Notably Disney

Uncovering Disney history in new and exciting ways always provides a treat for aficionados. Luckily, we have an opportunity to learn more about Disney's relationship with American culture, and its influence on one another, through museum specialist Bethanee Bemis. Her new book explores those interconnections, and soon this topic will serve as the foundation of a new exhibit at the Smithsonian's Na...

On past episodes of Notably Disney, we have hosted numerous editions of Tunes & Quotes Trivia, in which podcasters, Disney fans, and authors have competed to showcase their knowledge of songs and lines from the theme parks, films, and more. One year ago, The Mad Chatters podcast co-host Derek Lewis and musical theatre professor and Cool Cats and a Hot Mouse author Matthew Hodge won their trivia. N...

Disney author Jim Fanning returns to Notably Disney to discuss with host Brett Nachman their selections for favorite live-action Disney film quotes. It's a varied list of inspired, hilarious, and compelling lines of dialogue that encompasses two parts! On this second part, Brett and Jim highlight quotes from the following films: The Princess Diaries (screenplay by Gina Wendkos) The Happiest Millio...

Disney author Jim Fanning returns to Notably Disney to discuss with host Brett Nachman their selections for favorite live-action Disney film quotes. It's a varied list of inspired, hilarious, and compelling lines of dialogue that encompasses two parts! On this first part, Brett and Jim highlight quotes from the following films: Saving Mr. Banks (screenplay written by Kelly Marcel and Sue Smith) Da...

The holiday season has arrived, and with it come the release of exciting new book titles from Disney Editions. On this episode of Notably Disney, host Brett Nachman brings you his reviews of two highly-anticipated titles. First, he shares his thoughts on the expansive, very rich book companion of the critically-acclaimed documentary on Disney Plus: The Imagineering Story. Leslie Iwerks masterfully...

Composer Henry Jackman is known as one of the top film composers of today, responsible for dynamic scores for blockbusters like Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle and Kong: Skull Island. Within The Walt Disney Company, he has composed several scores for Marvel (including Captain America: Civil War) and now five films for Walt Disney Animation Studios: Winnie the Pooh, Wreck-It Ralph, Big Hero 6, Ralph...

Three years ago, the debut of the streaming service that has enabled us all to relive our favorite magical memories and make new ones, too, transformed the way we consume Disney content. Disney Plus has grown into a major vehicle for delivering outstanding original series, films, specials, and shorts, in tandem with offering a vast catalogue from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geograph...

Marcy Carriker Smothers is well known in the Disney community for authoring several popular books, including the very recent Walt’s Disneyland, in which readers take a photographic tour through the happiest place on Earth. She was a past Notably Disney guest, and now joins host Brett Nachman to discuss her newest title, just released from National Geographic. It’s 100 Disney Adventures of a Lifeti...

Legendary Disney author Didier Ghez joins host Brett Nachman to dive into the development of The Origins of Walt Disney's True Life Adventures, a new monograph from the Hyperion Historic Alliance . Didier discusses the amazing experimental processes The Walt Disney Studios underwent from around 1938-1948 in its creation of the Academy Award-winning nature documentary series. Order your copy of the...

In honor of Epcot's 40th anniversary, Book of the Mouse Club hosts Emily McDermott and Courtney Guth join host Brett Nachman on Notably Disney to discuss the park's four-decade history, including fun memories and experiences during their past visits. Along the way they share what makes the park unique and worth coming back to again and again. Be sure to check out the Book of the Mouse Club podcast...

For nearly 40 years composer David Newman has written scores that span all parts of The Walt Disney Company, including Tim Burton short film Frankenweenie in 1984, 1989’s Cranium Command show at Epcot, The Mighty Ducks in 1992, 102 Dalmatians in 2000, and most recently arranging 2021’s West Side Story score. David Newman is an Academy Award-nominated composer whose catalogue of contributions is tr...

On this episode of Notably Disney, host Brett Nachman offers an analysis of the recent class of Disney Legends - expect some hot takes, listeners - and interviews podcaster, scholar, and professor Dr. Cody T. Havard (University of Memphis). Cody’s research covers a number of topics, including sports rivalries and fan culture. He’s also the person behind the "Being a Fan of Disney" podcast, which r...

Join host Brett Nachman as he reflects on the past 3.5 years of Notably Disney, in honor of the podcast hitting the 100th episode milestone! Hear about the podcast's origins, some fun experiences along the way, and legendary people who have been on the show. Additionally, Brett reviews Chronicle Books' latest Disney-Pixar book release: "The Art of Lightyear."  Feel free to reach out to Brett via T...

Author and creative consultant Michael Crawford has lent his skillsets and knowledge of the Mouse House to write and work directly for Disney, as well as detail this knowledge across many spaces, including crafting his Progress City USA blog and writing the book The Progress City Primer: Stories, Secrets, and Silliness from the Many Worlds of Disney. He’s a true Disney expert, and on this episode...

Strolling through Walt Disney World affords a bevy of sounds and tunes that envelop us in another place, from the horse-drawn roads of Main Street U.S.A. to the jungles of Pandora. The more you listen to music, the more you may ponder the question: "which of these tracks is better?" That sparked the inspiration for this episode of Notably Disney, in which host Brett Nachman brings back to the podc...

Emmy-winning composer and orchestrator Steve Bramson has translated his musical gifts to the big and small screen over the years across a variety of projects, including the hit CBS series JAG. His Disney connections span many decades, and most notably, he orchestrated classic Henry Selick flick James and the Giant Peach and composed the original theme for Disneyland Paris’ Space Mountain: De la Te...

When thinking back to the music of many of our childhood, the scores of Joel McNeely instantly come to mind: Iron Will, Flipper, Return to Never Land, Holes, among many others, including a number of Disney direct-to-video animated features. He’s an Emmy Award-winning composer behind the early 90s television series The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles. More recently he has composed for shows includin...

Get ready to release some laughter. Tammy Tuckey (The Tammy Tuckey Show) returns to Notably Disney as she and host Brett Nachman discuss their selections for funniest Disney attraction quotes. They cover everything from shows and rides, past and present, noting the most riotous lines uttered by Disney theme park characters. Much hilarity ensues. Be sure to follow Tammy ( @TammyTuckey ) on Twitter,...

On this second part of a two-part episode on Notably Disney, Jim Fanning, renowned Disney historian and author, returns to join host Brett Nachman in sharing their selections of favorite live-action Disney film songs. Get ready for a deep dive into tunes from familiar titles from Mary Poppins and The Muppets alongside hearing some rarely-heard songs, too. It's a joyous and cerebral ride through Di...

Disney author and historian Jim Fanning has guested on Notably Disney to discuss forgotten Disney songs, as well as competed on Tunes and Quotes Trivia, and now he’s back as he and host Brett Nachman share their picks on a fun-filled topic: favorite live-action Disney film songs. This is the first of a two-part episode that highlights some wonderful tunes from the Disney live-action film catalogue...

Well, this is a first for Notably Disney: an episode dedicated to Disney poetry. Today on Notably Disney is the Nebraska State Poet and author of a new title published by The Old Mill Press. Matt Mason’s book At the Corner of Fantasy And Main: Disneyland, Midlife and Churros features an array of poems centered around The Happiest Place on Earth. Matt converses with host Brett Nachman to discuss hi...

Recently published by Disney Editions, "Women of Walt Disney Imagineering: 12 Women Reflect on Their Trailblazing Theme Park Careers" chronicles a dozen individuals whose substantial contributions to the Disney theme park landscape cannot be overlooked or minimized. On this episode of Notably Disney, host Brett Nachman reviews this new release and provides perspective into some general themes, sur...

Author Marcy Carriker Smothers has translated her passion and proclivities in cooking to a fruitful publications including the popular Eat Like Walt: The Wonderful World of Disney Food and Delicious Disney: Walt Disney World. One of her more recent releases takes readers back to The Happiest Place on Earth in stepping through Walt’s Disneyland: A Walk in the Park with Walt Disney. On this episode...

Composer Pinar Toprak has brought one of the mightiest Marvel heroes to electrifying light with her score for 2019’s $1 billion hit Captain Marvel, and last year illuminated a rainstorm with dazzling soulfulness and jazz with composing the vibrant Disney animated short Us Again. She’s a truly versatile composer who is making her mark on Hollywood and beyond, including for the forthcoming Sandra Bu...

Andrew Kiste, the author of Walt Disney and the 1964-1965 New York World’s Fair: TravelMagic, unveils details about the latest book in a series that explores the monumental pavilions that The Walt Disney Company created attractions for within the unforgettable American exposition. In his latest release, Andrew discusses the partnership between Ford and Disney that would provide the foundation for...