Insights Into Things

Insights Into Entertainment: Episode 29 "Recycling Rebooting and Remembering"

This week we talk about the fate of the Spiderman franchise, a refreshing of the Carousel of Progress, and remembering a forgotten "nearly-was" Haunted Mansion changing portrait. Then we look at rebooting the Matrix franchise, updates on the new James Bond movie and Kevin Smith being tapped to recycle a beloved Mattel television hero from our childhood. All this and a couple of great Insightful Picks of the Week with a promise of a bonus episode this week covering the D23 Expo in California.

Insights Into Teens: Episode 29 "Resilience"

This week we talk about resilience. What it is, how to obtain it and how it can help you through so many of life's challenge. We expand on the concept of dealing with life's changes and challenges from last week and we explore how building up our resilience can lead to self confidence, self respect and the ability to cope with just about anything.

Insights Into Entertainment: Episode 28 "Jedi, Mid Days, and Deadnames"

This week we explore the rumors of a new Obi-Wan series starring Ewan McGregor, we look at a uncharacteristically discounted park ticket recently announced by Disney. In entertainment news we pay homage to Peter Fonda, look at some LGBTQ friendly policy changes at IMDB, get some Star Wars Rise of Skywalker news and take a look at the latest Star Wars Themed Barbies coming out of Mattel before wrapping with our Insightful Picks of the Week.

Insights Into Teens: Episode 28 "Dealing with Life's Changes"

This week we talk about how to handle some of the typical changes that teens face both emotionally and socially. We discuss the what some of these changes are, the tell-tale signs of teens struggling to cope with these changes and techniques to help recognize when teens are struggling and how to help deal with them. We also touch on what we as parents can do proactively to help prepare our children to face these changes and the type of environment we can offer our teens that will allow them the ability to better cope with these situations.

Insights Into Entertainment: Episode 27 "Anniversaries Earnings and The Boss"

This week we pay tribute to Disney's Haunted Mansion and it's 50th birthday celebration. We'll talk about some bundling deals with Disney+ and the future of media as Disney see's it before we talk about the Disney earnings reports. We'll discuss how the incompetent CEO of Disney Bob Iger is quick to justify is grotesquely generous salary by claiming credit for Disney successes he's had little involvement with but is equally quick to point the finger at others when success doesn't come as expected. In entertainment news we'll talk about yet another copyright case, a new show by some of our favorite British actors and the Boss puts on an impromptu show at a movie premier.

Insights Into Teens: Episode 27 "Active Shooter Awareness"

Today's podcast took an unexpectedly tragic turn when we learned of two additional shooting events between the time the podcast was recorded on Saturday morning and it's scheduled release date of Monday morning. Having been scheduled several weeks in advance we were unaware of just how relevant the subject matter would be when we sat down to record it. In the podcast we define what active shooters are, how to respond if you are in or near a situation of an active shooter and safety tips for how to conduct yourself under such circumstances. We also talk about what preparations the schools are making at this time to help protect our children and how as a last resort you can try to defend yourself in a terrifying and impossible situation of an active shooter.

Insights Into Entertainment: Episode 26 "Clueless in Disney"

This week we look at a rather irate mother who some claim was simply clueless in how to go about planner her Disney vacation. Then a follow up on Disney's tombstone controversy and we pay tribute to the voice of Minnie Mouse who we lost this past week. In Entertainment news it's mom-shaming over hair dying and some hefty fines for Katy Perry and others over Dark Horse. Then we'll finish up with a couple of very strong Insightful Picks of the Week in another great podcast.

Insights Into Teens: Episode 26 "Peer Pressure"

In this episode we talk about the various forms of peer pressure and why it can be so powerful at times. We'll look at some of the myths about peer pressure and talk about the realities. There are five common social pressures of peer pressure and we'll discuss each of them in depth before talking about ways to detect peer pressure and determine if it is positive or negative peer pressure.

Insights Into Entertainment: Episode 25 "San Diego Comic Con Special"

In our first event special we take a look at the flood of news that emerged from the 50th annual San Diego Comic Con. Marvel and Disney dominated with the roll out of long awaited details on Phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. We see how closely tied some of what we'll be seeing in the cinema will be tied to Disney's new subscription service Disney+. Then we look at the winners and losers to emerge from the mega-pop culture phenomenon of SDCC. We also steer you in the right directly to find information on things that even this special edition podcast couldn't cover.

Insights Into Teens: Episode 25 "Social Media"

This week we take a look at all forms of social media. How technology has changed how teens interact with the friends and parents. We'll analyze some interest statistics about social media and the impact it has on today's youth. We look at the good and the bad aspects of social media and discuss some common forms of etiquette to keep in mind when using social media. This week is a cautionary tale to both teens and their parents on how social can be a valuable tool in our technology arsenal if used properly.