Castle to Castle: A Tale of Two Disnerds - the Inspirational, International, Intersectional Disney Podcast

A little taster of our first 25 episodes...

Emily couldn't make it this time, but never fear! It's a cool full episode, with Mike and guest host Ria! (yay, rhymes)

Ria joins Mike to discuss spooky business, both in celluloid and around the parks. There's Golden Ages, Dark Ages, Renaissance, Muppets...and a good deal of off-topic fun that we hope you've come to expect and enjoy - but rest assured, there's something about creepy and macabre about it all (well, mostly).

If you were a little spooked by this belated beast of an episode, let us know! You can Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, subscribe and review on iTunes, and email us, at [email protected] - and, as always, enjoy!

Oh, and stay tuned for the rapidly oncoming episode #50...

Links 'n' Stuff

Ria's blog!

TDR Now podcast!

This episode is doubly special - not only does Emily join Mike for a second consecutive week, but the dashing Disnerds are also joined by two Very Important People. Keston and Andrea Ott-Dahl have a daughter, Delaney, with Down's Syndrome - and they want Disney to create meaningful characters who represent Delaney, and other disabled folks - and they want YOU to sign a petition in favour!

We hear about how Delaney came into the world, and how Keston transformed from ableist to disability activist, and how this new lens showed her the sad lack of representation in the world of kids' and family media (Hell, media in general). It's a wide-ranging discussion, touching on intersectional awareness, the power of siblings, the way the internet empowers all of us to be proud and do good - and, of course, how Disney fits into all this!

If you're buzzing as much after listening as we were after recording, let us know - Like us, and Delaney, on Facebook; Follow us, and the upcoming book all about Delaney, on Twitter; subscribe to us on iTunes (and there should totally be an Ott-Dahl podcast...), and email us, at [email protected] - and, as always, enjoy!

Links 'n' Stuff:

delaneyskye.com - Keston, Andrea and Delaney's blog, and the hub for all you'd want to know!

The petition itself!

Down's Syndrome Association UK

National Down Syndrome Society US

National Association for Down Syndrome US

National Down Syndrome Congress US

The Disnerds return in full force, and this time around with yet another special guest in tow, our great friend Ria!

We start off hearing all about Emily's recent trip to SPX and the Big Apple, which turns into a bit of a British-style weather whinge. There are Big Hero 6 trailers to dissect, as well as a certain Norwegian-themed ride taking its last few guests over the falls as this gets typed. We move on to (slightly) happier stuff, as Ria tells of her favourite fairytales and Disney adaptations, and round off with a look at the upcoming and uber-relevant Into the Woods.

Oh, and you like outtakes? There's a few of those, too!

If you enjoyed the undeniably awesome dynamic of Emily, Mike and Ria, let us know! You can Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter - Ria, too! - subscribe and review through iTunes, and email us at [email protected] - and, as always, enjoy!

Links 'n' Stuff:

Ria's awesome blog!

'The Children of Lir'

The Grimm's version, 'The Six Swans'

Animated Snow Queens: HBO, Russian 1957

As it says on the tin, it's time for a little Bitesize Mike!

Sorry for the delay...in fact, this episode is so late, it's almost time to record the next one! But we hope you'll enjoy this one, for now - Mike dives into the discussion over changes at Epcot, and an even newer, perhaps more surprising shift at Hollywood Studios. After saying some goodbyes and imagining what we might soon say hello to, Mike picks up on a sentiment that surely everyone agrees on - "The history of Walt Disney World belongs to EVERYONE." - pontificates, expands, and takes it to its natural conclusion, as it pertains to what we try to do as an intersectional, critical Disney fan podcast.

If Mike inspired you, or if he drilled a rhetorical hole in your head, let us know! You can (of course) Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, subscribe to us and review on iTunes, and email us at [email protected] - and, as always, enjoy!

Links 'n' Stuff:

Martin Smith's excellent (and very relevant!) videos, covering Epcot's Norway, and the early genesis of Disney-MGM/Hollywood Studios.

Good grief, it's an episode!

Just Mike, this time around, following up from #44's look at the history and awesomeness of the Tokyo Disney Resort, and in particular Tokyo Disneyland. This time around, we're having a look at Tokyo DisneySea - which recently celebrated its 13th anniversary - with a little less history, and a LOT more awesomeness! 13 semi-specific slices of Mike-suggested awesomeness, to be specific.

After those, there's a little bit of fantasmic audio immersion therapy, and then it's back to wondering what on Earth will happen next time! If you happen to be pre-cogniscent, have a clue, or even a suggestion, please let us know, through Facebook, Twitter, a review (following a subscription!) on iTunes, or at [email protected] - and, as always, enjoy!

Links 'n' Stuff:

The blog that inspired the episode - 10 Reasons Tokyo DisneySea is Disney's Best Park

For assorted TDR history, the Oriental Land Company's 50th anniversary site

TW (Trigger Warning): this episode features some pretty stark discussion of depression, relating to the sad death of Robin Williams. There's also some fairly frank discussion - and we make our opinion pretty clear - on the continuing situaion in Ferguson, Missouri.

Episode 45...five less than fifty...wonder what we'll do in five episodes' time?

For now, we welcome Emily's boyfriend Pete (an awesome creator in his own right), to share laughs and opinions - first on the menu is the pretty damn epic Guardians of the Galaxy, which is apparently winning over the hearts, minds and wallets of pretty much everybody! We move on to more sombre news, remembering with immense fondness the genius of Robin Williams, celebrating his life and career by listing films we really need to see again. There's a bit of tangential discussion about how childhood favourites change and evolve - especially when adapted into massive blockbuster movies - a little of a Muppet rant, a little semi-political PSA, and then we head out!If you enjoyed the episode, loved Pete as much as we loved having him on, or want to tell us to stop being controversial (we may not), you can Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, subscribe to us and review on iTunes, or even email us, at [email protected] - and, as always, enjoy!

Links 'n' Stuff:

Pete's comic: website, Facebook and Twitter!

Our new friend Ria's blog!

Ferguson, M.O.

3 Ways You Can Help Ferguson's Residents

GoFundMe page for Michael Brown's family - n.b. because of GFM's refusal to take action re: inflammatory posts on Darren Wilson's page, some have chosen to boycott this fundraising site.

Twitter accounts to follow: Antonio French, Elon James White, Ferguson Solidarity

A couple of weeks late is better than never, right?In this long-awaited (at least by Mike) episode, the British Disnerd takes us through the history of the Tokyo Disney Resort, and then (you guessed it!) through what he thinks would be a pretty awesome way to first experience the original Japanese Disney park, Tokyo Disneyland!If you agree with his choices, order, or neither, enjoyed this episode or didn't, let us know, by Liking us on Facebook, Following us on Twitter, subscribing and reviewing us on iTunes, or emailing us at [email protected] - and, as always, enjoy!Links 'n' Stuff:

This show required a lot of research, and if it sounds like we've ripped you off and you're not credited below, let us know!Of course, there's the Tokyo Disney Resort official website, and the official home of the Oriental Land Company, whose 50th anniversary timeline provided a lot of the information for the history segment. Fansites and forums visited include (in no particular order):Chris's Tokyo Disney Resort Fan Site

Joe's Tokyo Disney Resort Photo Site

This useful MiceChat thread about TDR history

These videos from Martin Smith, on Japan at Epcot & the BTMRs of the world

The Disney Wiki entry for Tokyo Disney Resort - and even the Wikipedia page!

This official video, released for the 15th anniversary, is awesome!

And for a cool companion show, listen to Len & Jim discuss TDR on the Disney Dish podcast!

It's that time again...time for a slice of Bitesize Mike!This time, Mike's compensating for a lack of episode 44 (sorry again!), with some brick talk. Learn about the history of the world's favourite toy company (probably), and all the run-ins and arrangements it's had with our favourite media company - Mike's a geek about pretty much everything in this episode, and it shows!If you enjoyed such geeking out, or find it a bit too OTT, let us know, by Liking us on Facebook, Following us on Twitter, subscribing and reviewing on iTunes, and/or emailing us, at [email protected] - and, as always, enjoy!Links 'n' Stuff:Check out The Lego Story, for a slightly more in-depth history lesson!

Cool stuff on MOC Pages...

...Star Tours

...Cinderella Castle

...Jungle Cruise

...Tower of Terror

...Pirates of the Caribbean (ride)

and on Lego Ideas...

...Mary Poppins

...Wall*E

and some cool fan-sites...

...LUGNET

...Brickipedia

...Brickshelf

Greetings! This time around, Celeste from PsychoSocial Disney Culture joins us, for her first ever podcast appearance, and what fun it is!Mike, Emily and Celeste discuss Maleficent, touch again on Big Hero 6 and Inside Out, explore a different way of looking at The Little Mermaid, investigate family affairs in recent Disney films, review Glen Keane's new short, and finally pontificate on Club 33 and privilege in the parks, as well as welcome (and unwelcome) attraction changes. Whew!If you like the sound of all that - and we think you absolutely will! - why not Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and Tumblr (link pending!), subscribe to us and review via iTunes, and even email us, at [email protected] - and, as always, enjoy!

Links 'n' Stuff:

Check out Celeste's great work at PsychoSocial Disney Culture, Like on Facebook, and follow her on Twitter! Here are some pertinent articles from PSDC......on Inside Out

...on The Little Mermaid

...on Club 33 (part 1, part 2)

Also, check out Glen Keane's Duet, and Pleasure Beach Blackpool's Alice Ride!