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PODCAST

The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network

Jim Hill Media Podcast Network

Join Jim Hill and co-hosts Len Testa, Drew Taylor, Brian Gaughan, Eric Hersey, and Lauren Hersey as they talk about the multi-faceted Walt Disney Company - including Pixar, Lucasfilm and Disney Studios - as well as Universal Studios and the world of collectibles.

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All Episodes

28:04

The Case For (and Against) Park Hopping at Walt...

The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network ·

2025/09/01

Is park hopping the best way to squeeze every drop of Disney magic out of your vacation - or just an overpriced bus pass with extra steps? In this first episode of The Case For with Chris Cox, mind reader and performer Chris Cox squares off against theme park expert Len Testa, while Disney historian Jim Hill dons judge’s robe to deliver a verdict. What’s on trial this week: The strange history of park hopping at Walt Disney World (including a giant ticket costume) Costs, trade-offs, and

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52:24

Manufacturing the Magic: Disneyland’s sister parks –...

The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network ·

2025/08/30

In the 21st installment of this educational series, Shelly and Noe Valladolid talk about what happened when C.V. Wood (the original president of Disneyland) went off in 1956 and set up his own theme park design company. This episode takes a close look at Freedomland & Magic Mountain Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about: How many theme park designers did C.V. Wood take with him when he exited Disneyland What was the first theme park that Wood worked on after he

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60:51

Deathly Afraid Necklaces and the Origins of Dueling...

The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network ·

2025/08/29

Jim Hill and Eric Hersey return with another packed episode of the Epic Universal Podcast, diving into the latest Universal news, fan reports, and theme park history. Highlights this week include: Firsthand impressions of Universal Horror Unleashed in Las Vegas, thanks to listener John T. – from house walkthroughs to surprisingly short wait times. A look at Universal Orlando’s new “Deathly Afraid” necklace option at Halloween Horror Nights and the debate it’s sparked online. News

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48:30

The Man Who Sold Mickey: Kay Kamen’s Merchandising...

The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network ·

2025/08/28

Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey dig into the world of Disney merch and history with a mix of spooky snacks and fascinating backstories:Why Jim bought Count Chocula, Boo Berry, and Franken Berry cereal he can’t eat—thanks to new Jim Henson puppet designs The launch of Bath & Body Works’ Disney Villains collection, from Maleficent’s plum scents to the Evil Queen’s apple blends Disney cracking down on resellers and what that means for collectors New Muppets merchandise teased for

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38:59

Box Office Surprises, “KPop Demon Hunters” Rise, and...

The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network ·

2025/08/26

Jim Hill is solo this week and breaks down the end of the 2025 summer movie season and why traditional blockbusters are struggling at the box office. From shocking second-weekend drop-offs to Netflix’s “KPop Demon Hunters” taking the No. 1 spot in theaters, Jim covers the hits and misses of the season.How films like Fantastic Four: First Steps and 28 Years Later stumbled in their second weekends Why streaming habits continue to disrupt box office expectations “KPop Demon Hunters” theater

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62:17

The Vanishing Act: David Copperfield’s Lost...

The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network ·

2025/08/25

Len Testa and Jim Hill welcome award-winning mind reader and performer Chris Cox (BBC and Broadway) for a deep dive into one of Disney’s most fascinating “what could have been” stories.The ambitious plans for David Copperfield’s Magic Underground restaurant How the New York flagship nearly opened before money troubles pulled the plug Michael Eisner’s enthusiasm for magic and themed dining in the 1990s Why Disney-MGM Studios was slated to host Copperfield’s magical dining

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53:48

Vegas Goes Scary: Universal Horror Unleashed and Jaws...

The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network ·

2025/08/22

Jim Hill and Eric Hersey return with another packed episode of the Epic Universal Podcast. This week, they cover everything from nostalgic movie anniversaries to Universal’s latest projects, before diving deep into the troubled history of Jaws: The Revenge. Universal’s fall movie lineup, including The Breakfast Club’s 40th anniversary and Casper’s big-screen return The abandoned “Casper” haunted ride concept with interactive bed vehicles A first look at Universal Horror Unleashed in

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37:51

Disney’s First Witches and Why They Still Cast a...

The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network ·

2025/08/21

Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey are back with a Halloween-packed episode of I Want That Too, diving into the latest spooky Disney merch and a century of witchy stories from the Mouse House. Haunted Mansion peel-and-stick wallpaper and Guillermo del Toro’s obsession The viral Cutie Ghost collection and why the Minnie Mouse ghost lamp is selling out fast A massive Nightmare Before Christmas collection, including a $160 countdown coffin and an epic Jack Skellington water bottle set

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46:26

The Voice of Your Childhood: Jim Cummings Joins Fine...

The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network ·

2025/08/19

Jim Hill and Drew Taylor return with a packed episode of Fine Tooning, highlighted by an interview with legendary voice actor Jim Cummings. From Pooh and Tigger to Darkwing Duck, Jim shares behind-the-scenes stories from a career that shaped generations of animation fans.The shifting release date of Shrek 5 and what it means for DreamWorks Why Disney pulled back marketing on The Rocketeer opening weekend This week’s box office projections — and why Jim calls them “wild guesses”

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52:01

What Disney’s Firework Ratings Reveal About the...

The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network ·

2025/08/18

Jim Hill and Len Testa dig into how fans really rate Disney’s nighttime spectaculars — and why those scores decide which shows stay and which ones fade away. Along the way, they cover the latest park news and wrap up the story of how Jack Sparrow sailed into Pirates of the Caribbean. TouringPlans survey data reveals the winners and losers among Disney’s fireworks and nighttime shows Why “average” ratings are the kiss of death for spectaculars like Enchantment New menus and a $65

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52:16

The Orlando Theme Park That Made Jaws 3D Possible...

The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network ·

2025/08/15

Jim Hill and Eric Hersey return with a jam-packed episode of the Epic Universal Podcast, starting with a surprising WWE–Disney streaming deal and ending with a behind-the-scenes look at the wild production of Jaws 3D. From scare zones to SeaWorld, this week’s show has it all.WWE’s $1.625 billion ESPN+ deal and what it means for fans and streaming Newly announced scare zones for Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood, including murderous clowns, giant crows, and Latin American witch

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47:26

Jim Hill’s Big Break and his Untold Origin Story (Ep....

The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network ·

2025/08/14

Jim and Lauren serve up a feast of Disney news, collectibles, and one unforgettable personal tale.Recap of Disney’s quarterly earnings call, including streaming’s first profitable quarter Details on Hulu’s full integration into Disney+ by 2026 and the shift away from subscriber count reporting Hidden perks for Disney+ subscribers, including a free D23 Gold membership and exclusive sweepstakes A first look at “Single Riders” – a dating app for Disney and theme park fans

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44:41

From Dog Stars to “Fixed” and What’s Next for The Bad...

The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network ·

2025/08/12

Jim Hill and Drew Taylor return with another jam-packed episode of Fine Tooning, covering everything from Sirius the Dog Star to the latest in animated film and TV news. This week’s stories span box office winners, Netflix premieres, and the challenges of recasting beloved characters.• The history of the “Dog Days of Summer” and why Sirius is more than just a bright spot in the sky • Genndy Tartakovsky’s Fixed - the long road to Netflix for this R-rated animated comedy • Box office breakdown - how

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45:32

Disney’s Big Earnings Surprises and the Pirate...

The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network ·

2025/08/11

Len Testa and Jim Hill break down Disney’s latest earnings call, including park attendance trends, hotel occupancy shifts, and how Epic Universe may be quietly impacting Orlando tourism. They also review a fascinating new Disney Cruise Line survey that tests potential discounts and onboard perks — plus what those offers could mean for future sailings. Listener questions cover everything from the Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow projection tech to Walt Disney World’s mysterious white bus lane

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68:48

Charting the Future of Epic Universe with Parklore’s...

The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network ·

2025/08/08

Jim Hill and Eric Hersey return with a packed episode of the Epic Universal Podcast featuring news from Universal Orlando, Hollywood, and Las Vegas - plus a deep-dive interview with Brian Krosnick, the creative force behind Parklore. First, the guys pay tribute to Rip Ride Rockit as its closure looms, reminisce about secret soundtracks, and preview this year’s Behind the Screams tours for Halloween Horror Nights, including the new WWE-themed haunted house and Fallout-inspired attractions. They also

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58:14

How Walt Disney Turned Orange Juice and Peanut Butter...

The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network ·

2025/08/07

Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey trace the surprising origins of Disney’s licensing empire - back to a time when Walt needed just $300 to keep the studio running. From the Alice Comedies to Donald Duck orange juice and Peter Pan peanut butter, this episode explores how early merchandise deals weren’t just about profit - they were survival.Jim unpacks how licensing set the foundation for everything from Disneyana collectors to the modern parks. Meanwhile, Lauren shares her latest finds in the merch

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59:13

How “The Simpsons” Took Over America (with Author...

The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network ·

2025/08/05

Jim Hill and Drew Taylor sit down with Alan Siegel from The Ringer to discuss his new book Stupid TV, Be More Funny: How the Golden Era of The Simpsons Changed Television and America Forever. Together, they revisit how Matt Groening’s crude interstitials on The Tracey Ullman Show evolved into a cultural juggernaut, what nearly derailed the series before it ever aired, and why The Simpsons continues to matter nearly four decades later. Along the way, the guys dig into:• The box office performance

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48:36

From Disney Food Blog to Bookstore Shelves: AJ...

The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network ·

2025/08/04

While Len Testa enjoys a well-earned week off, Jim Hill is joined by special guest AJ Wolfe of the Disney Food Blog to talk about her new book Disney Adults: Exploring and Falling in Love with a Magical Subculture. But first, Jim shares updates from around Walt Disney World, including real demolition progress for the Monsters Inc. Door Coaster, the curious lack of vertical construction for Encanto Land, and new details about the General Joe Potter ferry accident currently under investigation.

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24:14

Manufacturing the Magic: Drawing up plans for Disneyland

The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network ·

2025/08/02

In the 19th installment of this educational series, Shelly & Noe Valladolid talk about what happened in September of 1953 prior to Roy O. Disney’s fateful flight out to NYC. They also talk about how the material that Walt’s brother showed to executives at CBS, NBC & ABC to sell them on Disneyland was created. Throughout this episode, listeners will learn about: How did Herbie Ryman’s “Lost Weekend” with Walt REALLY go down Which “Lands” were initially proposed for Walt’s family fun

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63:47

Epic Universe at Capacity: What Changes When the Park...

The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network ·

2025/08/01

Jim Hill and Eric Hersey return from a summer packed with parks, previews, and one sold-out Friday at Epic Universe. In this episode, the duo reflects on the dramatic changes between their April preview visit and a mid-July return - sharing firsthand insight on crowd flow, character absences, ride downtime, and that sweltering Florida heat. From WWE's Wyatt 6 haunting Halloween Horror Nights to Hulk Hogan’s long-standing Universal ties, this episode blends news, nostalgia, and heat-induced honesty

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1,325 results

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