My big day at Disneyland with guests The Savannah Bananas

Summary

Sunday Sports Club Podcast Episode Summary

Title: My Big Day at Disneyland with Guests The Savannah Bananas
Release Date: June 26, 2025
Host: Allison Kuch
Produced by: Dear Media

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Introduction: Celebrating Disney's 70th Anniversary

Allison Kuch kicks off the episode by expressing her excitement about Disneyland Resort's 70th Anniversary Celebration. She highlights the extensive enhancements across the resort, including new entertainment, colorful decor, limited-time merchandise, and specialty food and beverages. Allison shares her enthusiasm about partnering with Disney, emphasizing her identity as a "Disney adult."

Allison Kuch [00:00]: "Disneyland Resort is celebrating 70 years of happiness we've created together with new entertainment, colorful decor, limited time merchandise, and specialty food and beverage items throughout the entire resort."

She brings in her husband, Isaac Kuch, to discuss their recent experiences at Disneyland, illustrating their deep connection with the park.

Isaac [01:21]: "It's actually been absurd."

The couple reveals their dedication by mentioning they've become pass holders and have visited Disneyland four times in the past month, including a special trip for their wedding anniversary.

Allison Kuch [01:29]: "We ended up just going ahead and getting Disneyland passes. So now we hold passes."

Allison also shares how their daughter, Scotty, is rekindling their love for Disney, making the magic of the park a shared family experience.

Allison Kuch [02:13]: "It's like holidays with a child. It's like the magic is back again, but in a different way."

Exclusive Disney VIP Experience

Allison details her unique opportunity to take a VIP tour of Disneyland, an experience that provided insider access and personalized itineraries. This exclusive tour allowed her family to explore beyond their usual Toontown visits and enjoy attractions like California Adventure and Star Wars World.

Allison Kuch [03:03]: "Which we've never experienced before. We are definitely the type of people who are like, okay, let's go to the park."

Isaac humorously admits his initial unfamiliarity with California Adventure but quickly becomes impressed by the park's offerings.

Isaac [04:35]: "I mean, I didn't know California Adventures was a thing. Like, we took the VIP tour and she was like, okay, we're going to start in California Adventures."

The VIP tour also facilitated memorable interactions, such as their daughter Scotty having a one-on-one meeting with Minnie Mouse, which turned into a delightful meltdown when Scotty wanted to continue the interaction.

Isaac [05:16]: "She was like, I want to be back with Minnie. Yeah, it was crazy."

Allison emphasizes the versatility of Disneyland, noting that there’s so much to explore that extending their stay was inevitable.

Allison Kuch [05:22]: "There is so much to do that you can't just spend one day, like with California Adventure, Disneyland and then Downtown Disney."

Interview with The Savannah Bananas: A Unique Sports Entertainment Experience

Transitioning from Disney, Allison introduces her special guests, Jackson and Dr., members of The Savannah Bananas—a baseball team known for its entertaining and interactive approach to the sport.

Allison Kuch [10:23]: "We have Dr. And Jackson, and you guys are part of the Savannah Bananas."

Background and Formation of The Savannah Bananas

Jackson shares that six years ago, The Savannah Bananas were a concept they were unaware of, inspired initially by watching similar teams on TikTok. However, their childhood dreams of playing Major League Baseball took a creative turn into the innovative world of Banana Ball.

Jackson [10:43]: "We didn't even know this existed six years ago."

Performing at Disneyland

Allison highlights the special connection between The Savannah Bananas and Disneyland, particularly their performance in front of Sleeping Beauty's Castle. Dr. describes the magical experience of performing at Disneyland as exceeding his childhood dreams.

Dr. [11:23]: "It was magical. I'd say. I've never been to Disneyland before, and today was just went beyond my dreams as a kid."

Team Dynamics and Fan Engagement

The Savannah Bananas emphasize their family-like culture and the high level of fan interaction, which sets them apart from traditional baseball teams. They discuss how their approach breaks down barriers between players and fans, fostering a strong sense of community.

Dr. [14:22]: "The company's name is Fans First Entertainment, but the culture in the company is just one big family."

Differences Between Banana Ball and Traditional Baseball

Jackson explains that Banana Ball integrates performance with the sport, making the games more engaging and entertaining. This combination attracts a larger and more enthusiastic fanbase, as opposed to the often traditional and slower-paced MLB games.

Jackson [15:01]: "It's a legit baseball game. I mean, other than him doing backflip catches in the outfield, which make the crowds go absolutely insane."

Challenges and Maintaining Professionalism

While the team prioritizes fun and entertainment, they also strive to maintain high standards in their athletic performance, ensuring that Banana Ball remains a credible and enjoyable sport.

Jackson [25:12]: "There is pressure. I think there's more pressure on us to perform on the field. Not entertainment."

Social Media and Growth

The Savannah Bananas leverage social media platforms like TikTok to grow their fanbase. Their engaging content and dynamic presence have significantly boosted their popularity, with Jackson noting a considerable increase in followers thanks to their association with the team.

Jackson [28:24]: "Yeah, definitely. I think being associated with the bananas is obviously a huge plus for a lot of us."

Future Aspirations and Community Impact

The team expresses aspirations to perform in iconic venues like Yankee Stadium and maintain the familial bonds they’ve built within the team. They also highlight the importance of fan interactions and creating lasting relationships through their unique blend of sports and entertainment.

Jackson [29:00]: "Mine's Yankee Stadium, and we are playing there this year."

Rapid Fire Segment: Fun and Team Spirit

Allison engages Jackson and Dr. in a rapid-fire session, asking lighthearted questions that reveal more about their personalities and preferences. This segment underscores their camaraderie and the fun atmosphere they cultivate both on and off the field.

Allison Kuch [31:33]: "Home run celebration or strikeout dance?"

Dr.: "Are we striking out?"

Jackson: "Hopefully we're not striking out."

Conclusion: Embracing the Magic of Sports and Entertainment

Allison wraps up the episode by reaffirming the magical experience of Disneyland's 70th Celebration and the vibrant energy The Savannah Bananas bring to the sports entertainment scene. She encourages listeners to explore Disneyland's offerings and tune into upcoming Savannah Bananas showcases on ESPN platforms.

Allison Kuch [33:03]: "The summer of the Savannah Bananas will be showcased on Friday and Saturday nights on ESPN or ESPN2, with all 10 games also simulcast live on Disney Plus and ESPN Plus."

Allison expresses her gratitude for the engaging conversation and the iconic setting of Disneyland, inviting listeners to stay connected through her social media channels.

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This episode of the Sunday Sports Club Podcast seamlessly blends the enchanting allure of Disneyland with the high-energy, fan-centric world of The Savannah Bananas. Allison Kuch provides listeners with an insider's look into both the magic of Disney's milestone celebration and the innovative spirit of a sports team redefining baseball entertainment. Through candid conversations and vibrant storytelling, the episode celebrates family, fun, and the joy of sharing passions with others.

Transcript

[Allison Kuch]

The following podcast is a Dear media production. What's up, guys? And welcome back to Sunday Sports Club Podcast, a podcast all about sports told by a woman. And one of my favorite things about this podcast is one, getting to learn about different sports that I'm not typically used to, which has a little something to do with today's episode. And two, getting to work with really cool companies. So I got to partner up with Disney because Disneyland Resort is celebrating 70 years of happiness we've created together with new entertainment, colorful decor, limited time merchandise, and specialty food and beverage items throughout the entire resort. And this summer is the best time to come and experience it all. You guys, I'm so excited for this episode. One, I talked to two guys from the Savannah Bananas. If you guys are on any form of social media, especially like, Tick tock, you've probably seen the Savannah Bananas and how crazy that is is. So I sit down with two of the players later in the episode. But in the meantime, I want to talk a little bit about Disney because I. I think I'm just going to admit it here. I'm a Disney adult, so I have my husband on for the beginning of this episode to kind of speak to Disney a little bit. Because we have been going so much.

[Isaac]

It'S actually been absurd.

[Allison Kuch]

We ended up just going ahead and getting Disneyland passes. So now we hold. We're pass holders.

[Isaac]

We've been four times in the last month.

[Allison Kuch]

We went for our wedding anniversary. If that doesn't scream Disney adult, I don't know. It does.

[Isaac]

Four times in two different states.

[Allison Kuch]

Oh, yeah, we did. We had. Yeah, we went to Orlando, which our past didn't include, and it was worth it. But now, obviously we have our daughter Scotty, who is a year and a half, and the older she gets, the more she looks. Loves going to Disney. It is so much fun taking your child to Disney because you kind of remember all the magic you got to experience as a child, but then you kind of forget a little bit and you just have, like, really good, fond memories of Disney. That's why probably I'm such a big Disney adult. And now that we have our daughter, it's kind of like reigniting the magic. It's like holidays with a child. It's like the magic is back again, but in a different way. And you get to experience, experience, like, how good it is.

[Isaac]

I didn't understand Disney at all. And then you started to hype it up and then we went. Fun fact. When we first met, you had a Disney credit card, and I didn't realize how Disney adult you were until now. Then I look back and I'm like, wait, she's always been like this.

[Allison Kuch]

Yeah. It's just a place that, like, is magical.

[Isaac]

It is magical.

[Allison Kuch]

Like, you can't be in a bad mood at Disney.

[Isaac]

Yeah, you can't. Honestly.

[Jackson]

Sneaky.

[Isaac]

It's also a good workout. Like, you get your steps in, you go there and you're like, you're enjoying the rides, you're enjoying the energy, great people watching. And then you get to walk around all day, which is great.

[Allison Kuch]

So something really cool that we got to do because I'm working with Disney, is we got a VIP tour.

[Isaac]

Oh, my God.

[Allison Kuch]

Which we've never experienced before. We are definitely the type of people who are like, okay, let's go to the park. We're probably going to spend a majority of the day in Toontown because that's what our daughter. I mean, Disney is for. Disney's for everybody.

[Isaac]

I feel like I would go there by myself and just chill. It's not even about.

[Allison Kuch]

So no, I'm a Disney adult and you're not.

[Isaac]

I'll claim it. I have no problem. Every time I have a. I have a Disney Tommy Bahamas Disney collab shirt. Like, I wear it. I wear my gear to this. To it. I mean, we're battle tested with Disney. I love Disney.

[Allison Kuch]

Well, the funniest part of us going, like, we live. We live in Orange county, right? So, like, we live close to Disneyland and Downtown Disney and California Adventure. And so with that, I. I kind of did a little pre game for our daughter where a few days before we knew we were going to Disney, I was like, we're gonna sit her down. We're gonna show her Mickey Mouse. We're gonna. She likes watching the parades on tv. I'm like, girl, just wait until we see them. Just wait until we see him in person. And now our daughter loves Disney. Anything Disney. She loves me. Mouse is what she says. Mimos, mimos. Like, it is the cutest thing ever. But obviously I kind of want to go as a date night to, like, California Adventure.

[Isaac]

I didn't even know California Adventures was a thing. Like, we took the VIP tour and she was like, okay, we're going to start in California Adventures. And I was like, what? I don't even know what that is. And went in there and I was like, this place is unbelievable.

[Allison Kuch]

So we got to go on this VIP tour, which was incredible. We had somebody, like, walking around the park and she had, like, all the inside scoop to like, oh, like if you want to have this, you can go eat here. Or if you want to like hit up this. And like, this is the best time to do this. And it was such a cool experience. And we also got to explore other parts of the park that weren't just Toontown.

[Isaac]

I mean, she had a whole itinerary for us. She was like, what rides do you want to see? Yeah, Scotty had a one on one with Minnie, which by the time we pulled Scotty away from Minnie, it was meltdown. Meltdown. Cuz she was like, I want to be back with Minnie. Yeah, it was crazy. I mean, I don't. Yeah, that was like a very humbling experience though, because it's. The access that you can have with the VIP folks is crazy.

[Allison Kuch]

Yeah, it was a lot of fun. My thing for that is that there is so much to do that you can't just spend one day, like with California Adventure, Disneyland and then Downtown Disney. You really just have to go and like make it a full experience and like multiple days at the same park.

[Isaac]

It's so easy to spend time there too. Like, we, we got there for the VIP day and we were thinking, we're gonna be there for a few hours because we're like, we live here. Let's just do a few hours and then go home. I mean, 12 hours later.

[Allison Kuch]

And I didn't want.

[Isaac]

We're having. Yeah, we're having to get pulled out of.

[Allison Kuch]

I was like, no, I have to leave because I have to like, be a good mom and like, okay, it's bedtime.

[Isaac]

Yeah.

[Allison Kuch]

I was even like, should we like get our babysitter, like once we put the baby down and like come back? But I just feel like there's like so much to do at Disney, obviously. And I, we had so much fun. California Adventure. I didn't even know because we had both never been there.

[Isaac]

We also got season passes and we didn't know you could go to both. Like, I, I thought it was just for one park. I mean, I. It opened up a whole, A whole new world. Literally. Like, it was crazy. I also, yeah, it's just in the Pixar thing. So, like, there's Pixar Pier. Yeah. It adds in this other layer where you're like, oh, this is also Disney. This is. I don't know. It was really fun. And they have adult rides that are really geared towards adults, which is fun.

[Allison Kuch]

Yeah. The, my favorite California adventures. Because I, I got to go to Disney a few days in a row. I am such a Disney adult and I Wear. I wear that with pride. Okay.

[Isaac]

You spent. In a month. You spent almost a full work week at Disney. Like, almost five days worth.

[Allison Kuch]

Well, if you're working with Disney, that kind of makes sense.

[Isaac]

I was like, well worth it, though.

[Allison Kuch]

No, but I. So I got to go without Isaac or Scotty, and I rode some of the more adult rides. You guys, I didn't even know the Star wars world existence.

[Jackson]

That was crazy.

[Isaac]

That was crazy.

[Allison Kuch]

And what is it? The Rise of the Resistance. That is my favorite ride.

[Isaac]

The. It's. You can't even call it a ride. It's a true experience. That's how you know we're Disney adult. I'm like, call it what it is.

[Allison Kuch]

We haven't spent much time at Downtown Disney, and I really want to start spending more time, especially now that we have our passes. It's like, oh, we can go for a date night. We can get dinner Downtown Disney, and then we can go and ride a few rides. 15 minutes after our. Our food digest, though, it was. He has a sense of your tummy.

[Isaac]

I do. It was. Yeah, it was unreal. But the funny thing is, the VIP person, back to the Star Wars, I was like, oh, this is a great ride. Like, it almost feels like you're in another world. She's like, you are in another world. And looked at me with, like, a straight face, and I was like, whoa.

[Allison Kuch]

Isaac, you are now.

[Isaac]

I know. But I was like, whoa, this is. You're right.

[Allison Kuch]

So Disneyland Resort has their 70th celebration, and they're introducing new entertainment experiences alongside returning some of their other favorites across the resort. So they have it like Disneyland, California Adventure, and in Downtown Disney. And some of their fan favorites, like Paint the Night Parade. Our daughter loves the parades.

[Isaac]

She loses it, like, characters she's never seen before. I'm like, you don't know who Frozone is? And you're freaking out. Like, why are you so hype right now? She loves it.

[Allison Kuch]

No, she loves it so much. And also, I love getting to see her react. And, like, also on your shoulders, it is the cutest little thing ever. But because of their 70th celebration, they have some new parades and experiences and also some, like, things that are returning, which I think is really fun. Also, the 70th year celebration merch.

[Isaac]

We have some. Yes, we both got shirts.

[Allison Kuch]

Yeah, I know. No, way more than shirts. We got, like, a bubble maker. We have shirts. We have hats. Honestly, we need to just start, like, a whole cabinet for our Disney stuff, because we're going a lot.

[Isaac]

I mean, I got my Disney shirt dry cleaned. Like, that's how committed I am to Disney now. Pete, I don't even know if you know that I got my Disney shirt dry clean.

[Allison Kuch]

Is that the collab with Tommy Bahama?

[Isaac]

Yes.

[Allison Kuch]

Wait, that's so cute.

[Isaac]

I'm committed. I'm wearing it every time.

[Allison Kuch]

Hawaiian shirt. And then there's like, random little Mickeys, like surfboards. And Scotty will just be, like, sitting in Isaac's arms and be like, my mouse. I'm like, yeah, that is. My mouse is funny. Anyways, with so much to celebrate, you can't do it all in one day. And guests can extend their stay and save with the Disneyland anniversary ticket offer and a limited time hotel offer for those who book early for the 70th celebration. So if you guys want more information, you can go to www.disneyland.com offers. So, with that being said, let's go ahead and jump into my interview with the Savannah Bananas. What's up, guys? Welcome back to Sunday Sports Club Podcast, a podcast all about sports told by a woman. And that woman is me. Hi, guys. I'm Allison Kuch.

[Dr.]

I.

[Allison Kuch]

And you might be wondering where I'm recording. I'm literally at Disneyland. I'm here recording. We have Dr. And Jackson, and you guys are part of the Savannah Bananas. Okay. Did you guys grow up, like, wanting to be in. I mean, this is such a unique career move, right?

[Jackson]

Yeah. I mean, we didn't even know this existed. Like, I didn't know this existed six years ago.

[Allison Kuch]

Right.

[Jackson]

It was a college summer team that a lot of us had seen on TikTok. A lot of us that are playing right now had seen the bananas before on TikTok. But as a kid, we all wanted to play Major League Baseball. Like, that was our dream. We had our teams. Braves, Yankees. That was our dream. And all of our dreams got cut short. And now we're living this new, crazy life now in Disneyland, which is wild.

[Allison Kuch]

Okay. Yeah. We have to take a step back because we were literally at Disneyland, and you guys were able to. I mean, you guys had your own parade, essentially. So what was it like performing in front of Sleeping Beauty's castle?

[Dr.]

It was magical. I'd say. I've never been to Disneyland before, and today was just went beyond my dreams as a kid. You know, I grew up watching Disney Channel, and you got to see your characters come to life today, and to get to do that with them on a big stage, like, this was just so special.

[Allison Kuch]

Yeah. So what planning went into a day like today? Do you Guys are like a lot.

[Jackson]

Of behind the scenes that, like, we can't even take any credit for. There was a lot of Disney employees, Bananas employees, going back and forth on email threads. I had glanced at a couple computers in the last couple weeks and seen about a million email threads. So they've been working really hard at it. A lot of planning, A lot of planning. But for us, I mean, we have an awesome entertainment team who basically says, hey, this is. This is what we got. This is what you guys got. Like, be prepared for it. It's going to be a long day, but here are your dances. Here's what you have to do. And we crush it, and then everyone's happy, and we get to go ride rides at 2:00pm so, yeah, a lot of fun.

[Allison Kuch]

Also, the crowds here are going wild for you guys. Is it all because of, like, social media and TikTok, you think?

[Dr.]

I think it's a lot of that. And also, like, the show we put on is kind of like what Disney does when it comes to show and interaction with people. So just to be able to connect both of those and, you know, kind of have the Banana family in Disney come together, it's just. It just makes sense.

[Allison Kuch]

It's like a dream collaboration. I'm like, disney. And you guys are like. I mean, both are huge entertainment areas. I mean, you guys at a typical game, the fans are going wild. Like, you guys have so much energy. Are you guys like, okay right now? Because I know, like, probably performing out there, it's a long few days. How are you guys feeling?

[Dr.]

We've had longer days.

[Jackson]

We've had longer days.

[Dr.]

Longer days.

[Jackson]

So really, I'm running on two hours of sleep right now, but Disney magic's fueling me. So I'm good. I'm good to go. Everybody's like, you need a nap. And I'm like, yeah, but I'm not.

[Dr.]

Magic in about 500 milligrams of caffeine.

[Allison Kuch]

Yeah, exactly. You're like, no, just keep it coming. I'm like, you guys need to head over to Star Wars World and get the cold brew. There's, like, Cocoa Puffs on top.

[Jackson]

It's so I see one right there and I'm about to go drink it.

[Allison Kuch]

It's like, actually running through my veins right now. So if I'm, like, stuttering, I apologize, but recording this on Savannah Bananas Day. So how are you guys feeling about having your own day, especially at such a cool place?

[Jackson]

Yeah, it's crazy. Obviously, Jesse Cole, our owner, he studied Walt Disney. He studied, obviously P.T. barnum as well, and a bunch of other owners. But Disney was his guy. That's. He knows everything. He's read every book about him. If there's movies, he's seen the movies. Podcasts. He's listened to all of them.

[Allison Kuch]

Wow. He's doing his due diligence, so.

[Jackson]

Yeah. And just to see him before he went out for the Cavalcade and before we went out and danced in front of the Castle, like, to see the emotions on him and his wife Emily, who's also a co owner, to see the emotion on their face, knowing that they came from sleeping on an airbed and going in debt because of this to now being on this pedestal and, like, having people praise them for it. Yeah, it's pretty cool.

[Allison Kuch]

Would you guys say you're like a big family? I mean, you guys spend so much time together. What is that like?

[Dr.]

Yeah, the. The company's name is Fans First Entertainment, but the culture in the company is just one big family. So we're very competitive on the field when we play against other teams. But we all. We do everything together. We travel together, we eat together, and on days like this, we hang out together. And, you know, between the lines, we're competitive, but away from there, we're all one big family. And that's how this thing works, because the culture is very family. Like.

[Allison Kuch]

Yeah, the culture is probably a lot different from, I mean, professional baseball. So for the people listening who have, you know, maybe seen Savannah bananas on TikTok or social media, how does it differ from regular baseball?

[Jackson]

I think it's almost like a trailer for a movie. Like, you're seeing what the gist of it might be, but you're not seeing the whole thing. You're not seeing 95% of what's going on. It's a legit baseball game. I mean, other than him doing backflip catches in the outfield, which make the crowds go absolutely insane. Like, you've never heard a crowd. Anyone coming to the angel or the Angel Stadium game? Like, when he hits his first backflip catch, you can't hear anything. You can't. Everything's crazy, but it's. People don't always see that. They'll see the TikTok dances, and they'll see the 3, 2, 2, which is like, in the third inning, we do a choreographed dance. But, like, the baseball, when people come to a game, they're like. They walk away, and they're like, all right, this is legit. Like, they're good. They're competitive.

[Allison Kuch]

Yeah. So when you, when you hear a crowd cheering, I mean, did you want to play baseball growing up? Like, what was that like?

[Dr.]

Yeah, the, the, you know, wanting to be in the MLB was every kid's dream. Definitely mine and Jack's and I don't think I would want to be in the MLB now. Experiencing banana ball and just the fun we get to have just brings the kid out of us. And you know, those guys who compete each day in MLB are, you know, have a little bit of stress and making up to the next level through the minors and all that stuff. We don't have any stress. We just go out there, have fun and we, we have those interactions with fans that we would want to have as a 10 year old. So that's what makes this happen.

[Allison Kuch]

Oh my gosh. It sounds like so magical and I feel like it's way more fun than no offense to the MLB players listening to this, but like, I feel like it's, it's way more fun and like such a sense of community. And I've never seen like a baseball player like get recognized so much. It's so wild. Like you guys, there's literally fans just like waiting outside of here. So is it a lot of like fan interaction? Like, do you guys do a lot of community stuff also?

[Jackson]

Yeah. I think the main thing is we break down the barrier between fan and player. When you go to a Major league baseball game, you're lucky if you get one player to look at you. Like not even an autograph, not a picture, like one player to look and acknowledge that you are present in that moment.

[Allison Kuch]

Right.

[Jackson]

And we're trying to hit almost every fan that we can, whether it's throwing him a ball or as simple as like, thanks for coming to the game. What's fair part, who's fair player, any of that stuff. Like we're trying to do things that like this doesn't work if we're not doing that right. Or regular baseball if that doesn't happen.

[Allison Kuch]

So, so cool. So when it comes to playing the game of baseball, you're at an actual game. What. Are there any really interesting rules that like a typical person might not know about?

[Dr.]

Yeah. So banana ball is different than baseball by us getting the fans involved in the game. So my favorite rule is super special is when somebody catches a foul ball, it's an out. And one of the last games that happened in New Mexico, a kid called the final out of the game to help that team win. And just to, for that kid to experience that adrenaline on the game, it's like, that's what makes banana ball. Banana ball right there.

[Allison Kuch]

Oh, my God. I feel like I got goosebumps. So it's really just like. I mean, you guys are out there having fun, but the fans are having fun. Everyone's just having a good old time.

[Dr.]

Yeah.

[Allison Kuch]

So how did you guys get to be in the Savannah? How did you. How did you get here to be on the team? What does that look like? Are there tryouts? Are there? Is it an application? Like, you have to do a backflip? Is that part of it?

[Jackson]

Kind of everything you just said, it's all of it. I mean, and the one thing you didn't mention is I. So another way to get on the team is by just getting attention. Like, garnering attention. That's how the Bananas was built on attention. So I posted a TikTok and I was, like, basically saying how cool I thought they were. And Jesse Cole, the guy standing right over there, saw it, DM'd me, and I was like, DM from Yellowtech, Jesse. Like, that's the guy. Like, that's. So he's the guy. You know, he's the guy. And, yeah, it just kind of happened from there. Yeah.

[Allison Kuch]

Okay.

[Dr.]

Let him fool you. He's really good at baseball, but the main part to get on the team is you have to be good at baseball. And luckily, Jackson, he's really good at baseball, but he's also got the social media, and he already knew how to be a showman when he came into here, so.

[Allison Kuch]

And then how did you get to be on the Span and Banana?

[Dr.]

I played for their collegiate summer team right out of college. I had the opportunity to play with them this summer. Yeah, I've always wanted to in summer, and luckily I got that chance. So first job out of college, I just rolled into banana ball out of that collegiate summer league.

[Allison Kuch]

And you have a wife that I know. What did she, like, did she meet you when you were already on the Savannah Bananas?

[Dr.]

Yeah, actually. Yeah. The Muffin man video. Actually, our first tour, we met through social media, and we've got to experience everything together from then on out, and it's just been super awesome.

[Allison Kuch]

How did your families react to you being on a team like this?

[Jackson]

I think I can speak for both of our parents, both of our dads specifically, that they are baseball purists at heart. But when they came to the first game and they saw that interaction, they saw what was happening in the stadium, they became Bananas fans. And my dad always says it. He was like, even if you weren't on this team, I would be a fan. And that's when I realized I'm like, all right, if you would be a fan like of this on its own, then this is doing something crazy because he is the most purest guy I've ever met in my life.

[Allison Kuch]

So are they coming out and like traveling to see a bunch of games? Like how often are you guys traveling? What is it? What is the season look like? When does it start? When does it end?

[Dr.]

Yeah, so we started February 1st, was our first game out in Arizona. And we go through October 1, October 5 or middle of October. But the first half of the season we kind of played a lot of games at home. But now we're starting to get into the leg of the tour where starting to travel more, hitting other states in some cool stadiums that we both dreamed of playing in as a kid.

[Allison Kuch]

So yeah, you guys are playing MLB stadiums, correct?

[Dr.]

Yeah, yeah. Mlb, college football, NFL stadiums. It's super fun.

[Allison Kuch]

What's your favorite stadium you guys have ever played in?

[Jackson]

Favorite stadium? Personally, I know, I already know his. Clemson was crazy. Death Valley was unbelievable. I mean anytime anything happened that was positive in the game or negative, you couldn't hear anything. Or negative, you were just like, yeah, positive or negative. That's the thing about the big crowds though. I mean we started playing, we both started playing in front of what, 100 people in college and now we're playing in front of 81,000. Like that's a. We weren't supposed to be doing this. No one was supposed to be doing this. But now we are and it's crazy.

[Allison Kuch]

Okay, and then what's your favorite stadium?

[Dr.]

As a Braves fan? Definitely truest park in Atlanta, but Clemson is a very close second. Just the college atmosphere, showing up to the game, there were kids and parents tailgating at 7am in the morning. And just to see that, that buzz in the air for banana ball for a long, probably a 14 hour day for those folks is just how much they care and how much that means to us to put on a great show for them.

[Allison Kuch]

So then if somebody doesn't like baseball, how, how would you describe like why they would like Savannah Bananas.

[Jackson]

The main reason why people don't like baseball is, as Jesse says, it's long, slow and boring. Those are the three things. That's, that's what baseball is. And personally, I cannot watch an entire nine inning baseball game. I can't sit three and a half hours. It goes extra innings, four hours. I can't do it.

[Allison Kuch]

That seventh inning stretch is really coming in handy.

[Jackson]

And I played baseball. We played baseball our entire lives. We played through those. Our parents stayed through those. No one else stayed through them. I can tell you that for a fact.

[Allison Kuch]

If people were just the parents sitting.

[Jackson]

There like, there's another inning, it's going into extra innings. It's their 12th, 13th inning. But yeah, it's just fun. It's. You come to a game and you have fun for two hours. It's two hour time limit.

[Allison Kuch]

Oh, wow. Okay.

[Jackson]

Two hours. Done.

[Allison Kuch]

Wow.

[Jackson]

Done.

[Dr.]

Yeah. And if you look at your phone for a second, you're gonna miss something. Like, if you get distracted by anything, you're gonna miss something because there's something always happening on the field.

[Allison Kuch]

Now I have to ask this question because from my perspective, my husband played in the NFL for a long time and there was a great, like, group of women are like, do you guys have like wives and girlfriends that are like close knit? Do they go to all the games? Like, what does that look like?

[Dr.]

Yeah, we have a, a group of, I guess it's called have you Wags. The Wags. Yeah. They, they'll travel sometimes with us and get to experience everything with us and.

[Jackson]

Must be nice. It must be nice.

[Dr.]

Single guys.

[Allison Kuch]

Jack. Jack, single day.

[Dr.]

He'll in the way.

[Jackson]

Maybe one day.

[Allison Kuch]

No. That's so cool. So then you, you. Do you guys live there year round in Savannah?

[Dr.]

I think most of us do now. We, we got guys from all over, so, you know, they'll have a, they'll have a spot in Savannah, but when the offseason comes around, they'll go home and see their family, spend that time. And you know, you guys, it's sounding.

[Allison Kuch]

Like really like a professional. I mean, it is professional, but it's sounding like a professional sport in the fact that like, you guys have seasons, you guys like have all these games, you guys have a ton of fans. I would argue you guys have. I'm not going to out the team that. I think you guys have more fans than. I don't want anyone coming for me. But it's so crazy to see this in person. And I mean, I was talking to my assistant. She was like, you can't get tickets to the game. Like, they're sold out. So is it sold out for every game that you guys have?

[Jackson]

Every game? Yeah, every single game. The waitlist is 3.5 million now.

[Allison Kuch]

Oh my God.

[Jackson]

Tickets. As I'm saying it, Jesse always says, like, as I'm saying that when this podcast comes out, like, it'll be higher. Yeah, but it's crazy. Like, we never thought this was possible. I mean, like, like, we always talk about, like, playing in college. We were done.

[Allison Kuch]

Yeah.

[Jackson]

Me and him were both, like, we didn't get the chance to play professional baseball, and now we're able to do this in sold out MLB stadiums when, like, the actual MLB teams aren't. And like, yes, giving teams are given they're making millions and millions of dollars of being on the field.

[Allison Kuch]

Oh, yeah.

[Jackson]

For them. But this is a lot of fun for us and we get taken care of pretty well. So. Yeah.

[Allison Kuch]

Has it changed your relationship with baseball.

[Dr.]

Then, as a kid? It's still the same game, just a little bit more fun. It's like, it's like playing backyard baseball with your boys when you're younger and, you know, having that fun sense of, you know, cutting up and, yeah, crazy little skits with each other. And that's what it feels like to me. And as you grow up, you know, baseball gets competitive, it kind of like comes back down. When in banana ball, it's like, oh, this is backyard baseball again. This is fun with the boys. And, you know, you can't. You can't beat that.

[Allison Kuch]

Is there a lot of pressure, like stepping out onto the field, knowing you have to entertain the crowd, or does it just come naturally? Like, you got. Y' all look like you're having fun.

[Jackson]

There is pressure. I think there's more pressure on us to perform on the field. Not entertainment. We will always crush entertainment. We'll do the walk ups, all of that. You can't really, like, mess it up, right? We want to prove that we're good baseball players. When I came in, when a lot of us come in, being on TikTok on social media, like, we have a lot to prove. I had so much to prove. More than going into college, high school, I wanted to show that I was a good baseball player and that first. And I think we all want to be a good baseball player first, and that makes us feel good. We want to impress our teammates. We want our teammates to be proud of us. Right, Jesse? To be proud of us coaches.

[Allison Kuch]

But yeah, that sounds a little bit difficult too, because, like, you're trying to have fun, but you're also like, no, I'm actually, like, really good at this. Do you feel like you get, like, feedback about, well, this isn't a real sport or this isn't actually baseball?

[Dr.]

Yeah. Most of that feedback comes from, you know, people who haven't experienced the product. And when you finally get to experience the product, you're like, okay, these guys These guys can play baseball a little bit, and, you know, they kind of realized, like, oh, it might be, you know, fun and silly out there, but it wouldn't work if these guys were not good at baseball.

[Allison Kuch]

True. You guys are also good dancers.

[Jackson]

I would not go that far. I would not go that far. When.

[Allison Kuch]

Yeah, when it comes to, like, learning a choreographed dance, I mean, sure, it sounds fun, but it's actually a lot of work.

[Dr.]

No, I think we're still trying. Like, I think this is our third tour, and I think we're still trying to learn dances by eight counts. You know, we still have it.

[Allison Kuch]

Really? Seven and eight?

[Dr.]

Yeah. I think once we finally nail that, we become better dancers.

[Jackson]

We also have a choreographed dance. We both have tattoos, so. 3, 2, 2. You can't. I have my magic band on Shout Out Disney, so you can't see it all, but yeah. 3, 2, 2. Third inning, second batter, second pitch. We do a choreographed dance.

[Dr.]

Pitcher, TikTok dance.

[Jackson]

Pitcher, shortstop, second base, center field. Our umpire gets in it, catcher gets in it now. And yeah, we do a choreographed dance. And we have to learn that we get it. We get them sent before our game. Sometimes in the second inning, I'm like, doctor, do you remember the dance?

[Allison Kuch]

Wait, no way.

[Dr.]

We practice on the field right before it happens, basically.

[Jackson]

And we always crush it. We always nail it sometimes. Well, no, I would say, like, 85% of the time, we nail it. There are some times where it's like, oh, shoot, I probably.

[Allison Kuch]

Yeah, you're like, I'm probably messing this up. Who comes up with the dances?

[Dr.]

Mostly our entertainment team. But sometimes, you know, we'll see maybe a Trendy dance on TikTok and, you know, throw it in the group chat, see what they think about it. And, yeah, most of the time, we try to hit those trending dances to, you know, relate with the. With the algorithm.

[Allison Kuch]

I guess you're like, yeah. Have you ever done a dance? And you're like, I don't know that I want to do that move.

[Dr.]

Probably the last five you say they're getting.

[Jackson]

They're getting tougher because they're putting more. I mean, we need to. If we want to grow this, we need to do tougher dances and crush the tougher dances. We can't just be doing, like, the Macarena. So it started out easy, and now they're getting harder and harder. So they.

[Dr.]

They like to challenge us a little bit. And when. When we do them, they hit. So.

[Allison Kuch]

Yeah. Have you guys seen your own individual social media followings grow because of this?

[Jackson]

Yeah, definitely. I think being associated with the bananas is obviously a huge plus for a lot of us. And it gives us especially guys coming in that might not have a social media presence. They definitely get to grow a lot here by wearing the yellow, but there's only so much you can do with just wearing. Also cool bubbles.

[Allison Kuch]

I know. I'm like, there's bubbles and wind. I mean, we're at Disney, man. The magic is really in the game.

[Jackson]

I keep forgetting that we're, like, doing this at Disneyland.

[Allison Kuch]

The castle is literally right behind you.

[Jackson]

Hey, guys.

[Allison Kuch]

It's actually. There's people just watching us record this, which is so funny. Okay. Do you guys have a dream venue you want to play in?

[Jackson]

Mine's Yankee Stadium, and we are playing there this year.

[Allison Kuch]

Oh, wow.

[Jackson]

So grew up a Yankees fan. Grew up going there. My dad worked for Rawlings. He gave out Gold Gloves on the field to all the Yankees, so that's special.

[Dr.]

Yeah, mine was truest up there in Atlanta, but I could definitely go for Sanford Stadium in Athens, Georgia, so.

[Isaac]

Ooh.

[Allison Kuch]

Okay. I think if I was on the team, which you guys aren't, like, maybe one day, I think my stadium I would want to play in is sofi Stadium. Have you guys been to SOFI Stadium?

[Jackson]

Never been there, but that would be so cool.

[Allison Kuch]

It is like, so futuristic when you're in there. It looks like AI.

[Jackson]

Yeah.

[Allison Kuch]

But, oh, my. Okay. Crazy.

[Dr.]

That'd be great for the show. Yeah, that would be your a lot of things with that, right?

[Allison Kuch]

No, exactly. That's what I'm saying. So then, are you guys all traveling as a team? Are you guys all staying in hotels together? Like.

[Jackson]

Yeah, we travel as a team. We have about 150 to 200 people that travel with us, which has obviously grown since it started. Multiple flights, multiple different. Sometimes multiple hotels.

[Allison Kuch]

Which is taking private jets yet?

[Jackson]

Not yet, but that's one.

[Dr.]

Get a yellow one.

[Jackson]

I was going to say, like, just slap a banana logo on the spirit now. Jesse would never do that. Jesse would never do that. Maybe in the future, who knows?

[Allison Kuch]

Okay, and then my last question before we get into some rapid fire. What do you love most about being a Savannah Banana?

[Dr.]

Just the relationships that, you know, we get to build with either the fans or just hanging out with our best friends every day at the field and, you know, having a job that doesn't feel like work. You know, I think when you can do that in this life, that's where you not only grow as a person, but, you know, you just build relationships. And it's so much fun.

[Jackson]

Yeah. Building off that, too. So, obviously, Dr. Got married this past year, and I got to be a groomsman in his wedding. Our other friend got to. And then our other friend, Daniel Flood, who's part of the organization, he got married too. And I was a groomsman in that wedding, too. But, like, we didn't even know each other three years. Two years ago. Well, I guess now three years ago. But to be able to build the relationships with our teammates, like, this is something that I never had before. You have friends in college. They come and go. Like, these relationships that we're building are going to be a lifetime. So definitely that.

[Allison Kuch]

Man, I love that. Okay. Also, I. When you guys are talking, I have one more question. How many hours are you practicing a week?

[Dr.]

Let's do the math.

[Jackson]

Do the math really quick. Yeah.

[Dr.]

Is this the home week or, like.

[Allison Kuch]

Yeah. Homework. Sure.

[Dr.]

Oh, my God. Three times four. We'll take Monday off.

[Jackson]

Yeah.

[Dr.]

Three times four is 12 weekdays. Plus it's probably 35.

[Jackson]

I was going to literally say 35.

[Dr.]

35 with three game sets. 45.

[Allison Kuch]

Man. That's a lot.

[Jackson]

Yeah. And that's without, like, content. Like doing content and doing. All those are game.

[Dr.]

Those are with game days, too, so games are fun.

[Allison Kuch]

You guys like bananas? Like eating a banana.

[Dr.]

I like banana pudding.

[Allison Kuch]

Okay.

[Jackson]

Just had some in the. Yeah, we just had some banana pudding, too. So good. Banana cream pie.

[Allison Kuch]

I heard somebody behind me. I was, like, talking about spanning bananas. Like, I just. I don't like the taste of bananas. This is kind of triggering. I was like, what?

[Jackson]

Wow. Interesting.

[Dr.]

That's relatable.

[Allison Kuch]

Okay, let's jump into some rapid fire questions. So because it's Savannah Banana Day at Disneyland, Rapid fire. Here we go. Banana split from Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor or banana pudding from Hungry Bear Barbecued Jamboree.

[Jackson]

I had both of those yesterday. The banana split is really good, and I had it at 8am so knowing that I'm choosing that over that. Yeah, that means it's pretty good.

[Dr.]

Big fan of banana splits. Gonna go with that one.

[Allison Kuch]

Really? You just said you like banana pudding.

[Dr.]

I love both of them.

[Allison Kuch]

Okay, dad bod, Cheer squad or banana Nanas?

[Jackson]

Nanas. 100% Nana Gail. I love her. Yeah.

[Dr.]

Shout out rad bod and cheese and the fluff. Those guys can put on a show.

[Allison Kuch]

I love that. Banoffee pie. Cold brew at cappuccino cart or banana split churro from churro cart.

[Jackson]

Had both of those Yesterday, too. At 8am Churro for me.

[Allison Kuch]

Churro as Well, I love a good churro. So does my daughter. Home run celebration or strikeout dance?

[Dr.]

Are we striking out?

[Jackson]

Hopefully we're not striking out. Ask us, though, like, if when you guys strike out, do you, like, do a dance? Like.

[Allison Kuch]

Yeah. You're like, no. Although you guys got to put it on a show and then Savannah Bananas or the party animals.

[Jackson]

Easy. Savannah question.

[Allison Kuch]

All right. Yeah. You're like, that's an easy one. All right. Well, thank you, Jackson and Dr. So glad to chat with you guys at Disneyland Resort as it begins its 70th celebration. Be sure to check it out. Anything else our listeners should know.

[Jackson]

Go ride some rides, I guess. I don't know.

[Dr.]

Let's go. Wake up a little bit.

[Allison Kuch]

Let's go. All right. Thanks, guys.

[Jackson]

Thank you.

[Allison Kuch]

The fact that I got to do an interview right in front of the castle. Kind of iconic.

[Isaac]

Absolutely. I wish I was there.

[Allison Kuch]

Yeah. We need to go to Savannah Bananas game.

[Isaac]

I'm ready. I. I've been talking about the Savannah Bananas. I'm from Georgia.

[Allison Kuch]

Is. Yes. Okay. Checks out. So we're gonna have to go to a game sometime soon. But anyways, I had such a great conversation and had so much fun talking with Jackson and Dr. In front of the castle. It's crazy iconic. So. The summer of the Savannah Bananas will be showcased on Friday and Saturday nights on ESPN or ESPN2, with all 10 games also simulcast live on Disney plus and ESPN Plus. Definitely check it out this summer. And for more information on the Disneyland Resort 70th Celebration, go to Disneyland.com or check out the Disney Parks blog. Thank you guys so much for tuning in. Obviously, we love Disney over here. If you guys want to see me at Disney, head over to any of my social media because I'm probably. Probably there right now. But thank you guys so much for tuning in. Be sure to tune in next Sunday for another episode of Sunday Sports Club Podcast. Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.