The Mouse and Me

John Kavanaugh is a composer, lyricist, and musical director who received 9 Emmy nominations and was awarded the 2014 Daytime Emmy Award for "Sofia the First" Main Title theme song. John is also one of the songwriters on "Sofia the First: Royal Magic," that was just released on Disney Jr. and Disney+.  John wrote songs for Disney's first Latina princess, Elena of Avalor, an...

Disney, Broadway, and film veteran Sarah Uriarte Berry is back for the rest of her conversation with Scott! In this week's episode, Scott and Sarah pick up right where they left off last week and that’s with - Disney Princess - The Concert tour. They talk about a host of other things including their mutual love of Dole Whip and Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout and their thoughts on th...

In this episode, Scott welcomes an old friend to the podcast - Sarah Uriarte Berry. Scott and Sarah did a production of "Grease" together and they had a great time reminiscing about the show and talking about her incredible career on Broadway, on tour, and what it was like being the very first Belle at The Disneyland Resort. Sarah Uriarte Berry made her Broadway debut as Eponine in "Les Miserables...

Welcome to Michael Berresse Continued! In this week's episode, Michael shares so many more fun stories including his most magical moments and biggest takeaways from working at Tokyo Disneyland, what it was like being on the very first Disney cruise before Disney Cruise Line was even a thing, the time he danced on the roof of Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, why the Yorkshire Coun...

Michael Berresse went straight from high school to performing at Disneyland, then at Walt Disney World, and then Tokyo Disneyland. From there, he moved to New York, where he’s appeared in over 7,000 performances of 11 Broadway shows.  Michael made his Broadway debut in the 1990 revival of Fiddler on the Roof. He was nominated for a Tony and Olivier Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for hi...

Bonjour and welcome to Disneyland Paris Trip Recap! A few weeks ago, Scott, his wife, and their daughter, had a whirlwind day trip to both Disneyland Park and the newly renamed Disney’s Adventure World. They walked over 13 miles, had some great snacks and food, and loved experiencing their versions of some familiar attractions and some that are unique to Disneyland Paris.  Installez-vous confortab...

Buckle up, Disney fans, and get ready to hear more incredible stories from the legendary Gene Columbus. Gene was in charge of the opening ceremonies for EPCOT and he talks in detail about what it was like being in charge of an event that large including talking to air traffic control so he could tell the fighter jets when to do their flyover....and that's just the tip of the iceberg! Gene also...

Gene Columbus is a living legend. He's also a dancer, director, producer, production manager, author, mentor, and an incredible storyteller. Scott spent a couple of hours interviewing Gene and every moment with him was a magical one. Gene began his performing career working in motion pictures, television, and live stage productions. In 1970 he joined the Disney management team and traveled aro...

In this final episode of the epic 2026 birthday trip to Walt Disney World, Scott and Steve talk about Jack Jack's Num Num Cookie, Festival of the Lion King, the After Hours at Hollywood Studios, and so much more. Former The Mouse and Me Guest and good friend, Russell Fox, makes a special Guest appearance at Yak & Yeti in Animal Kingdom and another good friend, Karen Shriner (also a former...

In the intro for this episode, Scott said that this would be the 3rd and final installment of this trip. He made a sliiiiiiiight miscalculation. Because this trip was so much fun and so much was recorded and talked about, NEXT week will be the TRUE finale...AND it comes with a SURPRISE BONUS at the end that you won’t want to miss! For this third episode - Dole Whip with coconut rum, being walked o...

In last week’s episode, Scott, Tracy, Jody, Steve, Russell, and Ben had a blast and what you heard was just the beginning. That was only two days of the trip!  In this episode, this fun group of friends continue their talk - you'll hear all about their meal at the Hollywood Brown Derby, their thoughts about the new Villains Unfairly Ever After show, and a whole bunch of other fun stuff! You’ll...

“Plus it" is a Disney term - or a philosophy - often linked to Walt Disney himself. Its meaning is to take an idea, project, or detail and make it even better, more magical, or more detailed than originally planned. It emphasizes enhancing the Guest experience or creative product beyond the expected. Scott recently went to Walt Disney World and the surrounding areas for his birthday. He ate s...

Good morning, afternoon, or evening Disney fans! In last week's episode, Laurlyn Smith shared so many cool stories about her time as Mickey Mouse and other mouse height characters at Walt Disney World. She talked about her training and how she learned the signatures for the characters, how many people it took to help get her into costume, how many versions of the costumes there are, and how cl...

Welcome, Guests, to the Season 5 premiere of The Mouse and Me!  Over the past several years, Scott has spoken with so many incredible current and former Cast Members from all walks of Disney life - entertainment managers, vocalists, actors, dancers, directors, producers, comedians, technicians, an Imagineer, and people who were part of the Disney College Program and Disney Cruise Line performers. ...

To all who come to this happy podcast, welcome! Join the creator and host, Scott Jacobs, for the Season 5 premiere of The Mouse and Me, which will be coming your way real soon!  Scott's interviewed so many incredible Guests from Disney’s Broadway shows including actors, a Tony award-winning choreographer, composers, musicians, conductors, and head of props for Aladdin, Mary Poppins, The Lion K...

It's the end of 2025 and Season 4 of The Mouse and Me and it's been another wonderful ride! In this episode, Scott does a recap of 2025. He talks about all of the interviews, Magical Moments, and trip recaps he did this past year and a little about what to expect for Season 5 next year! As always, thank you for supporting The Mouse and Me. We hope you have a very happy and healthy New Year...

If you listened to last week’s episode, then you heard some of the great stories that Christopher Gasti told and we know one thing for sure - you’re in for another treat this week! You’ll hear more about Christopher's time working for the Walt Disney Company and the Oriental Land Company in Tokyo. You’ll also hear Christopher and Scott having fun reminiscing about Disney "old school"...

Christopher Gasti grew up in Orlando when WDW was being built and then wound up working at WDW, then Tokyo Disneyland, and ultimately at The Disneyland Resort. He did over 25 shows in the parks and did just as many parades and special events in cities including New York, LA, Toronto, Las Vegas, and Sao Paulo. These two fast friends wound up talking for quite some time and they didn’t even come clo...

Under the California Sun, Scott does roam, humming the echoes of Good Vibrations along with foam. The Surfin' Safari begins at dawn, while the Fun, Fun, Fun of the waves rolls on. He pauses where the sea meets the God Only Knows sky, dreaming with a Wouldn't It Be Nice sigh. The breeze carries whispers of Don't Worry Baby near, as gulls cry melodies only his heart can hear. Through the...

Every so often, a listener will email or DM Scott with a question about The Mouse and Me. He's also been asked a good amount of questions about the show in person. In some of the earlier episodes, he answered those questions and he has a bunch more to answer in this episde! Scott answers the most popular question he's asked about the show...and that's how he came up with the idea and the name for...

Welcome, foolish mortals, to the The Mouse and Me! Kindly adjust the volume of your listening device so that you can hear every word your Ghost Host says. There’s no turning back now. Our episode begins here…with this silly intro mimicking the famous stretching room voiceover in The Haunted Mansion attraction at WDW and The Disneyland Resort in Anaheim. Now…consider this dismaying observation: Sco...

Jake Lockwood began his professional career as an Equity actor at Walt Disney World , performing at 27 different stages over a 20+ year career. His performance career includes dozens of regional theatre credits, film, commercial work, and his most recent appearance as Luther Billis in Dayton Opera ’s production of South Pacific in 2024. Over the past 15 years, Jake has shifted his primary focus to...

When Scott and his daughter were in the Disneyland resort parks a few weeks ago, he loved rediscovering some fun facts about the attractions and also learning some new ones. During last week’s Magical Moments, Scott shared some fun facts about the attractionss in Disneyland Park. This week he shares some fun facts about Disney’s second park in Anaheim - California Adventure! Email: TheMouseAndMePo...

Disneyland opened on July 17, 1955 and is full of fun facts and hidden details. From its humble beginnings on a 160-acre orange grove to its current status as a world-renowned theme park, Disneyland has a rich history and many unique aspects.  This episode is chock full of fun facts about the attractions in Disneyland Park and you're just gonna love it! Enjoy! Email: TheMouseAndMePodcast@gmail...

This Magical Moments is Opposites Attract(ions). See what we did there? Scott will be talking about some of the major rides that are at both the Disneyland Resort and at Walt Disney World and what makes them different from each other.  Each Disney park, whether in Anaheim, Orlando, Paris, Hong Kong, Shanghai, or Tokyo, has a distinct identity and theme, and all of these influence the selection and...