SpongeBob iHeartRadio Podcast Debuts

Entertainment

SpongeBob BingePants iHeart Radio Podcast Premieres

SpongeBob SquarePants enthusiasts of every age have something new and fun to look forward to this fall. Debuting today, the Nickelodeon SpongeBob Binge Pants All-New Original Podcast begins airing on iHeart Radio with 40 weekly episodes planned. The show is hosted by SpongeBob SquarePants mega fans Frankie Grande (Henry Danger) and Hector Navarro (Geek & Sundry), both millennials who grew up with the original beloved Nickelodeon SpongeBob SquarePants animated series which officially debuted in 1999.

The tongue-in-cheek podcast, an audio recap and commentary of each episode way back to the beginning of this very popular kids series, is intended to appeal to a broad audience age-range including younger and older fans alike.  

Along the way, as they rewatch and analyze each episode, the show's dynamic host duo -- as well as an impressive list of special guest interviews -- will be diving deep, revealing secrets, fun facts and more about the loveable yellow sponge character and the rest of his Bikini Bottom friends. Throughout the show's first podcast season, a full lineup of entertaining and eclectic show guests will share their own 2 cents and chime in about anything and everything SpongeBob SquarePants.

A Q&A With the New Podcast's Hosts 

One of the things I like most about being an influencer is covering what's new in family-friendly entertainment that I think you will enjoy. Nothing is more thrilling than to go behind the scenes to talk directly to the talent and share all about their brilliant insights with you, especially when we're talking about one of the most popular and enduring of children's entertainment dynasties. 

So, without further adieu, here is the recap of MBE's interview with both SpongeBob BingePants Podcast hosts: Frankie Grande and Hector Navarro.

Janis Elspas,  Mommy Blog Expert 

Q: Both of you are millennial kids who grew up with SpongeBob SquarePants. Who is your personal favorite character and why?

Frankie Grande, SpongeBob BingePants Host

A: I've always related to SpongeBob Square Pants, including today. I'm attracted to his effervescence, unapologetic love of everything around him, his volume level -- these are things I deeply identify with -- and of course, his laugh, just the fact that he tries to bring joy into the world. That's something I've tried to do every single day. So I think I've always been a SpongeBob.

Hector Navarro, SpongeBob BingePants Host

A: I think I've always loved Patrick Star most because Patrick is the funniest cartoon character. He makes me laugh more than any other character probably from any cartoon I have ever seen. It is so difficult to do a really smart dumb character and Patrick is a brilliant smart dumb character. So that's why I love him, I loved him as a kid and I love him now even more as an adult because I can really appreciate the writing and the performance.

Janis

Q: Who would you like most to interview as a guest on the SpongeBob BingePants Podcast, living or dead, and why?

Hector

A: For sure, Stephen Hillenburg, the show's creator who sadly passed away in 2018. But I feel so lucky I was able to talk to him years ago and tell him as a fan how much the show meant to me. Stephen was an amazing guy and -- in some place beyond what we know of as our existence -- it would be so wonderful to see him again and have another chance to talk with him. We have an awesome lineup of guests for this first season, though, and we've only really just scratched the surface of possibilities.

Frankie

A: Of course, I'd want to interview Stephen, too, but unfortunately he's gone. Still, if I could interview anyone living or dead, my go-to person would probably be Dame Maggie Smith. I would love to know what her SpongeBob story is. Can you even imagine having her on our show? The great actress would say (in her British accent) something like, "I believe my favorite is Squidward." Looking torward other wish list guests, I hope one day we get to have Tom Kenny, who plays SpongeBob. Now that would be a truly iconic interview!

Frankie Grande

About Frankie Grande

Born in New York in 1983, Frankie is an multi-faceted performing artist and pop culture icon with roles as a dancer, actor, singer, producer, television host, and YouTube personality. His resume includes performing on Broadway (Rock of Ages, Mamma Mia!), producing and appearing in multiple cabaret acts and in his one-man show Livin La Vida Grande. In 2017 the pop culture icon with 2.1M followers on Instagram guest-starred for two episodes as Frankini on Henry Danger, another Nickelodeon show.

Hector Navarro

About Hector Navarro

Self-described as a cartoon nerd, Hector Navarro was born in 1988 on the opposite coast in San Diego, California. He holds a Media Arts and Animation degree from The Art Institute of California and is a former Nickelodeon intern. Over the years, he has worked in visual effects (The Avengers, Iron Man 3, and the Shrek movies) as well as an actor and producer. Projects include Callisto 6, Shield of Tomorrow, and Pencils and Parsecs, he has also worked as a Geek & Sundry host, among other gigs. Follow him on social @Hectorisfunny

About SpongeBob BingePants

The SpongeBob BingePants podcast that just debuted is co-produced by Nickelodeon and iHeartRadio. Starting today the new 40-episode weekly show will be available on iHeartRadio and everywhere podcasts can be heard. During the first season, guests revealed to date include SpongeBob SquarePants show cast and crew: Carolyn Lawrence, Mr. Lawrence, Kenny Pittenger, and Jennie Monica, with additional talent to be announced. Get a peek at the fun that lies ahead with the official trailer now on YouTube. Then, keep up with the latest news about this entertaining podcast, by following @Nickelodeon, @NickAnimation and @SpongeBob on social.

DIY Outdoor String Lighting Ideas With Novtech

Home & Garden

Add Sparkle With Easy, DIY Lighting

Whether you'd like to make your home or garden more beautiful to look at this fall, winter, and/or during the holiday season, market outdoor string lights are an easy and lovely way to redecorate your family and kids living spaces without breaking the bank. 

MBE partnered with Novtech, post contains affiliate links

Come to think of it, it's crazy simple to get creative and set up your own outdoor lighting without hiring a professional designer, landscape architect or electrician and -- whenever the mood strikes you for something different -- to change things up by yourself without stressing out with no special tools needed.

As you'll see from the photos throughout this post, I decorated both our patio and backyard with Novtech LED Outdoor String Lights, which are water- and shatter-proof. In fact, durability and high quality lighting like this is absolutely essential if you want to enjoy your exterior decorative lighting season-to-season, rain, sleet or snow. 

What's more, if your children are helping you hang up your lights (under close supervision by  a responsible person, of course) you definitely don't want the bulbs to break or shatter and ruin your decorating attempt. Trust me it happens: kids (and us big kids at heart) drop things all too often or you may even accidentally step on these lights like I did while working on this project -- without any bulb breakage. Simply put, you want these sparkling display beauties to last: so make sure your lights are shatter proof.

Create a Space Reflecting Your Uniqueness

The possibilities of what you can do with good quality LED outdoor string lighting are endless for year-round enjoyment. Your personality and unique style and preferences are your only limitations.

Let your creativity run wild to create an outdoor light-up space that truly speaks to you. And while you're at it, why not get your kids and family involved in the creative process? It's as simple as unpacking your box of LED String Lights and hanging them up however you choose. 

 

How to Make a Fairy Garden Twinkle

Why have a drab garden when you can have a brightly lit outdoor area that's pretty to look at, even during the cooler months when not many flowers are in bloom? This is a quick and easy human-sized fairy light garden DIY project if you have trees or other large, sturdy plants in your yard or if you live in an apartment with a balcony with potted plants you might decorate. 

To create this look, all I did was drape some standard Novtech string lights (featuring standard light bulb sized lights) over the shrubs and around some tree trunks in our backyard, using the branches as anchors. 

Alternately, if you need leverage for hanging the lights, you can thread the included cable ties (or your own garbage bag plastic twist tie closures) through the dime-size loop at the top of each bulb. Then loop around sturdy branches or attach them to garden stakes set into the ground with small nails hammered into each stake to support the lights.

 

Paper Chain Garland String Lights

If you don't have any greenery to hang the lights on to, not to worry. How about decorating your patio, deck, or other outdoor space instead? Cut brightly colored construction paper into strips then put the kids to work making paper chains using tape, glue, or staples to link them together. One of my girls, now in her mid 20s, still prides herself as chief paper chain maker of  our family when we decorate our outdoor dining space for the Jewish holiday of Sukkot each fall. 

While the kids are making vibrant decorative paper chains under the watchful eyes of a caregiver, you can be hanging the lights up (using small nails if there's no other existing supports for the light strings). The last step is to help your child stand on a chair or step ladder to twist and drape the paper chains parallel to the lights, spiraling them around the LED string lights, similar to the way you'd hang crepe paper party streamers across a room.

These are just a few ideas to inspire you and get you started. Remeber: The sky's the limit (night time for the most dramatic displays, for sure) to all the things you can do with Novtech LED String Lights. Order yours now, see below for more details and where to buy. 

About Novtech LED Outdoor String Lights

The shatterproof, waterpoof, energy-saving warm white Novtech LED Outdoor String Lights featured in this MBE review are available in two lengths: 53 Feet with 15 Bulbs and 101.1 Feet with 30 Bulbs. Both light options are commercial grade quality -- the same sort of outdoor market lighting that is so popular with restaurants and public places -- and can easily be translated to smaller scale decorating at home both indoors and outside.

MBE is an Amazon Affiliate and we receive a bit of compensation, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using any of our Amazon affiliate links. 

Blues Clues Story Time With Blue DVD Release

Movies

Blue's Clues & You Movie Review, Giveaway, Twitter Party

For the past several generations, and counting, a blue-spotted dog named Blue is legendary. Honoring the 25th anniversary of Blue's Clues, the beloved Nickelodeon children's entertainment enterprise, a brand new 2-DVD Special Edition.

MBE partnered with Paramount, post contains affiliate links

The latest title Nickelodeon Blue's Clues & You! Story Time with Blue (Paramount, 2021) is the first time kids have the opportunity to enjoy episodes from both the original Blue's Clues (airing from 1986-2006) and the rebooted Blue's Clues And You! series, which has been delighting preschooler boys and girls since 2019.

Playing Blue's Clues has never been more fun as parents who grew up on the original show can now enjoy this new DVD set alongside with their own little ones. This time the task is to figure out Blue's favorite story, with the audience invited to join Josh and Blue as they go back in time to imagine Blue's first pajama party to answer that question. With Steve and Joe joining Blue and friends, there's no shortage of bedtime stories that will be told.

Disc 1 - Blue's Clues & You! Story Time with Blue

• Story Time with Blue
• Blue's Big Imagination
• Pajama Party with Blue
• Sleepy Singalong with Blue
• Plus Freeze Dance! Special Feature

Disc 2 - Blue's Clues: Blue's Biggest Stories

• Blue's Big Birthday
• Treasure Hunt
• Blue's Pajama Party
• Magenta Gets Glasses
• Steve Goes to College
• Blue Takes You to School
• The Legend of the Blue Puppy
• Blue's Room Snacktime Play Date
• Blue's Memory Photos Special Feature
• Blue's Room Shorts Special Feature

With so many Blue's Clues and Blue's Clues & You! fans among you, MommyBlogExpert is thrilled to announce another kids giveaway exclusively for our audience. Read on to learn how to enter for your chance to win the Blue's Clues & You Story Time With Blue 2-DVD Special Edition we're giving away!

GIVEAWAY

Blue's Clues & You!

Story Time With Blue DVD

Exclusive MBE Giveaway

on Instagram

How to Enter MBE's Giveaway

Thanks to Paramount Home Entertainment, ONE (1) lucky MBE giveaway participant will win this new Blue's Clue & You! Story Time With Blue Special Edition 2- DVD set. To enter this exclusive movie giveaway Mommy Blog Expert is hosting, visit this MBE Instagram post. Contest is open to US residents only and qualifying winner will be selected at random. Hurry, this giveaway ends October 3, 2021 at 11:59 pm EST. This contest is not affiliated with Instagram in any way. Paramount is providing the prize and is responsible for delivery to winner.

Blue's Clues & You!

Deluxe Kids Play Set

Buy It Now

Blue's Clues And You! Story Time Twitter Party

Join @whiskynsunshine, @thatashleyerin, @mommyblogexpert and friends for a fun Twitter Party to chat about this new 2-DVD Special Edition title. In addition to MBE's exclusive giveaway on Instagram, there's another chance for you to win prizes during the Twitter Party hour. 

Date: Tuesday, September 14, 2021

Time: 9-10 pm EST

Hashtag #BCYStoryTimeDVDParty

Follow: @whiskynsunshine, @thatashleyerin, @mommyblogexpert and friends

About the Blue's Clues & You! Series and New DVD

Created for preschoolers, the Blue's Clues & You show airs daily on weekdays on Nickelodeon. The new series is an update of the popular edutainment interactive series Blue's Clues which debuted in 1986. Leveraging smartphone technology to bring the beloved Handy Dandy Notebook from the original show into a new millennium, kids help Josh and Blue solve clues in each episode. With a run time of approximately 1 hour, 30 minutes (Disc 1) and 4 hours, 46 minutes (Disc 2), the new 2-DVD set is available on Amazon and in-store. 

More Fun Blue's Clues Items on Amazon

Jay Franco Blue's Clues Kids Bedding

Blue's Clues Girls Dress, Scrunchy set

Melissa & Doug's Blues Kids Picnic Toy Set

LeapFrog Blue's Clues Kids Watch

Pillow Pets Blue's Clues Dog Plush

DISCLOSURE: We participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program that without any extra cost to consumers, allows our site to earn a big of compensation for including referral links within our posts to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.