(Mary) A lot has happened since your last POP interview back in June of 2021! We usually start by jumping right into the questions, but since you provided some answers in your original profile interview here, fill us in on just what the past 4 years have been like for you.     (Brian) Yeah, saying “a lot has happened” in the past four years is the understatement of the year. For starters, as you covered with the very funny meme, Endless Games was acquired by Goliath in October of 2021. Endless Games was of course the company that first licensed my Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon game and gave my career in toys its start back in 1996. For nearly 25 years, we took our swings with new game concepts and licenses and had ourselves a heck of a run. Working with Mike Gasser and Kevin McNulty and the small team we assembled is something I’ll always cherish.   Thankfully, despite not existing as its own company, Endless Games did not “end” outright. It lives on with some of our best-sellers like The Floor is Lava and Name 5 still present in the Goliath game line. Additionally, Endless Games has become a brand within Goliath for our Party Games category. I can’t tell you how much this means to me to have that name still be a part of my life and livelihood.   Brian Turtle and Kevin Bacon at SXSW - 6 Degrees of Kevin Bacon Game   So coming into Goliath was a major change, but my feelings of intimidation were short-lived. Despite being a much larger global company, the mindset was still the same: making great products for kids and family entertainment. And equally important, the people at Goliath were warm and welcoming from the start. Going from a catalog of 25 games to 250+ in toys, games, and outdoor was completely overwhelming, but the combination of great products and amazing people really made for a smooth transition.     And speaking of amazing people, I’d be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge two individuals who have made Goliath feel like such a home for me; our Senior VP of Sales (and my boss) “THE” Ron Platt, and my partner-in-crime, my fellow Director of Sales, Jennifer Kitto. Ron and “Kitto” really helped me hit the ground running from day one. And they’ve continued to inspire me every day since.     The change was still a bit like “drinking from the firehose” so-to-speak, but starting my tenure with Goliath at the end of the calendar year gave me a little runway to get familiar with the product line. With no February Toy Fair in 2022, my first big show to go into full pitch mode was in Vegas for Toyfest that March.     And that was a special show for you, right?   Yes! I was honored to bring my mom (Marge Turtle) to Toyfest that year as I was inducted into the Western Toy and Hobby Representatives Association HALL OF FAME class of 2022! I spoke about my mom (and my dad and sister) in our 2021 interview, telling you how they have been such a huge influence on my life in toys and games. These are the people you want to share these moments with, so having my mom there for my induction was truly special. My “HOF” plaque hangs behind my desk in my home office sharing wall-space with framed memorabilia of The Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl and Phillies World Series wins. In a way, I felt like 2022 – my first full year at Goliath - was a “championship season” for me.     Congratulations on the WTHRA Hall of Fame! I understand that was the first of two big industry honors you’ve received since joining Goliath.   When it comes to high industry honors, it’s tough to beat being the Roast Master for the inaugural POP Roast of Matt Nuccio in 2022, or hosting the POP Week “Toy Industry Takedown” in ’23! Yes, I do love a good microphone; and I’ve gotten more mileage from my 20-year-old tuxedo than I ever anticipated. I’m truly blessed to have these unique emcee opportunities to have some good clean after-hours fun.     ASTRA has been kind enough to allow me to continue hosting the annual Lip Sync Battle at their Marketplace and Academy since 2016.   Aniya Ottenberg 2024 Lip Sync Battle Champ with Brian Turtle   That gave them the confidence to trust me in that role for their Awards Gala the past two years. It was here at the 2025 Gala that I was truly stunned to receive a special “surprise” recognition award as someone who “Puts the Special in Specialty”. What’s nuts is I have a script to follow for the awards portion of the Gala, and even reading ahead I saw a note like “And then Brian welcomes ASTRA President Sue Warfield to the stage for a special surprise award” and I had no idea it would have anything to do with me! Needless to say, I was caught off guard and completely speechless (and getting me to stop talking is no easy feat!)     What really made the moment so impactful was the fact that ASTRA somehow not only kept the whole thing a secret from me, but they got my family involved by having my daughters send in a video to present the award to me. As I’ve said before, these are the people you want to share these moments with. Even though they couldn’t be there in San Antonio, my wife and daughters were still a part of the ceremony. I’m thankful to ASTRA and to all of my friends and family in this wonderful industry of ours; and I am so incredibly lucky to have had shareable moments like these. My heart is full.     Lyla and Sophie roast and congratulate their dad - funny and adorable!      That’s fantastic, Brian. Where do you go from here?   “Onwards and Upwards” as you like to say! Even though this last one kind of felt like a “Lifetime Achievement Award”, I know I’m far from my professional peak. I’m excited about the potential at Goliath. We’ve got great things in store this year, so keep an eye out for The Sims board game hitting shelves soon. And we continue to expand in toys led by our revolutionary Jelly Blox line.   And my family continues to play a role in my work life. My daughters Lyla and Sophie have cracked every case in our Unsolved Case Files game series, and now they’re moving on to some strategy games from our Lucky Duck line. Lyla is graduating high school this month and Sophie will be a junior next year, which is blowing my mind. Somehow, extraordinarily, my wife Erin manages to be the ring-leader of our three-ring circus of everyday life. Back when Endless Games was going through the acquisition, Erin and I had a long talk about what would happen next. It was kind of a scary time to be honest, and I remember saying something to the effect of “this only works for me if it works for you.” Thankfully, everything has worked out better than we ever could have imagined.   We work hard and we play hard, and at the end of the day, what could possibly be more fulfilling than that?!    

290,000 Brand-New Toys Donated by 15 Toy Companies Will Bring Joy to Children in Need Around the World   NEW YORK, NY | June 11, 2025 – The Toy Foundation, the philanthropic arm of The Toy Association, is joining forces with 15 toy companies to celebrate the second annual International Day of Play on June 11. More than 290,000 brand-new toys and games valued at $3 million will be distributed to children in need across the U.S. and around the world to mark International Day of Play, which aims to drive a global play movement for children everywhere, underscoring the essential role of play in every child’s development, well-being, and education.    To celebrate this important initiative, The Toy Foundation activated its core giving program, The Toy Chest, which is the only toy industry-wide giving initiative that harnesses the power of toys to comfort children when they need it most. Through the belief that play is a vital component of childhood and that every child should have access to the healing power of play, these donations will benefit children facing hospitalization, in low-income communities, and affected by natural or humanitarian disasters.   “Play is essential for all children by fostering learning, creativity, and social connection,” said Pamela Mastrota, executive director of The Toy Foundation. “We are proud to once again celebrate International Day of Play by supporting children who may not otherwise be able to experience the joy of play. Special thanks to our many valued corporate partners who have generously provided tens of thousands of toys and games, empowering us to bring play to children in need around the world.”   From plush, dolls and educational toys, to action figures and building sets, 290,365 toys in total are being donated by Build-A-Bear Workshop, Fashion Angels, Hasbro, Just Play, The LEGO Group, Mattel, Melissa & Doug, The Moscahlaidis Foundation, Re-marks, Safari Ltd., Sky Castle Toys, Snap Creative, Spin Master, SPIRIT and TeeTurtle.   Since the beginning of the year, The Toy Foundation’s Toy Chest program has collected $9 million in toys from the toy industry and distributed them to 1.5 million children in need. Since its founding in 2003, The Toy Chest has delivered toys to 35 million children globally. For more information about The Toy Foundation’s work and to get involved by donating products and/or by making an individual or company monetary donation, visit www.ToyFoundation.org.   About The Toy Foundation™ toyfoundation.orgThe Toy Foundation (TTF) is a 501 (c)(3) children's charity and philanthropic arm of The Toy Association. The uniting force for the collective philanthropy of the toy industry for the benefit of all children in need, TTF works with small, medium, and large companies to create a world where every child experiences the comfort, joy, and extraordinary physical, emotional, and educational benefits of play. Thanks to the toy industry's support, TTF has delivered play to 35 million children in need around the world.

NEW YORK, NY | June 11, 2025 — In celebration of the second annual International Day of Play today, The Toy Association™ and its philanthropic arm, The Toy Foundation™, are joining global partners to reinforce the value of play in the lives of children everywhere.   As part of its commitment to advancing the global play movement, The Toy Association is among 15 organizations joining a UNICEF-led global call to action, recognizing the International Day of Play as a unifying moment to protect and promote every child’s right to play. Adopted by the United Nations last year, the International Day of Play inspires systemic change by encouraging access to safe, inclusive, and developmentally enriching play environments for children across the globe.   In support of this mission and to help mark International Day of Play, The Toy Association’s Toy Foundation is bringing 290,000 brand-new toys valued at $3 million to children in need around the world. From plush and dolls to educational playthings, action figures and building sets, these donations have been generously provided by 16 toy companies and will benefit children facing hospitalization, in low-income communities, and affected by natural or humanitarian disasters.   The Toy Association is also bringing the spirit of play directly to the halls of Congress. Yesterday, the First Annual Day of Play on Capitol Hill welcomed Members of Congress and their staff to a fun-filled afternoon that highlighted the critical role of play in childhood development. The event spotlighted The Genius of Play™, The Toy Association’s educational initiative that raises awareness about the cognitive, physical, emotional, creative, and social benefits of play for children.   Today, Toy Association member companies from across the country are participating in a full day of meetings on Capitol Hill, where toy industry leaders are engaging directly with federal lawmakers to strengthen the industry’s profile; reinforce the toy sector’s important role in the well-being of all children; and spotlight the U.S. toy industry’s impact on the economy. Discussions will also cover the impact of tariffs on Toy Association members and the entire toy industry. From family-owned toy stores to leading toy brands, the toy industry supports an estimated 661,809 American jobs, generating $41.7 billion in wages for workers in every state.   “The Toy Association and its Toy Foundation proudly represent an industry united by a shared belief: that play is essential to childhood,” said Greg Ahearn, president & CEO of The Toy Association. “As we stand shoulder to shoulder with global allies, nonprofit partners, and our members, we are proud to lead with action, from championing smart policies in Washington to expanding every child’s access to play through The Toy Foundation’s philanthropic work. International Day of Play amplifies that mission on a global scale, and as an industry, we are answering that call with unity and purpose.   About The Toy Association™ toyassociation.org / toyfoundation.org / peopleofplay.com / thegeniusofplay.org / playsafe.org Founded in 1916, The Toy Association™, Inc. is the business trade association representing all businesses involved in creating and delivering toys and youth entertainment products for kids of all ages. The Toy Association leads the health and growth of the U.S. toy industry, which has an annual U.S. economic impact of $155.7 billion, and its roughly 900 members drive the annual $42 billion U.S. domestic toy market. The Toy Association serves as the industry's voice on the developmental benefits of play and promotes play's positive impact on childhood development. The organization has a long history of leadership in toy safety, having helped develop the first comprehensive toy safety standard more than 40 years ago, and remains committed to working with medical experts, governments, consumers, and the industry on ongoing programs to ensure safe and fun play.    As a global leader, The Toy Association produces the world-renowned Toy Fair™ in New York City; hosts marketplace activities in Los Angeles; engages in state, federal, and international advocacy on behalf of its members; supports the inventor and design community through People of Play™ and its numerous assets and events, including the consumer-facing Chicago Toy & Game Fair; sustains the Canadian Toy Association; acts as secretariat for the International Council of Toy Industries and International Toy Industry CEO Roundtable; and chairs the committee that reviews and revises America's widely emulated ASTM F963 toy safety standard. The Toy Association's philanthropic arm is The Toy Foundation™, a 501 (c)(3) children's charity that acts as the uniting force for the collective philanthropy of the toy industry. To date, The Toy Foundation has delivered the joy of play to 33 million children in need worldwide. About The Toy Foundation™ toyfoundation.orgThe Toy Foundation (TTF) is a 501 (c)(3) children's charity and philanthropic arm of The Toy Association. The uniting force for the collective philanthropy of the toy industry for the benefit of all children in need, TTF works with small, medium, and large companies to create a world where every child experiences the comfort, joy, and extraordinary physical, emotional, and educational benefits of play. Thanks to the toy industry's support, TTF has delivered play to 35 million children in need around the world.