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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

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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49:48

Nine Parks, Five Hotels, and a Whole Lotta Merch (Ep....

The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network ·

2025/07/31

Lauren returns from an epic summer road trip across nine parks and five hotels, with stories (and shopping bags) in tow. She and Jim break down:The best-kept secret for scoring free Disney water park access How the new nighttime parade at Magic Kingdom stacks up (and where to sit) What it’s really like inside Disney’s exclusive Property Control store A merch-lover’s guide to Universal Studios’ 35th anniversary finds Why the new Epic Universe resort Terra Luna is

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47:03

Chris Sanders Returns for Lilo & Stitch 2 After...

The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network ·

2025/07/29

In this episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor wrap up July with box office milestones, Comic-Con exclusives, and some major animation developments:Chris Sanders returns to write Lilo & Stitch 2 – After the billion-dollar success of the live-action film, Disney is moving forward with a sequel, with Sanders bringing fresh ideas from the original “Pitch to Stitch.” Inside the “Magic of Disney Animation” revival – A massive reimagining of the former Star Wars Launch Bay at

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71:16

: Disney Starlight gets off to a strong start at...

The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network ·

2025/07/28

Len Testa & Jim Hill start this week’s episode by taking a close look at the recently announced plans to revamp the Animation Courtyard area at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. They then continue their interview with Don Hahn & Chris Merritt, the authors of “The Happiest Place on Earth: The Incredible Story of Walt Disney’s Disneyland” For this episode, listeners will learn about: · What aspect of the actual entrance to Disney Studios out in Burbank is about to be replicated in Florida Why

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56:50

When Jaws 3 Almost Became a National Lampoon Movie...

The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network ·

2025/07/25

Jim Hill and Eric Hersey return with the latest from Universal Parks and the unbelievable story of how Jaws 3 nearly became a full-blown comedy. From Spielberg’s pivot to Close Encounters to the moment Universal almost partnered with National Lampoon, this episode unpacks the sequel that nearly torpedoed the franchise before it began.This week’s highlights include: • Wicked: Part Two gets a primetime concert special and early merch leaks• Jimmy Buffett’s plane, the Hemisphere Dancer, returns to

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44:51

When Bugs Bunny Snuck Into a Disneyland Board Game...

The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network ·

2025/07/24

In this packed episode of I Want That Too, Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey tackle everything from the ZOMBIES 4 merch drought to the 52-item Haunted Mansion collection and the bittersweet farewell line for Animal Kingdom’s Dinosaur ride. But the real surprise? A 1950s Disneyland board game that may have smuggled in Bugs Bunny.Plus, Jim dives into the earliest examples of Disney’s merchandise strategy—souvenir trays, ashtrays, temporary tattoos, and the guidebook Walt insisted on selling at a loss just

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58:24

Get ready for a very animated San Diego Comic-Con...

The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network ·

2025/07/22

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start this week’s episode by discussing “Walt Disney – A Magical Life,” that new show at Disneyland Park in Anaheim. examineThey then look at how Paramount Pictures’ new “Smurfs” film performed at the domestic box office. For this episode, listeners will learn about: Who did Chris Buck & Kevin Lima originally want to voice Tantor the elephant in Disney’s animated version of “Tarzan” Which role will Josh Gad be playing in the live concert version of “Jesus Christ

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64:30

Epic Universe wants to know when exactly you plan on...

The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network ·

2025/07/21

Len Testa & Jim Hill welcome Don Hahn & Chris Merrit, the authors of “The Happiest Place on Earth: The Incredible Story of Walt Disney’s Disneyland.” This show kicks off a two-part interview that reveals how Walt’s family fun park first came to be. For this episode, listeners will learn about: Who bought the very first admission to Disneyland Park back in July of 1955 When is the third “Prep & Landing” holiday special – “The Snowball Protocol” – expected to debut on ABC Who did

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47:13

The Studio, the Sequel, and the Great White That Ate...

The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network ·

2025/07/18

Jim Hill and Eric Hersey return with a jam-packed episode that swings from Halloween Horror Nights updates to the troubled legacy of Jaws 2. First, they unpack the latest HHN announcements, including the debut of the Terrifier haunted house and the moody new scare zone, Origins of Horror. Eric finally learns the difference between houses and zones - only took 60 episodes.Then, the duo gears up for a future trip to Philadelphia, where Universal Parks is launching their first-ever traveling exhibit

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48:35

From TV Screens to Main Street: Walt’s Media Master...

The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network ·

2025/07/17

Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey are back with a full dose of Disney merch, from the long-awaited debut of the Starlight Dream the Night Away parade to a viral collector toy that's creeping its way into the parks. Lauren breaks down everything she’s learned about La Boo Boos (and their knockoff cousins), while Jim connects the dots between Disney’s 1950s television strategy and why your Christmas ornaments now cost $80.Also in this episode: What to expect from Disney’s first nighttime parade in a

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47:22

SpongeBob Returns with Flying Dutchman and a...

The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network ·

2025/07/15

In this episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor dig into a wide-ranging conversation about box office trends, Comic-Con reveals, and the growing debate around casting A-list celebrities in animated films. Highlights include:Paramount debuts the first teaser for The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants – Mark Hamill joins as the Flying Dutchman, and Jim reflects on the franchise’s enduring magic. Godzilla’s 70th anniversary celebration hits San Diego Comic-Con – Drew previews

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58:04

The Jack Sparrow Problem Disney Didn’t See Coming...

The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network ·

2025/07/14

Len Testa and Jim Hill look at Disney’s latest surveys, hotel rumors, and Halloween Horror Nights announcements—then plunge into the second half of their deep-dive on Pirates of the Caribbean. This time, Jim reveals how Disney navigated a real-life guest frenzy over Captain Jack Sparrow, the surprisingly expensive costume drama that followed, and the face character chaos that nearly derailed New Orleans Square. Plus, early plans for a pirates-themed restaurant, and how Dead Man’s Chest almost broke

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46:48

Manufacturing the Magic: How Walt riding the rails...

The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network ·

2025/07/12

In the 18th installment of this educational series, Shelly & Noe Valladolid explore how Walt Disney’s lifelong fascination with trains impacted the development of his family fun park. Special guest Roger Colton sheds light on this specific aspect of Disneyland history.Throughout this episode, listeners will learn about: * Why is Walt’s visit to the Chicago Railroad Fair in 1948 considered such an important moment in the development history of Disneyland * Which specific Disneyland

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53:17

When Universal Shut Down a Sequel: The Making of Jaws...

The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network ·

2025/07/11

Eric is packing for his return trip to Epic Universe - but before he battles the Florida heat, Jim takes him on a wild ride through box office records, coaster rumors, and a deep dive into the troubled waters of Jaws 2. In this episode: • Jurassic World Rebirth dominates globally—why Scarlett Johansson is now the highest-grossing lead actor• Updates on Universal UK: massive coaster plans, HHN expansion, and hotel additions• Universal Kids in Texas—new concept art reveals hotel details and

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46:27

The $10,000 Buzz Lightyear and the Real Story Behind...

The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network ·

2025/07/10

Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey continue their Toy Story series with a deep dive into the franchise's merchandising legacy—and how a scrappy unknown toy company landed the rights that Mattel and Hasbro turned down. From the earliest Thinkway figures to today's collector's items worth thousands, they explore how Toy Story became one of the most profitable and collectible Disney properties of all time.Plus, Jim shares a personal behind-the-scenes story about the original vision for Toy Story 4, including

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55:07

Jurassic World Breaks Records, Elio Stalls, and...

The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network ·

2025/07/08

In this episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor dig into a packed slate of animation and entertainment news—including box office wins, deep animation history, and Broadway updates:Universal celebrates a huge opening for Jurassic World Rebirth with $318M globally, while How to Train Your Dragon crosses the half-billion mark. Disney’s Lilo & Stitch nears the billion-dollar club, expected to cross the threshold by the time Fantastic Four: First Steps hits theaters later this

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1,350 results

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