Press Kit

It’s about the purple dinosaur. But it’s also about music and love and backlash and toys and nostalgia. Most of all, it’s about the television that helps us become who we are, from the station that helped launch Barney into the world.

Episodes drop Tuesdays, starting November 12th.

• Host: Sabrina Herrera
• Reporter-Producers: Meg Dalton and Lily Tyson
• Editor: Cassandra Basler
• Project Manager: Megan Fitzgerald
• Sound Designer and Theme Composer: Jay Cowit
  

Generation Barney is produced with support from PRX and is made possible by a grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

Program identity package provided by MediaVision Creative.

Episodes

Episode 1: Toddler TV - Nov. 12
In the 90s, preschoolers went nuts for “Barney & Friends” — and that’s kind of by design. The people behind the show put a lot of thought into every detail, from the word choices in scripts to the behaviors Barney modeled. Barney spoke to kids in a language they could understand. And those little ones? They were also central to the creation, and evolution, of the show.

Episode Two: Dinosync - Nov. 12
For years, two men brought Barney to life. One was the voice, one was the body, and together they entertained kids around the world. Bob West and David Joyner created an iconic character in Barney, from the goofy laugh to those gravity-defying jumps. Just like the character meant so much to many of us, Barney meant a lot to Bob and David, too.

Episode 3: Love 2 Hate - Nov. 12
Kids all over the world loved Barney. But even though Barney loved everybody, not everybody loved him back. Some parents found the character pretty annoying. Other grown-ups took things a step further. In some cases, the Barney backlash even got violent. That extreme reaction from adults? It can tell us a bit about our culture today — and how much our identities can get wrapped up in the things we love and hate.

Episode 4: Purple Capitalism - Nov. 19
On “Barney & Friends,” Barney starts off as a plush toy and then comes to life. That iconic stuffed animal wasn’t just on the small screen; it was in the homes of children around the world. Merchandise was a huge part of the show’s success. But “Barney & Friends” wasn’t the first movie or TV show to connect with fans through merch. That dates back a long time — and has a history that includes He-Man, Ronald Reagan, and George Lucas.

Episode 5: Purple Dino Puppeteers - Nov. 26
For a lot of young viewers, Barney wasn’t just a character on TV. He was more like a friend. Barney even became a kind of mentor for some kids. For one group of friends, their friendship — and even careers — might’ve turned out totally different had it not been for a purple dinosaur.

Episode 6: Kid Bopz - Dec. 3
“Barney & Friends” was all about the music. Barney and the kids on the show would learn about everything through song. The people behind Barney’s tunes had to make sure toddlers could easily understand what they were hearing — that meant songs had to be active, repetitive, and simple. But those same ingredients? They made some parents cringe. For a lot of them, the songs felt like torture.

Episode 7: Purple-Colored Glasses - Dec. 10
Barney made kids feel loved. He was a friend, sometimes even a father figure, to Millennials and Gen Zers. To this day, many are finding comfort in this purple dinosaur and trying to put his values into practice. So, why do the things we loved as kids stick with us? What draws us back to them decades later?

Bonus Episode: Generation Barney: Mixtape
Go behind-the-scenes with the “Generation Barney” team. They share how the podcast got started, what they learned along the way, and even some reporting that didn’t make it into the final cut. It’s Generation Barney…the live mix!

Meet the Host

Sabrina Herrera is living her inner child’s dream as host of “Generation Barney.” As a lifelong journalist, she’s worked in television production, newspapers, digital, social, community engagement, and public media.

She currently leads an initiative to uplift and expand Latine storytelling, representation, and audience at Connecticut Public, called ¡Somos Connecticut! Sabrina performs improv comedy and believes anyone can do it. (Yes, you!)

Much like Barney, she’s often described as enthusiastic and optimistic, and likes to look for the fun in things. She previously owned a Barney tracksuit and is not ashamed.

Generation Barney Podcast Guests Include:

• David Joyner, actor who played Barney (costume)​
• Lynn Zubernis, expert on the psychology of fandom​
• Larry Rifkin, former CT Public exec who helped launch​ Barney onto PBS​
• Leora Rifkin Edouard, Larry’s daughter who “discovered”​ Barney at a local video store ​
• Bob West (Voice Actor)