The Maza's Musings Podcast

Planning a trip to Paris? Wondering how to navigate the Metro, avoid common tourist mistakes and discover the city's hidden gems? Before my family heads to France on our European vacation, I sat down with author and Paris enthusiast Rachel Gates to got the advice every visitor needs. If you've ever dreamed of visiting the City of Lights (or you've already booked your trip) this episode...

This Fourth of July weekend, take a look at how history can take a ... Turn ... into fiction. Inspired by a recent trip where I stumbled upon some historic Long Island sites connected to George Washington's legendary Culper Spy Ring, I dive into the hit AMC series Turn: Washington's Spies to see how faithfully it tells the story of America's first intelligence network. Join me as I sep...

What if Hamilton took place in a galaxy far, far away? In this episode I don't throw away my shot and take on the challenge of transforming Broadway's biggest phenomenon into Anakin, a full-fledged Star Wars musical inspired by Hamilton. Some casting choices are obvious: Anakin Skywalker steps into Alexander Hamilton's role, Obi-Wan Kenobi becomes the ever-present foil Aaron Burr, Padm...

In this episode, friend of the podcast Greg Cameron trades New England sports for Old England adventures. Fresh off a trip across the pond, Greg shares stories from exploring England's history and culture, from the iconic colleges of Oxford to medieval cathedrals. He also recounts his hunt for hidden treasures in local record shops, revealing the vinyl finds that made the journey even more mem...

On this episode, I'm joined by friend and former sportswriting colleague Greg Cameron for a wide-ranging summer sports conversation. We start with A.J. Brown and the buzz around the New England Patriots before turning to the frustrating inconsistency of the Boston Red Sox in a muddled American League race. From there, we tackle some supposedly quick Bruins and Celtics takes, but you know us. I...

This week, I’m joined by Matt Conway for a journey through the stars as we talk about some of our favorite movies about — or taking place in — space. From grounded historical dramas like Apollo 13 to wild alien adventures, campy sci-fi classics, and epic intergalactic blockbusters, we explore what makes space movies so endlessly fascinating. Whether you love serious astronaut stories, terrifying e...

In this episode, Eileen, Meghan, and I are playing our brand new Disney movie game! We'll choose between ten original animated movie scenarios, each built with the plot, theme, and stakes of a classic Disney or Pixar film — but missing every single character and setting. Our job? Fill them in. We're each pitching our picks for the Disney hero, the iconic sidekick, the scene-stealing suppor...

This week, I’m joined by Mike from the podcast Running for Beginners for a conversation about how new runners can get started, stay motivated, and build confidence one mile at a time. We talk about Mike’s personal running journey, what inspired him to create a podcast focused on beginner runners, and the most common questions he hears from people starting their running journey. We also dive into b...

Putting the cherry on top of the Star Wars-fying Disney Parks series, I reimagine Disney’s Hollywood Studios as a fully realized Star Wars theme park spanning the entire Lucasfilm galaxy! In this series finale, I transform the park land by land: Coruscant overtakes Hollywood Boulevard, Mustafar consumes Sunset Boulevard, Jedha rises over Echo Lake, and Exegol emerges from the future Monsters Inc....

What does it take to build a galaxy? In this episode, I sit down with Brian Jay Jones, New York Times bestselling author of "George Lucas: A Life", to dig into the story of one of the most influential — and misunderstood — filmmakers in Hollywood history. We trace Lucas's journey from a kid in Modesto, California, obsessed with hot rods and Flash Gordon comics, to the man who changed...

What happens when you try to build the ultimate Star Wars movie using only a draft board? In this episode, I’m joined by Todd and Trent from the Big T & Lil T podcast as we create our own original Star Wars film, one pick at a time! We draft iconic heroes, villains, and deep-cut characters from across the Star Wars universe to assemble the strongest cast and most compelling story. If you love...

This week, we step into the GM role and break down our full 2026 mock draft for the New England Patriots. From first-round strategy to mid-round sleepers, we’re making every pick based on team needs, draft value, and how this roster can realistically build upon good early returns. Will the Patriots go offense or defense early? Is the Bill Belichick-style trade down in play? Is it time to swing big...

We’re blending sports talk and music analysis to break down the current state of Boston’s biggest teams! Which songs best capture the highs, lows, and everything in between for the New England Patriots, Boston Celtics, Boston Red Sox, and Boston Bruins? From championships to underperformers, we’re assigning the ultimate soundtrack to Boston sports right now. Joining the show is friend of the podca...

Step into the world of animation, cosplay, comics, gaming and community as Joe Lavoie, organizer of WesternMassCon, joins the podcast to preview one of Massachusetts’ most exciting new fan events . We talk about how the convention came together, what makes it unique, and what attendees can expect — from special guests and vendors to the overall vibe Joe is working hard to create. If you’ve ever th...

Step outside the parks and onto the field in this special episode all about baseball. I’m joined by fellow Disney podcasters Tom and Michelle from The Hyperion Adventures Podcast and Frank and Jen from Theme Park Thursdays with Dillo’s Diz, but this time, we’re trading castle talk for America’s pastime. As part of an ongoing series exploring the passions that make us more than one-dimensional, we...

In this episode, I’m joined by Ric, better known as @WDWBeerGuy, for a deep dive into the world of beer at Walt Disney World ! We kick things off with Ric’s Disney origin story and how his passion for the parks grew alongside his appreciation for craft beer , eventually leading him to build a following sharing the best brews across Disney property. From there, we explore how the Disney World beer...

Chris and Eileen conclude their two-part breakdown of the Disney Destiny with a look at the final days of their Western Caribbean sailing. In Part 2, they dive into the festivities of Pirate Night aboard Disney Destiny, one of the signature experiences offered by Disney Cruise Line. They also share highlights from another relaxing day at sea before diving and their visit to Castaway Cay, Disney’s...

After Meghan’s kid-focused review of the Disney Destiny, it’s time for the adults to weigh in. In Part 1 of this two-episode deep dive, Chris and Eileen share their firsthand impressions of Disney Destiny, the newest Wish-class vessel from Disney Cruise Line. The episode begins at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, where they detail their embarkation experience and first impressions of the ship....

What happens when you hand the mic to an 8-year-old after a five-night Western Caribbean cruise aboard the Disney Destiny? You get a (mostly) honest, silly, and occasionally helpful Disney cruise review! 🚢✨ In this special episode, Meghan answers listener questions and shares her kid-powered take on sailing with Disney Cruise Line — from the best character meet-and-greets and must-eat foods to h...

The Goo Goo Dolls are celebrating 40 years since forming in Buffalo, New York — and this episode takes a deep dive into the band’s origins before global hits like “Iris” and “Name” made them a household name. I’m joined by author and Buffalo historian Mike Rizzo , who is writing a new book about the Goo Goo Dolls’ early years — from their beginnings in the Western New York music scene to their ris...

Super Bowl week is more than just the game — it’s a media spectacle. In this episode, Kyle Belanger joins the podcast to break down his latest experience on Super Bowl Media Row , offering behind-the-scenes insight into one of the biggest sports media events in the world. For more than a decade, Kyle has spent Super Bowl week on Radio Row, connecting with NFL players, national broadcasters, sports...

The New England Patriots are headed back to the Super Bowl! With that in mind, it's only appropriate to bring back New England sports fan and fellow Western Mass. sports writing alumnus Greg Cameron and his encyclopedic sport mind to muse on the Patriots' rapid ascention back to prominence through the leadership of Mike Vrabel and the golden arm and spry legs of Drake Maye, the wild playof...

Physical therapist and trainer Mike Lavoilette of Evolve Health joins The Maza’s Musings Podcast to break down SMART goal setting , healthy habits , and sustainable fitness for the new year! We cover common New Year’s resolution mistakes , why the scale can mislead weight loss , how to measure progress beyond the scale , and tips for injury prevention and long-term consistency! Want to know more a...

Meghan and Eileen return to the podcast this week to have a little fun, game show style! The Mazas play some Disney True or False? where Chris gives them some Disney fact (or fiction) and they’ll have to decipher which is which! Winner gets household bragging rights! Chris also takes a look at some recent Disney Star Wars news in Maza’s Mickey Minute this week! And, of course, we kick things off w...

Emily of We Do Travel Right returns to The Maza’s Musings Podcast to talk all things Disney Cruise Line—this time with a focus on the Disney Destiny, the ship Chris Maza and his family will be sailing on soon. Once a Disney parks devotee and now a full-on cruise convert, Emily joins her husband Scott to share what makes Disney cruising so special, from immersive theming and dining to entertainment...