Podcast
Notably Disney
Hosted by Brett Nachman · EN
Notably Disney is the ultimate Disney podcast covering music and books written by and about The Walt Disney Company.
11episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Author Roland Betancourt Levers New Insights in "Disneyland and the Rise of Automation"
3w ago00:57:59Tap to summarizeIn the new book Disneyland and the Rise of Automation: How Technology Created the Happiest Place on Earth, scholar Dr. Roland Betancourt deconstructs how Walt’s original family park served as a foundational space for automation during a time when humans increasingly relied on technology for many of their needs and desires. This well-researched title from Princeton University Press explores how many of Disneyland’s foundational attractions have relied on sophisticated technologies to make modern mechanical magic. Dr. Betancourt is Chancellors’ Professor in the Department of Art History at the University of California, Irvine. On this episode we discuss the book’s development and content. Learn more about the book on the Princeton University Press website. Feel free to reach out to Brett via Bluesky @drnachman and Instagram @drnachman, subscribe to the podcast, and send your feedback to notablydisney@gmail.com New episodes of Notably Disney debut on the first Tuesday of each month.
Transcribe →Composer Mark Isham Discusses "Eight Below" Turning 20 Years and His Accomplished Career
Apr 701:00:17Tap to summarizeLegendary composer Mark Isham has, for decades, provided some of the most dynamic film scores of our time with his distinct style that has drawn on many styles, including jazz and electronic music. His association with Disney dates back to 1983 with Never Cry Wolf and he has since crafted a number of scores for the Mouse House, from ABC’s long-running and critically-acclaimed Once Upon a Time series to movies like Miracle, Togo, and Invincible. The Emmy and Grammy award-winning composer holds an Academy Award nomination for A River Runs Through It and a Golden Globe nomination for Nell. This year marks the 20th anniversary of Eight Below, a stirring score that is a focal points for today’s conversation, in which he chats with host Brett Nachman about his career trajectory, composing process, and many of his beloved projects. Learn more about Mark's work on his website: MarkIshamMusic.com. Feel free to reach out to Brett via Bluesky @drnachman and Instagram @drnachman, subscribe to the podcast, and send your feedback to notablydisney@gmail.com New episodes of Notably Disney debut on the first Tuesday of each month.
Transcribe →Composer Cyrus Reynolds Builds a Powerful Score for "Disneyland Handcrafted"
Mar 300:59:39Tap to summarizeRecently debuting on Disney+ the documentary Disneyland Handcrafted spectacularly shows the development of Walt’s original family park in compelling fashion by storied filmmaker Leslie Iwerks. Layered into this amazing documentary is the music of composer Cyrus Reynolds, who crafts compelling and epic orchestrations that evoke rich emotion out of its listeners. On this episode of Notably Disney Cyrus talks about his background and music that is featured in Disneyland Handcrafted, as well as the release of his new album! Check out Cyrus' work at CyrusReynoldsMusic.com and his new album entitled Provenance of Dreaming. Feel free to reach out to Brett via Bluesky @drnachman and Instagram @drnachman, subscribe to the podcast, and send your feedback to notablydisney@gmail.com New episodes of Notably Disney debut on the first Tuesday of each month.
Transcribe →Author Stephen Hall Dispenses Knowledge in "A Spoonful of Sugar: The Story of the Upjohn Pharmacy in Disneyland"
Feb 301:05:58Tap to summarizeIn the earliest days of Disneyland, guests could visit a replica of a pharmacy on Main Street, replete with artifacts and exhibits. In the new book A Spoonful of Sugar: The Story of the Upjohn Pharmacy in Disneyland author and historian Stephen Hall pours out lots of new knowledge about how the Upjohn Pharmacy worked with Disney to create this special spot in the Happiest Place on Earth. It’s an intricate and insightful new title from The Old Mill Press. Listen in to find out how this pharmacy replica in Disneyland provided fun finds and facts about pharmacy life to millions of Guests. Purchase a copy of A Spoonful of Sugar from The Old Mill Press or wherever you find books. Check out more about The Coit Museum of Pharmacy & Health Sciences at the University of Arizona to check out the Upjohn Pharmacy collection in person! Feel free to reach out to Brett via Bluesky @drnachman and Instagram @drnachman, subscribe to the podcast, and send your feedback to notablydisney@gmail.com New episodes of Notably Disney debut on the first Tuesday of each month.
Transcribe →Deconstructing "Tron" Music with Jonathan Goodman
Jan 600:54:52Tap to summarizeFor some movies, the music is as much of a character as the figures we see on screen. In the case of the three installments of Tron, the score represents one of the most core elements. Whether Wendy Carlos’ work in the original 1982 film, Daft Punk’s and Joseph Trapanese’s contributions for Tron: Legacy, or what we heard from Nine Inch Nails for Tron: Ares, each is a product of their time and also has an amazing ability to envelop us. Today on Notably Disney host Brett Nachman brings on Jonathan Goodman of the Music Behind the Magic podcast to talk about the Tron scores! Check out the Music Behind the Magic podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. Learn more about the podcast on its website. Follow Jonathan on Instagram (@musicbehindthemagic) and join the Music Behind the Magic community on Facebook. Feel free to reach out to Brett via Bluesky @drnachman and Instagram @drnachman, subscribe to the podcast, and send your feedback to notablydisney@gmail.com New episodes of Notably Disney debut on the first Tuesday of each month.
Transcribe →Disney Book Collecting 101
Dec 1601:02:20Tap to summarizeEmily McDermott and Courtney Kern of the late Book of the Mouse Club podcast have long been on Notably Disney, helping review a variety of books over the years. But one question has never quite surfaced in these conversations: how do you become a Disney book collector? Such is the spark of today’s dialogue in which host Brett Nachman welcomes on Emily and Courtney to untangle the process of Disney book collecting, from figuring out which books are worth getting to how to get good deals on books. Be sure to check out the Book of the Mouse Club podcast archive on YouTube. Their email is bookofthemouseclub@gmail.com Also make sure you follow the duo on Instagram: Courtney (@greatguthsby) and Emily (@emily_mickde). Feel free to reach out to Brett via Bluesky @drnachman and Instagram @drnachman, subscribe to the podcast, and send your feedback to notablydisney@gmail.com New episodes of Notably Disney debut on the first and third Tuesday of each month.
Transcribe →Disney Treasure Trip Report: Sailing the Caribbean with Disney Cruise Line
Dec 200:55:33Tap to summarizeWhat is it like to sail one of the newest Disney Cruise Line ships? On this episode of Notably Disney, host Brett Nachman is joined by author, professor, and musician Matthew Hodge, a frequent podcast guest, to discuss their time on the Disney Treasure. This sixth ship in the DCL fleet launched in late 2024 and has delighted tens of thousands of guests to date in its 7-night sailings in the Western Caribbean or Eastern Caribbean. Brett and Matt share their thoughts on the musical entertainment, dining, themed spaces, and activities aboard the beautiful vessel. Check out Matt's music work on his YouTube channel and website. Feel free to reach out to Brett via Bluesky @drnachman and Instagram @drnachman, subscribe to the podcast, and send your feedback to notablydisney@gmail.com New episodes of Notably Disney debut on the first and third Tuesday of each month.
Transcribe →Walt Disney's "Fantasia" and "Worlds to Conquer" with Author J.B. Kaufman
Nov 1801:01:02Tap to summarizeAuthor J.B. Kaufman has been long known as one of the most capable Disney historians to cover work from early on in the company’s history, ranging from Pinocchio to the Silly Symphonies shorts. This tradition continues with Worlds to Conquer: The Art and Making of Walt Disney’s Fantasia, newly released by Weldon Owen, an imprint of Insight Editions, itself part of the Simon and Schuster umbrella. This compendium to the 1940 classic features lots of rarely-seen and heard stories, artwork, and context. On this episode of Notably Disney, JB returns to the podcast to share with host Brett Nachman about the book's development and Fantasia's legacy 85 years later. Learn more about J.B.'s work via his website. Purchase a copy of Worlds to Conquer on Amazon or wherever you purchase books. Feel free to reach out to Brett via Bluesky @drnachman and Instagram @drnachman, subscribe to the podcast, and send your feedback to notablydisney@gmail.com New episodes of Notably Disney debut on the first and third Tuesday of each month.
Transcribe →"Making Mary Poppins" with Author Todd James Pierce
Nov 400:58:18Tap to summarizeSixty years later it remains one of the most enduring and beloved Disney movies of all time. Mary Poppins, based on the PL Travers stories, has even inspired a making of film through 2013’s Saving Mr. Banks. In tandem, the late songwriters Richard and Robert Sherman, responsible for the classic tunes, have received their fair share of coverage through projects like The Boys: The Sherman Brothers Story from 2009. Thankfully, now we have a written compendium that illustrates how integral the Sherman Brothers were to the development of the 1964 Walt Disney feature. Making Mary Poppins, written by professor and author Todd James Pierce, is a deep dive into the production, along with giving further backstory to the famed songwriters. Todd previously joined host Brett Nachman back in 2020 as he discussed writing Three Years in Wonderland about the development of Disneyland through CV Wood’s influence. Now he returns to share details about Making Mary Poppins: The Sherman Brothers, Walt Disney, and the Creation of the Classic Film. Learn more about Todd's career and book by visiting his website. Pick up a copy of Making Mary Poppins and listen to the Disney History Institute podcast. Feel free to reach out to Brett via Bluesky @drnachman and Instagram @drnachman, subscribe to the podcast, and send your feedback to notablydisney@gmail.com New episodes of Notably Disney debut on the first and third Tuesday of each month.
Transcribe →Diving into Piano Playing for Disney Cruise Line with Clay Barnard (Part 2)
Oct 2100:55:15Tap to summarizePianist, composer, and vocalist Clay Barnard of Disney Cruise Line continues his discussion with host Brett Nachman about what it's like to play for DCL. On the last episode he shared his career origins, whereas on this episode Clay details the process of creating piano sets on the Disney ships, his interactions with guests, and more. This is the second episode of a two-part conversation with Clay. Follow Clay on Instagram (@composerclay). Hear his music on SoundCloud. Feel free to reach out to Brett via Bluesky @drnachman and Instagram @drnachman, subscribe to the podcast, and send your feedback to notablydisney@gmail.com New episodes of Notably Disney debut on the first and third Tuesday of each month.
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