← Back to show
Tuttle Twins - Rising Tides & Dirty Deals (S1E5)
The Twins learn that big businesses like Big Bob's BBQ can sometimes produce laws that keep smaller businesses like Food Trucks from being able to survive. They visit Atlantis and try to stop the protectionism there before things get too wet.
| Runtime (min) | 25 |
|---|---|
| Air Date | 2021-12-15 |
| Genres | Animation, Kids, War & Politics |
| TV Rating | TV-PG |
| Network(s) | Angel |
Storyline
When the Tuttle Twins notice that food trucks are being pushed out of their neighborhood, they discover that Big Bob's BBQ—a large, established restaurant—has lobbied for new regulations that make it nearly impossible for smaller mobile vendors to operate. The twins learn that these laws weren't created to protect consumers, but rather to protect Big Bob's business from competition. Frustrated by this unfair advantage, they decide to investigate how such protectionist policies work and why they harm entrepreneurs.
Their investigation takes an imaginative turn when they visit the mythical city of Atlantis, where similar protectionist laws are causing serious problems. In Atlantis, the twins witness firsthand how regulations designed to favor certain businesses over others create economic imbalances and stifle innovation. As water levels rise and the city faces crisis, the twins work to help the citizens of Atlantis understand that removing these unfair barriers would allow competition to flourish and ultimately benefit everyone. Through this adventure, they learn valuable lessons about free markets, cronyism, and the importance of economic freedom.
What kids learn
Children learn about the concept of cronyism and how large businesses sometimes use government regulations to eliminate competition rather than compete fairly in the marketplace. The episode illustrates that not all laws are created to protect people—some are designed to protect established businesses from having to work harder or innovate. This introduces young viewers to the idea that good intentions in lawmaking don't always lead to good outcomes, and that regulations can sometimes hurt the very people they claim to help.
The episode also teaches children about entrepreneurship and the barriers that small business owners face when trying to enter a market. By contrasting the food trucks with Big Bob's BBQ, kids see how protectionist policies prevent hardworking people from pursuing their dreams and offering consumers more choices. The Atlantis storyline reinforces these lessons through allegory, making abstract economic concepts more concrete and memorable.
Additionally, children learn the importance of questioning authority and examining who benefits from certain rules. The twins model critical thinking by asking why these laws exist and who really profits from them, encouraging young viewers to look beyond surface explanations and consider the deeper motivations behind policies that affect their communities.
Parents' top 5 questions
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| How can I help my child understand what protectionism means? | Use the episode's food truck example as a starting point. Explain that protectionism happens when someone with power creates rules that keep others from competing fairly. You might compare it to a game where one player gets to make special rules that only help them win. Ask your child how they would feel if a classmate convinced the teacher to make a rule that only benefited that one student. This helps them grasp the unfairness of using rules to block competition rather than earning success through better service or products. |
| Is this episode trying to say that all business regulations are bad? | The episode focuses specifically on regulations created to protect established businesses from competition, not regulations designed for genuine safety or consumer protection. It distinguishes between rules that serve the public good and those that serve special interests. After watching, you can discuss with your child the difference between a health inspection that ensures food safety and a rule that simply makes it expensive or impossible for new businesses to open. This nuance helps children understand that the issue isn't regulation itself, but who benefits from specific regulations. |
| What is the Atlantis storyline teaching, and is it historically accurate? | The Atlantis segment is an allegorical fantasy used to illustrate economic principles in an engaging way, not a history lesson. The rising waters serve as a metaphor for the consequences of poor economic policies. It's a creative teaching device that makes abstract concepts concrete for children. You can explain to your child that Atlantis is a story the show uses to help them remember the lesson about protectionism, similar to how fables use animals to teach moral lessons. The focus should be on the economic principle being illustrated. |
| How do I explain cronyism to my elementary-aged child? | Cronyism is when people in power give special favors to their friends or business partners instead of treating everyone fairly. Using the episode's example, explain that Big Bob used his friendship or influence with lawmakers to create rules that hurt his competitors. You might relate it to situations your child understands: imagine if the teacher let their favorite student skip homework while everyone else had to do it. Emphasize that in a fair system, businesses should compete by offering better products or services, not by getting special rules made in their favor. |
| What conversation should I have with my child after this episode? | Ask your child who they think the rules helped and who they hurt in the story. Discuss whether Big Bob's approach was fair and what might have been a better way for him to compete with the food trucks. You can also explore real-world examples in your community—perhaps a local business that started small or regulations your child has noticed. Encourage them to think about how rules affect different people and to question whether laws always serve the purpose they claim to serve. This reinforces critical thinking skills. |
Writing
—
Directing
—
| Season # | Episode # | Episode Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | When Grandma Gabby moves in with the Tuttle Twins, she takes her twin grandkids on a wheelchair time machine to France and the Old West to learn about laws and try to save their lemonade stand. By learning about the principles Frédéric Bastiat writes in his groundbreaking book, The Law, the twins are able to save their stand! |
| 1 | 2 | A science camp rivalry threatens to destroy Emily’s dreams. Grandma takes the twins to India and a worm battlefield to learn about the golden rule before it’s too late. By learning about the golden rule of fiscal policy, the twins are able to save Emily’s dreams! |
| 1 | 3 | Argh! The twins encounter space pirates, a Scotsman, and ice cream people as they learn about free trade and why no one can make a pencil by themselves. |
| 1 | 4 | With the help of Ben Franklin, the Twins learn what it means to be an entrepreneur and start their own corndog stand. By learning about entrepreneurship, the twins are able to grow a business… Too bad Karinnie has some business plans of her own. |
| 1 | 5 | The Twins learn that big businesses like Big Bob's BBQ can sometimes produce laws that keep smaller businesses like Food Trucks from being able to survive. They visit Atlantis and try to stop the protectionism there before things get too wet. |
| 1 | 6 | Why does your money increasingly lose its value? With their eyes set on a big carnival prize, Ethan and Emily learn that printing more tickets causes prices to rise. They visit Ancient Rome and Modern Zimbabwe to see the Inflation Monster at work then rush back to save the carnival. |
| 1 | 7 | Even though everyone learned a lot and some people got delicious desserts, Derek is the real winner of this episode, because he found love. |
| 1 | 8 | Why doesn't everyone get equal pay? Join Ethan and Emily as they travel back in time to visit people like Babe Ruth and learn about the economic value that people provide. |
| 1 | 9 | Ethan and Emily’s film set gets shut down because of a dumb regulation. The twins learn about civilly disobeying unjust laws with the help of Rosa Parks and a funny Boat-Dweller named Doug. This Episode features Dark Dumpster Derek. |
| 1 | 10 | The Twins learn how surrendering powers to the government during times of calamity almost always results in long-term loss of freedoms. They play a fantastical game "Crisis & Creatures" and learn how to rely on the community rather than the government to help each other through challenging times. |
| 1 | 11 | Karinne is back to causing trouble and this time she’s spreading lies about Ethan. But, with the help of James Madison, the Twins learn what happens when you restrict free speech even if it’s mean or deceptive. This is a hip-hoppin’ episode so start warming up your voice for some Free Speech Freestyle! |
| 1 | 12 | Desperate to save Grandma Gabby, Ethan and Emily are thrust into a future world where the government runs every part of daily life. Tune in for the epic finale of season 1, an adventure about persuasion vs force as the twins fight for the future. |
| Season # | Episode # | Episode Name |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 1 | When a field trip goes wrong, the twins question if needs are actually rights. They learn about natural rights from John Locke and fight for their lives on an island of ferocious flamingos. |
| 2 | 2 | When the twins hit the jackpot with a trash can cleaning business, Karinne makes them question if success is selfish. They learn about true entrepreneurship from Joyce Chen and the grumpy Gurmbledons of Grumbletown! |
| 2 | 3 | Holy Satoshi! When the twins are forced to choose between accepting dollars and bitcoin at a garage sale, they travel through the internet and a retro video game to learn what makes money well…good. |
| 2 | 4 | After their softball team starts bending the rules, the twins jump through famous paintings, meet George Washington, and try to save a divided farm from a big bad wolf and dangerous tribalism! |
| 2 | 5 | After a T-rex destroys their treehouse, the twins struggle to save Rapunzel’s cramped kingdom and discover that good ideas can come from imperfect people. |
| 2 | 6 | When the twins are unfairly cut from a talent show, Grandma takes them to meet Frederick Douglass and an itsy bitsy spider to learn how to conquer victim mentality. |
| 2 | 7 | |
| 2 | 8 | |
| 2 | 9 | LUCHA! After a failed kids club fundraiser, the gang runs into William Bradford, the pilgrims, and Karl Marx as they wrestle with socialism and its consequences. |
| 2 | 10 | After Emily fails a test, the twins wonder whether school is the best way to learn--prompting Grandma to whisk them off to a familiar place in the past, before stopping by the most famous mind in history, and then a rumble in the jungle... |
| 2 | 11 | Invaders from another world kidnap Derek, launching Grandma and the twins on a dangerous rescue mission. On a dark planet, the twins encounter mysterious clues, cyborgs and spy gadgets as they solve the mystery of why capitalism is failing. |
| 2 | 12 | When the twins argue about saving money versus spending it, Grandma Gabby introduces them to a board game that unleashes creatures and chaos into the Tuttle's home. |
| Season # | Episode # | Episode Name |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | 1 | The twins discover a crucial life lesson when they meet the legendary Mike Rowe, who emphasizes that not all careers require a college degree. |
| 3 | 2 | The twins travel to a magical island with Dr. Ben Carson to learn about the fatherless epidemic. |
| 3 | 3 | GUEST STARRING Ashley St. Clair and Seamus Coughlin - When field day is mysteriously canceled, conspiracies abound! Ethan and Emily visit JFK to learn about critical thinking and then crack the conspiracy about what really happened to Humpty Dumpty. |
| 3 | 4 | The cul-de-sac kids discover Karinne has gained access to their private digital lives! The Twins get a lesson in digital privacy from a mysterious guide, then rush to rescue Prince Charming from the Not-Evil Queen's digital control! |
| 3 | 5 | When inflation wrecks movie night, Grandma takes the twins—and stowaway Karinne—back to the Bitcoinverse. There, they learn about the risks of controlled money, CBDCs, and the freedom of Bitcoin. Plus, rocks. Lots of rocks. |
| 3 | 6 | GUEST STARRING Adassa - The cul-de-sac kids are ready for a big soccer game, but when Kevin can’t play due to a religious holiday, Karinne votes to kick him off. With guidance from unexpected sources, the twins learn the value of religious freedom. |
| 3 | 7 | During a gym class dodgeball game, a new kid creates chaos by judging others on appearance. Emily and Ethan turn to Grandma, who introduces them to Martin Luther King Jr., teaching them the value of character over judgment. |
| 3 | 8 | The twins visit President Eisenhower to learn about the military industrial complex. |
| 3 | 9 | The twins learn the value of failure from the Wright brothers and a world afraid to fail. |
| 3 | 10 | Sep transforms into a monster and sends the twins to a ruined alternate world, where they uncover the dangers of irresponsibility. With help from their not-grandmother, they inspire change and prove that true freedom comes from taking responsibility. |
| Season # | Episode # | Episode Name |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | 1 | When the twins earn a trip to Bird Land Amusement Park, they discover that some charities do more harm than good. With help from friends, they must learn to give better—before the park shuts down forever! |
| 4 | 2 | When the Tuttle family debates buying a fancy new fridge, the twins meet John Maynard Keynes, Saifedean Ammous, and a world of quirky food. Together, they discover the hidden risks of melting money and thinking only in the short term. |
| 4 | 3 | After a machine threatens the twins’ jobs, they travel to 1920s Michigan to learn from Henry Ford about creative destruction. But when they return home, nothing is quite as they left it. |
| 4 | 4 | After Emily unfairly loses a pie bake-off, the twins turn to Thomas Sowell to learn the dangers of equity, only to be swept into a fantastical world of elves, orcs, and basketball! |
| 4 | 5 | After a price hike puts a new board game out of reach, the twins travel to Russia to learn about price controls. With economist Ludwig von Mises and a very persistent Copernicus, they discover why controlling prices can backfire. |
| 4 | 6 | After a suspicious news story airs, Grandma and the twins rescue Benjamin Franklin Bache but become trapped in a world where speaking out leads to deadly consequences. They must use journalism and the power of truth to fight back and survive. |
This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.