logo
episode-header-image
Apr 2021
39m 43s

40 Acres and a Movie

The New York Times
About this episode

Disney owns a piece of every living person’s childhood. Now it owns Marvel Studios, too. Jenna and Wesley look at depictions of racist tropes and stereotypes in Disney’s ever-expanding catalog. The company has made recent attempts to atone for its past. But can it move forward without repeating the same mistakes?

You can find more info about today’s episode here. And in our April 29 episode, we’ll be discussing the book “Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning” by Cathy Park Hong. Send us your questions and thoughts about the book at stillprocessing@nytimes.com.

Up next
Jul 3
The Diddy Trial Is Over, but My Mind Is Still Racing
The trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs ended on Wednesday when he was convicted of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution but was acquitted of the most serious charges against him: racketeering and sex trafficking. Wesley Morris, our critic at large, attended some of the ... Show More
45m 44s
Jun 26
Me and Bruno Mars — a Love Story
Host Wesley Morris has a confession to make: He loves Bruno Mars. Nothing wrong with that, right? With the help of the culture writer Niela Orr, Wesley untangles his crush from his discomfort with the pop star’s cozy relationship to Blackness.Thoughts? Email us at cannonball@nyti ... Show More
49m 57s
Jun 25
Introducing: ‘Cannonball’ With Wesley Morris
A new weekly podcast, hosted by the critic Wesley Morris. Come on in, the culture’s fine. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. 
3m 2s
Recommended Episodes
Apr 2024
Disney x Pinkwashing
What drove Hannah and Marcelle to go to Disneyland? And what is with all the rainbow Mickey ears? And where does pinkwashing end and real change begin? Tune into this episode about the happiest place on earth to find out! In this episode, Marcelle leads Hannah through a history o ... Show More
1h 2m
Oct 2023
Is Disney losing the magic?
As Disney celebrates its 100th birthday this month, a series of recent flops and gargantuan acquisitions has left people asking whether the shine is beginning to wear off. Plus, we look back at the studio’s past - including the time when Donald Duck dressed up as a Nazi.This podc ... Show More
26m 52s
Mar 2024
New Film Heads and a New Direction for Netflix and Disney
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss the big changes on the film side of Netflix and Disney, and what these moves signal for each studio. Netflix hired producer Dan Lin as their new head of film, and Disney promoted David Greenbaum as their new head of Disney Live ... Show More
31m 28s
Jan 2021
Disneyfication
Disney has been presenting a fairytale reality within a reality since the 1920s, a far cuter reality that mimics our reality until reality is no longer reality at all. Make sense? For this episode, we will look at the possible underlying biological reasons for the success of the ... Show More
56m 43s
May 2023
Reinventing the Disney princess business
“The Little Mermaid” has debuted with Halle Bailey playing the titular character, Ariel. Culture reporter Helena Andrews-Dyer shares why this movie matters to Black girls, especially, and what Disney is doing with its successful intellectual property. Read more: The Washington Po ... Show More
25m 49s
Apr 2022
The End of Institutions: Hollywood Edition
A slap at the Oscars tarnished Will Smith’s legacy. What about him did Hollywood treasure? Is this institution just a screen for projecting our own social anxieties and cultural debate? Culture critic Soraya McDonald joins to take a deeper look  at the roles Hollywood allows us t ... Show More
51m 57s
Dec 2020
Breaking Down Disney Investor Day + Looking Ahead to WDW in 2021
Disney Investors Call: https://nerdist.com/article/disney-investor-day-highlights-2020-star-wars-marvel/ https://mickeyblog.com/2020/12/11/everything-we-learned-about-disney-during-investor-day/ Some highlights hybrid live-action animated feature called Chip N’ Dale: Rescue Range ... Show More
1h 8m
Jan 2022
Happily ever after? Disney in the 21st century
Happy New Year! Our first episode of 2022 is dedicated to one of the world’s most powerful cultural forces: Disney. What happens when a company with that much influence just keeps growing? We visit Disneyland for a rare interview with CEO Bob Chapek, with FT reporters Chris Grime ... Show More
26m 16s
Apr 2024
Is Disney Falling Apart?
The House of Mouse is falling down. Disney’s last four big releases have bombed at the Box Office. The company is currently no longer Hollywood’s number one film studio.Recent box office takings show even Marvel has lost its - well - marvel. Critics say the reason is simple. Disn ... Show More
20m 44s
Nov 2023
Disneyland Trip Recap & 2023 Disney Movie Roundup
In this episode, Aaron and Riley recap Aaron's recent trip to Disneyland with friends. Aaron shares his impressions of introducing first-time visitors to Disneyland and compares it to Walt Disney World. They also discuss some of the new areas like San Fransokyo in Disney Californ ... Show More
1h 12m