In this episode of Bungalow Heaven Railroad, Nick welcomes a very special neighbor and lifelong train enthusiast — Bret Iwan, the official voice of Mickey Mouse.

Since 2009, Bret has carried on the legacy of one of the most recognizable characters in entertainment history, following in the footsteps of Walt Disney, Jimmy MacDonald, and Wayne Allwine. Over the past 16+ years, Bret has voiced Mickey across television, film, toys, video games, and Disney parks around the world.

But Bret’s connection to trains runs just as deep as his connection to Disney.

Growing up in Altadena, Bret was surrounded by model trains and garden railroads thanks to his father. That early fascination eventually led him to his current project: restoring and operating a real working steam train, preserving the legacy of a historic railway built by engineer Tommy Thompson.

In this episode, Bret visits the garden railroad in Pasadena to:

🚂 Run one of the trains
🎙 Share the incredible story of how he unexpectedly became the voice of Mickey Mouse
🏗 Talk about restoring a real steam locomotive
🎨 Discuss creativity, storytelling, and preserving legacy
🌲 Reflect on Walt Disney’s love of trains and imagination

If you're listening to this as an audio podcast, just imagine you're sitting on the porch with us while the trains roll peacefully through the garden below.

Follow Bret Iwan

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bret_iwan 

Railroad: https://www.instagram.com/thompson_railway

Terbeau Ranch: https://www.instagram.com/terbeau_ranch/

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