Yes, here is Special Edition #16…a very special edition indeed.  Back when I hopped on this little internet radio show, it seemed like a very fun way to kill some time and explore the G.I. Joe fandom in different ways, but that’s really all it was.  Even as it felt like our bonds were growing closer with each episode and our barriers were coming down, I never really thought the show would necessarily evolve to anything…it was still just four buddies BS’ing about G.I. Joe.

Over the next many months, the show would lose a friend to other commitments, but gain another, and along the way make connections with voice actors, G.I. Joe comic professionals, and even the director of a certain major motion picture to come in March, 2013.  Through it all, it was just four guys having fun.

Well, this past weekend these four guys having fun got a very rare opportunity to sit down for a lengthy 25 minute round table discussion with several members of Hasbro’s design and marketing team.  The folks directly responsible for those four inch pieces of plastic that decorate your house in such vast numbers.  I can’t quite express how cool it was for Hasbro and for Justin Aclin from Hunter PR to make this all happen.  In normal circumstances, even having a chance to talk with one person from the Hasbro team would have been amazing.  But on Sunday morning, we were fortunate enough to sit down with not one…  not two… not even three…  we had a great round table discussion with four members of the Hasbro G.I. Joe team.

John Warden, designer mastermind of the G.I. Joe line.   Dave Proctor, sculpting manager and the sculptor of one of everyone’s favorite G.I. Joe figures ever, the 30th Anniversary Storm Shadow.  Erik Arana, an input designer, and along with Wayne Park, one of the geniuses behind the G.I. Joe: Resolute 7-Packs as well as design elements of the Slaughter’s Marauders and Dreadnoks 7-Packs.  Last, but absolutely not least we spoke with Joe Del Regno, the current Marketing Director for the G.I. Joe line.

During this discussion, we covered a wealth of topics including the controversy behind the “Concept Case” as well as how fans can get their voices heard and express their desire to see certain figures come to light.  We speak about G.I. Joe: Retaliation, upcoming releases for 2013, and much more.  It was a very fun discussion, and was the highlight of the entire weekend for the What’s on Joe Mind team.

Cold Slither came close, but in the end, the Hasbro team won the vote.

This is a very quick episode, only about 25 minutes so even folks who don’t listen to the podcast should check it out and learn some cool things that you may not have known otherwise!

I’m certain I speak from everyone on the What’s on Joe Mind team when I say THANK YOU to John, Dave, Erik, Joe, and Justin for all working so hard together to get us that slot of time and for devoting their precious time to the show.  It was extremely exciting for us, and hopefully exciting for the Joe community as well.  Check it out on Podbean, or listen via the embedded players below:

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