Our head of Global Business Development and toy enthusiast, Rodney Ramlochan, has announced a new series. It will focus on the latest action figures and key manufacturers as well as retailers who are helping to shape a gigantic industry. Recently, Ramlochan interviews Ryan Farnam, a prominent connoisseur and 3POA podcaster about the evolution of his channel.
Combining two childhood passions to create a successful YouTube podcast is nearly unheard of, yet Ryan Farnam has managed to do just that. As the lead co-host on the 3POA podcast, Ryan has fulfilled a childhood dream of becoming a talk radio host, all while indulging in his love of toys and modern toy collecting. The Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown restrictions significantly impacted people staying at home, leading to an increased interest in collecting toys and a greater appreciation of action figures. By leveraging the mass adoption of live streaming, podcasters like Ryan have brought collecting to a greater audience, with accessibility and diversity like never before.
At the start of 2020, Ryan, already involved in multiple action figure toy-collecting Facebook groups, was invited by a fellow collector to co-host their existing weekly YouTube podcast, the Infinity Equation. Without hesitation, he jumped at the opportunity and was the main impetus for them transforming the live podcast into cameras-on live stream. Ryan shared his insights on the modern state of the hobby for the next two years, incorporating his love of lines such as Marvel Legends and Star Wars (which dates to a massive acquisition of figures from his cousin’s collection for $50 when he was only 10). He helped broaden the conversation to include not only classic toy lines but also more recent companies like Mezco and Kickstarter projects like Valaverse: Action Force, as well as third-party and overseas manufacturers such as MAFEX.
In 2021, Ryan co-founded the 3POA podcast alongside Bobby Vala, the founder and CEO of Valaverse, and Tony Roberts, an experienced vintage toy collector, and Palitoy Action Force toy line expert. It has never been explicitly stated, but viewers of the show understand that the acronym “3POA” stands for “three points of articulation.” The name has a clever double meaning for those in the toy world: it not only symbolizes the number of moving parts a figure has, but it also encapsulates the different philosophies of a modern collector, a vintage collector, and a toy designer/manufacturer collector. Led by Ryan, these three unique perspectives culminate in some of the most entertaining dialogue in the toy-collecting community, far exceeding standard review videos and garnering record-breaking live-stream audiences.
Ryan and the 3POA demonstrate a dedication to creating content that surpasses the standard of toy reviews and news reports. As evidence of their painstaking approach, one of their episodes offers an in-depth exploration of The Batman Summer of ’89, providing listeners with a comprehensive overview of the topic and how the movie dominated cinema and pop culture that year. With Ryan at the helm, the 3POA also isn’t shy about engaging in thought-provoking and sometimes contentious issues in the toy community, such as reconciling the expectations of modern adult collectors with what Intellectual Property holders and toy manufacturers produce and charge for their products. Although Ryan and the 3POA are clear about their love for modern and vintage toys, they are part of a growing community of discerning toy collectors balancing what is in their wallets with the quality of the items they collect.
Looking to the future, Ryan hopes to further extend the 3POA’s stunning success by offering more pertinent live content, partnering with other producers and creators, and introducing new toy companies and businesses. Follow Ryan and the 3POA.
