The Rest Is History: Disney’s Legacy, with Bob Iger

Podcast: The Rest Is History
Hosts: Tom Holland & Dominic Sandbrook (with producer/interviewer Theo Young-Smith)
Guest: Bob Iger, CEO of The Walt Disney Company
Date: November 7, 2025
Setting: Stage One, Disney Studios, Burbank

Episode Overview

This special bonus episode welcomes Bob Iger, CEO of Disney, for a rare and reflective discussion on Walt Disney’s enduring legacy, Disney’s global evolution, the power and responsibility of storytelling, and what the future may hold for one of the world’s most influential entertainment companies. The hosts, fresh from a tour of Walt Disney’s office, dive deep with Iger: exploring the past, present, and potential futures of Disney, as well as his own beliefs about leadership, innovation, and the company’s place in global culture.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Legacy and Leadership at Disney

• Custodian of a Kingdom:
  • Iger reflects on the gravity of his role as just one of a handful of people to lead Disney:

    “I would want to be known as someone who was given the keys to this kingdom… and that I brought it to a place that even Walt would be proud of.” (04:00)

  • Emphasizes a duty not just to maintain, but to elevate Disney:

    “It’s really that simple. At one point I thought, well, okay, you’re now running Disney. What’s the most you want out of it? Well, don’t screw it up. But it’s much more than that.” (04:56)

• Advice to Future Leaders:
  • Iger hopes successors will “be respectful of our past… but not let anything that’s been done in the past get in the way of bringing the company into the future... constant innovation, a constant exploration, a constant... desire to reinvent.” (05:28)

2. Storytelling, Influence, and Power

• The Power (and Humility) of Storytelling:
  • Iger downplays the idea of personal power:

    “I don’t think about us being powerful. I think about us having the luxury… of having the resources to tell wonderful stories… and hopefully through our storytelling, to have a positive influence on the world." (16:09)

• Villains, Imagination, and Empathy in Storytelling:
  • Conversation turns to how good storytelling requires understanding all sides:

    “One of the biggest challenges… is figuring out what the villain is all about... They never think they’re the villains.” (17:06 - Bob Iger)
    “With any good story, [it’s important] to get inside the heads of people who have different assumptions from you.” (17:56 - Theo Young-Smith)

3. Personal Connections to History and The Rest Is History

• Listener and Fan:
  • Iger shares how he began listening during the COVID-19 pandemic:

    “During COVID… it was just a wonderful way to occupy time in what was obviously a pretty tricky time of our lives.” (06:40)

• Historical Interests:
  • Among his favorite subjects are Marie Antoinette, the Titanic, Lincoln’s assassination, Reagan and the attempt on his life, Nixon and the Vietnam era, and Custer.

    “The recent one about Marie Antoinette comes to mind… the multi-parter on the Titanic filled in so many blanks… the assassination of Lincoln… Reagan and the attempt on his life...1968 and Nixon…” (07:24)

4. Walt Disney’s Legacy and What Walt Would Think

• Dinner Guest from History:
  • If Iger could dine with one historical figure, it would be Walt Disney himself:

    “I would be more interested in showing him what’s become of the great company that he founded. And I wouldn’t mind a bit of a report card.” (10:50)

• On Walt’s Vision:
  • Walt never saw attractions as “rides” but as storytelling experiences.

    “He never even considered them rides… They were experiences... When we create attractions, even when we create restaurants and hotels, there’s a story behind it.” (11:32)

  • Iger would love to show Walt Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, calling it a “billion dollar land” and “an unbelievably perfect example of the blend of great technology with great storytelling in the physical world.” (12:47)

5. Innovation, Risk, and Expansion

• Notable Acquisitions:
  • Iger highlights Disney’s storytelling portfolio, expanded by acquiring Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm, and 20th Century Fox:

    “I’m very proud of the array of great stories that we’ve been able to tell, some through acquisition of companies starting with Pixar in 2006… then, of course, there was Marvel… then ultimately buying Lucasfilm from George Lucas in 2012… and then buying 20th Century Fox…” (14:11)

• Stories Yet Untold:
  • When asked about stories he'd have liked to tell, Iger notes:

    “If you look at my tenure… I’m very proud of the array of great stories… As we look ahead, there are so many stories that we’re planning to tell that it’s really not about what we’re missing. It’s how do we get all of these right?” (15:31)

6. The Disney Parks: History, Technology, and the Global Stage

• Disneyland Memories:
  • Iger reminisces about first seeing Disneyland on television as a boy in Brooklyn, calling it “aspirational,” and marvels at Walt’s courage to broadcast its construction as a new form of entertainment. (19:00–20:23)
• Disneyland as Experiment and Global Export:
  • Stresses that every park tries to blend nostalgia, innovation, and respect for local culture:

    “Let’s build something that is authentically Disney but distinctly Chinese, which in the design process… was our mantra, really.” (27:31)

• Vision of the Future in Parks:
  • Discusses how Tomorrowland’s concept is harder now, as technology has caught up to the original 1950s vision:

    “It’s harder today to tell the story of Tomorrowland… if we have AI… that’s even endless in terms of what the future looks like.” (24:03)

7. American Identity, Cultural Sensitivity, and Evolution

• Less American, More Global?
  • Disney’s expansion is purposeful in being globally inviting rather than less American:

    “It’s not purposeful on our part to become less American. It is purposeful on our part to become more inviting to the world and to be mindful of cultural distinctions...” (27:31)

• Lessons Learned (Paris/Shanghai):
  • Iger cites Disney’s learning curve in integrating into new cultures—such as learning from mistakes in Paris when opening Shanghai Disneyland. (28:40)

8. Tradition vs. Change: Facial Hair, Grooming & Modernization

• On Disney Cast Member Appearances:
  • Iger changed Walt’s original no-facial-hair rule:

    “I don't know whether I’m afraid or proud that I’m the one that changed that... [Banning facial hair] actually limited the number of people we could hire.” (29:25)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Don’t screw it up. But it’s much more than that. I really have been mindful of the duty that I feel has been handed to me to make it even better than it’s ever been.”
  —Bob Iger on his responsibilities at Disney (04:56)

• “He never even considered them rides. They were all stories to him. They were experiences.”
  —Bob Iger on Walt Disney’s approach to attractions (11:32)

• “We have an unbelievable luxury of, you know, just great riches.”
  —Bob Iger on Disney’s storytelling assets (15:31)

• “I think about us having the luxury... of having the resources to tell wonderful stories to the world and hopefully through our storytelling, to have a positive influence on the world.”
  —Bob Iger on the role of Disney (16:09)

• “If you said something couldn’t be done, Walt set about to do it. It was that simple.”
  —Bob Iger on Walt Disney’s guts and vision (20:23)

• “As long as there’s curiosity left in the world, Disneyland will never be finished.”
  —Bob Iger quoting Walt Disney (23:34)

• “Let’s build something that is authentically Disney but distinctly Chinese.”
  —Bob Iger on building Shanghai Disneyland (27:31)

Important Segment Timestamps

• 03:49: Bob Iger on what he hopes his own legacy at Disney will be
• 05:28: Iger’s advice for future Disney leadership and thoughts on innovation
• 06:40: Iger on discovering The Rest Is History podcast during COVID-19
• 07:24: Favorite history topics and episodes from the podcast
• 10:50: Who Iger would most like to have dinner with—Walt Disney
• 11:32: The art of storytelling in Disney attractions
• 14:11: Iger on stories told through acquisitions (Pixar, Marvel, etc.)
• 17:06: The challenge of writing believable villains
• 19:00–20:23: Iger’s memories of Disneyland and Walt’s gutsy vision
• 23:34: The perpetual spirit of innovation at Disneyland (“never finished”)
• 24:03: Changing notions of Tomorrowland and the future
• 27:31: Making Disney both local and global, especially Shanghai Disneyland
• 29:25: Lifting the Disney ban on facial hair for cast members

Final Thoughts and Tone

This episode stands out as a thoughtful, conversational, and occasionally humorous blend of high-level business insight, storytelling philosophy, and personal reflection. Iger is candid—often humble and sometimes playful—about his role and Disney’s position in the world. The atmosphere is one of mutual admiration between hosts and guest, lightly sprinkled with quips about podcasting, Custer, high production ambitions, and even moustaches.

The episode is a real treat for listeners interested in the intersection of history, creativity, global business, and leadership. For Disney and history fans alike, it offers firsthand perspective from the “captain” at the helm of the magic kingdom.

Next Up:
Dominic and Tom will be back with a new series on Elizabeth I, with bonus behind-the-scenes footage of their Disneyland trip available on YouTube.