About
About Jim Hill Media
Jim Hill Media is a collection of entertainment writers, bloggers, podcasters, and theme park historians – documenting news and stories involving the Walt Disney Company, Pixar, Lucasfilm, Universal Studios and the world of collectibles.
Entertainment writer and theme park historian Jim Hill is the head of the media network that bears his name.
Jim Hill
Jim Hill is an entertainment writer who has specialized in covering The Walt Disney Company for nearly 40 years now. Over that time, he has interviewed hundreds of animators, actors, and Imagineers — many of whom have shared behind-the-scenes stories with Mr. Hill about how the Mouse House really works.
In addition to the 4000+ articles Jim has written for the Web, he also co-hosts a trio of popular podcasts: “Disney Dish with Len Testa,” “Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor” and “Marvel US Disney with Aaron Adams.”
Mr. Hill makes his home in Southern New Hampshire with his lovely wife Nancy and two obnoxious cats, Ginger & Betty.
Len Testa
Len is the co-author of The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World, The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland, and The Unofficial Guide to British Theme Parks. He also is a contributor to the Unofficial Guide to Las Vegas.
Len is responsible for these things called “Touring Plans” that were the result of his graduate thesis, and he is the lead researcher for TouringPlans.com and book content.
Most of his time is spent trying to keep up with the team. And when he’s not doing that, he’s one of the co-hosts of the Disney Dish podcast.
Drew Taylor
Drew Taylor is a film journalist. He is associate editor at Collider and has written for Vulture, Vanity Fair, SYFY Wire, and The Playlist. He also wrote The Art of Onward, which gives an inside look at the making of the 2020 Pixar film. The book is available to purchase here. He also co-hosts a weekly podcast about animation called Fine Tooning, which is available on all podcast platforms.
Dan Graney
Dan Graney is a longtime DJ, film critic, and podcaster who has spent years talking pop culture into microphones and rarely running out of things to say. His love of movies goes all the way back to seeing Star Wars on its opening weekend, an experience he still considers a point of personal pride and a pretty good explanation for everything that followed.
Dan is a co-host of The Hubbubbery, where conversations bounce between movies, television, nostalgia, and the strange ways pop culture sticks with us. He also co-hosts Marvel US Disney with Jim Hill, digging into Marvel movies, TV, theme parks, comics, and the occasional deep-cut history lesson that sneaks in along the way.
Dan lives in St. Louis, where he spends time with his family, watches far too many movies, and continues to insist that most of them count as research.
Chris Cox
Chris Cox is a world-renowned mind reader, award-winning magician, and high-profile corporate entertainer whose interactive, high-energy performances blend psychology, comedy, and astonishing audience participation. The only mind reader to have performed on Broadway, London’s West End, and at the Sydney Opera House, Chris is best known for starring as The Mentalist in The Illusionists—the biggest-selling magic show in history—as well as appearing on BBC Three and CBBC.
Beyond the stage, Chris is a creative consultant for live entertainment innovators including Cirque du Soleil and Punchdrunk, and one of only 300 magicians worldwide to hold the title of Member of the Inner Magic Circle with Gold Star. Across podcasts and projects with Jim Hill Media, he brings sharp insight, humor, and a performer’s perspective to conversations about entertainment, fandom, and the art of live experiences.
Eric Hersey
Eric Hersey is a theme park “nerd” who represents the die-hard fandoms that are often found in the theme park community. Eric’s fandom started in 2014 when first introduced to “The Disney Dish Podcast”. Since, Eric has researched Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and now Universal Studios. He currently acts as the web manager for Jim Hill Media and the Patreon project for [Disney Unpacked].
Lauren Hersey
Lauren works in Corporate Communications at a leading national media company, with a background in TV, marketing, and advertising.
She’s deeply passionate about marketing and media, a passion matched only by her love for Disney, Personal Development, and Shopping. At Jim Hill Media, Lauren plays a key role in marketing initiatives and co-hosts the Disney Consumer Products podcast and web show “I Want That Too” with Jim Hill.
Michelle Valladolid
Michelle Valladolid, known as The Fabulous Disney Babe, has been a lifelong Disney and theme park enthusiast. Her passion began with childhood visits to Disneyland and continued with a transformative visit to EPCOT Center in 1987. She has been deeply involved in the Disney fan community, co-founding clubs, participating in Disney media, and teaching a unique course on theme park history. Michelle has contributed to various Disney-related online platforms and publications. She now hosts the Pink Monorail podcast with her daughter Alice and husband Noe, revisiting and expanding on her popular “Manufacturing the Magic” class.
Jim Shull
Jim Shull is a retired Imagineer with 33 years at the Disney Company. He served as the Executive Creative Director for attractions like Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster and Mickey’s Toontown. Jim is also a co-host of ‘Disney Unpacked,’ a video podcast with Jim Hill and Len Testa, offering unique insights with never-before-seen footage, animations, and untold stories from an Imagineer’s perspective.
