Oh, hello. Welcome to the Eric Metaxus radio show, except due to technical difficulties. Today, we're on TV. I get to talk to an old friend of mine. Perhaps you've heard of him. Larry the cucumber, well, that's not his real name.

As it happens, the guy who's the talking cucumber, he's not really a cucumber in real life.

In real life, he's my friend, Mike Naraki.

Mike, welcome the program.

Hello, Eric Metaxis. How you doing?

You know, that's not my real voice either.

I was just going to say, you are freaking me out. You did that so well. It's almost as though

you created the character of Larry the cucumber, but we know because of legal reasons,

we can't say that, right?

Absolutely. Isn't that true? Hey, Mike, it's so good to see you. Listen, you have a new book out. It's called Beautiful Mabel. And I just want to say, on the cover of the book, now we've known each other for a long time. It says you're the co-creator of Veggie tales. Mike Naraki. Mike, is that true?

Are you the co-creator of Veggie Tales? I am the co-creator of Veggie Tales. Phil Vischer and I created the show back in the early 90s. 1993 was our very first episode. Where's God when I'm scared? And I've been doing Veggie Tales ever since. Okay. part of the reason I wanted to say that is a lot of

times I'm introduced in, you know, in front of a crowd. I'm about to speak and they say, and he had

something to do with creating veggie tales. Here he is, Eric Metaxus. And the first thing I have to do,

because I'm a Christian, I have to correct the person who just introduced me and say, listen, I cannot take credit for

creating veggie tales.

And I mention you, Mike Naraki, and Phil Vischer.

And I say, I only had the privilege of working for veggie tales for a short season.

But it was one of the most fun things I have ever done.

But part of the reason it was fun, Mike, is because I got to know you and Phil. You guys are the real deal. And I'm thrilled that, you know,

Veggie Tales is still happening. But I know that you've been doing other things in the children's

genre. So beautiful Mabel, anytime you do anything, I kind of want to laugh because I already know

what's coming. So tell those of us who aren't familiar with Beautiful Mabel. Who is Beautiful Mabel? And what is the children's book that you've written about Beautiful Mabel? And why is she beautiful? Well, Beautiful Mabel. Mabel is a pullet. She's a little chicken. A bullet? A pullet. Yeah, that's what they call chicks.

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