Toys on Tap

Bob Johnson of Bay Area Film Events joins Toys on Tap to talk about the wild evolution of Godzilla Fest, from a seven-day movie marathon to a full-blown convention.
Bob has spent decades turning the movies he loves into experiences people remember.
We talk about:
• Discovering Godzilla and Ultraman as a kid
• The first Godzilla Fest in 2004
• Hosting legendary actors, directors, and suit performers
• Turning a film festival into a convention
• Growing from one hotel floor to two
• Vendors, Artist Alley, cosplay, card tournaments, and retro games
• Working with Toho, Tsuburaya, and Toei
• Why the goal is a “Godzilla Wonderland”
• What’s new for SF Godzilla Fest
• Bob’s dream of taking over even more of San Francisco
This episode is equal parts fandom, event-building, and proof that sometimes the thing you loved as a kid can become the thing you build for everyone else.
On Instagram: @sfgodzillafest
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Palmstreet: Toys on Tap: Live on Sundays 6pm

Bullmart founders Jerry and Shiti join Toys on Tap to talk about building a collectible that doesn’t really fit into any existing category.
It’s leather. It’s weighted. It uses magnets. It comes with premium packaging and a handwritten letter, and it was created by a team new to toys.
We talk about:
• Why Jerry wanted to make a bull
• Designing for adult male collectors
• Turning ambition into a physical character
• Choosing leather over traditional toy materials
• Going from TWO handmade bulls a day to a real business
• Shipping costs nearly destroying the margins
• Why collecting is really about emotion
• Collaborating with Inter Milan
• Building sports and lifestyle partnerships
• Creating Bullmart’s own identity
• The upcoming Bank of Bull collection
BullMart is here trying to create something worth collecting right now.
On Instagram: @bullmartglobal
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Palmstreet: Toys on Tap: Live on Sundays 6pm

Kaiju Go co-founder Chaz joins Toys on Tap to break down how two friends turned a love of kaiju films and toys into one of the most talked-about small toy events around.
And the philosophy is simple: throw a great party and take care of the artists.
We talk about:
• Growing up obsessed with dinosaurs and monsters
• Starting Kaiju Go in 2023
• Combining designer toys with classic kaiju films
• Why artists table for FREE
• Keeping the event intentionally small
• Curating sofubi, resin, and kaiju artists
• Fans lining up hours before doors open
• Volunteers keeping everyone hydrated in the Texas heat
• Designing Kaiju Go’s killer merch
• What could change next year
Kaiju Go isn’t chasing massive growth. It’s chasing longevity, community, and one ridiculously good day every year.
On Instagram: @Kaiju_go
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Palmstreet: Toys on Tap: Live on Sundays 6pm

WhiskeyJack Toys founder joins Toys on Tap to talk about the brutal, expensive, and incredibly rewarding reality of making 3.75-inch action figures.
Darren wanted to make toys since discovering G.I. Joe as a kid, but getting there included lost molds, failed production runs, a $100,000 factory disaster, and one very expensive education.
We talk about:
• Falling in love with G.I. Joe
• Buying his first toy company
• Losing $100K in overseas production
• Starting over with Whiskey Jack Toys
• Building Hidden Force
• Why action figure tooling gets so expensive
• Relaunching a failed Kickstarter
• Reusing parts without making figures feel repetitive
• Factory delays, QC, and production nightmares
• Designing toys kids can actually play with
• Impact, Chaos, and what comes next
This one is packed with toy-business lessons, painful mistakes, and proof that sometimes getting absolutely crushed is just part of figuring out how to do it right.
On Instagram: @whiskeyjacktoys
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Photographer, collector, and first-time toy maker Robert of Manic joins Toys on Tap for a deep dive into the obsession behind the collection.
From Godzilla, horror movies, skateboarding, and photography to spending $320 on designer vinyl on day one, Robert’s path into toys went from zero to full rabbit hole FAST.
We talk about:
• Discovering Kidrobot and blind boxes
• Falling hard for sofubi
• Owning 57 Cinema Monsters and 83 Obake Dogs
• Turning toy photography into Manic Images
• Working alongside Amy at Lulubell
• Learning toy production in Japan
• Carrying Amy’s influence forward
• Creating his first figure, Spooky
• Halloween buckets, punk rock, cats, and hoodies
This one is funny, emotional, and extremely toy-nerdy, in the best way. At its core, it’s about why the objects matter less than the people, memories, and excitement we attach to them.
On Instagram: @manic_svxcc
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