Notably Disney

Pianist, 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.

It’s not every day that you can call a cruise ship as your home, but in the case of Clay Barnard, that’s a reality. Clay is a pianist, composer, and vocalist who has entertained numerous guests on Disney Cruise Line. Recently host Brett Nachman had the opportunity to listen to Clay in action when sailing on the Disney Treasure in the Aristocats-themed Scat Cat Lounge, and now Clay joins Brett on Notably Disney to lead us on his incredible path to performing on a Disney vessel. This is the first of a two-part conversation with Clay. Follow Clay on Instagram (@composerclay). 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.

Beauty and the Beast remains not only one of the most beloved and enduring animated classics out of the Disney library, but also one of its most popular to feature across various stage adaptations. On this episode of Notably Disney, author, musician, and professor Matthew Hodge joins host Brett Nachman to analyze three current stage adaptations of the 1991 film: at Disney's Hollywood Studios, on Disney Cruise Line, and via a national tour.  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.

With nearly 900,000 YouTube subscribers and 400 million views as of late August 2025, Isaac Carlson is a prominent content creator whose Disney material has covered the gamut of profiles of characters from Cars to deconstructing popular theories. Isaac’s videos have allowed us to process Disney movies and projects with additional curiosity and thoughtfulness. On this episode of Notably Disney, Isaac joins host Brett Nachman to share more about his YouTube channel and talk through a fun topic: Disney 90s music! They relay their thoughts of what characterized music of the era across film, television, stage, and more! You can find Isaac's videos on his YouTube channel and TikTok. 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.

Geoff Zanelli started his career as a collaborator of legends like Hans Zimmer and John Powell, and he has since established himself as an acclaimed composer in his own right. For The Walt Disney Company, Geoff has scored films like Christopher Robin, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, and The Odd Life of Timothy Green. Perhaps his most notable contribution has been in scoring Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, the fifth and most recent entry in the popular franchise, having previously worked with Zimmer on handling additional music for the prior three installments, as well as also Klaus Badelt on The Curse of the Black Pearl. Today on Notably Disney, Geoff joins host Brett Nachman to uncover the majesty of writing Pirates tunes in concert with laying out his professional journey and career highlights.  Learn more about Geoff Zanelli's work by visiting his website, and be sure to follow his Facebook and instagram (@geoffzanellimusic). 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.

You know her voice and content if you’re a Disney Adult. But what makes a Disney Adult? And why is this culture so enveloping and fascinating, too? AJ Wolfe of the uber popular and stellar Disney Food Blog (DFB) has deconstructed this phenomena in a new book entitled Disney Adults: Exploring (And Also Falling in Love with) A Magical Subculture. On this episode of Notably Disney, host Brett Nachman brings on AJ to discuss Disney Adults, just released by Gallery Books, an imprint of Simon and Schuster.  Purchase a copy of Disney Adults, just released, through visiting AJWolfe.com. Also be sure to check out all of the DFBGuide goodness via its website, YouTube channel, Instagram (@disneyfoodblog), and 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 and third Tuesday of each month.

This fall marks the 30th anniversary of one of the most groundbreaking films ever. Toy Story debuted in 1995 to critical success and public adoration. Pixar’s first film, and also the first fully computer animated production, is a masterpiece in every sense of the word. It also boasts the first time we saw the collaboration between Randy Newman and Pixar, who would later compose the scores for and write songs for many subsequent movies, including A Bug’s Life and Monsters Inc. On this episode of Notably Disney, host Brett Nachman welcomes on podcaster Jonathan Goodman, host of the Music Behind the Magic podcast. It’s a great podcast with conversations featuring composers, musicians, and those who study music, among other individuals. Today Jonathan and Brett deconstruct what makes Toy Story's music so special, in addition to where the film lands in their hearts. 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 and third Tuesday of each month.

The previous episode of Notably Disney featured a conversation on the best Disney villain songs, but as much as we may love some of these tunes, there are also some atrocious ones in the mix and across a variety of platforms, including film, television, and stage.  Over two episodes on Notably Disney, author, professor, and musician Matt Hodge joins host Brett Nachman to examine the songs associated with Disney villains. On this episode they highlight their selections for the worst tunes, including those written by talented musicians like Lin-Manuel Miranda and Alan Menken.  Learn more about Matt's work by visiting his website. And be sure to purchase a copy of Cool Cats and a Hot Mouse: A History of Jazz and Disney, his award-winning book about Disney and jazz, by visiting Amazon or Barnes and Noble. You can also subscribe to Matt Hodge Music on YouTube. 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.

We hate to love them, as well as love to hate them. The Disney villains compromise an electric crew of sinfully satisfying baddies. Some appear in animated movies, others live-action films. Others are on television, in the theme parks, or even on Broadway. Disney villains are sometimes misunderstood, funny, and charming, and often cruel and truly wicked. And of course there are those villains who are antiheroes or even fuzzy in having the villain status. Over two episodes on Notably Disney, author, professor, and musician Matt Hodge joins host Brett Nachman to examine the songs associated with Disney villains. On this episode they highlight their selections for the best tunes, noting their appreciation of the lyrics, composition, singers, and the song's role in the specific project. The next edition will focus on the worst songs Learn more about Matt's work by visiting his website. And be sure to purchase a copy of Cool Cats and a Hot Mouse: A History of Jazz and Disney, his award-winning book about Disney and jazz, by visiting Amazon or Barnes and Noble. You can also subscribe to Matt Hodge Music on YouTube. 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.

Danielle Kelly, also known as the Dapper Danielle, started out her career as a Disney cast member, and has since evolved into delivering fun social media content and now writing a book that focuses on the most popular theme park in the world. In I Love Disney’s Magic Kingdom, Danielle, with editor Ian Wilson, work to elevate our appreciation and understanding of the enchanting park. On this episode of Notably Disney, Danielle joins host Brett Nachman to share how her pixie dust-infused career has taken her from Cinderella Castle to digital spaces and now the author of a new book.  Check out more about Danielle and I Love Disney's Magic Kingdom on her website. Follow Danielle (@thedapperdanielle) on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. 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.

Emmy-nominated composer Jeff Morrow held the mighty job of crafting a score for the live-action adaptation of Disney’s first animated feature. 2025’s Snow White takes our heroine and countless memorable characters into a new landscape for which Jeff has a fertile playing ground to capture whimsy, darkness, and everything in between. On this episode of Notably Disney, Jeff Morrow joins host Brett Nachman to share how this trombone player-turned composer has now been responsible for creating music for a major motion picture for the studio. Check out Jeff Morrow's scores on Spotify or wherever you listen to music! 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.

Three decades later and Disney’s 33rd animated feature remains one of its most controversial for its historical inaccuracies and racial depictions. Yet Pocahontas also remains a celebrated film for its score and songs, garnering Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz a pair of Academy Awards. On this episode of Notably Disney, host Brett Nachman leads a discussion of Pocahontas. Joining Brett are two guests who have examined Disney work from a scholarly sense: Dr. Peter Kunze, Assistant Professor of Communication at Tulane University, who was on the podcast a couple of years ago to discuss his book Staging a Comeback, as well as Dr. Michelle Anya Anjirbag-Reeve, Affiliated Researcher at the University of Antwerp. Michelle and Pete examine the roles of race, culture, language, and more in this thoughtful dialogue about how Pocahontas fits within the Disney Renaissance period and in the company more broadly. Email Pete at pkunze@tulane.edu and check out his book about Disney musicals - Staging a Comeback  - on the Rugters University Press website. Learn more about Michelle's work by checking out her website: MichelleAnjirbag.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 and third Tuesday of each month.

June 7 marks the end of an era, one that lasted 34 years to be precise. The closing of Jim Henson’s Muppet*Vision 3D at Disney’s Hollywood Studios signifies not only a farewell to one of the oldest and most beloved attractions in the park, but also to one of the cleverest shows that has ever existed in a Disney theme park. As the last production that Jim Henson worked on, Muppet*Vision 3D is filled with laughs, heart, and ingenuity. To honor this magnificent attraction, author Aaron Wallace joins host Brett Nachman to share our memories, favorite show elements, including its brilliant writing, and they think represent the show’s legacy, among other topics. This episode is a salute to all 3D shows, but mostly Muppet*Vision 3D. If you know, you know! Check out what Aaron Wallace has been up to by following him on Instagram (@aaronhwallace) and find out more about his books on AaronWallaceOnline.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 and third Tuesday of each month.

For more than 70 years Walt Disney Imagineering has been at the forefront of creating unforgettable experiences for theme park guests around the world, and one individual has played a crucial role in spearheading a vision filled with ingenuity and experimentation. Bob Weis, who presided over WDI from 2016-2012, chronicles four decades of self-described success and failure in Dream Chasing: My Four Decades of Success and Failure with Walt Disney Imagineering, a fantastic autobiography recently published by Disney Editions. In this episode of Notably Disney, Bob speaks with host Brett Nachman about a range of topics, from dealing with tight budgets for park attractions to bringing new lands to Disney's Hollywood Studios. Throughout Bob explains the commitment that Disney Imagineers have in developing rich experiences based on classic storytelling. Bob also shares a bit about his new fiction title entitled Ghost Dog. Follow Bob on Instagram @bobweis! Learn more about Dream Chasing on Disney Books and Ghost Dog: A Novel from Old Mill Press. 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.

Last fall saw the release of a massive new autobiography from legendary Disney Imagineer Bob Weis, who ultimately led Walt Disney Imagineering as its president toward the end of his career with the company. Dream Chasing: My Four Decades of Success and Failure with Walt Disney Imagineering recounts Bob’s amazing time with Disney Imagineering, working on new theme parks like the Disney-MGM Studios and Tokyo DisneySea to conceptualizing projects that never materialized. It’s a wonderful look at not only one person’s career, but also the major endeavors that they contributed to. Joining host Brett Nachman to review this title are Emily McDermott and Courtney Guth from the Book the Mouse Club podcast.  Be sure to check out the Book of the Mouse Club podcast on Apple Podcasts and wherever you listen to podcasts. Their email is bookofthemouseclub@gmail.com Also make sure you follow Book of the Mouse Club on Instagram (@bookofthemouse), along with each of the hosts: 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.

Notably Disney commonly features conversations with composers and musicians responsible for developing many of the scores we love, including those in the theme parks. Rarely, however, has host Brett Nachman had the opportunity to speak with a musicologist who disentangles such tunes. Joining Brett on this episode is Dr. Gregory Camp, a senior lecturer of music at the University of Auckland School of Music. Later this year, Camp's new book, Music in the Disney Theme Parks, will be published through Routledge. Gregory discusses with Brett what’s in store in this academic title that peers into the music that completely envelops us when visiting a Disney destination.  Learn more about Dr. Camp's work by visiting his faculty profile page on the University of Auckland 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.

Animator, director, and voice artist Stephen Anderson has held a variety of roles with The Walt Disney Company for more than two decades. Perhaps he is best known as co-director of 2011’s Winnie the Pooh and 2007’s Meet the Robinsons, including as the voice of the eccentric Bowler Hat Guy. Today he joins host Brett Nachman on Notably Disney to discuss his journey in covering two decades of seeming overlooked Disney history via the comprehensive book Disney In-Between: The Lost Years 1966-1986, published by The Old Mill Press. Steve shares the undertaking of compiling around 20 years into 450 pages or thereabouts, including the lessons learned from a period of reconciliation and change for the Mouse House.  Purchase a signed copy of Disney In-Between on The Old Mill Press website. Follow Stephen on Instagram, Bluesky, and X (@SteveHatGuy). 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.

Before the clock strikes the 75th anniversary of Walt Disney’s masterpiece Cinderella, the release of the full written score of the animated film invites musicians and aficionados to engage with this work. Today’s guest on Notably Disney is arranger and orchestrator Shawn Degenhart, responsible for this new release. Shawn joins host Brett Nachman to share the process of translating the beloved score by Oliver Wallace and Paul Smith to wider audiences.  Check out Shawn's work and purchase a copy of the full score on his website: degenhartmusic.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 and third Tuesday of each month.

On this second part of a two-part special episode, host Brett Nachman is joined by podcaster and performer Tammy Tuckey as they continue to share their selections of their 25 favorite Disney songs from the past 25 years. Top picks include tunes by Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Alan Mencken, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and more! Be sure to follow Tammy on Twitter (@TammyTuckey) Instagram (@TammyTuckey), Facebook (Facebook.com/SingerTammyTuckey), and YouTube, where you can listen to her interviews with amazing Disney personalities. Look for The Tammy Tuckey Show wherever you listen to podcasts! And visit Tammy's website: TammyTuckey.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 and third Tuesday of each month.

As we enter a new quarter-century, it only seems appropriate to look back at the last 25 years, essentially 2000-2024. Many Disney songs have debuted over this period across all spaces, including film, television, the parks, Broadway stage, and across divisions like Pixar, Marvel, and more. This is a perfect opportunity to highlight what are some of our favorite and, arguably the best, Disney songs over 25 years. Joining host Brett Nachman in this two-part round-up of tunes is podcaster and singer Tammy Tuckey of The Tammy Tuckey Show, a frequent and favorite guest of Notably Disney. Brett and Tammy share their selections, including songs from Stephen Schwartz, Randy Newman, Alan Menken, and Jonatha Brooke.  Be sure to follow Tammy on Twitter (@TammyTuckey) Instagram (@TammyTuckey), Facebook (Facebook.com/SingerTammyTuckey), and YouTube, where you can listen to her interviews with amazing Disney personalities. Look for The Tammy Tuckey Show wherever you listen to podcasts! And visit Tammy's website: TammyTuckey.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 and third Tuesday of each month.