West of Wonderland

Though we aren't mermaids, as human animals, we are a bit attached to the mindset of, "I want moooooore." Today, Bay and Laura ask the question of all humans, why are you the way that you are? What are the hoops that Imaginative Leaders must jump through in order to connect with imagination, love, heart, the wisdom of the body - all of the tools humans have that have nothing to do with the brain?...

Just how good can you let life be? Can you let yourself do more of what you love? These are the big questions at West of Wonderland this week. Where's the fun police when you "need" them - Bay and Laura have booked their next sabbatical to Walt Disney World. What's it like to create, even when you are in a pit of despair? This episode is chock-full of fun parks, leadership and inspiring creativity...

Why *not* just bring an old timey accent to the beginning of every conversation? On a scale of Villainous Ambivalence to Princess Sobbing On Bed, how devastated are you about H20+ being discontinued? In this episode, Bay and Laura traverse the landscape of county fairs, a completely distinct experience from a Disney park. What crazy experiences have we all had in the lawless terrain of county fair...

Someone here at West of Wonderland got ahead of herself and labeled last week's episode Dark Magic. When really, this week's episode is about Dark Magic. How Dark Magic is that?! (Halloween decor is already up in the Magic Kingdom, is it up at your house already? Season of Magic and Faith kicks off with an exploration of the darker side of magic. What value does resistance play in the bigger games...

Rocket and Hermes have **a lot** to say about Bay and Laura and WoW's birthday this year. First Birthday Lightning Rounds include: favorite merch, favorite episodes, and a really detailed rundown of the concept of the Spirit Jersey. What's the difference between having an expectation for your birthday, and an intention? What are the bad feelings that surround an accomplishment and WHY do we have t...

What do you do when you're the Boss of People?!?! Get ready for an episode chock-full of insight about what to do as an imaginative leader when people let you down. It's not a matter of if, but when. Expect to lose some battles in pursuit of the war (and other analogies); hybrid work environments + autonomy, juvenile bears, dancing hornets, and other truths universally acknowledged, such as how bo...

Welcome to summer vacationtimes at West of Wonderland, in which Bay and Laura are back to time traveling, celebrating 200+ followers on Instagram, and coming up on the first birthday of West of Wonderland! Join in for a thoughtful (and a little righteous) discussion about the cool LA Times article in which an interviewee admits he's gotten into adult tantrums at Disney World before. Also: the mira...

Today, Bay and Laura open up all kinds of critical questions in a truly riveting episode of West of Wonderland, inviting you to consider queries such as: what kind of desk lotion do YOU have? Can you imagine the most beautiful cruise on the planet? On a more serious note, exciting updates from Disney about Tiana's Bayou Adventure, which, let's be honest, probably sent Bay and Laura straight to wal...

Have YOU gone down the media rabbit-hole that Laura did this week, learning about Teal Swan's spiritual business and questionable healing methods? Bay and Laura discuss their growing appreciation for feedback, ethics, and communities of practice in this not TOO holier-than-thou episode. Coaches are among the privileged few who get to "imagine" their work into existence. And, since coaching is lead...

How do we automatically Be when difficult news breaks? What do we grapple with, how do we handle our feelings, and how do we interact with the world around us? In this vulnerable episode, Bay and Laura discuss the prism of Being With Friday's news about Roe vs. Wade being overturned by the US Supreme Court. Is it a failure of imagination, imaginitive leadership gone wrong, or something entirely di...

Why is it that the same themes circle back around on us in life? Just like fashion trends, ways we see ourselves tend to resurface in different ways through life. Less significantly, this episode also includes a really important merch follow up, where's the line between a uniform and a costume, hashtags for any WoWers on Peloton, and of course, fantasies about personal growth and how circumstances...

Ah, the politics of coughs in 2022! Bay and Laura discuss what it's like to "get back to it" after two partners have been apart for awhile; what imaginitive leaders value when it comes to getting back to work. Also, what's it like to go from being a one-scent gal to two? Where can we practice not being wishy-washy about what we want? Why is it important to enjoy the stuff you make for yourself? Al...

Welcome to the least boring conversation about boredom that's ever happened. Imagination and wondering must bring with them their cousin: boredom. What does boredom have to do with your health and happiness? What would Laura say to Katy Perry at her American Idol audition? What can leaders learn from kids? How do you pass the time during an MRI? Burning questions will be answered!!

"I don't want to be seen learning!" Oh, the vulnerability of being in possibilites; oh, the fever dream that is Figment's house. Bay and Laura revisit the concept of imagination as it relates to imaginitive leadership - what clicks open our imagination in a way that is helpful? Also: messing up, going beyond data in leadership, and arguments about seatbelts with Bay as an officer of the law.

The main difference between Universal parks and Disney parks - what's that, you ask? Besides EVERYTHING... Bay and Laura think it's in the Being and Ownership. Also: Rocket's Gym opens, the bees move in, novelists making plans, a magical moment for Bay at EPCOT, and Laura's endless desire to wave back.

Bay and Laura are (spoiler alert) surprised by how enrolled they were in their Universal weekend! Velocicoaster spoilers abound in this episode. And, here's the fun they had and the shenanigans that ensued and the stuff that happened that they already forgot about and the stuff they learned about each other and themselves and run on sentences. PS. Maybe don't joke with your customs officer on your...

Mama Universe is looking out for Bay as she and Laura prepare for their retreat-- err, vacation. This episode includes some trip planning, but mostly it's a romp through NOT the most magical themes in Disney movies, but instead, WHICH ONES DESTROYED US? Whether you're a fox being friends with a hound, or a lion cub who thinks he's murdered his own dad, you'll find a home in this episode. BTW if yo...

Welcome to the magical world of Disney Adults. How do adults get so obsessed with Disney fandom? Bay and Laura will not only explain Disney Adults as a phenomenon, but one hundred percent justify them — and perhaps even enroll you. Twinkly eyes and dreams coming true in this episode. PS. Bay and Laura are in Disney World RIGHT MEOW!

A quick lil between-episode tidbit to share some cool stuff and tell you how to play with us in the parks on our trip!

THIS EPISODE IS SO FLUFFY. Bay and Laura finally dive in to the magic that is Turning Red. This episode has it all: being thirteen, mother/daughter dynamics, the wackiness of being a kid, wacky as normal, the mother wound, and giant fluffy things that could also kill you, the nature of our humanity, our soul, our survival mechanisms. Spoilers ahead for Turning Red, which, if you haven't seen, what...

As Bay and Laura prep for their Orlando sabbatical coming up, they have a true bonanza of things to follow up on with all of you. How DID one of the Bobs finally address LGBTQ+ oppression in the wake of the "Don't Say Gay" bill? Unrelated, but also necessary follow-ups: R.A.B.'s level of hotness according to Laura; '90s fever dream The Parent Trap; when apologies work (and don't).