What powers a global fandom machine? We sat down with Funko’s Chief Product Officer, Husnal Shah, to trace the line from a week‑one Disney sellout to 900 licenses and a milestone few toy companies reach in decades. We break down the three Cs—Culture, Creativity, Commerce—that decide which figures get made, why certain iconic moments jump off the shelf, and how a recognizable form can still surprise you when it captures the perfect story beat. 🪀

Husnal opens the door to Funko’s incubation lab, where blue‑sky ideas meet real‑time signals from sales, marketing, and social listening. You'll hear how concepts progress from a creative showcase to 3D prints, then to tooling and production—all while the launch story and marketing plan develop in parallel.

We get into the rise of Pop Yourself, the personalized experience that turns collectors into characters, and why gifting for birthdays, weddings, and holidays has turned customization into a growth engine. There's also a frank look at resilience, including diversified sourcing across Asia, navigating geopolitical and pandemic difficulties, and reaching new audiences as kids shift earlier to gaming, YouTube, and social platforms. 🎮

Looking forward, we explore how AR and digital layers can elevate discovery and display, including virtual try-ons, interactive unboxings, and community moments that bridge physical and digital shelves. We also talk geo expansion, and why Funko organizes teams by fandom to keep authenticity high in anime, music, film, and gaming. For anyone interested in product strategy, licensing, collectibles, or the business of culture, this conversation maps how a beloved form factory stays fresh and how the next billion could be even more personal. 🧸

If you enjoyed this conversation, follow the show, share it with a friend who collects, or leave a quick review—what topic should we "pop" next?

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What happens when two eighth-grade students notice a problem during volleyball matches? They create an award-winning invention that could soon hit store shelves nationwide.

Meet Sam Priest and Olivia Adams, volleyball players turned inventors who developed the "Untie Knot" – an elegantly simple silicone band that prevents shoelaces from coming untied during physical activity. Their invention journey began when they witnessed a teammate's shoe come untied during a match, causing an awkward game stoppage.

Through their school's Inventionland Education course, these young innovators learned to apply observational skills, research, and creative problem-solving to address this everyday annoyance. Through multiple prototypes, they discovered that shoelaces come untied through repeated impact forces during running or walking. Their solution? A stretchy silicone band that securely wraps around the knot to keep it tight.

The most remarkable aspect of Sam and Olivia's story isn't just their clever invention, but how the experience transformed their confidence and future outlook. Before the course, neither considered themselves inventors or had interest in STEM careers. Now, they have a company in Texas interested in bringing their product to market. Their success showcases the power of applied learning – combining mathematics, language arts, design, and science to solve real-world problems.

Their story demonstrates why hands-on STEM education deserves priority in our schools. It teaches not just technical knowledge but crucial life skills: creative thinking, collaboration, perseverance, and effective communication. As Sam advises future inventors: "Just be creative and share a lot of ideas. We had no clue what we were going to make when we started this, but it all worked out."

Want to discover how STEM education could unlock your child's potential? Listen to Sam and Olivia's full journey in this inspiring episode.

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What happens when middle school students are given the freedom to think, create, and solve real-world problems?

Principal Larry Connelly and teacher Karen Garland join host George Davison to share their seven-year journey implementing Inventionland Education's STEAM curriculum for 8th graders. Unlike traditional classroom experiences, this program puts students in the driver's seat, working in teams to identify problems and develop innovative solutions through a comprehensive nine-step process.

The results speak volumes. Students who struggle in conventional academic settings find their strengths celebrated in this collaborative environment. The program has become so popular that some homeschool families enroll their children specifically for this course. Local businesses eagerly partner with student teams, providing real-world mentorship opportunities that bridge classroom concepts with practical applications.

Most striking is how the program transforms student engagement. Attendance rates soar during presentation periods, with students taking ownership of their learning and supporting their peers. "I think this is an example of something that helps keep kids coming to school," Connelly explains, noting how students have even participated virtually while on family vacations rather than miss their presentation day.

Beyond invention skills, students develop crucial life competencies—communication, collaboration, time management, and resilience in the face of failure. As Garland reflects, "Thinking—that sounds so simple, but when students talk about their experience and they talk about how 'we just kind of had to think about this,' that's a teacher's dream."

Discover how one school's approach is redefining education by prioritizing building life skills over traditional grades, giving students the freedom to explore, create, and believe in their capabilities. Visit TomorrowsWorldToday.com for more stories of innovation and positive change shaping our future.

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What does it take to transform diverse experiences into entrepreneurial success? Jim Kelly's remarkable journey from politics to building a billion-dollar travel reservation system provides a masterclass in strategic career maneuvers and meaningful risk-taking.

Through this candid conversation, Kelly reveals the delicate art of finding mentors—not by asking vague questions about what to do with your life, but by approaching them with specific requests that inspire their guidance. This small distinction makes all the difference in cultivating relationships that propel careers forward.

Kelly's entrepreneurial story defies conventional timelines, having launched his tech company in his fifties during the early days of the internet. His innovative approach to hotel reservations—offering software for free while charging half the industry rate per completed transaction—revolutionized the space. The strategy that secured MGM Grand as a client and subsequently opened the entire Las Vegas market demonstrates how strategic thinking and clear storytelling turn vision into reality.

Perhaps most valuable is Kelly's insight about team building: "With the right team, you can do anything." This wisdom, particularly relevant for startups where only 2% survive, offers a roadmap for building organizations primed for success.

Ready to make your own daring choices? Kelly's experiences illuminate how skills accumulated across various fields create the foundation for innovation and leadership.

Purchase Daring Choices: Stories From An International Life in Politics, Business, and Technology

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A challenge in American innovation has been growing for years. As manufacturing shifted overseas and fewer students engaged with science, many companies began noticing a talent gap in STEM and STEAM fields.

In this conversation with co-host Greg Costantino, George M. Davison discusses his decade-long effort to address that gap by developing a practical invention education system now reaching schools across more than half the United States.

The approach blends creativity from nature and the arts with structured innovation methods and real-world production skills. The results are clear: students who once struggled find new ways to succeed, top performers take on fresh challenges, and collaboration thrives through three-person invention teams.

Already, classrooms are seeing higher engagement, with some students even licensing their ideas and bringing products to market. Many of these efforts come to life in the Invention Contest, where students showcase their creativity, pitch their prototypes, and gain real-world experience in innovation.

Step by step, this program is helping to strengthen the nation’s pipeline of future innovators. Just as science labs once laid the foundation for new industries, Inventionland Education is preparing today’s students to develop the ideas and solutions that will shape tomorrow.

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Learn more about: Covia

Featured on: Season 5 Episode 5 - Tomorrow's World Today

Ever wonder what's inside your kitchen countertop or the sand trap that ruined your golf score? Andrew Eich, former President and CEO of Covia, pulls back the curtain on the fascinating world of industrial mineral mining, revealing how these essential materials become part of our everyday lives.

With operations spanning 42 sites across North America and 2,000 employees, Covia stands as the first crucial step in countless manufacturing supply chains. ⛏️

"What we provide is the very basic, foundational ingredients that go into making products that people use every single day," Eich explains, challenging the perception that mining is simply "digging up sand."

Eich's personal journey from paperboy to mining executive offers powerful insights for anyone navigating their career path. His diverse portfolio of early jobs built foundations for leadership success, a humble approach that underscores continuous learning. "No matter how far you go in your career, you never have all the answers, and that's perfectly okay," he advises, encouraging listeners to embrace curiosity and say "yes" to new challenges. 🔦

The conversation takes a surprising turn when addressing environmental concerns. Far from the industry's "dirty business" reputation, Eich details Covia's 17-year sustainability commitment, including sites recycling 98% of water usage, solar farms powering operations, and innovative land reclamation that transforms former mining areas into community parks. These initiatives demonstrate how responsible resource extraction can align with environmental stewardship while strengthening business performance.

Whether you're interested in business leadership, manufacturing processes, or sustainability innovations, this episode offers fresh perspectives on the materials that build tomorrow's world. 💎

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Learn more about: Atara Biotherapeutics

Featured on Tomorrow's World Today: S5E3 – Healing Heroes

What happens when science meets creativity at the frontier of medicine? Dr. Kristin Yarema, former Chief Commercial Officer at Atara Biotherapeutics, takes us on a journey through the world of cell therapy and its potential to transform treatment for cancer and multiple sclerosis. 🧬

Dr. Yarema shares the touching origin story of Atara, founded by Dr. Isaac Chichenover in memory of his mother, who passed away from ovarian cancer. This personal connection serves as the company's "North Star," keeping its focus on developing innovative therapies for patients with serious illnesses.

With her unique background combining chemical engineering and English, Dr. Yarema bridges the gap between complex scientific innovations and clear communication for physicians, patients, and stakeholders. 🔬

The conversation explores how mentorship shaped her career path and offers valuable advice for those interested in entering the biopharma field. "Making a new medicine is a total team sport," she explains, highlighting opportunities for people with diverse skills and interests. 🥼

Dr. Yarema passionately discusses neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and multiple sclerosis, which she describes as "one of the great remaining frontiers in medicine." Atara's work on investigational therapies for progressive MS represents a push toward addressing these devastating conditions that currently have limited treatment options.

Whether you're fascinated by medical innovation, considering a career in STEM, or simply curious about the future of healthcare, this episode offers insights into how science, creativity, and communication come together to solve some of medicine's most challenging problems. 💊

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Learn more about: DigitalOcean

Read Article: Evolution of the Cloud

Featured on Tomorrow's World Today: S5E6 – Keep Your Head In The Cloud

What does it take to go from a curious nine-year-old tinkering with computers to leading product strategy at some of the world’s most powerful tech companies?

In this episode, Gabe Monroy reflects on his path through the tech world. Raised by a single mom who ran her own bookkeeping business, Gabe got his start helping set up computers for her clients. That hands-on experience sparked a lifelong passion for technology. 💻

Over the years, Gabe would go on to sell two startups (including one to Microsoft), serve as a leader in cloud innovation, and hold the role of Chief Product Officer at DigitalOcean, where he helped shape tools built specifically for the world's small businesses. His experience at the company offered a powerful look at how product strategy and purpose can align.

The episode explores what made DigitalOcean different, including its commitment to small businesses underserved by larger cloud providers, and its remote-first team spanning nearly 1,000 employees across 185 countries. ☁️

One of the most compelling parts of the conversation is Gabe’s approach to creativity and focus. Living on a farm with goats and chickens, he shares how unplugging from technology helps him find clarity—and even his best ideas. His take on “flow state” and the Japanese concept of Ikigai offers a fresh way to think about success, especially in an industry where learning never stops.

Whether you're just getting started or rethinking your path, Gabe's story is full of insight and serves as a reminder that innovation can come from the most unexpected places. 🌍

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