Tales From The Jungle Crews

So, after 7 years of "Hey, you should come on my Podcast", and 7 years of "Who is this again? Kyle who?" We finally got Skipper Kevin Lively aboard. Famed as a Disneyland Skipper, Imagineer, and baby shampoo model, this chap has stories for years as we begin the first in our 10 episode series of 90 minute episodes, to be followed up with a 3 hour Marvel studios movie. It's amazing times to be a content.  But, seriously, Kevin is one of my best friends and he recently moved on from his role in Burbank. So, now he's slumming it with me and we chat about a ton of random things. (Including a 7 minute anti-tribute to Cincinnati to start off our episode...) We had a great time talking, and I hope he'll be back soon. 

Hey there Skips and Skipperettes! How ya doing? We hope you're well, and in the mood for some chatting about the Jungle Cruise movie. We've sort of been laying in wait for this big event, and to re-energize some of the great discussions about the movie and about our beloved ride. We are getting a lot of new listeners now, so it's time to get back into Jungle Mode. And what better way to do it than from the Red Carpet at the World Premiere?  Well, had they let me bring a microphone, I would have done that. Instead, I recap some of my thoughts (non-spoiler) about the movie, talk a couple of spoilers (timestamped), and talk about the "State of the Pod" and where we're going from here. Welcome to all the new adventurers... you've got a lot of catching up to do.

So this week (month, year... time is a meaningless construct during Covid times) on the podcast we welcome Skipper Joey to the pod. Joey hosts a fun postcast called Laugh it up Fuzzball, and was also a contemporary Skipper and my 3rd (4th?) Trainer on the Jungle Cruise boat ride. So, it was just time to have a friend on the show, get a little footloose, and chat about his time with Disney, but also some of the new changes on the ride. 

Hey there, Adventurers! Welcome back! So, 2020 was a challenging year, and it was particularly hard on Skippers. As performers and actors, we have a very different make up, and being away from our Jungle has caused a lot of mental health issues. This week we chat with Adrienne MacIain, the host of "That's Aloud", an excellent podcast on creating your own personal story, and getting your experiences out into the world. She is a fantastic author, and she has great experiences with mental health and the acting community. So we chat a bit about what you can do during the pandemic times to keep your boat afloat, mentally speaking. Her podcast is available everywhere fine podcasts can be consumed. I also spend a little time discussing the changes upcoming to the WFJC in the next few years, and address the news that has hit everywhere this week.

So, early on in the life of the podcast, I had this great idea. What if I did fictionalized radio serials of the adventures of some of the types of stories I would make up in my head... and I did. And the Jungle Crews Radio Plays were born. 8 episodes that are some of the proudest things I've done around the Jungle. Every year I take a few moments and replay the 8th and final episode, our Xmas episode. Skipper Gary London and Skippy get into some incredible holiday hijinx, and I love this episode. Skippers Trevor and Joey helped me out with this, and I think it's truly a Xmas miracle every year when it returns. So, enjoy, and let's burn the dumpster fire that was 2020 into the ground and head into 2021 with love, jokes about booze, and a sense of family with those around us we love and tell bad puns with.

Hey there, Adventurers! 2020 has been, well... you know. But we are now all set up with our new SkipCast Broadcasting Center in Cincinnati, Ohio, and we're putting together new content for you in this tumultuous time... This episode we get to meet and chat with Skipper John Rose, a Skip at Disneyland from 1991 to 1996, and a little extra bonus from 2001-2003. We had a fantastic time getting our wheels back on the ground and chatting about his time as Adventureland was going through the changes of the mid 90's. Super great discussion, and we really hope you enjoy it!

Hey there, Adventurers! This episode is a 20 minute "catch up" on what's been happening with the podcast, the ride, the merch, the pandemic, and Skipper Kyle. It's a non-interview episode where Kyle just chats at the microphone. So, be forewarned. Keep in touch with us, more episodes coming as we get them put together. (So, our normal thing we've been doing for 8 years)

Hey there, Adventurekateers! Your old pal Skipper Kyle here, with another episode of Skippertainment for you, to help keep you through these quarantined times... Today we are going to chat with a contemporary of mine, and someone I've been trying to get onto the show for a few years. Like 8. Skipper Jon Gruber! Jon was a Skipper, Trainer, and Lead in the late 00's to early Teens, and he was always a positive and energetic force on the docks. I loved working with him, and thought he would have some fun stories, and he did not disappoint. We know that this is a challenging time for everyone, and we appreciate the Skipper community and how supportive it has been. Thanks for all the kind Emails and words, and we are going to work on continuing to bring you episodes as often as we can.

Hey there, Quarantined Adventurers! We have something a little different for this week's episode. We took "calls" from Jungle Cruise Skips from around the world, and gave them a chance to tell their own stories. If you want to be part of the next round of this, send your 5-7 minute audio clip to JungleCrews@gmail.com. We've got more Skippertainment coming to you in the weeks ahead, and we hope everyone is staying safe and healthy.

Howdy, everyone! It's been a rough and wild holiday season and start to the new year. I forgot how working retail drains me during Thanksgiving/Xmas, and how no one wants to record podcasts during that time. Well, we are back in the swing of things, and have interviews set for the next few weeks. This one is a special one that took us a solid 2.5 years to set up. Skipper Jeff Lessel has been on my "get list" since 2015 or so, and I was so happy when he became available to record with us. For those of you who are not WDW acquainted, Jeff was a Skip from 1989 for about 20 years, and then he moved over to the Hall of Presidents for 10 years. He was a MK fixture, and has taken as many trips as nearly any Skipper in WDW history.  Keep passing around the Podcast and Facebook links, and as always, drop into the Apple store and leave us a like and a review. It really helps us with the visibility.

Well, it took us a bit, but we're finally back and running at full steam. Well, half steam? Sort of a teakettle full of steam. Either way, we're bringing you new episodes. This episode we chat with Skipper Chuck, perhaps the only Muppet ever to be a Jungle Cruise Skipper. He worked in Orlando at the end of the 90's, and he brought his friend Skipper Brian Lynch with him. Now, this was originally a video podcast on YouTube, but we just dropped the audio here for your amusement. Should you like to see the full episode in all of it's puppety-glory, check out https://youtu.be/fOihlWsTMzI Also, the Skipper Store has a new URL, so you can get us at http://TinyUrl.com/TheSkipperStore 

Two years ago we wrapped up the podcast and season 6 with my looking back over the prior 6 years of Skippertainment. This is the last episode in our "Rerun Recap", which has been going on since I rejoined Disney in 2017. After this I don't have any excuses, and we'll be bringing you new episodes and content soon.  Thanks for all the continuing support. It's going to be an exciting year of Jungle Cruise movies and news, and we're going to be bringing you some great stories. Kungaloosh! Skipper Kyle

So, the TFJC podcast is back, but we've got 2 more "rerun episodes" to put in your ear-holes while we get some new content together. This one is sort of an ironic episode, because when I recorded it Kipp had just left the Jungle while I had just decided to come back. Now, I've just left, and Kipp is back as a Skipper. Still, Kipp is one of the best Skips I've ever worked with, and one of the best human beings as well. An enjoyable chat with him, and more good stuff is coming soon. Originally Published March 27th, 2017 It's the end of an Era on the Jungle Cruise. Skipper Kipp Hart has left the river after 13 years back and forth with the company. But, that sadness is our benefit, as we are now able to welcome Kipp back to the show to take a more intimate look at his time with the company, his rise as a stand up comedian, and what wisdom he has to impart to the next generation of Jungle Skippers. Kipp also shares great stories of Skippers he has worked with, as well as a great Jason Alexander and a fun Chris Hardwick story. Definitely a must-listen episode! As always, catch us over at Facebook.com/JungleCrews

Well, hey there Skips and Skipperettes from all across the wild and untamed lands known only as Internetland. Welcome back to Tales from the Jungle Cruise. What a long, strange trip it's been. Two years back in the Jungle at Disneyland, and now I've parted ways again with a place that means so much to me. It was a tough decision, and a lot of people had asked me questions about my time back at the park, the state of the podcast, the Jungle Cruise movie, and so many other questions. I invite good friend Skipper Freddy Martin to the podcast to chat about all of that, and to bring us back into the podcast mode.  We did put up a 30 minute video of the first part of our recording. We may be doing more recording on video, and I am going to put all 150 episodes of the audio podcast up on YouTube as well.  Well, it's great to be back, and it's going to take me a while to ramp back up, but it's a great journey and I'm glad you are taking it with me. Skipper Kyle

Sorry for the long delay... Here's the second part of our conversation with Skipper Leo Camacho... We're busy "backstage" unpacking all the stuff around SkipCast HQ, getting ready to bring you another wave of Skippertainment.  Skipper Kyle, busy as hell and loving it. 

So, the guest from these next two episodes has really seen his career explode in the 2 years since we recorded with him. From being a host of a nationally broadcast video game show to being a visible brand ambassador and influencer within the world of fandom, Skipper Leo Camacho has really seen his stars on the rise. But even though his time at the WFJC was a short one, his takes on cosplay, the Disney Fandom, and Disney media has been insightful and he was a lovely guest on the show. We only have 3 more episodes of wrap up, then we start with the new episodes. I hope you're as excited as I am. Skipper Kyle Originally Published February 21st, 2017 Hey there, Adventurers! This week on the Podcast, Skipper Leo Camacho, darling of the Disneyverse. We take 2 episode and chat about his time at Disneyland, his fandom experience, and how great of a time it is to be immersing yourself in fandom at this time. We have a great time with Leo, and he is a Skipper through and through.  The second half of this episode will drop in 2 weeks, and we're looking forward to bringing you the rest of the story. To check out Leo's YouTube channel, click HERE. Skipper Kyle

So, my time at Disney has again come to an end. The Jungle will go on without me, and the Podcast is returning soon. We've just got a few old episodes to recap, and we'll be back with new content. This one is a sad one for me. Skipper Andrew Petersen was a friend, and a beloved Jungle colleague. Andrew passed a year ago, and none of us have been the same since. He was a huge part of our lives in the last 10 years of Adventureland, and I was so glad to have had an hour of his time to put onto a podcast episode.  Originally Published February 13th, 2017 Like so many of our greatest episode titles, this one is a total inside joke that we won't be sharing. Still, trust me that it's funny. Today's episode guest is living proof that if I wait long enough, I will interview everyone I work with when they leave the employ of The Mouse. Skipper Andrew Petersen is a goddamn delight, and I'm glad to have called him a strong acquaintance for the last 10 years, and a friend for part of that. (Or most... the details are foggy.) When Andrew left Disney last year, I knew we'd have to get him on the show. He has a reputation for telling good stories, and he does not disappoint. So, enjoy one of those episodes I have waited nearly 6 years to record!  (And next week get a whole episode with my thoughts on my recent trip to WDW) Skipper Kyle

Hey there, Adventurers! Glad to see you're still aboard, or ashore, or wherever you are. So much stuff to go over. After 2 glorious years back at the Jungle Cruise, my time in a boat is ending. This coming Friday will be my last day with Disney, likely for the last time. That means new episodes are planned and in the works, but it may take me a little bit of time to get traction and get rolling again. Luckily, I have 3 more rerun episodes to go, and that will buy me some time. Thanks for hanging with me for the last 24 months. I know it's been a long wait. Good things are on the horizon. (Oh, and this episode is the second episode with Tony Goldmark, chatting about the state of the parks as of 2 years ago. It's a really good interview, and one I really like...) Originally Published January 30th, 2017 Part two of our chat with YouTube personality Tony Goldmark is here. We really hope you are enjoying his content online, and we start off this episode discussing his RiffTrax/MST3K style take on the Disneyland Opening Ceremonies Broadcast.  We are headed to Orlando for the big Skipper Gathering there this weekend, so we'll be in reruns for a few weeks, and coming back at you with new episodes ASAP. Kungaloosh! Skipper Kyle

Hard to believe that we're nearly at the end of our rerun lovefest, and we're just around the corner from new episodes.  This week we are re-running our time with Tony Goldmark, of the "Some Jerk With A Camera" Vlog, and theme park connoisseur. The first of 2 episodes where we chat about the state of the theme parks, particularly Disney and Universal.  Originally Published January 23rd, 2017 It's really rare that we have a non-Skipper on the show. But, we occasionally get the chance to have someone on who is so entertaining, and has such good insight about the park experience, that we book them as quickly as we can. Plus, on top of that, our guest produced the YouTube video last year that had me laughing the hardest that I have ever laughed at a Disney produced tv special. That's right, Some Jerk with a Camera, Tony Goldmark, producer and creator of the Disneyland Opening Ceremony Riff videos, is joining us on the podcast. Besides being a strongly opinionated and humorous chap, he's also got an amazing insight into the Theme Park Fandom. We were super honored to have him join us.  In case you want easy access, his videos can be found here... Some Jerk With A Camera (CLICK HERE) This is part 1, part 2 will roll out next week! Skipper Kyle

I'd love to say that after 8 years, I can stick to a weekly schedule, even with reruns, but this last week was a doozie for me. So, here's the second half of my chat with Katherine and Matt from the WDW Happy Hour Podcast  Originally Published January 19th, 2017 Hey Adventurers! A little early from us, but never too much good Jungle stuff... We have a lot in the pipeline, so we wanted to put out this episode a little early so we can make sure next Tuesday's episode is good to go before our trip to Orlando.  Today is the second half of our chat with the crew from the WDW Happy Hour podcast, Katherine and Matt. These guys are great supporters of the podcast, and their show is a solid show in it's first year. So, we love promoting them, and we thank them for all their help. We continue our discussion about where WDW is currently at, and chat more about tips for our visit. Kungaloosh, everyone!

One of the great thing about the last 8 years of Skippertainment is that I've been a guest on so many podcasts, sharing my Jungle Cruise stories. One of those great moments was January 2017, and the WDW Happy Hour podcast. Matt and Katherine have become not only great Jungle Cruise supporters, but great friends. We do a lot of cross pollination of our podcasts, and their podcast is one of only 2-3 Disney podcasts that I listen regularly to. They do a great job, have fun discussions, and nice Disney news recaps. Plus, alcohol! So, here's the first part of our two part interview from their show. Originally Published January 10th, 2017 The last few months of 2016 limped past, and 2017 staggered in the door drunk. At least we have a podcast episode to truly celebrate the sort of inebriation that was needed to handle the last 3 months. We are joined by the hosts of the WDW Happy Hour podcast in a cross polination of our shows, and also because Katherine and Matt are two fun guys who I really enjoyed chatting with. They were big supporters of the Jungle Crews podcast last year, and I wanted our audience to get to know them a little bit. We chat Disney remake movies, WDW vs Disneyland, and of course the best places to eat and drink at Disneyland and Walt Disney World. Lots of good fun, and an enjoyable 2 part episode.  Thanks for sticking through the dry times. We love you guys. All of you. Except Dave. You know who you are, Dave. Kungaloosh!

Here's the part where I go "holy crap, I've known Dave Marley for nearly 17 years...". We're still doing our reruns for the time being until we get all the old episodes out there, but this one is a special one. The author of "Skipper Stories", "Skipper Stories 2, Electric Boogaloo", and "Really, Even More Skipper Stories?" sat down with us to chat about his time at the Jungle, the pantsless life of a Professor, and writing a book about the place we all have grown to love. Originally Published December 9th, 2016 New episodes have returned! This week we sit down with Skipper David Marley, author of the new book "Skipper Stories" to chat about what he learned during his time writing the book about the history of the Jungle and those who have dared to adventure on it.  His book is available here, from Amazon. We're continuing to push forward into the new year, and we appreciate all the support. Keep your eyes open, we're still doing a lot of fun stuff in the upcoming months. Kungaloosh!

Well, after 2 years, we have a new episode... sort of. I mean, it is new, but it's not strictly a Jungle or interview episode. Hi there, I'm Skipper Kyle, and I'd like to announce the return of Tales from the Jungle Crews. My time with Disney is coming to an end in a few months, and with that, I am able to start producing some new content again. This episode is a in-betweener from Season 6 to Season 7, as I take you through my experiences at the Black Spire Outpost at Galaxy's Edge, and give you some updates about my life, the Jungle, and what to expect in the coming months from the podcast.I'm looking forward to coming back and bringing you some new Skippertainment! Kungaloosh, my friends! Skipper Kyle

Back in 2016 we had a Kickstarter going for our 2nd card game "King of the Skippers", and we had a couple of recent Jungle expats from Disneyland (and cute as hell lovebirds) on the show to talk about their recent time at Jungle in 2015-2016. So, jump back into the very recent past and enjoy our time with Skipper Kelsey and Skipper Dave. Originally Published September 5th, 2016 Wooh Golly! What a couple of weeks we have had. Our Kickstarter is off and running, and we are well on our way to funding. We have tons of exciting backer rewards, and the game has super great Jungle art. So, search Kickstarter for "King of the Skippers", or check out all the information on Facebook...  Today's interview is a recent pair of lovebirds, Skippers David and Kelsey. They talk about life in the Jungle, relationship tips about how to keep your love alive at Disney, and we delve into a mysterious Jungle event, lost to the ages.  Thanks for all the support. We'll keep them coming, every 2 weeks.

The reruns keep on coming... This week we chat with Skipper Matt Gambino, and talk about WDW and its college program, and how to turn your time at the Jungle Cruise into a successful career.  Oh, and... Season 7 kicks off the first week of July! Looking forward to being back in front of your ears on a regular basis. Skipper Kyle Originally Released On August 23rd, 2016 Hey Skips and Skipperettes!  Season 6 is here, and we're in the swing of our Fall Kickstarter. Starting August 26th, we are promoting "King of the Skippers", an amazing party card game with art that brings to life characters from our Jungle Crews Radio Plays. It's a super easy to learn game with a competitive edge that will appeal to players of games like Uno. We have fantastic stretch goals, and backer rewards, and can't wait to see you there. Join us at www.Bit.do/KingoftheSkippers Today's interview is with Skipper Matt Gambino. Matt turned his Jungle Cruise experience at WDW in the early 90's into a launchpad for his career, and he has some great insights about the college program and working Jungle. We had a super fun time chatting, and it's always great learning more about our East Coast cousins. Keep your eyes peeled, everyone... We've got episodes lined up and lots of excitement during our Kickstarter. Can't wait to take this trip with you. Skipper Kyle

We're down to the last dozen episodes and season 6, then lots of fun new things are in the works. I'm going to be making those announcements as May comes toward a close. I mean, there's nothing else that is happening at Disneyland around the end of the month, right? This episode is probably a little bit inconsequential to the catalog, but I'm including it for completeness. It's a recap of Season 5, details of my trip to Disney Paris, and info on our Kickstarter game "King of the Skippers". Hard to believe that's been 3 years already. Keep on Cruising, friends... and Kungaloosh! Originally Published August 15th, 2016 Hey there, Skips and Skipperettes,  Welcome back from our Summer Vacation. We had a fun summer, and we hope you did too. We have a ton of interviews scheduled, but most importantly we have our fall Kickstarter launching on August 26th. King of the Skippers is a fun family friendly party card game for 4-8 people. We have amazing art, and the game is only an incredible $8 per deck. Lots and lots of great information over at Facebook.com/JungleCrews. Check it out, and thanks for your continued support.  This episode is a 10 minute recap of our Season 5, as well as updates on my Disneyland Paris visit and details on our Kickstarter. Lots of good info, as we get ready to plunge into Season 6.  Skipper Kyle

So, this rerun episode wraps up the 5th season of the TFJC podcast. The second half of our episode with Skipper Freddy Martin and Skipper Jeff Bailes. We had a great time with this, and you can see the greatness that is Freddy Martin as he takes his first podcast steps.  Originally Published June 6th, 2016 Hey Adventurers! Summer Vacation is here, and the podcast will be in re-runs for the next 5 weeks. To keep you entertained, we have one last new episode, the second half of our time with Skippers Fred Martin and Jeff Bailes. This contains one of my favorite Jungle Cruise stories ever, so take a listen.  If you need more Jungle Love, make sure you swing over to Facebook.com/JungleCrews for all of your Jungle news, photos, and vintage stories. (Curated by our very own Skipperette Jen...)  See you all Mid July!- Skipper Kyle Esq

What can I say about Freddy Martin? This guy has blown up and has become a major presence in the Disneysphere recently. He hosts a podcast called The Themed Attraction podcast where he interviews Imagineers and designers of the places we love to play. (Search for it on all your Podcast providers.) He's been involved in the recent Adventureland Days, and he is an incredibly pleasant chap. He brought Skipper Jeff Bailes with him and we had a lovely picnic in the park and recalled their days at the WFJC.  Originally Published on May 23rd, 2016 So, here's a little story... About a year after we started the podcast, back in 2012, Skipper Fred Martin reached out to me and said he'd like to come onto the show. After 4 years of passing emails back and forth, and having scheduling issues, he grabbed Skipper Jeff Bailes, and we had a lovely picnic in the park and chatted about their time in the early 90's at Jungle.  Very little story. But a nice one, no? We had a great time with this interview, and it has one of my favorite stories I have ever had told to me. (Hence the name of the episode) Enjoy!

This week is the second half of our chat with Skipper Larry Kaml. It also has what is perhaps the greatest single and most requested Jungle Cruise story that we have ever had recorded on the show. This episode is, in some ways, the "most essential" listening of any of our episodes. Genuinely hope you all enjoy... Originally Released May 9th, 2016 Our first episode with Skipper Larry Kaml set records for it's first week, and we're expecting the second half of his episode to do the same. This episode features not only the best "Last Day" story in the history of the Jungle Cruise, but also perhaps the most expected Gerry York story ever. This one is an incredible roller coast of a ride, but instead of a roller coaster, it's a river, with botes on it. Enjoy!

When we started the podcast, Skipper Larry Kaml was one of those guests we never thought we could get. He was a heavy personality for years in the Jungle, and his devotion around the time of the Narrations program was the stuff of legends. After a few seasons of showing him what we were about, I got to drive up and sit down at his dining room table and listen to his stories. Some of the best of the Jungle is about to go into your ear-holes, so I hope you enjoy... Originally Published April 25th, 2016 Well, it took us long enough, but we're back with a new episode. Also, it took us 3 years to line up this guest. Skipper Larry Kaml was a strong personality during the late 80's and early 90's, and his role in the Narrations program led to one of the most interesting times in Jungle history. He was universally regarded by those he worked with, and I have been chomping at the bit to get him on the show. All it took was a 7 hour drive to central California, and we were golden!  Catch us over at Facebook.com/JungleCrews for more news and Jungle photos! We'll see you out in the river soon!  Skipper Kyle

First of all, there is no episode 18 in season 5. It's an April Fools prank we did, so we didn't want to mess up our numbering system. Skipperette Jen Chavez is one of the best people I know, and she's back at the WFJC. (Seems like we all get brought back into the fold eventually.) She has been instrumental in all of our Facebook content, and has contributed a lot to the podcast. We are so excited to have her around, and this was her second episode on the podcast. Originally Published April 4th, 2016 Hey everyone! We're back with all new Skippertainment. We chat with our very own Skipperette Jen about the Skipper Canteen, stand up comedy, her vacation to WDW, and the passing of beloved Skipper Andy Rinella... It's short, but it helps us catch up with you. Kungaloosh, friends!

So, 3 years ago we did a Kickstarter for a little card game called "Jungle Rummy". We have wound up selling 500 copies, which wasn't bad for our first foray into game design. It still plays well, and I am really happy with how the art turned out. As part of the game, we did a backer reward for a pair of TFJC fans, and they got to share their Jungle memories and be a part of the podcast. It was a lot of fun, and we hope you enjoy... Originally Published March 22nd, 2016 So, if you've been around the podcast for more than a few months, you remember Jungle Rummy, our card game that we did a Kickstarter campaign in the fall. One of the top rewards for pledging was an appearance on this very podcast. So this week we welcome Michael and Grace Steuver, the top supporters of the Jungle Rummy game, and the Jungle Crews podcast. We are thrilled to spend a few moments with them, and to welcome them to our family. The first 6 minutes is a "dummy" episode that we made just to announce the appearance on the show to Grace. So, don't get confused and think that you're coming onto the show as a guest. Unless you want to. Then, give us a yell... We're always happy to have any Skips or ex-Skips on the show. 

The second half of our chat with Skippers Amanda Taylor and Skipper Kellie York...    Originally Published March 7th, 2016 Two weeks ago we got a whole lotta love for our two Skippers, Skipper Amanda Taylor and Skipper Kellie Pitts(York). Well, as promised, here is the second half of that episode with these two lovely ladies. As I warned you the last time, this episode has a LOT more of me geeking out and being a fanboy than usual, and these amazing Skips are the reason why. I loved catching up, and am so glad that I get to share that with you.    Thanks for all the support, and remember to rate us on iTunes. 

It's crazy that we're at this point in the podcast. I've been back at the Jungle Cruise for over a year now, and we're back to the episode with my original trainer from 2003. Skipper Amanda Taylor was one of my big influences in how I started in the Jungle, and Skipper Kellie York was an incredibly popular and well thought of Skip from the era just before mine. I had such a good time chatting with them, and although this episode has a little bit more in-chatting and references that are specific to a certain era of Skips, I still feel like it's a great episode and something fun to put out there. (Posting Episode 1 and 2 at the same time) Originally posted February 22nd, 2016 Such a fun episode this week. I get to catch up with my Jungle trainer, Skipper Amanda Taylor, and good friend of the podcast Skipper Kellie York. These ladies were right in my generation of Skippers, and we get to go through the usual exploration of their time in the Jungle, as well as catching up on so many of our comrades from our time together. Lots of personal stories, and a bit more banter and gossip than we normally have, but a great time spent with two really fantastic Skippers. 

We still keep cranking out the hits, and it's hard to believe that this has been 3 years since I met Skipper Raisa. The only Skip I've known who has worked at all 6 US parks, and who has had such an amazing story to tell about her times with the company. She's super fun, and I'm always so happy when our paths cross. I hope you all enjoy... So much going on at the SkipCast headquarters, can't wait to share all the news with you in March. (No clue when, still putting things together, lots of vaguery) Originally Published February 9th, 2016 Such busy times here at SkipCast headquarters. Besides work on our new card game, Tales From The Jungle Crews; The Game, we are also busy lining up great interviews for your podcast pleasures. This week, we chat with Skipper Raisa, a recent departure from the docks of Orlando. But she's not just any Skipper. She's been a cast member at all 6 US parks, as well as the 2 water parks. She also has a super sharp wit and a lot of great views of the Jungle experience. We were super excited to finally get her onto the show.   Make sure you catch her YouTube channel, YouTube.com/Raisa_Lynn. Lots of great Jungle and Disney videos!   Skipper Kyle out!

It's been a rainy start of the year in Southern California, and it reminds me of the time 3 years ago when I sat down with a pair of great Skips and we talked Jungle of yesteryear. Skipper Jeff Rhoads returned to the podcast with Skipper Tom Halligan and we talked a very interesting bit of Disney history with some really unique twists and turns for this podcast. Oh, and it was raining. Cats and dogs. So, some good throwbacks to the rainstorms and Jungle trips of the past...  Originally Published January 26th, 2016 Welcome back for another episode of Skippertainment. This episode we taped in the middle of the biggest downpour that SoCal has seen in years, and Skippers Tom Halligan and Jeff Rhoads hung in there like troopers. Tom has a unique Disney story and an experience that really is a globetrotting perspective. I was happy to get a little wet to come see these great Skips.  

Greetings Adventurers, and welcome back to "We're still doing Reruns"... but we're getting ready for the relaunch of new content. Just a lot of life happening as we ramp up and get interviews scheduled.  In the mean time, enjoy this rerun of our time with Skipper Rob Ferre. A fantastic WDW Skip with a flair for self promotion and a great bunch of stories about the Orlando rivers. It was a pleasure having him on the show. Originally Published January 12th, 2016 Happy New Year, Adventurers...  This year's Winter Hiatus was shorter, and we're back with exciting new content. We have 4 episodes in the bag now, and we keep lining up really great stories for you.   So, 2015 was a gigantic year for us. We started with Warren Asa, a Skipper who was there on Day 1 of DIsneyland. Then we had our boost from The Nerdist podcast, which helped us grow our subscriber base, and we saw downloads as high as 40k per day. We had an amazing Kickstarter campaign, and we were able to get Jungle Rummy out into the hands of nearly 400 players. And through that all, we were able to bring you 22 episodes of our podcast. Thank you all for an incredible year.    Today's episode starts 2016 out at Walt Disney World in the early 2000's, as Skipper Rob Ferre joins us on the podcast. A contemporary of some of the other WDW Skips we have had on the show, Skipper Rob shares his experiences in the College Program, and some of the challenges of working in Orlando. I love making new friends and opening up my view of the other parks, and this episode is both.   See you every other Tuesday for Skippertainment! Kungaloosh!

Hey there, Adventurekateers... Welcome back! We're still in rerun land, but not for much longer. This episode was Skipper Alex Elkin, who had just come through town for a stand-up gig, and we were able to get him on Skype to record an episode of the podcast. He's a great comic, and a well remembered Skip by those who worked with him. I hope you all enjoy! Originally Published December 1st, 2015 Hey Skips! It's the Holiday season again, and that means it's time for our annual 2 month break...  Oh, wait. No it's not? Really? Oh, well, I guess that if management wants us running, we're staying running.    So, this year, no Holiday Break for us here at SkipCast Networks. And we start off our Holiday Spectacular with our interview with the amazing Skipper Alex Elkin. Alex is a late 90's Skip who has made a huge name for himself on the stand up comedy scene, and we were really thrilled to have him on the podcast. We hope he'll come on again, where we can dig a little deeper into his adventures on the road...    Happy Holidays to everyone, and may your egg nog always be spiked! 

Well, 2019 is here, and so much is happening at the Disney parks, the Jungle Cruise, and for me in my life. It's an exciting year, filled with lots of new stuff. We have a ton of new products at our Skipper Store on TeePublic. It's super exciting, and I'll work on keeping everyone up to speed on all the big Jungle and Skipper Kyle news. It's strange that I've been back to the Jungle for a full year now. It's amazing how time goes by so fast. This is the second half of our episode with Skipper Joel Halberstadt, and I really enjoyed hearing about an era of the Jungle that we had not previously explored. SK Originally published November 17th, 2015 So, today’s guest is the second half of our sit down with Skipper Joel Halberstadt. We chat about his time as a Skipper in the late 60’s, but this time we dig more into his time in Imagineering. Joel’s first episode really has resonated with Skippers, and I have had a lot of great commentary about his first episode. I hope everyone is enjoying the content this fall. I feel like we've had some really incredible episodes, and have also broadened our base. Thanks for continuing to share our episodes with your friends, and we're continuing to get good stuff lined up for the next few months!

So, when we look at our podcast run, we had a lot of Skips from the 00's, and decent representation from almost every era, but only a couple of people from the late 60's. Skipper Joel Halbestadt was one of them, and he was very influential in the time going into the 1970's and in doing some of the first cohesive script editing and input. Most of the jokes that you use today probably had their beginnings in Joel's era. It was a really fascinating conversation, and one that I am definitely glad we captured. I hope you are all having a great New Year, and we can't wait to see what 2019 has in store. Skipper Kyle Originally published November 3rd, 2015 Hey there Skips and Skipperettes!  Lots of big news in the world of the Jungle. It looks like the Jungle Cruise will be closing in January for a rehab, and it will be down until early May to get new docking systems and safety devices. More on this can be found at our Facebook page. (Facebook.com/JungleCrews)   Also, we have wrapped up our Kickstarter for our card game, Jungle Rummy. We had nearly 200 backers pledging for 300 decks of the game. We are so excited at the response, and we'll be shipping in December. Lots of lessons learned, and we'll be doing more exciting stuff like this down the road.   Today's guest is Skipper Joel Halberstadt, and his time in the Jungle during the late 60's and early 70's was impactful to the direction of the Jungle Cruise to say the least. We had a great time chatting with him, and this is the first of a 2 part interview. 

It's that time of year again... time for the yearly "Republishing of the XMas episode". The TFJC Radio Play Xmas episode is one of the favorite things I've done related to the Jungle Cruise, and it's one of the things I get asked most about. Trevor Kelly and Joey Hurley join me for another dive into the world of the Jungle Cruise and it's Skippers. This is a big XMas tradition celebrating it's 5th anniversary... enjoy, and Hippo Holidays!

One of the best things about doing a podcast is that I got to meet and develop friendships with the hosts of other Disney podcasts. The ones that became my closest friends are the guys at The Sweep Spot, a podcast hosted by a pair of custodial CM's who have really turned it into something. They get amazing guests, and they put out a book with their experiences working at Disneyland. They joined us on the show for an episode that was a lot of fun, and gave a different view of working at the Magic Kingdom. Originally Published October 19th, 2015 A couple of times a year, we break format to try something new, or to interview people outside of our Jungle sphere of influence. Today we sit down with the hosts of The Sweep Spot podcast. They have written a new book called "Cleaning the Kingdom", and it's a really interesting read. (available HERE) They come on to help share the perspective of the Custodial cast member, and their favorite stories.

And... here's the second half of our interview with David Koenig as we talk lawyers, mice, and the joys of the Jungle... Originally uploaded October 6th, 2015 We're back, and this week we're bringing you part 2 of our sit down with famed author David Koenig, author of the new "The People vs Disneyland" book, which details the lawsuits that have made Disneyland what it is today. It's a really engaging read, and as always David is an exciting guest. I really enjoy his insights into the parks.  We also are happy to announce that our Kickstarter for Jungle Rummy has funded! (In 45 hours after the launch, nonetheless.) This project has been so much fun, and we created a game that our playtesters and reviewers seem to really be enjoying. We are hoping to make an early December ship date, and we have some super fun rewards over on the Kickstarter site. So, head on over and support your podcast, as well as getting a fun game that will be the perfect alternative to other casual card games like Uno. (and if it's not your cup of tea, please feel free to share with all your Jungle loving friends, and people who love card games...)

One of the best things about doing this podcast has been getting to know David Koenig. One of the few non-Skippers on the pod, but definitely has the pedigree to talk about Disney. His books were formative in the way I viewed the company, and his latest book "The People v Disneyland" was no exception. This was a fascinating interview where we talked about the way that lawyers shape the Disney experience, and the way it permeates into every crack of the theme parks.  (also, this episode marks the 3 year anniversary of Jungle Rummy, our card game. Enjoy!) Originally uploaded September 22nd, 2015 Hey there, Adventurers! This may be our biggest week ever on the podcast. Not only is the illustrious David Koenig rejoining us to chat about his book "The People vs Disneyland", (and it's a great pair of episodes), but we also are very proud to announce the Kickstarter project for our card game "Jungle Rummy". It's going to be going live on October 1st, and details about this super fun game can be found at Facebook.com/JungleCrews or over at Kickstarter on the 1st. (Just search Jungle Rummy.) It's a super fun casual card game, the sort of thing you've played with friends over a couple of drinks, or when you were growing up... a mix of gin rummy, Uno, and hearts, with a super fun scoring twist that is unique to our game. It's a LOT of fun, and we think you're going to enjoy the mix of the art style and the gameplay.   Keep tuned for more updates, and join us over on Facebook or Twitter. (@SkipCast)

And... here's the second part of our interview with Skipper Danielle Ernest. (We are still working to be on track to have all of our reruns finished by the end of the year.) Originally Published September 8th, 2015 This week we finish up our conversation with Skipper Danielle Ernest, and her unconventional way she found her way into the Jungle... We had a lot of fun chatting, and her website (DisneyDarlings.net) is absolutely a fantastic blog.   We also chat a bunch at the start of our podcast about our Kickstarter campaign that is starting up in just a month. (give or take.) For more details, keep your eye peeled here, and over at Facebook.com/JungleCrews   More exciting news and podcasts will keep coming in the following weeks. Now, Hit It, Skip!

So much happening out there in Podcast land... We're going to put up a few new episodes today, and I'll be off air for a week or so while I head out of the country with the wife. Exciting times in Australia!  Our online store, the Skipper Store, is getting beefed up with a lower cost shirt selection over at TeePublic. It will take us a bit to get it up and running, but it's going to change the costs our shirts are offered at dramatically. We are also working on new Xmas cards for the season. This episode rerun is the first of two with Skipper Danielle Ernest, and we had such a good time recording this. (She could have taken over this gig from me, no issues. She's incredibly knowledgeable on Disney, and a great personality.)  Originally Published August 25th, 2015 Boy, have the Jungle Drums been busy beating out a lot of new Jungle and Disney news. This episode we are joined by Skipper Danielle Ernest, one of the Darlings of the DisneyDarlings.net website. Danielle has an amazing social media following, and she helps us make sense of the D23 Expo, as we discuss Star Wars Land, the Jungle Cruise movie, and other theme park developments. Skipper Danielle was a recent Skipper, and had a very short time in the jungle, but this lady is a Skipper, through and through, and I really loved chatting with her. We flipped the script this week, and we’re going to be doing our normal “Skipper” interview with Danielle in 2 weeks. So stay tuned for that. 

When I make a list of my top 5 episodes that we have produced, this one is definitely in it. We get to speak to Disney Legend Bill "Sully" Sullivan. Sully was a fixture at Disneyland as an original 1955 Skipper, and transitioned to a position working closely to Walt on projects like the Squaw Valley Olympic Games and the 1964 Worlds Fair. He then became the first operating Manager of both Magic Kingdom and Epcot. He's an amazing person, and it all started with his time in the Jungle.. 

Part 2 of the interview with the Skipperette herself, Jen Chavez.    Originally Published on July 27th, 2015 Hey Skips, we're back! This week we present the second episode of our 5th season, concluding our chat with the fantastically funny Jen Chavez. We talk about the Skipper Standup show, which already has happened now, and was a fantastic success. I had such a great time getting to know her, and I am sure you will too.   You can see some of the content that Jen curates for us over at the Jungle Crews Facebook page.   Facebook.com/JungleCrews   Our next episode is going to be a doozie for us. We chat with a genuine Disney Legend, learn about Disneyland in the 50's and 60's, and go on an incredible trip with a fantastic character. Come back August 11th for that exciting epsiode!

Well, 2/3 of the way through our cavalcade of reruns, and we're still putting up the old content for you to listen to. This week we sit down with our very own Skipperette, Jen Chavez. Jen took over the reins of the Jungle Crews podcast and Facebook page when Skipper Kyle went back to Disneyland, and she has done a remarkable job over the last year. She continually finds new vintage photos and content, and has just been amazing. I love her Podcast time, too, so we hope you enjoy... Originally published July 13th, 2015 So, the clock keeps turning, and our fourth year of Skippertainment comes to a close. We had such an amazing year with you all, and our 5th season looks to be even better. New podcasts, new guests, new t-shirts, and some amazing surprises. Thanks, everyone for joining us on this ride.  In this week's episode, we sit down and chat with our very own Skipperette Jen Chavez. Jen is our content manager for our Facebook page, and she does an amazing job. Her tale at Jungle has some fun twists and turns, and her views on vintage Disney are great. She also just made her stand-up comedy debut on July 12th (hence the title) and she totally killed. We hope you enjoy her episode, and we'll be back in 2 weeks with the conclusion of her interview.

Well, we come to the end of another season in our recap-a-rama. As we keep moving through the years, this episode is a strange one. It's a recap episode for Season 4, and it is a little bit of me just telling my story. Things are good and busy in the Skipcast world, and there's a lot of interest in the Jungle Cruise movie. (Coming out Oct 11, 2019.) We are super excited for the story that Disney is going to be telling, and everything we have seen is pretty amazing. So, here's an episode for you for today, and I'm hoping you are all enjoying the trips through the past that we've been taking while Skipper Kyle is back at the Jungle Cruise at Disneyland.   Originally Published June 30th, 2015 Our 4th year is wrapping up, and we had a busy busy weekend. We met with 120 cm's from the 80's and 90's. We had our Sunday Social at Sam's, and we got to hang out with a bunch of podcast listeners.   So, this is a different episode, in the same way the Disney Family Museum episode was. This one is just me. I have been in a lot of discussions lately with people who ask me why I do the podcast, what I get out of it, why the Jungle has stuck with me the way I have, and if I am just an egocentric narcissistic maniac who can't hear enough of his own voice. (For the record, no...) So, as a way of wrapping up the first 4 years of this little experiment in niche podcasting, I just wanted to take 20 minutes and let you know a little about me, why Jungle is such a thing for me, and what the podcast means to me. This may totally not be your thing, and if it isn't, we'll have a new episode in 2 weeks to get you back in the stream and the regular Jungle Crews merriment. 

The second half of our interview with the fantastic Dr David Marley and Skipper Trevor Kelly. This is confusingly named, but my consistency was always a bit suspect. We tried a new feature to the podcast called "Disney Lies", and it pretty much fell flat. So, there's that. Enjoy!   Originally published June 9th, 2015 The second half of our chat with Skippers David Marley and Trevor Kelly is here, and we are so excited to share stories of Skipper Standup, Jungle Cruise hijinks, and a little semi-failed comedy bit I tried called "Disney Lies"... great in concept, maybe not as good in execution. So, there is that...