The Happiest Pod on Earth

#23: Hocus Pocus, a film released in 1993, continues to embody the Halloween Spirit and capture the hearts of Disney fans, including those of Stef, Ariel, and Special Guest Travis Hayward. Together they take a personality quiz to learn which character they are, share fun facts from the movie, and what it was like watching it in theatres. The trio continues to embrace the Spooky Season by sharing o...

#22: Happiest Pod celebrates the Asian representation in Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the 10 Rings by highlighting “Asian Easter Eggs.” Learn Asian American history, the symbolism of death, and how Shan-Chi integrates his different heritages when he learns to wield the rings. Become a member of Geek Therapy on Patreon:  http://www.patreon.com/geektherapy Transcription Ariel Landrum 0:10 He...

#21: Stef shares what it’s like to take an infant to the park for the first time. A first for her son and a first for her husband and her. She shares the infant-friendly rides, navigates virtual queues, and responds to the needs of her family. Read the blog post for this episode for additional references and resources. Become a member of Geek Therapy on Patreon:  http://www.patreon.com/geektherapy...

#20: With Special Guest Billy Madden, better known as “The Movie Grader,” Happiest Pod jumps into his experience returning to Disneyland, sharing details about Webslinger. Stef, Ariel, and Billy analyze the changes happening in Disneyland parks, and how these developments are setting a precedent for other theme parks. Read the blog post for this episode for additional references and resources. Bec...

#19: After seeing a meme that questioned if Disney Karaoke existed, Stef and Ariel decided to set the record straight. In this episode, they highlight the cultural significance of participating in karaoke or noraebang experiences. Together, they share their favorite Disney songs to sing along to and how this activity can be used in a therapy session or the classroom. Resources for this episode: Go...

#18: Listening to live music is always magical, but when the music is Disney music, it’s even more enchanting. On this episode, Stef and Ariel share their experience with Candlelight Concerts on the beach, featuring the Orchid Quartet . With a setlist of Disney, Pixar, Star Wars, and more, our hosts and their partners found another way to revel in their love of Disney. Resources for this episode:...

#17: Recess is a show about six brave 4th graders who take on the social dynamics of the playground. Stef and Ariel discuss this beloved 90’s animated series, and how studies find that recess is an important part of a child’s social-emotional learning. Resources for this episode: 1. Verywell Mind: Quality Recess Gives a Boost to Children’s Mental Health, Study Says 2. Journal of School Health: Rec...

#16: Stef and Ariel are avid retro and vintage fans, and in this episode, they share these passions through the medium of Wandavision, the first Disney+ Marvel show to kick off the fourth phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. They dive into the clothing, the music, the special effects, and other nodes to the vintage and retro eras explored in the show. Read the blog post for this episode for add...

#15: In this episode, Ariel and Stef go back to the movie theaters and watch the long-awaited Black Widow film, starring Scarlett Johansson. They dive into their very different theater experiences, analyze how feminism is explored in the newest Marvel cinematic entry, and the new era for The Avengers. Read the blog post for this episode for additional references and resources. Become a member of G...

#14: With Special Guest Rachel Wethers, MSW, Happiest Pod dives into both the character and show Loki on Disney+. Stef, Ariel, and Rachel talk about themes of trauma, adoption, lying, acceptance, and belonging. Read the blog post for this episode for additional references and resources. Become a member of Geek Therapy on Patreon:  http://www.patreon.com/geektherapy Transcription Ariel Landrum 0:11...

#13: One Day At Disney is a Disney Shorts series that features individuals and the various jobs and careers they have with Disney Corporation. Stef and Ariel highlight these stories, and their own, with the belief that diversity in skills and networking instead, of just longevity, are what create personal fulfillment. Read the blog post for this episode for additional references and resources. Bec...

#12: Ariel shares with Stef what it was like to go back to Disneyland after a pandemic kept her away for 532 days. From experiencing nostalgia, awe at the Avengers Campus, and learning the tips of her new “legendary” pass. Read the blog post for this episode for additional references and resources. Become a member of Geek Therapy on Patreon:  http://www.patreon.com/geektherapy Transcript Stefanie...

#11: Happiest Pod dives in on self-care and the different ways we use Disney mediums to incorporate it into our everyday lives. We define self-care and give examples for children, adults, and families. Read the blog post for this episode for additional references and resources. Become a member of Geek Therapy on Patreon:  http://www.patreon.com/geektherapy Transcript Ariel Landrum ( 00:05 ): *Bell...

#10: Lara and Josué are happy to introduce the show’s new hosts Ariel Landrum and Stephanie Bautista! The four of us discuss Cruella , both the character and the new film. Media/Characters Mentioned Cruella de Vil 101 Dalmatians Jungle Book Mulan Topics/Themes Betrayal Change Consequences Death Difficult emotions Family Fear Feeling alone Finding Oneself/Identity Development Guilt Honesty/Lies Lea...

#9: The live-action Mulan is finally here! We react to the new film and discuss all the themes and ideas that make Disney’s Mulan so special. Questions? Comments? Discuss this episode on the GT Forum. — Check out the GT Network: network.geektherapy.com GT Forum: forum.geektherapy.com GT Discord: geektherapy.com/discord GT Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/geektherapy Find us at  happy.geektherap...

#8: On the eve of The Rise of Skywalker , we look at how Star Wars is doing as a Disney property and why we use Star Wars so much in our work. Rise of Skywalker reactions on GT Radio – https://geektherapy.com/the-rise-of-skywalker Questions? Comments? Discuss this episode on the GT Forum. — Check out the GT Network: network.geektherapy.com GT Forum: forum.geektherapy.com GT Discord: geektherapy.co...

#7: In typical Geek Therapy fashion, we react to Frozen 2 , and look at its relatable themes and how it addresses difficult emotions. Spoiler alert for all the Frozens! And when in doubt, do the next right thing! Questions? Comments? Discuss this episode on the GT Forum. — Check out the GT Network: network.geektherapy.com GT Forum: forum.geektherapy.com GT Discord: geektherapy.com/discord GT Faceb...

#6: Disney+ is finally here! But this episode is actually about the psychological pain and negative effects of exclusion. According to researchers, the social pain of exclusion and ostracism can hurt just as much or more than physical injuries. Questions? Comments? Discuss this episode on the GT Forum. — Check out the GT Network: network.geektherapy.com GT Forum: forum.geektherapy.com GT Discord:...

#5: We learned a lot about Disney+ at this year’s D23 event and it was overwhelming! So many new shows and movies were announced for the service and we go through all of them. From more live-action Disney remakes to more Marvel and Star Wars series, it almost seems like too much. Just kidding, there’s no such thing. We can’t wait for November! Questions? Comments? Discuss this episode on the GT Fo...

#4: The Lion King live-action remake isn’t actually live-action but it’s here and we loved it. We compare the movies and the Broadway musical, look at what makes us love this story so much, and discuss some of its themes in depth. Simba’s loss is heart-breaking in every version. Questions? Comments? Discuss this episode on the GT Forum. — Check out the GT Network: network.geektherapy.com GT Forum:...

#3: Toy Story 4 feels smaller and more intimate to us than the other films, mostly because it feels like one toy’s story. This is Woody’s movie and it hit us like all the others, full of very relatable themes that made us reflect on some real-life milestones. Also, are all toys sentient in this world? Questions? Comments? Discuss this episode on the GT Forum. — Check out the GT Network: network.ge...

#2: The Aladdin live-action remake is finally here! We react to the film and compare it to the original. We also cover representation, empowerment, and other important and relatable themes. Questions? Comments? Discuss this episode on the GT Forum. — Check out the GT Network: network.geektherapy.com GT Forum: forum.geektherapy.com GT Discord: geektherapy.com/discord GT Facebook Group: facebook.com...

#1: Welcome to The Happiest Pod on Earth! We are a podcast about how Disney content, parks, and memories can bring people together. Your hosts Lara Taylor and Josué Cardona share their Disney origin stories and their plans for the show. Questions? Comments? Discuss this episode on the GT Forum. — Check out the GT Network: network.geektherapy.com GT Forum: forum.geektherapy.com GT Discord: geekther...

Preview: Before launching our new show, here is a Disney episode of GT Radio titled Disney Fever. We’re feeling that Disney Fever with all the news and movies coming out this year. We share some of our favorite Disney memories and do a Disney-themed Media Matters segment. The post Preview: Disney Fever appeared first on The Happiest Pod on Earth .