Podcasts about Moana

We dive into our very first stay at the stunning Island Tower at Disney's Polynesian Villas & Bungalows. This brand-new addition to one of Walt Disney World's most iconic resorts officially opened its doors on December 17, 2024. With modern Polynesian design, Moana-inspired touches, and some of the most unique room types on property (hello, Duo Studios!), this tower brings a fresh new vibe while still honoring the spirit of the original Poly.We break down everything from room categories and layouts to what views are worth the splurge, including Theme Park Views that let you watch Magic Kingdom fireworks right from your balcony. We share our thoughts on the brand-new Cove Pool and Moana's Voyage splash area, and explore the exclusive terrace gardens on each floor.Plus, we talk logistics: walking to the TTC, transportation options, how to score the best rates, and our favorite “pro tips” for making the most of your stay. This episode is your complete guide to Disney's newest deluxe resort experience.

Have you ever noticed that some of the parents in Disney movies…aren't exactly the best role models?   They love their kids deeply, but their fears, expectations, and blind spots often get in the way of connection. As I rewatched a few of these classics recently, I couldn't help but think, "These parents could really use the Self-Assured Motherhood program!" In this episode, I'm sharing three SAM principles through the lens of Disney families—because studying cartoon characters makes everything more fun (and surprisingly relatable!):

An intimate and captivating exploration of Lin-Manuel Miranda's artistic journey, revealing how the creator of the Broadway musicals Hamilton and In the Heights found his unique voice through bold collaborations, redefining the world of musical theater.How did Lin-Manuel Miranda, the sweet, sensitive son of Puerto Rican parents from an immigrant neighborhood in Manhattan, rise to become the preeminent musical storyteller of the 21st century? Lin-Manuel Miranda: The Education of an Artist is his incredible story as never told before, tracing Miranda's path from an often isolated child to the winner of multiple Tonys and Grammys for his Broadway hits Hamilton and In the Heights; a global chart-topping sensation for his songs in Disney's Moana and Encanto; and the recipient of a Pulitzer Prize and a MacArthur Genius Grant.Miranda's journey is a testament to the power of creativity, collaboration, and cultural synthesis. He was not a musical prodigy, but an insatiable drive to create art and learn from those around him propelled him to fuse his Latino heritage with pop, hip-hop, and the musical styles of Broadway. His was a new way of telling American stories, and of speaking to new audiences.Drawing on interviews with Miranda's family, friends, and mentors-and many conversations with Miranda himself-Daniel Pollack-Pelzner delves into the formative experiences that shaped Miranda as an artist, from his early musicals in high school and college to the creation of his Broadway and Hollywood triumphs. With full access to Miranda's inner circle, this behind-the-scenes origin story is sure to captivate his legions of fans and beyond.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/arroe-collins-unplugged-totally-uncut--994165/support.

Travel experts Julie and Ryan compare Disney Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean's family offerings after experiencing both cruise lines with their families. This comprehensive head-to-head analysis covers everything parents need to know when choosing between these popular family cruise options.Entertainment ComparisonRoyal Caribbean: More adult-only options, ice shows, water shows, Broadway productions, live music at bars/loungesDisney Cruise Line: Broadway-style Disney musicals (Aladdin, Lion King, Moana), dedicated movie theaters with all-day showings, pool deck moviesDaily ActivitiesRoyal Caribbean: Packed sports decks with Flow Rider, bumper cars, laser tag, rock walls (newer ships only)Disney: More frequent family activities, themed experiences like Olaf's Picnic, Bibbidi Bobbidi BoutiqueDining ExperienceRoyal Caribbean: Excellent food quality on newer ships, extensive quick-service options, large main dining roomsDisney: Smaller themed restaurants, rotational dining with same servers, kid-friendly cups and service detailsStaterooms & AccommodationsRoyal Caribbean: Limited family of 5+ options, tiny bathrooms, complex connecting room policiesDisney: Better family room layouts, split bathrooms, easier connecting room bookings, bathtubs availablePool DecksRoyal Caribbean: Larger decks, Splash Away Bay waterpark, Perfect Storm slides, loud party atmosphereDisney: Smaller themed pools (Mickey-shaped), Nemo's Reef for toddlers, Disney movies playingKids ClubsRoyal Caribbean: STEM/art focused activities, cool teen spacesDisney: Marvel/Star Wars themed clubs, character visits, phenomenal cast membersKey TakeawaysChoose Royal Caribbean if you want:Multi-generational travel optionsMore thrilling activities for older kids/teensLouder, party atmosphereNewer ships with cutting-edge amenitiesChoose Disney if you have:Children 8 and underPreference for family-appropriate content guaranteedDesire for immersive Disney themingNeed for better stateroom layouts for familiesBottom LineBoth cruise lines offer excellent family experiences, but cater to different vibes. Disney provides peace of mind that all content is child-appropriate, while Royal Caribbean offers more variety for multi-generational groups and older children.Support the showLove the podcast? Help us continue to create great travel content by supporting the show. You can do that here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1197029/supporters/new Ready to plan your vacation? Most families are confused and overwhelmed when planning a vacation. We work with you to plan a trip perfect for your family. Saving you time, money, and stress! Visit our website www.allthingstravelpodcast.com and click on "Plan Your Next Vacation" Join the travel conversations and the fun in our Facebook Page and Instagram Page! Please share the show with your travel buddies!! Click this link and share the show! Never miss an episode and help us take you to the top with us by following and leaving a 5-Star review on your favorite podcasting app!

Stephanie sits down with author Hannah Brencher to discuss the practical power of unplugging from technology to deepen our connection with God, others, and oneself. Drawing from her book, The Unplugged Hours, and her personal journey, Hannah shares practical insights and spiritual wisdom that offer a clear pathway for anyone feeling overwhelmed, distracted, or disconnected. Unplugging is less about abandoning technology and more about reclaiming the present, deepening contentment, and embracing our true identity in Christ. Through practical disciplines, humble self-awareness, and a commitment to delighting in God right where we are, we find the spacious, unhurried lives that our souls crave. 1. Recognizing the Need to Unplug Hannah recounts her realization that constant connection to her phone was leaving her exhausted, burnt out, and spiritually depleted. She felt a persistent need to always be “on,” a sensation many people can relate to in today's always-online world. Symptoms that signal it might be time to unplug include: Feeling tired and perpetually “on” Burnout and lack of creativity Scattered attention and apathy towards loved ones False sense of control by consuming endless information Numbing and anxiety, worsened by exposure to social media algorithms designed to keep us engaged through fear or desire Unplugging, for Hannah, didn't mean abandoning her phone entirely, but initiating a conscious journey toward better habits and rhythms. 2. The Power of Contentment and Presence Hannah acknowledges and embraces the struggle—and ultimately, the spiritual discipline—of contentment. Social media and the internet constantly convince us that fulfillment is elsewhere, which removes us from both the present moment (time) and from our current environment (space). Hannah draws from the Apostle Paul's words about learning contentment, framing it as a dance that takes practice and humility. For example, Hannah's practice of “grounding” by jotting down details of the present moment (in a notebook, not a phone) helps her drop into her actual life, savoring little joys, and affirming that “this is enough.” Unlike capturing moments for others to see on social media, this form of slow documentation, she says, nurtures personal satisfaction and removes the compulsion for outside validation. 3. Rethinking Productivity and Success Stephanie and Hannah highlight the toxicity of equating productivity with worth. Hannah shares how unplugging redefined her sense of value from accomplishment and approval to simply being present with God. True productivity, she discovered, isn't about checking boxes, but about what God is cultivating within us through periods of stillness—patience, peace, faithfulness. Success, then, transforms from external achievement to delighting in God and being aware of His presence. Hannah echoes Stephanie's insight that “a successful life is a succession of days and moments where I'm delighting in God.” 4. Practicing Stillness and Receiving God's Presence Jesus' example comes alive as the epitome of unhurried purpose—accomplishing all the Father's will without rushing. Unplugging isn't just for personal peace, but to become truly available to God, hearing His voice and responding with readiness and openness (“Here I am, Lord”). Through intentionally slowing down and savoring “vegetable moments”—Hannah's metaphor for embracing the slow, nourishing parts of life—we open ourselves to the real rewards: deeper relationship with God and others. MORE ABOUT HANNAH BRENCHER Hannah Brencher says,  “I love teaching individuals how to build intentional lives they love through the power of habit and meaningful routines. I am the founder of The World Needs More Love Letters, author of 4 books, a TED Speaker, and an online educator teaching others how to establish important disciplines within their lives. Words are my everything and nothing fires me up more than getting to teach people about the power of discipline. Establishing better discipline was an essential piece in dealing with depression and I love seeing the freedom it unlocks in others as they establish better habits and rhythms in their own life. I'm a proud New Englander living in city of Atlanta with my husband Lane and our little girl Novalee. You can find us trying out new restaurants across the city, getting dangerously cutthroat over playing Battleship, playing at the park, and cozying up to watch a thriller (or Moana if Novi gets to pick) with our rescue pup Tuesday.” More at https://hannahbrenchercreative.com/  MORE ABOUT “THE UNPLUGGED HOURS” Join the Challenge: One Thousand Unplugged Hours in One Year Former social media addict, Hannah Brencher discovered first-hand that turning off her phone had a substantial impact on her mental health, relationships, time management, and outlook on the world. Like so many of us, Hannah had been turning to her phone to cope with life in a time of isolation and uncertainty. But those coping mechanisms had become habits she didn't know how to break until she truly committed herself to one simple yet profound act: log 1,000 phone-free hours in a year. Now, in The Unplugged Hours, she demonstrates how the act of powering down and reducing the habit of a constantly plugged-in lifestyle can change your entire life. No matter what you do for a living, how much time your apps save you, or how much entertainment your phone brings, it is possible to unplug—and rediscover the richness of life on the other side. A powerful weaving of memoir, cultural commentary, and spiritual insights, this life-changing book will help you: Reclaim your ability to be present and engaged with the world around you. Swap the hurried, constant pace of technology for a steadier, more rooted way of living. Establish your own unplugged rituals and rhythms in daily life. The Unplugged Hours gives you the practical ideas and spiritual inspiration you need to stop scrolling and start living. So join the challenge: put your phone down and live your life. We invite you to check out the first episode of each of our series, and decide which one you will want to start with. Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog Identity in the battle | Ephesians https://www.podcastics.com/episode/74762/link/ Centering on Christ | The Tabernacle experience https://www.podcastics.com/episode/94182/link/ Shades of Red | Against human oppression https://www.podcastics.com/episode/115017/link/ God's glory, our delight  https://www.podcastics.com/episode/126051/link/   You are invited to join us on the Gospel Spice Prayer Bible Study, titled "The heart behind prayer" starting September 20, 2025! Details and registration here: https://www.gospelspice.com/prayer  There are a few things in our Christian life that we know we should do more, or at least better – and prayer just might top the list. Prayer is a mystery. Why would a conversation with a human have any influence on God's eternal, sovereign plan? It defies logic, and beckons love. How can God, the Almighty Lord of Hosts, be this close, this personal? It defies understanding, and beckons involvement. But, lack of time, inspiration, and discipline, combined with the ruthless tyranny of our busy lives, push prayer to the periphery, to the “one day I'll get to it” pile. And yet, we can excel at what we endeavor to undertake. So, why isn't prayer more of a spiritual priority? Could we develop a mindset around prayer that made it attractive, inspiring, even maybe delightful? What if we attuned our spiritual ears to listen to God, and our spiritual eyes to see His provision? As an unassuming student, I'm going to humbly offer to share the little I have learned from others about the joy of prayer. I will give us theology, practical tips, and useful resources, sharing what works for me as we, together, learn to pray. If you find prayer intimidating, or if your lack of prayer makes you feel guilty or “less than,” then this is the place for you! If you have been a student of prayer for many years, this is the place for you too! If you have breath in your lungs, then prayer can become one of the deepest joys of your day. Don't miss out! A PERSPECTIVE ABOUT PRAYER To pray is to believe that God not only hears, but that He responds. It is to stand in the gap for a broken world, wielding the authority of Christ, empowered by the Spirit, and trusting in the goodness of the Father. The question is not whether prayer works, but whether we are willing to pray the kinds of prayers that invite God's Kingdom into the darkest places of the earth—and of our own hearts. We may never fully understand the mechanics of prayer, or how it intersects with God's sovereignty, but we are not called to understand everything. We are called to be faithful. And faithfulness means showing up—in prayer, in persistence, in expectation. So today, let us pray not only for the comfort of our hearts, but for the transformation of the world. Let us take our place as image-bearers, co-laborers, and co-heirs. Let us believe that God is still listening—and still acting. Because He is. There's only one way to find out what might happen when we truly pray like this. Let's begin. THE MINDSET BEHIND THIS COURSE Before we begin, let me tell you the obvious: I don't really know how to pray. I'm a humble student and absolute beginner at the holy endeavor that is prayer. So, this course isn't really about what I've learned, or any wisdom I might have gathered. But, I've sat at the feet of many prayer warriors over the decades, through books and teachings. So, I'll share what I learned from them. Humility is going to be our primary heart posture! With each lesson, I will offer a few thoughts, practices, and ideas – with much humility, and not taking myself too seriously. I will also share her favorite books and resources about prayer. FInally, I will introduce you to some of the most influential prayer warriors of our history as the Body of Christ. Most importantly, I will invite YOU to pray! Learning to pray comes from praying. Our humble ambition is to inspire you to pray, and to give you a few tips on how to do that. Then, it's up to you! Prayer is a lifelong endeavor. Let's make it delightful together! So, let's get started. You are invited to join us on the Gospel Spice Prayer Bible Study, titled "The heart behind prayer" starting September 20, 2025! Details and registration here: https://www.gospelspice.com/prayer  There are a few things in our Christian life that we know we should do more, or at least better – and prayer just might top the list. Prayer is a mystery. Why would a conversation with a human have any influence on God's eternal, sovereign plan? It defies logic, and beckons love. How can God, the Almighty Lord of Hosts, be this close, this personal? It defies understanding, and beckons involvement. But, lack of time, inspiration, and discipline, combined with the ruthless tyranny of our busy lives, push prayer to the periphery, to the “one day I'll get to it” pile. And yet, we can excel at what we endeavor to undertake. So, why isn't prayer more of a spiritual priority? Could we develop a mindset around prayer that made it attractive, inspiring, even maybe delightful? What if we attuned our spiritual ears to listen to God, and our spiritual eyes to see His provision? As an unassuming student, I'm going to humbly offer to share the little I have learned from others about the joy of prayer. I will give us theology, practical tips, and useful resources, sharing what works for me as we, together, learn to pray. If you find prayer intimidating, or if your lack of prayer makes you feel guilty or “less than,” then this is the place for you! If you have been a student of prayer for many years, this is the place for you too! If you have breath in your lungs, then prayer can become one of the deepest joys of your day. Don't miss out! A PERSPECTIVE ABOUT PRAYER To pray is to believe that God not only hears, but that He responds. It is to stand in the gap for a broken world, wielding the authority of Christ, empowered by the Spirit, and trusting in the goodness of the Father. The question is not whether prayer works, but whether we are willing to pray the kinds of prayers that invite God's Kingdom into the darkest places of the earth—and of our own hearts. We may never fully understand the mechanics of prayer, or how it intersects with God's sovereignty, but we are not called to understand everything. We are called to be faithful. And faithfulness means showing up—in prayer, in persistence, in expectation. So today, let us pray not only for the comfort of our hearts, but for the transformation of the world. Let us take our place as image-bearers, co-laborers, and co-heirs. Let us believe that God is still listening—and still acting. Because He is. There's only one way to find out what might happen when we truly pray like this. Let's begin. THE MINDSET BEHIND THIS COURSE Before we begin, let me tell you the obvious: I don't really know how to pray. I'm a humble student and absolute beginner at the holy endeavor that is prayer. So, this course isn't really about what I've learned, or any wisdom I might have gathered. But, I've sat at the feet of many prayer warriors over the decades, through books and teachings. So, I'll share what I learned from them. Humility is going to be our primary heart posture! With each lesson, I will offer a few thoughts, practices, and ideas – with much humility, and not taking myself too seriously. I will also share her favorite books and resources about prayer. FInally, I will introduce you to some of the most influential prayer warriors of our history as the Body of Christ. Most importantly, I will invite YOU to pray! Learning to pray comes from praying. Our humble ambition is to inspire you to pray, and to give you a few tips on how to do that. Then, it's up to you! Prayer is a lifelong endeavor. Let's make it delightful together! So, let's get started. Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

Hey there, and happy Tuesday! This is your Disney News for Tuesday, September 9th, 2025. I hope you're having a magical day so far! - Disney releases a Haunted Mansion Figure Set, featuring detailed miniature figures of the Hitchhiking Ghosts, available in parks and online. - "Frozen 3" is officially announced, promising more enchanting adventures with Elsa and Anna, though plot details remain under wraps. - Epcot transformation continues with new attractions like "Journey of Water," a Moana-themed interactive experience. - Disney+ unveils "Disney's Animal Kingdom: Behind the Magic," a new series offering a behind-the-scenes look at Animal Kingdom's animal care and guest experiences. Thanks for tuning in, and I hope you have a fantastic day filled with Disney magic. Remember to check in tomorrow for more exciting Disney updates.

This week on Tagata o te Moana: FAST party wins Samoa's snap general election; Bougainvillieans hit the polls; It's Pacific Islands Forum leaders week; New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Vaovasamanaia Winston Peters is on the show; France voices 'frustration' over donor exclusion from PIF Leaders' Summit in Honiara; Pacific leaders are expected to reaffirm their recognition of Indonesia's sovereignty over West Papua at PIFLM; A small Maori community is celebrating a huge win against 80 years of sand mining on their coastline; Hundreds of Pacific delegates at Turangawaewae Marae in Ngaruawahia, paying tribute to Maori monarch Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Alexander Hamilton foi um dos pais fundadores dos Estados Unidos, responsável por definir as bases do sistema de governo e todo o sistema financeiro nos primeiros anos como um país independente. Sua história foi contada por Ron Chernow em uma biografia lançada em 2004 e que chegou ao Brasil em 2020, pela editora Intrínseca, com tradução de Donaldson Garschagen e Renata Guerra.Esse livro deu origem ao musical Hamilton, lançado em 2015 e que levou 11 Tony Awards e o prêmio Pulitzer na categoria Drama. O musical é escrito por Lin-Manuel Miranda, a pessoa por trás das músicas de Moana e Encanto.Em comemoração aos 10 anos do musical, Frango recebe Igor Rodrigues para falarem sobre a biografia, o musical e essa figura histórica. Bom episódio!Vote no Perdidos na Estante no Prêmio Melhores Podcasts do BrasilO Perdidos está concorrendo ao MPB na categoria Cultura e Literatura!Acesse o site premiompb.com.br/votar e vote no nosso podcast.Vote também nos nossos parceiros:

This week, a new Disneyland documentary is coming, new Napa Rose details, a bunch of fun novelties are coming to the resort, go “Beyond the Spires” with Imagineering, we have the dates for the 2026 D23 Ultimate Fan Event, we talk Disneyland Rucking with David Sparks, and more! Please support the show if you can by going to https://www.dlweekly.net/support/. Check out all of our current partners and exclusive discounts at https://www.dlweekly.net/promos. News: Weeklyteers who enjoyed The Imagineering Story on Disney+ are in for a treat! This winter, Leslie Iwerks will release her new documentary “Disneyland Handcrafted” on Disney+ and YouTube. The documentary does a deep dive into Disneyland from early conception to opening day. It will include new footage never seen before during this time. Check out the trailer at the link in our show notes! – https://disneyparksblog.com/disney-experiences/disneyland-handcrafted-trailer-revealed/ The Destination D23 event started off strong with the announcement of the dated for the next D23 Ultimate Fan Event. The 2026 event will take place from August 14th through 16th, and will still be at the Anaheim Convention Center, along with the Honda Center for the largest panels. Tickets will go on sale in Spring, 2026. – https://www.micechat.com/422442-news-d23-expo-returns-to-anaheim-in-august-2026/ The Napa Rose at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa is currently under renovation. At the Destination D23 event, new concept art was shown of the reimagined space. The outdoor patio is being expanded to accommodate more guests, with lush greenery and soft lighting. Two new fireplaces will also be on the patio for guests to enjoy. Inside, the dining room will blend Craftsman style with modern California sophistication. – https://disneyparksblog.com/dlr/first-look-new-concept-art-for-napa-rose-at-disneyland/ A number of new novelty items are coming to the Disney Parks and Resorts. For Christmas, a Holiday Christmas Tree Truck Bucket will be available. Over at Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar, two versions of the Holiday Zombie Mug will scare up some fun beverages. A Monsters, Inc. Scream Canister bucket, and a Little Green Men Jetpack sipper are also coming. For Easter, a Winnie the Pooh & Piglet Spring bucket, and later next year, a Bantha sipper will be available at Disneyland and on select Disney Cruise Line ships. – https://disneyparksblog.com/disney-experiences/new-novelty-items-coming-to-disney-parks-and-disney-cruise-line/ At the Destination D23 event that was streamed for D23 Gold Members this past week, a panel called “Beyond the Spires: An Insider Look at Disney Castles” went over some little known facts about the Disney Parks castles all over the world. In addition, the 5th episode of “We Call it Imagineering” will focus on the castles, which will debut on YouTube on September 8th. For all the fun facts and links, check out the link in our show notes. – https://disneyparksblog.com/disney-experiences/disney-castles-hidden-details/ We spoke previously about Hank, the longest standing cast member at the Walt Disney Company. On August 27th, Hank received the Walt Disney Legacy Award, which celebrates the legacy of Walt Disney who exhibit three Legacy qualities: Dream, Create, and Inspire. The Walt Disney Legacy Award is given to cast, crew, and Walt Disney Imagineers worldwide who have these qualities. Hank has been a cast member for the last 62 years, starting as a Jungle Cruise Skipper in 1958. If the math doesn't add up on that, it is because Hank left Disneyland for a few years to be a Garden Grove Firefighter, before returning to Disneyland. – https://disneyparksblog.com/dlr/meet-hank-todays-longest-standing-disney-cast-member/ Fans of the animated windows on Main Street have a new display to enjoy! A new Moana-themed window, featuring Moana, Hei-Hei, Pua, Maui, the Kakamora, and Te Fiti debuted this week. In the window, Moana is sailing her boat along the ocean with Te Fiti in the background, while also being chased by the Kakamora. – https://www.micechat.com/422119-disneyland-update-pumpkins-projects-pixie-dust/ With The Nightmare Before Christmas decking the halls over at the Haunted Mansion, Madame Leota is taking the opportunity to welcome Jack Skellington to her shop at the exit of the mansion. Outside, a stack of suitcases themed to Jack, Sally, and other Halloween Town residents welcomes guests. Inside, a blue banner hangs welcoming Jack and his friends. – https://www.micechat.com/422119-disneyland-update-pumpkins-projects-pixie-dust/ Pressed penny enthusiasts will be happy to know there is a new Winnie the Pooh pressed penny machine in Bayou Country. The new machine is outside of Pooh Corner, along the walkway by the entrance to the shop. A penny is supplied for the machine, and takes cash, card and contactless payments. – https://www.micechat.com/422119-disneyland-update-pumpkins-projects-pixie-dust/ SnackChat: Parkside Market Fall Offerings – https://www.micechat.com/422119-disneyland-update-pumpkins-projects-pixie-dust/ Discussion Topic: David Sparks macsparky.com

STUDY GROUP: Goodbye To Disney's Weirdest Era What the hell was that all about? As we leave The Wilderness Years (aka the Oddbod Era, aka the Freak Era) behind, film journalist Ben Travis and animation academic Sam Summers reflect on the long and winding road of movies that encompass the Walt Disney Animation Studio's biggest identity crisis. In this Study Group episode, we try and summarise what the Wilderness Years actually was, and why it's one of the studio's most fascinating eras (despite giant fluctuations in quality) – plus, we rank every film from this era, update our overall Disniversity rankings, and decide what the next era of the show will be. We have a title, and a list of films – listen to the episode to find out what's coming next. Plus, we return to the Dinosaur Song Factory one last time, and Sam delivers a bonus nugget of personal lore related to Atlantis: The Lost Empire. Buckle up for incoming bangers: the future has arrived! Next episode: Mystery project, and possible mailbag episode. Then – The Princess And The Frog! Disniversity is brought to you by Ben Travis (@benstravis) and Sam Summers (@samsummers0), with art by Olly Gibbs and music by Nafets. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @disniversity. This podcast is not affiliated with Disney. — Welcome to Disniversity, the podcast crash course through the history of Disney's animated classics, with film journalist Ben Travis and animation academic Dr. Sam Summers. Each week, we'll be moving forward in time through the legendary Walt Disney Animation Studios catalogue, watching every feature film in chronological order – from Snow White to Moana 2. Watch along with us, and listen as we explore each film's historical context, advances in animation and lasting legacy, and talk about how they stand up today.

Here is your Daily Disney News for Wednesday, September 3rd, 2025 - Disneyland Tokyo launches a new nighttime parade "Dreams of the Sky" with floats inspired by beloved Disney movies. - Disneyland Paris introduces an immersive "Frozen" attraction, allowing guests to step into Arendelle with cutting-edge visuals. - Walt Disney World's new "Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana" at Epcot invites exploration of water's power and beauty. - Disney+ unveils "Disney Animal Kingdom," a series offering a behind-the-scenes look at life in Animal Kingdom park. Have a magical day and tune in again tomorrow for more updates.

-Get All Episodes Ad-Free Plus Exclusive & Early Access To Episodes On https://www.patreon.com/GeekVerse-When You Subscribe To Our Patreon You Help Us Grow The Podcast and Create New Content Guest On Shows, Pick Films For Us To Review, Send Topics & More! -GeekVerse.ca is where you can find all the info on the show and where you can find it! Come Chat With The Hosts, Join Our Discord! https://discord.gg/4YpzuCem -Come Chat With The Hosts, Join Our Discord! https://discord.gg/4YpzuCemBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/geekverse-podcast--4201268/support.

Moana 1 (2016) // ReviewSinopsis Oficial: Moana, una adolescente de las islas del sur del Pacífico, atraviesa el océano y explora el mundo para demostrar que es tan valiente como el resto de su familia. En su periplo se encontrará con Maui, quien en el pasado fue un semidios poderoso.#disneyplus #moana #movie #podcast #auliicravalho #dwaynejohnson #alantudyk #JemaineClement #LinManuelMiranda #TemueraMorrison #NicoleScherzinger #RachelHouse #caribe #2016 #review #2024 #season5 #lunes #ntgk #random #peliculaRedes Socialeshttps://www.instagram.com/ntgk.podcast/https://twitter.com/ntgk_podcasthttps: // www.facebook.com /ntgk.podcast/

In Tagata o te Moana this week: Samoa's snap election, the latest from our reporter on the ground; Bougainville's incumbent-President relaxed ahead of this Thursdays election; Also, controversy over a childrens book in Cook Islands and Fiji's kava shortage all that and more stories of the week from RNZ Pacific. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's prenup plans. He's got millions, but she's got billions. What her plan is to protect her assets. Then, moving to the midwest? Inside the mega mansion the couple toured in Ohio. Plus, a “Dancing With the Stars” shakeup inspired by Swifties? And, Jennifer Lopez roasted by a former co-star. The diss that stunned the cast of “Wednesday”. Then, game…set…screaming match? The fiery on-court confrontation at the US Open. Plus, a Disney exclusive. Only ET is behind the scenes for a Belle, Ariel, Moana, and Tiana surprise performance. And, Elizabeth Hurley 'nuts' for boyfriend Billy Ray Cyrus and revealing his rodent inspired nickname. Then, from “Sons of Anarchy” to serial killer. Charlie Hunnam's TV comeback will give you the chills. Plus, the Karen Reed trial being turned into a TV show. The cast details just revealed. And, Robin Wright's return to TV seven years after “House of Cards”. Why she says the whole thing happened on accident. Then, “The Summer I Turned Pretty” fandom goes next level…but why it's about to get even wilder.  To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Description: In this new podcast, Dr. Jordan explains how the molting process of blue crabs is similar to the vulnerability adolescent girls feel as they experience changes due to puberty, attention from boys, cultural mixed messages, and pressures from school and activities. Using metaphors from fairy tales, Dr. Jordan will show you the inward-directed heroine's journey girls traverse as they overcome obstacles and challenges to embrace their strength, courage, hope, and resolve in order to be ready to face adulthood.Resources:Dr. Jordan's previous related podcast: Follow the Yellow Brick Road: What Dorothy Can Teach Teen GirlsDr. Jordan's previous related podcast: Moana, Dorothy, and Rey: The heroine's journey models how girls can thrive during adolescenceCamp Weloki: safe place to be heard, learn, increase self-awareness, learn important life skills, connect more deeply with peers and learn from each other.My favorite book on what fairy tales have to teach us about girls and women: Spinning Straw Into Gold, Joan GouldJoin Our Community:https://www.facebook.com/DrTimJordanhttps://www.instagram.com/drtimjordan/https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-jordan-md-79799120b/

Hey there, and a very happy Thursday to you! This is your Disney News for Thursday, August 28th, 2025. I hope you're having a wonderful day and ready for some Disney updates to brighten it up even more! - Excitement at Disney World Orlando with the announcement of "The Enchanted Realms," a new attraction opening next summer featuring augmented reality and immersive scenes from Disney classics like Aladdin, Frozen, and Moana. - Disneyland Tokyo celebrates its 42nd anniversary with "Tokyo Disney Nights," a limited event with extended park hours, nighttime parades, and exclusive merchandise. - Tokyo Disneyland introduces "Flavor of the Seasons," showcasing Japanese cuisine with dishes like sushi and ramen, offering guests a taste of local culture. - Disney+ to release a new live-action adaptation of "The Little Mermaid" soon, promising a fresh take on the classic tale with stunning visuals and unforgettable music. Have a magical day and tune in again tomorrow for more updates.

This week, a blast from the past from Imagineering, World Princess Week, 70 hours of celebrations in Anaheim, some Disneyland Resort Hotel perks are leaving, Halloween changes, we talk to David Sparks about Disneyland, and more! Please support the show if you can by going to https://www.dlweekly.net/support/. Check out all of our current partners and exclusive discounts at https://www.dlweekly.net/promos. News: Destination D23, the east coast version of the D23 Ultimate Fan Event in Anaheim, is taking place August 29-31st. D23 Gold Members are invited to join a selection of the event online on Saturday, August 30th, and Sunday, August 31st. The stream will feature select panels including the welcome from Michael Vargo, X Atencio: The Untold Story of a Disney Legend, Be Our Guest with Disney on Broadway, Beyond the Spires: An Insider Look at Disney Castles, and many more. Check out the link in the show notes to sign up and see all the details. – https://d23.com/d23-event/d23-gold-theater-destination-d23-livestream/ https://blogmickey.com/2025/07/disney-plus-subscribers-free-d23-gold-membership-offer/ Fan's of the Disney Channel at the turn of the century might remember a mini-matronic named Tom Morrow 2.0. Well, he is back hosting Imagineer That on the Walt Disney Imagineering YouTube Channel. Imagineer That! was a mini-show on Disney Channel that answered questions about Imagineering including the science, storytelling, and engineering behind the attractions in the Disney Parks. Tom Morrow is doing all that again on YouTube, talking to the Imagineers of today about these topics. The first episode is out now at the link in our show notes. – https://disneyparksblog.com/disney-experiences/imagineer-that-returns-with-tom-morrow-2-0/ https://youtu.be/0gal-ucgFKU This week is World Princess Week! To celebrate, Disney has a whole lineup of things to take part in. On August 29, the Disney YouTube channel will host a Royal Concert from Disneyland Park. It was filmed in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle, and features voice talent like Jodi Benson – Ariel from the Little Mermaid, Paige O'Hara – Belle from Beauty and the Beast, Anika Noni Rose – Tiana from Princess and the Frog, and Auli'i Cravalho – Moana from Moana and Moana 2. Ginnifer Goodwin – Snow White from Once Upon a Time, and Susan Eagan – Meg from Hurcules host. A Royal Ride Along will feature Jodi Benson taking viewers through Ariel's Undersea Adventure on YouTube as well. DIsney+ is hosting a marathon of Pricess classics, along with a LEGO Disney Pricess: Villains Unite original. There is so much more. Visit the link in the show notes for all the details. – https://disneyparksblog.com/disney-experiences/world-princess-week-2025-how-to-join-the-royal-celebration/ Disneyland Resort celebrated its 70th anniversary by spreading magic over 70 hours across Anaheim from August 20 through August 22, 2025, with surprise events, including school celebrations, senior sock hops, visits to first responders, veterans, and families. Live entertainment, Disney characters, gifts, and community connections were brought to neighborhoods throughout the city. The festivities included generous acts such as donation vouchers for schools, storytimes and sing‑alongs at libraries, and a $50,000 gift to the Anaheim High School Chamber Singers, all aimed at fostering joy and support across the community. The closing highlight featured a spirited halftime show at Katella High School's football game, complete with dance teams, a Disneyland Band performance, character appearances, popcorn, and giveaways. – https://disneyparksblog.com/dlr/disneyland-gives-back-to-anaheim-with-70-happiest-hours-initiative/ Starting in 2026, changes to perks at the Disneyland Resort Hotels will be changing. The first big change is the discontinuation of early entry starting January 5th. Instead, guests will be given one Lightning Lane per guest per stay. Pixar Place Hotel guests will also lose their private entrance into Disney California Adventure. Guests can still use the Grand Californian entrance. – https://www.micechat.com/421772-disneyland-update-halloween-time-treats-and-a-few-tricks/ Halloween Time has officially begun at Disneyland and some of the decorations have been updated for this year. Along Main Street, the decorations on the lamp posts have lost the “Halloween Time” text, and now feature fall foliage. In the hub, the Critter Country pumpkin that featured Winnie the Pooh has been replaced with a Bayou Country pumpkin featuring Princess Tiana. – https://www.micechat.com/421772-disneyland-update-halloween-time-treats-and-a-few-tricks/ Haunted Mansion Holiday has returned once again this year. Changes to the attraction include an updated gingerbread house in the ballroom, like usual. This year, the gingerbread house isn't as animated as in the past. The Oogie Boogie at the end of the attraction has also been updated and is much more fluid than the previous animatronic, which debuted back in 2003. – https://www.micechat.com/421772-disneyland-update-halloween-time-treats-and-a-few-tricks/ https://www.laughingplace.com/disney-parks/disneyland-haunted-mansion-holiday-2025-pov/ In a little bit of better late than never news, two new 70th Anniversary-inspired Coca-Cola bottles will be debuting at the resort. The new designs are on the Original Taste and Zero Sugar bottles and feature jewel tone sparkles and a motif of Sleeping Beauty Castle. The Original has purple, yellow, and orange colors, with Zero featuring purple, blue, and fuchsia. The new bottles will launch at the resort on September 1st. – https://www.laughingplace.com/disney-parks/disneyland-70th-coca-cola-bottles/ SnackChat: Jack-Jack Cookie Num Nums – https://disneyland.disney.go.com/dining/disney-california-adventure/jack-jack-cookie-num-nums/menus/ Adorable Snowman Frosted Treats – https://disneyland.disney.go.com/dining/disney-california-adventure/adorable-snowman-frosted-treats/menus/snack/ Discussion Topic: David Sparks https://www.macsparky.com/

Leaders Who Create Inspiration: Join Jason Squires as he sits down with Jeremy Spears, an Annie Award–winning Story Artist who has helped bring to life some of Disney's most beloved films, including Encanto, Wreck-It Ralph, Zootopia, Moana, and Frozen. Jeremy pulls back the curtain on what it's really like to be a story artist from his day-to-day responsibilities to the collaborative process of shaping characters and storylines alongside directors, writers, and animators. In this conversation, Jeremy shares the moment that first sparked his passion for animation, how he stays inspired when creativity is his full-time job, and why pursuing personal projects—like hand-carving wooden sculptures in his Whittle Woodshop keeps his artistry thriving. Stick around until the end to hear which Disney character Jeremy would love to share a meal with, and what would be on the table. If you're passionate about storytelling, animation, or the creative process, this is an episode you won't want to miss. Learn more about Jeremy and a new film he is working on at https://www.forevergreenfilm.com/

Hey there, and a very happy Wednesday! This is your Disney News for Wednesday, August 27th, 2025. I hope you're ready to sprinkle a little pixie dust on your day with some magical updates. - Tokyo Disneyland is introducing a new nighttime parade "Dreams in the Sky" with breathtaking floats themed after Disney stories like "Frozen" and "Moana." - Space Mountain at Disneyland Resort in California is getting enhancements with new visual effects and a revamped soundtrack, reopening just in time for the holiday rush. - Disney+ is launching "Imagineering Marvels," a behind-the-scenes series on the creative process of Disney's attractions. - Disneyland Paris is hosting a seasonal food festival throughout the fall, featuring diverse global flavors from themed food stalls. That's all for today! Thanks for tuning in, and I hope you have a magical day. Remember to check in tomorrow for more Disney updates. See you tomorrow!

On today's episode, we catch up on some movies and shows that we have been watching on our own free time. Spoiler-free accounts of the following movies: Prisoners, Weapons, Old Henry, Amy Bradley is Missing, Poop Cruise, Netflix Trainwreck series, Final Destination Bloodlines, Zathura, Moana 2, Cars 2, Happiness, Equalizer and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

INTERVIEW: Jamaica Moana on debut EP 'BUD & DENI' by Zac Hoffman on Radio One 91FM Dunedin

Archeologist Ed Barnhart of MayaExploration.org, among other places, rejoins us to discuss Easter Island. But before that, we discuss his theory on how certain megalithic blocks were fused together.You won't want to miss that.But the main event is Easter Island. We start with it's modern history since Western "discovery". What are the orginial settlement theories? What do the indiginous themselves say? What does the archeology say? We go into their likely societal structures, certain times of disruption, the myths about trees, just who are those giant head statues of? We talk some about mythology and concepts like "the navel of the world". Your host offers some un-vetted theories on many areas he is not qualified to theorize upon. But that's just how I do.Basically, everything you want to know about Easter Island plus more in about 90 minutes. 

West of Wonderland has a resident Moana - do you? Bay and Laura welcome friend-of-the-podcast Cass McFadden on today's episode. They discuss all the things, like self-walking cats, martyrdom and of course, courage. Cass has a fascinating history and an infinitely curious nature, so of course there's a lot to talk about! She's been partnering with Bay and Laura to bring coaching to women leaders in sustainability! Learn how Cass is charting a course across the globe for ESG change. Together, she, Bay, and Laura unpack what it means to coach and care for women committed to saving the planet. P.S. Want to attend a future sustainability leadership workshop with West of Wonderland? Get on our waitlist: https://wonderlandandcompany.com/sustainability/

El invitado al episodio #320, "Recuerda Quién Eres", del podcast Máximo Desempeño es Sebastián Zuleta, compositor y editor musical que comparte su extraordinario recorrido desde una mansarda en Medellín hasta trabajar más de una década para Disney en películas como "Encanto", "Wish" y "Moana 2". Descubre cómo este artista colombiano ha convertido la adaptabilidad en su superpoder y la humildad en su filosofía de vida, navegando una industria compleja sin perder jamás su esencia auténtica mientras conquistaba los estudios más prestigiosos de Hollywood con paciencia estratégica y determinación inquebrantable. Además, Pablo profundiza en "Recuerda Quién Eres", una reflexión transformadora inspirada en una conversación con el psicólogo deportivo Jaime Marcos sobre la verdadera enseñanza de El Rey León. Descubre por qué "Hakuna Matata" no es la lección principal de la película sino la trampa brillante que nos impide ver la verdad: que nuestro potencial extraordinario no desaparece porque lo ignoremos, y que el crecimiento real comienza cuando tenemos el valor de enfrentar la incomodidad que implica recordar quiénes realmente somos. Un episodio que te desafiará a salir de tu propia zona de "Hakuna Matata" y te inspirará a abrazar la grandeza que siempre has llevado dentro. ¿Te atreverías a mirar tu reflejo en el estanque y reconocer la corona que ya llevas puesta?

Here is your Daily Disney News for Monday, August 18th, 2025 - Disneyland's Haunted Mansion in California is undergoing enhancements, featuring updated special effects and new story elements. - Epcot in Florida will introduce "Journey of Water," an interactive attraction inspired by Moana, offering a fun exploration of water and nature. - Disney Springs to welcome "Enchanted Bakes," a new bakery opening with Disney-themed treats later this month. - Disney+ announces "Imagineers: The Dream Builders," a documentary series providing a behind-the-scenes look at Disney park creations. Have a magical day and tune in again tomorrow for more updates.

Send us a textPour yourself a passion fruit and pineapple daiquiri as we dive into a spirited cultural showdown! Which Disney theme creates more magic – the laid-back tropical vibes of Polynesia or the vibrant energy of Latin America?Our tropical cocktail sets the perfect backdrop for this friendly debate as we explore how Disney brings these rich cultural influences to life across their global properties. The Polynesian Resort stands as a monument to Disney's dedication to immersive theming, with its iconic lobby, pristine beaches, and over-water bungalows representing the gold standard of Disney accommodations. Meanwhile, Coronado Springs makes a compelling case for Latin American architectural beauty with its stunning Gran Destino Tower and exceptional dining options.From attractions to entertainment, we weigh the current offerings like Journey of Water against Mexico's Gran Fiesta Tour, while looking ahead to game-changing additions like Animal Kingdom's Pueblo Esperanza. We dream big with blue-sky concepts that would elevate both cultural representations, including a breathtaking Polynesian island pavilion at EPCOT complete with immersive dining, entertainment, and interactive experiences.The cinematic battle pits modern classics against each other – does the musical brilliance of Encanto and Coco outshine the adventurous spirit of Moana and the quirky charm of Lilo & Stitch? We also compare the dining, drinks, and merchandise experiences that bring these cultures to life throughout Disney destinations.Whether you're a tiki bar enthusiast or can't get enough of Latin rhythms, this episode offers fresh perspectives on how Disney celebrates these diverse cultural influences. Plus, we share details about our upcoming budget-friendly Disneyland trip that proves you don't need to break the bank for Disney magic. What cultural theme would you like to see Disney expand next?Here's who we are and what is in store for you

Click ⬇️ HERE ⬇️ to listen to Superhero OR Princess Stories! Episode 1: Captain EJ vs. The Knucklers

Join Sis and Big Pops for a fun, fun talk about one of the things we love most—Nerd Stuff. (NOTE: Spoilers from FF First Steps at the end of the podcast.) We discuss our fav bits of nerd news: Taylor Laughter: Werewolf Hunter, a new movie, Taylor Swift announcing T12, some funny news about Alan Tudyk from iRobot, M&M are redoing famous Marvel covers on Marvel comics, the new Teaser for Invasion, Hotwheels has released a new Jaws boat car in honor of the 50th anniversary of Jaws, the Naria TV-show directed by Gretta Gerwig has started filming, and Dwayne Johnson was almost partly AI in the “live action” Moana movie. For bingeing, Big Pops has been playing Mario Kart Tour. He's also watched Made in Manhattan, Marry Me, The Mulligan, The Snyder Cut, Star Trek: Brave New World, and is re-reading all the Fantastic Four books from the beginning.  Sis has been watching Doctor Who, Avatar, Avatar 2: The Way of Water, playing Tales of the Shire on Switch, and is still reading a LOT. Then, Pops shared his pull list! This week he introduces us to Wonder Woman Issue 23 by DC; Ultimate Spiderman Issue 19 by Marvel; and Assorted Crisis Events Issue 5 by Image. His new number 1 is Fantastic Four Presents: Franklin Richards, Son of a Genius, featuring Herbie a possible one-shot by Marvel. His Book of the Week is Superman Issue 28 by DC. And last but not least, we review the movie “Fantastic Four: First Steps.”

Click ⬇️ HERE ⬇️ to listen to Superhero OR Princess Stories! Episode 1: Captain EJ vs. The Knucklers

This week on Tagata o te Moana: dengue continues its march in Samoa. The King of Tonga is undoing democratic reforms. Vanuatu's security and economic deal with Australia is closer. Also today Pacific heart health, outside nations told not to meddle in the Pacific. Also Pacific youth on security, Bougainville's election and mining the Cook Islands sea floor.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

"8 chuyện" về phim Tử chiến trên không, Cô dâu ma, Em xinh tinh quái, chuyện dùng AI trong Moana phiên bản live action cũng như quan điểm của đạo diễn James Cameron về AI.

Here is your Daily Disney News for Wednesday, August 13th, 2025 - Disneyland Tokyo introduces "Tokyo Dream Lights," a new parade with stunning light displays and classic Disney stories. - Walt Disney World in Florida prepares to unveil "Journey of Water" attraction at Epcot inspired by Moana, offering interactive elements and visuals. - Disney+ to launch "Paths of the Force," a new Star Wars series, exploring untold Jedi stories with a mix of familiar and new characters. - Disney revives "DuckTales" with a new season, promising to retain its sense of humor and adventure while adding some unexpected twists. Have a magical day and tune in again tomorrow for more updates.

Welcome back Snobbies. It's……been a while. We're here to bring you a little treat. Welcome back to the Fireside Chats 2. Here we talked about Sinners, Mountainhead, Mission Impossible: Final Reckoning, Fountain of Youth, Friendship, Moana 2, and Adolescence. These were films both Jared and Eric watched and they discuss them here. Jared also talks through a few things he wanted to feature, Eddingnton, The Phoenician Scheme, Happy Gilmore 2, The Count of Monte Cristo, We also talk about a short film by Bi Gan called, “A Short Story,” and it's a very beautiful thing to watch and we discuss what we think it's about. Check it out on Mubi. Enjoy!Letterboxd: Eric Peterson:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠letterboxd.com/EricLPeterson/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Jared Klopfenstein:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠letterboxd.com/kidchimp/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ethan Jasso:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠letterboxd.com/e_unit7/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Caleb Zehr:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠letterboxd.com/cjzehr/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ricky Wickham:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠letterboxd.com/octopuswizard/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Cody Martin: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠letterboxd.com/codytmartin/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Here is a COMPLETE LIST of every film that we have done an episode for. Enjoy!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/ericlpeterson/list/a-complete-list-of-every-the-film-snobs-episode/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Five star reviews left on the pod get read out loud!

How dare you? That's the first question KJ asked Ally Carter, whose name is “synonymous with hilarious action and heart-pounding romance” (TRUE). Is KJ outraged? Hell no. It's a legit question. Ally's books are so so much fun, with wild action scenes befitting a Bond movie (or a Jason Bourne, OBVIOUSLY) and plots that trot the globe while dancing backwards in high heels and KJ really wants to know—how did Ally give herself permission to just go there? To write the dreamy, wild, sure it could happen but also we don't even care because we're so in it story that scares many of us (especially ex-journo KJ, who wastes far far too much time on such non dramatic questions as “but how would someone with that job pay for health insurance? and “technically, how much snow could that unit make in one night?). Also asked: how did you learn to write action so well? Do you take all kinds of crazy self defense classes? Or dissect movie fight scenes in slo-mo? Are you fun to watch a spy movie with, or terrible?I would have asked her if she used to BE a spy…but then she would have had to kill me.LINKSNational Spy MuseumThe Blonde Who Came In from the ColdThe Most Wonderful Crime of the YearThe Blonde IdentityAlly CarterAlly's rec: Netflix: The ResidenceInstagram @theallycarter The newsletterHey everyone, it's Jenny Nash. This episode happens to feature an Author Accelerator book coach. Author Accelerator is the company I founded more than 10 years ago to lead the emerging book coaching industry. If you've been curious about what it takes to become a successful book coach, which is to say, someone who makes money, meaning, and joy out of serving writers, I've just created a bunch of great content to help you learn more. You can access it all by going to bookcoaches.com/waitlist. We'll be enrolling a new cohort of students in our certification program in October, so now's a perfect time to learn more and start making plans for a whole new career.Transcript below!EPISODE 460 - TRANSCRIPTJennie NashHey everyone, it's Jennie Nash, founder and CEO of Author Accelerator, the company I started more than 10 years ago to lead the emerging book coaching industry. In October, we'll be enrolling a new cohort of certification students who will be going through programs in either fiction, nonfiction, or memoir, and learning the editorial, emotional and entrepreneurial skills that you need to be a successful book coach. If you've been curious about book coaching and thinking that it might be something you want to do for your next career move, I'd love to teach you more about it, you can go to bookcoaches.com/waitlist to check out a free training I have—that's bookcoaches.com/waitlist. The training is all about how to make money, meaning and joy out of serving writers. Fall is always a great time to start something new. So if you're feeling called to do this, go check out our training and see if this might be right for you. We'd love to have you join us.Multiple SpeakersIs it recording? Now it's recording. Yay! Go ahead. This is the part where I stare blankly at the microphone. Try to remember what I'm supposed to be doing. All right, let's start over. Awkward pause. I'm going to rustle some papers. Okay. Now, one, two, three.KJ Dell'AntoniaHey, I'm KJ Dell'Antonia, and this is Hashtag AmWriting the weekly podcast about writing all the things—short things, long things, pitches, proposals, fiction, nonfiction. We're the podcast about getting things done. And I'm going to be solo this week because I am interviewing, and I'm so excited to interview one Ally Carter, whose name, I'm stealing this from her bio, because it was such a great line—is synonymous with hilarious action and heart-pounding romance. And as someone who's read much of it, I can vouch kids. So Ally's most recent big book that you've probably seen around was The Blonde Identity . Her current book that you're going to want to go straight out and grab is The Blonde Who Came In from the Cold, and her other book that she wrote just for me—because it was like exactly what I needed in a book in that moment and I really appreciate it. I'm glad other people got to read it, but it was really, for me— The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year those are her adult books. She's got a ton of young-adult books, also with heart pounding action and hilarious...wait, heart-pounding romance, hilarious action. I feel those are exchangeable. And even some middle grade if you've got some kids who might be reading in those lines. So Ally does all the things, and we're going to find out how, and immediately be able to do it ourselves. Ha! Ally, thanks for coming.Ally CarterThank you so much for having me, KJ. I appreciate it.KJ Dell'AntoniaWe are super excited.Ally CarterI also wrote The Most Wonderful Crime [The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year] just for me, because it's— that's like, I love a mystery, and I pick them up, and I'm like, this would be great. Where's the romance? And then I love a romance, and I pick it up, and I'm like, where's the mystery? And so that's, that's how Most Wonderful Crime [The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year ] came to be. It is two great genres better together.KJ Dell'AntoniaAlso, it's writers in a—like writers in a mansion, with secrets and surprise identities, and things people can do that no one knows they can do, which is my jam. Yeah, really enjoyed it.Ally CarterThank you.KJ Dell'AntoniaThank you for that. Not that I didn't I love The Blonde Identity. My daughter has it right now, and she's super excited, because I can give her The Blonde Who Came In from the Cold, early, because I might have gotten an early copy. So she'll be reading that on the beach next week after she finishes the first one.Ally CarterThat is some good cool mom points right there.KJ Dell'AntoniaWell, it is, yeah, and they're rare. But that is a great thing about your—I mean, my daughters are 21 and 19, so they're older, but I would have given the blonde books and The Most Wonderful Crime to, you know, a 16... ?... like, they're not—not that I don't actually give some pretty steamy stuff to my kids, but if you're not somebody who does that, they're steamy, but they're not—anyway...Ally CarterYeah, there are books that, like, grandma and mom and daughter can all read togetherKJ Dell'AntoniaYeah, I was just going to say I would give them to my mom too. Yeah. I mean, they're just super fun. Because sometimes the better test is not “Would I give it to my daughter?” It's “Would I give it to my mom?”Ally CarterYou're exactly right. Agreed, agreed.KJ Dell'AntoniaSo my first question is this: how dare you?! Okay, and now you're like, wait, what?! No, seriously, like, your books are—the plots are so out there, and glorious, and outrageous, and the action scenes are wild, and they're sort of everything you fantasize about in a spy romance novel. And as a former journalist, I spend a lot of time sitting around staring at my plot thinking things like, yes, but how would this person have health insurance? And I feel like you've transcended that. So can you talk to me and all of us about how you've, you know, embraced this world of the wild, glorious, fun, and outrageous in your plotting?Ally CarterYou know, that's a—thank you. First of all, that's a lovely compliment. I really credit it toward, you know, how most things are in my life and my career—it was total accident and sheer dumb luck. So 20 years ago—I realized not long ago—like, literally 20 years ago this spring, I saw it. I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You. And I was, you know, big dumb kid, didn't know what I was doing, sheer dumb luck, had this amazing idea. And most of all, I had an amazing idea at a time when the YA [young adult] genre was just expanding exponentially—like the shelves of shelf space at Barnes and Noble was getting bigger and bigger and bigger. And so it was a big tent, and there was room for everybody. And so I was lucky in that I got in there. I was especially lucky because I had a brilliant editor named Donna Bray. And Donna could see, like the shift coming—like, she could see Twilight and the, like, the move to paranormal, and the move to, you know, moving away from contemporary fiction to genre fiction. And she was like, we have to get this out fast. And so we crashed it. And so I sold it in, like, April or May of 2005, and then I had to go to copy editing in October, and I had—I had 32 pages.KJ Dell'AntoniaSorry, (laughing)Ally CarterAnd a day job!KJ Dell'AntoniaOh, my goodness!Ally CarterSo I had the summer of absolute deadline. I would come home from my day job, I would eat a fast dinner, and I would write till midnight. But this was also back, like, before we really had smartphones in our pockets all the time—definitely pre, like, social media—and so that's what you did. And I'm like, man, if I did that every day, think about how much writing I would get done today.KJ Dell'AntoniaYeah.Ally CarterBut because I was so fast, the turnaround there was so fast, I didn't have time to, like, go down a rabbit hole of, well, exactly what type of nylon cord would they use to rappel into such and such—you know, I just got—I made it up, and I got away with it. And so I realized that, you know, I would—I did do a lot of research on actual tradecraft.KJ Dell'AntoniaRight.Ally CarterSo the things like the girl—there's a scene where the girls have to go through the boy's garbage. And there's this—you know, there are scenes where they're, you know, planting bugs and those types of things. Those—I watched documentaries, I read a lot of, like, actual decommissioned, sort of old CIA handbooks and things.. The International Spy Museum has a wonderful reference section, and you can actually order...KJ Dell'AntoniaOh, that's cool.Ally CarterOld, like, World War Two training manuals and things. It's really greatKJ Dell'AntoniaI did not know that.Ally CarterSo I did do that. What I did not do was I didn't worry about, like, the brand name of what you might call it. So as a general rule, I tell my readers, like, the more specific something is in the book, the more likely it is I made it up. So when I'm like, well, then she did the one death ski maneuver—and, like, I don't know what the one death ski maneuver is, but they don't either—I made it up. But the actual sort of bones of what the school would teach and how they would teach, it was very accurate.KJ Dell'AntoniaWell, it must have come in handy because you have another school in the current book.Ally CarterYeah. And it's—it was a little harder, because it is, you know, it's not for kids, and so it has to have a little bit more of an air of sophistication. And I wanted to base it off of the actual CIA training facility, “The Farm,” which is at Camp Peary—which is in the book, what I couldn't figure out were things like, do they sleep in apartments? Do they have a dorm? Is there a are there barracks? Are there, you know, is there, like, a big cafeteria? Are they?KJ Dell'AntoniaVery few people will know what's real, and they can't tell you, right?Ally CarterThey can't tell me. And so I actually, when I was on tour for The Blonde Identity, I was in D.C., and I did a wonderful event, had hundreds of readers there, and they were like my Gallagher Girls who had grown up and now they all are spies. I mean, they like, literally work for the CIA. They're literally with, you know, "I'm with Homeland Security." You know, several of them were like, I can't actually tell you where I work, but you were very popular there and so, and I actually did a like, show of hands, like, if you can say so, how many of you have been to The Farm and, like, multiple hands went up.KJ Dell'AntoniaOh, wow!Ally CarterAnd I'm like we're talking when this is finished. So I got a little bit, but not very much, you know. And I guess the thing also with “The Farm” is, you know, they bring in, like, their actual undercover operatives to train there, but there are a lot of different groups that also use that facility. So, for example, I think I'm not dreaming this. I think this is true. Like, if you are an ambassador or an ambassador's family, and you and you are going, maybe not like the ambassador to London, but if you're going to, like, you know, someplace that could be a little bit dangerous, they'll send you there for, like, evasive driving training and things like that. So you get a little bit of training. So it's not just spies who train at Camp Peary, it's multiple groups.KJ Dell'AntoniaI have a new life goal now, which is to never need evasive driving training.Ally CarterRight?! And see, I kind of want to learn how to do it. I don't want to need it…KJ Dell'AntoniaYeah no, no but no, it's not to need it. I don't want to need it.Ally CarterI want to know how to do it.KJ Dell'AntoniaYeah. Well, yeah, you could, you could use it. Yeah, I just—it. I miss—your books inspire the writer in me to remember, like you said, that very few people care what brand of nylon rope you would use to repel, and from there, it's a pretty short step to, you know, whether or not you can really stop a cable car halfway.Ally CarterYeah.KJ Dell'AntoniaYeah, we're and we're not going to but.. It's just...Ally CarterAnd the way I see it is, if you are the person who knows what brand of rope it is... even if i get the rope right, i could get everything else wrong.KJ Dell'AntoniaYou're either not reading this, or you don't care.Ally CarterYeah. There... This is, this is not for them, probably.KJ Dell'AntoniaOr if it is, it they've they're there, like...Ally CarterThey're there.KJ Dell'AntoniaThat's fine.Ally CarterYou either buying in or you're out. And that's fine. And I—and nothing but respect to the people who do know that? Because now, I grew up on a farm, and so I can't read, like, cowboy books, because I'm like, oh gosh, geez Louise, of course, your barn burned down. You put that hay in there way too soon—you are you really baling green hay?KJ Dell'AntoniaThey're literally haying in my field right now.Ally CarterRight. You know, I'm like, seriously, seriously. This is, you know, you're, you're, you're not. You didn't do a semen test on your bull? Like—you know?"KJ Dell'Antonia"You are not milking that cow. I know how you're supposed to hold your hands."Ally CarterExactly!KJ Dell'AntoniaSee I did.Ally CarterYeah, I'm, I'm not, I'm not here for and so I'm, like, this is the same thing. Like spies have no reason be reading me. I have no reason reading the things that I do know about. Because it's, you know, it's, it's just, you're also, it's not exciting to me. And so I'm sure most spies, you know, there's a line in...KJ Dell'AntoniaYeah it's not a fantasy.Ally CarterYeah, so…KJ Dell'AntoniaIt can't be a fantasy, because you're too stuck on, you know, the...Ally CarterExactly, and so...KJ Dell'AntoniaThe reality that our hay baling chute is broken, and therefore we will need multiple people tomorrow to go around and pick up each individual bale…Ally CarterYeah.KJ Dell'AntoniaAnd put it on a flatbed truck, and drive to the barn, and take each individual bale off the flatbed truck, and then stack them in the barn. Y'all are missing my arm gestures, but Ally knows of which I speak.Ally CarterI know, I know those gestures. You got to buck it up with your knee. It's a whole—it's—it is not easy work. It is very hard work. And so…KJ Dell'AntoniaYeah, I'm hoping not to go out there, but I know I will.Ally CarterOh no, you don't want to do that, and you will itch for days.KJ Dell'AntoniaI've done it. I've done it for years and I know I'm going to end up there. It's my birthday tomorrow too.Ally CarterOh no, that's not the…Yeah, so it's the reality. I think it's very easy—also, when reading, as a reader—I hate it when it's very clear that an author has done a ton of research and they're not going to let it go to waste. Yeah. And so there's like, you know, they'll introduce the thing, and then they'll have, like, a paragraph explaining all of the things that they have learned. I'm like, this serves no purpose whatsoever.KJ Dell'AntoniaI also thank my editor for my leaving out the entire history of Prohibition-era alcohol rules between Kansas and Missouri in The Chicken Sisters.Ally CarterYep. See, if you, if you want to write that, the nonfiction is right there, you can— you've got it. So I like to do enough research to inform the story. And, you know, there are definitely things, you know, scenes and lines and wonderful things that have come from the research. But I never do research just so I know, like, what kind of rope it is.KJ Dell'AntoniaRight.Ally CarterI—you know, that's that I think then, then, then also, are you doing research, or are you procrastinating?KJ Dell'AntoniaWell...Ally CarterBecause I think most people are just procrastinating.KJ Dell'AntoniaWe all know the answer to that. So how about the action scenes? You write such great action scenes, but I am also not a reader who's like picturing, well, clearly at this point, he's upside down and her hand. You know, that's not how I read anything. I just kind of go (shwoop) through that. So how do you handle writing them? Are you like slowing down action films so you can dissect the movies?Ally CarterNo, I really don't like writing action scenes. They are hard, and it feels like I've done everything, like they're okay. Well, hey, here we are. We're doing that again, but there. They are. They come with the job. And so I think most of all, you just have to remember, sort of the blocking of it. Like, okay, who is where? The other hard thing that that comes and, you know, movies have it so much easier. Like, you don't need a name for the for the six bad guys, that black Willow...KJ Dell'AntoniaRight,, the one on the right, and the one behind... Yeah, yeah, no.Ally CarterAnd so I'm like, Okay, but how is the reader keeping these different so, you know, like, well, one of them has a has glasses, and the other one has a goatee. Okay, well, then from that point forward, I the author just call them glasses...KJ Dell'AntoniaGlasses and goatee. Right.Ally CarterAnd so you have to remember, like, okay, glasses is down. Goatees still at large, you know, or whatever.KJ Dell'AntoniaIs there a special copy editor for that?Ally CarterThey're not special, but that is definitely can fall into a copy editor's purview, especially things like during that fight sequence. Okay, well, it was 100 pages ago, but it was also yesterday that your heroine got shocked. Is she really fighting at full strength? Oh, ouch, you know. So that type of thing, because, again, reader wise, that's, that was, I've, that was the midpoint. I'm to the climax now. But timeline wise, no, that was yesterday.KJ Dell'AntoniaRight.Ally CarterAnd so the...KJ Dell'AntoniaAnd probably with some readers, reader wise, that was an hour ago.Ally CarterYeah! So...KJ Dell'AntoniaI mean you know, we're eating this up.Ally CarterExactly.KJ Dell'AntoniaSo much faster to read than to write.Ally CarterSo you have to think about those types of things. Like I wrote that two months ago, but nope, it's still right there.KJ Dell'AntoniaYeah.Ally CarterSo that's the kind of thing that, you know, again, you can't really worry about in a first draft. Like, let that. That's future-use problem.KJ Dell'AntoniaYeah. Now, in contrast to, you know, the wild plotting and the crazy, enjoyable, delicious action, your people feel, you know super, super real. They have, ah, big reasons for being the way that they are, but the feelings feel real. I think that is an amazing um, contrast. Do you start with the, do you start with, like, you know, the person's flaw, or what it would there's some term of art for this which I have forgotten. Or do you start with, I need a person who, or does it vary book by book?Ally CarterThank you. I, you know, it's I spend a lot of time with that.KJ Dell'AntoniaThat's why they work.Ally CarterThank you.KJ Dell'AntoniaNo, seriously, no one. I mean, The Blonde Identity would maybe be fun if it wasn't also, like, you really want her to figure out who she is, and you really want to know why is this happening, and what is up with and like, you want all that for the character you believe in, in her.Ally CarterAnd that's always I find as much about tone as anything, this particular sub- genre, it can go wacky or kooky really fast, like it's very easy. You know, I like to say that spy movies exist on a spectrum that range from get smart to Zero Dark Thirty.KJ Dell'AntoniaYeah.Ally CarterAnything along that spectrum is a spy movie. But those could not be more different. And so are we? Are we doing like James Bond, like he's cool and suave, but he also has gadgets, or are we doing like he's, you know, kind of bumbling with gadgets? Or are we doing it's very realistic?KJ Dell'AntoniaWell are we doing Roger Moore James Bond, or are we doing … um…guy who now models for…Ally CarterDaniel Craig?KJ Dell'AntoniaThank you—oy vey—Daniel Craig, which are very different. James Bonds really…Ally CarterVery different James Bonds, because I've heard people the James Bond people talk about the Daniel Craig, James Bond doesn't exist without Jason Bourne.KJ Dell'AntoniaYeah.Ally CarterThat's who they looked at and so all of these things, you know. And so when I'm trying to figure it out, and I think that's one of the hardest things about genre bending romance, whether you're bending fantasy and romance or horror and romance, or romance and mystery or romance and action, or whatever, you could only really write in the Venn diagram space, where there's overlap. And so I couldn't, you know, the realistic version of this is not something where people are falling in love, like it's, you know, it's too dark. And it's definitely not a comedy, definitely not a comedy. So you're, you have to find the place where, no, they're in real, actual peril. This is really terrible. This is... they really might dieKJ Dell'AntoniaAnd they understand that.Ally CarterAnd they understand that they get that and also, but they still have time to, you know, okay, well, now I'm going to, you know, now we're going to slow dance, you know, you still have to find those times. And the other thing is, you know, you have to figure out just where on the spectrum you want to be and lean into that. Like, if you want to write, like, the kooky, sort of Agent Cody Banks of it all, then you have to do that. But then you have to realize the other parts of the spy kind of world that you can't touch. And so it's—you're just—you're always threading needles. It's, it is a, it is a task of, of absolutely threading needles all the time.KJ Dell'AntoniaI think that, yeah, when it comes to tone, where on the spectrum do you want to be, is like, like maybe one of the greatest questions that I have heard. And it's just one that, you know, I think we all wrestle with.Ally CarterWell, and I've had people that really don't—people who should get it—who don't get it. So, you know, I was in a meeting one time with some Hollywood producers who were looking at some of my stuff, and I said, “Well, tonally, where do you want it to be?” And they were like, “What do you mean?” I said, “Well, do you want it to be like, you know, Mr. and Mrs. Smith or Bourne Identity?” And they said, “Well, those are the same thing.” And I was like…KJ Dell'AntoniaNo, no, no, no!Ally Carter“This meeting is over. Thank you very much”.KJ Dell'AntoniaYeah.Ally CarterIt's... I don't understand how people don't get that, but to me, I spend 90% of my time worried about it. Oh, I remember now what I was going to say earlier. I got my start—and I'm never going to be, like, a full-time or big-time of this—but I've done some screenwriting. . And so there's a screenwriting podcast [Scriptnotes] by two guys who are very big, very dominant—dominant—screenwriter. One of them did, like, the Charlie's Angels movies and the Aladdin remake and all those. The other one does The Last of Us and a bunch of big, like, HBO shows. And, um, they always talk about "the Want song". So in every Disney musical, the first—the first song—sets up the world. It's "Belle," you know, like, you know, wandering through town. The second song is the "whatever she wants." And so, you know Moana, you know, "See the line where the sky and the sea meet, it calls me"—like, Moana wants to travel. She wants adventure. And so I spend a lot of time, when I'm setting up these characters, thinking about what their "Want song" would be. And so, like, for The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year, her "Want song" is, "I want to be Eleanor."KJ Dell'AntoniaRight.Ally CarterYou know she wants to be Eleanor Ashley [from The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year], who is my, like, fake off-brand Agatha Christie, and so that's, that's what you have to think about a lot like, you know, what Alex [from The Blonde Who Came in from the Cold] wants is to sort of be free like she wants, she wants to be enough. She wants to pay her—you know? She has paid her debt for—you know, sort of having been born strong and healthy, where her identical twin has been born very, very sick. And so she, she wants—and she wants to never lay eyes on Michael Kingsley [also from The Blonde Who Came in from the Cold], ever again, who was her, you know, on again, off again, partner, slash love interest. And so that's—you know, that I always start with that, what is their wound? What is the thing that hurt them in the past that they're trying to get over? And what is their want?KJ Dell'AntoniaYeah.Ally CarterAnd almost always, what would they realize over the course of the book is that the thing that they want is not the thing that they need.KJ Dell'AntoniaYeah.Ally CarterAnd so that's, that's an Ally Carter book. That's an Ally Carter character progress.KJ Dell'AntoniaThat's it. Now everyone can do it.Ally CarterYeah.KJ Dell'AntoniaYeah. Oh, but if it were that easy, everyone would do it, right? Um, no, this... this is amazing and delightful. I hope really helpful for people. I got distracted by taking some notes on what you just said. So, people—for me, for the Post-its on my computer, as well as, oh my gosh, so many Post-its, so many Post-its—let's talk just a little bit about the difference between YA [young adult] and adult when you're—fundamentally—I mean, some people sort of switch genres entirely. You were writing very similarly toned books for different audiences. How? How do you think of that evolution?Ally CarterThat's—in a way—yes, I did switch audiences. In another way, they're the exact same readers. And so that's—that's an interesting and weird thing about YA is, about every three years, you have to make all new readers because they have grown up and they've aged out of you. And even if they haven't aged out of you, they have what I call "cooled out of you."KJ Dell'AntoniaYeah, yeah.Ally CarterAnd they're like, I liked those books when I was a little kid, and so current me can't possibly like those books, because those are little kid books. And so I was on the phone during the pandemic with my friend Rachel Hawkins and Rachel had written YA for a long time, and then she switched to adult. And I was talking about... do I...? What do I...? I need to sell something. Do I sell another middle grade? Do I sell a YA [young adult]? Like, what do I sell? And she says, you sell an adult. You sell an adult book that appeals to your Gallagher Girl readers. And I, I said, oh, Rachel, I've spent, you know, 15 years building a career in YA, I've got, you know... And she said, your readers aren't there anymore. They are the girls who read you when they were 12, ten years ago, and are 22 now. And I'm like, oh, that's right, they are. They've grown up. And so I—and I had the idea for “the spy twins” and had tried to do it as YA, and then at one point I even tried to do it as middle grade, and I could never make it work. And the problem wasn't, one of the twins wakes up with amnesia and somebody's trying to kill her—that I could pull off. The problem was, how and why is her identical twin on the run? And what does she have? And, like, you know, she...KJ Dell'AntoniaShe needs a longer history than you can have as a teenager.Ally CarterYeah, exactly. Like, is she actually working for the CIA, like, because then again, we get into Agent Cody Banks territory, then it's, you know, well, we've got a super-secret branch of the CIA who recruits kids. I'm like, no, you don't that's stupid. Like so...KJ Dell'AntoniaAnd she's been there since she was 10, and now she's on the lam.Ally CarterExactly.KJ Dell'AntoniaYou know, and then at age 12, she went rogue.Ally CarterYeah. And then you've got, like, well, no, you know, it's a Parent Trap situation, and one of them was raised by a spy and one of them was raised by ordinary people. I'm like, oh, maybe... I don't know, but, you know, I just couldn't quite make it work. And so I was talking to Rachel, and I said, what am I supposed to do? Just dust off that old spy twin idea, except now, instead of a super-secret organization, she's just on the run from the CIA? And then I was like, wait a second.KJ Dell'AntoniaWell yes!Ally CarterIf she's 30... she can—so every single problem and logic challenge that I had with that premise went away once those characters became 30. And so I just—and it was the easiest writing I've ever done. I feel almost guilty about how easy that book was to write; because I'd been, I'd been working at it and hammering at that idea for so long. And so it was almost like, instead of starting it at the beginning, I started it at the end of the writing process, where you have that one, like, little linchpin thing that you think, oh, but what if I do this? And then the whole plot just...KJ Dell'AntoniaRight.Ally CarterSo I started it there. I started at the...KJ Dell'AntoniaWow!Ally CarterDomino moment. And I'm spoiled, because it'll never be that easy again. But that's, that's how the transition went. And, you know, it's been great because my readers, they're so excited to see me. It's like, they're, I hear from readers all the time, they're like, you know, it feels like you wrote this just for me. I grew up with you, and now you're writing books for me again, and that has been very full circle and very, very fulfilling.KJ Dell'AntoniaThat, that's great. Well, you're writing them for me too. So, love that, and I think for a lot of our listeners—who I really think are going to enjoy this episode.Ally CarterThank you.KJ Dell'AntoniaSo before I let you go, can I ask you what you have read and loved lately?Ally CarterOh, sweet mercy. I have been so underwater, on a—on a book, and it's been the kind of—it's been the kind of deadline and the kind of book... You know how the old adage is so true that you never learn how to write a book—you just learn how to write the book you're writing right now. And so this one has just... and when I get that way, I don't enjoy reading because my inner critic can't turn off. But I will share a show that I loved, and I—they just announced that they're not doing a season two, and I'm heartbroken over it. And that is, on Netflix, there's a Shonda Rhimes show called The Residence, and it's a murder mystery set at the White House. You know, somebody drops dead during a state dinner. And it's got kind of a kooky detective and a wonderful, colorful cast, and it's very, very funny, but it also—it threads that tonal needle, where, like, no, no, there was a murder. This is still serious, but, oh, by the way, I'm going to go look at the body, but first I saw a bird I want to check out, you know. And so it's just—tonally and voice-wise—it does really amazing things. And so if any of your listeners are looking for a really great, like, eight-episode series, it's great. I could not recommend it more—The Residence on Netflix.KJ Dell'AntoniaThat sounds super fun. Well, I am in the midst of The Blonde Who Came In from the Cold. So, you know, I don't normally recommend a book until I know if the writer is going to stick a landing. But I feel quite confident in this one, and have enjoyed—as you can obviously hear from the podcast—the rest of Ally's work. So I am going to just push all of you listeners to, you know, head out there, grab the new one, grab the old one, and have a good time with them.Ally CarterAww, thank you.KJ Dell'AntoniaYou're welcome. Thanks so much for being here. Oh, should people follow you on social media? Do you do anything fun? Are you...?Ally CarterI do nothing fun. I'm not fun at all. I'm mostly on Instagram; I guess at this point I'm the Ally Carter over there. I have a couple of kind of defunct Facebook pages that I update occasionally. I just updated it for the first time, evidently, in two years. So that was fun. I'm on Threads very seldom. I used to be on Twitter and I still have that account I don't update it very often. Um, but yeah—and of course, my newsletter, like the newsletter is—I think we need to come back. We all need to get back to the newsletter, because it will deliver the news directly to your inbox. And so if you want to make sure you don't miss any like, you know, tour events, which, by the way, I'm coming to Boston on tour in a couple of weeks. So looking forward to that a lot. I think its Lovestruck Books? Is that Boston?KJ Dell'AntoniaProbably yeah.Ally CarterYeah.KJ Dell'AntoniaThat's the new romance bookstore there. I've been with Sarina a couple of times, and yeah, it's a great—it is a beautiful store. Like, every detail. Their bathrooms are phenomenal. That's how wonderful this store is. So, very cool. All right, I will link up the newsletter in the show notes, and yeah, about, you know, once every week, I decide to just cancel all the rest of my social media and only do my AmReading email. And then I imagine what my agent would say. And yeah, I don't do it, but...Ally CarterIt's, you know, and I feel like I'm such a broken record, like, oh, you know, go buy my book. Oh, go, you know, I'm going to be here on tour. Oh, this is how you get signed books. But—and I just say over and over and over again—and then inevitably, and this really happened to me one time, I was sitting at the LAX Airport waiting on a flight home, and I got an irate message from a reader that I never come to LA. And I was like, I did an event here last night—like, I was at the Barnes and Noble at The Grove or wherever—last night. And so we said, we—it feels like we are just beating a dead horse letting people know about these things, but it's so easy for things to get lost. And so...KJ Dell'AntoniaYeah! Jess tells the story—that's one of my other co-hosts—about, you know, someone who had come up to her, really one of her biggest fans, “Good new book.” And, “I get your idea, I love this, and I love that you wrote, like, knew a lot.” And then she said, “Oh, well, did you enjoy my latest book?” And they're like, “You have a new book?!”Ally CarterIt happens every time. And so, you know, it's—it's just part of the business at this point.KJ Dell'AntoniaYou've got to do it—it's just part of the business. All right. Well, thank you again...Ally CarterThank you.KJ Dell'AntoniaAnd as always, listeners until next week keep your butt in the chair and your head in the game.Jess LaheyThe Hashtag AmWriting Podcast is produced by Andrew Perella. Our intro music, aptly titled Unemployed Monday, was written and played by Max Cohen. Andrew and Max were paid for their time and their creative output, because everyone deserves to be paid for their work. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit amwriting.substack.com/subscribe

Hey there, and happy Wednesday! This is your Disney News for Wednesday, August 6th, 2025. Hope you're having a fabulous day so far! - Disney World Florida unveils "Moana's Ocean Adventure," offering an epic ride through the Pacific with Moana and Maui using cutting-edge technology. - Tokyo Disneyland celebrates with "Tokyo Disney Resort: A Magical History" event featuring shows, merchandise, and parades from September 1st to October 31st. - Disney+ to debut "The Kingdom Keepers" series this fall, based on a book series about teens protecting Disney parks from villains. - Disneyland California introduces "Sweet Treats with Minnie," allowing guests to enjoy treats and meet Minnie Mouse in an exclusive event. That's all for today! Thanks for tuning in, and I hope you have a magical day. Remember to check in tomorrow for more Disney updates.

Disney is in DEEP trouble over the use of AI. The company was going to use AI to deepfake Dwayne Johnson's Maui in the live-action Moana movie, but decided against it because of backlash. So let's talk about Disney and AI...Watch this podcast episode on YouTube and all major podcast hosts including Spotify.CLOWNFISH TV is an independent, opinionated news and commentary podcast that covers Entertainment and Tech from a consumer's point of view. We talk about Gaming, Comics, Anime, TV, Movies, Animation and more. Hosted by Kneon and Geeky Sparkles.D/REZZED News covers Pixels, Pop Culture, and the Paranormal! We're an independent, opinionated entertainment news blog covering Video Games, Tech, Comics, Movies, Anime, High Strangeness, and more. As part of Clownfish TV, we strive to be balanced, based, and apolitical. Get more news, views and reviews on Clownfish TV News - https://news.clownfishtv.com/On YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/ClownfishTVOn Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4Tu83D1NcCmh7K1zHIedvgOn Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/clownfish-tv-audio-edition/id1726838629

Disney is in DEEP trouble over the use of AI. The company was going to use AI to deepfake Dwayne Johnson's Maui in the live-action Moana movie, but decided against it because of backlash. So let's talk about Disney and AI... Watch this podcast episode on YouTube and all major podcast hosts including Spotify. CLOWNFISH TV is an independent, opinionated news and commentary podcast that covers Entertainment and Tech from a consumer's point of view. We talk about Gaming, Comics, Anime, TV, Movies, Animation and more. Hosted by Kneon and Geeky Sparkles. D/REZZED News covers Pixels, Pop Culture, and the Paranormal! We're an independent, opinionated entertainment news blog covering Video Games, Tech, Comics, Movies, Anime, High Strangeness, and more. As part of Clownfish TV, we strive to be balanced, based, and apolitical. Get more news, views and reviews on Clownfish TV News - https://news.clownfishtv.com/ On YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/ClownfishTV On Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4Tu83D1NcCmh7K1zHIedvg On Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/clownfish-tv-audio-edition/id1726838629

Is Chat GPT making us “dumber”? The Plugged In team looks at a new study from MIT that reveals the impact of Chat GPT. Kennedy Unthank then speaks with Pierre Perifel, the director of the animated movie The Bad Guys and its new sequel and shares what you need to know before you take your family to see it! Click here to get your copy of the Plugged In team’s terrific book Becoming a Screen-Savvy Family! Connect with us! www.ThePluggedInShow.com Connect on Facebook Find us on Instagram EMAIL: team@thepluggedinshow.com PHONE: 800-A-FAMILY (800-262-3459) Read the full review: · The Bad Guys · The Bad Guys 2 Check out the Plugged In Blog: · The Plugged In Show: Episode 174: ChatGPT: Tech and Trust; Plus Got Questions? YouTube Channel · The Plugged In Show Episode 187: Our Romance with AI. Plus, ‘Elemental’ · The Plugged In Show: Episode 256: How AI is Changing Adolescence. Plus, ‘Agatha All Along’ · The Plugged In Show: Episode 262: Creating with AI – A Parents’ Primer. Plus, ‘Moana 2’ · The Plugged In Show: Episode 287: Lilo & Stitch. Plus, AI in Entertainment and Technology · Your AI Companion Has Its Hand Outstretched. Do You? The Plugged In Tech Guide Focus on the Family with Jim Daly Episode: How Your Family Can Manage Technology Well Part 1 How You Can Make Wise Entertainment Choices for Your Family Donate Now! We'd love to hear from you! Visit our Homepage to leave us a voicemail. If you've listened to any of our podcasts, please give us your feedback.

On this episode, Jen shares the details of her day in EPCOT this month. Plus the countdown to our 400th episode and a unexpected Match Game finale! *** Dillo's Diz 55 Gerard St. #987. Huntington, NY 11743 Affiliate Links Music & Themes produced by Matt Harvey. Feedspot's Top 25 Siblings Podcasts You Must Follow AND Top 100 Disney Podcasts You Must Follow. ONE STOP SHOP ALL THE @DillosDiz LINKS! DIllo's Diz Resort Guests: Theme Park Rob, Jeffers, Skipper Bob, Nathaniel Hardy, Louis and Dr. Val of #FigmentsInTime, Lee Taylor, Maz, Troy with the Disney Assembled Podcast, Judy Van Cleef, Ryan Alexander, PixieDustPhD, Jason Romans, Holly Maddock, Lexi Andrea, Adam Elmers, DCLDuo, Disney Assembled Question or Comment? We LOVE interacting with listeners! FOLLOW Dillo's Diz on INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/dillosdiz/ FOLLOW Dillo's Diz on YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/dillosdiz FOLLOW Dillo's Diz on TWITTER: https://twitter.com/dillosdiz

On the fifty-second episode of Pop Goes the Classics, Andy Atherton, Mirandia Berthold, and Steve Riddle sail the high seas and discuss the 56th Disney Animated Film, Moana. Join the trio as they discuss delving into Polynesian folklore and culture, the film landscape in November 2016, Maui being a narcissist who just wants to be loved, Moana being chosen by the ocean, the cinematography and special effects of the film, Pua and Heihei being great animal sidekicks, the abundance of Easter eggs hidden throughout the film, Mini-Maui, the great soundtrack of the film, the battles against the Kakamora and Tamatoa, the twist of Te Ka being the heartless Te Fiti, the incredible climax of the film, whether it is too soon for the film to get a live-action remake, and where the film stacks up against the other films from the decade. So join Andy, Mirandia, and Steve because they know the way and will continue their journey through the Disney Film Canon.

This is it: the end of the Wilderness Years road. Film journalist Ben Travis and animation academic Sam Summers close out an era in Disney history with 2008's action-packed pup adventure Bolt. Together, they discuss the ways in which the studio finally figured out their approach to making 3D CGI movies, unpick the unconventional production of the fictional ‘Bolt' show, ponder whether it all amounts to animal cruelty, explore how the film borrows from Toy Story and The Matrix, and talk the casting of John Travolta. Plus, Sam gets into some deeply meta Nemo lore, and Ben becomes obsessed with the character the film always needed: Gidget. Next up: Study Group! (then, The Princess And The Frog) Disniversity is brought to you by Ben Travis (@benstravis) and Sam Summers (@samsummers0), with art by Olly Gibbs and music by Nafets. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @disniversity. This podcast is not affiliated with Disney. — Welcome to Disniversity, the podcast crash course through the history of Disney's animated classics, with film journalist Ben Travis and animation academic Dr. Sam Summers. Each week, we'll be moving forward in time through the legendary Walt Disney Animation Studios catalogue, watching every feature film in chronological order – from Snow White to Moana 2. Watch along with us, and listen as we explore each film's historical context, advances in animation and lasting legacy, and talk about how they stand up today.

Curious about the magic behind authentic leadership and personal growth? In this episode of the Marli Williams Podcast, Marli welcomes Dr. Michael Simmons—known as Shadow Mike—who unpacks the true meaning of “shadow work” and the hero's journey. Explore how embracing your hidden gifts, facing what's unsaid, and stepping into your wholeness can unlock purpose and fulfillment in both leadership and life. Alongside stories from popular culture, like Star Wars and Moana, Shadow Mike explains how the “enchanted forest” of self-discovery leads to real transformation. Whether you're a coach, leader, or simply feel called to more, tune in for fresh takes on vulnerability, energetic resilience, and the journey from role to soul. Are you ready to meet what's waiting for you beyond the threshold?Dr. Michael Simmons (aka Shadow Mike) is an expert shadow work coach and soul initiator. He specializes in finding the psycho-spiritual root ailing you, then guiding you to your own abundant medicine, power, and agency to embody your unlived soulful life.Michael offers Shadow Work Journeys to guide individuals through their dense, dark, inner landscape. Schedule a free 60-minute Consultation SessionLinkEmail: mike@shadowmike.comWebsite: ShadowMike.com1:1 Shadow Work: Schedule a free 60-minute Consultation SessionYouTube: @ShadowMikeCommunitySubstack: substack.com/@shadowmikePatheos Column: Transgressive Spirituality Marli Williams is an international keynote speaker, master facilitator, and joy instigator who has worked with organizations such as Nike, United Way, Doordash, along with many colleges and schools across the United States. She first fell in love with transformational leadership as a camp counselor when she was 19 years old. After getting two degrees and 15 years of leadership training, Marli decided to give herself permission to be the “Professional Camp Counselor” she knew she was born to be. Now she helps incredible people and organizations stop waiting for permission and start taking bold action to be the leaders and changemakers they've always wanted to be through the power of play and cultivating joy everyday. She loves helping people go from stuck to STOKED and actually created her own deck of inspirational messages called StokeQuotes™ which was then followed by The Connect Deck™ to inspire more meaningful conversations. Her ultimate mission in the world is to help others say YES to themselves and their big crazy dreams (while having fun doing it!) To learn more about Marli's work go to www.marliwilliams.com and follow her on Instagram @marliwilliamsStay Connected to The Marli Williams...

Host: Shannon Huffman Polson Guest: Alexander Friedman, CEO & Co‑founder of Novata; former CFO of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; former CIO of UBS; ex‑White House Fellow; board member at Franklin Templeton Episode Summary Join Shannon as she interviews Alexander Friedman, a leader who has navigated high-stakes roles across the highest levels of philanthropy, finance, government, and now tech. In this episode, Alex shares insights into operationalizing purpose, driving change across complex systems, and forging a career of conviction and curiosity. This conversation brings together personal grit, lessons from mountaineering and family, and hard-earned wisdom on systems change, all with a clear north star in mind.  Key Highlights & Timestamps [00:04] Meet Alex and get a preview of his storied path [03:37] How the outdoors serve as spiritual grounding for Alex [06:58] Learning Alex was a White House Fellow—and protégé of General Krulak [08:46] A Marines' boot incident that sparked leadership lessons [11:29] The Krulak legacy: from WWII to a fourth star in the Oval Office [16:17] Balancing tradition and transformation in entrenched institutions [18:27] The limits of logic: why being right doesn't guarantee change [21:35] How leaders can wield influence carefully—and not burn it [22:55] The benefits and questions around the 5% philanthropic payout rule [25:13] Alex answers: Should foundations give away all assets or exist perpetually? [25:48] Why the 5% rule may be outdated—and how investment returns challenge it [26:37] On whether billionaire-backed space ventures serve higher purpose or oligarchy [28:18] Does purpose come easier in nonprofits vs. for‑profits—and what Alex believes [29:24] Exploring the distinction—and overlap—between mission and purpose [31:31] Transcending self to serve something greater: Maslow and Viktor Frankl insights [33:24] How founding a B Corp, Novata, merges purpose with sustainable business [36:11] Novata's model: driving impact measurement for private companies globally [37:49] Why ESG backlash hasn't undermined demand—and what persists beneath politics [39:10] Alex's confidence in long‑term ESG trends despite short‑term turbulence [40:08] The importance of overcoming initial inertia—just like Moana crossing the reef [40:42] Parenting lessons: explaining purpose to a six‑year‑old and why it matters [41:38] Advice to younger self or child: follow your own compass, not someone else's shiny things [44:40] A dynamic “three‑body problem” metaphor for balancing work, family, purpose [47:02] Alex defines success: Try boldly—even if you fail [47:55] Why repeated failure builds resilience—and fuels new action Resources & Further Reading Novata – Platform Alex co-founded to measure ESG and impact outcomes in private markets Jackson Hole Economics – A forum Alex helped launch to shape policy and economic discourse Council on Foreign Relations – Alex contributes to global policy thought leadership B Corp & Public Benefit Corp structures – the organizational form Alex chose for Novata Legacy article on General Victor “Brute” Krulak, with family and presidential story   Book: https://bookshop.org/a/15754/9780578683577 Website: www.novata.com General Charles C. Krulak Article: https://www.mca-marines.org/wp-content/uploads/Krulak-Jun-2021.pdf

The new movie, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, has been leaning hard into the sense of nostalgia. The Plugged In team looks at that movie and reflects on other films that are predicated on nostalgia. They then revisit ChatGPT and some of the latest changes that are making it maybe a little too chatty. And you don’t want to miss another round of Pop Rumble! Click here to get your copy of the Plugged In teams great book Becoming a Screen-Savvy Family today! Connect with us! www.ThePluggedInShow.com Connect on Facebook Find us on Instagram EMAIL: team@thepluggedinshow.com PHONE: 800-A-FAMILY (800-262-3459) Read the full review: · Fantastic Four · Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer · Fantastic Four (2015) · The Fantastic Four: First Steps · Lilo and Stitch · Lilo and Stitch (2025) · How to Train Your Dragon · How to Train Your Dragon (2025) · Mission Impossible (1996) · Mission Impossible: Final Reckoning (2025) · Sinners · Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring · Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers · Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King · Karate Kid: Legends · Star Wars: The Phantom Menace · Star Wars: Attack of the Clones · Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith · WALL-E Check out the Plugged In Blog: · The Plugged In Show: Episode 174: ChatGPT: Tech and Trust; Plus Got Questions? YouTube Channel · The Plugged In Show Episode 187: Our Romance with AI. Plus, ‘Elemental’ · The Plugged In Show: Episode 256: How AI is Changing Adolescence. Plus, ‘Agatha All Along’ · The Plugged In Show: Episode 262: Creating with AI – A Parents’ Primer. Plus, ‘Moana 2’ · The Plugged In Show: Episode 287: Lilo & Stitch. Plus, AI in Entertainment and Technology · Your AI Companion Has Its Hand Outstretched. Do You? Option Ultrasound Program The Plugged In Tech Guide Focus on the Family with Jim Daly Episode: How Your Family Can Manage Technology Well Part 1 How You Can Make Wise Entertainment Choices for Your Family Donate Now! We'd love to hear from you! Visit our Homepage to leave us a voicemail. If you've listened to any of our podcasts, please give us your feedback.

In this episode, hosts Eric Fey and Brianna Lennon speak with Moana Lutey, the county clerk in Maui County, Hawaii. They spoke about the impact the 2023 Hawaii wildfires had on the communities of Maui – including figuring out how to run elections. They also spoke about the efforts in Maui County to get residents to update their signatures, in an effort to ensure that every voter's vote gets counted. 

David discusses the movies he's been watching, including Girls Town, Wolf Man, Grand Theft Hamlet, Moana 2, The Brutalist, Babygirl, When Harry Met Sally..., Joker: Folie à Deux, Unstoppable, No Other Land, Juror #2, Soundtrack to a Coup d'Etat, Between the Temples, Eyes of Laura Mars and In the Mouth of Madness.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Watch the original episode here on YouTubePete Davidson ditches Radio City warm-up gig for Matt Rife at the last minute (Page Six) (18:34)40 Megastars, One Magnificent Image (British Vogue) (26:31)Podcaster Bobbi Althoff calls estranged husband Cory 'incredible' after he files for divorce (Page Six) (32:50)Ashley Olsen enjoys rare sisters' night out with Mary-Kate, Elizabeth after secretly welcoming baby last year (Page Six) (39:54)'Moana 2' Set at Disney With Surprise 2024 Release Date (Variety) (45:13)Dear Toasters Advice Segment (49:11)The Toast with Jackie (@JackieOshry) and Claudia Oshry (@girlwithnojob) Lean InThe Camper and The Counselor by Jackie OshryMerchThe Toast PatreonGirl With No Job by Claudia OshryThis episode is brought to you by Clean Simple Eats - https://glnk.io/73q00/the-toastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.