Forever Ago — "Why are they called Teddy Bears?"

Podcast: Forever Ago (Brains On Universe)
Host: Joy Dolo
Guest: Luke from Hanover, Massachusetts
Additional Guest: Nico Gonzalez Whistler (producer and special "Billy Possum" segment)
Date: March 18, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode dives into the surprising history of the teddy bear, exploring why this particular stuffed animal became such a cultural icon and how it got its famous name. Hosts Joy and Luke trace the origins of the teddy bear through historical anecdotes, toy-making innovations, and even presidential connections—revealing why it isn’t a "Teddy Bunny" or "Teddy Axolotl!" Along the way, special correspondent Nico makes a spirited case for the forgotten "Billy Possum," and the hosts challenge their knowledge of famous bears in pop culture.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Personal Stuffed Animal Stories

• [01:44–03:26] Joy and Luke begin by sharing their own favorite stuffed animals, establishing the universal love for plush toys.
  • Luke treasures a small elk-like plushie named Ted ("He's, like, half a foot tall. It has a big head. It has horns." — Luke, 02:12)
  • Joy reminisces about inheriting stuffed animals from her sisters, especially a silky-haired My Little Pony ("I used to love to just, like, brush their hair and braid it. And I used to sleep with mine all the time." — Joy, 03:14)

2. Early History of Stuffed Toys

• [03:40–04:34] People have made stuffed toys for thousands of years, starting with rag dolls in ancient Egypt and Rome.
  • "Stuffed animal toys, at least how we know them, didn't become popular until the Industrial Revolution." — Joy, 03:53
  • The first mass-produced stuffed animal was a felted elephant pin cushion made by German seamstress Margarete Steiff in 1880, which children began using as a toy.
    • “This first stuffed animal wasn't a toy. It was a felted elephant originally sold as a pincushion for sewers to stick their pins and needles in.” — Joy, 04:39

3. Creation of the Teddy Bear

• [05:06–05:48] Margarete Steiff’s nephew, Richard Steiff, was inspired by zoo animals and designed the "Steiff bear" with movable limbs in 1902.
  • "In 1902, Richard created the Steiff bear, a plush stuffed bear with movable limbs." — Joy, 05:39
• [08:20–10:28] Simultaneously, in the US, President Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was on a Mississippi bear hunt in 1902. When aides found and tied an old bear for him to shoot, Roosevelt refused, thinking it unsportsmanlike.
  • “I couldn't be proud of myself if I shot an old, tired, worn out bear that was tied to a tree.” — (quoting Roosevelt), 09:27
• This event became widely publicized and lampooned in newspapers, with the bear drawn looking especially cuddly.
  • “A cartoonist even drew up the scene for the newspaper showing Roosevelt refusing to shoot the cuddly bear…with Mickey Mouse shaped ears, a certifiable cutie patootie.” — Joy, 09:54
• New York candy shop owners Rose and Morris Michtom, inspired by this story, created and sold "Teddy’s Bear" (with Roosevelt's permission). They quickly switched from candy-making to full-time toy-making as the bears became wildly popular.
  • “Teddy's Bear was a wild success. So much so that the Mitchums stopped making candy altogether just to become full time toy makers.” — Joy, 10:20
  • “[So] Teddy bears got their name from President Theodore Teddy Roosevelt.” — Luke, 10:28

4. The "Billy Possum" Saga

• [11:41–16:35] Producer Nico Gonzalez Whistler dons a possum costume to tell the tale of Billy Possum, a rival toy inspired by President William Howard Taft.
  • Taft tried “possum and taters” (roasted possum with sweet potatoes) at a southern banquet in 1909, which was widely covered in the press.
  • Cartoonists pushed for a "Billy Possum" stuffed animal, and entrepreneur Susie Wright Allgood mass-produced the toy, staging "Possum Mania" events and even distributing possum pins to politicians ("Possumania Possum pins for politicians." — Nico, 15:19)
  • However, Billy Possum flopped: “Turns out some people don't find stuffed possums very cuddly compared to stuffed bears. One paper even claimed Billy Possum gave babies nightmares.” — Nico, 16:11
  • Manufacturing setbacks (fire, lawsuits) sealed its fate, though Nico remains a passionate fan: “But he lives in my heart forever. And I live inside his head, in this possum suit.” — Nico, 16:35

5. Recap and Legacy

• [17:11–17:30] The episode summarizes the parallel histories: German toy makers and American presidential whimsy launched the teddy bear, with Billy Possum forever in its shadow.
  • “Some people think the first stuffed bear started with German toy makers after the Industrial Revolution. Others think it was created by New Yorkers who were inspired by American President Theodore Teddy Roosevelt. William Taft...also got his own stuffed animal: Billy Possum.” — Joy & Luke, 17:11–17:30

6. Fun Interlude: "First Things First — Famous Bears"

• [05:48–07:06, 17:53–21:31] Joy quizzes Luke on the order of three famous fictional bears: Winnie the Pooh, Paddington, and Kung Fu Panda. Luke correctly places them: Winnie the Pooh (1925), Paddington Bear (1958), and Kung Fu Panda (2008). The hosts share facts and personal favorites for each.
  • “Winnie the Pooh is actually based off of a real bear named Winnie who was at the London Zoo.” — Joy, 18:49
  • “So the story [of Paddington Bear] follows a lost bear from Peru who finds himself in London, complete with a big hat, raincoat and suitcase.” — Joy, 19:37
  • “The Kung Fu Panda is the smash animated movie that came out in 2008, and it features Po, a lovable panda who dreams of becoming a kung fu master and is voiced by Jack Black.” — Joy, 20:07

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Teddy bears are the stuffed animal." — Joy, 00:56
• "Who knew a can opener could be so cuddly? Me." — Luke, 00:38
• "I couldn't be proud of myself if I shot an old, tired, worn out bear that was tied to a tree." — (Roosevelt quote, voiced by “D”), 09:27
• “Turns out some people don't find stuffed possums very cuddly compared to stuffed bears. One paper even claimed Billy Possum gave babies nightmares.” — Nico, 16:11
• “But he lives in my heart forever. And I live inside his head, in this possum suit.” — Nico, 16:35

Important Segment Timestamps

• 01:44: Joy and Luke’s favorite stuffed animals
• 03:40: History of stuffed toys and the transition to factory-made plushes
• 05:06: Richard Steiff’s invention of the posable stuffed bear
• 08:20: The story of President Roosevelt’s famous bear hunt and its impact
• 09:54: How the cartoon image of Teddy not shooting the bear sparked the teddy bear craze
• 10:28: Confirmation that the teddy bear was named after Roosevelt
• 11:41: Introduction of Billy Possum and his origin
• 15:43: The flop of Billy Possum toys
• 17:11: Episode summary and recap
• 17:53–21:31: "First Things First" — order and stories behind famous fictional bears

Tone and Style

The episode is lively, playful, and educational, blending fun historical storytelling with kid-friendly banter and a few puns. The hosts encourage curiosity and critical thinking about history (“You know, they don’t call me Joy outside of the box-Thinker Dolo for nothing,” — Joy, 01:26), while weaving personal anecdotes and audience engagement throughout.

Conclusion

This episode of Forever Ago transforms the commonplace teddy bear into a lens on creativity, innovation, and Americana—proving there’s nothing ordinary about our most beloved plush companion. The teddy bear’s journey from German pincushion to presidential icon is filled with quirky characters, cartoon controversies, and a heartwarming legacy. And while not every presidential plushie can compete (sorry, Billy Possum!), the teddy bear endures as a symbol of comfort, imagination, and history for generations of children and adults alike.