Why are they called Teddy Bears?

Summary

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

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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.

Transcript

[A]

Brains on universe. Joy, I think I finally got Hermy the elephant's trunk just right.

[B]

Luke, you nailed it. That's the most perfect plushie I've ever seen. Most people would think to buy peanuts for their pet elephant's birthday, but Hermey, the elephant who lives in my closet, is no ordinary pet. He deserves something special, like a tiny stuffed version of himself. What do you think of the stuffy I made?

[A]

Is that a plushie can opener?

[C]

Yes.

[B]

I'm naming it Candace.

[A]

Who knew a can opener could be so cuddly? Me.

[B]

I did. I knew it, Luke, because I sleep with one every night. How do you think Hermey got so obsessed with them in the first place? My influence is powerful.

[A]

Okay, so we've got Candace the can opener, a tiny stuffed elephant version of Hermey. What about a teddy bear?

[B]

Teddy bears are the stuffed animal.

[A]

Yeah. Why is that? Why not a stuffed bunny or cat or Axolotl? And what's with the name Teddy?

[B]

Well, the teddy bear's fame is all thanks to a couple of toy makers and an American president.

[A]

Whoa, a president. Sounds like an excellent podcast topic.

[B]

Ooh, that just inspired another plushie idea.

[A]

Let me guess. A stuffed microphone.

[B]

I was thinking of a plushie microphone stand.

[A]

Always thinking outside the box.

[B]

Well, you know, they don't call me Joy outside of the box. Thinker Dolo for nothing. You're listening to Forever Ago from Brains on Universe. I'm your host, Joy Dolo, and I'm here today with Luke from Hanover, Massachusetts.

[A]

Hi, Joy.

[B]

Hello. Today we're talking all about the history of stuffies, which are fluffy stuffed animals and one of the most popular plushies, the teddy bear. Luke, I want to know, do you like stuffed animals?

[A]

I do like stuffed animals. I have a favorite one. He's a tiny. I don't actually know what he is. It's kind of like an elk.

[B]

Ooh.

[A]

And his name is Ted.

[B]

What does it look like?

[A]

It's, like, half a foot tall. It has a big head. It has horns.

[B]

Oh, wow. Have you ever had a teddy bear before?

[A]

Um, yeah. I have a teddy bear now. I go to build a bear sometimes, and the last time I went, I made a Harry Potter bear that when you clicked its paw, it said Expecto patronum, so.

[B]

Oh, wow, that's so neat.

[A]

What about you, Joy? Did you have a favorite stuffed animal?

[B]

I actually grew up with a lot of stuffed animals. Cause I have four sisters, and I'm the third one. So, like, whenever my oldest sister was done with her toys, I would get Them. So I always had bears and things coming down. But the one that I rem remember the most wasn't a stuffed animal. It was My Little Pony. Do you have you seen that show that. My Little Pony? It's like a little pink pony with a horn with a unicorn. It must be from a long time ago, but. But they were not fluffy. They were hard and they were plastic. But their hair was really silky. So I used to love to just, like, brush their hair and braid it. And I used to sleep with mine all the time.

[A]

Joy, you said the teddy bear started with tour makers and an American president.

[B]

It's true. But hold your horses.

[A]

I'm already holding my horses. This stuffed horse I made for Hermey. So soft.

[B]

People have been making stuffed toys for thousands of years, long before the teddy bear. Folks in ancient Egypt and Rome made fabric dolls stuffed with paper and rags.

[A]

Dolls made from rags, also known as rag dolls.

[B]

And these rag dolls were popular across different cultures for centuries. But stuffed animal toys, at least how we know them, didn't become popular until the Industrial Revolution. Industrial Revolution. The Industrial Revolution was a period in history during the 1800s, when people started making all sorts of different stuff in factories instead of by hand.

[A]

People could use machines to make more

[B]

things more quickly, including stuffed animals. One of the first mass produced stuffed animals was made by a German seamstress named Margarita Steiff in 1880.

[A]

That's around the same time as lots of other stuff was invented, like the telephone or light bulb.

[B]

Right, and this first stuffed animal wasn't a toy. It was a felted elephant originally sold as a pin cushion for sewers to stick their pins and needles in.

[A]

Aw. A stuffed elephant. Just like the Hermey plushie I made.

[B]

Exactly. And just like your stuffed Hermey, the pin cushion was so cute that lots of kids started using it as a toy.

[A]

Okay, so how do we get from a stuffed elephant pincushion to a teddy bear?

[B]

Well, there's two stories. So one starts a few years later with Margarita's nephew Richard, who started working at his aunt's toy factory. Richard wasn't a seamstress like his aunt. I'm an artiste. Richard loved to draw and often visited the zoo to sketch animals. That's where inspiration struck. That brown bear is so cute. Oh, it would make the perfect toy. So in 1902, Richard created the Stife bear, a plush stuffed bear with movable limbs.

[A]

Opposable stuffed bear. That's unbearably cute. But why did we start calling them teddy bears?

[B]

That has to do with our 26th President of the United States. But before we dive any deeper, I can't bear it any longer. It's time to play first things first. This is the game where we take three things from history and try to put them in order of which came first, second, and most recent in time. Today's three things are three famous bears. We've got Winnie the Pooh and Kung Fu Panda and Paddington Bear. So, Luke, do you know these three bears?

[A]

Yeah, I've heard of them all. Yeah.

[B]

Yeah. So which do you think came first, which came second, and which came most recently in history?

[A]

Because I've liked, watched the Kung Fu Panda, like, movies. I think that's most recent, like, oh, yeah. And then Paddington in the middle because, like, I just feel like Winnie the Pooh is kind of old. So, like, Winnie the Pooh is from, like, the 1940s maybe.

[B]

Oh, yeah, that makes sense.

[A]

Yeah. So I think the order is Winnie the Pooh oldest, Paddington Bear second, and Kung Fu Panda third.

[B]

All right, well, we'll hear the answers at the end of the episode right after the credits, so stick around. Hey, we're doing an episode soon all about slang words. You know, words like Riz, slay, flex, all the slang. Did you know you can just make up your own, too. Like beastie. That's a beast who's also your best friend.

[C]

Beastie.

[B]

Yeah, you know I'm talking about you, Hermie, my beastie. We want to hear your slang words, too. Make up a word and tell us what it means, then send it to [e-mail] contact bonus points if you use it in a sentence. Oh, I can't wait to hear what you cook up.

[C]

Beasties.

[B]

You're listening to forever ago. I'm Joy.

[A]

And I'm Luke.

[B]

And today we're talking about the history of stuffed animals, especially one of the

[A]

most iconic stuffed animals and the teddy bear.

[B]

Before the break, we learned people have been making stuffed toys for centuries.

[A]

But stuffed bears didn't become popular until after the industrial revolution.

[B]

Industrial revolution. Some people say stuffed bears started with German toy makers. Others point to the 26th President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt.

[A]

I've heard of that president. He loved being outside, right?

[B]

Yeah. Roosevelt loved the great outdoors, adventure, and hunting, which was a very popular sport back in the early 1900s. And a hunting trip is where our next story starts. It was 1902, the same year the stife German toy makers made their posable stuffed bear. Meanwhile, President Roosevelt was in Mississippi hunting for bears. There was just one problem.

[D]

There are no bears.

[B]

Roosevelt couldn't find any bears to hunt. Panicked, his assistants found an old black bear and tied it up to a tree for Roosevelt to shoot. Mr. President, we found a bear for you. But Roosevelt didn't like the idea of shooting this poor old bear. It didn't feel very sportsmanlike. He was rumored to have said, I

[D]

couldn't be proud of myself if I shot an old, tired, worn out bear that was tied to a tree.

[A]

Saving an animal like that sounds like the bare minimum to me.

[B]

Totally. But this story was quite a hoot at the time. News spread fast about Roosevelt and the bear. A cartoonist even drew up the scene for the newspaper showing Roosevelt refusing to shoot the cuddly bear.

[A]

See, it's a very fluffy looking bear

[B]

with Mickey Mouse shaped ears, a certifiable cutie patootie. This cartoon inspired New York candy shop owners Rose and Morris Mitchum to make and sell a stuffed bear of their own. They called it Teddy's Bear, named after President Teddy Roosevelt. They even got the President's permission to use his name.

[D]

Teddy's Bear, you say? It does have a nice ring to it.

[B]

Teddy's Bear was a wild success. So much so that the Mitchum St. Stopped making candy altogether just to become full time toy makers.

[A]

So Teddy bears got their name from President Theodore Teddy Roosevelt.

[C]

Why is it always Teddy Bear and never Billy Possum?

[B]

Huh? A giant possum just walked into the studio.

[A]

Oh, okay. It has pointy teeth, long snout, and long skinny tail. Kind of looks like a big rat. But, Joy, possums are not that big.

[C]

That's because it's me. Let me take off this headpiece real quick.

[B]

It's forever ago producer and professional yapper, Nico Gonzales. Whistler.

[C]

Don't forget President of the Billy Possum Fan club.

[A]

Hi, Nico. I guess that explains why you're in that possum suit.

[B]

That explains nothing. I've seen Nico wear that to the grocery store.

[C]

No, I wear my raccoon suit when I go grocery shopping. It's a totally different tail.

[B]

Oh, yeah, and way fewer teeth. My mistake. So you're the president of a possum fan club, huh?

[C]

Not just any possum. Billy Possum.

[A]

Who is Billy Possum?

[C]

Only the greatest stuffed animal inspired by an American president.

[E]

Heather.

[A]

Another presidential plushy. I got to hear more about this.

[B]

And we will right after the break. We love getting fan art from our listeners. We love fan art like Nico loves Billy Possum. Since this is an audio only podcast, I can't exactly show them to you. So I'm going to describe one of these wonderful drawings. Okay? So I am there with the beautiful sunshine and a beautiful purple top and some jeans. And my best friend Herme is next to me with these lovely round ears and a giant trunk and a little bubble that says hi, which is classic Hermie. It's a wonderful drawing. Thank you so much. So if you want to send us a drawing of a teddy bear and Billy Possum line dancing or a on it to your favorite stuffy, please send us mail. You can visit brainson.org contact to reach out. Thanks. Want forever ago without the ads. Join Smarty Pass. You get an ad free feed of all the brains on Universe shows, plus bonus content and more. Sign [e-mail] Thanks.

[A]

I'm Luke.

[B]

I'm Joy.

[C]

And I'm Nico, president of the Billy Possum fan club, AKA the best presidential stuffed animal ever invented.

[B]

Why am I just learning about Billy Possum now?

[C]

Because our world is filled with teddy bear propaganda. Don't even get me started on Care Bears. It all started with the next president and after Teddy Roosevelt, President William Howard taft. It was January 1909, a couple of months before President Taft was officially inaugurated. He was invited to an honorary dinner in Atlanta, Georgia, where the president elect requested a dish he was excited to try for the first time. Possums and taters, AKA roasted possum and sweet potatoes.

[A]

Wait, people used to eat possum?

[B]

Yep. It was considered a southern delicacy back then.

[C]

Taft said it was his lifelong dream to taste it.

[A]

Wow. So this dude really wanted to eat possum.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

It was a big spectacle. News of the dinner spread far and wide, once again inspiring a cartoonist to draw a picture of Taft holding up a possum.

[B]

See, let me take a little looksies. The cartoon reads, if Teddy bear, why not Billy Possum? It even calls Billy Possum the new national toy.

[C]

That very cartoonist presented Taft with a tiny stuffed possum pin at his Possums and Taters dinner. It was sort of a joke, but it inspired a woman named Susie Wright Allgood to go all in on possum mania. Susie started mass producing Billy Possum stuffed animals in hopes of replacing Roosevelt's Teddy Possumania.

[E]

Two Sears grow possum Possum posses.

[B]

Oh, yeah.

[C]

She handed out possum pins to Georgia delegates for Taft's inauguration.

[E]

Possumania Possum pins for politicians.

[C]

She staged events with real possums, including possum parties and an appearance on Broadway.

[E]

Possum Mania. Razzle dazzle, public possum stunts.

[C]

There were Billy Possum songs, books and postcards.

[E]

Possum Mania. Awesome Possum merchandise,

[C]

and Billy Possum toys of all sizes.

[E]

Life size medium, 4 inches long.

[A]

Life size medium.

[E]

Possum be.

[A]

It sounds like Susie was all in on Billy Possum. Were they as popular as teddy bears?

[C]

Well, no. Turns out some people don't find stuffed possums very cuddly compared to stuffed bears. One paper even claimed Billy Possum gave babies nightmares.

[A]

Oof. That's a tough review.

[C]

It also didn't help that their company got hit with a lawsuit over contracts and a warehouse fire.

[B]

Impossibly bad luck.

[C]

Billy Possum Mania ended as quickly as it started. But he lives in my heart forever. And I live inside his head in this possum suit. As president of the Billy Possum fan club, I'm determined to revive his chaotic legacy.

[A]

I'm down for the cause. Can I join?

[B]

Me too. I can even sew up some Billy Possum plushies for all of us right now. I bet Hermey would like one too. Possumania. People have been making soft stuffed toys for thousands of years.

[A]

Some people think the first stuffed bear started with German toy makers after the Industrial Revolution.

[B]

Others think it was created by New Yorkers who were inspired by American President Theodore Teddy Roosevelt.

[A]

William Taft. The president after Roosevelt also got his own stuffed animal. Billy Possum.

[B]

This episode was written by Ruby Guthrie. It was produced and fact checked by Nico Gonzalez Whistler and edited by Sandon Totten. Engineering help from Rob Bossi with sound design by Rachel Breeze. Original theme music by Mark Sanchez. Special thanks to Jason Scott and if

[A]

you want access to ad free episodes and special bonus content, subscribe to our Smartypass.

[B]

Okay, Luke, are you ready to hear the answers for first things first?

[A]

No.

[B]

Come on. It's gonna be super fun.

[A]

Yay.

[B]

Okay, so as a reminder, we're putting these three famous bears in order from oldest to most recent. And yours were Winnie the Pooh, Paddington Bear, and then Kung Fu Panda. Is that your final answer?

[A]

Yes.

[B]

All right. Da da da da da da da. Oh, wow. Oh, no. Oh, yeesh. You were right.

[A]

Yay, Lucas.

[B]

The smartest kid I know. So Winnie the Pooh, you were right. Was the oldest, and that was created in 1925. It first appeared as a children's story published in a London newspaper for Christmas Eve. And it was written by author A. A. Milne and illustrated by E H Shepard.

[A]

I've never heard of either of those people.

[B]

Me neither. You know, Winnie the Pooh is actually based off of a real bear named Winnie who was at the London Zoo. Oh, that's neat. Milne and his son Christopher Robin would go to the zoo often and even bought a stuffed bear, which inspired the lovable, honey loving, no pants wearing character.

[A]

Did they buy one of the Teddy's bears from the toy makers?

[B]

Oh, maybe. I'm not sure. But I am familiar with the name Christopher Robin because that was on the show. The Pooh Bear win Winnie the Pool Bear. It was. Christopher Robin was his best friend. Next up again, you were right, it was Paddington Bear. And that was 1958 that he appeared for the first time in a book called A Bear Called Paddington by British author Michael Bond. So the story follows a lost bear from Peru who finds himself in London, complete with a big hat, raincoat and suitcase. And the book sold over 35 million copies around the world and translated 40 languages and have inspired several hit animated movies. Have you seen any of the Paddington Bear movies?

[A]

I've seen the most recent one on a field trip last year with my class. Oh, we saw Paddington in Peru.

[B]

Oh, was it good?

[A]

It was really good.

[B]

Oh, great.

[A]

It's when he made it back to Peru.

[B]

Oh, that's cool. It's nice. He had a full circle. So Paddington's favorite food is a marmalade

[A]

sandwich because marmalades grow in Peru, where he's from.

[B]

Mmm. Have you ever had marmalade jelly before?

[A]

Yeah, my dad always has marmalade jam at. At our house.

[B]

So yeah, I like it too. I like it with. On toast.

[A]

I put it on rice cakes, but yeah.

[B]

Oh, yum. That's good too. So marmalade is a type of jam made from citrus, like oranges. After the first Paddington's film release in 2015, the UK saw spikes in marmalade sales across the country. Possibly inspired by Paddington himself. Maybe. And last but certainly not least is Kung Fu Panda from 2008. So 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, who's like one of the funniest folks. Kung Fu Pandas filmmaker spent years researching Chinese art and kung fu movies. The movie's animators even took kung fu classes to get a better understanding of the characters movements. Whoa. I didn't know they did so much work on that.

[A]

I know.

[B]

Yeah. So out of these three bears, which one is your favorite.

[A]

Probably Paddington.

[B]

Yeah, yeah. It's the Peru, it's the marmalade, it's all of that. I still have to go with Winnie the Pooh because Pooh Bear. Winnie the Pooh Bear. Looking for fun. Join us next week for an episode all about the history of diamond engagement rings.

[A]

Thanks for listening.