Ann and her son Eric Levine recap her trip to the 2026 National Barbie Doll Collectors Convention(BarbieCon) in Austin, Texas. They discuss her presentation with Bradley Justice Yarbrough on her father, Barbie Doll inventor Jack Ryan, meeting fans, and the history of fashion dolls. Ann also reflects on her childhood, advocates for her father's legacy at Mattel, previews plans for his upcoming 100th birthday, and shares news about new Patreon bonus content.

In this special episode, Ann Ryan sits down with her son Eric Levine for a wide-ranging conversation about what it took to write Dad, Barbie & Me: An Insider Biography — from the writing process itself to the legal battle that nearly destroyed her father, to what she hopes readers and Barbie fans take away from the book. Eric asks the questions Ann's listeners have been wanting answered: How did Ruth Handler rewrite history? What are the patents that prove Jack Ryan invented Barbie? And what's next for Ann as an author and podcaster? An honest, funny, and deeply personal episode.

Dad, Barbie & Me: An Insider Biography is available on Amazon and at annryanofficial.com.

In this episode, I’m joined by Barbie Doll Expert Bradley Justice Yarbrough, who has been a vital support throughout my journey of writing Dad, Barbie and Me - An Insider Biography

Instead of just the "finished story," we’re opening up the workspace. We discuss the specific resources, documents, and archival materials I used to document how my father, Jack Ryan, invented Barbie and her world. This is a look at the process of piecing together a legacy and getting the history right before the book's upcoming debut.

What we cover in this session:

• The Research Trail: The specific resources and materials that helped verify the invention of Barbie.

• The Collaboration: Bradley’s role in helping me navigate the history of the doll.

• The Book Process: What it takes to move from the archives to the finished pages of Dad, Barbie and Me.