Tales From The Jungle Crews

So, after 7 years of "Hey, you should come on my Podcast", and 7 years of "Who is this again? Kyle who?" We finally got Skipper Kevin Lively aboard. Famed as a Disneyland Skipper, Imagineer, and baby shampoo model, this chap has stories for years as we begin the first in our 10 episode series of 90 minute episodes, to be followed up with a 3 hour Marvel studios movie. It's amazing times to be a content.  But, seriously, Kevin is one of my best friends and he recently moved on from his role in Burbank. So, now he's slumming it with me and we chat about a ton of random things. (Including a 7 minute anti-tribute to Cincinnati to start off our episode...) We had a great time talking, and I hope he'll be back soon. 

Hey there Skips and Skipperettes! How ya doing? We hope you're well, and in the mood for some chatting about the Jungle Cruise movie. We've sort of been laying in wait for this big event, and to re-energize some of the great discussions about the movie and about our beloved ride. We are getting a lot of new listeners now, so it's time to get back into Jungle Mode. And what better way to do it than from the Red Carpet at the World Premiere?  Well, had they let me bring a microphone, I would have done that. Instead, I recap some of my thoughts (non-spoiler) about the movie, talk a couple of spoilers (timestamped), and talk about the "State of the Pod" and where we're going from here. Welcome to all the new adventurers... you've got a lot of catching up to do.

So this week (month, year... time is a meaningless construct during Covid times) on the podcast we welcome Skipper Joey to the pod. Joey hosts a fun postcast called Laugh it up Fuzzball, and was also a contemporary Skipper and my 3rd (4th?) Trainer on the Jungle Cruise boat ride. So, it was just time to have a friend on the show, get a little footloose, and chat about his time with Disney, but also some of the new changes on the ride. 

Hey there, Adventurers! Welcome back! So, 2020 was a challenging year, and it was particularly hard on Skippers. As performers and actors, we have a very different make up, and being away from our Jungle has caused a lot of mental health issues. This week we chat with Adrienne MacIain, the host of "That's Aloud", an excellent podcast on creating your own personal story, and getting your experiences out into the world. She is a fantastic author, and she has great experiences with mental health and the acting community. So we chat a bit about what you can do during the pandemic times to keep your boat afloat, mentally speaking. Her podcast is available everywhere fine podcasts can be consumed. I also spend a little time discussing the changes upcoming to the WFJC in the next few years, and address the news that has hit everywhere this week.

Hey there, Adventurers! 2020 has been, well... you know. But we are now all set up with our new SkipCast Broadcasting Center in Cincinnati, Ohio, and we're putting together new content for you in this tumultuous time... This episode we get to meet and chat with Skipper John Rose, a Skip at Disneyland from 1991 to 1996, and a little extra bonus from 2001-2003. We had a fantastic time getting our wheels back on the ground and chatting about his time as Adventureland was going through the changes of the mid 90's. Super great discussion, and we really hope you enjoy it!

Hey there, Adventurers! This episode is a 20 minute "catch up" on what's been happening with the podcast, the ride, the merch, the pandemic, and Skipper Kyle. It's a non-interview episode where Kyle just chats at the microphone. So, be forewarned. Keep in touch with us, more episodes coming as we get them put together. (So, our normal thing we've been doing for 8 years)

Hey there, Adventurekateers! Your old pal Skipper Kyle here, with another episode of Skippertainment for you, to help keep you through these quarantined times... Today we are going to chat with a contemporary of mine, and someone I've been trying to get onto the show for a few years. Like 8. Skipper Jon Gruber! Jon was a Skipper, Trainer, and Lead in the late 00's to early Teens, and he was always a positive and energetic force on the docks. I loved working with him, and thought he would have some fun stories, and he did not disappoint. We know that this is a challenging time for everyone, and we appreciate the Skipper community and how supportive it has been. Thanks for all the kind Emails and words, and we are going to work on continuing to bring you episodes as often as we can.

Hey there, Quarantined Adventurers! We have something a little different for this week's episode. We took "calls" from Jungle Cruise Skips from around the world, and gave them a chance to tell their own stories. If you want to be part of the next round of this, send your 5-7 minute audio clip to JungleCrews@gmail.com. We've got more Skippertainment coming to you in the weeks ahead, and we hope everyone is staying safe and healthy.

Howdy, everyone! It's been a rough and wild holiday season and start to the new year. I forgot how working retail drains me during Thanksgiving/Xmas, and how no one wants to record podcasts during that time. Well, we are back in the swing of things, and have interviews set for the next few weeks. This one is a special one that took us a solid 2.5 years to set up. Skipper Jeff Lessel has been on my "get list" since 2015 or so, and I was so happy when he became available to record with us. For those of you who are not WDW acquainted, Jeff was a Skip from 1989 for about 20 years, and then he moved over to the Hall of Presidents for 10 years. He was a MK fixture, and has taken as many trips as nearly any Skipper in WDW history.  Keep passing around the Podcast and Facebook links, and as always, drop into the Apple store and leave us a like and a review. It really helps us with the visibility.

Well, it took us a bit, but we're finally back and running at full steam. Well, half steam? Sort of a teakettle full of steam. Either way, we're bringing you new episodes. This episode we chat with Skipper Chuck, perhaps the only Muppet ever to be a Jungle Cruise Skipper. He worked in Orlando at the end of the 90's, and he brought his friend Skipper Brian Lynch with him. Now, this was originally a video podcast on YouTube, but we just dropped the audio here for your amusement. Should you like to see the full episode in all of it's puppety-glory, check out https://youtu.be/fOihlWsTMzI Also, the Skipper Store has a new URL, so you can get us at http://TinyUrl.com/TheSkipperStore 

Two years ago we wrapped up the podcast and season 6 with my looking back over the prior 6 years of Skippertainment. This is the last episode in our "Rerun Recap", which has been going on since I rejoined Disney in 2017. After this I don't have any excuses, and we'll be bringing you new episodes and content soon.  Thanks for all the continuing support. It's going to be an exciting year of Jungle Cruise movies and news, and we're going to be bringing you some great stories. Kungaloosh! Skipper Kyle

So, the TFJC podcast is back, but we've got 2 more "rerun episodes" to put in your ear-holes while we get some new content together. This one is sort of an ironic episode, because when I recorded it Kipp had just left the Jungle while I had just decided to come back. Now, I've just left, and Kipp is back as a Skipper. Still, Kipp is one of the best Skips I've ever worked with, and one of the best human beings as well. An enjoyable chat with him, and more good stuff is coming soon. Originally Published March 27th, 2017 It's the end of an Era on the Jungle Cruise. Skipper Kipp Hart has left the river after 13 years back and forth with the company. But, that sadness is our benefit, as we are now able to welcome Kipp back to the show to take a more intimate look at his time with the company, his rise as a stand up comedian, and what wisdom he has to impart to the next generation of Jungle Skippers. Kipp also shares great stories of Skippers he has worked with, as well as a great Jason Alexander and a fun Chris Hardwick story. Definitely a must-listen episode! As always, catch us over at Facebook.com/JungleCrews

Well, hey there Skips and Skipperettes from all across the wild and untamed lands known only as Internetland. Welcome back to Tales from the Jungle Cruise. What a long, strange trip it's been. Two years back in the Jungle at Disneyland, and now I've parted ways again with a place that means so much to me. It was a tough decision, and a lot of people had asked me questions about my time back at the park, the state of the podcast, the Jungle Cruise movie, and so many other questions. I invite good friend Skipper Freddy Martin to the podcast to chat about all of that, and to bring us back into the podcast mode.  We did put up a 30 minute video of the first part of our recording. We may be doing more recording on video, and I am going to put all 150 episodes of the audio podcast up on YouTube as well.  Well, it's great to be back, and it's going to take me a while to ramp back up, but it's a great journey and I'm glad you are taking it with me. Skipper Kyle

Sorry for the long delay... Here's the second part of our conversation with Skipper Leo Camacho... We're busy "backstage" unpacking all the stuff around SkipCast HQ, getting ready to bring you another wave of Skippertainment.  Skipper Kyle, busy as hell and loving it. 

So, the guest from these next two episodes has really seen his career explode in the 2 years since we recorded with him. From being a host of a nationally broadcast video game show to being a visible brand ambassador and influencer within the world of fandom, Skipper Leo Camacho has really seen his stars on the rise. But even though his time at the WFJC was a short one, his takes on cosplay, the Disney Fandom, and Disney media has been insightful and he was a lovely guest on the show. We only have 3 more episodes of wrap up, then we start with the new episodes. I hope you're as excited as I am. Skipper Kyle Originally Published February 21st, 2017 Hey there, Adventurers! This week on the Podcast, Skipper Leo Camacho, darling of the Disneyverse. We take 2 episode and chat about his time at Disneyland, his fandom experience, and how great of a time it is to be immersing yourself in fandom at this time. We have a great time with Leo, and he is a Skipper through and through.  The second half of this episode will drop in 2 weeks, and we're looking forward to bringing you the rest of the story. To check out Leo's YouTube channel, click HERE. Skipper Kyle

So, my time at Disney has again come to an end. The Jungle will go on without me, and the Podcast is returning soon. We've just got a few old episodes to recap, and we'll be back with new content. This one is a sad one for me. Skipper Andrew Petersen was a friend, and a beloved Jungle colleague. Andrew passed a year ago, and none of us have been the same since. He was a huge part of our lives in the last 10 years of Adventureland, and I was so glad to have had an hour of his time to put onto a podcast episode.  Originally Published February 13th, 2017 Like so many of our greatest episode titles, this one is a total inside joke that we won't be sharing. Still, trust me that it's funny. Today's episode guest is living proof that if I wait long enough, I will interview everyone I work with when they leave the employ of The Mouse. Skipper Andrew Petersen is a goddamn delight, and I'm glad to have called him a strong acquaintance for the last 10 years, and a friend for part of that. (Or most... the details are foggy.) When Andrew left Disney last year, I knew we'd have to get him on the show. He has a reputation for telling good stories, and he does not disappoint. So, enjoy one of those episodes I have waited nearly 6 years to record!  (And next week get a whole episode with my thoughts on my recent trip to WDW) Skipper Kyle

Hey there, Adventurers! Glad to see you're still aboard, or ashore, or wherever you are. So much stuff to go over. After 2 glorious years back at the Jungle Cruise, my time in a boat is ending. This coming Friday will be my last day with Disney, likely for the last time. That means new episodes are planned and in the works, but it may take me a little bit of time to get traction and get rolling again. Luckily, I have 3 more rerun episodes to go, and that will buy me some time. Thanks for hanging with me for the last 24 months. I know it's been a long wait. Good things are on the horizon. (Oh, and this episode is the second episode with Tony Goldmark, chatting about the state of the parks as of 2 years ago. It's a really good interview, and one I really like...) Originally Published January 30th, 2017 Part two of our chat with YouTube personality Tony Goldmark is here. We really hope you are enjoying his content online, and we start off this episode discussing his RiffTrax/MST3K style take on the Disneyland Opening Ceremonies Broadcast.  We are headed to Orlando for the big Skipper Gathering there this weekend, so we'll be in reruns for a few weeks, and coming back at you with new episodes ASAP. Kungaloosh! Skipper Kyle

Hard to believe that we're nearly at the end of our rerun lovefest, and we're just around the corner from new episodes.  This week we are re-running our time with Tony Goldmark, of the "Some Jerk With A Camera" Vlog, and theme park connoisseur. The first of 2 episodes where we chat about the state of the theme parks, particularly Disney and Universal.  Originally Published January 23rd, 2017 It's really rare that we have a non-Skipper on the show. But, we occasionally get the chance to have someone on who is so entertaining, and has such good insight about the park experience, that we book them as quickly as we can. Plus, on top of that, our guest produced the YouTube video last year that had me laughing the hardest that I have ever laughed at a Disney produced tv special. That's right, Some Jerk with a Camera, Tony Goldmark, producer and creator of the Disneyland Opening Ceremony Riff videos, is joining us on the podcast. Besides being a strongly opinionated and humorous chap, he's also got an amazing insight into the Theme Park Fandom. We were super honored to have him join us.  In case you want easy access, his videos can be found here... Some Jerk With A Camera (CLICK HERE) This is part 1, part 2 will roll out next week! Skipper Kyle

I'd love to say that after 8 years, I can stick to a weekly schedule, even with reruns, but this last week was a doozie for me. So, here's the second half of my chat with Katherine and Matt from the WDW Happy Hour Podcast  Originally Published January 19th, 2017 Hey Adventurers! A little early from us, but never too much good Jungle stuff... We have a lot in the pipeline, so we wanted to put out this episode a little early so we can make sure next Tuesday's episode is good to go before our trip to Orlando.  Today is the second half of our chat with the crew from the WDW Happy Hour podcast, Katherine and Matt. These guys are great supporters of the podcast, and their show is a solid show in it's first year. So, we love promoting them, and we thank them for all their help. We continue our discussion about where WDW is currently at, and chat more about tips for our visit. Kungaloosh, everyone!

One of the great thing about the last 8 years of Skippertainment is that I've been a guest on so many podcasts, sharing my Jungle Cruise stories. One of those great moments was January 2017, and the WDW Happy Hour podcast. Matt and Katherine have become not only great Jungle Cruise supporters, but great friends. We do a lot of cross pollination of our podcasts, and their podcast is one of only 2-3 Disney podcasts that I listen regularly to. They do a great job, have fun discussions, and nice Disney news recaps. Plus, alcohol! So, here's the first part of our two part interview from their show. Originally Published January 10th, 2017 The last few months of 2016 limped past, and 2017 staggered in the door drunk. At least we have a podcast episode to truly celebrate the sort of inebriation that was needed to handle the last 3 months. We are joined by the hosts of the WDW Happy Hour podcast in a cross polination of our shows, and also because Katherine and Matt are two fun guys who I really enjoyed chatting with. They were big supporters of the Jungle Crews podcast last year, and I wanted our audience to get to know them a little bit. We chat Disney remake movies, WDW vs Disneyland, and of course the best places to eat and drink at Disneyland and Walt Disney World. Lots of good fun, and an enjoyable 2 part episode.  Thanks for sticking through the dry times. We love you guys. All of you. Except Dave. You know who you are, Dave. Kungaloosh!