The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network

I found the Disney Dish in 2025 and have gone back to listen from the beginning. I’m up to 2017 now and so far it’s great!

I’ve been a listener of this podcast for a while, but a recent episode crossed a line that deserves to be addressed. During a discussion about Olympic figure skating, Drew referred to the athletes as “hot” and commented on their “giant asses.” This was especially jarring given that this is an animation podcast, not a sports commentary show, and the remarks had nothing to do with the athletes’ performance, skill, or the topic of the episode. The problem isn’t that people recognize that athletes are attractive. The issue is that the conversation reduced world-class female athletes—people competing at the highest level of their sport—to sexualized body commentary. It shifts the focus away from their extraordinary discipline, talent, and achievements and instead treats them as objects for entertainment. A week later, the show released an apology, but it largely missed the point. Rather than acknowledging that the comments were objectifying and inappropriate, the apology framed the issue as not giving the athletes enough credit for their hard work. That sidesteps the real concern. The problem wasn’t simply that Jim and Drew forgot to mention how hard the athletes train. The problem was the way they chose to talk about women’s bodies in the first place. Good apologies take responsibility and show understanding of why people were uncomfortable. In this case, the response felt more like damage control than reflection. Podcasts shape culture and community. Many women listen to animation podcasts and participate in these fandoms. Conversations like this—and apologies that don’t address the underlying issue—send the message that women in the audience aren’t really being considered. I hope Jim and Drew take the feedback seriously and reflect on how their words land, because thoughtful, inclusive conversations are part of what makes a podcast community worth being part of.

Love all of the history and updates!

Sorry, Jim, but you just drive me crazy with your constant use of the phrases “more to the point” and “there we go.” Trying to stick with it.