The Happiest Pod on Earth

49: Can doing less make Disney feel more magical? In the Happiest Pod’s first shorter episode, Ariel and Stef reflect on how their relationships with Disney and the podcast have evolved. They talk about slower park days, letting go of FOMO, experiencing Disneyland through growing children, and finding Disney community in unexpected places. They also look ahead to live-action Moana, revisit the X-Men, and share how Toy Story 5 became part of Ariel’s wedding weekend. Sometimes loving something more means experiencing it more intentionally.

Summary

00:00 Episode 49 and trying a shorter format
01:31 Why this season of life calls for smaller episodes
03:03 Slower park days and letting go of Disney FOMO
04:45 How absence made Disneyland feel magical again
05:36 Experiencing the parks through growing children
07:55 Why Disneyland still feels like the “real” park
10:00 Trading Hollywood Studios for Tokyo Disney
11:02 When FOMO becomes anticipation
12:36 Disneyland, Disney World, and the right timeline
13:53 How an EPCOT bachelorette changed group travel
15:18 Expanding the podcast beyond Disneyland
16:37 Finding community through niche fandoms
18:35 Spotting Disney people everywhere, even at CrimeCon
19:45 Upcoming Disney projects and what still feels exciting
21:02 X-Men ’97 and returning to stories that endure
22:30 Live-action Moana, representation, and The Rock’s wig
23:59 Lilo & Stitch and Pacific Islander representation
25:26 Gramma Tala, Disney tears, and fixing it in post
26:43 Toy Story 5 and wedding-weekend synchronicity
28:22 Experiencing fandom more slowly and fully
30:36 A new phase for the Happiest Pod

Media/Characters Mentioned

• Disneyland Resort
• Walt Disney World Resort
• EPCOT
• Magic Kingdom
• Disney’s Hollywood Studios
• Disney California Adventure
• Tokyo Disneyland
• Tokyo DisneySea
• Disney Cruise Line
• Magic Key
• Pirates of the Caribbean
• Haunted Mansion
• “it’s a small world”
• Guardians of the Galaxy
• Moana
• Moana 2
• Live-action Moana
• Moana
• Maui
• Gramma Tala
• Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson
• Bretman Rock
• Lilo & Stitch
• Lilo
• Stitch
• The Lion King
• X-Men ’97
• X-Men: Days of Future Past
• Quicksilver
• Mystique
• Evan Peters
• Jennifer Lawrence
• Avengers: Doomsday
• Doctor Doom
• Toy Story 5
• Fast & Furious
• Hawaii Five-0
• Doogie Kameāloha, M.D.
• Jason Momoa
• CrimeCon

Topics/Themes Mentioned

• The evolution of the Happiest Pod
• Experimenting with shorter podcast episodes
• Changing attention spans and media habits
• Intentional content consumption
• Slowing down and being present
• Letting go of Disney FOMO
• Anticipation versus fear of missing out
• Changing relationships with Disney parks
• Enjoying parks without completing a checklist
• Returning to Disneyland after time away
• Experiencing Disney through growing children
• Disneyland versus Walt Disney World
• Familiarity, comfort, and a sense of home
• Curated experiences and authenticity
• The cost and accessibility of Disney trips
• Group travel and Disney bachelorette parties
• Building community through shared interests
• Disney adult stigma
• Fandom as a source of belonging
• Polynesian and Pacific Islander representation
• Expectations for live-action adaptations
• Revisiting enduring stories and characters
• Friendship, family, and changing seasons of life
• Experiencing fandom more fully rather than expansively

Links & Resources

Host & Show Links:

• Instagram: @HappiestPodGT
• Facebook: @HappiestPodGT
• Ariel on IG: @airyell3000

Geek Therapy Links:

• Website: www.geektherapy.org
• GT IG: @GeekTherapy
• GT Facebook: @GeekTherapy
• GT Facebook Group: @GeekTherapyCommunity
• GT YouTube: @GeekTherapy
• GT Discord: geektherapy.com/discord
• GT Forum: forum.geektherapy.com

Geek Therapy is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that advocates for the effective and meaningful use of popular media in therapeutic, educational, and community practice.

48: Join Ariel and Stef with special guest Shaelene, somatic DBT therapist and creator of Clinically Ever After, a Disney-based conference for mental health professionals. What started as a “what if” became a “what is.” This sold-out event brought clinicians and educators together at Walt Disney World, where they found community and reconnected with themselves. From navigating Disney logistics to creating a space that actually feels good to be in, this episode explores burnout, authenticity, and play in professional spaces. Sometimes you wish upon a star. Other times, you remember you are one.

Summary

00:00 Introductions and return from hiatus

01:35 What Clinically Ever After is and how it started

04:48 Behind the scenes of hosting at Disney

08:44 Logistics, costs, and figuring things out in real time

12:07 Personal Disney experiences and planning with familiarity

15:09 Designing a conference that feels fun and welcoming

19:36 Presentations, playfulness, and audience engagement

20:36 Attendee reactions and emotional impact

21:31 Creating a relaxed and open professional space

23:03 Pre-event community building and connection

23:58 Shared fandom as an entry point for relationships

26:13 Authenticity and showing up as yourself in professional settings

28:21 Group dynamics and navigating feelings of exclusion

31:37 Inclusivity across roles and disciplines

33:25 Burnout and the need for support in helping professions

34:52 Bonding through joy instead of stress

37:36 Creativity and play as ways to restore energy

42:26 What’s next: expanding the conference and new theme

47:20 Disney snacks and park culture differences

47:58 Closing thoughts and where to connect

Media/Characters Mentioned

• Disney / Walt Disney World
• Mickey Mouse
• EPCOT
• The Little Mermaid
• Bath & Body Works Disney Princess Collection
• Disneyland vs. Disney World

Topics/Themes Mentioned

• Burnout in clinicians and educators
• Community and belonging in professional spaces
• Authenticity in therapy and teaching
• Play and creativity as part of clinical work
• Neurodivergence and inclusive environments
• Designing engaging conferences
• Imposter syndrome and leadership
• Fandom as connection and identity
• Professional vulnerability
• Navigating large systems like Disney
• Sensory and environmental considerations
• Cross-disciplinary collaboration
• Rest, joy, and sustainable work

Links & Resources

Guest Links:

• Shaelene: @rebelmente/
• Clinically Ever After: https://clinicallyeverafter.com

Host & Show Links:

• Instagram: @HappiestPodGT
• Facebook: @HappiestPodGT
• Ariel on IG: @airyell3000

Geek Therapy Links:

• Website: www.geektherapy.org
• GT IG: @GeekTherapy
• GT Facebook: @GeekTherapy
• GT Facebook Group: @GeekTherapyCommunity
• GT YouTube: @GeekTherapy
• GT Discord: geektherapy.com/discord
• GT Forum: forum.geektherapy.com

Geek Therapy is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that advocates for the effective and meaningful use of popular media in therapeutic, educational, and community practice.

47: Join Ariel, Stef, and special guest Helen Garcia from Yellow Chair Collective for a heartfelt, hilarious, and insightful discussion on Inside Out 2 and the emotional rollercoaster that is adolescence. This episode unpacks how the film portrays anxiety, perfectionism, and identity shifts with surprising nuance, and why so many of us saw our younger (and current) selves in Riley’s journey. Whether you cried, cringed, or left the theater texting your therapist, this episode holds space for it all!

00:00 Hosts and guest intros
01:10 Inside Out 2, its massive marketing push, and what got left behind
04:00 Spoiler warning and movie synopsis
06:00 Anxiety’s debut and the anatomy of a panic attack
09:00 When Joy can’t reach Anxiety—symbolism of helplessness
11:00 Emotion combos, Internal Family Systems theory, and dynamic identity
14:00 The evolving sense of self and grounding techniques
17:00 Cultural misattunement during puberty (e.g., immigrant family dynamics)
20:00 Why Riley’s experience didn’t feel universal for everyone
22:00 Cultural TikToks reimagining emotions: Wu Ting, Honor, Filial Piety
24:00 Core belief shifts: “I’m not enough” and perfectionism
27:00 Visual art therapy and naming personal narratives
30:00 Complexity vs. affirmation-only approaches
32:00 Revisiting Joy, Sadness, and emotional integration
34:00 Classroom tools for building identity through the school year
37:00 Changing education systems and honoring the whole child
39:00 Perfectionism as a survival response in racialized and immigrant communities
42:00 Reflections on gamification, experiential learning, and emotional literacy
47:00 Symbolic meanings in control boards and character design
51:00 Are we all driven by one dominant emotion?
54:00 The fragility of identity and metaphor of the belief system design
56:00 Ice skating, burnout, and overachievement culture
58:00 Sports as metaphor for identity, connection, and drive
59:00 Where to find Yellow Chair Collective and final thoughts

Speaker 1 0:00
Shrink wrap radio, number 300 on the neuroscience of dreaming with Robert Haas.

Speaker 2 0:07
Shrink wrap radio, all the psychology you need to know, and just enough to make it dangerous. It’s all in your head. And now here’s your host, Dr Dave music.

Speaker 1 0:27
My return guest today, after a long absence, is Robert J Haas and we’ll be discussing recent developments in the neuroscience of dreaming. Robert Haas MS is author of the book Dream language. He’s also a director and past president of the International Association for the Study of dreams. He’s on the faculty at Hayden Institute for Dream leadership training and a former adjunct faculty for Dream studies at such institutions as Sonoma State University, Richland College and Scottsdale College, a former corporate executive scientist and researcher with training in Gestalt and humanistic psychology, he now devotes his skills to dream studies for which he has been a frequent guest on radio and TV and an internationally acclaimed lecturer and instructor for over 30 years. His unique, simple but powerful dream work approach is based on his training in Gestalt therapy and background in Jungian studies the neurobiology of dreaming, plus his pioneering research on the significance of color in dreams. Now here’s the interview. Bob Haas, welcome back to shrink wrap radio. Well, thank you. It’s great to be back. Yeah, it’s been five years since you were here, back on episode number 90, announcing the 2007 dreams conference and speaking about the language of dreams. Now this is going to be episode number 300 and you can help me celebrate, yeah, you can help me celebrate our 300th shrink wrap radio. And of course, after our interview, I’ll ask you to say a few words about the upcoming 29th annual iasd conference. That’s the International Association for the Study of dreams. But before we get into that, I understand you’ve been doing some work on recent developments in the neuroscience of dreaming.

Speaker 3 2:27
Yes, there’s a tremendous amount of interesting stuff going on now, particularly since over the last decade, certain researchers have been able to use brain scan equipment, PET scans, MRI, things of that sort, or fMRI, to understand what Saturn’s of the brain are active and inactive during the dreaming. Tremendous amount of research out there, and I basically just been kind of compiling it and reporting on it. Yeah,

Speaker 1 2:57
yeah. And you’ve done a terrific job. You sent me a couple of articles that that you’ve written, and very impressive. So what are some of the more exciting things that neurological research has discovered about the dreaming brain?

Speaker 3 3:10
Well, just just kind of going into past history, way back in 1952 the discovery of REM occurred, and at that point in time, we suddenly realized that we dream a great deal of our evening two hours, or roughly for adults, about 24% of our sleep time is spent in in dreaming, or in vivid dreaming. What is what typically happens in what’s known as the REM state, which is a rapid eye movement, but now what? What’s happened during through a lot of other testing and research has been done, as they found that we really dream throughout the entire night, even outside of REM state. However, the Dreaming is the dreaming that we think of as dreaming, which is the more vivid dreams and all still occur during this, this REM state. So there’s been a lot of focus with with brain scan type research on neuroscience, on the REM state as being more associated with the kind of vivid dreams that we typically think of. And what has occurred is that the researchers have found that during our this REM state or this more vivid dream state? A great deal of our brain is active. It’s actually awake. And there are other parts of the brain that are that the activity is diminished in or they’re relatively asleep, and they really create the sort of characteristics we see in a dream, for example, the parts of the brain that tend to be asleep, if I can use that simple term when we dream, are the parts of the frontal cortex, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, which is our thinking brain, and the rational thinking part of our brain. If. And other areas like motion and parts of the brain responsible for waking consciousness remain pretty much inactive, and what that does is it tends to make our dreams the kind of bizarre characteristics that that we see in our dreams we because there’s no rational filtering going on or rational directing of the dream activities so dreams can hyper Connect.

Speaker 1 5:27
Yeah. Is that because that prefrontal part of the brain that you were talking about is asleep?

Speaker 3 5:34
Yeah, the dorsalatal prefrontal cortex is a part of the frontal cortex that really is responsible for our rational thought, and that tends to be inactive. But now that the a whole bunch of centers are active in our dreams, for instance, in particular, the emotional processing, the emotional brain, the emotional part of our brain, called the limbic system, is highly active, also parts of the frontal cortex, lower frontal cortex and the anterior cingulate, which deal with analytical problem solving, learning and problem solving, about those kinds of activities, are quite active. And the really interesting thing is that our visual our primary visual cortex, is not active, the part we see with which is interesting because we’re seeing our dreams. How...

46: Ariel and Stef are joined by Dr. Jinxi Caddel for a heartfelt and art-filled dive into the world of tattoos, identity, and Disney fandom. From full Alice in Wonderland back pieces to tiny churro flash tats, this episode celebrates how ink becomes a personal archive of memory, culture, and connection.

Jinxi shares her journey from tattoo publishing to mental health, co-owning a tattoo shop, and running a private practice for those who color outside the lines. Together, they unpack stigma, nostalgia, and the healing power of self-expression—through Disney and beyond. Whether you’re tattooed, tattoo-curious, or just love a good Dole Whip, this one’s for you.

Summary
 
00:00 Hosts and guest introductions
02:00 Childhood Disney memories and first tattoos
04:00 Jinxi’s journey from tattoo publishing to psychology
08:00 Stigma, acceptance, and professional visibility
13:00 Tattoos in families and intergenerational storytelling
16:00 Favorite Disney tattoos—characters, quotes, and food!
20:00 Fandoms in ink: Star Wars, Marvel, and park icons
24:00 Flash tattoos and memory markers
28:00 Permanent makeup and cultural ties
32:00 Tattoos as affirmations and emotional touchstones
35:00 Therapeutic meaning behind body art
40:00 Building safe, expressive spaces in education and therapy
46:00 Final reflections and where to find Jinxi’s work 

Transcription
 
00:00:03:20 – 00:00:05:01
Hello, everyone. 
00:00:05:01 – 00:00:07:01
Welcome to the Happiest Pod on Earth. 
00:00:07:01 – 00:00:07:18
I’m Stef 
00:00:07:18 – 00:00:09:12
I’m an educator who uses passions 
00:00:09:12 – 00:00:10:09
and fandoms to help 
00:00:10:09 – 00:00:11:15
my students grow 
00:00:11:15 – 00:00:12:19
and learn about themselves 
00:00:12:19 – 00:00:14:07
and the world around them. 
00:00:14:07 – 00:00:16:01
And I’m Ariel, a licensed therapist 
00:00:16:01 – 00:00:17:20
who uses clients passions and fandoms 
00:00:17:20 – 00:00:18:15
to help them grow 
00:00:18:15 – 00:00:19:11
and heal from trauma 
00:00:19:11 – 00:00:21:19
and mental and wellness. 
00:00:21:19 – 00:00:23:14
And I am Jinxi 
00:00:23:14 – 00:00:25:19
and I’m a mental health therapist 
00:00:25:19 – 00:00:27:12
and a book publisher. 
00:00:27:12 – 00:00:29:10
And the tattoo shop owner, 
00:00:29:10 – 00:00:31:11
in Eugene, Oregon. 
00:00:31:11 – 00:00:33:01
I have a practice called Black 
00:00:33:01 – 00:00:33:20
Sleep Therapy, 
00:00:33:20 – 00:00:36:20
where, I like to help people who, 
00:00:36:22 – 00:00:39:02
like to color outside the lines. 
00:00:39:02 – 00:00:40:09
That might be black sheep 
00:00:40:09 – 00:00:43:05
or unicorns themselves. 
00:00:43:05 – 00:00:45:02
So I’m happy to be here. 
00:00:45:02 – 00:00:46:04
Wonderful. 
00:00:46:04 – 00:00:47:11
And here at Happiest Pod, 
00:00:47:11 – 00:00:48:19
we dissect Disney mediums 
00:00:48:19 – 00:00:50:05
So the critical lens. Why? 
00:00:50:05 – 00:00:51:15
Because we are more than just fans, 
00:00:51:15 – 00:00:53:06
and we expect more from the mediums 
00:00:53:06 – 00:00:54:07
we consume. 
00:00:54:07 – 00:00:56:15
So, what are we talking about today? 
00:00:57:21 – 00:00:59:09
Well, we have another very 
00:00:59:09 – 00:01:01:04
special guest on our podcast. 
00:01:01:04 – 00:01:03:04
Welcome, Dr. Jinxi Right? 
00:01:03:04 – 00:01:04:05
It is. 
00:01:04:05 – 00:01:05:17
Thank you so much. 
00:01:05:17 – 00:01:06:11
I appreciate it, 
00:01:06:11 – 00:01:08:09
but I’m so happy to be here. 
00:01:08:09 – 00:01:09:15
Yeah, absolutely. 
00:01:09:15 – 00:01:11:22
And we’re we have a really fun topic 
00:01:11:22 – 00:01:12:15
to talk about. 
00:01:12:15 – 00:01:13:18
And, 
00:01:13:18 – 00:01:16:11
we talk about Disney art on many levels, 
00:01:16:11 – 00:01:18:09
but I think this is a level of Disney 
00:01:18:09 – 00:01:20:21
art that we haven’t quite talked about, 
00:01:20:21 – 00:01:23:14
which is body art and tattoos. 
00:01:23:14 – 00:01:24:13
And, 
00:01:24:13 – 00:01:26:11
I think with the recent, 
00:01:26:11 – 00:01:28:14
I think resurgence of tattoos 
00:01:28:14 – 00:01:29:17
and the accessibility 
00:01:29:17 – 00:01:30:19
to getting tattoos 
00:01:30:19 – 00:01:33:15
has been widely seen and respected. 
00:01:33:15 – 00:01:35:17
And, we just love 
00:01:35:17 – 00:01:36:19
especially going to the parks 
00:01:36:19 – 00:01:37:15
and seeing different 
00:01:37:15 – 00:01:40:00
interpretations of Disney art. 
00:01:40:00 – 00:01:40:16
And also, 
00:01:40:16 – 00:01:40:21
you know, 
00:01:40:21 – 00:01:42:17
we were really curious for you, 
00:01:42:17 – 00:01:44:02
Dr. Jinxi 
00:01:44:02 – 00:01:47:02
you’re kind of journey into your 
00:01:47:02 – 00:01:49:17
amazing life, I think, as a therapist 
00:01:49:17 – 00:01:51:02
and as an artist. 
00:01:51:02 – 00:01:52:18
I think it’s a very unique, 
00:01:52:18 – 00:01:54:01
perspective 
00:01:54:01 – 00:01:55:10
that not many people know about. 
00:01:55:10 – 00:01:57:11
Yeah. Well, thank you so much. 
00:01:57:11 – 00:02:00:11
I, you know, it’s funny because 
00:02:00:17 – 00:02:03:14
as a child, my very first experience 
00:02:03:14 – 00:02:07:03
with a tattoo was at Disneyland, 
00:02:07:03 – 00:02:10:05
and I was behind a girl in line 
00:02:10:05 – 00:02:11:16
who had a Cheshire 
00:02:11:16 – 00:02:14:08
cat tattoo on her back. 
00:02:14:08 – 00:02:15:20
And I thought it was like, 
00:02:15:20 – 00:02:18:08
the dreamiest thing I had ever seen, 
00:02:18:08 – 00:02:19:01
and I. 
00:02:19:01 – 00:02:19:23
I can’t remember 
00:02:19:23 – 00:02:22:05
how old I was, but I just 
00:02:22:05 – 00:02:25:05
it was locked in and I just knew 
00:02:25:05 – 00:02:27:05
someday I wanted tattoos to, 
00:02:28:16 – 00:02:30:07
And, I 
00:02:30:07 – 00:02:31:16
actually didn’t get 
00:02:31:16 – 00:02:34:01
my first tattoo until, 
00:02:34:01 – 00:02:34:08
like, 
00:02:34:08 – 00:02:35:13
my mid to late 
00:02:35:13 – 00:02:36:22
20s, after 
00:02:36:22 – 00:02:38:17
I had had all of my kids 
00:02:38:17 – 00:02:43:23
and, I was working as a, an editor 
00:02:43:23 – 00:02:44:17
and a writer 
00:02:44:17 – 00:02:45:18
for several, 
00:02:45:18 – 00:02:48:18
tattoo magazines at the time. 
00:02:48:21 – 00:02:51:04
And so that just opened 
00:02:51:04 – 00:02:51:19
my world 
00:02:51:19 – 00:02:54:04
into all of these incredible artists. 
00:02:54:04 – 00:02:55:09
And, 
00:02:55:09 – 00:02:56:18
my very first tattoo 
00:02:56:18 – 00:02:59:18
was a tiny little cherry on my ankle. 
00:03:00:00 – 00:03:01:00
And, 
00:03:01:00 – 00:03:04:03
and that has since grown into pretty much 
00:03:04:03 – 00:03:05:06
I have my whole head 
00:03:05:06 – 00:03:08:05
tattooed, down, down to my toes. 
00:03:08:05 – 00:03:09:08
Most of it’s covered. 
00:03:09:08 – 00:03:10:21
I have a couple little spo...

Join Ariel, Stef, and their guests Jodie Anders and Shalom (aka Boy Venus) for an honest, colorful, and insightful episode that celebrates queer identity through the magic (and mess) of Disney. The conversation spans nostalgic awakenings, media analysis, cultural critique, and the affirming power of telling your story—your way.

Jodie, author of Queer Cheer, shares how travel and diverse narratives helped her discover her own queerness. Shalom, a young activist and indie musician, reflects on the power of subtext in media like Luca and Frozen, and how art has been central to their self-exploration. Together, this group celebrates Pride, critiques tokenism, and envisions a future where queer stories aren’t subplots—they’re the main event.

Summary of HPOE 45:

00:00:00:00 – 00:00:08:18

00:00:08:18 – 00:00:35:00

Unknown

Hello, everyone. Welcome to the happiest pot on Earth. I’m Steph. I’m an educator who uses passions and fandoms to help my students grow and learn about themselves and the world around them. And I’m Ariel, a licensed therapist who uses clients passions and fandom to help them grow and heal from trauma and mental and wellness. Hey everyone, I’m Jodi Anders, I am a Jewish bisexual creator and I focus on creating diversity and promoting youth empowerment.

00:00:35:02 – 00:01:01:01

Unknown

I currently serve as the publicity and communications director for a youth nonprofit in California, and I’ve spent over two decades mentoring teens in confidence and leadership skills. I’m the coauthor author of Queer Cheer Activities Advice and Affirmations for LGBTQ Plus Teens, and I also produce a podcast. Let’s talk about leadership, service, and Sisterhood, which is a podcast for teens by teens.

00:01:01:01 – 00:01:25:12

Unknown

Hi. My name is Shalom. As a student, I’ve been involved in many campaigns and community organizing organizations, working with youth organizers in the San Fernando Valley to fight for the rights of Filipino migrant workers, justice and visibility for displaced ethnic communities abroad, and have worked to create, support and educate members of the Residents of Color community through the creation of my ever growing coalition.

00:01:25:14 – 00:01:51:16

Unknown

California State University, Northridge is Queer Students of Color Club. I’m also a queer indie musician, producing music under the name Boy Venus. Check me out on SoundCloud if you’re interested. Specifically working within the electronic genre to make music reminiscent of games like Pokemon Legends of Zelda, Undertale, while also using techniques from artists like Rebecca Sugar, Ivy Tran and Stephen Filemon.

00:01:52:00 – 00:02:08:14

Unknown

beautiful. And here at Happiest Pod, we dissect Disney Medium. So the critical lens. Why? Because we are more than just fans and we expect more from the mediums we consume. So, what are we talking about today? As you both heard these wonderful introductions from our exceptional guests today we have Jodi and Shalom.

00:02:08:15 – 00:02:38:08

Unknown

Welcome to the happiest Pod on Earth. We are so thrilled that you are here to talk about all things LGBTQ representation. In honor of Pride Month and we’re really excited to really dive in, and, see the world and see the Disney World from Euro Isles lens. So yeah, welcome to the podcast. So to be here, I’m curious, you know, we have heard about representation in general in the media.

00:02:38:08 – 00:02:59:20

Unknown

And when it comes to Disney, do you feel or believe that they’re increasing LGBTQ plus representation, and if so, when do you think they’ve done it? And are there opportunities they missed or were they just like completely missed the mark? I feel like it’s kind of like an ebb and flow situation. I mean, it’s definitely had some more, you know, representation.

00:02:59:20 – 00:03:24:23

Unknown

And actually this discussion can get so nuanced, right? Because are we talking about like, original animation? Are we talking about like the entire Disney, universe, you know, within Marvel and Star Wars? So, at this point, apparently Hulu’s in there too. So if there’s some horror movies, or other anime animation you want to include that counts.

00:03:25:01 – 00:04:11:02

Unknown

Yeah, I think like in the more like traditional sense of Disney Pixar. It’s it’s slowly increasing, like strictly within like movies and TV. Like in movies, I feel like we’re still not other than maybe like Strange World getting those main characters. That would be great. But, it’s really nice to see at least, you know, some nuances through the community, like having a non-binary character in elementals or, just, you know, at least some representation.

00:04:11:02 – 00:04:57:15

Unknown

Which is better than that. But, there’s also just questionable things that they’ve done in the sense of like pulling from different markets or, you know, like, I know, so, like when they did Lightyear, I, I loved that they had a Lisa like, that his sidekick was such a big representation. And then it was so incredibly heartbreaking to have this, reaction to what was not even a minute of their relationship, the lesbian relationship she had, which was this beautiful little heartwarming family and, seeing at the time, like them, like pulling it from market to things like that.

00:04:57:17 – 00:05:01:20

Unknown

But at the same time, like, if we kind of pull back the lens a little bit,

00:05:01:20 – 00:05:25:22

Unknown

at the same time, there’s like getting the, the monthly emails, not even just the LGBTQ, pieces. They will highli...

44: Ariel, Stef, and special guest Chance Calloway discuss Juneteenth, media representation, and Disney’s portrayal of Black characters. They highlight Juneteenth’s significance and embodiment of “we’re not free until we are all free.” The episode promotes authentic representations and diverse voices in future Disney projects and teaches audiences about The Transformation Trope, Projection Representation, and Black coded characters.

Summary of HPOE 44:

00:00:09,094 –> 00:00:11,894
Ariel Landrum: Hello, everyone. Welcome to the happiest pod on Earth.

00:00:11,894 –> 00:00:18,530
I’m Ariel, a licensed therapist who uses clients’ passions and fandoms to help them grow and heal from trauma and mental development.

00:00:18,690 –> 00:00:24,690
Stefanie Bautista: And I’m Stef. I’m an educator who uses her passions and fandoms to educate the kids that I work with.

00:00:24,690 –> 00:00:33,345
Chance Calloway: I’m Chance Calloway. I’m a producer, filmmaker, musician, writer, all around multi hyphenate. Creativity is my passion.

00:00:33,450 –> 00:00:36,410
Stefanie Bautista: And happiest pod is where we dissect Disney mediums with a

00:00:36,410 –> 00:00:41,710
Ariel Landrum: critical lens. Why? Because we are more than just Stef, and we expect more from the mediums we consume.

00:00:42,005 –> 00:00:44,825
So, see, so I have a guest today. Chance, what are we talking about?

00:00:45,204 –> 00:00:48,425
Chance Calloway: Today we’re talking about Juneteenth, and we’re talking about representation.

00:00:48,805 –> 00:00:56,720
Stefanie Bautista: Yeah. Yeah. Chance, as you all know, if you’ve been following us on our podcast and also have seen us at Comic Con or WonderCon,

00:00:56,860 –> 00:01:02,465
Chance is 1 of our very good friends, 1 of our most talented friends, like you said, multi hyphenate.

00:01:02,925 –> 00:01:10,500
And, you know, I feel even when this podcast was coming to its conception, we would organically have a lot of really good

00:01:10,500 –> 00:01:18,425
discussions about the way we consume media and the different things that we expect from it and also want to see from it in the future.

00:01:18,425 –> 00:01:26,080
So I hope that today’s discussion is gonna be very enlightening for those of you aren’t familiar with Juneteenth. So, Chance, would you be

00:01:26,080 –> 00:01:28,420
Ariel Landrum: able to explain what exactly is Juneteenth?

00:01:28,640 –> 00:01:33,845
It became recently a federal holiday, but just because it wasn’t a federal holiday, doesn’t mean that it wasn’t a holiday.

00:01:34,165 –> 00:01:40,825
Chance Calloway: Correct. Yes. Juneteenth, basically, is the embodiment of the term, we’re not free until we’re all free.

00:01:41,180 –> 00:01:47,680
So when, the Emancipation Proclamation was passed, some, black Americans were still enslaved.

00:01:48,060 –> 00:01:51,585
Some black Americans did not know that freedom had arrived.

00:01:51,884 –> 00:02:00,350
And on June 19th, that was the day that they did basically the final, like, enforcement, and made sure that the enslaved people were made free.

00:02:00,430 –> 00:02:05,170
And that’s when a lot of, people in the black community started celebrating it as a holiday.

00:02:05,390 –> 00:02:11,705
Ariel Landrum: I think it’s important to note because it’s hard for people to fathom not getting information immediately.

00:02:12,245 –> 00:02:12,724
Chance Calloway: Sure.

00:02:12,724 –> 00:02:16,620
Ariel Landrum: There’s an acknowledgment that we get media so quickly.

00:02:16,760 –> 00:02:25,885
We get news so quickly, especially, like, breaking news, reactions to it, that there isn’t this time to, like, digest and

00:02:25,885 –> 00:02:28,465
understand before you’ve moved on to the next thing.

00:02:28,605 –> 00:02:37,650
And I think that the fact that it became a holiday amongst the black community just shows, like, how important and informative it was.

00:02:38,189 –> 00:02:45,695
Chance Calloway: Absolutely. Suleens. Yeah. And I think, for a lot of people, there’s a a hitch that comes with thinking of American holidays,

00:02:46,050 –> 00:02:47,810
you know, and the American flag, things like that.

00:02:47,810 –> 00:02:51,569
We’ve seen you know, it’s been the media a lot because of the cover of Beyonce’s new album.

00:02:51,569 –> 00:02:56,465
A lot of, black Americans kind of don’t respect, like, holidays like the 4th July.

00:02:56,685 –> 00:03:01,905
So then when something like Juneteenth came along, that I can respect. That feels like a celebration.

00:03:02,045 –> 00:03:02,569
Ariel Landrum: And I think

00:03:02,569 –> 00:03:08,510
Stefanie Bautista: when it comes to holidays, there are diff there’s different layers of celebrating and even the word celebrating a holiday.

00:03:08,650 –> 00:03:14,975
Because, essentially, this is 1 of those holidays where it was a realization of something that hadn’t been realized, fully.

00:03:15,115 –> 00:03:22,799
When you’re talking about people celebrating the 4th July, they normally talk about barbecues and doing fun stuff and not,

00:03:22,799 –> 00:03:26,180
you know, the actual reason for the holiday.

00:03:26,400 –> 00:03:34,595
This is 1 of those holidays that kind of wakes us up to the different ways we celebrate and the different ways we honor certain

00:03:34,595 –> 00:03:38,694
peop...

43: Ariel, Stef, and return guest Maria delve into the intricacies of hosting a play therapy conference at Disneyland, focusing on accommodations for dynamic disabilities. They discuss the unique challenges and rewards of planning such an event in a magical setting. They emphasize the importance of inclusivity, accommodations, and the evolving nature of disability services at Disney. They also explore the distinctions between ask culture and guess culture, the impact of ableist assumptions, and practical strategies for integrating play-based interventions for disabled children and adults.

Register for the “Play Therapy: Disney Bound” taking place at Disneyland and the Disneyland Hotel from March 10th-15th, 2025 here:

https://www.anewhopetc.org/playatdisneyland

Register for the “The Supportive Innovations for Therapeutic Heroes Conference (S.I.T.H.)” taking place at Las Cruces Convention Center, New Mexico from September 26th-28th, 2024 here:

https://www.anewhopetc.org/sith

Summary of HPOE 43:

00:00 – 00:02
Is episode 43 of happiest pot on earth.

00:02 – 00:09
On this episode, we are going to be using some, very specific terminology that we would like to define for you ahead of time

00:09 – 00:13
so when you listen you can feel more prepared. The first term is ableism.

00:13 – 00:22
Ableism is the discrimination of and social prejudice against people with disabilities based on the belief that typical abilities are superior.

00:23 – 00:29
At its heart, ableism is rooted in the assumption that disabled people require fixing and defines people by their disability.

00:30 – 00:38
The second term is diversity. Diversity simply means the differences between people, and equity is about securing everyone’s

00:38 – 00:40
access to the same opportunities and resources.

00:41 – 00:47
Inclusion, which is another term that we use, creates a welcoming and respectful environment, and belonging is the feeling

00:47 – 00:50
of being accepted and part of a community.

00:50 – 00:58
Another term is dynamic disability. A dynamic disability is a condition or impairment that can change in severity and impact over time.

00:59 – 01:05
This can include periods of remission or exasperation or symptoms that fluctuate throughout the day.

01:05 – 01:12
People with dynamic disabilities may experience good days, bad days that are unpredictable, which can make it difficult to

01:12 – 01:14
manage their symptoms and plan for the future.

01:26 – 01:29
Hello, everyone. Welcome to the happiest pod on Earth. I’m Steph.

01:29 – 01:35
I’m an educator who uses passions and fandoms to help my students grow and learn about themselves and the world around them.

01:35 – 01:42
And I’m Ariel, a licensed therapist who uses clients’ passions and fandoms to help them grow and heal from trauma and mental illness.

01:42 – 01:49
I’m Maria. I’m a marriage and family therapist and a registered play therapist who pulls from pop culture to normalized mental health and therapy.

01:49 – 01:53
And here at Happiest Pod, we dissect Disney mediums with a critical lens. Why?

01:53 – 01:56
Because we are more than just fans and we expect more from the mediums we consume.

01:57 – 01:58
So everybody, what are we talking about today?

01:59 – 02:08
Well, we have a very special guest on our podcast today, an old friend, I guess you can say, because we have had her on our podcast before.

02:08 – 02:15
We have Maria who is, a wonderful person, human being, and very talented in what she does.

02:15 – 02:22
I am in awe of everything, that she has accomplished, and, I had so much fun the last time I saw her because the last time

02:22 – 02:26
I we saw her was at the parks. So Yeah. Yeah.

02:26 – 02:33
Yeah. Thank you guys so much for having me back, and thanks for coming and playing with me at Disney.

02:33 – 02:35
I mean, there’s no there’s no better work day than

02:35 – 02:36
a day at Disney.

02:36 – 02:39
You really have to pull our hair to, like, go there.

02:39 – 02:44
We’re just like, I don’t know about this one. That’s such a big ask. Oh, good. Ask.

02:44 – 02:46
I had to leave work. Oh my goodness.

02:46 – 02:53
So, Maria, I’m curious. What inspired you to choose Disneyland as the venue of your play therapy conference?

02:53 – 03:00
And were there any unique challenges and rewards that you encountered in having the magical place be the location

03:00 – 03:11
of your conference? Sure. I mean, when we think about play, and the 3 of us being, Disney adults, fan adults, I mean, there’s

03:11 – 03:15
really not a better place than the parks to go and play. Right?

03:16 – 03:24
And so really the the idea behind the conference was how do I integrate play back into the learning? I’m old.

03:24 – 03:30
I used to attend conference...

42: Join Ariel, Stef, and their distinguished guests, Julia and Eric Lewald—writers and showrunners of the X-Men Animated Series. This episode explores the legacy of the original X-Men series, its cultural impact, and the exciting revival with X-Men 97. The Lewalds share the challenges and joys of bringing their beloved characters to life through personal anecdotes and professional insights. Tune in for a nostalgic journey and a look at how X-Men continue to inspire and educate through themes of identity, diversity, and resilience.

Summary
 
Summary 

• 00:00 Introducing Happiest Pod and Guests: Meet the hosts of Happiest Pod and their special guests, Eric and Julia Lewald, creators of the original X-Men series, as they discuss their passion for dissecting Disney mediums with a critical lens.
• 01:02 Rediscovering X-Men’s Impact: Explore Eric and Julia’s surreal experience of rediscovering the massive fanbase and impact of X-Men years after the original series ended, leading to a resurgence of interest in the show.
• 03:13 Family Support and Generational Connection: Discover how Eric and Julia’s family, including their children and grandchildren, have played a supportive role in their journey, bridging generational gaps and connecting with the show’s legacy.
• 04:20 Working Together as a Married Couple: Delve into Eric and Julia’s unique dynamic as a married couple working in the same industry, exploring how their shared experiences and collaboration have strengthened their relationship and creative process.
• 06:52 Empathy and Creativity in Collaboration: Uncover the deep empathy and understanding from working closely with a partner in the same field and how shared challenges and experiences can enhance creativity and collaboration.
• 08:58 X-Men’s Legacy and Social Commentary: Explore the profound impact of X-Men in shaping representation, social justice themes, and fostering discussions on complex topics, reflecting on the show’s legacy and relevance in today’s society.
• 09:42 Creative Freedom and Storytelling: Learn about Eric and Julia’s creative freedom in developing the X-Men series, balancing staying true to the original material and crafting engaging and impactful storytelling.
• 16:23 Consulting and Continuation with X-Men 97: Discover Eric and Julia’s experience as consulting producers for X-Men 97, reflecting on the evolution of the industry and the challenges and joys of contributing to the continuation of the beloved series.
• 25:11 Evolution of Animation Industry: Explore the changes in the animation industry over the years, from production timelines to technological advancements and the impact of social media on creative processes and audience engagement.
• 28:28 The Art of Releasing Episodes: Exploring the impact of releasing episodes weekly versus all at once, reminiscent of the original X-Men series and the value of discussing episodes with friends and fans.
• 31:27 Challenges of Accessing Content: Reflecting on the challenges of accessing the content in the past, such as delayed episodes on military bases and the impact of missing out on shared cultural experiences.
• 32:01 Evolution of Show Intro: Discussing changes in show intros over time, comparing the consistency of the original X-Men series intro with the dynamic intros of X-Men 97.
• 33:04 Budget Constraints and Creative Change: Exploring the impact of budget cuts on the final season of the original X-Men series, leading to changes in animation quality and music, highlighting the practical challenges in the industry.
• 36:11 X-Men’s Enduring Theme: Delving into the enduring themes of X-Men, including social commentary, personal struggles, and the evolving nature of human society, emphasizing the importance of appreciating differences and striving for a better world.
• 42:00 Time Travel and Multiverse Possibilities: Exploring the potential for time travel and multiverse concepts in X-Men 97, hinting at exciting narrative possibilities and connections to broader storytelling universes.
• 43:45 Narrative Impact and Character Development: Discussing the impact of character narratives and sacrifices in storytelling, highlighting the emotional depth and realism that resonates with audiences, showcasing the importance of character development and impactful storytelling.
• 47:00 Aspiring Writers’ Advice: Offering valuable advice for aspiring writers and creators, emphasizing consistency, networking, preparedness, flexibility, and the collaborative nature of the industry, encouraging aspiring creatives to hone their craft and embrace the profession’s challenges.
• 57:00 Closing Remarks and Future Engagements: Expressing gratitude for the impact of X-Men and the joy of creative work, sharing insights on upcoming events like LA con and the uncanny experience, and inviting listeners to engage with the guests on social media.

Media/Characters Mentioned
 

• X-Men: The Animated Series
• X-Men 97
• Marvel Universe
• Charles Xavier
• Cyclops (Scott Summers)
• Jean Grey
• Wolverine
• Storm
• Beast
• Gambit
• Rogue
• Professor X

Topics/Themes Mentioned
 

• Legacy of X-Men: The Animated Series
• Cultural and social impact of the series
• Resurgence and revival with X-Men 97
• Creative process and challenges in animation
• Working dynamics as a married couple in the industry
• Representation and diversity in media
• Educational applications of X-Men themes
• Consulting on new series and maintaining original tone
• Evolution of the animation industry
• Fan interactions and convention experiences

| Website: happy.geektherapy.com |
| Instagram: @HappiestPodGT | X: @HappiestPodGT | Facebook: @HappiestPodGT |
| Stef on Twitter: @stefa_kneee | Ariel on Instagram: @airyell3000 |
| Eric and Julia on Twitter: @xmentas | Eric and Julia on Instagram: @xmentas|
| Eric and Julia on Facebook: @xmentas | | Website: https://xmentas.com/ |
| Book 1: https://amzn.to/3yJTQOo | Book 2: https://amzn.to/3UvScYf |

Geek Therapy is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that advocates for the effective and meaningful use of popular media in therapeutic, educational, and community practice.
| GT Facebook: @GeekTherapy | GT Twitter: @GeekTherapy |
| GT Forum: forum.geektherapy.com  | GT Discord: geektherapy.com/discord |

The post

41: Join Ariel, Stef, and their distinguished guests, Soo Jin and Linda—authors and mental health professionals—as they bond over Pixar’s Turning Red. This episode covers the film’s profound themes of family, identity, mental health, and cultural nuances. Our discussion celebrates the movie and the real-life reflections it inspires, especially during AANHPI Heritage Month and Mental Health Awareness Month. Just in time to celebrate Pixar Fest, this conversation promises to bridge the gap between popular culture and professional insights.

Disney/Pixar Turning Red: Mei’s Little Box of Big Feelings Storybooks

Free Downloadable Turning Red Activity Sheets Developed and Provided by Disney/PixarDownload

Summary
 
Summary of HPOE41 

• 00:00 Introduction: Introduction to the episode with Ariel and Stef welcoming guests Soo Jin and Linda, setting up the discussion about Pixar’s Turning Red as it relates to AANHPI Heritage Month, Mental Health Awareness Month, and Pixar Fest.
• 01:02 Turning Red Discussion Kickoff: Discussion on the significance of Turning Red, how it relates to the personal experiences of the hosts and guests, especially during Asian American, Pacific Islander, and Native Hawaiian Heritage Month.
• 02:35 Watch Party Experience: Guests share their unique experiences of watching Turning Red through a virtual watch party, emphasizing community and shared experiences in appreciating the film.
• 07:01 Cultural and Emotional Impact: Delving into how Turning Red reflects personal and cultural narratives, exploring themes of adolescence, identity, and the Asian diaspora experience.
• 19:34 Deep Dive into Themes: Analysis of the major themes in Turning Red such as identity, family pressure, and the intersection of culture and personal growth, including the challenges faced by second-generation immigrants.
• 34:18 Professional Insights and Book Discussion: Guests discuss how the film’s themes are relevant in their professional practice as mental health professionals and talk about their book, Where I Belong: Healing Trauma and Embracing Asian American Identity, offering insights into therapy and cultural humility.
• 40:45 Engagement and Representation: Strategies discussed for engaging communities and readers through the themes of the movie, and the importance of representation in media.
• 47:30 Conclusion and Further Resources: Conclusion of the discussion, reflections on the impact of Turning Red, and information on where listeners can find related resources or engage further with the themes discussed

Transcription
 
Ariel Landrum (00:00)
Hello everyone, welcome to Happiest Pod on Earth. I’m Ariel, a licensed therapist who uses clients’ passions and fandoms to help them grow and heal from trauma and mental unwellness. 
Stefanie Bautista (00:10)
And I’m Stef. I’m an educator who uses my passions and fandoms to help my students grow and learn about themselves and the world around them. 
Soo Jin Lee (00:16)
Hello everyone, my name is Soo Jin Lee. I’m a licensed therapist passionate about supporting Asian Americans address mental health challenges surrounding identity and intergenerational healing. 
Linda (00:26)
Hi, my name is Linda Yoon. I’m a licensed psychotherapist, social worker who is passionate about helping people heal from trauma and recovery. 
Ariel Landrum (00:35)
And here at Happiest Pod, we dissect Disney mediums with a critical lens. Why? Because we are more than just fans and we expect more from the mediums we consume. 
Stefanie Bautista (00:34)
Mm-hmm. 
That’s right. And so on this episode, everybody, what are we going to discuss 
Ariel Landrum (00:47)
Yeah, so everyone heard we have some very special, awesome guests, Soo Jin and Linda, and we thought this would be the most opportune time to talk about a film that came out essentially during the pandemic that we have revisited a few times, but never got to have on the show. And that is the iconic Pixar movie, Turning Red. And right now it’s Pixar Fest, so I’m hoping that at Disneyland we will be able to see Mei Mei and her mom. 
Stefanie Bautista (01:10)
Yes, and not only is it Pixar Fest, it is also AAPI Heritage Month, which is Asian American, Pacific Islander and Native Hawaiian Heritage Month. So we would love to celebrate this amazing movie that spoke so dearly to my heart and to a lot of people who I know’s hearts, because growing up as an Asian American was a very unique experience. And it is so amazing to see that on the big screen. 
Unfortunately, the little screen at first, because like as Ariel mentioned, it did come out during COVID. And I’m actually curious to know how did you all watch it? Did you watch it right when it came out? Did you watch it a little later? I know when you have the ability to just watch things on your own, not everybody flocks to the theater. So I’m curious to know how did you all watch it the first time? 
Linda (01:53)
Actually our staff, Soo Jin and I, who run a group practice, we have around that time we had about 20 staff, mostly Asian American therapists, and we were very excited about this film coming out. And we used to do, since everybody’s working in the remote right, we used to do Happy Hour Friday. We didn’t really drink, we just watched movie together and had boba. That’s what we did. 
Ariel Landrum (02:09)
Mm-hmm. 
No, beautiful, beautiful. 
Soo Jin Lee (02:17)
That’s the drink, the boba. 
Linda (02:19)
The boba. And there used to be a lot of platforms that you can share screen and watch movies together during this time, right? So we actually watched like about seven of us gathered together. And that was my first time watching Turning Red. 
Stefanie Bautista (02:19)
Yes. 
Ariel Landrum (02:24)
Mm-hmm. 
Soo Jin Lee (02:30)
Me too, yeah. So essentially we had a watch party at our work, which was really amazing. And this was, Turning Red was the one that everyone wanted to watch and we were so excited to watch it together. And so we definitely watched it on the mini screen for me because I had a laptop at the time. But even so, you know, in the mini screen of my laptop, I was just so zoned into the movie. 
Ariel Landrum (02:34)
Mm-hmm. 
Hahaha! 
Stefanie Bautista (02:45)
Right, yeah, yeah. 
Ariel Landrum (02:52)
Yeah, yeah, so I did watch it at home. My TV is 78 inches, so I don’t think it feels many to me. And I watched it with at the time my roommate because my partner was working at the ski resort and it was nice having a conversation with my roommate because they are 
a non-binary white person, and they got to ask questions about my experience and if I understood like some of the themes happening in the movie. And I was presenting the themes that like stuck out to me. And it was really interesting how they had noted a part of the movie that I hadn’t considered because I was so engrossed in how it like solidified my experience as diaspora, which was the part of the movie where there was like a potential hint towards like a period. 
Soo Jin Lee (03:34)
Mm-hmm. Yeah. 
Ariel Landrum (03:34)
that never gets discussed anywhere. And I had so bypassed that. And they had highlighted how that was really so pivotal for them to see and how sad it was that we weren’t seeing it in theaters because o...

40: Ariel and Stefanie delve into Star Wars, unpacking its cultural significance and impact as part of the May the 4th celebrations. Both hosts go on a journey through this monumental franchise’s legacy and ongoing influence. From Disneyland’s Star Wars Nite to personal connections with the franchise to practical applications of this IP in therapeutic and educational settings.

Summary of HPOE40:

Ariel Landrum (00:00)
Hello everyone, welcome to Happiest Pod on Earth. I’m Ariel, a licensed therapist who uses clients’ passions and fandoms to help them grow and heal from trauma and mental illness.

Stefanie (00:09)
And I’m Stef I’m an educator who uses passions and fandoms to help my students grow and learn about themselves and the world around them. Here at Happiest Pod, we dissect Disney mediums with a critical lens.

Ariel Landrum (00:19)
Why? Because we are more than just fans and we expect more from the mediums we consume. So, Stef, what are we talking about today?

Stefanie (00:26)
Well, actually, this is a very big topic. we are heading into May. And one of the biggest things that us Disney fans celebrate in May is the season of the force. So we’re going to be talking about Star Wars today.

Ariel Landrum (00:37)
We have a celebration today. This is another story. Dun dun

Stefanie (00:42)
every time I think Star Wars, I think the Imperial March. So I’m always like, it’s just so much more iconic to me. It is not positive, but it’s a banger, as the kids say. So yes, it is season of the Force. So we’re talking about all things Star Wars. I know that there are very big Star Wars events happening.

Ariel Landrum (00:45)
Dun dun dun!

Hehe

Yeah.

Stefanie (01:01)
around the city and also maybe even across the country. Many people celebrate Star Wars in different ways and we will be talking about not only those events but also how we use Star Wars in our practices as well. Because I know that Star Wars being such an iconic staple in pop culture, it parallels a lot of different mythologies and different types of storytelling that both of us use to connect with our clients and our students.

Ariel Landrum (01:05)
Mm-hmm.

Mm-hmm.

Yes.

Stefanie (01:25)
Ariel, I know that you just recently, like very recently, celebrated Star Wars in a big way. Can you tell us what you, experienced?

Ariel Landrum (01:33)
Absolutely. So we had Season of the Force at Disneyland and one of the events they had was one of their nighttime events and it was the Star Wars at Nite And I did that literally yesterday, last night. Didn’t get home until after midnight. The way the night events go is they go from 9 to 1 and you do get to go to the park at 6, so like two hours earlier than the event.

There were some things I definitely learned from this that I think we can apply to other night events. And then there were some misses, I think on the part of Disneyland. So.

Stefanie (02:01)
Mm-hmm.

I see. I am very curious. This is one After Dark event that you and I did not go to together. I didn’t get to go to Star Wars Nite I love the After Dark events, but as I am a mother, it is very hard for me to pry myself away from my little ones. I cannot wait until they get older so that I can experience these things with them, but I’m very curious to know your experience. I know the last time we talked about an After Dark event was Disney Channel Nite.

Ariel Landrum (02:11)
Mm-mm.

Mm-hmm.

I cannot wait until they get older.

Stefanie (02:28)
and we had a blast. It was so much fun and so dynamic that I’m kind of still riding on that high, if you will, of Disney Channel Nite because we’ve done other nights like Marriest Nites, Princess Nites, they have had their hits and misses. But yeah, I know you can listen to those other episodes to kind of get a run through of how everything goes, but

Ariel Landrum (02:29)
Mm-hmm.

It was so much fun and so dynamic that I’m kind of still riding on that high if you read of Disney Channel Night. Because we’ve had other nights, like Marius’ nights, and the movie nights, and we have had their hits and misses. But yeah, I know you can…

Stefanie (02:53)
I feel like Star Wars Nite is very equivalent to Oogie Boogie Bash to where it already has a following and people anticipate for these tickets to come out. So was it really hard for you to find tickets to this particular event?

Ariel Landrum (02:57)
It already has a follow-up. Yes. And people can participate. Yes.

So that was the crazy thing is they were still selling tickets, I think even until like last week. And the tickets that sold out the fastest were the ones closest to May 4th. And then the first day of the event. And that was it. After that, like I think my roommate was still looking to see if like tickets were available and they were.

Stefanie (03:24)
Yeah, and I think that maybe has to do with like the actual day. Oogie Boogie Bash tends to sell out first closer to Halloween. So maybe this is one of the things where they really wanted to be on May the 4th. But I mean, it is it is a weekday, so that could have contributed to it. But yeah, so li...