The 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.
Episodes
July 12, 2025 • 46 mins
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 ...
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July 11, 2025 • 53 mins
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• Unive...
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July 10, 2025 • 46 mins
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-...
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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 b...
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July 7, 2025 • 52 mins
Len Testa and Jim Hill tackle a packed show, from new Eat to the Beat concert acts and Test Track Lightning Lane changes to a survey that hints at Disney bundling sports vacations with ESPN and Adventures by Disney. Then in the main segment, Jim unpacks the wild story behind the Pirates of the Caribbean movie franchise—including how one clever Imagineer added a cursed treasure twist to the ride years before it hit the big screen, a...
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July 4, 2025 • 63 mins
In this explosive Fourth of July episode of the Epic Universal Podcast, Jim Hill and Eric Hersey ride the rails of ghostly New England folklore and land in the middle of this year’s Halloween Horror Nights house reveals. From Norwegian monsters and homicidal dolls to the surprise announcement of Universal Horror Unleashed in Chicago, this episode is packed tighter than a holiday fireworks box.
Then, Jim takes us on a moonshot-leve...
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July 3, 2025 • 49 mins
In this episode of I Want That Too, Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey unpack what Disney’s upcoming Toy Story 5 might really be about - and why it hits closer to home than you think. From Woody’s absence to Jessie’s promotion, and a new iPad-inspired character named Lilypad, this fifth entry isn’t just a sequel - it might be Disney’s most self-aware film yet.
Jim and Lauren discuss how streaming, AI, and even shoppable shows are reshapin...
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July 1, 2025 • 37 mins
In this episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor reunite (despite a case of post-Annecy crud) to cover a wide range of animation and industry news, including:
Disney officially announces Lilo & Stitch 2 after the live-action original crosses $945M globally.
Elio holds better than expected with a solid second weekend as it climbs past $42M domestically.
Live-action Tangled delayed to 2029, reportedly to mak...
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June 30, 2025 • 49 mins
Len Testa and Jim Hill cover the latest Disney news, including a major update to the dining reservation system, a rerouted parade to improve park flow, and the latest tweaks at Epic Universe. Then, Jim dives into the real story of how Epcot’s CommuniCore was shut down and transformed into Innoventions—Disney’s answer to a park in crisis. With budgets tight and tech aging fast, Michael Eisner turned to Las Vegas for inspiration, res...
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June 28, 2025 • 29 mins
In the seventeenth installment of this educational series, Shelly & Noe Valladolid continue their look back at the history of themed entertainment. This time around, they're joined by veteran Imagineer Joe Lanzisero, who looks back at how AA figures were developed for the Disney Parks.
Throughout today's episode, listeners will learn about:
How Electro the Robot wowed folks at the 1939 New York World's Fair
How "Project Lit...
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June 27, 2025 • 47 mins
Jim Hill and Eric Hersey welcome Universal Creative’s Mike Aiello for a special episode celebrating the 50th anniversary of Jaws and his own 30-year journey with the parks. From working as a teenage skipper on the iconic attraction to helping shape Halloween Horror Nights and Epic Universe, Mike shares stories of theme park transformation, Spielberg fandom, and why he always tries to sneak Bruce the Shark into his projects. Plus, J...
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June 26, 2025 • 55 mins
In this art-filled episode of I Want That Too, Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey dive deep into the colorful world of Disney posters—on screens, in parks, and behind the scenes. From the hand-painted brilliance of legendary artist Drew Struzan to the merchandising missteps that infuriated Robin Williams, this show explores how Disney uses poster art to sell stories and spark emotion.
Jim explains how Fantasia’s box office flop turned int...
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On this week’s jet-lagged edition of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor keep things quick but packed with insight. Drew is back from his travels—and despite the sleep deprivation, he’s ready to recap his time at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival and his first-ever visit to Disneyland Paris.
How Annecy 2025 addressed AI concerns and global animation trends
Jared Bush’s surprising hint at the return of h...
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June 23, 2025 • 55 mins
Len Testa and Jim Hill look at recent updates across Walt Disney World and Epic Universe, including a new water play area in Animal Kingdom, a July reopening for Test Track, and a revealing Disney Cruise Line survey. Then in the main segment, Jim takes us back 30 years to the wild creation of Disneyland’s Videopolis—a teen dance club built in just 100 days that introduced churros, challenged norms, and (almost) ran over some touris...
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June 20, 2025 • 51 mins
Jim Hill and Eric Hersey step up to the plate with the unbelievable true story of how a simple comedy sketch—Who’s on First—helped pull Universal Studios back from the brink of bankruptcy. Along the way, they cover the box office power of How to Train Your Dragon, a surprising coaster IP twist, and the last remaining piece of the Jaws ride hiding in plain sight.
Abbott & Costello’s rise from burlesque to box office saviors
...
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June 19, 2025 • 53 mins
Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey follow their cult-favorite “cup” episode with a deep dive into the most powerful sense in the Disney parks—smell. From Mickey’s PhilharMagic to burning Rome and popcorn-scented blowers, this episode explores how Imagineering has used fragrance for decades to spark emotion, trigger nostalgia, and boost sales. Plus, they dig into scented merch like candles, oils, and the plushie line that smells good enough...
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In this solo episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill covers the latest from the animation and box office world while Drew Taylor wraps up his trip to Annecy and Disneyland Paris. This week’s highlights include:
Live-action How to Train Your Dragon opens to $197M globally, including a $83M domestic debut that surpasses every previous entry in the franchise.
Disney’s Lilo & Stitch nears the billion-dollar mark, with over $858M e...
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June 16, 2025 • 66 mins
Len Testa and Jim Hill break down the newest Monstropolis concept art and speculate on Disney’s next big land grab near Blizzard Beach. They also examine Disneyland’s expansion strategy, a Coco boat ride, and why the Avatar land plans are quietly devouring backstage space. Then, in part three of the Journey Into Imagination saga, Jim reveals how Figment almost got replaced by Michael Jordan—and how one flubbed line at an NBC upfron...
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June 13, 2025 • 59 mins
Jim Hill and Eric Hersey rewind to the green-slime-soaked days of Universal Studios Florida with a deep dive into the rise (and fall) of Nickelodeon Studios. From Double Dare to the slime geyser, they break down how Nick turned Universal into must-see TV—and what happened when the camera crews packed up for Hollywood. Plus, the hosts share this summer’s biggest park updates, movie tie-ins, and a few theme park throwbacks that might...
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Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey welcome Steve Lewis, the founder of Gideon’s Bakehouse, for a deliciously detailed conversation about how a dark, whimsical cookie shop became one of the most sought-after stops at Disney Springs. From his early days as a musician and comic shop owner to perfecting a cookie recipe over 15 years, Steve shares the creative, emotional, and business journey behind Florida’s favorite bakery.
The music maj...
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