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. Miami Vice Goes to the Theme Park

    6H AGO

    Miami Vice Goes to the Theme Park

    This week, Jim Hill and Eric Hersey connect the dots between an MTV-inspired TV phenomenon and one of the most ambitious nighttime stunt shows ever staged at a Universal theme park. From Brandon Tartikoff’s “MTV Cops” brainstorm to exploding boats on Universal Studios Lagoon, the guys unpack how Miami Vice helped shape theme park history - even when Universal Florida was not allowed to use the name. NEWS • Universal announces a global Pokémon theme park expansion tied to the franchise’s 30th anniversary • Early speculation on where Pokémon could land stateside, including Lost Continent and Simpsons real estate • Universal files a trademark for “OZTACULAR SPECTACULAR,” fueling Oz land rumors for the rumored UK park • First public look at the Universal Kids Resort model ahead of its Frisco, Texas opening • Reactions to Wicked: Part Two being shut out of this year’s Academy Award nominations FEATURE • How Miami Vice evolved from “MTV Cops” into a pop culture juggernaut • Why Universal Studios Hollywood repurposed its A-Team stunt show into the Miami Vice Action Spectacular • The borrowed mine cart chase that directly inspired Disney-MGM’s Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular • Why Universal Studios Florida’s lagoon show became Dynamite Nights instead of Miami Vice - and how long it ran 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 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
  2. The Pokémon Effect: Why Collectibles, Cookies, and Theme Parks Are All Chasing Pikachu

    1D AGO

    The Pokémon Effect: Why Collectibles, Cookies, and Theme Parks Are All Chasing Pikachu

    Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey dig into why collectibles are suddenly everywhere you look, from Disney merch shelves to grocery store cookie aisles and even inside theme parks themselves. This episode connects the dots between blind box culture, viral collectibles, and why companies like Disney and Universal are aggressively courting adult collectors and Gen Z fans. Along the way, the conversation builds toward a genuinely jaw-dropping realization about which media franchise quietly became the most valuable of all time. NEWS • Disney’s Zootopia 2 teams up with Pop Mart for blind box collectibles, tapping directly into the viral Labubu-style collector economy • Why blind boxes, mystery packs, and “completionist” merch are suddenly Disney’s favorite strategy • Disney Lorcana takes over EPCOT’s Festival of the Arts with a free scavenger hunt and highly coveted promo cards • Marvel’s new color-changing Oreos turn cookies into collectibles, complete with QR codes, lore, and villains • Universal Studios Japan confirms plans for a major Pokémon attraction, setting the internet on fire with speculation FEATURE • How Pokémon quietly became the highest-grossing media franchise in history • Why gaming revenue now dwarfs movies and how that shift changed theme parks forever • The real reason Universal wants Pokémon and why everyone else is chasing that level of success • What Pokémon’s 30-year rise tells us about merch, media, and the future of themed entertainment 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 of I Want That Too is brought to you by Unlocked Magic, your go-to source for stress-free savings on Disney and Universal theme park tickets. If a 2026 trip is on your radar, Unlocked Magic helps you unlock great prices with expert guidance from people who truly know the parks. Learn more 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

    51 min
  3. Disney’s CEO Race, Disneyland Handcrafted, & the COVID Experiences Fans Still Miss (Ep. 02)

    1D AGO

    Disney’s CEO Race, Disneyland Handcrafted, & the COVID Experiences Fans Still Miss (Ep. 02)

    Lauren and Eric dig into the latest chatter surrounding Disney’s next CEO, unpack mixed reactions to a newly released Disneyland documentary, and explore why Hallmark filming at Walt Disney World struck a nostalgic chord. Along the way, they reflect on what quietly vanished during COVID and which experiences fans still hope might return. HIGHLIGHTS Online reaction to Disney’s CEO succession plan, including why Josh D’Amaro is the public-facing favorite and why some fans are wary of his park-era decisions. A breakdown of Disneyland Handcrafted, its simultaneous release on Disney Plus and YouTube, and why reactions from fans and creators have been so divided. Hallmark filming at Walt Disney World, complete with Polynesian Village Resort guest notices and why the collaboration makes sense for both brands. A nostalgic look back at COVID-era losses across the parks, from tea rooms and spas to parades, shows, and interactive experiences that never returned. The attractions, entertainment, and small Disney details fans are still salty about - and whether any of them could realistically come back. For this episode’s full show notes, click here. HOSTS Eric Hersey – X: ⁠⁠⁠@erichersey⁠⁠⁠ | Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@erichersey⁠⁠⁠ Lauren Hersey – X: ⁠⁠⁠@laurenhersey2⁠⁠⁠ | Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@lauren_hersey_⁠⁠⁠ FOLLOW – DIS & HERS Website: ⁠⁠⁠DisAndHers.com⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@disandhers⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠@disandhers⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠Dis and Hers⁠⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠Dis & Hers⁠⁠⁠ FOLLOW – JIM HILL MEDIA Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠JimHillMediaNews⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠JimHillMedia⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠JimHillMedia⁠⁠⁠ SUPPORT Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at ⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/JimHillMedia⁠⁠⁠. PRODUCTION CREDITS Edited & 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

    45 min
  4. The Case for Lightning Lane

    2D AGO

    The Case for Lightning Lane

    In this session of The Case Four, Judge Jim Hill presides over a lively and surprisingly practical debate about Walt Disney World’s Lightning Lane system. Len Testa and Chris Cox dig into what you really gain - and lose - when you pay to skip the standby line, weighing money, time, stress, and how much of your vacation you want to spend staring at your phone. Along the way, the court grapples with pie-related grievances, parenting realities, and whether Disney’s most premium option might actually make sense. HIGHLIGHTS • A plain-English breakdown of Lightning Lane Single Pass, Multi Pass, and Premier Pass and how Disney complicates all three • Real-world math on paying to skip lines versus waiting with kids for hours • The mental load of Lightning Lane optimization and how much phone time it actually demands • Touring tactics like rope drop pairing, stacking, burner Lightning Lanes, and the 119-minute grace period • Why Lightning Lane Premier Pass might be the least stressful - and most honest - version of the system HOSTS • Jim Hill - IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com • Len Testa - IG: @len.testa | Website: TouringPlans.com • Chris Cox - IG: @magiccox | X: @bigcox | Website: MagicCox.com FOLLOW • Facebook: JimHillMediaNews • Instagram: JimHillMedia • TikTok: JimHillMedia SUPPORTSupport the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia. PRODUCTION CREDITS Edited by Dave GreyProduced 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

    25 min

  5. 3D AGO

    The Last-Minute Fixes That Turned The Lion King into a Classic

    Jim Hill and Drew Taylor break down a very strange January weekend for animation and the box office. Between a massive snowstorm shutting down hundreds of theaters, surprise Oscar nominations, and some heartfelt remembrances of animation legends, this episode covers a lot of ground. There is industry news, Disney history, and a few thoughtful detours along the way. NEWS • How a nationwide snowstorm shut down more than 400 theaters and dragged the North American box office down to just $58 million for the weekend • Why Mercy managed to knock Avatar: Fire & Ash out of the top spot with a historically soft number one opening • Zootopia 2 crosses $400 million domestically and gets a confirmed digital and physical release timeline • Oscar nominations for Best Animated Feature and Best Animated Short, including why KPop Demon Hunters looks like the current front-runner • A first look teaser for The Super Mario Brothers Galaxy Movie introduces Yoshi ahead of its April release FEATURE • A deep dive into the legacy of Roger Allers and how The Lion King was reshaped in the final weeks before release • Behind-the-scenes stories from Disney Animation’s most turbulent eras, including last-minute fixes that would never fly today • Remembering restoration legend Ron Stark of S/R Laboratories and his quiet but essential impact on animation history For this episode’s full show notes, click here. 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 Unlocked Magic helps you save on Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando tickets, sometimes up to 12 percent off. Plan your 2026 Central Florida trip with confidence at UnlockedMagic.com and be sure to tell them 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

    49 min
  6. Ten Thousand Workers, One Deadline: EPCOT’s Craziest Year

    4D AGO

    Ten Thousand Workers, One Deadline: EPCOT’s Craziest Year

    This week on the Disney Dish Podcast, Jim Hill and Len Testa cover a wide range of park news before diving headfirst into one of the most intense construction stories Disney has ever lived through. From Haunted Mansion permits and Animal Kingdom surveys to Hallmark cameras rolling at Walt Disney World, the first half sets the stage for a jaw-dropping look at how EPCOT was nearly derailed before it ever opened. Then Jim walks through the chaotic final year of EPCOT construction, when Disney threw manpower, money, and sanity at the calendar to make an October 1 deadline happen. NEWS • New construction permits near the Haunted Mansion spark speculation about queue changes and future guest flow into Villains Land • Universal confirms a Fast & Furious spinning coaster will replace Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit • Disney surveys reveal how much a re-themed attraction like Zootopia Better Zoo-Gether actually drives intent to visit • Animal Kingdom questions hint at how Disney expects families to split up as thrill rides expand • A Hallmark holiday movie films on location at Walt Disney World, including a surprise Jodi Benson cameo FEATURE • Inside EPCOT’s final year of construction, when the project ballooned to 10,000 workers on site • How endangered woodpeckers, sinkholes, and shifting plans pushed EPCOT dangerously behind schedule • Why Disney was forced to spend billions to meet a non-negotiable opening date • Stories from the worksite that explain why veterans still describe it as chaotic, dangerous, and unforgettable For this episode’s full show notes, click here. HOSTS • Jim Hill - IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com • Len Testa - IG: @len.testa | Website: TouringPlans.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 DVC Resale Market - get expert help buying or selling Disney Vacation Club points at DVCResaleMarket.com. Also sponsored by DVC Rental Store - save on your next Disney vacation by renting points at DVCRentalStore.com. Planning your next trip? Let Be Our Guest Vacations handle the details at BeOurGuestVacations.com. And by Unlocked Magic, offering concierge-level Disney planning services 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

    56 min
  7. Fast & Furious Revs Up and the Strange Art of Faking Disaster at Universal

    JAN 23

    Fast & Furious Revs Up and the Strange Art of Faking Disaster at Universal

    This week, Jim and Eric shift from breaking Universal news into a fascinating look back at how the company perfected the art of staged chaos. From the official confirmation of a Fast & Furious coaster to high winds halting Epic Universe testing, the conversation eventually lands on the wonderfully cheesy, sometimes dangerous, and always ingenious Jay Bangs that defined the Universal Studios Hollywood Tram Tour for decades. NEWS • Universal officially confirms a Fast & Furious coaster to replace Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit • Universal Orlando’s latest emotional ad sparks debate over nostalgia versus party vibes • High winds stall testing on Epic Universe’s Stardust Racers coaster • Mystery concrete and launch tubes hint at a future nighttime spectacular at Epic Universe • A noticeable rise in lawsuits across major theme parks raises industry concerns FEATURE • Why Universal’s Tram Tour illusions were internally known as Jay Bangs • Collapsing bridges, rockslides, spinning tunnels, and other classic disaster effects • How films like Jaws helped push Universal toward attractions tied to contemporary hits • The fine line between thrilling guests and accidentally pelting them with wet Styrofoam “rocks” HOSTS • Jim Hill - IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com • Eric Hersey - IG: @erichersey | X: @erichersey 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 Planning your next theme park adventure? Let the experts at Be Our Guest Vacations help you plan a trip to Universal Orlando Resort, Hollywood, Disney parks, cruises, and more. Start planning today at BeOurGuestVacations.com and be sure to mention the Epic Universal Podcast. 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
  8. Winnie the Pooh at 100: How Disney’s Most Gentle Icon Became a Merchandising Powerhouse (Ep. 83)

    JAN 22

    Winnie the Pooh at 100: How Disney’s Most Gentle Icon Became a Merchandising Powerhouse (Ep. 83)

    As Winnie the Pooh turns 100, Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey take a deep dive into how Disney is kicking off a year-long centennial celebration and what the first wave of merchandise already reveals about the strategy behind it. From understated lifestyle apparel to a knit plush that collectors immediately zeroed in on, this episode explores why Pooh still resonates after a century. Then, Jim unpacks the surprisingly complex business history that transformed a simple bedtime story into one of Disney’s most carefully managed and profitable characters. NEWS • Disney officially unveils its Winnie the Pooh 100th anniversary branding, signaling a long runway of celebrations tied to Pooh’s literary origins • The first wave of centennial merchandise drops, favoring subtle, wearable designs over loud anniversary graphics • A limited-edition knit Pooh plush, capped at 7,500 units, becomes the early breakout collectible • Key 2026 milestones line up, from Winnie the Pooh Day to major Disney animation anniversaries • Publishers and museums outside Disney join in, reinforcing Pooh as a cultural and literary icon FEATURE • How A.A. Milne’s bedtime stories for his son evolved into a global phenomenon • The pivotal role of licensing agent Stephen Slesinger in shaping Pooh’s commercial future • Why Disney handled Winnie the Pooh differently than almost any other character • How merchandising deals, lawsuits, and strategy shifts helped turn Pooh into a billion-dollar brand 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 sponsored by Unlocked Magic, your go-to source for great deals on theme park tickets. If Disney or Universal is on your travel radar for 2026, Unlocked Magic can help you lock in excellent prices with expert guidance from people who truly know the parks. Learn more 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

    48 min
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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.

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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