Wd-fm: The Official Walt Disney Family Museum Podcast

We are excited to present our revamped WD-FM podcast! Join Bri and new co-host Chris for our first Museum Musings episode, featuring museum updates, upcoming programs, and an interview with our Public Programs Manager Tracie Timmer. Listen wherever you get your podcasts or watch the video version on our YouTube channel. Stay tuned for our Deep Dive episode later this month where we will be taking a closer look at Walt Disney's first animated feature, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937).

In honor of International Podcast Day we are celebrating Walt's innovation with sound. Much as podcasts have become a way to reinvent storytelling for the auditory medium, Walt sought to do the same with sound. Explore some of the innovative ways Walt reinvented the wheel, using sound to further expand the art of storytelling. The Walt Disney Family Museum is a center for art, animation, and inspiration. Located in the historic Presidio, a national park in San Francisco, California, the museum celebrates the remarkable life of Walt Disney by telling his story, celebrating his legacy, and examining his influence on the world of entertainment. Eleven years ago, we were founded in 2009 by Walt Disney’s daughter, Diane Disney Miller, who wanted to share the story of her father with the world. In recognition of the museum’s history, and in order to honor the man behind the magic, we have created this unique podcast. Join for stories and conversations about the remarkable life and legacy of Walt Disney as we reflec

Walt Disney’s Nine Old Men were some of the most talented artists at The Walt Disney Studios during Walt’s lifetime. However, their unique genius was not confined to their animator’s desks; the sincerity in their work was often inspired by their own families and the people that surrounded them. Moderated by curator Don Hahn, this special talk—which will close out the Nine Old Men: Masters of Animation exhibition—you will hear from those who knew the legendary animators best: their children. Relive the children’s favorite moments with their fathers as they discuss what it was like growing up in artistic households, and how their fathers’ legendary work influenced their own lives and careers. The program was originally presented on January 5, 2019.

Join us for a conversation with our Collections team and hear about their unique jobs and the fascinating challenges they face when working with the objects in our collection. Featured is our Senior Registrar Jamie O'Keefe, Conservators Martin Salazar and Tonja Morris, and Preparators Ryan Mortensen and Maureen Shields.

In this episode we explore the Silly Symphonies, Walt’s musical series of shorts that changed the landscape of animation as an art form forever. The Silly Symphonies, beginning with The Skeleton Dance, eventually grew to 75 total shorts between 1929 and 1939, produced and released concurrently with Mickey Mouse cartoons. The Silly Symphonies were a platform for Walt to stretch the art of animation while bringing new animators into the fold. 

Even after decades of success, Walt Disney always wanted the world to remember that his entertainment empire was “all started by a mouse.” This episode chronicles Mickey’s influence on art and entertainment over the past nine decades and tells the story of his origin, rise to fame, and enduring world-wide appeal.  The Walt Disney Family is presenting the special exhibition, Mickey Mouse: From Walt to the World now through January 6, 2020. 

Hear from the voice of Mickey Mouse, Bret Iwan, and legendary animator and director, Eric Goldberg from the 2019 D23 Expo in Anaheim, CA.  

Walt’s first venture into the all cartoon medium started with Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. From 1927 to 1928 Walt and his team would produce 26 Oswald shorts and by March of 1928 the character and half of Walt’s animators would be taken away by distributor, Charles Mintz. Learn about Oswald's early beginnings and his eventual return to The Walt Disney Company. 

Humor is best shared with those you love. Walt shared a lifetime of laughter with the world, but more importantly, he shared love and laughter with his family and friends. This week we celebrate the love story between Walt and Lillian Disney. Whether celebrating their anniversary playfully dancing at the Golden Horseshoe Review, or a small puppy popping out of a hat box, Walt and Lilly showed the unique bond forged by love and laughter.

Walt went back to the drawing board when he moved to Hollywood. Our hosts explore the beginnings of The Walt Disney Company with the first series the Alice Comedies. 

Highlights from this episode include odd jobs, dental hygiene, and the kindness of strangers. What do these things have in common? Be prepared to find out! Learn about the people who had a huge impact on Walt's life after Laugh-O-grams went under, and hear how Walt remembered these kindnesses long after he climbed out of the inkwell and into a successful career.

Join our hosts as they flip through Walt's early beginnings into animation. From early stop motion to hand drawn animation, learn more about how Walt discovered how to bring his drawings to life.

From forgery to an alleged court-martial, this episode has a broad appeal. Follow our hosts overseas as they dispel the myths—and dig deeper into the true stories—that surround Walt's time as a Red Cross volunteer in France.

Join our hosts as they journey to Marceline, Missouri, where a young Walt discovered some of his greatest passions—drawing and trains—while growing up on his family's farm. We guarantee you'll go hog-wild for this one!

Greatness comes from small beginnings—and Walt Disney's story is no different. Join hosts Bri and Caroline as they track Walt's ancestors through the pages of Disney family history—from France to Ireland and, finally, to North America. After some fiddling around, our hosts will delve into how Walt's parents' own unique upbringings and endeavors shaped his childhood.

One of the questions we’re asked most frequently by guests remains, “Why is the museum here?” Though there are threads of Walt’s story that intersect with the Bay Area, The Walt Disney Family Museum isn’t here because of Walt—it’s here, primarily, because of his daughter, Diane Disney Miller. In this episode, join Bri and Caroline as they delve into the life and vision of our remarkable co-founder, Diane as she talks about her father, Walt Disney.

Join hosts Bri Bertolaccini and Caroline Quinn as they kick off The Walt Disney Family Museum's 10th Anniversary Celebration in style. In this debut episode, learn more about the origins of our museum, our co-founder, Diane Disney Miller, and our institution's unique mission, which has grown tremendously over the last decade.

The Walt Disney Family Museum is a center for art, animation, and inspiration. Located in the historic Presidio, a national park in San Francisco, California, the museum celebrates the remarkable life of Walt Disney by telling his story, celebrating his legacy, and examining his influence on the world of entertainment. Ten years ago, we were founded in 2009 by Walt Disney’s daughter, Diane Disney Miller, who wanted to share the story of her father with the world. Now, we are hosting a year-long celebration to mark the museum’s tenth anniversary. In recognition of the museum’s history, and in order to honor the man behind the magic, this podcast will be an extension of that celebration. Join us every Wednesday for stories and conversations about the remarkable life and legacy of Walt Disney as we reflect on The Walt Disney Family Museum's first decade as an institution.    Join us every Wednesday for stories and conversations about the remarkable life and legacy of Walt Disney as we reflect on The Walt Disney

First aired: June 5, 2015 Learn more about how the infamous duck made his screen debut in The Wise Little Hen (1934). In an exclusive interview hear from current voice of Donal Duck, Tony Anselmo. 

First aired: January 5, 2015 For our newest exhibition, All Aboard: A Celebration of Walt's Trains learn more about his lifelong passion for trains. In the Grand Circle Tour, hear from Walt himself about his early fascination for train in Marceline, Missouri to building his very own railroad in his backyard. Guest curator, Michael Campbell shares insight about Walt's passion manifesting itself into Disney short cartoons, feature films, and in Walt's personal life at home. Hear from President of Lionel, LLC Howard Hitchcock about how Disney saved the company with the production of the Mickey Mouse handcar back in the 1930s.