremendous job on that front? And my, my my family actually has a running list of things to ask the StoryBots I keep on my desktop computer and you, single time my daughter's like, I say we don't know but we got to ask the StoryBots
Gregg Spiridellis
so great, But yes, that's amazing where we're working on new concepts that would enable more kids to engage with the StoryBots. So keep that list and hopefully, hopefully we'll have a way of answering them before your kids get to this next tier.
Michael
That's brilliant, man. I love to hear that I love to hear that,
Palmer
and I think you, uh you need to not sell it short on taking these complex ideas and making it so that kids can understand him because, you know, Mike and I aren't the brightest light bulbs on the box. We've learned a lot over our StoryBot watching.
Gregg Spiridellis
Well, I would be misrepresenting it if I said that these were things that I knew before. Most of the things I learned because my brother and I have had to write and produce this. It's not that this this is not in my body of knowledge. Thank goodness for the Internet, because I've learned a lot producing this with my brother
Palmer
So one of the things that I'm most amazed about with the show and along those lines of what you're talking about. My my daughter is a, um she's too smart for her own good. She's incredibly talented on that front, as far as just her education goes, which is great. Um, but it's amazing to me, especially when a new season comes out like she will sit down and watch those episodes over and over and over and over again. And it's not. I mean, there's the humor peace. There's a music piece, but it's you you guys have made that education piece of. It's so fun that it's like I see I see those wheels turning in her brain of her, wanting to go watch it again toe learn more about it, to try to get more nuggets of information out of it. You know,
Gregg Spiridellis
that's amazing. We always, um, you know, the fun is the sugar that makes the medicine go down, and you know that's the key for us. We've always said we want to do a show that teaches kids but kind of table stakes is fun and entertainment because if you don't do that, they're not going to stick around long enough to kind of get the substance of of what we're trying to do!
Michael
Yeah, So, Greg, take us into kind of fold that into your dad's story, StoryBots is x amount of years old, and your kids are x amount of years old. How was that professionally for you? And how is that Dad for you? Um kind of working through that generation for you?
Gregg Spiridellis
Yeah, it's, um So my my last my youngest son was born in 2010 and StoryBots was founded at the end of 2011. So, uh, story bots and and my brother has kids that are the same age. My nephews were the same age, so the StoryBots would was really was really born during those years when my brother and I had really young kids. And so it was fully fully inspired by our own kids and the sorts of things that we thought would make them laugh and keep them entertained and how you communicate with them. So StoryBots would not be StoryBots without my brother and my five children. Um, and you know, there's the the kind of the creative inspiration piece of it, as well as the grind, the work and and balancing, making something that your kids are gonna love. But at the end of the day, even when you're making something as fun as StoryBots, it's still it's still work and it's still a grind. And it can still drag you away from the things that are really important to, you know, being a great dad and being present and all the things that you know we talked about at the top of the show. So but we I will say we are. We're used to it because this wasn't our first venture. We started a company called Jib Jab in 99. So by the time we started StoryBots, we were kind of 12 years into our professional and entrepreneurial journey. And so there was a degree of of self, uh, self moderating and control and trying to maintain some sort of life balancing work, life balance and making sure that we're present always being great dads before, we were great entrepreneurs.
Michael
Good from you guys
Palmer
That's one of those the biggest pieces I think of parenting, whether you're Ah, stay at home parent or work from home parent and or you work out of the house or whatever it may be is, it's all about that balance. Um, and it's definitely seems like I'm interested to kind of hear your take on how you guys do that, because you you probably burn the candle at both ends more than most, um, with all your guys, different adventures. But I know you said you have tenure with it with starting Jib Jab. But what What is that? What does that look like for you? How do you How do you create that balance?
Gregg Spiridellis
Yeah, it's honestly, it's ah, it's a day to day struggle, and for me, I think one of the most important things, like there's there's the tactical piece of it right, which is whenever I get the e mail from the school or something, like, I make commitments as far out as I can. So things like reading to the class or going with a group of dads and their kids to, you know, a monster truck events. like there are things like put it on the calendar. Like I did try to get myself committed as as much as possible for for those sorts of events so that, as like kind of life is rumbling along. I'm building around them instead of trying to wedge them into other things on then the you know. Ah, higher level. Uh, it's it's recognizing when you don't have to be. We're recognizing the things that can wait and making sure that I put them on the back burner and make unplanned time for the for the kids and, you know, being present and being a dad, uh, as well. So that's, you know, those are two things that I try to do to make sure that work doesn't, you know, totally suck, suck me away from my, you know, the most important part, being a Dad.
Palmer
well, and I think that's I mean, you were saying that in your today's dad definition like that is a big just on my own personal front, like I've really been. You know, our iPhones make it really easy for to tell us how bad we are at staring at them during the day with, the screen time function on it. And that's been a big thing for me since the New Year. I'm really trying to get that number. It was embarrassingly high and get it cut in half, if not more. Um, but it's It's like it's an effort you have to say, like I will get this shit done. I need to get done when I need to get it done. But I also need to not try to do it when I'm in full blown dad mode and I mean, it's that is not easy.
Gregg Spiridellis
It's It's really hard. Yeah, I mean, contain, you know, creating space for the time you're with your kids again. When you have a phone in your pocket your entire worlds in your pocket at all times and making sure, um, you don't let that suck you. It's really important for me. Like one of the things I do in life in general. Not just being a dad is like turn off the notifications like, you know, the phone does not need to be buzzing because you know someone I went to high school with uploaded a photo or, you know, made a comment on Twitter. You know, I think you know, you need to. People need to work to minimize distractions in their life. And that's, you know, that's just that's it for me. It's a something I try to do generally, you know, But also, you know, specifically very important when it comes to the time of that, I'm with my kids.
Michael
Yeah. Yeah. Kids, time is always limited on that. Our form that we always ask our guests to fill out. You mentioned you're a divorced dad for your kids and like that also ties in the limited time for kids. Yeah. How is that kind of, ah affected the family unit and your dadding ability?
Gregg Spiridellis
Yeah, that's it's Ah, great question. The process of divorce was really hard. I mean, luckily, my ex wife and I, I think made it through. That process is in in a way, that was chilled ID from the kids. It wasn't an ugly situation, so that makes it for us, you know, and and honestly, the kids were a guardrail, like I you know, the kids were guardrails, like at the end of the day. The most important thing is their well being. So, you know, any emotional aspect of this could be kind of stuffed away because it will do nothing that's constructive for the kids and, you know, way made it through that process, you know, wasn't perfect. But, boy, I bet it was it was better than most situations. And, you know, now for me and by the way, I'm not advocating divorce. Just to be clear,
Palmer
Storybots advocate divorce
Gregg Spiridellis
Exactly, the headline. But for me, But for me, I always tell, you know, for me there there have been a couple of benefits. You know one is that, uh, you know, there's no compromising on parenting styles, right? I mean, when you're in any kind of partnership, there's always there's always compromise. And, I think when you move into a divorce situation like you co-parent and we co-parent really well and there are things that we we talk all the time about things that are going on and had a handle them. But when they're in my house there, you know, they're my rules and that's actually a really nice thing to not be having to negotiate all the time so that that works that's been like one of the perks. If you could call it that, you know, the other is going back to the discussion of presence. Look what I was when I was married on in the house. I always say, like, I was 50% on 100% of the time, and now I'm 100% on 50% of the time, and you know that for me.
Michael
That's a big pivot and of frame of reference. Yeah, that's a big
Gregg Spiridellis
It is a big pivot. It is a big pivot, but I think it's made me a better dad. and it's helped create, like, more structure for me. Uh, you know to, play that the most important role. I mean, if you were to say, What's the most important thing in your life? It's like when you look back 10 years from now, it's like to be able to say he was a great dad, like nothing else comes close to that. So for me, these changes were really hard, but like where we landed it, actually, it's worked really well for me. and I think it's worked really well for my kids. And I think again, look, this is not something that kids should ever have to go through. But if you can do it in, if you have to go through it, if you can do it in a controlled way that shields the kids from like emotional ugliness and instability, I think it's actually, you know, look controlled adversity and kids life is really important. We went back to the beginning I mentioned like, adaptability is something I think the world's changing. Like if you can create situations for your kids that are adverse and hard. But do it in a controlled way where they're safe and they can learn and they can process it like, you know, like that. This is life. You know, hard, hard things happen in life. And, you know, it's not like prepping for it. Yeah, life's messy.
Palmer
You can't sugarcoat.
Gregg Spiridellis
No, you can't. You can't shield your kids forever, you know? And so when you have these situations, I think, you know, the best thing you can do is control the un-constructive elements of these things. Make sure they always feel loved and safe and, you know, and work through and hope they come out of it with some lessons. And I and I think my kids, you know, have and I think you know, kids who go through any sort of diversity have. I mean, my parents got divorced, which at the time was the worst thing that, you know, they got divorced. When I was in high school, it was a terrible thing. But I look back on it, and I wouldn't be the person that I am today if I hadn't gone through that. So, you find the silver linings and you try to take whatever situation you have and make it the best you could make it for your kids.
Palmer
I think at the end of the day, if we're all you know, laying on our deathbeds and the box we can check as a dad is that we've you know, loved our kids. We've shown our kids that we love them and we've helped to give them a good taste of what the world will be in and show them they can get through. That's what you hope for at the end of the day is to show them those those three things you know
Gregg Spiridellis
Absolutely, nothing else matters
Palmer
Everybody's story is different of how they get to do that. But that, like, that's the endgame goal that we're all working towards.
Gregg Spiridellis
Yep, absolutely. Like I you know, it's ah, you know. And I think also, you know, if you say you're number one goal in mind Is this to say in 10 years or on your deathbed, you look back and the most important thing is being a great dad, that's pretty much a bucket for everything else because, right, right, Dad, you need to lead by example, you need to be kind to other, Your kids need to see you being kind to other people, to being treated fairly, to showing work ethic and commitment and passion and involvement in different things. So, you know, I always think about it like you know, what if I got to be a great dad, I got to do all these other things anyway, so I'm just gonna make being a great dad my goal and it will like, basically covered 90% of being a great human.
Michael
You got it. Well. we're not saying, but we're saying, but we're not saying I think Sesame Street did something on divorce. So I'm just saying, you know, and I think we've worked around it full circle. I think we've built the content for it. I think it's all there, and it could be created perfectly. And I think Boop has a lot to say on the matter we can put it together nicely.
Gregg Spiridellis
Yes. Boop is a lot to say that no one would understand it, but
Michael
Who writes all of your songs? Who's the guy that has a nasally voice? Who's that guy?
Gregg Spiridellis
Oh, um, his name is Gabe Sokoloff.
Michael
Gabe I love you. I love everything about you. And I can already hear the song from your mouth about this subject.
Gregg Spiridellis
The divorce song. Or Parry Grip I need to give a plug also to Parry Grip. I don't know if you guys know Parry, but he is. Ah, if you have kids under 10 you need to go to iTunes or Apple Music i'm sorry and Amazon music immediately and Google Parry Grip, he's an amazing songwriter. Kids love his songs they are super fun done, you know? Yeah, he would make an interesting divorce song too.
Michael
Well, nonetheless, your song team is world class, and it is in every parent's mind if you have kids, you're singing all these songs day in and day out. So, brother kudos. So you guys are I don't know if this is a question or a tip of the hat or I don't know what's about to come out of my mouth. But you are
Palmer
a problem when he says that, Greg
Michael
right? So MBA worked stock market banking blah blah, blah. I might be wrong. Somewhere along those lines you went to with your brother created Jib Jab from nothing. You saw an opportunity through the base world of Internet you guys have
Palmer
which thank you for Jib Jab and all the little political comedy,
Michael
maybe this one big long, thank you. So So then Jib Jab takes off. You find success, you create StoryBots. You bring that to the world. And as of maybe a little more than a calendar year. You sell Jib Jab and you sell StoryBots. And here you are as a man that have, I would bet worked incredibly hard. And now you get to do the fundamental thing with your brother of sit back and make content and work for somebody that just wants you to do that. Is that is that where you're at right now in life?
Gregg Spiridellis
That is where we are at its I'm clapping 10 times over. Yeah, thank you. I don't even mean people say you saw two people say you sold to companies in the past year. I'm like, No, I sold to companies in the past 20 years, this is a long journey. The trascation happened in the past year. But they're, ah, long lot of work along over a long time horizon.
Michael
Well, kudos to you, man is a long journey to it, and I I honestly, it makes me smile to think about you guys. Just get to sit back and probably do the sorry, not sit back. Probably work your ass off and do the most probably influential and powerful kind of project and just get to focus on creating and not the back and sweat equity stuff. It's bandwidth consuming.
Gregg Spiridellis
Yeah, it's We, uh you know, we're running a studio that had both Jib Jab and StoryBots. And it was, you know, 100 people on more when you consider contractors. And so you're operating a business is it's really hard. I mean it's really draining. It's really hard to maintain space for creating new things when you're when you're operating at that scale. And so for both of us right now, I think, we were looked, you know, We sold StoryBots to Netflix because we saw that as a path to make it as impactful as possible. Netflix has StoryBots in 190 countries, 25 languages. You know, they really are leaning into it as their opportunity to create a global, uh, kids, kids franchise, long lines of Sesame Street. And I would say, like an additional. In addition to producing content, we're also thinking about how do we leverage this incredible global interactive platform to not only produce more of the same show, but to create a franchise that takes advantage of technology and the opportunities that it offers to tell me what kinds of stories. So we're really excited to be, you know, to be in the Netflix fold and to be taken the whole StoryBots franchise to the next level.
Michael
That's incredible, man. Kudos to you for it. We're excited to see what's on the future for it.
Palmer
Yeah. Beyond beyond Excited, Ready for new New Season's new episodes?
Gregg Spiridellis
Yes, we're working on all sorts of new things we want to get. Wanna tell more stories? Answer more questions. We want to get more kids involved. We think like the interaction between StoryBots and kids. There's an entirely you know, there's a huge opportunity to really play on how kids and StoryBots how StoryBots can help more kids and answer more questions.
Palmer
along those lines. Mike and I both talked with our kids about some of their favorite episodes and any questions that they may have. So we're gonna we're gonna run through a couple of those with you real quick, but, uh, I'm gonna start with my The big question my daughter had was how exactly? She can be one of the kids that gets to ask the StoryBots a question?
Gregg Spiridellis
Of course, and you know what it is.
Palmer
Anderson, I am not asking him that question. She was Dad, just do it.
Gregg Spiridellis
She's like, Dad, come on, take advantage of you perks of your job. Get me in there. You as a good Dad are doing everything you can to support your kids. It's funny, we hear that all the time in the I'm sure one of the things is as I mentioned we're thinking about is how do we create formats that support the the participation of more kids with the StoryBots? Because, you know, I think kids really connect to that. Like, you know, especially at the ages of 4 5 6 kids are like they're just bursting with questions. And to think that there's a group of really fun characters out there that can help answer them all. It's appealing. So we're really focused on new story formats that will have more kids engage with the StoryBots. And answer your question, those videos. The kids that are on the show were shot professionally they're shot at the beginning of the season. Um, we get questions in people, send us notes by Twitter, and we keep a running list of all the kids questions that come in. And but for the show, thats on Netflix those are all shot. Uh, you know, those were all shot, professionally by some folks that we work with.
Michael
All right. So, Gregg, let's do some kind of StoryBot rapid questions for you. What's your favorite story StoryBots episode?
Gregg Spiridellis
Oh, that is so hard. There so many I love and I will say, like my brother runs the art and production team. The show is, and I have nothing to do with it. I can barely draw a stick figure. So, the show special is just incredible range of artistic styles and visual aesthetic. And I mean from stop motion 2D the 3D puppets. So it's hard to pick a favorite because there's so many that are looked like so much fun, I would say maybe computer, How Computers Work is at the top just because we puts we Snoop Dogg in a preschool show. Of my career accomplishments like what my brother and I have done like that is definitely near the top of the list to put Snoop Dogg in a preschool show.
Michael
That was early, early for StoryBots too. So that was a good check box, for you.
Gregg Spiridellis
Totally, and then the Edward Norton how electricity works. Edward Norton as, a Electronic salesman like they're just that there's so many moments across the shows that I really appreciate and many of them I had nothing to do with that. We have an incredible team that helps us develop these. You know, favorite moments are the ones that I had nothing to do with probably.
Michael
that's that's brilliant. Our next question is actually your favorite cameo, and mine was Edward Norton and Palmer's with Snoop Dogg. So you actually like pegged both of them, bravo bravo. My favorite episode is how two years here because, quite frankly, I I learned the most about ears. I've learned more on that episode that I ever did anywhere.
Gregg Spiridellis
Yes, it is funny. I was gonna say ears, too, because you know what we're sitting down to figure out how a communicate these really, really complex ideas, you know the sequence of the bones as characters in the middle of the ear and all kind of like fighting each other and stuck together, banging into each other. I mean, there are Yeah, it's definitely one of my favorite episodes
Michael
and anybody that can throw the word cochlea into a song, hats off to him
Gregg Spiridellis
Gabe is a genius, he is a mad genius how much he communicates in such a short amount of time. He really is. He's a genius
Michael
And and finally, based on all that, your favorite song?
Gregg Spiridellis
Oh, my favorite StoryBots song. Um, I love Parry Gripp. Like there's something about Parry with the music Parry Gripp creates for us that just I you know, I just I'm so proud to be associated with his work. I think it's probably the Big Brown Boogieing Bear.
Palmer
Yes, Yes, Yes
Palmer
Maybe just because it was the first animal song, we have this idea that, we have this company came in to pitch us actually at Jib Jab. They had green screen animal footage and, uh,
Palmer
The way those bears dance on that show, in that song, is the funniest damn thing I have ever seen.
Gregg Spiridellis
So we said, that is pure Parry Gripp. My brother and I said these guys came into us with this green screen animal footage for Jib Jab and my brother And I said, Wait a minute. Like we should do that like Purina Cat Chow dance thing with these animals and make it have Parry Gripp write music. And so, you know, there's also Chicken Bop. There is, you know
Palmer
every animal song is I mean, like my when my 19 month old wakes up every morning. The first thing I do as he's like rolling around in his crib is the animal playlist goes on in his room. And it is, yes, Big Brown Boogieing Bear is just the best ever.
Gregg Spiridellis
Yes. And then, you know, I being I'd be remiss not to mention that we the Save the Planet song. So we have Erik Weiner works with us and does all the hip hop. So we don't like the outer space hip hop, the dinosaur hip hop. But like, again, like that, planets video. Yeah, And I wish I had that when I was a kid, like talk about communicating a bunch of information really quickly. That and and something for kids to hold onto, like, the repetition in the music for a recall on memory. I mean, it's it's powerful stuff. And Erik Weiner is another genius.
Palmer
Thats my daughter and I's favorite episode is the where do planets come from. I mean everything is just too good on that.
Michael
I didn't know Uranus was on its side until this song.
Gregg Spiridellis
Yeah, wait a minute. Is a Uranus or Uranus?
Michael
even more reason to be embarrassed with that name. Not, fair.
Gregg Spiridellis
So good. So good.
Michael
Well, we created our own rapid fire for StoryBots, but now we'll get into some rapid fire that we normally do for our podcast. First thing that comes off your mind, there are no wrong answers. But don't mess it up. So, 1st question is your biggest lesson you've learned is a Dad?
Gregg Spiridellis
The biggest lesson. Be open minded about what's important to my kids today, and don't dismiss it just because it's not something I had when I was a kid.
Palmer
Nice, nice. Most annoying song, show, movie or whatever that you have watched her listen to with your kids too many times?
Gregg Spiridellis
Do you want me to say it? Because it will be stuck in your head, too.
Palmer
Yeah. Bring it on,
Gregg Spiridellis
Baby Shark.
Michael
That is by all means the most frequent answer that we get on this show.
Palmer
It's too much hate for the Baby Shark.
Michael
Next question. Favorite thing to do with your kids?
Gregg Spiridellis
Favorite thing to do with my kids? Great question. Just hang out, cuddle and watch a movie.
Palmer
that sounds pretty great. Next question is your drink of choice?
Gregg Spiridellis
Recent convert to Bourbon from Vodka.
Palmer
Good man. Good man. Specific Bourbon.
Palmer
I'm pretty simple. I just like I like Bullet. That's good jam, that's my jam
Michael
Favorite band?
Gregg Spiridellis
Favorite band? I love Billy Joe. I'm an old guy I love Billy Joel. He's got, he's He's a poet and, just an incredible songwriter.
Michael
You just got to meet him?
Gregg Spiridellis
Yes, I have a magnificent women in my life who worked a bunch of angles just like your daughter trying to get on the show. My girlfriend saw an opening through one of her business relationships and got us backstage at a Billy Joel concert. And I got to shake his hand, and he had absolutely zero interest in meeting us. But that's okay. I got selfie. So, you know,
Michael
Please tell me you said you're the StoryBots guy. He would have sat down and talked to you for hours.
Gregg Spiridellis
Yeah, I don't know, but we'll see how he didn't know it was pretty eager to get moving. He was not impressed, let's just put it that way.
Michael
Well Gregg, he missed out.
Gregg Spiridellis
Thank you, Thank you
Palmer
Next question. Best part of being a Dad?
Gregg Spiridellis
the best part of being a dad? You know, for me, it's seeing my kids find passion for something and then being self motivated about going after it like there's nothing that makes me happier than seeing my kids takeing charge and and going after something that they're passionate about.
Palmer
That's a great answer.
Michael
Yeah, Final question. What trait of your own do you hope your kids will inherit?
Gregg Spiridellis
Oh, that's a really good question, because I've got to be really self congratulatory to answer it. I think, you know, going back to it. I hope they find something that they're passionate about and that they hustle after it and they build a life around it. I mean, for me, you know, the greatest gift of my life is having a brother who is such a great partner, who who we've been able to kind of discover this thing that we both love and build something that we're really proud of together. And I hope my kids have the opportunity to find that thing that they can spend 20 years doing and still be curious and passionate about going after.
Michael
Well said Man, that's absolutely what, that's what you've done with your career, by all means.
Gregg Spiridellis
I'm incredibly blessed. You know, like I said, it's been a good journey.
Michael
Well, for everything that you have done professionally, the world thanks you 10,000 times over,I promise.
Gregg Spiridellis
Thank you guys.
Michael
You have more songs stuck in our heads than Billy Joel. I promise you.
Gregg Spiridellis
Don't worry it will change
Michael
I get it. But this is all life phases, i understand.
Palmer
No, You know what? After that story, I would rather have StoryBot songs stuck in my head than Billy Joel songs. We're ride or die, Greg.
Gregg Spiridellis
So kind, so kind.
Palmer
Well Gregg, we really appreciate you taking the time to speak with us today. And, um, we we look forward to hopefully being able to talk to you again sometime.
Gregg Spiridellis
Definitely. It's been a real pleasure. And I love that you guys are facilitating this conversation, and we all just want to be the best Dad we can be. Help our kids be the best they can be. So, you are doing in equal service to the world. So I appreciate it.
Michael
Really appreciate that
Palmer
Appreciate that
Michael
No joke. It makes me smile thinking about this conversation. What an amazing conversation, dude.
Palmer
Yeah. I mean, just the fact that Santa introduced us to the guy that created StoryBots. How do you get much better than that?
Michael
Yes, that's true. We did not say that in the episode. Yeah, our Santa Michael, from our Holiday Special was actually put us in contact with Gregg because Michael, Santa, used to be his babysitter going up. So what an amazing turn of events Mr. Gregg being babysat by Santa. Very tricky, Very tricky. Well, man, think about think about Gregg's today's dad definition man, it was, is pretty on point and brought up a lot of new points. My favorite aspect of it was fighting the generational biased of it. His video game analogy, not analogy. The exact example was, pretty on point in something that I've never really framed in that way and thought about that I thought about in that light, I guess.
Palmer
Yeah, it was cool. I really liked. I felt like every bit of his definition. All three parts from being presant, the generational bias component in the adaptability piece. You know, it's all it's all very active stuff. It's not a passive definition. He is a Dad, a human being that is constantly working to improve and do better. And I mean, that's like we said at the end of the day, that's that's the goal is to be a better version of ourselves tomorrow than we are today.
Michael
And think about Gregg story man. That's everything that he is from Jib Jab to ever changing and being adaptable from changing markets. To seeing opportunities for new technologies and adapting to that and creating StoryBots and creating that moving that to adaptability to Netflix. I mean, this guy is him and his brother just ah, morph to opportunities, which is pretty awesome.
Palmer
Yeah, and and again, the piece of it that I think is the biggest. You know, this was two guys doing this for their five kids between the two of them. You know, when they were, they made a show. They made a brand in order for their kids and the kids in the future to have something to be able to do with their parents around that, but also that educational piece. And it's you know, if at this point you aren't sold on the idea of checking out StoryBots if you don't know what it is than failed and stop listening to our podcast. We've done everything.
Michael
go check him out. I'll sing every song for you right now. If you dare. me, But please go to a man. It's Ah, it's certainly Ah, it'll change your parenting lives, Cool. Well, all of our show notes all of our links, everything that we touched on in the episode is all on the episode page. Head on over to www.wakedaddrinkrepeat.com for all of it. And you can also check out all of our Today's Dad's videos as well. Gregg's pretty good. Yeah, absolutely.
Palmer
Yes. So, um, normally, this is the part of the show where we tell you next week's episode, but this week I'm gonna make it a little bit of a challenge. You need to get on our website. You need to sign up for our newsletter because we're gonna put it out in the newsletter who next week's guest is and not tell you. At some point we'll go back to that. But anyways, it's another way to be a part of the Wake. Dad. Drink. Repeat. community that we appreciate you guys being a part of. It's a way for us to tell you a little bit of behind the scenes action going on, and this is a good year to be involved with that.
Michael
You got it, as always, guys, we hope you enjoy this week's episode and remember to Wake. Dad. Drink. Repeat.
Palmer
Cheers everyone
Michael
Boop
Palmer
I would have bet hundreds of dollars on that's what you were going to do.
Michael
Thanks for listening. Please review and rate us on Apple Podcasts. It really helps us grow our community.
Palmer
Be sure to get social with us on Facebook and Instagram. Or you can check out our website at www.wakedaddrinkrepeat.com.