Today’s episode is for the dreamers, the collectors, the annual passholders, the snack-ranking experts, the popcorn bucket resellers — yes, we’re talking about Disney Adults.
My guest is AJ Wolfe, founder of the massively popular Disney Food Blog and now author of the new NY-times bestselling book Disney Adults — a smart, empathetic, and often hilarious deep dive into one of the most passionate—and misunderstood—fandoms out there.
We’re going to talk about what it really means to be a Disney Adult, the emotional pull of nostalgia, the fine line between joy and overindulgence, and why some people spend thousands chasing the magic... while others just don’t get it at all.
Whether you're a lifelong park-goer or a curious skeptic, this conversation just might reframe how you think about fandom, fantasy, and what it means to grow up in a chaotic world.
Tony-nominated actress Starletta DuPois discusses her captivating role in Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest film, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER. She explores her journey working with one of cinema’s most visionary directors, the challenges and triumphs of her character, and what it was like bringing this intense story to life.
Ellen Greene, best known for her unforgettable voice and luminous presence from Little Shop of Horrors, Pushing Daisies, Broadway, and beyond—discusses her powerful new role in the short film Beatrix Is Invisible. It's a haunting, intimate piece that explores themes of invisibility, identity, and resilience—and Ellen’s performance is, unsurprisingly, mesmerizing.
My guest today is Eskil Vogt — the acclaimed Norwegian screenwriter and filmmaker behind Oslo, August 31st, the Oscar-nominated The Worst Person in the World, and Blind. His latest film, Sentimental Value, co-written with Joachim Trier, is a beautifully layered story about family, memory, and the ways art reshapes our lives. The film is now playing in theaters.
Jenny Gering is an acclaimed costume designer whose sharp eye for character-driven style has elevated some of television’s most compelling dramas. Known for her work on The Americans, American Made, The Looming Tower, The Equalizer 2, and The Deuce, Gering brings a sophisticated understanding of how clothing can reflect power, vulnerability, and transformation. In Netflix’s political thriller The Diplomat, starring Keri Russell, Gering’s costume design plays a pivotal role in establishing the show’s tense, high-stakes atmosphere—blending diplomacy, politics, and personal identity through wardrobe.
Today on the show, I’m joined by one of cinema’s most distinctive and uncompromising performers — Crispin Glover. From his unforgettable turns in Back to the Future, River’s Edge, The People vs Larry Flynt, & Alice in Wonderland to his own groundbreaking directorial projects like What Is It? and It Is Fine! Everything Is Fine., Crispin has built a career exploring the outer edges of character, performance, and storytelling.
His latest role — in Tallulah H. Schwab’s surreal new film Mr. K — places him in a strange, Kafkaesque hotel where nothing is as it seems. Glover plays a traveling magician whose attempt to check in becomes a descent through bureaucratic absurdity, dream logic, and existential unease. The film has been described as eerie, hypnotic, and visually stunning — and at its center, Glover delivers a performance that’s both hauntingly restrained and deeply human.
Today on the podcast, I’m joined by Emmy-winning composer Trevor Morris — a creative force behind some of television’s most powerful scores, including The Tudors, Vikings, and The Borgias. Over the years, Trevor has built a reputation for crafting music that elevates emotion and tension in every frame. Now, he’s stepping behind the camera for the first time as a director with his feature debut, Butterfly on a Wheel.
Hello everyone, thanks so much for tuning in. Today’s I’m so excited to be joined by musical theater legends Norm Lewis and Sandy Bainum who are lending their talents for a great cause for a one-night only concert of the Tony Award–winning musical comedy Woman of the Year, at the Broad Stage in Santa Monica. It’s all to benefit FNAM’s ShowSearch program, which mentors high school and college writers as they develop new original musicals.
Norm Lewis is a Tony, Emmy, Grammy, and SAG Award nominee whose career has spanned the very best of Broadway and beyond. He’s been seen in The Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables, The Gershwins’ Porgy & Bess, and Chicken and Biscuits. He’s now taking on the role of Sam Craig — the quick-witted cartoonist whose life collides with a TV news anchor in Woman of the Year.
Sandy Bainum is an accomplished Broadway performer, cabaret artist, and recording star who made her debut in 42nd Street and has since appeared in Mame, The Music Man, Mamma Mia!, and more. On screen, you’ve seen her in Game Change, Criminal Minds, and The 12 Days of Christmas Eve with Kelsey Grammer. In Woman of the Year, she’s stepping into the role of Tess Harding — famously played by Lauren Bacall on Broadway.
Today on the podcast, I’m joined by two of the most fearless voices in documentary filmmaking: Billy Corben and Jen Gatien. Billy is the director behind cult-classic docs like Cocaine Cowboys, The U, and Screwball. Jen Gatien is a veteran producer and director whose work spans narrative and nonfiction, such as Holy Rollers, For Ellen, Limelight, Jack & Diane, and Midnight Sun. Together, they’ve teamed up on a gripping new film called Men of War, which chronicles the astonishing true story of Operation Gideon—the failed 2020 coup attempt in Venezuela—and the covert network of ex-generals, mercenaries, and political operatives behind it.
I'm joined today by Emmy nominees Hilary Winston and Rob Letterman, the showrunners behind Goosebumps: The Vanishing, the newest season of the Disney+ series inspired by R.L. Stine’s iconic books. Hilary brings her sharp storytelling background from shows like Community and My Name Is Earl, while Rob, known for directing the film Goosebumps (2015) and Detective Pikachu, brings his signature mix of humor and heart. Together, they’ve crafted a darker, more emotional chapter in the Goosebumps universe.
First-time filmmaker Jordan Murphy Doige and actor Archie Yates, known from the Oscar-winning Jojo Rabbit, discuss their work on the Oscar-qualified short film CLOUT. The film is a timely, darkly comedic look at the dangers of online fame and the lengths people will go to for attention.
Director Mercedes Bryce Morgan her latest film - Bleeker Street's Bone Lake - now in theaters. The film is about a couple’s romantic getaway to a secluded lakeside estate which ultimately gets upended when they are forced to share the mansion with a mysterious other couple.
Academy Award-winning director Robert Port, whose 2002 film Twin Towers won the Oscar for Best Documentary Short, discusses his latest film, Twin Towers: Legacy, which revisits one of the most defining moments in American history with fresh perspective and emotional depth.
This new film builds on the story he began in Twin Towers, but it’s not just a look back—it’s a conversation about remembrance, resilience, and what it means to carry forward the stories of 9/11 in today's world.
Today on the podcast, we’re joined by acclaimed composer Will Bates, whose work spans film, television, and beyond. HIs previous credits include Dumb Money, The Estate, Immaculate, I Origins, Hulu’s Call Me Alex, Netflix’s Unbelievable,
Most recently, he’s brought his unique sonic signature to two very different but equally compelling projects: the highly anticipated NCIS: Tony & Ziva, a spinoff that revives one of television’s most beloved duos; and Stiller & Meara: Nothing is Lost, a deeply personal documentary exploring the legacy of the iconic comedy duo through the eyes of their son, Ben Stiller.
Actor Javier Muñoz is best known for his work in the hit Tony-winning Broadway musical Hamilton, where he made a huge impact as both the alternate and lead for Alexander Hamilton. But today, we’re focusing on his latest film, Brownsville Bred. The film takes place In 1980s Brownsville, Brooklyn, where Elaine is on the cusp of becoming a teenager. She wrestles with her mother’s resilience, the father she resents, and the chaos outside her window—while discovering her Puerto Rican roots and the courage to forge her own path.
Actress Mia Barron is currently starring in the Tony-winning play EUREKA DAY at the Pasadena Playhouse through October 5th.
She has appeared on Broadway in Tom Stoppard’s Tony-winning production of The Coast of Utopia and in premieres of new plays at Off-Broadway theatres including at The Public Theater, Manhattan Theatre Club, and Lincoln Center. She has worked at multiple regional theatres across the country including: the Mark Taper Forum, Geffen Playhouse, the Williamstown Theatre Festival, and La Jolla Playhouse.
Television work includes roles on Grey’s Anatomy, Get Shorty, NCIS, Law and Order: Criminal Intent, Shameless, The Newsroom, Elementary, Blue Bloods, Medium, Numb3rs, Bones, Modern Family, and Glee.
For her work Off-Broadway, she has received two Obie Awards, a Lucille Lortel Award and a Drama Desk Award.
Actor Jade Croot discusses her work in the haunting new psychological thriller Rabbit Trap—a slow-burn, atmospheric film that follows a couple retreating to the countryside for a fresh start where they are suddenly visited by a mysterious child who appears to have ill intentions for them. Rabbit Trap is now in theaters.
Croot is known for her previous work in The Watch and The Accident.
Emmy-nominated composer Ruth Barrett has two new much-anticipated streaming series out now. The first is the psychological thriller series The Girlfriend, starring Robin Wright, Olivia Cooke, Laurie Davidson and Waleed Zuaiter. The series is about Laura's idyllic life that gets shattered when her son's new girlfriend seems suspicious. Determined to protect him, Laura's actions spiral out of control. The series is streaming on Prime Video beginning September 10th.Ruth also recently scored Prime Video’s action thriller series The Terminal List: Dark Wolf, starring Chris Pratt and Taylor Kitsch, which is streaming now. A prequel series to The Terminal List (2022), Dark Wolf follows Ben Edwards' journey from Navy SEAL to CIA operative.
Some of Ruth's past credits include PBS’ Victoria; Netflix’s drama series Bodyguard; NBC’s Law & Order: Organized Crime; Victoria Mahoney's The Old Guard 2; and Prime Video's The Terminal List.
Carolyn (Cal) Loucks is the set decorator of HBO’s “Dune: Prophecy." She is nominated in the Outstanding Production Design For A Narrative Period Or Fantasy Program category at this year’s Emmys.
Carolyn’s previous credits include Hulu’s Black Cave, Netflix’s Thai Cave Rescue, HBO Max’s Station 11, as well as the films Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, Fifty Shades Freed, Fifty Shades Darker, Batman v Superman, RoboCop, Total Recall, Red, Resident Evil: Afterlife, Orphan, and The Incredible Hulk.
Paul Del Gesso and Christopher Salerno are editors for Saturday Night Live, where they've both worked for six years. They each recently received their second Emmy nomination for their work on the Physical Comedy montage as part of the three-hour SNL 50 Anniversary Special earlier this year.