logo
episode-header-image
May 2019
44m 30s

Walter Elias Disney

SPOTIFY STUDIOS
About this episode
He’s a studio. He’s a theme park. He’s a Man. Born in Chicago in 1901, Walter Elias Disney would become one of the defining figures of entertainment. But the flesh-and-blood man was far from perfect, and his life was defined by an insatiable desire to push the boundaries of what was possible. Parcasters - Don't miss the exciting conclusion to our exploration ... Show More
Up next
May 2019
Alfred Bernhard Nobel
The prize most coveted by the best and brightest minds in society owes its name to one man: Alfred Nobel. This Swedish inventor born in 1833, has a complicated history after battling through childhood poverty in which only three of his seven siblings reached adulthood. Parcasters ... Show More
44m 48s
May 2019
Max Planck
As one of the earliest pioneers in the field of quantum physics in the late 19th century, Max Planck would work with his protege, Albert Einstein, to redefine an entire field of science... just as Germany was falling under the iron fist of the Nazi Regime. Sponsors! The Farmer’s ... Show More
55m 36s
Jun 2019
Wangarĩ Muta Maathai
Born in 1940 in British-occupied Kenya, Wangarĩ Muta Maathai learned at a young age how the environment and poverty were inextricably linked. As one of Africa's first women to obtain a PhD, she dedicated over forty years of her adult life fighting to teach the people of Kenya abo ... Show More
48m 56s
Recommended Episodes
Feb 2025
#213 Walt Disney
📖 Episode Transcripts in Link Below ⬇️ Today, we’ll dive into the life and legacy of Walt Disney, the visionary creator of some of the most beloved stories and characters in entertainment history, and the man behind the global phenomenon of Disney. https://patreon.com/HistoryinS ... Show More
4m 48s
Aug 2024
Ep 59: From Childhood to Disneyland: The Walt Disney Story with Phil Gramlich
<p>You have heard of Walt Disney Parks but what do you know of Walt Disney, the man? Disney historian Phil Gramlick in episode 59 talks to us about  Walt Disney&apos;s formative years, from his challenging childhood to the iconic creation of Mickey Mouse and Disneyland which has ... Show More
1h 27m
Jul 2024
BONUS: Harry Houdini
Harry Houdini is undoubtedly the best-known escape artist of all time. Even today, almost 100 years after his death, his celebrity lives on, and his incredible tricks, illusions and escapes have become the stuff of legend. But how did Houdini, a Hungarian immigrant, lift himself ... Show More
47m 38s
Aug 2025
PART 2 🏰 Disneyland: The Fantasy that Almost Flopped
Subscribe to The Best Idea Yet here: https://wondery.com/links/the-best-idea-yet/Who wouldn’t want to visit the happiest place on Earth? Well — at the start of the 1950s, it seemed like no one did, at least not when Walt Disney pitched the idea. Sure, Walt had revolutionized anim ... Show More
20m 56s
Aug 2025
Dreaming of Coney Island's Dreamland
Coney Island still has the classic amusements you’d expect today like roller coasters, water slides, and carnival games. But over a century ago, it looked more like a proto–Disney World, with multiple theme parks, colossal buildings, and wildly imaginative rides. The most extrava ... Show More
41m 23s
Feb 2025
⭐ Feature: The Story of Dr. Seuss ("The Father of Children's Literature")
On March 2, we celebrate Read Across America Day, a time when schools across the U.S. encourage kids to dive into the magical world of books. But why March 2? Well, it’s no coincidence—that’s the birthday of a man whose impact on children’s literature is nothing short of legendar ... Show More
41m 18s
Jul 2025
Disney's America
There’s no shortage of fights over American history right now, but let’s see what we can learn from that one time in the '90s when Disney tried to build a theme park that tackled slavery. This episode was produced by Peter Balonon-Rosen, edited by Jolie Myers, fact checked by Lau ... Show More
26m 21s
Jan 2021
Camelot Forever
The myth of Camelot runs deep in our culture. For over a thousand years, storytellers have felt compelled to tell the tale of King Arthur and add their own spin on the mythical legend. But we live in pretty cynical times where the idea of a wise and noble king feels like just as ... Show More
30m 30s
Jul 2024
Disney is a Theme Parks Company
These days the Walt Disney Company is mostly a theme parks company. About 70 percent of its operating income comes from its parks and other experiences like Disney Cruises. But the parks do something else: they help the company attach itself to our emotions, memories, and identit ... Show More
44m 1s