Brett Rutherford

This week on Beyond the Mouse, Brett, Craig, and Vanessa dive into the major leadership news coming out of The Walt Disney Company. Disney has officially named Josh D’Amaro as its next CEO, succeeding longtime leader Bob Iger in March — a monumental shift for the company and its fans alike. Alongside D’Amaro’s promotion, Dana Walden steps into the newly created role of President and Chief Creative Officer, bringing her storytelling expertise to the forefront of Disney’s creative strategy. The crew breaks down what this leadership change means for Disney’s parks, content, and future direction, shares their well-wishes for D’Amaro as he takes the reins, and reflects on the legacy Bob Iger leaves behind after decades of shaping the Disney we know today. It’s an episode full of insight, perspective, and what this turning point could mean for the House of Mouse moving forward.

This week on Beyond the Mouse, Brett and Craig blast off into the world of Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy – Pieces of the Past! They kick things off with a spoiler-free review of the second series before diving into an incredible round of interviews. Hear from stars Gaten Matarazzo (Stranger Things) and Tony Revolori (Spider-Man: No Way Home), who voice the lead characters in this galactic adventure. Then, writers and executive producers Dan Hernandezand Benji Samit join the conversation to share the creative process behind building this hilarious, action-packed Lego Star Wars story.Whether you’re a lifelong Star Wars fan or just love a good laugh, this episode is one you won’t want to miss!

This week on Beyond the Mouse, we’re joined by two-time Tony nominee Gavin Lee! Gavin recently stepped into the iconic role of Scar in Disney’s The Lion King on Broadway, and he shares what it’s been like joining such a beloved production. We also dive into his incredible career, including originating Bert in Mary Poppins and bringing Squidward to life in The SpongeBob Musical. Whether you’re a Disney fan, a Broadway lover, or both, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss!

Get ready for a magical conversation on this week’s episode of Beyond the Mouse! We’re joined by none other than Patti Murin, Broadway’s original Anna in Frozen: The Musical. Patti joins the podcast to share what it means to step back into Anna’s boots—this time under the stars at the historic St. Louis Muny.We dive into her journey from regional theater to Broadway and back again, her experiences originating such an iconic Disney role, and how her career continues to evolve in both theater and beyond. Patti opens up about the unique energy of live outdoor performance, the fan interactions at the heart of Frozen, and what audiences can expect from this special summer production.Whether you’re a fan of Disney, Broadway, or just great storytelling—this is one warm hug you don’t want to miss!

“Not Just A Goof” is a new documentary coming to Disney+ on April 7, coinciding with the 30th anniversary of “A Goofy Movie.” Through unseen archival footage, the documentary follows the creative team of “A Goofy Movie” and the challenges to bring this fan-favorite film to life. Directors Christopher Ninness and Eric Kimelton, and the director of "A Goofy Movie" Kevin Lima, join us on Beyond the Mouse to talk about the documentary “Not Just A Goof” and the fandom of “A Goofy Movie.”

This week on Beyond the Mouse we celebrate 300 episodes with Disney Legend Josh Gad! We talk about his new book "In Gad We Trust: A Tell-Some," his role as Olaf, his directorial debut on the Chris Farley biopic and much more!FEATURING: Craig McFarland, Vanessa Ferguson and Brett Rutherford

Jim Cummings has had a legendary career in voice acting, bringing to life countless iconic characters and creating hundreds of unforgettable voices. Recently, the Beyond the Mouse crew had the incredible opportunity to sit down with him to discuss the longevity of his career, his journey into voice acting, where he draws inspiration for new voices, and much more. It was an amazing conversation, and we hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

Former president of Walt Disney Imagineering, Bob Weis, joins Beyond the Mouse to discuss his new book Dream Chasing. The book is available now and covers Bob's decades long journey with Walt Disney Imagineering, working on many iconic attractions from Disney Parks around the world.

Earlier this month, Joe Rohde became a Disney Legend at the recent D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event. He sat down with Beyond the Mouse podcast to discuss his career and what the award means to him.