Brian Shea is executive editor at Game Informer. In this edition of The Friday Five, Brian talks about the relaunch of the long-running print magazine and the role the publication plays in the games media industry.

Pam Mastrota is executive director at The Toy Foundation. In this edition of The Friday Five, Pam talks about the organization’s Toy Chest and Play Fund initiatives and shares observations about the changing needs of vulnerable communities.

Neil King is co-founder of the Rubber Duck Museum. In this edition of The Friday Five, Neil talks about the inspiration behind the Point Roberts, Washington museum and reveals his quest for a rubber duck from the 1992 Friendly Floaties spill.

Peter Seibert is the president and CEO of the Independence Seaport Museum. In this edition of The Friday Five, Peter talks about the museum’s new Small but Mighty!: Models, Toys and Miniature Ships exhibit and explains the connection one of the models shares with the JAWS movie.

Doc Mack is the owner of Galloping Ghost Arcade in Brookfield, Illinois. In this edition of The Friday Five, Doc explains some of the obstacles he encountered when establishing the arcade and shares his observations on how the arcade scene has changed over the years.

Niels Mølgård Frederiksen is a designer with LEGO Group. In this edition of The Friday Five, Niels discusses developing the Spring Festival Trotting Lantern set and shares the skills essential for anyone wanting to work as a LEGO designer. 

Rachele Harmuth is the board president of MESH Helps. In this edition of The Friday Five, Rachele talks about the vital role of play in nurturing good mental health in children and how the nonprofit organization’s MESH Accreditation program serves as a guide for adults looking for toys and games that bolster youth resilience.

Tamara Grindrod is the Senior Vice President, Creativity & PLAY-DOH Brand at Hasbro. In this edition of The Friday Five, Tamara underscores the importance of nurturing children’s creativity and how the brand’s PLAY-DOH Kids Can and PLAY-DOH Imagination Curriculum initiatives support skill development. 

Ed Catto is co-founder of Captain Action Enterprises. In this edition of The Friday Five, Ed shares the conversation that led to acquiring the Captain Action IP and talks about what fans can look forward to seeing from the brand in the near future and beyond.

Joshua Tsui is the filmmaker behind the Insert Coin documentary. In this edition of The Friday Five, Joshua talks about what compelled him to chronicle life at the Chicago-based Midway Games arcade games developer and how the film is being interpreted as an exhibit at the Cleve Carney Museum of Art. 

Peggy Brown is an independent toy and game designer. In this edition of The Friday Five, Peggy shares observations from her 35 years in the industry and reveals two elements new designers often neglect when trying to get their toys and games to market.

Richard Pierson, Jr. is manager of the Sarasota Toy Museum. In this edition of The Friday Five, Richard explains how a day of antique shopping led to purchasing a collection that would become the museum and shares the ways in which the business fulfils his dad’s lifelong dream.