West of Wonderland

Welcome to West of Wonderland, where the primary question of the day is: what kind of wacky are YOU? Secondary questions include, but are not limited to: do you have a commemorative Disney 100 coffee table book? How about a Walt Disney quotes book? What's fun about unboxing, and why? How would you explain Imagineering, and Walt Disney's leadership style? What would happen if you stopped asking "wi...

Bay recently attended an extremely impressive drag show, and it's gotta be debriefed! Awe, magic, wonder, pure, unadulterated talent, and the difference between appreciation and appropriation. Also: COMPLAINTS AS A CURRENCY! And the difference between complaints on purpose, versus complaints that are disempowering! What does it mean to "be distinguished" about complaints?! Have fun with that! PS....

What happens when your creative project feels like a velociraptor running across your life? What's in the way of shining bright like a diamond - in the present, and also in your past? Who is YOUR favorite Disney prince? Please submit a five paragraph essay to enroll Bay and Laura in your choice.

Hey y'all, real talk: who else has tantrums when presented with new bicycles? In this week's episode, Bay and Laura digest recent Disney news items, including but not limited to TRON Lightcycle Run being in previews, and all the feels surrounding Splash Mountain officially closing in Walt Disney World to make way for Tiana's Bayou Adventure! West of Wonderland is pretty excited to swap a microaggr...

How can a book project "look different" on one person vs. another? Not all creative projects are created equal -- how could they be?! Everyone is a distinct creature with different styles, desires, and intentions! Laura and Bay celebrate and debrief the creation of Laura's first book, "How to Be Creative in the Age of Digital Noise," and discuss how deeply your emotional landscape can affect your...

It's February, and we find our heroes putting themselves in deep water and then fighting the currents! Laura and Bay reunite after a few weeks of ups, downs, and literal raging rapids. What does white water rafting have to do with breakthroughs? Why does Laura call 2023 her Velocicoaster year? What happens when we float around in ambiguity? Oh, and, conveniently, Splash Mountain has just closed fo...

The irony of this episode is that you're probably listening to it on the device we're critiquing... a smartphone. How do sinister empires benefit from our addiction to our devices? What do our phones have to do with the soul-sucking, undefeatable celebrity worship culture all around us? What does it have to do with fantasies of minimalism? Could we get any more esoteric in this episode?!! PS. My L...

When and how are apologies a leadership conversation? How would you address your family ouchies (or not) if you're on a global stage? You all know that Laura hates a hot topic, but West of Wonderland is here to bring the heat. Bay and Laura discuss some British Royal Family drama that makes them long for a good ol' Disney fantasy story about princesses and happily ever afters. What are the cross-s...

What's the difference between a goal that fixes something that's wrong, versus building something fulfilling? Why should you create some low-stakes goals? How quickly *is* January going? What did *you* think about Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull? Flarfennugens and dinglehoppers are abound in this conversation. Additionally, WoW is becoming quite self-referential; it's only a mat...

Did you get the memo about today's West of Wonderland uniform? On today's episode, Bay and Laura debrief even more incredible well-being support habits that were inspired by their time together in Disney World. With the right attitude, any theme park visit becomes the gift that keeps on giving forever. Laura and Bay also close the loop (get it?) on Laura's pre-trip roller coaster dreams, roller co...

Welcome to 2023 at West of Wonderland! Everything is on the table for discussion today, as Bay and Laura decompress from their Mirror of Erised workshop, Christmas experiences, annual New Year rituals, and more. What's it like to envision a future less about circumstances and more about who you're with and how you feel? Why is it awesome to revisit stories and be transformed by them as you age? Wh...

Two unattached adults walk into EPCOT... join Bay and Laura as they revisit key moments in their recent jaunt through Disney World, which include but are not limited to experiencing DISAPPOINTMENT for the first time in a friendship; hot tips for how to not wait a long time for big attractions; powerful contexts for vacation planning, and more. Don't forget that Bay and Laura *must* talk about the...

And we're back! Laura and Bay reminisce about their magical holiday trip to Disney World. Bay shares a new well-being habit she created over the vacation and it involves free packets of lemon juice. Join us as we debrief the parks à la Christmas, what we loved and how we really feel about Genie Plus. Find out what was added to Epcot The Day after we left, which is also going to be the reason for o...

Today's West of Wonderland episode was the one that got bumped due to the Bob Swap! So, please enjoy dropping in on Bay and Laura as they reflect on the end of November and look ahead to their trip to Orlando. Laura is trying to shop in Bay's closet and also get all of Bay's thoughts about a recent roller coaster related dream; empowering thoughts about powerful sportsmanship as it relates to lead...

Why is it so funny to look back at your kid logic with adult glasses? Bay and Laura pick back up their discussion about Harry and Ron using the flying Ford Anglia, integrating a new story from Emily. What is your relationship to rules? Why are kid priorities so out of whack? This episode also includes reminiscences about Bay's ballet days, Laura embracing her true nature as a giggle monster, and a...

A Tale of Two Bobs... just before American Thanksgiving, Disney swapped out Bob Chapek for Bob Iger as CEO of Disney. There's much to discuss, not only on a factual basis, but on fundamental leadership styles, places we lead from, enrollment, relationships, creative, and did we mention enrollment? Plus so much more about leadership transition, and Bay and Laura's upcoming Disney trip. Thanks to Me...

"Happily Ever After" is one of West of Wonderland's favorite fairy tale concepts to unpack. In this week's episode, Bay and Laura discuss the most recent season of Netflix's "Love Is Blind," a show that relies on myths and fantasies about love in order to operate. Join Laura and Bay for a shockingly high level discussion of reality television, fantasies we hold about relationships, and how myths c...

Awkward beginnings, awkward pl-imagining, awkward sickness, awkward boundaries... welcome to No-vember at West of Wonderland! Bay and Laura are a No to a lot of things in this gloriously awkward, pre-holiday season episode: holiday decor happening early in the season, how to listen and pay attention if your thyroid is actually telling you "no," and what about telling your own personal inner people...

How *does* one cross the threshold from a "should" conversation around structure into a "wanting" conversation around structure? Bay and Laura get real nerdy about the ever unfolding relationship between structure and magic. Why is it that humans are always on a Quest for Understanding? When is understanding enhancing our experience of magic and joy, and when is it limiting or control based? What'...

It turns out that nobody is pretty enough for themselves at West of Wonderland this week. Laura used her tiny cauldron and created a pretty large releasing ritual, so naturally, Bay and Laura are discussing all things nature, beauty, ritual and witchy. What's powerful about creating rituals for yourself? Why does it seem to enhance rituals or spellcasting when your friends (aka coven sisters) sugg...

West of Wonderland embraces the season of autumn, which asks us to open up to transitions and grief. Bay and Laura contemplate the recent passing of a number of powerful figures in the WoW film world, including Angela Lansbury and Robbie Coltrane. Why does it hit us so hard when actors behind beloved characters pass away? What do you connect with most with each of them?

What's fascinating, fun, and important about spooky season? In West of Wonderland's second annual spooky season, Bay and Laura are investigating some ontologically interesting phenomena surrounding the season of the creepy. Why are we interested in being scared? Why are fear and darkness so pivotal to powerful stories, even when it's not a scary story? Why is it important to experience darkness ar...

Zoom is trying to sell Bay some stuff, which is just inappropriate. The Fall Fairy has arrived at West of Wonderland - and so have the spideys and all the "back to school" urgent energy. What is the experience of "being with" fall this time around? What are you aware of, present to, transitioning through? …and how are you decorating? Inquiring minds want to know (Bay and Laura)! PS. Welcome Bonevo...

Why is WoW so enrolled in Halle Bailey as Ariel? Bay and Laura speak from their particular identities about our new Ariel and all of her beautiful possibilities. Imaginative Leadership is built on powerful, humble, active inclusivity. Join Bay and Laura in a prismatic conversation about what's possible if we acknowledge the different facets of Ariel's possibility in the Disney fandom and beyond. P...