The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network

Jim Hill Media Podcast Network
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The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network features weekly shows hosted by Jim Hill and his collaborators. The lineup includes The Disney Dish with Len Testa, Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor, Epic Universal Podcast with Eric Hersey, I Want That Too with Lauren Hersey, Marvel Us Disney with Dan Graney, The Case For with Chris Cox, and more. Each series offers industry reporting, history, analysis, and insider stories spanning Disney, Universal, animation, film, streaming, and themed entertainment. With over 25 years of online storytelling and thousands of hours of content, the network delivers trusted, in-depth coverage for fans, enthusiasts, and industry professionals.

  1. Tarzan Swings Back In, While the Universal Backlot Goes Up in Flames

    1D AGO

    Tarzan Swings Back In, While the Universal Backlot Goes Up in Flames

    Jim Hill and Eric Hersey kick things off with a generational pop culture moment before diving headfirst into a packed episode of Universal news, park planning, and studio history. From a newly announced Rockford Files reboot to freshly released 2026 event calendars, this episode covers what Universal fans need to know now - and then takes a long, fascinating walk through some nearly forgotten corners of the Universal backlot. Along the way, listeners get travel talk, awards season chatter, and one of those deep historical pivots that only this show can deliver. NEWS • NBC commits to a pilot for a Rockford Files reboot, prompting a look back at the original series and its Universal roots • Universal’s awards season recap, including Golden Globes results and where Wicked did (and did not) land • Universal Orlando releases its 2026 event calendar, including dates for Mardi Gras, Halloween Horror Nights, and passholder perks • The full Mardi Gras International Flavors of Carnival concert lineup is revealed, sparking a game of “name your generation” • Updates from Universal Hollywood on Fan Fest Nights, Butterbeer Season, and the long road toward Fast & Furious Hollywood Drift FEATURE • A listener letter sparks a deep dive into Universal’s forgotten Tarzan serials of the 1920s • How Edgar Rice Burroughs’ dissatisfaction with early Tarzan films led to casting shakeups and lost silent-era movies • The surprising connection between Tarzan, Universal’s backlot geography, and Jay Stein’s infamous tram tour gags • A look at how Park Lake became home to submarines, parted seas, burning houses, and other classic Studio Tour illusions For this episode’s full show notes, click here. HOSTS • Jim Hill - IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com • Eric Hersey - IG: @erichersey | X: @erichersey FOLLOW • Facebook: JimHillMediaNews • Instagram: JimHillMedia • TikTok: JimHillMedia PRODUCTION CREDITS Edited by Dave Grey Produced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency SPONSOR This episode is sponsored by Be Our Guest Vacations, a platinum-level earmarked travel agency providing top-tier concierge planning for Universal Orlando, Universal Hollywood, Disney Parks, cruises, and more. Start planning your next adventure at BeOurGuestVacations.com and be sure to mention that the Epic Universal Podcast sent you. If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    56 min
  2. How Tangled’s Live-Action Future Connects Back to 101 Dalmatians’ Past

    2D AGO

    How Tangled’s Live-Action Future Connects Back to 101 Dalmatians’ Past

    Disney’s live-action strategy, a surprisingly exclusive D23 merch sale, and a 65-year-old animated classic all collide on this episode of I Want That Too. Jim and Lauren break down why a new casting announcement for Tangled matters far beyond the movie itself, how Disney is quietly rewarding its most dedicated fans, and why 101 Dalmatians feels more relevant today than ever. Along the way, they connect the dots between animation history, modern merchandising, and the business decisions still shaping Disney in 2025. NEWS • Why the newly announced Tangled live-action leads are a smart, generation-spanning choice for Disney • How Disney’s live-action remakes reduce risk and supercharge future merchandise lines • The Twice Upon a Year Sale that most fans know - and the D23-only version many do not • Why D23 memberships are suddenly looking more valuable heading into a busy 2025 FEATURE • How Sleeping Beauty’s box office failure nearly sank Disney animation • The technology shift that made 101 Dalmatians possible with a drastically smaller animation staff • Why Cruella de Vil became the template for Disney villains going forward • How a cost-saving experiment ended up saving Walt Disney Animation Studios HOSTS • Jim Hill - IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com • Lauren Hersey - IG: @lauren_hersey_ | X: @laurenhersey2 FOLLOW • Facebook: JimHillMediaNews • Instagram: JimHillMedia • TikTok: JimHillMedia SUPPORT Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia. PRODUCTION CREDITS Edited by Dave Grey Produced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency SPONSOR This episode is brought to you by UnlockedMagic. Planning a future Disney or Universal trip? Lock in great ticket deals without the stress at UnlockedMagic.com. If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    49 min
  3. The Best (and Worst) Disney Park Entrances Around the World

    3D AGO

    The Best (and Worst) Disney Park Entrances Around the World

    On this episode of The Case For with Chris Cox, Jim Hill convenes court in a flooded courtroom to debate one deceptively big question - which Disney park entrances actually work best. With Len Testa mysteriously missing in action, Jim and Chris take listeners on a globe-spanning tour of arrival sequences, retail corridors, and first impressions, from rope-drop chaos to architectural storytelling. Along the way, they explore how Imagineering intent sometimes collides with real-world park operations and why those first few minutes inside the gates matter more than you think. HIGHLIGHTS • Why Disney’s park entrances function like the opening moments of a movie or stage show • The intentional slow reveal of Disney’s Animal Kingdom and why it frustrates rope droppers • How Main Street U.S.A. sets expectations differently in Anaheim vs. Walt Disney World • Tokyo Disneyland’s oversized walkways and the surprising impact of World Bazaar’s glass roof • The evolution of Disney California Adventure’s entrance from postcard concept to Buena Vista Street HOSTS • Jim Hill - IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com • Chris Cox - IG: @magiccox | X: @bigcox | Website: magiccox.com FOLLOW • Facebook: JimHillMediaNews • Instagram: JimHillMedia • TikTok: JimHillMedia SUPPORT Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia. PRODUCTION CREDITS Edited by Dave Grey Produced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    38 min

  4. 4D AGO

    Fire in the Ink & Paint Department – How “Banjo the Woodpile Cat” Lit a Fuse at Disney

    Right in the thick of awards season, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor sit down to read the tea leaves on this year’s animation race while also digging into a pivotal - and often misunderstood - moment in Disney animation history. From Annie Award trends and box office signals to Don Bluth’s garage-era rebellion, this episode covers how a shortage of effects animation talent helped spark one of the biggest talent walkouts the studio ever faced. NEWS • Why KPop Demon Hunters and Pixar’s Elio leading the Annie nominations could matter as Academy voting begins • The third Avatar film dominates the box office again as Zootopia 2 closes in on Lion King-level numbers • GKIDS picks up Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom for a Halloween release • Remembering composer Guy Moon and his legacy across The Fairly OddParents, Danny Phantom, and more FEATURE • How shrinking FX animation departments in the 1970s quietly changed Disney’s films • Why Don Bluth created Banjo the Woodpile Cat as a “training exercise pretending to be a movie” • Ron Miller’s rejection of Banjo and how that decision helped trigger Bluth’s mass exit from Disney • The ripple effects that delayed The Fox and the Hound, reshaped the studio, and helped set the stage for Disney’s 1980s reboot HOSTS • Jim Hill - IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com • Drew Taylor - IG: @drewtailored | X: @DrewTailored | Website: drewtaylor.work FOLLOW • Facebook: JimHillMediaNews • Instagram: JimHillMedia • TikTok: JimHillMedia SUPPORT Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia. PRODUCTION CREDITS Edited by Dave Grey Produced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency SPONSOR This episode is sponsored by Unlocked Magic. Save on Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando tickets - sometimes up to 12 percent off - at UnlockedMagic.com. When you book, please let them know Drew and Jim sent you. If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    47 min
  5. A Runaway Boulder and a Crumbling Fairytale

    5D AGO

    A Runaway Boulder and a Crumbling Fairytale

    This week on Disney Dish, Jim Hill is joined by mind reader and showman Chris Cox, who steps in for Len Testa and immediately finds himself in the middle of some very Disney-sized mishaps. From a runaway Indiana Jones boulder at Disney’s Hollywood Studios to the surprisingly fragile roof of Sleeping Beauty Castle, the conversation explores what happens when iconic park moments go just a little too far. Along the way, Jim and Chris dig into forgotten ceremonies, cutback entertainment, and the Imagineering decisions that quietly shaped Disneyland over the decades. NEWS • A 400-pound boulder goes off track during a performance of the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular and what that means for show safety going forward • The temporary removal of the iconic boulder scene and why Disney is famously cautious after incidents like this • The Atlantic Dance Hall at Disney’s BoardWalk cuts back to a three-night schedule and what that signals about nightlife at the resort • Listener mail on working New Year’s Eve at Disney parks and why January 1 might secretly be the best day to visit FEATURE • The long and surprisingly complicated history of the Sword in the Stone ceremony and how it really worked behind the scenes • How Imagineer Kim Irvine subtly transformed Sleeping Beauty Castle over four decades without sparking guest outrage • Why holiday overlays and anniversary bling eventually caused serious structural damage to the castle roof • The 60th anniversary decorations that led to a six-figure repair and a full castle roof replacement HOSTS • Jim Hill - IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com • Chris Cox - IG: @magiccox | X: @bigcox | Website: magiccox.com FOLLOW • Facebook: JimHillMediaNews • Instagram: JimHillMedia • TikTok: JimHillMedia SUPPORT Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia. PRODUCTION CREDITS Edited by Dave Grey Produced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    55 min
  6. Universal’s Most Dangerous Tram Scene and Why It Disappeared

    JAN 9

    Universal’s Most Dangerous Tram Scene and Why It Disappeared

    Jim and Eric kick off this week’s show with listener-driven updates and fresh speculation from the Universal parks beat, before pivoting into a deep historical dive on one of the strangest and most memorable effects ever staged on the Universal Studios Hollywood tram tour. Along the way, there is discussion of low-crowd horror experiences, a surprising Spielberg-themed survey, and a heartfelt remembrance of a YouTube pioneer who helped shape modern theme park fandom. NEWS • Fresh rumors swirl around a possible IT / Pennywise presence at Halloween Horror Nights, and why Warner Bros and Six Flags complicate the IP landscape • Listener reports reveal low crowds but high-quality scares at Universal Horror Unleashed in Las Vegas • Early construction walls appear in Celestial Park at Epic Universe, hinting at future capacity expansion • A leaked survey teases a potential Steven Spielberg and Amblin-themed tram-style attraction concept • Reflections on the legacy of Adam the Woo and his impact on theme park history storytelling FEATURE • The forgotten history of Six Points, Texas on the Universal backlot and why it became underused • How Jay Stein pushed Universal to add bold show scenes to the tram tour in the early 1970s • The engineering and storytelling behind the Runaway Train effect and why it took five years to build • Mr. T, The A-Team, and the brief but unforgettable era when a TV star nearly “crashed” the tram HOSTS • Jim Hill - IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com • Eric Hersey - IG: @erichersey | X: @erichersey | Website: strongmindedagency.com FOLLOW • Facebook: JimHillMediaNews • Instagram: JimHillMedia • TikTok: JimHillMedia SUPPORT Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia. PRODUCTION CREDITS Edited by Dave Grey Produced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency SPONSOR This episode is sponsored by Unlocked Magic. Save on Disney and Universal tickets, including park hoppers and Lightning Lane options, by booking through UnlockedMagic.com. If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    50 min
  7. Looking Ahead to 2026: Why Disney’s Quiet Anniversaries Are About to Flood the Shelves

    JAN 8

    Looking Ahead to 2026: Why Disney’s Quiet Anniversaries Are About to Flood the Shelves

    As the calendar flips to a brand-new year, Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey kick things off by looking ahead to what’s shaping up to be a massive 2026 for Disney merch fans. From milestone anniversaries Disney rarely shouts about to a packed slate of films and park changes, this episode breaks down why collectors should start paying attention now. And later in the show, Jim dives deep into a Disney history lesson about a beautifully ambitious animated film that failed spectacularly - and how that misfire accidentally paved the way for one of Disney’s most merch-friendly franchises ever. NEWS • Why 2026 is stacked with Disney anniversaries, including Disneyland’s 70th, DCA’s 25th, and multiple film milestones • Major franchise birthdays like High School Musical (20), Cars (20), Zootopia (10), Moana (10), and 101 Dalmatians (65) • How Pixar’s 40th anniversary and its long partnership with Disney could influence upcoming releases • A look at 2026 movies driving merch, including Toy Story 5, The Mandalorian and Grogu, and live-action Moana • Big park changes ahead, from Galaxy’s Edge updates to Disneyland Paris becoming Disney Adventure World FEATURE • Why Sleeping Beauty was one of Disney’s most expensive animated gambles - and why it failed at the box office • How that failure led Disney to completely rethink animation budgets and storytelling • The surprising connection between Sleeping Beauty’s loss and the creation of One Hundred and One Dalmatians • How that pivot ultimately set the stage for decades of Cruella-driven merch success HOSTS • Jim Hill - IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com • Lauren Hersey - X: @laurenhersey2 | IG: @lauren_hersey_ FOLLOW • Facebook: JimHillMediaNews • Instagram: JimHillMedia • TikTok: JimHillMedia SUPPORT Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia. PRODUCTION CREDITS Edited by Dave Grey Produced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency SPONSORThis episode of I Want That Too is brought to you by Unlocked Magic, the same trusted team behind the DVC Rental Store and the DVC Resale Market. If Disney or Universal is anywhere on your 2026 radar, Unlocked Magic is a smart place to start. Their experts know the parks, the seasons, and how to help you plan without overpaying. Head to UnlockedMagic.com for great deals on theme park tickets and start planning your next trip. If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    52 min
  8. The Legacy Play: How Marvel Is Reopening Closed Chapters

    JAN 7

    The Legacy Play: How Marvel Is Reopening Closed Chapters

    Welcome back to Marvel Us Disney for the first episode of 2026, where Jim Hill and Dan Graney kick off the year by looking at how Marvel is embracing chaos, memory, and unfinished business. From carefully timed leaks and legacy character returns to the stories and creators who never quite got their final chapter, this episode connects Marvel’s current strategy to the people and moments that shaped it. Along the way, the conversation takes some thoughtful detours into Hollywood history, creator recognition, and one very famous Spider-Man movie that almost happened. NEWS • Marvel’s early-2026 rollout leans into controlled chaos, with Avengers: Doomsday teasers, overseas trailer ratings, and leaks that feel increasingly intentional • The return of legacy characters like Steve Rogers, Thor, and the X-Men signals a broader strategy, not just nostalgia • Why Marvel’s staggered teaser strategy may be quietly helping Avatar: Fire and Ash dominate IMAX screens • Disney+ quietly drops all episodes of Wonder Man at once, adding it to the growing list of well-liked Marvel TV “orphans” • A meaningful tribute to Jack Kirby in New York City highlights how recognition sometimes comes from community, not corporations FEATURE • The origin of James Cameron’s unmade Spider-Man film, including scripts, tone, and planned villains • How Cameron’s darker, more adult take on Peter Parker clashed with a legal maze of rights and lawsuits • Why this unrealized project still explains Spider-Man’s endless adaptability across reboots and eras • How Marvel’s biggest “what ifs” continue to echo through today’s franchise decisions HOSTS • Jim Hill - IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com • Dan Graney - Website: thehubbubbery.com FOLLOW • Facebook: JimHillMediaNews • Instagram: JimHillMedia • TikTok: JimHillMedia SUPPORT Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia. PRODUCTION CREDITS Edited by Dave Grey Produced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    42 min
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About

The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network features weekly shows hosted by Jim Hill and his collaborators. The lineup includes The Disney Dish with Len Testa, Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor, Epic Universal Podcast with Eric Hersey, I Want That Too with Lauren Hersey, Marvel Us Disney with Dan Graney, The Case For with Chris Cox, and more. Each series offers industry reporting, history, analysis, and insider stories spanning Disney, Universal, animation, film, streaming, and themed entertainment. With over 25 years of online storytelling and thousands of hours of content, the network delivers trusted, in-depth coverage for fans, enthusiasts, and industry professionals.

Information

  • Creator
    Jim Hill Media Podcast Network
  • Years Active
    2011 - 2026
  • Episodes
    1.4K
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright Jim Hill Media 2025
  • Show Website
    The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network

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