Beyond The Mouse: A Weekly Disney Podcast

Beyond The Mouse: A Weekly Disney Podcast

We are a show all about Disney for NPR Illinois Community Voices and for The Front Row Network. Join Craig, Brett and Vanessa weekly as they discuss all things Disney. We talk films, parks and invite guests on including more than ten Disney Legends.

Episodes

November 14, 2025 36 mins

This week on Beyond the Mouse, Craig is joined by his wife Zoey, along with Jacqueline and Meghan from the I Think You’re Gonna Like This podcast, for a festive crossover review of the brand-new holiday movie A Very Jonas Christmas Movie, debuting on Disney+ on November 14.

The group kicks things off with a fun and completely non-spoiler discussion for those who haven’t streamed it yet. Then, once the sleigh bells are ringing, they ...

Mark as Played

This week on Beyond the Mouse we are plannin' a weddin'! Craig is off this week to get hitched, and Vanessa, Brett and Bea discuss ideas for planning a Disney-themed wedding! Congrats Craig and Zoey!

Featuring: Vanessa, Brett and Bea

JOIN OUR PATREON: ⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/BeyondTheMouse⁠⁠⁠

__________________________________________

Named one of the top 50 Disney Podcasts by Feedspot!

⁠blog.feedspot.com/disney_podcasts⁠⁠⁠

FIND US ON NPR...

Mark as Played
October 31, 2025 44 mins

It’s a spooktacular special on Beyond the Mouse! Brett, Vanessa, and Craig are brewing up some frightfully fun ideas as they each design their perfect Disney-themed Halloween party. From eerie attractions to villainous vibes, Disney treats to magical tricks, they’re pulling out all the stops to create the ultimate celebration of spooky season.

But the final say is up to you! After you listen, head over to BTM Podcast Pals on Faceboo...

Mark as Played

The Muppets are celebrating 70 years, and Creative Director of the Muppets Studio, Dani Iglesias, joins Beyond the Mouse to talk about how Disney is honoring the Muppets legacy. We also give love to Bean Bunny and share why the Muppets mean so much to so many.

Featuring: Craig, Vanessa, and Brett

JOIN OUR PATREON: ⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/BeyondTheMouse⁠⁠⁠

__________________________________________

Named one of the top 50 Disney Podcasts by Fee...

Mark as Played

Join Brett and BTM Guests, Brittney and Jen, as they discuss their experiences on The Official Walt Disney Studios Walking Tour – Presented by D23. Brett and his sometimes alter ego, James Mason, reminisce about his previous visits to The Walt Disney Studios during his time as a WDW Cast Member. Then the trio share more about their “walk through Disney history” on the Official Tour!

Featuring: Brett Rutherford, Brittney and Jen!


...

Mark as Played

This week on Beyond the Mouse, we’re thrilled to bring you an exclusive interview with the powerhouse songwriting duo Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez!

From creating unforgettable melodies to shaping the emotional core of modern Disney classics, Kristen and Robert have redefined what it means to make magic through music. Their award-winning work includes iconic songs from Disney’s Frozen (“Let It Go”), Frozen II (“Into the Un...

Mark as Played
October 3, 2025 50 mins

Join us this week on Beyond the Mouse as we gallop into another grand installment of our Favorite Disney Things by Letter series — and this week, it’s all about the glorious letter G! From Goofy gags to glittering gowns, we’re diving deep into the greatest, gooiest, and most grin-worthy Disney favorites that start with G.

Whether you're a fan of Genie’s geniusGaston’s gusto, or the galactic greatness of Guardians of the Galaxy...

Mark as Played
September 27, 2025 68 mins

This week on Beyond the Mouse we are answering your questions! Thank you for submitting your questions. We had a lot of fun! Find out our favorite places, memories and who is most like Winnie the Pooh.

Featuring: Craig McFarland, Vanessa Ferguson and Brett Rutherford

JOIN OUR PATREON: ⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/BeyondTheMouse⁠⁠⁠

__________________________________________

Named one of the top 50 Disney Podcasts by Feedspot!

⁠blog.feedspot.com/disney...

Mark as Played

This week on Beyond the Mouse, Brett and Craig blast off into the world of Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy – Pieces of the Past! They kick things off with a spoiler-free review of the second series before diving into an incredible round of interviews. Hear from stars Gaten Matarazzo (Stranger Things) and Tony Revolori (Spider-Man: No Way Home), who voice the lead characters in this galactic adventure. Then, writers and executive...

Mark as Played
September 12, 2025 40 mins

This week on Beyond the Mouse, we sit down with our friend and fellow podcaster Matthew Krul from Imagination Skyway to talk about Destination D23 and what Matthew has been up to since our last chat.


Featuring: Brett and Vanessa

JOIN OUR PATREON: ⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/BeyondTheMouse⁠⁠⁠

__________________________________________

Named one of the top 50 Disney Podcasts by Feedspot!

⁠blog.feedspot.com/disney_podcasts⁠⁠⁠

FIND US ON NPR ILLINOIS...

Mark as Played

This week on Beyond the Mouse, we’re joined by two-time Tony nominee Gavin Lee! Gavin recently stepped into the iconic role of Scar in Disney’s The Lion King on Broadway, and he shares what it’s been like joining such a beloved production. We also dive into his incredible career, including originating Bert in Mary Poppins and bringing Squidward to life in The SpongeBob Musical. Whether you’re a Disney fan, a Broadway lover, or both...

Mark as Played

Set sail with us on this magical episode of Beyond the Mouse as we welcome Amy and Paul Krieger, hosts of The DVC Show and The Cruising Compass! These seasoned Disney Cruise Line experts join us to share their top tips, insider tricks, and must-know hacks to help you make the absolute most out of your Disney cruise vacation. Whether you're a first-time cruiser or a Castaway Club veteran, Amy and Paul offer advice that will elev...

Mark as Played
August 22, 2025 60 mins

This week on Beyond the Mouse Vanessa and Brett try to remember all their favorite things about Disney that start with the letter "F." Can they do it? Or will they get an "F" as in "FAIL!"


Featuring: Vanessa Ferguson and Brett Rutherford

JOIN OUR PATREON: ⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/BeyondTheMouse⁠⁠⁠

__________________________________________

Named one of the top 50 Disney Podcasts by Feedspot!

⁠blog.feedspot.com/di...

Mark as Played

This week on Beyond the Mouse, Jeremy joins Craig for a deep dive into the current state of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. With three new MCU films hitting theaters this year, the duo breaks down what’s working, what’s not, and where the franchise might be headed next. From shifting storylines and character arcs to box office performance and fan reception, it's an honest and insightful look at a universe in transition. Whether ...

Mark as Played

This week on Beyond the Mouse Brett is joined by super travelers Danny and Kara to talk about their recent Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea trip, and of course, the popcorn!


Featuring: Brett Rutherford.

JOIN OUR PATREON: ⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/BeyondTheMouse⁠⁠⁠

__________________________________________

Named one of the top 50 Disney Podcasts by Feedspot!

⁠blog.feedspot.com/disney_podcasts⁠⁠⁠

FIND US ON NPR ILLINOIS!

⁠⁠nprillinois.org/programs...

Mark as Played
August 1, 2025 62 mins

This week on Beyond the Mouse podcast we are joined be the voice behind Disney Food Blog, AJ Wolfe. Not only do we learn about AJ and the origin story of DFB, but we also talk about her new book "Disney Adults: Exploring (And Falling In Love With) A Magical Subculture," which comes out Aug. 5.

Featuring: Craig McFarland, Vanessa Ferguson, and Brett Rutherford.

JOIN OUR PATREON: ⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/BeyondTheMouse⁠⁠⁠

______________...

Mark as Played

Craig sits down with none other than Joshua Colley, who plays Captain Hook in Descendants: The Rise of Red. Joshua dives into what it’s like to take on one of Disney’s most iconic villains, sharing behind-the-scenes stories, character insights, and his excitement about stepping into the wicked world of Auradon.


This exclusive interview is part of the lead-up to the highly anticipated Descendants/Zombies: Worlds Collide Tour, whe...

Mark as Played

This week on Beyond the Mouse, we’re thrilled to welcome Donnie Jacob, the creator behind the heartwarming and wildly popular TikTok and Instagram series that shines a spotlight on Disneyland cast members. Donnie shares what inspired him to start highlighting the magic-makers behind the scenes, how his love for the park blossomed, and what it’s been like connecting with the Disney community online.

We also dive into his recent adven...

Mark as Played
July 18, 2025 56 mins

It's the battle we've all been waiting for...again: Disneyland Resort versus Walt Disney World Resort. In this episode of Beyond the Mouse, Vanessa again wreaks havoc on her co-hosts and guests by forcing them to choose which resort does various aspects of the theme park experience the best. In our last round, Disneyland just barely took home the prize, winning by one point. Will it be victorious again? Find out!

Featuring: ...

Mark as Played

This week on Beyond the Mouse, Craig and Zoey are fresh off their June adventure to Walt Disney World—and they brought their moms along for the fun! Join them as they share highlights from a whirlwind trip that included stays at four incredible resorts: Drury Plaza Hotel (Disney Springs), Wilderness Lodge, Polynesian Village Resort, and Old Key West.

They dive into their first impressions of Geo-82, EPCOT’s new adults-only lounge, a...

Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.

    Crime Junkie

    Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.

    Stuff You Should Know

    If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

    Dateline NBC

    Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

    The Breakfast Club

    The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.