“When you’re doing something you love, and you’re passionate about, there is nothing like it in the world.”

We are so excited to bring you a special interview with Cara Menzel and her sister, Disney Legend Idina Menzel. These two have teamed up to write a wonderful new children’s book called Loud Mouse: How a Little Mouse Found Her Big Voice, which will be available through Disney Publishing on September 27. We speak to them about their inspiration behind the book, also how Idina’s performing career helped to craft the story. As a special treat for our listeners, Idina sings a bit of the melody for her new song that is being released in conjunction with her book. This was truly a special opportunity, we’d like to send a big thank you to Disney Publishing.

FEATURING: Craig McFarland, Brett Rutherford and Vanessa Ferguson

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Named one of the top 50 Disney Podcasts by Feedspot! blog.feedspot.com/disney_podcasts  

FIND US ON NPR ILLINOIS! https://www.nprillinois.org/programs/front-row-network 

JOIN PODCAST PALS! – https://www.facebook.com/groups/186691492980265

FIND US ON TWITTER – https://twitter.com/BeyondMouse

FIND US ON INSTAGRAM – https://www.instagram.com/beyondthemousepod 

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Please enjoy this episode of BEYOND THE MOUSE and as always, we’ll see you in the front row! 

“This looks like it was made for me.”

Thanks to Walt Disney Animation Studios, Craig had the opportunity to speak to many of the creators behind the upcoming Disney film Strange World. This film will be coming to theaters on November 23, starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Dennis Quaid, Jaboukie Young-White, Gabrielle Union and Lucy Liu. Join along as we discuss the creative inspiration of the film you’re sure to see with your family this holiday season!

Today’s interviews in order:

Amy Smeed- Head of Animation and Justin Sklar- Head of Animation

Mehrdad Isvandi- Production Design and Sean Jenkins- Head of Environments

Don Hall-Director, Qui Nguyen- Co-Director/Writer and Roy Conli- Producer

FEATURING: Craig McFarland

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Named one of the top 50 Disney Podcasts by Feedspot! blog.feedspot.com/disney_podcasts  

FIND US ON NPR ILLINOIS! https://www.nprillinois.org/programs/front-row-network 

JOIN PODCAST PALS! – https://www.facebook.com/groups/186691492980265

FIND US ON TWITTER – https://twitter.com/BeyondMouse

FIND US ON INSTAGRAM – https://www.instagram.com/beyondthemousepod 

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Please enjoy this episode of BEYOND THE MOUSE and as always, we’ll see you in the front row! 

The one where Brett and Craig argue about Harmonious again….

Wow! This past weekend brought us a ton of Disney announcements from D23 Expo 2022. On this episode, Craig, Brett and Bea will break down some of the announcements they were the most excited about from the whole weekend of panels and events. You’ll get to hear about some of the film studio properties, video games, TV shows coming to Disney+ and of course we cover all the Disney Parks news. Let us know what your favorite announcement was from the weekend!

FEATURING: Craig McFarland, Brett Rutherford and Bea Bonner

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Named one of the top 50 Disney Podcasts by Feedspot! blog.feedspot.com/disney_podcasts  

FIND US ON NPR ILLINOIS! https://www.nprillinois.org/programs/front-row-network 

JOIN PODCAST PALS! – https://www.facebook.com/groups/186691492980265

FIND US ON TWITTER – https://twitter.com/BeyondMouse

FIND US ON INSTAGRAM – https://www.instagram.com/beyondthemousepod 

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Please enjoy this episode of BEYOND THE MOUSE and as always, we’ll see you in the front row! 

“I have a gift, but I don’t necessarily get to choose how that gift is shared…”

We are incredibly excited to welcome back to the podcast, Disney Legend Jodi Benson. She has written, for the first time, some of her thoughts and feelings about her life. It’s less an autobiography and more a conversation that we all get to take part in. Part of My World will be available online and at independent bookstores everywhere on September 13.

FEATURING: Craig McFarland, Brett Rutherford and Vanessa Ferguson

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Named one of the top 50 Disney Podcasts by Feedspot! blog.feedspot.com/disney_podcasts  

FIND US ON NPR ILLINOIS! https://www.nprillinois.org/programs/front-row-network 

FIND US ON FACEBOOK – https://www.facebook.com/thefrontrownetwork/ 

FIND US ON TWITTER – https://twitter.com/FrontRowReviewz 

FIND US ON INSTAGRAM – https://www.instagram.com/beyondthemousepod 

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Please enjoy this episode of BEYOND THE MOUSE and as always, we’ll see you in the front row! 

It is D23 Expo Week!

Are you ready for D23 Expo? Join BTM Brett with special guests Cari and Jacqueline as they get ready for their D23Expo 2022 adventures! Questions will be answered and excitement abounds!

FEATURING: Brett Rutherford

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Named one of the top 50 Disney Podcasts by Feedspot! blog.feedspot.com/disney_podcasts  

FIND US ON NPR ILLINOIS! https://www.nprillinois.org/programs/front-row-network 

FIND US ON FACEBOOK – https://www.facebook.com/thefrontrownetwork/ 

FIND US ON TWITTER – https://twitter.com/FrontRowReviewz 

FIND US ON INSTAGRAM – https://www.instagram.com/beyondthemousepod 

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Please enjoy this episode of BEYOND THE MOUSE and as always, we’ll see you in the front row! 

“It’s just one beautiful land of opportunity we are in…”

This week Craig and Vanessa had a wonderful opportunity to speak to Brad Forenza about the upcoming second season of Around the Sun. “A scripted, episodic audio drama that explores human connections, made and missed, with an existential flare,” premiering in fall 2022. Brad is also joined by Around the Sun cast member, Adassa. We also speak to her about her role as Delores in Encanto, and particularly her work with Lin-Manuel Miranda. It’s a fun and insightful conversation. Listen to the first season of Around the Sun now, wherever you find podcasts.

FEATURING: Craig McFarland and Vanessa Ferguson

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Named one of the top 50 Disney Podcasts by Feedspot! blog.feedspot.com/disney_podcasts  

FIND US ON NPR ILLINOIS! https://www.nprillinois.org/programs/front-row-network 

FIND US ON FACEBOOK – https://www.facebook.com/thefrontrownetwork/ 

FIND US ON TWITTER – https://twitter.com/FrontRowReviewz 

FIND US ON INSTAGRAM – https://www.instagram.com/beyondthemousepod 

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Please enjoy this episode of BEYOND THE MOUSE and as always, we’ll see you in the front row! 

Boo to you!

This week Craig and Anna talk all about their recent trip to the first night of Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. That’s right! Halloween in Disney World starts on August 12 and we were there for it. We also chat about Wilderness Lodge and Epcot’s Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind.

FEATURING: Craig McFarland, Brett Rutherford and Vanessa Ferguson,

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Named one of the top 50 Disney Podcasts by Feedspot! blog.feedspot.com/disney_podcasts  

FIND US ON NPR ILLINOIS! https://www.nprillinois.org/programs/front-row-network 

FIND US ON FACEBOOK – https://www.facebook.com/thefrontrownetwork/ 

FIND US ON TWITTER – https://twitter.com/FrontRowReviewz 

FIND US ON INSTAGRAM – https://www.instagram.com/beyondthemousepod 

__________________________________________  

Please enjoy this episode of BEYOND THE MOUSE and as always, we’ll see you in the front row! 

Quick– you’re stuck in the parks with Topanga and Andre Johnson, what you gonna do?

It’s ladies week on Beyond the Mouse! This week on the show Vanessa is joined by special guest Bea Bonner as they talk about TV sitcoms that have filmed episodes in the Disney parks.

FEATURING: Craig McFarland, Brett Rutherford and Vanessa Ferguson 

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Named one of the top 50 Disney Podcasts by Feedspot! blog.feedspot.com/disney_podcasts  

FIND US ON NPR ILLINOIS! https://www.nprillinois.org/programs/front-row-network 

FIND US ON FACEBOOK – https://www.facebook.com/thefrontrownetwork/ 

FIND US ON TWITTER – https://twitter.com/FrontRowReviewz 

FIND US ON INSTAGRAM – https://www.instagram.com/beyondthemousepod 

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Please enjoy this episode of BEYOND THE MOUSE and as always, we’ll see you in the front row! 

Don’t Hate Us!

Don’t hate us. 

Yes, we don’t always love everything about Disney. Sometimes we notice things that we think could better. Join us this week as we discuss our most unpopular opinions with special guest Zoey Zara. 

FEATURING: Craig McFarland, Brett Rutherford and Vanessa Ferguson 

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Named one of the top 50 Disney Podcasts by Feedspot! blog.feedspot.com/disney_podcasts  

FIND US ON NPR ILLINOIS! https://www.nprillinois.org/programs/front-row-network 

FIND US ON FACEBOOK – https://www.facebook.com/thefrontrownetwork/ 

FIND US ON TWITTER – https://twitter.com/FrontRowReviewz 

FIND US ON INSTAGRAM – https://www.instagram.com/beyondthemousepod 

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Please enjoy this episode of BEYOND THE MOUSE and as always, we’ll see you in the front row! 

Welcome home!

This week we bring you our conversation with Paul and Amy Kreiger of DVC Rental Store and Monora Financial. They bought into DVC in 2019, and quickly have become a leading resource for DVC members. Both are heavily active in the DVC Fan Facebook group, as well as making frequent appearances on The DVC Show podcast. We speak to them about the process of renting, buying and financing DVC. Then we get into some fun talk about DVC memories and some of their favorites from around the parks!

FEATURING: Craig McFarland, Brett Rutherford and Vanessa Ferguson

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Named one of the top 50 Disney Podcasts by Feedspot! blog.feedspot.com/disney_podcasts 

FIND US ON NPR ILLINOIS! https://www.nprillinois.org/programs/front-row-network

FIND US ON FACEBOOK – https://www.facebook.com/thefrontrownetwork/

FIND US ON TWITTER – https://twitter.com/FrontRowReviewz

FIND US ON INSTAGRAM – https://www.instagram.com/beyondthemousepod

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Please enjoy this episode of BEYOND THE MOUSE and as always, we’ll see you in the front row!

Let’s be real– Walt Disney World is hot!

This week we bring you our top ten (OK we didn’t keep count and there are way more than ten) places to stay cool at Walt Disney World. It’s sweltering in Orlando this summer, and we want to look out for you if you have a trip scheduled. We are joined by Bea Bonner from NPR Illinois, and she gives us some great perspectives. Where do you go to stay cool in WDW? Come to the Beyond the Mouse Podcast Pals Facebook group and tell us!

FEATURING: Craig McFarland, Brett Rutherford and Vanessa Ferguson

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Named one of the top 50 Disney Podcasts by Feedspot! blog.feedspot.com/disney_podcasts 

FIND US ON NPR ILLINOIS! https://www.nprillinois.org/programs/front-row-network

FIND US ON FACEBOOK – https://www.facebook.com/thefrontrownetwork/

FIND US ON TWITTER – https://twitter.com/FrontRowReviewz

FIND US ON INSTAGRAM – https://www.instagram.com/beyondthemousepod

__________________________________________ 

Please enjoy this episode of BEYOND THE MOUSE and as always, we’ll see you in the front row!