Music Behind the Magic
A podcast celebrating the magic of Disney songs, scores, and soundtracks--from the movies to the parks. Join us in exploring the music of Disney, Pixar, Star Wars and Marvel with new topics and interviews every week. Let's create some magical, musical pixie dust!
Episodes
Noah Sunday-Lefkowitz and the Emotional Power of Disney Medleys
It’s one thing to love Disney songs. It’s another to be able to play Disney songs. But it’s a whole other level to write and perform original music about Disney songs, drawing upon the fandom’s collective passion for history and nostalgia and providing a musical outlet for those emotions. Today we are joined by an incredibly talented singer, musician, and voice actor, Noah Sunday-Lefkowitz, who ha
Mark Mancina and the Music of Moana
It’s a big summer for Disney in the movie theaters. The Mandalorian and Grogu is the first Star Wars movie in 7 years, Toy Story 5 is out and is already breaking records, and the live-action reimagining of Moana is coming out on July 10th, just in time to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the animated film’s original release. The movie has become an instant classic due to the depth and complexit
Legendary Composer Bruce Broughton Returns to Discuss Soarin' Across America
If you’ve been paying attention, you may have noticed that there is a LOT going on around the Disney parks. There are re-imaginings and updates to existing rides, and lots of news coming out about upcoming rides as well. This year, we’ve already seen the re-opening of the newly redesigned Rock n Roller Coaster starring the Muppets and news of a significant overhaul of Carousel of Progress, which i
The Magic of Live Disney Musical Entertainment with Michael Mastroianni
On the podcast, we talk a lot about the emotional power that Disney music is able to convey, and most of the time, we experience that power passively—on a screen or through our headphones. But the real magic of Disney music happens when you are able to experience it live, and throughout the Disney parks there are exceptional musicians who play that music directly—and unfiltered—to the guests and c
A Conversation with Pixar Creative Veteran James Ford Murphy and the Music of "Lava"
This year commemorates the 40th anniversary of Pixar. Pixar was officially founded as an independent company on February 3, 1986, when Steve Jobs purchased the Computer Graphics Division from Lucasfilm. Since that time, Pixar has gone on revolutionize the industry, creating technologically groundbreaking and emotionally resonant masterpieces, including 20 short films and 30 feature films. But, wha
Haim Mazar and the Music of Disney's Versa
The amazing thing about Disney movies is how they are able to make us feel so many emotions through the use of unparalleled storytelling. With some clever or poignant dialogue, incredible voice acting and music in the background, we can feel joy, wonder, or even sadness. But what happens when someone wants to convey some of the most complex and personal of emotions—love, loss, grieving, acceptance
Composer Tyler Koontz and Creating Disney Parks Music Around the World
When we visit the Disney parks, there is always music around to guide us. There is the background music in each land that sets the theme, and the attraction music that helps narrate the story of the ride. But the music in the parades, shows, and nighttime entertainment spectaculars is there to do more than guide you—it is there to make you feel. To give you that beautifully bittersweet feeling of
The Top 10 Pixar Songs with Tim Foster
With all of the Disney news that has come out in the past few months, it might have gone a bit under the radar that Pixar recently celebrated its 40th anniversary as a company. And Pixar in particular has established an incredible musical legacy, not in the traditional “Disney Musical” sense, but by using compositions and songs to drive the narrative of its films and maximize their emotional impac
The Psychology of Disney Music with John Powell
We all know how Disney music makes us feel, but there is another, underlying question—why does it make us feel this way? Today we are joined by John Powell, who has written two books on the psychology of music, to help us understand the power of music and musical techniques that create such powerful emotional and physical responses in us.You can find John's books on Amazon here and here. And check
A Conversation with Emmy, Grammy, and Tony Award Winner Marc Shaiman
As we celebrate the 50th episode of the podcast, what better way to celebrate than with an incredible, legendary guest. Marc Shaiman, who has composed music for everything from Hairspray to City Slickers and from South Park to Mary Poppins Returns, has just published his memoir: Never Mind the Happy: Showbiz Stories from a Sore Winner, and he shares so many amazing stories, and even plays some of
Disney Preview 2026: Music in the Movies, TV Shows, and the Parks
Happy New Year! 2026 is shaping up to be a very eventful year for Disney, with lots of huge movies, new and returning TV shows, and theme park updates. Join me as I preview all these incredible upcoming releases, and the music behind all of them. What are you most excited about?Please like and follow this podcast, and leave a good review if you think I deserve it. I would love to hear from you--re
A Conversation with Simon Franglen, Composer of Avatar: Fire and Ash
The Avatar films have changed the way we experience the movies. They have been groundbreaking in almost every way--technologically, narratively, and sonically—not only transporting us to a new world, but making it so immersive that we are actually a part of it. But it is not only immersive--the world of Pandora has been created and rooted in so much detail and mythology that, paired with all the i
Tim Foster, "Spaceship Earth: The Definitive History," AND Disney Holiday Music!
Of all the iconic attractions at the Disney parks around the world, one of—if not the—most recognizable is Spaceship Earth at Epcot. A marvel of both engineering and imagineering, the attraction takes us on a voyage of mankind’s technological innovations across the centuries, with so many iconic moments and smells (if you know, you know). There are so many details associated with the attraction ar
J.B. Kaufman and "Worlds to Conquer: The Art and Making of Walt Disney's Fantasia"
When you think of all the iconic imagery associated with Disney, lots of things immediately come to mind—Cinderella Castle, Tinkerbell, Spaceship Earth…and Mickey’s Sorcerer’s hat from The Sorcerer’s Apprentice. That legendary vignette is the most famous part of Fantasia, the groundbreaking film that married music and animation in ways that were so far ahead of its time conceptually, musically, an
Celebrating Disney Legends with Jamie Hecker
Baseball has its Hall of Fame. So does Rock and Roll music. Hollywood has a Walk of Fame, and there are numerous other Halls, Walls, and Walks that recognize contributions to everything from sports and entertainment to business and science. So, how does Disney celebrate those who have made groundbreaking contributions to the company? It’s through the recognition of Disney Legends. Disney Legends i
Todd James Pierce and Making Mary Poppins
One of the most beloved and cherished Disney movies is the classic Mary Poppins. It has amazed and delighted audiences for 61 years through its technical innovation, incredible set pieces, and of course, its iconic music by the legendary Sherman Brothers. Almost all of us love the movie and many of us know at least some of the background of the film through the movie Saving Mr. Banks, which shed s
A Conversation with John Musker: Movies and Music from the Disney Renaissance to the Revival
Disney, as we know it today, was shaped by the success and legacy of The Little Mermaid, which ushered in the Disney Renaissance, marrying Broadway musical sensibilities with character driven stories that emotionally bonded the audience to the movies through now-iconic songs. Today we are joined by the co-writer and director of the Little Mermaid, John Musker, who also wrote and directed so many o
Zain Effendi and the Music of Test Track
One of the most popular attractions in Walt Disney World is Test Track in EPCOT. It has just reopened after a lengthy reimagining with a new storyline, and new music. Today we are very lucky to be joined by the extremely talented Zain Effendi, who composed all the music for the new version of that attraction. Zain is also no stranger to working for the Disney parks, as he also composed music for t
Musician, Composer, and Producer Tim Heintz and Creating Disney's Nighttime Spectaculars
For many of us, there is nothing quite like experiencing a Disney nighttime parade or fireworks spectacular at the parks. The magic, the wonder, and the emotions that those shows evoke are near and dear to our hearts, and are the basis for so many incredible memories. And, of course, one of the main drivers of those emotional moments is the music that guides and elevates the story. And because the
Composer, Arranger, and Orchestrator Dave Metzger and His Work on Iconic Disney Music
When you think about the music that we hear in Disney films, it’s easy to say, Oh, Alan Menken wrote that song, or Hanz Zimmer composed that score. And of course, those legendary songwriters and composers are responsible for crafting the melody, vision, and structure of the amazing music we know and love. But, beyond that, within film music there are musicians that work with those composers and so
Disney Music Festival Recap and Review
Recently, I was very fortunate to have been able to experience the Disney Music Festival in Disneyland Paris. It is the first event of its kind, and it did an incredible job of capturing the power and magic that Disney music holds for us. In this special episode, I give a rundown of what the Disney Music Festival was about, what it involved, and my thoughts and impressions. I provide a recap of ev
Composer and Conductor Mark Watters and Bringing Disney Music to Life
Disney music takes so many different forms—movie music, TV compositions, concerts, video games, live entertainment…and the list goes on. Today we are fortunate to be joined by Mark Watters, a six-time Emmy winning composer and conductor who has experience creating music for all of those genres. And in addition to his musical contributions, he has served as music director for 2 Olympics and has eve
Disney Creative Veteran Dave Bossert and the Tunes Behind the Toons Documentary
We are joined today by Dave Bossert, who had an amazing 32 year career with The Walt Disney Company and worked on many of its most beloved classics, like The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Lion King, and Fantasia 2000. He is also responsible for directing and producing Tunes Behind the Toons, an award-winning short film that perfectly captures the impact and importance of music
Tim Foster and "it's a small world: The Definitive History"
If I were to ask you what you think the most iconic attraction is at Walt Disney World or Disneyland, I’m betting that "it’s a small world" will be at, or near, the top of the list. The “Happiest Cruise that ever sailed” has its origins at the 1964 World’s Fair and has been a staple at Disney parks not just in the U.S., but overseas as well at Disneyland Paris, Tokyo Disneyland, and Hong Kong Disn
Shaun Jex Discusses the World of Disney Video Games AND Remembers the Mighty Halyx!!
We all know that the Walt Disney Company is a huge and diverse conglomerate, from movies to theme parks to cruise lines to streaming networks and beyond. In between all these offerings, there has also been a fascinating history of Disney video games—from the earliest handheld games of the 80’s to the incredibly immersive 3-D rendered graphics of today. We are joined by author and friend Shaun Je
Composer Dan Romer and the Music of Lilo & Stitch
If you have been keeping up with the summer movie news, you know that the live action remake of Lilo & Stitch has been the runaway hit of the year. Building on the legacy of the much beloved 2002 animated original, the live action version takes everything people loved from that original film and adds new layers of emotional nuance and depth, humor, terrific acting, and a truly, ridiculously ad
Brett Nachman of Notably Disney and Disney End Credit Songs: Better or Worse Than the Original?
Starting with the Disney Renaissance, Disney decided to take hit songs from its films and add re-recorded versions to the end-credits from a wide array of pop and rock stars. This started with Beauty and the Beast and continues on today. Are any of those versions better than the originals in the film? Well, that is a great and highly subjective topic for discussion, and we attempt to tackle it tod
Dr. Carissa Baker and the Academic Pursuit of Theme Park Music
Disney is such a complex, multifaceted company that there are all manner of topics and subtopics that fans can joyfully discuss and debate—music, the parks, movies, TV shows, the cruise line, books…you name it. And a lot of that discussion revolves around our own opinions, preferences, and passions. But, Disney is not just a provider of magical memories, it is a cornerstone of American culture and
Ron Fish and Composing Music for Theme Parks and Video Games
With the news of Disney opening up a theme park in Abu Dhabi, we are very fortunate to be joined in this episode by Ron Fish, an award winning composer who has experience writing music for theme parks at both Walt Disney World in Florida as well as Warner Brothers World in Abu Dhabi. Ron has also written amazing music for huge video game franchises, including God of War 1-3 and Batman: Arkham Cit
Jeff Sherman and the Legacy of the Sherman Brothers
As we celebrate the 70th Anniversary of Disneyland, It’s no wonder that it is called “The Happiest Place on Earth.” And, a lot of that happiness comes from the music that surrounds us when we visit. What songs come to mind when you think of Disneyland? I’m guessing that “It’s a Small World (After All)” and "The Tiki, Tiki, Tiki Room" are high on the list. And those songs of course were written by
Tim Greiving and the Music of John Williams
Today is May the 4th, and as we celebrate Star Wars Day and all the joy the franchise has brought us, it is also a good time to reflect upon the importance of John Williams and the intense emotional bond he has created between the Skywalker Saga and the audience through his music. However, the Maestro's legacy goes well beyond Star Wars and is responsible for the soundtrack of many of our lives: S
Lou Mongello and Finding Your Disney Path
Disney inspires us--to dream, to believe, to dare, to do...and to create. We are joined today by one of the original Disney podcasters and content creators, Lou Mongello of WDW Radio, who inspired me to start this very podcast. Lou shares his incredible Disney journey from New Jersey attorney to Podcast Hall of Famer. We also discuss our shared East Coast upbringings, legal careers, love for Disne
Stephen Anderson, Director of "Meet the Robinsons" and Author of "Disney In-Between: The Lost Years 1966-1986"
There are so many different eras of Disney history--The Golden Age, The Silver Age, and the Renaissance. But what about the periods of transition that ushered in those new eras? We are joined by Steve Anderson, the director of the Disney animated classics "Meet the Robinsons" and "Winnie the Pooh" to discuss his new book "Disney In-Between: The Lost Years 1966-1986." We learn about the importance
Composer Haim Mazar Discusses His Work From the Movies to the Disney Parks Worldwide
We love Disney music because it is capable of producing so many emotions—happiness, wonder, fear, and laughter--whether it is in a movie, on an attraction, or during a nighttime spectacular. And while it is so much fun to discuss and debate our favorite songs and themes at the “fan” level, it is easy to take for granted the creativity, ingenuity, and talent required to actually bring that music to
Disney Music Theory with Tim Foster
We love Disney music because it is capable of producing so many different emotions. And on the surface, it is great to just sit back and let the music make you feel. But, the amazing songwriters who craft these songs utilize different elements of music theory to pull those emotional strings. In this episode, we bring back Tim Foster from Celebrations Press to discuss some armchair music theory bet
Walt Disney World Trip Report and Disney Music News
After returning from a week in Walt Disney World, I wanted to provide a trip report to give some insight into Disney After Hours, a surprise at the Disney on Broadway Concert Series at EPCOT, and a few restaurant reviews (including The "controversial" Cake Bake Shop). And, there is a LOT of Disney music news to catch up on--Snow White, The Sherman Brothers, and Hercules!
Valentine's Day Special: Listeners' Favorite Disney Love Songs
We all know that Disney music has incredible emotional power. It can make us laugh, it can make us cry, it can make us scared and nervous, and it can make us excited. But, no matter what the emotion, it makes us feel. And that is a beautiful thing. One of the wonderful things about Disney movies is that is helps inspire us and bring out the best of what we can and should be. And a lot of that is
Bob Weis and "Dream Chasing: My Four Decades of Success and Failure with Walt Disney Imagineering"
Walt Disney Imagineering is the creative force that imagines, designs and brings to life all Disney theme parks, resorts, attractions and cruise ships worldwide through creativity, technology, and pixie dust. We are privileged to be joined today by Bob Weis, who was an Imagineer for over 40 years as well as President of Walt Disney Imagineering. He has written a new book “Dream Chasing: My Four D
"A Definitive Ranking of Every Disney Song, Ever" with Liz Shannon Miller of Consequence
Few things inflame the passions of fans more than a ranked list, particularly when it comes to Disney. We are joined today by Liz Shannon Miller of Consequence, who published "A Definitive Ranking of Every Disney Song, Ever," which covers 317 songs across Disney's animated canon. I invite you to read the list, listen in, and join the discussion!You can find the article here. And please follow Liz
Disney Historian Ross Care and the Music of The Golden Era
As we celebrate the New Year, this week we go back to the very beginning of Disney's feature films. Music was a critical part of the foundation that brought Disney success during it's first few groundbreaking films, known as the company's "Golden Era." To discuss the music and composers that helped contribute to this legacy, we are honored to be joined by Disney historian Ross Care.Please check ou
Shawn Degenhart and the Musical Score for Cinderella; Mufasa Soundtrack and The Disney Music Festival
With the 75th Anniversary of the Walt Disney classic Cinderella approaching, we are joined by Shawn Degenhart, who has published--for the first time--the complete musical score of that movie. We learn about that project as well as his other Disney musical pursuits. We also explore the soundtrack to Mufasa and talk a bit about next year's Disney Music Festival in Disneyland Paris. You can find S
Tim Foster from Celebrations Press and Disney Holiday Musical Memories
It's the Holiday season, which is magical in so many different ways, no matter which holiday you celebrate. And what is more central to the holidays than music? Whether its traditional Christmas Carols, holiday standards, or more modern songs, music is the foundation and backdrop for the emotions of the holidays. And as you can imagine—or have been fortunate enough to see for yourselves—there are
Greg Ehrbar and the History of Disney and Hanna Barbera Records; Moana 2 Soundtrack Release
The history behind how Disney started its own record label and music business is often overlooked, but fascinating. We are joined today by Greg Ehrbar, author of Mouse Tracks: The Story of Walt Disney Records to discuss that history. Greg is also an expert on Hanna Barbera, and just released a new book, Hanna Barbera, The Recorded History: From Modern Stone Age to Meddling Kids. We discuss the par
Bambi Moe and "Part of the Magic"; Music for Disney Television Animation
We are joined by former VP of Music for Disney Television Animation Bambi Moe, who discusses her new book "Part of the Magic: A Collection of Disney-Inspired Brushes with Greatness." Bambi shares her amazing story, her strong lifetime ties to Disney, and her experience producing music for many much-loved animated shows and movies.You can buy Part of the Magic on Amazon and follow her on Instagram
Halloween Special--Listeners' Favorite Spooky Disney Songs
In this special Halloween episode, I reveal YOUR favorite Halloween/Spooky songs, as gathered from our social accounts. Which songs are most associated with the holiday, and what are some honorable mentions? Grab some full-size candy bars (none of that bite-sized trick-or-treating nonsense) and enjoy--Happy Halloween!!
Mike Vescera and Disney Super Guitar/ D-Metal Stars
There are two things I love in life more than anything (outside of my family)--rock guitar and Disney. And if you put them together, I am in full blown Nerd-vana. D-Metal Stars and Disney Super Guitar are two albums that combine classic Disney songs with hard rock and heavy metal stylings, and the results are incredible. I was so fortunate to have connected with Mike Vescera, the legendary heavy m
Creativity and Innovation Expert Lee Kitchen and Music in Disney's Business
Creativity and Innovation are two of the hallmarks of The Walt Disney Company. We are joined today by Lee Kitchen, a 32 year Disney veteran and one of the founding members of the company's in-house marketing agency, Yellow Shoes Creative Group. Lee shares a lot of his tips on driving innovation, as well as stories from his Disney career and how music is used throughout Disney's business operations
Jim Spangler and the Top 5 Saddest and Happiest Disney Songs
We are joined today by Jim Spangler, host of The Goofy Guy Podcast and the Magic Music Review, to discuss our mutual love of music, of Disney music, and to try and pick our Top 5 saddest and happiest Disney songs. Join us on this emotional musical rollercoaster and let us know what your picks would be. Please follow Jim at thegoofyguy.com and check out The Goofy Guy Podcast at https://thegoofygu
Michael Lyons and the Disney Renaissance; Favorite Songs from the Renassiance Era
The Disney Renaissance Era (1989-1999) comprises some of the most important years in The Walt Disney Company history, with commercial and critical hits starting with The Little Mermaid and ending with Tarzan. We are joined today by Michael Lyons, author of "Drawn to Greatness: Disney's Animation Renaissance," for a fascinating discussion about how the Renaissance era came to be, and the role that
Lee Cockerell; Disneyland Paris Trip Report; D23 Expo Music Announcements
In our 10th (double digits!) podcast episode, we speak with Lee Cockerell, the former Executive Vice President of Operations for Walt Disney World as well as the author of many best-selling books on management, including Creating Magic: 10 Common Sense Leadership Strategies from a Life at Disney. I also provide a full trip report from Disneyland Paris as well as break down all the music-related n
James Warda and Theron Skees discuss their new book "How Does Disney Do That?"
Author James Warda and former Disney Imagineer Theron Skees join us to discuss their new book "How does Disney Do That? How Disney Makes us Feel and Why it Matters." We have an incredibly vibrant and emotional chat, talking about all the various things that make us feel the way we do about Disney, and of course, dive into the power of music and how the company harnesses that power to forge such a
Award Winning Composer Bruce Broughton; Disneyland Paris Music
It was been a few weeks since the last podcast due to some international travel, including a trip to Disneyland Paris! But we return with legendary and award-winning film, TV, and Disney composer Bruce Broughton, who discusses his career and his work with Disney movies and attractions. We also provide some quick musical observations about Disneyland Paris, with a full trip report to come in the
Matt Hodge and the History of Jazz and Disney
We are joined for today's episode by Matt Hodge--composer, professor, and author of the award-winning book "Cool Cats and a Hot Mouse: A History of Jazz and Disney." We discuss how and why Disney and Jazz have been so intertwined over the past 100 years, and its influence on Disney movies and the parks.You can follow Matt at www.matthodge.com and buy his book on Amazon
Dan Heaton and Favorite Musical Memories in the Parks
Today we are joined by Dan Heaton, the host of the terrific Tomorrow Society Podcast. We discuss Dan's Disney journey and then have a great discussion about our favorite musical moments and memories from the Disney Parks and Resorts. Please listen and let me know what your favorite musical memories are. I also catch you up on some recent Disney music news--there's been lots of stuff going on and
Len Testa and the Buddy Baker Archives
This week we are joined by world-renowned Disney expert Len Testa, who shares his background and personal Disney journey that married his love of Disney with his background in computer science and optimization and resulted in TouringPlans.com and the Unofficial Guide to Disney World, among other essential planning books. We also discuss some recent undiscovered Disney musical history that he brou
Tom Hischak and The Disney Song Encylopedia; Theme Park Music Conference; Disney News
Hello Disney Music Fans! It’s been a few weeks since our last episode, and that is because I was fortunate enough to have attended a first-of-its-kind conference in Orlando that focused specifically on theme park music. It was a tremendous experience that left me inspired, enlightened, and with lots of future guests for the podcast to give amazing perspectives on Disney and theme park music. We
Brett Boles, Most Emotional Disney Musical Moments, Disney News
We are thrilled to be joined by Brett Boles--composer, songwriter, musical director and social media star. Brett discusses his career, his evolution into social media success, and the art and science of songwriting. Also, I will discuss some of the most emotional musical moments throughout the Disney movies, and give some Disney music news updates.Please follow and support Brett Boles via all his
James Bohn, Remembering Richard Sherman, Disney Super Guitar
We are honored to be joined today by James Bohn, author of "Music in Disney's Animated Features: Snow White to the Jungle Book," to discuss his book and the role music has played in Disney's success. We also pay tribute to the legendary Richard M. Sherman, who passed away this week at the age of 95. Finally, we reach a bit deep into the Disney music archives to discuss Disney Super Guitar, an al
Music Behind the Magic Intro
An introduction to me and what this podcast is about--sharing the magic of Disney music.
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