Episode 025: A Human Trap Set by a Mouse

In the season finale of “Off the Cuff,” I sit with Disney employee, and longtime pal, Mallory Quinn. This deep-dive conversation offers listeners a rare view into Mallory’s fascinating journey with Disney, and her work experiences at various Disney Parks. Mallory, a lifeguard turned boat captain, shares delightful anecdotes from her time at Disney Parks, and how her personal life weaved into her Disney dreams.

This episode is a treasure trove for Disney fans, brimming with insight about the distinct offerings of each park, revealing the vibrant cultural differences. The show captures her exciting Parisian work life; her life-changing experiences in the Disney College program—as well as some highlights of the practical aspects of applying for the program and its potential.

The episode concludes on a very human note – focusing on impactful programs like Make-A-Wish and actor Gary Sinise’s program for the children of fallen soldiers. Drawing upon her life-altering incident, Mallory emphasizes the power of compassion, significance of everyday experiences, importance of travel, and the pivotal role of kindness in our lives. This emotional conclusion is a toast to the beauty of living in the moment and the magic of life’s little victories.

As always, thanks for joining us! If you'd like to contact us, you can email us at [e-mail].

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Links from the episode:

Austin's recommendation: Info on phone battery replacement

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If you love what we’re doing, help top off the gas tank over on our supporter page buymeacoffee.com/hindlightmedia.

Episode Transcript

(00:03):
How's it going everybody austin wiggins here with another episode of
off the cuff and this is not just any episode this is the
final episode of the first year this is actually the what i'm officially going
to be calling the season one finale and we're we've released one episode every
two weeks for the past year and we are extraordinarily uh pleased by that I mean,

(00:28):
I just can't believe that it's already been a year and all the wonderful stories
that we've been able to tell on this podcast.
And just by bringing all the wonderful people and all the wonderful stories
on here for your listening pleasure.
And I speak just, and I'm just in awe, really, when I sit and think about it,

(00:53):
of the graciousness and the transparency that people have displayed.
And just the just excitement that people have had for coming on the show throughout
the course of the past year.
And I'm just I'm grateful. And it's been it's been an adventure.
And I'm looking forward to year two.
And one of the things that we're going to be pushing next year in the second

(01:14):
year is I'm going to be pushing more group conversations.
I want to have more people that are,
I want to bring back some people that have been on or in the first year,
but bring them back on with new people, maybe bring on different people that
were on the first season and bring them in the same room, you know,

(01:36):
a little bit of that, but just a lot more group conversation.
That's kind of what I'm aiming for. And I've got one, one episode in particular
that I'm really excited about.
That'll be, we're recording in March, I believe, just, we wanted to get the
only hint I'll I'll give you there as we want it to be a little warmer, or at least I do.
So, but so, you know, that brings me really now to the final episode of the year one season one.

(01:58):
And happy today to welcome Mallory Quinn to the podcast. And I've known Mallory for many years.
And we discovered shortly in that it's been a disturbing amount of years since
we last saw each other, which is, you know, just the nature of time.
It's like so much time can pass and you don't even realize it.
But luckily, we were able to pick up like old friends and we just dove right into the conversation.

(02:22):
And Mallory is currently and has been for some time an employee of Disney.
And she actually works at the or currently working at the Orlando Park, Orlando, Florida.
Florida but she was working at the Paris location
and recently got back from the
Paris location and is now back in Florida working at the Orlando Park and my

(02:44):
gosh we just have such a wonderful conversation about kindness and why Disney's
the most magical place on the planet and just really talk some we talk about
technology we talk about you know just her love of Disney and we talk Disney Cruises.
It's just a jam-packed conversation.
I'm very excited for you all to hear it. So without further hesitation, here we go.

(03:07):
Music.
Well, Mallory, I can't believe it, but so I spoke to you, I literally texted
you like, what, a few days ago and I was like, or I called you,
I think, Facebook message and I said, hey, you know, looking for people to come on to the podcast,

(03:29):
you know, because actually, I think this is actually going to be the last episode
of year one, believe it or not. This is actually the last episode of year one.
And then we'll take a couple of weeks off and then we'll start back with year two.
So I didn't even and it wasn't really planned to be that way.
But you're basically the season finale, as it were. How does that make you feel?
Very special. So it wasn't intended to be that way. Just kind of felt that way.

(03:54):
But, you know, but it was funny because, you know, I knew I know you're living in Orlando.
And I wasn't exactly sure. I knew you weren't living in Rome.
Yeah. Yeah. You know, I knew you guys weren't exactly where you were currently planning.
And I was like, well, I called you and I was like, well, you know,
are you going to be happen to be back in town anytime soon?
You said, well, coincidentally, I'll be there this weekend. It was meant to
be. And it's like, oh, my gosh.
So, you know, what are the odds of that? So I was like, I snagged you up and I said, look, meet me.

(04:17):
You know, you pick a spot and we'll just record and we'll talk about all the stuff.
Because I have we apparently we haven't seen each other in like 12 years,
which I didn't even realize it had been that long.
I'm kind of I'm embarrassed to say it, but we're scarier that that much time
has passed. It physically hurts me thinking about it. So, well, very cool.
Man. Okay. So this is a very, it's going to be a fantastic conversation.

(04:38):
And just so you're aware in the episodes, I do do like a two minute introduction
before this part begins.
So the listener, they've already got some context about like who you are a little
bit and some of our background. So we don't have to start all the way from the beginning.
But so let's just start. I'd like to start every episode off with who are you
and where are we and why, why are we here?
Well, my name is Mallory Quinn.

(05:01):
We are in Rome, Georgia, sitting outside the library right now.
And I actually just chose this because it was one of the places you suggested.
I really didn't even know anywhere in Rome we could go because I feel like everywhere
now there's just so many new buildings and there's too many options for me.
So that was just the easiest thing.
Well, and ironically, you know, the library is a great option because it's massive.

(05:23):
There's all sorts of meeting rooms. but for some reason like so on friday we
get up there and they're closed we're actually in the car,
but so it's funny because like we get up to the the door
and they they're open every day till 8
30 except the week the friday they're open till two
o'clock ten to two and i'm like okay that's you know
why even if i can just open up and close you know it's
like if then saturday they're closed at five o'clock so we're at

(05:45):
the library it's beautiful but we're in my car
got the window cracked we i think we can hear some birds in
the distance but it's very peaceful got got a nice sunset but
what is what is cool about this location is
that we're both from rome you know and this is the audience for
this podcast is you know it goes beyond rome but it
is you know we're close to downtown it's very special to both of us i'm sure

(06:08):
because you know i'm sure you have memories as a child at this library as do
i gosh so it is you know it's in some regards it is very poetic that we're here
because we you know it's pretty much it's an icon of where we're both from really, this library.
So let's just get to it. I mean, there's so much to talk about.
I don't even, and I come into these podcasts ignorant to a degree.

(06:32):
I know just enough to know I want to talk to the person.
Most people on the podcast so far have been people that I know,
but some people I don't know.
Sometimes it's people that I have almost no idea about that I just meet out and about.
But in our case, we've known each other quite a while.
So, and I actually put you on a list because I just kind of literally went through

(06:53):
my contacts one day or like Facebook or something.
And I just started like right making a list of people I want to talk to the
interesting things and you've done some pretty cool stuff so that's kind of
what I want to talk about and I Don't know the full extent of it.
Mm-hmm I just know that you work with Disney in the parks in different parts
of the world and have traveled and Apparently I found that before this so you

(07:17):
met your husband now of three years at working at the park Yeah,
you're in you were got engaged at the park married at the park park,
one of the parks. So Disney clearly means a lot to you. Yeah.
So how in the world did you get to where you are?
Like, what did you wake up? Were you watching, you know, Cinderella as a kid
and it was like, that's going to be me one day?

(07:38):
Actually, no, I had no, I guess, desire to work at Disney at all.
It was funny because a lot of my friends and family knew that I loved Disney
growing up just because everybody seemed to be in a happy mood.
It was just good vacation for us. We had only gone twice while I was young,
but I think it was my mom when I was in college, like my first year,

(08:01):
she mentioned the Disney college program.
I had no idea, there we go, what it was. But then I...
Looked into it and then that was 2013. So I signed up, got in the first time
and then I was just a lifeguard and I did that for a few months.
And it was a lot of back and forth trying to figure out what I was doing with

(08:21):
my life. And then fast forward to 2018.
Honestly, I was just bored one day and I was going to sign up for another one.
I didn't really have a reason. It just felt like one of those things.
And so I just signed up for another one. Didn't think I'd get back in.
And I got an email saying I got in. And funnily enough, that's how my husband got into.

(08:43):
He said he literally said he was bored one day and he signed up.
Wow. OK. I mean, some of the greatest things in history results from somebody
being bored. Right. You know. Yeah.
I mean, so no shame in that. I think that's fantastic.
It's interesting, though. I mean, growing up, did you did you watch Watched
a lot of Disney movies as a kid.
Oh, yeah. My family is huge, huge Disney fanatics.

(09:05):
But we like more the history side of it. It's just really interesting.
But again, we didn't go a lot growing up. So it was precious time when we did go there.
Speaking specifically of the park in Orlando? Okay. Yeah. And I didn't even
go to the other parks until like I was an adult.
Because they have six parks around the world. So we didn't do huge stuff.

(09:26):
We actually didn't even meet characters. If we saw one, we're like, OK, quick picture.
We didn't watch the fireworks or anything. We were just specifically rides. And that was it.
So when I did my college program, I did everything. And wow, second time around.
I got into my job accidentally again, like another accidental thing that wasn't supposed to happen.
And I sounded boring at first. And then I'm here. I am like six years later, still doing it.

(09:51):
Is this something that you see being like a lifelong career or do most people,
you know, when they get into the work for the Disney parks, I guess it's not
something you really can do forever.
There are things you can do. Really, the job I have about 90 percent,
I would say, is a bunch of retired old men just driving boats. Oh, OK.

(10:14):
And they love it. And I love it, too. I didn't expect to. And I'm actually working
on getting my captain's license.
Oh, my. Yeah, I didn't expect to do that either. well
there you go but yeah i
loved it and then i went to disneyland paris to work there for a little bit
and then i came right back to driving the boats so it's there's
a lot of um growth in the company which is amazing so you can stay at an hourly

(10:37):
job inside the parks or you can do internships they go all over the country
so there's just so much it's disney's a beast in in so many ways. I mean, it's massive.
I mean, so I want to talk about a kind of like the,
The dynamic of how, in some ways, which, believe it or not, I've actually never

(10:58):
been to Disney World. Yeah, you told me that. I've been to Universal once. Yeah.
So I've been close. And that was only a few, like, I think in, I'd been 2021.
So, I mean, almost my entire life, I've not really been to many theme parks.
Or the only park I've been to that was basically Six Flags. And I'm not a big

(11:19):
roller coaster fanatic anyhow.
Right. So I just think it's interesting. I found out that Disney in Orlando
is basically, it's almost like its own city.
It is, actually. And they bought a city in Florida. So is it literally a city,
like, more or less? Pretty much. Kind of?
You got Disney, and then they actually bought a city celebration.

(11:39):
So, I mean, like, it's the biggest in the world, too, because we had the most
room for expansion. And they're still building.
They're forever growing. And I think that was Walt Disney's vision in the first
place. He just wanted to keep going.
And then they put some parks in other countries and then they put other resorts
in other countries and now they have cruise ships. So it's it's wild.

(12:01):
And they they keep coming out with stuff I can't even keep up anymore.
Especially. Yeah. The movies, especially.
Well, yeah. Now that they've bought out so many other production companies or studios.
So it's like, wow. So so so let's talk about. No.
Well, first of all, which which parks have you been to?
Is it just have you been like of all six of them? Which ones have you been to?

(12:23):
I've been to Disney World, of course, and Disneyland California, Disneyland Paris.
And then this May, my husband and I are finishing off the rest in Asia.
So they got Tokyo Disney.
They've got a Disney in Hong Kong and Shanghai as well. So I'm just marking them off the list.
So is that because of, is that work related or are you guys going on your own dime?
Yeah, we're going on our own dime. Okay, so just to see all the difference.

(12:46):
So you guys, very cool. So you, I mean, y'all are diehard then.
I would say I am. My husband's just here for the red.
Well, there's nothing wrong with that either. So, Tasha, okay.
So of all the parks, which ones have you worked at? Just Disney World and Disneyland Paris.
Okay. And you were there for quite a while, Paris.
Oh, like six months. Six months. Okay. Okay. So what are some of the differences

(13:10):
in the parks, especially from an employee standpoint?
Tell me, what did you do? I know you ride the boat now or you drive the boat. Mm-hmm.
But you have been some of the characters, correct?
Yeah, so I was friends with a lot of the characters in Disneyland Paris,
and I absolutely loved that job.
But that specific park, it just, it wasn't for me in so many ways,

(13:34):
you know, culturally, it was different. And.
It sounds weird, but it's more of, they're more fans, like diehard fans in Disney World.
And like, I feel like they can understand a lot of things.
Whereas in Disneyland Paris, I had a lot of people just come up to me and they're like, oh, hello.
And then, you know, like walk away. It was very strange. Like they weren't as

(13:55):
into Disney, I felt like. But it was beautiful. The park was beautiful.
And I thought it was interesting because you would think that you would hear
French announcements everywhere, but they mixed in with English.
Sometimes I feel like they have some of it in Chinese, which I thought was interesting.
But you really do just get like
a whole bunch of people from around the world coming to all the parks.

(14:18):
But specifically in Disney World and Disneyland Paris, I think that's where
we see a lot of the diversity that comes to the park. And you can certainly feel it too.
Wow. So, believe it or not, we have a train in the background.
That's one of the things I love about the way we do the podcast is that,
you know, we sort of embrace the world around us, which is cool.

(14:39):
You know, most podcasts are in a studio and I've always wanted to get out and,
you know, experience nature and stuff like that.
So it's like anytime I hear that, I'm like, I love that. That we're not cooped
up in a studio somewhere.
I love it. You know, I mean, it's kind of a cloudy sunset, but it's still a sunset, you know.
But, OK, so what were some of the things, you know, outside of Disney,

(15:01):
like just living in Paris for an extended period of time?
How much of a culture shock was that, like just getting groceries and living your day to day in Paris?
It's funny you say the grocery thing, because that's one thing I do miss.
There are no preservatives and you just feel healthier eating.
Even when I went to McDonald's, I was like, something feels healthy about this.
But when I tell people the differences it's a lot of small things I didn't think it was like a huge.

(15:29):
Different necessarily because it wasn't that big of a shock because
we'd been there before but the one thing I miss was
getting out of the apartment and then just walking to
the grocery store not a lot of people drove anywhere
they would either walk or bike but not only that you had
to go to the grocery store like every other day because like
here in America we get groceries sent to us

(15:50):
and we can like save a lot of it but things would go
bad so quickly that you had to eat like that
day or the next day because it
was just that fresh and my husband certainly
misses this but he would just eat he would just eat pastries every morning it
was just a thing to do oh of course everybody thinks it's a big stereotype that

(16:10):
probably isn't true you see french people with bread it's not it's it's true
like everywhere i look like somebody has like a huge baguette and I'm like, all right.
What were some of the best foods you had? Like, what did you guys have?
Like the escargot and stuff? Y'all did? My husband said he didn't like it,
but I got a video of him saying it wasn't bad.
I've never had escargot. I have traveled abroad. I've been to a few different

(16:34):
countries, mainly from when I was in corporate.
And one of the things that spoke about groceries was interesting was it's something
you would never see in America because they want everybody over here.
They make so much money on impulse buying.
Oh, yeah. Yeah. So it's like I don't know if it wasn't like you sort of you
walk in and you get a scanner.
And I think this was I forgot what country it was. I think it might have been Holland.

(16:56):
Either it was Germany or Holland. And you did get a scanner and you walk in
and you scan your stuff, your groceries as you put them in the buggy. Yeah.
Is that how it is over there as well? They had a big store like that called Auchan.
I want to say that was German. I'm not entirely sure. But, yeah,
it's it was a whole separate line for it, too.
But I just never did it because I never signed up for like a little card thingy.

(17:17):
But I thought that was pretty cool.
And I didn't realize it until like four months in. So I was like, oh, OK.
Well, it's super cool because you walk in, you get a scanner,
if it's anything like what I saw.
And as you're scanning your items, it goes into your cart and you just basically,
at least where I was, you basically paid.
You hung the scanner up and you just paid it and left. So you didn't have to

(17:38):
have the line at the checkout.
But the reason I think they wouldn't want to do that in America is they don't
want people knowing how much they're spending as they go along.
Yeah. It'd be nice for us as consumers. It's like, OK, oh, gosh,
I'm about to cross over the hundred dollar mark versus going.
You know, you get your buggy full and you go check out. They ring you up and
it's like three hundred bucks. You're like, oh, my gosh. You know.

(18:00):
So I just think that's why they do that in America, because they want everybody to just impulse buy.
Yeah. Impulse buy and not keep. They don't want people to know how much they're
spending until they stop.
I thought that was one of the things I was like, man, they do so many things better over there.
You know in other countries and where europe you know like
with the preservatives you're talking about like that was i mean the food was

(18:20):
cleaner the air just feels cleaner just breathing
over there and i kind of smell flowers one day i was like what the yeah it's
it's crazy and of course i had you know one of the things people know about
me on this podcast is my love of starbucks or just coffee in general but really
starbucks in fact i went to starbucks on the way over here and i asked you if
you want anything you said you didn't so don't want me don't think i I skimped out on her,

(18:43):
but, but it was just, but even Starbucks over there, it's like, it just, it's just nice,
you know, and like, and like the trains and the public transit and like, it's just so much nicer.
There's so many things about Europe and that it's just so much,
it just seems like it's just so much better for like masses.
The masses, you know, it's like group culture is a big deal over there.

(19:06):
It's like, everybody's kind of working together.
So there's a lot about that to be said, but so let's get, let's talk.
Now about like Orlando in the park with Orlando.
So like, so what is your day plan?
How many different jobs have you had with Disney specifically at,
you know, more broadly or specifically at Orlando?
Like what, how many different roles have you played in your tenure there?

(19:29):
So about, you said six years you've been working with them?
I think consecutively, consecutively about like seven or eight years.
But I've been back and forth a couple of times because I would work at a third
party, come back home, not know what I was doing. So it was a lot of that.
Technically in the parks, I guess I've had three. so it was lifeguarding driving
the boats and then going to disneyland paris in entertainment but then third

(19:52):
party i worked at disney springs at city works um and i was just a host there
and then rainforest cafe at some point where i was also a host which is outside of animal kingdom.
So even about like five technically yeah they have a lot of third-party stuff
well so what would you say you know think about you know kids growing up like

(20:13):
you know they hear this or you know parents with young ones,
what would you say, you know, about that they were wanting to get involved with Disney?
You know, what's something you would say to somebody like young or growing up?
Maybe they're looking for maybe there's somebody, you know, that just doesn't
know what they want to do. Like you said, you were just kind of bored one day.
And then, you know, maybe there's somebody that's like, I don't know what I

(20:34):
want to do, but I want to I just don't want to get out. I want to do something.
But I mean, it seems like a good choice for people. And that honestly is where I tell people,
because I have a lot of people ask me about the Disney college program
and it's pretty much a paid internship and
you do work a lot but you're able to go in to the parks you're able to meet
with people from around the world and I tell people if they're ever thinking

(20:55):
about it do it everybody's going to have a different experience I know some
friends who didn't like it wasn't for them so they left the company before their
program was over and I've had friends who have been there since my first time.
So, I mean, the experiences you can get just from the college program alone
can lead to so many things.
I mean, again, the second time around, I met my husband and then we have traveled

(21:21):
the world because of that.
He got his job afterwards because Disney paid for his master's.
So, like, there's so many ways to grow.
And especially if you are in college or if you finished or you're not sure what
you want to do, they have this new thing called the Aspire program where they
have a list of schools and programs you can choose from and it's 100% paid for.

(21:43):
So you can still work for Disney trying to figure it out while taking classes
online or going to the local schools.
And I always tell people that Disney really is a human trap set by a mouse because
once you're there, it's...
Yes wow that's profound right
there that's profound it's like

(22:04):
not in a bad way but like you know once you're there it's like it's so hard
to leave because you make such good friends i know a lot of my a lot of my friends
are about my dad's age so it's funny like that's all my co-workers and they're
like father been years and like grandpa but i've met some wonderful people Our
lifelong best friends are there.

(22:24):
And then one of our co-workers married us. So, you know, it's just kind of spread
your roots. And it's just it's amazing what can come out of it. It really is.
So let's I want you to mention the college program a couple of times.
I'd love to dive deeper into that.
So like what what how long was how long did that process take to or just I guess

(22:46):
just tell me about the college program. Damn it. Just tell me about it because I'm curious.
So basically you just sign up for it. You go through a web interview saying
like, do you strongly agree about, you know, such and such?
Or, you know, it's one of those kind of quizzes and then you'll get a phone interview.
I know a lot has changed since after COVID.
Pandemic so the time frame as to which you can

(23:08):
go changed and i do i think
they went back to phone interviews but anyways they
really dove into the college program more so they got bigger and better housing
now and they've got so once you get there they tell you where you're working
because in the web interview you tell them like i'm interested in this i'm not
really interested in that and they'll tell you once you get there where you

(23:30):
are what are what are some of the things,
like that might you might say I'm like what like expand on that
a little bit like like what are some things that they
say that you could be interested in is it like specific roles or
more like general interest yes like what are some of
the things that you might be interested in versus not be like other people not
you specifically but just people in general like what are some of

(23:50):
the choices so when I signed up and I'm
pretty sure it's still like this it was like a thing you scroll down
on and you kind of list them and you
would say interested not interested not interested did
that kind of deal so it's like attractions custodial lifeguarding
and if you're into entertainment they have auditions specifically
for the college program but there's

(24:11):
oh i don't even know how many roles they list it's
got to be like close to 40 maybe a little more so there's a lot you can do on
the college program and then timing wise they used to have spring spring advantage
which is a longer one fall fall advantage but now i think they have like actual
specific dates. I think they work more with.

(24:34):
Their time with their college, you know, if they don't quite finish in the spring,
like maybe they can start later in the month because now we have so many college
program kids, even in Watercraft.
And I it's not as cut and dry as it used to be. And we have so many of them
now. I feel like they're coming in and out like so quick. So it's hard to keep up with.
Is there do you have to be enrolled in a college to do this or is it just OK?

(24:57):
So it can't be like just anybody of any age like you have to be enrolled in
a credited college. Yeah. OK. OK. OK. Okay.
And then a local college, I mean, a local college to Orlando or where are you
going to be stationed? It can be anywhere. Oh, really? Yeah.
My first one, I was at a college in Alabama and they take international students too.

(25:17):
I'm not quite sure how that works, but they're called the International College Program.
But I had roommates from Brazil before and then there's just people from all
over the world that just come for the college program. And it's depending on
your college, you can actually get college credit.
So because I was a lifeguard in the college I went to in Alabama,
they were going to count that as like a recreation, I believe, recreational credit.

(25:42):
But then I just didn't go back to the college and I just stayed at Disney's.
Well, there you go. What college did you go in Alabama? I actually lived in Alabama for five years.
Four and a half years, I lived in the Trustville, which is about 25 minutes
north of Birmingham. I grew up going to a camp in Trustville. That's once.
That's hilarious. Yeah, I went to Camp Coleman. It was a Girl Scout camp.
That was like my first job. Yeah, I went to Montevallo.

(26:04):
Oh, okay. Yeah, that's right over there. Yeah, that's right by the Vulcan,
isn't it? Isn't it right by the...
Isn't Montevallo right by the, it's in Hoover, right? Or not, or Homewood, I mean.
It's close to. Close to Homewood? Yeah, I think you're, so Sanford is also there.
Oh, I'm thinking of Sanford. Yeah. That's right. That's the one that's by the Vulcan.
So, but anyway, so for these of you that have no idea what we're talking about,

(26:26):
you've never been to Alabama.
Anyway, that's just kind of a little bit of a small world thing there,
yeah. But, okay, very cool. Okay, wow. I didn't realize you did that.
You went to college in Alabama. But yeah, I actually lived there for four and
a half years and it was a, and I still have clients over there and I'm there
multiple times a month that it's Pell City and all the you know Birmingham,
Triceville, Springville.
My sister still lives out there so I go there quite often. I love it so many

(26:49):
of my best friends like my favorite some of my favorite people in the world
live live out there so very cool.
So I mentioned earlier you know
I'm almost ashamed to admit it but I've not been to Disney you know
I really you know I'd love to go and one day I'm
sure I will but explain it to me you
know from somebody i'm sure there's other

(27:09):
people listening to this that haven't been to disney you know so
why is it the most magical place on
earth we hold pretty high standards for our customer service we have one of
the best in the world because we go out of our way to just make somebody's day
and it could be the smallest thing ever i remember i gave a sticker And they

(27:31):
were just acting like I gave them a million bucks.
But it just, depending on what role you have, you can do all sorts of things
to make somebody's night.
So for my job on a specific boat that I drive and it's nighttime and I got to
have to read the audience a little, I'll sing to them over the intercom and
it's something they don't expect.

(27:51):
And sometimes, like, I've had parents, like, thank me because their kids are,
like, knocked out in the back. I'm like, oh, yeah.
So it's, like, small things like that. And then Disney really has something for everybody.
So Gabriel, who we talked about earlier, so he messaged me while I was in France
because he had never been either.
He's like, so I just went to Disney and Hollywood Studios. And I was like,

(28:12):
oh, I know what's coming.
He used to give me heck about loving it so much. And he was like,
yeah, it's actually pretty awesome.
I was like, I don't even like it. And Gabriel is one of our mutual friends.
That's actually how we met, Gabriel and his family.
And that's how, because we didn't go to the same high school,
but we were in high school at the same time in this area. Yeah.
So, but yeah, so Gabriel, you're talking about, and this is just obviously to

(28:34):
the listener. Right. That, you know, he's just one of our mutual friends.
So, and he actually lives in D.C. now and we both have actually visited him over there.
Yeah. Yeah. So, yeah, it's pretty cool. But but so what is I mean,
I have friends that one of my friends, you know, goes to Disney or they have
gone several times. I think he goes regularly somewhat.
And the one thing I hear constantly is just the technology and the amount of,

(28:59):
you know, money that's poured into these attractions.
And like, it's just unparalleled, you know. Yeah, it's just I mean,
and this is why I want to go see it. But like apparently like the Avatar,
I've heard about the Avatar ride supposedly is just some kind of.
It's wild. And there's a Star Wars, some kind of crazy Star Wars ride.
What can you say about the rides?

(29:19):
And also I want to talk about the cruises, too, because my wife desperately
wants to go on a Disney cruise.
But she thinks it's weird because we don't have kids yet.
But do you have to have kids to go on it? No. Well, I'll tell her that because
she wants to go like next week.
And I'm like, let's, you know, let's, let's give it, let's give it a little

(29:39):
bit of time because we're moving into a house where we were already married,
but we're having a big vow renewal, like the traditional one,
but the big wedding this year, moving into a house and this and that.
I was like, well, let's just, let's give it a little bit of time.
You know, let's give it maybe a year or two before we focus on that.
But so, so talk about the technology and just the rides, like not as an employee,

(30:03):
but just as a fan of Disney and the parks.
So funnily enough, it had been a while since I had worked at Disney and I had,
I just did the annual pass holder thing for like a year. But the Avatar ride
that I think you're thinking of, it's called Flight of Passage.
And the detail that they put into these rides, it's just insane.

(30:27):
Like, it's super immersive.
And so the crazy thing is I get motion sick very easily and go figure I drive boats.
That would be a bit of a struggle, I can imagine.
Shockingly, no. That's also some kind of Disney magic. Okay.
All right. I won't question it. Neither will I.
So you're basically like on the back of a Banshee and you have like these little

(30:50):
glasses on because it's 3D.
But it really feels like you're riding some weird creature because it's the small things they do.
So like you're straddling something like you're on a motorcycle but they have
something that expands under your leg so it feels like the banshee is breathing
under you and you can hear the breath in your ears and then like when you're

(31:12):
flying like it maneuvers you if you actually.
Take a look to your left and right and not so much at
the screen you can see the movement of the ride like people
are kind of like stacked on each other and you can like see it but they've
got some wind going they've got the smells going they have
stuff that like sprays you in the face and i
actually got to experience that as a guest at the

(31:32):
time not as a cast member and i
remember there was one scene like you just like shoot up from under the
trees above the trees and i just like started bawling by myself but i can do
in the light or fear or in just being overwhelmed he was overwhelmed by it or
a little bit of being overwhelmed because my grandmother had actually just passed

(31:53):
away not too long ago and for some reason like the first thought in my my head was like,
this is what Gigi's looking at. Cause like, she's an angel flag in heaven.
Like, this is probably what she sees. Like, it was just such a,
it's so cheesy, but it just felt like I was flying and like just the sunset
they have in that scene was just so beautiful.
And I just like started bawling and I was like, Oh my God, I ended up telling

(32:15):
the cast member that too.
And they probably thought I was crazy, but I just looked like a mess coming
off that ride. But it's actually my favorite ride there.
But they just really go into every single detail. And even the new Star Wars
ones, the hydraulics, compared to what the earlier hydraulics system used to be, it's insane.
Because it's basically these robots and their swift movement is so crazy.

(32:39):
And now they have trackless.
I don't even know if I can call it a roller coaster, but it feels like one because
you're being like swerving all over the place.
And I've heard about that, about the trackless system.
Yeah. Yeah. And I can't even it's hard for me because, again,
I've not been to many parks in general.
But man, like you have like how does that what is that like?

(32:59):
I mean, is it is it kind of like bumper cars?
You would think it looks like bumper cars. But the best way I can explain it,
and I think this is how it's worked, that if you have a piece of paper and you
have two magnets, one on the top, one on the bottom, if you're moving around.
Oh, so it uses magnetism, you think? I think because you don't see the tracks.
Yeah, I mean, you have to. yeah but like you looked but it's controlled though

(33:22):
yeah so it's it's your your movement is controlled but it's under but it's invisible
whatever force this is and you have multiple.
Vessels or vehicles moving around at the same time yeah and some of them are
like in sync with each other so you're right next to someone but they're the
same movements so you're just like barely yeah i guess that's how i mean how
it's what they do other than just really strong magnets that's what my guess

(33:44):
is and i'm sure somebody's told me before but that stuff goes over my head and I don't understand it.
Well, the only time I've... This wasn't a theme park, but talking about tearing
up at a ride or an attraction.
So I have been to the... Harry Potter. Did you know that? Did you knew that?
I knew you were a big Harry Potter fan, so I knew it was coming.

(34:06):
So I'm a massive Harry Potter fan. I have been since I was...
Fourth grade something like that and back in 2018 i actually went to london and did the whole,
harry potter nerd out you know and actually went
to the studio where they made the films used to be called leaves to the studios

(34:26):
but now they basically warner brothers bought it and it's warner brothers london
now and i actually teared up when i walked in the last thing you you go into
was there were several moments where it's just like you're you can't believe
what you're seeing as a Harry Potter fan,
because the first thing you do, you walk into this room and they play like a
little three minute video with like the characters, the actors,

(34:49):
they they've had all the actors come in and make specific content just for the tour.
And you can't really see it anywhere else except in the tour.
And as soon as the video is done, the wall literally opens up and you're staring,
you're staring at the actual Great Hall film set.
And I mean that and that wasn't what made me cry.

(35:10):
Almost like I mean, I didn't like ball, but I mean, I became teary eyed at the
end when you walk the finale of the tour. It's a four hour tour. I mean, it's intense.
Well, I shouldn't say you can actually when you get there, you can stay there as long as you want.
And it's kind of an unguided tour, but you can easily spend hours and four hours plus, you know.
But the very end of the part that you're guided, quote unquote, is.

(35:35):
You walk in to see the actual castle that they filmed to the castle that you
see in the Harry Potter films is an actual brick structure. Right.
And it was individually like each brick was individually laid like it is a the deacon.
It's a it filled up a massive room. I mean, it was about the size of a I wouldn't

(35:57):
say quite the size of like a student, like a like a gymnasium.
And, you know, I'd say it might have been half the size of a large gymnasium.
Wow and that room and it's
filled with the castle i mean
it's it's i forgot the scale but it's i mean it is a
massive like scale of
the castle and it i i cheered up because you walk in there and they have the

(36:21):
harry potter music playing and there's a little kiosk all around the castle
and it shows you like how they basically took this part of this model and through
computer computer technology and CGI,
computer generated imagery and all that, they show you how they layered it and
put it together to make like scenes from the movies.
So like, you know, like the bridge and the, them walking to Hagrid's hut and stuff like that.

(36:47):
It's like, I mean, so when you talk about tearing up at an attraction,
I just immediately thought about that.
Yeah. Yeah. Because like, for me, that was like, I never thought that would
happen. It was extraordinary.
But anyway, I didn't want to hog the conversation about Harry Potter. but you
you started talking about that and i get i could go down a harry potter
rabbit trail for 10 10 years oh i believe it and
which i have listened to the same harry potter podcast for 17

(37:09):
years believe it or not and it's still going but that's enough about me and
harry potter i don't want to bore you all but so but so are there any other
rides like just like what's the food like there you know like i know with like
epcot you know that's a whole that's a whole conversation it's It's dangerous.
I mean, Epcot and like, what's, you know, what is that like?

(37:31):
And I know Epcot's, I found, actually didn't know this, but Epcot apparently
is a, it stands for something.
Yeah. Every payday comes on Thursday. Really? No.
We remember that we get paid on Thursday. Oh, okay. There you go.
I say that's very, you know, apropos then.
But I forgot what it stands for. I don't even. Experimental prototype city up tomorrow.
Okay. Really? Okay. Okay. I knew I didn't, I couldn't remember,

(37:54):
but I knew one of my friends had said that. So what is Epcot?
You know, because it is directly food.
Isn't it basically food related or primarily food related or is it more bigger than that? Yeah.
His original plan was.
Meaning Walt Disney. Yes. Sorry. Yeah.
It was supposed to be just like a city, like a safe city. And it's hard to explain, but it's.

(38:20):
Yeah, just pretty much that, like a controlled city where you can control the environment.
And there was supposed to be the Montreal as their main source of transportation.
It was supposed to be like this big neighborhood.
And you can actually see the prototype they had inside Magic Kingdom on the PeopleMover.
And you just kind of go by of like the small plan that they had.
But his brother Roy, when he took over, because Walt passed away before the

(38:43):
parts were finished, and then Epcot came later, but he just kind of took it into his own hands.
And so there's a cool futuristic part in the front, which they actually redid.
And they're still, you know, building and continuing to grow.
But the back half is the it's the world showcase so you've got the ball here

(39:03):
and then back here you just go all around so like it's Mexico, Norway China,
Africa it's just amazing but they have something called the international.
Or the food and wine festival and they have stands and they'll have more countries
so like Brazil isn't part of the world showcase but they'll just have you know like

(39:27):
that or Belgium, like just in between them.
And it's, they kind of give you a taste of their food and they also have drinks around the world.
So that time of year is fun for a lot of the guests.
Oh, do they have like Oktoberfest incorporated in any of that for like Germany or?

(39:49):
Kind of, but not really. They don't really go all out for it,
but they do have stuff during the Food and Wine Festival because it's around that time.
It's like in November, so it's not exactly on time of that, but they'll have
stuff like a specialized beer or food festival.
But it's just amazing, like all the stuff that they come up with,

(40:13):
because I've been to some of those actual countries before and the taste is like pretty on par.
Like they have escargot in France and then they had like a shepherd's pie in England.
So, I mean, a lot of it was pretty close to the actual taste of like what we've
tasted in those countries. So it's it's pretty amazing.

(40:34):
Well, I'm assuming, I mean, do they bring people in, like the people that prepare the food?
Or is it mostly just... I think a lot of it's just regular cast members.
But if you look in the world showcases, the majority of the cast members are from that country.
And so sometimes, depending on... Because they have actual restaurants in there,

(40:56):
too, and not just stands.
And there are people from that country actually preparing the food.
So it feels a little more real. So I thought that was pretty cool. Interesting.
Yeah. Do they get the like ingredients imported from other countries?
I wonder how legitimate they go all out in that regard.
I mean, they have a lot of international stores around Orlando.
I mean, I go to the, there's an Asian supermarket that I love in Orlando.

(41:19):
So indirectly, I'm sure it's coming from.
Like that. Yeah. I've never really. That's interesting. I don't get into it. Yeah. But it's.
And that's the thing is I think too much about stuff like that.
That's kind of a running theme for this podcast.
I see a truck going down the road and I think about all the millions of parts

(41:40):
and logistics and the people that, you know, and like, where's the truck going?
Where did all that come from? Like, who's, you know, who paid for it?
So I just. It's not fun on a road trip, though. Well, I mean,
I drive a lot. I think I'm just I think I drive about 100 miles a day on average.
There's one month last year I drove 4000 miles in one month. so
I think I've I think I've earned myself loco like

(42:00):
crazy I think I'm only a few notches away from
Tom Hanks and Castaway okay but that's
got to be pretty at least you're entertaining yourself yeah so like
I think that's why all my cameras have names oh that's
awesome like everyone like I've just ever since I started buying
cameras and like GoPros and they all have I actually name
them all so I'm like you have you have Tom Hanks and his character I

(42:21):
think of his you know volleyball wilson so i'm like
i'm like i kind of thought about it one day i was like i kind of am like like like
the castaway guy you know hanging out
with my cameras and my technology but they keep me company that's gotta be funny
though if it messes up and you're just screaming wilson in an animation yeah
my first one's name is annie named after my mom her middle name's ann so and

(42:45):
that was back in 2012 when i got it my first like quote-unquote professional camera yeah.
So, I know I mentioned, and we're actually getting close to time,
believe it or not. I know, I told you it goes by quick. Yeah, for real.
But I want to talk about really a couple things, two more things before we get
to our recommendations.
So, I mentioned the Disney cruises. What do you know about the Disney cruises

(43:06):
and, you know, what can you say about that?
I mean, to somebody who, I know very little about the Disney cruises.
I mean, other than what you would assume, you know, what one might theorize. Yeah.
But like, what's special about the cruises? Like, why are they so popular?
It's kind of the same thing for the parks.
Our customer service is just through the roof.
And it's just, I don't know, it's just a happy environment the entire time.

(43:30):
They have so many cruise ships now. I think they have seven or eight.
I've lost count. Again, it's one of those things they just keep building and I just can't keep up.
But they have a lot of different places they're going to.
Their main one is about an hour away from us.
It's Port Cronavere. And then we took like a three-day one, came back.
It was fine. That was my first cruise. I wanted to dip my toes in it.

(43:53):
And there's just so much to do on the boats. Do they go to other countries?
Oh, yeah. Yeah. Okay. They're expanding even more. Really? Oh,
yeah. They've got some in Australia. They've got some in Barcelona.
And they're all over the U.S. too. Some of the ports. I think there's one in Galveston.
Is there an Alaskan cruise? Yeah. Well, that may be it because I've always wanted

(44:13):
to go on an Alaskan cruise. And my wife's always wanted to go on a Disney cruise.
So that might be our way to kill like 10 birds with one stone. Yeah, for real.
Because, so like, now, what is it like, what are some of the differences in
a Disney cruise versus a standard cruise?
Like, I'm assuming there's just Disney characters everywhere and very kid-centric, I'm assuming.

(44:34):
You would think, but the funny thing is I didn't see that many kids on ours.
Really? Mainly because they do have kid clubs and they do have areas where, or just adult only.
And it was a short cruise, but I honestly, I didn't see that many.
I saw, I think, more adults lining up to see characters than the kids.
And I don't know if it was just because it was just a time of year where they'd

(44:59):
be in school or something.
But yeah, I don't think I saw that many kids. And then even on the island,
they own their own island.
Of course, as one does. Right. Disney just owns the world at this point.
What do they not own? Oh, yeah, that'd be a shorter list. Yeah, probably.
But even there, there's like an adult-only beach, and it's not what you think.

(45:22):
But, yeah, there's no kids. Oh, well, I got you.
Yeah, thank you. But, well, there you go. Now, is there, like,
what kind of live attraction, like, what kind of live entertainment?
Is it basically, like, very much like if the Disney parks just,
you chipped off a piece of it and just put it on the water?
Yeah, because they do have, they'll have like small snippets of like a Disney

(45:47):
movie that they have Tangled.
I think one of them has Aladdin, if I'm not mistaken, and then Little Mermaid, stuff like that.
So there's definitely stuff you can sit down for. They have movie nights,
they have trivia nights, karaoke.
Well, and that actually made me feel like this is an interesting question from
somebody who loves Disney, like what are your favorite, what's your top three?
And this may be an impossible question, but what are your top three Disney movies all time?

(46:11):
Emperor's New Groove, Pollyanna, and this one, it's not technically Disney,
but the live action Cinderella with Brandy in it.
You've got to meet my wife then because her favorite movie is Emperor's New
Groove. Are you serious?
Yes. I loved it so much. Oh, my gosh. I love that movie.
We've been married about not even a year.

(46:33):
And before that, I think we've been almost two years together.
And I've probably seen that with her four times. That's amazing.
She loves, like she quotes it all the time.
It's like, you're supposed to be dead or whatever it is, you know, like a llama.
So you've got to meet her. But yes, y'all would really hit it off, I think. Yeah.

(46:55):
So, okay. The last thing before we get to our recs, because we're coming up
on about the 50 minute mark on the recording side.
And I try to keep these. I tell everybody I could talk for, if you let me go,
I could probably talk for four hours, people. if I'm noticing,
but I want to talk about, so like, let's talk about some like life hacks for Disney life hacks.
So like, if you're a family, you know, families, they got, you know,

(47:16):
mom, dad, two kids, you know, you're wanting to go spend a week during the summer
or what are some tips, tricks,
life hacks or things to, you know, how can you, if you had five days or a few
days, whatever, you know, how can one best optimize that time?
Like what are some just best practices, tips, tricks?

(47:38):
Planning is key because they've changed so much of it now with the rides, getting on the rides.
They have a new system of you actually have to pay if you want to get in a specialized line.
But my biggest thing is that everybody thinks you have to go to a Disney resort.
But my husband and I talk about this all the time. But you don't spend that
much time at a Disney resort unless you're at the ones right next to the park

(48:02):
and you just like walk over and let the kids nap or something.
But if you're going all out in the parks, I would suggest getting like a third
party Disney resort or just getting somewhere nearby to kind of start out.
Because when you first go to Disney, it sounds crazy, but I tell people to do everything.
That way, next time you know what to do and it'll be like it would be crazy
because there's so much to do.

(48:23):
And imagine you walk a lot, right? Yeah. I mean, what do you recommend?
Like a certain type of shoe? Dr. Scholl's. Dr. Scholl's.
Okay, Dr. Scholl's. Because, I mean, there's a physical element beyond just logistics.
Oh, yeah. There's a cost element. There's a logistics element.
But the physical element, I don't think people may not think about that. No.
And you really do walk a lot. I didn't know the importance of a shoe until I

(48:46):
met my mother-in-law, who's a physical therapist.
And I was just having some kind of problem. And she said, it's your shoes.
And I changed them up. It was fine.
But, yeah, that's the huge thing is, like, so your feet aren't absolutely killing you.
Get some comfortable shoes. Dr. Scholl's is the best one that I've found so
far because I've walked a ton in those parks and I walk a ton for my job too,

(49:08):
like getting off the boat, walking back and forth.
And they're just amazing. And then I tell people all the time,
if you don't feel like you can handle all the planning to get a Disney travel
agent, they're everywhere.
You don't pay for them and they plan everything for you. And that's crazy about
travel agents. Like this is something I didn't know until recently.

(49:28):
I've just never had a reason to really look into it, I guess.
But they, in most cases, if not all, they don't charge you. They basically get
a commission for everything that they get you.
And I'm like, well, why wouldn't everybody use a travel agent?
I know, because I think they've got to pay for it.
And I'm like, if I was a travel agent, I'd be putting billboards up.
I'm free, you know, because I'm like, it's amazing to me how many people that

(49:51):
I talk to that don't know that, you know, because I'm actually in a networking
group. It's like technically global.
It is a global networking group, but we are starting a chapter here in Rome.
I've been part of four other or three other chapters.
And well, I've come across some, you know, travel agents. And that's how I kind
of learned about it. Well, I would be like that. I'd lead with that.
You're like, you know, because it's a misunderstanding. I didn't understand

(50:13):
that, you know, but that's a little bit of a rabbit hole. But yeah.
And we, you know, with our honeymoon, we're going to California and we have
got to use the travel agent.
It yeah and it's been excellent yeah i mean it's just so
easy and now it has like the ends for
everything too they and it's safer you know because they know
they have connections like they're not just having okay this airbnb am i gonna

(50:35):
get shot yeah you know am i gonna you know am i gonna survive this trip i don't
know anything about it but they had that insight yep you know just from a safety
standpoint the financial benefit of it and they you know they They just know
how to get the most bang for your buck. They sure do.
And so that's, and that's not my recommendation, but I'm adding that as a recommendation.

(50:55):
Use a travel agent. Yes. Because, oh my gosh. I recommend it.
And then one last thing kind of came to my mind before we get to our recommendations.
And it's just like, is there a story that in your time, you know,
whether it be as an employee or just a Disney goer, just one story that comes
to mind in any capacity that just melts your heart? Yeah.

(51:18):
As it relates to Disney parks.
Yeah, there's quite a few, but a lot of them have to pertain with the Make-A-Wish
Kids and the program that Gary Sinise.
Also has I cannot think of
the name of it but it's basically families of fallen
soldiers I believe and he just like takes all the kids to Disney

(51:39):
and their family and it's just he's got the purest
heart ever and then the Make-A-Wish kids sometimes they end up okay sometimes
they don't but like just seeing those kids and seeing their wish being fulfilled
and those kids of fallen soldiers like their eyes lighting up and that's what
they tell you when you first start working for Disney is

(51:59):
you know, it can get kind of like just the routine of everything.
You're doing the same thing every day. So I work at night.
So all these people are so tired and they're kind of cantankerous by that time of night.
But sometimes you get the happy ones and they tell you when you first get there,
like it may be your billionth time at Disney, but it's probably someone's first.
So please treat it as their first.

(52:21):
And you never know what is going on with them, but just treat Freedom with kindness the best you can.
And I don't know, just even the smallest things you can do.
Again, like that person I gave a sticker to, you know, that just made their
entire day. And I was like, oh, it's just a sticker.
Well, and I've talked about this on some episodes we've done.

(52:41):
I actually had a breast cancer survivor on the show several episodes back.
And we talked about kindness and just how people underestimate or undervalue.
The power of kindness. Yeah. It's like the simplest acts of kindness can have
the biggest, because we live in, I mean, it's the safest time to be able,

(53:02):
I mean, historically, it's the safest time, you know, but at the same time, it's very isolated.
You know, it's very, I don't know, people are just kind of keep to themselves,
talking on the phone is kind of a, almost a burden in some, like,
people, you don't, I don't, so I don't know what, I don't want to get too much
into all of that, because that's a whole nother episode right there.

(53:23):
They're just like thinking about, but it's like kindness.
It's like just handing somebody a sticker and a smile. That may be the only
smile they saw that week.
Yeah, it really, you don't know their life, you know?
So it's like, and I just, it's, it's mind blowing, you know,
how our kindness, maybe I don't know if it just were just, maybe it used to be more abundant.
I don't know, but it's just seemed like, it seems like it's so much easier these

(53:45):
days to make someone smile if you're just kind to them. Yeah, absolutely.
It's crazy. Yeah. Yeah. You know, but we're very cool.
So we are pretty much at time. So we have just we have time just enough for
our recommendations. But before we get to that, and I don't know what your recommendation is.
You seem when I asked you before we started, you seem pretty excited to share
it. I was had to force myself not to ask you because I try to I try to be surprised

(54:08):
at the end, too, because I like to learn, you know, with the listener.
But so before we do that, though, is there anything you want to add that,
you know, maybe I've glossed over or something we've touched on you want to add to?
Or anything at all that, you know, kind of McClosing-ish.
You know, life is short. You just, if you feel like you want to take a Disney

(54:31):
trip, you take that Disney trip.
And that's kind of like leading into my recommendation too is I. Well, go ahead.
Go ahead. Go right into it. Go ahead. that's literally it like just take the
trip a few years ago I was in a really bad wreck that.
It killed my friend and something

(54:51):
just like I saw a lot I went through a lot and something just like snapped in
me but in a good way when I was with my best friend at the time we were living
out west and I just had this big YOLO mentality that's when that was big at the time too so
So he would just like text me. He's like, you want to go to Vegas? I'm like, yep.

(55:14):
And he would just say, you want to go to Disneyland? Yep.
So I tell people all the time, just take the trip, do the darn thing.
And I think my siblings find it annoying that I do this now,
but it's like that with anything.
They would like, if they say, oh, I want to go to Maryland this summer.
I'm like, all right, let's do it. Let's sit down and I'll sit down that second
and be like, all right, let's see if we can do this. When are you off?

(55:35):
Like, I'll go for it. And it's really opened up more opportunities for me.
I mean, that's why I'm traveling so much is because life really is short.
I mean, we were just talking about like the last time we saw each other.
And it's like, how did that much go by?
It goes by fast. Yeah. Oh, it does. You just you've got to you've got to do
it. You know, people like to say like, oh, I'd love to. I'm like, do it. Yeah.

(55:57):
Well, and my goodness, because we actually share that. Like that is like that.
That is my philosophy. Mm-hmm. Like, I'm the kind of guy that's like,
look, you want to go, look, it's not that hard.
You know, even if you had to save for six months, you can do a lot of stuff
for less than a thousand bucks.
Yeah. You know, if you, you know, you could, money, yes, it can be expensive to travel.

(56:21):
But if you're using a travel agent or doing things that are smart,
I think a lot of times, Pete, it's for some reason, especially growing up in a smaller town.
I think the thought of travel or getting out in the world is kind of a mystical thing. Yeah.
Where it's really not. I mean, it's literally, you can get the Delta app and
say, oh, I want to go boop, boop, boop, boop, boop. And here's 400 bucks. Fly Southwest.

(56:44):
Here's 300 bucks round trip. And it's like, you know, that's not necessarily cheap, but.
And there are tricks to that, too, like getting cheap flights on certain times, too.
I mean, there's apps that help with that. And it's like the cost is a thing,
but it's not as much of a thing as people think it is. Right.
And especially now with Airbnb.
Oh, yeah. You know, it's like you can share, like, get multiple people to go.

(57:04):
It's like traveling has never been more efficient, safer, affordable,
you know. So and it's funny you say that because like not just with travel,
but like other things, too.
There's a movie that came out. I don't know. It's been a while now,
but it was had Jim Carrey in it called Yes Man.
Oh, yeah. Have you seen that? Yeah. So I that was talking about your whole YOLO

(57:25):
experience when I saw that movie.
And it wasn't like a tremendous life change or anything, but something about
that spoke to me. It's like you want to learn guitar?
Yes. Yes. Want to, you know, want to go take dance lessons? Yes.
He's like walking down the street and just taking all the little tab,
you know, at the, you know, on the little flyers at the, you know,

(57:46):
coffee shop or whatever.
And ever since I saw that, I was like, man, obviously he took it a little too
extreme, you know, and almost killed him, but because he thought he was under a curse or something.
But, you know, so I'm not quite I mean, a little smarter about it than he was.
But, you know, I think that's so incredible and so valuable to just say yes
to stuff, you know, and not to drugs or, you know.

(58:07):
Things are going to kill you. I mean, we don't want to say yes to everything.
But so many people say no to things that are just good for you or just fun or,
you know, I just I can't do that.
I don't know. It's like, yes, you can do it. And everything leads.
Everything is a snowball.
You know, you do one thing and that leads to that snowball rolls down the hill
and it grows. And you do this thing and it rolls and it turns into a snowball and you meet people.

(58:31):
And that's what this whole podcast is actually about. I mean I started this
whole podcast about my love of people networking storytelling documentary storytelling and,
And every one, every episode I do leads to another one typically.
So it's like, oh, this podcast is a massive snowball. Right. Yeah. You know.
No money will come and go. But, you know, it's the experience that.
Yeah. So you got to take it when you can.
Absolutely. So when, I'm glad you said that because that's, I didn't realize,

(58:53):
but we, we definitely, that's a big thing we have in common for sure.
I'm a, I'm a, I'll preach it. I preach it a lot. A lot of times people actually,
people probably get annoyed at me too.
Cause I'm like, look, do it, do it. Yeah. You know, but. You're like Shia LaBeouf in your head.
Just do it. Shia LaBeouf. What a kook.
But interesting case. Interesting. There's a lot about that.

(59:15):
But he's had his interesting moments. But so my recommendation is a bit more pragmatic.
And, you know, but this is effectively one of the things I've done this several times.
But a lot of people complain about their phones when they get older.
You know, they've had their phone four or five years maybe. And they're like,
man, the battery life is terrible. And they're like, I got to get a new phone.

(59:36):
Well, you don't have to get a new phone. you could actually just replace the battery on your iPhone.
And I think to replace the battery is like 80 bucks or something like that.
Yeah. You know, it's not bad.
I mean, if you've had a phone for four years, you know, so that's something I recommend.
And if you have AppleCare, which I do, I think I pay like 12 bucks a month for lost and theft.
Or I'm sorry, loss and theft and damage, like total coverage.

(59:59):
It's like 12 bucks a month. And I travel so much and I'm out for my job.
So I want that for sure. and if the if
the capacity gets below 80 they'll try
they'll replace it for free so yeah you
basically get an indefinite free battery you
know if you wanted to keep the same phone so that's something that's my that's
my recommendation is if you have a phone battery's not great think about replacing

(01:00:24):
the battery not the phone a lot of people don't think that because it's you
know you can't like there's not like a pouch on the back that a a compartment
where you can, like, put some fresh double A's in it or something.
And, you know, it's like the people just don't think about it.
It's like, so. But anyway, well, very cool.
So we're right out of the hour, Mallory. So I know it's hard to believe these go by so fast. I know.

(01:00:46):
I know you basically already said your closing statement or comment,
but is there anything before we just completely wrap it up? Anything you want to add?
Give yourself the small wins for the day. I know a lot of people get so wrapped
up in life and you really just have to be easier on yourself, like make your bed.
And if that's the only thing that you did today, give it to yourself.
Like just take it one day at a time and just give it one hour at a time. It's like one day.

(01:01:11):
Sometimes you just got to take it half hour at a time. Like that phrase,
I've never seen the movies Fast the Fast and Furious. I've never seen those.
Yeah, me neither. But there's like a famous line, I live my life a quarter mile at a time.
It's like I live my day a quarter day at a time. You know, it's like,
you know, let me get through lunch, let's get through the afternoon, you know, one, you know.

(01:01:33):
So I agree with you. That's a big deal. And living in the moment, it's like- For sure.
That's the hardest thing. I think people, I have struggled with that.
Right. And I've had to force myself like, To, you know, only worry or not worry,
but just focus on now, you know, keep the future,
keep tomorrow, keep next week, keep next year, you know, on the back burner. You know, it's there.

(01:01:57):
But, you know, your boiling water is on the is that that's where you need to
be. Your noodles, you know, your noodles are boiling in the boiling water.
You got to take care of those guys while you're you're being simmer or you're
whatever. You're green beans simmer in the back.
You know, it's kind of how I look at it. yeah you know it's there but it's
like you know what's simmering and what's boiling right you
know comparison i like that and you know anyway so well

(01:02:19):
very good well again i could go literally for hours and
hours but i have to force myself to try to keep these around an hour
so well thank you mallory it is i greatly appreciate
you coming on and the fact that you are just happened to literally be here like
the for four days after i asked you yeah to come on because i tried to do these
in person you know i've only done one remote so uh but yeah thank you so much

(01:02:43):
i'm humbled honored to have you thanks for having me it's fun very good take care.