30.6 F
Chicago
Thursday, February 19, 2026

    James Zahn | Press and Media Appearances

    By
    Staff Contributor
    -
    James Zahn | The Rock Father
    This article is more than 2 years old and may not have been updated since our last site redesign. It may contain outdated information, broken links, or could be missing images and/or attribution.

    Over the years, James Zahn, aka The Rock Father™, and/or his work have frequently appeared in mainstream press and media. This continues as part of his roles as Editor-in-Chief of The Toy Book, Senior Editor of The Pop Insider, and Senior Editor of The Toy Insider.

    James is available for interviews, television appearances, and public speaking engagements, with a focus on entertainment, business, family, parenting, fatherhood, music, toys, and culture, as well as retail, licensing, and consumer product trends. Need a toy expert or pop culture expert for your TV segment? Contact James today: james@therockfather.com

    See a select assortment of Zahn’s credits at IMDb.

    Select Hits:

    2026:

    1. 02/11/2026: Forbes: Mattel Looks To Change Its Toy Story —Again— After A Losing Chapter
    2. 2/10/2026: New York Post: Toy makers are banking on movie blockbusters to boost sales in 2026 after last year’s brutal tariffs
    3. 02/10/2026: Forbes: Hasbro Believed In Magic. Now it’s Seeing The $2 Billion Reward
    4. 01/29/2026: Celebrating National Puzzle Day on KATU’s Afternoon Live
    5. 01/28/2026: WGN’s Daytime Chicago – Brain-Boosting Puzzles
    6. 01/14/2026: Vancouver Sun (Canada) B.C.’s last Toys “R” Us store unexpectedly closed

    2025:

    1. 12/26/2025: NewsNation’s Morning in America: 5 of 2025’s Greatest Toy Hits
    2. 12/26/2025: Good Morning Indiana: Tips for Beating Winter Break Boredom
    3. 12/24/2025: NewsMax’s Wake Up America: Christmas Eve Toy Shopping
    4. 12/22/2025: Mother Jones: Toys too expensive this year? Thank the Grinch (Trump)
    5. 12/22/2025: CNBC: LEGO Goes All-In on Formula 1
    6. 12/19/2025: Budget-Friendly Holiday Toys on NewsNation’s Morning in America
    7. 12/19/2025: Toys for Crafters and Creators on Live in the D
    8. 12/19/2025: Budget-Friendly Holiday Toys on Great Day St. Louis
    9. 12/19/2025: The Playground Podcast 2025 Year in Review with Chris Byrne, John Baulch, and James Zahn
    10. 12/19/2025: WRTV: Last-Minute Holiday Toys on Good Morning Indiana
    11. 12/18/2025: Barstool Chicago’s The Dog Walk by Barstool Sports
    12. 12/18/2025: KATU Afternoon Live: Great Last-Minute Holiday Gifts
    13. 12/17/2025: Hot Toys for Every Budget on ABC Phoenix
    14. 12/17/2025: Last-Minute Holiday Toy Deals on PIX 11 New York
    15. 12/14/2025: NBC Chicago – Hot STEM Toys for the Holidays
    16. 12/12/2025: The Hottest Toys to Grab Right Now on CBS KMOV’s Great Day St. Louis
    17. 12/11/2025: Hot Toys to Grab Now on WESH NBC 2 Orlando
    18. 12/11/2025: NBC Detroit: Viral Toy Trends from TikTok on Live in the D
    19. 12/10/2025: Hot Holiday Toys on Newsmax First Edition
    20. 12/09/2025: NY Post: The Labubu craze is so hot that even copycat versions are selling out
    21. 12/08/2025: FOX 32 Chicago – The Best Stocking Stuffer Toys on ChicagoNOW
    22. 12/05/2025: NBC Detroit Fun Toys for the Whole Family on Live in the D
    23. 12/04/2025: Fun Games for the Whole Family on FOX 5 Atlanta
    24. 12/03/2025: Squishmallows, the toy that won over Warren Buffett, is boosting the plush toy segment in Mexico
    25. 11/28/2025: The Year’s Hot New Toys with Black Friday Deals on NewsNation Morning in America
    26. 11/25/2025: Talking Trends from Toys “R” Us at Macy’s with NBC Chicago
    27. 11/25/2025: The Hottest Deals on the Hottest Toys on CBS Chicago
    28. 11/24/2025: FOX 32 Chicago: ChicagoNOW — TikTok Toy Hits
    29. 11/23/2025: Winnipeg Sun – Mass closures leave workers scrambling across Canada
    30. 11/20/2025: Fun Games for the Whole Family on KATU’s Afternoon Live
    31. 11/20/2025: Financial Post: Aisle always love you: Toys ‘R’ Us Canada stokes lifelong connections and nostalgia
    32. 11/20/2025: ASD Market Week “Beyond the Toy Aisle: What’s Next for the Future of Play”
    33. 11/17/2025: Edmonton Journal: Toys ‘R’ Us Canada closes at least 38 stores this year, puts another 12 up for sale
    34. 11/14/2025: Scripps News: Shopping for Big Hits on a Small Budget
    35. 11/14/2025: Everett Herald: Everett-based Funko: ‘Serious doubt’ it can continue without new owner or funding
    36. 11/13/2025: Budget-Friendly Holiday Toys on CBS Detroit
    37. 11/12/2025: ABC 7 Bay Area: Budget-Friendly Holiday Toys on ABC 7 San Francisco
    38. 11/07/2025: USA TODAY: Think LEGO is just for kids? These grown-ups would like a word.
    39. 11/07/2025: FOX Chicago: Super STEM Toys for the Holidays on Chicago Now
    40. 11/05/2025: Crain’s Chicago Business: It’s Toymaker vs. Trump today in a Supreme Court tariff showdown
    41. 10/31/2025: Forbes: Why Consumers Should Shop Early This Holiday Season
    42. 10/29/2025: Hot Toys to Grab Now on Arizona Midday
    43. 10/28/2025: Education Week: Educational Toy Companies Lead Supreme Court Battle Over Trump Tariffs
    44. 10/23/2025: The Hottest Holiday Toys to Grab Now on ABC Portland
    45. 10/21/2025: Barbie-maker Mattel misses quarterly estimates on North America weakness, shares slump
    46. 10/17/2025: The Hottest Toys of the Year on Tulsa’s News on 6
    47. 10/10/2025: GoBankingRates: Find Out How Much Your Vintage 2000s Toys Could Be Worth
    48. 10/03/2025: Newsday: Build-A-Bear stores on Long Island, nationwide buck tariff headwinds, tap into nostalgia to draw adults (archive)
    49. 09/29/2025: NBC News: Toys & Tariffs: What to get now to save ahead of the holidays
    50. 09/28/2025: The Hottest STEM Toys on NBC 5 Chicago
    51. 09/26/2025: What’s Trending in Toyland on KATU Afternoon Live
    52. 09/26/2025: The Big 550 KTRS x iHeartRadio – The Carney Show
    53. 09/26/2025: Top Toys That Teach on FOX 32 Chicago
    54. 09/20/2025: ABC7 Chicago – New Toys ‘R’ Us store holds grand opening at Chicago Premium Outlets in Aurora
    55. 09/10/2025: Guest Speaker – X Tracks The Future of Licensing Summit at The Toy Association’s Toy Building, Los Angeles
    56. 08/15/2025: The Best Toys for Back-to-School on KATU Afternoon Live
    57. 08/14/2025: Top Toys that Teach on NewsNation’s Morning in America
    58. 08/08/2025: The Seattle Times – Funko, Everett’s bobblehead king, hit by tariffs and other woes
    59. 08/01/2025: Summer Blockbuster Toys on Fox News Edge
    60. 07/29/2025: Summer Toys that Entertain and Educate on Inside DFW
    61. 07/28/2025: Hot Holiday Toy Preview on Good Morning Arizona
    62. 07/25/2025: Talking Toys and Tariffs on CGTN’s Global Business
    63. 07/21/2025: Forbes: Toy Industry Resilient Despite Tariffs; It’s Game On For Holiday
    64. 07/20/2025: Associated Press: Less selection, higher prices: How tariffs are shaping the holiday shopping season
    65. 07/16/2025: Tariffs Cast Shadow on Holiday Toys on NBC 4 New York
    66. 07/09/2025: How Import Taxes Are Hurting Toy Stores on PIX 11 New York
    67. 07/08/2025: Discovering Grayslake Podcast
    68. 07/06/2025: Summer Toys that Won’t Break the Bank on NBC Las Vegas
    69. 06/13/2025: Toys and Artificial Intelligence on Yahoo Finance
    70. 06/12/2025: Summer Blockbuster Toys on KATU Afternoon Live
    71. 06/01/2025: Summer Toys That Won’t Break the Bank on FOX 2 San Francisco
    72. 05/28/2025: Tariff Uncertainty Impacting the Toy Industry on ABC Washington, D.C.
    73. 05/28/2025: The Best Summer Toys for Shoppers on a Budget on FOX 32 Chicago
    74. 05/21/2025: Talking Tariffs and Toys on FOX 5 Las Vegas
    75. 05/07/2025: Tariffs and the Toy Industry on CGTN America
    76. 05/07/2025: The New Republic: Trump’s Rants About Young Girls’ Dolls Just Got Weirder and Darker
    77. 05/06/2025: Forbes: Barbie Toymaker Mattel Warns Tariffs May Force It To Raise Some Prices
    78. 05/05/2025: Modern Retail: Trump’s trade war is already throwing a wrench into holiday planning
    79. 05/02/2025: HuffPo: Labubu – This Strange Doll Has Become A Gen Z Obsession. Could The Trade War Make Them Even Harder To Get?
    80. 05/01/2025: Inc. – Why Montessori-Style Wooden Toys Are Popular Right Now
    81. 04/24/2025: Forbes: Hasbro Delivers Upside Surprise, Says New Game Plan Is Working
    82. 04/24/2025: Toymakers are in limbo with uncertain trade policy – Marketplace/NPR
    83. 04/24/2025: Reuters – Toymaker Hasbro’s first-quarter results beat on gaming unit strength
    84. 04/22/2025: Eco-Friendly Toys for Earth Day on ABC 6 Philadelphia
    85. 04/15/2025: Toys for a Sugar-Free Easter Basket on The Hub Today
    86. 04/11/2025: Tariffs and the Toy Industry on NBC 4 New York
    87. 04/09/2025: Ep. 167 – Talking Tariffs with Toy Book Editor-in-Chief James Zahn
    88. 04/07/2025: CO – By U.C. Chamber of Commerce How Ty Inc. Is Taking Its Beanie Babies Brand to New Heights Amid the Appeal of (Low-Tech) Nostalgia
    89. 03/21/2025: Six Toys for a Super Spring Break on CBS Chicago
    90. 03/20/2025: The Playground Podcast: From the Floor at Toy Fair
    91. 03/17/2025: Talking Toys and Tariffs on CGTN Global Business
    92. 03/13/2025: Forbes: New Bricks Hitting The Toy Aisles As Companies Compete With Lego
    93. 03/05/2025: Talking Toys and Tariffs on Scripps News
    94. 03/04/2025: Tariffs and the Toy Industry on PIX 11 New York
    95. 03/04/2025: Toy Fair’s Hottest New Toys on FOX News
    96. 03/02/2025: The Toy Industry Is Hoping For A Bounce Back Year, As Toy Fair Opens
    97. 02/28/2025: NY Post – Disney’s ‘Stitch’ poised to become 2025’s most popular toy as NYC Toy Fair ramps up: sources
    98. 02/06/2025: FOX 32 Chicago: Toys for Super Fun Day on Super Sunday
    99. 02/06/2025: Daily Mail: Mattel exec warns of price hikes for Barbie dolls and Hot Wheels toys under Trump’s China tariffs
    100. 02/05/2025: Forbes: Mattel Stock Jumps 15% On Positive Outlook, Despite Tariff Concerns
    101. 02/05/2025: NY Post: Mattel shares spike 15% after toy giant says it may raise Barbie prices because of China tariffs
    102. 02/05/2025: MediaPost: Barbie Feels the Heat from Tariffs
    103. 02/04/2025: Reuters: Mattel forecasts annual profit above estimates, signals price hikes on toys
    104. 01/24/2025: Winter Toys to Cure Cabin Fever on ABC 6 Philadelphia
    105. 01/21/2025: The Best Puzzles and Brain Games on Good Day Chicago

    2024:

    2023:

    2022:

    1. 12/27/2022 – Hot Holiday Toys on CGTN’s Global Business

    12/24/2022 – The Washington Post: We’re in a golden age of board games. It might be here to stay.

    1. 12/22/2022 – Last-Minute Toys and Stocking Stuffers on FOX 32 Chicago
    2. 12/22/2022 – The Information: The Season’s Hottest Toy? Hint: It’s a YouTuber
    3. 12/21/2022 – Holiday Toys for “Kidults” on ABC Harrisburg
    4. 12/20/2022 – Newsy’s The Why: The Importance of Toys
    5. 12/20/2022 – KNX News 97.1 FM Los Angeles: Kidults Rising
    6. 12/20/2022 – NTD Business: Toy Industry Covets Toy-Buying Adults
    7. 12/20/2022 – ABC News live: The Holiday’s Hottest Toys on ABC News Live
    8. 12/19/2022 – Budget-Friendly Holiday Toys on Newsy’s Evening Debrief
    9. 12/19/2022 – The Coolest Tech Toys of the Holidays on Fox 40 Sacramento
    10. 12/19/2022 – Budget-Friendly Fun on NewsNation’s Morning in America
    11. 12/19/2022 – The State of the Toy Industry and the Year’s Hottest Toys on CGTN’s The World Today
    12. 12/19/2022 – CNBC: Adults are buying toys for themselves, and it’s the biggest source of growth for the industry
    13. 12/17/2022 – Hot Toys for Last-Minute Shoppers on Fox 13 Seattle
    14. 12/16/2022 – NPR: Why Hot Wheels are one of the most inflation-proof toys in American history
    15. 12/14/2022 – Super Stocking Stuffers on Detroit’s Live in the D
    16. 12/13/2022 – Super Stocking Stuffers on The List
    17. 12/12/2022 – Retail Dive: Retail looks beyond its old love — the movies
    18. 12/09/2022 – Retro Rewind Toys for “Kidults” on NBC Orlando
    19. 12/08/2022 – Super Stocking Stuffers on Fox 59 Indianapolis
    20. 12/07/2022 – WTBQ The Creativity & Technology Show
    21. 12/07/2022 – Rad Retro Toys on Fox 59 Indianapolis
    22. 12/06/2022 – Hot Holiday Toys on CBS 2 Chicago
    23. 12/05/2022 – The Classic Toys That Built America on The List
    24. 12/01/2022 – WOWK – Hot Holiday Toys on ABC Charleston, West Virginia
    25. 11/28/2022 – The Year’s Hottest Toys on Fox 59 Indianapolis
    26. 11/25/2022 – ABC News Live: The Hottest Toys for Any Budget
    27. 11/25/2022 – Houston Chronicle: The most popular toys of 2022 incorporate tech, TV, and working from home
    28. 11/21/2022 – Forbes: Hot Toy Or Not? Now Is When The Toy Game Gets Serious
    29. 11/18/2022 – Family-Friendly Fun on Good Morning Arizona
    30. 11/17/2022 – Hot Stocking Stuffer Toys on Good Morning Arizona
    31. 11/16/2022 – Randi Zuckerberg Means Business — Holiday Shopping 2022
    32. 11/16/2022 – WDIV: Hot Toys for Under $30 on Detroit’s Live in the D
    33. 11/16/2022 – Budget Friendly Toys on Good Morning Arizona
    34. 11/16/2022 – New York Magazine’s The Strategist: The Best Gifts for 12-Year-Olds, According to Experts
    35. 11/15/2022 – Go Wild with Awesome Animal Toys on The List
    36. 11/15/2022 – Trending Tech Toys on Good Morning Arizona
    37. 11/14/2022 – The Year’s Hottest Toys on Good Morning Arizona
    38. 11/14/2022 – ABC7 News San Francisco: Retro Rewind Toys
    39. 11/13/2022 – NY1: Popular Toys to Get Children this Holiday Season
    40. 11/11/2022  – New York Magazine’s The Strategist: The Best Dolls for Kids, According to Experts
    41. 11/07/2022 – New York Magazine’s The Strategist: The Best Dollhouses, According to Experts
    42. 10/29/2022 – Yahoo! US retailers battle high costs clearing Christmas stockpiles
    43. 10/26/2022 – WDIV: Hot Holiday Toys on Detroit’s Live in the D
    44. 10/25/2022 – FOX 32 Chicago WFLD: Retro Rewind Toys on Good Day Chicago
    45. 10/17/2022 – Forbes: Macy’s Partnership Signals A Brand New Future For Toys “R” Us
    46. 10/11/2022 – Rad Retro Toys on Good Morning Arizona
    47. 10/10/2022 – Hot Toys for Kids of All Ages on ABC Dallas
    48. 10/10/2022 – Budget-Friendly Holiday Toys on ABC Dallas
    49. 10/10/2022 – The Year’s Hottest New Toys on ABC Dallas
    50. 10/01/2022 – Hasbro Pulse Con 2022 Guest Appearance: Fan Engagement
    51. 09/28/2022 – Bloomberg: ‘Bluey’ Is So Popular, Disney+ Is Releasing a Lost Episode
    52. 09/26/2022 – Newsday: High-end Lightsabers
    53. 09/12/2022 – New York Magazine’s The Strategist: The Best Gifts for 12-Year-Olds, According to Experts
    54. 09/08/2022 – Tech Toys that Teach on FOX 61 Connecticut
    55. 09/06/2022 – Celebrating 40 years of Knight Rider on The List
    56. 09/01/2022 – Super STEM Toys on FOX 61 Connecticut
    57. 08/19/2022 – Woman’s Day: The 25 Best Toys and Gifts for 4-Year-Olds This Holiday Season
    58. 08/05/2022 – A Little More Conversation with Ben O’Hara-Byrne: Mattel’s Turnaround Breathes New Life into Barbie and Hot Wheels | Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music
    59. 08/04/2022 – The Sacramento Bee: Toys R Us is back — here’s where you can find it in Sacramento, Modesto, and Fresno
    60. 07/30/2022 – Toronto Star: Suddenly, Barbie is everywhere. And her Dreamhouse is in … Mississauga?
    61. 07/28/2022 – Muck Rack: This month in bad PR pitches: July 2022
    62. 07/28/2022 – Michael Smart PR: Good Lessons from Bad PR Pitches (July 2022 Edition)
    63. 07/27/2022 – The List: 40 Years of G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero
    64. 07/21/2022 – Plastics News: Kickstart: The serious business of toys
    65. 07/19/2022 – Plastics News: LEGO part of reshoring, foreign direct investment growth in US
    66. 07/10/2022 – NBC Baltimore: Hot Toys for Summer
    67. 07/07/2022 – KATU ABC Portland’s Afternoon Live! Hot Summer Toys
    68. 06/23/2022: Yahoo! Finance: LEGO going green means ‘reinventing the entire product’ ahead of $1 billion Virginia investment
    69. 06/16/2022 – Retail Dive: LEGO to open first US factory
    70. 05/27/2022 – WDIV: Live in the D: Hot Summer Toys
    71. 05/26/2022 – Las Vegas NOW: Must-Have Summer Toys
    72. 05/24/2022 – The Summertime’s Hottest New Toys and a Licensing Expo Kickoff on Fox 5 Las Vegas
    73. 05/12/2022 – Toys to Get Kids Active on KATU ABC Portland’s Afternoon Live!
    74. 05/02/2022 – The List: The Toys of Summer
    75. 04/28/2022 – Marketwatch: Mattel Had a ‘Blowout’ Quarter but the Stock Doesn’t Reflect it, analysts say
    76. 04/22/2022 – CNBC Worldwide Exchange: Toy Companies Going Green, State of the Industry
    77. 04/22/2022 – FOX 61 Hartford, CT: Celebrating Earth Day with Sustainable Toys
    78. 04/22/2022 – The Spruce: The Best Storytelling Games of 2022 for the Whole Family
    79. 04/21/2022 – The Spruce: The 9 Best Tailgate Games for Outdoor Parties
    80. 04/20/2022 – Marketwatch: Christmas in July: Hasbro moves up inventory purchases to make sure there are enough toys for the holidays
    81. 04/15/2022 – FOX 61 Hartford, CT: Sugar-Free Easter Baskets
    82. 04/08/2022 – FOX 59 Indianapolis: New Spring Toys for Easter and Beyond on Fox Indianapolis
    83. 04/08/2022 – FOX 61 Hartford, CT: Travel-Friendly Toys for Spring
    84. 04/07/2022 – FOX 59 Indianapolis: Best Budget Toys and Sugar-Free Easter Baskets
    85. 03/28/2022 – Retail Dive: Brick by brick: How LEGO continues to build a toy empire
    86. 03/18/2022 – Fun Family Game Night on Fox Chicago
    87. 03/16/2022 – Forbes: What The Metaverse Means For The Future Of Retail
    88. 03/13/2022 – Forbes: How Collectibles Brand Funko Became A $1 Billion Pop Culture Powerhouse
    89. 03/11/2022 – The Spring’s Hottest Tech Toys on NBC Chicago
    90. 02/22/2022 – Cheddar News’ Opening Bell: What’s Next for Mattel and Hasbro?
    91. 02/13/2022 – Screenrant: Star Wars Fans Can’t Unsee Pac-Man Looking Cloud in Obi-Wan Poster
    92. 02/11/2022 – ComicBook.com: Star Wars Fans Keep Seeing Pac-Man in Obi-Wan Kenobi Poster
    93. 02/09/2022 – BBC World News’ Asia Business Report: Discussing Mattel’s Q4 Earnings on BBC World News
    94. 02/07/2022 – CNBC: Hasbro swings past estimates as Spider-Man movie fuels toy demand
    95. 02/02/2022 – FOX 61 Connecticut: Snow Day Fun
    96. 01/27/2022 – Forbes: Disney Princesses Gear Up For A Makeover, Like The One Barbie Got
    97. 01/26/2022 – Forbes: Mattel Convinces Disney It Will Love The Princesses Better Than Hasbro
    98. 01/11/2022 – The List: The Stories Behind Iconic Movie Sound Effects

    2021:

    2020:

    2019:

    2018:

    Earlier:

    Interested in booking James? Send him an email.

    Advertisement

    RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

    Business

    Home & Garden

    FOOD & DRINK

    LIFESTYLE

    spot_img

    Connect with The Rock Father

    ©1976-2026 All rights reserved. THE ROCK FATHER™ and THE ROCK FATHER™ Magazine are trademarks and may not be used without permission. THE ROCK FATHER Magazine is a participant in the Amazon Services, LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.