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Jim Hill and Eric Hersey dig into a very Oz-heavy opening, from new Wicked-adjacent publishing news to the limited reopening dates for North Carolina's Land of Oz. Then they unpack the latest Halloween Horror Nights announcements, Universal Studios Hollywood's new security setup, and the early reactions to Universal Kids Resort in Frisco, Texas. The episode wraps with a fond farewell to CityWalk Orlando's Hot Dog Hall of Fame and a deep dive into Steven Schussler, the Rainforest Cafe creator whose themed-dining imagination helped shape restaurants at Disney, Universal, and beyond. NEWS • Land of Oz tickets go on sale as the park prepares for its limited 2026 September operating dates. • Halloween Horror Nights adds the original house Madlands: Caged Cannibals to the Orlando lineup. • H.R. Bloodengutz returns with a new Halloween-focused haunted house and plenty of old-school HHN lore. • Universal Studios Hollywood shifts security screening to new perimeter hubs around CityWalk. • Universal Kids Resort in Frisco, Texas faces early online criticism ahead of its July 1 opening. FEATURE • Eric shares his last visit to Hot Dog Hall of Fame before the CityWalk favorite closes in July. • Jim looks back at Steven Schussler's path from Rainforest Cafe to T-Rex, Yak & Yeti, The Boathouse, and Hot Dog Hall of Fame. • The hosts explain how themed dining, oversized ambition, and a house full of animatronic animals helped reshape restaurants at Disney and Universal. HOSTS • Jim Hill - X/Twitter: @JimHillMedia, Instagram: @JimHillMedia, Website: jimhillmedia.com • Eric Hersey - X/Twitter: @erichersey, Instagram: @erichersey, Website: strongmindedagency.com FOLLOW • Facebook: @JimHillMediaNews • YouTube: @jimhillmedia • TikTok: @jimhillmedia • Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia/ SUPPORT Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia. PRODUCTION CREDITS Edited by Dave Grey Produced by Eric Hersey - https://strongmindedagency.com SPONSOR Planning a trip to Universal Orlando or Walt Disney World? Visit UnlockedMagic.com to save on theme park tickets and select after-hours event tickets. If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. https://www.jimhillmedia.com/sponsor/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this mini episode we read listener submitted stories about a camper who helped cover her roommate's portion of the rent only to find that she is funding the Rainforest Cafe, a camper whose cute little Irish getaway became a PetCo disaster, and a camper who had a scary run in with an alligator (and it WASN'T Princess Girl).Sponsors:➜ Go to Progressive.com to see if you could save on insurance.➜ Go to BollAndBranch.com/camp (and use code: camp) to get up to 15% off, plus free shipping on your first set of sheets. Exclusions apply. See site for details.Want BONUS CONTENT? Join our PATREON!Check out our website and submit your inquiries for advice, juicy gossip, confessions, and horror stories!Camp Songs: Listen on Spotify here or Listen online here!Social Media:Camp Counselors TikTokCamp Counselors InstagramCamp Counselors FacebookCamp Counselors TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
In this act, Demi feels sickened to tell the truth, Roman eats up a bigger budget, and Rina lets the smaller voices guide her to a humbler lifePlayset: Hollywood Wives - By: Jobe BittmanYou can follow Lucci at @LucciisGucciYou can find or contact us on most socials all @PulpPanicPodCW: Profanity, Sexual Content, Violence, Animal Violence Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Hannah and Ryno are at Disney Springs for food, fits, and hopefully some fun. In this episode of The Disney Dining Show, the two are making Rain Forest Cafe their entire personality and committing to the bit with some new outfits from gift shop. Will the food be as good as the looks? Hear what they think!Links:Important DIS links for more information!Support us on Patreon and receive exclusive content! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This month's issue is an upset of the upper class whose work to save the upper canopies is undone by some unsavory cheese. In this act, Rina Is sniffing out a close friends lies, Roman tries to crack the nut of nonprofit leadership, and Demi looks for some sugar to put out her personal fire.Playset: Hollywood Wives - By: Jobe BittmanYou can find or contact us on most socials all @PulpPanicPodCW: Profanity, Sexual Content, Violence, Animal Violence Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Send us Fan MailWhat happens when someone who once worked underground in engineering tunnels ends up shaping some of hospitality's most iconic guest experiences?Chef JKP sits down with Samuel Graham, founder and CEO of The LightUp Group, hospitality consultant, nightlife operator, and host of the Tasty Humans podcast.From bartending in London's booming theme restaurant era to managing legendary nightlife venues like Pacha, Samuel shares a career shaped by chaos, people, reinvention, and an obsession with how hospitality makes people feel.At its core, this is a conversation about service. About atmosphere, human connection, leadership under pressure, and why hospitality is ultimately not about food or design, but about understanding people.WHAT YOU WILL HEAR IN THIS EPISODE• Samuel's childhood in the UK and the food memories that stayed with him• How engineering led him underground before hospitality pulled him in• The film Cocktail and the start of his obsession with bartending• Lessons from Rainforest Cafe, Planet Hollywood, and London's service culture• Managing nightlife venues like Pacha and learning leadership under pressure• Why atmosphere, lighting, music, and service shape how guests feel• The thinking behind The LightUp Group and improving guest experience• Tasty Humans, unscripted conversations, and why hospitality is all about peopleCHAPTERS00:00 Childhood food memories and growing up in the UK08:00 School struggles, engineering, and early life lessons18:00 London tunnels, burnout, and changing direction27:00 Discovering bartending and hospitality38:00 Rainforest Cafe, Planet Hollywood, and service culture58:00 Pacha London, nightlife, and leadership under pressure01:16:00 Service standards, atmosphere, and guest experience01:42:00 Tasty Humans, podcasting, and advice for hospitality professionalsFOLLOW THE GUESTSamuel GrahamInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/samuel_f_graham/Tasty Humans Podcasthttps://www.instagram.com/tastyhumanspodcast/FOLLOW CHEF JKPInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/chefjkppodcastLinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/james-knight-paccheco-447b1b17TikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@jamesknightpacchecoPROUDLY BROUGHT TO YOU BY VALRHONAValrhona partners with chefs and artisans to elevate chocolate through craftsmanship, innovation, and a commitment to a more sustainable cocoa industry.Website:https://www.valrhona.com/en/valrhona-middle-east-africa-and-indiaSUPPORT THE SHOWStay hydrated with the Chef JKP thermos flask.Get yours here: https://pay.ziina.com/chefjkp/RKwVHDfpNSupport the showFollow The Chef JKP Podcast on Instagram HERE
We're checking in on the fate of the nickel. Is it on track to disappear just like the penny? Then, we're headed to a Rainforest Café to hear about a surprise visitor who appeared in its crocodile pool. Featuring audio from the Dana and Parks Show out of KMBZ in Kansas City, WWJ Newsradio in Detroit.
We're checking in on the fate of the nickel. Is it on track to disappear just like the penny? Then, we're headed to a Rainforest Café to hear about a surprise visitor who appeared in its crocodile pool. Featuring audio from the Dana and Parks Show out of KMBZ in Kansas City, WWJ Newsradio in Detroit.
We're checking in on the fate of the nickel. Is it on track to disappear just like the penny? Then, we're headed to a Rainforest Café to hear about a surprise visitor who appeared in its crocodile pool. Featuring audio from the Dana and Parks Show out of KMBZ in Kansas City, WWJ Newsradio in Detroit.
We're checking in on the fate of the nickel. Is it on track to disappear just like the penny? Then, we're headed to a Rainforest Café to hear about a surprise visitor who appeared in its crocodile pool. Featuring audio from the Dana and Parks Show out of KMBZ in Kansas City, WWJ Newsradio in Detroit.
We're checking in on the fate of the nickel. Is it on track to disappear just like the penny? Then, we're headed to a Rainforest Café to hear about a surprise visitor who appeared in its crocodile pool. Featuring audio from the Dana and Parks Show out of KMBZ in Kansas City, WWJ Newsradio in Detroit.
We're checking in on the fate of the nickel. Is it on track to disappear just like the penny? Then, we're headed to a Rainforest Café to hear about a surprise visitor who appeared in its crocodile pool. Featuring audio from the Dana and Parks Show out of KMBZ in Kansas City, WWJ Newsradio in Detroit.
We're checking in on the fate of the nickel. Is it on track to disappear just like the penny? Then, we're headed to a Rainforest Café to hear about a surprise visitor who appeared in its crocodile pool. Featuring audio from the Dana and Parks Show out of KMBZ in Kansas City, WWJ Newsradio in Detroit.
We're checking in on the fate of the nickel. Is it on track to disappear just like the penny? Then, we're headed to a Rainforest Café to hear about a surprise visitor who appeared in its crocodile pool. Featuring audio from the Dana and Parks Show out of KMBZ in Kansas City, WWJ Newsradio in Detroit.
We're checking in on the fate of the nickel. Is it on track to disappear just like the penny? Then, we're headed to a Rainforest Café to hear about a surprise visitor who appeared in its crocodile pool. Featuring audio from the Dana and Parks Show out of KMBZ in Kansas City, WWJ Newsradio in Detroit.
This week, we're checking in on the fate of the nickel. Is it on track to disappear just like the penny? Then, we're headed to a Rainforest Café to hear about a surprise visitor who appeared in its crocodile pool. From there, we're going to look in how to book a hot tub boat this summer – yeah that's a boat with a hot tub on it. After that, we'll end the show in Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's garage. Now, that's not where you park, but where you can personally rock out on instruments tucked away on the second floor of the museum. Featuring audio from the Dana and Parks Show out of KMBZ in Kansas City, WWJ Newsradio in Detroit, the Adam and Jordana Show out of WCCO News Talk in the Twin Cities and Own the Road with Kelli and Bob out of KRLD 1080 in Dallas.
This week, we're checking in on the fate of the nickel. Is it on track to disappear just like the penny? Then, we're headed to a Rainforest Café to hear about a surprise visitor who appeared in its crocodile pool. From there, we're going to look in how to book a hot tub boat this summer – yeah that's a boat with a hot tub on it. After that, we'll end the show in Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's garage. Now, that's not where you park, but where you can personally rock out on instruments tucked away on the second floor of the museum. Featuring audio from the Dana and Parks Show out of KMBZ in Kansas City, WWJ Newsradio in Detroit, the Adam and Jordana Show out of WCCO News Talk in the Twin Cities and Own the Road with Kelli and Bob out of KRLD 1080 in Dallas.
This week, we're checking in on the fate of the nickel. Is it on track to disappear just like the penny? Then, we're headed to a Rainforest Café to hear about a surprise visitor who appeared in its crocodile pool. From there, we're going to look in how to book a hot tub boat this summer – yeah that's a boat with a hot tub on it. After that, we'll end the show in Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's garage. Now, that's not where you park, but where you can personally rock out on instruments tucked away on the second floor of the museum. Featuring audio from the Dana and Parks Show out of KMBZ in Kansas City, WWJ Newsradio in Detroit, the Adam and Jordana Show out of WCCO News Talk in the Twin Cities and Own the Road with Kelli and Bob out of KRLD 1080 in Dallas.
This week, we're checking in on the fate of the nickel. Is it on track to disappear just like the penny? Then, we're headed to a Rainforest Café to hear about a surprise visitor who appeared in its crocodile pool. From there, we're going to look in how to book a hot tub boat this summer – yeah that's a boat with a hot tub on it. After that, we'll end the show in Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's garage. Now, that's not where you park, but where you can personally rock out on instruments tucked away on the second floor of the museum. Featuring audio from the Dana and Parks Show out of KMBZ in Kansas City, WWJ Newsradio in Detroit, the Adam and Jordana Show out of WCCO News Talk in the Twin Cities and Own the Road with Kelli and Bob out of KRLD 1080 in Dallas.
This week, we're checking in on the fate of the nickel. Is it on track to disappear just like the penny? Then, we're headed to a Rainforest Café to hear about a surprise visitor who appeared in its crocodile pool. From there, we're going to look in how to book a hot tub boat this summer – yeah that's a boat with a hot tub on it. After that, we'll end the show in Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's garage. Now, that's not where you park, but where you can personally rock out on instruments tucked away on the second floor of the museum. Featuring audio from the Dana and Parks Show out of KMBZ in Kansas City, WWJ Newsradio in Detroit, the Adam and Jordana Show out of WCCO News Talk in the Twin Cities and Own the Road with Kelli and Bob out of KRLD 1080 in Dallas.
This week, we're checking in on the fate of the nickel. Is it on track to disappear just like the penny? Then, we're headed to a Rainforest Café to hear about a surprise visitor who appeared in its crocodile pool. From there, we're going to look in how to book a hot tub boat this summer – yeah that's a boat with a hot tub on it. After that, we'll end the show in Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's garage. Now, that's not where you park, but where you can personally rock out on instruments tucked away on the second floor of the museum. Featuring audio from the Dana and Parks Show out of KMBZ in Kansas City, WWJ Newsradio in Detroit, the Adam and Jordana Show out of WCCO News Talk in the Twin Cities and Own the Road with Kelli and Bob out of KRLD 1080 in Dallas.
This week, we're checking in on the fate of the nickel. Is it on track to disappear just like the penny? Then, we're headed to a Rainforest Café to hear about a surprise visitor who appeared in its crocodile pool. From there, we're going to look in how to book a hot tub boat this summer – yeah that's a boat with a hot tub on it. After that, we'll end the show in Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's garage. Now, that's not where you park, but where you can personally rock out on instruments tucked away on the second floor of the museum. Featuring audio from the Dana and Parks Show out of KMBZ in Kansas City, WWJ Newsradio in Detroit, the Adam and Jordana Show out of WCCO News Talk in the Twin Cities and Own the Road with Kelli and Bob out of KRLD 1080 in Dallas.
This week, we're checking in on the fate of the nickel. Is it on track to disappear just like the penny? Then, we're headed to a Rainforest Café to hear about a surprise visitor who appeared in its crocodile pool. From there, we're going to look in how to book a hot tub boat this summer – yeah that's a boat with a hot tub on it. After that, we'll end the show in Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's garage. Now, that's not where you park, but where you can personally rock out on instruments tucked away on the second floor of the museum. Featuring audio from the Dana and Parks Show out of KMBZ in Kansas City, WWJ Newsradio in Detroit, the Adam and Jordana Show out of WCCO News Talk in the Twin Cities and Own the Road with Kelli and Bob out of KRLD 1080 in Dallas.
This week, we're checking in on the fate of the nickel. Is it on track to disappear just like the penny? Then, we're headed to a Rainforest Café to hear about a surprise visitor who appeared in its crocodile pool. From there, we're going to look in how to book a hot tub boat this summer – yeah that's a boat with a hot tub on it. After that, we'll end the show in Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's garage. Now, that's not where you park, but where you can personally rock out on instruments tucked away on the second floor of the museum. Featuring audio from the Dana and Parks Show out of KMBZ in Kansas City, WWJ Newsradio in Detroit, the Adam and Jordana Show out of WCCO News Talk in the Twin Cities and Own the Road with Kelli and Bob out of KRLD 1080 in Dallas.
This week, we're checking in on the fate of the nickel. Is it on track to disappear just like the penny? Then, we're headed to a Rainforest Café to hear about a surprise visitor who appeared in its crocodile pool. From there, we're going to look in how to book a hot tub boat this summer – yeah that's a boat with a hot tub on it. After that, we'll end the show in Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's garage. Now, that's not where you park, but where you can personally rock out on instruments tucked away on the second floor of the museum. Featuring audio from the Dana and Parks Show out of KMBZ in Kansas City, WWJ Newsradio in Detroit, the Adam and Jordana Show out of WCCO News Talk in the Twin Cities and Own the Road with Kelli and Bob out of KRLD 1080 in Dallas.
This week, we're checking in on the fate of the nickel. Is it on track to disappear just like the penny? Then, we're headed to a Rainforest Café to hear about a surprise visitor who appeared in its crocodile pool. From there, we're going to look in how to book a hot tub boat this summer – yeah that's a boat with a hot tub on it. After that, we'll end the show in Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's garage. Now, that's not where you park, but where you can personally rock out on instruments tucked away on the second floor of the museum. Featuring audio from the Dana and Parks Show out of KMBZ in Kansas City, WWJ Newsradio in Detroit, the Adam and Jordana Show out of WCCO News Talk in the Twin Cities and Own the Road with Kelli and Bob out of KRLD 1080 in Dallas.
Fluent Fiction - Swedish: Adventures in Dining: Embracing Surprises at Rainforest Cafe Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/sv/episode/2026-04-13-07-38-20-sv Story Transcript:Sv: Linnea, Magnus och Astrid kliver in i Rainforest Cafe.En: Linnea, Magnus and Astrid step into Rainforest Cafe.Sv: Restaurangen är levande med ljud av regnskogen.En: The restaurant is alive with the sounds of the rainforest.Sv: Fågelsång och vattenfall fyller luften.En: Birdsong and waterfalls fill the air.Sv: Runt dem hänger gröna växter och färgglada skyltar.En: Around them hang green plants and colorful signs.Sv: På varje bord finns menyer med spännande maträtter.En: On each table, there are menus with exciting dishes.Sv: Linnea är mycket nyfiken.En: Linnea is very curious.Sv: Hon älskar att prova nya saker.En: She loves to try new things.Sv: Magnus och Astrid känner henne väl.En: Magnus and Astrid know her well.Sv: De vet att hon alltid vill imponera.En: They know that she always wants to impress.Sv: "Vad ska du beställa, Linnea?"En: "What are you going to order, Linnea?"Sv: frågar Magnus och ler.En: asks Magnus, smiling.Sv: Astrid bläddrar i menyn.En: Astrid flips through the menu.Sv: Linneas ögon lyser när hon ser namnen på rätterna.En: Linnea's eyes light up when she sees the names of the dishes.Sv: "Tukan Taco," "Apananas Pizza," och "Papegoj-Burgare."En: "Tukan Taco," "Apananas Pizza," and "Papegoj-Burgare."Sv: Men en rätt fångar hennes uppmärksamhet – "Jungle Surprise."En: But one dish captures her attention – "Jungle Surprise."Sv: Utan att veta exakt vad det är, men überzeugt att det är något exotiskt, bestämmer hon sig för den.En: Without knowing exactly what it is, but convinced that it is something exotic, she decides on it.Sv: "Jag tar Jungle Surprise!"En: "I'll have the Jungle Surprise!"Sv: säger hon glatt till servitören utan att tveka.En: she says happily to the waiter without hesitation.Sv: Astrid och Magnus ser imponerade ut.En: Astrid and Magnus look impressed.Sv: De gillar också hennes mod.En: They also like her courage.Sv: När maten kommer är Linnea ivrig.En: When the food arrives, Linnea is eager.Sv: Men när servitören ställer tallriken framför henne, skrattar hon.En: But when the waiter sets the plate in front of her, she laughs.Sv: "Det här ser ut som en tukan!"En: "This looks like a toucan!"Sv: ropar hon.En: she exclaims.Sv: Tortillan och salladen är formade precis som en fågel.En: The tortilla and salad are shaped just like a bird.Sv: Linnea skrattar högt.En: Linnea laughs out loud.Sv: Magnus och Astrid faller också in i skrattet.En: Magnus and Astrid join in the laughter.Sv: "Linnea, du lyckades verkligen överraska oss!"En: "Linnea, you really managed to surprise us!"Sv: säger Astrid.En: says Astrid.Sv: Linnea inser att det oväntade kan vara det mest minnesvärda.En: Linnea realizes that the unexpected can be the most memorable.Sv: Hon känner sig stolt och glad trots missförståndet.En: She feels proud and happy despite the misunderstanding.Sv: Medan de äter, omges de av regnskogens ljuva ljud.En: As they eat, they are surrounded by the sweet sounds of the rainforest.Sv: De är alla överens, ibland är det bästa man kan göra att bara njuta av stunden.En: They all agree, sometimes the best thing you can do is just enjoy the moment.Sv: Linnea lär sig att äventyret ligger i upptäckten, inte bara i att imponera.En: Linnea learns that adventure lies in discovery, not just in impressing others.Sv: Och med vänner som Magnus och Astrid blir varje upplevelse speciell och full av skratt.En: And with friends like Magnus and Astrid, every experience becomes special and full of laughter. Vocabulary Words:rainforest: regnskogenalive: levandebirdsongs: fågelsångwaterfalls: vattenfallsound: ljudsurrounded: omgesplants: växtertable: bordmenus: menyerdishes: maträttercurious: nyfikenimpress: imponeraorder: beställamenu: menyncaptivates: fångarattention: uppmärksamhetdish: rättexotic: exotisktdecides: bestämmerwaiter: servitörenhesitation: tvekaneager: ivrigtoucan: tukantortilla: tortillansalad: salladenshaped: formadeunexpected: oväntadememorable: minnesvärdarealizes: insermisunderstanding: missförståndet
It's really her!! Meg Stalter is on the show this week! Drew and Meg talk about clone accusations, being dressed matronly, Timothee Chalamet's reaction to Meg wearing Kylie's orange outfit during award season, poisoning people in Shakespeare improv, cake walks, pretending to be a lawyer, the Rainforest Cafe, and so much more.Meg IG: https://www.instagram.com/megsstalter/?hl=enMeg Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@megstalterFollow The Comment Section on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thecommentsection/Visit Macy's to discover the new Calvin Klein euphoria elixirs.Euphoria Season 3 premieres April 12 on HBO Max, with new episodes every Sunday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
It's really her!! Meg Stalter is on the show this week! Drew and Meg talk about clone accusations, being dressed matronly, Timothee Chalamet's reaction to Meg wearing Kylie's orange outfit during award season, poisoning people in Shakespeare improv, cake walks, pretending to be a lawyer, the Rainforest Cafe, and so much more.Meg IG: https://www.instagram.com/megsstalter/?hl=enMeg Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@megstalterFollow The Comment Section on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thecommentsection/Visit Macy's to discover the new Calvin Klein euphoria elixirs.Euphoria Season 3 premieres April 12 on HBO Max, with new episodes every Sunday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode of I Want That Too, Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey dive into a mix of new Disney merch, fan experiences, and theme park history. They break down the newly revealed Disney Princess running shoes from Brooks, preview merchandise coming to EPCOT's Flower & Garden Festival, and look at a premium new D23 tour that takes fans through Walt Disney's Los Angeles. Then Jim returns with Part 2 of the story of how a struggling shopping area at Walt Disney World evolved from the Disney Village Marketplace into the sprawling Disney Springs destination we know today. NEWS • Brooks and runDisney unveil the 2026 Disney Princess Half Marathon weekend shoe collection featuring Rapunzel, Belle, and Moana inspired designs - including braided laces, lantern motifs, and ocean themed colorways.• Registration prices for the Disney Princess Half Marathon continue to climb, now landing between $259 and $269, adding to the debate around race merch availability and resellers.• D23 launches the premium Walt's Los Angeles Tour for Gold Members - a $1,999 guided experience visiting Walt Disney Studios, Imagineering, Walt's former home, the Carolwood Barn, and ending with dinner at one of Walt's favorite restaurants.• A preview of EPCOT's 2026 Flower & Garden Festival merchandise highlights new Orange Bird apparel, a retro inspired button down, Spike the Bee accessories, and Annual Passholder exclusives.• Disney California Adventure prepares for the 2026 Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival, including new marketplace booths and the Sip and Savor Pass that lets guests prepay for festival items. FEATURE • Part 2 of the Disney Springs story: how Michael Eisner inherited the underperforming Walt Disney World Shopping Village in the 1980s.• The creation of Pleasure Island in 1989 as Disney's answer to Orlando's Church Street Station nightlife.• The evolution into Downtown Disney in the 1990s with additions like Planet Hollywood, Rainforest Cafe, LEGO Imagination Center, DisneyQuest, and Cirque du Soleil's La Nouba.• Why Pleasure Island ultimately closed in 2008 - and the short lived Hyperion Wharf concept that almost replaced it.• How a major rethink under Disney Parks leadership led to the massive Disney Springs redevelopment, expanding the complex to more than 150 shops and restaurants across four themed districts. HOSTS • Jim Hill - IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com• Lauren Hersey - IG: @lauren_hersey_ | X: @laurenhersey2 FOLLOW • Facebook: JimHillMediaNews• Instagram: JimHillMedia• TikTok: JimHillMedia SUPPORT Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia. PRODUCTION CREDITS Edited by Dave GreyProduced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency SPONSOR This episode is sponsored by UnlockedMagic. If a Disney or Universal trip is anywhere on your radar for 2026, the team at UnlockedMagic can help you secure great ticket deals with guidance from people who truly know the parks. Learn more and lock in your future trip at UnlockedMagic.com. If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
On this episode of The LA Food Podcast, Luca Servodio is joined by food reporter Karen Palmer to break down the viral LA dining discourse sparked by Kerry Rose Schwartz (@comfywithkerry) and her claim that “LA fine dining is a scam.”We dig into why Kerry's videos exploded, the pushback from chefs like Jeremy Fox, and what the backlash reveals about hype culture, pricing, influencer power, and the widening expectation gap facing Los Angeles restaurants. Is this a needed reality check for diners—or damaging rhetoric during a brutal moment for the industry?Karen also shares where she's been eating lately, including Broken Spanish Comedor, a return visit to Ronan, cocktails at Bar Benjamin, and what makes a restaurant worth revisiting beyond the hype cycle. Luca recaps recent meals at Napa Rose at Disneyland post-renovation, Darling by Sean Brock, and an accidental Bravo-side quest at SUR.In Chef's Kiss / Big Miss, we weigh in on the Crenshaw Food Hub and its community-first food model, Marco Pierre White going viral while eating McDonald's, the rise of all-day cafés reshaping American dining, and the latest wave of algorithm-friendly “liquid food” and meal-replacement culture. A wide-ranging, opinionated conversation about what's actually worth eating—and talking about—in LA right now.We also discuss Karen's latest on Hermon's and The Rainforest Cafe (lol). Powered by Acquired Taste
On this week's episode, co-hosts Sequoia Holmes and Ryann Graham discuss casual fine dining restaurant chains that are popular in pop culture and why we love places like Red Lobster, Olive Garden, & Chili's so much - All this & more! Check out The Daily DirtyBuy Mocha Grande Merch Follow Sequoiahttps://www.instagram.com/sequoiabholmeshttps://www.tiktok.com/@sequoiabholmeshttps://twitter.com/sequoiabholmes Follow Ryannhttps://www.instagram.com/gudguyryry/?hl=enhttps://x.com/ryanngraham Follow BPLP Podhttps://www.instagram.com/bplppodhttps://twitter.com/bplppodhttps://www.tiktok.com/@bplppod
Annie, Ella & André chatted with one of the newest Spirits, Vanderbilt's own Sara Wojdelko (aka Wojo)!We got into her path toward becoming a goalkeeper, pros and cons of entering the league without a draft, why she chose the Spirit, her pet axolotl, the Rainforest Cafe, muscle cars and so much more.Thank you for listening, please subscribe, rate, and review — it means a lot to us!
Today Jesse and I discuss a timeless classic, the Rainforest Cafe, and we learn that we are Rainforest Cafe divas. We get into the next three episodes of Drag Race Mexico, starting with the reading challenge, a fun rusical challenge, girls bands, and the Snatch Game. We talk about odd judging, fashion critiques, light storylines happening in the background, and how certain players are navigating the game. We talked about the strange edit of the girl bands, and how they were constructed, beautiful multitalented pit crew boys, set dressings made to the 10's, and the coolest wig reveal in years.Twitch
In this episode, Phil and Janelle talk about Rainforest Cafe, National Parks, astronaut statues, cruises, The Movie Quote Game, Fiction Books, vacation pants, Illinois, Six Flags Great America, and more.
Support Night Clerk Radio on PatreonOkay class, settle down and bust out your textbooks because in this episode we're digging into Utopian Scholastic. It's the aesthetic of optimistic encyclopedias, multimedia learning, and the sleek, educational graphics that promised a brighter, hyper-informed future. We'll explore how Utopian Scholastic, with its love of Dorling Kindersley and Encarta, shapes our nostalgia for education in the 90s and its natural connection to vaporwave.Outro SampleDiscovery (Virtua Theme) from Virtua by trndytrndyVisual MixesScholastic Exploration
We went deep into the heart of Texas with nearly 6,000 other runners as we took over San Antonio for the The Running Event 2025. Over the course of three days, we lined up over 40 meetings to gather all the intel we could about running shoes, apparel, gear, and nutrition. This is our report of that event, as well as a full recap of our experience at the Rainforest Cafe. It's a long one, but well worth it.Limited spots remain for Winter GRIT! Get in today: https://www.believeintherun.com/gritSUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!MAURTENMeg's heading off to The Marathon Project in a week and you know she'll be stocking up on Maurten for race day. Stock up your own stocking and save 15% off your order by using this link and code Believe15: https://bit.ly/BITR-MAURTENSWIFTWICKYou already know that Swiftwick makes our favorite socks for running, from training to race day. We wear them pretty much every day, whether it's the Flite XT crew or the low cut no-show. They also make for great Christmas presents, so treat yourself or someone else today: https://swiftwick.comLMNTIt's winter, but we're still training and sweating. Which means we still need our LMNT, with 1,000 mg of sodium and key electrolytes. If you haven't had their hot flavors yet, you need to get in on it, because they make the perfect winter treat. Order today and get an 8-count LMNT Sample Pack with any purchase, so don't miss out: http://drinklmnt.com/thedrop
Crain's residential real estate reporter Dennis Rodkin and host Amy Guth discuss the latest news from the local housing market, including luxury home sales breaking an annual record with weeks still to go in 2025.Plus: Walgreens lists massive Old Post Office space for sublease, BDO claims it was impossible to detect alleged fraud at First Brands, owner of former Rainforest Cafe building facing foreclosure suit and Chicago lands another quantum computer maker. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Shotgun Spratling and Chris Trevino return off the second bye week to form the Helium Boys Podcast in anticipation of No. 23 USC's big road game against Nebraska where a sold out crowd is expected for the "Blackout" game. It's no surprise that both hosts spend their 'Two-Minute Drill' talking about the trip to Nebraska. Shotgun shares his vehicle drama on his last trip to the state while Chris opines on this being his No. 1 road trip of the 2025 season. There is no Stock Up, Stock Down without a game this past weekend so the podcast jumps right into a quick preview for the Cornhuskers, looking at their run defense, quarterback Dylan Raiola and much more. The Helium Boys wrap up with a limited number of questions as well as some Take It or Leave It, which includes freshman quarterback Husan Longstreet, USC's All-Big Ten future selections and new potential starters out of the bye. Shotgun takes on a whole slew of topics in the Overtime period from Kool-Aid, Rainforest Cafe and TV dinners. This will be just the seventh time these two programs have met all-time with the Trojans undefeated at five wins and a tie. This will be the first meeting in Lincoln since 2007. 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
Alex Strathdee had me on his podcast Before the Bestseller to talk about AI. Here is an AI summary: In the rapidly evolving landscape of book marketing, authors have long been told to master Search Engine Optimization (SEO). But as we move deeper into the age of artificial intelligence, a new, perhaps more critical, strategy has emerged: AI Optimization (AIO), sometimes called Generative Engine Optimization (GEO). In a recent episode of Before the Bestseller, host Alex Strathdee sat down with the legendary Thomas Umstattd Jr.—host of the Novel Marketing Podcast and a self-described “book marketing hero”—to uncover the strategies, struggles, and secrets behind getting AI to recommend your book over the competition. This isn't just about keywords anymore; it's about training the digital brain of the internet to recognize your authority. Here is a deep dive into the insights Thomas shared on how authors can navigate this new frontier. The Rainforest Cafe Lesson: Why AI Recommendations Matter To understand the power—and the quirks—of AI optimization, Thomas shared a telling anecdote from a recent family trip to San Antonio, Texas. When planning the trip, he didn’t turn to Google or Yelp; he asked an AI to build an itinerary for his family, specifically requesting fun activities for children. The AI recommended the Rainforest Cafe on the famous Riverwalk. While the Riverwalk is known for authentic Tex-Mex, the AI prioritized the Rainforest Cafe because it offered “animatronic animals,” fitting the specific prompt for “fun activities for kids”. When Thomas arrived, there was a 40-minute wait, while better, more authentic restaurants nearby were actively soliciting customers. The food at the Rainforest Cafe was, in Thomas's words, “awful,” but the establishment was thriving because it was the kind of place ChatGPT would recommend. The lesson for authors is stark but valuable: The goal isn’t to trick AI into selling a bad product, but to realize that AI recommendations can drive massive traffic. If you want your book to be the one readers find when they ask ChatGPT, “What should I read next?”, you need to understand how the AI thinks. How Does AI Know About Your Book? If you ask an AI model to recommend a book based on a photo of your bookshelf, it can do so with shocking accuracy because it analyzes the books in its Large Language Model (LLM). But how does your specific book get into that model? According to Thomas, one major source is piracy. Recent court cases have revealed that AI companies often train their models on massive datasets downloaded from pirate websites. While this sounds alarming, the courts have generally ruled this as “fair use” because the AI's reading of the text is considered transformative. Thomas offers a controversial take for nonfiction authors: piracy might actually be beneficial. If pirated copies lead to a million people reading your book and establishing you as a thought leader, you will likely make more money in the long run through speaking engagements and podcast invites than you would have from book sales alone. In the world of nonfiction, the idea itself is often less valuable than the execution and the authority of the author. However, AI training data usually cuts off at the top 7 million most popular books. If your book is new or hasn’t reached that threshold, the AI might not “know” it exists in its core training data. In these cases, the AI relies on external sources it can read, such as Goodreads. The Sycophancy Problem A major pitfall for authors testing their AI visibility is the “sycophancy” of current models. If you ask ChatGPT about your own book, it will often flatter you, telling you exactly what it thinks you want to hear. It might even hallucinate that your book is a bestseller when it isn’t. To combat this, Thomas developed a suite of “AI Knowledge Checkers” in his Patron Toolbox. These tools are designed to blind the AI from the live web, forcing it to answer only from its internal context window. This reveals whether the AI actually knows who you are or if it's just quickly Googling you to be polite. The Foundation of AIO: Your Author Website If you want to rank in AI recommendations, you must stop relying solely on Amazon or social media. You need a robust author website. Thomas emphasizes that the principles of SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and AIO are nearly identical. If you have been ignoring your website, you are already behind. Thomas highlighted three specific areas of your website that need to be optimized: 1. The Homepage Your homepage needs to be technically sound and content-rich. Thomas's toolbox includes a scanner that acts like a “curmudgeonly webmaster,” giving you a brutally honest score on your homepage's effectiveness. 2. The Book Page A common mistake authors make is having a single page listing all their books. For AIO, every single book needs its own dedicated, robust page. This page shouldn’t just be a sales link; it should be a service center for the book. It needs to include: Discussion guides. Sample chapters. Links to podcast interviews about the book. High-resolution maps (for fantasy authors). Editorial reviews. 3. The About Page Most authors write about pages that are too short and written in the first person (e.g., “I started writing when…”). AI struggles to rank the word “I.” Thomas advises rewriting your bio in the third person to create a narrative the AI can easily ingest and cite. A robust About page also protects your reputation, ensuring your website is the primary source of your life story rather than a third-party article. Off-Page Optimization: Earning the “Vote” Just like Google uses hyperlinks as “votes” of authority to rank websites, AI models determine what is true and important based on citations and links from reputable sources. This is “Off-Page AIO.” Podcasts as Backlinks For nonfiction authors, being a guest on podcasts is the most organic way to generate these authority signals. Every time you appear on a show, the show notes link back to your website. These non-reciprocal links are high-value currency for AI algorithms. Local Media and Journalism Don’t overlook local news. Local TV stations often publish articles without paywalls, making them easy for AI bots to scrape and index. Furthermore, major publications like The Wall Street Journal constitute high-authority sources because they have signed licensing deals with AI companies. Getting mentioned in these “legacy” media outlets tells the AI that you are a figure of importance. The “Timothy” Principle: Don’t Lose the Human Amidst all the talk of algorithms, scanners, and bots, Thomas ended the conversation with a vital reminder: AI does not buy books. Humans do. Thomas advises against creating corporate-style “customer personas.” Instead, he advocates for the “Timothy” strategy—identifying a specific, actual human being who represents your target reader. When you focus on thrilling that one real person, you avoid the trap of writing for a stereotype. You can talk to “Timothy,” ask him for feedback, and ensure your marketing actually resonates. Ultimately, the best marketing strategy is to love and serve your reader. If you do that, the algorithms—and the sales—will follow. Next Steps for Authors To help authors navigate this technical landscape, Thomas has made his suite of tools available at PatronToolbox.com. These include the website scanners, the AI knowledge checkers, and even a “hook identifier” that helps you find news angles for your book PR. As we look toward 2025, the authors who succeed will be those who balance technical optimization with genuine human connection. Tune in next week to Before the Bestseller when we are joined by Veronica Yager to discuss what it takes to make a book thrive in the coming year, including high-impact calls to action and the secrets of Kindle Unlimited.
The Basement Yard's, Joe Santagato, joins the podcast to talk about who would win in two vs two matchups, ranking bad things about New York City, building his dream life with $15, which state has the best movies, and more!----------0:00 WELCOME JOE SANTAGATO!0:52 SELLING OUT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN?6:15 THE RAINFOREST CAFE!8:59 HOW DID THE BASEMENT YARD START?11:03 HOW HAS THE CONTENT GAME CHANGED?18:00 MEMBER SHOUTOUTS/LEE CORSO!21:30 BASEMENT YARD VS MAKESHIFT, WHO WINS?33:32 WHICH STATE IS BETTER, NJ OR NY?34:21 JOE'S IDEAL BODEGA RUN!38:27 RANK THESE BAD THINGS ABOUT NYC!47:21 WHAT US STATE IS THE BEST IN THESE?58:23 $15 TO CREATE YOUR DREAM LIFE!1:06:41 CLOWN SCHOOL OR THESE THINGS?1:12:40 BETTER MOVIES, NY OR CALIFORNIA?1:23:05 THANK YOU JOE SANTAGATO!
Lisa Wallen got pickpocketed in Europe, faced dating disasters with her sword-fighting boyfriend, and reveals why Rainforest Cafe's extinction is a crime! Dive into wild travel fails, awkward hookup stories, and stand-up comedy chaos on this week's Misery Loves Mandy.AI is invading comedy—should we be worried?Lisa's boyfriend is a legit sword fighter.Mandy and Lisa swap cringe-worthy travel and hookup stories.Why are themed restaurants like Rainforest Cafe dying out?Plus: Accutane drama, retail nightmares, and surprise family reveals!
Lords: * Kory * Ryan Topics: * Incorrect stuff they teach you in school (blood, bats, soda cans, etc) * Oops I've started over remaking my game again, ECS edition * https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8OkkHSQjWg * https://bevy.org/ * Accidentally finding a cat on vacation * Being Boring, by Wendy Cope * https://www.reddit.com/r/Poetry/comments/18ihpmd/poembeingboringbywendy_cope/ Microtopics: * Watching an epicurean professional licking the Switch and Switch 2 cartridges back to back. * Switch 2 cartridges that don't contain a game but still taste disgusting. * A digital key that tastes awful. * 1 in 100,000 Switch 2 cartridges tasting absolutely delicious. * Castlevania: Lords of Shadow: Relorded. * How many people have licked the Switch game you just bought used. * A construction worker spitting a big loog of chew and there's a Switch cartridge floating in it. * Not everybody is Jim Stormdancer. * And independent game design aficionado. * The New York Mayoral primary. * Hackmud. * Games that get two soundtracks while some games don't even get one. * Disasterpeace's Soupertasters theme song. * How to prove that your blood is not blue until it hits the air. * Why do bats e-chocolate?? * What color lobsters are until you cook them. * In space, noone can not see your blue blood. * Eating a 9-volt battery that tastes like chocolate. * Strawberry flavored chocolate that you puff on. * Hey, look who capitalism finally enslaved. * A can of A&W Root Beer that folds in on itself like a neutron star and you don't get to drink any because it's just empty space. * Believing the thing you were told before you turned 18. * Bodyboarding on a plank of wood in an open field. * An empire of the skies and caves. * Whether the tritone was ever illegal. * Education as a Russian doll of nested simplifications. * Wait, this isn't plum pudding! * Blood color facts. * Tuning your piano down to A=420. * Making one mistake and proceeding from the premise that everything you know is wrong. * A t-shirt reading "My favorite guests don't have their fontanelles closed yet." * How to structure your game world. * A grid of lights that are flickering on and off. * The tilty wooden labyrinth with holes in it. * Always on the lookout for the next engine to rewrite your game in. * One of those newfangled scripting languages that targets the NES. * Renting a magic want and running from kiosk to kiosk doing quests. * Finding the Pinecone of Peril. * Capacitative touch interfaces aren't magical for you?? * Asymptotically approaching cat saturation. * Framily. * Hot and cold running cat slides. * Weird reverb where things don't echo right because everything's wet. * A Rainforest Cafe the size of several football fields. * Rainforest Cafe Chic. * A liquid balance tied to your QR code. * Jailbreaking the soda fountain DRM, yelling "kill the banks" and spraying everyone with Mr. Pibb. * Striving to be as boring as possible. * Being boring. (In a good way.) * Being asked how you're doing and scrambling to come up with something interesting to say. * Trying to explain the Video Game History Foundation to your boss. * The Video Game Thing Guy. * Maintaining a garden and posting your harvests on your private Instagram. * Stopping someone on the street and asking them what are the last six vegetables you grew. * How to perform boredom after people realize that yawning means you're tired. * Starting to make omelets a new way. * Asking how someone is doing and bracing yourself for the answer. * Getting emotional and intellectual sustenance from cleaning the bathroom. * The me that comes up when you google my name.
Summer Trip Find us on Youtube - please like and subscribe! Looking to plan a Disney World or Disneyland vacation? Let Joe do all the hard work for you, helping you get the best discount, at no cost to you as your travel agent. Get started by e-mailing josephcheung@travelmation.net today! Episode Description Disgraced former co-host of the Backside of Magic, Jeremy, joins us for a fun summer trip report. We discuss Rainforest Cafe, VIP tours, churro quality, meteorologists, personal Lyft drivers, Grand Floridian construction, and a whole lot more. TK Jewelers is a scam. What tier do you put the Space rides?? Let us know by e-mailing disneydeciphered AT gmail DOT com, messaging us on social media, or leaving a comment on our Youtube page. You can also follow us on Instagram! Episode Notes (all timestamps are approximate) 5:11 - General trip outline 6:03 - Conrad Hilton and the Grand Floridian 17:15 - Animal Kingdom 21:52 - Our own personal Lyft driver 27:49 - DVC tour 31:32 - Wailulu Bar and Grill 35:32 - Rainforest Cafe 37:31 - VIP Tour 54:46 - Disney dos and don'ts If we've helped you to plan your trip and you'd like to thank us we'd appreciate you considering a one time donation. Or if you'd like to receive bonus content, check out our Patreon page and our special subscriber only content! You can also support the show by buying tickets (if they're the best deal, of course) using our Undercover Tourist link or signing up for Mouse Dining through our link. If you like what you hear, please share and subscribe! Find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, TuneIn, PlayerFM, iHeartRadio, or Google Podcasts (please leave a positive review if you're enjoying the show), like our Facebook page, or follow us on Bluesky and Instagram! Connect with Leslie @TripsWithTykes on social media and Joe @asthejoeflies.
Chelsea and Donny are back - after using ChatGPT, paying off debt, visiting the Rainforest Cafe, and having nightmares about Donny's mom. The Cute Ones talk about Big Brother 27, the I Know What You Did Last Summer feud, and the rules of UNO. Also, you're probably intolerable if you talk about Love Island on Threads. THIS WEEK'S EPISODE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY: MINT MOBILE: mintmobile.com/cuteone QUINCE: quince.com/cuteone To access AD FREE versions of our episodes, as well as bonus episodes and uncut audio and video, subscribe to our Patreon! If today's episode makes you laugh or scream, please do us a favor and rate our show 5 STARS on Apple or Spotify This is the easiest way for us to grow our community! Get your Cutie MERCH! We're on YOUTUBE! Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss a second of our hijinx - now on video! Follow Us on Social Media! Chelsea: @ohnochels Donny: @realdonnywood Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
One-on-one pod today, Chris is in New York, and Jason is home in Glendale. We chat about vitamin pee, Vanessa Carlton ft. Drake at Wireless Festival, Chris went to the Clipse record release, the problem with third-wave soft serve, all the fun restaurants we ate at this weekend, custom Oreos, the Bieber record, Bad Bunny's Rainforest Cafe set design, our different styles of steering wheel drumming, using social media to annouce what city you're in, veggie sandwiches, and see us live this weekend in St Paul and Chicago, see TJ throw out the first pitch at a Cubs game on the 20th, and stream us live on Veeps July 19th. twitter.com/donetodeath twitter.com/themjeans howlonggone.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Hello Travelers! This week join host Jeremy for a stroll through the Marketplace section of Disney Springs. We do a thorough tour, including the busy dining room of Rainforest Cafe. If you like what we do, consider joining our crew on Patreon. These wonderful people help us keep the microphones crisp and the servers warm at night. Visit us a walkabouttheworld.com - find links to all the things - attraction episodes, Insta accounts of all the hosts, and even how to buy your own Walkabout shirt! Look us up at @WalkaboutWDW on Instagram and drop us a note to say hi. You can now also drop us at line at contact@walkabouttheworld.com. Say hi, tell us how you found us, and give us some suggestions on things you'd love to hear. Please consider giving us a rating and review wherever you listen - it really helps. Walkabout The World is a weekly Disney podcast, always recorded on property at Walt Disney World or Disneyland Resort with the simple goal of making you feel like you are in the middle of the magic.
In hour two, Hoch is still hung up on Solana's revelation Friday that he has never visited Sawgrass Mills Mall despite living in South Florida for all 31 years of his life. Rainforest Cafe = criminally underrated. Plus, National radio broadcaster on the call of tonight's game 4 - John Forslund - joins the show to preview the game and explains why he views this Cats team in the same light as the early 80s Islanders dynasty.