Award winning comedian Brent Butt hosts a weekly comedy podcast in which he hopes each of his guests will teach him something he doesn't know, thereby making him incrementally "more smarter".
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Sparrow Media Co Podcasts
Award-winning comedian BRENT BUTT interviews various creative guests to discuss their history, their process, and how they managed to turn their passion into profit (or at least a few bucks) all in hopes of making himself, his guest, and his listeners "more smarter".
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Join Jim Hill and co-hosts Len Testa, Drew Taylor, Brian Gaughan, Eric Hersey, and Lauren Hersey as they talk about the multi-faceted Walt Disney Company - including Pixar, Lucasfilm and Disney Studios - as well as Universal Studios and the world of collectibles.
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The Studio, the Sequel, and the Great White That Ate the Budget (Ep. 60)
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47:13
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Jim Hill and Eric Hersey return with a jam-packed episode that swings from Halloween Horror Nights updates to the troubled legacy of Jaws 2. First, they unpack the latest HHN announcements, including the debut of the Terrifier haunted house and the moody new scare zone, Origins of Horror. Eric finally learns the difference between houses and zones …
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From TV Screens to Main Street: Walt’s Media Master Plan (Ep. 56)
48:35
48:35
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Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey are back with a full dose of Disney merch, from the long-awaited debut of the Starlight Dream the Night Away parade to a viral collector toy that's creeping its way into the parks. Lauren breaks down everything she’s learned about La Boo Boos (and their knockoff cousins), while Jim connects the dots between Disney’s 1950s…
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SpongeBob Returns with Flying Dutchman and a Star-Studded Teaser (Ep. 315)
47:22
47:22
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In this episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor dig into a wide-ranging conversation about box office trends, Comic-Con reveals, and the growing debate around casting A-list celebrities in animated films. Highlights include: Paramount debuts the first teaser for The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants – Mark Hamill joins as the Flying…
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The Jack Sparrow Problem Disney Didn’t See Coming (Ep. 540)
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58:04
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Len Testa and Jim Hill look at Disney’s latest surveys, hotel rumors, and Halloween Horror Nights announcements—then plunge into the second half of their deep-dive on Pirates of the Caribbean. This time, Jim reveals how Disney navigated a real-life guest frenzy over Captain Jack Sparrow, the surprisingly expensive costume drama that followed, and t…
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Manufacturing the Magic: How Walt riding the rails led to rides at Disneyland
46:48
46:48
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In the 18th installment of this educational series, Shelly & Noe Valladolid explore how Walt Disney’s lifelong fascination with trains impacted the development of his family fun park. Special guest Roger Colton sheds light on this specific aspect of Disneyland history. Throughout this episode, listeners will learn about: * Why is Walt’s visit t…
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When Universal Shut Down a Sequel: The Making of Jaws 2 (Ep. 59)
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53:17
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Eric is packing for his return trip to Epic Universe - but before he battles the Florida heat, Jim takes him on a wild ride through box office records, coaster rumors, and a deep dive into the troubled waters of Jaws 2. In this episode: • Jurassic World Rebirth dominates globally—why Scarlett Johansson is now the highest-grossing lead actor • Updat…
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The $10,000 Buzz Lightyear and the Real Story Behind Toy Story's Merch Empire (Ep. 55)
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46:27
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Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey continue their Toy Story series with a deep dive into the franchise's merchandising legacy—and how a scrappy unknown toy company landed the rights that Mattel and Hasbro turned down. From the earliest Thinkway figures to today's collector's items worth thousands, they explore how Toy Story became one of the most profitabl…
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Jurassic World Breaks Records, Elio Stalls, and Looking Back at 'The Mouse Factory' (Ep. 314)
55:07
55:07
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In this episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor dig into a packed slate of animation and entertainment news—including box office wins, deep animation history, and Broadway updates: Universal celebrates a huge opening for Jurassic World Rebirth with $318M globally, while How to Train Your Dragon crosses the half-billion mark. Disney’s Lilo…
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How Jack Sparrow Made It Into the Ride (and Why the Curse Wasn’t His) (Ep. 539)
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52:59
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Len Testa and Jim Hill tackle a packed show, from new Eat to the Beat concert acts and Test Track Lightning Lane changes to a survey that hints at Disney bundling sports vacations with ESPN and Adventures by Disney. Then in the main segment, Jim unpacks the wild story behind the Pirates of the Caribbean movie franchise—including how one clever Imag…
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Why Apollo 13 Still Lands After 30 Years (Ep. 58)
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In this explosive Fourth of July episode of the Epic Universal Podcast, Jim Hill and Eric Hersey ride the rails of ghostly New England folklore and land in the middle of this year’s Halloween Horror Nights house reveals. From Norwegian monsters and homicidal dolls to the surprise announcement of Universal Horror Unleashed in Chicago, this episode i…
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Toy Meets Tech: What Toy Story 5 Says About Disney’s Future (Ep. 54)
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49:42
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In this episode of I Want That Too, Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey unpack what Disney’s upcoming Toy Story 5 might really be about - and why it hits closer to home than you think. From Woody’s absence to Jessie’s promotion, and a new iPad-inspired character named Lilypad, this fifth entry isn’t just a sequel - it might be Disney’s most self-aware film …
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Lilo & Stitch 2 Announced, Elio Holds, and Akira’s Live-Action Deal Expires (Ep. 313)
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37:24
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In this episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor reunite (despite a case of post-Annecy crud) to cover a wide range of animation and industry news, including: Disney officially announces Lilo & Stitch 2 after the live-action original crosses $945M globally. Elio holds better than expected with a solid second weekend as it climbs past $42M …
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Rebuilding the Future: How Innoventions Replaced CommuniCore (Ep. 538)
49:23
49:23
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Len Testa and Jim Hill cover the latest Disney news, including a major update to the dining reservation system, a rerouted parade to improve park flow, and the latest tweaks at Epic Universe. Then, Jim dives into the real story of how Epcot’s CommuniCore was shut down and transformed into Innoventions—Disney’s answer to a park in crisis. With budge…
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Manufacturing the Magic: Further Advancement in Animatronics
29:48
29:48
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In the seventeenth installment of this educational series, Shelly & Noe Valladolid continue their look back at the history of themed entertainment. This time around, they're joined by veteran Imagineer Joe Lanzisero, who looks back at how AA figures were developed for the Disney Parks. Throughout today's episode, listeners will learn about: How Ele…
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Mike Aiello on Jaws, Halloween Horror Nights, and 30 Years at Universal (Ep. 57)
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47:02
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Jim Hill and Eric Hersey welcome Universal Creative’s Mike Aiello for a special episode celebrating the 50th anniversary of Jaws and his own 30-year journey with the parks. From working as a teenage skipper on the iconic attraction to helping shape Halloween Horror Nights and Epic Universe, Mike shares stories of theme park transformation, Spielber…
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The Poster Wars: How Aladdin, Fantasia, and Drew Struzan Shaped Disney History (Ep. 53)
55:07
55:07
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In this art-filled episode of I Want That Too, Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey dive deep into the colorful world of Disney posters—on screens, in parks, and behind the scenes. From the hand-painted brilliance of legendary artist Drew Struzan to the merchandising missteps that infuriated Robin Williams, this show explores how Disney uses poster art to se…
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Annecy, Disneyland Paris, and the Animation News You Missed While Drew Was in France (Ep. 312)
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45:56
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On this week’s jet-lagged edition of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor keep things quick but packed with insight. Drew is back from his travels—and despite the sleep deprivation, he’s ready to recap his time at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival and his first-ever visit to Disneyland Paris. How Annecy 2025 addressed AI concerns a…
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Michael Eisner’s Teen Crisis: The Birth of Videopolis (Ep. 537)
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55:04
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Len Testa and Jim Hill look at recent updates across Walt Disney World and Epic Universe, including a new water play area in Animal Kingdom, a July reopening for Test Track, and a revealing Disney Cruise Line survey. Then in the main segment, Jim takes us back 30 years to the wild creation of Disneyland’s Videopolis—a teen dance club built in just …
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How Abbott & Costello (and a Baseball Bit) Saved Universal (Ep. 56)
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51:56
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Jim Hill and Eric Hersey step up to the plate with the unbelievable true story of how a simple comedy sketch—Who’s on First—helped pull Universal Studios back from the brink of bankruptcy. Along the way, they cover the box office power of How to Train Your Dragon, a surprising coaster IP twist, and the last remaining piece of the Jaws ride hiding i…
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Scents, Sweets, and Storytelling: How Disney Hooks You with Smell (Ep. 52)
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53:30
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Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey follow their cult-favorite “cup” episode with a deep dive into the most powerful sense in the Disney parks—smell. From Mickey’s PhilharMagic to burning Rome and popcorn-scented blowers, this episode explores how Imagineering has used fragrance for decades to spark emotion, trigger nostalgia, and boost sales. Plus, they di…
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Beauty and the Beast at 30, Elio Projections, and the Live-Action Dragon’s Box Office (Ep. 311)
55:57
55:57
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In this solo episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill covers the latest from the animation and box office world while Drew Taylor wraps up his trip to Annecy and Disneyland Paris. This week’s highlights include: Live-action How to Train Your Dragon opens to $197M globally, including a $83M domestic debut that surpasses every previous entry in the franchis…
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How Miami Nice, Pizza P-eye, and the Imagination Pavilion All Nearly Happened (Ep. 536)
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1:06:20
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Len Testa and Jim Hill break down the newest Monstropolis concept art and speculate on Disney’s next big land grab near Blizzard Beach. They also examine Disneyland’s expansion strategy, a Coco boat ride, and why the Avatar land plans are quietly devouring backstage space. Then, in part three of the Journey Into Imagination saga, Jim reveals how Fi…
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Slime, Slapstick, and the Secret History of Nickelodeon Studios (Ep. 55)
59:18
59:18
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Jim Hill and Eric Hersey rewind to the green-slime-soaked days of Universal Studios Florida with a deep dive into the rise (and fall) of Nickelodeon Studios. From Double Dare to the slime geyser, they break down how Nick turned Universal into must-see TV—and what happened when the camera crews packed up for Hollywood. Plus, the hosts share this sum…
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The Cookie King of Disney Springs: Inside the Story of Gideon's Bakehouse with Steve Lewis (Ep. 51)
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57:55
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Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey welcome Steve Lewis, the founder of Gideon’s Bakehouse, for a deliciously detailed conversation about how a dark, whimsical cookie shop became one of the most sought-after stops at Disney Springs. From his early days as a musician and comic shop owner to perfecting a cookie recipe over 15 years, Steve shares the creative,…
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Lilo & Stitch Still Soars, Dragon Whoppers Reviewed, and Fantasia’s Forgotten Soundtrack (Ep. 310)
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45:21
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In this solo episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill covers a whirlwind of animation news, box office milestones, and fast food tie-ins—while Drew Taylor checks in from Annecy. Topics include: Disney’s live-action Lilo & Stitch nears $800M globally, but with How to Train Your Dragon, Elio, and Jurassic World approaching, can it hold on? A live-action Tan…
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