The Mouse Castle Lounge Podcast: Disney News and Interviews, Cocktails and Conversations

The theme park rivalry between Disney and Universal Studios has gone from non-existent in the 1960s to the competitive battle over tourist dollars that it is today. Author Sam Gennawey's new book, "Universal vs. Disney: The Unofficial Guide to American Theme Parks' Greatest Rivalry" explores the sometimes supportive, sometimes contentious relationship between the two entertainment giants. Sam is Tim's guest today in "The Mouse Castle Lounge." www.TheMouseCastle.com

"A Mickey Mouse Reader" is an extensive compilation of articles and essays written about Walt Disney's illustrious rodent from 1928 to the present day. It chronicles the arc of Mickey's legendary career from overnight sensation to Hollywood superstar to theme park greeter to corporate icon. The book's contributors are a who's who of writers and essayists past and present that include E.M. Forster, Maurice Sendak, John Updike, John Canemaker, Irving Wallace, Jim Korkis, Charles Solomon and Walt Disney. Garry Apgar edited the book and discusses it with Tim Callaway in "The Mouse Castle Lounge." www.TheMouseCastle.com

Tony Baxter, Herb Ryman and Blaine Gibson were just a few of the Imagineering greats Terri Hardin Jackson knew and worked with during her lengthy career at Disney. In part two of her conversation with Tim Callaway, Terri talks about the "Golden Age of Imagineering" in the 1980s and '90s and her favorite Disney project, the Dragon's Lair at Disneyland Paris. She also offers her advice for aspiring Imagineers. www.TheMouseCastle.com

Terri Hardin Jackson is a woman of many talents. The former Disney Imagineer is an artist and sculptor, not to mention a puppeteer, an actress and a writer. Her creative output spans from Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and the Dragon's Lair at Disneyland Paris to the films "Ghostbusters," "Men in Black II" and "The Flintstones." In "The Mouse Castle Lounge," Terri talks about her Imagineering career, how she ended up at Disney and how she almost became the voice of Figment at Epcot. www.TheMouseCastle.com

"All Aboard: A Celebration of Walt's Trains" explores Walt Disney's lifelong love of railroading. It's the newest exhibition at the Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco. Tim Callaway interviews the museum's executive director Kirsten Komoroske and the exhibition's curator Michael Campbell. They talk about how trains influenced Walt's personal life, films and theme parks and how he shared his passion with Disney animators Ward Kimball and Ollie Johnston. www.TheMouseCastle.com

The Disneyland Half Marathon was held this past weekend and is one of many events hosted year round by runDisney at Disneyland and Walt Disney World. In "The Mouse Castle Lounge," Tim Callaway talks with race participants Sean Astin, Jeff Galloway, Terri Hardin Jackson and the winner of the women's division half marathon, Jennifer Berry. www.TheMouseCastle.com

Walt Disney once said of his boyhood home in Missouri, "More things of importance happened to me in Marceline than have happened since--or are likely to in the future." In the Lounge today is Marceline historian and director of the Walt Disney Hometown Museum, Kaye Malins. Kaye talks about Walt's childhood in this midwest farm town and why every Disney fan needs to pay a visit to Marceline. www.TheMouseCastle.com

Bobby Burgess has spent over sixty years in show business, getting his big start in 1955 as an original Mouseketeer in "The Mickey Mouse Club." In 1961, he would begin a 21-year run as a dancer on "The Lawrence Welk Show." Bobby's new book, "Ears & Bubbles" recounts his many years in entertainment. In "The Mouse Castle Lounge" today, Bobby talks about his book and shares special memories of working with Walt Disney, Annette Funicello and Lawrence Welk. www.TheMouseCastle.com

Disney Imagineer Alan Coats is back in "The Mouse Castle Lounge" for part two of his conversation with Tim Callaway. Alan talks more about his father, artist, Imagineer and Disney Legend Claude Coats. Alan also takes you deeper into his career at Disney, where he did lighting design for most of the opening day attractions at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom. He went on to partner with is father in designing the Eastern Airlines attraction,"If You Had Wings." www.TheMouseCastle.com

The Mouse Castle Lounge is back! Tim Callaway interviews retired Disney Imagineer Alan Coats. Alan is the son of artist, Imagineer and Disney Legend Claude Coats. Alan enjoyed a long career at Disney, working among some of the biggest names at the studio and in the theme parks including Walt Disney, Roy Disney, Annette Funicello, Marty Sklar and Yale Gracey. Alan manages a website dedicated to his father's memorable career, www.claudecoats.com. www.TheMouseCastle.com