© 2025 NPR Illinois
The Capital's Community & News Service since 1975
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Get involved now! ProtectMyPublicMedia.org Make the call.

Imagineer Lanny Smoot speaks to Beyond the Mouse on his induction to National Inventors Hall of Fame

Walt Disney Imagineering

This is a very special interview with Imagineer Lanny Smoot. Recently, it was announced that Lanny would be inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame this year. This milestone has only been achieved by one other person representing the Walt Disney Company, and that would be Walt Disney himself, who was honored posthumously in 2000.

We discuss with Lanny some of his favorite projects, including the new Halo-Tile floor that he was just able to show off. The project is set to revolutionize virtual reality. It is a wonderful interview with a man who holds over a hundred patents to his name.

Craig McFarland has been podcasting for over a decade as part of The Front Row Network. He’s the co-host of Beyond the Mouse, a Disney-focused podcast, and Peanut Butter and Biscuits, a show dedicated to all things Ted Lasso. Over the years, Craig has interviewed a wide range of guests, including Oscar winners, Olympians, acclaimed creators, actors, and more than a dozen Disney Legends.
Brett Rutherford is a cohost of the Beyond the Mouse podcast for the Front Row Network.
Vanessa is the Community Voices Production Coordinator. Reach Vanessa at vfergu3@uis.edu.
Related Stories