Azhelle Wade is The Toy Coach. In this edition of The Friday Five, Azhelle shares her observations about current trends in the toy industry and outlines the common missteps toy and game inventors make when developing their ideas.

Mitchel Wu is a Los Angeles-based toy photographer. In this edition of The Friday Five, Mitchel talks about his new exhibition at Science Museum Oklahoma and reveals the elements that drive his passion for storytelling through photography.

Michael Scheffki is senior vice president of marketing at MAGNA-TILES. In this edition of The Friday Five, Michael talks about the new MAGNA-TILES Studio at the Museum of Discovery and Science in Florida and elaborates on the company’s approach to creating opportunities for Meaningful Play.

Jeremy Padawer is chief brand officer at Jazwares. In this edition of The Friday Five, Jeremy talks about the company’s new Vault adult collectibles line and explains fandoms’ role in forging bonds between people who share a common passion.

Sean Quimby is the Director of the Jay I. Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts at the University of Pennsylvania Libraries. In this edition of The Friday Five, Sean shares details of the recently gifted Prebula comic book collection and discloses the most daunting aspect of his role as a preservationist.

Jennifer George is the chief creative officer of the Rube Goldberg Institute. In this edition of The Friday Five, Jennifer discusses her role as steward of her grandfather’s legacy and the institute’s new contest to design a Rube Goldberg-inspired playground. 

Jordan Plosky is the co-founder and CEO of Zoop. In this edition of The Friday Five, Jordan talks about building a full-service crowdfunding platform for comic book creators and shares guidance on what’s vital to have in place before launching a crowdfunding campaign.

Chris Watson is the Hot Wheels Legends Tour 2023 winner. In this edition of The Friday Five, Chris talks about the customized 1990 Mazda MX-5 — nicknamed the Chimera — that earned him the honour and shares some advice for those considering entering the annual competition. 

Toy historian Rob Goldberg is the author of Radical Play. In this edition of The Friday Five, Rob gives the inside scoop on his research, acquisition, and analysis of ground-breaking toys.

Mary Mahoney and Allison Horrocks are the authors of Dolls of Our Lives. In this edition of The Friday Five, Mary and Allison talk about the enduring appeal of the American Girl brand and how their work as professional historians influences their own approach to storytelling. 

Mark Racop is the founder of Fiberglass Freaks. In this edition of The Friday Five, Mark explains how his replicas of the Batman ’66 Batmobile caught the attention of DC Comics and why opening a Batman museum was the logical next step in his stewardship of the original television series.

Brian “Box” Brown is an award-winning cartoonist, illustrator, and writer. In this edition of The Friday Five, we talk to Brian about his latest book, The He-Man Effect: How American Toymakers Sold You Your Childhood, and discuss how the Reagan administration played a pivotal role in how toys are marketed to today’s consumers.