You might recognize them better with red or green fur .... but on Thursday, May 2, 2024, Magellan employees were able to take a peek beyond the costumes to meet a couple of giants in the professional mascot world -- Barry Anderson (Benny the Bull and Strawberry Pop Tart) and Carrie Norwood (Herky the Hawk of University of Iowa and the White Sox own Southpaw).

Carrie was one of very few women playing a professional mascot and, like Barry, had some tales to tell! From surprising a young fan with autism just before his high school graduation ("Southpaw is my BEST friend!") to walking more than one bride down the aisle, Carrie / Southpaw has played important roles in the lives of diehard sports fans.

Barry Anderson brought his singular, leave-it-all-on-and-OFF-the-court style to Benny, with a propensity toward the outrageous, incredible feats of athleticism (dunking the ball after flipping from a trampoline, for instance), and enviable dance moves. Barry emerged from retirement to play the instant sensation Pop Tart mascot at the Pop Tart Bowl -- garnering $12M in earned media.

The Lunch & Learn was moderated by our good friend Bill Wennington of the Chicago Bulls. The event was capped off with some stadium grub by Portillo's. While it certainly was no ordinary day in the office, every minute was enjoyed by our crew.